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Supplementary Poll: Who will be Adamawa, Kebbi states’ next governors?

Marcus FATUNMOLE
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Supplementary Poll: Who will be Adamawa, Kebbi states’ next governors?

Voters in Adamawa state are waiting with bated breath for the result of today’s supplementary election in the state to know if they will be having their first elected female governor – or not.

Also being expected is the result of the other supplementary election held today in Kebbi state.

There were no winners in the governorship election in the two states held on March 18, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the exercise inconclusive following cancelled votes and areas where the exercise could not hold because of violence.

The ICIR reports that Nigerians are very anxious about the outcome of today’s exercise in Adamawa state, particularly, which is between the incumbent governor Ahmadu Fintiri, who runs on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Senator Aishatu Dahiru (Binani) of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

While Fintiri polled 421,524 votes in the March 18 election, Binani had 390,275.

Nigerians are very interested in the election because the country has never witnessed a fierce contest between a male and a female politician for a governorship seat as in the Adamawa election.

That the contest is happening in the North, where few women have been elected into public offices, makes the election more interesting.

In Kebbi, the battle is also between the PDP and the APC.

The ICIR reported how INEC declared the Kebbi state governorship poll inconclusive on March 20 through its returning officer Yusuf Sa’idu, a professor at Danfodio University in Sokoto.

Sa’idu said cancellations occurred across several registration areas (RAs) in various voting districts in 20 of the 21 local government areas in the state.

According to him, the declaration of the election as inconclusive was in line with provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

“Sub-section three of section 51 states that where the result of an election is cancelled in accordance with sub-section two, there shall be no return for the election until another poll has taken place in the affected polling unit.

“By virtue of these provisions and the powers vested in me as the collation and returning officer of the 2023 gubernatorial election in Kebbi State, I, Prof. Yusuf Sa’idu of the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, hereby declare the gubernatorial election in Kebbi State inconclusive,” he said.

 The APC candidate Nasir Idris led with 388,258, while the PDP candidate, Aminu Bande, a retired general, trailed with 342,980.

One of them will emerge as governor after today’s election, which is expected to have been concluded already.

 

NYSC disowns Corps member standing trial for defrauding police officer

Faith ABEKA
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NYSC disowns Corps member standing trial for defrauding police officer

THE management of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) has dissociated itself from the case of a Corps member standing trial at an Iyaganku magistrate court, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The ICIR reported that Ukenwa Ikechukwu was on Friday, April 14, arraigned for allegedly swindling a police officer of N235,000.

In a swift reaction, the NYSC, in a statement signed by the Director, of Press and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, explained that Ikechukwu was an ex-Corps member who had passed out in February 2023.

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”The attention of the NYSC Management in Oyo State has been drawn to the information circulating on social media about a Corps member sent to jail in Ibadan, Oyo State, for a criminal offence. The management wishes to make the following clarifications:

”The said Ukenwa Ikechukwu is now an ex-Corps member who passed out of national service in February 2023.

”Secondly, when he was serving, he collected a sum of N235,000 to purchase a physiotherapy machine for a woman at the police clinic where he was serving, but failed to get the machine.

”Every attempt made by the woman to get a refund of her money from this ex-Corps member proved abortive, therefore, she decided to charge him to court with a criminal offence,” the statement read.

The management admonished Corps members to always be of good behaviour and abide strictly to the core values of the NYSC programme in all their dealings.

The scheme did not hesitate to warn Corp members that the uniform would not absolve anyone from any form of criminality.

 

 

EFCC arrests 44 suspected internet fraudsters in Ibadan

Mustapha USMAN
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EFCC arrests 44 suspected internet fraudsters in Ibadan

Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 44 suspects for internet fraud.

The EFCC arrested the suspects in Apete and Bodija areas of Oyo state following intelligence on their alleged fraudulent activities.

This was as disclosed by the anti-graft agency on Friday, April 14, via its twitter handle.

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The alleged cybercriminals, according to the commission, are Aparimo Ogunfunminiyi Ojoola, Olalekan Taoreed Miller, Olamide Animashaun Ademola, Rotimi Samson, Waheed Abeeb Olamilekan, Jelili Abeeb Afolabi, Olamide Azeez Ayinla, Mohammed Lawal Segun, Peter Seyi Iyanuoluwa, Akinmoju Kolawole, Ibrahim Akande Abiodun, John Oluwatimilehin Moses, Oshunrinade Samuel, Moradeyo Abeeb Abiodun, Ogunmola Oluwabori Michael, Aderomu Gbenga Michael, Akinrinola Pelumi Sunday, Adeola Tunji, Opaniyi Yakubu Olasunkanmi, Oyedele Israel Sunday, Fiyin Adebayo Omotosho, Oladele Oladimeji John, Gbolahan Qudus, and Lawal Muiz Gbolahan.

Others are Alonge Timilehin Israel, Akinlade Tolulope Seyi, Taiwo Oluwatobiloba Daniel, Adesina Sodiq Ishola, Victor Paul Shedrack, Olawale Oladapo Olaleye, Muili Olamilekan Sodiq, Babalola Afeez Bolaji, Adeagbo Stephen Adegbenro, Ephraim Isaiah Joshua, Olanrewaju Muhammed Opeyemi, Dada Segun David, Okikiola Oluwateniola, Ayodele Victor Ayodeji, Oluwadamilare Isaiah Olanrewaju, Akande Afeez Gbolahan, Omotolani Samson Gbenga, Odesanya Michael Adedimeji, Akindele Timothy Olatunde, and Farayola Habeeb.

The EFCC disclosed it recovered 10 exotic cars, two motorcycles, 53 mobile phones, four laptops, one JBL speaker, and one PS game with two pads, among others.

It said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Almajiri’s eye plucked, child dies, as police begin probe

Marcus FATUNMOLE
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Almajiri’s eye plucked, child dies, as police begin probe

THE Jigawa State Police Command has launched a probe into the circumstances surrounding the death of a 16-year-old poor student (almajiri) in the state.

In a statement obtained from the Command by The ICIR on Saturday, April 15, the child told his teacher he was going into the bush to fetch firewood.

That was the last time his teacher, relations and friends saw him alive.

His relations and teachers launched a search party for him when he did not return home from the bush.

When he was found, one of his eyes had been plucked. The person(s) who attacked him left him in the pool of his blood.

His teacher, whom the police identified as Mustapha, approached a nearby police station and reported the incident.

The spokesperson of the Jigawa State Police Command, Lawan Shiisu Adam, sent graphic pictures of the dead boy to The ICIR with the police statement on the incident. The pictures, taken at the hospital, were too gory to publish.

The police statement read, “That on 14/04/2023 at about 1515hrs, information at Command’s disposal revealed that one mallam Mustapha (male) of Abuja Quarters, Shuwarin Town in Kiyawa LGA reported that on the same data at about 0800hrs, one of his students (almajiri) by name Yusufa Mustapha, (male) 16 years went to the bush to get firewood. 

“He didn’t come back. Later, he was discovered in the bush lying in blood. One of his eyes was removed by an unknown person. The victim was taken to Dutse General Hospital. He was confirmed dead by a medical doctor. Effort to trace the perpetrators is in top gear.”

Mustapha’s death is one of the hundreds of similar killings in Nigeria in recent years.

Killings involving the removal of sensitive body organs are usually for rituals, though the police have not confirmed the child was killed for that purpose.

In February 2022, The ICIR reported the National Assembly calling for a state-of-emergency declaration on ritual killings in the country.

Former Kogi Auditor-General Ododo emerges APC governorship candidate

Ijeoma OPARA
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Former Kogi Auditor-General Ododo emerges APC governorship candidate

A FORMER Local Government Auditor-General in Kogi state, Usman Ododo, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The secretary of the National APC Governorship Primary Committee, Patrick Obahiagbon, declared Ododo winner of th party primary, which was held on Friday April 14.

Among those the winner defeated were the lawmaker representing Kogi West senatorial district Smart Adeyemi, who polled only 311 votes; Stephen Ocheni with 552 votes; and Sanusi Ohiere, who gathered 424 votes.

Obahiagbon said Ododo polled 78,704 votes out of the 93,729 registered votes across the 21 local governments in the state, defeating six other contestants in the primary, which was conducted via direct voting.

“I, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, Secretary of the Election Committee Kogi State, on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee, Governor Bello Matawale of Zamfara state, hereby declare that Ahmed Usman Ododo, having scored the majority of lawful votes cast at the direct primary election conducted on the 14th day of April, 2023 in Kogi State, is hereby declared as winner of the APC Kogi state primary election.

“He hereby returns as the duly elected governorship candidate of APC for the November 2023 governorship election,” he said.

Kogi state governor Yahaya Bello had announced Ododo as his preferred aspirant ahead of the party primaries.

Following the announcement, several aspirants voluntarily withdrew from the race, including Bello’s chief of staff, Abdulkareem Asuku; deputy governor of the state, Edward Onoja; and a former Commissioner for Finance, David Adebanji-Jimoh.

The deputy governor had been considered a leading aspirant in the pimaries, but withdrew from the race, leaving a terse message on his social media handles.

“To God be the glory for life and divine health. My appreciation to my leader, HE Alhaji Yahaya Bello and all my supporters for your love and prayers. Let love, patience and perseverance lead. I am forever grateful,” Onoja noted.

Investors lose over N601bn as SEC pledges to protect market confidence

Ehime ALEX
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Investors lose over N601bn as SEC pledges to protect market confidence

INVESTORS lost over N601 billion this week as negative sentiments persisted and caused the total market capitalisation and All-Share Index (ASI) to fall by 2.08 per cent apiece.

Amid the sentiments and other concerns, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) assured investors it would protect their confidence in the Nigerian capital market.

The Director-General of SEC, Lamido Yuguda, who briefed journalists on Thursday April 13, on the outcome of the first quarter Capital Market Committee meeting (CMC), said, “Protection of investors is the central mandate of the Commission, and when the Commission protects investors, we do not discriminate between minority and majority shareholders.”

The ICIR can report that Oando Plc’s decision to delist from the NGX and the crises rocking the management of Seplat Energy Plc are recent concerns in the market.

At the close of the week’s trading session, the overall market value, which opened on Tuesday, April 11, at N28.87 trillion, dropped to N28.27 trillion on Friday, April 14, while the ASI fell to 51,893.94 basis points (bps) after it opened at 52,994.13bps.

Notable stocks that drove the market down on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) were Airtel Africa, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance and Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals.

Airtel’s share price fell by N133.10 to close at N1,198.00, Hallmark dropped by 13.64 per cent or 0.09k to close at 0.57k, and Neimeth lost 10.34 per cent or 0.15k to close at N1.30.

The ICIR reported that the Nigerian stock market closed in the first week of April in red as market value dropped by N674.53 billion. This brought the total loss to approximately N1.28 trillion in the two weeks of trading sessions.

The ICIR also reported that investors lost over N856 billion in March after the total market value fell below the N30 trillion mark.

At the close of the week’s trading session on Friday, April 14, a total turnover of 2.824 billion shares worth N10.964 billion in 15,686 deals was traded, compared to a total of 1.054 billion shares valued at N10.050 billion that exchanged hands in 16,155 deals in the previous week.

The conglomerates industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.797 billion shares valued at N2.495 billion traded in 931 deals, and contributed 63.65 per cent and 22.76 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value, respectively.

The financial services industry followed with 590.745 million shares worth N5.615 billion in 7,869 deals, while the ICT industry returned a turnover of 313.737 million shares worth N1.213 billion in 1,340 deals.

Buying and selling interest in expectations for the pending 2022 audited financial statement and first quarter 2023 results were the reasons experts highlighted for the negative performance in stocks in the week under review.

“As market volatility remains, investors sought for safer investment haven as a hedge against inflation in the face of attractive fixed income yields,” analysts at Cowry Asset Management said.

Sell pressure in some of the small, mid and large capitalised stocks contributed to the negative performance.

While the year-to-date return declined to 1.25 per cent from 3.40 per cent, sector performance was largely on the decline across the indices tracked.

The banking index fell by 6.28bps to close at 448.23bps, the insurance index dropped by 3.19bps to close at 181.40bps, while industrial index also dropped by 9.93bps to close 2,455.43bps.

While the consumer goods index gained 0.34bps to close at 698.37bps, the oil and gas index closed flat.

We are committed to recovering Chibok girls still in captivity — FG

Beloved JOHN
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We are committed to recovering Chibok girls still in captivity — FG

THE Federal government has reiterated its commitment to recovering the school girls held captive by Boko Haram terrorists.

Despite the failure of the government to secure the release of all the school girls abducted by Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno state, nine years after the incident, the ministry of Women Affairs has urged Nigerians to keep hope alive.

According to the minister, Pauline Tullen, while efforts are in place to secure the girls, Nigeria must continue to pray for the success of the security operatives.

Tullen, at a prayer meeting in Abuja on Friday, April 14 organised against the backdrop of the ninth anniversary of the 276 school girls’ abduction, said the government had rescued 122 girls, while 97 are still in captivity. Fifty-seven escaped on their own.

According to her, some of the released girls went through de-radicalisation, and were part of the rehabilitation and reintegration programmes designed by the ministry.

The programme was funded by the Federal government and international partners, with a committee headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

The minister also noted that the released girls were enrolled at the American University, Yola, and were involved in a special programme meant to help them cover lost sessions.

Abduction of Chibok girls

On the night of April 14, 2014, Boko Haram militants attacked a government secondary boarding school in Chibok, Borno state, where girls from surrounding areas had gone to take examinations.

The attack was the Boko Haram sect’s way of opposition to western education, which the militants believe corrupts the values of Muslims.

The gunmen arrived at night and raided the dormitories. They loaded 276 girls onto lorries and took them out of the town.

Some escaped by jumping off the lorries and running into the bushes.

In the end, the abductors took 219 girls.

Atiku Abubakar salutes Mary Katambi, other Chibok girls for pursuing education after abduction

Sinafi OMANGA
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Atiku Abubakar salutes Mary Katambi, other Chibok girls for pursuing education after abduction

MARY Katambi, one of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram in 2014, graduated from the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in 2021.

Katambi bagged a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, seven years after she escaped from the grip of the deadly Boko Haram terrorists who stormed Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno state, on the night of April 14, 2014.

Marking the ninth anniversary of the abduction, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, celebrated the AUN alumnus and other survivors “pursuing their education in other institutions at home and abroad.”

In a statement posted on his social media handles, Abubakar said the plight of Chibok girls “who have attained womanhood, has become a metaphor” for the protracted insecurity that has plagued Nigeria.

The former Vice President, founder of the university,  added that 13 other students out of the 57 Chibok students from AUN’s New Foundation School (NFS) “are following in her footsteps” and were admitted into the university last year.

“Let’s remember how the escaped girls are bracing the odds to send a clear message to their abductors and agents of retrogression. We must not give up until the last Chibok girl is rejoined with their family”, the statement said.

Nine years after, UNICEF rues suffering of children

The ICIR had reported that nine years after Boko Haram terrorists abducted 276 Chibok schoolgirls in Chibok, the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) has lamented the continued violations of children’s rights in the north-eastern region of Nigeria.

UNICEF representative, Christian Munduate, said in a statement on Friday, April 14 that “the statistics are disturbing, the reality is devastating” for children in the region.

“It has been nine years since the horrendous abduction of the Chibok girls, yet the nightmare continues as children are still being kidnapped, forcibly recruited, killed and injured – their futures torn away.

“Nine years after 276 schoolgirls were abducted in the middle of the night from their dormitory in Chibok, Nigeria, 96 girls remain in captivity, and thousands more children have been subjected to grave violations of their rights”, the statement said.

Christian Munduate

UNICEF noted that children are still being kidnapped in Nigeria’s North-East.

“As recently as 7 April 2023, 80 children were reportedly abducted by militants in Zamfara State’s Tsafe Local Government Area, according to local media.

“Since 2014, there have been over 2,400 incidents of grave violations verified, affecting over 6,800 children in the North East.

The UN agency further observed, “The most common violations are recruitment or use of children by armed groups “with 700 verified cases, followed by abductions of children, with 693 incidents, and killing and maiming, with 675 incidents.

“This reinforces the urgent need for action to protect children in Nigeria.”

 

Supplementary Elections: Tinubu urges Nigerians to shun violence

Beloved JOHN
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Supplementary Elections: Tinubu urges Nigerians to shun violence

THE president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerians to remain calm and peaceful during the supplementary election.

The election will hold on Saturday, April 15, in Kebbi and Adamawa states, five senatorial districts, and 31 federal and 58 state assembly constituencies across the federation.

Ahead of the election, the president-elect asked Nigerians to shun violence as it is the final leg of the polls.

Tinubu, who is out of the country, said this in a statement he issued on Friday.

“I call on Nigerians in the areas slated for the polls to conduct themselves peacefully and eschew violence and any act prejudicial to orderly electoral processes.

“We must ensure that the electoral processes are brought to a final, peaceful conclusion. I urge all Nigerians in areas where the additional polls will take place to eschew violence and conduct themselves in an orderly and peaceful manner,” he said.

He also called on APC supporters to come out in large numbers and vote for the party supporters.

“I must also use this opportunity to enjoin my All Progressives Congress members and the teeming supporters in the areas listed for the polls to come out in their large numbers to cast their votes for the party’s candidates.

“Our party members and supporters should vote overwhelmingly for APC to complement and solidify the victory we recorded in the earlier polls. This will no doubt help in the effective functioning of government at the federal and state levels for the benefit of our people,” he said.

Following the February 25 presidential/National Assembly elections, and the March 18 governorship/state assembly elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that it would conduct outstanding governorship and national and state assembly supplementary elections.

The two states with outstanding governorship elections, Adamawa and Kebbi, had been declared inconclusive in the March governorship poll.

In the Adamawa governorship poll, the incumbent Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 421,524, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Aishatu Dahiru, scored 390,275,  but INEC declared the election inconclusive due to vote margin.

In Kebbi, the APC polled 388,258 votes, while PDP had 342,980 and the election was declared inconclusive.

According to INEC returning officer in the state, Professor Yusuf Sa’idu, violence, destruction of election materials, disruption of electoral proceedings, and over-voting played a role in the decision.

Also, elections in the five senatorial districts and 31 federal and 58 state assembly constituencies were suspended or declared inconclusive.

‘I will sponsor another bill restricting emigration of nurses, pharmacists’

Ijeoma OPARA
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‘I will sponsor another bill restricting emigration of nurses, pharmacists’

A MEMBER of the House of Representatives, Johnson Ganiyu, who sponsored a bill seeking to withhold full licensing of doctors and dentists to restrict emigration, said on Friday, April 14, that he would be presenting a similar bill on nurses and pharmacists.

Ganiyu disclosed this during an interview on the Channels Television programme, Hard Copy.

“There is another bill coming up on nurses and another one for the pharmacists. It’s a similar thing: put a peg. I’m going to read that very soon. This is just the first phase and it is a short term measure. I’m not saying this is a permanent solution.

“It is a stop gap, short-term measure for us to take stock of what we have; whether it is going to solve the problem is a different thing. By the time we are able to mitigate against this using this approach, I know with time it is going to be a win-win for the doctors and the country as a whole,” he said.

Ganiyu’s bill seeks to amend the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) Act to prevent Nigeria-trained medical and dental practitioners from being granted full licences until they have worked for, at least, five years in the country.

The bill passed second reading at the House of Representatives on April 6.

The legislator said the alert by the World Health Organization (WHO),  which led to the United Kingdom placing Nigeria on a red list, was an indication that the bill was a step in the right direction.

Speaking on unresolved issues within the health sector, Ganiyu said he had moved a motion which called for the upgrade of health centres in Nigeria and better welfare packages for doctors.

However, motions are only proposals for discussion that may end up as advisories, while a bill is a draft of a proposed law.

The MDCN bill has attracted a lot of criticisms, and many Nigerians described it as discriminatory and a form of enslavement.

Ganiyu, however, regarded the criticisms as “personal opinions”, adding that his bill was not targeted at doctors, but was rather borne out of his passion for the healthcare sector and service to Nigerians.

Doctors in Nigeria and abroad have described the bill as ill-researched, but Ganiyu said he consulted with friends before drafting the bill. He also said he arrived at the conclusion that there was a decline in doctors practising within the country through a personal survey.

“I discussed with some of my doctors friends in the house and I read some literature. That’s all. I conducted a kind of survey on my own. I noticed there is a heavy decline; there is a capital flight of doctors from Nigeria, outside the shores of Nigeria. So should we fold our arms?” he asked.

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