News
Kano this morning: Wednesday 19.12.18
By Maude Rabiu Gwadabe
Top story: PDP candidate to know fate January 14 – Abba Kabir Yusuf, the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in the forthcoming 2019 governorship election in Kano State, will know his fate as court slated January 14 to pass judgement on his disputed candidature.
On October 2, Abba Yusuf, a protégé of former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, emerged winner of the PDP primaries after polling 2,421 votes to defeat Jafar Sani-Bello, who got 1,258 votes.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that Jafar Sani-Bello dragged Abba Yusuf to Kano High Court 3, seeking to be declared the governorship candidate of the party as the latter has failed to inform his ward secretary of his intention to rejoin the party, thereby contravening the PDP constitution.
The presiding judge A.T. Badamasi adjourned the case till January 14 for judgement.

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Pensioners seek increase of minimum pension rate – Pensioners in Kano have called for an increase in the minimum pension payment in the state.
This call is coming as Kano state government releases N2 billion for the payment of pension arrears and gratuity to 1,313 pensioners for the period covering November 2015 to June 2017.
A pensioner who spoke to RAHMA RADIO said he receives N4,732 monthly to take care of his family including 14 children, two of whom have been dismissed from school over his inability to pay their fees.
He therefore calls for an increase of the minimum pension payment from N5,000 to N35,000 monthly.
On its part, the Nigeria Labor Congress in Kano says it is committed to advocating for an increase in pension rates as soon as minimum wage is reviewed upward.
Chairman of the Council, Kabiru Ado Minjibir says there is an indexing provision in the Kano state pensions law, meaning that the government is expected to increase pension rates whenever wages are increased.
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Students cry out for scholarship payment – Students in the Kano state owned Yusuf Maitama Sule University have called on the government to pay their scholarship allowances for the 2015/16 session.
President of the Students Union Government Ahmad Yusuf Godiya said the students have been screened and received their award letters three months ago.
He added that the Scholarship Board has promised to tell pay the scholarship allowances by November/December this year.
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Court sentences intending kidnapper to jail – A Kano resident Kabiru Ibrahim has been sentenced to jail after pleading guilty to a charge of attempting to kidnap his uncle for ransom.
Magistrate Umma Sani Kurawa of court number 36 sentenced Kabiru Ibrahim to 720 days in prison without an option of fine and an additional one-year imprisonment or a fine of N30,000.
DALA FM reports that the convict pleaded guilty to an attempt to kidnap his uncle for a ransom of N1 million in connivance with an accomplice Dahiru Abdullahi who pleaded not guilty.
The court therefore directs prosecuting counsel, Ibrahim Abdurrazak Tsanyawa to present witnesses for the trial of the alleged accomplice.

Headlines
Abba Kabir Yusuf asks Fuel Marketers to reverse to old price

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano state Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf has urged petroleum marketers to reverse the prices of petroleum goods to its old rate in order to lessen the current hardship experienced by the general public.

KANO FOCUS reports that the appeal is contained in a statement issued by Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the chief press secretary to the governor.
The governor said he is aware that the marketers still had old products in stock that were supposed to be sold at the previous pricing.
“To reduce the needless hardship on the state’s citizens, the marketers should exercise some restraint and quickly reopen all filling stations with available products in stock to sell at the former price.
“As a concerned Governor, I am disheartened to see our dear People of Kano suffering as a result of an unjustified fuel hike, and the situation must be stopped right away,” the governor said.
Kano, according to governor, is the commercial hub for the country’s northern region as well as certain countries in West Africa, and its bustling populace continues to enjoy favorable business conditions.
The Governor urged the good citizens of Kano state to maintain their composure and uphold the law because the government is always prepared to make sure that people are doing their affairs conveniently.

Headlines
Abba Kabir Yusuf appoints Rahila Mukhtar to head KSCHMA

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has announced the appointment of Rahila Mukhtar as executive secretary of the Kano State Healthcare Contributory Management Agency (KCHMA).
KANO FOCUS reports that this is contained in a statement by his chief press secretary Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa on Thursday.
Yusuf also approved the appointment of Garba Bichi as managing director of the Kano State Water Board, Hassan Danbaffa as managing director of the Kano State Road Maintenance Agency (KARMA), Ibrahim Yakubu as managing director of the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) and Abdulkadir Abdussalam as the accountant-general.
KANO FOCUS reports that the government said a date for their swearing-in would be announced soon to enable them to assume the new responsibilities.

Headlines
Police arrest ninety-six suspects in Kano over attempts to disrupt inauguration activities


Ninety- six suspects were arrested by the Nigeria Police in Kano following alleged attempts to disrupt peace in the state during Monday’s inauguration ceremony.
KANO FOCUS reports that State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Usaini Gumel, who disclosed this at a press conference held at the Command’s Bompai headquarters, Wednesday remarked that the arrest followed a series of crackdowns by his men.
He noted that the suspects, who were picked up differently across the state within the last one week included 56 suspected mobile phone robbers, 17 illicit drug related suspects, and 20 suspects who were arrested on account of attempts to commit violent crimes.
Items recovered from the suspects included five cartons of suspected Tramadol tablets, 83 sachets of suspected Diazepam and 371 pieces of rubber solution, including 12 parcels and 303 wraps of dried leaves.
Other recoveries from the suspects included 157 weapons, four locally made guns, one toy gun and 18 mobile phones as well as 34 ATMs .
He explained that preliminary investigations had led them to conclude that the suspects were saboteurs and sponsored criminals given that they were found with dangerous weapons and were also under the influence of drugs during their arrest
Usaini added that all the suspects would soon be charged to court even as he advised the members of the public to be law abiding.
He insisted that the Police would continue to match its words with actions until all the criminally minded persons in the state repented or decided to leave the state.

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