The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the release of 14 Abuja-bound travellers kidnapped last Friday. The victims who were travelling in two buses belonging to God is Good Motors (GIG) and ABC Transport were kidnapped in Inyenle, Ogugu in the Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State. But on Thursday, the spokesperson of the Kogi State Police Command William Aya, said they have regained their freedom following a combined effort of the military, police, hunters, and vigilantes. However, he did not give further details of how the victims regained their freedom. “I can confirm that all the kidnapped victims of God Is Good Motors and ABC Transports have regained freedom,” Aya said. Although whether a ransom was paid was not mentioned. The GIG bus left Umuahia at 7:30 am and was hijacked at Inyenle, Ogugu in Kogi state. They were headed to Abuja with 14 Passengers who were all adopted in Inyenle. The driver of the GIG Motors was rescued earlier the same day while others were marched into the bush

  A group known as the Arewa Initiative for the Defense and Promotion of Democracy (AIDPD) says President Bola Tinubu needs time to fix the problems inherited from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Shehu Abdullahi Ma’aji, AIDPD’s chairman, said the northerners are praying for the president to succeed. Ma’aji said some unnamed politicians have allegedly perfected plans to sponsor protests against the country. “The world economy is currently not in the best of shape due to the Russian-Ukrainian and the Israeli-Palestinian wars, etc. We observed that the Nigerian economy is not exempted from this global economic problem,” he said. “The current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inherited a lot of problems from the past administration of Muhammadu Buhari which it is currently trying to address. “For instance, the Kwara state governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) had just revealed that the crude oil the country will be getting in the next six months had been sold in advance by the immediate past administration.” The AIDPD chairman said his group is not opposed to any lawful protests against any government’s policy or programme as long as it is done in good faith. “We frown at the idea of sponsoring people to stage fake protests for the financiers to score cheap political mileage by discrediting the current administration,” he said. “We call on all northerners and indeed all Nigerians to continue to support the current administration in its bid to bring prosperity to our nation.” Ma’aji said the group is following up with those in authority concerning the palliatives provided for Nigerians by the federal government.

  President Bola Tinubu has encouraged Nigerians to maintain a positive outlook on the country. Tinubu stressed that optimism about the country will eventually lead to success. The President said this in his speech during the launch of the 3,112 housing units under the Renewed Hope Cites initiative in the Federal Capital Territory. AFCON 2023: Nigeria, DR Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, And South Africa Target AFCON Final0.00 / 0.00 Tinubu, making his first public appearance after returning from a two-week private visit to Paris, said the citizens must learn to speak positive things about the country and remain hopeful despite ravaging challenges. The president’s comments come amidst an array of issues bedeviling the country varying from biting economic hardship, inflation, rising cases of kidnapping-for-ransom, and a weakening local currency Recall that on Monday through Tuesday, angry youths and women took to the streets of Minna, the Niger State capital, and Kano to protest what they described as the rising cost of living in the country. Similar protests also erupted in Ondo State, Nigeria’s southwest. In Niger, a group of women reportedly blocked the ever-busy Minna-Bida Road at the famous Kpakungu Roundabout and called on the Tinubu administration to address the challenge of ‘hunger in the land.’ The mob deflected attempts to quell the protest by security operatives who fired tear gas canisters into the crowd and arrested others. But Tinubu in his keynote speech on Thursday, urged Nigerians not to look back but forward because they have a country that truly cares about them. He also pledged his willingness to commit to the country’s economic prosperity and development. He said, “Here again, let’s talk to Nigerians. Let’s talk to ourselves and say everything positive about our country. Don’t think of your country negatively. Before I left home this morning, I asked for the national pledge of our country. And we have to relaunch it and ensure we are committed to the value, the greatness, the hope of our country. Tinubu returns to Abuja after private visit to Paris “It is our country. You pledge to Nigeria, your country, my country to be faithful loyal, and honest. To serve Nigeria with all your strength. “You saw it on the field of play with the Super Eagles yesterday. We were all rejoicing. Every one of us loves victory. We love to win. When you are positive and you are hopeful, Nigeria is winning. “We didn’t say it will be smooth all the way through. But we are confident that this country will excel in all ramifications. We will defend our unity and uphold our honor and glory in every way possible. Because we are Nigerians and we have no other country.” He added, “Nigerians, don’t look back, look forward. Be hopeful. Be assured that you have a country that cares about you and you must care about the country.” Continuing, President Tinubu stressed the importance of shelter to man, describing it as a fundamental right and the responsibility of the government to its citizens. He also commended the Housing Ministry for its efforts towards achieving the Renewed Hope mandate for housing and urban development. The president further commended the Housing Ministry for taking the initiative to involve the private sector through PPP arrangements, underscoring the immense role the private sector can play in helping to achieve the future that Nigerians can be proud of. He said, “It is a great honour for me to make this historic groundbreaking here today. I have listened carefully to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development on the housing plans to propel the engine of growth, stability, and economic resurgence of Nigeria. “We know the value of housing. We appreciate the fact that it is an elixir for economic prosperity, Job creation, and hopefulness. The shelter is a necessity. It’s a human right and we are here just to do that. “To set the record straight from this site, groundnut seller will eat. From this site, the water seller will make a living. From this site nail sellers, carpenters, and roofmakers will make a living. We will stand the test of time and bring the glory of Nigeria brighter than we met it.”

  A Kano State High Court on Thursday, sentenced one Nura Sabiu, 22, to life imprisonment for stabbing one 18-year-old Abba Isma’il to death. The Court also sentenced Dahiru Ubale, 21, to five years’ imprisonment for criminal conspiracy. Sabiu and Ubale were convicted on two-count charges bordering on criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide. The Prosecution Counsel, Lamido Sorondinki, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on April 17, 2017, at Jalabi village in Bunkure Local Government Area of the state. He said that on the same date, the defendants conspired and attacked the Abba with a catapult and a knife. In the process Ubale used a catapult to shoot the deceased’s head, while Sabiu, the first defendant, stabbed him with a knife on his back because he was having a relationship with his girlfriend (Zahra’u) of Jalabi village. “As a result, the deceased sustained grievous injuries and was rushed to Rano Hospital where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.” The prosecution presented three witnesses to the court to prove its case. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. According to the prosecutor, the offence is contrary to the provision of sections 97 and 221 of the Penal Code. The defence counsel, Umar Danbaito, presented three witnesses including the defendants. Justice Usman Na’abba held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and therefore found the defendants guilty. “I here by sentenced Sabiu to life imprisonment and sentenced Ubale to five years’ imprisonment,” the judge declared.

  The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) says applicants seeking the verification of certificates to foreign nursing boards and councils must possess two years post qualification experience. The council announced the development on Thursday in its revised guidelines and requirements for the verification. In the guidelines, applicants are required to pay a non-refundable fee per application for verification to foreign boards of nursing as specified on the council’s portal. “This shall cover the cost of courier services to the applicant’s institution(s) of training, place of work, and Foreign Board,” the guideline reads. “Eligible applicants must have a minimum of two (2) years post qualification experience from the date of issuance of permanent practicing licence. Any application with provisional licence shall be rejected outrightly. “The Council shall request a letter of Good Standing from the Chief Executive Officer of applicant’s place(s) of work and the last nursing training institutions attended and responses on these shall be addressed directly to the Registrar/CEO, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. Please note that Council shall not accept such letter(s) through the applicant. “Applicants must have an active practicing licence with a minimum of six months to expiration date. Applicant must upload Certificate(s) of Registration only. Notification of Registration is not acceptable. “The applicant shall receive prompt notice via his/her email and dashboard on the status of the verification application.” However, the revised guidelines have generated outrage on social media with many nurses and health workers describing it as a violation of human rights.

  Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has ordered the Commissioner of Police, Waheed Adedamola to arrest a father of three identified as Henry Edet Unung and keep him in Uyo Correctional Centre for one month, for refusing to take care of his own children. The Court presided over by Justice Ntong Ntong, gave the order of committal while delivering a ruling in a suit brought before it by wife of the respondent and mother of the three children. Justice Ntong, recalled that the Court made an order that the respondent should pay N20,000 monthly as maintenance allowance, including a bag of rice, beans, garri and other food items for his own children, in addition to payment of their school fees, medical needs among others. Justice Ntong described the conduct of the respondent as satanic, stressing that by that he (Unung), is in gross contempt of the Orders of the Court and cannot go scot-free. He also recalled that, “In September, 2019, the Court ordered the Registrar of the Court to issue the respondent with Form 48 pursuant to Order Nine, Rule 13 of the Judgement Enforcement Rules and Section 72 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act 2004 reminding him to obey the Court order, but the respondent refused to obey “The father of the three bluntly refused to abide by the Court order, which amounts to contemptuous and a wanton disrespect and affront to the majesty of the Court. “The right of a Court to punish whoever disobeys it orders is inherent and legitimate rights and that although the power should be sparingly used, he will make the respondent realize that the welfare of his own children, should not be abandoned” Therefore Ntong ordered “the Police to keep the father of three in prison custody for one calendar month before he will be brought before the Court to purge himself of the contempt. “By section one of the Child Rights Law 2008 of Akwa Ibom State, any decision taken in any proceedings involving children, should be generally made in the best interest of the child or children” The case has been adjourned to Thursday, 28th March, 2024

  The Indigenous People of Biafra, on Thursday, rejected the further court trial of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The group said it was standing on the ruling by the Appeal Court in Abuja, on October 13, 2022, which discharged and acquitted Kanu of all the charges against him by the Federal Government. The PUNCH reports that Kanu has been in Department of State Services detention since 2021, following his arrest in Kenya and repatriation to Nigeria. The Supreme Court, on December 15, 2023, okayed his trial on the charges of terrorism filed against him by the Federal Government and sent the case back to the High Court and the Court fixed February 8, 2024, to commence hearing on the matter. However, the FG did not appear in court, thereby forcing the adjournment of the case. In a statement on Thursday, the IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, said, “Sadly, the same Federal Government that is prosecuting Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is refusing to make an appearance at the same Abuja High Court hearing on February 8, 2024. “The refusal of the Federal Government to appear in the court on that day for continuation of their trial is evident that they do not have a case against Kanu. “We stand by the judgment of the Appeal Court, which ordered that our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should not be tried again in any Nigerian court. The Supreme Court Judges agreed with them but lacked the courage and integrity to uphold the Appeal Court judgment. “IPOB leadership has reviewed the actions of the Federal Government and the judiciary and totally rejected further trial of our leader in the High Court. They know very well that they have no case against him. “The FG is just utilising the weak instrumentality of the law in Nigeria to detain and persecute Kanu indefinitely. The wicked persecution of Kanu and other innocent IPOB members will continue to destroy Nigeria’s image locally and internationally.” The pro-Biafran group urged President Bola Tinubu to release Kanu unconditionally “because self-determination is lawful domestically and internationally”. “We are interested in the self-preservation of Biafrans from marauding terrorists. Biafra liberation is a divine project that not even former President Muhammadu Buhari nor anyone else can stop its actualisation. “IPOB has come to restore Biafra, and it is either Biafra or Biafra. That is our oath of allegiance to the Biafra Nation and our oath of honour to all those who have fallen in the course of our match to freedom,” the group added.