News

By Muhammadu Sabiu

A 45-year-old woman identified as Kafayat Lawal has purportedly hacked Ayomide Adekoya, her 17-year-old daughter, to death with a broken bottle, Punch newspaper has reported.

She was also said to have hacked another child of hers, who was later taken to the hospital.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Friday, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the Ogun State’s police public relations officer, stated that the suspect was apprehended after the information received by the Divisional Police Officer, Ogijo Divisional headquarters, CSP Mohammed Baba, at about 2:30 pm.

Oyeyemi added that the suspect locked her two daughters and hit and injured them with a broken bottle.

“Upon information, the DPO mobilised his men and moved to the scene where the two victims were rescued and taken to hospital for treatment before one of them gave up the ghost.

“The suspect was then arrested and taken to custody. On interrogation, the suspect, who claimed to have separated from her husband nine years ago, informed the police that her two daughters left home during the Sallah and didn’t return till the following day.

“This infuriated her, and when she wanted to beat them, people around pleaded on their behalf, and she left them, only for them to go out again the following day and passed the night outside. It was the annoyance that made her lock them inside and injured them both with a broken bottle.

“The older one Blessing Adekoya 19 was injured in the hand, while her younger sister Ayomide was stabbed in the chest and unfortunately gave up the ghost while receiving treatment,” Mr Oyeyemi said.

He also noted that an investigation into the incident was ongoing.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) arrests the former President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, over renewed allegations of corruption. Sources have indicated that Saraki was arrested over allegations of theft and money laundering.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Paul Owne, the suspect who stood trial on charges relating to the abduction and sale of some nine children from Kano, has on Friday been sentenced to serve a 104-year jail term by the Kano State State High Court.

Pleading guilty to the 38-count charges against him, Mr Owne was convicted accordingly by Justice Zuwaira Yusuf, who ruled that there was no any option to pay a fine.

However, reports have indicated that other suspects who stood trial alongside Mr Owne pleaded not guilty.

Pronouncing the judgement, Justice Yusuf stated, “I find Owne guilty on counts two, eight, nine, 27 and 34. I hereby sentence him to seven years imprisonment on each of the counts without an option of fine, in addition to paying the sum of N100,000 fine.

“The court also found Owne guilty on counts three, five, 10, 11, 22, 28 and 38. I sentence him to seven years in a correctional centre on each of the counts,” she added.

According to the justice, the convict was also found guilty on counts four, 12, 13, 29 and 38. Therefore, he was sentenced to serve a 4-years jail term on each of the counts without giving him the option to be fined.

Therefore, the years for each charge put together equal 104 years.

Recall that in October 2019, a hashtag #JusticeForKano9 had trended on social media, especially Facebook, in the aftermath of the abduction and trafficking of the nine kids from Kano to Anambra. They were also alleged to have been forcefully converted to another religion.

This later led to the arraignment of Mr Owne alongside six others on November 13, 2020.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Men of the Nigeria Police Force in Kaduna State have on Thursday succeeded in apprehending two suspected armed robbers and a gunrunner, the police spokesperson in the state, ASP Mohammed Jalige, said in a statement.

Mr Jalige said, “The operatives of the Kaduna police, attached to the Kafanchan divisional headquarters, acted on information from a good Samaritan and intercepted an Opel Vectra vehicle with registration number KAF 733 MK driven by one person on July 28 at about 4:00 p.m.

“When a careful search of the suspicious vehicle was conducted, an AK47 rifle and two packets of 12-gauge shotgun shells that were concealed in the engine compartment of the car were recovered.

“Investigations are ongoing and the suspect has provided useful information to the police that will facilitate further breakthroughs.”

He also said that among those apprehended are two suspected armed robbery and car-snatching syndicates.

“The two suspects were arrested on July 26 and July 28.

“While on surveillance patrol within Sabon Gari area of Zaria, operatives of the command intercepted a Honda Civic vehicle with registration number NSR 92 HH driven by one person.

“A search of the said vehicle resulted in the recovery of an English Makarov pistol with one round of live 9mm ammunition and two fabricated revolver pistols.

“Investigation is being diligently carried out to retrieve some of their stolen vehicles, apprehending other gang members and equally recovering more of their operational weapons.

“The suspects will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation,” added Mr Jalige.

He also urged members of the public to report any suspicious activity in their communities.

By Muhammad Sabiu

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his deep sadness over the death of five prospective corps members who passed on in a ghastly auto accident along the Abuja/Kwali expressway on Wednesday.

Femi Adesina, a presidential spokesperson, stated this today in a statement posted via his verified Facebook account.

According to Mr Adesina, “the President assures that Nigerians share their grief and would continue to uphold them in prayers through this difficult time.”

The president also assured that his administration would do everything possible to ensure the welfare of corps members.

Press Release

Kano state government has described as fallacious a trending story on social media platforms on a purported plan to officially disallow women regardless of any faith from getting behind the wheel.

The state commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba who made the clarification in a statement issued on Thursday, said government had at no time contemplate on the matter.

He said the story, which could not be traced to any credible source, was nothing but the imaginary thinking of the authors.

“The trending story lacks any credibility and that is why it is wholly attributed to a source that cannot be substantiated,’’ it added.

Malam Garba pointed out that if at all there was such plan, the state government does not have to be involved in any secretive meeting to decide on a critical issue that has to do its teeming populace.

The commissioner stated further that even Saudi Arabia which for decades had laws that sanctioned women from driving has, after all, lifted the ban in 2018.

He said it was interesting that some of the scholars quoted to have supported the alleged ban have already dissociated themselves from the story.

MALAM MUHAMMAD GARBA

Hon. Commissioner for Information, Kano state

By Muhammad Sabiu

Nigerian Super Cop, DCP Abba Kyari, has ‘strongly’ refuted the allegations against him that he was involved in a scandal of bribe-taking from Hushpuppi, an infamous Nigerian fraudster currently standing trial in the United States for fraud.

Recall that in a report published on Thursday by Peoples Gazette, an online Nigerian newspaper, Mr Kyari was alleged to have received a bribe from the fraudster to have the latter’s rival arrested.

In the report, the US Justice Department was quoted to have revealed the alleged link between Hushpuppi and the famous police officer.

“Court documents outline a dispute among members of the conspiracy, which allegedly prompted Vincent to contact the victim and claim that Abbas and Juma were engaged in fraud. After this contact, Abbas [Hushpuppi] allegedly arranged to have Vincent jailed in Nigeria by Abba Alhaji Kyari, 46, of Nigeria.

“According to the affidavit, Kyari is a highly decorated deputy commissioner of the Nigeria Police Force who is alleged to have arranged for Vincent to be arrested and jailed at Abbas’ behest and then sent Abbas photographs of Vincent after his arrest. Kyari also allegedly sent Abbas bank account details for an account into which Abbas could deposit payment for Vincent’s arrest and imprisonment,” the department said in a statement.

However, hours after Peoples Gazette published the story, Mr Kyari took to his Facebook account to vehemently refute the allegations labelled against him.

READ MR. KYARI’S FULL STATEMENT

Friends: Abbas who we later came to know as Hushpuppi called our office about 2years ago that somebody in Nigeria Seriously threatened to kill his Family here in Nigeria and he sent the person’s Phone number and pleaded we take action before the Person attacks his family.

We traced and arrested the Suspect and after investigations we discovered there wasn’t an actual threat to anyone’s life And they are long time friends who have money issues between them hence we released the Suspect on bail to go and he was not taken to any jail.

Nobody demanded for a kobo from Abbas Hushpuppi. Our focus was to Save people’s lives that were purported to have been threatened.

Later, he saw some of my Native Clothes and Caps on my social media page and he said he likes them and he was connected to the person selling the clothes and he sent about N300k directly to the person’s account. The Native Clothes and Caps (5 sets) were brought to our office and He sent somebody to Collect them in our office.

Nobody demanded any money from Abbas Hushpuppi and nobody collected any money from him. We responded to a distress call he made on threat to his family and released the Suspect when we discovered there was no life threat from the Suspect. This is the true story. Vincent is alive, he can be contacted.

For those who are celebrating that this is an indictment on us and mentioning some fictitious Big Money, They will be disappointed once ALL distress Calls from ALL Nigerians provided they are life-threatening.

For Good Nigerians who appreciate our Service please don’t worry as our hands are clean and they should please not respond to those celebrating and creating many false Narratives without any Evidence. We are used to such types of people and false newsmakers and distributors.

Thank you all and GOD bless Nigeria.

The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim Elzakzaky and his wife, Malama Zeenat, who were discharged yesterday by a Kaduna High Court, have been flown out of Nigeria for medical attention.

More details later.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

A serving senator and former governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, and his wife have been apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Reports have indicated that the ex-governor is being grilled at the EFFC’s headquarters in Abuja over allegations of corruption and breach of trust he is alleged to have enmeshed in during his tenure as the governor of Nasarawa State from 2011 to 2019.

When contacted by Premium Times online newspaper to comment on the development, Wilson Uwujaren, the anti-graft agency’s spokesperson, said he was not updated on the matter.

Also, Danjuma Joseph, the former governor’s spokesman, said he was not aware of the said arrest. He said, “His Excellency left Lafia (Nasarawa State capital) for Abuja this morning. I am not aware of such arrest.”

The EFFC has not released any details concerning the arrest of the ex-governor and his wife. Still, sources in the know of the matter have indicated that it is related to“suspicion of involvement in dirty money flow.”

By Muhammadu Sabiu

A suspected bandit operating in northwest Nigeria, Bello Galadima, has on Tuesday been apprehended by men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Sokoto.

This was confirmed by Hamza Illela, spokesperson of the corps in the state.

Mr Illela was quoted as saying, “The corps at about 0600hrs yesterday, Tuesday, arrested a wanted notorious bandit following intelligence on his activities and movement from the members of Hamma Ali community.

“The command directed its intelligence team to liaise with the arms squad unit to track and arrest him.”

The suspected bandit was reported to have been arrested around the Aliyu Jodi area.

Sokoto State is one of the northwestern states badly hit by bandits and kidnappers despite the fact that security personnel are making efforts to curb the vices.