Nelson Ugwuagbo

Former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku has been granted bail to the tune of N150 million by the Federal Capital Territory High Court, following allegations of N27 billion fraud brought by the Federal Government.

Justice Sylvanus Oriji presided over the case, mandating two sureties of the same amount, with one required to be a Federal Government employee holding the rank of Director.

The sureties must be residents of the Federal Capital Territory, with their addresses verified by the Court Registrar.

Furthermore, Justice Oriji imposed a travel restriction on Ishaku and his co-defendant, Bello Hero, barring them from leaving the country without court permission.

Notably, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by counsel Rotimi Jacobs, did not contest the bail.

This development comes after Ishaku’s arraignment by the EFCC on Monday, September 30, 2024.

The Katsina State High Court has dismissed a suit seeking to remove Umar Iliya Damagum as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The suit, filed by Ibrahim Musa, a member of the PDP, challenged Damagum’s appointment, arguing that the replacement of former National Chairman Dr Iyorchia Ayu was unconstitutional.

Musa contended that Ayu’s successor should have been chosen from the North-Central geopolitical zone, the region where Ayu hails from.

But, Justice Abdullahi Bawa-Faskari dismissed the case, ruling that the matter falls under the internal affairs of the party.

The judge held that the matter is beyond the court’s jurisdiction.

In his ruling, he upheld the preliminary objection raised by the first and second defendants, declaring the case “not justiciable” as it pertains solely to party matters.

“The matter is not justiciable being one which falls entirely within the internal affairs of the party, and the court has no jurisdiction,” Justice Bawa-Faskari said.

Israel is suspected of launching a barrage of missiles into Syria overnight, targeting a site close to the Russian-controlled Khmeimim air base, which allegedly stores Iranian weapons.

The assault involved up to 30 missiles striking the Latakia area, sparking massive explosions and bright orange flashes in the night sky as air defenses scrambled to intercept the incoming projectiles.

The intense bombardment ignited a massive fire visible from miles away, near Khmeimim, with secondary blasts suggesting that military equipment or munitions were hit.

This bold move may indicate Israel is intensifying its campaign against Iranian-backed assets in Syria, despite the risk of antagonizing Russia, following its successful destruction of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Russian and Syrian air defenses engaged the missiles for at least 40 minutes in Latakia.

Reports also suggest that an Iranian cargo plane had landed at Latakia Airport earlier, potentially transporting weapons, which could have prompted the Israeli strike.

Gunmen in Kebbi State abducted and killed Alhaji Bako Bala, the APC Chairman in Suru Local Government Area, on Wednesday. This horrific incident has sent shock waves through the community.

According to a post on the official Facebook page of Alhaji Zaidu Bala Kofa Sabuwa, the Special Adviser to the Kebbi Governor on Television and Radio, the armed assailants kidnapped Bala in his hometown, shooting him before abandoning him in a pool of blood.

Alhaji Bako Bala succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the Federal Medical Centre in Birnin Kebbi, shortly after being rushed there for treatment.

Kebbi State has increasingly become a hotspot for kidnappings for ransom, with criminal elements operating despite ongoing efforts by security forces and the state government to dismantle their hideouts and rescue victims.

In other news, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested four notorious kidnappers who have been terrorizing Abuja and its environs.

The Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, in a statement, said the kidnappers were trailed and arrested on 1st October 2024 after the command acted on credible intelligence.

The police disclosed that the kidnappers named Yau Sani, a.k.a Baba (an ex-convict), Nuhu, a.k.a. Giwa, Kabiru Mohammed, and Yusuf Hassan are living at their criminal hideouts in Sauka, Abuja.

Nigerian hip-hop sensation, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has taken a swipe at fellow musician David Adeleke, aka Davido, over his recent ambassador deal with global sports brand Puma, saying the deal was “nothing” to him.

According to Wizkid, Puma’s budget for Africa was not substantial enough for him, implying that Davido settled for less.

“I declined Puma’s deal because their budget wasn’t substantial enough for me,” Wizkid stated.

The rift between the two music rivals escalated after Davido announced his partnership with Puma on Wednesday.

Wizkid’s response has ignited a fierce debate among fans, with many taking sides.

Tragedy struck in Uruagu, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, as unidentified gunmen attacked and killed two police operatives in the early hours of Thursday.

The officers were on investigation duties when the assailants launched a surprise attack, sparking a fierce gun battle.

An eyewitness described the horrific scene to Punch, saying the attackers hurled an improvised explosive device (IED) at the police team, which detonated and instantly killed two officers.

The attackers opened fire on sighting the police team and threw the IED into their operational vehicle, which was engulfed in flames.

The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the incident and launched a manhunt for the perpetrators. SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the command’s spokesman, assured the public that they are committed to bringing the attackers to justice.

Ikenga urged eyewitnesses and the public to provide any relevant information to aid the ongoing operation, promising confidentiality.

The police are working tirelessly to track down the criminals and ensure justice is served.

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members across the country have expressed outrage after receiving a significantly reduced allowance of ₦33,000 for September, contrary to the approved ₦77,000 minimum wage.

The Federal Government had announced the implementation of the new minimum wage, signed into law by President Tinubu on July 29, following an agreement with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in June.

Corps members were expecting the increased allowance, including arrears for July and August. However, the reduced payment has sparked widespread discontent.

The development has generated heated reactions on social media, with many questioning the government’s commitment to supporting its youth.

The Federal Government has commenced arrangements to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon due to escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.

In an announcement, Special Assistant to the President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun in a post on X, formerly Twitter on Tuesday advised Nigerians in Lebanon to contact the Nigerian mission for documentation.

Alert! All Nigerians in Lebanon are expected to get in touch with the Nigerian mission for profiling and documentation and subsequent evacuation,” he wrote.

This comes as Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday, retaliating for the assassination of Hezbollah leaders, prompting a heated exchange of threats.

Details later…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has announced its withdrawal from the local government elections slated for November 2, 2024.

This decision was made public during a joint meeting of the party’s state executives and local government chairmen held in Umuahia.

The party cited a lack of official communication from the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) as the primary reason for its withdrawal.

The State Assistant Secretary and acting Publicity Secretary of the APC, Engr. Sterling Uruakpa, explained that the party cannot rely on information disseminated via social media platforms regarding the elections.

He emphasized the importance of ABSIEC using proper and official channels to convey important updates and details to the party.

The APC stressed the need for transparency and inclusiveness in the election process to maintain credibility among all stakeholders involved.

Uruakpa stated, “The All Progressives Congress is the ruling political party in Nigeria and the biggest party in Africa and will not tolerate any form of contempt or disrespect from ABSIEC.

“ABSIEC must follow due process in their activities, ensure inclusiveness, and provide a level playing field for all the parties in order to gain the confidence and trust of the political parties and the people.

Armed attackers reportedly killed two soldiers, a village head, and six residents in the Egwuma community, Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, on Tuesday evening.

The assault, which occurred around 5 p.m., left the village shaken. According to local sources, the attackers also seized weapons from the slain soldiers, seriously injuring another.

A former member of the Benue State House of Assembly representing Agatu constituency, Sule Audu, confirmed the incident in a phone interview with reporters.

He stated that nine people, including the two soldiers, the village head of Egwuma, and six others, were killed during the attack.

Audu said, “The incident happened between 4pm and 5pm on Tuesday. The bandits attacked Egwuma through Akile axis, boycotting the road where soldiers were stationed.

They opened fire on people in their houses. They killed the clan head of the village and six others as well as two soldiers and carted away soldiers’ arms.

One of the soldiers was seriously wounded. They went back to the part of Agatu land that they are occupying; villages like Ogwumogbo, Ejuma, Akile, Okpogbolo, Okpiye, Echije.

It was on Sunday that the people returned home after soldiers assured them of safety, then they were killed on Tuesday. The affected village had long been deserted following the bandits invasion. They would attack and run back to the villages they are occupying.”

Audu added that the attackers likely came from Nasarawa and Kogi states, where they have maintained a presence in the area, terrorizing local communities.

He noted that while the soldiers had been instrumental in curbing past attacks, the situation remains dire.

When contacted, Benue State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Catherine Anene said she had not yet received a detailed report of the attack.