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Tag: Kano

  • Kano re-run: Elections start peacefully in Kura, others

    Kano re-run: Elections start peacefully in Kura, others

    The re-run elections into Kano State House of Assembly for six constituencies kicked off with early arrival of election materials.

    INEC officials were seen at polling units as early as 7:30 a.m., with registrations and voting starting simultaneously at 8 a.m. at different polling units.
    There was large turnout of voters at Kura and Garun Malam local government areas.

    At Garun Malam Local Government, elections materials arrived on time, and the electorate came out early to cast their votes.

    The re-run elections will be conducted in 60 polling units of the three constituencies for the state assembly seats.

    The constituencies include Kura- Garun Malam, Rimin Gado – Tofa, and Kunchi-Tsanyawa.

    There were peaceful election at Rimin Gado and Tofa constituencies without any distractions.

    There was heavy presence of security personnel in all the polling units, and people came out en mass to carry out their constitutional mandate.

     

  • Reconciling with Kwankwaso is through divine intervention – Ganduje

    Reconciling with Kwankwaso is through divine intervention – Ganduje

    The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, has said reconciling with, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, in the 2023 general election, Rabiu Kwankwaso could happen through divine intervention.

    Speaking with BBC Hausa, the APC national chairman said he was out to unify his Kano base because more people would join the party.

    On having a good working relationship with Kwankwaso, Ganduje said, “Certainly, we share roots and lineage. A division occurred, and now (there is) a potential for reunification through divine intervention. What could be better?”

    Ganduje and Kwankwaso have had a long-standing rivalry over who leads the political space in Kano State.

    But there are indications that President Bola Tinubu is working to reconcile both politicians, and bring Kwankwaso back to the APC.

    Confirming the reports, former media aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Bahir Ahmad, had said it would be “game over” for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, should Tinubu reconcile Ganduje and Kwankwaso.

  • Supreme Court judgment averted crisis in Kano – NNPP

    Supreme Court judgment averted crisis in Kano – NNPP

    The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Lagos State on Friday, lauded the Supreme Court’s ruling reinstating Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano, after loosing at lower courts.

    The Lagos State NNPP Secretary, Mr Sheriff Oladejo, told NAN in Lagos that the apex court had reaffirmed that only electorate determined who ruled over the people.

    Oladejo said: “The Supreme Court has done justices to the governorship election petitions, we give glory to almighty God for this overwhelming and unanimous decision of the highest court in the land.

    “For some of us, we are extremely surprised by the decisions of the two lower courts for the miscarriage of justices but Justice Okoro-led five man panel has done justice to this case.

    “Even, in his ruling, he also scolded the lower courts for what he described as voyage of discovery on the membership of Gov. Abba Yusuf to NNPP; because ordinarily, it is a matter for political parties to determine who their members are.

    “The good people of this country and particularly voters in Kano state knew who they voted for and who deserved to be their governor.”

    The party’s scribe commended the courage and commitment of the judiciary in reinstating Yusuf and averting serious political crisis in  Kano state.

    According to him, the ruling put to rest, all litigations against Yusuf’s mandate and also restore absolute confidence in the state government to provide most needed dividends of democracy to the people.

    “We use this medium to thank all members of NNPP family and the general public for the remaining resolute in claiming our mandate.

    “This will restore our hope and aspirations to do more for the good people of Kano state.

    “This is the time for the opposition political parties to join hands with the governor to move the state forward,” he said.

    The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the election of Yusuf as duly elected governor of Kano state.

    The apex court set aside the verdicts of the Court of Appeal and Kano state Election Petitions Tribunal, which nullified the victory of Yusuf in the March 18, 2023 governorship poll.

    A five-member panel of the apex court in a judgment delivered by Justice John Okoro, held that the tribunal and the court of appeal erred by sacking Yusuf as governor of the state.

    Yusuf and NNPP had filed an appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which had affirmed his sacking as earlier pronounced by the Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.

    The tribunal had sacked Yusuf and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw his certificate of return and instead, issue same to Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, the candidate of the APC in the March 18, 2023 governorship election.

    However, not satisfied with the Tribunal judgment, Yusuf had approached the Appeal Court.

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

  • Supreme Court judgement: Jubilation in Kano as Gov Yusuf retains power

    Supreme Court judgement: Jubilation in Kano as Gov Yusuf retains power

    Supreme Court declared the incumbent governor, Alhaji Abba Yusuf, the winner of the March 8 governorship election, Kano residents filled with celebration and jubilation.

    Shouts of “Sai Abba, Sai Abba,” meaning “Abba is the one we want,” echoed through the air, with many people riding motorcycles and shouting “Sai Abba, Sai Abba” on their bikes.

    It should be recalled that shortly after Justice John Iyang Okoro read the lead judgment, declaring the victory and returning 165,000 votes to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) candidate, Alhaji Yusuf, the news filtered into the ears of the state’s residents, sparking jubilation.

    However, it is worth remembering that at 6 a m on Friday, many shop owners had locked their shops, despite assurances by the state police command guaranteeing the safety of their property and lives.

    When Alhaji Yusuf was pronounced the duly elected governor, all those shops opened for normal business activities.

    As of when this report was filed, security operatives deployed to strategic locations in the state capital were still seen maintaining security surveillance.

  • Northern CSOs advise Tinubu on Kano, Plateau, Zamfara election cases

    Northern CSOs advise Tinubu on Kano, Plateau, Zamfara election cases

     The Conference of Northern States Civil Society Networks on Saturday advised President Bola Tinubu to  remain neutral in the election cases of Kano, Zamfara and Plateau states currently before the Supreme Court.
    There was widespread outrage against the controversial appeal court judgment that sacked Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano and Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang of Plateau states, as well as the order for a rerun in Zamfara State.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chairman of the group, Ibrahim Waiya, said any attempt to manipulate the Supreme Court judgment would pose a threat to the nation’s democracy.
    He also advised the National Judicial Council  (NJC) to “adhere to the ethics and practice of their profession, in accordance with the law, as the custodian of justice and rule of rule”.
    “The conflicting judgments being issued by various courts of the same jurisdiction have created a sense of confusion and frustration among the citizens.
    ”  Unfortunately, this has led to a loss of trust and confidence in the judiciary.
    “The integrity and effectiveness of our legal system are essential for maintaining public trust and upholding the rule of law.
    “We believe that the Judicial Service Commission has the responsibility and authority to make the necessary reforms to restore faith in the judiciary.
    “The dimension at which the security for lives and property of the Nigerian citizens is fast declining puts citizens into more fear, hopelessness and uncertainties.
    “We acknowledge the efforts of some governors of Sokoto, Borno, Kaduna, Zamfara and Katsina for their resilience in curtailing the insecurities in their states.
    The chairman urged the Federal Government to accord priority attention to security agencies for build-up of peace and progress.
    However, according to Mr Waiya, ” the continuous killings of people, child trafficking, banditry, displacement of communities, kidnappings across the country, especially in some states of the North, are so unprecedented.
  • Court gives Kano govt. 7 days to respond to claims by 44 LGAs

    Court gives Kano govt. 7 days to respond to claims by 44 LGAs

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, gave Kano State government seven-day ultimatum to show cause why the ex-parte orders sought by the 44 local government areas (LGAs) of the state should not be granted.

    Justice Donatus Okorowo gave the order, in a ruling, shortly after counsel for the plaintiffs and lawyers to the defendants presented their arguments for and against the application.

    Justice Okorowo had, on Dec. 28, 2023, declined to grant the application seeking to bar Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State from disbursing or spending funds and allocations belonging to the 44 LGGs.

    The judge, rather, ordered the defendants to appear before him on Jan. 3 to show cause why the restraining orders should not be granted.

    He equally granted the plaintiffs’ plea for an order of substituted service on the defendants.

    The ex-parte motion, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1733/2023, was filed by the 44 LGAs and the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Kano State Chapter on Dec. 27, 2023.

    In the suit, Kano State government, the Kano State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and the state’s Accountant-General were sued as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively

    They had prayed the court for an order restraining the defendants/respondents from controlling, managing, further administering, disbursing, and spending the funds and allocations belonging to the 44 LGAs of Kano State in the Kano State Joint Local Account, pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiffs’ substantive suit.

    Upon resumed hearing on Wednesday, the plaintiffs’ counsel, Ibrahim Nasarawa, informed the court that the matter was adjourned for the defendants to show cause why the interim orders should not be granted.

    Nasarawa said the defendants were served in line with the court order but they had failed to file their processes to show cause within the three days prescribed by rule of the court.

    The lawyer, therefore, prayed the court to grant the orders sought in their ex-parte motion in accordance with Order 26, Rule 11 of the FHC.

    But Hafeez Matanmi, who appeared for the 1st and 2nd defendants, disagreed with Nasarawa’s submission.

    He told the court that he was only briefed the previous day (Tuesday) by his clients and had filed a memorandum of conditional appearance today (Wednesday).

    Matanmi, who said that Nasarawa was served with the application earlier in the morning, stated that he was yet to see all the plaintiffs’ processes in the matter

    He argued that he could not have put up a defence in the case without seeing the processes filed, including the motion on notice and the orders.

    He said there is no way he can show cause without seeing all the processes including the motion on notice as well as the orders.

    Matanmi also argued that the rules of the court cited by Nasarawa did not specify the number of days to show cause, urging the court to adjourn the matter for them to respond accordingly.

    Besides, he argued that even if he had three days to show cause, his clients were still within time to respond due to the public holidays.

    3rd defendant’s lawyer, Okechukwu Edeze, aligned himself with Matanmi’s submission, while informing the court about his memorandum of conditional appearance.

    Edeze, who said he was briefed about the case less than 24 hours ago, sought for an adjournment in the interest of fair hearing.

    “I have not seen the processes of this court. Only God knows the truth,” Edaeze said.

    But Nasarawa countered them, insisting that they had been duly served.

    “If they chose not to (show cause), it is to their detriment,” Nasarawa said, urging the court to discountenance their arguments.

    Delivering the ruling, Justice Okorowo held that though records showed that the defendants were duly served with the processes on Dec. 29, 2023, he agreed with defence counsel that the three-day timeframe outlined for the defendants to respond was affected by public holidays.

    The judge also held that the memorandum of conditional appearance by the respondents suggested they planned to challenge the suit.

    He said though Order 26, Rule 11 gave a time frame which should not be less than three days for defendants to respond, he observed that by Order 26, Rule 15 of the court, the court was empowered to either discharge the order or made order absolute or modify the earlier order made.

    According to him, the provision gives the court the discretion to vary or extend the order.

    Justice Okorowo consequently gave the defendants seven days to show cause why the ex-parte orders should not be granted.

    He adjourned the matter until Jan. 11 for hearing of the matter.

  • NDLEA arrests 1,016 drugs suspects in Kano State, seizes 9 tons of illicit drugs

    NDLEA arrests 1,016 drugs suspects in Kano State, seizes 9 tons of illicit drugs

    NDLEA arrested 1,016 suspects and seized nine tons of illicit drugs in Kano State in 2023.

    Commandant of the agency in Kano State, Mr Abubakar Idris-Ahmad, said on Sunday in Kano that suspects arrested were 40 females and 976 males.

    He said the agency secured 102 convictions in the out-going year, secured forfeiture of five vehicles just as 104 cases were still pending in court.

    Idris-Ahmad also said that drugs seized were 6,098kg of Indian hemp, 1,696kg of codeine and tramadol, and 1,335kg of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.

    “We rehabilitated 70 clients, investigated 598 visa clearance applications and conducted 245 substance abuse tests, out of which six persons tested positive for different drug abuses.

    “We also sensitised 5,000 individuals and engaged Drug Demand Reduction professionals who counselled 1,459 persons,’’ Idris-Ahmad said.

    The command also destroyed more than 15 tons of assorted narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in 2023, he added.

    He reiterated the command’s commitment to ensuring the well-being and safety of communities from devastating consequences of drug abuse.

    “We will intensify efforts at dismantling drug networks, rehabilitate those in need, secure convictions and destroy illicit substances leaving no room for drug trade to flourish,’’ Idris-Ahmad assured.

     

  • Tears of joy as Gov. Yusuf reunites parents with their stolen children

    Tears of joy as Gov. Yusuf reunites parents with their stolen children

    No fewer than seven children from Bauchi State have been reunited with their parents by Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State on Friday.

    The N Police in Kano bursted 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.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Husseini Gumel, told newsmen in Kano that the syndicate had been operating for over 10 years, and allegedly specialised in inter-state 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.

    Yusuf, who was moved to tears of joy by the commendable efforts of the Kano state police command, expressed his appreciation for their work.

    The governor however expressed dismay by the discovery of seven children abducted from Bauchi state and then trafficked and sold in Anambra and Lagos states.

    Yusuf urged parents to remain vigilant and attentive to the well-being of their children as a fundamental responsibility.

    He also called on his Bauchi state counterpart to take decisive legal action against the arrested suspects.

    Responding on behalf of other parents, Malam Abdulmutallif Sa’ad from Bauchi, expressed their gratitude to Yusuf and the Kano police command for recovering their children and pledged to be more vigilant.
    The nine suspects apprehended by the Kano state police command were brought alongside the children they stole from Bauchi state and intercepted at Mariri motor park in Kano while en route to Lagos and Anambra states.

    Speaking on behalf of the Bauchi state government, Mrs Sha’awanatu Yusuf, the Director of Public Prosecution at the state Ministry of Justice, emphasised the unity of Kano and Bauchi states for greater good.

    She assured that the Bauchi state government would take the necessary legal steps to ensure that the suspects were brought to justice and face the full consequences of the law.

    Additionally, the Kano state governor donated N500,000 to each of the seven recovered children.

     

  • Why I Killed our house help who prevented me From Commi33ing Suici3e — Kano housewife confesses

    Why I Killed our house help who prevented me From Commi33ing Suici3e — Kano housewife confesses

    A housewife, identified as Hafsat Surajo has narrated how she killed their domestic staff, Nafiu Hafiz who prevented her from attempting to commit suicide.

    Hafsat who made the confession when she was paraded before newsmen at the Kano Police headquarters, said the ugly incident leading to Nafiu’s death occurred when a quarrel ensued between them as he prevented her from achieving her mission.

    According to her, I killed him because he prevented me from killing myself. “While he attempted to snatch the knife from my hand, a quarrel ensued between us and in the process I had a cut in my hand and blood was gushing out. He asked me to go in and change. It was when I went in to change and was coming out, I saw him lying down saying he was not feeling fine and was on medication. I saw the knife by his side and I seized the opportunity to pick up the knife and stabbed him severally.” Hafsat narrated.

    Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel said Hafsat’s husband, Dayyabu Abdullahi and their security guard, Mallam Adam have also been arrested for allegedly concealing the body of the deceased.

    According to him, on 21/12/2023 at about 0700hrs, report was received from one Hafizu Salisu of Bauchi Metropolis of Bauchi State that he received a phone call from one Dayyabu Abdullahi ‘m’ of Unguwa Uku Quarters Kano that his brother one Nafi’u Hafiz aged 38 years, is dead and that they should come and convey the corpse for burial.”

    When they arrived at the residence at Unguwa Uku Quarters Kano, they discovered several injuries on different parts of the lifeless body suspected to be knife stabs.

    “Upon arrival at the scene of the crime, the motionless body was removed from the scene and rushed to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital where a medical doctor certified him dead. “Further investigation led to the arrest of Hasfat Surajo, aged 24 years, a female housewife of the residence where the deceased lived.

    “Further investigation at the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department, obtained a confession by Hafsat who admitted that she single handedly committed the act by stabbing the deceased on several parts of his body with a knife while he was preventing her from committing suicide.”

    The Police Commissioner, CP Gumel however said the suspect will be charged to court after completion of the investigation.

  • Deputy President of the Senate intervenes to halt Shoprite from leaving Kano

    Deputy President of the Senate intervenes to halt Shoprite from leaving Kano

    Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has set machinery in place to halt the moves by Shoprite, one of Nigeria’s prominent supermarket chains to close its only branch in Kano State.

    Located at the famous Ado Bayero Mall in Kano, Shoprite last week announced its decision to exit the Centre of Commerce in January, blaming it on a ‘’ challenging economic situation.’’

    Mixed reactions have continued to trail the decision of the outlet which debuted in Kano in March 2014.

    A statement by Senator Barau’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, said the Deputy President of the Senate will meet with the company’s management this week in Abuja over the matter.

    ‘’ The Office of the Deputy President of the Senate has set machinery in place to halt the exit of Shoprite from Kano State. His Excellency, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, CON, will meet with the management of the company this week where the issue will be discussed and hopefully resolved.

    ‘’ Yes, it is a pure business issue, but we will see what we can do to encourage them to rescind their decision and stay in Kano. As we all know, there are enormous business opportunities in Kano, the commercial nerve centre of northern Nigeria. At a time when we are scouting for investors, we will not fold our hands and allow them to leave,’’ he said.

    Media Office of the Deputy President of the Senate
    December 18, 2023