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Tag: Nasarawa

  • Coalition decry arrest of 30 women protesting Nasarawa governorship verdict

    Coalition decry arrest of 30 women protesting Nasarawa governorship verdict

    A coalition of 300 women led Civil Society groups and individuals have condemned the arrest and detention of 30 unarmed nude women who protested the Nasarawa state gubernatorial verdict.

    The Police in Nasarawa State, on Jan. 20 arrested 38 protesters for alleged public disturbance over the recent Supreme Court Judgment, which upheld the election of Gov. Abdullahi Sule.

    The suspects were immediately charged in court and remanded at the Lafia Custodial Centre.

    Nkoyo Toyo, representing the Gender and Development Action-GADA who signed on behalf of the coalition in a statement in Abuja described it as an “illegal attacks on innocent women.”

    “Nigerians are unhappy to hear of the arrest, prosecution and persecution of 30 women in Nasarawa, among others.

    “This is for exercising their rights to protest against an INEC instigated miscarriage of justice in the Nasarawa gubernational election of 2023, and the decision of the Supreme Court which upheld the results as declared.

    “The prosecution of these women shows the failure of the Nigerian Police Force and the Government of Nasarawa State in Nigeria to uphold the right of citizens under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to protest, assemble and freely express themselves.

    “These women were nude, demonstrating clearly that they were both committed to peaceable protest and unarmed.

    “It is a travesty to then accuse them of being violent when in fact, they were the people violated by the attack from the uniformed personnels.

    “Security agents, nearly all of them male, assaulted, beat up, shot at, and seriously injured some of these women in clear violation of the Constitution and in full public view.

    “Locking them up in indefinite pre-trial detention at the instance of those whom they were protesting against constitutes political persecution, ” she said.

    She added that the Project-Free Nasarawa 30 comprising of civil right activists, citizens’ journalists, rights’ organisations and international advocacy and solidarity groups demanding the immediate release of the Nasarawa 30.

    “Project – Free Nasarawa 30 rejects totally the tactics and aggression against these women, and calls for the immediate review of their bail conditions.

    “This will grant them freedom without the culture of punitive bail terms that have been unethically and wrongly adopted by the current judicial bench to justify empty allegations against the Nasarawa 30.

    “An attack on the Nasarawa 30 is an attack on all women across the globe. End the persecution now! Free Nasarawa 30 unconditionally TODAY,” she said.

    Other signatories include Prof. Joy Ezeilo, Women Aid Collective (WACOL); Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Co-Convener, Womenifesto; Dr Eki Yemisi-Omorogbe, International Law and Policy in Africa Network.

    Others are Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, Atrocities Watch Africa (AWA); Richard Inoyo, Citizens Solution Network;

    Yemi Adamolekun, Enough is Enough; Adaora Sydney-Jack, Gender Strategy Advancement, among others.

     

  • Supreme Court judgment: Police arrest 38 protesters in Nasarawa

    Supreme Court judgment: Police arrest 38 protesters in Nasarawa

    The Police Command in Nasarawa says it has arrested 38  protesters in Lafia for alleged public disturbance over the recent Supreme Court judgment which upheld the election of  Gov. Abdullahi Sule of the state.

    The suspects were immediately charged to court and remanded at the Lafia Custodial  Centre.

    They were charged before the Chief Magistrates’ Court 3 Lafia for the offence.

    When the matter was mentioned for hearing by the prosecuting counsel, Danjuma Allu, the Chief Magistrate, Mohammed Abdullahi Lanze, reserved the ruling on their bail application to Monday.

    Earlier, Illiya Ashokpa, Defence  Counsel, applied that the court should grant them bail but his application was turned down.

    The protesters comprised five males and 33 females.

    DSP Ramhan Nansel, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state had confirmed the arrest and prosecution by the command.

    The Supreme Court had on Friday,  affirmed the victory of Gov. Sule of the  All Progressives Congress (APC) as governor of the state.

  • S’Court judgment: Security beefed up Nasarawa State

    S’Court judgment: Security beefed up Nasarawa State

    Security agencies have beefed up security in Lafia and other major towns in Nasarawa State as the Supreme Court delivers judgment on the governorship tussle between Gov. Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Mr David Ombugadu, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Gov Sule, winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election, which was later nullified by the Election Petition Tribunal.

    Dissatisfied with the decision of the tribunal, Gov. Sule approached the Appellate Court, which reversed the judgment of the tribunal and affirmed his election.

    Mr. Ombugadu of the PDP then decided to take the case to the Supreme Court for determination of the true winner of the governorship poll in Nasarawa State.

    A Correspondents monitoring situations on Friday,  reports that personnel of Nigeria Police, Nigeria Army, Nigeria Security, and Civil Defence Corps were seen stationed in strategic locations and around public infrastructures in Lafia.

    Some of the locations include the Lafia City gate, Lafia Township Stadium junction, Jos/Shendam Road junction leading to the Government House among others.

    In Akwanga, joint security patrol teams were seen moving round the city in order to forestall the breakdown of law and order during and after the Supreme Court judgment.

    Speaking on the security arrangement,  DSP Ramhan Nansel, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state told NAN that the deployment of personnel across the state was to maintain law and order.

    He explained that Police was working in collaboration with other security agencies to ensure that any group that eventually wins at the Supreme Court celebrates their victory responsibly without infringing on the rights of others.

    The PPRO said that no person or group of persons would be allowed to cause any problem in any part of the state.

    He, therefore, called on members of the public to go about their activities without any fear or intimidation.

    Meanwhile, some residents of the state bare their minds on the situation and the possible aftermath of the judgment.

    Mallam Ibrahim Abubakar, a resident of Akwanga commended the security agencies for the joint patrol.

    ” This joint patrol is a welcome development as it will forestall break down of law and order after the pronouncement of the winner of the Governorship seat by the Supreme Court,” he said

    Another resident, Grace Thomas said the efforts of the security would send a very strong signal to the troublemakers and deter them from whatever negative intentions.

    On his part, Mr Bulus John, an artisan in Akwanaga, said people in the state should learn to accept the outcome of the judgment in good faith for peace to reign.

  • Organ Trafficking: Police nab fake doctor in Nasarawa state

    Organ Trafficking: Police nab fake doctor in Nasarawa state

    A man, Igwe Gift Okechukwu who has been identified as a fake doctor has been arrested  by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force for his involvement in criminal conspiracy, organ trafficking, fraud, cybercrime, stealing, impersonation, cheating, and identity theft.

    It was gathered that operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department , Nasarawa state arrested the man in question following the suspect’s fraudulent activities in Owerri, Imo State.

    The suspect, parading himself as Henry Ovie, a neurologist newly transferred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, tricked a point of sale (POS) operator, Anita Chinwe Mathias, into entering a code on her POS machine.

    As a result, the entire sum of twenty-one million naira (N21,000,000) was withdrawn from her account, leading to a police report.

    Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed the details of the arrest during a press conference in Abuja.

    Adejobi revealed the suspect’s mode of operation, how he built trust with the victim, sent a significant amount to her account, and later tricked her into entering a code that facilitated the fraudulent withdrawal.

    According to Adejobi, Anita, the complainant, narrated that the suspect used multiple identities and phone numbers, posing as Igwe Richard and Ovie Henry.

    “She proceeded to state that on September 11, 2023, the suspect tricked her into entering a code on her POS machine, which she did due to the trust she had for him.

    “After the suspect left her place, she noticed that all the money in her POS account was withdrawn, which amounted to the sum of twenty million naira (N21,000,000), and all efforts to reach out to the suspect proved abortive.

    “She also went to the Federal Medical Centre, where the suspect claimed to be working, to ask about him and she was told that none of their doctors bears such a name. Immediately, she reported the case to the Force Criminal Investigation Department Abuja, where intelligent officers swung into action to arrest the suspect,” the statement reads in part.

    Findings show  that the fake doctor had changed his phone number and relocated from Owerri to Lafia, Nasarawa State, where he was subsequently tracked and arrested.

    It was further uncovered that the suspect is involved in organ trafficking, with links to a contact in Toronto, Canada.

    Recall that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, reiterated the commitment of the force to combating crimes and ensuring the safety and security of communities.

    The IGP assured Nigerians that an extensive investigation is ongoing, and all perpetrators involved in this heinous act will be brought to justice and charged accordingly.

     

  • BREAKING: Appeal Court reverses sack of Abdullahi Sule as Nasarawa Gov

    BREAKING: Appeal Court reverses sack of Abdullahi Sule as Nasarawa Gov

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the election of Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule.

    The appellate court also set aside the October 2 judgement of the Nasarawa State Election Petitions Tribunal that sacked All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Sule and declared David Ombugadu, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the governorship election.

    Delivering judgement, the three-member panel, led by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, held that the tribunal erred in law in concluding that Governor Sule did not win majority of the votes cast in the election.

    The Court further held that the Governor was denied fair hearing.

    Details later…

  • FA suspends coaches’ activities in Nasarawa

    FA suspends coaches’ activities in Nasarawa

    Nasarawa Football Association (FA) has announced the suspension of coach activities in the state, to resolve the crisis rocking the association.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Blessing David, Secretary to the Nasarawa FA Chairman, Usman Galadima, and made available to NAN in Keffi Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.

    According to David, the crisis is impeding the activities of the association, hence the immediate suspension of its activities until further notice.

    “This is to pave the way for amicable resolution of the prolonged crisis and complaints from various local government chapters.

    “Other crisis is non compliance with the mandatory annual affiliation requirements,” he said.

    David added that a five-man committee will be constituted by the Nasarawa State FA to investigate and conduct fresh election from local governments to state level.

    “The elections will be monitored to ensure fair and transparent outcome in compliance with the standard and for effective functioning of the affiliated body,” he added.

  • Nasarawa State University lecturer, Dr Adokwe abducted in Keffi

    Nasarawa State University lecturer, Dr Adokwe abducted in Keffi

     

    One of the lecturers at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), Dr Comfort Adokwe has been reportedly kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Keffi on Sunday.

    It was gathered that Adokwe, a lecturer in the Faculty of Administration at the university and a Deputy Director, Gender Studies, of the school, was abducted on Sunday night by the gunmen from her residence in Angwan Jaba in Keffi.

    The Chairman of the Community Development Association, Comrade Ali Sule, who confirmed the development to journalists, saying that  the gunmen invaded the lecturer’s compound late at night and whisked her to unknown destination.

    According to him, the kidnappers shot sporadically into the air severally before making away with the lecturer.

     

    He said “It’s true, our beloved sister, Dr Comfort Adokwe, was kidnapped last night by unknown gunmen at her Residence at Angwan Jaba here in Keffi.

    “We pray that God keeps her safe, secure, and protected and returns her safely to us.

    “We are calling on security agencies to move into action and bring her back safely.”

     

    Recall that few days ago, about four students of the university were kidnapped from their hostel near Angwan Kare.

    However, the police command in Nasarawa is yet to confirm or debunk the incident as of the time of filing this report.

     

  • Nasarawa gov, Sule commends military for varsity students’ rescue

    Nasarawa gov, Sule commends military for varsity students’ rescue

    Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has commended the Nigerian military for the successful rescue operation of four female students of Nasarawa State University (NSUK) who were kidnapped by gunmen on Tuesday.

    Recall that the students were kidnapped at their residence in Agwan Kare district of Keffi, Nasarawa.

    Sule announced that no ransom was paid to the abductors of the four female students.

    He disclosed this after paying a thank-you visit to the Commandant, 177 Guard Batallion, Keffi Local Government, Lt. Col. Auwalu Inuwa, on Saturday.

    The girls were rescued on Thursday afternoon after intensive manhunt by the police, military and other security agencies.

    Inuwa confirmed to newsmen that the students were rescued in the surrounding bushes of Agwan Gauta in Keffi after painstaking efforts by the military officers.

    Speaking on the development, Sule said that neither the NSUK authorities nor the military paid any ransom before the abducted students were rescued.

    “I am not aware of any ransom. Once security officials mount pressure on the kidnappers, I don’t think there was ransom.

    “There was no ransom paid to the best of my knowledge.

    “The university didn’t pay any ransom and neither did the military,” he said.

    The governor told newsmen that he was at the barracks personally to convey the appreciation of President Bola Tinubu to the commandant for their efforts in rescuing the girls.

    He expressed joy seeing the girls in good health, with their parents making arrangements to receive their daughters back.

    He disclosed that the military is putting up additional measures to beef up security not only around the university but on the Akwanga-Abuja highway.

    “I am happy and I am here to show great appreciation to the commandant and the other security agents that also participated in the rescue operations.

    “The commandant informed me that the police and civil defence also participated along with the community leaders.

    “I am happy also to see the parents getting ready to see how they can take over their children,” a visibly elated governor said.

  • Sarkin Fulani urges politicians not to divide Nasarawa indigenes along religious lines

    Sen. Walid Jibrin says Nasarawa state is made up of Muslims and Christians in almost equal numbers and urged politicians not to do anything capable of dividing the state along religious lines.

    Jibrin, the Sarkin Fulani of Nasarawa state, gave the admonition in a statement he issued and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Friday.

    The septuagenarian was reacting to an allegation that some groups loyal to the state governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Sule were “pleading religious sentiment’’ after his election was annulled by the Nasarawa state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

    The tribunal had in a split judgment of two members to one, delivered on Oct. 2, sacked Gov. Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and declared Dr. David Ombugadu of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), the winner.

    After the governor had appealed the tribunal judgment, the groups were alleged to have launched a campaign that Ombuagudu, being a Christian, could not be governor in the state.

    “Since the creation of Nasarawa state, the governor has always been a Muslim and there was no any religious fight in the whole of the state.

    “May I point out clearly that Dr. Ombugadu is a candidate of both Muslims and Christians in the state and he has never shown any sign of any campaign against Muslims even though he is Christian.

    “After all, his deputy is a true Muslim from the North Central Zone of the state,’’ Jibrin said.

    The Fulani leader and a Muslim devout assured that, if Ombuagudu eventually becomes governor of the state, he would be fair to all citizens irrespective of the faith.

    “During his campaign, Ombugadu donated vehicles to, Islamic groups, JNI and NASFAT and he also donated towards the building of many Mosques in Nasarawa state.

    “He also donated boreholes to Mosques, markets, and Churches for use by all,’’ he said.

    Jibrin noted that Christain had emerged as the President of the country including Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

    “May I point out that those so-called group of Muslims who are against Ombugadu to become the governor of Nasarawa are never do well people.

    “They do not understand Islamic religion very well and never receive total support of Nasarawa state citizens,’’ he said.

    Speaking on the governorship election, Jibrin said Ombugadu won the poll and alleged that INEC manipulated the results in favour of the governor.

    “Every Nigerian that followed the election online knew that by Sunday, March 19 in the morning, Dr Ombugadu, from the upload on the INEC IREV platform had already won the governorship election by a comfortable margin.

    “We were all shocked by what happened because up to this day, the results from polling units from Nasarawa state on the INEC IREV platform show that Sule lost to Ombugadu,’’ he said.

    Jibrin contended that the Nasarawa people rejected the governor at the poll because of “lack of performance and empty promises’’.

     

  • PDP accuses INEC of vote allocation in Nasarawa election

    PDP accuses INEC of vote allocation in Nasarawa election

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday, alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) allocated votes to Gov. Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 governorship election in Nasarawa state.

    In a statement by Alhaji Ibrahim Hamza, PDP spokesperson in the state, said INEC owed the citizens of Nasarawa clarifications on how it arrived at the number of votes allocated to the incumbent governor.

    In the statement, Hamza recalled that the majority judgment of the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal invalidated the declaration of Gov. Sule by INEC as the winner of the election.

    The tribunal also declared the candidate of the PDP, David Ombugadu as the winner of the election, and directed INEC to issue him with a Certificate of Return.

    Hamza said as a believer in democratic principles, the PDP recognised the right of Gov. Sule to appeal the majority judgment of the tribunal.

    He, however, stressed that it was crucial for INEC to clarify the alleged discrepancy in the vote count during the election.

    According to him, the discrepancy in the vote count was also manifest in the minority judgment of the tribunal which was in favour of the governor.

    It will be recalled that INEC, in March 2023, claimed that Sule won the governorship election with 347,209 votes and it allocated 283,016 votes to Dr Ombugadu of the PDP.

    “But in his minority judgment, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Mashi ruled that  Sule scored only 295,402 votes as against the inflated votes of 347,209 freely given to him by INEC.

    “The same minority judgment said  Ombugadu scored 291, 603 as against the suppressed votes of 283,016 allocated to him by INEC.

    “The question begging for answer is where did INEC get the 51,807 votes margin it generously allocated to AA Sule and returned him as the elected governor of Nasarawa State based on the ruling of the same minority judgment?.”

    Speaking further, the PDP noted that the appeal filed by the governor lacked substance and hence would not stand.