Sumaila LG Chairman impeached by NNPP controlled Council

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09/02/2023

By Aminu Kutama

The Legislative Council of Sumaila Local Government in Kano State has impeached the Local Government Chairman, Hon. Ibrahim Hamisu Rimi resigned from his position.

The Council has recently been mired in political controversy after the defection of all councilors in the Local Government to the opposition New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a letter of resolution signed by all members of the Council on Wednesday, the Councilors accused the ousted Chairman of acting with impunity in spending the Local Government funds.

Hon. Rimi was accused of taking N181,000 monthly from the LG accounts for six month to the tune of N706,000 without any budgetary support.

The Council also announced his impeachment from office and the appointment of his deputy, Hon. Abubakar Musa Kuliya as the new Chairman.

Sahelian Times recalls that after the gale of defections to the main opposition party in Sumail, the Local Government’s administration is now fully under the control of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).

Two fake journalists in police net over transacting with cloned bank alerts

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09/02/2023

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By Ismail Auwal

The Police in Kano State have arrested two fake journalists suspected to have defrauded a trader with a fake bank alert.

Spokesperson of the state police command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, in a statement on Wednesday, said the two suspects identified as Mujahid Kabir and Abba Imam, bought a bag of rice at N33,000 from a plaza at Sharada quarter and generated a fake bank alert.

“On 2nd February 2023 at about 1700hrs, a report was received from the Manager of a Plaza at Sharada Quarters, Kano Municipal LGA, Kano State that, two people went to their Plaza, purchased a bag of rice at Thirty-Three Thousand Naira (N33,000:00) and generated a fake alert to them”, the statement read.

“On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command CP Mamman Dauda, psc(+) raised and instructed a team of detectives led by SP Abdulrahim Adamu, Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Sharada Division to arrest the culprits.

“The team immediately proceeded to the scene and arrested the two suspects while trying to escape, one Mujahid Kabir, ‘m’, 30 Years old, of Ahmadu Bello Way and Abba Imam, ‘m’, 30 years old, of Zoo Road Kano. On spot search, the suspects were found in possession of Vision FM Personnel Identity Cards.

“On preliminary investigation, the suspects confessed to having gone to Vision FM Radio station Kano, stole two personnel Identity Cards and made fake copies bearing their names and photographs. They further confessed to having gone to the said plaza at Sharada Quarters, bought a bag of rice and made a fake transaction with the cashier.

“The Commissioner of Police directed the case to be transferred to the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for discreet investigation. Suspects will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.

“The Commissioner of Police appreciates the good people of Kano State for their prayers, support, encouragement and cooperation. He advised residents to be wary of fraudsters and scammers, secure their bank details and report suspicious transactions to their banks. In case of emergencies or suspicious personal(s) / item(s), Kano State Police Command can be contacted through the following phone numbers; 08032419754, 08123821575, 09029292926.”

Kano Hisbah investigates cleric for serial sexual exploitation of his female students

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09/02/2023

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By Ismail Auwal

Kano State Hisbah Board has summoned an Islamic school teacher in Kano State for alleged sexual exploitation of his female students.

The teacher who connives with his wife to defile the female students in their matrimonial room has so far confessed to most aspects of the crime.

According to the Commandant of the Hisbah board, Sheikh Harun Ibn-Sina, the teacher, who is a son of a renowned late cleric in the state had earlier impregnated one of his students and was forced to marry her.

Ibn Sina told Freedom radio that the man did not stop there, but continued to deceive his students in the name of love and defiled several of them.

Hisbah also confirmed that, based on the investigation, the teacher was found to be conspiring with his wife, whom he impregnated before marrying, and using their matrimonial home for the illicit acts.

He also added that after inviting the teacher, he revealed information that proved the allegations against him, noting that further investigation had commenced into the matter.

Ibn Sina pledged that Hisbah would reveal to the public whatever action it took against the suspect.

$1.6b money laundering trial: Former top NNPC officials jailed two years

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08/02/2023

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By News Desk

Justice Nnamdi Digmba of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 sentenced the duo of Victor Briggs and Abiye Membere, both former top officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC to two years imprisonment after he found them guilty for “Unethically collecting car gifts as public officials,” an offense which contravenes Section 98 of the Criminal Code Act,

They were convicted on Tuesday, February 7 but the court reserved sentencing till today, February 8, 2023.

When the matter resumed today, the convicts through their counsel, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, while O.A Atolagbe who held the brief of lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, urged the court to impose custodial sentence on the defendants.

Justice Dimgba sentenced the convicts to two years imprisonment with an option of Two Million Naira fine each, to be paid immediately to the Federal government.

The convicts were prosecuted by the EFCC for conspiracy in inducing the NPDC to facilitate the lifting of crude by Olajide Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited; and receiving car gifts from Omokore and his companies

One of the charge reads: “That you, OLAJIDE JONES OMOKORE, ATLANTIC ENERGY BRASS DEVELOPMENT LTD, ATLANTIC ENERGY DRILLING CONCEPT LTD and KOLAWOLE AKANNI ALUKO (now at large) between May 2013 and March 2014 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court obtained by false pretense and with intent to defraud, 7,551,867 barrels of crude oil (Brass blend) valued at the sum of $823,75,189.95 (Eight Hundred and Twenty Three Million, Seventy-Five Thousand, One Hundred and Eighty-Nine US Dollars and Ninety-Five Cents) from Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Federal Government of Nigeria on the false pretence that you had funds (both local and foreign) necessary to support the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited in petroleum operation for the OML 60,61, 62 and 63 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act Cap. A6, 2010, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.

Group tasks governors to support El-Rufai’s suit against FG’s naira swap policy

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08/02/2023

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By Ismail Auwal

A coalition of civil society organizations has demanded Nigerian Governors Forum to join the three governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who have sued the Federal Government over the Central Bank of Nigeria’s naira redesign policy (CBN).

In a statement signed jointly by its convener, Dr. Usman Halilu, and his Secretary, William Abel, the group emphasized that an opportunity has presented itself for the governors to demonstrate that they genuinely care about Nigerians.

According to the group the silence of governors will be taken as an endorsements of the supposedly ill thought and poorly conceived naira redesigned policy that has crippled many small and medium businesses across the country.

” It would be unfortunate for governors to support a clearly anti-people policy that has thrown many Nigerians into unimaginable hardships.”

The group also appealed to governors to throw their weight behind the three Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and Bello Matawalle (Zamfara).

According to the statement the federal government has embarked on the policy within a narrow and unworkable time frame, and this has adversely affected Nigerian.

The group also expresses its disappointment with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate for supporting the Federation’s Demonetization Policy, which is “currently being carried out by the CBN under President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive.”

“It is clear that the policy is not in compliance with the extant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 and actual laws on the subject.”

The coalition also commend the action of the three governors for ” dousing” the tension the scarcity of new notes has generated tension in the country.

FEC approves N117bn for Oil Museum in Bayelsa

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08/02/2023

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Agency Report

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N117 billion for the construction of Oloibiri oil museum in Bayelsa.

The Minister of State for Petroleum resources, Timipre Sylva, while briefing the State House correspondents on the outcome of the council meeting, chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja said the proposed museum will also serve as a research centre to enhance academic activities.

”The Federal Executive Council today approved the award of the contract for the construction of the Oloibiri Oil Museum and Research Centre to Julius Berger PLC in the sum of N117 billion with a completion time frame of 30 months,” he said.

The minister stated that the Museum, which started in the early 80s by the late President Shehu Shagari but could not be continued due to paucity of funds.

He, however, revealed that the Buhari administration had injected life into the project because of its importance.

On the recent emergence of queues at petrol stations across the country, the minister accused some marketers of frustrating government’s efforts in making the product available to motorists.

“This is quite unfortunate and we are not happy at all with what is going on. Every hand is on deck to check the excesses of these marketers.

”At the moment today there is supply but unfortunately we are experiencing some bottle necks in the distribution and movement of the product to various destinations.

”I want to assure you that everything is being done; the NNPC Ltd. and all other stakeholders are working hard to ensure that this problem is resolved.

”We have reports of profiteering by marketers and I have directed the pricing regulatory agency, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to sanction anybody who profiteers on this kind of situation.”

Also addressing the correspondents on the outcome of the FEC meeting, Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika disclosed that the council approved N721 million for the award of contract for the maintenance of the Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano State.

“It is a contract that was awarded for airport maintenance and technical support at Malam Aminu Kano Airport in Kano.

”It will be for a period of 12 months and the sum of the contract is N721 million and the memorandum was approved,” he said.

While giving an update on the introduction of a national carrier for the country, Sirika said all arrangements had been concluded and the carrier would soon commence services.

“Nigeria Air will soon start flying. We have got the aircrafts ready, they have been painted in their colours.

”We are now at stage five, which is Air Operator Certificate (AOC) issuance by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and once that is done, the airline will begin to fly,” he further revealed.

Kwankwaso refuses Atiku’s plea through former heads of state, clerics to step down for him- Buba Galadima

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08/02/2023

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By Ismail Auwal

A chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has claimed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has sent former head of states and prominent religious scholars to convince the NNPP presidential candidate,Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, to drop out of the presidential race and support him.

Galadima in an interview on Trust TV’s Daily Politics, also alleges that the PDP candidate has spent billions of naira to succeeds on the mission.

“Atiku is using religious leaders to appeal to Kwankwaso to step down for him, Atiku used former heads of state and prominent people to appeal to Kwankwaso, Atiku used traditional rulers, spent billions of naira to persuade them to go and talk to Kwankwaso to step down for him.

“He used northern groups to try to manipulate and say that they interviewed the presidential candidates and found Atiku to be the best. They know we know, they could not achieve their vision.

“We are more northerners than them. Kwankwaso is from Kano and I am from Gashua. My village to the extreme part of the north is about 50 kilometers, so I am northerner than them and I am older.

“Recently he (Atiku) sent some three prominent Islamic scholars to Kwankwaso’s house to kneel down for him pleaded to step down, we sent them away. Yes, who are they? We respect that regalia but if they remove it, we will ask small boys to deal with them.”

Galadima added that NNPP will win even in Atiku’s polling unit.

He said, “We will defeat Atiku in Jada Local Government of Adamawa State. Atiku is not in this race. Yes on paper he is but he is not a candidate. How would win, through what?

Breaking: Irate youth set Sha’aban Sharada’s campaign vehicle ablaze

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08/02/2023

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By Ismail Auwal

Some angry youth on Wednesday have attacked and set ablaze a campaign vehicle branded with Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada Campaing Poster at Mandawari, Kano Municipal Local Government Area of Kano State.

The vehicle was still burning at the time of filling this report.

However, eye witnesses told SAHELIAN TIMES that the driver of the vehicle has escaped unhurt.

It’s not clear what led to the attack. Police could not be immediately reached for comments.

Details later.

Senator Nwaoboshi rearrested, sent to prison for N805m fraud

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08/02/2023

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By Ismail Auwal

Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Peter Nwaoboshi has been rearrested after he went underground for eight months after the Court of Appeal in Lagos convicted and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment.

The lawmaker who was intercepted by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at a Hospital in Lagos on Monday, February 6, was finally remanded in Ikoyi Custodial Centre today, February 8, 2023, to commence his prison term.

The Court of Appeal had in a judgement it delivered on July 1, 2022, sentenced him to prison after it convicted him on a two-count charge of money laundering and also ordered the winding up of his two companies, Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd and Suiming Electrical Ltd, in line with the provision of Section 22 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2021, and their properties forfeited to the Federal Government.

But the lawmaker who was not present in court at the time of the ruling, went underground and refused to present himself to the Nigerian Correctional Service. Instead, he proceeded to the Supreme Court, praying the apex court to not only set it aside the judgment of the appeal court but grant him bail, pending the determination of his appeal.

But in a unanimous decision on January 27, 2023, the apex court dismissed the application. In the lead judgement by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court wondered why Nwaoboshi, who refused to submit himself to the law, would seek the indulgence of the law.

Adam Zango divorces wife for posting picture on TikTok

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08/02/2023

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By Fatima Kabir

A prominent Kanywood actor, Adam Zango, has divorced his wife for allegedly posting her picture on Tik Tok.

In a video posted on his Tik Tok account explaining why he has separated from his wife, the kannywood actor noted that he issued a stern warning to her in the early days of their marriage about posting pictures on social media.

According to Zango he was shocked to see her posting a picture of her henna and her face.

He further alleged that his wife also refused to stop a business she started in his house which he disapproved.

Zango has built a reputation over the years for marrying and divorcing various women.