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Police Order Immediate Clampdown On Unregistered Vehicles In Abuja

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigeria Police Force has ordered a total clampdown on vehicles without number plates or with a single number plate plying the FCT roads.

FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, said that the clampdown is to curb kidnapping and other crimes in the nation’s Capital, as part of strategies to tackle kidnapping and other crimes.

The FCT Commissioner also directed the heads of the tactical units “to identify black spots, possible kidnappers’ den in the Territory and ensure they take the fight to them”.

He gave the directives when he met with the Management Team, leaders of all tactical units and Heads of Departments of the FCT Police Command comprising Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) on Saturday.

Igweh said the meeting, which he deemed necessary, is aimed at revamping the approach of the already existing security framework and to set in motion the plan to ensure the safety of residents in the Federal Capital Territory.

Addressing the officers, the CP urged them to “embrace intelligence led policing, visibility policing through constant stop and search duty in the fight against criminality”.

He emphasized “the need to adopt effective community partnership in the discharge of their duties, as he will have zero tolerance for laxity.

He, however, reiterated his readiness to combat criminality in the Territory, as he called on residents to collaborate with the Police in the fight against crime and to avoid boarding vehicles along the road and unapproved parks.

He urged residents to report suspicious activities through the following emergency lines; 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883; PCB: 09022222352.

Sokoto Rerun: PDP Rejects Tambuwal West Constituency Result, Allege Manipulation

By
Ayodele Oni
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INEC By Elections

By Ayodele Oni

The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Sokoto has rejected one of the three results in the re-run election conducted on Saturday.

The party, in a statement on Sunday, described the results of Tambuwal West Constituency, as a daylight robbery.

The State’s spokesman, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal,  however, congratulated the winners of the other two contested seats.

INEC had declared the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Dahiru Bashir Ahmed, as the winner of the Tambuwal West constituency with a total number of 19,315 votes.

He defeated PDP’s Hantsi Sule Romo who polled a total number of 19,021 votes.

The statement reads “The Sokoto State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party wishes to felicitate with the Members-Elect for Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency Hon Umar Yusuf Yabo and Bodinga North State Constituency, in the State Assembly, Hon Abubakar Magaji for winning their respective rerun elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC on Saturday 3rd February 2024

“The PDP also commends its supporters across the constituencies as well as its supporters in all parts of Sokoto State for their efforts and dedication despite intimidation by agents of the Sokoto State Government, who were bent on rigging the process in favour of APC candidates.”

On the Tambuwal West result, the statement said, “The PDP however, totally rejects the outcome of the re-run election in Tambuwal West State Constituency, which we described as a political daylight robbery by some bigwigs of the Sokoto State Government, who snatched the ballot box of one of the polling units already won by the PDP and changed the results in favour of APC candidate

“Our party condemns the barbaric act and alerts stakeholders and indeed, the people of the entire state of the type of characters that lead the politics and government of the APC in Sokoto State.”

Fallout Of Rerun Election: INEC Sanctions Official Over Missing Ballot Papers

By
Ayodele Oni
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Fred Ogboji- the Electoral Officer for Jos North

By Ayodele Oni

In the aftermath of Saturday’s rerun election in some states, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended one of its officials for negligence.

Mr. Fred Ogboji, the Electoral Officer for Jos North Local Government Area, was sanctioned following the disappearance of ballot papers during Saturday’s rerun election in Plateau State.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Mr. Isah Idakwo, the state Head of the Department of Electoral Operations, announced the suspension on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC). Ogboji has been directed to step aside to allow for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the missing ballot papers for the House of Representatives election in 16 polling units within his jurisdiction.

“You are directed to step aside from office to enable the commission to carry out a proper investigation into the circumstances that led to the missing House of Representatives ballot papers in 16 polling units in your local government area.

“You are further directed to hand over to Mr Elekwa Onyemauche, the local government supervisor, and the two registration area supervisors of Tudun Wada Kabong and Naraguta B to coordinate and complete the remaining process.”

The development comes after INEC was forced to reschedule elections in 16 polling units within the Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency on Saturday due to the missing ballot papers.

Dr. Oliver Agundu, the state  REC, announced the postponement in a separate statement.

Police Parade Suspected Killer Of Ekiti Monarchs

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Efforts of security agencies and local vigilantes to unravel those behind the gruesome killing of two traditional rulers in Ekiti state are yielding result as the State Police Command paraded one Baboba Alhaji for involvement in the killing.

Briefing Journalists in Ado Ekiti weekend, on the success, the AIG in charge of Ekiti, Dare Ogundare, said it took the combined efforts of security agencies in the State to apprehend the suspect.

According to him, the suspect had confessed to the crime while efforts were on to apprehend his accomplice.

The AIG, who said no arrest was made during the release operation of the abducted school pupils and their teachers, however, informed journalists that some suspects were rounded up at Oke Osun, in Ikere Ekiti, Igbo Okah and Iju-Ikere boundary forest.

On whether ransom was paid to secure the release of the pupils and their teachers, the Police Boss said that the Nigeria Police would never encourage ransom payment, commending the Inspector General of Police, and the Ekiti State Governor’s intervention in the quick release of the abductees.

Ogundare said that efforts were on to apprehend those behind the abduction of the pupils.

Answering questions from Newsmen, the suspected killer of the Ekiti  Monarchs, Babola, confirmed his involvement in the crime.

Don’t Play Politics With Aba, Abia Peace, Ngwa Forum Warns Otti, Speaker

By
The Source
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Alex Otti

By Daniel Maduka

The Aba Ngwa Peoples Forum, an umbrella body of Ngwa Ethnic Nationality has called on the Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti and the Speaker of the State  House of Assembly Rt Hon Emmanuel Emereuwa to refrain from any acts  capable of plunging Aba  the Commercial heart beat of the state into avoidable carnage, under any political disguise.

The Ngwa Forum said it is shocking and completely unfathomable that the State Legislative Body ,under the  leadership of Speaker Emereuwa has refused to swear- in Hon.Aaron Uzodike as Member Representing Aba North state constituency ,almost three months after being declared as  duly elected by the Appeal Court.

The body alleged that on two occasions ,Hon Uzodike,s swearing- in were stalled ,in moves widely perceived as having the imprimatur of the Dr Otti ,the state Governor,.

According to the Forum,apart from the Governor being scared of having the Peoples Demoratic Party PDP in majority with the swearing – in of Hon Uzodike, Speaker Emereuwa believes that his ambition to vie for a slot in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly in 2027 will be threatened.

The source Magazine reports that the Appeal Court Sitting in Lagos had in November last year nullified the electoral victory of Labour, Party,s Hon Destiny Nwagwu on grounds of improper nomination, and subsequently affirmed PDP,s Uzodike as the rightful winner.

In a Communique issued on Sunday February 4 jointly signed by the President Comrade Chimezie Nwagba and Arch Chinedu Ahuruonye Secretary and made  available to the media, the Ngwa Forum wondered on what other legal and moral grounds that the leadership of Abia state House of Assembly is standing to justify its continued refusal to swear-in Hon Uzodike as declared by the highest Court of Jurisdiction in National Assembly Elections Petitions.

” We have it on good authority that the Speaker had on two previous occasion fixed dates for the swearing- of Hon Uzodike ,only to cancel it because he is being influenced by Labour Party,s LP Governor Otti.

We have also noted with utmost dismay that the Speaker has vehemently refused to swear- in Hon Uzodike because of his ( Speaker,s ) ambition in 2027 .

They are also goaded by their quest to ensure that the ranks of Labour Party in the State Assembly is not depleted.

In all ,we are seeing justice and fairness being sacrificed on the alter of selfishness, recklessness, and bloated ambition .

More  worrisome is that ,while the lawful owner of the seat of the member representing the good people of Aba North is left in the lurch ,the man who has long been sacked by the Court of Appeal has been illegally occupying the seat with the backing of the Speaker and Governor Otti .

This is official rascality taken too far and it is only in AbiaState that such illegality and recklessness would thrive unquestioned” the Forum stated

The Communique, further noted that ,the Speaker by brazenly lending his office for illegality of this nature and disobedience of Court judgment has no doubt violated the oath of office he took to uphold and protect the constitution of Nigeria.

” We are calling on Abians of good conscience to join us in asking the Speaker this compelling question- If it were a member of the Labour Party that was declared the winner by the Appeal Court , would speaker Emereuwa have deliberately disobeyed the court ruling as he is doing in the present circumstance?

We have been carefully  watching the rascality playing out at the Abia State House of Assembly and seriously view the unlawful actions of the Speaker as an invitation to anarchy .

It is disheartening that the Speaker has drawn a clandestine plan to throw Aba and Abia state in general into civil unrest ” the Forum .

In the interest of justice ,and peace Hon Uzodike should be sworn -in as a member representing Aba North state constituency within the next 7 days as we may not be able to forestall the crisis that may result from any further delay

This, also should serve as a notice to security agencies in the state that  crisis is brewing in Aba.” the Forum stated.

N7bn: Sharia Council Dares EFCC To Name Sponsors of Terrorism

By
James Orji
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The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria, SCSN, has dared the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to publish the identities of the religious organization responsible for terrorism in the country.

The Council was responding to the EFCC claim last week that N7 billion was traced to the account of a particular religious body out of the N30 billion the commission said was stolen from the country.

The Executive Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Ola Olukoyede was quoted to have made the remark during a one-day dialogue tagged “Youth, Religion, and the Fight against Corruption.”

Olukoyede said “As I’m standing before you, there is a matter we are handling: a pyramid scheme that involves over N30billion fleeced from Nigerians.

“Along the line, some people died, some victims collapsed and all of that. We were able to trace over N7billion to a particular religious body, and I said, to write a letter to the leader of that religious sect, and we did.

“The next thing we saw was a restraining order. We got a restraining order restraining us from recovering the money. Meanwhile, people have died along the line. Money traced directly to your body, and that is what we are battling. Of course, we have appealed, and this is the situation that is facing us, religious leaders.”

Following the outburst that greeted the remark, the EFCC later said the religious organization was neither a church of mosque.

Reacting in a statement, the Sharia Council President and Secretary Sheik Abdularasheed Hadiyatullah , Malam Nafiu Baba Ahmad, said the gravity of the allegation was too serious for the EFCC not to mention the name of the religious body, adding that the alarm raised by the agency has created panic across the country.

The council, said: “The gravity of the situation calls for immediate public clarification of the group and decisive action to address the disturbing nexus between religious groups and Insurgency. Accordingly, we urgently call upon the EFCC to publish the list of all sponsors involved in criminal activities.”

Breaking: A Former Gov Dies In Saudi Arabia

By
James Orji
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Bukar Abba Ibrahim, a former governor of Yobe state has died.

The former governor was among the first set of governors at the return of Nigeria to democratic government in 1999.

He was in that position for eight years.

He had earlier served as governor in the northern state during the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida botched transition to civil between 1992 and 1993.

According to a family source, the former governor died on Sunday, February 4, in Saudi Arabia after a protracted illness.

Ibrahim was a very influential politician in the state during his time.

Apart from ruling the state as chief executive, he also served as a senator for two terms representing Yobe East Senatorial District.

The late politician was born in 1949 in Goniri, Gujba in the old Borno state.

Bayelsa: APGA Upset; Candidate Defeats Chief Whip

By
James Orji
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The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has created an upset in the one of the rerun elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the country on Saturday.

The party’s candidate Amakoromo Waikumo, has been declared winner of the of the Yenagoa Constituency II House of Assembly rerun held at the weekend.

The election was one of the court-ordered rerun election conducted by INEC across 26 states in the country.

The victory of Waikumo is considered a surprise considering that the state is a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stronghold.

Virtually all the elective positions in the oil rich state are controlled by the main opposition PDP, including the governorship, state and national assembly positions.

According to the results declared by the Mahmood Yakubu-led electoral umpire yesterday, Waikumo polled a total of 5,959 votes to beat his closest rival, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, of the PDP who scored 5,263 votes in the election.

Prof. Chris Onyema, the Returning Officer, and Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Otuoke said the APGA candidate has satisified all the requirement to be declared winner of the keenly contested rerun election for Yenagoa Constituency II.

During the March 2023 state House of Assembly election, the APGA Candidate had scored 4,971 votes while the PDP candidate scored 4,593 votes.

The PDP candidate who was unsatisfied with the results, challenged the result at the election tribunal for alleged irregularities, after which the court ordered a rerun election in seven polling units in Gbarain and Ekpetiama.

The defeated PDP candidate was the Chief Whip of the assembly.

Finally, Abducted Ekiti Pupils, Teachers Released, School Bus Driver, Killed

By
Ayodele Oni
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Abducted Ekiti Pupils

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and security agencies for ensuring the release of abducted school children in the state.

Report revealed that the pupils and their teachers were left off the hook around 2.00am Sunday after five days in kidnappers den.

The driver of the school bus was, however, unlucky. He was killed by the kidnappers.

It was, however, not certain if ransome was paid. But another report stated that the sum of N7 million was paid by parents of the pupils.

A statement on Sunday by the Special Adviser, Media to the Governor, Yinka Oyebode,  stated that “the Governor wishes to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Security agencies and Ekitikete for their support which led to the timely release of the kidnapped pupils of Apostolic Faith Nursery and Primary school, Emure Ekiti.

“The children and their teachers were released in the wee hours on Sunday, February 4th, and brought to the Elemure Palace around 4am.

“However,  the driver of the school bus was reportedly, killed in the custody of the kidnappers.

“The Governor while congratulating the children and their families, expresses his profound appreciation to President Tinubu for giving specific directives that put the search and rescue mission on top gear.

“He also thanks the security agencies for their collaborative efforts during the search for the students, just as he extends appreciation to Ekitikete home and abroad for their support during the security situation experienced last week.

“Noting the traumatic experience of the children in the kidnappers’ den, Governor Oyebanji  has directed the Commissioner for  Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani to take the children to the state Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti for proper medical treatment and post trauma therapy.

“The Governor, who kept vigil with Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele till 3.00am to ensure the release of the children, acknowledges the solidarity shown by his colleagues Governors, former Governors of the State as well as Religious Leaders and Traditional Rulers.

“He also thanks members of the Ekiti State Caucus in the National Assembly and members of the State House of Assembly for their support. And more importantly, we thank God for everything.”

Governor Oyebanji  also restated the determination of his administration to stamp out crime and criminality from the State by making the environment unbearable for criminals operating under whatever guise.

Similarly, the Governor says killers of the two Ekiti Obas would be fished out and made to face the maximum weight of the law.

He urged the people of the state to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movement in their communities to the authorities.

“APC And  PDP Are Evil” – Lamido, Says Tinubu’s Economic Policies Make The Rich, Poor Cry

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has said the two leading political parties, in Nigeria, All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are evil, but described the PDP as a better evil which Nigerians can bear.

Lamido, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs who spoke on Arise TV political programme pointed out that Nigerians can now choose between the lesser evil and dangerous species if only change is required in the Country.

Lamido, who criticised the Federal Government policies on economy, which make both the rich and poor to be crying, insisted Nigerians can not afford to remain in the hellish situation created by the APC.

Lamido noted that the unifying factor among Nigerians currently is hardship.

“I think the choice is very narrow. You either join the PDP or you remain in your own hell. You see no matter how you analyze, what we have stolen, how dirty we are, we are better evil than the APC.

“Therefore, the choice of Nigerians are two evils- a very dangerous evil which is the APC and maybe a very saintly evil, the PDP.

“I was vilified, humiliated and called a devil. I went through all kinds of agony simply because I was trying to tell Nigerians about the APC and now, they are in power now and they are saying what.

“I always say this. Nigeria is a country so blessed and well endowed by God with the human population which is a huge asset.

“But then, somehow, there is something missing in us. In the last eight years of APC government, we have been through hell and we have been overwhelmed and now being pushed to the extreme.”

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