Police in Adamawa appeals court judgment in a kidnap case
The Police Command in Adamawa is to appeal against the judgement of a Yola High Court directing it to release a defendant in a kidnap case and pay him N5m as damages for wrongful detention. The development was made known in Yola on Thursday in a statement by the command spokesman, SP Suleiman Nguroje. Nguroje said command is not satisfied with the judgment delivered on Wednesday Jan. 22 in favour of the defendant, Hammadu Musa. “The Command wishes to state categorically that the said defendant was arrested by Vigilante members for alleged kidnapping and handed over to the Police. READ ALSO: UNICEF says Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara need $15m to give quality life “He was thereafter, investigated and having established a prima facie case against him, the Police charged him to Court. “The Casefile was duplicated and sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, state ministry of justice for legal advice and takeover of prosecution accordingly.” According to him, the command operates within the context of law with respect to Rule of Law dictates, charging the defendant (suspect) to Court. He insisted that Police did not wrongfully detained the defendant in its detention facility as portrayed that would warrant breach of his fundamental human rights. “It was the Court that remanded the defendant at the Correctional Service Facility herein Yola for the period of the case at hand. “The Command therefore assures members of the public that in synergy with the Ministry of Justice, will appeal against the decision of the State High Court, Yola”.
INEC Reveals Adamawa REC No Longer on Payroll
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, is no longer receiving payments from the commission. Yunusa-Ari was suspended in April 2023 after unlawfully declaring Aishatu Binani, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, as the winner of the governorship election while vote collation was ongoing. At the time, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was leading. READ ALSO: Breaking: Israeli parliament approves Gaza ceasefire deal with Hamas INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, stated that Yunusa-Ari’s payments stopped in August 2023 when charges were filed against him. The former REC was later arraigned in a Yola court following directives from former President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the case. Prosecution efforts have reportedly faced setbacks due to the Nigeria Police Force’s failure to act on court orders. READ ALSO: Council Chairman pays WAEC fees for 1,794 students Despite a bench warrant for Yunusa-Ari’s arrest, the police have not presented him in court. INEC’s legal representative, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), expressed frustration, citing police inaction as a major obstacle. Court orders have been ignored, hindering progress in the case and leaving the prosecution, judiciary, and INEC dissatisfied.
Fintiri Appoints Seven New Traditional Rulers in Adamawa
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has appointed seven new traditional rulers after the state recently introduced seven new monarchies. The new appointees include Sani Ahmadu Ribadu, the younger sibling of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. This comes after the creation of five chiefdoms and two emirates on December 23, 2024. The newly appointed leaders will hold second-class and third-class titles, a decision aimed at improving local governance by addressing community demands for additional leadership representation. The new monarchs include Sani Ahmadu Ribadu, now Emir of Fufore; Alheri Nyako, Tol Huba; Bulus Luka Gadiga, Mbege Ka Michika; Ali Danburam, Ptil Madagali; John Dio, Gubo Yungur; Aggrey Ali, Kumu of Gombi; and Ahmadu Saibaru, Emir of Maiha. READ ALSO: Rev Fr. Alia of Benue State Unveils Zeva Premium Lager Beer Governor Fintiri commended the new rulers for their merit and popularity, encouraging them to perform their duties with fairness and integrity. The appointments are effective immediately, expanding the state’s total number of chiefdoms and emirates.
Tribunal Affirms Fintiri As Adamawa Governor
*It’s A Victory For Democracy, Rule Of Law, Says Fintiri The Adamawa Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on Saturday affirmedthe election Gov Ahmadu Fintiri in the March 18 poll, dismissing the petition by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Aishatu Binani.Delivering the judgement, Justice Theodora Uloho, the Chairman of the tribunal said the petition failed to established the allegation of non adherence with the Electoral Act during the election. “The petitioner failed to establish the allegation of non- compliance with the electoral act and prove the case with cogent, credible and satisfactory evidence. “All documents tendered by the petitioner were dumped on the tribunal and that the star witness did not demonstrate any of the documents to link it with any of their material allegation in the petition,” she said.The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Fintiri as the winner after he scored430,861 votes to defeat Binani who scored 398,788 votes.However, Binani filed a petition challenging the declaration, alleging that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with the electoral act.Reacting, Mr Sani Garba, the Counsel to Binani said he would study the judgment and intimate the petitioners on the next line of action. Meanwhile, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa has described his victory at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal as “victory to democracy and the rule of law”. Fintiri stated this shortly after the tribunal dismissed APC’s Aishatu Binani petition against his re-election for the second term in Yola on Saturday. Reacting, Fintiri assured the people of good governance. According to him, this victory is also a victory for doing more to ensure massive development in the state. He called on the litigants to step aside in order to move ahead for the development of the state and county at large. He appreciated the tribunal judges for the role played in ensuring fairness and justice. Fintiri also commended his legal team, journalists and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) for their roles from the time of the election up to the tribunal judgment.
Adamawa Lootings: Fintiri relaxes curfew by 12 hours
Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri has relaxed the 24-hour curfew earlier imposed on the state by 12 hours. This contain in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Fintiri, Humwashi Wonosikou, in Yola on Monday. The state government said the curfew was relaxed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. after meetings with security chiefs in the state. Fintiri, who was represented by his Deputy, Kaletapwa Farauta, urged parents to send their wards to school and also encouraged businesses to open and go about their daily activities as the government would not fold its arms and allow miscreants to disrupt public peace. The governor warned hoodlums and the public to abide by the curfew and remain courteous and cooperative if approached and questioned by security personnel. Fintiri has declared a 24-hour curfew on the state with immediate effect, following wide scale anarchy, looting and attacks on citizens by alleged hoodlums. The state government said the hoodlums, complaining of hunger and high cost of foodstuff following the recent increase in price of fuel, ransacked government-owned and private food storages and warehouses, carting away anything in sight in anger. The governor said the situation had assumed a dangerous dimension in Yola, as the protesters attacked people with machetes and broke into business premises and homes stealing goods and property. “With the curfew imposed, there will be no movement throughout the state. Only those on essential duties with valid identification would be permitted to move around during the period of the curfew,” he said. Fintiri appealed to law-abiding residents to comply with the directive, warning that anyone caught contravening the order would be arrested and prosecuted.
Fintiri bans indiscriminate felling of trees in Adamawa
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has banned indiscriminate cutting of trees for charcoal production to avert deforestation in the state. Fintiri announced the ban when traditional rulers, members of the state House of Assembly and the Judiciary paid him Sallah homage in Yola on Thursday. According to him, indiscriminate cutting of trees act negative effect on the environment and increase rate of flooding, among other challenges. Fintiri urged the traditional rulers to relay the message to their respective communities in order to safeguard the environment. The governor, who noted that there was already a law in that regard but which had not been fully implemented, expressed the need for all stakeholders to take action to end the menace. He pledged his administration’s support to farmers, particularly with the supply of agricultural inputs to boost production, as a means of cushioning the effect of fuel subsidy removal on the people. Fintiri expressed dissatisfaction with the condition of some of the courts in the state, assuring of their rehabilitation. He also assured that his administration would ensure continued harmonious working relationship with the legislators for the development of the state. The governor expressed gratitude for the homage and love shown to him, pledging the independence of the legislature and the judiciary for the development of the state and the betterment of the citizenry. In their separate remarks, the Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammad Mustapha, thanked Fintiri for his contributions to the development of the state. Lamido, who was represented by the Waziri of Adamawa and former Vice-President, , Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, assured of the support, cooperation and prayers of all the emirates and chiefdoms toward rebuilding the state. The Chief Judge, Justice Hafsat Abdulrahman, thanked the governor for his commitment to reforming the judiciary from the beginning of his first tenure till date. Speaker of the House of Assembly, Bathia Wesley, congratulated Fintiri on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, assuring him of a cordial working relationship.