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Tag: Yobe State

  • Former senate president extols Yobe governor at 56

    Former senate president extols Yobe governor at 56

    President of the ninth senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, has commended Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe for his significant strides in education, agriculture, healthcare and infrastructure development.

    Lawan, in a birthday message to Buni, on Sunday by his Media Adviser, Dr.Ezera Tabiowo  also commended Buni for improving quality of life of Yobe residents through his visionary leadership and strategic approach to governance.

    Lawan,who represents Yobe- North Senatorial District in the National Assembly said Buni’s passion for transparency and due process earned Yobe the World Bank’s overall Top Performer Award on State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) in Nigeria.

    “Your Excellency, I celebrate your 56th birthday anniversary with great joy and admiration. Over the years, you have shown exceptional leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the progress and development of our beloved country; and our dear tate, Yobe , in particular.

    “Under your guidance as governor, we have witnessed significant improvements in various sectors, including infrastructure, healthcare, education, and agriculture.

    “Your visionary leadership and strategic approach have paved the way for a brighter future for all our people.

    “Your purposeful leadership on the other hand,  has kept our party at the state level – the All Progressives Congress (APC) – united and even stronger.

    “As a prudent manager of resources, your diligence as an astute administrator earned Yobe the World Bank’s overall Top Performer Award on State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) in Nigeria.

    ” By implication, your incredible leadership positioned our dear state as a trailblazer in due process and transparency, when it comes to the conduct of government business and application of public funds.

    “As we mark the special occasion of your birthday celebration today, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to You. You have not only demonstrated excellent leadership but also inspired us all to strive for excellence and contribute to the betterment of our dear state.

    “We are grateful for your selfless service and look forward to many more years of outstanding leadership.

    “I wish you continued success, good health, and prosperity. Thank you for your dedication to the people of our great state.”

  • Suspected Boko Haram insurgents storm Customs office in Yobe, kill operative

    Suspected Boko Haram insurgents storm Customs office in Yobe, kill operative

    Gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram insurgents have reportedly attacked an office of the Nigeria Customs Service in a town in  Geidam LGA, Yobe State, killing one operative, Usman Gombe.

    It was gathered that the insurgents stormed the Customs office along Maine Soroa Road in a Volkswagen Golf and a Land Rover around 10:00 pm on Saturday and started shooting.

     

    “They struck when they were sure the Customs officers had retired home. Panicked by the rain of bullets, the officers scampered for safety; some escaped through the gate, while others scaled the fence.

    “Unfortunately, one of the officers, Usman Gombe, was shot dead while attempting to climb the fence,” a security source told newsmen.

    According to him,  the assailants also burnt down the Customs patrol van, a generator, and part of the office building.

    “This is the second time the Boko Haram insurgents are killing Customs officers. Last month, an officer, Babalola, and his junior officer were abducted and later killed by the insurgents,” the source said.

    Residents of the town disclosed that the activities of Boko Haram insurgents on the outskirts of Geidam had increased in recent times.

    “They collect taxes from farmers and herdsmen a few kilometres from the town, and nobody is doing anything.

    “Instead, the security operatives have relocated over 17 checkpoints into the town where they also taxed traders that brought goods through the same route. We are in difficult condition in this town,” one of the traders alleged.

  • End of insurgency in sight – Gov Buni

    End of insurgency in sight – Gov Buni

    Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, has said that the careful selection of new security chiefs by President Bola Tinubu would get Nigeria closer to the end of security challenges.

    Buni stated this in a statement by his Director-General, Press and Media Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Mohammed, on Saturday in Damaturu.

    He said the new National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu would bring his wealth of experience to bear in the fight against insecurity.

    “The Security Chiefs also have the wealth of experience and confidence of Nigerians to lead the fight against insecurity in Nigeria.

    “As people from the frontline states, we commend the federal government and the security agencies for the tremendous achievements recorded in the states.

    “We are optimistic that as active players who played key roles in the relative peace enjoyed in the states, the new Service Chiefs would add value to bring the insecurity challenge to a total halt.

    “They have at different times proved their worth and competence in various national assignments.

    “The President made the right choice and we will continue to support all security operations in our domain,” Buni was quoted as saying in the statement.

    While urging Nigerians to support the new service chiefs to succeed, Buni also also commended former President Buhari administration for equipping frontline troops and forging a new spirit in the nation’s security personnel, to see their assignment as a call to national duty.

    “These great efforts boosted the morale of the security forces to fight the insecurity scourge effectively, efficiently and with dexterity”.

  • Ibrahim Bomai emerges Yobe South senatorial election winner

    Ibrahim Bomai emerges Yobe South senatorial election winner

    Senator Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai  has been declared the winner of the Yobe South senatorial election by the   Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday.

    Bomai of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 69,596 votes to defeat Halilu Mazagane of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who got 68,885 votes.

    Others are Yerima Adamu of ADC who scored 652 votes; Jauro Ishaku of LP who got 471 votes; Isa Musa of NNPP who had 3,277 votes and Maisambo Barde of the YPP who scored 448 votes.

    Declaring the results at the FCE Potiskum collation centre, INEC Returning Officer, Abacha Meleni, stated: “I, Abacha Meleni, Returning Officer for the 2023 Yobe South Senatorial District Election, held on 15th of April, 2023, [declares] that Bomai Ibrahim Mohammed of the APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”

    Reacting, Senator-elect Bomai thanked the electorate and his supporters for their resilience and love.

    Recall that INEC declared the Yobe South senatorial election inclusive in the last national assembly election held few weeks back.

  • BREAKING: Auditor General jailed 5 years for fraud

    BREAKING: Auditor General jailed 5 years for fraud

    The Auditor General for Local Government, Yobe State, Alhaji Idris Yahaya has been jailed for fraud by the Yobe State High Court.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Alhaji Yahaya was prosecuted by the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Yahaya is to spend five years in prison, following his conviction on Monday by Justice Muhammad Lawu Lawan of the Yobe State High Court.

    He was convicted after being pronounced guilty of a one count of criminal misappropriation to the tune of N19.9 million preferred against him by the EFCC.

    Yahaya was said to have received funds from the Office of the Auditor General for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Yobe State, for the purchase of an official vehicle, a 2015 Toyota Corolla, and diverted part of the money to his personal use.

    The  one count charge reads: ”That you, Yahaya Lawal Idris, being the Auditor General for Local Government, Yobe State, between the 20th to 21st day of May, 2017 at Damaturu, Yobe State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, received the sum of N19,900,000.00 via your personal account number 1001480930 with account name Alhaji Yahaya Idris domiciled in United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) from the Local Government Audit Account Number 5030030060 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc for the purchase of a brand new Toyota Corolla 2015 Model, did dishonestly misappropriated the gross sum of N10,100,000.00 (Ten Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira) only.”

    The convict who was first arraigned on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, setting the stage for his full trial.

    In the course of the trial, counsel for the EFCC, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed called four witnesses and tendered documents which were admitted in evidence.

    Delivering judgment today, Justice Lawan held that the prosecution has proved the case against the defendant and convicted him as charged.

    He consequently sentenced him to 5 years imprisonment with an option of fine.

    The Judge further directed the convict to pay the sum of N10.1 million  in restitution to Yobe State Government through the EFCC or serve additional two years in prison.

  • Voters halt INEC from closing polls in Damaturu, insists they must vote

    Voters halt INEC from closing polls in Damaturu, insists they must vote

    Voters in Damaturu the capital of Yobe State stopped officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC from closing the Presidential and National Assembly polls.

    As at 5.09pm, voters insisted on continuing with the exercise.

    This was the situation at the Water Board PU 013 and Jeru Borehole PU 040 located at the Jerusalem area in Damaturu, where INEC officials arrived late at the polling units and demanded they must all vote before the officials leave.

    As of the time of filling this report, accreditation and voting at the two PUs were still ongoing.

    The INEC officials came to PU 040 as at 12. 30pm when an overwhelming crowd was already gathered at the area.

    A voter said: “We cannot leave this place until all of us have voted. If we are acting outside the law, it is the government that first disobeyed the law so we just have to cast our votes.”

  • Elections will not hold in eleven polling units in Yobe state – INEC

    Elections will not hold in eleven polling units in Yobe state – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), has revealed that elections will not hold in eleven polling units across four local government areas in Yobe state.

    The state has 2,823 polling units across the 17 local government areas.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Ibrahim Abdullahi made the revelation at a recent stakeholders’ engagement in Damaturu.

    He said the affected polling units are located in Bursari, Fika, Jakusko and Yusufari local government areas, noting that the Commission will not deploy human and materials to those units due to zero registrants.

    According to the electoral umpire, Yobe state has a total of 1,445,000 registered voters for this year’s elections.

  • Yobe North ticket: Supreme Court set date to decide Ahmad Lawan’s fate

    Yobe North ticket: Supreme Court set date to decide Ahmad Lawan’s fate

    The Supreme Court on Wednesday fixed February 6th to deliver judgment in the long-drawn legal battle over the authenticity of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Yobe North Senatorial District.

    Entangled in the legal battle for the Senatorial ticket are the incumbent Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and Bashir Machina.

    The Apex Court fixed the date after taking arguments from counsel for APC and Machina.

    Justice Centus Nweze who presided over a five-member panel of Justices of the Court fixed the date.

    APC which is routing for Lawan as its Senatorial candidate filed the appeal against the judgments of the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal which held Bashir Machina as the party’s candidate.

    In its arguments presented by Sepiribo Peters, APC claimed that the primary election conducted on May 27, 2022, which produced Machina, is unknown to law because unlawful people conducted it.

    He claimed that another primary election conducted on June 6 which produced Lawan is the authentic election of the party.

    However, Mr Sarafa Yusuff, counsel to Machina asked the Apex Court to dismiss the APC’S appeal for being frivolous and baseless.

    He informed the court that Danjuma Manga Committee was set up by the APC to conduct the primary election on behalf of the National Working Committee of APC.

    Yusuff drew the court’s attention to an affidavit deposed to by Danjuma Manga to the effect that he was mandated along with five others by the APC National Secretariat to conduct the Senatorial primary elections in Yobe.

    The counsel argued that until now, the affidavit of the said Danjuma Manga had not been disputed or denied by the APC and subsequently urged the court to affirm Bashir Sheriff Machina as the authentic Senatorial candidate of APC for Yobe North Senatorial District.

    Recall that the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed Machina as the authentic candidate of the APC for Yobe North Senatorial District.

    The court upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Damaturu, Yobe, which held that Lawan was not the APC candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District in the 2023 elections.

    Justice Monica Dongban-Mensen, who presided over a three-man panel, gave the affirmation in an appeal by Lawan, challenging the decision of Justice Fadimatu Aminu of the Federal High Court Damaturu, which had on Sept. 28, 2022, declared Machina as the winner of the primary election organised by the APC in May 2022, while Lawan opted to contest the presidential primary election organised by the APC on June 9.

    The Federal High Court sitting in Damaturu had in September ordered the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise Machina as Yobe North senatorial candidate of the party.

  • Buni signs 2 health care bills into law

    Buni signs 2 health care bills into law

    Gov Mai Mala Buni of Yobe has signed two bills into laws to boost healthcare service delivery in the state.

    They are a law for establishment of Yobe State Emergency Medical Ambulance Service and another for establishment of Yobe State Healthcare and Health-Related Facilities Inspection and Monitoring Agency.

    This is contained in a statement by Buni’s Director-General Press and Media Affairs Alhaji Mamman Mohammed in Damaturu on Wednesday.

    He said the two laws were aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery in matters relating to domestic and road traffic accidents, as well as monitoring of healthcare facilities to provide standard services.

    “ The emergency Medical Ambulance Service law provides opportunity for first aid treatment to victims from the scene of accidents before reaching medical facilities.

    “ Similarly, the Health facility Inspection and Monitoring Agency empowers health authorities to inspect and monitor services provided by all medical facilities in the state to eliminate sub standard services and cutting corners.

    “ The two laws will ensure that healthcare delivery is not compromised at any level in Yobe state,” the aide said.

    Newsmen reports that the laws were earlier passed by the state House of Assembly.

  • Minor arrested for ‘insulting’ Mai Mala Buni on social media

    Minor arrested for ‘insulting’ Mai Mala Buni on social media

    A minor has been arrested by the Yobe police command for allegedly insulting the Yobe state Governor, Mai Mala Buni, on social media.

    The father of the 16-year-old minor, Garba Isa, revealed this when he publicly cried out for the release of his son on Monday. According to Isa, his son was apprehended on December 11 in Nguru and later transferred to the State Investigation Division of the Nigeria Police Force in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.

    “I regret what my son did. I am nobody, an ordinary laundry man, what my son (Umar) did was totally wrong, I appeal to Governor Mai Mala Buni and the police on passionate grounds to forgive my son and release him” Isa who is a laundry worker told Channels TV.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Garba Haruna, who confirmed the incident said the minor is now in custody and will be charged in court when investigation is concluded.

    “When we conclude our investigation, he will definitely be charged to court. People are using social media to insult and tarnish people’s character, the society needs to be sanitised.

    You cannot use social media and begin to post all sorts of things. There is law and order in Nigeria, whoever infringes on someone’s right will be punished.” Garba was quoted as saying