Politics

Supreme Court Affirms Yusuf, Sanwo-Olu, Muhammed’s Victory

By Web News 437

By Ifeoma Nwovu

The Supreme Court has affirmed the outcomes of the 2023 governorship elections in Lagos, Kano, and Bauchi states.

The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal, which had confirmed the re-election of Babajide Sanwo-Olu as Governor of Lagos State.

In a lead judgement delivered by Justice Garba Lawal, the 5-man panel of the apex court unanimously held that the appeal by the Labour Party and its governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, was unmeritorious and therefore liable for dismissal.

The apex court ruled that all parties should bear their respective costs.

The Lagos State Division of the Court of Appeal dismissed Rhodes-Vivour’s appeal on November 15, 2023, having affirmed the decision of the Lagos State Governorship Tribunal, which upheld Sanwo-Olu’s re-election.

The Labour Party and its gubernatorial candidate had urged the court to allow the appeal, set aside the decision of the tribunal, and grant the reliefs sought.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Sanwo-Olu, winner of the governorship election having polled 762,134 votes to defeat his close challenger, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party (LP), who scored 312,329 votes.

S’Court upholds Bala Mohammed’s victory as Bauchi Governor

Similarly, the Supreme Court declared the election of Senator Bala Mohammed as Governor of Bauchi State.

In a lead judgement, Justice Ibrahim Saulawa affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which on November 17, 2023, upheld the election of Bala Mohammed as the duly elected Governor of Bauchi State.

The unanimous judgement of the 5-man panel was on an appeal by the gubernatorial candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Amb Saddique Baba Abubakar, who was not satisfied with INEC’s declaration of Bala as winner of the March 18 governorship election in the State.

Justice Saulawa held that Abubakar’s appeal was “devoid of merit” since all six issues adopted for determination were answered against the appellant.

The Bauchi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, had earlier declared Bala Mohammed the winner of the election.

Bala, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, polled 525,280 votes to defeat Abubakar

Plateau, Ebonyi, Cross River, Jigawa and Bauchi await fate.

NNPP’s Yusuf reinstated as Kano Governor

Also affirmed by the Apex Court is the election of Governor Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) of Kano State.

Justice Inyang Okoro gave the judgement in an appeal by Governor Yusuf, challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal Abuja, which had on November 17 sacked him from office.

The Appeal Court had disqualified Governor Yusuf Kabir from the Kano state governorship election and declared Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in Kano State.

But in a lead judgement delivered by Justice Inyang Okoro, the Supreme Court unanimously held that the tribunal never found that Yusuf was not qualified to contest the election.

Justice Inyang Okoro held that the issue of sponsorship and nomination of candidates falls under the domestic affairs of a political party.

He insisted that the tribunal lacked the jurisdiction to entertain a matter that bordered on the internal affairs of a political party.

Dauda Lawal’s mandate as Zamfara Gov restored

In a related development, the Supreme Court declared Dauda Lawal as the validly elected governor of Zamfara State, having set aside the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which declared his election inconclusive.

Justice Emmanuel Agim, who read the lead judgement, held that the decision of the Court of Appeal in declaring the election inconclusive was perverse.

The judgement was on an appeal by Lawal, seeking redress over the decision of the Court of Appeal, which on November 16, 2023, declared the Zamfara gubernatorial election inconclusive.

Justice Agim held that the appeal has merit; it subsists and allowed.

A three-member panel of the appellate court had unanimously annulled the victory of Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Lawal the winner of the March 18, 2023, election with 377,726 votes.

However, Bello Matawalle, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, who polled 311,976 votes, challenged the outcome of the poll.

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Crime

15-Year-Old Herder Chops off Farmer’s Hand

By Web News 461

A 15-year-old herder, Adamu Ibrahim, has been arrested by the Bauchi State Police Command for allegedly cutting off the hand of a farmer.

The suspect attacked the victim during a fight over intrusion into the latter’s farmland.

The police command spokesperson, SP Ahmed Wakil, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

The statement read, “Operatives of the Area Command Metro have arrested one Adamu Ibrahim of Jital village along Gombe Road, Bauchi State, for trespass, mischief and causing grievous hurt.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect had on several occasions trespassed into the victim’s farmland with his cows while rearing.

“The unfortunate incident followed a series of complaints to the suspect’s father by the victim for intrusion into his rice farmland by the suspect.

“Similarly, the investigation revealed that on August 24, 2023, the suspect, who was armed with a stick and a machete, mischievously invaded the victim’s farmland and destroyed the yet-to-be-ascertained value of crops.

“A disagreement ensued, in the course of which the suspect stabbed the victim upon asking him to vacate his farmland. The suspect drew his machete and chopped off the left hand of the victim.”

It stated further, “On receiving this report, the Area Commander, Metropolitan, swung into action and activated more preventive measures to avert circumstances that may result in a herder-farmer clash in the area and equally directed the arrest of the suspect.

“The victim was rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, for medical attention and he is responding to treatment.

“Therefore, the Commissioner of Police, Auwal Musa Mohammed, while warning herders to steer clear from intrusion into farmlands in the state, directed that the suspect be charged upon the completion of the discreet investigation.”

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Environment

Illegal Miners Die as Site Collapses

By Web News 479

Four illegal miners have been killed following the collapse of a mining site in Kogo Kadage village in the Yadagungume Area of Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The incident reportedly occurred during weekend when the miners were digging lead and trying to excavate it.

A community member, who didn’t want his name in print for fear of attack, said the illegal miners had been at the site for over a month before the site collapsed on them.

According to him, the dead bodies of the illegal miners were recovered from under the rubble.

The Caretaker Committee Chairman, Ningi LGA, Ibrahim Zubairu, described the incident as sad.

“Yesterday , I was informed that four people were trapped in a mining pit, I directed that they should be rescued. Later on, they reported back to me that they recovered three bodies.

“I don’t know about the illegal activities of the locals because we have banned all sorts of illegal mining in the entire local government area; it came to me as a surprise when I got the report of the incident,” he said.

Zubairu said he had constituted a committee to check illegal mining activities and land-related matters in the LGA.

He warned people to desist from illegal mining activities as the government would not spare anyone caught.

Channelstv / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Crime

Newborn Baby Stolen, Suspect Arrested

By Web News 438

A 19-year-old woman of Ishehi Hamlet in Misau Local Government Area of Bauchi State has been arrested by the police for allegedly stealing a newborn baby.

The suspect, Hajara Usman, was said to have stolen the infant after conspiring with an 18-year-old man, Ibrahim Usman, of Dugurgama Hamlet.

The Bauchi State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, stated this in a statement made available to journalists in the state on Thursday.

He said that a resident of the Galawa Area of Akuyam District in the Misau LGA reported the incident at Akuyam Police Outstation that his daughter’s newborn baby was stolen at about 4: 30 am.

Punch/Adebukola Aluko

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Crime

7 Die in Bauchi Attack

By Web News 450

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed seven people in Gara and Gamji villages in Burra District of Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The bandits who came in their numbers were said to have attacked the villagers and shot sporadically into the air and in the process, killed seven people and injured many others.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Command, Ahmed Wakili, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with journalists.

Wakili said, “Today, we woke up with a very sad news. We received a distress call that some bandits had attacked Kada and Gamji villages under Burra district of Ningi LGA. They came in large numbers, shooting sporadically, as a result, seven people were killed.

“Operatives of the command in conjunction with the Nigerian military, engaged the bandits, and three of them were neutralised in the process while others scampered in disarray into the nearby bush with possible gunshot wounds.

“One of the personnel, a soldier, was injured and rushed to the hospital where he is presently receiving treatment.”

He gave the names of those killed by the bandits as Ali Usman, Shuaibu Adamu, Yunusa Adamu, Ali Alton, Umar Sabo Ibrahim, all from Gamji village.

“Operatives of the command in conjunction with the Nigerian military, engaged the bandits, and three of them were neutralised in the process while others scampered in disarray into the nearby bush with possible gunshot wounds.

“One of the personnel, a soldier, was injured and rushed to the hospital where he is presently receiving treatment.”

He gave the names of those killed by the bandits as Ali Usman, Shuaibu Adamu, Yunusa Adamu, Ali Alton, Umar Sabo Ibrahim, all from Gamji village.

“Presently, our operatives in conjunction with other sister security agencies with the local vigilantes are in the bush, combing it in search of the bandits,” he added.

The Commissioner of Police, Auwal Mohammad, commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives in the attack praying that their souls rest in peace.

He also directed the Area Commander to do everything possible within the law to arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

A member of a Local Vigilante Group in the area who witnessed the incident but who chose to speak on the condition of anonymity, said that the bandits invaded the area on Bajaaj motorcycles, at about 9:00pm, on Tuesday, attacked and killed the innocent people.

He said that the gunmen suspected to be bandits terrorising the areas, came in three motorcycles and heavily armed. noting that “the local security could not confront them and had to take cover.”

The eyewitness further said that the bandits shot and killed the Ward Head of Gara, Mai Anguwa Ali, aged 50, along with five other people.

Among those killed were: Alhaji Ibrahim, Shuaibu Adamu (45), Yunusa Adamu (50), Umaru Sabo (25) and Ali Aldo.

Another member of the community noted that the gunmen burgled shops in the village and cartered away foodstuffs and two motorcycles.

The bandits were also said to have killed one volunteer security guard and injured one army in Gamji Village during a gun duel with soldiers.

Punch / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Crime

Police Launch Manhunt for Abductors of Pregnant Woman

By Web News 557

The Bauchi State Police Command has promised to rescue a 25-year-old pregnant woman, Rahila Dau, who was kidnapped on Saturday, July 18, 2022, by yet-to-be-identified gunmen who stormed her home in Gibob, a Fulani settlement in Gizaki village of Lusa Ward, Bogoro Local Government Area of the state.

The police launched a manhunt for the kidnappers in order to arrest them and bring them to justice.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, stated this to journalists in the state on Friday.

He said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Umar Sanda, had directed the Divisional Police Officer, Bogoro Division, to “do everything possible to rescue the victim alive.”

Speaking on the incident, Mr Wakil said that the case was reported at the Bogoro Divisional Headquarters, and added that police personnel led by the DPO, visited the scene and recovered five empty shells of bullets fired by the kidnappers whose number he said could not be ascertained.

The Command’s Spokesman assured that “police personnel are on top of the situation in ensuring that the victim is rescued unhurt . The police have since launched an investigation into the unfortunate incident with a view to rescue Rahila Dau and apprehend the kidnappers.”

It was gathered from a source that the village is far away into the bush as it is situated at the border between Bauchi and Plateau states while accessing it is very difficult due to the terrain coupled with the fact that it is now the rainy season.

The source, who pleased anonymity, told our correspondent that, “the gunmen who were wielding AK-47 riffles, machetes and other dangerous weapons, invaded the settlement shooting sporadically within the family compound of a Fulani man, Alhaji Da’u Bello, aged about 70 years, and abducted his daughter, Rahila Da’u, aged about 25 years.”

According to the source, the kidnappers inflicted varying degrees of injuries on the victims and a fracture on the left leg of Alhaji Bello before they took away his daughter.

“Alhaji Bello Dau was taken to the hospital for treatment and was later referred to an orthopedic hospital in Kano State for special attention considering the level of the fracture which was a serious one and must be attended to by specialists.

“The abductors have been able to establish contact with members of the family and opened a line of negotiation by making a demand for ransom, leaving the family in total confusion considering her pregnancy while the father is critically ill at the hospital,” he added.

Punch/Adebukola Aluko

Politics

Bauchi Speaker Defects To PDP

By Web News 598

Speaker of Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Sulaiman, has dumped the All Progressives Congress for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state.

Sulaiman was elected as lawmaker to represent Ningi Constituency in 2019 under the APC platform.

Sulaiman who is also the Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, made his defection known during a Ramadan breaking of fast (Iftar) hosted by Governor Bala Mohammed, which held at the Government House, Bauchi late Saturday night.

The event was attended by PDP stakeholders from Ningi, Toro, Warji and Dass local Government Areas of the State.

In a short video of the event, the Speaker, in his speech at the Iftar, was heard introducing the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Hamza Akuyam, as “Chairman of our great party, the PDP”.

Suleiman went on further to say: “I know there have been speculations, people have been saying that, ‘he has decamped to the PDP,’ others said, ‘no he has not decamped’.

“But today in this place, I want to happily announce to you all that I am now a member of the PDP.”

Immediately he announced his defection, the whole gathering erupted in cheers.

According to him, my decision to join the PDP in the state was as a result of the exemplary leadership style of Governor Mohammed and his commitment to transform the state.

He also commended the governor for his ability to ensure harmonious working relationship with the State Assembly despite party differences which allowed formulation and implementation of policies and programmes aimed at ensuring the development of the state.

The speaker’s defection put to rest months of speculations across the state that despite being in the APC publicly, he was operating as a member of the PDP.

Suleiman never failed to seize any opportunity in praising the transformation drive of the governor and his administration.

The 9th Assembly in Bauchi State from inception in June 2018, had been controlled by members of the All Progressives Congress with 22 members, the PDP had eight while the New Nigeria People’s Party had one.

However, some members of the APC kept decamping to the PDP including the NNPP member.

With Suleiman’s defection, the APC currently has 16 members while the PDP has 15.

Punch/Olaolu Fawole

News

Auto Crash Kills Five, Injures Nine In Bauchi

By Web News 1003

Five persons were killed in an auto crash in Bauchi State on Wednesday, the Federal Road Safety Corps confirmed on Thursday.

The FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Yusuf Abdullahi, said that nine other persons sustained serious injuries in the accident.

He said that the accident occurred in Nabordo community on the Toro-Bauchi Highway when two vehicles had a head-on collision.

Abdullahi said that it took the FRSC barely 26 minutes to arrive at the scene of the crash to clear the site.

He said the registration numbers of the two vehicles were not available, but that they belonged to Gombe Line and Adamawa Sunshine transport companies.

He described the vehicles as a Toyota Hummer Bus and a Toyota Sienna Bus, and attributed the cause of the crash to dangerous driving and speed violations.

NAN/PUNCH