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Steer clear of political activities, Ondo govt warns civil servants

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The Ondo State Government has warned civil servants to stay away from political activities ahead of the November 16 governorship election in the state.

The state Head of Service(HoS), Bayo Philip, gave the warning on Wednesday during the commencement of the 2024 promotion exercise for civil servants in the state.

Philip charged them to maintain the highest standard of professionalism and adhere to the established rules and regulations of the service.

“I must also tell you, this is an election year, do your job. You are civil servants and have nothing to do with partisan politics, engage your mind more than you engage your mouth.

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“I want to admonish you, in your respective desks, you must not deliver short of quality and you must not deliver late.

“Whatever you are to do must not be short of quality and must not be done late. Do your job as patriotic civil servants that you are,” he said.

He disclosed that Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa had approved the promotion of 4,200 workers with attendant financial benefits.

Philip, who appreciated the governor for the gesture, urged the benefiting workers to reciprocate by putting their best in service delivery, saying “to whom much is giving, much is expected”.

”I must appreciate Mr Governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who said, ‘head of service, don’t pursue me with any file, everyone who is due for promotion, go ahead and promote them’.

”The position of our governor is that a labourer is worthy of his wage even before his sweat will dry and an officer is worthy of his promotion as and when due,” the HoS said.

Earlier in her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Establishment and Training, Mrs Olufunke Dare-Atuse, enjoined participants not to take the promotion for granted, but rather justify it through improved efficiency in their new positions.

Dare-Atuse lauded the government for prompt approval of the process and without stringent conditions and unnecessary encumbrances.(NAN)

By Segun Giwa

We generated N30.2bn revenue in 3 months- NCS Comptroller

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NCS

The Kano Area command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), says it generated N30.2 billion revenue between January and March 2024.

The Area Comptroller, Mr Dauda Chana, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Kano.

NAN reports that the Kano area command covers Kano State and Jigawa.

Chana said there was a significant increase in the revenue generation profile of the command, when compared to the same period in 2023, when N9.5 billion was realised within the same period.

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The comptroller said already the area command has introduced more sensitive security measures to prevent all forms of smuggling in the area.

“We have already positioned our officers at strategic locations to deal decisively with all those involved in illegal smuggling of materials.

“The area command has deployed officers at border posts in Maigatari, Gumel Local Government Area, Jigawa, to intensify efforts at mitigating activities of smugglers.

“The same applied to officers at the Jeke outpost in Babura Local Government Area of Jigawa.

“We are battle ready to end smuggling through our various strategies to pave the way for arrest and prosecution of those involved in illegal businesses,” he said.

Chana appealed to traditional rulers and stakeholders, especially those at border areas, for their supports and sensitisation of their residents on the negative effects of smuggling on the nation’s economy.

“We have also reached out to youths in the border communities, to assist our field officers with required intelligence that will assist in curbing all forms of smuggling activities.

“The command’s area of coverage is a no go area for smugglers as  officers have been stationed at identified illegal smuggling routes to ensure arrests and prosecution of offenders,’’ Chana said.

The area commander, however, solicited the support of stakeholders in encouraging residents to shun smuggling and embrace export of locally produced goods.( NAN)

By Aminu Garko

Police rescue victims of Eke-Ebe Road kidnap, try abductors

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The Police Command in Enugu State has rescued, unhurt, persons abducted along the Eke/Ebe Road in Udi Local Government Area (LGA) of the state after a fierce gun battle with the abductors.

The Command’s Spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, in a statement on Wednesday in Enugu, said that the gun battle and rescue happened at about 6:15 p.m. on March 31, 2024.

According to Ndukwe, police operatives serving in Ezinze Police Division, complemented by the Neighbourhood Watch Group, rescued the victims allegedly kidnapped on the same date at about 4:55 p.m., along Eke-Ebe Road.

He said that after a fierce gun battle with the abductors, they abandoned the victims and fled.

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“The immediate rescue is due to the team’s swift response upon receipt of information alleging that the victims, who were plying the road in two Mercedes Benz 4Matic Jeeps, were abducted and taken into the forest.

“However, further operations to hunt down the abductors are ongoing,” he said.

He said that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, had also condemned the viral video which allegedly showed that another police team responded to the incident, but without a clear knowledge of the location of the first responding team, and refused to go into the forest to rescue the same victims.

The Command’ Spokesman said: “This is even when the police operatives had only arrived at the scene and were awaiting necessary intelligence-guidance before proceeding into the forest, to avoid any form of collateral damage.

“The commissioner further described the allegations contained in the viral video as an unfortunate act of mischief that is obviously aimed at maligning and distracting the police from frontally tackling and purging Enugu State of die-hard criminals and their activities.

“The commissioner emphasizes that the video was without doubt a gimmick intended to misinform and mislead the public and the command will not waver in its quest to rid Enugu State of unrepentant criminals and their activities despite the mischievous distraction.” (NAN)

By Stanley Nwanosike

Arraignment of Binance, executives by FIRS suffers setback over

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By Taiye Agbaje

The arraignment of Binance Holdings Limited and two of its executives; Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, on Thursday, could not proceed due to inability of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to effect service of the charge on the defendants’.

When the matter was called for the defendants to take their plea before Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court, Abuja, only Gambaryan was represented by a lawyer.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) observes that neither the company nor Anjarwalla, who recently escaped from lawful custody, was represented by counsel.

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However, Gambaryan’s lawyer, Chukwuka Ikwuazo, SAN, told the court that his client had not been served with the charge, hence, his arraignment cannot proceed.

FIRS lawyer, Moses Ideho, though acknowledged that the agency had not served Gambaryan’s with the charge, he said all efforts to do so proved abortive because the defendant could not be reached at the EFCC’s detention.

Ideho then prayed the court to serve Gambaryan in the open court and the judge directed that the charge be served on him in the dock.

The lawyer, therefore, sought a stand-down of the matter or an adjournment to enable Gambaryan consult with his lawyer.

Ikwuazo did not object to an oral application for adjournment and the matter was adjourned until April 19 for him to take his plea.

NAN had, on March 28, also reported that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) will, on April 4, arraigned Binance Holdings Limited, Gambaryan and fleeing Anjarwalla, on allegations bordering on tax evasion.

In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/115/2024, the three defendants will equally be arraigned before Justice Nwite on four counts.

NAN reports that the defendants are being charge on a four-count charge bordering on alleged tax evasion.

In the charge dated and filed March 22 by the FIRS, the defendants were alleged to have committed the offence on or about Feb. 1.

Count one alleged that while involved in carrying and offering services to subscribers on their platform, known as Binance, failed to register with the FIRS, for the purpose of paying all relevant taxes administered by the service.

The offences are said to be punishable under Sections 8 and 29 of the VAT Act of 1993 (as Amended), Section 40 of the FIRS Establishment Act, 2007 (as amended) and under provisions of Section 94 of the Companies Income Tax Act (as amended) respectively.(NAN)

Yusuf launches distribution of 4th Ramadan palliatives, warns

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Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State has inaugurated the fourth distribution of Ramadan palliatives in 44 local government areas of the state, warning against diversion of the foodstuff.

Yusuf launched the exercise for the needy and the vulnerable on Wednesday at the Tiamin Rice Mill in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area of the state.

He warned that anyone of those in charge of distribution of the palliatives found diverting them, would be dealt with according to the law.

“I swear to God that anyone found diverting the palliatives will be dealt with decisively and according to the law. This government will not allow anyone to sabotage this exercise,” he said.

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The governor said the palliatives were made of 25 kilogramme bags of rice meant to ease the hardships being faced by the intended beneficiaries, during the current Ramadan fasting.

He said 224,440 bags of the commodity would be distributed to the three senatorial districts in the state for onward sharing to the target beneficiaries.

He apologised to the people of the state for their patience as the rice was being processed and bagged for distribution.

Yusuf said that his administration would continue to intervene “until hunger is eradicated among our people”.

He thanked the Aliko Dangote Foundation, other groups and individuals for distributing their own palliatives to the needy during the holy month, and prayed Allah to reward them abundantly.

The governor also thanked the people for their support and prayers, especially during the 2023 governorship election and the ensuing legal battles “which to the glory of God, we won emphatically”.

Earlier, Chairman of the state Palliatives Distribution and Compliance Committee, Dr Abdullahi Bichi, said the exercise was the fourth in the series of distribution of palliatives to the people.

Bichi, also the Secretary to the State Government, commended Yusuf for the gesture, which he said would immensely alleviate their hardships. (NAN) 

By Aminu Garko

Telecoms union suspends planned strike

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The Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN) has suspended its planned strike which was to begin on Thursday.

In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Okonu Abdullahi on Wednesday, the union said the suspension was as a result of agreements reached with the subcontractors it had issues with.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the union had on April 2, announced plans to embark on an indefinite strike over alleged unresolved issues with subcontractors linked with Huawei Technologies Nigeria Ltd.

The sub-contractors included Reime Group, Allstream Energy Solutions Ltd., Uppercrest Ltd., Tyllium Nigeria Ltd. and Specific Tools and Techniques Ltd.

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The union said: “PTECSSAN threatened an industrial action effective April 4, 2024 against the undersigned subcontractors to address concerns of her members.

“This led to a meeting at the union’s secretariat and the following agreements were reached including companies recognising the fundamental rights of the employees to freely associate with the union.

“That the companies shall put in place health facilities in accordance with the National Health Insurance Scheme covering the employees, their spouses and four of their dependents among others.”

NAN reports that the union’s demands include immediate recognition of employees’ fundamental rights to association, acknowledgment of the union as the negotiating body for workers’ welfare, and proper remittance of membership dues.

Furthermore, PTECSSAN called for the regularisation of employment for union members involved in Huawei projects, compliance with pension and health insurance regulations, and initiating negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement.

Furthermore, the union alleged that efforts by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to address the concerns through conciliatory meetings, the companies have failed to engage constructively, leaving no option but to resort to industrial action (NAN)

Bu Esenvosa Izah

NDLEA pledges increased involvement in sports to check drug

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The Kwara Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has promised  increased involvement  in sports events as part of efforts to wage war against drug abuse and trafficking.

NDLEA’s Kwara Commander, Bashir Ibrahim, made the promise on Wednesday in Ilorin when members of the state chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) paid him a courtesy visit.

The commander said the decision had become necessary because of recent challenges faced in policing drug traffickers in the state.

Speaking on the danger it poses to sports, the  commander noted that youths were particularly vulnerable to drug abuse.

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”NDLEA will now be more visible in sports events. We want to curb the trending menace of drug abuse by athletes.

”Youths tend to glamourise drug use. Matters are not helped when adults, handlers of athletes tend to sell them the drugs.

”We recently secured conviction of a coach who was selling drugs to young athletes under his care,” he said.

According to the NDLEA commander, the use and supply of synthetic cannabis, a modified form of Indian hemp, is now prevalent among drug abusers and athletes.

He added that more women appear to be involved in the supply chain of the banned substances, including synthetic cannabis, “loud” and “Colorado”.

Ibrahim said based on United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) data, Kwara had a drug trafficking prevalence of 13 percent.

He noted that it was the highest in the whole of the country’s North-Central region.

“The data from the UNODC is however quite obsolete given that it was produced in 2018 and statistical data are reviewed at least every five years).

”This is what makes the job of drug law enforcement challenging,” the NDLEA commander said.

The Kwara SWAN Chairman, Ayodeji Ismail, while speaking said sports writers were aware of the dangers the menace had continued to pose to sports and youth development.

He said Kwara SWAN was seeking collaborations in capacity building in the area of drugs and sports to further enhance the reportorial skills of its members.

Ismail also advised that NDLEA should always make its presence felt at sports events.

”Your presence will help keep drug traffickers away from our athletes,” he said.( NAN)

By Toba Ajayi

NAF to mark 60th anniversary in May

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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it will mark its 60 years of steadfast service in the defence of Nigeria’s territorial integrity with series of activities including a research and development competition and medical outreaches.

According to the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, AVM Edward Gabkwet, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, the anniversary celebration would hold from May 14 to May 25.

Gabkwet said the event would include an international conference and exhibition, as well as the third edition of the African Air Forces Forum on May 23 and May 24 in Abuja.

Chiefs of Air Staff from other countries, prominent figures in the defence, aviation and aerospace industries, as well as other stakeholders are expected to grace the occasion, he added.

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Gabkwet said that the event, with the theme, ‘Nigerian Air Force at 60: Leveraging Strategic Partnerships in Aerospace Innovations for Regional Security,’ would be used to foster dialogue and cooperation towards advancing aviation capabilities across the continent.

He added that the anniversary celebration would culminate with a Ceremonial Parade and Aerial Display at the NAF Base, Kaduna on May 25.

The NAF spokesman said there would be a special session in honour of NAF’s fallen heroes and veterans, in addition to combat sports and the flying-out of some senior officers who retired recently. (NAN) 

Again fire guts Gamboru Market in Borno

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 Again fire has gutted the Gamboru market around the Custom area in Maiduguri, the Borno  capital.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on March 18,2023 and Nov. 13,2023  fire gutted the market, which  is the biggest perishable goods market in Maiduguri.

Confirming the incident, the Borno Commissioner for Information and Internal Security , Alhaji Usman Tar, said the fire broke out at the Layin Yan Katako and outer sections of the market.

Tar in a statement said the incident which occurred on Wednesday at about 10pm, was effectively extinguished by men of the fire service.

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“The Borno State Fire Service immediately dispatched a team of firefighters to site and the fire was effectively extinguished.

“No human casualty reported. The security of the market was not at risk of trespass or vandalisation,”he said.

According to him, the  fire service and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) are conducting on-the-spot assessment of the incident to determine the root causes and steps to avoid future occurrence.

The commissioner said that the state government  would take all steps to overcome fire disasters in the state. 

He advised members of the public to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of the market is not breached.

“On behalf of the Borno State Government, we commiserate with all who are affected by this incident.

“We also thank the first responders for their speed of action which prevented the fire from spreading across the market space,”he said.(NAN)

By: Hamza Suleiman 

Four SDP witnesses appear in tribunal, give conflicting evidence

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The witnesses’ gave their accounts before the three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu.

The SDP and its governorship candidate, Murtala Ajaka, are challenging the victory of Gov. Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Nov. 11, 2023 election in the state.

During the sitting on Wednesday, there were different accounts by the witnesses, especially during cross-examination, which, in most cases, could not be explained by the witnesses themselves.

A witness, Danlamin Yakubu, from Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi, said that he was an agent of the SDP during the election.

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Yakubu, who said he was a member of the SDP, a voter and the party’s agent during the poll, however, told the tribunal under cross-examination that he had lost everything that could prove that he was an agent.

When asked if he stated in his deposition before the tribunal that he was an agent in the election, he said that he forgot to do so.

He also alleged that his lawyer wrote his deposition for him.

When his attention was brought to paragraph 4 of his deposition that he did not indicate the total number of accredited voters, the witness said it was a typographical error.

But when the respondents’ counsel asked him to state the number he meant to write if it was a mistake, he said: “I don’t know the number.”

Although in his deposition, he indicated that the number of registered voters in his polling unit was 771, when he was asked to confirm the number, he gave a conflicting response.

“I did not indicate that I voted in my deposition,” he said.

Another witness, Abdulkareem Ogeja, from the same LGA, said though he was a member of the SDP, he did not state in his deposition his membership of the party.

He, however, said that he was not the party’s agent during the election and that the SDP had an agent at his polling unit.

When the respondent’s counsel asked if he was surprised that the SDP agent did not complain and he was the only one complaining, Ogeja said, “I’m not surprised.”

When he was asked further if he wrote the deposition by himself, he said his lawyer did it after he explained what happened to him.

When he was told to mention the name of his lawyer, the witness said: “His name is my lawyer.”

When he was asked which language he used to communicate with his lawyer, Ogeja said “in vernacular “.

The witness, who told the panel that he did not know the number of registered voters in his polling unit, also said he did not receive any paper indicating the total number on the day of election.

Contrary to Ogeja’s evidence, he was said to have quoted the figures in his deposition.

Emmanuel Ohiare, from Okehi LGA, and Abdullahi Musa from Ajaokuta LGA, equally testified at the sitting.

The tribunal adjourned the sitting until April 4 for continuation of hearing.

While the lead counsel for SDP and Ajaka was Pius Akubo, SAN; Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, represented the Independent National Electoral Commission; Mr A.M. Aliu, SAN, appeared for Gov. Ododo and E.C. Ukala, SAN, represented the APC at the hearing.(NAN)

By Taiye Agbaje

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