#JusticeForEse: I helped Yunusa, but he betrayed me, says Ese’s mother

The mother of 14-year-old Ese Oruru, Mrs. Rose Oruru, has said Yunusa Dahiru, aka Yellow, betrayed her and her family by abducting her teenage daughter from Bayelsa.

Ese was abducted by Yunusa, in August 2015.

The teenagee was forced to convert to Islam and forced into marriage with Yunusa.

Ese and Yenusa case

Ese was reunited with her family this week following a massive campaign by PUNCH newspaper, which generated national outrage and forced the authorities to ensure she was taken from Kano and reunited with her family.

Rose dismissed the claim by Yunusa’s father that the abductor had stayed with the Orurus for 10 years as a house help.

The teenager’s mother said they only got to know Yunusa at about 2012.

Our correspondent gathered that this was the period Yinusa came to the Opolo area, where the residence of the Orurus was located.

It was gathered that Yunusa usually helped people carry their loads from the market.

That was how the Orurus got to know him.

Rose also said sometime in 2012, the family decided to help him with somewhere to sleep at night.

Before then, our correspondent gathered that Yunusa usually slept in different places in the area, including churches.

She said, “Yunusa was one of the Hausa people in the area, and he used to come to my shop to buy food, and sometimes when he did not have money, we would sell to him on credit or give him food for free.

“When we discovered that he needed a place to lay his head at night, I decided to help him by allowing him to pass the night in the shop, but not to live there.

“We did not know he would turn against us and kidnap our daughter. Yunusa betrayed me and my family, despite how we helped him.”

Rose described him as someone who was known to people around the area because he was friendly .

She said he sold firewood for some time until someone in the area gave him a tricycle to ride.

“I remember that he behaved like a good person; people in our area knew him very well. Nobody would have thought he could do such a thing,” she added.

According to Rose, Yunusa was asked to stop coming to sleep in her shop in 2013 after some items got missing in the shop.

Rose said items such as rice and bottles of soft drinks disapperared.

She said, “That was when I became suspicious. Since I could not prove it, I just asked him to stop coming to the shop to pass the night. This was in late 2012 or early 2013.

“I had to start locking the fridge and my cupboard. Why would I do that if I had trusted him?”

She said people who said Ese willingly travelled to Kano with him did not know Yunusas history.

She recalled that a few weeks after she asked Yunusa to stop coming to sleep in her shop, her shop was burgled.

She said she lost valuables, including food items and a big television set that came with a DVD player.

“That television set was even bigger than the one currently in my shop. We do not want to lay blame on anyone because we could not say that this was the person that did it,” she added.

She said a year later, Yunusa started coming to the shop to buy food.

She said, “He came one day to beg me to forgive him. I then told him that I did not hold anything against him that I had forgiven him.

“But how could I have known that he was planning to do something bad to my daughter?

“I know my daughter, Ese, she would never have done such a thing with someone like Yunusa. She did not go to Kano with him on her own accord.”

Medical report not for the public

The police have said the report of the medical examination carried out on Ese Oruru will not be made public.

The Force stated that the medical report was confidential and not for public consumption.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, who said this in response to an inquiry from our correspondent on Thursday, explained that the report was not ready yet.

According to her, the police will respect Ese’s privacy and will not disclose the result of the medical examination.

She added that the report would be given to investigators to assist them in their work.

“When Ese’s medical is ready, it will be handed over to the investigators and it will not be made public by the police as we respect the privacy of the girl-child (Ese),” Kolawole said.

The police had earlier said it had carried out various medical tests on the teenager, whose rescue from forced marriage and conversion to Islam, was championed by PUNCH newspapers.

It was learnt that the police had carried out different tests on Ese, including pregnancy and HIV/AIDS tests.

On Ese’s abductor, Yunusa Dahiru, the police spokesperson said he had been transfered to Bayelsa State, where he would be tried for his crime.

“Yunusa is already in Bayelsa,” Kolawole said.

Claim of innocence irrelevant

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, has dismissed the claim by the father of Yunusa Dahiru, who abducted Ese, that his son had not committed any crime.

Arase stated this on Thursday during a one-day awareness workshop on sexual and gender based violence in Nigeria, organised by the Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with Cleen Foundation and Ford Foundation in Benin, the Edo State capital.

Ese was taken to Kano from Bayelsa in August 2015 by Yunusa, where he converted her to Islam and forcefully married her without the consent of her parents.

She was, however, released on February 29.

The father of the suspect, Alhaji Dairu Bala, had reportedly said at his Tofa home in the Kuru Local Government Area of Kano State that his son followed “his heart” when the teenage girl “fell in love” with him and “followed him.”

But Arase, who spoke through the Gender Officer, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Mrs. Mairo Adebalogun, noted that Bala’s claim of innocence was irrelevant, adding that Yunusa would be prosecuted.

Arase said, “The father is not the person in the picture of this issue; it is his son. The police are going to investigate and if they find him wanting, they will prosecute him.”

PSC to dismiss indicted police officers

The Police Service Commission has said it will dismiss from service, any police officer found culpable in the abduction of Ese Oruru.

The commission said it was waiting for the report of the ongoing investigation of some police officers involved in the case, as directed by the Inspector-General of Police.

A statement by the PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, on Thursday in Abuja said the commission “will ensure that any police officer who is found to have compromised himself either by omission or commission in the saga will be flushed out.”

It commended the IG “for his swift action in rescuing the teenager and ensuring that she was immediately reunited with her family,” adding that it would work with Arase to see that Nigerians, including the likes of Ese were guaranteed their freedom to life.

My daughter was raped

The father of Ese Oruru says their underage daughter was raped by Yunusa.

Charles Orurus, in an interview on the rumoured pregnancy of the minor, said his daughter had been forced to convert to Islam and into a child marriage without their consent.

Charles said, “My daughter was raped by that man. I saw the sign when I saw her last night. We are glad that stage one is over. I am happy she has been finally released and I have seen her, but I am sad. Now we will have to face whatever comes next.”

He, however, said the family would hold a meeting in the next few days to take a collective decision on the matter.

H also told our correspondent that he would meet with the police, lawyers, and other concerned persons on the issue.

Ese’s mum, Rose, however, said she could not say for certain that Ese was pregnant, adding that medical tests would confirm her suspicion.

The teenager’s mother also said Ese did not know she was in Kano State until after some time.

“It was like she had been hypnotised,” she said.

When asked what she would do if her daughter was indeed pregnant.

“Until then,” she said.

Dickson orders trial of abductors

 

The Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has called for a comprehensive investigation into Ese’s abduction and subsequent prosecution of the culprits.

A statement by the state government on Thursday said the governor spoke in Yenagoa, shortly after receiving Ese and her parents in the Government House.

While describing the incident as unfortunate, Dickson directed the Ministry of Justice to collaborate effectively with the police towards ensuring that Ese’s abduction was prosecuted to a logical conclusion.

Dickson, who described Ese as a minor, wondered why it took so long to secure her release, adding that, there were questions begging for answers.

The governor was quoted as saying, “This matter has to do with enforcement of the laws of this state. This matter is not religious; It is not a matter that has to be swept under the carpet.

“I have directed the Ministry of Justice to collaborate with the police to ensure that this matter is prosecuted to a logical conclusion.”

The governor directed that a team of medical personnel and counsellors be set up to liaise with Ese and her parents to offer support to reintegrate Ese to the society.

Additional reports by: Sesan Olufowobi, Adelani Adepegba,

Arukaino Umukoro and Alexander Okere

#JusticeForEse: I helped Yunusa, but he betrayed me, says Ese’s mother

#JusticeForEse: An Honest Look at Ese’s Predicament

When do teenage relationships start?

According to raisingchildren.net.au , there isn’t a ‘right age’ to start having relationships – every child is different, and every family / culture will feel differently about this issue. But here are some averages:

• From 9-11 years, your child might start to show more independence from the family and more interest in friends.


• From 10-14 years, your child might want to spend more time in mixed gender groups, which might eventually end up in a romantic relationship.


• From 15-19 years, romantic relationships can become central to social life. Friendships might become deeper and more stable.

There is a lot of controversy about Ese’s age, but the excellent investigative journalism by AIT with the interview of her parents confirm that Ese is in fact 13 yrs old so there is no need to waste time debating about this.

As a mother of a teenage son myself, I know that many teenagers spend a lot of time thinking and talking about being in a relationship. In these years, teenage relationships might last only a few weeks or months. It’s also normal for children to have no interest in romantic relationships until their late teens. Some choose to focus on schoolwork, sport or other interests.

Each parent is different, and no one has a right to tell another parent how to raise their child. But the problem is when the general public decides to have an opinion over a young girl’s sexuality. Going over Linda Ikeji’s blog when it was announced that Ese had in fact chosen to stay in Kano, the comments people left on the article made me nauseous. They had no respect for her privacy, and no one even viewed her as a child.

It is very disturbing that our society does not view child sexuality any different from adult sexuality. They take it lightly and find it funny that a 13 year old confused and vulnerable, who has obviously made some poor choices should be made an object of ridicule. Social media particularly has not been very responsible in discussion the issue.

Further, the NUJ code of ethics stipulates “A journalist should not identify, either by name or picture, or interview children under the age of 16 who are involved in cases concerning sexual offences, crimes and rituals or witchcraft either as victims, witnesses or defendants.”  Now that the story has broken that Ese may be pregnant, I appeal to the media, mainstream and social media to please respect the privacy of this family.

No good will come from engrossing the National attention on this issue now that she is back with her family. The respectable thing to do is to pressure the relevant ministries such as the ministry of social services to take action. Pictures of the ministry of women affairs and child development should be the one pasted on papers not Ese’s to ensure there is follow up without invading the privacy of the family.

Biologically speaking, puberty is the period when an adolescent reaches physical growth and sexual maturity. It is marked with bodily changes and change in feeling towards opposite sex due to increase in sex hormones. This period starts from late childhood and ends with early adulthood (12 to 18 years).

In this crucial stage, adolescence is influenced by peer pressure especially the opposite sex peers. Puberty is a period marked with rapid physical growth leading to sexual maturity and psychological changes. The average onset of puberty is at 10 or 11 for girls and age 12 or 13 for boys.

Girls become sexually and physically mature two years earlier than boys. Puberty begins with a surge in hormone production, which in turn causes a number of physical changes a an adolescent is going through drastic physical changes  she also goes through psychological, mental and  emotional changes. Stanley Hall, a well known psychologist, describes this stage as the period full of “storm and stress”. This phase is marked with psychologically growing-up. Ericson, another psychologist refers this stage as “Identity Crisis” referring to confusion in identifying oneself neither as a child nor as an adult.

The early and late childhood period boys like to play with boys and girls prefer to be comfortable in the company of girls. Developing relationship with same sex friends and getting their approval and acceptance is one of the important characteristic of interpersonal relationship. The maximum socialization takes place during this stage. But as childhood period end and child enters into an adolescent stage suddenly due to hormonal changes and development of secondary sex characteristics the interest in opposite sex becomes more significant.

Suddenly an adolescent becomes self conscious and  her outlook changes.   She becomes conscious towards herself as well as towards opposite sex. An adolescent spends lot of time looking at himself or herself in the mirror, new look in hair style, preference in clothing and dressing up manners changes, use of cosmetics and interest in looking good increases. Sudden changes occur in improving self image and having better self impression on opposite sex. Girls become shy in the presence  of the opposite sex.

Is all this  my attempt at using pchychology to justify Ese’s behavior? NO! What I am in fact saying is that is  normal for her to be interested in the opposite sex, but that is not a reason to make her an object of  ridicule. She is still a child, and  it is the responsibility of society to protect her till she reaches the age of consent. Just because   she is an  adolescent  with raging hormones doesn’t mean she is a responsible adult ready to make decisions on her own. All responsible adults in her life have to protect her till she is mature enough to understand what she is getting herself into.

Back in 2013, a Time magazine article on abduction began like this…

“Abduction is a singularly grotesque transaction. In a single instant, a relationship between two people changes to one of captor and prisoner, owner and chattel. One holds absolute power and the other holds none.”

The  Nigerian, media had a fanfare with word abduction, but when Ese was being returned, there were a crowd of men around her, the video circulating the web showed a terrified little girl trying to hold on to some sort of control.  There was no comforting voice. Once again, there was absolutely no recognition that this was just a child. For Heaven sakes, Ese is just a child.

She may or may have not chosen to have gone to  Kano. It doesn’t take a genius to know that it will be traumatizing to be the center so much controversy.  She may or may not be in love.  It does not take a PhD to know that no one would want their their private life broadcasted on air. An adult would be nerve wracked to go through what Ese has been through.

The American Psychological Association say, According to research, hostage survivors often develop an unconscious bond to their captors and experience grief if their captors are harmed. They may also feel guilty for developing a bond. This is typically referred to as the Stockholm syndrome. Hostage survivors may also have feelings of guilt for surviving while others did not. It is important for survivors to recognize that these are usual human reactions to being held captive.

When hostages are released, it is essential for them to:

• Receive medical attention.


• Be in a safe and secure environment.


• Connect with loved ones.


• Have an opportunity to talk or journal their experience if and when they choose.


• Receive resources and information about how to seek counseling, particularly if their distress from the incident is interfering with their daily lives.


• Protect their privacy (e.g. avoid media overexposure including watching and listening to news and participating in media interviews).


• Take time to adjust back into family and work.

I am writing this as a teacher and a mother, Please for the love of God, leave this child alone to go back to school no more media coverage on this story, it’s doing  Ese more harm than good. As long as she is below the age of consent, all responsible adults should act like it! Let her have some privacy. Her entire life is still ahead of her.

 

Time Magazine

 

American Psychological Association

Susie Retiola

Susie Retiola

Women Affair

Maryanne Kooda is an Educational Consultant and feature writer teaching in Sri Lanka

#JusticeForEse: An Honest Look at Ese’s Predicament

Another 14-yr-old Benue girl abducted in Sokoto

MAKURDI— Relations of another missing 14-year-old girl, Patience Paul, have alleged that the primary six pupil of Mohammed Zako Model Primary School, Sokoto, may have been abducted and housed at the palace of the Sultan of Sokoto.

Father of the girl, Mr. Paul Adaji, an indigene of Ochobo in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, told Vanguard on phone that his daughter had been missing since August 12, 2015.

Adaji, who resides in Sokoto with his family, alleged that some persons spotted his daughter at the Sultan’s palace.

He said: “We got information that she was in the Sultan’s palace and the last time we went there, we did not find her.” When asked how they knew she was at the palace, he said: “Some people told us that they saw her at the palace.

They also used to camp some of them there, that was why we went to the palace to see if she has been taken there.

“Even her friend, who used to be a Christian, was found there. She was taken there and they converted her. “We will still continue to search for her.

We will not give up; we only want the world to help us so that our daughter can be released to us.” Brother’s story Corroborating Mr. Adaji’s story, his son, Paul Isaac Adaji, gave an account of circumstances that led to the disappearance of his sister.

He said: “Patience is my younger sister. We are based in Sokoto. That is where the issue occurred. My dad is in Sokoto but we lost our mother two years ago. My younger sister was brain-washed from school, Mohammed Zako Model Primary school, Sokoto.

She is a primary six pupil. “The fact is that sometime last year, we noticed she started keeping some funny friends and her attitude started changing. This is a girl that normally likes attending church activities. “We cautioned her but along the line, she changed. Then again, she started misbehaving. So at that point, my parent and I decided to move her out of Sokoto and return her to Benue State so the rumours of children converting does not happen to us as we do not have anybody to fight for us.

“Unfortunately, what we were scared of later happened to us. Sometimes we will see her returning from school with a veil covering her head. When we inquired, she said it was given to her by her friend in school.

“We cautioned her on several occasions. But we later arranged with my dad to get her back to Benue. Unfortunately, she got to know about our plan to send her back to Benue and obviously informed the people who were brainwashing her and they eventually abducted her.

“When we could not see her, we started serious investigation and along the line, discovered that it was one of our neighbours who actually abducted her.

Hisbah takes over “We reported the matter to the police. The masterminds of her abduction were invited by the Police. They made their confessions that the girl wanted to join their religion, which was why they abducted her. They said they took her to the Hisbah (Islamic Police).

“At that point, the Police invited the Hisbah and they came and gave their own statement. They said they had taken the girl to the Sultan’s palace. I was hoping that since the police had stepped in, my sister would come home.

“But that did not happen. I reported the matter at the Police Headquarters in Sokoto, but it was transferred to our Area Division. So after the interrogations, the Police said since I reported the matter at the headquarters, their findings will also be communicated to the headquarters.

“Two weeks later, I went to the police headquarters here in Sokoto only for the police to tell us that we should just go and maintain peace. I became inquisitive and wanted to know what the police found that prompted that advice. Bishop Kukah steps in

“It was at that point that I reported the matter to Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah. He was very angry with us, saying we ought to have reported the matter to him earlier.

“He made some calls and promised to step into the matter. I became restless and worried because the Bishop is a very busy person. We are urging and pleading with all well-meaning Nigerians to help us intervene. “From what we gathered, from last year up to early this year, she was in the Sultan’s palace, but she has been taken away from there since last month.

“‘We went there with my other sister to check and they brought a different person to us. From our investigations, she is not the only one because the two girls they brought did not look like real Muslims.”

Meanwhile, calls to Bishop Kukah to find out the veracity of claims that the matter was reported to him at a point were not responded to. Source confirm palace connection However, a source in Sokoto told Vanguard that the girl was actually abducted and kept at the Sultan’s palace.

The source also noted that the teenager was not the only person abducted and hidden at the palace, adding that three other girls were in the palace.

The source said: “What is happening is not new; it is a common occurrence in Sokoto and Katsina. Christian teenage girls are often abducted and hidden in such places.

“Patience is not the only victim. Three other girls were found to have been abducted and kept at the palace. There is an Ibo girl among the three.”

Reacting to the development yesterday, Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, Salisu Fagge, said: “It is not true. I have not received such report from anybody.

We relate very well with the palace and Bishop Kukah and such report has never come to me. “If we had got it, we would have taken prompt action. Please ask the man to see me in the office without delay if what he is saying is true.”

Another 14-yr-old Benue girl abducted in Sokoto

Exclusive! Ese speaks: I am not fine

The mother of 14-year-old Ese Oruru has finally reunited with her daughter in Abuja.

Ese and Yenusa case

The Tuesday reunion came almost eight months after her abduction from Bayelsa to Kano State by Yunusa, aka Yellow, a regular customer at her mother’s food stall, in August last year.

In an exclusive, but brief chat with our correspondent at about 9.45pm, Ese sounded happy on the telephone.

She said, “Hello,” and laughed when our correspondent spoke to her.

“How are you?” Our correspondent asked. She laughed and replied ‘Fine.”

“We are glad you are safe and on your way back home.”

“Who is this,” she asked.

“How was your journey?”

“We have not started the journey, maybe tomorrow,” she said, probably referring to the onward trip to Bayelsa.

“Hope they treated you well and you are fine?”

“I am not fine,” she said curtly.

“Why?”

She replied, “When I come we should see. I don’t know you.”

“I will be looking forward to meeting you,” our correspondent replied.

Govs, reps call for Yunusa, accomplices’ trial

THE governors of Kano and Delta states, as well as members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday demanded the immediate prosecution of the abductor of 14-year-old Ese Oruru, Yunusa, aka Yellow, who also forced her into marriage and conversion to Islam.

The minor had on Monday been rescued from Kano State, where she had been taken to by her paedophile captor, Yunusa, barely 24 hours after The PUNCH newspapers inaugurated a campaign to free Ese.

Ese, who hails from Delta State, was abducted from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on August 12, 2015.

The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganguje, on Tuesday condemned the alleged abduction, adding nobody brought the matter to his attention, noting that he only got to know through the media.

This was contained in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Mallam Mohammed Garba.

The state demanded the prosecution of Yunusa and others involved in the scandal.

The statement read in part, “The government condemns the actions of the alleged abductor, as it is against the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and teachings of Islam which abhor abduction, forced marriage even with the consent of parents of a girl, be her a minor or adult, and forced conversion to Islam, as the Quran categorically states that ‘there is no compulsion in religion’.

“Security and other relevant agencies should expedite action to bring the suspect(s) to book according to the law.”

The Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, expressed shock at the abduction given the age of the girl and the lack of consent by her parents.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, Okowa said he was saddened by the ordeal of the minor.

“I am very much interested in this case, not only because the girl is an indigene of Delta State, but for the rule of law. I want the police to pursue it to its logical conclusion. Nothing short                                                                                                                                             of diligent prosecution of the abductors will be satisfactory,” he stated.

The governor, who expressed disappointment at the length of time it took to unravel the incident, urged members of the public to always speak up whenever they were victims of undesirable social vices and pledged that the state was taking steps to reach out to the parents for necessary intervention.

The House of Representatives members in Abuja on Tuesday also asked the Federal Government to bring the “full weight of the law” on Yunusa and other persons involved in the abduction to serve as a deterrent to others who might be planning such acts in the future.

The lawmakers said rescuing her was not a compensation for the fact that a crime had been committed and her fundamental human rights already violated.

The House Minority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, said the government must respond to the issue “more forcefully” by ensuring that Yunusa and his accomplices were adequately punished.

Ogor said, “Whether the girl has been rescued or not is not the issue because those people that are involved in the criminality must be made to face the wrath of the law.

“We should go further to find out who these culprits are. How were they able to perpetrate the crime? Who are their supporters? Who are the people behind this dastardly act? We must find them and make sure they face the wrath of the law.

“The public also must learn to speak out at this particular time so that some of these issues can easily be addressed.”

Ese hails from the Ugheli-North/Ugheli-South Federal Constituency in Delta State. Her Representative, Mr. Solomon Awhinahwi, also condemned the abduction.

“We have the laws to take care of this type of crime. We should enforce them. People should desist from acting as if we don’t have these laws,” he said.

Awhinahwi singled out PUNCH newspapers for commendation over the manner the media outfit inaugurates a campaign for the release of Ese.

“PUNCH newspapers did a marvellous job. The way they started reporting the story, keeping it on the front page, made the news to spread.

“I applaud the role of PUNCH in this fight and we thank all those who supported this fight,” he added.

Group, SAN back prosecution of Ese’s abductor

The Muslim Rights Concern has called for the arrest of Yunusa, aka Yellow, for abducting Ese Oruru from Bayelsa.

This is just as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Norrison Quakers, said Yunusa should be prosecuted and warned that the case should not be confused with religious sentiment.

MURIC in a statement on Tuesday by its Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, demanded that Yunusa should be prosecuted.

The statement read in part, “Our position is based on the fact that the girl is a minor. Attempting to marry off the girl without her parents’ permission is not only a breach of common law, but also a violation of the Sharia provision on the need for the parents’ approval before nikah (Islamic marriage) can be deemed valid (La nikah bila waliyyin).

“Of particular significance in this regard is the express command in the Glorious Qur’an that women should be married with the permission of their parents. The Qur’an says inter alia, ‘…And marry them (i.e. women) with the permission of their parents (Qur’an 4:25).’

“The boyfriend cannot go scot-free if it is established that he had had the carnal knowledge of the girl. In fact, his case is judiciable both before the Kano Sharia Court and the Yenagoa Court.

“The fact that Yunusa is a Muslim cannot becloud our sense of justice. The Qur’an commands Muslims to ‘…Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses of Allah, even if the case is against yourselves, or your parents, or your family, and whether it is against a rich or poor man… (Qur’an 4:135).”

MURIC said it could not afford to be partisan, adding that a fellow Muslim, Yunusa, had violated the law and caused a Christian family to go through a traumatic period.

It said, “Unless it can be proved that the girl came to Kano separately and alone, not in the company of Yunusa, the latter stands culpable.”

According to the group, the issue of Ese’s conversion does not even arise because she is deemed to be an adherent of her parents’ religion until she attains maturity.

MURIC said, “Section 38 (ii) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, stresses the right of parents on their children in matters of religion. The purported conversion is therefore null and void and of no consequence whatsoever. Ese Oruru cannot be free to choose her own faith until she is 18.”

Quakers while rejecting any excuse of elopement and calling for Yunusa’s prosecution, warned that the case should not be confused with religious sentiment.

Quakers said, “The excuse that the girl eloped with him will not protect him from being prosecuted. It is scandalous. The child does not have the mental capacity to make a rational or informed decision. It is wrong, wicked, criminal and inhuman for anybody to take such a girl, who is obviously a minor, and then say she eloped with him; that is a bad defence.

“And we should be very careful in the way we handle this, lest two religions are put on a collision course. This case has nothing to do with religion; we should not bring religious sentiment into this. The question should be whether the Nigerian law recognises what this man has done.”

Emir of Kano deserves no credit

The father of Ese, Mr. Charles Oruru, has indicted the Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II, in his daughter’s travail.

Oruru, in an interview with Raypower FM, which was monitored by our correspondent on Tuesday, said Sanusi deserved no credit in the eventual release of Ese “as he only bowed to pressure from Nigerians”.

Ese was taken from Opolo, in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, to Kano State by Yunusa, aka Yellow, in August, 2015.

Oruru said, “The Emir did not play any role there. All security agencies in Yenagoa and in Abuja were also part of those who refused to help.

“That is the truth because when we got to Kano, we were told that the Emir had written a letter that the girl should be released on August 26, 2015, and this was not done.

“They wanted to keep the girl in Kano, but the pressure was everywhere after the whole world had heard about the matter, so he knew that if he didn’t release the girl, it would lead to a big problem.”

Sanusi had on Monday refuted claims that he sheltered Ese, saying he had ordered that the girl be taken to her parents since 2015.

The Emir, while speaking at a press conference, in his palace said he got to know that the girl was still in Kano when journalists from the BBC called him.

Sanusi had said, “Since the time we ordered that the girl be taken to her parents in Bayelsa through AIG Zone 1, we didn’t hear anything about her; just for us to now start hearing all kinds of stories that we are keeping her in our custody. This is injustice of the highest order.”

We can’t wait to see our sister

The family of Ese Oruru have expressed their joy over the release of the girl to the police.

Ese’s mother, Rose, told our correspondent before she left for Abuja that she was informed by the police at about 6am on Tuesday that her daughter had been released.

“I am so happy. In fact, I am bursting with joy,” she told our correspondent.

Afterwards, she left for the police station for onward movement to Abuja to reunite with her daughter, who was abducted by Yunusa, her long standing customer, and taken to Kano State in August 2015.

Ese’s release came after PUNCH inaugurated a campaign, ‘Free Ese’ on Sunday, which sparked nationwide outrage and forced the authorities to take action on securing the minor’s release from Yunusa in Kano.

Ese’s father also said he was earnestly waiting to set his eyes on his daughter.

He said, “These last eight months have not been easy for us. Through the help of family members and friends, we were able to raise money to travel to Kano to get her released, but nothing came out of it.

“Now we are happy. The money is not important. I am jobless for now, but I am so happy that my daughter is alive and coming back home.”

Ese’s siblings were equally ecstatic about her release.

One of them, Faith, who will be 19 next week, could not hide her joy as she spoke with our correspondent.

“I am very happy that she has been released. I can’t wait to see her. I have missed her funny smiles. She is very playful. I also missed her dancing; she likes to dance whenever she hears the sound of good music.”

Ese’s immediate elder brother, 16-year-old Onome, said they were planning to welcome her in a big way with her favourite food.

He said, “There will be music and lots of dancing. We are so relieved.

“We haven’t started preparing anything yet since we don’t really know when Ese and mum would be back. But we have so many plans, we just can’t wait.”

Patricia, the eldest, in her 20s, said she was keeping her emotions in check for now because of previous unfulfilled promises about Ese’s release.

“I don’t have any feelings yet until I touch my sister. I don’t have any plan yet until my mum calls me and tells me she has seen her daughter,” she said.

Addittionalreports by:

John Ameh, John Alechenu, Nosa Akenzua, Niyi Odebode and Ramon Oladimeji,Gbenro Adeoye and Arukaino Umukoro

Exclusive! Ese speaks: I am not fine

‘FREE ESE’ CAMPAIGN: Dickson promises to work with Ganduje for Ese’s return

Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has promised to work with his Kano State counterpart, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, to ensure the return of 14-year-old Ese Oruru, who was abducted, taken to Kano, converted to Islam and married by one Yinusa.

A non-governmental organisation, Kindling Hope Across Nations Initiative, which has been working with Ese’s parents to secure her release and return home, said this in a statement.

The statement said the governor had during a meeting with KHAN Initiative officials on Sunday, expressed concern over the issue and appealed to the NGO to allow him intervene in the issue.

The KHAN Initiative said, consequently, it cancelled a rally, aimed at drawing attention to the 14-year-old’s shocking story, which was scheduled for Monday.

“In view of the personal interest demonstrated by the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, we have decided to suspend the rally to give both state governments time to urgently bring Ese back,” the NGO said.

It explained that the governor had expressed concern that a rally might lead to a breach of the peace, “given the high level of tension currently in the state on account of the proposed rally”.

The NGO, however, said it would continue the fight to return Ese back to her parents and seeks justice for her.

Dickson’s intervention follows the launch of “Free Ese” campaign by PUNCH, which has drawn the attention of thousands of Nigerians to the sordid story and failure of top officials in Bayelsa and Kano states to do the right thing.

Stories about Ese’s plight and the travail of her parents have led to increased calls for her immediate release and the prosecution of those involved in her abduction.

KHAN, an NGO committed to improving the lives of people and creating a world where everyone is empowered to live above poverty, has worked with the Orurus since they reported the incident to the organisation.

The Executive Director, KHAN Initiative, Mr. Kizito Andah, had told Sunday PUNCH that after receiving the case, the organisation immediately swung into action by formally informing the Department of State Services.

He said several meetings were held in December 2015 with officers of the DSS, noting that the state security outfit made several promises to secure the release of the victim, but that up till date, Ese was still held hostage by the perpetrators.

Andah, who is also the Secretary, Child Protection Network, claimed that their coordinator also spoke with the Inspector-General of Police and the police boss gave his word that the girl would be returned to her parents. Yet, that had not been done.

Ese had been abducted in August 2015 by Yinusa, who was a longstanding customer of her mother, Mrs. Rose Oruru, a food vendor in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

Since August 12 when her parents made the shocking discovery, trips to Kano, the involvement of the police and efforts to get the Emir of Kano, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, at whose palace the girl is believed to be held to resolve the matter and ensure the return of the 14-year-old to her parents have failed.

While her mother was told that Ese had converted to Islam and, therefore, was no longer her daughter, her father was told that his daughter was an 18-year-old adult and not 14, hence she was capable of making decisions for herself.

‘FREE ESE’ CAMPAIGN: Dickson promises to work with Ganduje for Ese’s return

13 Edo Indigenes Arrested in Kano With Fake Passports

Thirteen Edo State indigenes were arrested in Kano with fake international passport en route to Libya.

The suspects, including four women,  were arrested in Kano by police on their way to Libya, with fake Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) passports.

Police Inspector General, Solomon Arase

State police commissioner, Musa Katsina informed Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of this during a special visit to the State police command.

The governor was shocked to see the young and energetic youth conducting such a mission. Urging the police commissioner to do more for the safety and security of the state and the nation in general.

When asked during the tour by the governor the young people confirmed that they were on their way to Libya en route Kano.

According to the police commissioner a total number or 1068 cartons of unregistered intoxicating drugs estimated at N600,000,000 were intercepted by the command.

“A large quantity of cocaine powder with estimated value of N2b, 32 bags and 532 parcels of Indian hemp valued at N2.5m were also intercepted by this command, ” Mr. Katsina reveals.

In all 45 suspects were arrested,  with 8 firearms, 23 motor vehicles,  250 bags of rice, 43 motorcycles, 13 international passports, 41 cows, 12 goats, and 7 sheep were among the things recovered

Apart from the properties,  animals and drugs recovered,  there were N13,782,000 that were displayed as exhibits.

During his speech Governor Ganduje further expressed his dissatisfaction over the way courts handle criminal cases of such magnitude,  lamenting that, “this time around we will look into all these cases. We will collect all their names and will definitely follow the case in courts. ”

“Let everyone know that, this government is interested in these cases. anything short of justice will be followed diligently by this administration, ” Governor Ganduje stated.

13 Edo Indigenes Arrested in Kano With Fake Passports

Buhari condoles victims of Kano market fire

President Muhammadu Buhari has conveys heartfelt commiserations to victims of the fire outbreak in the popular Singa Market, Kano.

President Buhari said he is deeply saddened by the destruction of very valuable goods and properties in the inferno.

The President shares in the pain and anguish of all hardworking Nigerians who lost their wares and belongings in the unfortunate fire incident.

He assures those who suffered losses from the fire incident that the Federal Government will do all within its powers to support the efforts of the Kano State government to ameliorate their plight.

Buhari condoles victims of Kano market fire

Buhari fires 13 varsity VCs

•Appoints replacements, re-constitutes governing councils

•CSOs kick over sack

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and the 12 Federal Universities established by the Jonathan administration now have new vice chancellors following the unexpected removal of the incumbents by President Muhammadu Buhari.

President Buhari

The president also approved the reconstitution of the universities’ governing councils.

No reason was given for the action which drew the instant ire of some civil society organisations (CSO’s).

The CSO’s claimed that the Governing Council of NOUN of which Professor Vincent Tenebe was a member is the only body empowered to remove him.

Replacing Tenebe is Professor Abdallah Uba Adamu, who until now was of the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano.

Professor Auwal Yadudu, who served as Special Adviser on Legal Matters to the late military head of state, General Sani Abacha is the new Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Birnin Kebbi.

He was until now of the Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano.

A former head of the Department of International Relations at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Kayode Soremekun is the new Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, while Prof. Fatima Batoul Muktar of the Department of Biology, North West University, Kano is the VC of Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State.

The rest are: Prof. Haruna Abdu Kaita, Federal University, Dutsin Ma, Katsina State; Prof. Andrew Haruna, Federal University, Gashua, Yobe State; Prof. Magaji Garba, Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara State; Prof. Alhassan Mohammed Gani, Federal University, Kashere , Gombe State; Prof. Muhammad Sanusi Liman, Federal University, Lafia; Prof. Angela Freeman Miri, Federal University, Lokoja; Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, Federal University, Ndifu-Alike, Ebonyi State; Prof. Seth Accra Jaja, Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

Education Minister Adamu Adamu merely said in a statement yesterday that : “The President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces  and Visitor to all federal universities, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the appointment of new vice chancellors for the 12 under-listed Federal Universities and the National open University of Nigeria with effect from Friday, February 12, 2016.”

The Ministry in a separate notice said the president had approved the reconstitution of the governing councils of the new 12 Federal Universities with immediate effect.

The chairmen of the new councils are scheduled to meet with the minister tomorrow in Abuja.

However, the Coalition of Civil Society Groups protested the VCs’ sack in a letter to President Buhari.

The group said the action contravened the provisions of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act No.11 of 1993 (as amended) by decree No.25, 1996 and further amended in 2003 and 2012 respectively and other agreements as contained in the 2009 FGN staff union agreement.

The petitioners claimed that four out of the 12 new VCs are from Bayero University, Kano alone, which in their view violates the federal character principle.

They said: “while this does not come as a surprise owing to the influence of one of the Special Advisers to the Minister of Education in orchestrating the appointments of his friends and cronies without following due process, we are, however, concerned about the constitutional breach and the resultant litigation battle this action may cause, which in turn may generate unnecessary distractions to your focused administration.

“While we are not unmindful of the fact that you would have acted on the recommendation of the Minister of Education in approving their removal, it is pertinent to know that in the pursuit of ambition driven by unguided passion and greed, impunity becomes inevitable as the end irrespective of the means is all that matters and in this case, the removal of these Vice Chancellors is the outcome of an unguided passion and greed by the Minister of Education and his Special Adviser.

“The constitution is quite clear on the procedures to be followed in the appointment and disengagement of Vice Chancellors and none of these procedures were followed in the above case.

“The appointment of Vice Chancellors is a tenured appointment, which presupposes that every appointee is expected to serve the prescribed number of years as stipulated by the Acts governing the institutions.”

The coalition said none of the Vice Chancellors was allowed to complete his tenure and all were removed without following due process of the law.

The CCSG argued that if a Vice Chancellor must  be removed from office before the expiration of his tenure, it is only  the Board of the Governing Council that is  empowered to recommend or effect such removal.

The group said: “In the above case, the Minister already dissolved the Board of the Governing Council with the statutory powers to recommend or effect the removal of a Vice Chancellor from office thereby making the removal of these Vice Chancellors illegal, null and void.

“In appointing new Vice Chancellors or any public officer for that matter, it is an offence and a breach of the Federal Character principle for one third of the total appointees to come from a particular state.

“The action of the Minister is greeted with sadness as it is considered a breach of the provisions of the University Amendment Act or legislation and to a large extent a gross violation of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which guarantees universities autonomy in Nigeria.”

The letter was signed by the coalition’s chairman, Etuk Bassey Williams and Secretary-General, Ibrahim Abubakar.

However, Prof. Michael Faborode, the Secretary-General, Committee of Vice-Chancellors (CVC), has said the tenure of vice-chancellors of nine Federal Universities will expire on Feb. 15.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja, that it would not be fair to say that the vice-chancellors were sacked.

According to him, “The tenure of the vice-chancellors of nine of these universities expires on Feb. 15. It will be unfair to say that they were sacked; they have exhausted their tenure; when your tenure is not renewed; it does not mean you are sacked. I do not know the reasons why the vice-chancellors of the other three universities were affected.”

Buhari fires 13 varsity VCs

DSS Arrests ISIS Recruiter and Other Terrorists in Kano

… Planned Terrorists Attacks in States Aborted

In line with the Service statutory mandate  to decisively and continually provide actionable intelligence as well as act to degrade persons and groups that threaten  internal security in the Country, the Service initiated series of tactical operations, involving raids and enforcement actions against identified criminal and extremist kingpins and syndicates across the country.

DSS operatives

These recent operations have significantly degraded the key extremist groups and kidnapping gangs, terrorizing innocent citizens in the Country, particularly in the South-West, North-West and Middle-Belt regions of the Federation.

On 17th January, 2016, one Abdussalam Enesi YUNUSA, a recruiter for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) was arrested in Kano. His arrest was sequel to available intelligence which indicated his terrorist antecedents and covert drive to indoctrinate and recruit susceptible youths in the country.

Prior to his arrest, YUNUSA had completed arrangements to embark on a journey to join an ISIS terrorist training camp in Libya, with other Nigerians whom he recruited for the ‘Islamic State’. These recruits include the trio of one Muhammed RABI’U, Yahaya Momoh JIMOH and Zainab SUNDAY (f). YUNUSA is a 400 level undergraduate student of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, where he was studying for a degree in Information and Media Technology.

 

He was subsequently radicalized and became a member of an extremist cell, comprising of one IBRAHIM (fnu) and Abubakar LIGALI, whom he revealed are currently undergoing terrorist training in Libya. He listed one AMINU (fnu) and Ibrahim JIHADI (Nigeriene), as other ISIS agents operating in Nigeria and the West African sub-region. The cell was being funded by one Abu-sa’ad Al Sudani, a media expert with the extremist group using Western Union money transfers to fund the terrorist cell agenda.

On 17th January, 2016, in Daura township of Daura LGA, Katsina State, another budding extremist cell affiliated to ISIS, was intercepted by the Service. One Ibrahim Mohammed DAURA, Zaharadeen SALISU and five other elements of the proscribed extremist group, Ansaru, were arrested by the Service. This group was discovered in an active stage, as its members were already co-ordinating themselves for attacks in Katsina and Kano States.

In the same vein, on 22nd January, 2016, one Obansa SALAMI, Ejide TIJANI aka Abu Uwaise II, Mohammed RABIU aka Ubida II, Zainab MOHAMMED and Abdulqadir Salisu AHMAD were arrested in Kano by this Service, while  migrating to Libya, with their immediate families including infants, in a bid to join ISIS. This group was apprehended after painstaking monitoring of its network and plans.

On 29th January, 2016, the Service arrested Mohammed Aliyu NDAKO in Kwara State. NDAKO is a seventeen (17) year old undergraduate student of a tertiary institution in the State. He was arrested sequel to credible intelligence on his plans with one Abdulkadir Salisu AHMAD a.k.a Daddy Tall, another student in Kano State, to carry out coordinated lone-wolf attacks on selected populated targets in Nigeria preferably worship centres or recreation venues. Suspect had hitherto been communicating with foreign extremist elements, while sourcing online terrorist training and support.

Within the window of these tactical operations, between the month of December 2015 and February 2016, the Service,  busted the  network of syndicated kidnap gangs spanning different regions in the country, especially Kebbi, Zamfara, Niger, Nasarawa, FCT, Oyo and Osun States. Foremost in this line, was the arrest of a gang of five (5) kidnappers, Abubakar HASSAN, Usman MUSA, Usman ADAMU and Idrisa Babangida AHMADU at Ife junction, Osun State, on 3rd  February, 2016.

On 5th February, 2016, the fifth member of the gang, Saidu ISYAKU was arrested at Ojo area, Oyo State. These kidnappers, Six (6) AK 47 rifles, five (5) magazines and about one thousand rounds of ammunition were recovered. This gang has been active in the South West axis of the country and were at advanced stages of kidnapping high value targets for huge ransom, before they were intercepted.

Another breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping was the killing of Abubakar MOHAMMED (aka BUBA), and an unidentified member of his group, on 8th February, 2016 close to Jebba Medical Centre, Jebba, Kwara State by security operatives as they tried to escape during a shootout with security operatives. MOHAMMED was a notorious kidnap kingpin known for his brutality and various acts of lawlessness. It is disheartening that this criminal and his men had terrorized, to no end, residents of the South West zone.  He was also linked to the kidnap of the elder statesman, Chief Olu Falae, in Ondo State.

In the wake of deliberate  vandalism of oil pipelines  by criminal elements in the South-South region, the Service arrested one Nengi Samuel IKIBA aka Kockman Abula, a notorious pipeline vandal on 27th January, 2016, in Bayelsa State. IKIBA confessed to vandalizing several pipelines in the State, including the 24” Agoda/Brass Oil pipeline at Idema community in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State.

The modest success of the Service in its support to the Federal Government to achieve its desired economic objectives and stability may also be noted. To this effect, the DSS have arrested a group of fraudsters who had concluded plans to hack the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) domiciled in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation in order to steal Four Billion, Five Hundred Million Naira (N4.5b) from the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

The gang was led by one Sunny OKOH, a hacker who  worked in collaboration with the trio of Uwem Udo EKPO, a Chief Program Analyst in the OAGF, Maxwell EKENE, a retired security operative and Dozie EGWU, based in Malaysia and who is now at large. The suspected fraudsters intended to use a software they had sourced and codes released to them by EKPO to hack Government accounts in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and defraud the Government of this huge sum.

It is instructive to note that a credibility problem would have arisen over the TSA policy if these hackers had succeeded in their plan and thus lend credence to the critics of the policy that it ought not to have been introduced and implemented. For the avoidance of doubt, the suspects have been handed over to the EFCC for further investigations and prosecution.

It is pertinent to state that these successes were recorded as a result of proactive and credible intelligence offered by members of the public, sister security agencies and other stakeholders. This Service wish to state that it will continue to deploy every means necessary within its statutory mandate, and armbit of the law to ensure the security and safety of all law-abiding residents and citizens wherever they reside.

It is also germane to urge all and sundry to be extra-vigilant, as well as report any suspicious persons/groups or activities to relevant security agencies, for the sustenance of relative peace in the country

 

DSS Arrests ISIS Recruiter and Other Terrorists in Kano

Yola, Kano bomb attacks: Don’t lose hope, Buhari tells Nigerians

ABUJA – Despite the impact of bomb blasts in Yola, Adamawa State on Tuesday evening and that of Kano State on Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari, has told Nigerians not despair, assuring that his administration would soon defeat Boko Haram insurgents.

General Buhari

Buhari also called on the people to have “confidence in the ability of Nigeria’s reinvigorated, well-equipped and well-motivated Armed Forces and security agencies to overcome Boko Haram very soon”.

The president who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu in the aftermath of the dastardly terror attacks in the two northern states requested an increased vigilance among the civilian population to help ward off suicide terror attacks on soft targets around the country.

He condoled the families of the victims of the bomb blasts, promising to fish out and bring to justice the perpetrators of the crimes.

“The President condemned in strongest terms the barbaric suicide terrorist attacks which took place in Yola on the evening of Tuesday, November 17 and in Kano today, causing numerous deaths and injuries among civilians.

“The President extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims as well as to the Government and people of Adamawa and Kano States respectively.

“President Buhari reassures Nigerians that his administration is very much determined to wipe out Boko Haram in Nigeria and bring all perpetrators of these heinous crime against humanity to justice.

“The President urges all Nigerians not to despair in the face of cowardly terrorist attacks but to have confidence in the ability of Nigeria’s reinvigorated, well-equipped and well-motivated Armed Forces and security agencies to overcome Boko Haram very soon.

“He believes, however, that vigilance is a potential life saver, since security agents cannot be everywhere to deter every planned attack.

“Citizen’s vigilance will therefore help to reduce the frequency of such attacks”, Buhari said in a statement by Shehu.

Yola, Kano bomb attacks: Don’t lose hope, Buhari tells Nigerians

Police kill 3 Senegalese cattle rustlers in Kano

KANO— It was end of the road for three Senegalese cow thieves, identified by police as Umar Dogo Ndaiye, Datti Umar Rodi and Mammadu Dogo, after a gun duel with security forces at Falgore forest yesterday.

Fulani Herdsmen

The Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Musa Katsina, while parading 74 rustlers, along with 818 cows and 87 sheep, said: “Umaru Dogo Ndaiye, a Senegalese national, was gunned down when he engaged our men in a gun battle at Falgore forest by Gazobi village.

He later gave up the ghost while receiving treatment in the hospital.”

The commissioner also said the other two deceased lost their lives in the cause of the gun battle with police.

He said that the police recovered a large cache of arms.

He said some of the suspects were nabbed, clad in police and army camouflage which they used to intimidate and rob Fulani herdsmen

“A revolver pistol and 224 cattle were recovered from the notorious kingpin, while four other members of his gang were arrested,’’ he said.

Katsina stated that during the month-long special operation at Falgore forest and environs, the police also recovered 42 AK 47 rifles and 28 live cartridges.

The police commissioner, who paraded the suspects and recovered livestock before the state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and Emir of Kano, His Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II at

Kwanar Dawaki in Dawaki Kudu Local Government Area of the state, said a police officer who was injured during the operation had recovered.

Alarmed by the emerging development, Governor Ganduje in his speech, described the activities of rustlers as worrisome.

“This is happening as we are yet to recover from the menace of insurgency, but now another frightening dimension of crime has resurfaced, which is alarming,” the governor said.

Ganduje, who assured security agencies of the state government’s supports in efforts to fish out those involved in cattle rustling, urged security agencies to ensure that all the suspects faced the wrath of the law.

He noted that already, a committee had been set up to ensure the recovered livestock were returned to their rightful owners, adding that those involved in cattle rustling should realize that their days were numbered.

The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II recommended that Islamic law be applied in the prosecution of the suspects, so they could face such punishments as amputation of hands and legs, killing, pelting of their bodies with sticks, life imprisonment or exile.

Police kill 3 Senegalese cattle rustlers in Kano

Court sends Lamido, two sons to Kano prison over alleged N1.35bn fraud

By Muhammad Ahmad

A federal court has ordered a former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, and his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha, accused of fraud, remanded in prison custody in Kano till September 28.

Sule Lamido

The former governor was arraigned on Thursday alongside his children for receiving N1.35 billion kickback from a government contractor.

The money was allegedly paid into accounts controlled by the governor and his sons.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is accusing the four suspects of money laundering, amongst other charges.

They were due for arraignment Wednesday, but the court appearance was rescheduled to Thursday (today).

Security was stepped up around the court vicinity in Kano ahead of the hearing Thursday.

Delivering a ruling, Justice Evelyn Anyadike ordered that the four accused persons be remanded in a Kano Prison Custody because the EFCC said they lacked enough facilities to accommodate them.

She rejected the pleas of defence counsel, Effiong Effiong, SAN, that the accused be kept at EFCC custody, saying the commission had complained of inadequate facilities.

Twenty eight-count charge bordering on a number of alleged breach of trust by Sule Lamido, Aminu Sule Lamido, Mustapha Sule Lamido and one Aminu Wada Abubakar, was read in court.

They pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them.

The case involved N1.351 billion.

The judge ruled that the accused persons be remanded pending the hearing of their bail applications.

Earlier, the defence counsel, Mr. Effiong, had argued that remanding the accused persons in prison would amount to trampling on their fundamental human rights.

He pleaded they be sent to either of EFCC facilities in Abuja or Kano.

However, the counsel to the EFCC, Chile Okoroma, objected to the plea, saying EFCC facilities were full to capacity both in Kano and Abuja.

The case was adjourned to September 28 for ruling on bail applications.

There was pandemonium in court between those supporting Mr. Lamido and those against him, leading the police to fire teargas canisters into the air to disperse the crowd.

Mr. Lamido, his sons and Mr. Abubakar are accused of using their positions to siphon Jigawa State funds.

PREMIUM TIMES had in 2014 reported how a construction firm, Dantata and Sawoe, paid N1.3 billion as 10 percent kickback for contracts it won, into accounts owned by the governor and his sons.

It also showed how, between 2007, when Mr. Lamido assumed office, and 2014, Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company was awarded contracts amounting to N13.5 billion.

The state government made payments for the contracts to the construction firm through five banks – Zenith, Access, Diamond, Sterling and UBA.

Within the same period, according to a probe of the transactions by the EFCC, Dantata and Sawoe paid out over N1.3 billion into the accounts of companies in which the governor and his sons had interest.

Court sends Lamido, two sons to Kano prison over alleged N1.35bn fraud

25 die, others injured celebrating Buhari’s victory

KANO—No fewer than 25  persons died in Abuja, Kano, Makurdi and Kontagora yesterday, while celebrating the victory of President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).

While 17 of the victims died in Kano, four died in Abuja, three in Kontagora, Niger State and one in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, while several others sustained injuries.

However, police authorities in Kano claimed only seven bodies of unknown person were discovered by their men after the celebration, Tuesday night.

An eyewitness, Ali Sufi of Naibawa quarters said three people were crushed to death at Naibawa U-turn, when a man in a Toyota Camry car lost control and rammed into those celebrating.

Sufi, further disclosed that one Sabo Ali, an ad hoc staff of communications giant, Etisalat, lost his life alongside his friend when a reckless driver knocked them down at Ungwa Uku end of Zaria Road within Kano metropolis.

Late Ali’s guardian, Mallam Idi Naibawa, confirmed that Sabo died yesterday morning at Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital from injuries he sustained in the accident.

Idi Naibawa explained that “a good Samaritan, who identified Sabo’s motorcycle reported the accident, and our fear was confirmed at Yarakwa police station that rescued and took him to the hospital.

“We have accepted his death as a fulfilment of destiny and barring any hitch, Sabo would be buried before 5p.m. local time today (yesterday).”

Another resident of Naibawa quarters, Ibrahim Dogo, said that two teenagers were crushed to death along Zaria Road by a crazy driver.

Dogo said: “We received two dead bodies this morning at the Tiga Naibawa quarters and we are set to bury them.”

Reports from Hotoro also confirmed the death of six youngsters during the crazy celebration that engulfed the commercial city.

According to a resident, Masaud Badamasi, “we lost six boys to the crazy celebration last night and we are getting ready to give then a heroic burial.”

Vanguard further learned that two persons lost their lives at Bachirawa/Kurna axis of the city, while report from Gwarzo local government indicated that two people were crushed to death by a motorist.

Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Majia, said: “We discovered seven dead bodies of unknown persons on the streets after the celebration and investigations has commenced on how and why it happened.”

He said the development had forced the command to sponsore radio jingles to sensitize the city dwellers on how to go about the victory dance.

The police spokesman revealed that Divisional Police Officers had been mandated to monitor the celebrants to minimize casualty, while victory dance lasts.

Acrobatics in Makurdi

In Makurdi, Vanguard learned that the victims were among youths in Wadata and North Bank area, who since the announcement of the election results, had been engaged in dangerous acrobatic displays with their motorbikes around the town.

According to a source, the unidentified youth met his death at North Bank, when he fell off his motorbike in one of his displays and gave up the ghost before he could get medical attention.

The source said: “Since the announcement of the presidential results, most of the youths took over the streets, many of them that have motorbikes removed the mufflers of their bikes in other to generate much noise as they rode dangerously in the streets.

“Unfortunately, one of them fell off his bike, broke his neck and eventually died before he could get medical attention.

“The other two sustained injuries in similar circumstance, but were lucky to have survived the crash and are presently receiving treatment in a private hospital in the area.”

At press time, youths were still in the streets at Wadata and North Bank areas, celebrating the victory with many of them still displaying dangerously with their motorbikes.

Eyewitness account said the four who died in Abuja lost their lives while trying to climb the Lugbe Pedestrian bridge by Julius Berger junction with their motorcycles and fell.

Several others sustained injuries.

In Kontagora, Niger State, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olusola Amore, confirmed that three supporters of All Progressives Congress, APC, were crushed by a motorist, while jubilating on the highway.

 

25 die, others injured celebrating Buhari’s victory

We rejected Jonathan’s dollars, says Arewa community

Hundreds of Arewa leaders who received Kano State Governor, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, in Lagos on Sunday, said they rejected hundreds of thousands of dollars which was offered to them by President Goodluck Jonathan when the President visited the state two weeks ago.

The leaders, who were drawn from the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state, distanced themselves from the endorsement given to Jonathan by a group.

Speaking during a meeting at the Ikoyi home of a former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Tinubu, the Chairman, Arewa Community in Lagos, Alhaji Sani Kabiru, said those that endorsed Jonathan were impostors.

He said on the day of the endorsement, some people bought turbans at Agege and went to visit Jonathan at the State House, Marina, posing as emirs only to deceive the President.

He said, “When President Jonathan came to Lagos with dollars, some of us here quickly went back and gathered ourselves and started calling our own not to go to visit Jonathan. I also commend some leaders here for leading an offensive and convinced people not to go there.

“Most of the Arewa leaders and ‘serikis’ did not even go there to collect the dollars. At that event, card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party bought turbans at the Central Market around Moshalashi Bus Stop, Agege. The person that sold the turbans told me that they dressed up as emirs and they were on their way to Jonathan’s place.

“So, most of them were fake. They went to collect dollars but cannot tell anyone because they are in hiding. But we did not stop at that; those that we knew that went, we called them to order and asked them why they went but they said they only collected dollars but they would not vote Jonathan.”

Kabiru said virtually all Arewa members had collected their Permanent Voter Cards. He promised to ensure one million votes for the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.); and the state’s governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

While fielding questions from journalists, Kwankwaso berated Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, for what he termed, “inciting comments.”

He said Fayose’s comments against the North were a reflection of Jonathan’s temperament. He, however, urged the people to express their choice at the polls on March 28.

He said, “When I did my National Youth Service Corps in Ogun State, I imbibed the belief that this part of the country has people that are positively cultured ranging from Obafemi Awolowo, Ernest Shonekan, MKO Abiola, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Olusegun Obasanjo and others.”

We rejected Jonathan’s dollars, says Arewa community

Teenager Kills Husband In Kano After 5 Days Of Marriage

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An 18-year-old wife, Rahma Hussaini, Wednesday, stabbed her newly wedded husband at Darmunawa quarters of Kano after the couple had a quarrel, reports have said. Sources said Rahma was forced to marry the 24-year-old Tijjani Basiru.

A neighbour, Isa Alhassan told Vanguard that the young couple got married last Friday, pointing out that “from what we heard the union was a product of forced marriage”.

“We were alarmed by a frightening scream of a subdued man in need of rescue and we rushed to discovered that the man of the house was in the pool of his blood.

“Neighbours mobilized and took the groom to the hospital but doctors confirmed him dead on arrival,” Alhassan said.

According to the eyewitness, the bride was handed over to the police that arrived in good time following a tip off.

Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Musa Majia confirmed the incident, saying “at about 10:00hrs one Rahma Hussaini of Darmunawa quarters stabbed her husband, one Tijjani M Basiru on his stomach with a knife and was rushed to AKTH.”

According to the police image maker, the victim of the attack was later confirmed dead and the female suspect has been taken into custody. Investigations are ongoing.

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Teenager Kills Husband In Kano After 5 Days Of Marriage

PDP no longer the monster it used to be - Kwankwaso

By Abdulsalam Muhammad

KANO — Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State has accused his Jigawa State counterpart, Mallam Sule Lamido, of betraying the group of five Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s governors who left the party following their disagreement with party leaders.

Kwankwaso

In an interview with newsmen, weekend, in Kano, Kwankwaso also faulted insinuations that the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari (ret) was not healthy enough to stand the rigours of governing Nigeria.

According to him, “the exit of G5 Governors from PDP has demystified the ruling party, adding, however,that PDP was no longer the monster it used to be.

He said: “Everyone knows that Governor Lamido was part of us, he was the leader of the group. He took us to a certain height before choosing otherwise and we were all surprised by his final decision.

“But, if there is anybody who would criticise our exit, it shouldn’t be Lamido and the Niger State governor. After all, our our judgment would decide the outcome of the general election.

“However, we know that PDP is no longer the monster it used to be, and I tell you they are ready to do anything to have someone like me who was considered as an irritant back in their fold.”

 

Buhari fit as fiddle —Kwankwaso

On the health status of General Buhari, Kwankwaso said he could vow that the former military ruler was as fit as a fiddle.

He argued that the “controversy was being mischievously unleashed on the polity by the ruling PDP to score cheap political points.”

Although Kwankwaso admitted that he was not a medical doctor, he said his judgment was based on his practical experience with the retired General over the past couple of months.

Said he: “You know that I’m not a medical doctor but a civil engineer, therefore I would speak as a layman. I don’t think these guys got it right on General Buhari because between December 10 to date he engaged in rigorous campaigns and rallies, crossing over two states per day and I’m convinced a sick man could not have successfully done that.

“My judgment was on what I have seen practically, his performance and strength is awesome and he appears ready to do the job of number one citizen.”

On Obasanjo’s exit from PDP

Kwankwaso also described the exit of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo from PDP as a huge blow to the party, adding that the party leadership mismanaged its fortune.

He argued that “Obasanjo is a father figure to so many gladiators of this republic and for him to have publicly disowned the party underscores the in justices we had for long cried about.”

On the forthcoming general elections, Kwankwaso appealed to the stakeholders to play by the rule of the game, noting that violence would do no one any good.

PDP no longer the monster it used to be - Kwankwaso

Jonathan absent at Sanusi’s coronation

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The Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Saturday presented the staff of office to the 14th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II.

Sanusi Lamido

The News Agency of Nigeria report that among dignitaries who attended the ceremony were the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III and the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar El-kanemi.

Others were Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Also in attendance were the governors of Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, Yobe, Niger, Edo, Kwara and Borno, members of the diplomatic corps and members of the business community.

President Goodluck Jonathan was, however, absent.

Sanusi was appointed the 14th Emir of Kano on June 8, 2014 after the death of Alhaji Ado Bayero, on June 6, 2014.

At the ceremony held at the newly constructed Coronation Hall at the Government House, Kwankwaso described the Emir as a knowledgeable person who acquired both the Islamic and western education.”

He said the appointment of Sanusi was based on his personal track record of service and education, which are important prerequisites.

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Jonathan absent at Sanusi’s coronation

Don’t threaten Danjuma, ACF warns Tompolo, Dokubo

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The northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, has warned Niger Delta ex-militants not to threaten a former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.).

Tompolo

The northern group said neither Danjuma nor any citizen of the country for that matter should be threatened with attacks by the ex-militants, who have been threatening fire and brimstone should President Goodluck Jonathan loses the February 14 presidential poll.

The ex-militants had threatened to attack Danjuma’s business interest in the Niger Delta for daring to ask that security agencies should arrest leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari;and other ex-militants.

Dokubo-Asari, Victor Ben Ebikabowei a.k.a Boy Loaf;   Government Ekpudomenowei, a.k.a Tompolo and other militants had, during a meeting at the Bayelse State Government House, vowed to unleash violence on Nigerians if Jonathan failed in his re-election bid.

They said any attempt to unseat the President would be seen as a direct affront to the Ijaw nation.

The ACF said it viewed the threat by the ex-militants as not only a direct affront on Danjuma but on the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government.

National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Muhammadu Ibrahim, in a statement in Kaduna on Monday, said, “ACF and indeed all Nigerians hold Gen T.Y. Danjuma, former Chief of Army Staff and Defence Minister in high esteem, as a revered patriot, elder statesman and a philanthropist of repute who fought for the unity of Nigeria and has continued to play this fatherly role even in his old age.

“ACF will therefore not accept any threat to his person or business assets or to any law-abiding citizen by any group or individuals in the name of militancy.”

The northern body therefore asked security operatives to take urgent steps to avert what it described as “ugly consequences” of war threats by the ex-militants.

Danjuma had penultimate Wednesday asked the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency arrest the Niger Delta ex-militants who threatened war in the country if Nigerians failed to re-elect Jonathan.

Danjuma spoke at the inauguration of Kwakwasiya City in Kano.

Danjuma

He had said, “You should arrest Dokubo-Asari, Tompolo, Boyloaf and other Niger Delta militants for making reckless statements, which in any way does not mean keeping Nigeria as one entity and creating war situation.

“Those were reckless statements coming from irresponsible individuals; they should be condemned and be arrested immediately.”

Neither President Jonathan nor the Federal Government has reacted to the threat by the former militants.

The ACF warned that nothing must tamper with the business empire of Danjuma because there was nothing wrong with his call for the arrest of ex-militants that had been threatening the peace of the entire country.

The ACF reminded the ex-militants that the President was not elected by Nigerians in 2011 based on threat or intimidation from any section of the country.

It stressed, “ACF wishes to remind the Niger Delta militants that President Jonathan did not ascend to his present position through threats and intimidation, but rather through democratic means of canvassing for votes without any form of molestation throughout the length and breadth of Nigeria in 2011.

“The same process the President and other candidates vying for the office shall go through to emerge as Nigeria’s President in 2015 and not through intimidation, threats and ultimatum.

“ACF therefore views such threats and intimidation by the ex-militants as an affront not only to Gen. Danjuma but an attack on a democratically elected Federal Government of Nigeria, over which President Jonathan presides.

“It is also an open challenge to the nation’s security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Security and even the Nigerian military that are responsible for maintaining law and order and any form of internal and external aggression against Nigeria.

“ACF hereby calls upon the Federal Government to urgently take necessary steps and contain this emerging threat to national security by Niger Delta ex- militants to avert any ugly consequences.”

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Don’t threaten Danjuma, ACF warns Tompolo, Dokubo

Sharia police arrest 12 over ‘gay wedding’ in Kano

Twelve young men were arrested in Kano for allegedly planning a gay wedding, the Islamic law-enforcement agency, the Hisbah, said on Tuesday.

Gays arrested

The suspects, most of them teenagers, were detained on Monday at a popular resort on the outskirts of the city, said the head of the Hisbah, Aminu Daurawa.

Homosexuality is banned under federal law in Nigeria, where last year new legislation was passed outlawing same-sex marriages and the promotion of civil unions.

In northern states, where Sharia runs parallel to the state and federal justice system, homosexuality is punishable by death, although the sentence is rarely, if ever, enforced.

“We have 12 men in custody, including the bride. We arrested them at the venue of a planned gay wedding,” Daurawa told AFP.

“We got information of the wedding four days earlier and our men stormed the venue while the wedding was about to start.”

Many guests escaped during the raid, he added.

But one of the participants, 18-year-old Faruk Maiduguri, told reporters at the Hisbah offices that he and his friends were only celebrating his birthday.

“It was my birthday ‎party, not a gay wedding,” he said in tears.

Daurawa said the suspects, who came from Kano, the northern cities of Maiduguri, Kaduna and Bauchi, and Ibadan and Osogbo in the southwest, “looked and acted feminine”, which prompted their arrest.

It was not clear whether they would be charged but their families had been summoned, he added.

In January last year, more than a dozen men suspected of organising a gay wedding were arrested and charged in Bauchi by the Sharia agency.

Some of them were discharged while others were released on bail.

Nigeria’s Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act carries penalties of up to 14 years in jail for anyone confirmed to be in a gay union.

The government said the legislation reflected public opinion in religiously conversative Nigeria, which is split almost evenly between a mainly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south.

But gay rights activists in Nigeria and abroad, the United Nations and Western countries, including the United States, attacked the law as a breach of human rights.

Sharia police arrest 12 over ‘gay wedding’ in Kano