News

Seven more abducted passengers of the Abuja- Kaduna train attack have been freed.

According to report,  the son of Ango Abdullahi, chairman of Northern Elders Forum, NEF, is among the seven freed victims.

Tukur Mamu, publisher of Desert Herald, confirmed the release of the abducted passengers.

On March 28, a train on its way from Abuja was attacked by bandits in Kaduna. Several persons were killed, dozens injured, while others were abducted.

Eleven of the abducted passengers had earlier been released in June.

Mamu identified the newly-freed passengers as Muhammad Paki, Bosede Olurotimi, Abubakar Zubairu, Alhassan Sule, Sadiq Ango Abdullahi, Aliyu Usman and Muhammad Abuzar Afzal, a Pakistani.

“I want to assure the nation that everything that was achieved today was singlehandedly initiated and arranged by me with the full support and prayers of my principal, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi,” he said.

That is why I keep emphasising that government has the power to end the agony of these innocent victims in one day. This is just one individual that sacrifice his life and even integrity.

“There is no military solution to the current security debacle in Nigeria. When you sincerely engage them, these guys even though wicked with misguided religious beliefs, they are listening.

“I have sufficient evidence to prove that they do listen. It is this power of engagement and sincerity that resulted to the release of these seven victims.”

Abdulfatai Jimoh, the coordinator of the families of the abducted passengers, confirmed the release of the seven victims.

Yes, it is true seven people were released today, I just spoke with the family of one of those released,” Jimoh said.

The development comes four days after insurgents attacked and freed inmates of the Kuje correctional facility in Abuja.

Cable/Taiwo Akinola

News

Ahmed Idris, suspended accountant-general of the federation, has been released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , EFCC .

Idris was released on administrative bail on Wednesday night.

Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesperson, disclosed this on Thursday.

Idris was arrested in Kano state on May 16 by the anti-graft agency over an alleged N80 billion fraud.

The EFCC said it is investigating the accountant-general over the alleged misappropriation of funds.

The agency said it picked up Idris after he failed to respond to invitations by the commission to answer questions over the allegation.

Consequently, he was suspended indefinitely by Zainab Ahmed, the minister of finance, budget and national planning.

In a letter dated May 18, 2022, Ahmed said the suspension “without pay” was to allow for “proper and unhindered investigation” in line with public service rules.

The EFCC on Sunday, arrested Abdulaziz Yari, former governor of Zamfara state, over his alleged involvement in the suspected fraud linked to the suspended accountant-general.

The former governor was arrested over alleged fraud relating to the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P .

A senior official of the commission who confirmed the development to TheCable said a N22 billion “SURE-P refund” was allegedly cooked up by the suspended accountant-general to move money to Yari.

Arrested along with Yari is Anthony Yaro, chairman and managing director of Finex Professional, for their alleged role in the alleged N84 billion fraud involving Idris.

Yari allegedly benefited to the tune of N22 billion through Finex Professional from the N84 billion which the former Idris allegedly paid one Akindele.


Cable/Taiwo Akinola

News

Bandits, who attacked the Abuja- Kaduna train, have reportedly released one of their victims — a pregnant woman.

The bandits had, on March 28, attacked the train in the Kateri-Rijana area of Kaduna after bombing the rail tracks.

Following the incident, the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, confirmed 21 people as missing.

According to report, the woman was released on compassionate grounds.

The woman, clad in a black Abaya and with a face mask on, called on the federal government to negotiate with the bandits and secure the release of the other abductees.

She said the victims are not being maltreatment and that the bandits are feeding them “well”.

“I call on the government to have mercy on these people the way they have mercy on us,” the woman said in Hausa,” she said in a viral video.

The government should consider the plight of people in captivity and listen to their demands. Government should negotiate with them peacefully and accede to their demands.

“So that those still with them can be released the way I was peacefully released and reunited with my family and loved ones.

“Government should help negotiate peacefully with them.”

The pregnant woman is the third abductee to be released by the bandits.

Alwan Hassan, acting-managing director of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), was the first to be released.

The bandits had said he was freed because of “his old age”.

Sadique, son of Ango Abdullahi, convener of the Northern Elders Forum, NEF , was also released, as another pregnant woman delivered a baby in the kidnappers’ den.

Cable/Taiwo Akinola

News

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Faruk Yahaya, has ordered immediate release of the romantic female soldier who publicly accepted the proposal of a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kwara State.

The Director Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the release of the embattled soldier.

The COAS, however, maintained that the erring soldier be strongly reprimanded against engaging in any kind of act that contravenes the military code of conduct for its officers and men.

Lt-Gen Yahaya said the female soldier should be released to enjoy Christmas with family and friends.

A video of a male corps member proposing to a female soldier at the Yikpata Orientation Camp of the NYSC in Kwara State recently surfaced online and went viral.

In one of the video clips, some corps members are seen having a discussion at a venue believed to be the parade ground of the orientation camp.

The discussion is still on when the yet-to-be-identified corps member, who is seen holding a ring, goes down on one knee and pops the question to the soldier with the lady accepting the proposal.

Adedayo Adelowo/TheNation

Economy News

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has released two billion Naira to offset part of Global Cooperative deductions of workers.

Chairman, Trade Union Congress, Ogun State branch, Mr Akeem Lasisi announced this while speaking with newsmen shortly after a meeting between the leadership of organized Labour, Pensioners’ Union and the state Governor.

While explaining that Governor Abiodun had promised to settle the rest of the deductions by releasing one billion nairas quarterly, Mr Lasisi said the Governor had also released another 1 billion Naira for state and local government pensioners’ gratuities.

Mr Lasisi also explained that the Governor had promised that promotion letters for 2O18 would be fully implemented in January 2022, while promotion entitlements for 2019 and 2020 would commence in March and June respectively.

Also speaking, the State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Chief Waidi Oloyede, commended the State Governor for his efforts in addressing the plight of pensioners.

In a remark, the State Chairman, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and Chairman Joint Negotiations Committee, Mr Isa Olude, called for a commitment on the part of the parties involved to build trust and avoid misunderstanding.

Bolanle Adesida

Judiciary

            

The Federal Government has ordered the release of former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki and the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami disclosed this in a statement released on Tuesday.

The Attorney General of the Federation said the decision to release them was in compliance with the bail granted the courts.

“The two defendants are enjoined to observe the terms of their bail and refrain from engaging in any act that is inimical to public peace and national security as well as their ongoing trial which will run its course in accordance with the laws of the land,” the statement read in part.

The former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, the first person to be incarcerated, was arrested over multi-billion dollar and naira slush funds that emanated from his office as National Security Adviser meant for the fight against insurgency was alleged to have ended up in politicians’ pockets for matters unrelated to security.

Sowore has been in custody of the Department of State Service, DSS, since he called for a revolution earlier in the year.

On December 9, 2019, DSS operatives had re-arrested Sowore at the Federal High Court in Abuja, less than 24-hours after granting him freedom.

FRCN Abuja