News

By Uzair Adam Imam

Enugu State Police have apprehended two male kidnapping suspects allegedly involved in the abduction of a heavily pregnant woman along Eke-Egede Road in Udi LGA.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, has ordered a manhunt for other members of the gang.

The victim’s husband, Mr. Ekene Igwe, praised the Enugu State government for swiftly intervening and covering medical expenses.

The woman, Chinwendu Igwe, gave birth to a baby boy after being rescued and is now in good condition.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Chinwendu embarked on the journey alone with her two children from Lagos to her paternal home, where she was abducted.

The CP dismissed misinformation regarding the incident and urged media accuracy. Mr. Igwe thanked Governor Peter Mbah for the government’s support.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The FCT Police Command has apprehended two notorious car thieves, Ibrahim Haliru, 45, and Babangida Mohammed, 27, who have been terrorising residents of the Federal Capital Territory and its environs. 

The suspects, who were arrested on April 23, 2024, at about 3:00 p.m. in a hotel in Nasarawa State, were found to be in possession of five stolen vehicles and various charms. 

According to the FCT Police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the suspects had been on the command’s wanted list for several months and were trailed and arrested with the aid of digital reconstruction intelligence. 

The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Benneth Igweh, has commended the efforts of the officers involved in the arrest and urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police. 

The Commissioner also reassured residents of the Command’s commitment to ensuring their safety and security, and encouraged them to take the necessary steps to protect their valuables. 

The police have urged anyone with information about criminal activities to contact them through their emergency lines: 08032003913, 08028940883, 08061581938, and 07057337653 (PCB: 09022222352, CRU: 08107314192).

By Uzair Adam Imam

Former Jigawa State Governor and PDP Chieftain, Sule Lamido, has criticized Northern governors for their recent visit to the United States, stating that it showcased their lack of understanding of the Nigerian Constitution.

Lamido voiced his concerns via a statement on his official Facebook page on Sunday. The governors had traveled to the US to participate in a peace summit organized by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP).

Lamido said, “Our Northern governors as concerned leaders traveled all the way to the United States of America to attend a lecture at the American Institute for Peace titled “ADVANCING STABILITY IN NORTHERN NIGERIA”, as to find a lasting solution to the intractable problems of insecurity bedeviling their respective states.

“Their concern, commendable as it were, ended up exposing their ignorance at understanding the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the very instrument which gave them the legitimacy and the authority to be Governors.

“If the Governors had traveled to the US to engage on how to boost agriculture or health issues or any other pressing local problems listed on the Concurrent List of our Constitution, this could be quite understandable.

“But to engage on issues which are on the Exclusive Legislative List such as security says a lot about the substance they are made of.

“Security is a very wide subject which their Excellencies must have capacity to grasp. Most urban towns in their states lack portable drinking water, and refuse dumps have taken over some streets.

“Our children attend primary schools under the trees and where there are classes, they take their lessons sitting on the floor, yet the security implications of this cannot be discerned by their Excellencies.

“Deliberate and harshly induced poverty by unplanned government policies have made citizens lose their esteem, honour and self worth by lining up scrambling to collect palliatives from patronizing and condescending leaders yet the Insecurity of this is of no worry or concern to them.

“You have governors with no human empathy or respect for dignity or decency in an open show of shame throwing money like confetti from an open Jeep and people scrambling to pick it like the Governor of Niger State. Yet they fail to see the security implications of all these.

“If the governors were serious and wanted to have a lecture on security, they need not have embarked on such a wasteful journey with the accompanying expenditure of flight tickets, hotels with all their aides and above all the valuable time wasted at the expense of running their states.

“Certainly, they could have gotten more than they wanted from our resourceful institutions such as NIPSS in Kuru Jos or ASCON in Badagry or even NIA.

“These three institutions have more than enough materials, essays and templates on the problems on security in Nigeria more than the far fetched American Institute.”

The former governor, however blamed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the NIA for failing to properly guide the governors.

Lamido said, “I blame the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the NIA for failing to properly guide the governors for this folly.

“The governors could not have traveled without the facilitation of the Ministry or our Embassy in Washington.

“Nigeria and Nigerians now carry the image of ‘advancing our shame and embarrassment beyond our frontiers’ caused by their Excellencies!”

He further stated, “One is inclined to believe Rufai Oseni when he recently said ‘Nigerian madness has no bound or limits.

“So in Nigeria today, one’s biggest challenge is how one remains sane in this insane country,” he stated.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Recent findings from the Integrated Supportive Supervision (ISS) conducted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have revealed a startling trend in the Ortese Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp situated in Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.  

According to Mrs. Grace Wende, the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Primary Health Care Board, approximately “200 new births per month” were recorded in the camp. 

Wende, speaking on behalf of the board, expressed concern over the high number of births and underscored the necessity for government intervention.  

She stated, “It is quite high, and Government needs to do something about it.”  

Furthermore, she highlighted the underutilization of family planning products provided to the residents of the camp, stating the need to “intensify demand creation generation.”

By Uzair Adam Imam  

The Police Command in Kano State clarified that the recall of police officers from the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) is solely for the purpose of conducting a staff audit, contrary to speculations of political vendetta. 

The Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel, explained to reporters in Kano that the recall aims to ascertain the precise number of police personnel seconded to the commission since 2015. 

Gumel noted that the move is a response to numerous complaints received through the Command’s Complaint Response Unit (CRU), alleging highhandedness and deviation from assigned duties by the police attached to the commission. 

“The exercise was simply a response to series of reports received through the Command’s Complaint Response Unit (CRU),” Gumel stated. 

“They portrayed policemen attached to the commission as being highhanded and deviating from the expected role of providing static guard and other duties at the commission.” 

Gumel further clarified, “For the purposes of clarity, members of the public are to note that the object of the ongoing staff audit is basically to address the litany of complaints as reported by sections of the media.” 

He expressed that the audit became necessary to rectify anomalies in the commission’s operations, where police officers were reportedly involved in arrests and investigations, deviating from their original mandate. 

“In summary the step is towards ensuring a better and effective service delivery by the policemen devoid of abuse of process in the interest of the people,” Gumel added. 

The Commissioner also revealed that similar audits were conducted in the past, with officers returning to their duty posts upon conclusion. 

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has approved the immediate return of some police officers providing guard duty at the commission who have undergone the audit process. 

“Should the commission require more policemen for other duties than what has been expressly approved by the IGP, it should apply to IGP for approval and deployment,” according Gumel.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting gender equality in decision-making processes, combating gender discrimination and gender-based violence.

This dedication was reiterated at a capacity-building workshop on gender inclusivity co-organized by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the NCS in Abuja on Monday, April 22, 2024. 

According to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, “Our aim is to create a workplace where everyone has equal opportunities to grow and contribute to the service’s success, regardless of gender.”

He noted that the NCS is committed to addressing gender discrimination, harassment, and biases within its ranks and will work tirelessly to ensure that its policies and practices reflect this commitment. 

The workshop brought together customs officials, gender experts, and stakeholders to discuss strategies for promoting gender inclusivity and addressing gender-based violence in the workplace.

The event demonstrated the NCS’s dedication to creating a more inclusive and equitable work environment where all employees can thrive and reach their full potential. 

Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Caroline Niagwan, represented the CGC at the event and indicated the need for clear policies and procedures to address gender discrimination, harassment, and biases within the NCS. 

With this reaffirmed commitment, the NCS demonstrates its dedication to promoting gender equality and combating gender-based violence, creating a more inclusive and equitable work environment for all employees.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) FCT Command has confirmed that 119 inmates escaped from the Suleja Custodial Centre in Niger State on Wednesday night.

The incident occurred after a rainstorm destroyed parts of the facility, including its perimeter fence. 

According to Samson Duza, the Public Relations Officer of the command, the service has activated its recapturing mechanisms and has already recaptured 10 of the escaped inmates.

He assured that efforts are being made to recapture the remaining inmates, with the help of sister security agencies. 

Duza noted that many of the service’s facilities were built during the colonial era and have become old and weak.

He said the service is working to replace these facilities with modern ones, including the construction of six 3,000-capacity ultra-modern custodial centres in all geo-political zones in Nigeria. 

The FCT spokesman urged the public to go about their businesses without fear or hindrance and to report any suspicious movements to the nearest security agency.

He assured that the command is on top of the situation and is working to ensure the recapture of all escaped inmates. 

The public has been enjoined to look out for the fleeing inmates and report any information to the nearest security agency.

The incident has raised concerns about the state of correctional facilities in the country and the need for urgent renovation and reconstruction.

By Dr. Fahad Ibrahim Danladi

Unfortunately, bigotry has permeated the fabric of our society, affecting some Nigerians. Recently, I was surprised to learn that the girls wearing miniskirts in the Lead British School, Abuja bullying video were Muslim students.

This incident highlights a concerning trend, also seen in Lagos, where students in private schools may be restricted from wearing modest attire that aligns with their religious beliefs.

In contrast, I’ve witnessed a more inclusive approach in the United States, where my children attend public school. Their schools accommodate diverse religious and cultural backgrounds by offering flexible dress code options.

For instance, my daughter’s elementary school has a uniform policy with various styles that cater to different religious and cultural needs. Similarly, my other daughter in middle school wears traditional Hausa dresses to school without issue.

In light of the Supreme Court’s ruling, it’s crucial for both private and public schools in Nigeria to adopt inclusive uniform policies that respect the two major religions in our country, promoting a culture of acceptance and understanding.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering amounting to N8,069,176,864.00. 

Sirika was taken into custody at the EFCC’s Federal Capital Territory Command around 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

He was questioned by EFCC investigators over alleged fraudulent contracts he awarded to a company called Engirios Nigeria Limited, which is owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika. 

The arrest is linked to the ongoing investigation into the Nigerian Air scandal, which involves the alleged embezzlement of over ₦8 billion. 

The EFCC is investigating Sirika for his role in authorising the fraudulent contracts, which were awarded to his brother’s company without following due process. 

Sirika’s arrest is a significant development in the investigation, and it is expected that more details will emerge in the coming days. 

The EFCC has been investigating the Nigerian Air scandal for several months, and Sirika’s arrest is a major breakthrough in the case. 

It is not clear at this time what charges Sirika will face, but it is likely that he will be charged with money laundering and fraud.

 By Uzair Adam Imam 

The embattled immediate past of Governor of Kagi State, Yahya Bello, has said that he did not appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja today because he feared that he could be arrested. 

However, Bello said he is ready to answer to the 19-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) preferred against him. 

The Daily Reality learned that, although Bello was absent for his arraignment, he briefed a team of lawyers who addressed the court on his behalf on Tuesday. 

Mr. Adeola Adedipe, SAN, who is a member of his legal team, told the court that his client would have made himself available for proceedings, but was afraid that he would be arrested. 

“The defendant wants to come to court but he is afraid that there is an order of arrest hanging on his head,” Adedipe, SAN, submitted. 

He also urged the court to set aside the exparte order of arrest it earlier issued against the former governor. 

Adedipe, SAN, contended that as at the time the order of arrest was made, the charge had not been served on his client as required by the law. 

He noted that it was only at the resumed proceedings on Tuesday that the court okayed substituted service of the charge on the defendant, through his lawyer. 

“As at the time the warrant was issued, the order for substituted service had not been made. That order was just made this morning. 

“A warrant of arrest should not be hanging on his neck when we leave this court,” counsel to the defendant added.