Nigeria News
Nigeria Breaking News Today, Tuesday, June ,04, 2019
This is a roundup of some of the breaking news in Nigeria for Today, Tuesday, June 04, 2019.
The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission has recommended the suspension of Muhammadu Sanusi, and his aides who are found culpable in a case of corruption in his emirate.
The commission said It discovered N3.4 billion was mismanaged and misappropriated by the emirate under Sanusi.
This is coming a few weeks after the state Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje allegedly sidelined Sanusi by creating four additional emirates in Kano State. A move which was generally described as a witch hunt of Sanusi
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, a preliminary report of the investigation by the commission and signed by Muhuyi Magaji, its chairman pinpointed four cardinal issues bordering on indictment, the amount involved, obstruction of investigation and recommendations.
See What Boko Haram Leader, Shekau Is Saying In New Video
A video has emerged showing the embattled leader of Jama’atu Ahlil-Sunnah Lid-Da’awati Wal-Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram in flowing white apparels holding an AK47 rifle as he read a prepared speech in Arabic about the doctrines of the sect.
Recall that Shekau had been weakened by an internal feud that led to the emergence of another faction in 2016 and persistent military campaign by the Nigerian Army as well as the Multinational Joint Task Force appeared to have impaired eyesight as he struggled to read his group’s ideology in Arabic, while also, reciting Nigeria’s National pledge in English, which he repeatedly said was an act of Shirk.
The speech which was read in Arabic, according to analyst may be calling out to the international jihadi community, and not the local audience in the Lake Chad region. This is because Boko Haram has been made a pariah terror group in the region, following rivalry between Shekau and several warlords that gainsaid his more extreme ideology, especially the use of women and children as suicide bombers in Muslim places of worship, Internally Displaced Person camps and markets.
Sultan Declares Tuesday Sallah For Nigerian Muslims
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declared today (Tuesday), June 4, as Sallah day for Nigerian Muslims following the sighting of the new moon in various parts of Nigeria.
Naija News understands that the Sultan made this known on Monday, June 3. The Sultan said credible and reliable reports were received from many places which include Gwandu in Kebbi state, Damaturu in Yobe state and Jema’a in Kaduna state, among other states in the country. Abubakar prayed Allah to rewards the “month-long fasting with Jannatul Firdaus and answer all our prayers offered for our leaders and for peace and development in our dear country.”
The Sultan also called on Muslims to live peacefully with one another irrespective of religious or tribal differences.
SEC Workers Shut Down Premises Over Gwarzo’s Reinstatement
The reinstatement of Mounir Gwarzo, the suspended Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has led to a dramatic lock-up of the headquarters of the commission in Abuja.
Naija News understands that the lock-out was staged by members of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria to defy a court order for the reinstatement of their suspended boss, Gwarzo. Gwarzo had been suspended by Kemi Adeosun, former minister of finance, over allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
He was accused of collecting severance package worth N104.85 million while still in service in violation of the civil service rules. However, the industrial court recently ordered his reinstatement on grounds that the minister lacked powers to suspend him since he is not an employee of the commission.
Buhari’s Proposed Cabinet Taking Shape As Fashola, Akpabio May Hold Key Positions
Following his inauguration, President Muhammadu Buhari is set to make key appointments into his kitchen cabinet and the federal executive council.
According to findings President Buhari may appoint any of the trio of Retired Col. Hameed Ali, current Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) outgone Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, or former Lagos State governor and outgone Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Babatunde Raji Fashola, as his new Chief of Staff.
Sunday Independent gathered that the Office of the CoS and key ministerial appointments have become subject of intense lobbying, intrigues and horse trading among friends and family members of Buhari.
This is following Buhari’s decision to make changes to his former cabinet. “Unknown to many, President Buhari follows up on many of those complaints made about his principal staff like Abba Kyari (chief of staff).
Imo LG Chairmen, Councillors Storm Assembly (See Why)
27 Elected Chairmen and Councillors in Imo State have Pleaded with the state legislators not take away their mandate from them.
Naija News understands that the aggrieved Chairmen and their supporters arrived the Assembly complex in a large crowd of supporters as early as 9am but were prevented from gaining entrance into the premises by a detachment of Policemen deployed to the House of Assembly to forestall possible breakdown of law and Order.
Speaking to newsmen, the leader of Okigwe legislative council, Godwin Nwankwo, said that they had inkling that the lawmakers wanted to carry out the action at a plenary scheduled for today
Nwankwo who is also the chairman of Association of elected councillors in Imo state, said that their intention was to be part of the plenary and observe the proceedings.
He said, “We heard rumours that the lawmakers want to repudiate the laws they made. They want to approbate and reprobate. This is a law that they made that local governments are to serve for three years. We are lawmakers and not lawbreakers. The way they are elected is the way we are elected. All elections are the same under the constitution. They have no power to dissolve us.
Revealed: INEC Will Release Okorocha’s Certificate Of Return If.. – Source
The Independent National Electoral Commission has revealed its condition on issuing ex-governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha his certificate of return as a senator-elect.
This is even as the Court of Appeal, Abuja, last week ordered the prompt hearing of the suit he (Okorocha) filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Naija News reports.
An INEC source, according to This Day said, the commission would not give Okorocha, his certificate of return unless compelled by the court to do so. He gave a notice that INEC was ready to pursue the matter up to the Supreme Court.
Okorocha had approached the court for relief following INEC’s refusal to release his certificate of return on the ground that his declaration as winner of the senatorial election was done under duress.
President Buhari Approves State Police As He Receives Report On SARS
President Muhammadu Buhari has received the report by the National Human Rights Commission Presidential Special Panel on SARS reforms.
The President is also understood to have given approval for the implementation of the report which includes the establishment of state police.
He has also approved the dismissal of 37 police officers as recommended by the National Human Rights Commission Presidential Special Panel on SARS reforms.
He said: “I want to thank the panel once more, and hereby direct that since the recommendations of the commission that constituted the panel are enforceable as decisions of the court, that the Inspector General of Police and the Solicitor General of the Federation/Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice meet the commission to work out the modalities for the implementation of the report within three months from today.” as reported by the sun.
Boko Haram ‘Captures’ Borno Town
A report has emerged, suggesting that Boko Haram terrorists have allegedly captured Marte, the headquarters of Marte Local Government Area in Borno State, northeast Nigeria.
The report monitored on Daily Trust by Naija News, alleged that the insurgents stormed the Marte military base, 153 Task Force Battalion, shooting sporadically and in the process razed “everything” on Sunday, June 2
This online news platform understands that the Newspaper quoted a military source on Monday, June 3, to have said that: “The insurgents seem not to have intended harming any civilian, but only to capture the town; so they stormed the military base, taking troops there unawares at about 6 pm (Sunday) much less than an hour to breakfast time”.
Just In: Ex NIMASA DG, Calistus Obi Given Seven-Years Jail Term
The former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) acting Director-General Callistus Obi has been handed a seven years imprisonment with an option of N42million fine by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
Justice Mojisola Olatoregun who delivered the judgement, however, refused to order the forfeiture of his seized assets. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged Obi to court on allegations of N136 million fraud. Olatoregun had found him guilty of money laundering and converting the agency’s funds to personal use at a court sitting that held on May 23.
The EFCC had charged Obi to court alongside Dismass Alu Adoon, a former staff of NIMASA. At one of the court sittings, Rotimi Oyedepo, the prosecuting counsel, had urged the court to impose the maximum punishment of 14 years imprisonment on Obi.
