Folarin Kehinde

The Plateau State Police Command has arrested a pastor who allegedly kidnapped himself several times and collected ransom from members of his congregation.

DSP Alfred Alabo, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Jos.

Alabo said that the police arrested the suspect in November 2022.

”The Police has uncovered the nefarious act of one Pastor Albarka Sukuya of Jenta Apata, Jos, who on several occasions staged his kidnap with his cohorts and received ransom from sympathising members of his congregation.

”Sequel to his spurious kidnaps of Nov. 14 and Nov. 15, 2022, where N400,000 and N200,000, respectively, were paid by his sympathisers as a ransom for his release, the incidents triggered suspicion.

”Through credible intelligence, the clergyman was invited by the DPO Nasarawa Gwong Police Station, CSP Musa Hassan, and investigation commenced immediately.

”In the course of investigation, it was established that the suspect has been conspiring with his gang to stage his kidnap and fraudulently collect ransom. He has confessed to committing the crime,” he said.

Alabo said that the suspect had revealed the identity of three other members of his gang, adding that two of them were arrested while one is still at large.

The suspect further disclosed that on Jan. 1, he set ablaze the vehicles and a bicycle parked at ECWA Bishara 3, Jenta Apata premises belonging to his colleagues,” Alabo said.

The police spokesperson called on members of the public to be watchful and ensure timely reports of any suspicious happenings around them to relevant security agencies for a prompt response.

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have attacked the Ushafa community in Bwari Area Council, Abuja, killing a man and abducting his family members.

It was gathered that the incident, which occurred on Wednesday morning at about 1 am, has aroused tension in the area.

A member of the community, Mr James Olachi, stated that the incident happened behind the LGEA Primary School Ushafa, close to the popular Going-Park.

According to Mr James, the assailants invaded the area and were shooting for over 30 minutes without interruption from any security agency.

The deceased, simply identified as Mr Adegoke, was said to have struggled with the gun-wielding kidnappers before he was gunned down.

The daredevil attackers whisked away the wife and a cousin to an unknown destination.

The spokesperson of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT police command, DSP Josephine Adeh, did not answer her phone calls or respond as at press time.

The Aggrieved G-5 Governors led by the Executive Governor of the oil rich Rivers State Chief Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has resolved to stick with their People’s Democratic party and support her Presidential Candidate in the coming February 25th Presidential election.

This was made known immediately after their meeting earlier today. In the words of the Chairman of the integrity group and the Executive Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom he said, despite our disagreement with the National Chairman of our party who has refused to honor a simple gentleman agreement entered into in the interest of the party, we shall work for the candidates of our party

Addressing the media team, he further said it has become a high demand from all quarters that we make this sacrifice for the sake of Nigerians.

So we let go as our agitation has never been for us as Governors but for all of us and now that the majority is asking we let go, we have accepted and therefore reaffirm our commitment to ensure victory for all candidates of our party the PDP in the coming national elections beginning from the presidency to the legislative candidates.

Details coming…….

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised fresh alarms, warning that the forthcoming general election faces serious threat of cancellation should the insecurity across the country fails to improve.

Its Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, who expressed the concerns, also warned that the cancellation and/or postponement of elections in sufficient constituencies due to the prevailing security situation in the areas will not only hinder the declaration of elections results but also precipitate constitutional crisis.

Represented by the Chairman, Board of Electoral Institute (BEI), Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, Yakubu spoke in his remarks at the validation of election security training resources held in Abuja on Monday.

The electoral umpire boss however assured that the commission is not leaving anything to chance in ensuring that intensive and extensive security are provided for election personnel, materials and processes.

His words: “We all appreciate the fact that Election Security is vital to democratic consolidation through provision of enabling environment for the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections and thus strengthening the electoral process.

“Consequently, in preparations for the 2023 general elections, the commission is not leaving anything to chance in ensuring that intensive and extensive security are provided for election personnel, materials and processes.

“This is particularly significant to the commission given the current insecurity challenges in various parts the country and the fact that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members constitute the core of the Polling Unit Election officials.

“Moreover, if the insecurity is not monitored and dealt with decisively, it could ultimately culminate in the cancellation and/or postponement of elections in sufficient constituencies to hinder declaration of elections results and precipitate constitutional crisis. This must not be allowed to happen and shall not be allowed to happen.

“Therefore, security personnel in particular and all election officials in general must be security conscious and alert to unusual activities in their environment and must be fully equipped to deal with any challenge at all times,” he charged.

Speaking further, he said: “To this end, the National Security Adviser, Gen. Mohammed Babagana Monguno, and the Chairman, INEC have jointly assured the nation that conducive environment will be provided for successful conduct of the 2023 general Election.

“Similarly, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has conducted Election Security Management Workshops across the Six Geopolitical Zones. On its part the commission, through The Electoral Institute, has institutionalised the development and implementation of a cascaded training mechanism for security personnel as a critical component of its training plan.

“We are also aware that there is a new Electoral Legal Framework that will guide the 2023 as a result of the enactment of the Electoral Act 2022 which prompted the review of the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Conduct of Elections 2022.

“In particular, Sections 47(2), 60(1, 2 & 5), 62(1), 64(4a & 4b) and 64(5) of the Electoral Act 2022, which confers INEC with the power to use any technological device to transmit or transfer election results electronically are instructive in this regard.

“Emboldened by these legal protections, the commission introduced new innovative technologies and procedures and made commitments to the Nigeria People that (a) Continuous Verification, Accreditation and Voting will be conducted at the Polling Units using the Bimodal Verification and Accreditation System (BVAS) and (b) Real-Time Polling Unit-level results will be uploaded on to the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) Portal using the same BVAS.

These commitments require innovative security strategies and deployments for protection of voters, election personnel, materials, equipment, the electoral processes as well as the general public and infrastructure,” he noted.

Commenting further, the commission said that; “these innovative systems and processes minimize human errors and delays in results collation and improves the accuracy, transparency, and credibility of the results collation process thereby ensuring credibility of the process.

“They were tested during the Ekiti and Osun Governorship elections, held on June 18, 2022 and July 16, 2022, respectively. The Hon. Chairman INEC has severally assured the nation that the BVAS and IReV will be deployed during the 2023 General Elections.

The federal government on Monday commenced the accreditation process of the 20 shortlisted candidates for the replacement of Accountant General of the Federation, AGF.

A circular by the government said the twenty candidates were selected from ministries, departments, agencies, MDAs.

In the circular, the government disclosed that the shortlist followed reports of the anti-corruption agencies on screening prospective candidates that applied to participate in the process for the appointment of a substantive AGF.

The shortlisted candidates are to come for the accreditation exercise at Olusegun Obasanjo Hall, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Federal Secretariat, Phase II, Abuja, starting from Monday 9th to Wednesday 11th of January 2023, between 8.00 am and 4:00 pm daily.

Those shortlisted include Mohammed Aminu Yara’abba (Federal Fire Service); Mahmud Adam Kambari (North East Dev. Comm); Danladi Zakowi Comfort (Interior); Mohammed Magaji. M. Doho (Interior); Madein Oluwatoyin Sakirat (OHCSF) and Waziri Amos Samuel (Agric and Rural Development).

Others are Isa Abubakar (Science, Tech & Innovation); Adaramoye Joseph Oluwole (Humanitarian Affairs); Ogunsemowo Oladipupo Olakunle (Environment); Ibrahim Saadiyya Jibo (National Boundary Commission) and Egbokale Kadiri Charity (Nig. Football Federation).

Recall that the suspended Accountant General, Ahmed Idris, was arrested after he failed to honour invitations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to answer questions over an alleged N109 billion fraud allegation against him.

Two days later, Idris was suspended by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed indefinitely “without pay”, and Chukwunyere Anamekwe, appointed to replace him in an acting capacity, was removed.