News Agency of Nigeria
Court orders final forfeiture of ex-Zamfara governor’s money in Zenith, Polaris banks
The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered the final forfeiture of former Governor of Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari’s funds domiciled in Zenith and Polaris Banks. While 56, 056.75 dollars was lodged in Polaris Bank account, the sums of N12.9 million, N11.2 million, 301, 319.99 dollars; N217, 388.04 and 311, 872.15 dollars were kept in different Zenith Bank accounts in the name of Yari and his companies. Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, in a judgment, held that the former governor had not shown good cause why the order sought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) should not be granted. Yari served as governor of Zamfara between May 2011 and May 2019. The ICPC had instituted a suit, praying the court for the former governor to show cause why the money unde...
Ebonyi governor vows to prosecute officials linked to communal crisis
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has vowed to arrest and prosecute people, including government officials, linked to the communal crisis involving Effium and Ezza Effium indigenes of Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state. Over 60 people have been arrested, according to newsmen. The police have confirmed that eight people died, while several houses have been razed in the crisis caused by a leadership dispute at a local motor park, newsmen reported. Even government officials involved in the carnage would not be spared, Mr Umahi said on Monday during a tour of the affected community. “All political appointments and developmental projects being executed in the crisis area should be suspended until permanent peace returns to the area,” the governor said, adding that a judicial panel of...
Mob sets robbery suspect ablaze in Benue
The Police in Benue on Sunday said a robbery suspect was set ablaze by an angry mob while attempting to steal a motorcycle in Makurdi. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Catherine Anene, disclosed this to newsmen in Makurdi through a text message. Anene said that the command received a piece of information that a young man, while attempting to snatch a motorcycle from its rider, was arrested by the mob and immediately set ablaze. She, however, appealed to the public to stop taking laws into their hands, and rather report all cases to appropriate authorities for action. “Information was received at Wurukum area that a young man attempted to snatch a motorcycle from a cyclist and was arrested by a mob. “On reaching the scene, it was discovered that the suspect had b...
Nigerian government distributes relief materials to IDPs in Bauchi
The Federal Government has distributed relief materials to 578 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Shira Local Government Area of Bauchi. Alhaji Basheer Mohammed, the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), made this known at the presentation of the materials to the IDPs on Saturday in Shira Local Government Area of Bauchi State. Represented by the North-East Zonal Coordinator, Mr Abdullahi Kaoje, he said the donation was part of the federal government’s commitment to bring succour to those affected by the activities of armed bandits and cattle rustlers in the state. Mohammed explained that the donated items were meant to serve as palliative measures to cushion the bad effects as a result of the loss of their loved ones...
Court fixes date to hear suit seeking to oust ex-Speaker Dogara from House over defection to APC
Twitter The Federal High Court, Abuja, will, on February 4, hear a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asking for the declaration of the seat of Rep Yakubu Dogara vacate on account of his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Justice Okon Abang fixed the date on the grounds that it was not convenient for the court to take the matter. Newsmen report that while the PDP and its Bauchi State Chairman, Hamza Akuyam, are the plaintiffs, Dogara, who was the immediate-past Speaker, House of Representatives; the speaker of the House; the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF); Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC are 1st to 5th defendants respectively in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1060/2020. NAN reports that Dogara, who represents Dass, Tafawa Bal...
Voter apathy mars Kano council poll
Saturday’s Kano State local government election, recorded low turnout of voters, as only a handful voters were seen in polling units, newsmen reports. NAN correspondent who went round polling units across the metropolis, reports that there was voter apathy in almost all polling units during the poll. Areas visited included Chedi, Zage, Zango, Gandu, Sharada, Wailawa, Dorayi, Kabuga, Rijiyar Zaki in Kano Municipal, Gwale, and Ungogo local government areas of the state. NAN reports that the election started around 10:30 a.m. with heavy presence of policemen and other security personnel.However, voters interviewed, expressed delight at participating in the election. Malam Jazuli Yusuf a voter in Gwale, said he voted at the election to exercise his civic right. Yusuf said the election would en...
FRSC: Bauchi road accident claims 21 lives of 22 passengers
Mr Yusuf Abdullahi, the Bauchi state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has said that 21 out of the 22 passengers involved in a road accident in Bauchi have died. Newsmen report that the accident occurred on Sunday morning, when a Toyota Hummer bus belonging to Borno Express heading to Maiduguri from Jos, with 14 passengers, and a VW Golf 3 wagon coming from Misau heading to Bauchi, with 8 passengers, including two female children, onboard, had a head-on collision. The two vehicles had plate registration numbers as BO89A28 for the bus, and MSA759XA for the Golf car, respectively. A total of 22 passengers were involved in the auto-crash, two initially survived with fatal injuries, and were receiving treatment at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBU-TH), ...
Anambra records 89 new coronavirus cases
Anambra State has recorded 89 new confirmed cases of coronavirus in its second wave, bringing the total confirmed cases in the state to 169 as of January 13, C-Don Adinuba, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, has said. Mr Adinuba, in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in Awka, urged the citizens of the state to shield themselves from the COVID-19 pandemic following the second wave in Nigeria. He said the need to repeat the precautionary call was as a result of a considerable increase across the state, with 453 confirmed cases and 334 persons discharged. According to him, it is a worrisome situation with the state having recorded a total of 14,267 tests done. He appealed to the public to comply with all precautionary measures in order to sustain the health safety m...
Normalcy returns to Kwara community after security operatives, drivers clash
Normalcy returned to Ilesha-Baruba community in the Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara on Monday after a Friday clash between security operatives and commercial vehicles drivers. The clash between the security operatives and drivers in the area left at least three persons dead and several people injured from gunshots. Newsmen report that the clash occurred on Friday during a misunderstanding over “bookings’’ between the operatives mounting roadblocks on the Ilesha-Baruba/Chikanda highway and commercial drivers plying the route. The corpses of the deceased, which had earlier been deposited at a morgue in Saki, Oyo State, were brought into Ilesha-Baruba on Sunday night for burial. Newsmen who went round the community reports that the residents have returned to their normal businesses. Ma...
Ex-Benue MILAD Isa Kontagora passes on at 65
A former military administrator of Benue, Retired Col. Aminu Isa Kontagora, has passed on. Gov. Samuel Ortom, while announcing his death on Monday in Makurdi, said the retired colonel died on Sunday, Jan. 10, at the age of 65. Ortom declared Tuesday, Jan. 12 as work-free day in the state to enable the people mourn the former military administrator. He further directed that all flags be flown at half mast in honour of the deceased. Ortom in his tribute, described the death of Kontagora as a great loss to Nigeria and Benue in particular, adding that his footprints in the state remained indelible. The governor described Benue as second home of the deceased, having remained in touch with the state during happy and trying moments. He sympathised with the government and people of Niger over the ...
Man docked for ‘stealing’ chicken breeders
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Friday brought a 48-year-old security man, Peter Sanbe, before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, for allegedly stealing chicken breeders. Newsmen report that Sanbe of an undisclosed address, was docked on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and unlawful neglect of duty. According to the Prosecutor, Insp. Catherine Michael, Sanbe and others still at large, did conspire to commit the offence. Michael said that Sanbe, who was employed on Dec. 9, 2020 by NASTECH Farm, allegedly stole 84 chicken breeders on Dec. 30, 2020. She alleged that the chicken breeders valued N420,000, belonged to the defendant’s employer, located at Alako area, Ido, Ibadan. “Sanbe was also charged for allegedly neglecting his duty post unlawfully when the ...
Nigeria: 1,375 irregular migrants arrested during border closure
The Federal Government said on Monday that no fewer than 1,375 irregular migrants were arrested while the border drill code-named, ”Exercise Swift Response,” lasted. Newsmen report that the border drill held between Aug. 20, 2019 and Dec. 17, 2020. Speaking at a new year media briefing in Lagos on Monday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the border drill was a huge success. The minister said the seizures so far during the period included 157,511 – 50kg bags of parboiled foreign rice, 10,447 bags of NPK fertiliser used for making explosives and 18,630 jerry cans of vegetable oil. The total monetary value of the seized items, according to him, is about ₦12.362 billion. Newsmen recall that ”Exercise Swift Response” was launched as part of efforts to secure th...
