Group seeks SGF’s suspension over alleged diversion of funds (Read full details)

David Babachir Lawal

A group, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has urged the Presidency to suspend the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Lawal Babachir, over alleged diversion of funds meant for the rebuilding of the North-East.

Executive Director of CITAD, Yunusa Zakari Ya’u, at a press briefing in Kano yesterday, said that the Presidency was not handling the corruption accusation within its kitchen cabinet with seriousness despite the weighty evidence against the SGF by the Senate.

He said: “This would be sad for someone who has made a name as a man of integrity, committed to fighting corruption wherever. This has sadly thrown the anti-corruption agenda of the regime into disrepute. We believe the President can still retrieve it and there is only one way to do so; the immediate suspension of Babachir from office to face thorough investigation.”

The group said the allegation against the SGF was no less different from that of a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), adding that failure to commit Babachir to similar prosecution would amount to double-standard.

Non-indigenes hijack job slots in delta, says police boss (Read full details)

Police Commissioner, Mr. Zanna Ibrahim

The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Ibrahim Zanna, yesterday, said many youths in the state are unemployed because non-indigenes have hijacked the available job slots in the state.

The Commissioner, who hosted the new executive of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), led by the State Chairman, Comrade Kenneth Okorie at the Police Headquarters, alleged that citizens of other states often claim Delta State origin during recruitment exercise, thereby usurping the few slots allocated to the state.

He encouraged youths to be diplomatic in their approach to agitation when he said, “we have to look inwards. Agitation should only be for communal good; if not, they are meaningless. Work with the police by giving security information anytime to allow the police, chase criminals out of the state.”

Non-indigenes hijack job slots in delta, says police boss

APC rejects Buhari’s nominee for head of agency in Niger (Read full details)

APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State has rejected Prof. Abdulkarim Ali who was nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari as the Managing Director of the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority.

The party said it prefers an indigene of the state to head the agency instead of Ali who is from Kano, adding that Niger has competent people to occupy the position.

Chairman of the party in the state, Muhammad Jibrin Imam told newsmen in Minna at the weekend that the position of managing director of Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority had eluded the state for over 20 years whereas the organisation was meant to serve Niger, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Imam said, “President Buhari should correct the anomaly in line with the change agenda of his administration.”

The APC chieftain said the state governor has also been informed of the need to persuade the president to reverse the appointment.

“We have complained to our governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello so that he can appeal to the president. Even though we know he has the powers to appoint anybody he deemed fit, we still feel it is good we make our position known.

“The APC in Niger is appealing to President Buhari to reconsider the state in the appointment of a new managing director for this agency in the interest of equity,” he added.

APC rejects Buhari’s nominee for head of agency in Niger