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  • Sule kicks off distribution of farm inputs to 8,200 farmers in Nasarawa

    Sule kicks off distribution of farm inputs to 8,200 farmers in Nasarawa

    Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, yesterday kicked off the distribution of farm inputs and assets to 8,200 farmers from across the state, under the Nasarawa State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (N-CARES) programme.

    The Governor said N-CARES is providing 4,000 farmers with an input package of herbicide, fertilizer and 4,000kg of sesame seeds to support them with climate-smart agricultural inputs to increase farm yield and livelihoods.

    He added that N-CARES is also providing 4,200 farmers with an asset package of sprayer, rain boot, hand glove and nose mask to serve as Personal Protective Equipment in line with global best practices.

    He commended the N-CARES for the provision of farm inputs to support local farmers in order to improve yield and boost agricultural production for food security and value-chain addition in the country.

    “As you may be aware, the NG-CARES programme was designed to serve as a response to the hardship occasioned by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic which affected the global economy over the years.

    “It is also intended to provide support in the form of grants to the poor and vulnerable households, with a view to enhance access to livelihoods and other social services,” he stated.

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    He emphasized that the Nasarawa State N-CARES programme is focused on agriculture because agriculture remains the mainstay of the economy of the state, with over 80 percent of the population engaging in one form of farming activity or the other.

    The Governor used the opportunity to announce that his administration has approved for the immediate procurement and distribution of fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers, in addition to other farm inputs which are being distributed towards delivering the objectives enshrined in the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS).

    Commissioner of Finance, Munirat Abdullahi, described the event as a turning point in the state government’s commitment to supporting agriculture while  recognizing that a thriving agricultural sector is vital for the prosperity of the people and the growth of the state’s economy, as well as growing the IGR of the state.

    NG-CARES state coordinator, Umar Dahiru Ibrahim, said his agency has so far impacted on 100 beneficiaries.

  • PDP, APC trade words over security in Nasarawa

    PDP, APC trade words over security in Nasarawa

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Nasarawa state has accused its PDP counterpart in the state of playing politics of madness with baseless accusations without any proof.

    The party, however, described the politics playing in the state by the PDP as madness if Governor Sule’s visit to the FCT minister can be misconstrued by the PDP.

    It said the party has no business whatsoever contesting the people’s freely given mandate of the APC.

    The APC in a statement signed by its publicity secretary, Otaru Douglas, and made available to our correspondent on Monday, September 18, in Lafia wondered why the PDP would make grievous allegations on the security situation in Nasarawa state without any evidence to prove their allegations.

    The state PDP chairman, Francis Orogo had described Nasarawa state as heaven for terrorists under Governor Abdullahi Sule and accused him of using FCT minister Nyesom Wike to influence tribunal judgment.

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    According to the APC statement in response to the PDP allegations “we wish to sound a note of caution to Hon Orogo and his type to desist from playing such a dangerous game of politics.

    “No amount of public sentiment can whip up or salvage the PDP from the doom that will visit the party as we await the reaffirmation, by the Governorship election petition tribunal, of the people’s victory given to the APC at the last governorship polls.

    “It is rather shameful that the same Francis Orogo who was a cog in the wheels of progress of the state when he had a stint at the state Assembly who now enjoys the massive infrastructural turnaround bequeathed by the APC-led administration in the state, could allege nonperformance in areas of infrastructure” He said

    He describes Orogo’s statement as mischievous to have concluded Governor Sule’s visit to FCT minister Nyesom Wike to influence tribunal judgment.

    He said: “It is just a matter of time, the PDP should prepare to accept its defeat again, as the verdict of the election tribunal is being awaited.

    “As a restatement, we wish to warn against the immodest political behaviour of the major opposition political party PDP, it should not overstretch our patience, however, urge the security agencies to deal decisively with anyone or group who undermines the authority of the state. Politics is not madness, and any politician seeking to rock the boat should be tamed.”

  • Nasarawa PDP visiting retired Generals in Abuja to influence tribunal outcome, says Sule

    Nasarawa PDP visiting retired Generals in Abuja to influence tribunal outcome, says Sule

    Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule has accused the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state of meeting retired Generals in Abuja to influence the outcome of the governorship tribunal judgment.

    Sule, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Comrade Peter Ahemba, at a press conference yesterday in Lafia, reminded the PDP leaders that democratic powers could not be acquired through the backdoor.

    The governor was reacting to a statement by the state PDP Chairman, Mr Francis Orogo, that the recent visit by the governor to the FCT minister Nyesom Wike was to influence the outcome of the tribunal judgment.

    He said Sule’s visit to the FCT minister was mainly to solicit further collaboration with the FCT administration for a metro line from Apo to Keffi, as well as partner to build the 13,000 hectares Gurku/Kabusa mega city that is only about 5km away from Maitama II.

    According to him, “Mr Francis Orogo should rather tell the people of Nasarawa State why himself and other PDP leaders in the state suddenly relocated temporarily to Abuja since commencement of proceedings at the tribunal and have been moving from one retired military General to another with the intention to get the mandate freely given to Governor Sule by electorates uptured.

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    “The PDP chairman should be reminded that political power under a democratic setting cannot be acquired through the backdoor’’.

    “Governor Abdullahi Sule has zero worries about what might be the outcome of the tribunal, the governor has tremendous respect for the judiciary and believes in its ability to dispense justice fairly.

    “With the rejection and humiliating defeat of the PDP Governorship candidate during the election and the sound legal defence mounted at the tribunal by Governor Sule legal team throughout the proceedings,’’ he added.

    “Coupled with the disgraceful outing of PDP witnesses at the tribunal, who admitted that their party rigged the election in several polling units and shortchanged the ruling APC by hundreds of votes during the election.

    “Governor Sule has absolutely no reason to contemplate going to anyone to help influence the outcome of the tribunal as alleged by the PDP, it is glaring that the PDP may have no case after all,” he said.

    On the issue of insecurity as raised by the PDP, Ahemba said since Sule took over, the state is rated many times as one of the most peaceful state in Nigeria because of the way Sule has continued to deal with security threats.

    “The governor has been able to restore peace in all parts of the state through effective synergy with the Federal Government and security agencies which is why the citizens, including leaders of the opposition party and their private investment in many parts of the state have remained secured,” he said.

  • FCT, Nasarawa  to partner on rail line, security

    FCT, Nasarawa  to partner on rail line, security

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, says the FCT Administration will partner with the Nasarawa Government on the development of rail line and security. 

    Wike stated this when the Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa visited him in his office in Abuja.

    Acknowledging the closeness of Nasarawa State to the FCT, the minister stressed the need for working synergy for the development of the two entities.

    He said the FCTA would open discussion with the Nasarawa government on the development of the metro rail line from Apo to Keffi, and the completion of the road network from Abacha Barracks to Masaka.

    According to him, the metro line was key but very expensive.

    He added that efforts were in top gear to rehabilitate the metro line as directed by President Bola Tinubu, which he said would be completed in the next seven months.

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    He attributed the key challenge affecting the development efforts of the FCT to shortage of funds, adding that many projects and contracts have been awarded but without execution due to insufficient funds.

    Wike said the FCT Administration was identifying major projects with high impact that can stimulate development to be financed and completed.

    He, however, said that Abuja cannot grow if it did not do anything that would equally impact positively on Nasarawa State.

    On the development of land for a clean city, as proposed by the Nasarawa government, Wike said he cannot make a commitment for now due to shortage of funds.

    He also emphasised the need for stronger partnership with the Nasarawa government to tackle insecurity.

    Earlier, Gov. Sule said the visit was to congratulate Wike for the well-deserved appointment as the minister of the FCT and to also discuss the issue of development for mutual benefits.

    He pointed out that over 40 per cent of people working in Abuja are residing in Nasarawa State, stressing the need for partnership for development.

  • I slept with my husband’s younger brother, got pregnant for him – Nasarawa housewife

    I slept with my husband’s younger brother, got pregnant for him – Nasarawa housewife

    Residents of Shabu, a community in Lafia Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, are in shock after a housewife confessed that her pregnancy belongs to her husband’s younger brother.

    Her confession came days after the husband had caught her and his younger brother in a hotel in Lafia, Nasrawa State capital, following a tip-off on their affair.

    The aggrieved husband, Mr Poulinus Vembu, was said to have seen his younger brother and his wife departing the hotel the morning after they spent a night together. Monica, on her part, said she resorted to an affair with her brother-in-law as she was being starved of sex by her husband who was angry that she could not give birth to a child 10 years after they were married.

    Vembu was said to have complained of being tired of wasting his energy making love to her when she could not be pregnant. Surprisingly, while the cat and dog relationship continued, Monica took in and sparked a controvesry as to who was responsible for the pregnancy.

    Rumour, however, began to spread in the neighbourhood about the suspicious closeness between Monica and her husband’s younger brother, Titus. It got to a point that Vembu, who was actually investigating the strange attitude of his wife who became very happy after she took in, began to monitor Monica’s movement and her alleged cozy relationship with his younger brother who lives in the same neighbourhood with them.

    The secret affair between Monica and Titus was however confirmed when Vembu traced them to a hotel in Keffi one early morning and saw them coming out together from the hotel.

    Vembu, a secondary school teacher with Nasarawa State Government, was said to have told his wife that he was traveling to Zaki Biam in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State where he would spend about one week to buy some yams he planned to resell. His wife saw it as an opportunity for an outing with Titus who also told his wife that he was going for lectures in UniAbuja where he was running a distance learning programme.

    But rather than travel to Zaki Biam, Vembu simply relocated somewhere in Keffi and went to the hotel the following morning only to find them leaving at about 6:49 am.

    While Monica was sober but unapologetic about the incident, Titus, a primary school teacher with whom Monica engage in the unholy act, is full of regrets and sorrow. The inability of Monica to explain to his husband who was responsible for the pregnancy was said to have further convinced him that his younger brother must be the one.

    Vembu was said to have confronted Titus after seeing him and his wife leaving the hotel together, but Titus told him to be patient, saying that the truth would be revealed at the appropriate time. He was said to have later revealed that Monica was trying to seal a deal with him with a view to getting pregnant since his elder brother was not able to impregnate her for about 10 years.

    When our correspondent approached Titus for comments, he was shocked that he (correspondent) already knew about the matter, which he thought was still an internal affair of the family. He, however, mustered courage and revealed in details what led to the cozy relationship between him and his elder brother’s wife.

    Titus said: “I have been married for five years now and I have two boys. My last son clocked one year recently and we had the birthday. The whole family was there. My elder brother was also there with his wife.

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    “My brother had been married for 10 years but had no child. Each time my mother or other family members from the village mounted pressure on my brother’s wife to give them a child, she would call me to report to me and I would console and encourage her.

    “She always told me that the fault was not hers; that my elder brother might be the one at fault.

    “Things took a different turn a few weeks after my son’s birthday ceremony when my brother’s wife called me and said she wanted to have a private talk with me, and I wondered what the talk was about.

    “She came to my shop the next morning and I initially thought it was the same pressure where our relations would call her to harass her about her bareness, but what she dropped was more than a shocker.

    “She told me point blank that my elder brother was sterile and incapable of impregnating a woman. I asked how she got to know or whether there was any medical report to that effect, but she insisted that a man not being able to impregnate a woman for about 10 years clearly shows there is a problem.

    “I advise her to find time with her husband and seek medical attention, but she told me clearly that medical report had shown that my elder brother could not impregnate a woman.

    “I thought that was all she had to tell me, but she went further by telling me that she wanted me to get her pregnant.

    “I was shocked and asked her if my brother knew about her plans, but she said no, saying that my brother always refused to accept the results of the different tests they had conducted, proving that he was sterile.

    “I considered her suggestion as a move from a heavy heart, but it soon dawned on me that she was serious. She said she did not want to leave the marriage on account of her husband’s inability to impregnate her, and she was not prepared to engage in sex outside the family.

    “She said there would be no problem if I got her pregnant since we are all family and my system is full of fertility. She said all these pleading and even shedding tears. She even said that if I refused, she would have no option but to go outside. That was the point at which she got my attention.

    “I managed to console her and send her home on that day. But that was only the beginning of trouble. Since then, she was always on my neck, calling me repeatedly and requesting that I grant her wish by impregnating with her.”

    Sometime in April 2023, Monica attended a function, a three-day workshop actually, in Abuja, and her husband graciously allowed her to attend. It was about fertility and family planning where accommodation was booked for all participants. It was about the same time too that Titus was at UniAbuja to attend lectures for a programme he was running in the university

    “At about 7pm when they closed for the first session of the workshop and retired to their various hotel rooms, she put a call to me. When I told her, I came to school to attend some lectures and was not able to go back, she pleaded that I should take a taxi and locate her in the hotel for a serious discussion.

    “When I got to her hotel room as she directed, I knocked on the door and she told me to push. Entering her hotel room, she had just taken her bath and was wearing a lacy night gown, looking really hot.

    “She asked me to sit on the bed, and the next thing I saw was that she leaned over to kiss me and I kissed her back. I look into her eyes and could not resist her charm.

     “She stood up after the whole act and gave me the hottest kiss of my life. We had the best night ever and she told me that I was much better than her husband in bed, and that she would love to do it with me again.” 

    I left the following the morning. When in returned around 9pm, as I was entering her hotel room, she did not even put on her pant as she tied a clean white towel that expose her shining laps.

    “She locked the door behind her and tossed the key inside. She told me we were going to continue from where we stopped, and that she was in her ovulation period.

    “I was confused and angry, but before I could even react, I found myself on the bed. As disoriented as I was, I saw as she took off her towel and approached me.

    my trousers and sat on top of me.

    “I don’t know what came over me. It was all like a dream. I left the hotel very early to avoid her co-participants from seeing me.

    “We agreed that I would return, which I did, and as usual, we continued. For the three days that she spent in Abuja for the workshop, we had a field day as we made love unhindered. It was mad.

    “When she returned home, she kept asking me to create chance so that we could see, but that never came. But the good thing is that she is pregnant from the same blood within.

    “I’m actually not comfortable with my conscience, but I did that to save my elder brother’s marriage and get him a child by taking him out of the shame.

    “Since he knew that he could not impregnate a woman, I didn’t actually expect him to go out with this shameful story. I did that with a good heart.

    “People are telling him all manner of stories about me. He traced us and caught us in Keffi. Although I denied sleeping with his wife in Keffi, saying that I went to Keffi and to her hotel to pick her up on her instructions, I am ready to disclose the details to him at the appropriate time.

    “I don’t think he should be having issues with his wife over this matter. We are going to resolve it. I will invite our mother to come from the village so that we can sort this out in-house.”

    Monica said she would not and did not intend to abort the pregnancy because “that is what I was looking for from the outset. I will deliver the baby and will be proud of it.

    “I have my reasons for doing it with his younger brother. His younger brother didn’t ask for it, I asked for it and it took me a long time to get him.

    “I didn’t want to go outside the family, and was not prepared to leave my marriage. But I need children; if not many, at least one.

    “It will be resolved. He is angry but he knows his problem, not pretending. All his medical reports are with me. He can’t keep me barren due to his own problem, and I can’t leave him because he can’t impregnate me.”

    When our correspondent reached out to Mr Vembu for his reaction, he confirmed the development but said “I’m not ready to talk about it to an outsider”.

    He then dropped the phone.

  • How we dealt with bandits in Nasarawa – Retired AIG Longe

    How we dealt with bandits in Nasarawa – Retired AIG Longe

    Bola Longe is a retired Assistant Inspector of Police and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State. The member of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the APC in the last general elections has five degrees in various disciplines including Political Science and Law. He spoke with GBENGA ADERANTI on national security, his relationship with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the 2023 elections, among other issues.

    What was your experience as a member of the PCC of the APC in the last general elections?

    Immediately I left the Nigeria Police on the 27th of August 2021, I travelled to Osun State to register as a member of the APC in my ward: Ilesha West Ward 1. The paper was perfected and taken to Oshogbo, the capital of Osun State. So I am a member of the APC.

    Before the election, I campaigned for the APC all over the country, particularly in Osun, Oyo and, to some extent, Nasarawa State where I served as a Commissioner of Police. Nasarawa is more or less like my second state of origin. I built a church there, and they see me as part of them.

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    Immediately I left the police, I was operating partially from Lafia, then Ibadan and to some extent Ilesha and Abuja, the federal capital. I went around and did underground work, mobilising people, both great and small, telling them about my belief in Asiwaju (Tinubu). I told them that Asiwaju had the capacity, aura, leverage, acumen and political sagacity, the political life and the capacity to turn around the economy of this country, and because of that, I worked for him.

    Before the election, I was nominated as a member of the Presidential Campaign Council. I was a member of the Committee for Security and Intelligence Directorate. I was a member of the Independent Campaign Council as well. I was a member of the Intelligence and Security Department of the ICC. I used the instrumentality of the two directorates to campaign for Asiwaju. We were everywhere.

    Even when the presidential campaign was launched in Jos, which was opening the campaign office in Jos, I was the one who offered Christian prayer as a pastor. Apart from that, as a pastor, I mobilised Christians to support Asiwaju. I prayed and told God to show me who would be the President in July 2022, and I saw Asiwaju. And not only that day alone, I saw him on several occasions and I recorded everything for future reference.

    I was among those who worked for Asiwaju before and during the election. I carried out an extensive campaign for him. I give glory to God, He gave us success at the poll and we are rejoicing for that now. And by the grace of God, we will continue to rejoice with Asiwaju and believe in him that he will give us the needed impetus to move this country to greater heights.

    By the grace of God, Nigeria will be the giant of Africa in every ramification; a giant with strong muscles; a giant that can lead Africa when it comes to matters of international affairs. Nigeria will lead Africa to the comity of nations.

    When you were the Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State, you confronted crime and criminality to the extent that incidents of crime reduced noticeably. Now that banditry has returned to the Middle-Belt, what do you think the government should be doing?

    One thing I want people to know is that this country is extensively big and we have big forests in different parts of the country. If you go to Niger State, Nasarawa, Kogi, parts of Benue, parts of Kaduna, parts of Plateau and parts of Taraba, these are northern states. There are thick forests in these areas. What we were told in Geography is that we have guinea savannah in all these parts of the country, but we have thick forests. From what I saw when I was the Commissioner of Police, the total area of Nasarawa State, Nasarawa Local Government particularly, Mararaba, Odede area, there are thick forests there. All these areas must be subjected to total monitoring. They must be subjected to surveillance. There must be a strategic partnership among

    the security agencies: the police, the military and Department of State Security Service, and to some extent, the National Security and Civil Defence Corps. By the time all of them work together, we will be able to tackle the problem of insecurity in this country. Intelligence is a must. Without intelligence, there is nothing any government can do. The police, the military and the DSS must work together. The DSS must provide intelligence for the police and the military to work. But if they are fighting or quarrelling among themselves, the impact will be negative on the security architecture of the country.

    When I was the CP of Nasarawa State, I mobilised all the security agencies. We worked together as one body. I told them that there were no super-ordinate or subordinate relationships. We were not talking about individual interests; we were talking about the corporate interests of the Nigerian state, and all of us must work together. We were established for the advancement of the Nigerian people, so there was no need for somebody to say he was fighting individualistic interests.

    So we worked together. We mobilised members of the public. I travelled all over the state. In every nook and cranny of the state, I mobilised people, telling them that without them there was nothing security agencies could do. And because of that, they were phoning me from the remotest parts of the state. I gave them my phone number. I gave them the number of DC Operations. I gave the numbers of area commanders, and the numbers of DPOs in their areas, and we were getting information. Before anything could be done, we would know and we would nip it in the bud.

    When I was the Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State, we dealt with the bandits. The military and the police formed a strategic partnership. We worked together and we disengaged them, particularly those of them who were trying to set up another area of influence in the Toto area of the state and part of Kogi and Benue. We dealt with them decisively. We dislodged them, we neutralised their capacity and we had a leeway over them. Because of that, we drastically reduced the influence of kidnappers and armed robbers in Nasarawa State.

    It got to a stage where people were moving freely because we formulated security policies and constructed security templates.

    Before, places like Maraba Udede Bridge, people were not passing through the place. Then from Keffi, Nasarawa-Toto was impassable. But when I became the Commissioner of Police, I said this was my route when I was a Deputy Commissioner at staff college. The road, Abaji-Toto, had been deserted. The area had been completely messed up. Immediately I came, I set up special security templates in eight places on that road, the police operational point. And because of that, the kidnappers could not come there anymore. The members of the public in that area supported us.

    There was a day we arrested 65 kidnappers in the Toto Local Government Council. There was a time when we arrested more than 50 kidnappers in Maraba, Igede area, and because of that, they were forced to relocate to other states.

    Criminals don’t want to die; they want to commit crimes, make money and enjoy their lives. If they face strong opposition from security agencies, they will relocate.

    My advice to the President is that through the National Security Adviser’s office, he must make sure that all the security agencies work together. Anybody that is not ready to cooperate should be shown the way out.

    Also, security is money. Money must be spent on security. When you neglect security, it will affect the economy of the whole country. People who are not corrupt should be put in charge of security; not people who will be looking for money to expand their financial fortune.

    The military and the police must perform their constitutional and statutory duties; not that they will be doing what they like. I told them when I assumed office as CP Nasarawa that I didn’t come to Nasarawa to make money, and that they should not give me money; they should give me intelligence. They gave me intelligence and I made use of the intelligence. So the intelligence arm of the security agency must be empowered. They must pass intelligence to end users. Intelligence must not be hoarded. Intelligence must not stay on anybody’s table. If intelligence is delayed, it will not be effective anymore.

    I believe in Asiwaju. I believe in his government. Asiwaju will turn around our security fortune in this country such that members of the public will be able to move freely. But with the way things are right now, the security of the country is in a coma.

    The question many would want to ask you is that as a member of the PCC, Directorate of Intelligence and Security, member of the Independent Campaign Council, one would expect you to assist the government in fighting insecurity…

    I’m ready to put myself forward for whatever assignment is given to me. I am a police technocrat; a security technocrat. Any assignment committed to my hand will be maximally, productively and perfectly performed by me. I have never been a failure. Even when I was a students’ union president, I performed to the extent that the then Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Ayo Banjo, said they never had it so good the way they had it when I was the students’ union president at the University of Ibadan. Any assignment given to me, I always do with all my strength, with my soul, with prayer, with total commitment. So, any assignment given to me in this country, people will feel the impact.

    As DC Operation in Ogun State, I worked with my commissioner and we succeeded. As a Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State, I worked with my subordinates and other security agencies; we succeeded. Even as an Assistant Commissioner of Police, we worked to bring peace to the Plateau. I was the officer in charge of the criminal bureau in Oyo State. We implemented a lot of things and peace was brought to Oyo State.

    One of our problems in this country is the rootedness of the criminal industry, particularly the level of corruption in the country. We need to fight corruption. If we fight corruption, security will improve, health care will improve, governance will improve, the education sector will improve and our roads will improve. But the level of corruption in this country is high. People say they will fight corruption to a standstill. It is an abnormal situation to be talking about fighting corruption to a standstill. We should fight corruption and defeat it.

    If I am saddled with a position to handle any arm of government that is fighting corruption, they will see success. They will see improvement. They will see the defeat of corruption. The country will move forward. I have the leeway. I have the audacity. I have the boldness. I have the training. I have the acumen. I have the leverage to fight corruption. I have never been a party to corruption. My hands are clean.

  • Nasarawa: APC challenges PDP to show proof

    Nasarawa: APC challenges PDP to show proof

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State has said the petitioners in the case  challenging the victory of Governor Abdullahi Sule have not discharged the burden of proof placed on them at the proceedings of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lafia.

     Mathew Burkah (SAN), the lead counsel to the APC, closing his case at the tribunal yesterday, said the petitioners failed to call polling unit agents before the tribunal since they must have witnessed the complaints, and that they were the only persons that could give accounts of what transpired at the polling units of Gayam, Chiroma and Ashige wards in Lafia Local Government Area.

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     Earlier, Burkah informed the tribunal that the third respondent had caused subpoenas to be issued on one Gyang Davou Dung said to have certified some documents before the tribunal, particularly RW107 and RW108 issued to the petitioners, purported  to be IREV results, as well as the Head of Operations at the Lafia office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

     The APC lead counsel said while the INEC Head of Operations for Lafia was available and was being represented by a senior administrative officer from the Lafia office of INEC, Dung, who was subpoenaed from the national headquarters of INEC in Abuja, failed to turn up at the tribunal.

     He added that they have filed two processes, which are the third respondent’s schedule of witnesses and schedule of documents dated August 30.

    Burkah explained that the subpoena was taken to INEC headquarters where Dung is said to be working on August 29, 2023 and that only the secretary of the commission was in the office, but he refused to collect the subpoena.

     He said the INEC head of operations in Lafia was subpoenaed to present before the tribunal Form EC8As for 62 polling units, 40 EC8Bs, 13 EC8Cs, one EC8D and one EC8E, all in relation to the March 18th governorship election in Nasarawa State.

      Senior Administrative Officer, who represented the Head of Operations, INEC Lafia office, Muhammad Yahaya Bello, told the tribunal that they were subpoenaed to present Form EC8As for the March 18 governorship election in Nasarawa State for 62 polling units, Form EC8Bs and Form EC8Cs for the 13 local government areas, as well as Form EC8D and form EC8E.

     Bello told the tribunal that they did not have Form EC8A for some polling units in Keana, which are GSS Aloshi, Keana Primary School Polling Unit, Angugi Agyala Polling Unit in NasarawaEggon, Yalwa Polling Unit. Others were Shegye I Polling Unit in Toto LGA.

     The INEC staff member said they did not have Form EC8B for Akwanga.

     Burkah, thereafter, sought to tender the documents as evidence before the tribunal following which counsel to the petitioners, Jibrin Samuel Okutekpa, objected to the admissibility of the said document but at the same time reserving his reasons for the written address. Both Isiaka Muddie Dikko and Dr. Mubarak Adekilekun, counsels for first and second respondents did not object to the tendering of the INEC documents as evidence.

    He sought to tender a copy of the subpoena served on the Head of Operations, INEC Lafia office, original copy of ID card, as well as receipts of payments for the said documents, and application that was not objected by Counsel to INEC Ishaka Muddie Dikko (SAN) and Dr Mubarak Adekilekun for Sule but the petitioners counsel, Jibrin Samuel Okutepa (SAN) objected to the admissibility of the documents.

     The petitioners lead counsel also confirmed that they were served with the third respondent’s schedule of documents and witnesses but said they were not aware of subpoena issued on Dung, staff of INEC , insisting that a copy of the subpoena should be given to them to enable them respond appropriately.

     While closing his case, Burkah said the APC won’t present additional witnesses before the tribunal as the third respondent will rely on the witnesses earlier presented by the second respondent.

    Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi granted the application and adjourned the hearing till August 14 for the counsel to adopt their final written addresses.

  • Nasarawa Tribunal: PDP plots to get power through backdoor, says Governor Sule

    Nasarawa Tribunal: PDP plots to get power through backdoor, says Governor Sule

    Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state has closed his case in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, David Umbugadu, in the proceedings that run up to 6pm on Saturday.

    Umbugadu filed a petition challenging the validity of the governorship election conducted on Saturday, March 18, that declared Abdullahi Sule the winner of the election, before the governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Lafia.

    However, Governor Sule’s legal team, headed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Wole Olanikpekun, countered the PDP petition by calling 21 witnesses that testified in support of Governor Sule that the March 18th Governorship election was free and fair. 

    Almost all the 21 witnesses told the tribunal that votes cast in favour of Governor Sule of the APC were shortchanged by the PDP in the various polling units, and wards across the state, noting that PDP actually plotted to gain power through the backdoor with illegitimate votes. 

    At the continuation of proceedings at the tribunal on Saturday, Governor Sule, through his counsel, presented additional seven witnesses in addition to the previous seven who testified on oath, to widespread non-collation of valid APC votes during the governorship election, applied to close his defence.

    The witnesses who came from Nasarawa, Kokona, Wamba and Toto Local Government Areas, confirmed that both Abdullahi Sule and the APC, were shortchanged with their votes improperly collated at various ward and local government collation centres.

    Adamu Ibrahim Otto, who hails from Nasarawa Local Government Area, confirmed before the tribunal that election held peacefully in his Odu/Kadu electoral ward, RW46 and that officials of INEC authenticated voters using the BVAS machine. Otto also confirmed that after casting his vote at his Apaku Polling Unit with Code 018, the Presiding Officer uploaded the scanned copy of the polling unit results on the IREV. 

    He said his only problem was that the vote of his political party, the APC was reduced and the vote of PDP was increased at the point of entering the results on Form EC8B.

    The witness confirmed that, the APC was shortchanged in three polling units, Apaku with Polling Unit Code 018, RW26,  Andrew Wayo with Polling Unit Code 010, RW 27 and Odu/Kadu with Polling Unit Code 005, RW28, all in Kana/Onda/Apawu ward registration area of Nasarawa Local Government Area.

    Read Also: Nasarawa NURTW disclaims illegal delegates’ conference

    According to Otto, APC scored 101 votes, PDP 14 at the Apaku polling unit however results at the Kana/Onda/Apawu ward collation centre showed that APC got 72 votes while PDP has 44.

    Similarly, at RW27, APC scored 193, with PDP having 32 but at the ward collation crntre, the result showed APC scored 115, while PDP has 32. Also, at RW28, APC scored 66, while PDP got 42 but results from the ward collation centre showed APC scored 32 while PDP got 76.

    Counsel for the second respondent, Wole Olanikpekun SAN who was represented by Dr. Mubarak Adekilekun then applied to close their defense, following which the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi adjourned hearing till Wednesday next week for the APC to open its defense.

  • Nasarawa NURTW disclaims illegal delegates’ conference

    Nasarawa NURTW disclaims illegal delegates’ conference

    Members of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) have urged the public, especially those in labour, to disregard a purported delegates’ conference in Nasarawa State.

    It described it as illegal and an insult on the police authorities.

    The Police had arrested union President, Tajudeen Baruwa, for allegedly importing thugs into Federal Capital Territory, sealing off the secretariat to prevent breakdown of law and order.

    Speaking on the situation, National Vice President, Tajudeen Agbede, appealed to members to disregard any rumour concerning any delegates’ conference.

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    “There was no delegates’ conference anywhere. It is all rumour. The tenure of our administration will expire on August 28, and after that a new leadership will emerge.

    “If they tell you they held any delegates’ conference, ask them to provide proof. There must be press coverage, newspaper and television coverage. There must be pictures and video coverage. They have to show evidence.

    “NURTW is a national organisation and when it holds its delegates’ conference, the world must know.

    “The standard practice is to invite NTA, Channels and other prominent national TV stations as well as national newspapers to cover the event live.”

    He appealed to members to remain calm and continue to support his ambition to rescue the union from maladministration of the last four years.

  • Nasarawa seeks more indigenes in federal service

    Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Alhaji Sule has appealed to the Federal Civil Service Commission to employ more citizens of the state because it is underrepresented at the federal level.

    Sule made the appeal on Tuesday when the Federal Commissioner representing Nasarawa, Benue and Plateau states at the Federal Civil Service Commission, Dr. Jonah Madugu, visited him at the Government House.

    The governor explained that he has made similar appeal at every opportunity for the people of the state to be well-represented at the Federal level, especially because of the state’s proximity to the Federal capital.

    Sule noted that even though the state would have preferred to have four or five permanent secretaries at the Federal level, still “there are so many other levels that I strongly believe that you will have the ability to represent us and make sure we are there”.

    Read Also: Nasarawa Govt partners ALGON on rural development

    He appealed particularly to the Federal Commissioner to intervene in his personal capacity to see that Nasarawa State is well-represented at the Federal level.

    Sule stated that he made similar appeal in the Office of the Secretary of Government of the Federation as well as at the Office of the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “We urge you to assist us to ensure that the people of Nasarawa State are well-represented at that various level. I’m hoping that by the end of the year, I will hear some good news from you,” the governor stated.

    Dr. Madugu said he was at the Lafia Government House to congratulate the governor on his victory at the 2019 general election and to bring him abreast on the activities of the commission.

    He was accompanied on the visit by the Chairman and Commissioners of the Nasarawa State Civil Service Commission.