THE STATES

Benue

The Benue State House of Assembly has directed a former
staff in the office of the deputy governor to retire N1.3 million back into the government’s coffers within one month or face the law. It also ordered the affected staff, Onah Iduh, to appear before it.   The House which gave the directive at sitting in Makurdi, frowned at the N7.3 billion extra budgetary expenditure by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the state and warned them against further unauthorised expenditures or risk sanction. The legislators’ resolution was based on report of the audited accounts of Benue State government, which was presented by the Public Account Committee headed by James Ochojila. The House maintained that MDAs should desist from extra budgetary expenditures, as only monies captured in the year’s budget should be expended.

Bauchi

The State Security Service (SSS) in Bauchi State has been
dragged to court over the non-payment of compensation for the land acquired for its training school. Hajiya Fatimah Ali filed a suit before the Bauchi State High Court against the SSS, over fencing of the land when it is yet to pay compensation to owners.  The defendants in the suit include Director of the school, Alhaji Ja’afar, Abdulrahman Yamida and Sani Abdullahi Mohammed. Counsel to the complainant, Barrister Idris Jibo, told the court  that initially, the land was sold to individuals and that when the training school indicated interest to acquire it, the owners entered into an agreement with the SSS. Jibo, who said the institution started developing the plot of land without paying his clients, urged the court to restrain it from further work on the land. The judge, Justice Abdulkadir Suleiman, granted the prayer and adjourned the suit to  September 17.

Borno
The Shehu of Borno State Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar
Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi yesterday urged Muslims in Borno State to begin a three -day fasting from today to  September 6, 2014.
A statement signed by the Secretary of the Borno Emirate Council, Zanna Laisu Kazalma, quoted the Shehu as saying that the call was in view of the security challenges confronting the state and other states and the need for spiritual intervention. The Umma was equally urged to offer special prayers in all Mosques and recite Khalimat Shahada ‘La Ilaha Illallah’ continuously during the fasting period. The Shehu advised that every Muslim individually and collectively should offer Sadaqat to the needy and underprivileged, especially to the internally displaced persons in various camps. In the same vein, he urged the Christian community in the state not to relent in their continuous prayers for peace and security in Borno and Nigeria.

FCT
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Usman Jubrin
has accused oil companies of complicity in oil theft.
He spoke in Abuja yesterday while receiving the managing directors and chief executive officers of oil companies operating in the country. He said the situation had warranted mentioning names of the oil companies and other major stakeholders involved in the act. “We cannot pretend that the oil companies do not have a hand in some of these illegalities: some of the companies have left their oil wells open for years without sealing them up. “It has become very worrisome that we have not been able to check this and I personally believe that it has gotten to a point that instead of pointing accusing finger at each other, we shall be mentioning names including the major stakeholders,” he said “Why are we denting the image of this country? We must meet, discuss and curtail the oil theft. If any of my personnel is involved, he will be dealt with in accordance with the existing laws,” the Navy boss added.

Gombe
Not  more than nine babies including twins have been
delivered at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Gombe by pregnant women who fled the Boko Haran crisis in Borno State. The women who delivered the babies are among the over 1, 624  displaced persons in Damboa Local Government Area  in Borno State  following Boko Haram insurgents attack. The Senior Relief and Rehabilitation Officer, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Gombe Operations office, Ali Kadiri Moses gave the figures in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi. Kadiri said: “There are a lot of pregnant women in the camp.
Kaduna

The Kaduna State Director of the National Orientation
Agency (NOA), Mr Elisha Meck Sabo has appealed to residents of the state to avoid rumours of an outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in the state after the management of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria yesterday admitted that one of its students was under examination after showing symptoms similar to those of Ebola. A statement from the university’s Public Affairs Directorate on behalf of the ABU/ABUTH Joint Committee on the Ebola Viral Disease said the clarification became necessary as rumours spread on the outbreak of the disease.  ”The committee wishes to categorically state that there is indeed a reported case of a student of the university who on Monday, September 1, 2014 took himself to the ABUTH Shika to complain of fever, body pains, diarrhoea and vomiting, and he had been on and off with the sickness for two weeks before. From the examination carried out on the patient it was found that all the symptoms discovered are commonly seen in patients with other medical conditions.

Kano

Suspected killer of late Kano hotelier, Alhaji Ganiyu Akanbi
Bello, has arraigned before a Kano State Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting at No Man’s Land. The suspect, Abubakar Abdurrahman Sadiq, 26, resident of Badawa quarters in Nassarawa Local Government Area of the state was accused of killing Alhaji Ganiyu Bello, owner of GAB Centre for Excellence Hotel on June 5, at his residence.  The accused person, who once worked as a receptionist in one of the deceased hotels, was said to have gone into Alhaji Ganiyu’s residence to steal.   It was further alleged that before the suspect could carry out the act, the deceased woke up and engage him in a fight. Source said that it was during the fight that the accused stabbed the deceased.  The accused was charged with criminal trespass, armed robbery and culpable homicide, offences contrary to Sections 348, 298 and 221 of the Penal Code. Police prosecutor, Haziel Lidapuwa, said the accused person pleaded guilty to all the three-count charges preferred against him. Presiding judge, Chief Magistrate Hassan Ahmed ordered that the accused person be remanded in prison and adjourned the case to October 10.

Niger
The Zungeru Hydroelectric Dam Community Relations
Committee (CRC) has called on communities hosting the ongoing dam project to cooperate with the federal government to ensure completion. Spokesperson of the committee, Salman Yusuf, in a statement said efforts are on to tackle cases of omission of names and underpayment of compensation to owners of land acquired for the project.  “We are appealing to the host communities for their understanding and cooperation as the authorities have noted with seriousness the observed cases of omission of names, underpayment and delay experienced in the banks in the compensation exercise. We are assuring the beneficiaries that the issues will be looked into with a view to making needed amendments,” he said.

Plateau

National Chairman, Council of Ulama of Jammatul Izalatul
Bidia Wa Ikamatus Sunnan (JIBWIS) Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir has said that education is a critical tool for revolution
Jingir, who spoke yesterday in Jos, when he presented prizes to winners from Plateau State of the just concluded Quranic competition organized by JIBWIS, said education is the foundation of any positive change and develop-ment in the society.
Jingir said education and dis-cipline are the best legacies that parents and guardians can give to their children.
“Whoever invests in the education of his children has double rewards; first reward is for making your children responsible and development of the society. Secondly, Almighty Allah will reward you. I urge all parents to provide sound Islamic and western education to their children,” he said.

Sokoto

Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Senator
Umaru Tambuwal has lost his mother, Hajiya Fatima Attahiru yesterday at the age of 97 after a protracted illness.
Fondly called Mama Ashibi, the late Hajiya Fatima is survived by three children, many grand and great grandchildren. She was buried in Tambuwal after funeral prayers attended by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
Others dignitaries included Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar and others.  Wamakko and the sultan prayed Allah to grant her eternal rest and give members of her family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Yobe
There were fears in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital yes
terday following information reaching the town that Boko Haram insurgents had encircled it.
There was no security confirmation to that effect but residents of villages and towns around the city said they saw the insurgents in some strategic locations.
Our correspondent reports that residents of Damaturu were confident of security measures earlier put in place by the Soldiers Special Operation team. But with the annexation of southern Yobe and the growing rife in Bama, Gwoza and other parts of the states, fear has taken over the town.
A resident from Sassawa, a few kilometers Northeast of Damaturu said the insurgents were freely carrying out activities in the area.
“They preach, extort and kill anyone who resists them, there is no security in the area. And they always threaten that we should stay in the village or else they would meet us in Damaturu”, he said.

Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State (right) speaking to newsmen on Ebola virus on his arrival from Lesser Hajj in Lagos recently. With him are, his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Hakeem Bello (left) and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba. Photo: NAN