News
Wild jubilation in Ebonyi Over Verdict On Ebubeagu
There was wild jubilation in Ebonyi state Tuesday as news of the Federal High Court disbanding the dreaded Ebubeagu outfit spread. The court said the private police unit have done more harm than good in dealing with political opponents of government.
Commenting on the judgement, residents said it is timely as Ebubeagu has become a monster outfit inflicting untold hardship on the masses through illegal arrests and abduction, torture, frame ups and various anti human rights activities. Residents said they live in constant fear of harassment especially if one belongs to a different political party other than the ruling All Progressives Congress APC.
Many have also expressed their concern over the Governor Dave Umahi militia outfit as the 2023 elections draw close, petitioning the police high command.
Consequently, leading opposition figures have maintained that the militia agency was set up to witch hunt them and also to make life difficult for ordinary citizens.
The Human Rights Writers Association HURIWA recently addressed a World Press Conference on the issue, drawing attention to the ills of the outfit.
Specifically, HURIWA had accused the erstwhile police commissioner Garba Aliyu of colluding with Ebubeagu to unleash a regime of dehumanisation.
Aliyu has since been redeployed.
In defence of Ebubeagu, the state’s helmsman Dave Umahi said in a recent interview that the outfit was set up to deal with criminality. He lamented the barrage of attack on the outfit by opposition figures He furthered countered that the good deeds attributed to the group far out weigh what the critics were saying. He said the Governorship Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, Dr. Ifeanyi Odii, goes about with a retinue of security personnel.
But a source at the PDP campaign said Umahi was lying about the attacks on Ebubeagu, stressing that, on the contrary, it was the outfit that was attacking and maiming people. According to him Umahi was only crying wolf to distract from the various investigations by authorities.
He stated further that Verdict of the court in Abakaliki was one of the best thing to have happened to the state.
A coalition of civil society organisations in Zamfara Central has publicly called on philanthropist Yazeed Danfulani to contest for the senatorial seat in the National Assembly in the 2027 elections, citing his extensive humanitarian contributions and commitment to community development.
In a statement released on Sunday, the group’s spokesperson, Nuraddeen Garba Gusau, emphasised that the growing support for Danfulani transcends mere political sentiment.
“This is about Yazeed Danfulani’s proven dedication to the welfare of our people, demonstrated consistently without ever holding elected office,” Gusau said.
Danfulani, a prominent figure in Zamfara Central, has earned widespread admiration for his charitable initiatives.
He has funded the education of numerous children, offering opportunities to those who previously faced bleak prospects.
” His generosity also extends to providing financial and material aid to the less fortunate, helping families meet their basic needs.”
He said “Beyond individual support, Danfulani has bolstered small-scale entrepreneurs by distributing cars, tricycles, and financial capital, enabling many to achieve self-reliance.
“His efforts have significantly improved livelihoods across the region. Additionally, as a key supporter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara, Danfulani has played a vital role in strengthening the party’s unity and presence in the state.
The coalition believes Danfulani’s track record as a private citizen is a testament to his potential as a legislator.
“His selfless contributions are merely a glimpse of what he could achieve with the authority to legislate and attract development at the national level,” Gusau added.
News
Kaduna: Group calls EFCC, National Assembly, Kaduna state government’s intervention on alleged diversion of public funds
By Amos Tauna, Kaduna
The Executive Director of a non-governmental organization, Eagle Brain Youth Transformative and Development Initiative (EBYTDI), Mr Daniel Ejembi, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Assembly and Kaduna state government to intervene on alleged hijacking of a federal constituency project intended for public schools in Dokan Mai Jama’a, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
A statement issued by the Executive Director described the alleged diversion of the public resources to a private entity is a grave injustice to the children of Dokan Mai Jama’a.
According to him, “This diversion of public resources to a private entity is a grave injustice to the children of Dokan Mai Jama’a. We demand swift intervention by the Kaduna State Government, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the National Assembly to recover misused funds and prioritize education for all.”
The statement stated that investigation reveals that a federal project sponsored by Yakubu Umar Barde, former member representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, was alleged to have been unlawfully diverted to Fatima Academy, a private school owned by Abdulhadi Abubakar.
Ejembi explained, “The project, initially earmarked for constructing a public school, was instead executed at Fatima Academy, which lacks registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).”
He added that the contractor, Amrah Farms Nigeria Limited (RC-1523474), with directors including Abdulyekin Bello Tahir and Bello Halimat Sadiq, executed the project in violation of its original mandate, lamenting that public schools in Dokan Mai Jama’a faced severe deficits, including dilapidated classrooms, lack of sanitation facilities, and inadequate learning resources, exacerbating educational inequalities.
The Executive Director called for immediate probe into the alleged diversion of funds by relevant anti-corruption agencies and also called for urgent construction and renovation of classrooms, toilets, and perimeter fencing in the public schools.
He also appealed for the provision of desks, learning materials, and safe water systems for students and advised for legal action against unregistered institutions like Fatima Academy and accountability for involved parties.
Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, has died at the age of 88, the Vatican announced on Easter Monday morning.
Late Pope had been in and out of hospital in the last few weeks. He made a surprise appearance at the Easter Sunday service at Vatican on Sunday.
Details Later…