TheNewsGuru

Tag: Kano State

  • BREAKING: Supreme Court dashes APC’s hopes, declares Abba Kabir Yusuf as Kano Gov

    BREAKING: Supreme Court dashes APC’s hopes, declares Abba Kabir Yusuf as Kano Gov

    The Supreme Court of Nigeria has declared Abba Kabir Yusuf as the duly elected Governor of Kano State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the apex court reversed the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which earlier sacked Yusuf from office.

    Recall the Appeal Court had earlier sacked Yusuf from office as the Governor of Kano State.

    The lower court affirmed the judgement of the Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.

    The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal declared Yusuf’s main challenger, Nasir Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the March 18 governorship election in the State.

    The tribunal had also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw Yusuf’s certificate of return and instead issue same to Gawuna.

    Also, the appellate court had while affirming his sack, further held that the governor was not a member of his party as of the time of the election and could not have been said to have been properly sponsored for the election.

    Not satisfied with the judgements of the lower courts, Yusuf appealed up to the Supreme Court, which has delivered judgement in his favour.

    TNG reports Governor Yusuf contested the election under the platform of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).

    He was declared winner of the March 18 governorship election in Kano by INEC.

    Justice John Okoro, who read the lead judgement said the Court of Appeal was wrong in affirming the decision of the Tribunal, which held that Yusuf did not win the majority of lawful votes cast in the governorship election.

    In determining the case, the apex court raised two issues: whether the lower court was right in deducting the 165,616 votes of the Governor.

    Justice Okoro held that the Tribunal was wrong in deducting the votes accrued to the Governor.

    “What is the effect of a ballot paper not having the marks by the electoral commission? “A ballot paper that does not bear INEC mark is not invalid by all purposess

    “It requires that it must be proven that a ballot paper was not the ones deployed for the conduct of the election.

    “There is no proof that the said ballot papers were not the one used at the election.

    “Thus the decision of the Court of Appeal affirming the decision of the tribunal ought to be set aside.

    “Finally, the lower court wrongly misconstrued its evaluation of the ballot papers. This amounts to perversion.

    “Accordingly, all the ballot papers are restored to Governor Yusuf,” Justice Okoro said in his lead judgement.

     

    Details shortly…

  • Hisbah arrests truck load of alcoholic drinks in Kano

    Hisbah arrests truck load of alcoholic drinks in Kano

    The Kano State Hisbah Board has arrested a truck loaded with more than 24,000 bottles of assorted alcoholic drinks.

    The board, which made the seizure on Zaria Road in Kano, also arrested the truck driver and two other persons.

    The Director-General of Kano State Hisbah Board, Alhaji Abba Sufi, made the disclosure in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the board, Mr Lawan Ibrahim-Fagge, on Wednesday in Kano.

    “The truck containing over 24,000 bottles of assorted alcoholic beverages was confiscated from smugglers along Zaria Road at midnight.

    “Hisbah personnel in the state have been proactive in enforcing zero-tolerance policy against smuggling of beer and other intoxicating substances into the state,” he said.

  • Police bust inter-state child abduction syndicate, arrest 9

    Police bust inter-state child abduction syndicate, arrest 9

    Police have burst open an inter-state child abduction and trafficking syndicate and arrested nine suspects after months of tracking across seven states.

    The investigation was initiated by the Police Command in Kano State following reports of missing children.

    Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel told newsmen on Thursday in Kano that the syndicate has been operating for over 10 years, and allegedly specialised in inter-states trafficking, abduction, buying and selling of minors.

    He said diligent investigation helped to dismantle the syndicate which has members in Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Lagos, Delta, Anambra and Imo states.

    “It was through diligent investigations by our dedicated team of officers that the operation of these criminal networks that have been in existence for more than 10 years were identified,” he added.

    Gumel said seven victims, mostly minors, were rescued from the suspects, adding that some of the children were sold for between N300,000 and N600,000.

    “It was found during investigations that a victim Mohammed Ilya who was abducted from Bauchi but had his named changed to Chidebere, was sold recently at Nnewi in Anambra,” the commissioner of police said.

    Gumel said the command was working with the state government to ensure that all the children were safely reunited with their original families.

    He urged residents to be security conscious to avert such criminal acts as the police strive to ensure law and order in the society.

  • Kano guber poll: APC denies agreement with NNPP

    Kano guber poll: APC denies agreement with NNPP

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has refuted claim that it has entered into an agreement with the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), on the Kano Governorship Election.

    Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, the state APC Chairman, stated this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    “The rumours had it that the NNPP had reached out to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the matter in favour of the NNPP candidate to remain as governor and subsequently decamp to the APC.

    “There is no where such meeting was held with either the president or any leader of the party. President Tinubu is a democrat and strongly believes in the rule of law and the right thing to be done.

    “He therefore, will not be part of any arrangement or reconciliation to subvert justice and support people who have stolen votes or breach the electoral act to emerge as leaders,” Abbas said.

    He added that the APC as a party, was not aware of such arrangement and would instead intensify efforts to pursue its case at the Supreme Court to a logical conclusion.

    Abbas expressed confidence that the APC would emerge victorious at the Apex Court, especially because of the concrete and convincing evidence it presented at both the Tribunal and the Appeal Court which ultimately lead to its victory.

    On the possibility of a crisis breaking out in the state as a result of the Supreme Court judgement, Abbas said there was no tension in Kano.

    He said that the people of the state were happy with the recent developments emanating from the judgement of both the tribunal and Appeal Court and therefore anxiously waiting for the Apex Court to endorse the two concurrent rulings.

    “Kano is very peaceful and the people are conducting their normal businesses despite efforts by the NNPP to provoke and incite youth to create unnecessary political crisis in the state,” he said.

    He assured that the party would ensure harmonious and peaceful relationship with ethic groups and nationalities in the state no matter the provocation by the NNPP.

    The Kano APC chairman urged party supporters and Nigerians generally to ignore propaganda, provocation and remain calm.

  • Kano governorship tussle: Police send strong warning to APC, NNPP supporters

    Kano governorship tussle: Police send strong warning to APC, NNPP supporters

    The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mr Husseini Gumel, on Friday, warned leaders and supporters of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) against any security breach.

    He issued the riot act ahead the Supreme Court ruling on the contentious governorship election in the state.

    Gumel spoke after a closed meeting with head of security agencies and leaders of the two major political parties and local government council chairmen in the state.

    He recalled that the police command had adequately attended to a number of plots by some faceless political pressure groups who are hell-bent on fomenting trouble and cause stampede on the prevailing general security situation of the state from being very peaceful.

    Gumel however appreciated the leadership of both the NNPP and APC for maintaining their position on standing by the peace accord the third time since they both signed the commitment to ensuring peace and orderliness across the state.

    “The heads of the joint security agencies meeting was held at this Police Headquarters where the security situation was reviewed and the security arrangements agreed upon to be put in place for ensuring no breakdown of law and order before, during and after the State Governorship Supreme Court verdict.

    “In addition, the meeting addressed some emerging security concerns with the leadership of both the NNPP, APC and some selected local government council chairmen.

    “At the end of the meeting, all the stakeholders reiterated their commitment towards sustaining the peace accord signed and to provide that is for every resident of the state to celebrate Christmas/New Year festivities and to stop panicking on the possibility of break down of law and order before and after the Supreme Court verdict on the upcoming governorship election petition.”

    He assured that the joint security agencies in the state would continue to remain committed to providing a safer and more secured environment for everyone in peace and for their businesses to strive.

    “We have paid courtesy visits to the religious leaders across the major faiths in the state and urged them to cooperate with all the security officials being part of the community-based policing approach the police command is being implementing.

    “The position of the joint security agencies in the state was made very clear.

    “It is a priority to all security agencies that we all pay attention to protection of lives and property and on their part endeavour to fish out those faceless groups planning to disrupt the peace being enjoyed in the state or advise them to sheath their swords as the combined security agencies have beamed the necessary searchlight on their activities.

    “We have also mapped out robust strategies to deal with any plan to end restiveness in the state. on anyone or group of persons found engaging in activities likely to cause disrupting the peace in the state to stop or will be dealt with according to the law,” Gumel said.

    He appreciated Kano state residents for their cooperation, support and understanding, “as the joint security agencies in the state will ever remain committed to the protection of the lives and properties of all.

    “In furtherance, I call on everyone to keep reporting any suspicious movement, person(s) or item(s) they come across to the nearest Police Station or through the following Kano State Police Command emergency contact numbers: 08032419754, 08123821575, 09029292926, or log in to the NPF Rescue Me Application available in the Play Store.

    ”Or through the following Online Media Platforms; Facebook: Kano State Police Command: Kano State Police Twitter, Instagram: Kano State Police Command (@KanoPoliceNG) Command, Tiktok: Kano State Police Command.”

  • Court awards N25m damages against Kano Gov

    Court awards N25m damages against Kano Gov

    A Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Friday, nullified the directive of Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State to review the state Attorney-General (A-G)’s legal advice on the alleged murder case earlier preferred against Rep Alhassan Doguwa (APC-Kano).

    Justice Donatus Okorowo, in a judgment, also awarded a N25 million damages against Gov. Yusuf for causing psychological pain and damage to Doguwa.

    Justice Okorowo also gave “an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the respondents from further interfering with the fundamental rights of the applicant whatsoever.”

    Doguwa, who represents Doguwa/Tundun Wada Federal Constituency of Kano State, was, on Feb. 28, arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, while boarding a flight to Abuja.

    The police had said they received a report that he led thugs to set ablaze the secretariat of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano.

    Two persons were said to have died in the incident.

    Although the legislator denied any wrongdoing, he was arraigned in March at a magistrate court in Kano and was later remanded in prison.

    He was granted bail in the sum of N500 million by a FHC, Kano after a few days in prison.

    However, the charges were withdrawn after the prosecution said it could not “find sufficient evidence to link Doguwa with the said offences.”

    But the lawmaker, through his lawyer, Afam Osigwe, SAN, filed a fresh suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/831/23 to seek for an order enforcing his fundamental rights before the Abuja court, following a hint about an attempt to re-arrest him.

    In the suit, the lawmaker, sued the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, the Executive Governor of Kano State and the A-G as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

    Doguwa had sought the protection of the court against alleged plan by the state government to rearrest and detain him in connection with the electoral violence that ensued during the presidential and national assembly elections leading to the death of some people in the state.

    Justice Okorowo had, on June 20, ordered the parties in the suit to maintain status pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter. The order followed a motion ex-parte moved by Osigwe.

    But the governor and the A-G, in their counter affidavit argued by their lawyer, M. K. Umar, said that Doguwa was not being invited because of the violence that erupted during the Feb. 25 presidential and national assembly elections in Kano or on the firearm issue.

    Umar said contrary Osigwe’s argument, Doguwa was wanted in Kano to answer to the allegation of homicide preferred against him by the state government.

    The lawyer said there were emerging new facts which needed to be investigated and that the A-G had the power to review the case in the wake of the emerging facts.

    But Osigwe disagreed with Umar, stating that the police report on the incident, attached as Exhibit 10, exonerated his client of any wrong doing.

    The senior lawyer, who alleged political witch-hunt against Doguwa, said his fundamental right as enshrined in the law was threatened by the 3rd and 4th respondents.

    Delivering the judgement, Justice Okorowo agreed with the plaintiff that it was the same offence which the lawmaker was exonerated that the governor and the A-G planned to review.

    Quoting from the exhibit, the judge said the police (2nd resoobdent in the suit) stated that they “cannot not find sufficient evidence to link Doguwa with those offences and that the allegation that he killed the victims cannot be substantiated.”

    He said while the court did not doubt the powers of the A-G to review a case, the court would not allow using a constitutional means to achieve an unconstitutional purpose.

    According to the judge, the attempt to re-arrest him contravenes Section 46 of the constitution.

    “It is hereby declared that the purported action of the 3rd and 4th respondents to review the legal advice dated 23rd May, 2023, and indeed the actual review of the legal advice dated May 23, 2023, with a view to arrest, detain, and prosecute the applicant on a fathom charge and without regards to the report of the 2nd respondent (I-G) is illegal, unlawful, wrongful, unconstitutional and void.

    ”It amounts to an infraction of the applicant’s constitutional right to human dignity, personal liberty and freedom of movement.

    “An order of perpetual injunction is hereby granted restraining the respondents, themselves, and by agents, howsoever described from further inviting, arresting or detaining the applicant with a view to review the 4th respondent legal advice dated 23 May, 2023, in so far as the respondents do proffer fresh evidence against the applicant.

    “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further interfering with the fundamental rights of the applicant whatsoever.

    “An order of this honourable court is hereby granted nullifying the purported 3rd respondent directive to review the fourth respondent legal advice dated May 23, 2023, with a view to arrest the applicant.

    “General damages of 25 million only against the 3rd respondent only for causing the psychological pain and damage to the applicant,” the judge declared.

  • HIV/AIDS: 4,728 persons living with virus in Kano since January

    HIV/AIDS: 4,728 persons living with virus in Kano since January

    The Kano state government has revealed that about 4,728 Persons were found to be HIV Positive after going through Clinical Tests in the state.

    According to the state government, 138,430 persons tested for HIV, 4,728 were found to be positive from January 2023 to date.

    It was gathered that a  total of 46,732 persons are living with the disease and receiving treatment in the state.

    This was made known by the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran on Friday while delivering a speech at the commemoration of this year’s World AIDS Day in Kano.

    He explained further that the state has improved its strategies to halt mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS by successfully conducting tests for 95 per cent of all pregnant women during their first first ANC visit, out of which only 0.04 per cent are found positive.

    “We have tested a total of 138,430 people for HIV and found 4,728 positive and have successfully initiated new 4,140 HIV-infected persons on ART from January 2023 to date.

    “Currently the state has 46,732 people living with HIV receiving treatment.

    “We have improved our strategies to halt mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS by successfully conducting HIV testing for 95 percent of all pregnant women during their first ANC visit, out of which only 0.04 percent turned HIV positive,” the commissioner stated.

    Ladan further disclosed that, for he first time, Kano State has achieved the HIV budget target of three per cent of the total health budget in the Appropriation Bill submitted to the Kano state Assembly.

    The event themed ‘Let Communities Lead’ was organized in collaboration with the USAID in Kano as well as other partners.

    The Commissioner appreciated the support of partners like USAID, LHSS, NEPWHAN and KanSLAM for their advocacy engagements towards achieving in the KSACA’s budget.

    On his side, the Director General of the State Agency for Control of AIDS (SACA) Dr Usman Bashir said the agency has brought on board 600 persons living with AIDS to benefit from the free healthcare service package introduced by the state government.

    “Most of the beneficiaries are children of those who died of HIV, as well as those children living with the disease,” he explained.

  • BREAKING: Fresh protest rocks Kano over Appeal Court ruling

    BREAKING: Fresh protest rocks Kano over Appeal Court ruling

    Protests erupted in Kano city and its environs on Monday afternoon with the demonstrators denouncing the recent judgment of the Court Appeal that sacked the state Governor, Abba Yusuf.

    Uneasy calm pervaded the state capital following a contradictory Certified True Copy of Appeal Court that affirmed the prayers of both the appellant and the respondent in the contentious Kano governorship, though the judiciary had since cleared the air.

    In what appeared like a coordinated action on Monday, huge crowd of protesters had stormed strategic positions in the city as it visited temporary hiccups on commercial activities.

    Kano- Zaria road, Maiduguri road by Muhammadu Buhari’s interchange, and Kantin Kwari (Kano textile market) were taken over by hundreds of youths who called for justice for Abba Yusuf.

    The placard reads “Kano my city my state”, “Justice for Kano”, ” Justice for Abba”,  “Abba’s mandate was stolen in 2019, we will not allow it happen in 2023”.

    The protest came on the heels of discovery by the Police that “some faceless group are bent on unleashing violence in Kano”, stressing that the police were on top of the situation.

    Cp Hussaini Gumel told newsmen in Kano on Monday that already 7 suspects had been arrested and would be arraigned soon.

    CP Gumel revealed that “we have the understanding with the leadership of the contending political parties, and they have signed a peace pact, in view of that therefore, any one found outside this arrangement will be treated as common criminal”.

    However, normalcy had since returned to the ancient city following the peaceful protest that lasted several hours.

    Police react to calls for closure of markets, procession in Kano

    Meanwhile, the Police Command in Kano State has urged residents to ignore calls for the closure of markets and street protests over the Appeal Court Judgment that removed Gov. Abba Yusuf.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Hussein Gumel, warned at a news briefing in Kano on Monday that the command would deal decisively with all trouble makers.

    According to him, the command has received intelligence on plans by some unpatriotic citizens to foment trouble under the guise of gathering to offer special prayers.

    “It was also brought to our notice that some people were circulating letters on the social media calling for the closure of markets and other commercial activities in the state,” he added.

    Gumel said that the same group of people ”are trying to begin the use of social media in sending negative and poisonous messages against police and other security agencies on the ongoing peace efforts we are embarking on.

    “I appeal to residents not to hesitate to report any person or group found circulating any form of information that could cause violence to the nearest security outfits for prompt action.”

  • Kano palaver: I have been vindicated – Ex- NBA President calls A’Court President for explanation

    Kano palaver: I have been vindicated – Ex- NBA President calls A’Court President for explanation

    A former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olumide Akpata, has called on the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem, to address what he described as an “embarrassing situation” from the court’s recent judgment on the Kano State governorship election.

    In a statement made available to journalists on Friday, Akpata asked the head of the Court of Appeal to provide clarification on the reasons for the contradictory resolutions.

    According to the former NBA boss “the stakes are way too high and the current situation in the Judiciary too dire for the issue to be left in the hands of Registry officials.”

    Read full statement below:

    STATEMENT REGARDING THE DISCREPANCY IN THE COURT OF APPEAL’S JUDGEMENT IN THE KANO GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION APPEAL

    While serving as the 30th President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and concurrently as a member of the Interview Committee of the National Judicial Council (NJC), I openly queried what I considered to be the sub-optimal manner in which potential Justices of the Court of Appeal were being screened by the said Committee and the fact that some of the candidates displayed a confounding lack of knowledge of very basic legal principles.

    Regrettably, the justification given by some members of the Committee in defence of these candidates who were aspiring to be elevated to the Court of Appeal was that these would-be Justices of that Appellate Court would learn on the job.

    At the meeting of the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA-NEC) held in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, on March 18, 2021, I informed members of the NBA of this shocking state of affairs and I also warned of the potentially negative and detrimental consequences of this unfortunate situation. My statement, referred to above, was immediately publicised on social media, with some embellishments, by a lawyer who was present at that meeting, and this report immediately went viral, much to the chagrin of some of the operators of our Judicial system.
    For starters, My Lord, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, the President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), took umbrage at my well-intentioned comments and publicly and very stoutly defended this patently defective recruitment process.

    Since the conclusion of my tenure as NBA President in August 2022, I have had cause, at different fora, to revisit and highlight this vexed issue of the sub-optimal recruitment process in the Nigerian Judiciary and what it portends not just for the future of the institution but of the entire nation.

    My most recent intervention in this regard was at the Rule of Law Symposium held as part of the Annual Conference of the International Bar Association (IBA) on the 3rd of November, 2023, in Paris, France. At that event, I stated that the lethal combination of a shoddy recruitment process and the impoverishment of Judges and the Judiciary, by the executive arm of Government at both national and sub-national levels is an insidious attempt by the Nigerian political class and their collaborators to “capture” the Judiciary, and this constitutes a clear threat to the Rule of Law in Nigeria, a situation that calls for the urgent intervention of the IBA.

    Ever since the video recording of my aforementioned contribution to the Symposium surfaced on the internet, I have been, again, roundly criticised by some very defensive Judicial officers and their cohorts for airing what they considered to be internal national issues on the international stage.

    It must be said, however, that my position on this issue, as enunciated at the IBA Conference in Paris, has also been supported and endorsed by many well- meaning Nigerians, including senior Legal Practitioners and some judges.

    My position has also been very unfortunately vindicated by recent occurrences in our Judiciary. A case in point being the scandalous and extremely embarrassing report of an apparent discrepancy between the Judgement pronounced in open court and the Certified True Copy obtained from the Court Registry, in the Kano State Gubernatorial Petition Appeal. This rather bizarre incident has further accentuated the crisis in the Nigerian Judiciary, which is exacerbated by the many confounding decisions emanating from our Courts that continue to bewilder and befuddle observers of this once- revered arm of government.

    As expected, the news media and the rumour mills are awash with suggestions that this Judgement may have been “intercepted” on its way to delivery and that this ostensible mix-up was in fact a Freudian slip that occurred in the course of a hastened heist.

    These suggestions and allegations, even though unsubstantiated, are very quickly gaining traction and taking root in the minds of very many Nigerians and indeed non-Nigerians – a situation that could very quickly imperil the Judiciary in Nigeria and, by extension, our nascent and floundering democracy.
    I recently came across news reports from usually reliable media sources, quoting the Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Umar Bangari, as having attributed the discrepancy in the said Judgement to a clerical error. Furthermore, he is reported to have requested parties to the Appeal to apply to the Court to correct the purported error pursuant to Order 23 Rule 4 of the Court of Appeal Rules. With the greatest respect, the Chief Registrar’s approach to this matter is most untenable, as it flies in the face of reason and also does not conform with our extant laws on the subject. Whilst, acknowledging the fact of human fallibility and the possibility of mistakes occurring, the fundamental nature of this “error” and the impact it has on such a consequential part of the Judgement, make it extremely difficult to accept, without more, the aforementioned assertion by the Chief Registrar.
    It is for this reason that I urgently call on the PCA, My Lord, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, as the Head of the Nigerian Court of Appeal to provide, for the benefit of Nigerians and, indeed, the world, a hopefully cogent explanation and clarification of this quagmire. It is the very least My Lord can and should do in the circumstance.
    It is imperative that His Lordship makes a categorical statement on this matter because the stakes are way too high and the current situation in the Judiciary (and indeed the country) too dire for the issue to be left in the hands of Registry officials.
    OLUMIDE AKPATA

    24 November 2023

  • Police caution APC, NNPP against today’s protest in Kano

    Police caution APC, NNPP against today’s protest in Kano

    The police command in Kano has cautioned against the planned protest by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the New Nigeria People’s party (NNPP).

    Mr Hussaini Gumel, the state Commissioner of Police, said this when he spoke in a telephone interview on Friday in Kano.

    Gumel said that already  the command had embarked on aggressive  patrol in and outside the metropolis to ensure maintenance of law and order.

    He said that armed security armed personnel had been deployed to strategic locations to deal with any form of security threats in the state.

    ”As far as this command is concerned we  have not permitted the two major political parties to engage in any form of protest in our areas of supervision,” he said.

    He urged residents to go about their lawful business without any fear of molestation.

    He said that the police and sister security agencies were working hand in hand to ensure adequate security to secure lives and property in the state.

    He also called on leaders of the two parties to abide by the peace accords they signed.

    He appealed to parents to keep close watch of the movement of their wards as any one found disrupting the peace would be arrested and prosecuted.