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Tag: Kaduna state

  • Falana warns against continued detention of El-Zakzaky

    ACTIVIST lawyer Mr Femi Falana (SAN) has urged the Federal Government to release detained leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.

    The popular lawyer noted that the continued detention of the Islamic cleric and killing of peaceful Shi’ite protesters by security forces could lead the country into fresh insurgency the nation cannot afford.

    “This nation cannot afford another war of insurgency, which is being provoked by the contemptuous conduct of the Federal Government in the handling of the case of the El-Zakzakys,” Falana said.

    Chronicling the arrest and detention of the Shi’ite leader and his wife, Malama Zainab El-Zakzaky last December 12, the lawyer said over 1,000 Shi’ites were reportedly killed by soldiers on alleged orders of Nigerian Army’s high command and given mass burial in an unmarked grave in Mango village, Kaduna State, over allegations of attempt to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai.

    “Without any autopsy or identification, the slaughtered Shi’ites were given a mass burial in an unmarked grave in Mango village in Kaduna State.

    “Even though Sheik El-Zakzaky was not on the scene of the attack, his home was invaded by the rampaging troops two days later. The troops set the house ablaze, shot at El-Zakzaky, his wife and killed three of their sons in cold blood in their presence.

    “As if such barbaric assault was not enough, the Army arrested and held El-Zakzaky and his wife in custody before handing them over to the State Security Service (DSS). At that stage, the houses of El-Zakzaky and other leaders in Zaria, Kaduna State, were demolished by the state government on the orders of Governor Nasir El-Rufai,” he said.

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    Falana said the state government constituted a judicial commission of enquiry which established that there was no plan by the Shi’ites to assassinate Gen. Buratai.

    He said the findings of the commission revealed that 347 Shi’ites were massacred by the Army in violation of the Army Rules of Engagement and the Geneva Conventions.

    The lawyer said the commission of enquiry called for the prosecution of those involved in the killings.

    Falana said: “The detained El-Zakzaky was prevented from responding to the allegations against him and his group at the enquiry. But the judicial commission found that there was no plan by the Shi’ites to assassinate General Buratai.

    “It was also revealed at the panel that 347 Shi’ites were massacred by the army in violations of the Army Rules of Engagement and the Geneva Conventions. Apart from condemning the brutal killing of the Shi’ites, the judicial commission recommended that the culprits would be prosecuted.

    “Instead of implementing the recommendations by prosecuting the well-known murderers, the Kaduna State government turned round to charge over 300 Shi’ites with culpable homicide of a soldier who was killed by his colleagues during the attack.

    “But the defence team convinced the Kaduna State High Court to free the Shi’ites as they were not involved in the commission of the offence. Accordingly, the charge was dismissed for want of evidence while the trial court proceeded to discharge and acquit all the defendants.

    “Meanwhile, the suit challenging the illegal detention of El-Zakzaky and his wife was decided in their favour by the Federal High Court on December 2, 2016. The presiding judge, Kolawole J. (as he then was), directed the Federal Government to release the couple from unlawful custody, pay them N50 million reparation and provide them with a temporary house since the Army had burnt down their personal home.

    “But the Buhari regime has characteristically treated the court orders with arrogant contempt. Curiously, the Court of Appeal has refused to hear the application to commit the Director General of the Department State Services (DSS) for contempt of court.

    “Upon our legal advice, the Shi’ites approached three separate High Courts to challenge the violation of their rights to assemble and protest peacefully. The Shi’ites won the cases against the Federal Government as the courts upheld their fundamental rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

    “But out of sheer impunity, the Army has killed about 50 Shi’ites at Abuja for protesting against the continued detention of El-Zakzaky and his wife. As the Federal Government could no longer justify the illegal detention of El-Zakzaky and his wife, it directed the Kaduna State government to file a charge against them.”

     

     

  • Senator Makarfi loses father

    Former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi has lost his father.

    The deceased, Alhaji Muhammad Na’iya Makarfi, who held the traditional title of Majidadin Zazzau died Tuesday in Makarfi town of Kaduna State at the age of 99.

    He was buried on Tuesday evening according to Islamic rites.

    A statement by Makarfi’s personal aide, Mukhtar Zubairu  Sirajo, said:”The death has occurred of Alhaji Muhammad Na’iya Makarfi. The deceased, who also held the traditional title of Majidadin Zazzau died today in Makarfi town of Kaduna at the age of 99.

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    “He is survived by two wives, many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Among his children is Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, one time Governor of Kaduna State and former Chairman of the National Care taker Committee of the People’s Democratic Party.

    “He has been buried according to Islamic injunctions”.

  • Kaduna hails Promasidor

    Kaduna State Government has applauded Promasidor Nigeria Limited for its career development initiative, Harness Your Dream, which was held for the sixth time recently. A pan-Nigerian project, the corporate social investment project this time took place at Sardauna Memorial College in Kawo New Extension of the state capital.

    The Permanent Secretary of Kaduna State Ministry of Education, Mrs Nana Kande Bage, who flagged off the state edition of Promasidor Harness Your Dream, described it as “an excellent programme,” while she encouraged the students from six schools to pay attention to the presentations.

    She called on other corporate organisations to toe the line of Promasidor, particularly in the area of developing and empowering the youths. “Other corporate organisations should follow the example of Promasidor as this kind of initiative will further boost the interest of the students in schooling,” she admonished.

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    “I thank Promasidor for choosing Kaduna State to be part of this programme. I feel highly delighted that Kaduna is the sixth state where this initiative is being held,” the Permanent Secretary further said, as she turned her attention to the students: “I encourage you to make good use of this opportunity. If you allow such opportunity to slip off your hand, you may not get it again. Work hard so that you will excel in future.”

    Earlier, the Principal of the host school, Nura Hassan Yaro also expressed gratitude to Promasidor for considering his school worthy of hosting the programme. He stated his belief that it would make so much impact on the career choices of the students of the schools selected.

    Other schools represented at the Kaduna edition of Promasidor Harness Your Dream are: Dalet Girls Secondary School, Kawo; Government Girls Secondary School, Kawo; Government Secondary School, Kawo, Government Secondary School, Badarawa and Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi Government Secondary School, Hayin-Banki.

    Addressing the students and other key stakeholders at the event, Promasidor’s Head of Legal and Corporate Communications, Mr Andrew Enahoro said that more states would benefit from the initiative as the company is committed to giving back to the society.

     

  • Kaduna offers Harvard scholarship to best graduating KIF fellow

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Sunday announced a scholarship award to Jemimah Jatau, the best graduating fellow of the Kashim Ibrahim Fellows (KIF), a one-year leadership programme of the state government.

    El-Rufai announced the offer in Kaduna, at the graduation ceremony of the pioneer set of the KIF programme.

    “The Fellows have justified the hopes invested in them,” the governor said of the 16-member pioneer group of the scheme that brings together young Nigerians from across the country.

    He explained Jatau would be sponsored for a Masters degree at Harvard or the Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Policy, while the second and third best would be appointed as his special assistants.

    He identified the second and third best as Mohammed Usman and Leonel Echa.

    He added that the chairman of the Governing Board, Keem Belo-Osagie, would equally pursue scholarship opportunities in the Knight Hennessy Fellowship at Stanford University for interested members of the graduating set.

    He explained that the Kaduna State Government introduced the KIF programme in 2018 to help develop and nurture leadership ability across Nigeria.

    “The overall mission is to raise the next generation of leaders who will most likely be absorbed into the Nigerian public sector having had a first-hand experience of its workings and challenges.

    “This is because we believe in our young people; these 16 youths, from different places and backgrounds, have amply affirmed that youthful potential abound in Nigeria.

    Read Also: Nigeria is two countries in one: Backward north, developing south, says El-Rufai

    “The graduating Fellows have validated our conviction that the youth of our country can respond to opportunity if the platform is provided.

    “We have exposed the fellows to a rich and varied programme of immersion in the daily work of government agencies, lectures and seminars on leadership, working trips and speaker series.

    “This enabled them to share from the experiences and insights of leaders in government, business and other endeavours.

    “We have made considerable investments in these fellows as a deliberate intervention in building leadership capacity and promoting a meritocratic culture.

    “As they graduate today, they have been empowered to assume responsibilities of leadership, and contribute to helping our country to master the challenges of an increasingly complex and more competitive world,” he said.

    The governor explained that the programme was named after Sir Kashim Ibrahim, a former Governor of Northern Region for his leadership role in building the region when the colonial shackles were dropped.

    “I am especially proud and impressed by the energy, zeal, talent and ability of the pioneer set of Kashim Ibrahim Fellows, who have set a remarkable standard for future participants in the programme.

    “As the pioneer fellows graduate today, we look forward to welcoming the second set in August,” he said.

    The graduating fellows have described the initiative as ‘life changing’, adding that the programme had completely changed their orientation and perspective about effective leadership and public service.

    Jemimah Jatau, from Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, particularly thanked the state government for the opportunity to participate in the programme.

    She described the scholarship award as a testimony of the government’s confidence on the youth.

    Another participant, Michael Medubi, a 35-year old Civil Engineer from Kogi State, described the programme as ‘priceless and a golden opportunity to learn and create new network.’

    (NAN)

  • Nigeria is two countries in one: Backward north, developing south, says El-Rufai

    Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State on saturday, painted the picture of Nigeria as that of two countries in one: a developing South and a backward, less educated and unhealthy north, with the highest number of poor people in the world.

    He also drew similarities between the development indicators of the North and those of war-torn Afghanistan.

    The governor spoke at the Northern Youth Summit in Kaduna organised by Northern Hibiscus, an NGO.

    He said that for the problems to be tackled effectively, the governors of all the 19 northern states have to work together.

    His words: “Looking at the statistics, Nigeria appears to be a middle income country. But, if we segregate those statistics across states and zones, you will see that, in terms of human development indicators, Nigeria consists of two countries; there is a backward, less educated and unhealthy northern Nigeria, and a developing, largely educated and healthy southern Nigeria.

    “We have to speak the truth to ourselves and ask why is it that northern Nigeria has development indicators similar to Afghanistan, a country still at war?

    “We have the largest number of poor people in the world, most of them in northern Nigeria. Nigeria also has the largest number of out of school children, virtually all of them in Northern Nigeria.

    “Northern Nigeria has become the centre of drug abuse, gender violence, banditry, kidnapping and terrorism. We have also been associated with high divorce rate and breakdown of families. These are the challenges that confront us. This is the naked truth that we have to tell ourselves.

    “We must therefore, as leaders at all levels, have conversation about the way forward for our part of the country. Because increasingly, as many of you must have seen on social media, we are being considered as the parasite of the federal economy, even though, that is not entirely true. Because northern Nigeria still feeds the nation. The richest business man in Nigeria is still Aliko Dangote, not someone from Southern Nigeria, thank God for that.

    “So, we still have a lot to be proud of. We should be proud of our culture and tradition, as well as unity. You hardly can find someone from northern Nigeria convicted of 419 or being a Yahoo boy. That is something we should be proud of.

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    “We are generally considered to be more honest and less corrupt than other Nigerians. That is something we should be proud of. In addition, our demographic superiority gives us a very powerful tool to negotiate in politics. And that is something we should be proud of and we should preserve. So, we have every reason to unite and not be divided.”

    He asked northern youths to rise up to the challenge.

    He said:”I therefore call on you the youth, you account for 80 per cent of the northern population and the future of this region lies in your hands, not in the hands of dinosaurs like me.

    “I’m 59 and among the oldest five per cent of the northern population. I shouldn’t even be governor; I should have been governor 10 years ago. But ‘na condition make crayfish bend’, so we are here.”

    He said the theme of the summit -’Awakening the Arewa Spirit’- was apt as it would help in preparing the next generation of northern leaders.

    He told the summit organizers to send recommendations from this talks to the Chairman of northern State Governors Forum.

    “We have to do something about the situation of northern Nigeria and we must do so as a group of 19 Governors, not individual state Governors,” El-Rufai said.

    Also speaking, the sponsor of the event and immediate past Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumini  Jibrin said  while the North is currently in a dire situation, it  has not lost everything.

    He stressed the need to reawaken the Arewa spirit and called for role models across board, adding that “we have to mould leaders, we have to create ourselves into leaders.”

    In her opening remarks, founder of Northern Hibiscus Initiative, Aisha Falke, said the summit organised to examine the numerous challenges of the north, with a view to finding lasting solutions to them.

    She said the NGO has also taken the bull by the horn with a 16-year action to empower the youths with useful skills, especially those who are not privileged to have the formal education.

  • El-Rufai names 11 commissioner-nominees

    Kaduna state Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai has sent the names of 11 nominees for appointment as commissioners to the House of Assembly.

    The governor said he will subsequently forward three more nominees to make up the 14 commissioners that will constitute the state executive council.

    A statement signed by the governor’s spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, said upon confirmation by the legislature, the commissioners will run the 14 ministries created in the June 2019 Executive Order.

    The statement reads: “El-Rufai nominated 11 persons for appointment as commissioners. The names of this first batch of 11 nominees have been forwarded to the Kaduna State House of Assembly. The second batch of nominees will subsequently be forwarded for the consideration of the legislature.

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    “All the 11 nominees served in various positions in the first-term of the government. Picking insiders is a deliberate decision to enable the nominees hit the ground running and assists the government to achieve its targets for the second term. Every appointee will be subjected to stronger monitoring based on clear terms of reference and key performance indicators.

    “The first batch of 11 nominees for and their proposed portfolios are as follows: Ja’afaru Ibrahim Sani, Ministry of Local Government Affairs; Idris Samaila Nyam, Ministry of Business, Innovation & Technology; Shehu Usman Makarfi, Ministry of Education; and Ibrahim Garba Hussaini, Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources.

    Others are Kabir Muhammad Mato, Ministry of Sports Development; Balaraba Aliyu-Inuwa, Ministry of Public Works & Infrastructure; Samuel Peter Aruwan, Ministry of Internal Security & Home Affairs; Fausat Adebola Ibikunle, Ministry of Housing & Urban Development; Mohammed Bashir Saidu, Ministry of Finance; Hafsat Mohammed Baba, Ministry of Human Services & Social Development; Aisha Dikko, Ministry of Justice.

    “Nominations for the commissioners of Agriculture, Health and Planning & Budget will be forwarded in the second batch.

  • Police nab ‘fake doctor’ for killing patient during surgery

    A fake Medical Doctor identified as, Aliyu Ya’u has been arrested by the Kaduna State Command of the Nigeria Police for allegedly killing a patient.

    Ya’u who was paraded at the Command’s headquarters was said to have performed a medical surgery for hernia on a patient (name withheld) who eventually died.

    The Command PPRO, DSP Yakubu Sabo said, Ya’u, was arrested for culpable homicide and impersonation.

    According to him, “Ya’u is not a Medical Doctor, but he admits and carries out medical surgery on unsuspecting patients. He has confessed to carrying out hernia surgery on a patient who died in the process.”

    Meanwhile, Ya’u in an interview with newsmen boasted that, he had carried out countless and successful surgeries on patients.

    Read Also: Two in police custody for raping minors in Delta

    According to him, “I am not a fake Doctor. I studied at College of Health Technology, Pambegua, Lere Local Government area of Kaduna State. I operate a clinic in the village and I have carried out uncountable surgeries successfully.

    “All the patients I have operated in the past survived and nobody died. If anyone of them had died before, you would have heard. So, this one is just God’s wish.

    “The patient came to my clinic and I discovered that he was suffering from hernia. Then, I admitted him and performed the surgery, removed the hernia. Then, when I discovered he was not responding to treatment, I referred him to another hospital, where he later died. That is why I was arrested.” he said.

     

  • INEC under pressure to tamper with Kaduna election materials – PDP alleges

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) In Kaduna State on Sunday alleged that, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was under pressure to tamper with election materials  in the March 9th, 2019 governorship elections in the state.

    The allegation was contained in a statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary in Kaduna State,  Abraham Alberah Catoh.

    According to the opposition party, ”We have received credible information that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is under intense pressure to tamper with election materials used for the conduct of governorship elections on 9th March, 2019 in the State.

    “We are drawing the attention of the world, Nigerians and the people of Kaduna State in particular, to note the attempt by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the government Of Kaduna State Tyo coerce INEC into tampering with electoral materials.

    “In as much as we do not want to question the integrity of INEC, we wish to state that the eyes and ears of our teeming party faithfuls/sympathisers are wide open in all INEC offices spread throughout the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State and the State INEC Headquarters.

    Read Also: 60 parties back INEC in server dispute

    “We advise INEC not to do anything that could tamper with the fragile peace reigning in the State, as any attempt to do the bidding of undemocratic external forces will be resisted by the public whose mandate was earlier stolen.

    “Please note that while we would not want to say anything on the petition before the Tribunal, we wonder why the people, who claimed to have won the governorship elections, would be putting pressure on INEC to tamper with the voting materials in their favour.

    “The eagle eyes are watching and keeping vigil on this undemocratic and crude attempt at coercing INEC officials into embarking on a dangerous mission. We are raising this alarm, to remind INEC that vigilance is the keyword going forward to ensure that electoral materials under its custody are not only safe but unhampered with in any shape or form,” Catoh said.

     

  • Kaduna Senate aspirant escapes attack, as thugs besiege Tribunal

    Senatorial Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Kaduna Central in the 2019 elections, Lawal Adamu Usman (Mr LA) narrowly escaped lynching by thugs suspected to have been sent by his opponents on Saturday.

    This is even as the Lead Counsel to Candidate, Yunus Ustaz Usman SAN, said he has also received calls threatening his life, if he dares come to the court.

    The Nation also recall that, at the last sitting of the Kaduna State Senatorial Elections Petitions Tribunal, the learned Senior Advocate, alerted the judges that he was questioned by security agents who claimed to have been petitioned by the state government on how he obtained certain documentary evidence.

    The Senior Advocate asserted that he had been invited by the security and later granted bail but had been trailed ever since by security operatives.

    Read Also: Catholic Priests meet in Kaduna over insecurity

    The Tribunal cautioned the security against further attempts at harassing the petitioner, Lawal Adamu Usman or any of his counsels pending the determination of a subsisting motion.

    At the resumed hearing on Saturday, June 29, at which the Petitioner Lawal Adamu Usman was personally present, suspicious faces were noticed within the premises of the Kaduna State High Court venue of the Tribunal.

    This was brought to the notice of the open court by the petitioner’s lawyer and the alarmed Tribunal Chairman after getting confirmation acted swiftly by calling the attention of the Directorate of State Security.

    The DSS operatives drafted to the Tribunal also confirmed the suspicious presence of unfriendly persons around the premises and said they were in control of the situation.

    At the close of the hearing, the thugs who turned out to be dangerously armed, pounced on the petitioner as he was leaving the courtroom. It took the concerted effort of the security and the petitioner’s supporters to save him from imminent lynching.

    Speaking on the incident after he was saved, the PDP Candidate, Lawal Adamu Usman said his life is currently under threat but said he will not be intimidated to dump his struggle to reclaim the people’s mandate through legal means.

    Also Usman SAN recounted that he received an anonymous phone call at 5am on Saturday warning him not to attend the Tribunal unless he would rather be dead.

    According to him, “I replied that by reminding the caller that my life is in God’s hands and that I was not afraid to die in the discharge of my lawful duty, and I will not succumb to any form of intimidation.”

     

  • Bandits are now hungry – Emir of Birnin-Gwari

    THE traditional ruler of the troubled Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Emir Zubair Jibril Mai-Gwari II, has said that the armed bandits terrorising his domain are now hungry and easy to defeat with more security efforts.

    The emir stated this in his palace while playing host to Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Ali Aji Janga, who paid a familiarisation and operational visit to the local government.

    Birnin-Gwari has over the years been troubled by armed robbers, kidnappers, cattle rustlers and bandits, who have killed and maimed hundreds in the area.

    The emir, who was delighted with the visit of the police commissioner, expressed confidence that with a more serious operation against the bandits, they will be defeated.

    He also appealed to the police commissioner to regulate the activities of a group identified as security volunteers, saying, they are suspected to be informants to the criminals.

    According to the emir, “The bandits are only carrying out their operations in secluded areas where there are small markets stalls and steal food in order to survive; they are hungry, they don’t have time to kill people again.

    “If the police should re-strategise, little effort will only be needed to scrape them all. They don’t have much weapons, (and) they are hidden in obvious hideouts.

    “The vigilant groups are also very helpful and they are playing very vital roles in the fight against crime in the local government, but the police should look into putting an end to the help of volunteers.

    “They over-react to situations and cause more damage in situation. The police should sit with them, get the good ones and recruit them to work together with the vigilantes.

    “We now have three extra police divisions in the local government, we earlier have four, the police personnel are not much, but they are trying their best possible to curtail any kind of criminal activity in the local government.

    However, Commissioner of Police Janga assured that the issue of banditry will soon become an issue of the past in the area, as a simultaneous raid in all the states under armed bandit attacks is in the pipeline.

    “The problem of banditry in Birnin Gwari is one among the major problems we have at heart; we would be fully prepared and come to synergy with the vigilante groups and raid their hideouts.

    “We assure the people of Birnin Gwari that the issue of banditry in the local government will soon become an issue of the past. We will go after them into the bush. We will engage them and blood will flow.

    “A week ago, we met with the Inspector General of Police at Abuja, he spoke on concrete plans, especially for Birnin Gwari, to curtail the criminal activities and banditry in the area and others states in Nigeria facing such problems of insecurity.

    “The comprehensive operations order would be carried out simultaneously in Birnin Gwari and other states affected by similar challenges across Nigeria,” Janga assured.

    The CP equally met and solicited the cooperation of the local government chairman, Alhaji Garba Gambo Randagi, and leaders of Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in the war against the bandits.