KICNEWS

Category: Politics

  • Police Arrest Man Who Attempted Suicide Over Insecurity, Others In Abuja

    Police Arrest Man Who Attempted Suicide Over Insecurity, Others In Abuja

    The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arrested Shuaibu Alhaji Yushau for attempted suicide after climbing the Aso Radio broadcast mast in Abuja, threatening to kill himself if certain demands were not met by the federal government.

     

    Earlier on Monday morning, Yushau had claimed the very high mast with a placard, captioned “It Is Long Enough”.

     

    His placard also stated that “it is long enough for citizens to continue suffering in hunger”, “Long enough for government to standby while Boko Haram and bandits continue to kill people on a daily basis.”

     

    FCT police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, while confirming the arrest, said: “following a distress call from concerned citizens about a young man who climbed a very high mast with a placard at ASO Radio in Katampe at about 09:10am, the operatives of the FCT Police Command swiftly mobilized to the location.

     

    With much professional persuasions from the police operatives, the man later identified as Shuaibu Alhaji Yushau was prevented from taking his own life.

     

    “He claimed to have been observing the mast for about a week before deciding to climb it. Suspect is presently in police custody and in a stable condition.

     

  • EFCC Appeals Ruling Acquitting Fayose’s Associate

    EFCC Appeals Ruling Acquitting Fayose’s Associate

     

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a notice of appeal against the ruling of Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which acquitted Abiodun Agbele, an associate of the former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, and three others in the ₦1.2bn money laundering charge brought against them by the commission.

     

    Agbele and three (3) companies linked to him together with the former governor, namely Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, De Privateer Limited, and Spotless Investment Limited were listed as the first to fourth respondents in the appeal

     

    The ₦1.2bn is said to be part of the sum of ₦4.7 billion belonging to the Federal Government and allegedly transferred from an account associated with the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in the Central Bank of Nigeria.

     

    Justice Dimgba had on the 21 June, 2024, upheld the no-case submission of Agbele and ruled that he had no case to answer.

    In the notice of appeal, the EFCC, through its prosecuting counsel, Wahab Shittu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, listed 17 grounds of appeal and sought two reliefs from the Court of Appeal.

  • Federal Gov’t Gives Contractors 3-month Deadline To Complete Projects

    Federal Gov’t Gives Contractors 3-month Deadline To Complete Projects

    The Federal Government has issued contractors handling the 260 emergency projects three months deadline to deliver or face termination.

     

    Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi issued the deadline during a meeting with contractors on Monday in Abuja.

     

    Umahi explained that the emergency road projects were appropriated in the 2023 Supplementary Budget with the intention to bring immediate intervention on the completely failed parts of critical federal roads nationwide.

     

    The minister, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Barr Orji Uchenna Orji, listed about 37 contractors who have achieved little or no milestone in the project delivery since the contracts were awarded and warned them to mobilise effectively to the sites latest on Wednesday July 10 or face contract termination.

     

    He said, “If after the deadline for mobilisation to the site, any contractor fails to comply, the job shall be terminated by effluxion of time as the contract is for a time limit of three months.

     

    “Any contractor whose job has stayed for more than three months without completion after the issuance of award letter, must seek and obtain approval for extension of time from the Federal Ministry of Works”.

     

    The statement said most of the defaulting contractors, were handling emergency road projects in Yobe, Jigawa, Zamfara, Benue, Kogi, Abia, Anambra, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and River States.

     

     

     

    He warned that the projects awarded to them must be delivered in three months’ time as no excuse of security challenges or lack of mobilisation funds would justify the sufferings they are subjecting road users or shield them from being blacklisted as constituting a clog in the wheel of progress in the efforts of the ‘Renewed Hope’ administration in revolutionising road infrastructure for Nigeria’s economic prosperity.

  • Court Orders Ex-Minister, Umar-Farouk, To Account For N729bn

    Court Orders Ex-Minister, Umar-Farouk, To Account For N729bn

    Court Orders Ex-Minister, Umar-Farouk, To Account For N729bn

     

    Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered a former minister of humanitarian affairs, disasters management and social development, Sadia Umar-Farouk, to make public the details of how N729 billion was paid to 24.3 million poor Nigerians for six months.

     

    Justice Dipeolu gave the order while delivering judgement in a Freedom of Information suit by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) seeking an order to compel the former minister to provide the list and details of the beneficiaries who received the payments, the number of states covered and the payments per state.

     

    The judge issued an order of mandamus directing and compelling the minister to provide SERAP with details of how the beneficiaries have been selected and the mechanisms for the payments to the beneficiaries.

     

    The court further ordered Umar-Farouk to explain the rationale for paying N5,000 to 24.3 million poor Nigerians, which translates to five percent of Nigeria’s budget of N13.6 trillion for 2021.

     

    In the verdict, Justice Dipeolu, who held that the former minister did not give any reason for the refusal to disclose the details sought by SERAP, also dismissed the objections raised by the minister’s counsel and upheld the plaintiff’s arguments.

     

    The judge further held that where a statute clearly provides for a particular act to be done or performed in a particular way, failure to perform the act as provided will not only be interpreted as delinquent conduct but will be interpreted as not complying with the statutory provision.

     

  • Ondo 2024: NNPP petitions INEC over candidates’ impersonation

    Ondo 2024: NNPP petitions INEC over candidates’ impersonation

    Ondo 2024: NNPP petitions INEC over candidates’ impersonation

     

    The New Nigeria People’s Party has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission over the alleged impersonation of the governorship candidate of the party, Mr Gbenga Edema, and his running mate, Rotimi Adeyemi, ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State.

     

    The electoral commission scheduled November 16, 2024, for the governorship poll and the NNPP, is among the 17 political parties that would be contesting the election for the number one seat in the state.

     

    In a letter addressed to the National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made available on Wednesday, the national secretariat of the NNPP, called for investigation and prompt legal action against the alleged impersonators.

     

    In the letter signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary of the party, Mr Ajuji Ahmed and Dipo Olayoku, respectively, the party described the development as a clear breach of the 2022 electoral act, the party.

     

    According to the letter, the party said the INEC was duly notified of the emergence of Edema and Adeyemi as its standard-bearers during the substituted governorship primary held on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at Solton Hotel, Ijapo Estate, Akure, Ondo State capital, following the withdrawal of Oluwatosin Ayeni and Abigail Omoyugbo for personal reasons.

     

    It also maintained that the candidature of Edema and Adeyemi was legally recognised as their names and credentials were published by INEC as the party’s candidates.

     

    The party said in the letter, “We wish to bring to the attention of your good office a case of impersonation of the NNPP governorship and deputy governorship candidates in the forthcoming off-cycle on November 16, 2024. You would recall, sir, that we informed your good office of our Ondo State Governorship Primary fixed for Friday, April 26, 2024, via a letter NNPP/HQRTS/INEC/024/23 dated March 7, 2024.

     

    “At the said primary, monitored by officials of the INEC, Mr. Ayeni Oluwatosin Israel emerged as the NNPP governorship candidate, and he later picked Mrs. Omoyugbo Abike Abigail as his running mate, and the two names were published by INEC.

     

    “However, due to what they called personal reasons, the two of them withdrew their candidature, which prompted the NNPP to schedule a fresh primary to elect a replacement on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at Solton Hotel, Ijapo Estate, Akure, Ondo State via our letter NNPP/HQRTS/INEC/024/54. The fresh primary was monitored by INEC officials, where Barr. Gbenga Omogbemi Edema emerged as the new governorship candidate of the NNPP, and he later picked Barr. Rotimi Emmanuel Adeyemi as his running mate.

     

     

     

  • Ebonyi LP endorses Peter Obi as national party leader

    Ebonyi LP endorses Peter Obi as national party leader

    Ebonyi LP endorses Peter Obi as national party leader

     

    The Ebonyi State chapter of the Labour Party has adopted its presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, as the party’s national leader.

     

    The party stakeholders also adopted Fidelis Nwankwo as the leader of the party in the state.

     

    The endorsement was part of the six-point communique issued at the end of an expanded stakeholders briefing held in Abakaliki on Sunday.

     

    The communique was signed by the leaders of the Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone and Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone, Mr Linus Okorie, and Emmanuel Ezeh, respectively.

     

    The communique was also endorsed by Mr Emmanuel Nwobo, Ebonyi Central Senatorial Zone, on behalf of members of the National Transition Committee and conveners of the expanded stakeholders briefing.

     

    The meeting also solicited the support of its members ahead of the party’s planned National Convention and state congress to elect new leaders of the party.

     

    The communique reads: members of the NTC of the party, Chief Fidelis Nwankwo, Okorie and Ezeh, convened the expanded stakeholders briefing with a view to informing members of the party’s, state chapter, about future political activities of the emerging Labour Party, including mobilisation of new members and registration.

  • Sit-at-home: NSCDC beefs up security in Anambra

    Sit-at-home: NSCDC beefs up security in Anambra

     

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Anambra State command, said it has deployed personnel across the state to protect critical national and state assets as part of efforts to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

     

    The Anambra State Commandant of NSCDC, Maku Olatunde, stated this in Awka, on Monday while monitoring the deployment of personnel for its renewed launch operations to encourage economic and commercial activities and combat the effect of Monday’s sit-at-home.

     

    Olatunde described it as a proactive move focusing on banks, financial institutions, parks, schools, government offices and potentially vulnerable points to maintain public trust and respond to security breaches.

     

    He said, “The exercise aims to boost economic activities, prevent miscreants, criminals, vagrants, vandals, hooligans, unruly individuals and economic saboteurs from attacking lawful residents of the state, particularly on Mondays.

     

    We emphasised the need for all personnel participating in the exercise to conduct themselves professionally and courteously in enforcing civil order while following established rules of engagement and standing operational procedures.

     

    “This deployment is to ensure the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure, in Anambra State, including banks, markets, parks, recreational centres, schools, government offices and other strategic locations. You must be vigilant in the discharge of your duties, be professional, courteous and responsive to the needs of the public.”

  • Ogun partners FG to reconstruct 14 roads

    Ogun partners FG to reconstruct 14 roads

    Ogun partners FG to reconstruct 14 roads

    The Ogun State Government says it is partnering with the private sector and the Federal Government on the rehabilitation of many roads in the state in its drive to bring succour to residents.

     

    The state government said no fewer than 120 roads across the 20 local government areas of the state were being considered for rehabilitation.

     

    It added that it was partnering with the Federal Government to reconstruct 14 roads in the state in line with the vision of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

     

    It added that it was partnering with the Federal Government to reconstruct 14 roads in the state in line with the vision of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

     

    The Head of Service, Kehinde Onasanya, in a statement made available to The PUNCH through his media office on Sunday, disclosed these at a book launch event held in Lagos

     

    There has been agitation from residents of the state on the dilapidated state of several roads across the state with many residents taking to the popular microblogging app, X.com, to express their dissatisfaction.

     

    According to Onasanya, the state government is harnessing the potential of Public-Private Partnership to address the challenge of infrastructure and boost the economic growth of the state.

     

    “The state is also collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Works for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of an additional 14 roads in line with the resolve to bring succour to the people,” Onasanya said.

     

     

  • Ogun emerges worst among Southwest states with bad roads

    Ogun emerges worst among Southwest states with bad roads

     

    Ondo, Oyo, Osun follow the suit

    …Prices of foodstuffs, service, and transport up by 100%

    …Ogun govt has constructed at least 2 roads each in 20 LGs – Abiodun

     

    Trending news on social media such as Twitter now X, Facebook, and TikTok, among other social media platforms, indicate that Ogun State is regarded by Public Opinion as the worst among the Southwest States in terms of the presence of bad and less motorable roads.

     

    Some citizens and residents of the State who posted various messages on social media that the Sunrise Daily reported on Channels Television on Wednesday mentioned Alagbole, Akure, Ogijo, Sango-Ota, Ifo, Ewekoro, among others as different portions of bad roads which dotted all the three Senatorial Districts of the State.

     

    Statements like “#DapofixOgunroads: Nigerians call on Dapo Abiodun to suspend ‘steeze lifestyle’, focus on government”, and “This is Sango-Ota in Ogun State. Mr Governor has done nothing to fix the floods in that area”, among others, came to the fore on Wednesday on both social media and during Sunrise Daily aired on Channels Television.

     

    According to some people, this is putting more hardship on the residents, especially those living around the border towns such as Ojudu, Alagbole, Akure, Sango-Ota, Ogijo, and Magboro.

    Adewunmi Adenekan, a resident of Alagbole, told BusinessDay that he had to abandon his car at home and travel to Lagos daily to work. “Having seen the impassable condition of our roads in Alagbole, Akute and Ojodu, I usually go to Lagos on public transport daily”, Adenekan said.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Ogun Governor, Abiodun To Buy N2.4billion Toyota SUVs For Lawmakers, Earmarks N19billion For ‘Contingencies’ In His Office

    EXCLUSIVE: Ogun Governor, Abiodun To Buy N2.4billion Toyota SUVs For Lawmakers, Earmarks N19billion For ‘Contingencies’ In His Office

    A total of N2.4billon is expected to be spent by the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun for the purchase of 25 Toyota sports utility vehicles for members of the state House of Assembly despite the nationwide economic downturn, a copy of the state’s 2024 approved budget seen by SaharaReporters has revealed.

    Abiodun had on December 30, 2023, assented to the 2024 Appropriation Bill of N703 billion.

    Christened “Budget of Sustained Growth and Development”, the governor claimed the figure was made up of N415.66 billion capital expenditure and N287.37 billion recurrent expenditure.

    In the breakdown of the budget, N2,177,700,000.00 was approved for the procurement of “25 NO OF TOYOTA PRADO VX, AUTO, LEATHER SEAT, HIGH GRADE” under the state House of Assembly.

    Also N161,772,000.00 was earmarked for the for procurement of one Toyota LC3003.5L, twin turbo for the House speaker.

    The budget also revealed that N143,106,000.00 was meant for the purchase of one Toyota LC300GX, 4.0L under the state assembly.

    Under the “Office of the Governor”, a total amount of N18,971,887,528.84 was earmarked for provision of contingencies to address unforeseen circumstances.

    Governor Abiodun has for days been trending on X over bad roads in some communities in the state.

    A user, @HauwaAllahbura had accused him of promising to fix major roads in the state when he was soliciting votes but he had failed to fulfill his promise.

    She had written in pidgin English, “Good morning Nigerians. In 2020, when Dapo Abiodun was looking for votes, he said to us on X that he was fixing a few roads listed in his tweets. Here is the condition of some of the roads in his tweet. He fix am abi him no fix am? I will allow you to judge.”