Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, ordered that Dr. Mohammed Yunus, a lecturer at the Kogi State University, who allegedly sponsored a cell of the Boko Haram sect situated at Igala land in Kogi State, be transferred to Kuje Prison. . Justice Kolawole made the order shortly after the lecturer, Yunus, alongside two other alleged members of the sect, Salami Abdullahi and Umar Musa, pleaded not guilty to an eight-count terrorism charge preferred against them by the Federal Government yesterday. . The government, alleged that the trio had within May and October, 2013,…
Author: David F.
The Kano State House of Assembly has elected a new speaker following the resignation of the former, Alhaji Gambo Sallau. . The new speaker is Alhaji Ishaku Danja, who was until Tuesday’s election, the Deputy Speaker. Alhaji Hamisu Chidari, the Majority Leader, is now the Deputy Speaker. . The House had also elected Alhaji Kabir Alhassan as the new Majority Leader to replace Chidari. . The former speaker announced his resignation in a broadcast in Kano on Tuesday. . He said his decision was based on political reasons, as he said “I, Gambo Sallau, the Speaker of the Kano State…
An Abuja Grade 1 Area Court, sitting in Kado on Tuesday sentenced a scavenger, Yakubu Jibril, 18, to eight months in prison for vandalism. . He was arraigned for joint act, criminal trespass and theft. . The Presiding Judge, Alhaji Ahmed Ado, sentenced the convict without an option to pay a fine after he pleaded guilty. . Ado, however, gave the convict an option to pay nine thousand naira. . “The punishment is to make you change your lifestyle from that of crime to being a good citizen,” he stated. . Earlier the Prosecutor, Mr Simon Ibrahim, told the court…
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday in Abuja, described the defection of former Vice President Atiku Ababukar to the All Progressive Congress (APC) on Feb. 2, as “a voyage”. . Mr Uche Secondus, Deputy National Chairman of the party, said this while declaring open a Strategic Consultative Workshop for Women in Media and Communication. . Secondus, who was chairman at the workshop organised by Mrs Kema Chikwe, the PDP National Women Leader, in collaboration with the International Republican Institute, said that PDP would be willing to receive Atiku back after the voyage. . “The good thing is that the…
The Yobe Police Command on Tuesday confirmed the killing of 18 traders by bandits in Bara village. . Alhaji Sanusi Rufai, the Commissioner of Police in the State, told newsmen that the traders were ambushed by the bandits while travelling back from Ngalda market. . “The bandits attacked and killed 18 traders; 10 from Kukuwa and eight from Dokshi villages’ and took away their money. . “The bandits were masked and wearing army uniform’’, he said. . Sanusi said that a policeman attached to a quarry in Bara village was also shot dead by the fleeing bandits. . “The Joint…
The Joint Task Force (JTF) operating in the Niger Delta region has freed two suspected vessels carrying diesel. . The task force said that one of the vessels was carrying 282,000 litres of diesel worth N46.53 million. . The JTF Commander, Maj.-Gen. Iliyasu Abba, announced the release of the vehicles on Monday during the release of the two vessels to its owners in Bonny Island, Rivers. . The two vessels, identified as MV Ebba and MT Askja Rotterdam, were arrested along the creeks in Rivers on suspicion that they were transporting petroleum products without permit. . Abba, represented by Maj.…
Former Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State on Monday rated himself as the best among the 39 aspirants jostling to become candidate of PDP in the June 21 governorship election. . “I am the only person who can defeat the incumbent governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).’’ . The former governor made these remarks at a meeting of 172 out of 177 Ward Chairmen of PDP in his campaign office in Ado-Ekiti. . “I am the first PDP governor in the state and there is no aspirant with credentials that are better than mine. .…
Gov. Adam Oshiomhole of Edo on Monday said that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President, could not be a godfather to the All Progressives Congress (APC). . Oshiomhole made this known when he spoke with newsmen after paying a solidarity visit to APC secretariat in Asaba. . He said that it was not possible for Atiku to become godfather to a party he did not form, adding that “Atiku came to join what already existed, so he cannot be a father to APC. . “But what you should talk about Atiku joining APC is the fact that such an…
The Nasarawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday announced the suspension of the state Deputy Governor, Damishi Luka-Barau, from the party. . It can be reported that the state Interim Chairman of the party, Mr Standly Buba, told newsmen in Lafia that his suspension followed a recent interview the deputy governor allegedly granted to journalists in Abuja. . “The party faulted Luka-Barau over his comment in faulting the decision of the National Executive members of the party that its members at the National Assembly should not sign any bill sent by the president. . “Why is…
Governor Sullivan Chime and other leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State have expressed satisfaction with the declaration by the new National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu that candidates would not be imposed on the electorate. . Mu’azu made the promise during a solidarity visit to him by Governor Chime and the leadership of the PDP in the state, saying, there would be no more impositions from Abuja under his watch. . “If you want anything from the party, then you must go back to your people and it is what they decide that will…
Christian graduates in the country have tasked President Goodluck Jonathan to keep faith with his promise of ensuring no blood was shed on account activities leading to 2015 presidential election. . Acting under the aegis of Nigerian Christian Graduates Fellowship, NCGF, immediate past president of the group, Professor Vincent Iyawe, gave the charge in an interview. . Iyawe, who is the Provost, College of Medical Science, University of Benin, spoke shortly after their all night prayers for Nigeria, churches, body of Christ, all Christians and NCGF as part of the preparation for the group’s forthcoming national conference billed for Anambra…
Former Minister of State for Education and Delta State chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, has said that he has nothing against the state deputy governor, Professor Amos Utuama, SAN, over the 2015 elections other than protecting the interest of Deltans and the Urhobos. . In a chat with reporters in Lagos, Gbagi, lamented that people were blowing out of proportion his advice that a septuagenarian should allow the youths to aspire for Delta governorship. He said it was sad and evil that people were fabricating stories that he said he had Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in his…
A man simply identified as Wisdom, is now on the run, for allegedly defrauding over 50 job seekers, who jumped at his offer of mouthwatering jobs at the yet to take-off Federal Government Export Processing Zone, Ogodigben in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State. . It dawned on the job racketeering victims that they had been duped when they arrived, weekend, in Ode-Ugborodu to the bemused host community folks of the EPZ project, where the fraudster had directed them to meet a fake associate expected to accommodate and take them to the project site for jobs placement. . Narrating…
AS the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, formally pitched tent with All Progressives Congress, APC, a group, the South-South Movement for Atiku, SSMA, has said that the Turaki Adamawa, by joining APC, would bring the desired change that is urgently needed in the South South region as well as the entire country, come 2015. . In a statement by its National Youth Coordinator, Chief Benjamin Nomuoja, the group said: “We wish to welcome Alhaji Atiku to our great party, the APC. . As a party formed on the basis of change and good governance for the entire Nigerian nation,…
SEME, the border between Nigeria and Benin Republic has a vast area, which covers a large expanse of land. The challenge in policing this particular border is the swampy nature of the environment that tends to retard movement of patrol vehicles. When the border was visited recently, security personnel were seen at strategic positions screening people crossing from Benin to Nigeria, aside from economic activities in both countries. . The border information point surrounded by Customs officers was placed at the centre of the border line. Also, numerous seizures including second hand shoes, textile materials, bags and rice, were seen…
The Federal Government on Sunday urged Nigerians to pray for the security agents partaking in the ongoing military action to end the reign of terror in parts of the country. . The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, gave the charge at a special thanksgiving service in honour of Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, the Defence spokesman, in Abuja. . The service was held at Redeem Christian Church of God (RCCG), Central Parish, Abuja. . “We call on the relentless prayers and support of citizens for the security agents as they battle to end the menace of insurgency in parts of the…
The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, on Sunday reassured Nigerians, especially industrialists, of steady electricity supply in a very short time. . Nebo gave the assurance at the investiture of the newly elected president and council of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) in Enugu. . According to him, downturn in the power sector is only temporal and that government is doing everything possible to provide stable electricity. . “Lots of work is being done. Government is putting the right mechanisms to ensure adequate electricity 24/7,’’ he said. . Nebo praised industrialists for their steadfastness,…
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) on Sunday urged the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State to track down the killers of Mr Toyin Obadina, Deputy Editor, Newswatch Newspapers. . This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Femi Adesina, the NGE President, and made available to a news company in Abuja. . Obadina died on Sunday as a result of injuries he sustained from the gunmen on Friday on his way to his Ikorodu residence in Lagos. . He was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital where doctors battled unsuccessfully to save his life. . The…
They are the moral guide to the society and they do all in their wisdom to engender peace and preserve the interests of the larger society. Unfortunately, the various elders’ groups in Nigeria–in the East, West, South-South, Middle Belt or North -are different; they observe this rule in the breach. The most typical of them is the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) which has been in the news in recent times, for its strident pursuit of sectional and parochial interests to the detriment of the well-being of the larger Nigerian nation. . The elders, at the end of its meeting in…
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has dumped the party which gave him a platform to be Nigeria’s Vice President from 1999 to 2007, stating that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has lost touch with Nigerians and can no longer be redeemed. . It will be recalled that Atiku also left the party in 2007 to contest the presidential election on the platform of the Action Congress (AC) before returning to the PDP in 2009. . He has updated his twitter handle to include the emblem of All Progressive Congress ,APC), his new political party. . Below is…