News

By Ibrahim Nasidi Saal

The Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Professor John Kester Ifeanyichukwu over allegations of bribery and inducement of officers of the Commission.

In a single-count charge brought before Honourable Justice A.O. Otaluka of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), High Court 12, sitting in Apo, Abuja, ICPC is accusing the Professor of issuing a cheque valued at $40,000 to a staff of the Commission.

The cheque was part of the $50,000 and a house in Abuja, promised to the officer to compromise the investigation by retrieving the accused person’s devices, Macbook S/N Ciml8bugdty3, Macbook S/N W80204j7atn and iPhone Pro11 which were in the custody of ICPC for investigative activities.

John Kester Ifeanyichukwu had earlier been reported to the Commission by the Presidency for alleged acts bordering on corruption, extortion and money laundering.

ICPC, in a charge No: CR/025/2022, informed the court of how the defendant induced one of its operatives to smuggle out a particular iPhone and a laptop and replace them with a dummy that was to be provided by his personal assistant.

The accused person’s action is contrary to section 18 (B) and punishable under section 18 (D) of the corrupt practices and other related offences act, 2000.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him. Therefore, he was admitted to bail in the sum of N10 million and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be residents within the court’s jurisdiction, and one of them must have a landed property n Abuja.

The trial judge also ordered that the defendant’s international passport and other valid travel documents must be submitted to the court before the next adjourned date; otherwise, his bail will be revoked.

The case has been adjourned to June 21, 2022, for the commencement of the hearing.

By Ibrahim Nasidi Saal

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano on Tuesday granted an order of interim injunction restraining the Shehu Sagagi-led executives of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kano from exercising any power pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

Mr Sagagi is allegedly loyal to a former governor of Kano State and national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The case was filed before Justice A.M. Bichi by one Bello Bichi against INEC, PDP and 40 others.

The order is as follows:

 “That in order not to create a serious power vacuum In the party at the State level and to prevent any anarchy which could result from such a vacuum, an order of interim injunction is granted restraining the 3″‘ to 42nd Defendants from parading or continuing to parade themselves as the Party Executives of the PDP in Kano State, from exercising any power pursuant thereto, or doing anything in that purported capacity pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice herewith filed, which is fixed for hearing on the 24th day of May, 2022.

“That an order for leave is granted allowing the substituted service of the Court Order and the originating and other subsequent processes on the 3rd to 42nd Defendants by leaving same with or at the office of the 25th Defendant, Mr. I. Wangida, Esq.”

The daily Reality reports that on April 28, another court of concurrent jurisdiction, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, had reinstated the Shehu Sagagi-led state and 44 local governments’ executives of PDP, pending the determination of the substantive case before it.

Ruling on the matter, Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo granted all the prayers of the Sagagi-led executives and warned the PDP national leadership against taking any action that would undermine them.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Kano State Government has clarified the fake news on explosion. An explosion rocked Kano at the early hours of Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

It was earlier reported that it was a bomb blast on many social media platforms. However, the State Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, has dismissed the erroneous claim.

On the other hand, the Kano State’s Police Commissioner, Sama’ila Shuaibu Dikko, said it was a gas explosion.

“It was a gas explosion. There was a welder around the area and his gas cylinder exploded just very close to a private school… we have recovered four casualties, including the welder and a female. No child was affected,” Dikko told journalists after the incident.

While cautioning people to desist from sharing unsubstantiated stories, the Commissioner added that further investigations were underway.

By Aisar Fagge

One of the leading telecommunication companies, MTN Nigeria Communication PLC, has been sued at Federal High Court for poor quality service delivery, invasion of privacy and nonchalant attitude towards genuine complaint of the plaintiffs’ request and therefore demands over 600 million naira as damages.

Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) and Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami were also part of the suit for breach of statutory duty to protect the interest of the plaintiffs and ensure compliance with the Nigeria Communications Act, 2005.

The case was filed by the plaintiffs’ counsel, Barrister Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude and the defendants were served with about 150 pages of process on May 12, 2022, and were given 30 days to respond or face the wrath of the court.

According to the plaintiffs, Barrister Ishaq Abubakar Baba and Barrister Shamsi Ubale Jibril who is the staff of Kano State Polytechnic, on November 24, 2021, between the hours of 8:00 pm and 12 midnight, and also on December 13, 2021, around 7:40 pm and 8:45 pm, the MTN Nigeria PLC deprived them a business opportunity with their clients all because of their poor network service delivery which has caused them serious economic loss and mental injury.

In addition, the plaintiffs also complained of receiving disgusting unsolicited SMS from third parties which were allowed by the MTN. This constitutes a violation of their privacy of telephone conversation and telegraphic communication guaranteed to them by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

The counsel of the plaintiffs seeks “An order of this honourable court awarding the sum of N 50,000,000 (fifty million naira only) against the 1st defendant (MTN) in favour of the plaintiffs for invasion of their right to privacy . . . .”

“An order of this honourable court awarding the sum of N 500,000,000 (five hundred million naira only) to the plaintiffs as exemplary damages against the 1st defendant (MTN) for aggravating their damage through its act of continued . . . “, part of the process reads.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Ahmed Idris, Nigeria’s Accountant-General, has reportedly been arrested on suspicion of money laundering and misappropriation of state monies.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Mr Idris was apprehended in Kano by men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday evening and is being taken to Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, for questioning.

According to sources who spoke with news reporters, the EFCC has been looking into a case of at least N80 billion in public funds being diverted through fake contracts.

According to investigators, the firms utilized to launder the monies were linked to family members and acquaintances of the accountant-general.

Mr. Idris, who was appointed by President Buhari on June 25, 2015, was said to have been avoiding honouring a series of invitations from the anti-graft agency.

The source was quoted as saying, “We kept inviting him but he kept dodging us. We were left with no choice than [sic] to keep him under watch and arrest him.”

However, the spokesperson for the EFCC did not comment on the matter as he could not be reached.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

An official of Goron Dutse Correctional Centre in Kano, who is yet to be identified, has gunned down a trader for refusing to give him a stick of cigarette. This development shocked people around. 

The Daily Reality gathered that the bullet fired at the trader went through his stomach and later hit another person on the leg.

The trader was confirmed dead after reaching the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, where the two victims were rushed to. 

It was gathered that there had been a misunderstanding between the two persons after the trader refused to sell the cigarette to the officer; which made him angry. 

According to a witness who spoke to the Daily Trust, “We can’t really say, but, it seemed like the officer was owing the trader and this time around, he refused to sell to him, which triggered his response as he suddenly shot him.”

Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the Kano Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident. 

He added that the police were still trying to ascertain the identity of the slain trader.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Bauchi State Commissioner for Education, Dr Aliyu U. Tilde, has replied to Peoples Gazette newspaper over his condemnation of Deborah Samuel, who made derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in a WhatsApp voice note.

Recall that Deborah was killed and set ablaze by an angry mob over the insult she rained on the Prophet, which caused outrage at the Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto, where she was a student. Protests erupted in parts of the northwestern state over the arrest of those suspected to be part of the mob action.

In a post on his Facebook page, the Bauchi commissioner condemned Deborah’s remarks, noting that “baki shi ke yanka wuya”, which can roughly mean “what you say lands you in trouble.”

However, a report by Peoples Gazette, a newspaper many people accused of being involved in gonzo journalism, claims that “Bauchi commissioner for education Aliyu Tilde endorses murder of Deborah Samuel, tells Christians to undergo psychiatric test.”

In a short rejoinder he posted on Facebook, Dr Tilde said, “No Regret

“Anyone that is not touched by that high degree of provocation is insensitive. Children must be taught to respect others. If Jesus (May peace be upon him) is insulted will say the same.

“You are free to fabricate lies and attach to my statement. That is your business. But don’t deceive yourself by thinking you’re a good Christian. You are a bad one.

“I have watched and read many Christians condemn what Deborah said.”

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is the most respected, loved, and obeyed human being to the Muslim faithful. According to Islam, he was the last Messenger of Allah, who is the greatest among all other Prophets and Messengers.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Police in Sokoto have gunned down one protester and left many others injured as the angry youths demanded the release of two suspects connected with the killing of Deborah Samuel, who was accused of blasphemy.

The Daily Reality reported how Samuel, a Student of Shehu Shagari College of Education,  faced the wrath of death by her fellow students following her blasphemous utterances against Prophet Muhammad (SAW) Friday, 13 May 2022.

The protesters took to the major streets of Sokoto state metropolis on Saturday morning, demanding the release of the two suspects arrested.

 The Daily Reality gathered that the protest was initially peaceful and was started at the Zabirah Mall roundabout.

The incident that took place around 9 am on Saturday had many youths in attendance holding placards that read “Release our Muslim Brothers,” “Muslims Are Not Terrorists”, among others.

Our reporters learned that the protesters headed to the palace of Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III.

However, they were blocked by a team of joint security operatives who used tear gas canisters to disperse them.

As for now, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of the state has imposed a curfew to mitigate violence trying to emerge. 

By Muhammad Sabiu

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun a quiet probe into the finances of the country’s 18 political parties and presidential candidates.

This came after applicants vying for various political posts in the parties paid exorbitant fees for expressions of interest and nomination papers.

As a result, in a letter, with reference number CB.3383/EFCC/HOPS/HQ/VOL.1/28, titled, ‘Investigation activities’,  the anti-corruption organization has requested that the Independent National Electoral Commission provide it with the bank accounts and other financial information of political parties.

It also demanded that the managing directors of Access Bank and Polaris Bank disclose information on the 14 accounts held by the All Progressives Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party, and another group suspected of being linked to the opposition party.

The ruling APC sold presidential forms for N100 million, while the main opposition party sold them for N40 million. In addition, APC governorship candidates paid N50 million, while those declaring for the Senate, House of Representatives, and state legislatures paid N20 million, N10 million, and N2 million, respectively, for their nomination and declaration of interest forms.

The PDP, on the other hand, sold gubernatorial forms for N21 million, Senate forms for N3.5 million, House of Representatives forms for N2.5 million, and state Houses of Assembly forms for N600,000.

While the minor parties paid lower rates for their forms, many Nigerians were outraged by the hefty nomination fees required by the two leading parties, which Transparency International described as a kind of money laundering.

Last week, on Channels Television’s Politics Today, EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa hinted that the agency will monitor campaign finances, particularly the authenticity of monies used to acquire nomination forms ahead of the 2023 general elections.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state has imposed curfew on the state to mitigate violence, as protesters demanding the release of the two suspected youth over the killing of Deborah Emmanuel roamed the state’s streets.

Emmanuel, a student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, has allegedly blasphemed the prophet of Islam, Muhammad peace be upon him, the development that led to her killing Friday, May 13th, 2022.

Tambuwal said in a statement, “Following the sad incident that happened at the Shehu Shagari College of Education on Thursday and sequel to the developments within (Sokoto) metropolis this morning till afternoon, by the powers conferred on me by Section 176 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and Sections 1 and 4 of the Public Order Act; and, also Section 15 of Sokoto State Peace Preservation Law, I hereby declare, with immediate effect, a curfew within (Sokoto) metropolis of Sokoto township for the next 24 hours.

“I appeal to the good people of Sokoto State to kindly continue to observe law and order and calm down (on the) restiveness currently pervading in the metropolis.

“Everyone should, please, in the interest of peace go back home and observe this measure, with a view to reestablishing peace, law and order in the state.

“It is not in the interest of anyone for us to have a breakdown of law and order. I, therefore, appeal for restraint; and for people to observe and respect the rule of law. Thank you very much,” he stated.