{
  "id": 5346498,
  "title": "Criminalise non-payment of pensions —Lawyer Maxwell Okpara",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/criminalise-non-payment-of-pensions-lawyer-maxwell-okpara",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-03T14:25:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/03/criminalise-non-payment-of-pensions-lawyer-maxwell-okpara/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Legal expert Maxwell Okpara has advocated for the criminalisation of non-payment of pensions in Nigeria. Okpara expressed his opinions during an interview on Arise Television, responding to reports of the Lagos State Police deploying tear gas against pensioners who had peacefully protested for their due entitlements. The lawyer took issue with the police's actions, demanding an apology from the police commissioner to Nigerian citizens and pensioners. Okpara emphasized the importance of criminalizing the failure to pay pensions, stating, \"It is high time we criminalise non-payment of pensions. The Commissioner of Police should tender an apology to Nigerians and senior citizens.\" He questioned the situation where individuals who have served the country for 35 years are left to beg for their own money. Okpara concluded by asserting, \"Pay me my pension, and instead you allow this person to protest. It is high time we criminalise non-payment of pensions. It is a gross violation of human rights.\"",
  "summary": "A legal practitioner and public affairs analyst, Maxwell Okpara, has called for the criminalisation of non-payment of pensions in Nigeria. Okpara made this call on Thursday during an interview on Arise Television. He was reacting to reports that operatives of the Lagos State Police fired tear gas at pensioners who engaged in a peaceful protest to demand […] Criminalise non-payment of pensions…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}