The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has invited Emmanuel Agbo, a reporter with Premium Times, over a land dispute story he is working on.

On Monday, Agbo received an invitation letter dated May 31 from the office of the deputy inspector-general of police intelligence response team (NPF-IRT), via WhatsApp.

On May 30, the reporter was first contacted over the phone by a man who identified himself as a police officer named Ezemba Ezekiel.

The officer asked the journalist to come over to the office of IRT in Guzape, Abuja to “clarify a petition”.

“I am Ezemba Ezekiel from the Intelligence Response Team. I am calling you on behalf of Homadils. You are expected to come over to our office at Abattoir in Guzape to clarify a petition,” he said via phone.

A formal written invitation was sent after the journalist requested for one.

During the phone conversation, the officer mentioned the name of Homadils Realty Limited, a real estate firm and a major party to a land dispute which the reporter is currently focusing on.

Prior to the police invitation, the journalist had reached out to Bilkisu Aliu, the chief executive officer of Homadils.

The CEO later exchanged WhatsApp messages with the journalist on the allegations against her by a family laying claim to the disputed land.

‘WE’RE READY TO ASSIST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES’

In a letter delivered to the office of the deputy commissioner of police at IRT, Idris Akinbajo, managing editor of Premium Times, said the platform is ready to work with law enforcement agencies in the course of their professional duties.

Akinbajo asked the police to provide more details of the petition since its invitation only mentioned receipt of a petition

“We, Premium Times, are an online newspaper dedicated to using investigative journalism to hold power accountable and deepen democracy as enshrined in Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution,” the managing editor said.

“We are thus always ready to assist law enforcement agencies in the course of their professional duties.

“However, in your letter to Mr Emmanuel Agbo, you only stated that your ‘office is in receipt of petition…’ but did not provide any details of the petition.

“We ask that you provide more details of the petition to enable our reporter, Mr Agbo, to make adequate preparations and bring along relevant materials when he appears in your office.

“We trust that you will treat this promptly so we and Mr Emmanuel Agbo can prepare adequately and assist you in the course of your work.”

A Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Abubakar Mohammed Guri, the DC in office of COMPOL MOPOL, Force Headquarters, Abuja on Monday 3rd June, reportedly slumped and gave up the ghost.

Sources said the late DCP who was in his uniform, slumped on his seat in his office and was quickly taken to the Clinic inside Police headquarters for medical assistance, where he was confirmed dead.

No official reasons have been adduced for the death of the officer who was said to have looked hale and hearty and exchanged pleasantries with officers and staff of the Mopol department when he reported for duty

However, a source who spoke in confidence, opined that the senior officer’s sudden collapse and death may not be unconnected with heart failure noting that in recent times, many police officers out of fatigue have suffered the same fate, because they work round the clock, even at night, without rest

Nothing was heard from the office of the Force Public Relations Officer regarding the late officer.

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) says it will issue a standardised version of the reintroduced national anthem.

On May 29, President Bola Tinubu signed a bill reintroducing the old national anthem.

However, there have been criticisms against the reintroduction of the anthem.

In a statement on Tuesday, Paul Odenyi, NOA’s spokesperson, said Lanre Issa-Onilu, the director-general of the agency, spoke after several versions of the anthem appeared on social media.

Odenyi added that the agency’s community orientation and mobilisation officers (COMOS) also reported citizens’ confusion with the correct lyrics and instrumental and audio rendition of the anthem.

“Our COMOS, whom we ordered to learn the new national anthem, have come up with the feedback that many of our people are eager to learn and promote the new anthem but are confused about which of the ones they find online is the correct version,” the statement reads.

“They have asked questions about which of the stanzas is the national prayer.

“The director-general also assured that a decision on whether any of the stanzas will be adopted as national prayer will be taken after the necessary approval procedure.

“He advised government agencies that seek to play the anthem at their functions to revert to the agency for the official copy of the new anthem.”