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Tag: Nasarawa State

  • Nasarawa: Gov Sule to appeal tribunal judgement

    Nasarawa: Gov Sule to appeal tribunal judgement

    Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state says he would appeal the majority judgment of the Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Lafia that annulled his declaration as the winner of March 18 election.

    The governor stated this on Monday in Lafia while reacting the the spilt judgment of the tribunal.

    He said that the judgment was a temporary setback that they would learn from in order to restrategise and come out stronger.

    “I still remain the governor till Supreme Court decides otherwise because the law allows me to appeal and we will do that to reclaim our mandate,” Sule said.

    The governor called on his supporters to remain calm and not take laws into their hands by engaging in street protests.

    He cautioned the youths and supporters of APC against responding to the opposition, especially on social media.

    The tribunal in a split judgment annulled the election of Gov. Sule of All Progressives Congress (APC) and declared Mr David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the rightful owner of the election.

    Recall that the majority judgment was read by Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, Chairman of the tribunal.

    Justice Chiemelie Onaga, a member of the panel agreed with the lead judgment read by the panel chairman.

    The only dissenting judgment was delivered by Justice Ibrahim Mashi, who dismissed the petition filed by the PDP candidate and upheld the declaration of the governor by the INEC.

  • BREAKING: Tribunal sacks Gov Sule of Nasarawa, declares PDP winner

    BREAKING: Tribunal sacks Gov Sule of Nasarawa, declares PDP winner

    The Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has nullified the election of Governor Abdullahi Sule.

    The three-man panel led by Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, while delivering their judgment via zoom on Monday , noted Emmanuel Ombudagu of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) is the winner of the March 18 election.

    According to Ezekiel,  the petitioner was able to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt for alleged over voting, disruption of votes, among other irregularities.

    Ex-Governors Abdullahi Adamu and Tanko Al-makura were among other political dignitaries present at the court.

    Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lafia, declared Abdullahi Sule the winner of the governorship election in Nasarawa State in March.

    Prof Ishaya Tanko, the INEC returning officer said that the APC candidate polled a total of 347,209 votes to defeat his closest opponent, David Ombugadu, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 283, 016 votes.

  • Nasarawa Assembly probes sales of govt properties

    Nasarawa Assembly probes sales of govt properties

    The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has constituted a 9-man Ad-hoc committee to investigate alleged sales of government properties in Lagos and other states by the former administration of Tanko Al-Makura.

    Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Speaker of the House, announced the resolution after Mr Mohammed Omadefu, the Majority Leader of the House, brought the issue under the Matter of Public Interest during plenary in Lafia on Tuesday.

    The speaker urged the committee to immediately proceed to Lagos to begin its investigation on the alleged sales of Nasarawa State Liaison Office in Lagos State.

    He urged the committee to do a thorough investigation to unravel the alleged sales of government properties by the immediate past administration.

    “Yes, this House under my watch has passed a resolution directing the former government to sale the state properties in Lagos and other states for infrastructure development as requested by the past governor.

    “With what we have seen in the media yesterday that the security men has sent indigenes of the state staying in our Lagos Liaison Office out of the structure was unfortunate.

    “We feel bad and disappointing about that. The protest has given a bad image to our state and the government of Nasarawa State,” he said.

    According to him, they did not know whether the properties were sold or not and whether the proceed were used for development or not.

    “Because after the approval by the House in 2017 we never heard anything about it again not to talk of making any appropriation for it.

    “And who is the beneficiary/beneficiaries of the sales of the properties,” he charged.

    The speaker urged the committee to ensure that the right things are done in the interest of the state.

    “All those that are involved must be invited for clarification such as the office of the SSG, Accountant General and Board of Internal Revenue Service,” he added.

    The speaker named Mr Larry Bawa, the Chief Whip of the House, as Chairman of the committee.

    “Other members are Hon. Iliya Zhekaba, the Minority Leader; Hon. Musa Ibrahim, Hon. Mohammed Omadefu, Hon. Suleiman Azara, Hon. Danladi Jatau, Hon. Saidu Gude, Hon. Mohammed Isimbabi, Hon. Mohammed Oyanki and Mr Ibrahim Musa, the Deputy Clerk is the Secretary of the committee,” he said.

    The speaker urged the committee to carry out its investigation without fear or favour.

    On their parts, Musa Abubakar, Danladi Jatau, Solomon Akwashiki, Mohammed Oyanki and Larry Bawa all supported the need for the House to set up the committee to investigate the alleged sale of government properties in Lagos and other states.

    They said that there was the need for the people of the state to know how much was the proceed of the properties sold and was it used for development.

    Earlier, the Majority Leader of the House while raising the issue, said that the protest in Lagos by indigenes of the state has tarnished the image of the state.

    He urged the House to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the alleged sale of government properties in Lagos and other states.

    The majority leader said that the people of the state need to know how the properties were sold and the proceeds of the properties.

    Recall that in September 2017, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly approved the request of the ex-governor to sell the state’s properties located in Lagos, Jos and Kaduna due to their dilapidated status.

  • Fuel subsidy removal: IDPs beg for FG’s palliatives in Nasarawa

    Fuel subsidy removal: IDPs beg for FG’s palliatives in Nasarawa

    Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have appealed to the government to include them among beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s palliatives on fuel subsidy removal.

    The appeal is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lafia by Mr Dannis Utsa, Chairman, United Farmers Association of Kadarko community of the council area.

    Utsa, also a displaced person, stated that IDPs were already vulnerable and the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy had worsened their situation.

    He added that farmers from Ayua, Upuur, Ngur, Kpelev, Bature, Antsa, Kwara, Adootu communities in Keana council area had been living in an IDP camp since the villages were attacked and destroyed.

    He appealed to the government to beef up security in the communities, rebuild their destroyed houses, provide basic amenities and return them to their homes to enable farmers to take care of their families.

    Utsa noted that the IDP camp in Kadarko had been taken over by the Federal Road Safety Corps and appealed that it be reverted to a temporary shelter pending the rebuilding of IDPs’ destroyed communities.

  • DSS arrests officials for diverting palliatives

    DSS arrests officials for diverting palliatives

    The Department of State Services (DSS) said it has arrested some officials of the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) and their accomplices over alleged palliatives diversion.

    The Public Relations Officer of DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Afunanya said that the service had received complaints from some states relating to diversion and sale of palliatives meant for their citizens

    “Consequently, the Service undertook investigations in that regard and has recovered some of the items as well as apprehended the suspects.

    “While this operation is ongoing in other states, the Service has for instance, intercepted a suspected criminal syndicate in Nasarawa State responsible for the diversion and sale of the palliative.

    “Among those suspects are officials of Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) and their accomplices in the markets, notably Modern Market Lafia, where the items were being resold,” he said.

    The DSS spokesman said the suspects had been handed over for appropriate disciplinary measures.

    He urged members of the public with information relating to palliatives diversion to report to relevant security agencies for necessary action.

  • Nasarawa State’s chief judge releases 57 awaiting-trial inmates of custodial centres

    Nasarawa State’s chief judge releases 57 awaiting-trial inmates of custodial centres

    The Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Aisha Bashir, said on Wednesday that she has released 57 awaiting-trial inmates from the five Federal Correctional Centres in the state.

    Bashir made the declaration when she spoke with newsmen at the Wamba Custodial Centre in Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

    She said she released those who regained freedom from the Lafia, Wamba, Nasarawa Medium, Keffi Old and Keffi Modern Custodial Centres during her routine visits.

    Bashir said the exercise aimed at reviewing cases of awaiting trial inmates and to ensure justice.

    She explained that out of the number, 25 inmates were released from the Lafia Custodial Centre; eight from Wamba and nine from Nasarawa.

    She added that nine inmates were released from the Keffi Modern Custodial Centre, while six inmates were released from Keffi Old Custodial Centre.

    “We used the opportunity of the visits to assess the health and well-being of the inmates and discharged those who were being wrongfully detained.

    “These facilities were not set up to punish inmates; they were set up to reform inmates and to make them better persons,’’ she said.

    Bashir urged magistrates in Nasarawa State to shun indiscriminate remand of accused persons in custody so as to reduce congestion at the correctional facilities.

    “Always try to settle the parties; you can only remand when it becomes unavoidable,’’ she admonished.

    The chief judge also warned judicial officers in Nasarawa State against corrupt practices in the interest efficient justice delivery.

    She warned the freed inmates to stay away from crimes, and warned that: “if you are caught again, you will face maximum punishment.’’

    In his remarks at the news briefing, Malam Inusa Adamu, Controller of Corrections, Nasarawa State, commended the chief judge for the visits, which he described as healthy for the facilities.

    Adamu urged the judiciary in Nasarawa State to use more of alternative dispute resolution, especially for minor offences so as to decongest custodial facilities.

    “Most of the custodial centres are already overstretched; some are carrying more than two times their original capacities,’’ he said.

    The controller pledged the commitment of the correctional service to ensure safe and humane custody of inmates.

     

  • Police seal-off Nasarawa Assembly complex

    Police seal-off Nasarawa Assembly complex

    The police has sealed off the Nasarawa House of Assembly Complex, to avert a breakdown of law and order following the emergence of two speakers for the seventh assembly.

    DSP Ramhan Nansel, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) said this on Wednesday in a statement in Lafia.

    Nansel said that the action was due to a directive by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Maiyaki Mohammed-Baba.

    He said that the commissioner gave the directive after consultation with other security agencies in the state.

    It was gathered that the members-elect on Tuesday, June 6 held two parallel proceedings resulting in the emergence of two different speakers for the assembly.

    An unusual heavy presence of security was noticed at the complex when a reporter visited on Wednesday.

  • Two Speakers emerge as controversy rocks inauguration of Nasarawa Assembly

    Two Speakers emerge as controversy rocks inauguration of Nasarawa Assembly

    The Nasarawa State House of Assembly was on Tuesday thrown into a controversial situation following the emergence of two Speakers at the inauguration of the House.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the two Speakers include the immediate past speaker, Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi and Mr Daniel Ogah Ogazi, representing Kokona East constituency.

    While Abdullahi was elected at a sitting which took place at the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ogazi emerged as Speaker from the proceedings at the State Assembly complex.

    The Nasarawa government had ordered the postponement of the inauguration of the seventh Assembly of the State House of Assembly indefinitely.

    Mr Ibrahim Musa, the acting Clerk of the House, in a statement in Lafia, said the postponement was based on security advice to Gov. Abdullahi Sule.

    Musa called on the members-elect and the public to bear with the decision as a new date would be communicated to them in due course.

  • Nasarawa Governor, Abdullahi Sule dissolves cabinet

    Nasarawa Governor, Abdullahi Sule dissolves cabinet

    Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has dissolved the state Executive Council terminating the appointment of all political appointees with the exception of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

    The governor said this during an expanded state Executive Council meeting at the Government House, on Thursday in Lafia.

    Sule thanked the appointees for serving in his administration and for helping the government to achieve what it had achieved in the last four years.

    “Let me first and foremost sincerely thank everyone of you for being able to turn out for this meeting even with the short notice and inconvenience of changing the schedule of the meeting..

    “Secondly, the last time we had this kind of meeting was just before the elections, when we invited you to ask for your support to ask you to do everything you could to help us achieve success at the elections.

    “I have seen, I have heard a lot of you that have worked like there is no tomorrow in order for us to be successful at the election.

    “At the end of the day, with God on your side, nothing is impossible. At the end of the day we are all successful because we won the election,” Sule added.

    He promised to work again with appointees that had proven to be loyal, truthful and dedicated.

    Speaking on behalf of the former appointees, the state’s former Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Alhaji Abdulkareem Kana, thanked the governor for finding them worthy to serve in his administration.

    Kana prayed for God to guide him, ahead of his inauguration for a second term in office.

  • Abducted former Nasarawa Deputy Governor released

    Abducted former Nasarawa Deputy Governor released

    Prof. Onje Gye-Wado, a former Deputy Governor of Nassarawa State abducted by gunmen on April 7, has been released.

    DSP Ramhan Nansel, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state confirmed this on Monday in Lafia.

    Recall that Gye-Wado who was deputy governor between 1999 and 2003 in the administration of Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, was kidnapped at his residence in Wamba Local Government Area.

    The PPRO said the former deputy governor regained freedom at about 9:00 pm on Sunday, and has been reunited with his family.

    Nansel who said no arrest was made yet, added that the police was not aware of any ransom paid before the release.

    According to him, the elder statesman was released due to sustained pressure mounted on the kidnappers by a combined team of security agencies.