TheNewsGuru

Tag: Yobe State

  • 2023: Ahmad Lawan’s bid to return to Senate hits rock bottom again

    2023: Ahmad Lawan’s bid to return to Senate hits rock bottom again

    The bid by Senate President Ahmad Lawan to retain his senatorial seat in the upper legislative chamber has hit rock bottom again.

    This is after the Court of Appeal on Monday affirmed Bashir Machina as the authentic All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Yobe North.

    The appellate court, in a judgment that was delivered by a three-member panel led by President of the Court, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensen, dismissed Lawan’s appeal as lacking in merit.

    Senator Lawan filed an appeal challenging the decision of Justice Fadimatu Aminu of the Federal High Court Damaturu.

    Aminu had on Sept. 28, 2022, declared Machina as winner of the primary election organised by the APC in May 2022, while Lawan opted to contest for the presidential primary election organised by the APC in June.

    Aminu nullified the parallel primary election that produced Lawan on June 9, 2022.

    Consequently, the trial judge ordered the APC to forward the name of Machina to INEC as the authentic winner of the primary held in May.

    Lawan, had  picked the presidential form of the APC and participated in the primary election that was won by Sen.  Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

    Meanwhile,  Machina contested and won his bid to takeover as candidate of the party for the senatorial contest.

    However, Machina was asked to step down for Lawan but he insisted that he would not withdraw for the Senate President.

    In the face of the controversy, the APC submitted the Senate President’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission as its senatorial candidate for Yobe North.

    Aggrieved by the development, Machina  headed to court to seek redress.

    Machina in his suit prayed the court to declare him as the valid elected senatorial candidate of the APC for the 2023 election.

  • N19m Fraud: EFCC arraigns Yobe Auditor General for LG

    N19m Fraud: EFCC arraigns Yobe Auditor General for LG

    The Auditor General for Local Governments of Yobe State, Alhaji Yahaya Wakil Idriss was on Wednesday arraigned before Justice Mohammed Lawu Lawan of the Yobe State High Court, Damaturu.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Idriss was arraigned by the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a one-count charge of criminal misappropriation to the tune of N19.9 million.

    The count read: “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 Honorable Court, received the sum of N19,900,000.00 via your personal account number 1001480930 with account name Alhaji Yahaya Idris domiciled with United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) from the Local Government Audit Account Number 5030030060 domiciled with 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 being the money made for the purchase of the said brand new Toyota Corolla 2015 for the office of the Local Government Auditor General, Yobe State, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 308 of the Penal Code Cap 102 Laws of Yobe State of Nigeria and punishable under section 309 of the same Law.”

    The defendant pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge preferred against him by the EFCC.

    Counsel for the prosecution J. A. Ojogbane who appeared alongside M. A Ahmed prayed for a trial date in view of the plea of not guilty by the defendant. However, counsel for the defendant, M. Baba Zau through an application for bail, urged the court to admit his client to bail pending the determination of the case.

    Justice Lawan thereafter admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of Two Million Naira with one surety in like sum. The surety must be a landed property owner in Damaturu.

    The matter was adjourned till November 30, 2022 for commencement of trial.

  • Combined forces rescue four-year-old boy from kidnappers in Yobe

    Combined forces rescue four-year-old boy from kidnappers in Yobe

    A four-year-old boy,  Muktar Adamu of Nahuta community in Potiskum Local Government Area of Yobe State has been rescued from the hands of kidnappers.

    Security personnel in conjunction with community members combined forces to rescue the four-year-old boy in from captivity.

    Report says that the four suspected abductors of the minor were apprehended last Friday at Yindiski community in Potiskum town.

    The police in Potiskum is currently interrogating the suspected kidnappers.

    One of the community members who pleaded anonymity, said the kidnappers earlier planned to abduct the father of the 4-year-old boy, Malam Adamu, but their plan failed, so they went away with his son instead.

    However, the  Police Public Relations Officer, Yobe state Police Command is yet to confirm or debunk the kidnaping story as at when filing this report.

     

  • BREAKING: Machina floors Ahmad Lawan in court for Yobe North senatorial ticket

    BREAKING: Machina floors Ahmad Lawan in court for Yobe North senatorial ticket

    The Federal High Court sitting in Damaturu has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Bashir Machina as the candidate for Yobe North senatorial candidate.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Fadimatu Aminu, also directed the APC to submit Machina’s name to the INEC as the rightful winner of the party’s May 28 primary election in the district.

    She held that the ”phantom June 9 primary election” that produced Ahmed Lawan, the Senate President, as the winner and candidate, was a “nullity” because INEC did not monitor the election.

    Aminu also discountenanced the claim that the case was statue bar, saying the cause of action arose on June 17, not May 28.

    The judge said Machina, the plaintiff, approached the court when he discovered that the first defendant, APC, had forwarded Lawan’s name to INEC as its candidate.

    She, therefore, said the constitutional requirement of filing the case not later than 14 days from the election was not applicable.

    On June 22, Machina instituted the case, seeking an order to compel APC to declare him as the candidate of the District and send his name to INEC for publication.

    He told the court that he won the May 28 primary election unopposed, declared winner by INEC and his certificate of return was duly issued to him.

  • 2023: Bashir Machina denies withdrawing for Ahmad Lawan

    2023: Bashir Machina denies withdrawing for Ahmad Lawan

    Alhaji Bashir Machina, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District at the 2023 election has denied stepping down for Senate President, Sen. Ahmed Lawan.

    Reacting to claims that he had stepped down for Lawan, the candidate stated on Sunday in Damaturu that it was also not true that he had defected from the APC.

    “It has been brought to my notice that some unscrupulous elements forged a letter of my withdrawal from the race out of mischief and blackmail.

    “I state unequivocally that the letter was forged. I did not at any time withdraw or resign from the APC.

    “I was shocked when I discovered that some persons concocted plans to mislead the public particularly my supporters into believing that I have withdrawn,’’ he stated.

    The candidate called on the national secretariat of the APC to issue a statement on the forged letter which carried its official stamp.

    Machina stated also that he had instructed his lawyers to institute legal action against those behind the fake letter of his withdrawal from the race.

  • Dismissed soldiers were tried in accordance with extant law – Army Headquarters

    Dismissed soldiers were tried in accordance with extant law – Army Headquarters

    The Nigerian Army (NA) says the two soldiers it dismissed from service, were tried in the Headquarters 241 Recce Battalion, Nguru in connection with the murder of an Islamic cleric, Sheik Goni Gashua Aisami in Yobe.

    The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Sunday, identified the two soldiers, Lance Cpl. John Gabriel and Lance Cpl. Adamu Gideon.

    Nwachukwu said the soldiers were dismissed after facing trial at the Headquarters 241 Recce Battalion, Nguru on Saturday having been indicted in a report of a Board of Inquiry set up to investigate the unfortunate incident.

    He said that both soldiers were charged and summarily tried for failure to perform military duties and conduct prejudice to service discipline.

    The offences according to him, are punishable under Section 62 (a) of Armed Forces Act CAP A20 and Section 103(1) of Armed Forces Act CAP A20 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.

    Army spokesman said that the two soldiers were found guilty and awarded reduction of rank from Lance Corporal to Private and Dismissed Regiments.

    “The two dismissed soldiers will be officially handed over to the Nigeria Police, Yobe Command in Damaturu for civil prosecution in the court of law.

    “Recall that the NA pledged to institute a Board of Inquiry to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and speedily bring the suspects to justice, if indicted.

    “Once more, the NA wishes to commiserate with the family of the victim and the good people of Yobe. May the soul of the deceased rest in perfect peace,” he said.

  • Two army officers dismissed for murder of Islamic scholar in Yobe

    Two army officers dismissed for murder of Islamic scholar in Yobe

    The 241 RECCE Battalion of the Nigerian Army on Saturday dismissed John Gabriel and Lance Cpl Adamu Gideon who allegedly killed an Islamic scholar, Sheikh Goni Aisami, in Yobe.

    Lt. Col. Ibrahim Osabo, Ag Commanding Officer of the Battalion, Nguru, Yobe, disclosed this to newsmen shortly after the suspects were de-kited in Nguru.

    The suspects were reduced from Lance Corporal to private soldiers before they were dismissed.

    “You are all aware of what happened a week ago where the two service personnel of this unit went out and committed atrocity and the Nigerian Police personnel arrested them.

    Thanks to Almighty Allah we are able to do the needful. We initiated military police investigation together with the Nigerian Police.

    “The outcome of the investigation gave us the latitude to sanction the suspects accordingly and they are now officially dismissed regiment from the Nigerian Army,” Osabo said.

    He added that the dismissed men would be handed officially to the Nigeria Police to face civil prosecution.

    “We are taking them to our Sector Headquarters in Damaturu, the Sector Commander will then officially hand them over to the Nigeria Police to face civil prosecution. They no longer represent Nigerian Army,” he added.

    Commanding Officer condemned their actions and said it was not a true reflection of the Nigerian Army personnel.

    “I want to assure you that we are law abiding citizens and we are ready to dispense justice on anybody who is found wanting, irrespective of position or rank,” he also said.

    DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, the Police Command spokesperson, on Tuesday announced that police operatives apprehended the suspects in connection with the Sheik’s murder on Aug 16.

  • Army set to reveal the identities of soldiers involved in killing Islamic cleric in Yobe state

    Army set to reveal the identities of soldiers involved in killing Islamic cleric in Yobe state

    The Army in Yobe state has launched an investigation to unravel the circumstances that led to the killing of an Islamic cleric  Sheikh Goni Aisami by two suspected soldiers in the state.

    The headquarters of Sector Operation Hadin Kai is presently on the trail of the two suspected soldiers involved in the dastardly act.

    This piece of information was contained in a statement signed and released  to newsmen by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of the Sector, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu

    He noted that the Sector had also instituted a Board of Inquiry to unravel the circumstance surrounding the unfortunate incident.

    “At the end of the investigation, the soldiers would be made to face the full wrath of both military and civil laws.

    “This incident is highly regrettable given the Sector’s disposition and zero tolerance for violation of Code of Conduct and Rules of engagement for troops”, Capt. Anyanwu said.

    The Sector commiserated with the family of the victim and the good people of Yobe State while pledging that justice would be served accordingly.

  • Gov. Buni enrolls 100 indigents in healthcare scheme

    Gov. Buni enrolls 100 indigents in healthcare scheme

    Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe has sponsored the enrollment of 100 poor and vulnerable people under the ‘Expanded Healthcare Services Scheme’ in the state.

    Dr Lawan Gana, the Commissioner of Health disclosed this at the inauguration of the exercise on Monday in Damaturu.

    “Some two weeks back, Buni launched the Yobe State Expanded Healthcare Services Scheme.

    ” Then, he made a commitment to personally support the enrollment of 100 poor and vulnerable populations.

    “Today, in fulfilment of that pledge, we are kick-starting Buni’s personal sponsorship,”, Gana said.

    He explained that the scheme targeted all vulnerabilities such as disability, poverty, pregnant women, children older than five and sickle cell disease patients, among others.

    The commissioner said,” in order to achieve universal health coverage, the government could not do that alone.

    “There is a need for the affluent, philanthropists and organisations to support the government by emulating Buni’s gesture,” he said.

    Gana said the government was targeting 80 per cent of the population to be covered under the scheme.

    Also speaking, Dr Babagana Tijjani, the Executive Secretary, of Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (YOCHMA), said the agency was determined to ensure that all the programmes under the agency commence soon.

    “We have the formal sector programme, which civil servants of state and local government are currently benefiting from.

    “While other parts of the population benefit from the informal part of the programme,” he said

    Tijjani added that the ‘Equity and Basic Healthcare Programmes’ were meant for the vulnerable members of society.

    He enjoined all Yobe indigenes to join the programme in order to achieve universal healthcare coverage.

    A  visually impaired beneficiary, Malam Ali Bukar, lauded Buni and YOCHMA for their kind gesture, especially to the vulnerable population of the state.

  • SAD: Yobe Commissioner, Goni Lawan dies in tragic road accident

    SAD: Yobe Commissioner, Goni Lawan dies in tragic road accident

    The death has occurred of Goni Bukar Lawan, the Commissioner of Youth and Sports in Yobe State. He was said to have died in a ghastly motor accident along Damaturu, Kano highway on Tuesday evening.

    Goni Bukar, a former member of the House of Representatives, was on his way to Kano after earlier attending a funeral prayer in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital when the accident happened.

    Funeral prayer has been scheduled to hold on Wednesday 3rd August 2022 at the Yobe Islamic Centre Damaturu by 11:00 am. He is survived by two wives and children.