Nigeria: Why We’re Succeeding In Crimes Reduction In Kaduna – Police Commissioner

By Joseph Edegbo

The Commissioner of  Police, Kaduna State Command, Ibrahim Abdullahi has attributed what he called, the significant operational success recorded in the State, to the unwavering dedication and professionalism of his Officers and men.
Proactive Policing, Community Engagement, Collaboration With Other Security Agencies, were other attributes.

CP Abdullahi  stated this Monday in Kaduna when he announced the arrest of 523 suspects for involvement in various criminal activities, including: 26 kidnappers, 12 Cattle Rustlers, 97 Phone Snatchers, 17 Car Snatchers, 10 Rape Suspects, amongst others.

CHIEVEMENTS RECORDED:
A total of 523 suspects have been arrested for involvement in various criminal activities, including: 26 kidnappers, 12 Cattle Rustlers, 97 Phone Snatchers, 17 Car Snatchers, 10 Rape Suspects, amongst others.
As we embark into the ember months, efforts have been intensified to tackle crime across the State. Black spots known for criminal activities were raided, leading to the arrest of over 350 suspects. Among those apprehended are suspects involved in phone snatching and Sara suka, demonstrating a firm commitment to improving public safety and reducing crime during this critical period. The Command has also recovered: Five (5) AK47 Rifles, Two (2) Pistols, One (1) Submachine Gun (SMG), 283 Rustled Cows and 20 Sheep, 105 Rounds of Live Ammunition and 102 Kidnap victims were rescued.

HIGHLIGHTS OF MAJOR OPERATIONS:
FOILED OF KIDNAPPING, RESCUE OF EIGHTY-NINE (89) VICTIMS, RECOVERY OF ONE (1) FABRICATED AK 47 RIFLE AND FIVE (5) ALIVE AMMUNITION: On 24th November, 2024, Kaduna State Police Command received a distress call reporting the suspicious activities of armed bandits in large numbers attempting to kidnap farmers harvesting beans in a farm via Idasu Village, Kidandan in Giwa LGA of Kaduna State. Upon receipt of the report, combined teams of Police Mobile Force and Conventional Police men stationed at a nearby village, swiftly mobilized to the location and engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle. The firepower of the joint teams forced the bandits to flee into the forest with severe gunshot wounds. The Operatives successfully rescued eighty-nine (89) kidnapped victims and recovered one (1) fabricated AK47 Rifle and five (5) rounds of live ammunition. The victims have since been reunited with their families while during the operation, one (1) of the Police Operatives sustained bullet wound on his cheek and currently receiving medical treatment in the hospital.
CASE OF ARMED ROBBERY AND CAUSING GRIEVOUS HURT: On 10th November, 2024 one Isah Musa ‘m’ while returning on foot from Ung/Shanu to Ung/Sarki along Ali Akilu highway, Kaduna was attacked by one Abdulmalik Aliyu ‘m’ of No.1 Layin Yan’Wanki, Ung/Shanu, Kaduna who was armed with a sharp matchet and cut off the wrist of Isah Musa and robbed him of his VINO Motorcycle, valued at Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand (N450,000:00) Naira . Upon receipt of the report, Police Operatives swung into action and arrested the suspect. During interrogation, the suspect asserted that he was a dismissed Soldier and case is still under investigation.
ARREST OF A SUSPECTED GUN RUNNER & RECOVERY OF ONE SMG: On 13th November, 2024, at about 4:30 hours, Officers from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, of Kaduna State Command led by the Officer in Charge (OC), executed a targeted Operation at Gidan Sani around Jere Area of Kagarko, Kaduna State. During the Operation, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Command arrested one Isa Saidu, 25-year-old ‘m’ suspected of involvement in Arms Trafficking and other related criminal activities. When search was conducted in the suspect’s residence, a fabricated Submachine Gun (SMG) was recovered. The suspect will be charged to court on completion of preliminary investigations.
ARREST OF TWO-MAN SYNDICATE OF CELL PHONE THIEVES: On 20th November, 2024 at about 1230hrs, acting on credible information Police Patrol Team attached to Gabasawa Division, Kaduna swiftly acted and arrested two (2) suspected cell phones thieves namely, Bashir Suleiman ‘m’ and Mohammed Ibrahim ‘m’ of different addresses. Information at disposal indicated that the two (2) suspects specialized in attacking innocent passengers who patronizes Tricycle and smartly steal their cell phones. Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and mentioned their criminal receiver one Abdulmalik Tafida, a resident from Abuja. When search was conducted in their hideout, one (1) cell phone was recovered. Case is still under investigation.
RECOVERY OF A STOLEN VEHICLE AND ARREST OF SIX SUSPECTS:
In the same vein, On 27th October 2024, at about 17:20 hours, Officers from the Kakuri Police Division were alerted to a Toyota LE vehicle with four young men inside, displaying suspicious behavior along Kachia Road. The police team promptly arrived at the scene, intercepted the vehicle, and detained the four occupants. Upon further investigation at the station, the suspects confessed that they had received the vehicle from two other suspects who had instructed them to sell it. Based on this information, the police tracked down and apprehended the additional two suspects. All six suspects are currently in police custody, and further investigations are ongoing.

ARREST OF SUSPECTED KIDNAPPER’S INFORMANT: On 29th October 2024, Acting on credible intelligence, Officers from Katari Division, Kaduna apprehended one Abdullahi Saleh, 42-year-old ‘m’ in connection with aiding banditry and attempted extortion. According to preliminary investigation, the suspect reportedly approached a female shop owner at Katari Main Market, Kaduna on October 25, 2024. He informed her that a group of bandits was allegedly planning to kidnap her but claimed he had intervened on her behalf. To avoid the purported abduction, he demanded a payment of 200,000 Naira, later reducing the amount to Sixty Thousand (N60,000) Naira after further negotiation. Upon arrest, Saleh admitted to the act during questioning and is currently in police custody.

RECOVERY OF 283 SUSPECTED RUSTLED COWS, 20 SHEEP AND ARREST OF FIVE SUSPECTS: On 31st October 2024, Acting on credible intelligence received, the Officer in Charge of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Sp Sani Ibrahim Zuntu led a team of operatives to a remote area of Gora Village. The team located and arrested five suspects and recovered two hundred and eighty three (283) Cattles and twenty (20) sheep suspected to be rustled.
THE ARRESTED SUSPECTS ARE:
Danjuma Alhaji Nguna, 25 years, Saleh Shehu, 35 years, Isiya Abdullahi, 35 years, Abubakar Isiya, 13 years and Aminu Abdullahi a.k.a. “Kano,” 13 years.
All the suspects will be charged to court after the completion of preliminary investigations.

RESCUE OF TWO KIDNAP VICTIMS: On 31st October, 2024, at about 17:00 hours, following an intelligence report received by the Ikara Division of a suspicious bandits activity in a remote bush area near Kauyen Magaji Auchan village. Acting promptly on the information, a patrol team from Ikara division was dispatched to the scene, where the team engaged the bandits in a gunfight that forced them to scamper into the bush. As a result of the operation two victims were rescued namely, Ibrahim Abdullahi, and Hafsat Yusuf. The victims were immediately transported to a nearby hospital for a thorough medical examination and after that they were reunited with their families.

ARREST OF SUSPECTS FOR UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF FIREARM: On 22nd October, 2024, police detectives arrested Aliyu Yusuf, a 23-year-old man from Raminkura Village, Lere LGA, based on credible intelligence. He was found with a locally made pistol loaded with live ammunition. During interrogation, he mentioned one Munir Dayyabu, a 32-year-old from the same village, as the person who provided the weapon. Both suspects and the exhibit are transferred to the SCID for further investigation.

ARREST OF NOTORIOUS TRICYCLE THIEVES: On October 23, at about 23:12 hours, surveillance patrol officers of Rigasa division, acting on credible information, tracked down and arrested two suspects, Umar Aliyu 21 year old and Abubakar Abdullahi Buba 19 years old, for terrorizing and involvement in tricycle theft in the Rigasa area. The suspects, known for stealing and causing trouble, were caught with a tricycle glass panel. After preliminary investigations, they were charged to court.

ARREST OF SUSPECTS INVOLVED IN CHILD TRAFFICKING AND RESCUE OF THE BABY: On 30/10/2024, at about 2:00 hours, a case of criminal conspiracy and child trafficking was transferred from the Antang Police Outpost to the Kafanchan Divisional Police Headquarters. A good Samaritan reported that on 29/10/2024, Evelyn Anthony from Madala, Niger State, conspired with a friend and went to her husband’s house, whose name is not yet known, and kidnapped her two-week-old baby. During the investigation, detectives traced the suspects to Madala based on reliable information, arrested them, and rescued the baby. The victim and the mother were taken to the General Hospital Kafanchan for medical treatment. The suspects will be charged in court after the preliminary investigation is completed.

ARREST OF SUSPECTS FOR VANDALIZING AND STEALING OF RAILWAY SECURITY LIGHT: At about 1830 hours, the DPO of Rigasa Division received a report from a concerned citizen about unknown individuals stealing and vandalizing solar streetlights at the railway station. The DPO swiftly mobilized officers to the scene. The suspects arrested are: Abdulrahman Abubakar (18), Ahmed Lukman (19), Mudassir Kabiru (18), and Bilyaminu Abdulkarim (19). The stolen items were recovered, and further investigation is ongoing.

ARREST OF A KIDNAPPER AND RECOVERY OF EXHIBITS:
In a successful joint operation carried out on November 13, 2024, at 16:00 hours, officers from the Jere Police Divisional Patrol Team, with Military Personnel from the 102 Guards Battalion at Zuma Barracks, apprehended a suspected member of a notorious kidnapping syndicate. The suspect, identified as Ali Lawal, a resident of Lodduga Village in Kachia Local Government Area (LGA), was apprehended in the SCC area of Jere following credible intelligence report. The suspect confessed to being an active member of a kidnapping syndicate terrorizing the Chinka and Tudun Wada areas of Kagarko LGA.
The following exhibits were recovered from the suspect, two Android smart phones, three SIM cards, and a cash sum of One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira (N120,000.00).

ARREST OF A NOTORIOUS KIDNAPPERS GANG LEADER: On 20th November 2024, Acting on credible intelligence, a team from the Anchau Police Division successfully arrested a suspected kidnapper, Danladi Lawal, a male resident of Gedege Village in Kubau Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State. The suspect confessed to being the gang leader of a kidnapping syndicate responsible for terrorizing communities within Kubau LGA and its environs.
During interrogation, he admitted to conspiring with five other gang members to kidnap a victim, for whom they extorted a ransom of 4.5 million Naira before releasing them. The suspect is currently cooperating with the police to arrest the other gang members at large.

ARREST OF FOUR KIDNAPPERS: On 12th November 2024, Operation Fushin Kada personnel led by the Commander SP Usman Namai Bindiga acting on credible technical intelligence, successfully arrested four members of a high-profile kidnapping syndicate operating within Rahama Village, Dutsen Wai Village, and surrounding areas in Kaduna State. The team executed a decisive operation that led to the arrest of the following suspects: Yahaya Abdullahi, Shamsu Ibrahim, Linus Obasi and Hauwa Mohammed, All residents of Dutsen Wai Village, Kubau Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
During interrogation, Yahaya Abdullahi confessed to conspiring with Shamsu Ibrahim to kidnap a female victim from Rahama Village. The victim was taken to Linus Obasi’s brothel, located in Gidan Dogo, Dutsen Wai Village, where she was handed over to Hauwa Mohammed, the caretaker of the hotel. The victim was held captive for four days until a ransom of three million Naira (₦3,000,000) was paid before the victim was released and reunited with her family. All the suspects were charged to court after the completion of preliminary investigations.

ARREST OF A SUSPECTED CATTLE RUSTLER AND RECOVERY OF A LOCALLY MADE FIREARM: On 13th November, 2024, officers from Operation Fushin Kada acted on credible intelligence and successfully apprehended one Audu Abdullahi, a 27-year-old male, in Kujama, Kaduna. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a member of a notorious cattle rustling syndicate. During interrogation, he confessed to being part of a syndicate that frequently carries out operations using two AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons. Following his confession, a team of operatives conducted a search operation in a nearby bush, which led to the recovery of a locally made firearm and charms used by the gang. These achievements underscore the Kaduna State Police Command’s dedication to tackling crime and safeguarding lives and property. I wish to express my gratitude to the officers, men, and members of the public who continue to provide critical information leading to the successes we celebrate today.
I assure you that the Command will not relent in its efforts to maintain law and order across the state. We will continue to strengthen community policing and remain resolute in the fight against all forms of criminality.
Thank you for your support and God bless you all, ” concludes the text.

Nigeria: Group Advocates Inclusive Leadership, Value Re-orientation To Drive Transformation Agenda

By Justina Auta

Nkata Ndi Inyom Igbo (NNII) Foundation, a socio-cultural group has called for inclusive leadership and value re-orientation to achieve transformation and sustainable development in Nigeria.

The group made the call during a virtual press briefing ahead of it’s fourth annual conference.

The theme of the briefing was, “Driving Transformation through value Re-orientation, inclusive Leadership and Sustainabilty” scheduled for Dec. 3rd in Abuja.

Mrs Josephine Anenih, President of the group, said that the pivotal role women played in achieving transformation, stressing the need to promote inclusive leadership and address challenges affecting them with a view to ensure it’s success.

Anenih said that the conference would explore holistic approaches that would address insecurity, women’s rights and economic empowerment, poor political representation, and Gender Based Violence.

“It is high time we all come together to discuss the problems affecting us and proffer solutions to bring about sustainable development in our nation,” she said.

Mrs Nnedinso ogaziechi, National Publicity Secretary, NNIIF, said that the country direly needed series of conversations for the exchange of ideas.

She said that more national bonding and functional productivity dialogue that can aid development were also needed.

“Women have the qualities that can drive development. We have both the drive and natural instincts to seek and create solutions to problems without recourse to wars and conflicts,” she said.

Also, Mrs Nonye Ragis-Okpara, a former Ambassador to Singapore and group member, said that the group served as a platform for Igbo women.

She said that the aim was for them to discuss and address challenges at the regional and national level to bring positive change through value re-orientation.

Prominent figures expected at the event include Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the Minister of Women Affairs; Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sen. Ned Nwoko, and Dr. Timi Agary.

Others are Muhammed Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano; Osita Chidoka, former minister of Aviation, and Labaran Maku, former minister of Information and Communication. (NAN)

Nigeria: Worker Manhandled At Turkish Company Gets Justice, Thanks Media, NGO

A welder working with a Turkish company, Motech United Industry Limited, one of the companies maintaining the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), Thompson Emmanuel, has expressed gratitude to an NGO, Eagle Brain, and the media for coming to his rescue during his ordeal in the company.

Speaking to the media in Kaduna at the weekend, Mr. Emmanuel, who was allegedly smashed on his head repeatedly with a helmet by one Mr. Gencayl, the Personnel Manager of the company, leading to injury in one of his eyes, said the CSO and the media came to his rescue and today he has gotten justice.
According to him, the matter has been settled out of court and I appreciate the media for all the efforts they put in to ensure that i get justice.
“I have gotten justice, I am okay with the resolution and the settlement.
“The condition given to me by the doctor is that I should stay back home for a month and observe the eye and the chest as they are very important parts of the body. But by God’s grace I will be back to my feet”
Reacting to this, the chairman of Eagle Brian human rights organization, Mr. Daniel Ejembi, said when the case was reported to his organization, they immediately took action to ensure they get first-hand information on what led to the victim’s brutalization.
He explained that “After we gathered the information, we confronted the company and asked why our citizens would be brutally injured to the extent that his vision was affected as the first time.
“We waited for them for a talk, which they promised to talk, but just no information forthcoming. So, we decided to proceed with legal action.
“They later contacted us and we had a meeting and they agreed to our terms and conditions. To the joy of Emmanuel, who is the victim who got justice.

“He was convinced with their offer and has been adequately compensated, and he is happy with it, so who are we?”
The CEO further said “We need to let the issue lie, we are here to make sure that citizens are not violated, their rights are not violated, and we are ready to stand by any citizen who associates self with us.
“My advice to citizens is to speak out, voice out no matter the intimidation, and reach out to people who can fight your course no matter where they come from.
“We are for everybody. We are just trying to correct the wrongs of society so that individuals will not live life like there is no law regulating our daily affairs.

“I want citizens to know that they have a right to be protected and that whoever violates that right must pay dearly for it.”
He therefore warned foreigners doing business in Nigeria to stop treating Nigerians as slaves, saying “My message to foreigners having companies here in Nigeria is that our citizens are not slaves; they must respect the Labour laws, respect the individual rights of associations and rights to complain they cannot subdue them.
“Nobody has that right over another person in this country”, he concludes.

Nigeria: Zango Kataf Chairman Fully Assumes Duty, Tasks CDAs to Revive SOKAPU

The Chairman, Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, North West Nigeria, Engr. Bege Joseph has fully Assumed office after being sworn-in by the State Government and  subsequent induction training on his official responsibilities.

Engr. Bege Joseph

Receiving a delegation of the 2024 Southern Kaduna  Festival Committee known as 2024 SKFest led by the Technical Committee Chairman, Alhaji Danlami Shuaibu, the Council Chairman charged Leadership of all Community Development Associations, CDAs to revive the only umbrella of the zone, which is the Southern Kaduna People’s Union, SOKAPU.
“The various CDA leadership seems to be dividing us and not uniting us because each of the groups is fighting for its own cause and not our collective interest as a people of Southern Kaduna. Some of them have delved into politics thereby creating a wide division even within the Local Government areas with people of divergent political opinions.”
Engr.Bege Joseph went down the memory lane by asserting that SOKAPU was a resounding pressure group that was a force to reckon with after Ohaneze Ndigbo and the Afenifere groups before the coming of other notable agitatators including the Middle Belt forum.
The Zango Kataf Local Government Chairman suggested that as a zone with more than 50 ethnic diversities  and socio-cultural practices, only unity can help them to actualize the creation of Gurara State which has been a long time aspiration for the zone.
“SOKAPU is becoming a mirage of itself because as it stands now, we don’t have a voice as a people to stand on an issue that affects us”
Engr. Bege therefore called on the SKfest organizers to take back the message to the CDAs to find a way of resolving all issues and allowed proper leadership to suffice in SOKAPU.
Earlier, the head of the SKfest delegation, Alhaji Danlami Shuaibu had congratulated the Chairman and briefed him about the SKfest stating that it is organized by Southern Kaduna leadership comprising of CDAs, SOKAPU and Southern Kaduna Leadership forum.
Alhaji Danlami Shuaibu appealed for the support of all Local Government Areas in the zone for the success of the event adding that all the Local Governments took part in the event last year.

Disclaimer: “Dr. Odoh Bernard Ifeanyi is  not and has never been a staff of  the Federal University Gusau,”…VC

… Accuses former Vice Chancellor, Registrar of Complicity

The Vice Chancellor, Federal University Gusau, Prof. Mu’azu Abubakar Gusau, has reacted to the ongoing controversy surrounding the appointment of Dr. Odoh Bernard Ifeanyi as the Vice Chancellor of the Azikiwe University Awka, in which he claimed to have been promoted as Professor by the Federal UNiversity Gusau, as false, misleading and untenable.
Addressing a press conference in Gusau, Zamfara State, Prof. Mu’azu Abubakar Gusau declared that Dr. Odoh Bernard Ifeanyi is not and had never been a staff of the Federal UNiversity Gusau, let alone being appointed Professor.

The VC said that the Dr.Odoh’s claim of appointment as Professor was a charade packaged by the former Vice Chancellor and the Registrar as well as an act of administrative fraud that is unknown to law and common sense.

Dr. Odoh Bernard Ifeanyi 

Prof. Mu’azu Abubakar described the so-called promotion as a mark of desperation by a drowning man who is hell-bent on using the good name of the Federal University Gusau, to give vent to his ambition to become the Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, through subterfuge.

FULL TEXT OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE VICE CHANCHELLOR, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY GUSAU, PROFESSOR MU’AZU ABUBAKAR GUSAU ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2024

Gentlemen of the Press. It is my pleasure to welcome you to this press conference.
*Introduction*

In the last two weeks, both the mainstream and new media in Nigeria have been awash with screaming headlines about the controversy surrounding the appointment of Dr. Odoh Bernard Ifeanyi as the Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State by the Governing Council of the University.

Part of the issues that has generated serious attention is the misleading and unfounded claim by Dr. Odoh that he was offered a tenure appointment and confirmed as a Professor by the Federal University, Gusau.

Arising from the spurious claim, the Federal University Gusau, has been inundated with enquiries about the true status of Dr. Odoh Bernard Ifeanyi regarding: (a) his appointment as a tenured Professor in the Department of Geology; (b) grant of leave of absence and, (c) confirmation of appointment as a substantive professor by the Governing Council of the University.

In response to the public enquiry, the University management, after a thorough internal scrutiny, issued a disclaimer to the effect that Dr. Odoh was neither employed by the University nor appointed as a professor.

However, despite the disclaimer, Dr. Odoh has been unrelenting, parading documents purportedly issued by the University as proof of his non-existent employment by the institution.

The widely circulated misinformation by Dr. Odoh has no doubt, raised serious concerns about the credibility and reputation of the Federal University, Gusau.

Consequently, the University Management has decided to go public, to tell its own side of the story to stem further misinformation on the issue.
The University Management, therefore, wishes to clarify as follows:
(a) That appointment of staff, both academic and non-teaching, by the Federal University Gusau, is done based on laid down guidelines duly approved by the University’s Governing Council;
(b) That part of the guidelines is that when an individual applies for employment, after vacancies are declared, the University’s registry scrutinizes such application upon which, if found to have met employment requirements, such an applicant, alongside others, is shortlisted and invited for interview;That upon successful interview, such an applicant is issued an appointment letter, containing the terms and conditions of his appointment. One of such conditions is a written acceptance of the offer of appointment. Thereafter, the applicant proceeds to document his engagement, upon which he is posted to the relevant unit of the University to assume duty  as a staff; In the case of Dr. Odoh Bernard Ifeanyi, the University notes as follows:That he did not submit any letter of acceptance of offer of appointment,That he did not undergo the statutory documentation,
(C) That even though Dr. Odoh was engaged as a Visiting  linkage staff in the Department of Geology of the University, and dubiously enrolled into the institution’s payroll from July 2014 to August 2015,  he neither assumed duty nor taught any course since the inception of the Department in the 2014/2015 academic session. The collection of salary  for job not done, amounts to an illegality and a breach of extant rules;
(d)That he was not at any point in time, appointed as the pioneer Head of Department of Geology of the University, contrary to such unfounded claim, and,
( e) That there is no personal file related to the appointment of Dr. Odoh Bernard Ifeanyi in the custody of the University.Meanwhile, the so-called letters of offer of tenure of appointment as Professor and confirmation of promotion to the post of Professor, dated 30th April 2015 and 12th November 2015, being paraded by Dr. Odoh Bernard Ifeanyi and purported to be certified true copies hurriedly endorsed by Ibrahim Bawa Kaura, former Registrar of the Federal University,  dated November 8, 2024, six solid years after the latter left the services of the Federal University Gusau, are products of administrative fraud orchestrated by Dr. Odoh, working in cahoots with the former Vice Chancellor of the University and the Registrar.
For the sake of emphasis, assessment of candidates for professorial appointment, just as it is the case with all academic staff promotions, is procedural and begins from the Departmental Appointments and Promotions Committee (DA&PC) through the Faculty Appointments and Promotions Committee (FA&PC) to the Senior Staff Establishments Committee (SSEC).
It is only after successfully going through these stages that a candidate’s paper are packaged and sent out to three external assessors.
In the case of Dr. Odoh, no such procedure was followed as there is no record to that effect in the University.
Even if for the sake of argument, we concede that Dr. Odoh’s papers were sent out, it is almost near impossible for the three assessors to turn in their reports between April 30th 2015 and November 12th 2015, when he procured the questionable promotion to the rank of professor.
As a matter of fact, we have it on good authority that the first Governing Council rejected the former Vice Chancellor’s request for the ratification of Dr. Odoh’s dubious promotion.

Furthermore, shortly after being allegedly offered appointment, Dr. Odoh proceeded on leave of absence, a privilege that can only be extended to a confirmed staff of the University after the statutory probation period.

What is apparent from the foregoing, is that everything about Dr. Odoh’s   purported offer of appointment as tenure staff and confirmation of promotion as professor is shady, fraudulent, utterly devoid of due process and smacks of illegality as there is no evidence of official documentation with regards to his controversial employment as a staff of the Federal University Gusau.

The whole charade was packaged and executed by the former Vice Chancellor and the former Registrar, without recourse to extant rules and due process for reasons not known to law and commonsense.

Further proof of the desperation to perpetuate such illegality is the   impersonation and usurpation of the duties of the current Registrar of the University by the former Registrar, Ibrahim Bawa Kaura, who procured a fake stamp to certify Dr. Odoh’s equally fake documents as true copies on November 8, 2024, six years after his disengagement from the University.
*Conclusion*
In conclusion, the Management of the Federal University Gusau, wishes to state in unequivocal terms that from available records, Dr. Odoh Bernard Ifeanyi is not and has never been a tenure staff of the University, let alone being confirmed as a Professor by the institution. Whatever claim to the contrary by Dr. Odoh is nothing but the antics of a drowning man who is hell-bent on using the good name of the Federal University Gusau, to give vent to his desperate ambition to become the Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, through subterfuge.

AMDF Announces 11 Finalists For The 2024 Journalist Of  The Year  Award

Press Release 

Kaduna, Nigeria – The Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) has announced  the 11 finalists for the 2024 AMDF Journalist of the Year Award. This award recognizes outstanding journalism that has made a significant impact on development issues across Africa.

The finalists, chosen from a highly competitive pool of submissions, have demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and commitment to reporting on critical issues that affect the continent. They come from various media categories, including print, online, photo, television, and radio journalism.
Finalists for the 2024 AMDF Journalist of the Year Award (Alphabetical order):
Online Category:
• Abdulraheed Hammad – The Cable, Nigeria
• Arinze Chizioke – Ripples Nigeria
• Kei Emmanuel Duku – One Citizen Newspaper, South Sudan

Photo Category:
• Ayodele Isaac – The Nation Newspaper, Nigeria
• Olugbon Saheed Adedoyin – The Punch Newspaper, Nigeria

Print Category:
• Nyima Sillah – The Voice Newspaper, Gambia
• Segun Odunayo – The Punch Newspaper, Nigeria
• Taiwo Alimi – The Nation Newspaper, Nigeria

Television Category:
• Adeyemi Adekunle – Lens Africa TV, Nigeria
• Chernor Mustapha Thoronka – Apex Multi-Media Co-op, Sierra Leone
• Ibrahim Ismail – Trust TV, Nigeria

In a statement, the organisation said “It is noteworthy that none of the entries in the radio category met the minimum required standard outlined in the call for entry.

“The winners and runners-up will be announced during the Africa Conference on Development Journalism, taking place from December 4-5, 2024, in Kaduna, Nigeria. This event will bring together journalists, media professionals, and stakeholders to discuss the role of journalism in driving development and social change in Africa.

“We are incredibly proud of all the finalists and their contributions to journalism. Their work exemplifies the importance of holding powerful interests to account and shedding light on critical issues that impact our communities,” said Sekyen Dadik, Executive Director of AMDF.

The AMDF Journalist of the Year Award aims to celebrate and encourage high-quality journalism that addresses development challenges and promotes transparency, accountability, and good governance in Africa.

For more information about the award and the upcoming conference, please visit https://conference.amdf-centre.org.

Contact: Joy Gadani, Senior Communications Officer, Africa Media Development Foundation | email: jgadani@amdf-centre.org | Phone: +234 907 080 8087.

Foundation Advocates Empowerment Of Boy-child

By Martha Agas

A Non-Governmental Organisation, the Yargote Foundation, has called for the creation of special programmes aimed at empowering the boy-child to become responsible members of society.

The founder of the organisation, Mrs Anna Pai, made the call at a summit themed “Shaping the Future of Boys for Balanced Living Through Positive Influence” organised by the foundation on Thursday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit also marks the graduation of the first cohort of the foundation’s “Empower the Boy-Child Project.”

Pai emphasised the need for stakeholders to come together to empower and support the boy-child, just as attention was being given to the girl-child, to create a safer society.

“The foundation’s project has focused on equipping beneficiaries with soft skills, mentoring them, and engaging in community service.”

Pai noted that the skills acquired by the beneficiaries were not merely tools but keys to unlocking their full potential.

The chairman of the event, Mr Alkasim Abdulkadir, emphasised that training the boy-child to become responsible required concerted efforts for meaningful outcomes.

He noted that collective action was necessary to secure the future of the boy-child, particularly with reports indicating that there were about 11 million out-of-school boys vulnerable to societal ills.

The keynote speaker, Dr Dale Ogunbayo, urged stakeholders to reflect on the kind of men they wanted the boys to become and be intentional in inculcating those values.

He emphasised the importance of parents, particularly men, serving as credible and accessible role models to the boys.

Beneficiaries of the project reported that the programme had changed their outlook on academics, as they were now more serious about their studies, adhering to school regulations, and avoiding social vices.

Nigeria: Respect Laws Governing Minerals Resources, Miners Urge Government Officials

By Martha Agas

The Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged government officials at both the national and sub-national levels to respect the provisions of extant laws in the governance of mineral resources

The National President of the association, Dele Ayanleke, made the call at the opening ceremony of the ninth edition of the Mining week, in Abuja.

Ayanleke said that the move was crucial if Nigeria sought to make the mining sector the cornerstone of its economy.

“I wish to humbly submit that this is not the time to exhibit exuberance or engage in unguided and staggered experimentation of a governance regime that will turn our dream into a mirage.

“To accelerate the growth of our national mining economy, huge investments are needed.

“As no investor wants to fish in troubled waters, this is the time to engender a unified, acceptable and pragmatic legal and regulatory framework,” he said.

According to him, such a framework should address and ameliorate all the issues giving impetus to the present chaotic operating and regulatory environment.

He said that the mining week provided a platform to assess the efforts of stakeholders aimed at reworking policy guidelines to support the diversification and broadening of the economy.

He emphasised that appropriate actions must be taken to reposition the sector, particularly to achieve President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s vision of diversifying the economy.

“It is incumbent for us to sincerely and patriotically examine those factors militating against the envisaged accelerated growth of the sector,” he said.

In his remarks,Cyril Azobu, Partner and Mining Leader,PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), said that Nigeria’s mining industry was currently attracting investors attention in exploration due to laudable policies that are helping to de-risk the sector.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for the mining week is ‘From the Inside Out: Building the Mining Sector to be the Cornerstone of the Economy’.
The week is organised by MAN and is hosted by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.

Currency Exchange Rates

USD - United States Dollar
ZAR
0.06
EUR
1.06
CAD
0.71
ILS
0.28
INR
0.01
GBP
1.27
CNY
0.14

Africa Prime News

News The African Way

Skip to content ↓

Enable Notifications OK No thanks