THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2012
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NEWS Saraki is alive, hale and hearty, say PDP, aide
Police arrest man for wife’s death A
MIDDLE-aged man, David Magaji and a witch doctor are in the police net in Nasarawa State following their alleged involvement in the death of a woman, Cecilia Magaji. She was the wife of the first suspect, David. A source said on June 16, Cecilia attempted to reconcile with her husband by going to her matrimonial home. They had been separated for about 20 years. The source said the deceased’s family became worried when she failed to return after three days. The Nation learnt that the family contacted the deceased’s husband on the
From Johnny Danjuma, Lafia
phone, and he assured them that she would soon return home. The Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Nasarawa State Command, Cornelius Ocholi, who confirmed the arrest of the men, said the woman was allegedly invited by her husband for reconciliation, but she did not return home after several days. He said the deceased’s brother, Pastor Emmanuel Ayede, lodged a com-
plaint about the missing woman and the police swung into action. Her body was found some days later in a shallow grave, under a tree, on Tudun Ambassador Road, Lafia with some of the parts missing. He said they suspected ritual killing. Ocholi said the body of the mother of four-two boys and two girls has been deposited at the mortuary of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, and investigation is on to unravel the mystery behind her death.
From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin
•Dr. Saraki
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HERE was anxiety yesterday over the health of Dr. Olusola Saraki. But his personal assistant, Lateef Okandeji, has said the former Senate
NDLEA seizes 1.3m kg of drugs •Marks World Drug Day By Kelvin Osa Okunbor, Kolade Adeyemi, Kano, Marie-Therese Nanlong, Jos, Isah Idris, Katsina and Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe
•Giade
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T was the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking yesterday. And time for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to count its blessings. They are bountiful: 46,087 suspected drug traffickers arrested and 1,310,860.348kg of hard drugs seized from 2006 to date. Cannabis leads with 1,284,341.896kg. Cocaine is next with 16,746.629kg, Psychotropic substances are 9,128.747kg, while Heroin is 643.076kg. Nine thousand, seven hundred and eighty-two persons were also convicted during the period. Secretary to the Govern-
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ment of the Federation (SGF) Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who was the special guest of honour at the event held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, yesterday, said Nigeria would continue to protect its citizens from the menace of drugs. The SGF was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Research and Development, Mr. Ferdinand Agwu. Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Mohammed Bello Adoke said government would not relent in bringing the drug problem under control. Adoke was represented by his Special Assistant, Mr. Pious Oteh. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) country representative, Ms Mariam Sissoko, said: “Drug trafficking flows have global dimensions. The flows link regions and continents, sometimes with dra-
matic consequences for the countries they affect. Because of this, UNODC is building integrated regional programmes, as well as promoting inter-regional and interagency responses.” The Chairman/Chief Executive of the agency, Ahmadu Giade, said: “This is one commemoration we are undertaking with a clear sense of hope, rather than the despondence that characterised our past commemorations. Hope because all the efforts, both human and material resources and other forms of sacrifices put into the endeavour of ridding our society of drugs are not only beginning to germinate but are already bearing fruits. On this note, I say Nigeria is winning the drug war.” The theme of this year’s commemoration is, “Global Action for Healthy Communities without Drugs”. Dignitaries at the event included the United States Ambassador, Mr. Terrence McCulley and the Director General, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhi.
Within six months, the Kano State Command of the NDLEA seized 1, 915.39 kg of illicit drugs and arrested 358 suspects. The Commander of the agency, Mr. Sumaila Ethan, spoke yesterday in Kano. The Commander, who lamented the increasing consumption of Indian hemp in Kano, said of the suspects arrested, 93 were convicted, while 273 drug dependent persons were counselled and reintegrated into the society. The Plateau State Commander of the NDLEA, Ralph Igwenagu said the command has arrested 200 suspects and seized 1.7tonnes of drugs in the last six months. The NDLEA Commander in Katsina State, Alhaji Garba Ahmadu, said the command has arrested 155 suspects, convicted 22 and rehabilitated 97. Gombe State Command of the NDLEA confiscated 115.17 kg of cannabis and psychotropic substances between January and June. The Commander of the agency, Mr. Aliyu Adole, said nine drug dealers were arrested during the period.
Kogi verdict: Echocho warns against blackmailing judiciary
HE Jibrin Isah Echocho Campaign Organisation in Kogi State yesterday warned against attempt to blackmail the judiciary and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the June 29 judgment of a Federal High Court on the actual candidate of the PDP for 2011 governorship poll. The court will decide who ought to be the candidate of the PDP between Governor Idris Wada and a banker, Jubril Isah Echocho. But ahead of the verdict, the organisation has cautioned against move to instigate the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Echocho. The organisation gave the warning in a statement in Abuja by its Director, Public Communication and Strategy, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, The statement said: “Our attention has been drawn to series of articles, press statements as well as coordinated campaigns in both elec-
From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja
tronic and print media aimed at tarnishing the reputation of our principal, Alhaji Jibrin Isah (Echocho) orchestrated by some desperate politicians who are doomed to fail. “As a responsible organisation, and conscious of the fact that most of the issues being bandied about are before competent courts in the country, we had earlier opted to keep mute, knowing that only fools would continue to hit their heads against the wall even after being told that they have come to the end of the road. “However, it has become necessary for us to speak up, in view of the desperation and brazen impunity with which some of the characters associated with the said agents of our political opponents have carried on with
the mission to “destroy at all cost” the character, person and reputation of Alhaji Jibrin Isah, who remains the governorship candidate of the PDP in Kogi State. “Needless to say that it is impossible to ignore last week’s ignoble plea by Captain Wada to the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur that the latter should rescue him from Alhaji Isah who he claimed was making it impossible for him (Wada) to rule Kogi State. “There is no doubt that the plea to the PDP National Chairman was meant to enrol him into a satanic and illegal project, since it is public knowledge that judgment is to be delivered by a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday. “Counsel to all the parties have already submitted addresses and judgment is due. Perhaps, our opponent and his cohorts seek to smear the integrity of our able Chair-
man, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and the NWC who have consistently said the era of impunity and lack of internal party democracy are over with their election. We must not allow these men with less than positive motives have their way. “Most importantly, well meaning Nigerians ought to call these desperados to order as their comments and actions convey a more sinister intention of seeking to blackmail the judiciary by cleverly obfuscating the duty of the judge who by now must be considering issues raised by counsel of both parties and to decide either way, based on his conviction on the points of law. “Is it possible that they have foreseen the curtain drawn on their illegal sojourn by the forthcoming judgment? Does his plea to our chairman not amount to seeking to truncate a process?”
leader is alive, hale and hearty. He said in a statement that “the Kwara political god-father is currently on a visit to the United States of America. Yesterday he spoke with the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kwara State chapter, on the forthcoming House of Assembly election rerun in Oloje and Alanamu wards of Ilorin North-West Constituency.” Okandeji continued: “Senator Saraki, in a telephone interaction with the leaders of the party in the affected wards, noted that the PDP remains the only party in the state that has shown consistency in service delivery and entrenchment of quality leadership.” The Kwara State branch of the PDP also said Dr. Saraki is alive. The party, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Mas’ud Adebimpe, said: “The attention of the leadership of our great party has been drawn to the mischievous rumour that Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki is dead. “The rumour is not only mischievous and unfounded, but it is an outright falsehood designed to mislead the public on the health status of the Kwara political kingpin. “We wish to say with all
sense of responsibility that Saraki is alive, hale and hearty and has been in touch with the people of the state and the leadership of our party.”
Taraba pays N222.77m gratuity From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo
THE Taraba State Local Government Staff Pension Board yesterday paid N222.77million gratuities and pension arrears to its pensioners. Seventy-two living pensioners and 114 deceased pensioners were the beneficiaries. Special Adviser to Governor Danbaba Suntai on Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bashir Marafa, launched the payment, which took place at the Pension Board Secretariat, Jalingo. He was assisted by the Permanent Secretary of the board, Mr. Simon Istifanus Angyu. Marafa said the social well-being of the indigenes was the priority of the Suntai administration.
PUBLIC NOTICE I L E SAN M I I formerly known and addressed as Miss. Ilesanmi Mobolaji Teresa, now wish to be known and address as Mrs. Mobolaji Theresa Esan. all former documents remain valid. The general public please take note
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