Author: Farouk Abbas

HASHIRU Baku, alleged mastermind of the murder of late Brigadier General Harold Udokwere (rtd), has been arrested by the police. This newspaper had reported how the general was killed by armed robbers who invaded his private residence at Sunshine Estate, Abuja, in the wee hours of June 21. Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Commissioner, Benneth Igweh, had paraded the suspected killers two days after the incident. While parading them at the command headquarters in Abuja, he had said two among the robbers were at large and had escaped with the deceased’s pistol. He gave the names of the suspects as…

THE Kogi State Government has urged its citizens to reject any form of violent protests and embraced “Not-in-My-State” movement, aimed at promoting peace and stability in the state. This was as the State government expressed solidarity with the Federal Government’s efforts to revitalize the economy, citing positive results from fiscal and monetary policies, as well as economic stimulating incentives. This was contained in a press statement issued by Commissioner for Information and Communications Kingsley Femi Fanwo on Sunday and made available to New Telegraph in Abuja. The administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo highlighted its commitment to investing in agriculture,…

THE Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to probe cases of electoral violence against Nigerian governors and their deputies during the 2023 general elections. Delivering judgment in the suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu also ordered the electoral body to “identify suspected perpetrators and their sponsors and ensure their effective prosecution.” This was contained in a statement on Sunday by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare. “The appointment of independent counsel to investigate cases of electoral violence and other electoral offences against state governors and their…

A FEDERAL High Court sitting in Abuja has discharged Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola and Kolawole Shittu, both former aides to former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, of N3.5billion fraud. Speaking with journalists after the ruling, Makanjuola, who was accused of fraud alongside two others, expressed relief and gratitude to God over the outcome of the suit filed against him. “To God be the glory, I have been vindicated. It’s been a tough journey for me for almost eight years, but at the end of the day, I just want to thank God for seeing me through,” Makanjuola said. He praised the…

DEPARTMENT of State Services operatives have killed one and arrested another of the kidnappers of Hajiya Hauwa’u Adamu, mother of popular Kano-based Hausa singer, Dauda Rarara. Gunmen had broken into the residence of Rara’s mother in Kahutu village in Danja Local Government Area of Katsina State and abducted her on Friday, June 28, 2024. She, however, regained freedom after spending 20 days in captivity. A highly placed source in the secret service told Daily Trust that N26.5 million was also recovered in a covert operation. The source said the Kano command’s tactical team, based on reliable intelligence, busted a gang…

THE Federal Government is set to spend N3tn on the new minimum wage and the payment of pensions and gratuities, this newspaper has learnt. The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, disclosed this on Friday during a meeting with the Senate Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Olamilekan Adeola. The minister presented the general principles of the newly amended 2024 budget to the committee at the meeting. Recall that President Bola Tinubu had, after a meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress on Thursday, approved a new minimum wage of N70,000 for…

THE Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Friday issued a suspension notice to Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) over alleged non-compliance with market rules. The company in a statement said the AEDC has also failed to provide the Market Operator (MO) with an adequate bank guarantee in line with Section 15.3.3 of the MO. It stated that the DisCo had been notified of these defaults and has been given five business days (starting today) to restitute or be disconnected from the national grid. According to the statement, the disconnection date is slated for July 28 at midnight. “The MO had…

THE Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has released the pictures, names and other information of inmates who escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Suleja, FCT Command, as a result of the collapse of the facility’s perimeter wall following a heavy downpour on Wednesday, 24 April 2024. In a statement by Abubakar Umar, the Public Relations Officer of NCoS on Thursday, this step has become pertinent in an effort to recapture them and bring them back to custody. “The information of the fugitives is hereby published for sister security agencies as well as the general public to look out for them…

POPULAR Kano politician and an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Dan Bilki Commander has been assaulted. In a viral video, the politician who was handcuffed was flogged by some unidentified persons. They had asked their victim to identify himself, which he did, before they asked follow up questions on why he criticised Governor Uba Sani, even though he is not an indigene of Kaduna State. Known for being very vocal, Commander usually tackles politicians during programmes on radio stations in Kano. Amid intermittent lashing, Commander could be heard saying, “I have a heart problem.” However, in another view showing Commander…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the Organised Labour are in last-minute talks over a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers. The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero; and his counterpart at the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, are present at the State House in Abuja. Thursday’s meeting is one in a series of talks between labour leaders and the President. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had on Monday said the President will meet with the Labour leaders “to finalise their thoughts and then he will make his informed decision known…

THE Federal Government has directed that admission to tertiary institutions should not be given to candidates under 18 years old. The Minister of Education, Mister Tahir Mamman, gave the directive in Abuja on Thursday at the 2024 Policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Although the announcement elicited mixed reactions from vice-chancellors, rectors and registrars present at the meeting, the minister decried the activities of some parents, who are pressuring their underage wards to get admission into tertiary institutions. The minister said that the 18-year benchmark is in line with the 6-3-3-4 system of education. Professor Mamman…

THE Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, said on Thursday a new curriculum would be introduced for secondary schools nationwide by September 2024. Tahir made this known at the ongoing 2024 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board policy meeting in Abuja. “We are working hard to ensure that a new curriculum is introduced for secondary schools by September,” Mamman said. Mamman noted that the exercise has been on for the past year and a stakeholders meeting will be held on August 6,2024. “It is our plan that by September, this programme will be implemented in all schools, public and private,” the…

THE House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character on Wednesday summoned the Director General (DG) of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dayo Mobereola. This followed the failure of the DG to appear before the Committee for an investigative hearing after being duly invited. The Chairman of the Committee, Idris Wase, who expressed displeasure over Mobereola’s absence at the hearing at the National Assembly Complex, rejected his representative. Mobereola had sent the Agency’s Director of Administration of Human Resources, Osembi Osigche, to represent him before the Committee. Wase said the DG had not shown regard for the Committee…

JUSTICE Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, adjourned proceedings on the alleged money laundering case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against a former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to September 25, saying proceedings would continue despite the appeal filed by the defendant. Counsels to the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, had told the court that they had filed an application for stay of proceedings on the case, pending the determination of the appeal pending before the Appeal Court on an arrest warrant earlier granted by the lower Court and…

HAJIYA Hauwa’u Adamu, mother of the famous Hausa singer, Dauda Adamu, popularly known as Rarara, has been released by bandits. The aged woman was released after she spent 20 days in captivity, according to a source close to the family. The source said after her release, the singer’s mother was taken to a hospital in Abuja where she is currently receiving medical attention. The source said her health condition deteriorated as she was suffering high blood pressure when she was abducted and that her health condition worsened while in captivity. Jubilation broke in Kahutu village, hometown of the singer in…

THE Nigeria Labour Congress, on Tuesday, threatened to shut down the country for a month in protest against plans by the National Assembly to deregulate the national minimum wage. NLC’s threat came as the nation awaits a new national minimum wage following months of negotiations between Organised Labour, the Federal Government, and the Organised Private Sector. NLC President, Joe Ajaero, declared the position of the union while speaking on the sidelines of the 67th Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association Annual General Meeting in Lagos. Ajaero said, “As we are here, a Joint Committee of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and…

THE arraignment of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, over the alleged N80 billion money laundering charges made against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday) may be stalled again, as Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has been asked to adjourn indefinitely, proceedings in the charge, pending the determination of an appeal filed by the former governor, which is pending at the Court of Appeal, Abuja. In the Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CR/535/2024, in which the trial Judge, Justice Emeka Nwite is being accused of miscarriage of justice,…

THE Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) has fixed the 19th of October, 2024, for the conduct of local government elections in the state. The decision by Kogi SIEC to conduct the council election might not be unconnected to the Supreme Court Judgment of July 11, 2024, that granted financial autonomy to the local government administration. The Apex Court held that the local governments across the country should, from the date of the judgment, receive their allocations directly from the Accountant-General of the Federation and described the caretaker committee as illegal in the eye of the constitution. Kogi State House…

JUSTICE Hamza Muazu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has rejected an application by former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, for permission to travel to the United Kingdom for a follow-up medical checkup. Justice Muazu, in a ruling, held among others, that Emefiele failed to supply sufficient materials to show that the medical trip was essential and unavoidable. Justice Muazu found that, while Emefiele claimed there was an invitation for him to travel to the UK for medical attention, he failed to tender a copy of the said invitation in court.…

A FEDERAL High Court, Abuja, on Monday, adjourned the trial of Ali Bello and his co-defendant, Dauda Suleiman, until Tuesday for the continuation of the 7th prosecution witness (PW-7)’s evidence. Justice James Omotosho adjourned the matter after the EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, led Aminu Rabiu, who is the PW-7, in evidence in the ongoing trial of the defendants in the alleged money laundering charge. The EFCC, in the charge, had sued Bello and Suleiman as 1st and 2nd defendants in the case. Upon resumed hearing, Oyedepo told the court that the matter was fixed for continuation of trial and…