News
Drama as suspects deny earlier charges of guilt at Minna Chief Magistrate Court
A mild drama played out at the Chief Magistrate Court number two Tunga Minna Thursday when four suspects who were to be convicted and sentenced made a u-turn to plead not guilty to the two count charge earlier brought against them by the men of the Niger State Police Command.
The four defendants had earlier pleaded guilty to the two count charge brought against them by the police after the charges were read to them by the presiding Chief Magistrate, Hajiya Fati Umar Hassan.
The four defendants include Suleiman Ahmadu, Bello Adamu, Harisu Usman and Umar Isiaka who were standing trial on two count charge which bothered on criminal conspiracy, aiding and abetment.
According to the police prosecutor, D Mayaki Abdullahi, the two count charge contravened sections 97 and 85 of the penal code.
They were earlier arraigned before the Chief Magistrate court number two presided by Hajiya Fati Umar Hassan and they all pleaded guilty to the two count charge earlier read to them.
The four defendants were alleged to have conspired among themselves to contribute money for one Bala Kato who was alleged to have been a principal suspected killer of one Alarama Umar Tasiu who escaped to Niger Republic.
Umar Kato was said to have escaped to Niger Republic after the killing of Alarama Umar Tasiu who was killed early last month in London Street in Minna.
However, when the charges were earlier read to them by the presiding Chief Magistrate Hajiya Fati Umar Hassan they all pleaded guilty to the charges and the Police prosecutor DSP Mayaki Abdullahi prayed the court to invoke the provision section 190 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Niger State.
When they were brought on substituted First Information (FIR), report on Thursday, by the men of the Niger State Police Command in a turn of events they quickly made a U-turn by denying the earlier charges of guilt they pleaded when they were brought.
After they pleaded not guilty, the police Prosecutor then objected to their bail on the ground that they would interfere with ongoing police investigation to arrest the principal suspected killer of the deceased.
“My Lord, I’m objecting to the bail of the four defendants on the ground that they would interfere with the ongoing police investigation
” Even though the two count charges are bailable offenses, admitting them to bail would interfere with our Investigation. We are objecting to their bail because the police are on the trail of the principal suspected killer who is now on the run”
The Presiding Chief Magistrate Hajiya Fati Umar Hassan while granting them bail as objected by the police Prosecutor she asserted that:
“Having perused through the first information report the defendants were not alleged to have conspired with the principal suspected killer.
” And the Prosecutor had told the court that the offenses are bailable offences.I want to use my discretion to admit them on bail in the sum of N2 milion with reasonable surety who must reside within the court jurisdiction.
” One of the surety must be a Chief Imam of any of the Juma’at Mosque in Minna and the second surety must be a businessman who has up to Five Million in his account to also deposit his National I.D card with his recent passport and to write an undertaken to produce the defendants in court or to face the charges brought against them should they escape Prosecution” she ruled
She then adjourned the case till 15 of December 2023 for further mention while they were remanded in correctional Custody pending when they will perfect and meet the bail condition.
All political office holders who were appointed by the embattled governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara have been suspended from office by the Sole Administrator of the State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.
They were suspended from office with immediate effect, according to a statement by the Chief of Staff to the Sole Administrator, saying the decision followed powers granted the Sole Administrator by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff to Fubara were among those suspended from office.
Commissioners, chairpersons and members of boards, agencies, commissions, and parastatals, as well as all Special Advisers, Special Assistants, and Senior Special Assistants were all relieved of their appointments.
“This suspension takes effect from Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The affected officers are to hand over to the permanent secretaries in their MDAs.
“Where there may be no permanent secretary, they are to hand over to the most senior director/head of administration,” the statement read.
Ibas was sworn in as Sole Administrator on Wednesday, March 19, by President Bola Tinubu after the President declared a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The President also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
Ibas, who is a former Chief of Naval Staff, vowed to maintain law and order in the state.
“If the main issue is that of maintaining law and order in the state, I think for any meaningful activities to take place in Rivers State, that is the utmost task that I have,” he said to State House correspondents after the swearing-in.
He also promised to work together with other stakeholders to ensure that order is restored in the state.
Agency Report
The 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Bayero, has announced the cancellation of the Eid-el-Fitr Durbar celebration due to security concerns in the state.
Emir Bayero made this announcement while briefing newsmen at his Nasarawa Mini Palace in Kano on Wednesday night.
He said that the peaceful coexistence of the people takes precedence over the Durbar celebration.
Emir Bayero had initially planned to hold the Durbar celebration, which would have coincided with his fifth year anniversary on the throne.
He noted that respected Islamic clerics, elders, stakeholders, and his council members advised him to cancel the celebration to maintain peace.
Emir Bayero urged the people of Kano to use the Sallah celebration period to visit families and friends and to observe the festivities in a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.
He prayed for Allah’s blessings and mercy during the month of Ramadan, hoping that the people of Kano would receive forgiveness and mercy.
NAN
Overland Airways, Nigeria’s longest serving private domestic airline, in partnership with Niger State Government, is pleased to announce the commencement of flight services to Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport Minna, the capital city of Niger State from Lagos and Abuja, effective April 23, 2025.
Overland Airways will operate three (3) weekly flights on the Minna-Lagos-Minna route and three (3) weekly flights on the Minna-Abuja-Minna route. These flights will be operated on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays using Overland Airways’ brand-new Embraer 175 aircraft.
Flights will depart Lagos to Minna at 8am and Minna to Lagos at 3pm. Flights from Minna to Abuja will depart at 9:30am while Abuja to Minna will depart at 2pm.
Capt. Edward Boyo, Chief Executive Officer and Accountable Executive of Overland Airways says: ‘We are excited to commence flight services to Minna from Abuja the Federal Capital and Lagos the Commercial hub of Nigeria. This flight services will facilitate trade, tourism and economic activities in Niger State and its environs and support the Government of Niger State in its quest to attract more direct investments and improve the livelihood of citizens of the State. We thank particularly His Excellency Mohammed Umar Bago, the Executive Governor of the Niger State for his passionate commitment to the growth and development of the State and for making the dream of a connected Niger State come true.”
The Niger State Ministry of Transport in collaboration with the New Niger Development Project (NNDP), jointly stated, “It has been an uphill journey to bring the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport to fruition—from its construction to its operationalization. Today, we are immensely proud to see this dream become a reality. We are honoured to have Overland Airways as the pioneer airline for this project, setting the foundation for expanded air travel connectivity in Niger State. Mr. Governor is particularly proud of this achievement, which aligns with his vision of modernizing infrastructure and boosting economic development in Niger State.”
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the New Niger Aviation, Alhaji Liman Katamba Kutigi, says: “This partnership with Overland Airways will ensure regular and robust flight services from Abuja and Lagos to Minna, Niger State. We are thrilled to partner with Overland Airways, which has a reputation for excellent customer service and reliability, and look forward to working together to reposition the aviation sector and economy of Niger State.”
“Known as the Power State, Niger State, the largest state in Nigeria by landmass and host of major hydroelectric power dams and other businesses, requires reliable air services to drive its economic development and Overland Airways is uniquely positioned to meet this need”, says Capt. Boyo.
Overland Airways service offering has evolved from an all-turboprop fleet to a mixed fleet with the introduction of brand-new Embraer E175 jets. In October 2024, Overland Airways renewed its IOSA safety certification for the 5th consecutive time reaffirming its position as a safe and leading African carrier.
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