The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nasarawa State

  • NSCDC arrests ex-soldier for defrauding job seekers of  N4.3m

    NSCDC arrests ex-soldier for defrauding job seekers of  N4.3m

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Nasarawa State has arrested an ex-soldier  for allegedly defrauding a pastor and 27 job seekers of  N4.3 million.

    Mr  Lawan Bashir-Kano, the NSCDC Commandant in the state,  told newsmen on Thursday in Lafia that the suspect was arrested in Doma on  Monday  following complaints  by  the victims.

    Bashir-Kano said that investigation revealed that the suspect was dismissed from the army in 2014 and had been going around defrauding unsuspecting citizens.

    He said  the suspect  collected the money from the job seekers in the pretext of securing employment for them in  military and paramilitary agencies.

    According to the commandant, the suspect had contacted one Pastor Daniel Agbune, who was his former teacher,  and offered to help his two children secure employment in the Nigeria Immigration Service.

    “He (the suspect) encouraged the pastor to also bring other job seekers in his church and eventually collected N3 million from the pastor in respect of 22 job seekers in his church and two of his children,’’ he said.

    The commandant added that the suspect collected N1.3 million from three other job seekers.

    Bashir-Kano further said  the pastor, who came under pressure from the victims,  later  died of  heart-related ailment in March  after realising that he had been defrauded by the suspect

    He said the suspect confessed to the crime, adding that he would be charged to court as soon as investigation to ascertain other accomplices on the matter was concluded.

    The commandant advised members of the public, especially job seekers, to be wary of scammers and follow due process in their quest to secure employment.

    The suspect, on his part,  told newsmen that he was dismissed from the army in 2014 for professional misconduct.

    He named  the other accomplices in Abuja who  he said were  colluding with him.

  • 1,120 Nasarawa State pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia – Amirul Hajj

    1,120 Nasarawa State pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia – Amirul Hajj

    Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, Nasarawa State Amirul Hajj, said on Tuesday that the 1,120 pilgrims from the state had arrived in Saudi Arabia and were in good condition.

    Balarabe-Abdullahi said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia.

    He expressed satisfaction with the successful arrival of the last batch of the Muslim pilgrims in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

    He urged the pilgrims to adhere strictly to the laws of the Saudi Government, to ensure a hitch-free exercise.

    According to him, “the first batch of the pilgrims are expected to leave Medina on Wednesday to Mecca in continuation of the Hajj’’.

    The Amirul Hajj said that the pilgrims would continue to pray for the unity and peace of the country.

    NAN reports that on Aug. 16, the 256 first batch from the state arrived in the Holy Land to perform this year’s pilgrimage .

  • Court jails labourer for theft of N40,000

    Court jails labourer for theft of N40,000

    A Masaka Upper Area Court in Nasarawa State, on Tuesday sentenced an 18-year-old labourer, Emmanuel Clement, to 12 months imprisonment for stealing his neighbour’s N40,000.

    Clement, a resident of Jeun Masaka, Nasarawa State, had pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of house-breaking and theft levelled against him and begged for leniency.

    The Judge, Yakubu Ishaku, sentenced Clement to six months imprisonment for house-breaking and six months imprisonment for theft.

    Ishaku, however, gave him an option of N14,000 fine for the two charges.
    He also ordered the convict to pay N43,000 as compensation to the nominal complainant and N10,000 being expenses incurred in the course of the prosecution.

    The Prosecutor, Frank Swem, had told the court that Kareem Latiff of the same address with the convict, reported the matter at the Divisional Police Station, Masaka, on Aug. 20.

    Swem said that on the same date, at about 11:30a.m., the convict broke into the complainant’s room and stole his N40,000 and a cell phone valued at N3,000.

    The prosecutor said that when Clement was arrested he admitted committing the crime.

    Swem said that the offences contravened Sections 353 and 287 of the Penal Code.

     

  • Barber jailed one month for stealing shirts

    Barber jailed one month for stealing shirts

    A Masaka Chief Magistrates’ Court in Nasarawa State, on Thursday, sentenced a 22-year-old barber, Emmanuel Antenyi, to one month imprisonment for stealing two pairs of shirts.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr Victor Manga, sentenced the convict without giving him an option of fine.

    Antenyi, a resident of Area 1 Masaka, Nasarawa State, had pleaded guilty to the charge of theft.

    Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Mr Frank Swem, told the court that the complainant, Abah Okwoli of Nyanya Gwandara, Nasarawa State, reported the matter at the Divisional Police Station, Masaka on Aug. 14.

    Swem said that the complainant washed his two shirts, singlet and hung them on a rope in his compound.

    He said the convict went to the complainant’s compound, where those clothes were kept and took them away, adding that the convict was caught by the complainant.

    The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 287 of the Penal Code.

  • Dangote Group disburses N850m compensation for sugar refinery project

    Dangote Group disburses N850m compensation for sugar refinery project

    Dangote Group has commenced the disbursement of more than N850 million, as compensation to land owners affected by its sugar refinery project in Tunga, Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 60,000 hectares was acquired by the group for the construction of the refinery.

    Deputy Governor of the state, Silas Agara, who disbursed the funds to the beneficiaries on Thursday in Lafia, cautioned against impersonation and any act that would scuttle the project.

    He said that government would sanction anyone sabotaging the effort, and assured that all those whose land were taken would be duly compensated.

    Agara said the sugar refinery project was a rare privilege that would turn around the economic fortune of the community and state at large.

    He lauded the community for their peaceful disposition since the acquisition of their farmlands and called for more cooperation for the success of the project.

    Mohammed Ibrahim-Shuaibu, tradition ruler of the area, commended the Dangote Group for the compensation, explaining that names of the beneficiaries were compiled by a committee that included members of the community.

    Ibrahim-Shuaibu assured the company of the community’s full support and cooperation, for the take off and smooth operation of the sugar refinery.

  • Mob kill soldier in Nasarawa, two arrested

    Mob kill soldier in Nasarawa, two arrested

    Nasarawa state Police command has arrested two persons in connections with a mob action that led to the death of a soldier, Lance Cpl. Ayuba Ali, on Monday in Akwanga, Nasarawa state.

    The command’s spokesman, DSP Kennedy Idirisu, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lafia.

    Idirisu said that available information revealed the the victim, who was on pass from Maiduguri, allegedly hit a street hawker at Agwan Affi area of the town while riding on a motorbike.

    According to him, the victim, who was in mufti, tried to pacify the hawker and an altercation ensued resulting in irate youth beating him to coma.

    Idirisu said the soldier later died at the hospital, while investigation has began to arrest all the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

    Meanwhile, Mr. John Abimiku, an eye witness told NAN that the area have been deserted for fear of the unknown.

    “As I speak with you now, about four military trucks are stationed in the area and soldiers are picking up any youth on sight, ” Abimiku added.

    He claimed that the two persons arrested by the police were amongst those who took the soldier to the hospital after the mob action.

  • Motorcycle thief bags two months in jail

    Motorcycle thief bags two months in jail

    After he pleaded guilty to stealing a motorcycle, a 27-year-old man, Obinna Kingsley, was on Monday sentenced to 60 days in prison by an Upper Area Court sitting in Masaka, Nasarawa State.

    Kingsley, who lives in Nyanya Gwandara in Nasarawa,  was tried for criminal trespass and theft.

    He pleaded guilty to the two counts.

    The judge, Yakubu Ishaku, who handed down the verdict on Monday, gave the convict an option to pay N10,000 fine.

    “Based on the voluntary admission of guilt and plea for leniency by the convict, I hereby sentence him to two months imprisonment.

    “The punishment will serve as a deterrent to youths who have chosen the life of crime, instead of facing their studies or look for work to do,” he said.

    He said the punishment would have been stiffer if the convict has had any previous record of conviction and urged him to desist from committing crime.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kingsley, had pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Frank Swem told the court that on Aug. 7, Kabiru Ismaila, of same address with the accused, lodged a complaint against Kingsley at the Divisional Police Headquarters, Masaka.

    Swem said on the same date at 5.30 a.m, the complainant woke up and discovered that his motorcycle valued at N75, 000 had disappeared.

    Ismaila later traced the stolen motorcycle to the house of the accused, he raised alarm and the accused was immediately arrested, he said.

    The offences contravened the provisions of Sections 287 and 348 of the Penal Code.

  • Mechanic arraigned in court over missing phone

    Mechanic arraigned in court over missing phone

    The Police on Monday arraigned a 46-year-old mechanic, Ismaila Shehu, in whose pocket an allegedly stolen phone rang when its owner dialled it on discovering it was missing.

    Shehu who resides at Aso B Mararaba, Nasarawa State is facing a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and theft at a Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court, Aso Pada.

    The Prosecutor, Agabi Auta, told the court that the matter was reported at the Aso Police Station by one Muniru Mohammed of Aso Pada, Mararaba on Aug. 11.

    Auta said that the defendant and one Adamu Musa, now at large, on the same date at about 10.00 am, came to the complainant’s shop located at Mararaba to charge a phone.

    He said that the defendant gave his phone to the complainant to charge, while also conspiring with Adamu to steal the complainant’s phone valued at N64,000, which was also being charged.

    The prosecutor said that the complainant noticed his phone was missing as the defendant was about leaving, and immediately used another customer’s phone to dial his number.

    He said that the complainant’s phone rang from the defendant’s pocket.

    Auta said that the defendant was handed over to the police while Adamu escaped.

    According to him, the offence contravened Sections 289 and 97 of the Penal Code.

    The defendant denied committing the offence and the Judge, Mr Albert Maga, granted him a N100, 000 bail and one surety in like sum.

    He said the surety must be a resident of the court’s jurisdiction and must submit two recent passport photographs, a National Identity Card or a driver’s licence.

    The Judge also said the surety must write an undertaking that the defendant would be of good behaviour throughout the period of his trial.

    Maga adjourned the case till Aug. 31 for hearing.

  • Two teenagers get 14 strokes of the cane for assaulting, injuring man

    Two teenagers get 14 strokes of the cane for assaulting, injuring man

    An Upper Area Court sitting in Masaka, Nasarawa State, on Friday ordered that two teenagers – Mohammed Isiyaka and Mohammadu Abudullahi – be given seven strokes of the cane each for assault.

    Isiyaka, 16, and Abdullahi, 15, who reside in Angwan Usama area of Masaka, were convicted for injuring a man, Abubakar Isah on the  head.

    The duo pleaded guilty to the charge.

    The Judge, Mr Yakubu Ishaku, who gave the verdict, said the punishment would enable them to know the gravity of the offences they committed.

    “This will also serve as a warning to others that have the mind to commit such crimes.

    “I hereby order two court officials to give them seven strokes of the cane each,” he ruled.

    Ishaku warned them to desist from such crimes and face their studies so that they would be useful to the society.

    Earlier, Police Prosecutor Frank Swem told the court that the teenagers had assaulted and injured the complainant, Abubakar Isah, leaving him with a head injury on Aug. 11.

    He said the offences contravened Sections 97, 265 and 242 of the Penal Code.

  • Court dissolves five-year-old marriage over husband’s constant insult

    A Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court, Aso Pada, Nasarawa State, on Friday dissolved the 5-year-old marriage between Maryam Sani and her husband, Mallam Hassan Sani, over alleged constant insult by the husband.

    The judge, Mr Musa Owuna, said that the petitioner, Maryam, insisted on the dissolution, in spite mediation from the court and family intervention.

    Owuna said that since the petitioner insisted on divorce after several interventions, the court has no choice than to dissolve the union, though the husband still claims he loves his wife.

    “The court cannot force Maryam to continue in the relationship since she knows what is best for her.

    “Therefore, in the interest of peaceful coexistence, the union between Maryam and Hassan now cease to be henceforth,’’ he judge said.

    The judge ordered Maryam to return the N7, 000 paid as dowry to her husband, and awarded custody of the two children produced by the union to Maryam.

    Maryam, 35, housewife, had approached the court to dissolve her five years marriage over husband’s constant insults.

    She told the court that they got married sometimes in 2012, according to Islamic law and blessed with two children.

    She accused the husband of being in the habit of calling her names, “he insults me, complains about the way I look and also the way I dress.

    “He doesn’t even respect me as a wife and he has not been taking good care of me or the children.

    “I am no longer interested in the marriage, and I want the court to dissolve the marriage.’’

    The respondent denied all the allegations and pleaded with the court to give him time to enable him reconcile with his wife.

    He told the court that he was still interested in the marriage and he was not ready to divorce his wife because he still loves her.