IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

The All Progressives Congress has selected Senator Abdullahi Gobir, as its new Senate Leader. This decision by the ruling party was contained in a letter written by the National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and read by Senate President Ahmad Lawan during the plenary session on Wednesday.

Senator Gobir replaces Senator Yahaya Abdullahi following his resignation as Senate Leader wing to the latter’s defection from the APC to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

Meanwhile, senators from opposition parties staged a walkout following a call to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari. 

This followed a mild drama that played out during the plenary in the upper chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The Federal Executive Council has given approval to Nigeria Air to lease aircraft to start operations.

The Minister of Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika made the announcement while briefing State House correspondents after the council meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.

The Minister, who didn’t disclose when the national carrier would starts its operations, said the company would begin with three aircrafts.

He added that Nigeria Air is open to investment from any of the country’s airline companies.

Barely twenty-four hours after senators from opposition parties issued a six-week ultimatum to the President to tackle the security challenges bedeviling the country, Buhari has summoned a National Security Council meeting today in Abuja. 

Senator Aduda of the minority caucus had raised a point of order asking the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to discuss the country’s security situation and President Buhari’s impeachment after which Senator Lawan, who presided over the plenary, declined the request of the minority leader, saying the point of order raised fell flat on its face.

Angered by the action of the Senate President, all the lawmakers elected on the platforms of all political parties other than the All Progressives Congress (APC) took turns to walk out of the legislative chamber while the plenary was ongoing.

In response to the looming threat, the emergency meeting has in attendance the National Security Adviser, retired Major General Babagana Monguno, Minister of Defence, retired Major General Bashir Magashi and that of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi.

The minority caucus of the House of Representatives has joined its Senate counterpart to hand President Muhammadu Buhari a six-week ultimatum to fix insecurity or face impeachment in the National Assembly.

Minority leader of the House of Reps, Ndudi Elumelu, revealed this after a closed door meeting of the joint minority caucus of the National Assembly on Thursday. Elumelu said the signatures will be gathered to impeach the President if the security situation is not addressed.

He also drew attention to the general state of the nation, including the exchange rate and aviation crisis. On Wednesday, Senators, mostly drawn from the minority caucus, had staged a walkout on the floor of the red chambers.

Minority Leader of the Senate, Philip Aduda had raised a point of order asking the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to discuss the security situation in the country and the impeachment of President Buhari.

The Kano State High Court on Thursday sentenced the proprietor of Nobel Kids Academy and North West Preparatory School, Abdulmalik Tanko, to death for the kidnap and killing of five-year-old schoolgirl, Hanifa Abubakar.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Usman Na’abba, also sentenced Tanko to five years imprisonment for the four-count charges leveled against him. Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, earlier this year had vowed to sign the death sentence without further delay if given by the court.

Until her death, Hanifa was a pupil of Noble Kids Comprehensive College – a school located in Kwanar ‘Yan Gana in Tudun Murtala Quarters in Nassarawa Local Government Area of the state.

She was abducted by Mr Tanko who demanded ransom from her parents and was reported to have killed her in December last year.

Following the suspect’s arrest, the state government arraigned Tanko alongside two others at the State High Court.

Chidiebube Okeoma, Owerri

The state police command has arrested Yahaya Samaila, 23, and Saminu Abubakar, 24,  both from Kware local government area of Sokoto state for alleged robberies incidents.

The command's spokesperson, Micheal Abattam, who paraded the suspects on Wednesday disclosed that the suspects had been"terrorising" residents of Avu in the Owerri West LGA of the state.

Abattam, said that the operatives of the command raided a hideout of criminal and arrested the due and recovered exhibits.

He listed the item recovered as exhibits as one Locally made double barrel pistol, a bunch of master keys; a parcel of substance suspected to be Indian hemp, a female bag containing jewelries and a Machete.

Other exhibits are a language translator,t three Tecno phones, two Itel phones, one H-Mobile phone, two Wrist Watches, two Small Speakers, two Sunglasses, two Touch Lights, camera flash, a sum of N40,285.00, assorted Charms, two pairs of Scissors,10 Nose Mask and foil Paper.

Part of the Abattam's statement read "sequel to the mandate of the Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, psc(+) to the Command’s tactical teams to raid all criminal enclaves not excluding uncompleted buildings, motor parks, brothels Indian hemp joints and moribund school buildings, to eradicate all crimes and criminalities with the aim of sustaining the already improved security situation in the state.

"Aligning with the Commissioner of Police directives, the Command’s Tactical Teams, raided a criminal hideout at Avu in Owerri West LGA of Imo State and arrested one Yahaya Samaila 'm' aged 23 years and Saminu Abubakar  'm' aged 24 years both of Kware local government area of Sokoto State while others escaped. 

"In the course of interrogation, it was revealed that they have been the ones terrorizing innocent citizens resident within Ama - Hausa Extension area at Avu in Owerri West LGA of Imo State.  They both made useful statements confessing using the recovered bunch of master keys in stealing vehicles parked in parks and also to unlock people's shops and steal their wares mostly at nights.

"Investigation is ongoing and efforts are on top gear to arrest the other suspects that took to their heels on sighting the police operatives.

"However, as soon as investigation is concluded the suspects will be charge to court."