News

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared null and void the declaration of Mrs Binani as the winner of the Adamawa supplementary gubernatorial election.

In a statement released through the commission’s verified social media handles, Barr. Festus Okoye, National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, noted that the commission had suspended all the processes of the supplementary election.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Commission has been drawn to a purported declaration of winner in the Adamawa Governorship election by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) even when the process has clearly not been concluded.

“The action of the REC is a usurpation of the power of the Returning Officer. It is null, void and of no effect.

“Consequently, the collation of results of the supplementary election is hereby suspended. The REC, Returning Officer and all involved are hereby invited to the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja immediately.

The statement added that a “detailed statement” would follow shortly.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 
 
The Kano Civil Society (KCSF) notes that it has received complaints from community members in the Tudun Wada/Doguwa Federal Constituency, the same areas where there were alleged intimidation, oppression, killings, and property destruction during the two previous elections in the state.
 
This was made known in a letter addressed to the Kano State Commissioner of Police dated April 14 and signed by Ambassador Ibrahim Waiya, President and Peter Hassan Tijjani, General Secretary, respectively.
 
The letter reads, “The above ugly situation, has till date become a National and Global human rights violation issue, as well as made the global community, the National Human Rights Commission, International organizations, National and Local CSOs to beam their search light on Kano State, in the supplementary elections.”
 
“Here we are, with the long awaited supplementary elections, which is scheduled to be conducted by INEC in some Local Governments, including Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal constituency.”
 
“It is against the foregoing, we call on your good office to uphold the best practices of professional conduct to proactively address any likely re-occurrence of the 25th February, 2023 ugly incidences, where innocent souls were allegedly burnt to ashes.”

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Consumate entrepreneur and African wealthiest man, Aliko Dangote, has made promises of higher returns to shareholders and stakeholders of the Dangote conglomerate

The richest black man, who is the chairman of the Dangote Group, disclosed this in Lagos during the group’s 14th Annual General Meeting held in Lagos on Thursday.

He said, “We will continue to make sure that we keep our shareholders happy, not only the shareholders but all our other stakeholders… Our strategy remains steadfast, focused on organic growth in Nigeria and Pan-Africa while ensuring that Africa’s regional integration becomes a reality. We will continue to contribute to improving regional trade within Africa by building plants across West and Central Africa, guided by our vision of making the region cement and clinker self-sufficient. In addition, we aim to deliver higher returns and value to our shareholders.”

He also noted that despite the challenging economic atmosphere,
the company still made great strides, performed admirably, and remains Africa’s largest and leading cement producer.

He stated, ” In addition, we achieved giant strides in transitioning to cleaner energy, with our cost containment initiative propelling the use of Alternative Fuel (AF) to replace more expensive fossil fuels, such as coal and gas. We also increased the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for our trucks due to the rising diesel cost environment. These efforts have helped us reduce our cost base and enhanced our flexibility, enabling the Company to respond more effectively to changes in the market. As a result, we recorded revenue and EBITDA growth of 17.0 per cent and 3.5 per cent from the prior year respectively, albeit under unprecedented inflationary pressure. We also achieved a profit after tax of ₦382.3 billion, up 4.9 per cent compared to 2021.”

While speaking further on the success of the group, he stated that the company has generated more revenue in 2022 than any other year.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Nigerian Police Force, NPF, has dismissed three officers on the ground of infamous conduct.

NPF Spokesperson, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement he signed and made available to journalists on Thursday.

According to the statement, the dismissal is sequel to complaints received against the erring officers.

He wrote, ” Subsequent to complaints and findings on video evidence widely circulated on Friday 7th April, 2023, on social media of high-handedness, unprofessional conduct, and misuse of firearms against some policemen from Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 1, Kano, and a follow-up orderly room trial of the affected policemen by the Force Provost Marshal, three officers from the SPU Base 1 Kano have been dismissed for the offences of discreditable conduct to wit misuse of firearms, abuse of power, gross indiscipline, and wastage of live ammunition.”

The affected policemen are Inspector Dahiru Shuaibu, Sgt. Abdullahi Badamasi and Sgt. Isah Danladi.

The said officers were attached to a musician in Kano on escort duties and were seen in videos shooting indiscriminately into the air.

Consequent of the development, the NPF warned officers to be law abiding ‘to avoid running foul of its provisions and attracting attendant sanctions’

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

Bayern Munich have suspended Sadio Mané after he punched his teammate Leroy Sane.

Following Bayern’s 3-0 loss to Manchester City on Tuesday night, Mane and Sane got into an argument in the dressing room.

The Senegalese international confronted Sane after the game because he was upset with how Sane treated him on the pitch.

He lost his cool and hit Sane in the face, leaving him with a bloody lip.

The suspension, according to reports, is until further notice.

By Muhammad Sulaiman Yobe

Jigawa State Judicial Service Commission has approved the compulsory retirement of a Upper Sharia Court Judge, Alkali Safiyanu Muhammad Dabi, for collecting bribe.

A statement issued by the Director Publicity and Protocol Matters, State Judiciary, Abbas Rufai Wangara, stated that the Commission also approved the promotion of four senior staff of the state judiciary to various positions.

The statement added that the commission also approved the appointment of Barrister Aliyu Muhammad as Deputy Chief Registrar II, Sharia Court of Appeal; Barrister Abdulrashed Al`asan, Chief Inspector Sharia Court; Barrister Muhammad Lawan, Zonal Deputy Chief Inspector Sharia Court of Appeal while Barrister Muhammad Adamu was appointed as Zonal Deputy Chief Inspector, Sharia Court of Appeal.

Similarly, the commission warned that any judicial officer found wanting in the discharge of their duties would face the wrath of the law.

By Muhammadu Sabiu  

A mob reportedly lynched Okolie Ahize, a final-year student from the Department of Civil Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife. 

Ahize allegedly got hit for stealing a cell phone from the university’s Hall of Residence. It was learned that the student had been tortured and was declared dead upon arrival at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex’s Emergency Medicine Department on Tuesday afternoon. 

A statement by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju, reads, “The Administration of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has condemned, in strong terms, the incidence that led to the death of a part 5 student of the institution. 

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the student died of a mob action on the allegation that he stole a phone. 

“Saddened by this ugly development which he described as unfortunate, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, has set up a committee to unravel the circumstances that led to this incident. 

“The action of the mob, being a violation of the law of the country and of the University regulations, has been reported to the police who have commenced investigations.”

By Abdurrahman Muhammad

The University of the Holy Qur’an and Taseel of Sciences of the Republic of Sudan awarded Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and renowned Islamic cleric, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), with an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Qur’anic Science.

While the Honourable Minister was awarded in May 2021, he received the award certificate and shared the same on social media only recently.

According to the official social media handles of the Minister, he was the first person in sub-Saharan Africa to receive the award. The statement, in part, reads:

“With the exemption of North Africa, he was the first African to receive the recognition on the Glorious Qur’an.”

During Ramadan, Sheikh Pantami delivers Tafsir at the Annur Masjid in the Nigerian capital, FCT Abuja. He also holds other preaching sessions outside the Holy Month at the same mosque or elsewhere.

By Muhammadu Sabiu
 
As of May 31, 2023, loan apps downloaded from Play Store will no longer have access to the contacts or photographs of their users.
 
The Federal Government announced that it would enforce Google’s most recent privacy guidelines, noting that this is in line with Nigerian authorities’ efforts to stop lending app companies from violating their users’ privacy.
 
The Federal Government recently took significant measures to address the way these loan applications violate the privacy of their users.

Out of the 200 lending applications currently active in the nation, 170 had just been registered with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
 
Google said, “Policy preview (effective May 31, 2023): This article previews changes included in our April 2023 policy updates.
 
“We are updating our personal loans policy to state that apps aiming to provide or facilitate personal loans may not access user contacts or photos.
 
“We are introducing additional requirements for personal loan apps targeting users in Pakistan. Personal loan apps in Pakistan must submit country-specific licensing documentation to prove their ability to provide or facilitate personal loans.”
 
This new regulation follows the company’s revisions to its Developer Programme Policy, which required digital money lenders in Nigeria, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Kenya to comply with legal requirements by January 31 or face being shut down.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Center for Media, Policy and Accountability, CMPA, has commenced implementation of the Nigeria Anti-Corruption Performance Public Reporting (NAPPR) Project 2023 in partnership with anti-corruption agencies in the country. 

The Center’s Director of Communication, Outreach and Advocacy, Ibrahim Uba Yusuf, made this known in a press release on Sunday. 

The Center disclosed that the project is funded by the MacArthur Foundation and primarily aims at partnership with anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria.

The Center also disclosed that it would be conducting research, advocacy and public engagement to enhance the capacity of the anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria. 

“The aim of the MacArthur Foundation-funded project is to conduct research, advocacy, public engagement and capacity development of Nigeria Anti-Corruption Agencies (EFCC, ICPC and CCB), CSOs, and media organizations on NAPPR project and to publish the first edition of a Harmonized Anti-Corruption Performance Report for 2017-2022.” The statement, signed by Ibrahim Uba Yusuf, partly reads.

The project manager, Dr Suleiman Amu Suleiman, had paid official visits to the Economic Financial Crimes Commission headquarters, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, in furtherance of the project. 

While speaking at the visit, Dr Suleiman said the project was to support Nigerian anti-corruption agencies to develop a standard reporting template that would correctly highlight and project their work locally and globally.