Category: Nigerian Tribune

The traditional ruler of Babanla community in the Ifelodun local government area of Kwara State, Oba Aliyu Yusuf Arojojoye, at the weekend, enjoined members of the public to desist from spreading false information about the community, especially on banditry.

Reports have it that Babanla community had experienced cases of banditry in recent times, resulting in loss of lives and property.

Speaking during the inauguration of a nine-man Transition Implementation Committee to steer the affairs of the National Executive Committee of the Babanla Community Development Association (BCDA), Oba Arojojoye said that ‘such actions not only de-market Babanla but also inflict incalculable damage on its good name.’

He emphasised that banditry is a national menace that the federal and state governments are taking every necessary step to contain.

He commended the federal and state governments for measures so far taken to restore peace and security in the community, noting that every effort would be made to effectively rout the remnants of the criminals from the adjoining forests around Babanla and Ile-Ire.

Meanwhile, the inauguration followed formal submission and adoption of the report of the five-man Constitution Drafting Committee chaired by Dr Aderemi Babatunde with Mallam Hamzat Lawal, Alhaji Hakeem Nurudeen, Lawyer Abdullateef Abdul Salam (members) and Mallam Ismail Sanni as secretary.

The meeting was attended by the monarch-in-council, with a cross-section of BCDA representatives across the country.

Receiving the draft, the monarch appreciated the Committee for a job well done, noting that generations yet unborn would remember them for producing the historic document.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, Dr Aderemi Babatunde, had detailed the painstaking efforts undertaken by the Committee in producing the document.

Thereafter, a nine-member Transition Implementation Committee was constituted to manage the affairs of the Association for the next six months, pending elections into the various positions of the National Executive. The Committee is also charged with the responsibility of organising the modalities for the elections.

The members of the Transition Implementation Committee are: Dr. Jamiyu Omotayo Anigilaje (Chairman), Mallam Hamzat Lawal (Vice Chairman), Rev. Isaac Abolarin (Secretary) and Dr. Emmanuel Segun Alayode (Financial Secretary).

Others are Nurudeen Alabi (Treasurer), Lookman Yusuf (PRO), Moruf Musa (Auditor), Gafar Anigilaje (Ex-Officio I) and Ismaila Alabi (Ex-Officio II).

However, the traditional ruler appealed to all chapters of the association to extend cooperation and support to the committee to enable it to achieve impactful results to ensure continued progress for the Babanla community.

NON-indigenous residents from Southern states, Benue and Plateau living in Osun State have reaffirmed their support for the re-election of Governor Ademola Adeleke, while pledging commitment to peace, unity and inclusive development in the state.

The pledge was made at a town hall meeting held at the weekend in Ede.

The meeting was convened by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on non-indigenes from the South, Benue and Plateau States, Honourable Nworie Monday Michael.

The event began with a road show from ?ja Timi to the country home in Ede, where participants later converged for deliberations.

The gathering attracted unit coordinators, ward coordinators, local government coordinators, and representatives of Eze Ndigbo from across the state, alongside leaders of various non-indigenous communities residing in Osun.

Speaking at the meeting, Honourable Nworie urged participants to remain committed to peace and progress irrespective of ethnic background.

‘I encourage all the attendees to go out and continue gaining more ambassadors for the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke and prepare for the big task ahead on August 15 for the re-election of our ever-performing Governor in your various units,’ he said.

He also stressed the need to safeguard the electoral process.

‘Casting your vote alone does not win an election in our country today. One must stand firm to protect one’s vote and deter anti-democratic agents from manipulating the process. I equally encourage you that if there are challenges anywhere, please reach out to me.’

Nworie further assured the communities of his continued support in addressing issues affecting non-indigenous residents and fostering stronger relations with government.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Intergovernmental Affairs, Hon. Mustapha Adisa Akintegbe, provided voter education on the electoral process.

He urged eligible voters yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, to do so, noting that active participation remains a key civic responsibility.

Akintegbe demonstrated the voting process and explained procedures for casting valid votes, while emphasising the importance of protecting ballots and ensuring proper counting.

Despite the apprehension within the nation’s business space on the recent decision by the United States of America (USA) to introduce a 12.5 percent tariff on imports from Nigeria, the Centre for Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has said the development may be of little economic impact to the country’s, afterall.

The centre, in a statement by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Muda Yusuf, on Sunday, argued that the impact of the tariffs, which also affected about 60 trading partners of the US, might be of little economic impact, from Nigeria’s perspective, since its exports to the US are heavily concentrated in crude oil, liquefied natural gas and other petroleum products.

Those products, accounting for more than 80 percent of Nigeria’s merchandise exports to the U.S., it stated, have been exempted from the tariff measures, leaving the bulk of Nigeria’s exports unaffected.

CPPE also noted that Nigeria might not be adversely affected since the US is not the nation’s largest export market.

Quoting Nigeria’s first-quarter 2026 merchandise trade statistics, the Centre noted that out of the total exports, which stood at approximately N21.6 trillion, exports to the US only accounted for 5.56 percent.

‘By comparison, India accounted for 13.09 percent, France 9.29 percent, the Netherlands 9.22 percent, and Spain 7.68 percent. The United States ranked only the fifth-largest destination for Nigerian exports during the quarter.

‘These trade patterns significantly moderate Nigeria’s exposure to the new tariff regime,’ it added.

The centre stated further that, while some non-oil exporters, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing, may experience reduced competitiveness in the U.S. market, the overall impact on Nigeria’s export earnings, foreign exchange receipts and macroeconomic performance is expected to be modest.

According to CPPE, the products affected account for only a small proportion of Nigeria’s total exports, while the dominant export category to the U.S. remains outside the scope of the tariffs.

It, however, described the development as reflecting a broader structural shift in global trade policy, which reinforces the trend towards greater protectionism, industrial policy and strategic use of trade instruments to advance domestic economic objectives.

The Centre, therefore, called for a stronger emphasis on export diversification, enhanced manufacturing competitiveness, increased domestic value addition and deeper regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

It also urged the country to sustain efforts at strengthening labour standards, improving supply chain transparency and engaging proactively with the United States through diplomatic and trade channels to seek clarity on the implementation of the new measures and minimise any adverse effects on affected exporters.

The Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction and death sentence imposed on a Kaduna-based man, Abu Umar, who stabbed another man to death in a fight.

A five-member panel of justices of the apex court, in a lead judgment delivered by Justice Jummai-Hannatu Sankey, held that the appeal was lacking in merit and affirmed the July 22, 2020 decision of the Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna which upheld the death sentence handed down to Umar by the High Court of Justice, Kaduna State, on December 14, 2017, about nine years after conviction.

The apex court agreed with the arguments of counsel to the Kaduna State Government, Emmanuel Ekpenyong.

In the respondent’s brief, Ekpenyong, who was granted a fiat to appear for the prosecution by the state’s Attorney General, argued that, on the evidence led at trial, the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Although, the Supreme Court judgment was delivered on April 17, its Certified True Copy (CTC) was made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

It would be recalled that Abu Umar, who was the appellant, had appealed against the unanimous verdict of the Appeal Court in Kaduna which affirmed the judgment of the Kaduna State High Court in charge number: KDH/KAD/29C/2016.

The state government had preferred against the defendant a one-count charge of culpable homicide punishable with death under Section 221(b) of the Penal Code Law of Kaduna State.

Umar was alleged to have, on June 25, 2015, at Tafa Town in Niger State, stabbed one Abdulkadir Abubakar, on the right side of his chest with a knife during a fight.

Abubakar was said to have died shortly thereafter in Umaru Musa Yar’adua Hospital in Sabon Wuse, Niger State, where he was immediately taken to.

The appellant was apprehended at the crime scene and taken to the police station at Tafa, Niger State.

After the investigation at the police station at Tafa Town, the matter was later transferred to Anti-Homicide Section, Kaduna State CID of the Nigerian Police Force, for further investigation.

Upon conclusion of investigation, Umar was charged at Kaduna State High Court on one count on February 29, 2016 of the offence of culpable homicide and was arraigned before Justice G.I. Kurada.

In proving the charge, the prosecution called three witnesses and tendered three exhibits, including the knife which Umar allegedly used to stab Abubakar, before closing its case.

On his part, Umar, in line with his constitutionally guaranteed rights, decided to rest his case on that of the prosecution.

Thus, the defendant neither testified for himself nor did he adduce evidence through witnesses or other hard forms of evidence.

After evaluating the evidence presented before the court, Justice Kurada found Umar guilty as charged and proceeded to convict and sentence him accordingly.

Distressed by the turn of events, the appellant promptly approached the Appeal Court with his notice of appeal filed on January 23, 2018.

In its judgment on July 22, 2020, the Appeal Court dismissed the appeal and upheld the judgment of the trial court.

Dissatisfied with the decision, the appellant, through his lawyer, Umar Galadima filed a notice of appeal on August 19, 2020.

In his brief of argument marked: SC/CR/499/2022, Galadima asked, ‘whether the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal were not wrong when they affirmed the decision of the trial court on the ground that the respondent proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.’

Delivering the lead judgment, which was unanimously concurred by other justices, Justice Sankey sustained Ekpenyong’s arguments.

She held that the prosecution, through the eye-witness’ accounts of the 2nd prosecution witness (PW2), a police officer; PW-3, the father of Abubakar, and Exhibit 1, the extra-judicial confessional statement of Umar, proved the three ingredients of the offence he was charged for.

The judge opined that ‘the appellant has raised a dust storm over the absence of a medical report to establish the death of the deceased.’

Justice Sankey said: ‘In the circumstance of this case, medical evidence ceases to take a paramount place, the deceased having died a mere one hour and thirty minutes from his admission in the hospital.’

The judge held that the appellant sealed his fate and shot himself in the foot when he rested his case on that of the respondent.

‘From the entire analysis of the case of the respondent at the trial court, it was clear that the prosecution had discharged the burden placed on it by law to establish the guilt of the appellant beyond reasonable doubt.

‘Unfortunately, the appellant, who was all through the proceedings represented by counsel, was ill-advised to rest his case on the very evidence which conclusively established his guilt,’ she said and added that, ‘It is for these reasons that I resolve the sole issue for determination against the appellant and in favour of the respondent.

‘Consequently, I find this appeal sorely lacking in merit. It fails and is dismissed. Accordingly, the decision of the court below sitting in Kaduna, in appeal number: CA/K/370/C/2018 delivered on July 22, 2020, which affirmed the conviction and sentence of the appellant by the High Court of Justice, Kaduna State in charge number: KOH/KAD/29C/2016 delivered on December, 14, 2017, is hereby affirmed.’

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The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has foiled an attempted theft at its 330/132kV transmission substation in Bauchi on Friday, 24 July 2026, at about 9:34 p.m.

Security personnel at the substation intercepted suspected vandals attempting to remove critical tower members, but the suspects fled the scene after sighting the guards.

An inspection of the area led to the recovery of 12 transmission tower angle irons, one heavy-duty metal measuring scale and a white pickup truck believed to have been used in the operation.

The recovered items and the vehicle have been handed over to the Railway Division Police Station, Bauchi, for further investigation.

No equipment was carted away, and no injuries were recorded during the incident.

TCN commended the prompt response of its security team, whose vigilance prevented the theft of or damage to critical transmission infrastructure.

TCN reiterated the need for host communities to report suspicious activities around power installations to security agencies or the nearest TCN office.

This was contained in a statement signed by Ndidi Mbah, General Manager, Public Affairs, and made available to journalists on Monday.

As part of the move to ensure a coherent contest in the 2027 general elections, the Reconciliation Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for Bauchi, on Monday, commenced its assignment by meeting with all aspirants who contested for tickets of the National Assembly in the last primaries of the party.

The meeting is aimed at consolidating the party as one entity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The engagement, held at the APC State Secretariat in Bauchi, was chaired by the Committee Chairman and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

The meeting focused on healing wounds, removing divisions, fostering mutual respect, and presenting a united front capable of delivering victory for the party at the polls, in order to avoid a repeat of 2019 and 2023.

While addressing the aspirants, Yakubu Dogara called for setting aside every personal interest in the overall interest of the party.

He also urged all those who aspired for the National Assembly tickets but could not get one to bury their differences, embrace reconciliation, and rally behind whoever emerged as the party’s candidate through a transparent process.

According to him, the strength of the APC in Bauchi lies in cohesion, stressing that the time to close ranks is now.

The Committee noted that the meeting with NASS aspirants was part of a broader reconciliation drive across the state.

A similar engagement had earlier been held with aspirants for the State House of Assembly, where the same message of unity, discipline, and commitment to collective goals was emphasized.

The aim, the Committee said, is to ensure that no aggrieved stakeholder is left behind as the party prepares for the electoral contest.

The session drew key party stakeholders including the Bauchi State APC Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Hassan Tilde, Senator Salisu Matori, State Secretary, Aminu Na’iya, and former Federal Lawmaker, Malam Ahmed Yarima.

Also in attendance were former Speakers Hon. Yahaya Miya, Hon. Kawuwa Shehu Damina, and Hon. Abdulmumini Kudak, alongside other leaders and stakeholders from across the state.

With the renewed push for reconciliation, the APC in Bauchi State is signaling its readiness to approach the elections as one family.

The Committee expressed confidence that the spirit of dialogue and compromise witnessed at the meeting will translate into stronger mobilisation, better coordination, and ultimately, victory for the party across all elective positions in the state.

Big Brother Naija Season 11 housemate, Abisola Ayoola, popularly called Abi, has revealed that her husband initially opposed her decision to participate in the reality television show.

Speaking during her introduction with the show’s host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, on Sunday, the Osun State-born chef and model said her husband questioned her decision to enter the Big Brother house and was reluctant to support the move.

Abi said; ‘When my husband heard I was coming to the show, he actually fought with me, asking what I was going to do there. Initially, he didn’t support me’.

However, moments after her introduction, her husband, identified as Alex Salgarella, appeared in a video that has since gone viral on X, enthusiastically cheering her on.

‘Oh my God, my wife! Oh my God! Oh my God, I love you, baby! I love you, baby! Oh my God, yes! I love you! Go, baby! Go, go, go, go!’ he exclaimed.

Abi said her husband has since embraced her decision and is now fully supportive of her participation in the competition.

‘He was a bit nervous in the beginning, but now he’s fine. I’m just going to have fun, the way I always do,’ she said.

The married housemate added that she intends to enjoy the experience, maximise the opportunities the platform offers and make the most of her stay in the Big Brother Naija house.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has vowed to clamp down on illegal car racing in residential neighbourhoods across Abuja, warning that such activities pose a significant threat to public safety and the lives of innocent citizens.

Speaking with journalists during a routine project inspection on Monday, Wike acknowledged that while the newly constructed and smooth road networks across the capital territory had attracted praise, motorists and thrill-seekers must not convert residential streets into racing tracks.

Addressing reports of reckless driving and organised street racing in residential areas, the minister emphasised that civic rights have limits when public safety is compromised.

‘First of all, they are trying to show how beautiful the roads are, but then they forget there are aspects of it that also pose danger to innocent citizens.

‘I appeal to them to understand that their rights have limitations, and life is more important,’ he stated.

While noting that the administration had not yet received a formal written petition regarding specific locations, Wike assured residents that immediate action would be taken through internal enforcement channels.

The minister promised to engage the FCT Traffic Management Department to enforce compliance.

He reiterated that high-speed car racing in residential neighbourhoods would be strictly prohibited.

According to him, motorsport enthusiasts must restrict speed events to designated motorsport tracks or approved non-residential areas.

‘Rest assured that we will do everything possible to see that we don’t allow car racing within residential areas.

‘But if it is on the highway, well, we will not stop,’ Wike added.

The FCT Administration is expected to coordinate with law enforcement and traffic regulatory bodies in the coming days to increase patrols and monitor high-risk zones across residential districts.

Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has suspended seven lecturers over alleged misconduct amid fresh allegations of sexual harassment, cult activities and other disciplinary concerns raised by students.

The allegations have stirred anxiety within the institution, coming months after the appointment of a new rector.

Some female students, who spoke separately on condition of anonymity, alleged that disciplinary measures put in place under the immediate past Rector, Prof. Salisu Usman, had weakened, allowing practices such as sex-for-marks and other misconduct to resurface.

They claimed that some lecturers demand sexual favours or money from female students in exchange for grades or protection from academic failure.

According to the students, two lecturers from the Public Administration and Graphics Design departments allegedly demanded between ?70,000 and ?80,000 from female students and threatened to fail those who refused to comply.

One student alleged that a lecturer instructed a female student to book and pay for a hotel room before a scheduled meeting.

The student claimed that after reporting the incident to a management official, she faced intimidation instead of receiving protection or seeing disciplinary action initiated.

‘The disciplinary structure has collapsed. Corrupt lecturers are getting emboldened while female students are suffering in silence for fear of rustication,’ one of the students told NAN.

Another student also claimed that cult-related activities had resurfaced on campus, alleging that suspected cult members held a meeting near a female hostel between 2am and 3am about two weeks ago.

According to her, security personnel reported the incident to the management, but no action had been taken against those allegedly involved.

The students further complained about the alleged abandonment of the institution’s dress code and compulsory identity card policy, as well as the reported return of banned handout sales.

They also expressed concerns over a reported increase of more than 200 per cent in school fees, saying it had worsened the financial burden on students.

The students appealed to Governor Usman Ododo to intervene, alleging that discipline and academic standards in the institution had deteriorated.

Responding to the allegations, the Polytechnic said disciplinary action had already commenced against lecturers found to have violated institutional regulations.

The institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. John Onimisi, confirmed that six lecturers were suspended on Wednesday over the alleged unauthorised sale of handouts and textbooks.

He also disclosed that another lecturer had been suspended over an allegation of sexual harassment.

‘The disciplinary committee of the Polytechnic is already investigating the allegations and the outcome will be made available to journalists,’ Onimisi said.

However, he did not comment on the allegations of renewed cult activities on campus.

The development has prompted renewed calls by students and parents for transparent investigations, stronger disciplinary measures and sustained efforts to ensure a safe and conducive learning environment.