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TUESDAY JANUARY 14, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY
NEWS
Bandits Kill 35, Abduct 58 Others, Demand N100m Ransom in Kaduna John Shiklam in Kaduna About 35 people have been reportedly killed while 58 others were said to have been abducted following the invasion of 10 communities by bandits in Chikun and Birnin Gwari Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kaduna State. The hoodlums were said to have demanded for the payment of N100 million ransom for the release of their victims. The bandits were said to have invaded the communities on January 6, 2020, sacking the villagers. Some who fled their homes, have taken refuge at Unguwan Bije Community Secondary School, Gonin Gora, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis while others were said to have fled to other communities. Speaking when the President of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), Mr. Jonathan Asake visited the victims yesterday at the school, Pastor Habila Sarkin Noma, said the bandits had called to say “we must produce N100 million as ransom if we want to have them alive.” He alleged that the attackers were Fulani herdsmen who have been attacking the villages persistently, “but we always find ways of surviving them”. He said the herdsmen “would graze on our crops
and threatened to kill us if we protest. He said “sometimes when they attack and take captives, we will manage and pay ransom. Even after paying, sometimes they kill the victims. “But the attacks that took place on January 6, 2020, was the worst. They killed a total of 35 people and kidnapped a total of 58 in 10 villages. He said the affected villages include: Badna, Zankoro, Hayin Damisa, Unguwan Badole, Badimi, Kuderi and Unguwan Doma in Chukun LGA while others include: Rumana Gbagyi, Rumana Hausa and Malomo in Birnin Gwari LGA. According to the clergyman, the invaders came in hundreds and were well armed. “They carried out deadly attacks and looted our villages”. Speaking in an interview with journalists during the visit, Asake called on the federal and Kaduna State governments to immediately come to the aid of the victims. He also called on international community, individuals and organisations to render assistance. “As you can see from the way these people are, they are seriously traumatised and needed immediate assistance. “We have been told that the suspected bandits destroyed
all their farm products and also destroyed their houses leaving them with nothing to call their own. “Here at Ungwar Beji, there are about 200 of them with no
food, beds or clothes while we have also been told that about 8,000 of them have converged at Buruku with nothing with them. “Worst of all, most of the
children are sick. This calls for concern on all people of goodwill to come to their aid in any kind in order to give them hope of survival before steps could be taken on the area of
their education,” Asake said. The spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, Mr. Yakubu Sabo could not be reached for reaction as his mobile phone was not available.
WORK IN PROGRESS...
L-R: Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde; Oyo State Commissioner for Works, Prof. Raphael Afonja; Director of Highways, Mr. Emmanuel Akinpelu; Managing Director, KOPEK, Mr. Issam Fegnali; and Contracts Manager, Mr. Pascal Hafouch, during the inspection of Jakata/ Bembo/Apata road, Ibadan…yesterday
Osinbajo Hails Sanusi for ECOWAS Court Delivers 38 Judgments, Keeping Peace in Kano 10 Rulings in 2019 Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday hailed Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II, for keeping peace in his kingdom. Osinbajo commended the Emir for ensuring peace in the state, saying his efforts had gone a long way in maintaining the unity of the state. The vice president described the projects he commissioned as a great development, noting that they’re a part of the dividends of democracy that would benefit the good people of the state. While commending Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Osinbajo said the people of Kano deserved such development projects.
In his remarks, the Emir told the vice president to consider Kano State as his second home, commending him for recognising the state as one of the peaceful in the country. He described the vice president’s visit to commission projects by the state government as a welcome development. Projects commissioned by Osinbajo include Murtala Mohammed Way Flyover completed by the Ganduje administration and named after business mogul, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan-Dantata; Katsina Road Underpass named after Alhaji Tijjani Hashim. The vice president also laid the foundation for the construction of Kofar Mata Underpass.
Alex Enumah in Abuja The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court yesterday disclosed that it disposed a total of 48 Decisions in 2019, the highest number of Decisions given in a single year by the court since its inception in 2001. The figure, according to statistics made available by the Court’s Registry Department, revealed that out of the 48 decisions, 38 were judgments and the remaining 10 were rulings. The figure, which is being regarded as a milestone achievement, is said to be significantly higher than the 33 and 23 decisions given by the court in 2018 and 2017, respectively. “This is the most vivid
expression of the expressed commitment of the current judges since their assumption of duty at the end of August 2018 to expedite the handling of cases in order to reduce the number of pending cases and help strengthen the confidence of ECOWAS citizens in the Court”, a statement credited to the President of the Court, Justice Edward Asante said in reaction to the landmark achievement. The President in the statement noted that the milestone was achieved despite the challenges confronting the Court such as the reduction of the number of judges from seven to five. Asante assured that the judges will remain on this trajectory considering the trend in the number of pending cases
which increased to 119 in 2019 compared to 108 in 2018 and 89 in 2017. “It is widely acknowledged that justice delayed is justice denied and we want citizens who approach the Court to do so, confident that justice will be delivered in a timely manner unlike the experience with some national courts,’ he added. Consequently, he said the court has scheduled several court sessions for the first quarter of 2020 during which 55 cases will be heard while 12 decisions comprising eight judgments and four rulings will be delivered. He noted that although the violation of human rights has become its defining mandate and transformed the court into the preeminent regional court
in Africa, the community must not lose sight of its primary mandate related to its role in the integration process as the court charged with the interpretation of community instruments. The statistics also showed that 441 cases were filed as at December 31, 2019 with the Court since its inception while 116 rulings, 231 judgments and four advisory opinions were delivered during the period. In addition, the court issued 30 orders, revised 18 of its decisions based on 23 applications and held 1,002 court sessions. The President equally expressed concern at the poor working conditions in the Court caused by inadequate office space.
A former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, who is standing trial on charges of money laundering involving N2billion yesterday appealed to the Federal High Court in Abuja to drop some of the conditions attached to the N1billion granted him by the Court in November last year. Maina, who was arraigned along with his firm, Common Input Property and Investment Limited, has been remanded in Abuja prison since October last year due to his inability to meet the bail conditions. He told Justice Okon Abang,
yesterday that the part of the bail conditions requiring him to produce two sureties, who must be serving senators with landed properties worth N500million each in Maitama or Asokoro, two highbrow areas of Abuja, was excessive and stringent. Maina, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), urged the court to drop the said conditions in the interest of justice. As part of the conditions of the bail granted him by Justice Abang had on November 25, 2019 directed him to produce two serving senators, to
guarantee the N1billion bail sum. The judge added that the sureties to be produced by Maina must undertake to appear in court with him at every trial date, pending the conclusion of the case. He added that should at least one of the defendants fail to appear with Maina at any court sitting, the bail would be revoked. Among other conditions, the judge said the defendant should also deposit his United States of America passports with the Chief Registrar of the court, pending the conclusion of the trial.
At the hearing of the bail variation application filed by Maina on December 6, 2019, the defendant’s lawyer, Mr. Afam Osigwe, said while his client had met other conditions, it had been impossible for him to get senators to serve as the sureties. While commending the judge for granting bail to his client, Osigwe said the bail conditions were “excessive and impossible to meet”. “The stringent and excessive nature of the conditions is evidenced by the inability of the first defendant/applicant (Maina) to meet those conditions as of today, January 13, 2020.
Ahead of Supreme Court I Can’t Get Senators with N1bn Properties as Judgment, Bauchi Gov My Sureties, Maina Tells Court Hospitalised The Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, has been hospitalised in a London hospital ahead of the Supreme Court judgment on some governorship election petitions, including Bauchi State. This was contained in a statement made available to journalists Sunday night by his Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor, Mukhtar Gidado. The Supreme Court had fixed yesterday for the hearing of the appeal brought against Governor Mohammed, by the
All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Mohammed Abubakar. However, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad, had adjourned till today, January 14, for delivery of the judgment in the matter. The media aide quoted the governor as saying, “I am in the hospital in London but we strongly believe that Allah is sufficient for us and He is able and capable to give us victory! Cheers, success shall be ours, In sha Allah! Cheers to you all.”