News

Katsina Police Confirm Rescue of 30 Abducted Worshippers, 10 Still Missing

Published

4 years ago

May 11, 2021

Eric

The Police Command in Katsina State says it has rescued 30 worshippers abducted from a mosque by suspected bandits.

The bandits attacked the mosque in Jibiya where worshippers had gathered to observe Tahajjud, a midnight prayer said by Muslims during Ramadan.

Some youths and vigilante groups in the town were said to have prepared to engage the bandits in the event of an attack, but the bandits used a different route to gain entry into the town.

The command’s spokesperson, Gambo Isah, resaid the police with the military and other vigilante groups had gone after the gunmen and rescued 30 of the worshippers.

He said after a headcount, they found that 10 of the worshippers are still missing.

“Around 12:30am, gunmen armed with sophisticated weapons attacked the abattoir quarters, on the outskirts of Jibiya LGA. They surrounded a newly built mosque while people were performing Tahajjud. One of them fired a shot which made the worshippers panic,” he said.

“Our men were alerted. The police, military, and in conjunction with different vigilante groups, were mobilised and went after the hoodlums. Luckily, we were able to rescue 30 of the worshippers, and after we conducted a headcount, we discovered that 10 are still missing.

“I can say 10 are still missing. Information at my disposal is that one of the families have been contacted by the criminals. So, in a nutshell, we can say they are presently detained in the hands of these abductors.”

Isah added that the police are making efforts to link up with the family contacted by the abductors.

News

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed Dumps Tinubu’s Appointment As Political Adviser

Published

1 hour ago

April 4, 2025

Eric

Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the political adviser to President Bola Tinubu, has resigned his appointment.

Reports say the former spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) tendered his resignation about two weeks ago.

Further reports quoting presidency sources did not, however, provide details of the reasons for his decision, but only stated that it was on personal grounds.

Baba-Ahmed was appointed in September 2023 as Special Adviser on Political Matters in the Office of Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Over the past 17 months, he had represented the presidency at several public fora, including a recent national conference themed: “Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy: Pathway to Good Governance and Political Integrity”, which held from January 28 and 29, 2025 in Abuja.

News

Court Stops Pro-Wike Rally in Bayelsa

Published

1 hour ago

April 4, 2025

Eric

The High Court of Bayelsa State sitting in Yenagoa has issued an order restraining associates of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, from holding a mega rally in the South-South State pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The proposed rally was scheduled for Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on April 12, 2025.

Hon. Justice I. A Uzakah granted the motion ex-parte in Suit No. BYHC/YHC/CV/133/2025 was filed by the state’s Attorney General, Biriyai Dambo (SAN).

“An order of the interim injunction is hereby made or granted restraining the 1st and 2nd Defendants, whether by themselves, their agents, associates, privies, representatives (or any person whatsoever acting at their behest), from conducting, convening, coordinating, engaging in, organizing, participating in, holding, hosting, or facilitating any political assembly, rally meeting, or gathering within Bayelsa State, for the purpose of solidarity, hosting, and celebrating the 2nd Defendant in Bayelsa State, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction,” the court order read.

The matter has been adjourned to April 11, 2025, for hearing.

News

LP National Chairmanship Tussle: Abure Sacked As Supreme Court Rules

Published

1 hour ago

April 4, 2025

Eric

The Supreme Court has set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja recognising Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).

In a unanimous judgment, a five-member panel of the apex court held that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to have pronounced Abure National Chairman of the Labour Party, after finding out earlier that the substance of the case was about the party’s leadership.

The apex court held that the issue of leadership was an internal affair of a party, over which courts lacks jurisdiction.

The court further allowed the appeal filed by Senator Nenadi Usman and one other, and held that it is meritorious.

It also proceeded to dismiss the cross-appeal filed by the Abure group of the Labour Party for being unmeritorious.

In January, the Court of Appeal in Abuja reiterated that Abure remained the chairman of the LP.

A three-member panel of the appellate court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Hamma Barka, held that its judgment of November 13, 2024, which recognises Abure as national chairman, subsists and has not been set aside by any court.

Justice Barka made the declaration while delivering judgment in two separate appeals filed by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman and the caretaker committee and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The appellate court in the two separate appeals held that it did not delve into the issue of the leadership of the Labour Party because such issues are not justiciable.

It said that anything done outside jurisdiction amounts to a nullity. Hence, the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered on October 8, 2024, by Justice Emeka Nwite is of no effect because it was delivered without jurisdiction.