The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Attahiru Bafarawa

  • Parties agree to re-assign Dasuki, others’ cases

    Parties agree to re-assign Dasuki, others’ cases

    Parties in the criminal cases involving former a National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki and others have agreed that the two charges against them be brought before a single judge for determination.

    They resolved on Wednesday to approach the Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), before which the cases are pending, to seek his approval for re-assignment of both cases to Justice Husein Baba-Yusuf.

    The first case involves Dasuki, a former Director of Finance, Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu; a former Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba-Kusa and his two companies – Acacia Holding Limited, and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.

    They are accused of diverting about N13.6 billion belonging to ONSA.

    The case is being handled by Justice Baba-Yusuf.

    The second case, now before Justice Peter Affen (also of the High Court of the FCT), involves Dasuki, ex-Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; a former Director of Finance at ONSA, Shuaibu Salisu, a former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, his son, Sagir Bafarawa and their company, Dalhatu Investment Limited.

    They are accused of diverting about N9.2billion from ONSA.

    At the resumption of proceedings on Wednesday, lead prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), suggested that the court shelved the scheduled hearing of a motion by Dasuki, challenging the simultaneous existence of both cases.

  • Court to rule on Dasuki’s application March 4

    Court to rule on Dasuki’s application March 4

    Justice Peter Affen of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, has fixed March 4 for ruling on a motion filed by the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, to stop his trial.

    Dasuki was arraigned alongside a former Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, and a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, a former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, the ex-governor’s son, Sagir Attahiru, and a firm, Dalhatu Investment on a 22-count charge of looting about N13 billion public funds.

    Dasuki’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), on Friday moved the motion and argued that it would amount to unnecessary indulgence of the prosecution for the court to proceed with his client’s trial when the prosecution was allegedly in breach of the court’s order.

    He argued that the continued detention of his client was a violation of his rights as he was not only being unlawfully held, but was also denied the rights to prepare for his defence.

    Daudu wants the court to stay further proceedings in the case, quash the charges and discharge his client.

    Relying on newspaper reports, Daudu alleged that his client was being held on the order of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Responding, the prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), objected to Dasuki’s motion and urged the court to dismiss it.

    He said the motion was intended to delay proceedings in the case.

     

  • Buhari’s government is for Nigerians – Bafarawa

    Former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru ‎Bafarawa, on Wednesday hailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, describing it as government for Nigerians.

    The former governor also expressed support for the government’s anti-corruption measures.

    “Whether I am an APC or PDP member, the government is ours and Nigeria is my country. Nothing stops me from supporting its good policies,” he stated.

    Speaking to newsmen in Sokoto, Bafarawa who was a former presidential candidate of the defunct Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), said, “I am 100 per cent behind Buhari’s anti-graft drive to sanitise the system.”

    “But there should be justice and Buhari cannot achieve that alone without the support and cooperation of others.

    “Anyone found guilty should be made to face justice. ‎We are 100 per cent in support of the way things are going.”

    “I am not here for politics but to see my family‎ and know how they are fairing.”

    On his eight years rule as governor of Sokoto State, Bafarawa said, ” I was governor for eight years and I also fought corruption within my government when I was able to leave behind N13 billion for my successor.”

    He, however, refused to comment on the arms purchase scandal, saying the matter was in court.

  • Don’t bribe God

    Don’t bribe God

    The story had it that Attahiru Bafarawa clucked with N4.6 billion for spiritual purposes. Quite a hefty sum for God, I thought. But it may have made sense if Jonathan won the election. Bafawara could have aped his Christian friends and yelled, To Allah be the glory. But the electoral loss means we could have spent the money well.

    Look, for instance, at Lagos. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode spent N4.7 billion to protect 16 million Nigerians. He invested it in a series of helicopters, gunboats, fleet of cars and motorbikes as well as communication gadgets. We are feeling the impact in Lagos now. The devout will say Ambode spent his money on mammon while Bafarawa and Jonathan spent on God.

    Mammon seems well now that their project has failed with Jonathan’s loss. The 16 million Lagosians will appreciate the money more than marabouts and other places where the money might have gone. Lesson: don’t’ bribe God. When the people rejoice, N4.6 billion as offering meets brick wall of heaven.

  • Bafarawa, supporters defect to PDP

    * APC: It’s a good omen

    Former Sokoto state governor, Attahiru Bafarawa and his supporters yesterday dumped the All Progressives Congress(APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

    This was hours after a meeting at his residence.

    Former Kano state governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, was also at the meeting.

    Briefing newsmen in Sokoto, Media Assistant to Bafarawa, Yusuf Dingyadi, explained that “the meeting was also attended by the supporters of the members of the three legacy parties that merged and formed the APC.

    “These parties were the defunct CPC, ANPP and ACN but those who belong to the Bafarawa’s faction of the APC.”

    He added: “The leaders of the former governor’s faction of the APC had been asked to go back to the 23 local governments for further consultations.”

    In a swift reaction, Secretary of the Governor Aliyu Wamakko’s faction of the APC and Commissioner of Health, Ahmed Aliyu, welcomed the development, saying it was a good omen.

    According to him:”It is a good omen for the APC in Sokoto state and at the national level. APC will now stand to be much stronger and united politically.”

    He noted that Bafarawa was afraid of Wamakko, saying” he had since been working for PDP. Only his body was in APC but his heart was already in the PDP.”

     

  • Attahiru Bafarawa opts for senate

    The former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, may be warming up to take an active part in the next democratic dispensation if feelers from his associates are anything to go by. The ex-governor, who made a botched attempt at the presidency on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and later the Democratic Peoples’ Party (DPP), according to sources, is finalising plans to contest for an elective position again, this time as a senator in his home state where he still enjoys a cult-figure status. However, it is not yet clear the political party he would chose to contest the election