The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ibrahim Garba

  • Wamako calls for local government reforms

    Wamako calls for local government reforms

    Sen. Magatakadda Wamako (APC-Sokoto Central) has called for a positive reform of local government system in Nigeria to fast track its development.

    Wamako made the call on Wednesday in a keynote address at a conference on: “Local Government and Sustainable Development in Nigeria” in Zaria, Kaduna State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference was organised by the Department of Local Government and Development Studies, Faculty of Administration, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

    Wamako, who was represented by Prof. Mustapha Garba-Maitafsir, said: “Nigeria’s future development can only be achieved through a systematic and robust local government approach.

    “I urge all participants at this conference to consider practicable approach toward positive reforms of local government system,” he said.

    Wamako traced the origin of local government administration to Native Authority of 1916, which he said, dealt with the issue of land reforms, among others.

    He said that the survival of democracy solidly rest on a vibrant local government system, hence the need to pay attention to its administration.

    Earlier, the ABU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, challenged academics to always endeavour to give honest advice to leaders on ways to move the country forward.

    Garba said: “It is very sad to state that many state governors cannot pay their workers’ salaries; yet, as academics, we remain silent, nobody talks about it at all.”

    He was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, Prof. Ezra Bako-Amans.

    Earlier, Alhaji Ibrahim Khalid, the National President, Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), called for the abolition of the State Independent Electoral Commission.

    Khalid, represented by FCT Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Alhassan-Yakub, called for a uniform tenure for local government chairmen across the nation.

    He also called for the recognition of Local Government Service Commission in the constitution and abolition of joint account across the country.

  • Court adjourns ex- NNPC workers’ suit till November 1

    Court adjourns ex- NNPC workers’ suit till November 1

    The National Industrial Court, Abuja, on Thursday fixed November 1 for hearing of suit filed by Momodu Mohammed and six other disengaged workers of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), challenging the termination of their appointment.

    Other claimants are – Umar Danladi, Mohammed Abdul, Mario Hassan, Ibrahim Garba, Jonah Nathan and T. Verdirpuye.

    The claimants challenged the purported termination of their appointment from the services of the Corporation in 2004.

    The aggrieved workers also joined the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company Limited (PPMC) in the suit.

    The workers, who were temporary staff of PPMC Gombe Area Office, filed a suit against the company over alleged termination of their services from the corporation.

    The workers alleged they were laid off without notice from the Corporation in 2004.

    At the resumed hearing on Thursday, the case could not go on because the claimants’ counsel, Hassan Omolowo, was absent in court.

    The first claimant, Mohammed, told the court that his counsel called and told him that he was in another court.

    The judge, Justice Edith Agbakoba, thereafter, fixed November 1 for the hearing of the suit.

    The respondents were not represented by counsel.

  • Army restates commitment to manpower development

    Army restates commitment to manpower development

    The Nigerian Army on Monday restated its commitment to training and re-training of its manpower to equip them for the task of protecting the nation’s territorial integrity.

    The Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport, Brig.-Gen. Bolaji Salami, made the disclosure at the opening ceremony of the 2017 edition of the 2 Division Inter-Brigade Combat Proficiency Competition in Benin.

    Salami said that training was part of the vision of the chief of army staff to reform the army, urging officers to take advantage of the training to boost their careers.

    The commandant, who was the guest of honour at the ceremony, told the officers to always think outside the box, especially in modern techniques of security enforcement.

    “I appeal to you to take security seriously and also apply the experience that you will garner at this year’s edition of the combat proficiency competition.

    “I want to urge you all to be competitive because this is part of the effort of the chief of staff to reform the army. Take this experience seriously as it will be reflected in your career,’’ Salami said.

    The Commandant of the 4th Brigade, Benin, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Garba, said the training was specifically meant to prepare junior officers for higher responsibilities.

    Garba said the competition, which was designed to improve the leadership qualities of the officers, would place them in a better stead to perform their constitutional roles.

    The commandant named some events in the competition to include map reading, combat swimming, physical fitness, obstacles crossing, arm shooting skills and communication skills.

    The four-day event involved participants from 4 Brigade, Benin; 22 Brigade, Ilorin; 32 Brigade, Akure; 42 Engineering Brigade, Ibadan, among others.

  • Dealer faces N1.8m car theft charge

    A 32-year-old dealer, Ibrahim Garba , who allegedly stole a car valued at N1.8 million,  was on Wednesday released on N500,000 bail on the orders of an Apapa Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr Titus Abolarinwa , who gave the ruling, granted the accused two sureties.

    He said the sureties must be gainfully employed and should also show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Tony Elibeh told the court that the accused, who resides at Ajegunle area of Apapa, committed the offences on Aug. 29, 2016 at Esado Street, Olodi-Apapa.

    He alleged that the accused stole a car valued at N1.8 million belonging to the complainant, Mr Isaac Nwogu.

    “The complainant said that he gave his car to Garba to look for a buyer, but to  Nwogu’s surprise the accused sold the car and converted the money to personal use.”

    The offence contravened Sections 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section prescribes three years imprisonment for offenders.

    The case was adjourned until April 26 for mention.

     

  • Court fixes March 14 for hearing on ex-NNPC workers’ suit

    The National Industrial Court, Abuja, has adjourned hearing in the case of Momodu Mohammed, and six other disengaged workers of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) till March 14.

    Other claimants are – Umar Danladi, Mohammed Abdul,Maria Hassan, Ibrahim Garba, and T.Verderpuye.

    The aggrieved workers also joined Pipelines and Products Marketing Company Limited (PPMC) in the suit.

    The workers, who were temporary staff of the PPMC Gombe Area Office, had filed a suit against the company over alleged unlawful termination of their services from the corporation.

    The workers alleged that they were laid off without notice from PPMC in 2004.

    At the resumed hearing, the case could not go on, because the claimants had no counsel to represent them in court.

    The presiding judge, Justice Edith Agbakoba, adjourned the suit to March 14 to enable the claimants get legal representation.

    NAN

     

  • Five arraigned over abduction of kogi Speaker’s children

    Five suspected Boko Haram members were on Wednesday arraigned before the Kogi State Chief Magistrate Court I, over their alleged involvement in the kidnap of two children of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Momoh-Jimoh Lawal.

    The suspects – Ibrahim Garba, Usman Musa, Husseini Ovaku, Husseini Umar and Ogah Sunday were charged with criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, belonging to an unlawful society and kidnapping, contrary to sections 97(1), 289(c) and 100 of the Penal Code Law and 3(3) and 7 of Kogi State.

    They were arraigned through an application, urging the court to take cognizance of offences under section 143(C) of the Criminal Procedure code (CPC) signed by Mohammed Abaji Esq., Senior Legal Officer with the state Ministry of Justice.

    The suspects, according to Abaji, on April 15, invaded the private residence of the Speaker in Okengwe, Okene local government area of the state, while armed with sophisticated weapons and kidnapped his two sons.

    The accused, Abaji said, took the children away in a dark blue Toyota Yaris marked Lagos AKD 224 AY, belonging to their mother and later demanded a N200 million ransom for their release.