News

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Tinubu has urged leaders in West Africa to draw inspiration from Ghana’s recent peaceful elections as a model of democratic maturity and commitment to national unity.

At the opening of the 66th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS on Sunday in Abuja, President Tinubu lauded President Nana Akufo-Addo and the people of Ghana for the resounding success of their recent presidential and parliamentary elections, setting a high standard for the region.

“I urge all of us in the region to learn from this good democratic practice and prioritise our country’s national unity to ensure political stability of the region so that this manner of peaceful transition becomes the culture of democracy not only in West Africa but also in the entire Africa continent,” he stated.

“Despite the challenges of interrupted democratic governance in some West African countries, the region has continued to record democratic gains.

Just a week ago, on December 7 2024, Presidential and Parliamentary elections took place in Ghana, the second-largest democracy in our region.

By Uzair Adam

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has instructed all reassigned commissioners to complete their handover and assume their new roles by Tuesday, December 17, 2024.

Speaking through his spokesperson, Mr. Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Governor emphasized that the cabinet changes would take full effect during the state executive council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, December 18, 2024.

He stressed the importance of completing all transition processes ahead of the meeting.

“All commissioners affected by the changes are directed to hand over their responsibilities between Monday, December 16, and Tuesday, December 17, 2024,” the statement read.

The Governor further urged members of the state executive council to strengthen their teamwork and commitment to advancing his administration’s goals for the benefit of the people of Kano State.

By Habibu Ma’aruf Abdu

Renowned Kannywood actor, Sani Musa Danja, has been appointed Special Adviser on Youth and Sports by Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

This was announced in a statement by the Governor’s spokesperson, Mr. Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Sunday, December 15, 2024.

The appointment is widely seen as a well-deserved recognition of the actor’s loyalty and dedication to Governor Yusuf’s Administration. As a long-time supporter of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Danja actively campaigned for the Governor during the 2023 elections.

Interestingly, he had previously contested for the chairmanship of Tarauni Local Government under the governor’s party, NNPP, but lost the primaries to Amb. Yusuf Imam Ogan Ɓoye.

However, with Ogan Ɓoye’s victory in the chairmanship election, Danja has now taken over his former position as Special Adviser on Youth and Sports.

This appointment marks another significant recognition of Kannywood personalities by the governor, following similar appointments of Abba Al Mustapha, Tijjani Gandu, Sunusi Oscar, and Aina’u Ade (Laila).

Lest you forget, the federal government has also appointed Kannywood stars Ali Nuhu and Rahama Sadau to serve in various capacities.

By Muhsin Ibrahim

Kano-born historian Dr Abdullahi Hamisu Shehu has been awarded the 2023 African Studies Review/Cambridge University Press Award for Best Africa-Based Doctoral Dissertation at the 67th ASA Annual Meeting held in Chicago, United States of America, from December 12 to 14, 2024.

The recognition celebrates Dr Shehu’s groundbreaking research, titled “Procession, Pilgrimage, and Protest: A Historical Study of the Qadiriyya-Nasiriyya and Islamic Movement in Nigeria Public Religiosity in Northern Nigeria, 1952-2021.”

Dr Shehu, a faculty member at the Department of History, Bayero University, Kano, earned his PhD from Stellenbosch University in South Africa. His dissertation examines the dynamic interplay between public religiosity and identity formation in northern Nigeria, focusing on two key movements: the Qadiriyya-Nasiriyya, a reformed Sufi order, and the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), a Shia revivalist group.

His research explores the historical, social, and religious aspects of public demonstrations, such as the Maukibi (Sufi processions) and the Muzahara and Tattaki (Shia protests and symbolic journeys). According to Dr Shehu, these practices represent a unique contest for public space and visibility between competing religious identities in the post-colonial northern Nigerian landscape.

An accomplished scholar, Dr. Shehu is also a Fellow of the Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Social Science Research Council, New York) and a Lisa Maskell Fellow (Gerda Henkel Foundation, Germany). Over his career, he has participated in numerous academic conferences and workshops worldwide.

His work sheds new light on the role of public space in shaping religious identity and offers fresh perspectives on the sociopolitical complexities of northern Nigeria. Dr. Shehu’s achievement highlights his academic excellence and underscores the growing impact of African scholarship on global discourse.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has issued a warning to the general public regarding fake pictures and scandalous narratives circulating online, and announced a purported auction of vehicles.

According to the NCS in a statement on Saturday, these claims are entirely false, and the public should be cautious not to fall victim to scams.

The NCS noted that electronic auctions of vehicles and other items are conducted solely through their official website.

To stay informed and avoid false information, the NCS advises the public to rely on their verified social media and other communication channels for genuine updates.

By Anwar Usman

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced that it will slam a fine of N150m per branch on Deposit Money Banks found guilty of facilitating the illegal flow of mint naira notes to currency hawkers and unscrupulous agents.

The apex bank disclosed this in a circular issued on Friday, December 13, 2024, signed by the Acting Director of the Currency Operations Department, Mohammed Olayemi.

The circular revealed the CBN’s concern about the increasing prevalence of mint naira notes being traded by hawkers, a practice the bank described as impeding efficient and effective cash distribution to customers and the general public.

The circular, which referred to an earlier directive dated November 13, 2024, highlighted the apex bank’s determination to address the commodification of the naira.

Under the directive, any financial institution found guilty of this act will face a penalty of N150m for the first violation.

Subsequent infractions, the CBN warned, would attract stricter sanctions under the provisions of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020.

To ensure compliance, the apex bank stated that it would increase periodic spot checks in banking halls and ATMs while deploying mystery shoppers to uncover illicit cash hawking spots across the country.

The CBN further called on the DMBs to strengthen controls, processes, and procedures around their Cash Management Centres, branches, and teller operations to prevent their systems from being exploited for illegal transactions.

Reports has it that the CBN issued a serious warning to Deposit Money Banks over cash hoarding and diversion, stating that such actions will attract stiff penalties.

The CBN also warned against cash hoarding, diversion, and other practices that hinder cash flow, stressing that such actions violate the Clean Note Policy.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Important dignitaries attended the wedding fatiha of the children of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Tajuddeen Abbas; governors, senators, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; and nephew of the former president Muhammadu Buhari, Mamman Daura; were among the dignitaries who attended.

The wedding fatiha of Senator Barau’s children, Jibrin Barau I Jibrin (Abba), and Maryam Nasir Ado Bayero, the daughter of the Emir of Bichi; and Aisha Barau I. Jibrin and Engineer Abubakar, the son of Dr. Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, President of the Azman Group of Companies, was held at the National Mosque, Abuja, after the two raka’at Juma’at prayers.

President Tinubu served as both Wakil and Waliy to the two children of the Deputy President of the Senate through the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

While Ganduje served as Waliy to the daughter of the Emir of Bichi, former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Tanko Almakura served as Wakil of Abubakar, the son of Dr. Abdulmunaf Sarina.

The Imam of the National Mosque, Professor Ibrahim Maqari, conducted the wedding.

Top politicians from across the country graced the occasion, cutting across major political parties, including governors, senators, ministers, business tycoons, and traditional and religious leaders.

Governors in attendance included the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq; Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah; Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal; and Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umar Radda,Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, among others.

Many senators, including former President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; Ali Ndume; Sani Musa; Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai; Aminu Iya Abbas; Buhari Abdulfatai; Mohammed Tahir Monguno; Ikira Aliyu Bilbis; Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo; Salihu Mustapha; Shehu Buba; Abdul Ningi; Abdullahi Yahaya; Ahmed Lawan; Sahabi Ya’u; Kamorudeen Adekunle Adedibu; Danjuma Goje; Lawal Usman; and Kawu Sumaila, attended the wedding.

Members of the ECOWAS Parliament, including the Fourth Deputy Speaker, Billay G. Tunkara, were also in attendance.

By Uzair Adam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arraigned the immediate-past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on a 19-count charge of alleged money laundering totaling N80 billion.

The charges were read before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Bello pleaded not guilty to all counts.

According to the EFCC, the allegations against the former governor center on the misappropriation of public funds during his tenure.

Counsel for the commission, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), informed the court of the decision to withdraw an earlier application seeking to abridge the arraignment date.

He noted that the application had been overtaken by events. Joseph Daudu (SAN), representing the former governor, did not object to the withdrawal, and Justice Nwite subsequently struck out the application.

The case has drawn significant public interest, with observers closely monitoring developments in the trial.

By Anwar Usman

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has recommended that those without Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) use computer-generated voting slips ahead of future elections in the country.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this known while speaking yesterday in Abuja during the quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners RECs, said PVCs should no longer be the sole requirement for voting, especially with the inception of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, (BVAS).

He explained that the commission had released its 524-page main report on the 2023 general elections and had consulted widely with its officials and externally with all major stakeholders.

Yakubu disclosed that from the internal and external engagements, the commission had identified 142 recommendations dealing with the general state of preparedness, voter management, voter education and public communication, political parties and candidate management, electoral operations and logistics management.

Others include election officials and personnel, partnership and collaboration, monitoring and supervision, election technology, voting and result management, election security, electoral offences and the electoral legal framework.

He further asserts that out of the 142 recommendations, 86 require administrative action by the commission.

“This is followed by 48 recommendations that require action by a variety of stakeholders, including security agencies, mobile network operators, statutory bodies, political parties, transport unions, civil society organisations and the media.

“Among the major highlights of the commission’s recommendations is the imperative of legal clarity in result management, with regard to manual transfer versus the electronic transmission of results.

“The commission also believes that with the introduction of the BVAS, the use of PVC as the sole means of identification for voter accreditation on election day should be reviewed”, the chairman stated.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello in the sum of ₦500 million, with two sureties.

Justice Emeka Nwite stated that bail is granted at the court’s discretion, while delivering the ruling.

Bello faces a 19-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), relating to money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds totaling ₦80.2 billion.