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Tag: Zamfara

  • Massacre looms in Zamfara as bandit kingpin vows to kill 900

    Massacre looms in Zamfara as bandit kingpin vows to kill 900

    A bandit kingpin in Zamfara State, Nasanda has vowed to kill 900 people in exchange for the death of his wife, her aunt and uncle.

    In a trending audio message, the terrorist said he was giving the Zamfara State government 14 days to pay him N30 million to avert the impending doom.

    Nasanda had claimed that his bride and her uncle and aunt were killed by some vigilantes in the state — an act which he said was deliberate.

    He alleged that the vigilantes knew that the victims were related to him.

    In the audio message, he said that he has been realistic and not greedy in asking for the N30 million compensation. “If I were greedy, I would have asked for N50 million per person,” he said.

    He added, “I’m not giving months, but 14 days, for my demands to be met. And we will not attack until when people are on their farms. If our Fulani people are not allowed to live in peace, we will also not allow others to live in peace.

    “If the government can’t pay the money, I will do what I am used to. That is, I will take the life of 300 people to avenge the death of my bride and two of her relations. Yes, the lives of 900 will be in danger.”

  • Don’t allow a repeat of Zamfara, Rivers APC disaster in Akwa Ibom, group warns

    Don’t allow a repeat of Zamfara, Rivers APC disaster in Akwa Ibom, group warns

    Defenders of Akwa Ibom APC, DAIA has cautioned the new Abdullahi Adamu leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC against repeating same mistakes that led to the loss of Zamfara and Rivers States in the 2019 General Election.

    Speaking against the background of the party’s decision to recognize inaugurating Obong Stephen Ntukekpo as the chairman of the Akwa Ibom State chapter when the issues of the congresses that led to his mergence were still under judicial review, the group in a statement by its coordinator, Ibok Essein.

    “What happened in Zamfara and Rivers States are still very fresh in our memory and it would be catastrophic for us as a party if we did not learn any lesson from the issues.”
    Noting that the same issues of upholding the constitution of the party and of the Electoral Act were now at play in Akwa Ibom, the group called for caution.
    “The fact is that a significant proportion of the party membership including at the grassroots and leaders have issues with the emergence of Obong Stephen Ntukekpo as chairman of the party.
    “These members have in adherence to the rule of law taken up their case in the courts and it is a shock that even before their right to fair hearing is adjudicated that their rights have been abridged.
    “Our warning is that the party must take heed so that the disaster of Zamfara and Rivers do not befall us in Akwa Ibom.”
    Noting that the caution had become more important in the wake of the increased mobilization of the grassroots for 2023 victory, the group continued:
    “Our grassroots in Akwa Ibom have more than ever been energized for victory in the forthcoming 2023 General Election. What they are asking is for things to be done properly for them to deliver Akwa Ibom from the yoke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,” the group said.

  • Powerful indigenes are behind banditry in Zamfara – Matawalle

    Powerful indigenes are behind banditry in Zamfara – Matawalle

    Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has revealed that the respected and powerful people are sponsors of attacks and killings in the state.

    Zamfara State has suffered a series of bandit attacks in recent times.

    On Tuesday, April 12, bandits abducted five female students of the College of Health Science and Technology, Tsafe, Zamfara State.

    Reacting, the state governor, Matawalle said the bandits are sponsored by powerful men.

    He also alleged that residents of the state have been recruited by bandits as informants.

    Zailani Bappa, a media aide to the governor, quoted the governor as saying in a statement: “Strong facts indicate that the recurrence of banditry in the state is aided and abetted mostly by powerful indigenes. Some of these people are strong personalities who the people respect.

    “There are also, among the generality of the people who receive paltry sums of money to serve as informants to bandits.”

    Matawalle said it was for the above reason that political appointees in the state were directed to swear by the Quran while taking the oath of office.

    However, he noted that some top politicians in the state declined to use the Quran to swear an oath.

  • Gov. Matawalle warns absentee civil servants, risk losing pay

    Gov. Matawalle warns absentee civil servants, risk losing pay

    • Civil servants and political appointees who are absent at work in Zamfara state risk losing their pay, Gov. Bello Matawalle has warned.

    The governor already directed the Ministry of Finance to withhold salaries of staff until respective Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries in each ministry endorsed the exact number of staff who report to work regularly.

    He observed that the state’s civil service was full of anomalies that had rendered it a resource guzzler without commensurate returns.

    He added that the civil service was bloated with absentee staff that had become a burden on government resources.

    The governor admonished civil servants to adhere to their work ethics or have their salaries stopped.

    Matawalle also noted that political appointees were not contributing to efforts at addressing security challenges in the state.

    “I wonder how a political appointee will shun his people at the grassroots by being incommunicado while bandits have informants all around and are having the upper hand against us.

    “I employed you to have your telephones accessible to all your people so that we can effectively monitor what is happening at the grassroots as it happens or even before it happens.

    “We must listen to the people at the grassroots at all times, especially on issues that border on security,’’ Matawalle stressed.

    The governor’s charges were contained in a statement issued by Zailani Bappa, his Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications in Gusau on Tuesday.

    Matawalle spoke when he hosted members of the state’s Executive Council, Special Advisers, Chairmen of Boards and Parastatals to break the Ramadan fast.

  • Ebonyi: Cross River, Zamfara Govs may suffer same fate too like Umahi

    Ebonyi: Cross River, Zamfara Govs may suffer same fate too like Umahi

    …also Anambra deputy Gov

    …state and federal lawmakers not spared

    Going by the Abuja Federal High Court judgment that sent Ebonyi Governor, Dave Umahi packing, Cross River and Zamfara Governors may lose their positions soon.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) in a chat with some constitutional lawyers can authoritatively reveal that Governor Ben Ayade and his Zamfara counterpart, Bello Matawalle who defected from Peoples Democratic Party, PDP may soon pack their loads from their Government Houses.

    According to one of the legal experts from Ebonyi State who spoke to TNG under the condition of anonymity, Ben Ayade and Matawalle and even the Anambra deputy Governor, Nkem Okeke who defected last year commited same offence so their fate is hanging in the balance.

    “As far as I am concerned the judgment has substance and it is a watertight one that cannot be easily jettisoned by the upper courts.

    “Judgments like this bring sanity to the political and judicial systems of Nigeria because once this judgment sails through other courts it becomes a precedent.

    Another legal expert from Anambra State who spoke in a similar vein said” our deputy Governor here in Anambra who defected too is not spared and the miracle working Zamfara lawmakers too have a case to answer.

    He explained that:”If the judgement stands and survives the required appeals process,then it would become a precedent to decide subsequent, similar cases and even federal lawmakers that defected with their Governors too will lose their seats.

    “The crux of the matter is that the votes are PDP votes so as an individual you can’t unilaterally transfer another party’s votes to another, so Matawalle, Ayade and his Assembly members that defected including the federal lawmakers are all goners if this judgment sails through.

    “I think in the case of Ayade, his Federal lawmakers abandoned him except for one Legor who has followed Ayade into the grave like the proverbial fly.

  • Zamfara’s New Deputy Governor Resigns from Senate

    Zamfara’s New Deputy Governor Resigns from Senate

    1. Senator-Muhammad-Hassan-Nasiha. Source: Channels TV

    The newly appointed deputy governor of Zamfara state, Muhammad Nasiha has formally resigned as the Senator representing Zamfara Central Senatorial District.

    Senate President, Ahmed Lawan while reading a letter addressed to the Senate on Tuesday March 1, announced Nasiha’s resignation.

    Recall that Nasiha was appointed by Governor Bello Mattawalle to replace Mahdi Aliyu who was impeached on Wednesday 23rd February 2022 by the state House of Assembly during plenary.

    His impeachment came shortly after the House received the report of the committee set up by the Chief Judge of the state, Kulu Aliyu, to investigate the allegations of breach of the Constitution, gross misconduct, financial fraud and abuse of office levelled against him.

    Meanwhile, Aliyu’s party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is working on plans to challenge the impeachment of Zamfara State Deputy Governor, Mahdi Aliyu, by the state House of Assembly.

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party which described the impeachment by the House as illegal and as such a nullity, said it was “reviewing the actions in Zamfara”.

    “The PDP is reviewing the actions in Zamfara in this violent assault on the Rule of Law and will take appropriate actions necessary.

    “In any case, the PDP and the people of Zamfara will not allow the impunity being foisted on the state to stand and appropriate legal action is being taken in that regard.

    “Fortunately, our party has implicit confidence in the judiciary, which has in the past demonstrated its capacity and ability to defend the Constitution and the Rule of Law,” the statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba said.

  • Court orders interim forfeiture of 10 property of ex-Zamfara gov, Yari

    Court orders interim forfeiture of 10 property of ex-Zamfara gov, Yari

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, gave an interim order forfeiting 10 property of former Governor of Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari, to the Federal Government.

    Justice Obiora Egwuatu gave the order following an ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1342/2021 moved by counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Osuobeni Akponimisingha.

    Justice Egwuatu held that after carefully reading through the ICPC’s motion, exhibits attached and other processes, he was inclined to grant the order.

    He said that the court was empowered to grant the application going by the relevant sections of the law and the money laundering act.
    According to the judge, granting the application will not deny any one fair hearing.

    Egwuatu, who granted the order directed that the order should be published in the Nation and Daily Trust Newspapers.

    The judge said the interim order granted would last for 60 days to enable the ICPC to conclude its investigation, following which the commission could apply for final forfeiture.

    He ruled that any interested party affected by the order should file an application to show cause within 14 days why the property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    He adjourned the matter until April 28 to hear the motion for final forfeiture.

    Earlier, Akponimisingha informed the court that he had an application dated Nov. 2, 2021 and filed same day.

    “It is seeking for an order of interim forfeiture of the property listed on the motion paper,” he said.

    He said the motion was brought pursuant to Section 17(1),(2),(3), and (4) of The advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006; Section 48(1),(2) and (3)(a) and (b) of the ICPC Act, among others.

    He said that he had filed a copy of the judgment of a sister court, presided over by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, delivered on Jan. 26, 2021, on the final forfeiture of some funds in Nigeria and foreign currencies linked to Yari as an exhibit before the court.

    He told the court that on May 27, 2019, two days to the former governor’s handing over power, about N350 million naira was paid from Zamfara government coffers to his personal account and that on May 28, 2019, Yari moved the money from his account to EFAB Properties account.

    The lawyer said on May 29, 2019, EFAB Properties issued a receipt to Yari to indicate that the former governor paid the money to acquire 10 units of four bedroom detached duplexes at EFAB Estate, Mbora and 15 units of three bedrooms at EFAB Estate, Lokogoma in Abuja.

    He said though the owner of EFAB Properties denied that Yari paid for the property, the receipt issued on May 29, 2019, for the part payment of the property was also attached as an exhibit before the court.

    Besides, Akponimisingha said that Yari also awarded a N4.8 billion contract to Syndicate and Commercial Company Ltd, a company also owned by EFAB Properties, on May 16, 2019, for the construction of some roads in Zamfara.

    He said the ex-governor also awarded another N5 billion contract to the same company.

    He said though the former governor filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit with an ex-parte application restraining ICPC from tampering with

    the property, a sister court, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo had discharged the restraining order.

    “We want him (Yari) to come and explain to court how he came about the property,” he said.

    NAN reports that other property affected by the order include Plot 3281, Maitama (AQ96), Abuja; Plot 1308, Maitama (A@S), Abuja and seven bedroom duplex at Nwora Close, Maitama, Abuja.

    It also include four bedroom duplex at Justice Fatai Williams, Asokoro, Abuja; two bedroom compound at Talata Marafa, Zamfara; seven bedroom duplex at Owena Close, Yederam, Maitama, Abuja; seven bedroom at No 14806, Bowie Firm Cort, Maryland, United States of America and FIRM CORT, MARYLAND, USA. 106 bedrooms at Kinkino Crescent, Kaduna.

  • BREAKING: Zamfara State deputy governor impeached

    BREAKING: Zamfara State deputy governor impeached

    Zamfara State lawmakers on Wednesday impeached the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Mahdi Gusau.

    Gusau was impeached during plenary after the House received the report of the committee.

     

    The committee was set up by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Kulu Aliyu, to investigate the allegations against him.

     

    The House had been investigating Aliyu-Gusau for alleged gross misconduct and abuse of office.

     

    His impeachment came months after he parted ways with Governor Matatwalle over his alleged refusal to defect with the governor to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

     

    He is one of the youngest deputy governors to be elected at his age since Fourth Nigerian Republic.

    The impeached deputy governor is a son to General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, who is the former Minister of Defence.

     

  • Zamfara Police rescues five kidnapped victims

    Zamfara Police rescues five kidnapped victims

    Five Kidnapped victims have been rescued by the Zamfara State Police Command and brought them to Dansadau forest, in Maru local government area of Zamfara state.

    The victims, who were abducted from Niger State, were sighted during the police search and rescue operations across various forests in the state.

    Briefing newsmen, the spokesperson of the command, SP Mohammed Shehu, said, all the victims were rescued by the Police Tactical operatives during an extensive search and rescue operations in Dansadau forest under Maru LGA.

    In his words: “The Zamfara State Police Command in its continued search and rescue operations across various forests in the state, have succeeded in the unconditional rescue of five Kidnapped victims who were abducted in Kontagora and Bangi LGAs of Niger State on 6th and 9th February 2022 respectively”.

    According to him, the Joint Police and State Government Medical team were working in synergy to ensure that the rescued victims receive appropriate medical treatment.

    Shehu stressed that the police detectives from Anti – Kidnapping Squad were debriefing the victims before reuniting them with their families.

    He asserted that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ayuba N. Elkana, appreciated the efforts of both the Inspector General of Police IGP Usman Alkali Baba and Governor Bello Matawalle to all the security operatives, especially the Police.

    “The CP also sympathized with the victims and assures the people of the State that Police, in collaboration with other security agencies and state government, will continue to work assiduously to ensure the return of lasting peace and security in Zamfara State,” the spokesperson said.

    Shehu pointed out that the CP further called on members of the public to continue to support the security operatives in the ongoing commitment to rid Zamfara State of all forms of criminal elements in the State.

  • Zamfara Deputy Gov, Mahadi Aliyu faces impeachment

    Zamfara Deputy Gov, Mahadi Aliyu faces impeachment

    The Zamfara House of Assembly has commenced impeachment process against the Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Mahadi Aliyu.

    This is contained in a statement issued in Gusau on Friday by the Director General, Press Affairs and Public Relations to the legislature, Malam Mustafa Jafaru-Kaura.

    According to the statement, the move followed a presentation of impeachment notice by the Deputy Speaker of the house, Mr Nasiru Magarya.

    “As part of the provision of Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that empowers legislatures to commence impeachment move of a governor or his deputy on allegations of constitutional breaches, wrong doing or abuse of office.

    “Therefore, today the Deputy Speaker and Chairman House Committee on Public Accounts presented a formal request notifying the speaker of the House move to impeach Barr. Mahdi Aliyu Muhammad Gusau as the Deputy Governor of the state,” Jafaru-Kaura said.

    “The Deputy Speaker accused the Deputy Governor, Mahdi Aliyu-Gusau, for alleged constitutional breaches, abuse of office and financial misappropriation, which are all impeachable offences, and added that

    Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution empowered them to commence impeachment process against the Deputy Governor without further delay.”

    Responding, the Speaker promised that the assembly would look into the allegations against the deputy governor and act appropriately according to the provisions of the constitution.