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Tag: Ibrahim Shekarau

  • Shekarau backs Yusuf against Kwankwaso

    Shekarau backs Yusuf against Kwankwaso

    • Ex-governor says defection from NNPP to APC legitimate

    Former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau yesterday rose in defence of Governor Abba Yusuf’s decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Yusuf’s move, Shekarau said, “is not betrayal, but a legitimate exercise of his political rights”.

    Shekarau’s remarks come in response to criticism from the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who had labeled Yusuf a “betrayer” over his intention to defect from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the APC.

    The former Kano governor spoke on a day the Kano chapter of the NNPP affirmed Yusuf as the leader of the party in the state.

    Shekarau’s intervention has opened another perspective to the brewing controversy surrounding Yusuf’s defection, with implications for the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement.

    He said: “Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf should not be accused of betrayal over his decisions, because political realignments are personal decisions guided by circumstances and consultations.

    “I have listened to some of my brother Kwankwaso’s remarks. To me, Kwankwaso has either forgotten what happened in the past, or he thought people had forgotten.

    “When he was in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he also left with the governorship seat to APC. Why didn’t he drop it for the PDP? The way he took PDP’s seat to APC is likely the same way Abba will take the NNPP seat to APC.”

    READ ALSO: Still on Anthony Joshua’s car accident

    Shekarau added that if such action is now being described as offensive, then the precedent was already established by Kwankwaso.

    In a viral audio clip, Shekarau, who is associated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), recalled that Kwankwaso had himself defected from the PDP to the APC while serving as governor, without relinquishing his mandate.

    “Governor Abba Yusuf is only following your footsteps,” Shekarau said, questioning why Kwankwaso would accuse Yusuf of betrayal when he had set a similar precedent.

    Shekarau, who was a two-term governor of Kano State between 2003 to 2011, also revisited the formation of the NNPP, revealing that disagreements over power-sharing arrangements led to his exit from the party.

    He claimed that despite being promised a senatorial ticket, he was marginalised in the allocation of positions, prompting him to leave the party.

    The former governor emphasised that political decisions, including defections, should not be framed as betrayal, especially when leaders consult their followers and act in their collective interest.

    NNPP chieftain affirms Yusuf as national leader

    The National Vice-Chairman of the NNPP (Northwest), Sani Danmasani, affirmed that Yusuf and Kwankwaso are the party’s leaders.

    In a statement, Danmasani said the Kano State governor by the constitution of the NNPP, is the leader, being the only governor of the party.

    The NNPP chieftain noted that Kwankwaso was the 2023 presidential candidate of the NNPP, an arrangement that was terminated after the election, following the expiration of the Memorandum of Association between the party and the Kwankwasiya Movement.

    The statement reads: “It is not even news that some key members of the Kwankwasiya movement, including Kwankwaso, were later expelled from the NNPP for anti-party activities.”

    The NNPP chieftain lamented the continued reference to Kwankwaso as NNPP leader, pointing out that the misleading information has led to negotiations between Kwankwaso and some political parties on the aegis of the NNPP.

    He said: “We reiterate that negotiations for 2027 alliances with Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiya Movement is okay but will be invalid if it is done purportedly on the NNPP platform.

    “Only Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, who is the founder and life member of the Board of Trustees (BoT),  and the National Executive Committee, led by Dr. Agbo Gilbert  can negotiate for the NNPP.

    “Any other negotiations outside this are null and void and will not hold. Kwankwaso and his group have the right as Nigerian citizens to negotiate to join any party of their choice but not as members of the NNPP.

    “They were expelled and remain expelled. They should either join another party or float a new one,” he stated.

    The NNPP scribe appealed to Kwankwaso to refrain from using the name of NNPP to cast aspersions on the ruling party and Presidency.

    He reiterated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not the cause of the state of the nation, especially in the area of insecurity and economy.

    He said: “It is our belief that with the intervention of friends of Nigeria like America and Israel, Nigeria shall be great once again , the essence of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration is an acceptance that all are not well before Tinubu’s assumption of duty.”

    “It is our hope that the ongoing judicial review will compel INEC to update its records,” he added.

  • My husband is violent, irresponsible, wife tells court

    A housewife, Martha Matthew, on Thursday, begged a Mararaba Upper Area Court in Nasarawa State to dissolve her 18-year-old marriage to Simon Audu over alleged  irresponsible behaviour and violence.

    According to her, Audu, who is an applicant for sometime now, has failed in his duties as husband and his attitude toward her has killed the love she had for him.

    She informed the court that she had been living with Audu for 18 years, although her dowry was not paid and the union produced four children, out of which, one is late.

    She alleged that “Audu is irresponsible and a very violent person and does not support me in providing school fees, clothing and proper feeding for the family.

    Read Also: Court remands two men for raping family friend’s daughter

    “Infact, I built the house that we are living presently.

    “He is in the habit of beating and embarrassing me publicly, to the extent that he uses cutlass to chase me round the neighbourhood.”

    The petitioner also told the court that she was no longer interested in the marriage and pleaded that it should be dissolved.

    She also begged for custody of the three children as she pleaded with the court to compel the respondent to vacate the house.

    The respondent, however, denied all the allegations, pleading for time to enable him to discuss and settle issues with his wife.

    The Judge, Mr Ibrahim Shekarau, adjourned the case until April 10 for hearing and consideration of settlement.

    NAN

  • Shekarau urges youths to shun violence during election

    Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Kano Central Senatorial seat, has advised youths against violence during the upcoming election in the state.

    He gave the advice while interacting with newsmen in Kano on Wednesday.

    Shekarau, a former governor of Kano state, said the advice was necessary in view of the resurgence of political thuggery in the state.

    According to him, the recent happenings in the metropolis is very unfortunate and should be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians who want the country’s democracy to thrive.

    The former Minister of Education, accused some politicians of instigating their supporters to cause trouble for selfish interest.

    “I condemn in totality the political thuggery because what happened recently in Kano metropolis is most unfortunate,” Shekarau said.

    Read Also: EFCC loses bid to transfer Shekarau’s case

    He called on politicians to warn their followers against engaging in acts capable of breaching peace in the state.

    “How can somebody who is looking for support and votes from electorate direct youths to attack his opponents. It is most unfortunate.

    “We have been warning our followers not to participate or go and do anything that will lead to violence before, during and after the election,”he said.

    He said if elected as Senator, he would join his colleagues at the National Assembly to see how they could address the challenges of primary, secondary and tertiary health institutions in the state.

    On his relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senatorial candidate said his relationship with the President was very cordial.

    He, therefore, urged supporters to come out massively and vote for Buhari and other APC candidates during the general election.

    NAN

  • Man bags 12 months imprisonment for stealing motorcycle

    A Mararaba Upper Area Court in Nasarawa, on Thursday sentenced a 36-year-old man, Shagari Ali to 12 months imprisonment for stealing motorcycle worth N150,000.

    The judge, Mr Ibrahim Shekarau, sentenced the convict accordingly as he pleaded guilty to the charge.

    He however, gave the convict an option of N18, 000 fine and warned him to desist from committing crimes after serving out his punishment.

    Shekarau also ordered the convict to pay N20,000 as compensation to the complainant.

    Read Also: Court jails men 22 months each for criminal conspiracy, fraud

    Ali was charged under Section 287 of the Penal Code.

    Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Sgt. Godwin Ejeh, told the court that one Ibrahim Haruna of Abacha Road reported the matter at Abacha Road Police Station, Mararaba on Oct. 24.

    Ejeh said that the complainant alleged that sometime in July, 2018, the convict dishonestly went to his compound located at the above mentioned address and stole his motorcycle, valued at N150,000.

    The prosecutor said that all efforts made to recover the motorcycle proved abortive.

  • Court jails men 22 months each for criminal conspiracy, fraud

    A Mararaba Upper Area Court in Nasarawa State on Thursday sentenced two men – Godwin Valentine, 29, and Paul Friday, 33, to 22 months imprisonment each for conspiracy, breach of trust and fraud.

    The Judge, Ibrahim Shekarau, however, gave the convicts an option of N18, 000 fine each and warned them to stop committing crime.
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    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Hamen Donald, had told the court that one Kabiru Bello of Day and Night Plaza, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, reported the matter at ‘A’ Division Police Station, Mararaba, on Oct.25.
    ‎
    He said ‎that the complainant alleged that the convicts deceitfully collected his Nokia phone on the pretense that they wanted to call their parents.

    Read Also: Man pleads guilty to defiling child

    He said that while pretending to be dialing their parents’ number, they dishonestly transferred the sum of N100,000 from the complainant’s Diamond Bank account to their Guarantee Trust Bank account.

    Donald also informed the court that after exhibiting the act, they absconded to an unknown destination before they were traced and arrested.

    He said that the offences contravened Sections 97, 312 and 17 of the Penal Code.

    Valentine and Friday pleaded guilty and begged for leniency.

  • Man faces trial for alleged conspiracy, extortion

    A 24-year-old man, Agbo Ogbada,  on Wednesday appeared before a Mararaba Upper Area Court, Nasarawa State for alleged conspiracy and extortion.

    The defendant, who resides at Aso B, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, was docked on charges of criminal  conspiracy, assault and extortion; the offences he denied committing.

    The prosecutor, Hamen Donald, told the court that the defendant was arrested by Sgt. Friday Tnumaje, accompanied by Joseph Iduh of the same address with the defendant on Oct. 23.

    He said that the complainant alleged that the defendant conspired with two others at large to beat him up, collected his wrist watch, valued at N15,000 and a cash sum of N7,000.

    Donald also informed the court that the defendant, after extorting the items from the complainant, absconded to unknown destination, before he was later arrested.

    The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 97, 265 and 292 of the Penal Code.

    The judge, Ibrahim Shekarau, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case until Nov. 15 for hearing.

    NAN

  • N900m money laundering: Shekarau back in Court

    The Federal High Court sitting in Kano on Thursday adjourned the case of alleged money laundering against former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau.

    Shekarau was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside former external affairs minister Aminu Wali and one Mansur Ahmad on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N950 million.

    When the case came up for hearing, the Judge, Justice Lewis Allagoa, who was just assumed duty at the Court, adjourned the trial till Nov. 19, 20, and 21, 2018.

    The judge replaced Justice Zainab Bage who was transferred.

    Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Johnson Ojogbane, had earlier told the court that the defendants, between March 26 and 27, 2015, conspired among themselves and received the said amount without going through financial institutions.

    He said that the money was issued to the defendants by the Peoples Democratic Party and former petroleum minister Diezani Allison-Madueke.

    The prosecutor said that the offences contravened sections 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act 2011 as amended and punishable under section 16 (2)(b) of the same Act and Section 15(1) of money laundering Act.

    Read Also: Shekarau, Gaya, Jibril win Kano senatorial seats

    The trio had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Before the adjournment, the defense counsel, Mr Jibrin Okutekpa (SAN) prayed that the court to extend the bail granted to his clients by the former judge in line with Section 163 of the Criminal Justice Act 2015.

    The judge acceded to the request to extend the bail before adjourning to Nov. 19, 201 and 21 for continuation of the trial.

    NAN recalls that Bage had granted the defendants bail in the sum of N100 million each with two reliable sureties in like sum.

  • Shekarau, Gaya, Jibril win Kano senatorial seats

    Senator Kabiru Gaya has emerged as the flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Kano South Senatorial District, with over 1 million votes in the Direct primary election, held across the District, on Wednesday.

    Announcing the results, the Returning officer, Professor Balarabe Abubakar Jakada, said Senator Kabiru Gaya scored 1,35,57 votes  to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser Kawu Sumaila, who garnered 309,209 votes.

    ”I Professor Balarabe Abubakar Jarkada, the Presiding officer of the APC Senatorial Primaries at Kano South Senatorial District, hereby certify that elections were held in all the 16 Local Government Areas of the District. Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, having obtained the highest number of votes is hereby declared winner of the Senatorial Primaries.”

    Read Also: Kano PDP rejects governorship primary election

    The third aspirant Senator Isa Zarewa, also scored also scored 15,643 votes.

    Also, in Kano Central, former Kano State Governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, clinched the Senatorial ticket, with 973,485 votes, defeating Suleiman Halilu, who scored 104 votes and Laila Buhari, who scored 206 votes.

    It was gathered that Senator Bashir Garba Lado stepped down to pave way for Malam Shekarau’s victory.

    In Kano North, the sitting Senator, Barau Jibril has his returning ticket back, as his major opponent and former Deputy Governor of the State, Alhaji Tijjani Abdullahi Gwarzo, stepped down for him.

  • Why l defected with Shekarau to APC – Sen. Bello

    A one-time senator of Kano central senatorial district, Muhammad Bello on Tuesday said he followed his political leader, former Kano State governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau to All Progressives Congress (APC) to strengthen the capacity of party and ensure victory in the forthcoming elections for President Buhari and Governor Ganduje.

    Shekarau recently defected to APC from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following the dissolution of the state structure by the national body of the party.

    However, some of the Shekarau’s loyalists, including Bello had decided to join him in APC, while others opted to remain in PDP.

    Speaking immediately after collecting his party membership card at his Fagge (A) ward in Fagge Local Government area, on Tuesday, Bello said he would not contest for any position in APC.

    According to Bello, he decided to join forces with APC in order to strengthen the party to win all electoral positions in the forthcoming 2019 elections.

    Bello, a former commissioner during Shekarau’s administration boasted that his strong support base was enough to consolidate on the successes of APC in the state.

    Read Also: Shekarau dumps PDP

    “I joined APC to add value to the party. Looking at this crowd, you will have the impression that our support base is capable of adding strength to APC’s capacity in Kano State.

    ” We have decided to move to APC due to the injustice mated on us in PDP. We hope the injustice will not be replicated in APC.

    “From all indications, APC would do justice as it is the party that adheres strictly to its manifesto of internal democracy.

    ” I will not contest for any position now,but I don’t know what future holds. I am just in APC to contribute my quota towards its success,”

    On his part, the ward’s APC chairman, Jamilu Isyaku, expressed delight for receiving senator Bello in the party.

    He expressed optimism that Bello would contribute a lot to the success of APC in the state come 2019.

  • Shakarau returns to APC

    Former governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has returned to the All Progressives congress (APC) after four years  in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The ex-minister of Education’s decision according to him, became necessary, over what he described as lack of internal democracy in the PDP as well as injustice by the party headquarters to Kano members and its stakeholders.

    According to his media aide, Sule Yau Sule, who spoke to The Nation on phone, “the defection of lbrahim shekarau to APC is not yet official, but, obviously, there are moves to that. We are going to hold stakeholders meeting that will finally decide the next direction”.

    The development, he said,was due to the insistence of the national headquarters of the party to dissolve the state executives without recourse to due process and despite a court restraining order.

    He explained that Shekarau is already consulting with his supporters on the next line of action and the party to move to.

    “My boss has met Governor Abdullahi Ganduje in Abuja and they have discussed “.

    However, The Naion learnt that the former minister was contemplating moving to the APC as discussion has almost being concluded.

    The PDP on Monday had appointed a caretaker committee for Kano state after dissolving the party’s structure last Friday.

    Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a former governor of the state who recently dumped the APC for PDP was said to have ignited the crisis in the state PDP with his insistence to have 51% of the party as he was promised by the party headquarters which the state chapter rejected.