Kano

By Uzair Adam

Power has been restored in Kano and other northern states after an extended blackout that disrupted business and social activities.

The Daily Reality learned that the electricity was restored in areas like Dorayi, Rijiyar Zaki, Tudun Murtala in Kano City around 9 p.m. on Wednesday.

Other cities in northern Nigeria, including Bauchi and Jos, have also regained power after about ten days of darkness.

The blackout was triggered by the tripping of the 330kV transmission line, which disconnected several northwestern and northeastern states from the national grid.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) worked extensively to reconnect the affected states to the grid, gradually restoring power to communities across the region.

By Uzair Adam

A Sharia Court in Kofar Kudu, Kano State, has ordered the remand of Nasiru Mukhtar, accused of assaulting an Imam at a mosque in Tudunwada.

According to police reports, the incident occurred on October 22, 2024, around 5 a.m. when Mukhtar allegedly approached Imam Malam Murtala Sulaiman during the early morning prayers, grabbed him by the neck, slapped him, tore his clothing, and took his microphone.

Following the incident, Malam Sulaiman reported the case to the Kano State Police Command.

The charges against Mukhtar, according to the police, align with Sections 165 and 166 of the Kano State Penal Code.

During the court proceedings, the accused pleaded not guilty.

The presiding judge, Malam Isah Rabi’u Gaya, rejected the defense’s bail application and ordered a psychiatric evaluation for Mukhtar to assess his mental state.

The judge has set the case’s next hearing for November 22, 2024, pending further investigations.

By Anwar Usman 

The Kano State Police Command on Tuesday arresty a notorious kingpin identified as Inuwa Zakari, also known as “Gundura,” together with 14 others. 

SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the Command’s spokesperson, confirmed the arrest through a press statement released to journalists in Kano. 

Gundura, aged 24, who was wanted for terrorising the metropolis, was also identified as the assaulter who attacked a Vigilance Group Commander, which caused life-threatening injuries and damaging a police vehicle. 

The arrests were made during clearance operations conducted between 25 and 27 October 2024, following directives from the State Commissioner of Police, Salman Dogo Garba, to launch aggressive action against thuggery. 

The police sent a clear and strong warning that such violent activities would not be tolerated. 

The assailants are currently under investigation at the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department and, upon completion, will be charged in court to face the full wrath of the law. 

The Commissioner of Police expressed appreciation for the public’s continued support and cooperation.

He stated, “This isn’t the first time the Kano State Police Command has taken a serious action against criminal activity.”

 By Sabiu Abdullahi

Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, a member representing Bichi Federal Constituency from Kano State and chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, has sponsored 21 indigenes of Bichi Local Government on foreign scholarships to study in Malaysia. 

The beneficiaries will pursue an 18-month program in Engineering, Computing Science, Technology, and other courses at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), one of Malaysia’s highest-ranking universities. 

The scholarship recipients were presented with their admission letters and other necessary documents in Bichi on Wednesday.

Additionally, Hon. Bichi sponsored 59 science and technical students from SS1 to SS3 and provided them with educational kits.

He also recruited 150 temporary classroom teachers and 50 Islamiyya teachers to teach at various schools across the local government. 

Hon. Bichi stated the importance of empowering people based on their abilities, stating, “This is what leaders should do. People should be empowered based on their abilities. We don’t want to politicize education. We always require fair play.”

He reiterated the positive impact of education on reducing crime in Bichi Local Government, noting that the area has seen a significant decrease in crime due to increased access to education. 

The lawmaker also mentioned his commitment to supporting education in the region, stating, “We have been offering 100% scholarships to indigenes of Bichi to study at various Nigerian universities, including BUK, ABU, ABTU, among other universities. We paid the school fees of hundreds of students at various educational levels. We built over 500 classrooms across Bichi Local Government.”

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State government, in coordination with security agencies, has announced a movement restriction across the state from midnight to 6:00 PM on Saturday.

The measure, confirmed by Commissioner of Information and Internal Affairs Baba Halilu Dantiye, is intended to ensure a peaceful and secure environment for the local government elections set for October 26.

In his statement on Friday, Dantiye called on residents to comply with the restrictions, emphasizing the government’s commitment to a credible and transparent electoral process.

The restrictions apply to both individuals and vehicles throughout the 44 local government areas and 484 electoral wards in the state.

This directive aims to maintain order and prevent potential disruptions during the election.

However, exemptions are granted for those involved in official election duties and essential services.

The Kano State Government encourages all citizens to support this effort.

It also reiterated that strict adherence to these guidelines is crucial for a safe and successful electoral process.

By Uzair Adam

A Federal High Court in Kano has mandated the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) to recognize the list of candidates for the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) submitted by the party’s state chairman, Dalhatu Shehu Usman, in line with the NNPP constitution.

The Daily Reality reports that the ruling invalidates any alternative lists submitted for the 2024 local government elections in Kano State.

The court, presided over by Justice Simon Amobeda, also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to refrain from providing KANSIEC with the voters’ register for the local government election scheduled for October 26, 2024.

The suit was filed by the NNPP and Engr. Muhammad Babayo, with INEC, KANSIEC, the Inspector General of Police, and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) listed as defendants.

Earlier in the week, Justice Amobeda dismissed KANSIEC Chairman Prof. Sani Malunfasi and five other members and ruled against the election proceedings.

Additionally, the court instructed the IGP and DSS Director not to offer security or protection services at the election sites on October 26.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) has confirmed its readiness to conduct the local government elections scheduled for Saturday, October 26, 2024.

The KANSIEC Chairman, Prof. Sani Malumfashi, made the announcement on Friday after a Kano State High Court ruled in favor of the commission, overturning a previous federal court decision that halted the elections.

Justice Simon Amobeda of a federal high court had initially ruled against the elections, removing Malumfashi and five other commission members.

However, the high court’s decision now allows the elections to proceed as planned. Prof. Malumfashi stated that security arrangements, in cooperation with the police, are in place to ensure a peaceful electoral process.

The commission chairman expressed disappointment over one political party’s refusal to participate in the election process, citing missed deadlines for candidate nominations and form submissions.

He noted that all other parties, including the NNPP, ZLP, Accord Party, NRM, AAC, and AA, have participated in the electoral preparations.

Malumfashi showed the state’s commitment to holding transparent and fair elections, as mandated by the federal government to be completed by October 2024.

He urged all stakeholders to support the process, highlighting KANSIEC’s dedication to due process in all electoral preparations, including the nomination of commissioners approved by the State House of Assembly.

By Uzair Adam

A Kano State High Court has set November 20 to hear pending applications in the case of alleged bribery and misappropriation of public funds amounting to billions of naira involving the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, his wife Hafsat Umar, and six other defendants.

The defendants, including Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited, are facing an eight-count charge relating to bribery, misappropriation, and the diversion of public funds.

During Wednesday’s session, the counsel for the plaintiff, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, expressed readiness to proceed, having filed a counter affidavit, with one of their witnesses testifying remotely from Lagos.

However, the defense teams for several defendants requested more time, stating they had not been served with the necessary documents.

Counsel for the 1st, 2nd, and 4th defendants, Offiong Offiong, SAN, and others representing the remaining defendants, all requested adjournments for the hearing of their preliminary objections.

Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu emphasized the importance of proper service of processes and adjourned the case to November 20 for the hearing of all pending applications. Hi

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Anti-Corruption and Public Complaints Commission has initiated an investigation into allegations of a N1.5 billion scholarship scam involving the Ministry of Higher Education.

The commission is currently interrogating two senior officials in connection with claims regarding 1,001 students purportedly studying in India and Uganda.

The Daily Reality gathered that the state government had sponsored these students for postgraduate degrees in India and Uganda as part of a foreign scholarship initiative launched by Governor Abba Yusuf.

Recently, Governor Yusuf hosted a farewell dinner for the first batch of 550 scholarship beneficiaries, and expressed his gratitude to former Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso for establishing the program.

However, it has come to light that only 418 students were actually sent abroad for their studies.

That raised concerns about the fate of the remaining students.

Kabiru A. Kabiru, the commission’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed the ongoing investigation. He stated that the two officials were questioned regarding the alleged fraud.

He noted that preliminary findings have revealed suspicious activities linked to the Ministry of Higher Education’s handling of the postgraduate scholarship program.

“We have opened an investigation to uncover the truth. Those found culpable, regardless of their position, will face prosecution,” Kabiru asserted.

By Uzair Adam

The Commander of the 3 Brigade in Kano, Brigadier General M.A. Sadiq, has been detained by military police in Abuja over allegations of diverting rice palliatives meant for soldiers and selling military equipment, including operational vehicles and generator sets, to scrap dealers.

According to sources, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters has distributed rice palliatives to soldiers in various brigades across the country on multiple occasions.

However, it is alleged that Brigadier General Sadiq provided only a 5kg bag of rice to the soldiers while selling the remaining supplies.

In addition to the rice diversion scandal, sources revealed that the embattled commander also allegedly sold equipment, including a MIKANO heavy-duty generator, from the Military Training Camp in Falgore, Kano, to scrap dealers.

Brigadier General Sadiq has been replaced by Brigadier General A.M. Tukur, the former registrar of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

The detained officer is currently facing interrogation by the military police’s special investigation branch, and further investigations are underway. He is expected to face a court-martial once the probe is completed.

At the time of reporting, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Major-General Onyema Nwachukwu, had not responded to inquiries.