Civil Rights Activist and former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani has debunked the former Governor, Malamn Nasir El-Rufai’s allegation that Governor Uba Sani has diverted the Local Government Councils allocation to buy properties abroad.

Shehu Sani said El-Rufai’s allegation is “falsely crafted to smear the name of of the Governor because of the N420 billion investigation hanging on him like the sword of damocles.”

Reacting to the allegation on Monday, Shehu Sani challenged the former Governor to release proofs of purchases of properties in South Africa, Seychelles and London by Uba Sani publicly.

He said, Kaduna people would not forget in a hurry how Nasir El-Rufai plundered the State in eight years as Governor of the State, stressing that he should stop pushing falsehood into the public space.

He said: “As Kaduna indigenes, we are all living witnesses to how El-Rufai plundered the State and now investigation has indicted him and he should face it rather than pushing falsehood into the public domain.

El-Rufai should be bold enough to show proofs linking governor Uba Sani in the purchase of properties in South Africa, Seychelles and London, then we will take him serious.

“But he should be ready answer for the whereabouts of N420 billion because that money is substantial enough to develop Kaduna State to an extent”, Shehu Sani maintained.

The Nigerian Senate has passed for first reading a Bill to establish the National Cashew Production and Research Institute to be sited at Idah in Kogi East Senatorial District after it was laid on Wednesday last week.

The Bill which was sponsored by Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho representing Kogi East Senatorial District said, the propsed research institute will be situated at Idah, headquarters of Igala kingdom and the institute will be charged with the responsibilities of cashew research, processing and boosting production for local and export consumption.

According to the documents of the proposed bill made available on Monday, it pointed out that the Federal Government could leverage on the abundant cashew production in Kogi East and by extension Kogi State and other parts of the country to ensure that the quality of cashew is processed in line with the global standards, notwithstanding that the current quality of cashew from Kogi State is sought all over the world.

He said the legal framework of the Research Institute will identify the value chain and processing, ensuring that at each level, there is job creation for the teaming youths and not just for the raw nuts to be exported, stating that the current handling of cashew nuts was unacceptable as it tended to bypass the needed revenue that would been generated into government coffers.

Senator Isah said: “This will not only improve the quality of cashew products but also provide support to farmers and cashew business owners in Kogi State, particularly in Kogi East, which is known for its high cashew production.

“The institute will also attract investment, create jobs, and ensure better pricing for cashew farmers, thereby strengthening the local economy in Kogi East, Kogi State and Nigeria at large.”

DAILY POST recalled that a fortnight ago, Kogi State government was urged by the State House of Assembly to safeguard cashew and other economic trees in the State by putting in place stringent measures against abuse.

The regulatory measures which the State parliament said will be put in place, urged the State government to enforce the laws with serious sanction for any erring persons and to also stop foreigners from accessing cashew farms in the State.

The resolution was the outcome of a motion sponsored by Hon. Oluwaseyi Bello representing Kabba Bunu State Constituency in the House of Assembly, adding that the State Ministry of Agriculture should properly monitor and regulate the activities of exploitative foreign businessmen in the interest of revenue for the State and security of the people.

Kogi continues to be the leading State in cashew production in Nigeria which the State government attributed to robust and sound agricultural policies.

The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo once said: “Kogi State is the biggest producer of cashew in Nigeria because of our sound agricultural policies geared towards empowering farmers with improved seedlings, mechanization, agrochemicals as well as creating an enabling environment for the private sector to invest in cashew production.”

The Rivers State Police Command has described reports on several news outlets that hoodlums have attacked the Port Harcourt residence of Nyesom Wike as false and misleading.

The police said nothing close to attack ever took place on Sunday on the residence of Wike who is currently the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory as mischievously reported in sections of the media.

On Sunday night, several online media platforms alleged that Wike’s residence was under siege and had been torched by unidentified individuals.

Reacting in a statement on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, described the reports as false and misleading, stating the the report was a connivance between some elements and the media to cause unrest and further create panic.

The statement read: “The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to a misleading and malicious report circulating on various online media platforms, falsely claiming that riots have erupted in Rivers State, leading to the burning of the residence of the former Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, along with other acts of violence.”

She further stated that the state remains peaceful, and there has been no such attack on Wike’s residence or any other major security breach.

“The Command categorically states that this report is entirely false, baseless, and a deliberate attempt by mischief makers to incite unrest and spread fear among law-abiding residents. There is no record of any such incident, and normalcy prevails across the state,” she said.

The police spokesperson warned against spreading misinformation, emphasizing that those found guilty of fabricating such reports would face legal consequences.

According to the spokesperson, “The Police Command sternly warns those responsible for spreading such incendiary falsehoods to desist from engaging in activities capable of inciting public disorder. The full weight of the law will be brought to bear on individuals or groups found guilty of spreading misinformation or attempting to disrupt the peace in any form.”

She reassured residents of the police command’s commitment to maintaining security in Rivers State and urged the public to rely only on credible sources for information while reporting any suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.