Troops from 93 Battalion under 6 Bridget of the Nigerian Army has arrested a suspected female kidnapper while trying to pick ransom for an abducted victim in Taraba. They also apprehended a notorious gunrunner dealing in arms and ammunition and supplying them to criminals within Taraba State and other parts of the country. The female suspect, it was learnt, was married to a notorious criminal who is a second-in-command to late Hana Terwase. Spokesperson of the Bridget, Lieutenant Oni Olubodunde said the troops working on credible intelligence on the activities of the arms dealer arrested the suspect, Joshua Dutse Idah, 45. He further explained that the troops had trailed the suspect, leading to his arrest in Ibbi town of Ibbi Local Government Area of the state while he was driving to Kaduna State in a blue Volkswagen Sharon vehicle with registration number Rivers SKN-390AA. Lt. Olubodunde explained that on interrogation, Dutse confessed he was going to Katsina State to bring AK-47 rifles for which he received part payment of N300,000. “After a thorough search on the vehicle, troops recovered 1 PK machine gun, 399 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition and 3 AK-47 rifle magazines,” he said. The army spokesperson also disclosed that a female suspected kidnapper named Janet Igohia, 31, was arrested after picking up the sum of N1.5million, being ransom payment for an abducted victim at Chanchangi area in Takum LGA of the state. Igohia, he said, revealed that she was married to Voryor Gata a notorious criminal and former second-in-command to the late Gana Terwase. “She is currently married to the leader of a violent extremist group in southern Taraba. According to her, she had previously been married to high profile criminals such as late Terkibi Gemaga aka Mopol, a notorious kidnapper who was killed by troops five years ago. “She revealed that she also got married to late Gana Terwase, another notorious criminal who was killed during a joint special force operation three years ago,” he said. Lieutenant Olubodunde also revealed that the troops deployed in Mararaba Baissa community of Donga LGA apprehended two other suspected gunrunners who were allegedly involved in extra judicial killings and cattle rustling with the sum of N600,000. “The money recovered from the suspects was part of the proceeds from their illegal activities and 2 Techno mobile phones,” he added. He gave the names of the suspects as Alhaji Adamu Damisa (40 years old) and Usman Isah (44 years old).

  US President Joe Biden has confused a European leader with a dead predecessor for the second time in a week, telling a campaign event he met Helmut Kohl four years after the German chancellor passed away. The 81-year-old’s gaffe late Wednesday came days after he said he had spoken to long-dead French president Francois Mitterand, instead of current leader Emmanuel Macron, at the same G7 summit in June 2021 where he said he had met Kohl. Biden, who is seeking reelection in November, often tells the same story about the summit held in the United Kingdom to illustrate what he says were global concerns about the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by supporters of former president Donald Trump. “Helmut Kohl of Germany looked at me and said, ‘what would you say Mr President, if you picked up the London Times tomorrow morning and learned that 1,000 people had broken down the doors… of the British Parliament and killed some (people) on the way in (to) deny the prime minister to take office,’” Biden said, according to a pool report. Angela Merkel, Germany’s first female chancellor, was the leader attending the summit. Kohl died in 2017 and was chancellor for 16 years from 1982 to 1998, becoming known as the architect of German reunification after the Cold War. The mix-up is the second in the space of a few days. At a campaign event in Las Vegas on Sunday, Biden was talking about French president Macron’s reaction to his 2020 election win over Trump at the summit. “And Mitterrand from Germany — I mean, from France — looked at me and said, ‘You know, what — why — how long you back for?’” Biden said. A later White House transcript inserted the correct name, Macron, in brackets. Mitterrand was French president from 1981 to 1995, and died in 1996. Polls show US voters are increasingly concerned about Biden’s age. He would be 82 at the start of a second term and 86 at the end. Voters are less worried about the age of 77-year-old Trump, who is running for another White House term, but he has also made several slip-ups. He recently mixed up his rival for the Republican nomination, Nikki Haley, with former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi. Last year he said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was the leader of Turkey and warned that the United States was on the verge of “World War II,” which ended in 1945. AFP

  The Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed February 26, to begin the hearing of the case of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. Kanu’s Special Counsel, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor made this known on Thursday adding that the case would be heard by Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako. Recall that Ejimakor disclosed on Wednesday that the court adjourned the hearing of the case earlier scheduled for Thursday.   But the lawyer vowed that the legal team would be unrelenting in getting justice for the self-determination group leader. Ejimakor, however, on Thursday, via his X account, wrote, “UPDATE: The case of Federal Republic of Nigeria versus Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been set down for hearing on Monday, 26th February 2024 before Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako. The hearing Notice is attached below.” In the adjournment notice attached to the post, the court disclosed, “If either party desires to postpone the hearing he must apply to the Court as soon as possible for that purpose; and if the application is based on any matter of fact, he must be prepared to give proof of those facts.” It further read, “The parties are warned that at the hearing they are required to bring forward all the evidence by witnesses or by documents which each of them desires to rely on in support of his own case and in contradiction of that of his opponent. “The proof will be required at the hearing, and not on a subsequent day and parties failing to bring their evidence forward at the proper time may find themselves absolutely precluded from adducing it at all, or at best only allowed to do so on payment of substantial costs to the other side, and on such other terms as the Court thinks fit to impose.” The Court also said: “Parties desirous to enforce the attendance of witnesses should apply at once to the Court to issue one or more summonses for the attendance of the witnesses required. “It is indispensable that the application should be made so as to allow time for reasonable notice to the witnesses required. “If the witness is required to bring books or papers, they must be particularised in the summons sufficiently to enable him to understand what is meant. “Any party summoning a witness through the Court, thereby becomes liable to pay such witness a reasonable sum of money to be fixed by the Court for his expense and loss of time. “The Court may refuse to enforce the attendance of a witness unless such sum has been fixed and deposited in the Court. “If either party desires to use in evidence tat the hearing any book or document in the possession or power of the other party, he must give the other party reasonable notice in writing to produce it at the hearing, failing which he will not be allowed to give any secondary evidence of its contents.”

  The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited on Thursday said it was not planning to increase the cost of Premium Motor Spirit, known as petrol. The NNPCL in a statement by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, urged Nigerians against panic buying of petrol. The statement read, “NNPC Ltd. urges Nigerians to disregard unfounded rumours and assures them that there are no plans for an upward review of the PMS price. “Motorists nationwide are advised against engaging in panic buying, as there is presently ample availability of PMS across the country.” The PUNCH reports that oil marketers expressed fears that there might be a scarcity of petrol if the NNPCL fails to make the product available to depot owners and other dealers. They said the long queues being experienced in filling stations and some parts of Ogun State might eventually spread to other parts of the nation should the NNPCL fail to sell enough petrol to distributors. Long queues have since Monday resurfaced in different filling stations in Lagos State, causing traffic gridlock in Ikeja and other areas, as residents feared there might be a fresh scarcity of petrol. But speaking to one of our correspondents on Tuesday morning, Soneye had dismissed insinuations of fresh fuel scarcity. Soneye disclosed that NNPCL did not have supply issues, adding that its products remained readily available. He added that the distribution issue in some areas had been resolved. “We are pleased to confirm that there are no supply issues and our products remain readily available. “The recent tightness experienced in certain areas was due to a brief distribution issue in Lagos, which has since been resolved,” Soneye told our correspondent.

  A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fined the Department of State Services N5m for the unlawful arrest and detention of an Abuja-based commercial driver, Sanusi Shuaib. The court also ordered the DSS to immediately release the driver who had been in detention since March 2023. The detained driver had through his lawyer, Bala Dakum, dragged the DSS before the court to challenge his detention without trial since his arrest. Dakum alleged that upon his client’s arrest, the DSS accused him of possessing firearms for alleged terrorists and has been in DSS custody ever since. The lawyer, however, prayed for his release and N50 million compensation for the unlawful detention. Delivering judgment on the matter on Thursday, Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon held that the DSS flagrantly flouted Section 35 of the country’s constitution which prohibited detention of any Nigerian beyond a maximum period of 48 hours without an order of the court. Olajuwon said the DSS on March 29, 2023, got an order from the Federal High Court to hold and detain the driver for only 20 days to investigate and charge him to court if indicted for any criminal matters. She noted that the DSS did not apply to the court for an extension of the 20 days detention period and also did not charge him to court for any offence. Olajuwon said any detention outside the 20 days was unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional, and null and void. She noted that the fundamental rights of the applicant to freedom of movement had been breached by the DSS. The judge faulted the claim of the DSS that it was granted six months to detain the driver, adding that what the court granted was just 20 days. Justice Olajuwon also disagreed with the DSS that the detainee had been moved to the Military detention facility in Niger State for trial in terrorism offences, adding that there was no evidence to that effect placed before the court. The judge also faulted the claim of the security agency that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice approved the trial of the driver. Justice Olajuwon who quoted the letter of the AGF said that the AGF office only recommended that a fresh investigation be conducted into the allegations against the driver which was never done. The judge then annulled the driver’s detention and mandated his prompt release from DSS custody.

  The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, along with the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, have given the Federal Government a notice of a nationwide strike, effective in 14 days. Their complaint stems from the failure to carry out the 16-point agreement between organized labor (NLC and TUC) and the Federal Government on October 2, 2023. The leaders of the NLC and TUC have expressed concern that, despite the diligent efforts of organized labor to promote harmony in the workplace, the government appears unaffected by the widespread suffering and hardship. NLC and TUC, in a statement, lamented that “it is regrettable that we are compelled to resort to such measures, but the persistent neglect of the welfare of citizens and Nigerian workers and the massive hardship leave us with no choice.” “Constrained by this development and recognising the urgency of the situation and the imperative of ensuring the protection and defence of the rights and dignity of Nigerian workers and citizens, the NLC and TUC hereby issue a stern ultimatum to the Federal Government to honour their part of the understanding within 14 days from tomorrow, the 9th day of February 2024.”

  The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have narrated how Rilwan Kasumu, a superintendent of police, and his team in the Lagos command, rejected a N4 million bribe from illegal drug peddlers. Kasumu is the officer in charge of Area K, Marogbo, Lagos state command. In a statement on Thursday, Muyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, said the police team arrested Esther Newman Obiekezie on Tuesday at her residence in Ilogbo, where she sells illicit drugs, known as ice. Large quantities of illicit drugs and some AK47 live ammunition were said to have been recovered from the suspect. The force spokesperson disclosed that Akete Esther and Oke Okebalam came to the police station in Ijanikin to solicit for the release of Esther and allegedly offered the sum of N4 million as bribe. Adejobi said the duo asked the police to stop disrupting the illicit drugs business of Esther. The force spokesperson said the police officers frowned at the bribe, seized the cash, marked it as exhibit and arrested the duo. Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police, commended Kasumu and his team for rejecting the bribe.

  A National Youth Service Corps member serving in Adamawa State has reportedly died at a football viewing centre in the Numan area of the state during the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) semifinal between Nigeria and South Africa. The corps member identified simply as Samuel from Kaduna State, was said to have passed away before the final kick which Nigeria scored in the penalty shootouts to win the match on Wednesday. The news of Samuel’s death was posted on social media by someone who claimed to have witnessed the incident. The post read, “We lost one Nigerian during our victory celebration over South Africa at our sports viewing centre here in Numan. The corps member who is serving in Numan from Kaduna State fainted before the kick of the winning goal. He died before they could reach the hospital in Numan. May his soul rest in peace.” The NYSC Coordinator in Adamawa State, Jingi Dennis said on Thursday that the corps member was confirmed dead at the General Hospital in Numan. He said, “I received the news of his death last night. I hope to have more details today (Thursday). According to his colleagues who went with him to watch the match, the late corps member told the people around him that he did not like watching penalty shootouts. He then bowed his head and all of a sudden, he collapsed. He was confirmed dead at the General Hospital in Numan by the doctor.” The incident made it a second reported death during the highly intense encounter. A former member of the House of Representatives representing the Ika Federal Constituency of Delta State, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, had also passed away on Wednesday evening while watching the AFCON semi-finals match between Nigeria and South Africa. “The incident happened when the penalty was awarded against Nigeria. Dr Ojougboh was said to have shouted and slumped due to massive heart attack when SA scored.”

  The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has arrested three drug hawkers and seized substandard drugs worth N250,000 in Kaduna. The agency’s coordinator in the state, Mr Nasiru Mato, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Thursday. The coordinator said that the exercise was part of ongoing efforts to stamp out drug hawking in the state. He added that “drug hawking exposes medicines to severe temperatures, humidity, and unfriendly climate conditions. This is unacceptable.” Mato also said that the agency had intensified surveillance and hunting of “self-acclaimed” doctors who engage in illegal practice. He said, “It is the actions of such persons that led to the raid at Sabon Tasha and seizure of unregistered aphrodisiacs and analgesics. “All drugs and medical items must be kept at the recommended temperature and relative humidity to ensure their safety, quality, and efficacy.” He advised consumers to always be wary of the source of medicines and check for NAFDAC registration number, manufacturing date, expiry date, batch number, name, and full location address of the manufacturer. He also urged consumers to purchase medicines from registered drug outlets instead of patronising touts, as the ban on hawking and advertising of drugs is still in force. “Drug hawkers must not be allowed to toy with the lives of the people,” he said. Mato also cautioned against self-medication, saying it can be detrimental to health. He reiterated NAFDAC’s determination to continue to educate unsuspecting consumers on the inherent dangers of patronising drug hawkers. (NAN

  The Deputy Bursar of Kwara State University Malete, Alhaji Ayuba Abdullahi, on Wednesday night, died while watching the semi-finals between Nigeria and South Africa in the ongoing AFCON. Nigeria won the match against South Africa by 4-2 goals on penalties after regulation and extra time ended 1-1. Sources close to the deceased but who spoke on condition of anonymity said Abdullahi went to a sports centre in the Sango area before he started feeling uneasy. One of the sources said, “The Deputy Bursar watched the Nigeria/South Africa match from the beginning till the end of the extra time, till it was time for a penalty kick. “He complained that he was feeling dizzy, so he said he needed to go back home and rest not knowing that his BP had gone up. “On getting home, he collapsed and was rushed to a private hospital in Sango and he was referred to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and before he could be attended to, he died. “He was buried on Thursday morning according to Islamic rites.” The university’s Director of Information, Dr Saedat Aliyu, confirmed Abdullahi’s death. Aliyu, however, stated that the cause of death was yet to be ascertained by the management of the university. “Yes, he died last night. He was hale and hearty and was full of life on Wednesday at his office. May Almighty Allah grant him Aljanah Firdaus” she said A statement by the university said, “This is to announce the death of Mr. Ayuba Olaitan Abdullahi of the Bursary Department. “Janazah will be held this morning, and his remains will be interred at the Hausa Muslim cemetery, Apata Yakuba, Oyun area, Ilorin, at 9 am.” Also, a former federal lawmaker in Delta State, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, died while watching the Eagles’ match.. A source close to the politician said, “Cairo Ojougboh, a medical doctor died during the Nigeria vs.South Africa match. “The incident happened when the penalty was awarded against Nigeria. Dr Ojougboh was said to have shouted and slumped due to a massive heart attack when SA scored.” In the same vein, a member of the National Youth Service Corps serving in Adamawa State also reportedly died during the game. The corps member identified only as Samuel from Kaduna State, allegedly passed away just before the final kick which secured Nigeria’s win in the match, The Nation reports.