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Tag: Mohammed Bello

  • Court remands herdsman for allegedly killing farmer in Niger

    A Minna Magistrates’ Court on Friday, ordered that a herdsman, Mohammed Bello, be remanded in prison custody for allegedly killing a farmer, pending legal advice.

    Magistrate Mariam Kings declined to take his plea on grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter.

    Kings directed the police to forward the case file to the State Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

    She adjourned the matter until Sept. 26 for further mention.

    Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Aliyu Yakubu, in the charge sheet, charged Bello with three counts of criminal trespass, mischief and culpable homicide, contrary to sections 348, 327 and 222 of the Penal Code law.

    Read Also: Missing High Court judge found

    Yakubu alleged that the accused person was arrested in Rubochi village in Lapai Local Government Area on August 2.

    He alleged the accused person deliberately guided his cattle into the farm of one Haruna Mohammed and destroyed his crops.

    He said when cautioned, the accused person removed his cutlass and slashed Mohammed’s hand and he bled to his death.

    NAN

  • Breaking: Buhari meets Imams, Islamic scholars in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met with Imams and Senior Islamic scholars from all the states of the Federation at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The closed doors meeting started around 12.03pm when President Buhari arrived at the venue.

    Top government officials in attendance included Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazzau.

    Read Also: Buhari, CAN leaders meet in Aso Rock

    Also at the meeting were the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello, Water Resources Minister, Suleiman Adamu.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Ministers, Japanese envoy seek improved ties

    Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar, her Federal Capital Territory (FCT) counterpart, Mohammed Bello and the Ambassador of Japan in Nigeria, Yutaka Kikuta have called for improved collaboration between both countries.

    While they expressed delight in the existing cordial relationship between Nigeria and Japan, Mrs. Abubakar, Bello and Kikuta want an increase in collaboration in the areas of economy/trade, technical assistance and manpower growth.

    They spoke in Abuja on Saturday at this year’s anniversary celebration of the Japan International Cooperation Agency Alumni Association of Nigeria (JAAN), tagged: “JICA Day.”

    JAAN is an association of Nigerians, who have participated in the various training programmes facilitated by the Japanese Government, through its international development agency – Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

    READ ALSO: KWASU fetes don now envoy to Japan

    Mrs. Abubakar, who was represented by the ministry’s Director of Rehabilitation, Nkechi Onwukwe, noted that many Nigerians have benefited from the relationship that exists between both countries.

    She said her ministry has equally enjoyed the support of Japan, through JICA. She advocated the sustenance of the relationship.

    Bello, who was represented by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Chinyaka Ohaa, noted that Japan has contributed and continued to contribute to the development of the Abuja City.

    He identified some of the recent project in which Japan was involved, to include the solar power system meant for water supply in the FCT and the Abuja waste management system.

    Bello, who praised the Japanese authorities for also assisting in the area of human resource development, called for an enhanced cooperation between both countries.

    The Charge d’Affair, Embassy of Japan in Nigeria, Shigeru Umetsu, who represented Kikuta, said his country has equally benefited from its relationship with Nigeria.

    He said he was optimistic about an enhanced cooperation to promote inter-cultural understanding among both nations.

    JAAN President, Ahmed Agberankhe said his association has been active in facilitating businesses and training opportunities for Nigerians, and was currently working on more.

    “We are currently making final preparation to assist 20 businessmen from different companies in Nigeria to attend a food and food materials trade fair in Tokyo, Japan in April this year.

    “While we appreciate the continuous support of the Japanese Government to Nigeria, through the Technical Assistance Programme, we look forward to an aggressive drive for improvement in trade relations between both countries.

    JICA’s Chief Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Makiko Okumura said she was delighted that both nations were interested in sustaining the relationship between them and its attendant benefits.

  • Buhari: System, not me, responsible for slow anti-graft war

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday blamed the democratic system for the seemingly slow pace of the anti-corruption war.

    The system, he reiterated, is responsible for the slow progress of the war not he.

    The President spoke in Abuja when he received the Federal Capital Territory community on Christmas homage at his official residence.

    “Fighting Corruption, yes, we are slow because the system is slow.

    “It’s not Baba that is slow but it is the system so I am going by this system and I hope we will make it,” he said

    The President stressed: “I told you what I did when I was in uniform but now when I have to go by this system (democracy) where people have to be arrested and then prosecuted, taken to court and then with evidence, we will collect back what they had taken illegally and for doing that, people are calling me Baba go slow.

    “I am going slowly but whatever the case, I will not stop pointing fingers at those who have abused trust by taking money that does not belong to them.

    “I will keep on trying to do my best for this country and get back what belongs to the country.

    “We are doing to do the roads, revive the railway and electricity with the little resources at our disposal.”

    He said he will embark on aggressive reelection campaign soonest based on the three issues that got him elected in 2015.

    These issues anti-corruption war, tackling insecurity and improving the economy, according to him, are still relevant today.

    Read Also: Why we are slow in fighting corruption, by Buhari

    The campaign, he said, will start by visits to each of the six geo-political zones of the country.

    According to him: “The party nominated me and I will contest. We are watching the Independent National Electoral Commission very seriously and we are going out very soon we will go from geo-political zone to geo-political zone to remind the people of our promises in 2015; three fundamental things, security, because you have to secure the country before you can govern it and talking about what we have done regarding securing the country, the people of the North-east know better.

    “The three fundamental things we campaigned with are still very relevant. On improving the economy, which we are still going to explore, we have done well in agriculture and those who embraced farming are not regretting it and we have also addressed unemployment and we are very lucky, through that we are now attaining food security.

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, said the FCT community was happy with the performance of President Buhari in office and pledged to support him massively for another term of office.

    He said “We pray that God Almighty to continue to grant you good health, strength, capacity, ability and patience to continue to lead us to the Promised Land.

    “On behalf of the FCT we appreciate you for the good works you are doing for the territory, just last week you commissioned for us a new airport terminal and so many road projects that are going on in Abuja and we feel highly delighted to be hosting you here and it’s my honour on behalf of the FCT community I want to assure you that we are solidly behind you and by the grace of God we look forward to you spending another four years in the state house so that you can truly make Abuja the city of our dream because we want Abuja to be among the 20 best cities in the world in the next few years to come and I think that is possible.”

    Primate of the Anglican Communion, Nigeria Reverend Nicholas Okoh congratulated the President for overcoming his health challenges and said all citizens of the country are grateful to God for that.

    The cleric noted the spirit of unity among followers of different religions in the Federal capital Territory is exemplary and should be replicated in all parts of the country.

    He said religious leaders will continue to work for peace and harmony in order to sustain peace in the country.

    The delegation comprised religious leaders and traditional rulers as well as top functionaries of the Federal capital Territory administration.

  • FEC sets up panel to investigate tremor in Abuja 

    The Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday set up a ministerial committee to investigate the tremor witnessed in some parts of Abuja last week.

    The Minister of FCT, Mohammed Bello briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

    Read Also:Residents panic as fresh tremor rocks Abuja

    According to him, the committee has four ministries including Science and Technology, Power, Works and Housing, Mines and Steel, and FCT.

    Stressing that there is no cause for alarm in the FCT, he said the Council is awaiting comprehensive report from the committee on the issue.

    He said that the order stopping blasting and other related works in the city stands until a decision is taken after the committee’s report.

    Details Later…

  • Minister inaugurates erosion control projects

    The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello has commissioned a N263 million erosion control projects executed by the Ecological Fund Office (EFO), in Karishi, a suburb under Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

    Speaking at the commissioning in Abuja, he charged residents and host communities to take ownership of the projects and avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

    The minister, who also commissioned a similar project in Abaji, Abaji Area Council, said that the projects were expected to check flooding and gully erosion menace in the communities.

    He added that the age long problem of gully erosion and flooding in that part of the country cannot be overemphasised.

    He said, “Having successfully completed this projects, the living standard of the people in the communities would be enhanced. This would at the same time reduce danger to lives and properties associated with erosion and persistent flooding that had been experienced here in recent times.”

    Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Habiba Lawal, applauded the contractor for timely delivery of the projects.

    She said the timely completion was made possible through efforts of the project coordinator and consultant, who had worked tirelessly to ensure minimum loss of time with very close monitoring and prompt honouring of all contractual obligations.

    The PS stressed that the commissioning and the handing over of the projectionist to the benefitting community is expected to achieve the dual purpose of enabling the host community to take over and exercise ownership over the project, and to ensure its maintenance and sustainability.

    In his remarks, the Project Manager, Katlego Engineering Ltd, Shittu Chidawa, shared an overview of the project.

    He said it was based on the scope of the work, which include site clearing, artwork, backfilling and excavation, stressing that the road was in a very bad condition before the intervention of the EFO.

    He added that during the implementation of the project, a total of 800 people were engaged from the host community, within three to four months when the project was implemented.

    Chidawa urged the community to take ownership of the project and also desist from dumping refuse in the drainage.

  • Court remands teenager for engaging in homosexual act

    A Sokoto State Chief Magistrates’ Court has ordered that an 18-year-old man, Mohammed Bello, charged with committing homosexual act, be remanded in prison.

    The Chief Magistrate, Abubakar Adamu, gave the order on Friday after Bello, a trader of Gagi Area, Sokoto, pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of unnatural offence.

    Read Also: Dead baby found in refuse dump

    Adamu said the court lacked jurisdiction over the matter and adjourned the case until July 21 for mention and possible transfer to a competent court.

    The Prosecutor, Abubakar Tambuwal, had told the court that the accused committed the offence between February and April.

    Tambuwal said that the accused intentionally lured a 10-year-old boy into his room and had sexual intercourse with him against the order of nature.

    The prosecutor said the offence contravened the Penal Code.

  • DSS arrest major financier, armourer of kidnap gang in Kogi

    The Department of State Services ( DSS ) said it had arrested Lawal Mohammed, a suspected major financier and amourer of the dreaded Basalube kidnap gang in Kogi.

    A statement issued by an operative of the service, Mr Tony Opuiyo, on Tuesday in Abuja, said the suspect was arrested on March 23, at Japama in Obajana Local Government Area of Kogi.

    Opuiyo said that the suspect was apprehended with two other members of the gang, Mohammed Tukur and Abubakar Ibrahim, by the joint team of the Service and the Military during the operation.

    He said that Tukur was identified as the Chief surveillance officer of the gang who coordinated the gang’s movement across Rivers, Edo, Delta, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory, preparatory to the execution of their operations.

    The operative said that items recovered from the suspects include: three cell phones and 25 bottles of psychotropic inducers.

    In a related development, the DSS said it had also arrested five suspected members of the Basulube kidnap gang at Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta.

    The suspects are: Ali Abubakar, a top ranking member of the gang, Abubakareem Idrisa,Bashir Tsoho, Sanusi Abubakar, Nuhu Muhammadu and Abubakar Abdulhammeed.

    “This arrest was effected while Abubakar was perfecting plans to carry out kidnap operations in Obajana, Kogi,“he said.

    He said that in its determination to decimate the gang, the Service on on March 26 arrested Abubakar Danlansu, driver and weapon courier of the group at Dikko area of Niger.

    “The suspect was arrested enroute Edo from where he was to convey weapons to Obajana in Kogi for the gang’s planned kidnap operations.

    He said that the service had arrested Matthew Ekam, 39, in connection with the kidanap of Obianuju Onyema in Yenagoa on March 12 and later released by the kidnappers on March 18.

    Opuiyo said the suspect is a native of Ogoja, Cross River and a driver of a heavy duty truck operating between Bayelsa and Rivers.

    He said that on March 24, the service arrested a suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Mohammed Bello on the outskirt of Wudil Local Government Area of Kano State.

    Read Also: How we secured Dapchi schoolgirls’ release —DSS

    He said Bello was believed to be carrying out surveillance activities for the extremist group in the area.

    “At the point of his arrest, several handsets, multiple identity cards including those of a Police Constable and neighbourhood vigilante member and N37,857.00 were recovered from him,“he said.

    “The arrest of these suspects hold major significance for law and order and safety of persons.

    “It is instructive to note that the activities of kidnappers and armed robbers on the Lokoja-Okene and Abuja-Kaduna corridors have relatively reduced as a result of sustained counter operations of the Service and sister security agencies,“he said.

    Opuiyo said that the recent arrest of Abubakar and other members of the dreaded Basalube kidnap gang would apparently result in the complete elimination of violent and other allied crimes in those regions.

    “The successes so far recorded by the Service are geared toward providing a safe and peaceful environment for law abiding citizens to pursue their legitimate endeavours.

    “We wish to reassure the public that the tempo of these operations will be continually reviewed, strengthened and sustained.

    “The Service, therefore, wishes to reiterate its stance that all perpetrators of violence and criminality against the Nigerian State and its law-abiding citizens will be made to face the full course of law no matter how long it takes, “he said.

    NAN

  • FG saves N4.5 trillion from high profile cases 

    FG saves N4.5 trillion from high profile cases 

    The Federal Government on Wednesday disclosed that it has saved over N4.5 trillion from high profile cases prosecuted by the Ministry of Justice between 2015 and 2017.

    The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami briefed State House correspondents at the end of about seven hours Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He was with the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello.

    According to Malami, his Ministry presented its score card to Council in the last two and a half years.

    He said “In respect of Federal Ministry of Justice what was presented to the Council today is the score card from 2015 to 2017

    “We presented a score card as to cases both civil, criminal that were prosecuted by the Federal Ministry of Justice and their implications as to savings that were done for the government commencing from 2015 to the present time.

    “Fundamentally arising from the cases that were conducted by the Federal ministry of Justice, the Ministry has succeeded in saving the government around N4.5 trillion relating to the claims that were presented in respect of these cases which were indeed conducted and concluded.” he

    Continuing, the Minister said “The Federal Government has put in place a committee saddled with the responsibilities of coming up with policies and strategies that will ease off congestion of prisons.

    “Over 70 percent of the inmates are awaiting trials there are sizeable number that couldn’t afford to pay limited fine that have been imposed by them arriving from their convictions.

    “There are those awaiting trials that have never seen the court room for over five years and above and indeed there are multiple legislation that are before the national assembly that are intended to support the decongestion of prison formation process.” he said

    He said that another area the Ministry presented its score card was the ongoing prosecution of Boko Haram cases.

    On Boko Haram suspected terrorists ongoing trial, he said that the total number of convictions so far is 255 and those discharged is 737.

    He said “We presented a position as to the number of cases that were prosecuted, number of convictions that were procured and the number of discharges that were made relating to the cases and then made a presentation as to the road maps for the continuation of the process.

    “There were other presentations that were made particularly as it relates to plea bargain. There are a lot of pending criminal cases in respect of the accused persons standing trials, who made offers for plea bargain.

    “Again there are high profile cases that we made our score card and gave an insight as to their respective positions.

    “A presentation was made relating to national prosecution team as it relates to the cases they are expected to prosecute.” he said

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi also disclosed that FEC has approved the construction of the  Ibadan – Kaduna rail lines at the cost of $6.7 billion.

    The project, he said, is expected to be completed in three years.

    According to him, the contract for the Kaduna to Kano aspect of the rail line was awarded last year.

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, also briefed on the progress made based on the recently approved executive order, the national strategy for competitiveness and the entire science and technology innovation road map.

    As part of the score card of the Ministry in the past two and half years, he presented new biscuits being produced in conjunction with Nasco Food.

    He said “High nutrient density products developed and proposed for inclusion in the current Nigerian School Feeding program will provide at least a third of the desired major macro and micro nutrients requirement stipulated by the World Health organization, Food and Nutrition Board.

    “Additionally, the products will be produced by NASCO Foods Limited, Jos that have state-of-the-art processing equipment with vast experience in Food processing, Food Safety and quality for production and supply chain nationwide.

    “The developed nutritious products have been tested using Nasco Food processing facilities in Jos and have been found to be technically and economically viable.

    “The pupils in the schools in Jos and Lagos where the sensory evaluation and consumer acceptability studies were done showed strong likeness for the products and are ready to consume the products if including in the school feeding program.” he said

    On his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said that the major projects which were rolled out by his ministry, including the citizens diplomacy program, desk to desk review initiatives and the economic diplomacy innovation, are recording successes.

    He also gave score card of his Ministry in the past two and half years to the Council.

    He listed the special interventions by the Buhari’s administration for the ministry, foreign missions and embassies to include N16.3 billion, N933 million, N7 billion, $32 million and $28 million.

    According to him, all the interventions were made as the President decided that he would not entertain sending Nigerians abroad without the necessary funding.

    He said “Special intervention fund to rescue many embassies in several countries of the world. First was in 2016 when the Naira was fluctuating terribly and of course the dollars to our embassies were too low to sustain them.

    “We received initially N16.3 billion, and was successfully distributed to all embassies. The second one was N933 million for renovations and other debts released in October, 2017.

    “The third was $32 million that were released for critically distressed 65 missions that were in serious debts and crisis. This was approved in November 2017 and we are in the process of distributing to the embassies around the world another one, $28 million and is the process of also being distributed and finally for ministry headquarters, the sum of N7 billion was made.” he said

    He added “A lot of the debts and the crisis in our embassies and missions around the world have been building over the last 10 years and Mr. President decided that he will no longer accept the situation where we are sending Nigerians out to represent this country and not given them the resources to be able to carry out their tasks. Hence he made provisions and directed that these funds should be released to them.

    “So the situation is still not perfect but this has come in very handily and of course in the interest of transparency we wanted to show how these funds had been disbursed.” he stated

    The Minister of FCT disclosed that FEC approved N1.9 billion for road reconstruction of Clinton Drive and N273 million for water treatment chemicals.

    Read Also: Tracking high-profile corruption cases

  • Troops arrest gunrunner, arms manufacturer

    Troops arrest gunrunner, arms manufacturer

    Troops in Nasarawa State have arrested a gunrunner, Mohammed Bello, and arms manufacturer, Dan Asabe Audu.

    The troops, on internal security operations arrested the gunrunner at Akwanga, Nasarawa, on his way to Saminaka, in Kaduna State, on Wednesday.

    A statement by the Army’s Director of Public Relations, Brig. General Sani Usman, said through the gunrunner, troops arrested the manufacturer at Angbo in Wamba Local Government.

    Usman said: “Troops of Nigerian Army on internal security operations deployed at Akwanga highway Nasarawa State, on Wednesday arrested a suspected gun runner, Mohammed Bello, in an Opel Vectra Saloon Car with the fabricated guns heading to Saminaka to link up with his gang leader Damina Saminaka.

    “During interrogation, the suspect claimed to purchase the weapons for N30,000, from a blacksmith gun fabricator named Dan Asabe Audu, who lives at Angbo Village, Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

    “Determined to get to the root of the matter, the troops further went to the village where they found out that indeed Dan Asabe Audu has been in the business of illegal arms manufacturing for criminals for quite some time. They found a complete arms factory with equipment and the products at various stages of production.

    “Specifically, the troops recovered three completely locally fabricated guns, 20 locally fabricated guns at various stages of production, seven units of 9mm empty cases, one 9mm blank ammunition,  two drilling machine, one power generating set and three mobile telephone handsets. The suspects would soon be handed over to the relevant security agency for further investigation and prosecution.

    “The public is kindly requested to provide useful information that will assist the military and security agencies in apprehending such criminals to make our society safe”.