Southern Kaduna Boils Again As Gunmen Invade Community, Kills 30, Many injured
At least 30 persons have been killed and many houses razed in Madamai and Abun villages in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
According to the former Coordinator, Kaura Youth Coalition, Comrade Derek Christopher, the attackers invaded the communities around 5pm and started shooting sporadically.
He said, “Some of them were taken to the hospital for treatment.”
Attempts to reach the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Muhammed Jalige, for comment was to no avail, as his number was not reachable at the time of filing this report.
Arrested Kaduna Kidnap Kingpin Discloses Identities Of Gang Members, Gives Breakdown Of Ransom Collected
Goma Samaila, leader of a kidnap gang in Ragachucku axis of Kaduna State, has disclosed the identities of his gang members.
The 47-year-old suspect, who has reportedly been into crime for many years, spoke about some of his operations and amounts received as ransom.
In a viral video, Samaila was seen pleading for mercy while being grilled by one of the security operatives who arrested him.
“I am pleading for mercy and forgiveness; I will never commit such offence again,” he said.
On some of the operations he was involved in, he said, “The first person we kidnapped is Abdul; they paid a ransom of N200,000; on Alhaji Umaru, we collected N500,000, Another person is Alhaji Birau; they paid the total sum of N3 million and the other person is Alhaji Ibrahim who paid N700,000.”
Samaila also disclosed the identities of some of the gang members.
“In Ragachucku axis, there are Yusuf, Sale, Gomi, Nasiru, Tukur, Banki, Magaji.
“Then in Kirama axis, there are Musa, Kadi, Oria, Ibrahim, Bala, Rebo, Gaia, Malan, Osama, Babangida, Abubakar and Sule. I can’t remember the name
of the other one who left us to join Babangida, Suleiman and Sule.”
Ganduje’s Son Flees To Egypt With His Family After Dragging Mother To EFCC Over Fraud
Abdulazeez Ganduje, the first son of Kano Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, is said to have fled to Egypt with his family after his mother was accused of corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to people acquainted with the case, the young man had taken his mother, Hafsat Ganduje, to the EFCC, indicating a pattern of corruptly exploiting family influence for personal gain.
Governor Ganduje has yet to make a statement on the matter.
According to a daily Nigerian newspaper, the governor’s son fled the country soon after filing the petition to avoid his parents’ “wrath.”
A source was quoted as saying, “Abdulazeez left Nigeria for Egypt with his family immediately after filing the petition. He told us he would remain there until the father leaves office. He has avoided his parents and gone underground since the beginning of the crisis.”
His mother had shunned an invitation extended to her by the anti-graft agency, to report for questioning, over a bribery and land fraud case reported by her son.
Ganduje, the governor, had previously been involved in a corruption-related scandal.
He has struggled to untangle himself from the public perception that he is a corrupt public servant since 2018 when Daily Nigerian published a series of videos that showed the governor collecting money from a government contractor.
Abdulazeez reported to the anti-graft agency that he was approached by a property developer to help facilitate the acquisition of some plots of land in Kano with some hundreds of thousands of US dollars and at least N35 million as “facilitation commission.”
It was further learnt that Abdulazeez said he paid the sum in dollars to his mother, Ganduje.
“But three months later, (the property developer) discovered that the plots of land he wanted and had paid the first family for had been allocated to other buyers and he then requested to be refunded,” a source was quoted as saying.
Asked to comment on the matter, a spokesperson for Kano State Government, Mohammed Garba, said, “I am not aware” and, so, he could not comment.
EFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, did not comment on the matter when contacted.
Lai Mohammed Bags Chieftaincy Title As ‘Kakakin Kebbi’
Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has been honoured with the title of Kakakin Kebbi, by the Emir of Argungu, Alh Sumaila Mera.
The turbaning which took place at the forecourt of the Palace of the Emir in Argungu town, Kebbi State was on the sideline of the 2021 World Tourism Day to be celebrated in Birnin-Kebbi on Monday.
Speaking at the event, the Emir said the title was conferred on the minister because of his “courage and strength of character in projecting the image of Nigeria locally and internationally”.
Specifically, the Emir said the emirate honoured the minister with the title as a show of appreciation for his effort in promoting the Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival to attain international status.
The annual festival which attracts local and international participants and tourists was in 2017 listed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Emir also commended past Ministers of Culture and Tourism for their efforts in promoting the festival nationally since 1970.
“Traditionally, Kakakin is an instrument which attracts attention. From the authority of the Emir and the entire people of the emirate, it has now been handed over to the recipient.
“The bearer of the instrument is the trumpet of the Argungu Emirate and he will be traditionally referred to as Kakakin.”
“This gesture will be permanently recorded in the annal of our history that the minister is the Kakakin Kebbi.
“On behalf of the entire people of the emirate, I welcome you most warmly and I want to assure you that we will involve you in all matters of importance in the emirate,” he said.
The traditional rulers charged the minister to reciprocate the gesture by continuing to promote the cultural heritage of Kebbi and Argungu emirate in particular. He assured that the emirate and the country at large would benefit from the wealth of experience of the minister. The minister thanked the Emir and the entire people of the emirate for their affection and generosity in bestowing the honour and title of Kakakin Kebbi on him.
“As the cultural ambassador of Kebbi, I will endeavour that we develop all the festivals in the four emirates in the state in a manner that they will be globally recognised.”
“I will also work assiduously to ensure these festivals become magnet to unite Nigeria and make the state a global tourist destination,” he said.
The minister said the choice of Kebbi for the 2021 celebration of the World Tourism Day was not just by coincidence but well planned and thought out. According to him, Kebbi state is one of the frontline cultural and tourism destinations and all the four emirates in the state have sellable cultural heritages.
“The Argungu fishing and cultural festival is known not just in Nigeria but all over the world and I am proud to say that it is one of the five festivals that have been ascribed intangible heritage of UNESCO.”
“The festival should not be seen from the view point of fishing and entertainment alone. rather it should be seen as a symbol of unity,” he said.
Mohammed said the Hottungo festival in Gwandu emirate of Kebbi is celebrated annually by the Fulani tribe to thank Allah for the safe return of their cattle. He said the Regatta Carnival, celebrated in Yauri Emirate of Kebbi started way back as a measure for protecting bridal trains which were being attacked on the river in those days.
The minister said the Uhola festival in Zuru Emirate is celebrated annually at the end of harvest to thank God for bountiful agricultural produce.
“I am glad that a lot of these cultural practices have been largely modernised.
“In particular is the practice where a prospective bridegroom have to stay seven years in the farm of a father in-law before he can be given his bride,” he said.
The minister said Nigerians are people with history and past and all their festivals are element for unity and oneness. He appealed to the private sector to invest in culture and festivals, stressing that they were the heritage that would be handed over to the children unborn.
The highlights of the event included the hiding of the minister from the crowd shortly after his arrival at the palace with his entourage.
He was later brought out by the Galadima Argungu, Alhaji Murtala Umary who offered prayers and led the minister to a prepared mat on a platform where he sat with Ulamas.
While sitting on the mat, the minister was adorned with his traditional regalia comprising a long red royal cap, a big gown, another chieftancy long gown and turban on his head.While the decoration was going on, the citation of the minister was read and he was later lifted up by the Galadima who presented him to the Emir.
The Emir offered the minister with his instruments of office, a long trumpet and another short one which he said symbolised what he would use in projecting the virtue, culture and traditions of Argungu and Kebbi.
BREAKING: US Govt prepares 6,700 page documentary evidence for Abba Kyari’s
Embattled police cop, Abba Kyari’s woes are far from over as the United State Government has gathered over 6,700 pages of documentary evidence and 2,700 electronic files from trial in a $1.1 million fraud case involving him and disgraced fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abass a.k.a Hushpuppi.
It can be recalled that Kyari entered hot water earlier this year after he was indicted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI over his role in a massive $1.1 million fraud carried out on a Qatari businessman by Hushpuppi and a few others.
According to Premium Times, US prosecutors are currently scouring through investigative reports and “new discoveries” including documents obtained from foreign law enforcement. Prosecutors have asked the U.S. District Court for Central California to postpone trial from October 2021 to 17 May, 2022.
The parties jointly filed the application on Friday, citing various reasons for asking for trial postponement.
Apart from the need for additional time by the defence lawyers to prepare for the case, U.S. prosecutors also asked for more time to process troves of documents, including those obtained from foreign countries.
According to the application, the U.S. government has already handed to the defence approximately 2.31 GB of data consisting of 2,707 electronic files. The files contain, among others, exported chat logs, Cellebrite reports, WhatApp messages, audio recordings, etc.
It added that prosecutors were processing approximately 6,773 pages of additional discovery expected to be produced in two weeks’ time.
“Defendants are charged with violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1349 (Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud); § 1956(h) (Conspiracy to Engage in Money Laundering); and § 1028A(a)(1) (Aggravated Identity Theft).”
“The government has produced discovery to the defense, including approximately 2.31 GB of native data consisting of 2,707 files including exported chat logs, Cellebrite reports, WhatApp messages, audio recordings, and other social media content.”
“The government is currently processing approximately 6,773 pages of additional discovery including investigative reports and documents received from foreign law enforcement agencies for production and anticipates those materials will be produced within approximately two weeks,” the document reads, in part.
Three ready for trial in May, Abba Kyari, two others ‘at large’
BREAKING! CNN discovers location of ‘Radio Biafra’ in London
For years now, Nigerians have asked for the location of ‘Radio Biafra’, a network of internet-based amateur radio stations broadcasting the agenda of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
Yesterday, the Cable News Network, CNN, discovered a tucked away down a quiet, leafy street in Peckham, southeast London, the registered address of the group.
CNN described the place as a suburban spot, saying that it is the unlikely location of Radio Biafra.
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu founded IPOB in 2012 and established Radio Biafra in 2009. The group was created to restore an independent state of Biafra.
Radio Biafra was also created to disseminate, enlighten, educate, inform and criticise the activities of the Nigerian government by Kanu.
IPOB was banned by the Federal government in 2017. However, in October 19, 2015, Kanu was arrested for treasonable felony, sedition, and ethnic incitement. He was released on bail in 2017 and fled to the UK.
IPOB has criticized the Nigerian federal government for poor investment, political alienation, inequitable resource distribution, ethnic marginalization, heavy military presence, extra-judicial killings in the South-Eastern, South-Central and parts of North-Central regions of the country.
He was re-arrested in Keyan and brought back to Nigeria to face his charges.
The Governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje has appointed Mr. Aliyu Ibrahim as the new Emir of Gaya.
This development was announced by the Secretary to the Kano state government, Usman Alhaji on Sunday.
In his words: “By the power conferred on the governor of Kano state by Kano emirates law 2020 (as amended) approved the appointment of Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir as emir of Gaya,” he said.
“The appointment followed the recommendation of the Gaya Emirate Kingmakers after presentation of three candidates from which the governor approved the appointment of Aliyu Ibrahim Gaya.”
The new emir succeeds Ibrahim Abdulkadir, his late father, who died on Wednesday at the age of 91.
“She Lied Against Me” – Sen. Grace Bent Speaks On Precious Chikwendu’s Arrest
August 5, 2021
How Reno Omokri was ‘paid’ $10 million to harrass Buhari in New York – Youth Coalition
The leadership of the National Youth Coalition has alleged that the a former Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan on new media, Mr. Reno Omokri collected the sum of $10 million from opposition members and some foreign enemies to ‘blackmail’ President Muhammadu Buhari before the international community in New York.
In a statement released to newsmen in Lagos on Friday by the National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Olugbenga Michael, the group accused Reno of betraying his country for a pot of soured porridge in a foreign land.
The statementread; “Reno who has no visible means of livelihood but survives on blackmailing his country and it’s leaders before the world however advised Nigerians in New York to speak the language Reno understands to him, saying Nigeria is our collective heritage and we must not allow any individual to destroy our image for selfish reasons.”
The group urged the international community to ignore Mr. Reno “because his activism does not reflect the true wishes of Nigerians or the state of affairs in the country”.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, on Friday night, debunked the claim in some quarters that the suspected financiers in respect of whom remand orders were procured by the Federal Government have been released.
Malami insisted there was no time he ordered or facilitated the release of the suspects.
The AGF’s denial was against the backdrop of an allegation by an online medium that 300 suspects of terrorism financiers had been released.
“The report is a malicious misrepresentation of facts relating to the ongoing investigation of terrorism financing suspects in Nigeria.
“It is important to reiterate at this point that the fight against the menace of terrorism is an ongoing operation characterized by intelligence gathering, arrest, investigation, and prosecution.
“The story is inherently contradictory and substantially mischievous.
“The contradictions in the story can best be understood from the point of the analysis of the affidavit that was said to have been procured by the online medium as deposed before a court in relation to the subject matter.
“By their own showing, the Office of the Attorney General, has deposed to an affidavit on account of which an order of a court was obtained, seeking for the continued detention of those financiers that were alleged to have been in custody.
“This, by implication, established that the matter is effectively submitted to the jurisdiction of the court” the AGF submitted.
Malami posited that it was common knowledge that where a matter is submitted to a court of law, it is only through the judicial process that any subsequent action can possibly be taken. According to the Justice Minister, the question then arising from the claim is this:
“When was an application filed in court by the office of the Attorney General by which the release of the purported suspects was procured?
“It amounts to approbation and reprobation for the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation to, in one breath, obtain an order seeking for the continued detention of the alleged financiers of Boko Haram and at the same time having them released” Malami argued.
Insisting that the purveyors of the publication “must have lost their sense of logic in view of their inherent illogical position” the AGF maintained that if his interest was to have the people released, the idea of approaching the court for an order seeking for extension of time to have them in custody couldn’t have even arise in the first place.
“The most important, and in fact, the interesting aspect that people would like to know about the mischief associated with the position of the online publication was “who are the custodians of these people alleged to have been taken into custody?
“One needs to know by which communication or correspondence or application was their release procured since the matter is already pending before the court of law, and they were taken to custody on account of court order.
“It does not add up for the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation to procure the release of someone that has been in custody on account of a court order without approaching the court.
The public, in essence, are entitled to know which application was it that was subsequently filed to procure the release financiers. When was the application filed, before which court was it taken and which lawyer is it that has taken the application and where is the court order on which account the release was effected,” the AGF queried in a statement issued midnight, Friday, by his media aide, Dr Umar Gwandu.
