A trader, Salisu Sani, 30, on Thursday appeared in an Upper Area Court in Gwgwalada, FCT, for allegedly cheating a businessman of N76,000. The police charged Sani, who lives in Kwali, FCT, with two counts of criminal breach of trust and cheating. The prosecution counsel, Abudullahi Tanko, told the court that the complainant, Amachi Theophilus, of opposite Rhema Hospital, Kwali, Abuja reported the matter at the Kwali Police Station on April 29. Tanko said that the complainant gave the trader four bags of rice and he sold and converted N76,000 to his personal use. He said that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge. The judge, Sani Umar admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N80,000 with one reaso...
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Suleja/Abuja Unit, on Sunday, threatened to embark on a strike action over alleged extortion by officials of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). It said members would be instructed not to load from Suleja depot in Niger State. The Chairman of the Unit, Alhaji Yahaya Ahman Alhassan, made the disclosure during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja. According to him, the association seeks an explanation as to DPR’s incessant demand for daily sales activities from filling stations. “IPMAN has no other alternative other than instructing our members not to load from Suleja depot in Niger State to express our frustrations after all efforts to make DPR officials desist from unethical practices failed. “These iss...
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Friday paraded six suspects who smuggled 45,000 litres of adulterated diesel contained in 750 giant polythene bags, which were carefully concealed among sacks of sawdust to deceive security operatives. The seized product has an estimated value of N21,920 million. Also seized were 237 bags of 50kg foreign rice hidden in a petrol tanker. The Controller Enforcement at the Customs headquarters, Kayode Olusemire while parading the smugglers said that the Customs officers on patrol intercepted the smugglers in Suleja, who immediately declared that they were conveying sacks of sawdust from Port Harcourt to Kaduna State. “But the officers perceived unusual odour despite concealing it in sawdust, prompting them to dig further. “That was when they discovered dies...
Few hours after 11 persons were kidnapped at Gauraka in the Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, two suspected kidnappers were allegedly burnt alive by a mob in Madalla area of Suleja LGA of the state. Madalla is a few kilometers from Gauraka. The angry mob allegedly set the two suspected bandits on fire at about 10 a.m. yesterday. An eyewitnesses told newsmen that the suspected bandits were about to escape when the people in the area rounded them up and set them on fire with petrol and used tyres. It could not be confirmed if there was any link between the Gauraka kidnap incident and the burnt suspected kidnappers. In an early morning raid, bandits stormed Gauraka town in the Tafa LGA and kidnapped not less than 12 residents. The figure has now risen to 15, according to a credible g...
A 45-year-old trader, Obiemeke Felix, who allegedly stole a cell phone worth N240,000 belonging to his colleague, on Thursday appeared in a Wuse Zone 6 Magistrates’ Court . The police charged Felix, who lives in Suleja, Niger State, for theft. The Prosecution Counsel, ASP Peter Ejike, of the FCT Command Abuja, told the court that Rapheal Ikechukwu of the Federal Housing Lugbe, Abuja, reported the matter at Wuse Zone 3, Police Station on Dec. 30, 2020. Ejike alleged that on Dec.29, 2020, at about 7.30p.m., the complainant plugged the phone to charge in his shop at the Intercontinental Plaza, Wuse Zone III while he attended to his customers. Ejike alleged that after a while the complainant returned to check his phone but discovered it was stolen. He alleged that the defendant stole the phone...
The Independent Investigative Panel probing police brutality in Abuja, on Thursday, gave the police a six-day ultimatum to arraign a suspect, Raphael Toona, who has been in detention for about one year. The Chairman of the panel, Justice Suleiman Galadima (retd.), ordered that Toona should be arraigned on or before December 23. Justice Galadima gave the order following an application by Toona’s lawyer, N. T. Utasha, urging the panel to order the police to either release the suspect or arraign him in court. “The first complaint (Toona) should be taken to Benue State to be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction on or before December 23, 2020 where his bail should be considered, considering the fact that he has been in detention for more than a year,” Justice Galadima ordered. Too...
File Photo The Niger State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, congress to elect the state Working Committee of the opposition party was marred with violence as thugs allegedly belonging to the two contestants for the chairmanship post engaged themselves in a fight. Those eyeing the seat include Bar. Tanko Beji, who is contending for the second time and Engr. Mohammed Muktur, a former House of Representatives member representing Suleja, Gurara and Tafa. Indication to this effect was observed when supporters of the candidates took over the premises of the party secretariat as early as 7am This was despite the presence of heavily armed security agencies drafted to the venue of the congress. At the venue, a former House of Representatives and Deputy House Leader, Hon. Baba Shehu Agaie, was serious...
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, again ordered the police to produce Vijah Opuama, the Bayelsa Governorship Candidate in the Nov. 16, 2019 election. Newsmen report that Justice Taiwo Taiwo, on Aug. 3 and Sept. 2, ordered that Opuama, who was said to be in police custody, be produced in court but the orders were disregarded by the security outfit. Opuama’s Lawyer, Michael Odey, had, on Aug. 31, brought an ex-parte application before the court, asking the police to show cause why the detainee should not be released unconditionally. While the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Mr Adamu Mohammed, is the 1st respondent, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge-of the I-G’s Monitoring Unit is the 2nd respondent in the suit. However, the judge, on Monday, issued the third order, ...
The Niger State Government has warned school administrators to ensure students of graduating classes adhere strictly to the COVID-19 Infection Prevention Protocols (IPC) as issued by the Ministry of Health and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The state commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Muhammad Sani Idris, gave the warning during a working visit to Schools in Tafa, Suleja and Chanchaga Local Government Areas to monitor the commencement of West African Examination Council (WAEC) to ascertain the level of compliance with the established COVID-19 protocols. Idris alongside his counterpart of the Ministry for Education, Hajiya Hannatu Salihu reiterated government commitment to adequate provision for safe reopening of schools in the State. “The government is determined t...