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Tag: Kano State

  • Kano Assembly passes N58bn supplementary budget

    Kano Assembly passes N58bn supplementary budget

    The Kano State House of Assembly on Monday at the Committee of the Whole passed the N58 billion supplementary budget submitted by Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf.

    Speaking after passing the budget, the Majority Leader, Alhaji Lawan Hussaini (NNPP- Dala) said that the budget would enable the state government to execute developmental projects.

    Hussaini said that the budget would help administration to achieve its development target and appreciated his colleagues for their contributions toward its speedy passage.

    He said that the passage of the supplementary budget had raised the 2023 budget of the state to N326 billion.

    He said that the House would monitor the implementation of the budget through effective oversight to ensure that funds allocated to project were judiciously used.

    Similarly, the House also presented a commendation letter and cash reward of N1.5 million to a tricycle rider Malam Auwalu Danbaba who returned about N10 million forgotten by a passenger in his tricycle.
    Receiving the money, Danbaba thanked the lawmakers for the gesture.

  • Arewa Youths raise concerns over rising political tension in Kano, Delta, others

    Arewa Youths raise concerns over rising political tension in Kano, Delta, others

    The Arewa Youths Alliance for Progress and Development (AYAPD) has expressed concerns over the rising political tension in some States across the federation, including Kano and Delta States.

    The Arewa Youths as a result called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to address this issue by relocating all election appeal hearings and cases to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    Addressing a press conference on Sunday in Abuja, Convener of the group, Umar Bala Babayaro, noted that this was necessary in order to prevent potential agitations that could lead to law and order breakdowns across the country.

    He added that the move was a proactive step to safeguard the sanctity of the judiciary and protect the justices handling election-related matters.

    “What we do not want as a group in the State is aggrieved persons highjacking the peace and tranquilly currently being enjoyed in Delta State, as there seems to be growing tension in the camp of those who lost to their opponents at the various tribunals.

    They stressed that the political tension was not only in Delta State but can be sensed in some states across the country.

    “We believe as a group that our Justices must be protected at all cost and the sanctity of the judiciary must be upheld at all times. We also know that the best way to do this is through the protection of esteemed wigs of the judiciary”, The group stated.

    The youths condemned statements credited to some political elements who recently warned that the situation in Kano could degenerate into what is happening in Zamfara, following their allegations that federal elements were seeking to influence the tribunal outcome in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The group reiterated that the issues pointed out should be handled swiftly and carefully by the government of Nigeria to avert unnecessary agitations that may lead to breakdown of law and order across the country.

    The group further urged relevant security agencies to investigate post-election tensions across the country and to ensure integrated security at appeal court premises and during hearings in Abuja.

    “We hope sincerely, as a civil society organisation, that if our concerns are addressed, the tenets of our nascent democracy would be better galvanized”, added Babayaro.

  • Kano governorship election: No intention to withdraw appeal – INEC

    Kano governorship election: No intention to withdraw appeal – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has no intention of withdrawing the appeal process in the ongoing Kano State governorship election case.

    The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Sam Olumekun, in a statement in Abuja on Saturday said the commission was under obligation to respond to the election petition judgment.

    Olumekun said that INEC attention has been drawn to media reports based on a letter written by its Legal Officer in Kano State office indicating that INEC had withdrawn from the appeal process in the ongoing Kano governorship election petition case.

    “We wish to state categorically that the letter was not authorised. It has since been withdrawn and the officer reprimanded.

    “The public is therefore advised to discountenance the insinuation that the commission has withdrawn from the case or even worse abandoned the appeal.

    “We wish to state categorically that where litigants join INEC in a case, the commission is under obligation to respond accordingly.

    “We have therefore instructed our lawyers to proceed in line with extant policy of the commission. The policy has not changed,“ Olumekun stated.

    Recall that the tribunal on Sept. 20 sacked Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and declared Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the state governorship election.

  • Appeal Court upturns Rep Zakari’s sack

    Appeal Court upturns Rep Zakari’s sack

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Saturday, vacated the judgment by the National and State Houses of Assembly Tribunal which nullified the election of the lawmaker representing Tarauni Federal Constituency in Kano State, Rep Umar Mukhtari Zakari.

    A three-member panel, In the lead judgment by Justice Obande Ogbuinya, held that the tribunal was wrong to have concluded that Zakari of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) forged his credential when the petitioners failed to establish their claim to that effect.

    The court upheld the arguments off counsel to Zakari and the NNPP, Mahmud Magaji, SAN, that the tribunal erred in law in reaching its decision.

    Zakari was declared winner of the election held on Feb. 25, which Ibrahim Hafiz Kawu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenged with a petition dated March 17.

    The petitioners had claimed that  Zakari purportedly forged the Housawa Special Primary School certificate which he presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the grounds that the name on it was simply “Muktar Umar.”

    The Court of Appeal, in its judgment, held that the respondents, who were petitioners at the tribunal, failed to prove that Zakari was not the same person who  attended the school and was awarded the certificate.

    The panel consequently set aside the judgment of the tribunal, allowed the appeal and affirmed Zakari’s election victory.

  • Kano: Governor Yusuf hires Tinubu’s lawyer to contest tribunal judgment

    Kano: Governor Yusuf hires Tinubu’s lawyer to contest tribunal judgment

    Abba Kabir Yusuf, Kano State governor,  has hired renowned legal practitioner, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) to lead the charge to regain his mandate at the Court of Appeal.

    It was gathered that Yusuf filed a 42-ground of appeal before the appellate court asking the court to set aside the judgment of the tribunal and also striking out the petition of the APC.

    Governor Yusuf dissatisfied with the tribunal judgment presented a 40 grounds for the Appeal Court to set aside the judgment.

    Ground 18 among the grounds reads: “the tribunal erred in law when it relied on Section 71 and 63 of the Electoral Act, 2022 to nullify the ballot papers by which a total of 165,616 votes were deducted from the votes of Appellant’s candidate thereby reducing the lawful votes of the Appellant’s votes of 1,019,602 and thereby wrongly declaring petitioner’s candidate as the winner of the election, whereby the petitioner’s right to fair hearing is denied”.

    In a copy of the notice of appeal, Olanipekun, who led the legal team of President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), is now the counsel for the Kano state governor.
    Also on the legal team of the governor is: Bode Olanipekun (SAN), Ibrahim G. Waru and Akintola Makinde, with Wole Olanipekun & Co as the legal firm handling the appeal, while Chief E.O.B. Offiong (APC) remains the counsel for the APC.
  • Kano Gov hires renowned legal luminary to regain mandate

    Kano Gov hires renowned legal luminary to regain mandate

    Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf has hired renowned legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) to lead the charge to regain his mandate at the Court of Appeal.

    Yusuf filed a 42-ground of appeal before the appellate court asking the court to set aside the judgment of the tribunal and also striking out the petition of the APC.

    In a copy of the notice of appeal, Olanipekun, who led the legal team of President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), is now the counsel for the Kano state governor.

    Also on the legal team of the governor are Bode Olanipekun (SAN), Ibrahim G. Waru and Akintola Makinde, with Wole Olanipekun & Co as the legal firm handling the appeal, while Chief E.O.B. Offiong (APC) remains the counsel for the APC.

    Recall the Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had declared Dr Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the rightful winner of the March 18 governorship election in the State.

    Yusuf, who contested on the banner of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), described the tribunal’s verdict as “unfair” and “a miscarriage of justice”.

  • Kano Govt to spend N600m on Dawanau International grains market

    Kano Govt to spend N600m on Dawanau International grains market

    The Kano State Agro-pastoral Development Project (KSADP), has approved about N600 million for provision of facilities at the Dawanau International Grains Market.

    This is contained in a statement by Mr Ameen Yassar, a Project Communication Specialist, in charge of the project in Kano on Wednesday.

    Yassar said that the project was being funded by the Islamic Development Bank and the lives and livelihood funds.

    He said that the facilities included a four kilometre road, drainage and street lights, saying that the contract for the construction of the road, drainage and street lights was awarded to the Labor Technical Services Ltd., at the cost of N508 million.

    Yassar said that a contract for three blocks of lavatory, mosque, police outpost, offices and conference room was awarded to AITEC Infraconsult Ltd., at the cost of N92 million.

    He said that the project was expected to be completed within 12 months.

  • Gov Yusuf appoints 94 additional aides

    Gov Yusuf appoints 94 additional aides

    Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State has approved the appointment of an additional 94 Senior Special Assistants.

    This is contained in a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Malam Bature Dawakin-Tofa, in Kano on Tuesday.

    Recall Governor Yusuf had earlier appointed 57 Special Assistants, thus bringing the total number to 72.

    Only five women were among the 94 newly appointed aides announced by the governor.

    They include Rahama Kabeer Fagge, Senior Special Reporter I, Government House; Amina Isah Bebeji, Special Reporter, SEMA; Maijidda Garba, Special Reporter, REB; Fatima Usman Muhammad, Senior Special Reporter, KNARDA; and Asiya Muhammad Umar, Special Reporter, Hospitality Management Institute.

    Dawakin -Tofa said all the appointments take immediate effect.

  • Octogenarian dies in well in Kano

    Octogenarian dies in well in Kano

    An 80-year-old man, Malam Rabiu, known as Na Allah Siraka has died in a well at Sabon Sara, Gidan Aminu Ado, in Gwale Local Government Area(LGA) of Kano State.

    This is contained in a statement issued to newsmen by the Public Relations Officer of Kano State Fire Service, Alhaji Saminu Abdullahi on Sunday in Kano.

    Abdullahi said the incident occurred on Sunday morning.

    “We received an emergency call at about 11:00 a.m from one Hassan Abduallhi, that a man has been trapped inside a well.

    “We immediately sent our rescue team to the scene at about 11:07 a.m,’’ he said.

    Abdullahi said that the Malam Rabiu lived alone in his house.

    The PRO said fire service rescue team brought out Rabiu’s body out of the well dead,” he said.

    The spokesperson said the victim was handed over to Ward Head of Sabon Sara, Alhaji  Muhammad Salisu-Iman.

    Abdullahi said that the cause of the incident was under investigation.

  • Governorship election: NNPP to appeal tribunal’s judgement in Kano

    Governorship election: NNPP to appeal tribunal’s judgement in Kano

    The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) says it will appeal against Wednesday’s judgment by the Kano State Election  Petition Tribunal that upturned the election of its Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf.

    Acting Deputy National Chairman of the party, Prince Nwaeze Onu told a news conference on Thursday in Abuja that the judgment that sacked Kabir-Yusuf as governor was “most unfair’’ .

    He added that the judgment was capable of eroding confidence in the judiciary.

    The tribunal declared on Wednesday that Alhaji Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the March 18 governorship election in Kano State.

    It directed INEC to give the Certificate of Return in the election to Gawuna in place of NNPP’s Kabir-Yusuf.

    “The judgment nullified the free, credible and globally acclaimed fair election of our governorship candidate.

    “The tribunal arrived at this unjust judgment by unfairly subtracting 165,663 votes from Kabir-Yusuf’s tally in order to enable it to unfairly award the election result to the candidate of the APC.

    “In doing so, the tribunal obviously affirms its belief that the vote tally of the APC candidate was sacrosanct.

    “The Supreme Court in many cases has stated its position on this matter in earlier judgments,’’ Onu said.

    He added that it would be a hard nut to crack for the tribunal to convince non-partisan Nigerians that the NNPP won all other elections in Kano State, but that of the governorship race.

    “For emphasis, NNPP’s presidential candidate, Sen. Musa Kwankwaso, defeated the candidate of the APC, Sen. Bola Tinubu in Kano State with a wide margin.

    “In the same vein, NNPP won two senatorial seats as against APC’s one seat. NNPP won 18 House of Representatives seats as against APC’s four.

    “At the House of Assembly elections, NNPP won a clear majority of seats as against APC’s meagre number of seats.

    “And yet the tribunal believes it was over-voting that gave NNPP majority votes in the governorship election,’’ he observed.

    Onu expressed the belief that the NNPP would get back its mandate freely given by the people Kano State within the ambit of the law and the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

    “We call on the Judiciary to do the needful. We look forward to a more impartial judgment in the next round of litigation,’’ he stressed.

    Onu also called on NNPP supporters in Kano State and in Nigeria as a whole to remain calm, be law-abiding, and maintain the peace.

    He stressed that “the glaringly lopsided judgment cannot stand the test of natural justice and fair play’’.

    He described the declared 24-hour curfew on Kano State as an attempt to deprive the people of their God-given freedom of expression, freedom of movement and their livelihoods.