THE STATES

Adamawa
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
has told district and ward heads in Adamawa State to expose drug barons and traffickers in their domain.
Alhaji Hassan Zungeru, the state NDLEA Commander, made the call in Yola at a one-day sensitisation workshop organised for local government employees, and district and ward heads.
The workshop was organised by the agency in collaboration with the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Zungeru said fighting illicit drugs would not be successful without the support of traditional rulers, adding: “those perpetrating this illicit activity live in the communities under your control’’.
Benue
The police in Makurdi last Thursday arraigned a house
wife, Jessica Terhemen, at a Magistrates’ Court on charges of criminal conspiracy and abduction.
The prosecutor, Insp. Austin Orbam, told the court that the offences were reported at the ‘B’ Division Police Station, Makurdi, on March 23 by one Mr Emmanuel Udugh, of Behind Old Assembly Quarters, Makurdi.
Udugh said the accused, also of the same address, conspired with two others now at large to commit the act.
He said the accused abducted the complainant’s sister-in-law, Miss Nguhe Haazande, and took her to an unknown destination.

FCT
The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF)
recently prayed an FCT High Court for more time to study the case file of Pastor Emmanuel Mathew charged with defilement.
The police prosecutor, DSP Stanley Nwodo, had told the court that Matthew defiled three minors (two aged seven and the other nine years old), all pupils of school operated by him.
Nwodo said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 283 of the Penal Code.
Mathew, 51, who is the General Overseer of Choice Bible Church, Mpape, is arraigned on a five-count charge.

Jigawa
Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN),
an NGO, has distributed learning materials and uniforms worth three million naira to nomadic schools in Jigawa.
The Executive Secretaty,  Alhaji Ali Manu, Jigawa State Agency for Nomadic Education stated this in an interview with newsmen in Dutse.
Manu said that the items were distributed to 50 nomadic schools across the 27 local government areas of the state.
He explained that the gesture was to encourage nomadic children in the state to go to school, adding that the gesture would enhance enrollment and retention of pupils in nomadic schools.

Kano
The Kano State Government has approved N127 million
for accommodation in Saudi Arabia for 2014 Hajj, the Commissioner for Information, Dr Umar Faruk, announced.
Faruk made the disclosure at a news conference while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting in Kano. He said the council had also approved N30 million for training and provision of logistics for the forthcoming local government election in the state.
The commissioner added that the council had approved N54 million for the procurement of a bus for Kano Pillars Football Club.
Kaduna
Some traders along Kashim Ibrahim road, Kaduna, have
appealed to the Kaduna State Government to stop their eviction by the state police command.
Our correspondent reports that Kashim Ibrahim road is one of the busy areas with hawkers selling various items, like fruits, food stuff, shoes and other household items.
The Vice Chairman of the traders operating in the area, Alhaji Sada Ibrahim urged the government to look into the matter and allow them to resume trading in the area to earn a living.
“We are not staying in this place illegally; we work as a group and we do not allow any illegal activities, he said.”
Katsina
Katsina State Government has commenced the dis
tribution of working tools to forest attendants deployed to schools as part of efforts to fight desert encroachment.
Malam Hassan Ibrahim, the Funtua Zonal Forestry Officer, presented the materials, including tree seedlings and facecaps to some of the attendants at Government Secondary School, Dikke in Funtua.
He said the gesture would also encourage students to take interest in environmental protection.
Ibrahim said the participation of students was paramount in addressing the challenges posed by desert encroachment in parts of the state.

Kebbi
The Kebbi State Primary Health Care Development
Agency (KBSPHCDA) has embarked on re-vaccination against meningitis and measles to curtail the spread of the diseases in the State.
The Executive Director of the agency, Dr Abubakar Koko, made this known in Birnin Kebbi, recntly.
Our correspondent reports that meningitis and measles outbreak in 10 local government areas of Kebbi, had resulted in the death of no fewer than 56 people in the past three weeks.
The information released by the Director of Public Health, Alhaji San Argungu, indicated that 301 cases of meningitis were recorded in Aliero, Gwandu, Birnin Kebbi, Jega, Augie, Arewa, Argungu, Danko-Wasagu, Fakai and Bunza local government areas.

Lagos
More than 100 electricity consumers from Amuwo-
Odofin Local Government in Lagos, have protested at the premises of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC), demanding prepaid meters for their area.
President, Amuwo Odofin Landlords Association, New Town, Chief Ade-Owas Owabumuwa, who led the group, said that the prepaid meter was the only way out of the outrageous bills being distributed to them by IKEDC.
Owabumuwa said that the analogue meters were not pocket-friendly and did not give them value for their money on power supply to individual households in the area.
He also described as disappointing the inability of IKEDC to address their complaints after an earlier protest in December 2013.
Nasarawa
The governments of Benue and Nasarawa states have
resolved to adopt air surveillance strategy to curb the incessant attacks along their boundary communities.
Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State announced the measure when he visited Giza town, in the Keana Local Government Area of the state, which was attacked by unknown gunmen recently.
Al-Makura described the mayhem in the border communities as alarming, adding that the perpetrators were criminals who took advantage of the long boundary stretch between the two states to perpetrate their criminal activities.
He said that the two state governments were working hard to address the situation, and promised to ensure that lasting peace returned to the communities.

Ondo
A 20-year-old apprentice, Shina Ikare, was last Thurs
day remanded by an Akure Magistrates’ Court over alleged attempt to kidnap a teenager.
The Prosecutor, Mr Pelumi Adejuwon, told the court that the accused committed the offence on March 14, at about 12p.m at Owalusi quarters, Iwaro-Oka in Akure, Ondo State.
“He attempted to kidnap one Faith Adeniyi, female, aged six years, by taking her to Osuru garden via Oka against her wish with the intention of collecting ransome from her parents before releasing her,” he said.
He explained that the offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 4 of Ondo State Anti- Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law of 2010.

Osun
An  Osogbo High Court has  discharged and acquitted
two members of the House of Assembly who have been standing trial for alleged complicity in the  2007 post-election violence.
The two accused, Timothy Owoeye and Fafowora Folarin, have been standing trial on a 13 count- charge of conspiracy, attempted murder, arson, malicious damage and disorderly conduct, among others.
According to the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wale Afolabi, who is also the prosecution counsel, the offence is contrary to the Criminal Code cap. 34 Laws of Osun State, 2002.
It will be recalled that the accused were arrested and arraigned over the crisis that erupted after the announcement of the April 15, 2007 gubernatorial election in the state.
The accused were alleged to have been the brain behind destruction of properties and houses in some parts of the state.

L-R: Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Dr Segun Aina and Emir of Dukku, Alhaji Haruna Rasheed, at the inauguration of North-East Zonal Office of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria in Gombe, last Friday.