Category: Featured

By Abel Leonard Nzwanke/Lafia.

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to appear before it to explain alleged exclusion of Labour Party’s logo and the name of its candidate, Mr Umaru Angibi, in the ballot paper that was used for the last governorship election in Nasarawa State.

Justice Evelyn Maha ordered both INEC and leadership of the LP to appear on September 5, following an exparte motion with suit number: FHC/LF/CS/9/19, which Angibi filed through his lawyer, Mr. Joshua Barau.

The court gave the applicant the nod to within 24 hours, serve the order on the respondents via substituted means to enable them to file their processes in response to the suit within 48 hours after service.

The applicant had in his suit, sought for leave to paste the processes on the entrance gate of the party’s headquarters at No. 29, Oke Agbe Street, Off Ladoke Akintola Boulevard, Garlic II, Abuja.

He equally applied for abridgment of the time within which the respondents could file their memorandum of appearance and defense to the suit.

The applicant argued that “The election, having been conducted by the 1st respondent (INEC) without including the plaintiff/applicant’s name and party logo.

“This matter was filed since March 7. This court must abridge the time within which the respondents may file their defense so that the matter can be heard and disposed of within the time left”.

He told the court that the matter came up on four occasions in the Lafia Division of the Federal High Court before it was transferred to the Abuja Division.

The told the court that the party had on all the occasions, failed to appear in the matter, despite attempts by the bailiff to serve the originating processes and hearing notice on it.

“That the 2nd defendant at all material time always refused, declined accepting service of the orientation processes in the guise that the person responsible for receipt of same is not on sit and no other person can accept to receive processes except him.

“Attached is the affidavits sworn to by the court bailiffs marked as exhibits A, A1, A2 and A3.Mr

“That personal service on the 2nd defendant/respondent of the originating process and all other processes filed and/or to be filed in this suit will be impossible and inconvenient as nobody may be found there at the time of attempting to serve the 2nd defendant/respondent personally or everyone around decline to accept service as they have always done since this originating process was filed.

“I verily believe that it is a matter of urgency that this suit is heard speedily and time within which the respondents may file their defense to the suit be abridged”.

He, therefore, prayed the court to in the interest of justice, order the two respondents to appear on the adjourned date.

By Abel Leonard Nzwanke lafia

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has queried the Chairman of the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr Mohammed Dan’azumi, for hording and refusing to distribute sporting kits to various schools across the 13 local government areas and 18 development areas of the state.

The governor also expressed displeasure over the manner at which sporting kits procured by the SUBEB were not utilised after over two years of procurement, but were rather left in the open where they were being destroyed by rain and sunshine.

The governor also queried the SUBEB boss for ignorance of staff strength on the payroll of the board alongside his management staff when he paid an unscheduled working visit to the board’s headquarters in Lafia.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it has obtained orders for the interim forfeiture of assets traced to a former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha; his wife, Nneoma Nkechi, and their daughter.
The Head, Enugu Zonal Office of the commission, Mr. Usman Imam, disclosed this on Wednesday in Enugu while briefing newsmen on the activities of the commission in the last eight months.

Imam said the EFCC also obtained similar order on a property traced to a former aide to Okorocha, Mr. Paschal Obi, and the former governor’s daughter.

He said that the commission had established prima facie cases against the suspects, which they would answer to.

Imam said that the commission would like to know how the Rochas Foundation and “other accomplices” acquired and or converted some of the property for personal use.

He listed some of the property to include a 16-block 96-flat structure and an eight-bungalow multimillion naira estate, hotel, two schools, shopping plaza, supermarket, hospital and four vehicles.

The EFCC chief said that while the hospital was traced to Obi, the remaining property were traced to the former governor and his family, including his wife and daughter.
“We hope to get permanent forfeiture orders on the property in order to return them to the people of the state,” he said.

Imam said that all the facilities, including the schools, would remain functional as the commission would not like to shut them down for the sake of the students and other users.

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC has said that it had recorded a total of 45,347 pipeline breaks on its downstream network between 2001 and mid-2019.

The Group Managing Director, GMD, Malam Mele Kyari, stated this at the Nigeria International Pipeline Technology and Security Conference, in Abuja.

“Between 2001 to half-year 2019, NNPC has recorded a total of 45, 347 pipeline breaks on its downstream pipeline network. The cost of vandalism, which includes fatalities, loss of revenue, asset and environmental degradation, affects everyone. Lost revenue, possible loss of employment, collateral damage to national image, loss of investor confidence etc will obviously affect everyone in the long run,’’ he said.

The GMD also said that in 2018, a total of 19 fire incidents were recorded on the petroleum products pipelines. This, he said, remains a challenge for stakeholders and they must come together to find a lasting solution to, in order to end the menace.

Kyari said that the importance of pipelines could not be overemphasised, adding that when there are no pipelines to transport petroleum products, the alternative is to transport by trucks. He said that the high number of trucks involved in the daily transportation of products over long distances contributed to highway accidents and deterioration of the nation’s road network.

“Based on Federal Road Safety Corps estimate, Nigeria has lost about N7.157 billion to road traffic accidents involving 116 petroleum product tankers during the first half of 2018,’’ he said.

He called on all stakeholders including Pipeline professionals, communities, government institutions and industry players to tackle the menace.

Kyari said that the corporation would deploy technology, physical deterrent interventions and other soft options to arrest the menace.

He noted that some progress had been made over the last three years, but more work needed to be done.

“We have sustained awareness campaign, removed illegal structures on pipeline rights of ways, and we are deploying appropriate technology to mitigate attacks on pipelines as well as to reduce our response time to incidents,’’ he said

He said that Nigeria required billions of dollars annually to tackle its infrastructure challenge and to achieve this; there was the need to adopt a Public-Private Partnership.

By Danzumi Ishaku Jalingo

Clerk, Taraba State House of Assembly Mr. Orngu Mellah has denied hosting an emergency meeting of Tiv elites in Jalingo Taraba state.

Mellah made the denial in a statement he issued on Wednesday to newsmen in Jalingo.

The clerk said the publication circulating on social media was intended to blackmail and cause mischief to his reputation and carrier as a civil servant, especially as clerk of the house.

“I want to draw the attention of the general public to a mischievous and defamatory publication circulated by one Tsokwa Fwaje on the social media against my person.

“This publication clearly intends to blackmail and cause mischief to my reputation and carrier as a civil servant and particularly as the Clerk of the Taraba State House of Assembly.

According to Mellah the publication has unfortunatly attracted a lot of negative comments against him on the social media.

“I wish to state categorically that I do not belong to any such group named in the publication and therefore, did not hold such a meeting.

“The post clearly exposes the evil intent and malice nursed against me by Mr Tsokwa Fwaje whom I don’t even know”.

He therefore said, “Iam giving the author of the libelous write-up to retract his publication and tender an unreserved apology to me, to be published in all platforms in which he made such publications”.

By Danzumi Ishaku.

The Taraba state House of Assembly under the speakership of Right Honorable Able Peter Daiah Speaker, has inaugurated 20 man committees to oversight the affairs of ministries in the state.

Speaking during the inauguration in Jalingo, the speaker said the main purpose of the standing committees is to oversight the activities of the other government agencies under their jurisdiction.

The Speaker who was represented by his Deputy Danladi Gwapo, said good governance presupposes accountability and transparency is possible when there is checks and balance.

The speaker commended the Taraba state Governor for his harmonious working relationship between the all arms of government in the state.

He urged members of the committees to take the opportunity as means of ensuring good governance and not as a platform for witchunt.

Earlier, Clark of the House Mr Mela Orngu, urged ministries, department and agencies to exhibit rubost partnership with the committees.

He said that the Constitution of committees was part of the tradition to conduct it’s mandate with efficiency.

He listed some of the Standing committees to include, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Education, Science Technology, Finance and Appropriation, Poverty Alleviation, works and Housing, Information Culture and Tourism, Health Services Social Welfare youths and sports, Water Resources and Rural Development, Justice, Judiciary and Cabinet Affairs among others.

By Dazumi Ishaku

The alleged lopsided and fraudulent employment of over 250 staff in Federal Polytechnic Bali, Taraba has become an issue of concern.

Investigation reveals that the institution employed over 250 members of both academic and non-academic staff in recent time without following due process as enshrined in the public service rules concerning employment into public offices.

Our correspondent gathered that those issued with appointment letters were not duly interviewed before appointment.

It was also discovered that the institution disregarded the standard of public service rules on employment into public offices by not complying with Federal Character Principles on employment into public offices.

One of the staff of the Polytechnic who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity said the Polytechnic management has received an increase of N50 million on it’s former N30 million monthly allocation to clear backlog of outstanding staff promotion and migration allowances being owed to staff.

He accused the management of shortchanging staff of the Polytechnic by embarking on a shoddy and fraudulent employment which grossly violated the public service rules.

He also accused the management of issuing appointment letters to newly employed staff before asking them to write and submit their handwriting application letters.

“we noticed with dismay that the appointment letters issued to those new staff did not state the date of their resumption of duty which looks dubious and criminal”.

“The management can decide to divert those funds they corruptly earmarked for the employment within the period in which those staff were employed”.

We are calling on the National Board for Technical Education, Federal Character Commission and the Federal ministry of education to probe the scandalous employment carried out by the management of the Polytechnic spearheaded by Dr Jen, Rector of the Polytechnic.

“The relevant agencies should ensure that standard practices are upheld for day to day administration of the institution because the Polytechnic does not belong to a single individual, ethnic group or religion”.

When contacted, the Rector of the Polytechnic Dr. Saidu Jen said that he hurriedly issued the appointment letters to satisfy the MBTE requirements for the introduction of new courses and accreditation of other courses earlier introduced in the Polytechnic.

Dr. Saidu Jen who spoke through the Acting Registrar of the Polytechnic, Sirajo Isa El-Yakub said that the exercise was carried out with a good intention to beat up the MBTE date for visiting the Polytechnic for programmes accreditation.

According to Sirajo El-Yakub, the MBTE has given the Polytechnic a latter notifying us of their visit for accreditation exercise.

He also debunked the allegation that the management violated public service rules insisting that the employment waiver was granted for employment of 80 members of staff since 2015 and interview was conducted there after.

The Acting Registrar further explained that the overshoot in the number of employed staff was due to another vacancies inherent in the institution due to retirement and death of some staff.

He however, said that the management was already in the process of revilidating the employment process as they planned to reach out to relevant agencies on this issue.

On the increament in allocation to the Polytechnic, the Acting Registrar said that the funds were granted in the 2019 budget for the purpose of employment as that had been the management demand over time.

He argued that the funds were not meant for any staff arrears but for the employment of staff to meet up manpower inadequacy in the Polytechnic.

Although, documents tendered to our team of reporters showed that 80 slots were granted by FCC for employment and interview were conducted as far back as 2015 but over 250 we’re employed whose majority did not pass through the interview process.

Also funds were released in line with budget demand for the employment of more members of staff to augment the manpower shortfall.

By Abel Leonard Nzwanke/Lafia

The Department of Petroleum Resources,has vowed to clamp down iilegal fuel and gas station in Nasarawa state.

Speaking with our reporter in his office recently the comptroller Engr. Abdulrahaman Mohammed Bima said that all illegal fuel and gas stations will be closed and everyone operating without a permit will be arrested and the department will ensure their prosecution.

Engr. Mohammend also said that ” before now there have been a lot of illegal fuel and gas stations in the state especially in Lafia, but since the establishment of DPR in Nasarawa we have closed down all illegal stations”.

Similarly, the comptroller also made it known that same exercise that was carried out in Lafia would be replicated in all the 13 local government areas were their are fuel and gas stations.

Reacting to impersonation, Mr abdulrahman said ” Yes we have seen cases of such but we have always warned owners of filling stations to always check for ID cards, DPR jacket, DPR official Vehicle and must always call the comptroller’s phone numbers giving to them”.

Reacting to retailing of gas he said “yes they are not suppose to refill gas at their level what they are doing is decanting and it is very dangerous that is why before you can retail, you must have a DPR permit so as to know if the environment is conducive, if you don’t have it it means you are operating illegally and necessary actions would be taken to ensure they are prosecuted”.

Engr. Abdulrahaman also said “series of meetings have been held with them and forms given to all retailers and are expecting them to come to DPR office and obtain a permit that there are survelance already by their personels ensuring that they comply”.

He however urge the people of the state to report any illegal act ranging from product diversion, product adulteration, change in official price to DPR.

Daybreak recalls that the NSCDC nabed a fake DPR staff in Nasarawa recently who has been charged to court.

By Abel Leonard Nzwanke

Senator representing Nasarawa West at the National Assembly, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has commended security forces for the arrest of the mastermind of the recent attack on the convoy of the deputy governor of Nasarawa State.

Senator Adamu, a former governor of Nasarawa state gave the commendation in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists in Lafia.

It would be recalled that 3 policemen and two civilian drivers were killed when gunmen attacked the convoy of the Deputy Governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe on his way to Abuja.

It would also be recalled that the Department of State Services (DSS) in Kano State, said it has has arrested a kidnap kingpin, said to be the mastermind behind the attack.

The suspect, Muhammad Akazakwai, was arrested at his mother’s residence in Kano, where he was being treated for gunshot wounds.

Senator Adamu said “The Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police have announced the capture of the mastermind of the criminals who launched a gruesome attack on the convoy of the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe.”

“I wish to use this medium to commend the intelligence gathering actions of all the security agencies that led to the arrest of the assumed criminal.”

“The arrest shows that our security agencies are not sleeping over security matters and it also reveals that they are equipped with the requisite personnel who can deliver on a secure and peaceful country. I hope that this type of action from security agencies will go a long way in deterring the activities of criminally minded persons in our society” he said.

By Abel Leonard Nzwanke/ Lafia

The immediate past governor of Nasarawa State and now senator representing Nasarawa South, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, says he has been vindicated at the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa.

Al-Makura said this in Lafia at a rally organised by his supporters. He said, “This judgement which I consider a landmark is also a judgment that indicated that I won a free and fair election as the duly elected senator of Nasarawa South Senatorial District.

“I am happy and appreciate the efforts of my constituents that democracy and the rule of law have come to stay, I will maintain an open-door policy for my people.”

The senator was reacting to the judgement delivered last Friday in Lafia that upheld his election as the duly elected senator representing Nasarawa South.

He further stressed that his election represented the will and wishes of the people of his senatorial district, adding that the judgement will give him the impetus to continue to do those things that he has been doing for the people.

“I have a lot of opportunities to do much more, better now that the constituencies have been reduced to one-third of the state,” he added.

It would be recalled that on February 2019, Al-Makura polled 113,156 votes to defeat his closest opponent and candidate of the PDP, Senator Suleiman Adokwe, who garnered 104,595 votes

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Ag.editor