News

By Uzair Adam Imam

A Rivers State High Court has declared the seats of 25 lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) vacant.

The court ordered the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, and 24 other lawmakers to stop parading as lawmakers pending the determination of a suit before it.

The court gave the order in Suit No PHC/1512/CS/2024, brought by Rt. Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, Speaker, Rivers State House Of Assembly, Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari, and Hon.

Orubienimigha Adolphus Timothy, over the crises rocking the legislative arm of the state.

The defendants include 25 lawmakers who defected from PDP to APC, including Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, Hon. Dumle Maol, and 23 others.

The Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and the Honourable Chief Judge Of Rivers State, Simeon Amadi, are also defendants in the suit.

The court restrained the lawmakers from parading as lawmakers or meeting to carry out legislative business pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The case was adjourned to July 1, 2024, for mention.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Yusuf Maitama Sule University has embarked on a two-week warning strike, citing the Kano State government’s failure to address its longstanding demands.

According to the union, despite numerous engagements and submissions to the state government, there has been no commitment to resolving the issues affecting the university and its members’ welfare, leaving the union with no choice but to declare a warning strike.

This decision was announced in a joint statement by ASUU branch Chairman Dr. Mansur Said and Secretary Dr. Yusuf Ahmed Gwarzo on Wednesday.

The union stated that the strike became necessary after interventions by various stakeholders, including government officials and ASUU’s Kano Zone and National delegation, but it yielded no tangible results.

“The branch resolved to embark on a two-week warning strike, effective immediately, during its congress on May 29, 2024,” the statement read.

The union’s demands include the reinstatement and reconstitution of the University Governing Council, which was dissolved over a year ago, payment of outstanding Earned Academic Allowance totalling ₦178,705,735.91, and payment of salary arrears resulting from the 2019 minimum wage adjustment, among others.

By Uzair Adam Imam

President Bola Tinubu has signed the National Anthem Bill 2024, reverting to the old national anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee”.

This was revealed by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, at a joint session of the National Assembly marking the Silver Jubilee of Nigeria’s 4th Republic.

The old anthem, composed when Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960, replaces the current “Arise, O Compatriots” anthem.

The lyrics were written by British expatriate Lillian Jean Williams, and the music was composed by Frances Berda.

The anthem played a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s national identity and unity during the 1960s and late 1970s.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has banned all public gatherings and demonstrations in the state, citing a potential breakdown of law and order.

This decision comes after intelligence suggested that opposition figures planned to sponsor protests and incite chaos under the guise of supporting the dethroned Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.

According to a statement by the Governor’s Director-General, Media and Publicity, Sanusi Tofa, “This decisive action is a preemptive strategy aimed at averting any potential breakdown of law and order orchestrated by adversaries of the state.”

The government has directed security agencies to apprehend, detain, and prosecute anyone violating the order.

“We are privy to credible intelligence indicating that certain prominent figures from the opposition party in Kano have devised plans to sponsor student associations and political agitators from other northwestern states,” Tofa said.

“Their plan is to incite chaos under the guise of advocating for the dethroned Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.”

Governor Yusuf warned student groups against being manipulated by troublemakers, saying, “Through this declaration, we caution student groups against being manipulated by troublemakers who are resolute in fomenting disorder in Kano.”

He urged citizens to go about their normal activities, assuring them that the government would maintain vigilance to ensure peace in the state.

The governor said, “We urge all citizens of the state to carry on with their normal activities as the state retains its serenity.

“We will persist in vigilant oversight of the situation to address any individuals or factions trying to undermine the relative peace that the state currently enjoys.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has urged for tranquility amidst the ongoing leadership crisis involving Kano’s traditional institutions.

The Islamic body made this call in a press release issued today, May 29, 2024.

It also appealed to Islamic scholars and Kano residents to refrain from rhetoric that could exacerbate tensions.

Acknowledging what is going on, the council said there are “contradictory statements emanating from some quarters of the Ulama in Kano concerning the current traditional leadership crisis in the state.”

It added by imploring Islamic scholars, revered as “custodians of Islamic learning, values and guidance”, to exercise caution and refrain from pronouncements that could heighten tensions and divide the Muslim community.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Rivers State police have arrested 13 individuals, including four soldiers and a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer, for alleged armed robbery, hijacking of food trucks, and diverting them to other locations.

According to the police spokeswoman, Grace Iringe-Koko, the arrests followed a thorough investigation triggered by an initial arrest of suspected burglary in a private warehouse in Elimgbu community, Ohio/Akpor LGA.

Two of the initial suspects were identified as a corporal in the Nigerian Army serving in Delta State and an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps serving in Kabba, Kogi State.

They confessed to abandoning their posts to engage in criminal activities in Rivers State.Further investigations uncovered a larger criminal ring involved in armed robbery, hijacking, and goods diversion.

The gangs hijacked trailers loaded with various goods, including fertilizers, imported clothing, and POP cement.The police recovered stolen items and a white Toyota Hilux used in the gang’s operations.

The four soldiers involved were dismissed by the Nigerian Army and handed over to the police for prosecution.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A sudden outbreak of gunfire at the mini palace of the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, in Nasarawa GRA, sent residents fleeing in fear on Monday night. 

The palace, located just 300 meters from the Kano Government House, has been under surveillance by a combined security team due to heightened tensions in the area. 

Eyewitnesses reported hearing heavy gunfire coming from the direction of the palace, sparking concerns about an attack. Some commuters diverted their routes, fearing for their safety. 

While the source of the gunfire remains unclear, it is believed to be related to a court order issued earlier on Monday, directing the deposed Emir to vacate the palace. 

The Kano State High Court also ordered Mr. Ado-Bayero and four other deposed emirs to stop parading themselves as emirs, pending the hearing and determination of a motion filed by the Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, and the Kano State House of Assembly. 

The incident has raised tensions in the already volatile region, with residents calling for calm and restraint.

The Kano State Police Commissioner, Muhammad Gumel, and the command’s spokesperson, Haruna Kiyawa, could not be reached for comment.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday commenced the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Edo State, despite a call from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to cancel the exercise due to damage to its secretariat, materials, and equipment. 

The exercise, which is meant to capture would-be voters yet to register ahead of the governorship election in Edo on September 21, will run for 10 days from May 27 to June 5, 2024, from 9 am to 3 pm daily, including weekends. 

Reacting to the APC’s call, the Edo INEC’s head of Voters Education and Publicity, Timidi Wariowei, said it is unfair to lay such an allegation against the election umpire.

“We have been to Oredo and we are here at the Ikpoba-Okha registration area which we are using as our state head office registration centre because of the flood disaster that happened at our head office on Friday,” said INEC National Commissioner Rhoda Gumus. 

Gumus expressed satisfaction with the exercise, urging registrants to be patient, adding that they will all be registered.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Anugbum Onuoha, also assured that INEC was well prepared for the exercise, and the flood disaster that destroyed some of the commission’s equipment could not stop the exercise. 

The APC had alleged that the People’s Democratic Party and INEC were conniving to manipulate the CVR in favour of the PDP, and that the CVR’s manipulation was the beginning of moves to rig the election in favour of the PDP.

However, INEC officials maintained that the exercise was going on smoothly and that nothing would make them fail.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

An 18-year-old pupil was detained on Monday after stabbing his schoolteacher in the face and fleeing the scene, authorities said.

The teacher from Lycee de l’Hyrome in Chemille-en-Anjou, western France, “suffered a facial injury that is not life-threatening”, according to a joint statement from the authorities, including the prefect and public prosecutor. 

The attack occurred on Monday morning, and the suspect quickly escaped through a window, abandoning his weapon.

He was later detained by gendarmes and municipal police.

The authorities stated that the young man was not previously known to the police and that counseling was provided to pupils and teachers after the attack. 

This incident is the latest in a series of school incidents involving attacks on teachers and school children by their peers in France in recent years.

In response to these incidents, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced measures in April to crack down on teenage violence in and around schools, as the government seeks to reclaim ground on security from the far-right ahead of upcoming European elections. 

An investigation into “attempted murder” has been launched.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

The Kano State Police Command has announced its commitment to upholding a federal court order that prohibits the reinstatement of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano. 

In a press briefing held at the Bompai command headquarters on Saturday, Commissioner of Police Usaini Gumel assured that the command and its sister agencies would ensure peace and stability in the state, warning that anyone attempting to incite violence or disrupt public order would be dealt with decisively. 

The court order, granted by Justice A.M. Liman of the Federal High Court on Thursday night, restrains the Kano State Government from reinstating Emir Sanusi II, who was deposed in March 2020.

The order was issued despite Justice Liman’s reported absence from the country, currently being in the United States. 

The case was filed by Aminu Babba-Dan’Agundi, a traditional title holder, and Sarkin Dawaki Babba, who sought the court’s intervention to prevent the reinstatement of Emir Sanusi II. 

The police command’s vow to enforce the court order comes amidst heightened tensions in the state, with many fearing a potential outbreak of violence over the emirate dispute.

Commissioner Gumel’s warning serves as a clear message to those who may attempt to disrupt the peace, stating the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order in Kano State. 

As the situation continues to unfold, residents and observers alike are closely watching the developments, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the emirate tussle.