Kaduna-based Muslim cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, on Tuesday, sought government’s permission to approach and have talks with bandits who abducted about 287 schoolchildren from Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state. The Islamic cleric insisted that dialogue was the way to go, calling on President Bola Tinubu to take a different approach from his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, who rejected the dialogue. The PUNCH reports that bandits invaded the Kuriga area of the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, shooting at their victims before taking away at least 280 of the pupils and teachers from both schools. The incident occurred barely 24 hours after insurgents abducted 200 internally displaced women in Borno State. Punch Celebrates Golden Jubilee In Style, Hosts Black Tie Dinner0.00 / 0.00 The women were kidnapped in Ngala, the headquarters of Gambarou Ngala in Borno State, while fetching firewood in the bush. Penultimate Thursday, bandits invaded the Gonin-Gora in the same Chikun LGA, prompting residents to barricade the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway in protest against the abduction of an unspecified number of people in the area. Meanwhile, the government of the affected state has refused to dialogue with the bandits to release the schoolchildren and has also refuted claims that it had hired a private negotiator to facilitate the release of the victims. However, reacting to the development, Gumi said in a statement, “The government’s stand of no negotiation with the bandits is an unfortunate position. My advice is that the government should dialogue with the bandits not only for these Kuriga school children’s abductions but all cases. “Also, the government should use the same approach it used in releasing passengers that were abducted on the Abuja–Kaduna train in 2022 to release the Kuriga school children and others. “I am ready to lead a holistic dialogue between the government and bandits. It is my religious duty to do so for peace. “I hope the present government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will listen by dialoguing with the bandits because the past administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari refused to do so.” Gumi had previously negotiated on behalf of state governments to free abducted people by bandits. In May 2021, one of the parents of the kidnapped students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Kaduna State, said rather than point an accusing finger at Gumi for being complicit in the banditry ravaging the country, Nigerians should commend the cleric for his interventions in seeking the release of abducted persons in the country.

  Shaibu, through his lead counsel, Doyin Awoyale, SAN, also wants the presiding judge to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reject Ighodalo, a Lagos-based lawyer, as the standard-bearer of PDP in the September 21 poll. He urged the court to nullify the PDP’s “purported” Edo governorship primary election and withdraw forthwith, the certificate of return issued to Ighodalo, saying the factional shadow poll was conducted, contrary to the provisions of PDP’s constitution and Electoral Act. Edo deputy governor, in the suit with reference number: FHC/ABJ/CS/308/2024, sought an order to restrain Ighodalo from parading himself as the duly-nominated governorship candidate of PDP in Edo, with the party’s National Vice Chairman, Southsouth, Chief Dan Orbih, as the third defendant. The originating summons, as obtained yesterday in Benin by our reporter, read: “An order of injunction restraining the 1st defendant (INEC) from accepting and/or recognising the name of the 4th defendant (Ighodalo) as the governorship candidate of the 2nd defendant (PDP) in the 2024 Edo State governorship election, scheduled to be conducted by the 1st defendant on the 21 of September, 2024. An order of this honourable court restraining the defendants, by themselves and/agents, representatives, organs, chapters, etc. from tampering with and/or discarding the delegates’ lists that emerged from the 2nd defendant’s congresses of 4th February, 2024 and 10th February, 2024, conducted by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the 2nd defendant. “An order of this honourable court mandating the 2nd defendant to conduct a fresh governorship primary election for the nomination of the governorship candidate for the 2nd defendant in the 2024 Edo governorship election.”

  Despite efforts of the federal government, to increase oil production, the nation’s output, excluding condensate, dropped month-on-month, MoM by seven per cent to 1.3 million barrels per day, bpd in February 2024, from 1.4 million bpd in January 2024. Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, disclosed this in its March Monthly Oil Market Report, MOMR. But on year-on-year, YoY, the nation’s output remains flat as a similarly 1.3 million bpd was also recorded in the corresponding period of 2023. However, the OPEC report showed that Nigeria remains the highest African oil producing country while Equatorial Guinea lags behind with 47,000 bpd. An expert, who pleaded anonymity, said Nigeria’s total output could be in excess of 1.6 million bpd as the nation has the capacity to produce between 300,000 and 400,000 bpd of condensate, a light crude that attract equally high price like Bonny Light in the international market. This means that the situation would not impact negatively on the 2024 budget which was based on 1.78 million bpd and $78 per barrel respectively. Nigeria’s oil output had risen MoM to 1.43 million bpd in January 2024, from 1.34 million bpd recorded in December 2023, indicating an increase of 6.9 per cent. But YoY, the nation’s output rose by 15.6 per cent to 1.43 million bpd in January 2024, from 1.23 million bpd recorded in the corresponding period of 2023. The output excluded condensate, a light crude, which Nigeria has the capacity to produce between 300,000 bpd and 400,000 bpd, according to the Monthly Oil Market Reports, MOMRs of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, obtained by Vanguard. The increase in output was then attributed to some factors, especially the nation’s successful battle against oil theft, thus making Nigeria the highest African producer while Equatorial Guinea comes last with 54,000 bpd.

  The Federal Government has invited memoranda from the public as it begins the probe of private universities established in the last 15 years. The Federal Government initiated the probe following an investigative report by Daily Nigerian journalist, Umar Audu, uncovering certificate racketeering in neighbouring Benin Republic and Togo. Checks by The PUNCH showed that no fewer than 107 private universities were established in the last 15 years. The Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling set up by the Federal Government would be examining “whether or not private universities established in the last 15 years have in place prescribed facilities, appropriate management structure, adequate funding of programmes, requisite state, and nature of the staff – full-time, contract, adjunct, visiting and other types.” The committee, in an advertorial published in The PUNCH of Tuesday, noted that the probe was “without prejudice to the periodic accreditation exercise of the National Universities Commission.” “Memoranda from the general public are, therefore, solicited to provide information to the committee to help it make appropriate recommendations to address the menace in line with its terms of reference,” the committee said. In his investigative report published late last year, Daily Nigerian journalist Audu had narrated how he obtained a degree within six weeks from Benin Republic and even proceeded to embark on the mandatory youth service under the National Youth Service Corps scheme in the country. Reacting, the Federal Government, on January 9, 2024, said it would launch an investigation into private universities established in the last 15 years. The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, made this known in Abuja while inaugurating the Inter-Ministerial Committee on fake degrees and activities of degree mills in the country. The Committee Chairman, Jibrila Amin, noted that the inter-ministerial committee would “Review the role of any MDA or its officials (including identifying such officials) in the facilitation of the recognition and procurement of the fake certificate in question.” The committee will also”examine the rules, procedures and processes for recognition and accreditation of foreign universities and programmes by the Federal Ministry of Education; Establish if unapproved foreign institutions (Degree Mills) exist or not in Nigeria in whatever form with their identities and locations if any.” It is expected to “make appropriate recommendations for review of any rules, procedures, and processes to prevent re-occurrence and sanctions for identified erring officials. “Make other recommendations that will strengthen the system of recognition, accreditations and quality assurance of degrees in Nigeria and examine the extant rules, procedures and processes for granting provisional licenses to new universities by the National Universities Commission

  Wednesday 13 March 2024 Budget padding controversy: Ranking senators get N17bn constituency votes, Ningi suspended Justify N3.25tn security budget, Reps tell NSA FG to set standards for electric, CNG vehicles Don’t act like Buhari, negotiate with bandits, Gumi tells Tinubu Traditional Rulers Are Part Of Govt, Jimoh Ibrahim Defends N7.61bn Empowerment For Monarchs Bandits Kidnap 60 Residents In Fresh Kaduna Attack It Was Akeredolu’s Wish I Succeed Him, Aiyedatiwa Declares Gov Bid Tinubu Appoints Mobereola As NIMASA DG Ningi’s Civilian Coup To Unseat Akpabio Failed, Bamidele Alleges Two Children Killed In Borno IDP Camp Fire Ningi Resigns As Chairman Of Northern Senators Forum Nigeria’s crude oil output drops 7% to 1.3m bpd Reps ask CBN to restrain banks from holding customers’ reversed funds ‘I am sad,’ Okonjo-Iweala calls on FG to recover abducted Kaduna, Sokoto students 2024 Hajj: Pilgrims In Limbo As NAHCON Yet To Remit Funds Kano, Jigawa, Katsina need 600 megawatts daily, get 180 megawatts —KEDCO Tinubu won pan-Nigerian mandate, says Shettima 2 hours ago Shaibu to court: order INEC to reject Ighodalo I’m not afraid of death, says First Lady Atiku won’t dump PDP, says aide Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Enugu State Zonal Command, has arraigned Ogbu Ibekwem, Nwagbara Chidimma, Uwaezuoke Raymond, and Chidubem Mgbeke before Justice Mohammed Garba of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu State. This was disclosed in a post via the commission’s X handle on Monday. According to the post, on February 22, 2023, Access Bank plc turned over Ibekwem, Chidimma, and Raymond, three former employees of the Nottidge branch of the bank in Onitsha, Anambra State, to the agency for embezzling N15,944,100.00. It added that they were arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing. One of the counts reads, “That you, Ogbu Kingsley Ibekwe and Chidubem Angela Mgbeke, sometimes in January 2023 in Onitsha, Anambra State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourselves to commit felony to wit, retaining the sum of N7,996,800.00 meant for evacuation to the Central Bank of Nigeria and property of Access Bank Plc Nottidge Branch, Onitsha, which you knew or ought to have known to be proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 20(b)”. Upon hearing the charges, they pleaded not guilty. The EFCC’s attorney, Ahmad Abdullahi, asked the court to set a trial date and remand the defendants to the Enugu State Correctional Facility in light of their pleas. The accused were placed under EFCC custody on remand until the bail application hearing.

  Again, about 61 locals were reportedly abducted by bandits in Buda community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Monday. According to a survivor, men, women, and children, including a nursing mother of two weeks, were among the abductees. “The situation is devastating because we have not heard from them since the incident happened on Monday. We’re appealing to the government to take action and ensure their return immediately,” he cried. There was no reaction from the police as at time of this report. However, the local explained that the bandits raided the community in large number and shot sporadically. He appealed to the authorities to deploy more security personnel in the area, saying “my siblings were part of those abducted and based on the information available as of this morning, the bandits with their victims are yet to get to their destination.” Vanguard had reported how Bandits attacked the Kuriga community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and kidnapped over 200 students including some teachers at the LEA Primary School Kuriga, while they were concluding the morning assembly. According to a local who craved anonymity, ” the incident happened in the morning at about 8. 30 am when the students were about to conclude the morning assembly. The bandits came from different parts of the village and encircled the school premises.” ”The bandits kidnapped over 200 students, both primary pupils and secondary school students who were moved from a location outside the community to the primary school due to the fear of bandits attack.”

  A commercial tricycle operator simply identified as Musbau has been found dead in the Okoolowo area of Kwara State. He was allegedly killed by suspected ritualists who dumped his mutilated corpse inside an uncompleted building. The victim, a father of three from Onikeke compound, Alore, plied the Alore/Banni route in Ilọrin West Local Government Area. He was last seen on Friday. “His head, two wrists, private part and two buttocks were removed and the headless body dumped inside the building. The family had embarked on a frantic search when he didn’t return home on Friday. “However, it was the owner of the building who reported at the Oloje police station when he visited to effect some repairs and discovered his dismembered remains,” a source in the area said. The chairman of the tricycle park, Mallam Gafari Imam, confirmed the murder to Daily Trust during a telephone chat on Tuesday, describing the killing as very callous. He said, “I saw him last on Friday while I was going for Jumaat when he was coming from Mandate inside his keke (tricycle). It was on Saturday morning that his family/colleagues came to me that they have not seen him since 6:00 pm yesterday (Friday). We have held a prayer today (Tuesday) at their family house. May Almighty Allah expose whoever is behind this dastardly act as soon as possible. I have never experienced such before in my life. “But the police have detained the owner of the building where he was killed and one of his (the deceased’s) friends.” Several calls to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi (DSP), were not answered and she had not replied to a text message sent to her as of press time.

  Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of President Bola Tinubu, has reacted to a recent threat by an unidentified cleric in Bauchi purportedly wishing her dead. The Nation reports that a viral video surfaced a few weeks ago where the Islamic Cleric declared that Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, deserved to die for her Christian faith while describing the Muslim/Muslim ticket that brought President Bola Tinubu to power as a scam. However, the First Lady, undeterred by the threat, said after reaching 64 years of age, she shouldn’t be afraid of death. She spoke during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwan Adamu before commissioning some projects in the State. She said: “I want to thank His Excellency (Bauchi Governor), he keeps assuring me that I am safe in Bauchi but I want to say that I am too old to be afraid. If God has granted me over 60 years on earth, I shouldn’t be afraid of death. I thank God that you encouraged me to come. Nigeria belongs to all of us and this is the time for us to unite more than ever before.” Responding, Bauchi Governor, Bala Mohammed, condemned the recent death threats made against the First Lady, labelling it a “national embarrassment.” Addressing the incident, Mohammed expressed his dismay, describing the threat as unacceptable. He assured Mrs. Tinubu of her safety in the state and pledged to take appropriate action against the cleric responsible for the threat. Mohammed said: “Your Excellency, you have distinguished yourself not only as a distinguished Senator but as a politician who has opened the new frontier of politics and politicking. Your renewed hope is being given as hope because you have set aside all the differences of politics and partisanship. “And of course, I am aware of some of the challenges and threats to your life and person by somebody from this State. I was so disappointed and frustrated, but you made my day as a courageous mother, you decided to come to Bauchi. “Your Royal Highness, this distinguished lady has shown that Nigeria is really working and that Nigeria is one and nobody can play politics with our lives. We are very grateful, your life is more important to us than our own lives, nothing will happen to you. “ “And that renegade, we will deal with him and Allah deal with him, by the grace of God. On behalf of their Royal Highnesses and the people of Bauchi, we apologize for that national embarrassment, it will not happen again.”