Headlines

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.