Author: Aminu Imam

Bandits abduct Councillor from his Kaduna residence

Aminu Imam
Kaduna bandits attack

Armed bandits have kidnapped a serving councillor in Kaduna State, in a bold commando-style operation. According to sources, the councillor, Hon. Abdul Musa, representing Arak Ward, in Sanga local government area, was taken from his residence late Tuesday night. Recall that the recent peace agreement celebrated by the Kaduna State government, under Governor Uba Sani, had been overshadowed by a fresh wave of kidnappings. The bandits had abducted over 20 villagers in Kajuru local government area. A local resident confirmed that the bandits attacked Gurgu village on Sunday, kidnapping several…

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₦33.8bn fraud: “I recv’d more than ₦22bn from Power Ministry” – BDC Operator 

Aminu Imam
BDC Operator on Power Minister

The trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman continued yesterday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presenting its 8th witness. The witness, a Bureau de-change (BDC) operator, Abdullahi Suleman, narrated how more than ₦22 billion was allegedly siphoned from the Federal Ministry of Power while Mamman was Minister.  He said the Naira equivalent of the money was exchanged for United States dollars through his  business accounts.  Recall that Mamman is being prosecuted by the EFCC…

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Court grants el-Rufai’s ex-aide, 3 others bail in ₦64.8m fraud case

Aminu Imam
Court grants bail2

A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has granted bail to four individuals, (including Jimi Lawal, a senior advisor to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufa’i), who were arraigned on fraud and money laundering charges. The defendants, who were arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other-Related Offences Commission, (ICPC) were accused of diverting ₦64.8 million in three tranches to the bank account of Solar Life Nigeria Limited, where Lawal was believed to be the sole signatory. The other defendants are Lawal Adebisi, a former Senior Special Adviser to el-Rufa’i;…

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Wheat, rice prices crash in Gombe, amid low demand

Aminu Imam
Wheat, rice prices crash

Prices of the commodities at Gombe Central and Tudun-Hatsi grain markets have dropped by about 15 percent in the past two weeks. According to reports by newsmen who visited the markets yesterday, traders are facing a market glut amid low patronage. It was gathered that a 100kg bag of maize was sold at ₦53,000; as against its old price of N62,000. Also, beans were sold at ₦105,000; groundnut – ₦160,000 and soybeans at ₦82,000, as against their old prices of ₦120,000, ₦175,000, and ₦100,000, respectively. Rice indicated a similar decrease…

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NAFDAC seals warehouse over ₦75m worth of expired products in Kaduna

Aminu Imam
NAFDAC seals warehouse

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), has sealed a warehouse in Kaduna after discovering expired food and cosmetic products valued at ₦75 million. The warehouse, known as Amanat.com, is reportedly located on PP2A Bayajidda Street, near Kano Road and New Ogbomosho Road, in the metropolis. In an issued statement on Tuesday, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Shaba Muhammed, revealed that the agency’s action followed a tip-off from a concerned Nigerian citizen. It was gathered that a surveillance operation, led by NAFDAC’s investigation team, revealed…

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Rivers: S’Court fixes Feb. 10 to hear 5 cases 

Aminu Imam
Rivers S'Court to rule

The Supreme Court has fixed February 10, 2025 for the hearing of five separate cases instituted by the camps of the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, at the apex court. A 5-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji, yesterday ordered an adjournment in the cases to enable the parties to file and serve the necessary court documents in the separate appeals. For ease of determination, however, the court ordered the consolidation of four of the appeals, following a request…

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Kaduna: Governor Sani reinstates dethroned Piriga monarch

Aminu Imam
Gov. Sani reinstates monarch

Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, has reinstated the dethroned paramount chief of Piriga Chiefdom in Lere local government area, Jonathan Paragua Zamuna, in compliance with court orders. Sani’s predecessor, Nasir el-Rufa’i, had dethroned the monarch on 22 May 2023, just days before the end of his tenure. Recall that the National Industrial Court in Kaduna nullified Chief Zamuna’s removal and deposition on 14 June 2024. Speaking to a gathering of traditional rulers on 5 July 2024, the governor affirmed his commitment to implementing the court’s judgment that set aside the…

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Phone calls to cost ₦16.5/minute, data ₦431.25/1Gb, as NCC increases tariff by 50%

Aminu Imam
Phone calls tariff

Nigerians will now pay ₦16.5 per minute for calls and ₦431.25 to subscribe to 1 giga-byte (GB) of data, following a 50% tariff hike by the Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC) on Monday. Recall that Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, had hinted that telecom tariffs will go up by either 30 or 50 percent. His position came from a fallout of a meeting between him and operators who had proposed a 100% tariff increase. The latest telecom tariff hike approval comes 13 years after NCC announced price template…

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FG approves establishment of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Polytechnic in FCT

Aminu Imam
FG approves Tinubu Polytechnic

The Federal Government has approved the establishment of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Polytechnic, Gwarimpa, a district of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This is according to a letter dated January 9, 2025, by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and addressed to Wike, which was received by the FCT Minister on January 16, 2025. It also requested the FCT Minister, Nyeson Wike to recommend possible sites where the institution will be sited. The proposed institution is expected to promote technological, vocational, and entrepreneurial training. In the letter, the Minister…

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Zamfara: FG alerts public to Anthrax outbreak 

Aminu Imam
FG alerts on Anthrax2

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has alerted Nigerians to the outbreak of Anthrax, a zoonotic disease, in Zamfara State. Director, Information and Public Relations Department in the ministry, Ben Goong, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said that the outbreak occurred in a farm in Zamfara. Anthrax is an infection caused by bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which can affect warm-blooded animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, horses and wildlife, as well as humans with potential high morbidity and mortality. The disease could be spread through contact with…

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