Month: November 2023

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed Uba Sani’s victory as Governor of Kaduna State, dismissing the Peoples Democratic Party’s appeal challenging the March 18 election results.

The court upheld the tribunal’s decision, citing the PDP’s failure to adhere to legal timelines and highlighting irregularities in the evidence presented.

With this ruling, Uba Sani’s position is secure, concluding the post-election legal dispute.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

The Kano state government has dispatched the fifth batch of 50 first-class graduates to pursue their Master’s Degree programmes in India. 

The beneficiaries, part of the 1,100 indigenous students sponsored by the state government for overseas studies, departed from Malam Aminu Kano International Airport for Lagos on a Max Air aircraft at 7:30 a.m. on Friday. 

The Commissioner for Higher Education, Dr. Yusuf Kofarmata, and other government officials were present to witness the departure.

From Lagos, the beneficiaries are scheduled to board an Air Peace flight to India at 2:00 p.m. Speaking after the takeoff, Dr. Kofarmata noted that this initiative is a continuation of the government’s commitment to the 1,100 postgraduate scholarship programme for the academic year 23-2024. 

The selected graduates, now on their way to reputed institutions like Sharda, Symbiosis, Mewar, Sri Sai, Swarnnim, and Kalinga, were chosen based on their outstanding performance during their undergraduate studies. 

Highlighting the significance of the programme, Dr. Kofarmata stressed that the students would focus on internationally competitive fields, contributing to bridging the manpower gap not only in Kano State but also across the nation. 

“A total of 550 students are the first batch who are going to eight reputable universities to study in internationally competitive areas of professionalism to bridge the manpower gap in the state and across the nation.  

“The students are also expected to acquire experience, skills, and knowledge with the view to revamp the state commercial status and explore other potential for socio-economic development,” he said. 

Providing an update on the progress of the previous batches, Dr. Kofarmata revealed that the students had already commenced their academic pursuits, and approximately 30 beneficiaries had secured casual employment with their respective institutions, a testament to their academic prowess. 

Acknowledging the support and commitment of Governor Yusuf, the Commissioner noted the celebration among beneficiaries, parents, well-wishers, and citizens of the state.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

As Black Friday approaches, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has issued a cautionary alert regarding a potential surge in fake online stores, with intelligence suggesting a possible increase of up to 135%.

The day after Thanksgiving has historically seen an uptick in fraudulent activities targeting holiday shoppers, prompting the FCCPC to advise consumers to exercise heightened vigilance during this period. 

Babatunde Irukera, Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, emphasized the need for caution, stating, “There are unscrupulous individuals taking advantage of the Black Friday shopping spree to prey on unsuspecting consumers.”

Irukera urged consumers to exclusively patronize trusted and credible online platforms to mitigate the risk of falling victim to scams. 

To safeguard against fake online stores, the FCCPC recommends the following

1. precautions: Shop on Trusted Websites: Only make purchases from websites with a known and reliable reputation. Conduct research to verify the legitimacy of unfamiliar sites. 
2. Beware of Unrealistic Prices: Exercise caution when encountering online stores offering products at prices that seem too good to be true. Fraudulent websites often use enticing discounts to lure unsuspecting customers. 
3. Verify the Security Certificate: Check for a security certificate, indicated by a lock icon in the address bar, to ensure the authenticity and security of the website. 
4. Read Terms and Conditions: Thoroughly review a website’s terms and conditions, specifically focusing on the return and refund policies, to understand the platform’s commitment to consumer protection. 

By Abdulrazak Iliyasu Sansani

Barring any last-minute changes, Al-Qalam University will hold its 2nd Combined Convocation on Nov. 25, 2023. The day is what everyone associated with the university eagerly looks forward to seeing. 

Al-Qalam University, Katsina (AUK), hitherto known as Katsina University, Katsina (KUK), is located in Dutsinma Road, Katsina State, and known for the academic aspiration of those who seek knowledge deeply rooted in sound morals. Al-Qalam University was established in 2005 as Nigeria’s first private Islamic university.

The university has gone from strength to strength since its establishment 18 years ago. It presently runs six schools/colleges, which offer assortments of options for the students: The College of Social and Management Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, College of Education, College of Humanities, College of Post Graduate Studies, and School of Basic and Remedial Studies. It awards 22 undergraduate degrees (among which five courses offer both full-time and part-time programs), 11 master’s programs, and nine PhD programmes, all accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in line with the laws governing university education in Nigeria. 

Recently, some new courses were accredited by the NUC, which brings the total number of programmes to 36 for the 2023/2024 academic session. Despite being a non-profit institution and the difficult economic situation in Nigeria today, the university continues to flourish. However, this is not far-fetched as it is run by an exemplary governing council and administratively headed by an astute academic, economic luminary, and open-minded scholar, Professor Nasiru Musa Yauri, who has not only built on what his predecessors had achieved but also devised different means to take the university forward. He is equally supported by the hard-working team across the various faculties and colleges to actualise the founders’ dreams of the first Islamic University in Nigeria. 

The Programme of the 2nd Combined Convocation is quite extensive. Therefore, I will highlight some of the events for want of space.  The Vice  Chancellor of Al-Qalam University, Professor Nasiru Musa Yauri, disclosed some of the events scheduled for the imminent second combined convocation while briefing journalists in Katsina on Nov. 19, 2023.  

According to the information, 139 postgraduates will be conferred with different honours during the convocation ceremony, including seven Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D), 125 Masters, and seven postgraduate diplomas (PGD). 

“We are going to honour and celebrate graduates from the 2016 to 2023 sessions, which means on Nov. 25, we are going to confer degrees on graduates for eight sessions. 

“This is to say specifically that we are preparing to ensure that graduates of this 2022/2023 session are also going to be celebrated at the convocation ceremony,” the VC said. 

Apart from this, there is also a Qur’an recitation contest for all interested university students to participate.  This is one of the major events scheduled for the convocation. Winners of the Qur’anic recitation competition, both the female and the male categories, will receive N1 million each. 

A pre-vocation lecture will be delivered on Nov. 24, 2023, by a distinguished scholar, Dr Usman Muhammad Bugaje, on the topic: “The out-of-school-children and the  Conscience of the Nation: A Discourse on the Genesis, Prognosis and Solutions of the Almajirci Phenomenon.” 

A novelty football match between Al-University students (AUK All stars) and its alumni (AUK Legends) is part of the programme, emphasising that all domains of learning: cognitive, affective, and psychomotor are given priority. 

To cap it all, four eminent personalities who have made a tremendous difference in various fields of human endeavour will be conferred with honorary doctorate degrees: including the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumin Kabir Usman; Emir of Kazaure, Alhaji Najib Hussaini Adamu; Alhaji Sani Zangon Daura, and Alhaji Abdulsamad Isiyaka Rabiu. 

Al-Qalam University Katsina is where it is today because of the leadership, who have remained steadfast to the ideals of the founding fathers and have employed transparent methods. The Vice-Chancellor, for example, is accessible, and every Thursday has been set aside for any student with a suggestion or problem to meet the Vice-Chancellor and iron out the issue amicably. This is good leadership and highly remarkable.

I am not writing this piece to pretend we have a flawless system. There is no system without flaws. All systems have their shortcomings in one way or the other. This may not be apparent without meticulous observation. But this we understand as we explore the system or rather utilise the services of the system. Hence, I do not claim a perfect system exists here or advance anything error-free for the public. 

To buttress my points, I was personally affected by one of such fallibilities when I was wrongly accused of committing an offence I didn’t and have always stood against. Herein, Al-Qalam University, especially its College of Education, exercised due diligence by using all the legal instruments to get to the root of the matter and ensure justice was done. In my opinion, the greatness of any system or institution should be measured not by the duration it exists but by how effectively its services are rendered to those in need. This proves where the institution belongs. 

Prof. Nasiru Musa Yauri’s giant strides are evident, from academics and sports to other equally important sectors of this citadel of learning. With time, Insha Allah, this institution can reach the heights its illustrious founding fathers envisioned when they established this university in 2005. May Allah (SWT) help Al-Qalam University to reach its rightful destination for the benefit of Nigeria. 

Abdulrazak Iliyasu Sansani is a student of Al-Qalam University Katsina.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reversed the removal of Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, reinstating him as the duly elected governor following the governorship election on March 18. 

A three-member panel of justices, in a unanimous decision delivered on Thursday, invalidated the Nasarawa State Election Petition Tribunal’s prior ruling.

The tribunal’s decision to oust Governor Sule has been nullified by the appellate court.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

The former presidential candidate under the platform of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has made a significant effort towards promoting education in Adamawa during the Atiku Week. 

The organisers of Atiku Week commenced the day by visiting all public schools in the Jada metropolis, generously donating essential educational materials such as books, chalk, and other teaching aids. 

This outreach demonstrated a dedication to supporting the foundational elements of education within the community. 

Atiku Abubakar returned to his alma mater, Jada Central Primary School, where he personally presented gifts and prizes to outstanding students. 

According to the chairman of the planning committee for the event, Dr. Ahmad Shehu, these students were carefully selected based on their exemplary performances in various schools and their impressive displays during quizzes and debates organised by the Education Day implementation committee. 

Nine of the best students would receive scholarships for their secondary and tertiary education. 

Looking ahead, the organisers have committed to covering the UTME fees for all graduating students in the 2023–2024 session. 

Furthermore, in a commendable move to support aspiring medical professionals, three medical scholarships were awarded to the most promising students of the session, enabling them to pursue degree programmes at esteemed universities, including the American University of Nigeria. 

The Chairman of the Planning Committee also expressed gratitude to the donors, invoking blessings and success for Atiku Abubakar in his pursuit of realising the vision for accessible and quality education in Nigeria.

By Rabi’u Gama

I almost spent a sleepless night reading the Court of Appeal’s judgement on the Kano State Governorship Election Petition. The 72-page document has raised many questions and generated mixed and confusing reactions among millions of people, particularly in Kano, immediately after its release to the public.

After a calm reading of the judgement, it is evident that there is a significant error in the conclusion of the lead judgement. The conclusion of the lead judgement, which “…resolve all the issues in favour of the Appellant (AKY) against the 1st Respondent” and “…set aside the judgement of the Tribunal” and finally “awarded the sum of one million Naira in favour of the Appellant against the 1st Respondent” is just a mistake; a grave mistake, though, in my opinion, not fatal or unpardonable.

If you read the judgement carefully, you will see that the reasoning of the court on the merit of the case was decisively against the Appellant (AKY) in favor of the 1st Respondent (Gawuna). The only error – a very grievous error – is with regard to the conclusion of the lead judgment. This becomes more obvious when you look at the fact that all the two concurring judgements found the appeal to be “bereft of merit” and also (just like the lead judgement) “…dismissed it and upheld the judgement of the Trial Tribunal”.

From the reasoning of the Court, that conclusion is just what it is: a slip of the pencil or a clerical error – so to speak – which can be, in fact, should be, waived aside with a single nod of the head. That mistake alone cannot reasonably change the preceding reasonings and findings of the court. The error is grave. Or was it a Freudian Slip? By the way, a Freudian Slip is an unintentional mistake that reveals a person’s subconscious thoughts, wishes, or desires.

Therefore, in my humble opinion, AKY lost this appeal. The mistake in the lead judgement’s conclusion (a slip of the pencil) will not change a thing. AKY should head to the Supreme Court, as he has already expressed his intention to do so. A clerical error like this should not deter a further appeal to the Apex Court of the land. Otherwise, there will be stories that will surely break and destroy many hearts.

However, there are many questions: how could such a serious mistake go unnoticed? Didn’t my Lord re-read the judgement after drafting it for grammatical corrections and possible typographical errors? In their concurring judgements, the two other Justices on the panel said: “They have read the lead judgement in draft (as it is customary for fellow judges to do) and adopted all the reasonings and the conclusion therein as theirs?”. Does that mean they, too, did not see that serious mistake while “reading the judgement in [the] draft”? What about the Registrar of the Court? Didn’t he also see the mistake before releasing the Certified Copy of the judgment to the world? So many questions to ask.

Rabiu Gama is a student from the Faculty of Law at Bayero University, Kano. He can be reached via rabiuminuwa327@gmail.com.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

Sani Yakubu Noma, the Member of the House of Representatives for Argungu/Augie Federal Constituency in Kebbi State, has announced plans to give out 100 female orphans in marriage as part of his efforts to contribute to the welfare of orphans in his constituency.

 Addressing journalists in his hometown of Argungu, Noma revealed that the marriage ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Palace of the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Sama’ila Muhammad Mera, on Saturday. 

He explained that a committee has been established to oversee the event, and the selected individuals for marriage were chosen from the two local government areas he represents at the National Assembly. 

According to Noma, “Already, I have procured beds, mattresses, essential furniture, and other matrimonial commodities for the beneficiaries.” 

However, this initiative has sparked a wave of controversy, with varying opinions on the appropriateness of such a move. 

While the lawmaker frames it as a benevolent gesture toward orphans, critics argue that it raises ethical questions about the right to choose a life partner.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria (NAFN) has hailed the Dangote Group as a pivotal force in the growth of the country’s agricultural sector. 

Dr. Samuel Negedu, the National Coordinator of NAFN, affirmed the group’s significance during the opening ceremony of the 2023 National Agricultural Show. 

Describing the Dangote Group as a powerhouse and the backbone of Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, Dr. Negedu highlighted the company’s efforts in constructing rice mills that will significantly contribute to the government’s push for food security.  

He expressed gratitude to Alhaji Aliko Dangote for the establishment of what he referred to as the largest fertiliser plant in Africa. 

Furthermore, Dr. Negedu noted that the Dangote Group is a major sponsor of the ongoing 2023 National Agricultural Show.  

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, also shared insights during the event, outlining the government’s immediate and short-term plans to establish a standard framework for facilitating agricultural business in the country. 

Senator Kyari expressed the importance of agricultural shows as essential platforms for showcasing the latest developments in the sector. 

He highlighted their role in bringing individuals together for networking and business transactions and offering the public a glimpse into farming life. 

The shows also serve as hubs for farming and rural communities to exchange ideas and take a brief respite from their daily farming routines. 

Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, urged stakeholders to make substantial investments in agriculture, envisioning a transformed Nigeria renowned for food security and value chain addition. 

Arch Kabiru Ibrahim, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NAFN and National President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), underscored the relevance of this year’s theme: “Towards the Realization of Presidential Declaration of Emergency on Food Security.”  

According to Arch Ibrahim, the theme was chosen to inspire all stakeholders in Nigeria to collaborate in addressing the challenges of food security as outlined in President Tinubu’s administration.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari 

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have attacked a police station in Adamawa State. 

The incident happened in the wee hours of Wednesday at the police station located in Jimeta, Yola North Local Government Area of Adamawa State. 

According to a resident who agreed to speak to the press anonymously, the sounds of gunshots disturbed the peace of the community and hence caused residents to panic. 

The police spokesperson, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, confirmed the attack to newsmen but assured the public that the situation is under control. 

Nguroje also disclosed that the attack was repelled but that the police have yet to identify the perpetrators of the attack.