An Upper Shari’a Court in Kano on Thursday, fixed August 1 to deliver judgment in a suit filed against Shafi’u Abubakar, 38, charged with setting a mosque on fire and killing 23 people.
Abubakar, who lives in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State, is charged with s culpable homicide, attempted murder, causing grievous hurt and mischief by fire.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the offences contravened the provisions of sections 140, 148, 167 and 370 of Kano State Shari’a Penal Code Law 2000.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Director Public Prosection, DPP, Kano State Ministry of Justice, Mr Salisu Tahir, informed the court that he filed a new charge against the defendant.
He urged the new charge to be read to the defendant.
Tahir alleged that on May 15, at about 5:15 am, the defendant poured petrol and set fire on a mosque in Gadan Larabar Abasawa village of Gezawa LGA of Kano State and locked the doors, trapping 23 worshippers in a burning fire during subhi (dawn) prayer.
He said that 23 people died while receiving medical attention at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital Kano.
The prosecution also alleged that on the same date at about 5:15 am, the defendant attempted to kill Shu’aibu Ibrahim and Ibrahim Sani.
The defendant pleaded guilty to all the charges.
The defence counsel, Hasiya Muhammad-Imam, urged the court to temper Justice with mercy since the defendant did not stress the court because he admitted to the crime.
The presiding judge, Malam Halhalatu Zakariyya, asked the defendant if he was in his right senses when he took the guilty plea.
He adjourned the matter until August 1 and August 2, for judgment in the second and third charge and continuation of hearing.
Court to deliver judgment in trial of Kano mosque arsonist August 1
Court to deliver judgment in trial of Kano mosque arsonist August 1
ICPC arraigns 3 staff of Ekiti teaching hospital for forgery
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned three staff members of Ekiti State Teaching Hospital over allegations of forgery and deceits.
The three-staff members, Mr. Fatuki Adebayo Paul, Mr. Babalola Idris Adebayo and Mr. Afolayan David Ayodele, were arraigned before Justice Lekan Ogunmoye of the Ekiti State High Court on Wednesday.
ICPC, in a charge number: HAD/02ICPC/2024 arraigned the trio on a six-counts charge bordering on forgery of a document contrary to and punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C28 LFN 2004, and knowingly and corruptly giving a document with false information with intent to deceive the principal, contrary and punishable under Section 17(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
All of the three defendants, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
Counsel for the defendants, Mr. Rotimi Adabembe and Mr. Busayo Sule separately prayed to the court to grant their clients bail on liberal terms, having entered the not guilty plea.
Counsel to the ICPC, Mr. Kehinde Adetoye did not oppose the bail applications filed.
Justice Ogunmoye thereafter granted the defendants to bail in sum of two million naira and two sureties in like sum, one of whom must hold a directorial position within the Ekiti State Government and evidence of their residence within the jurisdiction must be confirmed.
The case was further adjourned to October 15, 2024, for hearing.
ICPC arraigns 3 staff of Ekiti teaching hospital for forgery
Tinubu promises to assist states, private sector in paying N70,000 minimum wage
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said the Federal Government will find ways to assist states and private sector organizations to pay the newly approved N70,000 national minimum wage.
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
TVN reports that Tinubu announced a N70,000 minimum wage after a meeting with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress at the Presidential Villa on Thursday.
Tinubu also pledged to review the country’s minimum wage every three years up from five years.
According to the statement, the President said he would use his discretionary power to resolve the non-payment of four months’ salaries of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU.
“President Bola Tinubu has approved N70,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers with a promise to review the national minimum wage law every three years.
“President Tinubu also promised to find ways to assist the private sector and the sub-nationals to pay the minimum wage.
“The Labour leaders applauded President Tinubu for the fatherly gesture as the President also promised to use his discretionary powers meet the demands of university unions demanding unpaid 4 months salaries,” the statement said.
Recall that there has been an impasse between the Federal Government and workers over a new minimum wage.
The Federal Government had earlier insisted on a N62,000 minimum wage while organized labor proposed N250,000.
Tinubu promises to assist states, private sector in paying N70,000 minimum wage
Hardship: Flood markets with food to ease economic woes – Esther Ajayi charges Tinubu
As rising inflation continues to drive hunger across the country, the Founder of Love of Christ Generation Church, Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi, has charged President Bola Tinubu to flood the markets with foodstuffs.
Ajayi made the call at a press conference to herald the programme, Comforting the Comforter, scheduled to hold on the 20th July, 2024.
While stating that Nigerians are expecting much from Tinubu’s administration, she urged the President to flood the market with ‘Tinubu rice, Tinubu fish and Tinubu yam’ among other foodstuffs.
“I am aware that there are people sabotaging the good intention of the government but let the administration flood the market with food. Let there be Tinubu rice, Tinubu fish, Tinubu yam etc.
“Tinubu is a courageous leader. He is going to turn our country around. If we can just be a little patient, I can see us going to a greater height soon.
“We have come to Abuja now, you will see. It is a turn around for the best.”
Ajayi further enjoined Nigerians to always bless the country with their utterances and also pray for its leaders for a prosperous and developed nation as the pain being suffered is temporary.
Hardship: Flood markets with food to ease economic woes – Esther Ajayi charges Tinubu
Shut down all substandard universities – Afe Babalola tells Nigerian Govt
Eminent lawyer and elder statesman, Afe Babalola, SAN, says unless the Federal Government takes decisive steps towards closing down all mushroom institutions and study centres across the country, the nation’s educational system will continue to witness a decline.
Babalola stated this in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday while being conferred with the Fellow of King’s College, London, for his transformative contributions to education and the society.
The founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti ABUAD, said the National Universities Commission (NUC) should particularly focus its searchlight on all universities and centres that are not operating according to approved standards and requirements.
He described such institutions as ‘major weapons’, fashioned against quality and functional education in Nigeria and the world at large.
“The biggest menace facing quality education today, especially in Nigeria and across Africa, is the proliferation of mushroom satellite institutions and campuses, including study centers that have long deviated from their original conceptualization and intent.
“What we expect is for the National University Commission (NUC) to close down mushroom universities.
“There are many of such institutions that had been pronounced illegal by authorities but which are still operating, allegedly, and which commenced operations even without the permission of NUC,” he said.
Babalola continued, saying, “I recall that the NUC once published their names. But why don’t they arrest owners of such illegal universities, why don’t they close them down?
“Why can’t they make the staffs of such universities, face punishment and put them before the court of law? Yet they are even building new ones everyday.”
Earlier, the Governor of Ekiti, Biodun Oyebanji, hailed Babalola’s achievements in the areas of medicine, law, invention and sciences.
Oyebanji, represented by the newly appointed State’s Head of Service, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, said Babalola’s footprints across all sectors had made him the father of the state, stressing that his uncommon humanity and impact had also ranked him higher.
On her part, the Vice President, International Engagement and Service of King’s College, London, Prof. Funmi Olonisakin said the fellowship award conferred on Babalola was in recognition of the transformative contributions of the legal luminary to the society.
Shut down all substandard universities – Afe Babalola tells Nigerian Govt
Why we accepted N70,000 minimum wage- NLC
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero on Thursday gave reasons why the Organized Labour accepted the proposal of N70,000 minimum wage from the President, Bola Tinubu.
Ajaero, who spoke to State House reporters after the meeting with the President, said the unions agreed to the offer because of other incentives attached.
He said another reason for accepting the offer is because “ the President promised a review every three years as against what obtained in the past.”
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday approved the sum of N70,000 as national minimum wage, his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga said.
Tinubu was said to have announced the new wage during a meeting with the leadership of the Organized Labour in Abuja.
Thursday’s meeting came a week after the first meeting the President had with the Labour leaders last week.
The new minimum wage when approved by the National Assembly will replace the N30,000 minimum wage which expired on April 18, 2024
Onanuga who posted via his official X handle, @aonanuga at exactly 03:31 pm said, “Breaking: President Bola Tinubu has approved N70,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers with promise to review the national minimum wage law every three years.
“President Tinubu also promised to find ways to assist the private sector and the sub-nationals to pay the minimum wage.
“President Tinubu announced the decisions at the meeting held with leaders of TUC and NLC on Thursday in Abuja, the second time the parties met in 7 days.
“The Labour leaders applauded President Tinubu for the fatherly gesture as the President also promised to use his discretionary powers meet the demands of university unions demanding unpaid 4 months salaries.”
Firstborn of theatre icon Hubert Ogunde, George, is dead
George Ogunde, the first child of the late theatre icon Hubert Ogunde, has passed away.
His sister, Dayo Ogunde, shared the sad news in a Facebook post on Thursday.
“It’s hard to say goodbye Brother mi, our first child in the Ogunde clan. But we take solace in the fact that you are in a better place.
“You were such a wonderful and friendly soul. May your soul continue to rest in the bosom of your maker.
“Goodnight George Ogunde.
“Omo Gbegande Esiwu Ijoku,” Dayo Ogunde wrote.
George Ogunde, like his late iconic father, was also a theatre practitioner and had his own troupe.
Last year, the deceased was captured in an emotionally overwhelmed state as he marked his birthday.
His younger brother, Owobo Ogunde, acted in the role of Bashorun in Kunle Afolayan’s Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre.
One of Hubert Ogunde’s daughters, Afolabi Ogunde-Kikiowo, died in September 2019.
The legend, Hubert Ogunde, was a prominent Nigerian actor, playwright, theatre manager, and musician. He was born in 1916 and passed away in 1990.
Ogunde is often regarded as the father of Nigerian theatre and played a crucial role in the development of contemporary theatre in Nigeria.
In a 2022 interview, one of the late Pa Ogunde’s sons, Mr Oluwemimo Ogunde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Attorney General of Ogun State, went down memory lane to discuss the life and times of his dad.
According Online reports that the family has not yet released an official statement regarding the cause of death, location, burial arrangements, and other details.
Not Nigeria’s responsibility to provide crude oil for Dangote Refinery – Adigun
An oil and gas expert, Ademola Adigun, has waded into the controversy over the inability of the Dangote Refinery to access crude oil in Nigeria for its production.
According to Adigun, it was not Nigeria’s responsibility to provide crude oil for the Dangote Refinery.
TVN reports that Dangote Industries Limited had consistently accused International Oil Companies of frustrating crude oil supply obligations to its 650,000 barrels per day refinery.
The Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, re-echoed the claims in a statement on Wednesday, lamenting that the IOCs were still selling crude at $2 to $4 per barrel, above the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission’s official price.
He also alleged that IOCs preferred selling crude produced in Nigeria to Asian countries.
However, speaking on the developments while appearing on Channels Television’s morning programme, Sunrise Daily, Adigun declared that it was not the responsibility of Nigeria to provide crude oil for Dangote.
Adigun, the former team leader, Facility for Oil Sector Transformation, who is also an expert on Development, Partnership, Policy, Advocacy and Reform, emphasized that like all other business concerns, it was the primary duty of the refinery to secure its supply chain long before going into business.
He said, “I have heard that many times and I have asked people, is it our job to provide crude for Dangote Refinery that is owned by Dangote?
“If you were a land developer and you want to develop a land, would it be my job to provide you land?
“The first thing you do, the first thing any businessman does is take care of supply chain and security. It is not Nigeria’s job to provide him crude.
“I mean I see a lot of sentiments around the whole thing. A businessman must guarantee his supply chain before he goes into the business.”
On the perennial fuel scarcity, the oil and gas expert said it was caused by the recurrent disruption in the product’s supply chain, just as he described the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL), as a victim of government policy.
“I said it before elsewhere, NNPCL is a victim of policy…you know the law says NNPCL must be the importer of last resort to guarantee price and supply.
“NNPCL has no option. So NNPCL has the burden of ensuring that there is supply. Whether it is $10 or $25 they buy it and must sell at what the government’s policy. That’s why we have these complications,” he stated.
While explaining the country’s commitment to ensuring that local refineries get adequate supply of crude, Adigun disclosed that there is a policy within the framework of the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, known as the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation, DCSO.
“We have what we call the DCSO Domestic Crude Supply Obligation, under the PIA. Under the PIA, the country must tell all crude sales people that we have domestic capacity supply.
“That is priority number one. Every year, the minister or commission announces what the DCSO is, everybody must get that first before taking anything out. Where we thinking locally that we need 7,000 barrels, that’s the thing everybody must follow, if the commission is not doing that properly, that’s another issue.This DCSO is part of the PIA and it must be done
“Dangote is not part technically of the DCSO, I want people to get this part clear. It is geographically located in Nigeria. But technically, it is not because it is located in an export processing zone.
“Even when you are buying crude from Dangote, buying products, petrol, diesel, you are going to pay in dollars, it doesn’t have supply in the Nigeria market. It can sell to anybody it chooses.”
Not Nigeria’s responsibility to provide crude oil for Dangote Refinery – Adigun
Court rejects fresh bail request, upholds charges against suspended cop Kyari in drug trafficking trial
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a fresh bail application by suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, and four other officers.
The court also rejected a motion challenging the validity of the charges brought against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Justice Emeka Nwite, presiding over the case, ruled that the arguments presented by the defense lacked merit. This comes after previous denials of bail and dismissal of similar challenges to the charges in March 2023.
Dissatisfied with the dismissal of his objection to the trial, the former supercop took the matter before the appellate court where he also lost on Thursday.
In their judgement, a three-man panel of Justices led by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, held that the appeal marked: CA/ABJ/CR/516/2023, lacked merit.
Read Also: Reps to cut salaries by 50% for 6 months to fight hardship
The appellate court said it found no reason to tamper with the findings and conclusions that were reached on the issue by the trial judge.
“In conclusion, this court finds no reason to disturb the findings and conclusions reached by the learned trial judge of the Federal High Court, and in the ruling delivered on the 22nd day of March 2023 is affirmed.
“The learned trial judge is directed to continue and conclude the trial at the Federal High Court.
“The appeal is found unmeritorious and it is accordingly dismissed,” the appellate court held.
Other members of the panel that concurred with the judgement, were Justices Peter Obiora and Okon Abang.
The NDLEA accused Mr. Kyari and his co-defendants of involvement in a drug trafficking operation in January 2022. The charges include conspiracy to deal in cocaine, unlawful possession of illicit narcotics, and tampering with evidence.
Mr. Kyari, once celebrated for his achievements in crime fighting, has maintained his innocence since his arrest. His legal team has argued that the NDLEA’s case against him is fabricated.
The court’s decision paves the way for the continuation of the trial. No date has yet been set for the next hearing.
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Niger youths will not join planned nationwide protest – Gov Bago
Ahead of the planned nationwide protest against hunger and economic difficulties being faced by Nigerians, Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has distanced the youths of the state from the exercise.
Recall the mass protest is billed to hold from August 1 to 10 across the country.
The governor spoke at a town hall meeting with stakeholders in Minna on Thursday.
He noted that the youths in the state are peaceful and would , therefore, not be participate in any planned protest.
Bago stated, “To youths who are agitating for this protest, let us end these agitation, let us communicate and dialogue on the best way forward. Therefore, we, as youths of Niger State, have distanced ourselves from the nationwide protest because we are peaceful and want peace and tranquility.”
As part of measure to reduce the hardship, he disclosed, “We have over 100,000 metric tonnes of food in our reserves out of which we will be releasing 50,000 metric tonnes to be sold at 50 per cent of its present price. Before the end of the year, we will slash food price by 90 per cent”.
“The food I am giving out at 50 per cent subsidy was originally meant for export but due to the hardship faced by the people, we have opened our warehouses to feed Nigerlites.
“We have over 100,000 metric tonnes of food in our reserves out of which we will be releasing 50,000 metric tonnes to be sold at 50 per cent of its present price. Before the end of the year, we will slash food price by 90 per cent,” he added.
The governor while also expressing support for the autonomy of local governments, however, urged them to sit up as many of them currently can not pay salaries for a year.
Speaking, the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alh. Abubakar Yahaya, noted that the planned protest is not the best option while calling on youths in the state not to be tempted in taking part in the the planned nationwide protest.
Also, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, while appealing to the youths to remain calm, disclose that the state government will organize programmes for them while others are protesting in other states.
Similarly, the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Most Rev Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, in his address, noted the need for all children attending public schools to be given equal opportunity to learn about their religion, adding, “A child that is well brought up by parents and also through religious education will never be involved in act of violence”.
Niger youths will not join planned nationwide protest – Gov Bago