National
Insecurity: comrade Anas Kaura Ask Dauda to Swear With Qur’an
Anas Kaura, an aide to former Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle, has urg
asked the executive governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, and his cabinet to swear with Qur’an in the fight against insecurity in the State.
He urge him to put aside his personal differences and work collaboratively with the minister of defense, Bello Matawalle, for the betterment of the state.
Comrade Kaura also criticized the current governor, Dauda Lawal, for neglecting his responsibilities and damaging the state’s reputation.
He accused Lawal of frequently using public platforms to criticize Matawalle, which is undermining the state’s image both domestically and internationally.
“When Governor Lawal appears on television or in the media, it seems his primary focus is to criticize and discredit Matawalle,” Kaura said.
He reminded Lawal that during Matawalle’s administration, both he and his cabinet members swore on the Quran that they were not involved in the state’s insecurity.
Kaura challenged Lawal and his cabinet members to do the same, claiming they would refuse because they know the truth.
Regarding dialogue with bandits, Kaura emphasized the need for wisdom and cautioned against politicizing all issues at the expense of the people.
He highlighted the successes achieved in the fight against banditry in Northern states under the leadership of Matawalle and the Tinubu administration.
“Matawalle deserves commendation from you, not attempts to tarnish his image,” Kaura said. “He is solely focused on ensuring the safety of Zamfara people and Nigeria as a whole.”
Kaura urged Lawal to work with Matawalle for the development of Zamfara rather than attacking him in the media. He emphasized the importance of recognizing and appreciating Matawalle’s contributions to tackling insecurity.
“Governor Lawal should shift his focus from political attacks to governance,” Kaura added. “He should prioritize infrastructure development and protecting lives and property in the state.”
Comrade Anas Kaura suggested that Lawal’s continued criticism of Matawalle could be motivated by fear of political rivalry in the 2027 elections.
“Lawal is worried about Matawalle’s popularity and is using every opportunity to undermine him,” Kaura said. “But the people of Zamfara are watching closely.”
A total of 92 visually impaired candidates participated in the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) at the Kano centre.
Prof. Muhammad Yahuza-Bello, JAMB Coordinator for the Kano centre, made the announcement while monitoring the exercise on Monday.
The examination took place at the School of Continuing Education, Bayero University Kano (BUK), under the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG) initiative for candidates with special needs.
Yahuza-Bello, a former vice-chancellor of BUK, explained that the 92 candidates were drawn from Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, and Kaduna States.
He added that among the candidates, two had Down syndrome, while two others had autism.
The candidates, both male and female, were provided with specialized gadgets such as typewriters, braille machines, slates, styluses, and paper to facilitate their participation in the exams.
The coordinator also said over 500 candidates with special needs-ranging from visual impairments and albinism to Down syndrome and autism-had registered to take the exam at 11 centres across the country.
He said, unlike regular Computer-Based Testing (CBT) centres where candidates interact with screens and keyboards, special needs candidates benefit from adaptive materials to eliminate barriers to education.
Since its introduction in 2017, JEOG has seen positive results, with an increasing number of special needs candidates gaining admission into tertiary institutions.
Yahuza-Bello pointed out that while approximately 25% of regular candidates gain admission, over 33% of special needs candidates are successful in securing placements.
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National
Court Approves Federal Government’s Request to Protect Witness Identities in Nnamdi Kanu Trial
A federal high court in Abuja has authorized the federal government’s request to keep the identities of witnesses in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu confidential.
Kanu, who leads the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been held by the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021 on charges of terrorism and treasonable felony.
On Tuesday, prosecution attorney Adegboyega Awomolo informed the court that he had submitted an ex parte application on April 10 to safeguard the identities of the witnesses. He requested that the court provide screens and masks to ensure their anonymity.
“The purpose of this request is to ensure the safety and security of state officers who will serve as witnesses,” he stated.
Kanu Agabi, the defendant’s counsel, did not contest the application.
The trial is underway, with the first witness, a DSS operative, already called to testify.
Kanu was re-arraigned on March 21 before Judge James Omotosho of the federal high court in Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Aisha Achimugu.
The managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Felak Concept Group was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Achimugu was taken in around 5am on Tuesday after arriving in Nigeria from London.
More to follow…