Category: News

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) conducted a raid on a lounge in Osogbo, Osun State, where an illicit substance party named “Unholy Alliance…for Stoners and Drunkards” was scheduled for Saturday, November 25. The operation resulted in the arrest of organizers found in possession of drug exhibits.

Following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives apprehended individuals at Berrymist Lounge in Ofatedo, Osogbo, preventing the planned party. Those arrested include Ikotu Omolayo (25), Fola Olabode (30), and Akorede Adunni Ajibola (22). The lounge management has also been summoned for further investigation. Additionally, the agency disclosed a prior raid on November 23 in the Area 5 forest reserve, Ile-Ife, where 156 kilograms of cannabis sativa were seized.

In separate operations, NDLEA operatives arrested suspects in Ogun State, intercepting 859 kilograms of cannabis sativa hidden among sugar bags in a truck. Similar interventions occurred in Edo State, leading to the recovery of 338 kilograms of cannabis in a warehouse at Obi Camp (Owan West LGA) and 235 kilograms in Ikhin forest (Owan East LGA) on November 25.

In Edo State, Onah Kenneth Ikechukwu (32) was apprehended at Jattu, Etsako West LGA, with 11,690 tramadol capsules, 295 bottles of codeine syrup, and various quantities of Molly, Cannabis, and Methamphetamine on November 22.

In Lagos, a raid on November 22 at Enu Owa Street, Lagos Island, resulted in the recovery of 40,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 440,000 tramadol pills in a store belonging to a suspect, Ebuka Amechi. Additionally, 135,600 tramadol capsules and 950 grams of cannabis were seized from Afamefuna Ibekwe (37) and Sunday Onweh (41) in Nkpor, Akuzor, and Ose-Ogbaijo, Onitsha. Another operation in Ekiti State led to the seizure of 288 kilograms of cannabis at Odo-Owa forest in Ijero LGA, and 116 kilograms of the same substance were confiscated from Chinagoram Obaru (24) at Iju forest.

The NDLEA continues its efforts to combat drug-related activities and trafficking across various states.

In a tragic incident along Koko-Jega Road, a police inspector attached to the Kebbi State Command lost his life in a lone accident involving a police vehicle on investigative duties. The accident occurred after a tyre burst, causing the Toyota Land Cruiser to flip three times into a roadside bush.

According to Police spokesperson Nafi’u Abubakar, the crash took place during a crime scene visit in Koko/Besse Local Government. The vehicle, carrying a team of ten officers led by ACP Suleiman Sade, including a senior superintendent, experienced a rear tyre failure around the NNPC location in Koko.

Abubakar’s statement read, “On 25/11/2023 at about 1000HRS, there was a lone fatal motor vehicle accident along Koko/Jega road, involving a Police Toyota Land Cruiser with REG. NO. 5465D.”

He continued, “The vehicle was conveying a team of policemen led by AC CID, Kebbi Police Command, ACP Suleiman Sade and nine others, while on their way to visit a scene of crime at Kendawa village, Dutsinmari District of Koko/Besse Local Government Area.”

At the NNPC area in Koko, the rear tyre of the vehicle burst, leading to it somersaulting three times into the nearby bush. The occupants, including Inspector Sa’idu Idiya, were rushed to a hospital in Koko. Unfortunately, Inspector Idiya was confirmed dead, and the injured officers were later moved to Birnin Kebbi’s FMC for further treatment.

“The scene of the accident was immediately visited by a team of Policemen from Koko Division, and the victims were evacuated to General Hospital Koko for treatment, where one Inspector Sa’idu Idiya of the SCID died as confirmed by a Medical doctor.”

Inspector Sa’idu Idiya was laid to rest in accordance with Islamic rites. The police spokesperson expressed condolences and prayed for the departed officer’s soul to rest in eternal peace.

By Ibrahim Goronyo,Sokoto

Sokoto State Governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto has directed the total renovation of the first residence of former
President Shehu Shagari that was gutted by fire last week.

The Governor gave the directive shortly after visiting the burnt house to assess the extent of damage caused by the inferno.

He described the inferno as catastrophic and unfortunate, describing the burnt house as historic not only to Sokoto State but the country as a whole.

Statement made available to newsmen in Sokoto by the Press Secretary to the governor, Abubakar Bawa quoted the governor as saying “To us, this house is of great historical importance being the first residence of the former Nigeria’s first democratically-elected President Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari.

“Its like a historical
monument to the upcoming generation, therefore, we’ll renovate this house,” Aliyu added.

Governor Aliyu commiserated with the family of the late
President over the inferno and prayed Almighty Allah to prevent the recurrence of the disaster.

He thanked the Almighty Allah that no life was lost in the inferno,
and appealed to the family to see it as an act of God.

It could be recalled that the former
President’s residence was razed down by fire on the 81th of this month,leading to the loss of many properties.

The Governor was taken round the affected portion of the burnt house by some of the family members of the former President.

The Governor was accompanied on the visit by the APC leader in the State,Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tukur Bala Bodinga, his Deputy, Kabiru Kware, State APC Chairmam, Isa Saddiq Achida,Secretary to the State Government, Muhammad Bello Sifawa, members of the State Executive Council, Special Advisers and Special Assistants, among others.

*Rewards Qur’anic Recitation winners with Hajj Seats, Cash Award
*Kuaran solution to end terrorism- Sheikh Abdullahi

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, said his adminstration would ensure a great improvement on the 2024 Hajj exercise, saying the 2023 was characterized by accommodation and feeding hitches, vindicating the report on the poor conduct of the exercise.

Governor Sani who spoke in Hausa, made the assertion at the finals of the Annual Qur’anic Recitation Competition held in Kaduna on Saturday,

He also announced Hajj seats for the overall winners of the Annual Qur’anic Recitation Competition in the State for male and female categories, for been impressed about this year’s Qur’anic recitation.

The two winners according to the Governor, will be among the official clerics that will serve as guides and preachers for pilgrims from Kaduna State in the 2024 Hajj exercise.

The Governor also, in his personal capacity donated cash prizes to winners of the competition from first to fourth positions across different categories of the competition.

On the 2024 Hajj exercise, the Governor said he has inaugurated a committee to ensure that the next Hajj exercise is hitch-free and a great improvement on the 2023 exercise, which was characterized by accommodation and feeding hitches.

Sank stressed that, many people have approached him seeking contracts on Hajj services like pilgrims uniforms, foods, accommodation and others.

Hhe however said that, “What I want to tell whoever gets contract for Hajj services, is that, they should fear Allah and give the best to the pilgrims so that, they can earn the prayers of the pilgrims, not the wrath of Allah the pilgrims are going to serve.”

While speaking on the importance of the Holy Qur’an, Governor Sani said, the society will be at peace if all Muslims read the Qur’an and follow its teaching.

Meanwhile, delivering a lecture at the event, National Leader Jama’atu Izalatu Bid’ah Wa Ikamatu Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau also said that Qur’an is the solution to ending the challenges of terrorism, because whoever understands Qur’an will not engage in terrorism and banditry.

He remarked that, Muslims, especially the scholars must go back to the Qur’an and teach it to others, saying that, that is the bast way to achieve peace.

While commending Governor Uba Sani for his contribution to the propagation of Islam, the Islamic cleric urged him to carry on with the good works of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai and ensure welfare of the citizens of the state, adding that, infrastructure development without citizens welfare is not good enough.

He urged Nigerians, especially Muslims to stay away from worshipping anything other that their creator.

The Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Dahiru Liman also donated the sum of N1.5million to the winners and judges of the competition.

Highlight of the occasion was presentation of prizes to the winners of the Qur’anic Recitation Competition….

A group, Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) has called for strategic intelligence gathering and collaboration among security agencies in the country to end alleged connivance on terrorism financing.

The chief of defence staff, General Christopher Musa, had earlier disclosed that some Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East planned attacks from the prison in connivance with prison warders.

However, addressing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, the president of CSGGG, Chief Ogakwu Dominic, while acknowledging the gravity of the information shared by General Musa during a public hearing, expressed concern over the public nature of such allegations.

Dominic said the CSO believes that inter-agency collaboration is crucial in the fight against terrorism, and discreet engagement between the military and NCoS would have been more effective in addressing the issue.

“Coordination, management, and utilisation of information are key in waging the war against terrorists, and public disclosure hampers the covert operations necessary for success,” he said.

Dominic urged Musa to refer to the National Crisis Management Doctrine (NCMD) for coordinated crisis management.

Acknowledging the swift response of the minister of interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in launching an investigation into NCoS officials, Dominic also commended the initiative to free 4,000 inmates, relieving pressure on current NCoS manpower for better performance.

He also called on President Bola Tinubu to support the infrastructural revolution of the nation’s correctional facilities, emphasising the need for modernisation to align with international best practices.

While commending the sacrifices of the military in ensuring internal security and sovereignty, he called for collaboration on de-radicalisation efforts, emphasising the NCoS’ exclusive right in this regard.

Addressing the National Assembly, Dominic called for a reconsideration of their approach to security issues, stressing the importance of avoiding the public disclosure of sensitive information that aids insecurity.

Dominic asserted that “security is a collective business requiring collaboration among various stakeholders. It behooves the military to collaborate with the NCoS and save the nation from embarrassment.”

In a show of solidarity, supporters of Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, gathered at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Sunday. Their purpose was to pray and peacefully protest, advocating for the maintenance of the status quo in Kano State.

The Court of Appeal recently upheld the decision of the Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, which nullified Yusuf’s victory, declaring Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress as the rightful winner.

Last week, protests erupted in Kano, triggered by reported discrepancies in the certified true copy of the Court of Appeal judgment that ousted Yusuf.

In Ibadan, supporters displayed placards with messages such as ‘Justice for Kano,’ ‘Kano Abba Muka Zaba,’ ‘Abba is our Choice,’ and ‘Kano voted for Abba.’ They cautioned the judiciary against actions that could potentially incite unrest in Kano and other regions.

Ahmad Sawaba, the Special Adviser to the Kano State Governor on Wildlife Preservation, expressed concern about the pronounced differences between the court’s statements and the Certified True Copy. He urged the Supreme Court to thoroughly review the judgments and deliver justice.

Sawaba emphasized that the people of Kano had chosen Yusuf through their votes, urging the judiciary to respect the will of the electorate to prevent Kano and other parts of the country from becoming theaters of conflict.

He stated, “The Supreme Court judges are highly respected. Our hope is that they will justify the confidence reposed in them.”

Notably, the Yoruba community in Kano has expressed concerns about potential attacks following the protests over reported discrepancies in the appeal court judgment.

As National Assembly Management sets Committee to Investigate Alleged false Bill submitted to Tinubu

BY Lateef Taiwo

Over 40 coalition of Civil society has described recent media reports on the ongoing reforms by the management of the national Assembly management led by the Clerk of the National Assembly , Sani Magaji Tambuwal, as an unfortunate development .

The group expressed concern on the negative story sponsored by some individuals and group in National Assembly management without proper investigation by media houses before going to the press.

“ while the management of the National Assembly is not immune from investigations, the media practitioners should not allowed itself to be used as pawn in the political chess game by those who lost out in any contest in National Assembly management leadership “

National trail investigation at the Corporate Affairs Commission ( CAC), and the Code of Conduct Bureau revealed that there is no registered company or entity traced to the Clerk of the National Assembly

The Chairperson of the Conference of Civil Societies, and Coordinator of Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMICO), Comrade Adams Otakwu has disclosed plans of collaboration between the Civil Society, Armed Forces, Security and Intelligence Community to clamp down on Subversive Groups and Elements who operate under the guise of Civil Societies and other platforms.

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday the 25th November 2023, Comrade Otakwu said “the activities of these individuals and groups who hide under the umbrella of Civil Societies to blackmail and extort public officials, perpetrate heinous crimes and indulge in reactionary and fraudulent activities, portray a bad image of the civil society, and undermine national security”

He expressed concern over incessant blackmails of the Armed Forces, Security Agencies, National Assembly and other critical institutions in the country, by subversive elements and so-called ‘coalition of civil societies’ or ‘concerned citizens groups’.

Otakwu who further described such needless and mindless machinations as “inimical to the country’s

progress” also cautioned against them, and disclosed plans by the Conference of Civil Societies to collaborate with the Armed Forces, Security and Intelligence Community to clamp down on these elements in the interest of National Security and development.

The group in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, also warned against attempts by “some so-called civil society groups from distracting the CNA through blackmail and spurious allegations that are unfounded and misleading” in the performance of his duties.

National coordinator of the PYF, Otunba Bamidele Adigun, and National Organising Secretary, Musa Isah, stated that since Tambuwal’s assumption of office as the CNA, there have been a telling improvement in staff welfare and communication in the National Assembly bureaucracy.

“It is a fact that since Mr. Sani Magaji Tambuwal’s emergence as the CNA in November, 2022 and his eventual confirmation in March this year, there have been marked improvement in staff welfare and communication with top management within the National Assembly bureaucracy,” Adigun and Isah stated in the statement.

According to the group, “the payment of N3.7bn CON-PECULIAR and other outstanding entitlements within a few months in office and the upgrade of the NASS clinic with plans for the state-of-the-art equipment, easing the transportation needs of workers with eight new buses and effecting the payment of N35, 000 palliative grant, from September,2023 are few of the pragmatic leadership of Mr. Tambuwal this past one year in office.

“We wish to further state that, we have diligently followed his leadership and management style, it is gratifying to know and see that all outstanding workers welfare packages and entitlements are been cleared as well as increase in trainings and retraining for all cadres of staff in the NASS service.

“It is on this note and many more, we call on Mr. Tambuwal to remain focused, accountable and ignore mischief makers and those given to blackmail and trading in spurious allegations.”People should be guided by their conscience in all that they do so as not to impugn on the integrity and reputation of honest leaders, desirous for the right things to be done.”

Informed sources told National trail that recent attempt at drawing the clerk of the National Assembly Magaji, into what is strictly a responsibility of the Clerks of the upper and lower legislative Chambers fell on its face.

A media report ( not Aljazirah Nigeria had reported how the Clerk Sani Magaji Tamuwal , allegedly sent a false real estate regulatory council Bill of Nigeria ACT 2023 to President Tinubu , and was rejected.

investigation revealed that nothing has exposed the traducers of the Clerk of the National and put the media on the spot like the report of the rejected Bill.

National trail gathered that despite the manifest ignorance displayed on the process of lawmaking by the media House , the management has set up a high powerful Committee to unravel the allegations.

National trail checks revealed that Bills from the Senate or the House are sent to the office of the Clerk, from the office of the Clerk it is sent to the legal department , the department scrutinized it if there are glare areas they send it back to the Clerks of either the Senate or House, for harmonization.
After the harmonization it is sent back to the legal department in the National, then the Clerk of the Assembly before the Clerk sends it to the presidency for assent.

“ In the presidency the legal department also subject the Bills to scrutiny to ensure the Bill does not conflict with extant laws, the president either decided to send such Bill back to National Assembly for corrections or amendment where necessary”
The question is who sent the Bill to the president?
National trail investigation reveaed that the Clerk Sani Tambuwal is not in a position to influence the passage of any Bill as alleged by the media.

National trail gathered that President Buhari in the dying days of his administration signed 16 constitution amendment bills out of the 35 bills transmitted to him by the ninth National Assembly.

One of the constitution review bills that President Muhammadu Buhari refused to assent to is a bill to empower the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly to summon the President and governors.

The President Buhari refused to assent to which include “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 48, 2022 (Power to Summon the President and Governors – Sections 67 & 108).

“A Bill for an Act to Alter the Second Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Empower the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly to summon the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Governors of States to answer Questions on issues on which the National and State Houses of Assembly have the Powers to make Law.”

Other bills the President failed to assent to include: “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 65, 2022 (Food Security – Section 16)

“A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to require the Government to Direct its Policy towards ensuring Rights to Food and Food Security in Nigeria.”

The President also failed to assent to the “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 54, 2022 (State of the Nation and State of the State Address – Sections 67 & 108).

“A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for a State of the Nation and State of the State Address by the President and Governor.

“Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 55, 2022 (Composition of Members of the Council of State – Part I, Third Schedule).

“A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Include Former Heads of the National Assembly in the Council of State.”

See the full list of the 19 rejected bills below:

1. Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 10, 2022 (Enforcement of Legislative Summons – Sections 89 & 129)

A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to compel persons to obey or comply with Legislative Summons

2. Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 24, 2022 (Expansion of the Interpretation of “Judicial Office” –Section 318)

A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to expand the Interpretation of Judicial Office to include Courts or Tribunals created by an Act of the National Assembly or a State Law of the House of Assembly.

3. Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 29, 2022 (Devolution of Powers [Airports] – Part I & II, Second Schedule)

A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Move Airports from Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List

4. Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 39, 2022 (Power to Enforce Compliance of Remittance of Accruals into the Federation Account and Review of Revenue Allocation Formula – Section 162 & Part I, Third Schedule)

A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Empower the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission to Enforce Compliance with Remittance of Accruals into and Disbursement of Revenue from the Federation Account and Streamline the Procedure for Reviewing the Revenue Allocation Formula.

6. Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 41, 2022 (Removal of Transitional Law-making Powers of the Executive – Section 315)

A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Remove Transitional Lawmaking Powers from the Executive Arms of Government

19. Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 66, 2022 (Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps – Section 213 & Part III)

A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Reflect the Establishment and Core Functions of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

*“We must put in place measures to ensure inclusiveness, responsiveness, fairness and integrity in policy making and service delivery” — Kaduna Governor, on June 12th, 2023*

By NASIR DAMBATTA

Kaduna, a state with an estimated population of about ten million people and 1,064 primary healthcare facilities was experiencing a man-made backward slide, owing to what discerning observers considered as weak management capacity in the state’s healthcare system. Now there is the growing consensus that five recent and unforgettable actions of Governor Uba Sani have given a major facelift to Kaduna’s healthcare delivery system. Let us maize through them, in no particular order.

Number one, is the approval by the governor, dedicating 15% of Kaduna’s annual budget to the health sector. This landmark disclosure was reported the day key stakeholders stormed Kaduna, notably officials of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF among others. The interaction between Governor Sani and the stakeholders revolved around issues of upgrading primary healthcare services with the aim of ensuring universal health coverage and routine immunisation for children and women.

Number two, Governor Uba Sani ensured the distribution of medical equipment and consumables to 290 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) of the State. The objective of committing huge resources to the supply of ultramodern healthcare facilities was to enhance access to affordable and efficient healthcare services especially in the new spirit of rural renewal.

The governor was on point to have offered that the initiative’s impact goes beyond the medical equipment but underscored the determination to invest heavily in the healthcare workforce, their training, and providing an enabling environment for professional excellence.

Hear him: “Our goal is to provide them with the tools they need to make informed decisions, deliver precise diagnoses, and administer effective treatments”.

Number three, the Governor inaugurated five mobile medical trucks, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to provide medical services to communities that are difficult to reach.

It is obvious that the mobile trucks policy will address the problems of long and difficult terrains that make it nearly impossible for rural communities to access health services.

His words: “With these medical trucks, screening and diagnosis of ailment will be brought to the doorstep of the citizens of Kaduna State. Our administration is committed to taking all necessary steps to make significant progress towards achieving universal health coverage”.

In a nutshell, the vision of his administration is to build and strengthen an enhanced health system that is adequately equipped, well-staffed with comprehensive, accessible and affordable services to deliver distanced standard of care.

Number four? The approval for the recruitment of 89 medical doctors was a game-changer. This approval for the continuation of the recruitment of 89 medical doctors to address the staffing gap identified in 2017, as recommended by a special committee, gladdened the hearts of Kaduna populace no end. This initiative, the governor once revealed, was amongst others, designed to boost doctors’ morale and improve access to quality healthcare for the residents.

Number five, Governor Sani gave full backing to the partnership with a United Nations agency to confront the growing menace of the consumption of psychotropic substances in the State. The partnership with this UN body, known as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), marked a significant milestone in the efforts to combat substance abuse in the State. This move will also be helpful to human capital development and citizen engagement.

Evidently, these five major steps by the administration of Senator Uba Sani has changed the history of Kaduna State’s healthcare services in an unprecedented way. It is therefore obvious that the governor will go down in history as a leader who gave a befitting touch to modernizing the Kaduna healthcare system, while making it so affordable that people at the grassroots will not be left out. This all-embracing strategy has been at the heart of the government’s SUSTAIN Agenda.

*Dambatta is Senior Special Assistant on Print Media to the Governor of Kaduna State, Nigeria*