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Niger Preachers must Submit Sermons for approval – Gov Bago

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Governor Umar Bago of Niger State has said it is mandatory for preachers to submit their sermons for approval.

Speaking on TVC’s Politics on Sunday, the governor clarified some aspects of the law seeking to regulate preaching in the state.

“I didn’t ban evangelism… For everyone going to sermon on Friday, he should bring his scriptures for review, and it’s normal. Even in Saudi Arabia, this is done. We cannot say because you have been given the opportunity to be a cleric, you will go out and preach the gospel that is anti-people, anti-government and you think it’s normal.”

Asked if it was out of fear of indoctrination, the governor said, “It’s in that direction. We want to be able to see what they are preaching, hear what they are saying. We are working together with security agencies; the Department of State Services (DSS), the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the military.”

The development, which first became public earlier in the month, has generated controversy.

The Director General of the Niger State Religious Affairs, Umar Farooq, had said anyone interested in preaching in Niger must obtain a licence, emphasising that preachers had two months to obtain their licences.

“It is true, the State Government has banned preaching. Any preacher who wants to preach must secure a licence between now and the next two months.”

“All they need to do is to visit our office, get, and fill out the form. After which, they will have to face a panel that will screen them before they can start preaching,” Farooq had said.

 

 

 

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JUST IN: Wife kills husband with pestle over constant disagreement in Niger

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

“When he came back, he went to bed. I used a rope to tie his neck, and he could not struggle. I hit him with a pestle three times, twice on his head and once on his hand. I took advantage of his sleeping because his sleep is always deep.

A 27-year-old woman identified as Fatima Dzuma has been apprehended for killing her 25-year-old husband, Baba Aliyu, in Lafiyagi Dzwafu village in the Katcha local government area of Niger State.

Dzuma was said to have married Baba three years ago as his second wife after divorcing her first husband, but she had not given birth to Baba, while Baba’s first wife had just given birth, and preparations were underway for the naming ceremony.

Sources told The Nation that the deceased and the suspect usually had misunderstandings, and even the night before Dzuma killed Baba, they had a fight in which Baba beat Dzuma.

Confessing to the crime, Dzuma narrated that there had been an altercation between them that night, and she was beaten by her husband, who left the house after the assault.

“When he came back, he went to bed. I used a rope to tie his neck, and he could not struggle. I hit him with a pestle three times, twice on his head and once on his hand. I took advantage of his sleeping because his sleep is always deep.

“After I killed him, I put him inside a mat, threw him over the fence and dragged him to the bush in the backyard before coming back to wash the blood and excreta that came out of his body when I killed him”, she said.

When asked why she killed him, she said they had a misunderstanding where she told him that she did not love him anymore, and he beat her up.

When the family of Baba was looking for him, she claimed she had not seen him but confessed to the crime three days after she killed him.

According to her, only she carried out the act without the help of anybody.

The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Wasiu, said that the body of Baba Aliyu was found in a bush close to the house, adding that the suspect is currently in police custody.

“She confessed that she used a pestle to hit her husband when he was asleep and she later tied the deceased with clothes and rope and rolled the corpse to a nearby bush with a mat.

“The corpse was taken to general hospital Bida for post-mortem while the suspect was taken to custody. She will soon be transferred to SCID Minna for further investigation and prosecution”, Abiodun said.

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BREAKING: Bandits storm Niger State Mining Site, Kill 12, Kidnap Many

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Suspected bandits have stormed a mining site in Unguwar Magero village, Gurmana ward of Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State, killing some people and kidnapping many.

The attack has resulted in the loss of at least 12 lives although many more are feared dead.

Eyewitnesses report that the bandits descended upon the miners, opening fire indiscriminately.

The attack is the latest in a string of violent incidents in the region, with bandits kidnapping an unspecified number of people in Bassa community, also within Shiroro Local Government Area, just a day earlier.

Niger State Acting Governor, Comrade Yakubu Garba, has condemned the attacks, describing them as “satanic, insensible, atrocious, and callous.”

He expressed his condolences to the affected families and communities, praying for the souls of the departed and quick healing for those injured.

“He says it is very disheartening and disturbing for fellow humans to carry out such a barbaric and vicious act on their fellow humans.

“The Acting Governor, while commiserating with the affected families, community members and the entire people of Shiroro local government area over the unfortunate incident, prays Allah to repose the souls of the departed, comfort their loved ones and grant quick healing to those injured.

“He restated the Bago-led administration’s unwavering determination and commitment to taming the tide of insecurity in the State even as he encourages the Security Agencies not to be discouraged by the attacks on communities by the men of the underworld, assuring them of every support that would lead them to victory over evil,” a statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, said.

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BREAKING: Wife of Niger State Deputy Governor is dead

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Niger State Deputy Governor, Garba Yakubu, on Tuesday, lost his wife, Zainab Yakubu, in Minna, the state capital.

Confirming the incident to Channels Television through a telephone call, a spokesperson for the deputy governor, Ummikaltumi Kuta, said Zainab died after a brief illness in Minna.

Meanwhile, Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, has expressed sadness over the death of Zainab.

The governor, in a condolence message signed by his spokesman Bologi Ibrahim described the death of the wife of his deputy as a great loss to the state.

He said the death was devastating not only for his deputy but the government and the entire people of the state.

The governor said the State Executive Council share in his deputy’s loss and would provide every needed support at this moment of grief.

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Meet Mr. Fadeyibi “The Hitman from Transcorp Power Ltd” Doing the ruthless bidding of UBA Bank in AEDC

by Leading Reporters
written by Leading Reporters

Electricity consumers from the Federal Capital Territory; Nasarawa, Niger, and Kogi States are in for rough times owing to a ruthless revenue drive being spearheaded by Mr. Adeoye Fadeyibi, on behalf of United Bank for Africa, UBA.

UBA is a major creditor to AEDC.  Technically, UBA owns the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company  AEDC as it stands now. This followed several loan defaults by the electricity distribution company via its UBA Account No. 1019269503. 

An insider source said that Tony Elumelu routed for Fadeyibi after the later set up structures in Eko Electricity Distribution Company EKDC that saw revenue skyrocketing and operational costs and losses down.  Fadeyi’s feat in Elumelu’s Transcorp Power Ltd, Ugbelli where he ramped up power generation of the company from its abysmal 164MW to 634MW within interval of 25 months  was too glaring to be overlooked and needs to be replicated in AEDC, by Tony Elumelu’s estimates.

Other accounts the company maintains with UBA include AEDC Impress Funding  Account No. 22174094498.  This account has become a conduit through which billions of Naira were fleeced under the subheading – Operational impress.  For instance, between October and December, 2018, a total of N1,579,015,000 was mopped into the account as imprest. UBA Account No 10176666012 is believed to be another suspicious account with which the erstwhile management of AEDC carried out their acts.

Other AEDC accounts with UBA  include account no. 1019034680.  This account, according to investigation was used to sweep funds which were later diverted to yet another UBA account No 1017547366.

Another interesting activity uncovered is a UBA Account No.1017681365, allotted to AEDC WAMBA, Nasarawa State.  The account is shrouded in secrecy and may have been used as a veritable conduit for diversion of funds.  AEDC Okene Area Office with UBA account numbers 1021027984 and 1017805387 are two of the many accounts of AEDC that were structured to be leveraged to soothe the stealing appetite of the erstwhile management of AEDC.  

According to a discreet source, the former management played a conscious, pre-meditated  role that paved way for UBA acquisition of AEDC. 

Kabba AEDC Account No 1017805387 was another porous and specially structured account allegedly used in fleecing the Federal Government.

Mr. Fadeyibi prior to being drafted to AEDC by Tony Elumelu-led UBA worked as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Power Limited, Ugbelli.  The company is owned by Tony Elumelu.  Mr Fadeyibi career path has as well cut across  Eko Electricity Distribution Company where he was the MD/CEC as well as General Electricity.

A discreet source who spoke to LeadingReporters on condition of anonymity said that Mr Fadeyibi is on a mission.  A ruthless mission to bend all known rules in the bank’s bid to recover all the monies and loans AEDC owns UBA.

“His mission from his paymaster is clear – Bend all rules, squeeze all sources and get us all the money.  Unfortunately, the consumers are the ones to be squeezed in a sector where regulators are in the pockets of the players.  It is a pathetic situation”.

The electricity consumers with the capital territory and its neighboring states are in for a hard and sad time as the move by UBA would see them paying for more and getting less in terms of quality service. 

“Money, revenue, more revenue and more profits are now the drive force in AEDC”

“The former guys were hired to play the role they played that paved way for UBA to take over AEDC.  AEDC is one of the electricity distribution companies that has proved to be viable.  UBA management has been eyeing the company and incessant loan was the best way to dive in”.

UBA continued to avail its loan spree to AEDC, targeting that a time would come when AEDC would not be able to meet its financial obligation to the bank, thereby paving way for outright ownership.

“Tony Elumelu understands the viability of AEDC, being someone whose company Transcorp Power Limited is a player in the power sector”.  The source said.

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