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Tag: Gombe State

  • PDP campaign DG defects to APC

    The Director General of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) campaign organisation in Gombe State has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Alhaji Bala Bello Tinka (alias Tinka Point) met with President Muhammadu Buhari at State House, Abuja, on Thursday night, where he pledged allegiance to the APC, and also vowed to bring his political weight to bear on the election of the President for a second term in office.

    Read Also:Breaking: Abducted APC chairman regains freedom

    Coming exactly a fortnight to the presidential election, a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said that the defection of Alhaji Tinka deals a massive blow to the PDP in Gombe, which has been governing the state since 2003.

    President Muhammadu Buhari campaigns in Gombe on Saturday, and Alhaji Tinka is expected to formally join the APC, alongside others, during the event.

  • Dankwambo refuses to appear before SARS-Panel over death of personal cook

    Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe has again refused to appear before the Presidential Investigation Panel on the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) over the death of one of his personal aides.

    Mr Tony Ojukwu, chairman of the panel, also Executive Secretary of the National Human Right Commission, said that the governor refused to honour the summon of the panel.

    He said even when the governor was said to have been in Abuja on Thursday.

    The chairman said that the counsel to the governor knew that the panel was rounding off and “you decided to frustrate his coming.”

    “You are only here to make excuses for him, he received the option of fair hearing and he made his choice.

    “The panel will decide this matter on the merit and report on it,” he said.

    Mr Audu Danbaki, counsel to Gov. Dankwambo had earlier, told the panel that the governor travelled outside the country on a schedule flight and could not honour the summon of the panel.

    “He suggested that if he will be given any other date next week he wouldn’t mind that he was not trying to be disrespectful to the panel.

    “He was here in Abuja for a meeting on Thursday but left to catch his flight, “Danbaki told the panel.

    He explained that it was the governor, who lodged the complaint to the police in Kaduna.

    Counsel to the petitioner, Ms Glora Ballson regretted the reality of the value attached to human life in the country.

    “We have tendered before the panel the fact which is clinical and prayed the panel for justice on conclusion of the case on the cruelty on John Okon, who died when he ought not to.”

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the petition was written by Law Chambers of Mr Sunny Olorunmola on behalf of one Mrs Okon over the death of her husband Mr John Okon, who was a personal cook to Dankwambo

    Mrs Okon alleged that her husband died as a result of injuries sustained due to beatings and torture by men of SARS.

    She further stated that he was in custody of the men of SARS headed by one SP Jummai of the anti-crime department, Kaduna.

    Okon said the problem started after a burglary at the Kaduna residence of Dankwambo where the deceased was living with his family.

    “The deceased, who lived in the boys quarters of the governor’s private residence in Kaduna woke up on Nov. 8, 2018 to discover that the house had been burgled and four theatre TV cinema sets carted away by unidentified persons.

    “The deceased, his wife and other domestic staff reported the case at the Kabala Costain Police Station, where they were all arrested.

    “They were subsequently transferred to the state Police Headquarters on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018 for further investigation.

    “My husband fell sick and died on Nov. 13 as he was being rushed to Barau Diko General Hospital, Kaduna for medical attention,” she said.

    Ballson, counsel to the petitioner had earlier, brought a pathologist, Dr Godwin Ayuba who performed autopsy on the deceased to testify.

    Dr Iheanyichukwu Ogbonna, obstetrician and gynaecologist, who served as an observer to the autopsy also testified.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the panel was set up by the Federal Government to investigate the allegations of human rights abuses by the men of Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

    The panel is to make useful recommendations to government on the way forward. (NAN)

  • Dankwambo swears in 6 new commissioners

    Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State has sworn in six new commissioners, urging them to bring their wealth of experience to impact positively on the development of the state.

    The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Government House, Gombe on Wednesday.

    He urged them to be hardworking and partner with top government officials of the state.

    “I call on the new commissioners to bring their wealth of experience and proven integrity to bear in the discharge of their duties to impact positively on development of the state.

    “I enjoin you to work harmoniously with your permanent secretaries, directors and the entire members of your ministries to ensure efficient implementation of government policies and programmes,” he said.

    Dankwambo stressed that his administration had only five months left to deliver on their mandate of improving the well-being of the people of the state.

    Read Also: Dankwambo presents N118.7bn budget for 2019

    The governor said his government would continue to provide the enabling environment for government functionaries to perform their duties without hindrance.

    The new commissioners are; Mr Muhammad Mailumo, Mrs Zainab Julde, Mr Ishiyaku Audu, Mrs Asabe Nahaya, Mr Ezekiel Boryo, and Mr Ibrahim Abubakar.

    Speaking on behalf of the newly appointed commissioners, Mr Muhammad Mailumo, thanked the governor for finding them worthy to serve and pledged support for his administration.

    NAN reports that the newly appointed commissioners were yet to be assigned ministries.

  • Police arrest 26 suspects in Gombe

    The Commissioner of Police in Gombe State, Mr Muhammad Mukaddas, on Tuesday in Gombe, said the Command had arrested 26 suspects for various offences in the last one week in the state.

    Mukaddas who disclosed this in statement, said the suspects were arrested at different locations in the state with locally made guns and knives.

    He said the personnel of the command were more proactive in combating crimes and criminalities in all parts of the state in line with its  constitutional mandate.

    “The command will continue to be proactive in order to combat, prevent and detect crime and criminalities in the state in line with our constitutional responsibilities.

    He said motorcycle theft was the commonest with suspects coming in from neighbouring states to commit the crime, adding that when stolen the motorcycles were usually taken to other states.

    The commissioner said that the arrest was part of the command`s  efforts to rid the state of criminals.

    “We were able to trail and arrest a 9-member syndicate who planned their operation while in prison,“he said.

    He said that other offences committed by the suspects include: criminal conspiracy, rape, culpable homicide, robbery, house breaking and trespass.

    Read Also: Gombe: Untold secrets of Dankwambo’s governance

    The police boss said seven motorcycles, locally made guns and knives were recovered from the suspects.

    He said there had been a significant reduction in cases of rape recorded in the state, adding that the series of sensitization at the grassroots were yielding the needed results.

    He said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation was concluded..

    One of the suspects, Boniface Babangida, a father of five, accused of raping a 5-year-old girl told NAN that he was under the influence of alcohol.

    Babangida said: “I saw two sisters who are the children of my neighbour I sent the elder sister to buy me ‘bobo’ juice and then took the girl inside my room and raped her.

    He advised youths to desist from taking alcohol and shun other social vices which could put them in the police net.

    Ten of the suspects were arrested for motorcycle theft, five for attempted homicide, four for stealing, three for cult-related activities and four for rape.

    NAN

  • ‘Buhari, APC do not need campaign to defeat PDP in 2019’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State, Dr. Jamil Isyaku Gwamna on Wednesday said the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari were visible enough for APC to defeat the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the next general elections come 2019.

    Dr. Gwamna who is the Sardaunan Gombe, made this disclosure in a chat with newsmen, saying that the people-oriented programmes and policies of the Federal Government would make APC defeat any opposition in 2019 with ease.

    He insisted that it would be difficult for the PDP or any party to convince those who have benefitted from the good governance of the current administration not to vote APC at all levels.

    According to him, President Buhari and APC do not need to campaign like other parties because the people are now more political-conscious than any time in history to know the difference between good governance and bad leadership.

    “President Buhari and the APC do not need to campaign like the PDP or other political parties. The people-oriented programmes and policies of the federal government which have affected positively the lives of Nigerians will speak for the president.

    “It will be difficult for the PDP or any party to defeat President Buhari and Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state, because the people have tested lives under these two political parties and are more knowledgeable to differentiate between the good governance of APC and the bad leadership of the PDP.

    “Without sounding immodest, the PDP has a lot of campaigning to do because they performed poorly while in power and even in Gombe State within the last years.

    “How will the PDP convince the 500,000 N-power beneficiaries, farmers who have been given loans through Anchor Borrower Programme, those enjoying the over 3000MW of power that has been added to the national grid, the residents of the North East who had abandoned their homes for fears of Boko Haram, are now back to their normal way of life, not to vote the APC?

    “So you see why I said the PDP has a lot of campaigning to do in terms of denying the reality on ground which is not possible,’’ he said.

    Read Also: APC will form govt in Ogun come May 29 – Osoba

    Gwamna also advised the people of Gombe State to be wise in their voting, adding that vote-buying should be resisted as it portends grave danger to good governance.

    He expressed his optimism that President Muhammadu Buhari would win the 2019 general elections.

    He, however, appealed to Gombe electorate to cast their votes for Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya to align Gombe to the center and jettison the ‘opposition’ status that was tagged to the state.

    Furthermore, Dr. Gwamna said, “Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya is a prudent businessman who has administrative prowess to lead the state to the next level,” adding that, “the state has not fared well under the PDP in the last seven years.”

  • Dankwambo advises employers not to reject corps members

    Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, has urged  employers in the state to desist from  rejecting  corps members posted to their organisations for primary assignments.

    Dankwambo gave this advice on Wednesday at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Batch ‘C’ Stream II orientation course for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed to Gombe, Borno and Yobe.

    The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Charles Iliya, Dankwambo,  said that employers had been implored to give corps members the same respect and treatment given to their staff.

    He said this gesture would boost the morale of corps members and enhance their  sense of belonging.

    “In this regard, all corps members must make up their minds to give their best to their employers and host communities,” he said.

    Read Also: 2019: Ribadu steps down for Dankwambo

    He called on the corps members to adapt to the culture and traditions of their host communities.

    “Avoid indecent dressing, late night parties and more especially, avoid hate speeches,” he advised.

    In his remarks, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mr David Markson, lauded all stakeholders and corps members for their support and cooperation towards the  success of the orientation course.

    He expressed happiness that corps members proved to be dedicated during their  skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development programmes introduced by the Federal Government.

    Markson urged them to take the post camp training more seriously to enable them become masters of their trades as well as be on their own as job creators rather job seekers.

    NAN

  • Alleged theft: Gov’s cook tortured to death in Kaduna

    A domestic Cook, in the Kaduna residence of Governor Ibrahim Dankwanbo of Gombe State, John Okon, 32, was allegedly tortured to death in a police cell in Kaduna over alleged theft of 4 television sets in the house.

    Okon and his wife, Mrs Joy lived within the premises of Dankwanbo’s Private Residence located along Pola Road, off Swimming Pool Road, Kaduna.

    Briefing Journalists on Thursday, Mr. Sunny Olorunmola, Solicitors to Mrs Okon said he has petitioned the Inspector General of Police over what he described as, “gruesome torture and murder of John Okon”.

    Mr. Okon, was said to have died on 13th day of November, as a result of alleged multiple beatings and torture inflicted on him, while in the custody of men of the Nigerian Police (SARS).

    But at the time of filing this report, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kaduna Police Command, DSP Yakubu Sabo, did not pick several telephone calls put across to him.

    According to Olorunmola’s petition, “We are Solicitor to Mrs. John Okon who formerly reside and lived together with her husband now (deceased) within Gombe State Governor, His Excellency, Ibrahim Dankwanbo’s Private Kaduna Residence located along Pola Road, Off Swimming Pool Road Kaduna.

    “Mr. John Okon, died on the 13th day of November, 2018 as a result of gruesome serial multiple beatings and torture inflicted on him, white in the custody of men of the Nigerian Police (SARS) headed by one SP Jummai of Anti-Crime Department, Gabasawa, Police Headquarters Kaduna.

    “Our Client, now late was employed as personal cook and housekeeper to the Gombe State Executive Governor, at his Kaduna residence as aforesaid, and has being serving the Governor in that capacity for about one and the half years before the aforesaid incidence. While at same time, lived in the Boys quarters of the Governor’s main private Residence, until, Thursday, 8th day of November, 2018 at about 7am when he woke up in the morning to attend to his daily domestic chore duties in the Governor’s Residence only to discovered that the house had been burgled, and (4) Four theatre TV Cinemas were made away, by the burglars.

    “He immediately, rushed back to his living apartment in the boys quarter to inform his wife and in their shock and trembling, both Mr. and Mrs. John Okon, alerted all the security guards and gardener, who all slept in the Governor’s Residence together with them, viz: Two (2) Uniform Policemen and 2 other private security guards and the gardener. AU of them immediately carried out inspection of the house and wondered who must have broken into the Governor’s house unnoticed and without the usage of keys, moreso, nobody went out at night amongst all the occupants.

    “While (4) Four TV Cinemas, stolen couldn’t have been taken away through from the main gates to the house unnoticed and unchallenged by the Security guards except through the Perimeter Fence of the Governor’s Private Residence.

    “Our Client and all the security guards attached to the Governor’s Residence decided to report the incident to Kabala Coustain Police Station, where all of them were immediately arrested and another maintenance roofing worker the Governor’s House, who came to work on Wednesday 7th November, 2018 on the Governor’s Roof leakages, was called and arrested. They were thereafter alt transferred to the Kaduna State Police Headquarters, for further investigations on Friday, 9th November, 2018.

    “We were reliably informed, the case was assigned to the Anti-Crime Department at Gabasawa, Police Station, Kaduna. The Crime Investigation Team was headed by one P Jummai and 3 others, who decided to single out our client, Mr. John Okon, now late for tortured, in order to extort by force confessions and viable evidence for their supposed investigation.

    “He was so tortured that he could not use his Legs to walk neither was he strong enough to stand for 1 minutes after those series of torturing between Friday, 9th November, 2018 and Monday, 12th November, 2018, couple with the fact that he was consistently denied access to the food prepared and took to him by his wife, who was also arrested on Friday 9th November, 2018 at about 8.30pm and taken to the Anti-Crime Department for interrogation, whereas, her husband was repeatedly beaten in her presence asking him to confess to the crime and where he kept all the stolen TVs Cinemas, while Mr. John Okon pleaded to be sparred from dying apparently from Police repeated battering and torture, his wife, Mrs. John Okon, broke down in tears in the process despite her condition, as she was heavily pregnant, pleaded for her husband innocence and safety from the hands of his oppressors (Police).

    “She was ordered later, to be released around 11:30pm by SP Jummai the team head, who participated in the torturing with (2) two other Sergeants and Inspectors.

    “It should be noted that between Friday, 9th November to Saturday, 10th November, 2018 our client could not stand nor walk again with his feets, and had to be brought Literally by 2 Police men, about 3 times to the Governor’s Residence, under the guise that they wanted him to confess and lead the Police to where he was keeping the TV theatre Cinemas in the Governor’s Residence.

    “It will interest you to note further sir, Mr. John Okon now late, was not allowed access to see any visitors, nor his wife, except on occasions, when he was literally taken to his apartment in the Governor’s House for search, that she had access to him; neither was he allowed legal representation nor taken to Court in accordance with the Kaduna State Administration of Criminal Justice Law as well as the Constitution of Nigeria after 24 hours of his arrest by the Police until he was tortured to death by the Police on 13th November, 2018.

    “Our firm of Legal Practitioners only came into the case on Sunday, 11th day of November, 2018 at about 1pm and considering the time he had over spent with the Police, we met with the investigating Police Officer, who refused to disclose, his name, upon my introducing myself to him, but has 2 Tribal Marks; he only chose to relate Police own side of their investigation but refused me access to the accused person on the ground that came on Sunday, and by Police Rules and Regulation, no suspects must be allowed to be seen by anybody over the weekends, their lawyers inclusive.

    “We were simply advised to report back on Monday 12th November, 2018 we left the Police Station at about 4.35pm without setting our eyes on Mr. John Okon.

    “We reported back to the Police on Monday, at about 10:30am, only to be told that we needed the permission of the 2 I/C in charge of the team i.e. the team head before we could be allowed access to Mr. John Okon, and as that moment, she went for Police briefing with the Commissioner of Police; we observed on our way upstairs to meet with the investigation Police Officers that there was a kind of commotion, in their office with about 3 Police Officers, carrying a supposed suspect already in coma, fainted, being rushed out of the Police Station to a destination we did not know.

    “The suspect eventually turned out to be our client Mr. John Okon, whom was confirmed to be dead in hospital, Barau Diko General Hospital and kept in the Mortuary at the moment.

    “We strongly appeal to your esteemed office sir, not only to condemn this gruesome and barbaric acts of murder by your men, but to arrest, prosecute and bring them to book to face the wrath of the law.

    “Incidentally and unfortunately sir, our client’s wife, had forced labour on Tuesday, 13th day of November, 2018 and delivered of her pregnancy, out of gruesome pains and depression she experienced from her husband’s ordeal.

    “Neither the Police Commissioner nor the Governor of Gombe State have personally contacted the wife and family of the deceased as at moment 1 5th day of November, 2018, only to be told on phone, by same ASP Jummai, that our client died and his corpse is tying at Barau Diko General Hospital Mortuary, Kaduna.

    “Sir, your swift intervention, investigation and prosecution of all culprits in the interest of justice in this murderous case is highly solicited for in the circumstance”.

  • ‘Governors opposed to new minimum wage will lose election’

    Mr Adamu Garba, Vice Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Gombe State, has warned that governors opposed to the new minimum wage will lose election for second term.

    Garba gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Thursday.

    Read Also:Minimum wage: Meeting with labour not deadlocked – Minister

    “Majority of governors that fail to implement the minimum wage may not come back for their second term. Instead they will be voted out of office, because of lack of political will.

    “Many governorship aspirants are willing to implement the minimum wage if given the chance in their various states, ‘’ the NLC chieftain said.

    He said that the state council of NLC would not compromise its resolve to ensure compliance with the directives of the National Secretariat on the strike, to press for a new national minimum wage for workers in the state.

    “All affiliates of NLC have been directed to comply fully with the nationwide strike. We have mobilised our members to ensure total compliance,’’ Garba said.

    According to him, NLC has achieved more than 90 per cent on the implementation of 2011 minimum wage of N18, 000.

    He was optimistic that the struggle would yield the anticipated victory for serving and retired civil servants.

  • Execute people oriented projects – Abubakar

    Bauchi state governor, Mohammed Abubakar, has appealed to Corps members serving in the state to execute people oriented projects aimed at improving the living standard of the people.

    The governor made the appeal during the closing ceremony for 2018 Batch “B” Stream Two Orientation Course for Corps Members deployed to Bauchi and those dislodged from Gombe State jointly held at Wailo Orientation Camp.

    Represented by his Deputy, Audu Katagum, the governor said corps members as agents of positive change have contributed to the development of the nation in many facets, hence the need to intensify efforts on educational development of the two states.

    The governor, in a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, NYSC, Adenike Adeyemi, also appealed to the corps members to contribute their quota to the development of Information Communication Technology among students and youths in the country.

    The statement quoted the governor as saying: “Join hands with the government in rendering efficient services in the area of healthcare, education, social and infrastructural development and the promotion of sound Information Communication Technology knowledge among the youths.

    Read Also: NYSC boss praises Corps members’ honesty

    “You should remain focused and equip yourselves with the necessary entrepreneurial skills in a bid to actualize the industrial revolution drive of the country.

    “We shall continue to render necessary support to ensure that the trail blazing successes of the Scheme in all segments of our national life are sustained.”

    He urged them to pursue the post-camp component of the skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development training which would make them job creators and reduce unemployment.

    Bauchi State Coordinator of the scheme, James Afolayan, urged the corps members to be guided by the objectives of the scheme.

    He appealed to them to respect the culture and traditions of their respective host communities in order to contribute to their development.

  • Mshelia commiserates with Borno indigenes over Bayo bridge damage

    Gubernatorial Aspirant under the Labour Party, Captain Ibrahim Mshelia has commiserated with the people of Borno State over the damage of one end of the Biryel Long Bridge in Bayo Local Government  which has isolated the people of the state.

    This is just as he has appealed to the Federal and State governments to swiftly attend to the damaged bridge which hitherto was the only motorable link between Southern Borno with other parts of Borno and Gombe States, emphasizing that the current disfunction will inflict more hardship on the people.

    No lives were reportedly lost when the bridge collapsed, and Mshelia expressed joy at that fact but insists that certain parts of the state have been suffering economic hardships for nearly 20years as a result of dilapidated roads and other infrastructural deficits and neglect.

    He, however, called for calm and patience stating that those infrastructural deficits will be  strategically handled as there will be investment in infrastructure and people-oriented programs once the people look beyond party names and vote right for those determined to get the state working again.

    Read Also: Insurgents burn 40 houses in Borno

    “My heart goes out to the people of Borno State, particularly the areas whose movement and economic activities are now affected as a result of the damage to the Biryel Long Bridge in Bayo Local Government due to the heavy down pour resulting in the flood on Saturday which damaged the bridge.

    “We understand the hardship it is going to cost especially for those who have to traverse between those points to meet up their daily economic and social needs. That is why we are calling on the Federal Government of our able President Buhari and indeed the Governor of the state, his excellency Kashim Shettima to rush to the scene and fix the link bridge without further delay so as to forestall further hardship to the people.”

    “Personally, I am also calling for calm as things are silently being done under the President Buhari-led administration, this is my personal believe and conviction because things have improved a lot security-wise in the state and the president is silently achieving certain goals, all he needs is the right support, our support as a people not just voting him but insisting he and those he appoints do what is right to get us out of the doldrums.”