Call Kyari’s, NNPCL MD, Sack Intensifies, As Niger Delta Group Joins The Fray

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July 22, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

A Niger Delta Group under the aegis of South-south Youth Initiative, SSYI, has bemoaned the chaotic experience and hardship Nigerians are going through following the removal of fuel subsidy and the hike of Petrol in the past few weeks.

Decrying the sudden hike in price with no concrete plan in place, the Youth Group called for the immediate sack of the Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mele Kyari.

Imeabe Saviour, speaking on behalf of the National President of the Group said that the NNPCL should be blamed for the present state of the nation as regards the hike in the price of Petrol.

In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the Group, it stated that the Group Managing Director of Nigerian, NNPCL, Kyari, should be sacked with immediate effect, stressing that his failure to play an advisory role caused serious problems for the present administration.

“Kyari has failed to make justice to his first role of advising the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the right policies to implement and at the right time to do so.

“We are calling on Kyari to resign his position immediately for failing to offer good advice to Mr. President. It is because of his actions and inactions that the entire country is in this present hardship.

“In sane climes, when a public office holder fails to carry out his functions effectively and the result of such action leads to some negative impact on the people, they willingly resign their position as a mark of showing remorse.

“We want Kyari to show this remorse that he has caused millions of Nigerians untold hardship. His resignation is important to Nigerians. We also want him to apologise to Nigerians for his failure to know what his functions are in the office he currently occupies, which includes providing advisory roles to the President,” Saviour said.

The Group call on President Tinubu to fire Kyari should he refuse to heed the group’s call within seven days.

It vowed to shut down offices of the NNPCL in South-South states if Kyari remained in office in the next seven days.

He said: “However, if the President fails to sack him after he refuses to resign within seven days, we will have no option but to shut down the offices of NNPCL in the States of South-South. This is not a threat, it is a promise we the youths of this nation will implement for the sake of the suffering masses.”

It would be recalled that the Coalition of United Peoples Party, CUPP, had earlier called for the sack of Kyari, which some people had labeled as witch hunt.

Why Governor Bala Sacked Six Traditional Rulers

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Ayodele Oni

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July 22, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

For their roles during the last General Elections, six traditional rulers in Bauchi State have incurred the wrath of the State Government. They have been sacked from office.

The six monarchs and one other said to be the brother of one of them were accused of working against the political interest of the government in the 2023 General elections.

The Six traditional rulers were accused of alleged partisan participation in the recent political activities leading to the 2023 General elections as announced by Bauchi State Government.

The dismissed traditional rulers are from Two Emirate Councils of Bauchi and Katagum, which are the two leading Emirates in the state, the Emir of Bauchi is the Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers while that of Katagum is the Deputy Chairman.

According to a statement dated 20th July, 2023, “The Local Government Service Commission has approved the dismissal of Six traditional rulers in Bauchi and Katagum Emirate Councils.”

The statement, signed by the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Nasiru Dewu, on behalf of the Chairman of the Commission, those affected include, Alhaji Aminu Muhammad Malami, District Head of Udubo, Alhaji Bashir Kabir Umar, District Head of Azare, Umar Omar, Village Head of Gadiya, and Umar Bani, Village Head of Tarmasuwa all in Katagum Emirate Council.

Also dismissed from Bauchi Emirate Council are: Bello Suleman, Village Head of Beni and Alhaji Yusuf Aliyu Badara, Village Head of Badara.

The statement therefore directed the affected traditional rulers to handover to their Secretaries while the Emirate Councils are to appoint overseeing officers pending the appointment of substantive officers by the Commission.

The statement explained that they were dismissed based on “involvement in Partisan Politics, Misconduct, Illegal Forest Reserve Encroachment/Falling of trees, Misappropriation of Public Funds and Insubordination, which is contrary to the Public Service Rules.”

Viral Video Of Ondo Gov Akeredolu On Sick Bed Sparks Controversy

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Ayodele Oni

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July 22, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

The Majority Leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Oluwole Ogunmolasuru, has been dragged to the dustbin for sharing a viral video of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on his sick bed.

A legal practitioner, Kayode Ajulo, in a statement on Saturday said sharing of such video showing the governor in such a pale condition is against his privacy.

According to him, it is essential to prioritize the privacy and dignity of private and public figures, especially when they are facing health challenges.

“Sharing such a video of the Governor in a weakened condition is highly insensitive and uncalled for.

“Irrespective of the rumour making the rounds, his privacy and integrity must be respected especially during this time of health struggles.”

Ajulo stressed that a more respectful approach could have been taken, such as arranging a private meeting or a personal video call to convey greetings from the esteemed well-wishers, particularly the Acting Governor, SSG, the Deji of Akure, the Olowo of Owo Kingdom and other dignitaries.

“I maintain that it was a total invasion of the Governor’s privacy and an act of insensitivity towards his well-being. As concerned citizens, we must support him and pray more for his speedy recovery, not exploit his vulnerable state for any purpose.”

Reacting, Ogunmolasuyi insisted that the viral video showing Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in the hospital was released in good faith without any intention of harming the Governor or his family.

Ogunmolasuyi who represents Owo constituency 1, however said, “I meant no harm with the video. It was sent out because some people are saying that the Governor was on life supporting machine.

“As at yesterday( Friday), he served everyone around him with food and cake without any assistance and he danced to Yinka Ayefele music for more than 1 hour 30mins and he was on his feet for over 2 hours without any support.

“He spoke with the entire 9th ODHA Assembly assembly via group call. He also spoke with the entire ODHA 10th Assembly via group call yesterday.

“He spoke with many people that called his phone to wish him happy birthday yesterday.

“Some are saying that he can’t sign or attend to issues. As at yesterday more than 14 crucial issues that involved both 9th and 10th ODHA assemblies, he was able to address them one after the other.

“I never mean any evil. All what I wanted was to let the whole world know that Oga is alive and is getting better everyday.”

Too Many Generals Healthy For Nigeria Military – Retiree, As Ekiti Monarch Canvasses Role For Obas

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Ayodele Oni

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July 22, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

As debate over too many Generals in the Nigeria Army rages, a retired senior officer has said that their presence is good for the military.

Recently, following the appointment of officers of lower ranks to head the military hierarchy, many senior officers were forced to resign

According to Gen Adeyemi Adetayo (rtd) it is a blessing for the Nigerian military to have many Generals in the Service as they are all engaged in policy formulation and other security duties.

He spoke at a reception, organized for him by the Alawe of Ilawe in Ekiti state, Oba Adebanjo Alabi and the community to mark his retirement after 38 years in service.

Adetayo and his wife were honoured with chieftaincy titles of Jagungbayi of Ilawe by Oba Alabi.

He insisted that Nigeria cannot be compared with other countries which have lesser generals as the country has only an army as against others with several armies.

“I will not support the argument that there are too many generals. People are misinformed, they don’t know what it takes to have an army.

“In some countries, they have more than an army, we have only Nigerian Army here, others have up to five or more.

“We don’t value what we have. Generals are not too many in the military, they are meant to commandments.

Adetayo described his 38 years in the military as rigorous and turbulent, and expressed happiness that his return home will afford him opportunity to contribute more to the community.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Oba Alabi renewed call for inclusion of traditional Rulers in governance, especially in the area of security.

Oba Alabi stated that “I support constitutional roles for traditional Rulers in the country. I was in the team of National Council of traditional Rulers that visited the national assembly to advocate for roles and we espoused the need for that role.

“We hope in no distant time, something will be done because they are the closest to people at the grassroot. Hardly will anything happen and they will not know.

“When you have an aggregate of traditional Rulers coming to table to discuss national issues, it will be better for the country.”

The Alawe commended the retired officer for his contributions to the development of Ilawe community which include building a befitting office for the monarch and blocks of classrooms for the community secondary school.

Donu Kogbara Loses Mother, Anne Kogbara

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The Source

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July 22, 2023

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By Gideon Njoku

Renowned International Journalist and Columnist, Donu Kogbara, has lost her beloved mother.

Her mother, Mrs Anne Chizomam Kogbara, passed on Saturday, July 22, 2023.

She was the beloved wife of the late Ignatius Kogbara, defunct Biafra’s Ambassador to Great Britain during the unfortunate Nigerian Civil War.

Her husband was later appointed a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and helped in midwifing Nigeria’s Democracy. In appreciation, a street was named after him in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

The late Mrs Kogbara, a native of Owerri, Imo State, but married to her Ogoni, Rivers State sweetheart, was born on December 14, 1935.

A staunch Catholic, vivacious and strong-willed in her beliefs, her health began to fail when her daughter, Donu, on a visit from London, to her mother, in their home in Porthacourt, was kidnapped on 2nd September, 2015.

Her 13-day ordeal in the hands of her abductors left her mother shaken, shocked and devastated.

Mrs Anne Kogbara never quite recovered from the shock of that sad incident until her passing on Saturday, 22nd July, 2023.

NAUS Set To Stage Protest Over Hike In Tuition Fees, Laments Government’s Insensitivity

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The Source

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July 22, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

The National Association of University Students, NAUS, is set to embark on a nationwide protest following the hike in the Tuition Fees of Tertiary Institutions and Government Schools nationwide.

NANS is lamenting the alleged insensitivity of the Government in increasing the Tuition Fees at a time Nigerians are facing perilous economic downturn that is affecting the masses.

A statement titled “Warning Against Tuition Fee Increment”, on Saturday, signed by the NAUS Chairman and National Deputy President, Eruobami Ayobami and Babalola Daniel, respectively, reads:

“It is with great displeasure as we Write to condemn the act of the Federal Government as well as higher institutions who have decided to increase the price of tuition in this current economic disintegration,” part of the statement read.

“It would be recalled that yesterday, Friday 21st July, 2023, the Management of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, had increased its fees for undergraduate students in the institution and was contained in a statement dated July 20, 2023, by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, UNILAG branch following a meeting with the top management staff.

“The students of the institution previously paid N19,000 but the management has fixed new fees at N190,250 for students studying medicine while for courses that require laboratory and studio, students are to pay N140,250.

“The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Education has increased the school fees of new students into Federal Government Colleges otherwise known as Federal Unity Colleges to ₦100,000.

“This development has widely been criticized, as Nigerians are lamenting that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration is further impoverishing the people with children of the masses been denied access to University education by this astronomical increment.

According to the circular entitled, “Approved fees/ charges for Federal Unity Colleges (1st Term) for new students“, signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, new students are expected to part with ₦100,000 instead of the previous N45,000.

NAUS is however querying what prompted the increment saying that it is evident that the state of our university education is not encouraging and as such, implementations that will further negatively affect the educational system would not be encouraged.

“University is where every profession that runs the nation is trained and mentored, investing in the origin of every profession should never be a problem for any nation interested in development.

It warned that the student populace would not hesitate to stage a protest against any enactment on tuition increment.

“We want to reiterate that as students, we won’t hesitate to come out en-mass to protest against any form of implementation that poses a threat to the students’ community,” it added.

While assuring students of its commitment to protecting their interests at all times, the student’s body further urged various higher institutions that have made plans to hike their school fees to reconsider their plans as it will only do more bad than good to the academic system and as well adverse effect on the students.

“l Am Not A Mad Man, But Words Fail Me” – Ibori On London Court’s Judgment Against Him

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Adesina Soyooye

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July 22, 2023

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By Adesina Soyooye

A former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori has declared that he is not a mad man. Ibori was reacting to a judgement against him by a London Court on Friday, July 21, 2023.

The London Court had on Friday, found Ibori guilty of corruption and slammed him with a confiscation order to the tune of $130m, or an eight-year jail term.

He is required to pay up immediately.

The former Governor had served time before now in a London prison for corruption.

Reacting to the judgement which he described as outrageous, unrealistic and unrealisable, Ibori said he would appeal it as his people would term him a madman if he fails to do so.

Ibori: “I know one thing for sure. If I do not go to the Court of Appeal to contest this outrageous Order, then my people will definitely say that I am a madman!”

He lamented the judgement and said he was not sure of his continued belief that he will ever get justice from the British judicial system. He said the system has consistently persecuted him, and his belief that he would ever get justice seems to amounts to “Albert Einstein’s definition of madness – doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.”

In the Court Order issued in London on Friday, Britain seeks to confiscate 101.5 million pounds ($130 million) from Ibori, who it accused of abusing his office when he was the Governor of Delta State. The Court agreed that Ibori laundered millions of pounds in not just Britain but in other countries too.

The Confiscation Order against Ibori ranks as one of the biggest imposed on an individual in recent British legal history.

But Ibori said of his plans:

“The next steps will be to take my fight for justice to the highest courts in the UK.”

Judge David Tomlinson, who delivered the confiscation judgement which has lasted the whole of ten years at Southwark Crown Court, said the former Delta State Governor should pay the sum immediately or face an eight-year jail sentence.

Senior Legal Researcher at campaign group Spotlight on Corruption, Helen Taylor noted: “The long and tortuous road to reach this point shows just how tough it is to recover the proceeds of corruption in the UK.

“To ensure justice delayed doesn’t mean justice denied for the Nigerian people, it’s essential that the UK now makes every effort to ensure the speedy return of this stolen loot to benefit the victims of Ibori’s corruption in Delta State.”

Britain pledged to return any funds recovered from Ibori to Nigeria. In 2021, the country returned £4.2 million confiscated from Ibori’s associates.

However, on this judgement, Ibori said “it is difficult to comprehend and even harder to accept Judge Tomlinson’s ruling.”

He, also noted that he has “had to move past the fact that the British Courts found themselves competent to sit in Judgment over contracts awarded in Delta State that were legitimately awarded and completed.” He added that “the judgement is hard to comprehend given the inability of the British prosecutors to show any evidence whatsoever of monies defrauded or indeed missing from Delta State.

“Since 2005 the British Prosecutors have investigated my assets worldwide, they have had a restraint order in place on most of those assets and they are well aware that the total monetary value of those assets is nowhere close to the sums that were the subject of today’s Order,” Ibori said.

“Notwithstanding the fact that many of the assets are not and have never been owned by me – it seems that if you are my friend and you allowed me to spend some holiday time in your house, then by this order I now own your home and must ask you to sell it to satisfy the Order.”

He accused the Judge of bias. Said Ibori: “The Judge in this case appears to have cast aside any pretence of impartiality and has made an Order which is both wholly unrealistic and unrealisable. He has completely disregarded any arguments, evidence or expert witnesses in my favour.”

Following is the full text of Ibori’s response to the judgement which he posted on his Facebook wall.

“Albert Einstein is quoted as saying that the ‘definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result’.

“If that is true, then I must be going mad because in over a decade since the British Courts have been persecuting myself and those close to me, I kept believing that justice and fairness would eventually triumph.

“In hearing after hearing through the years, despite some of the most logic- defying rulings against me, I still believed. Despite clear evidence of police corruption against the main officer in my case (evidence so strong that it caused the lead prosecutor to resign from my case) I still believed. Despite a clear victory in my 2013 Confiscation hearing which left the Judge unable to make an order against me, only to have him rule that the prosecution should start the trial afresh some years later – I still believed.

“However, today’s ruling from Judge Tomlinson is difficult to comprehend and even harder to accept. I have to move past the fact that the British Courts found themselves competent to sit in Judgment over contracts awarded in Delta State, contracts that were legitimately awarded and completed. I have come to accept my fate despite the inability of the British prosecutors to show any evidence whatsoever of monies defrauded or indeed missing from Delta State.

“Since 2005 the British Prosecutors have investigated my assets worldwide, they have had a restraint order in place on most of those assets and they are well aware that the total monetary value of those assets is nowhere close to the sums that were the subject of today’s Order. Notwithstanding the fact that many of the assets are not and have never been owned by me – it seems that if you are my friend and you allowed me to spend some holiday time in your house, then by this order I now own your home and must ask you to sell it to satisfy the Order.

“The Order made today was to be paid immediately, this was made in the full knowledge that it could take many months to actually realise the sale of many of these assets.

“There is an 8 year default sentence, which means that if I do not co-operate and pay nothing at all, then the prosecution can apply for the imposition of the default sentence. However as the prosecution already has a Restraint Order over the assets – the situation of my not co-operating or paying will not arise.

“However, an issue arises if my Restrained Assets are sold, and the total realised from the sale does not equal the amount in the Order, then the Prosecution can still apply for part of the default sentence to be applied, but they could only ask for a sliding scale reduction of the 8 years default sentence based on the amounts that remain outstanding. If such an application were to be made it would be vigorously contested.

“In the normal course of events any talk of a default sentence would normally be stayed until any outstanding Appeal has been concluded.

“The Judge in this case appears to have cast aside any pretence of impartiality and has made an Order which is both wholly unrealistic and unrealisable. He has completely disregarded any arguments, evidence or expert witnesses in my favour. It was apparent during these last 2 days that he has forgotten many of the important elements of the case which is unsurprising as it is almost 2 years since the case concluded. It has taken him 2 years to write this Judgment and in the interim he has presided over hundreds of cases, but I refuse to make excuses for him.

“At this point in time words fail me and so the question for me as I take my case to the Court of Appeal, is, if I continue to believe that I may finally get some Justice is this the definition of madness? I know one thing for sure, that if I do not go to the Court of Appeal to contest this outrageous Order then my people will definitely say that I am a madman!”

Ibori was the Governor of Delta State from 1999 to 2007. In 2011, he was extradited from Dubai to Britain where he was prosecuted and jailed 13 years after he pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering. He served seven years out of the 13 years jail term. Ibori returned to Nigeria thereafter where he, again, took up his position as a political kingmaker.

Ondo: Anglican Bishop Advises President Tinubu On Nnamdi Kanu, Sunday Igboho

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Ayodele Oni

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July 22, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

The Bishop of Owo Anglican Diocese, Ondo state, Rt Revd Stephen Fagbemi has advised President Bola Tinubu to consider the release of the detained leader the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The Bishop noted that Kanu has stayed for too long in detention stressing that his release would usher in a new relationship between the group and the Nigerian masses.

The plea was contained in the Bishop’s charge at the second session of the 14th synod of the Diocese of Owo, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, held at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew, Imola, Owo.

The cleric pointed out that a much needed olive branch is needed at this time adding that the government should take the initiative in order to douse the existing tension in nation.

The Bishop also implored the federal government to extend the same gesture to Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Igboho, currently taking refuge at the Republic of Benin.

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on the occasion, charged Christians to re-double their efforts by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ beyond urban borders.

Akeredolu, who is Chancellor of the Diocese of Owo, was represented at the occasion by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Olayato Aribo.

The Governor said he was delighted that the second session of the 14th Synod of the Diocese, was holding particularly as the programme coincides with his birthday celebration, adding that the session provides an opportunity to give thanks and to look back to all that he has done.

Akeredolu thanked the Church for celebrating him in his absence, stressing that the theme of the second session of the 14th Synod “Possessing More Land for Christ” is very symbolic and it is in tandem with the Great Commission.

The Chancellor of the Diocese added that the challenges facing the great Commission are enormous, but only the Gospel is bringing hope.

Cash Transfer: APC Gov Says It’s A Fraud After FG Spent Billions

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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July 22, 2023

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Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state, has described the federal government cash transfer policy as a scam.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, this week, cancelled plan to make transfer Nigerians, after many Nigerians criticized it.

Under the now botched plan, the federal government said over 12 million households would receive N8000 for six months.

The federal government had borrowed $800 million from the World Bank to execute the policy.

Not a few Nigerians criticized the plan, saying it would be a waste because the money is too small to ameliorate the sufferings of would-be beneficiaries.

Recall that the immediate past President of the country, Muhammadu Buhari administration claimed it spent several billion in cash transfer to many Nigerians as part of its social intervention policy.

But speaking on Friday on Arise Television, Governor Sani said the cash transfer policy is a fraud, citing, for instance, that the funds must have gone into wrong hands.

The Kaduna helmsman, a former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Banking said it is impossible to make electronic transfer to people who have no bank account.

According to him, many poor households in the northern part of Nigeria, the federal government claimed received the cash transfer, have no bank accounts, and could not have benefited from the largesse meant to assist vulnerable Nigerians.

Sani said, “I think that cash transfer for me, in my opinion, is a scam. Completely is a scam. I can be very certain about that, because who are you transferring the money to?

“Let me give an example, go and check the current statistics. Like I said, as the Chairman, Committee of Banking for four years in Nigeria, I oversight Central Bank, I oversight all the commercial sector of our economy for the last four years and I look at the statistics, I will be very firm on this issue and you can go and check it.

“About 70 to 75 percent of the rural population in North West are financially excluded completely. You will have to go and check, these people we are talking about are important people in the society. They do not even have a bank account so who are you transferring the money to?

“Let’s put more money to ensure that we open accounts for them, get them involved, if we don’t do that, no matter what we do however you do it, money will go to the wrong people, that’s the fact.”

President Tinubu had cancelled the plan to distribute N8000 to some Nigerians, citing negative feedback across the country.

Underground Amoured Cable Thief Caught By The NAF At MMIA

By

The Source

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July 22, 2023

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AT about 01:35hrs on July 21, 2023, the guards on duty at the Nigeria Airforce HQ NADC gate halted three cable thieves along the airport road by NADC perimeter fence who were sighted digging the FAAN underground amoured cable with the aid of a digger, shovel and cutlass.

On sighting the guards, they took to their heels. A guard however opened fire on them ,aiming at the shoulder of Usman Musa.

Usman Musa , 28years old, a native of Adamawa State, residing at Ijora sustained gunshot wounds. He was subsequently arrested and taken to 661NAFH Ikeja.

He is presently receiving treatment at General Hospital Oyingbo while his other two accomplices escaped.

Usman Musa will be properly interrogated after he has stabilised.

The Authority believes that this incident could be a relevant clue to unravelling the theft of the Runway Lighting at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport,