Category Nigeria News

84 Kano students who had been stranded in Northern Cyprus for years have been paid the outstanding tuition and fees paid by Kano State governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

After the previous administration suspended funding for their overseas scholarship program, students were languishing for years after being forced to endure academic and financial limbo as a result of the intervention.

The state paid a total of $ 2.24 billion to the Near East University in Cyprus, clearing all debts and granting certificates to the affected students, according to a statement released by Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, director general of media and publicity to the governor.

The statement read, “A total of $22 billion, $240 million, have been paid to secure the certificates of the students who have waited for more than five years.”

READ MORE: &nbsp: Kano Judiciary Demotes Registrar, Retires Senior Official Over Misconduct.

Former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso introduced a foreign scholarship program, but funding was cut while Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was in office.

Students without support were evicted from hostels, locked out of classrooms, and left homeless in a foreign country as a result of the discontinuation.

“These students endured intolerable trauma,” they said. Some of them faced harassment, mockery, and nearly deportation. Kabiru Ibrahim, the father of one of the affected students, said that this intervention is not just financial. It is also moral and humanitarian.

28 medical students and graduates from the fields of nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, computer science, and biomedical sciences are among the beneficiaries. The majority of the recipients have completed their studies but are unable to access their certificates due to unpaid fees.

The Governor has even gone one step further by directing all returning students to work for the Kano State civil service.

“Our state benefits from these young professionals.” Governor Yusuf stated in a statement that we will welcome them home as well as give them opportunities to advance our country.

Many parents have openly cried of joy over what they described as the “end of a nightmare” as a result of the decision.

“It’s the happiest day of my life,” I declare. The mother of one of the medical graduates, Fatima Suleiman, expressed her joy at seeing her son begin his career.

The administration’s courageous action has been praised by human rights organizations and members of the Nigerian diaspora who have previously condemned the students’ neglect.

The Supreme Court of Justice of Nigeria (Kano State Judicial Service Commission) has taken significant disciplinary measures against judicial officers who have been found guilty of misconduct, including the mandatory retirement of a senior registrar.

The decisions were made at the JSC’s 82nd meeting on Wednesday, according to Baba Jibo-Ibrahim, the spokesperson for the Kano State Judiciary.

The commission’s actions came after the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee (JPCC), which had looked into a number of allegations, were recommended, according to Jibo-Ibrahim.

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Abuse of office

After the JPCC discovered in four separate complaints that included insults, intimidation, and office abuse, plaintiff-registrar Salisu Sule was elevated to a grade level, according to Jibo-Ibrahim.

Sule had previously received a warning letter dated December 19, 2024, but the commission was forced to impose a more severe penalty as a result.

According to his explanation, “investigation revealed that Sule frequently harassed and intimidated the public with the name of the judiciary in the course of his duties.”

Senior registrar retired from forgery

In a more serious case, the JSC required the Principal Registrar’s mandatory retirement from his position at the High Court Headquarters in Kano because of gross misconduct.

According to Jibo-Ibrahim, the JPCC found Danmaraya guilty of fabricating an affidavit, affixing the High Court seal, and inscribing a fake receipt number despite knowing for themselves that he is not an oath commissioner.

Magistrates are reinstated

The Commission reinstated two magistrates who had previously been suspended, Chief Magistrate Mustapha Sa’ad-Datti and Chief Magistrate Rabi Abdulkadir, in a different decision.

According to Jibo-Ibrahim, the Commission decided that Mustapha Sa’ad-Datti and Rabi Abdulkadir should resume sitting and carry out their judicial responsibilities.

He did point out that both magistrates were “admonished to uphold the highest standards of integrity, diligence, and professionalism in the discharge of their judicial functions.”

The Commission’s commitment to upholding accountability and transparency in the state judiciary is seen in the disciplinary actions.

After a night out in the community on Saturday, Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, returned to Marte on Thursday.

In the Lake Chad region, ongoing efforts were made to restore peace, restore trust, and promote sustainable development.

Bulum, who left Maiduguri last week, has been coordinating security plans and building resilience among the region’s affected by the most recent rise in Boko Haram attacks.

The governor has visited the communities of Marte, Kala-Balge, Wulgo, Ngala, Lugumani, Gajibo, Koibe, Dikwa, and Ajiri 9 times since last Saturday.

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Governor Zulum and military commanders met behind closed doors to discuss ways to help restore peace to Marte and the surrounding communities during the visit.

I am here to evaluate the effectiveness of our recent “resettlement” of the residents. I’m delighted to see that the neighborhood is fully supported and that soldiers are stationed. In Marte, normal economic activities have resumed, according to Zulum.

He continued, “I’m very happy, and in the name of Allah, normalcy will soon return.” ”

At the House of Representatives, Engr. Bukar Talba, the governor was accompanied by members from the constituencies of Marte, Monguno, and Nganzai. Sugun Mai Mele, the commissioner for local government and emirates; Engr. Bawu Musami, the commissioner of agriculture; Barr and the Permanent Secretary of Government House. among other senior officials is Muhammadus Ali Busuguma.

‘FG quickly responded.

Governor Zulum made an appeal to the Federal Government on Sunday to use decisive tactics to prevent Marte town from becoming a target for Boko Haram/ISWAP rebels.

However, Governor Zulum praised the Federal Government and the military for responding to his request on Thursday to protect Marte from invading the insurgents while speaking to journalists in Marte town.

According to him, “The federal government and the Nigerian Armed Forces have responded favorably to our request to improve security in the affected communities.” Numerous troops and equipment have been deployed.

An Artificial Intelligence (AI) Division will be a part of the ICT Department, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Sam Olumekun, the Commission’s national commissioner and chairman of the information and voter education committee, signed a statement on Thursday that made this known.

He claimed that the new division’s creation should continue to use AI’s advantages and its negative effects on elections.

Through centralized AI governance, the division, in Olumekun’s opinion, will help the commission better coordinate and maximize existing technology investments.

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He added that the initiative will also improve voter engagement, risk management, and decision-making.

Additionally, it will use automated voting, predictive analytics, and intelligent safeguards to increase electoral credibility.

“This initiative places the Commission at the forefront of institutionalizing AI capabilities within our ICT infrastructure.

“It’s also a significant step in our ongoing reform of the electoral process in those areas where the Commission is only required to take administrative action.”

In order to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on elections, INEC disclosed that it had spoken at several conferences with colleagues from around the continent.

In order to defend the $11 billion arbitral award against Process and Industrial Development (P&amp, ID) Ltd., the Federal Government has recovered the sum of $200 million and another $ 10 million bond it deposited as bond in a UK court.

Lateef Fagbemi, the minister of justice and the attorney general of the Federation, made this known on Thursday during a visit by a team of lawyers representing the UK to the Ministry led by Shaistah Akhtar.

Fagbemi applauded Akhtar and Kofo Salam-Alada, a former ministerial director of legal, for their legal victories and successful recovery of funds from the Federal Government.

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Many people do not believe that the FGN-P&amp, ID coordinating team’s dedication and sincerity, which was led by Kofo Salam-Alada, who provided me with the necessary support, despite the fact that the entire country has applauded our success in the Process &amp, Industrial Developments Ltd (P&amp, ID) case and applauded my resilience and determination not to negotiate or settle with the fraudsters.

A golden fish has no hiding place, according to Fagbemi, who also expressed his happiness at Salam-Alada’s retirement from the service.

Prior to P&amp, ID losing the case, Akthar, who was accompanied by Lydia Allaby, explained that the $10 million was being given to Nigeria from the $20 million that had already been awarded to it. However, she added that the firm is bringing legal challenges to the $ 10 million outstanding.

The “sit-at-home” rule being enforced by separatist groups in the South-East is quickly losing its grip, according to National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu, with security conditions in the area showing marked improvements.

Ribadu described the progress made under President Bola Tinubu’s administration at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Summit on Thursday in Abuja, where the Federal Government presented its two-year scorecard.

Ribadu noted that the separatist campaign has been significantly weakened by the capture or neutralization of key members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

He declared that “the sit-at-home” orders are becoming less effective, and that attacks on security personnel in the area have decreased significantly.

He revealed that as normal social and economic activities gradually return to the South-East, more than 50 police stations and posts have been rebuilt.

READ MORE: Gunmen Abduct a 76-Year-Old Retired Major in Kogi.

Ribadu described the past year as a “watershed” in the fight against armed bandits in the North-West.

Since President Tinubu took office, 11, 250 hostages have been saved, he claims, reflecting a decline in the number of hostages seized.

Famous individuals like Ali Kachalla, Boderi, Halilu Sububu, Dangote, Isuhu Yellow, and Damuna were among the ones who were left out, according to Ribadu, who claimed “we have delivered decisive blows to top warlords.”

He claimed that hundreds of foot soldiers, over 70 deputy commanders, and more than 50 “Kachales,” have been neutralized in ‘target operations’. Additionally, over 35 warlords have given up as part of the government’s non-kinetic plan known as the “Kaduna Model.”

He added that to support deradicalization and reintegration, a new procedure, Operation Safe Corridor North West, was developed.

Terrorists are “surrendering.”

Ribadu cited the significant gains made by the counter-insurgency campaign in the North-East.

More than 124, 408 Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters and their families have surrendered, compared to the previous 1343 terrorists and criminals who were neutralized.

At least 11, 118 weapons, plus 596 rounds of ammunition, have been recovered and destroyed by security forces.

He continued, citing the importance of community resettlement and economic recovery, “operations are ongoing in the Timbuktu Triangle, Tumbu islands, and other enclaves.”

According to Ribadu, “security efforts have resulted in the destruction of 3, 849 dugout pits and 3, 773 illegal cooking ovens” in the oil-rich Niger Delta.

He claimed that all pipelines are now fully operational and that there has been a 47% drop in infractions for the first time in years.

According to Ribadu, “Production has increased by 1.8 million barrels per day,” adding that Ogoniland’s oil production will resume after more than three decades.

He attributed these improvements to regional multi-agency security operation Operation Delta Safe.

Cyber Crime ,

The government’s response to emerging cyberspace threats was also covered by the National Security Advisor.

He cited the investigation into Binance as the beginning of a crackdown on illegal activity involving cryptocurrency platforms.

According to Ribadu, “Many shady accounts” involving terrorism, banditry, and separatist activities have been closed down.

He disclosed that a brand-new National Information Infrastructure Protection Plan has been approved and is currently being implemented.

According to him, the National Digital Forensic Laboratory is now actively assisting national military and law enforcement investigations.

In addition to regional instability in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, Ribadu cited other pressing issues that Nigeria is facing, including global threats like organized crime, terrorism, and cybercrime.

He argued that insecurity is worsening in neighboring Mali, Niger, and Burkinabe due to climate change and the proliferation of small arms.

Significant improvements have been made in addressing Nigeria’s complex security landscape since May 29, 2023, he claimed.

He claims that more sophisticated intelligence gathering, targeted interventions, and increased security operations have started to stabilize key hotspots and reduce casualties.

Ribadu emphasized the importance of responsive governance, infrastructure development, and long-term stability.