The Nigerian Army has successfully raided a ‘baby-making’ factory and human trafficking camp in Adamawa State, resulting in the arrest of seven suspects.

The Brigade Commander 23 Armour Brigade, Yola, Brigadier General Mohammed Gambo, disclosed this to newsmen at the Command.

He explained that the troops of the Brigade were on a special operation on the border area between Nigeria and Cameroon when they received credible information about the operations of the suspected criminals.

According to him, the camp was reportedly holding seventeen young girls aged between 19-21 years, who had been in the custody of the suspects for about 2-3 years without the knowledge of their families.

He observed that the discovery of the camp has raised concerns about the prevalence of human trafficking in Nigeria.

Gambo commended the Nigerian Army’s swift action in the operation and hoped that this will be a significant step towards eradicating human trafficking in Nigeria.

“The suspects have been paraded alongside their victims at the Brigade Headquarters in Yola, the Adamawa State capital,” he stated.

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has ordered the State’s Accountant General to stop the salaries of 10,800 workers employed by his predecessor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Recall that the new administration had accused Ganduje of illegally employing over 10,000 workers when it was about leaving office.

The Accountant General, Abdulkadir Abdusalam, announced the governor’s directive on Monday while addressing journalists in Kano.

Abdusalam said the governor ordered his office to remove the affected workers from the state’s payroll.

He further stated his office would carry out an investigation to find out the genuineness of their engagement and procedures so as to remove those illegally recruited.

Concerning local government workers in the state, Abdusalam disclosed that those who were converted to state workers by the former administration would continue receiving their salaries.

However, he said it would be based on local government levels, asking them to continue working in their new state’s MDAs until the investigation is concluded.

President Bola Tinubu would have lost the 2023 presidential election if his predecessor had removed fuel subsidy, according to Garb Shehu, spokesman of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.

The incumbent president removed subsidy on his first day in office, an action that has fetched him commendations far and wide.

Addressing some Nigerians based in France during his recent trip to Paris for a summit, Tinubu had said lack of courage allowed the subsidy regime linger.

“I have achieved my aim. Making just a few smugglers rich. Some countries were bleeding us. Courage was missing. sometimes, I became an advocate of it. Remove this thing but God gave me the opportunity when I danced around, strategize with my team, we won the presidency.”

“I brought it. I won. We must achieve with it. We must change Nigeria with it. And then Wale Edun and co, we started debating, putting my speech together without the question on subsidy. I got to the podium, I was possessed with courage and I said subsidy is gone,” Tinubu had said.

But in a statement on Monday, Shehu defended Buhari’s action, saying he did not toe that path in order to avoid the All Progressives Congress (APC) losing the February 25 election.

Shehu said there were multiple subsidies that the Buhari administration inherited in 2015, but they were gone before he handed over power.

“Why did it take the new Tinubu/ Shettima presidency weeks to remove the petrol subsidy when Buhari didn’t do so for years fails to ask the right question. The massive electricity subsidy. The fraudulent fertilizer subsidy. Hajj/Christian Pilgrim subsidies. Remember them?”

“The diesel subsidy. The aviation fuel subsidy. LPFO. Kerosene. Cooking gas and the other subsidy policies we found in place, and put them firmly on the ground. Remember them?

“For those with short memories, many of those subsides were all in place when president Buhari was elected to office in 2015: all those in place were gone by May 2023 – including the annual fertilizer subsidy that weighed 60-100 billion Naira (that’s trillion naira in about 10 years – yes you read that right) heavy on the federal budget each year.

“So no, Buhari didn’t remove the petrol subsidy – but in vitally important stages he removed every other budget-busting, egregious, economic-growth-crushing subsidy along the way.

“So far I have refrained from answering these repeated questions on the removal in Nigeria of subsidies on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS and that arising from the dual rates of the Naira in the Central Bank and the parallel market: Why did Buhari “fail” to do these?

“First of all, my thinking is that instead of the former President answering this question, it is the Party, the All Progressives Congress, APC that is best suited to speak and failing to do this, we are forced to say what will follow here.

“Secondly, we are mindful of the fact that with a Tinubu/Shettima presidency now in place and for which there is a “New Sheriff in Town.”

“We do not want to distract them from the onerous tasks facing them and the nation. Neither is it our wish to take the spotlight away from them in any way.

“In terms of the timings of the decisions to remove fuel subsidy and unify the currency, the Tinubu/Shettima administration has done overwhelmingly well. Even more importantly, they have been most dexterous in managing the aftermath of the decisions by successfully avoiding any crisis.

“To this extent, our wish and prayers are that fellow countrymen will continue to support the new leadership in these very laudable decisions and, in particular, for the Labour leadership and civil society to work with them to ensure that the palliative efforts as promised are successfully implemented.

“The decision to remove subsidies, as in our case – and we believe in all situations – was not for the President to take all by himself.

“That’s why it’s important to remind ourselves – and all those who have conveniently forgotten – that Buhari administration had been on this pathway from the very beginning in 2015.

“Removing subsidies for the Naira and PMS was cued and put on hold. Look for example in the Petroleum Industry Act. The important decision was kept for a better time.

“It could not have come at a time when tensions were high in the country and no responsible leader would have added fuel to the fire.

“In the view of many-including those in the security circles- only a new administration with a goodwill that fills a warehouse can attempt this, and here now comes in the wit and grit of the Tinubu government.

“Finally, we must be politically honest with ourselves. TheBuhari administration in its last days could not have gone the whole way because the APC had an election to win. And that would have been the case with any political party that was seeking election for another term with a new principal at its head. Poll after polls showed that the party would have been thrown out of office if the decision as envisaged by the new Petroleum Industry Act was made.”

The Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abubakar Rasheed has voluntarily resigned his appointment from the NUC.

His resignation takes effect from July, 2023.

Abubakar announced this at an event on Monday in Abuja to present a certificate of recognition for the establishment of Kogi State University Kabba, Kogi State to the Governor, Yahaya Bello.

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Abubakar said even though he has more three years into his second tenure, he decided to voluntarily resign to return to classroom to continue lecturing at Bayero University, Kano where he was the Vice-Chancellor before his appointment as Executive Secretary of NUC by the former President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2016 and reappointed in 2021.

Details later…

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has made 33 fresh appointments of personal Aides, to assist him in the discharge of his office.

This is coming barely after two weeks when the Speaker appointed Musa Abdullahi Krishi as his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, and Dr Jerry Uhuo as the Special Adviser on Policy and Strategy.

Abbas in as statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Krishi, named Leke Bayeiwu of The Punch Newspaper as his Chief Press Secretary (CPS) and Ahmed Musa of Daily Independent Newspaper as Special Assistant on Print Media.

See the full list of the appointments:

1. ENGR. JAMIL AHMED MUHAMMED – DEP. CHIEF OF STAFF – ADMINISTRATION

2. DR. DUNKWU CHAMBERLAIN – DEP. CHIEF OF STAFF – LEGISLATIVE

3. HON. AHMED DAYYABU SAFANA – SPECIAL ADVISER, SPECIAL DUTIES

4. DR. HAMISU IBRAHIM KUBAU – SPECIAL ADVISER, POLITICAL MATTERS

5. BARR. SAMUEL AJAYI – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, LEGAL MATTERS

6. BARR. OSAZEE MELODY OGUNDIJIE – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, LEGISLATIVE MATTERS

7. BARR. AMINU RAMALAN – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, FINANCE

8. AMB. IBRAHIM HAMIDU GUSAU – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, INTERNATIONAL AND INTERPARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

9. LAMIR UMAR IBRAHIM – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, YOUTH MATTERS

10. YETUNDE ADENIJI – SPECIAL – ASSISTANT, WOMEN AFFAIRS

11. HON. RAPHAEL NNANA IGBOKWE – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, INTERGOVERMENTAL AFFAIRS

12. ZAKARI ALIYU
PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY

13. LEKE BAYEIWU – CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY

14. NURA ADAMU – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, BROADCAST MEDIA

15. AHMED BABA MUSA – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, PRINT MEDIA

16. OLABAMIJI ENITAN JOWOSIMI – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, NEW MEDIA

17. ALIYU GARBA WAZIRI – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, EXECUTIVE RELATIONS AND JOB CREATION

18. MOHAMMED SALAME – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY – ICT

19. HON. FRIDAY ITULAH – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, POLITICAL MATTERS(SOUTH SOUTH)

20. HON. GODFREY GAIYA – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, POLITICAL MATTERS(NORTH WEST)

21. HANMATION MARK TERSOO – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, POLITICAL MATTERS (NORTH CENTRAL)

22. HON. ZAKARI GALADIMA – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, POLITICAL MATTERS (NORTH EAST)

23. ABDULSALAM BABAKAYODE – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, POLITICAL MATTERS (SOUTH WEST)

24. HON. OKWUDILI CHRISTOPHER EZENWANKWO – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, POLITICAL MATTERS (SOUTH EAST)

25. HON. ABDULAHI SA’AD ABDULKADIR – SPECIAL ASSISTANT, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs)

26. LAWAL SHEHU ALIYU – SENIOR LEGISLATIVE AIDE – NEW MEDIA 1

27. MARY ANN UJU ONYEJIMBE – SENIOR LEGISLATIVE AIDE

28. NURA MUSTAPHA – SENIOR LEGISLATIVE AIDE

29. YAHAYA AMINU PATE – SENIOR LEGISLATIVE AIDE – (PERSONAL ASSISTANT)

30. AUWAL USMAN KOMBANI – SENIOR LEGISLATIVE AIDE – NEW MEDIA II

31. VICTOR NGUN – SENIOR LEGISLATIVE AIDE, VISUAL COMMUNICATION

32. ANDREW FABIAN – SENIOR LEGISLATIVE AIDE – PHOTOGRAPHY

33. DAVID ADEBAYO DOLAPO – SENIOR LEGISLATIVE AIDE – OFFICIAL VIDEOGRAPHER

The Speaker advised the new political appointees to discharge their duties in compliance with the new Schedule of Duties in the Office of the Speaker and utmost commitment to the implementation of the Legislative Agenda of the 10th House of Representatives.

Krishi added that the appointments take immediate effect.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, decorated Adewale Adeniyi as the Acting Comptroller-General of Customs.

Adeniyi was appointed the Comptroller-General of Customs in an acting capacity last week by President Bola Tinubu, along with other newly appointed security heads.

Shettima had also last week, decorated the acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

Oodua People’s Congress(Reformed) has called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure his administration’s plans and programmes to cushion the effect of the current harsh economic weather cover every segment of Nigeria’s populace and not only the government workers.

The President of the group, Dare Adesope, raised this concern in a statement on Monday, saying the daily increase in prices of goods and services particularly due to the high cost of fuel occasioned by the recent removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government is taking a huge toll on finances of most Nigerians.

According to him, even though almost every Nigerian is feeling this raging heat, the unemployed, petty traders and artisans are most affected.

The unemployed, who are very many and all over the place nationwide, for example, Adesope pointed out, are finding it extremely difficult to feed let alone have access to good cloth and shelter which are basic needs.

“Some of them are even family men and women,” he added

Adesope therefore said government should ensure that its palliative programmes to relief people from the economic hardship factor in all Nigerians and not only government workers.
He said many people had already lost hope and given up on Nigeria before the new administration came on board but now with the current administration have a fresh hope for a new Nigeria.

He said he is particularly confident in the leadership of President Tinubu to turn Nigeria fortune around to better the lots of downtrodden Nigerians.

He said he would be able to achieve the positive change if he remains focus on his campaign promises and be proactive, fair and upheld the law of equity.

Similarly, Adesope urged the president not to delay in the creation of community policing that would incorporate credible indigenous vigilance organisations such as OPC Reformed and government law enforcement agencies.

He said real economic growth and development could only take place in a society where lives and property of citizens are secured.

It was a bleak Monday in Lagos as three women and a man sustained varying injuries following a gas explosion in the Agege area of the state.

It was gathered that the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday beside the Apostolic Church, Agege.

It was gathered that the explosion emanated from a gas shop following leakage from one of the cylinders.

According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), rescuers were able to contain the ensuing inferno from escalating to adjourning shops and nearby buildings.

LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, who confirmed the incident, said the injured suffered second-degree burns and were taken to the hospital for treatment.

A group, the Voice of the Voiceless, stormed the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja on Monday morning demanding the arrest of the immediate past Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Mohammed Matawalle.

Matawalle served as Governor between 2019 and 2023.

The group led by its Chairman, Nasiru Ismaila Doka, urged the EFCC to re-open its earlier investigation into Matawalle’s tenure which could not be concluded because of the constitutional immunity clause protecting the Governor then.

In a protest letter it submitted to the EFCC, the group said that, “We the voice of the voiceless call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the former Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Mohammed Matawale for the alleged misappropriation of public funds.

“This call comes amid growing concerns about corruption in Nigeria and the need for accountability in public offices.

Bello Mohammed Matawale was the Governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023.

“During his tenure, there were allegations of mismanagement of public funds and resources.

“Recall that on the 18th May 2023, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission through its Director, Media and Public Affairs, Osita Nwajah Nwajah, said that Matawalle is being investigated by the EFCC, over allegations of monumental corruption, award of phantom contracts and diversion of over N70 billion.

“According to the EFCC, the money which was sourced as a loan from an old generation bank purportedly for the execution of projects across the local government areas of the state, was allegedly diverted by the Governor through proxies and contractors who received payment for contracts that were not executed.

“The Commission’s investigations revealed that more than 100 companies received payments from the funds, with no evidence of service rendered to the state.

“Some of the contractors who had been invited and quizzed by the Commission made startling revelations on how they were allegedly compelled by the Governor to return the funds received from the state coffers back to him through his aides after converting the same to United States Dollars.

“They confirmed that they did not render any services to Zamafara State but were allegedly directed to convert the monies paid to them into United States Dollars and returned to the Governor through some of his commissioners, notably the commissioners in charge of Finance and Local Government Affairs.

“The call for investigation into the alleged mismanagement of public funds by Bello Mohammed Matawale has been growing in recent weeks. “The people of Zamfara State have expressed their concern over the lack of development in the state and the need for accountability in public offices.

“We urge The EFCC to investigate the matter and bring those responsible for the mismanagement of public funds to justice.

“This will serve as a deterrent to others who may be considering engaging in corrupt practices in public office.

“The mismanagement of public funds has far-reaching effects on the people and the State as a whole.

“It leads to lack of development, loss of revenue, and decrease in the quality of life for the people.”

Abdulai Bangurah, chairman of the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) in Sierra Leone, has urged politicians in the country to emulate the conduct of Peter Obi of the Labour Party in the last presidential election in Nigeria.

He said this on Sunday at a press conference addressed by the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL), the Office of National Security (ONS) and the PPRC.

Politics Nigeria reports that Sierra Leoneans voted in presidential, parliamentary and local elections on Saturday, June 24.

Bangurah said that Obi’s call on his teeming supporters to shun violence averted disaster in the aftermath of the announcement of the presidential election result.

The PPRC chairman said:

“I have always referred to Peter Obi when he lost (the) election; we all know the promise he held when the elections were being conducted.

“Almost everybody who is anything in Nigeria (threw their) support. But when the results came out otherwise, he didn’t call his supporters to the street to wreak havoc. He took the legal path, and in that way, he was able to save his country from chaos.

“So we will encourage our politicians to learn from that example. Leadership is about self-restraint, and leadership is about selflessness.

“So we expect that our politicians will demonstrate this. The process has been peaceful so far, so let us continue to be peaceful and promote the interest of our country.”

[PoliticsNigeria]