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THE STATES
A Yola High Court presided over by Justice Ambrose
Mammadi, has fixed February 18, 2016 for ruling in a suit challenging the suspension of Alhaji Abdulrahman Abubakar as member of Adamawa State House of Assembly.
Mammadi will rule on the plenary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit, as well as pass judgement on the suit already argued before him by the parties involved.
Abubakar, who represents Mubi South constituency, had in 2015 dragged the Speaker, Alhaji Kabiru Mijinyawa and the Assembly to court over his suspension for three months and dissolution of the House Committee on Finance, which he chaired.
The state Attorney General was later joined in the suit as 3rd respondent.
In his argument before the court, counsel to Abubakar, Mr Ever Odo, argued that both the speaker and the assembly erred in law, as they have no powers to suspend his client for 30 days.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board
(SUBEB) says it has concluded arrangements to rehabilitate 10 schools in Malammadori Local Government Area of the state.
Malam Mukhtar Mukaddari, the Education Secretary in the area, told newsmen in Malammadori that the board would renovate and construct additional classroom blocks in the selected schools.
Mukaddari said the project would be executed in both primary and post-basic schools under the 2014/2015 SUBEB project.
He listed the benefitting schools to include Chac-Chanda, Baguwa, Shayya, Dakindo and Kampala.
Kano
Former Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority
(NPA), Alhaji Aminu Dabo has advised Nigerian youths to avoid acts capable of destroying their future.
He made the call when the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) presented him with an award in Kano recently.
He said the advice was necessary in view of the fact that they were the future leaders of the country.
He advised that “as future leaders of Nigeria, youths are supposed to exhibit good conduct and avoid anything that will destroy their future.
He commended the Association for finding him worthy of the award and urged members to face their studies with the seriousness it deserved to enable them to contribute their quota toward the development of the country.
Kebbi
The Emir of Zuru in Kebbi State, Alhaji Sani Sami has
urged Gov. Atiku Bagudu to intensify efforts at improving the education sector in the state.
The emir gave the advice while receiving members of the Old Boys Association of Government Secondary School, Zuru, who paid him a courtesy call in his palace.
He said that the education sector in the state had remained backward for too long.
Sami said that the education sector had suffered considerable neglect over the years.
“Structures are decaying, science laboratories are lacking and students receive lessons sitting on the bare floor, hence affecting students’ performance in external examinations,’ he said.
The emir, however, commended the association for organising an annual general meeting, charging members to task themselves for the overall development of the college.
Kogi
Seven registered voters in Kogi State have sued the Federal
Government in the Community Court of Justice of ECOWAS, alleging inconsistency in the election of Yahaya Bello as the state governor-elect.
The suit with registration number ECW/CCJ/APP/02/16 filed at the ECOWAS Court headquarter, Abuja was made available to newsmen.
The plaintiffs named as “citizens of Nigeria and registered voters in Kogi State’’ include; Sule Audu, Ikeleji Agada and Labaran Dadio.
Others are Isaka Isa, Abdul Audu, Ademu Abdullahi and Sulaiman Abdul.
The suit filed by the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Festus Ogwuche named FG as the sole defendant.
Lagos
An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court has granted bail in the
sum of N250,000 to a driver, Shakiru Akinsola, for allegedly causing the death of a pedestrian.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, also ordered the accused to produce two sureties in like sum, and adjourned the case till January 25, for mention.
Akinsola, 25, who lives at No 2, Shola Olamide Close, Runsewe Estate, Ahmadiyya Ijaiye, a suburb of Lagos, was arraigned for reckless driving.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Benedict Eigbokhon, told the court that the offence was committed on December 27, at Capitol Junction on Old Agege, Area of Lagos.
Eigbokhon said the accused drove in a reckless way and caused the death of one Nwafio John, a 52-year-old man.
“After the accused knocked down the man, he wanted to run away, but was caught by the people at the scene,’’ he said.
Nasarawa
A 37-year-old businessman, Nasiru Alidu, charged with
forgery has been remanded in prison by a Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court in Nasarawa state.
The order to remand the accused in prison given by the judge, Mr Albert Maga, was sequel to the prosecution’s objection to his bail application.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Adaji, had told the court that investigation on the case was ongoing and that letting the accused to go on bail may impede the process.
“It will take time to investigate this matter and letting the accused go on bail may impede the investigation,” Adaji said.
Alidu, who resides at Kudnawi Area of Mararaba is facing a three-count charge of criminal breach of trust, forgery and cheating.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The judge upheld the prosecution’s objection and ordered that Alidu be remanded in prison.
Niger
As part of effort to boost rice production in Niger State,
the Agricultural Graduates Association of Nigeria (AGAN) said it had started collecting names of its members interested in collecting bank loans for rice production.
“We have started collecting list of members who have access to at least one hectare of land,’’ Alhaji Hussaini Iliyasu, the Chairman of the association in the state, disclosed this to newsmen in Bida.
Iliyasu said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had agreed to guarantee a N1.8 billion loan from commercial banks for the farmers under the Federal Government Rice Support Programme.
“We are currently working with some commercial banks towards accessing the loan for our activities. We have reached 80 per cent success with the banks.
Ogun
The Chairman of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of
Ogun State, Mr Kayode Ojumo, has advised residents to desist from dumping refuse indiscriminately in order to maintain a clean environment.
Ojumo, who gave the advice during a tour of the area, noted that indiscriminate dumping of refuse had prompted Gov. Ibikunle Amosun to close down some shops and markets in the area early this year.
According to him, this measure is part of efforts to avoid the outbreak of diseases and ensure a healthy environment that will attract investors to the area.
Ojumo said the Deputy Governor, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, had also visited the local government earlier to sensitise them on the importance of a clean environment.
Ondo
Oba Adegoke Adewusi, Olufon of Ifon has lauded the
mega primary school initiative by Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State.
Adewusi gave the commendation while receiving the management of Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), in Ifon, Ose Local Government Area recently.
According to him, the concept has enhanced education in the state.
The monarch thanked Mimiko for citing one mega primary school in the community, adding that the school was not only for academic activities, but also served as a tourist attraction in the town.
“Whenever the school is posted on social media, it always generates positive comments from sons and daughters of the community within and outside the country’’, he said.
Zamfara
The Zamfara State Government said that it would adopt
the Treasury Single Account (TSA) as part of its efforts to eradicate corruption in the state.
The state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Umar Bukkuyum, made the disclosure at a news conference in Gusau.
Bukkuyum said the state government had set-up a seven-man committee toward achieving the objective.
He said the committee to be headed by the government would also have the commissioners for Finance, Commerce and Industry as well as Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs as members.
Others are commissioners for Works and Transport and Science and Technology while the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Abdullahi Shinkafi, would serve as secretary.
Ambassador of Ukraine to Nigeria, Dr Villari Alexandruk (left), in a handshake with Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State, after the envoy presented his country’s symbol of power to the Governor in Katsina on Thursday
The Lagos State Government has disclosed that 26,592 public school students failed the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, raising alarm across the state’s education sector.
The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, during a ministerial press briefing yesterday in Alausa, Ikeja, said that “45.7 per cent of the 58,188 students from public schools who sat for the exams did not pass.”.
This failure rate comes despite the state government’s significant financial backing N1.577 billion was paid on behalf of the students to cover WAEC fees.
“Suffice to say that the sum of N1,577,794,000 only was paid by the state government as examination fees for 58,188 students who were captured for the year 2024 WASSCE,” Alli-Balogun announced.
In a bid to tighten accountability and avoid wastage, the Commissioner disclosed that biometric and image registration was carried out to accurately determine eligible students for government sponsorship for the 2025 WASSCE.
“The exercise successfully captured and registered 56,134 students as bona fide beneficiaries of the Lagos state government’s sponsorship for the examination,” he added.
However, the Lagos State Government rolled out a bold educational intervention – the Eko Learners’ Support Programme for WASSCE and NECO candidates – aimed at reversing the tide of academic failure in the state’s public schools.
Launched on January 14, 2025, the initiative is part of a broader commitment by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to equip Lagos students with tools for success.
“This forward-thinking initiative was designed to support and empower young scholars in attestation of the ministry’s commitment to advancing interest and management of the educational system in Lagos State,” Alli-Balogun stated.
Ekiti State Government says it has vaccinated 226,429 eligible girls in the State against the Human Papilloma Virus, an infection believed to be a leading cause of cervical cancer.
The wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, said the HPV immunization exercise, which she flagged off in the State in May 2025 was a great success, noting that it reached targeted communities and protected children against cervical cancer.
The governor’s wife made the disclosure in Ado Ekiti yesterday during a one-day stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting on the introduction of Measles Rubella vaccines in Ekiti State.
She said, “The introduction of Measles Rubella Vaccines is a very crucial step towards protecting Ekiti children particularly the target age group of nine to 14 years from diseases.
“I urge all women in the State to regularly scan their breasts. This can be done with the aid of the Mammography machine which is available at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti”.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani, noted that the Measles Rubella vaccines would be rolled out nationally in October, 2025.
Filani said that the State was taking proactive steps to sensitise residents of the State before the date to ensure adequate awareness on the vaccines by citizens.
The Acting Ochimba of Ogida in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Ndudiri Azuatalam, says peace remains paramount in the socio-economic development of Etche land.
Eze Azuatalam, however, called on his people to embrace and eschew violence at all times.
The Onwa Nagbara Oha made the call during the official commissioning of his palace at Ogida recently.
The epoch-making ceremony held at his palace saw the attendance of members of the Etche Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs; the academia; the political class; the clergy ; women as well relevant stakeholders within and outside Etche land.
The Ngbaragida of Azuafor re-emphasised the essence of peace and social harmony which he said open the window for meaningful development to take place.
He also sought the support and collaboration of his people to achieve the desired goals of development, progress and prosperity.
He noted that the peace being witnessed in the area must be sustained through collective effort, saying, contributions and sacrifices need to be made by all concerned to live in peace.
Eze Azuatalam said his aim towards building a better Ogida cannot be compromised as he and his people have no other place called home.
The Acting Ochimba said as part of efforts to build a better Ogida, he has instituted a number of development projects, adding that some of his kinsmen have been empowered through his hard-earned money and resources, saying, he will continue to assist the less- privileged around him.
He reaffirmed his desire to impact positively on the lives of his people as the engagement of the youths will help to reduce social vices in the area.
He thanked members of the Etche Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs for honouring his invitation.
He specifically thanked the Onyi Ishi Etche and Ochie of Etcheland, His Eminence E mmanuel Opurum for leading Etche on the path of prosperity, and described the revered King as a role model to the younger generation.
He said his fatherly role has been a source of hope and inspiration to his subjects.
The palace was unveiled by His Eminence with the assistance of Ochimba of Abara, Eze Jonah Nwala and other prominent Etche traditional rulers and chiefs while the Onyi Ishi Etche was represented by Eze Ken Nwala, Onyi Ishi Agwuru, Ulakwo/ Umuselem Clan.
The Onyi Ishi Etche urged other prominent sons of Etche to emulate the kind gesture of Eze Ndudiri Azuatalam as his magnanimity is being seen and appreciated by his people.
Eze Azuatalam also applauded the efforts of Prof Mekuri Ndimele, former Vice Chancellor of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in the growth of Etche land.
According to him, during Ndimele’ s tenure, a lot of development projects were sited at the institution, including the development of Etcheland and empowerment of Etche people.