Category Nigeria News

The Katsina State High Court 9, headed by Justice I. Mashi, has sentenced two men to death for the murder of Rabe Nasir, a former commissioner of science and technology.

According to reports, Nasir was killed by hired assassins on December 8, 2021, at his residence in Katsina State’s Fatima Shema Housing Estate.

The former commissioner was poisoned by Tasi’u Rabi’u and Shamsu Lawal, who was the deceased’s former guard, after they failed to steal from him.

Due to medical examination revealing poison in the deceased’s body, police evidence revealed that he had been poisoned.

The court also sentenced another former guard, Sani Sa’adu, to five years in prison for omitting the truth about the murder, in addition to the two convicts’ death sentences.

Additionally, the court found Gift Bako guilty of the crime despite the lack of conclusive evidence.

Her lawyer praised the court’s decision, stating that it was based on the truth.

Meanwhile, both the defense and prosecution attorneys pleased with the outcome of the trial.

Ahmad Kankia, the convicts’ attorney, pleaded for leniency, citing the fact that they had dependents and families.

The prosecution’s attorney, however, claimed that the verdict was fair and that justice had been rendered and that it was in line with the law.

After the court’s decision, it was discovered that the prisoners’ security personnel reportedly shook them in the face.

After her acquittal, Gift Bako’s family and attorneys saw both smiles and relief.

During the 2021 administration of former governor Aminu Masari, Nasir held the position of Commissioner for Science and Technology in Katsina State.

Prior to joining the Department of State Services, he had previously served as an officer in the House of Representatives for Mani and Bindawa Federal Constituency in 2003.

In December of this year, he was killed when he returned to his Katsina home, where the police immediately launched an investigation and detained a suspect in connection with the crime.

The Benue State Executive Council has been disbanded, according to the governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia.

Moses Atagher, a former two-term attorney general of the state and justice commissioner, was also appointed as the new chief of staff.

Atagher, a seasoned administrator, was also a former acting managing director of the Federal Mortgage Bank, according to a statement released by the governor’s chief press secretary, Tersoo Kula, on Wednesday.

Read more recently: Benue Killings: Alia Calls For Establishment Of State Police, Intervention Fund, and More.

His appointment comes into effect right away, according to a statement.

At the conclusion of the Benue State Executive Council’s 12th meeting (2025), the governor made the announcement.

He (Alia) thanks all the former commissioners who have served under his watch for two years. They are only acting as a bridge between the system and the party, allowing candidates to be chosen to contribute their quota.

The governor stated that the dissolution only affects commissioners, aside from the Chief of Staff.

Bemsen Mnyim applauds the governor for giving the dissolved commissioners the opportunity to serve the state by expressing his gratitude to the governor.

Everywhere you are called to serve is a school, he says, “at every stage of life.” Working with you has taught us a lot. “

As the West African nation recovers from a severe economic crisis, Ghana’s central bank cut its benchmark interest rate by 3% on Wednesday as a result of easeling inflationary pressures.

The Bank of Ghana announced a benchmark rate reduction of 28% to 25%, the first rate reduction in more than a year, as the cedi currency’s value recovered against the dollar.

Johnson Pandit Asiama, the bank’s governor, said, “We continue to support our price stability commitment while establishing the conditions for sustainable growth.”

UPDATED: MPC Retains Interest Rate At 27.5%

In Ghana, the country’s main producer of cocoa and gold, inflation eased in June to 13.7 percent, the sixth monthly decline in a row.

Since the beginning of 2025, the cedi has increased by more than 40% against the US dollar, thanks to stronger external buffers, waning exports, and growing investor confidence.

The government has made progress in its economic reforms and debt restructuring since January when President John Mahama took the oath of office amid economic unrest, according to the International Monetary Fund earlier this month.

Food inflation decreased as well, but overall inflation remained above average in July, at 16.3%.

Despite the advancement, many regular Ghanaians are still in need of assistance as living expenses continue to rise.

The cost of making a pot of jollof rice, a West African staple of rice, vegetables, and meat, has increased from 278 cedis in January 2023 to 420 cedis ($26 to $40), according to a “Jollof Index” from SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based consultancy.

The Jigawa State Branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is concerned about the state’s ongoing exodus of medical professionals, citing poor welfare conditions and the delay in implementing salary adjustments as major factors in the trend.

This was stated in a communiqué that was released on July 25 through July 26 at the conclusion of the association’s 2025 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference at the Manpower Development Institute in Dutse.

The event brought together academics, policymakers, academics, and other stakeholders in the health sector under the theme “A Doctor and the Jigawa Health Sector: Reversing Brain Drain, Advanceing Careers, and Building a Doctor-Friendly Health System.”

The state’s doctor-patient ratio has increased as a result of the NMA’s observation that more than 30 doctors have left Jigawa in the last five months alone due to poor welfare and low competition for pay.

The association claimed that Jigawa’s current doctor-patient ratio is 1:100, which is a remarkable improvement from the WHO’s recommendation of 1:100.

REVISION YOUR STEP AND LOCAL PROCESS TO DISCUSS MEDICAL QUESTIONS

The association criticized the minimum wage implementation committee’s protracted delay in submitting its report to the governor despite having been given a two-week mandate.

“This deliberate bureaucratic delay smells like sabotage,” the author writes. The newly elected NMA chairman in the state, Usman Haruna, claimed that the committee had refused to follow a clear executive directive, undermining Governor Umar Namadi’s efforts to retain doctors and modernize the health system.

He continued, “We are requesting that His Excellency immediately compels the committee to submit its report and begin the full implementation of salary reviews and allowances.”

The association emphasized the urgent need to review doctors’ entry scale, hazard allowance, and call duty allowance to bring them in line with federal standards.

NMA Jigawa praised the state government’s recent hiring of new doctors as a “step in the right direction,” stressing that welfare issues must be addressed to ensure long-term retention.

Panelists and guest speakers provided practical policy and structural recommendations, as well as the role of the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) in improving state-wide primary healthcare delivery.

The establishment of a doctor-friendly hospital initiative and hospital-based Continuous Professional Development (CPD) support, as suggested by the guest speaker during the scientific sessions, was a key resolution at the AGM.

In addition, Hussaini Abubakar was appointed financial secretary for the 2025–2026 term after the NMA conducted a bye-election to fill leadership vacancies.

The association thanked Governor Umar Namadi for continuing to invest in the health sector, particularly the Medical Village project and the proposed minimum wage changes.

Additionally, it praised the support of Jigawa State IMPACT Project’s founder, Muhammad Kainuwa, as well as the Commissioner for Health, Muhammad Kainuwa.

We are partners in the development of health, not just about agitation. The association’s Publicity Secretary, Shamsu Sa’idu, stated that his organization is unwavering in its support of policy reforms, advancement of primary healthcare, and maintaining a doctor-friendly work environment.

Isah Miqdad, the leader of the Katsina Local Government Council, has pledged to provide the electorates with quality, affordable education while also ensuring that the area’s primary education sector can address about 70% of the area’s lingering issues.

His administration, he said, was already working to support and encourage the primary school children to attend school and concentrate on their studies, and he claimed that there are already big plans in place to address the issues that are affecting the primary school education sector.

Miqdad made note of the fact that the issue has been around for a while and needs to be resolved.

The Chairman reiterated his administration’s commitment to empowering youth through education by awarding full scholarships to 96 students for study at the Katsina State Institute of Technology and Management (KSITM) on Tuesday.

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He urged the scholarship recipients to take advantage of the opportunity with vigor and determination, stressing that their parents’ and guardians’ assistance is still important throughout their academic journey.

We felt it was necessary to support parents who are unable to sponsor their children’s education in order to realize their aspirations to be meaningful citizens of their respective societies. We think that will change how they live.

96 students are receiving financial aid from this first batch. They will enroll in 15 of the institution’s courses. Because we have invested millions of naira in the project, the students should be diligent and on time.

Because we believe that education is the most important asset a person can ever have, we are appealing to our constituents to be patient with the government because we truly mean well to them. Katsina LG is not left behind, Miqdad remarked.

Alhaji Muhammad Isah, the governor of Katsina State, and Dikko Bala, the ministry’s director of finance and administration, praised the initiative as a model for effective governance.

According to Bala, “This scholarship will transform lives and lift the community as a whole.”

Dele Alake, the minister of solid minerals, has stated that the federal government will not resort to intimidation or media attacks in its efforts to stop the sector’s illegal mining and insecurity.

Alake stated at a recent forum that the mining industry faces the biggest challenges because of its internal profits from illegal operations.

He claimed that those who oppose the government’s reforms have used smear campaigns and blackmail to target the newly established mine marshals, who are making significant progress.

In a nutshell, he said, “The challenges I have faced are external, not administrative.

First, there are the serious objections from those who profit from the heinous activities because of the security efforts we have made so far. ”

Also READ: FG Investments for $800 million in mining reforms result in six-fold gains

According to Alake, some mine marshals have tried to discredit them by charging them with bribery, but none have provided any proof.

Some people even reported that the mine marshals’ leader is bribing them and that they paid him a bribe, he said.

I said, “Wow, this is what I’ve been looking for,” she said. Please provide the evidence for me. ’

One of them claimed that the evidence he had received the day before was coming back. Six months ago, that was. He has not yet been seen. ”

He claimed that the media has been made aware of the smear campaign, with one television station forced to apologize for making false allegations against the marshals leader.

The man said that at some point, one medium allegedly blackmailed him.

I responded, “Well, did you do it? ” ’ He said, ‘No,’ he didn’t do it. I said, ‘Okay, hire a lawyer to bring a lawsuit against that medium. He did, too.

Because they were paid to do the hatchet job, that same medium, a TV station, posted a public apology forty-eight hours later.

And he explained that there is no balancing of reportage because, like every other profession in this degeneration, as well as journalism.

According to Alake, President Bola Tinubu’s position on accountability is strengthening the ministry’s commitment to reforms.

There is no turning back, he declared. If I can’t find any tangible proof of malfeasance or a misdemeanor, I won’t remove anyone from the mine marshals.