Headlines
Top Kano stories last week: October 25–November 1, 2019
By Mukhtar Yahya Usman
Ganduje to pay new minimum wage arrears
Mr Ganduje had offered to pay N30,600 as minimum wage in the state after the minimum wage law bill was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.
***
Kidnappers to receive death sentence–Ganduje
Crime of kidnapping would soon be punished by death in Kano state, according to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
The governor said he had already directed the state Ministry of Justice to initiate the process of amending the Penal Code section on kidnapping in order to change the punishment from life imprisonment to death.
Mr Ganduje, revealed this on Thursday while inaugurating the 16-man Commission of Inquiry mandated to investigate the abduction and forceful conversion to Christianity of nine Kano children by an Igbo kidnap syndicate.
The governor declared that death penalty is the only befitting punishment for kidnapping, which he said has taken a dangerous dimension in the state.
***
We’ll install 17 rice mills in Kano–Nanono
Alhaji Sabo Nanono, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development said the federal government is planning to install 17 rice mills in Kano state as part of efforts to boost agriculture and ensure food sufficiency in Nigeria.
Mr Nanono revealed this on Friday during a stakeholders meeting with farmers at the Kano State Government House.
He said the installation of new rice mills and the revival of existing ones would increase rice production output and curtail the effects of border closure on food sufficiency and security.
***
KAROTA officer crushed to death by runaway motorist
A personnel of the Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) was crushed to death after a motorist who resisted arrest ran over him and fled
Witnesses said the deceased, Tijjani Adamu, 27, had entered the offender’s car after arresting him for beating traffic, but alighted to remove the vehicle’s front number plate.
At that moment, it was learnt that the driver pressed the accelerator and crushed Mr Adamu before speeding off.
KAROTA had informed the Kano Police Command to launch a manhunt to arrest the suspect.
***
2020 Hajj registration begins–Kano Pilgrims board
The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board (KSPWB) announced the start of registration for the 2020 hajj exercise.
Executive Secretary of the board Muhammad Abba Danbatta, revealed this in a news conference, calling on intending pilgrims to make a minimum deposit of N1.2 million.
Mr Dambatta said the board would establish registration centres across the 44 local government areas of the state to guide those interested.
***
Kano launches measles vaccination, targets 3 million children
The Kano state government officially launched vaccination campaign against measles, saying it is targeting at least three million children under five years.
Flagging off the campaign, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, explained that measles is a preventable but highly transmissible viral infection which affects mostly children under five years of age and remains a major cause of children’s mortality globally.
Aminu Abdullahi
The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone Abubakar Sadiq Bello has ordered the investigation of unprofessional conduct of a policeman caught on camera voting during state congress of All progressive Congress (APC) in Kano.
KANO FOCUS reportsthat in view of the unprofessional conduct of the policeman, the AIG has referred the matter to the Zonal X-Squad for investigation.
A statement issued on Monday by Zonal Police Public Relations Officer Abubakar Zayyanu identified the police officer as Bashir Mohammed attached to the government house, Kano, from where he was deployed to work with the state Chairman of APC Abdullahi Abbas as a security aide.
Mr Zayyanu noted that if the inspector is found to have committed an offence by this action, the appropriate disciplinary measure will be taken against him.
He further assured the general public that further development on the matter will be communicated.
The statement reads in part.
“The attention of the Inspector-General of Police Zone one Headquarters, Kano has been drawn to a trending picture on social media, of an inspector of police casting vote at the recently conducted Kano State congress of the APC along with his principal, the state party chairman, Abdullahi Abbas.
“The inspector of police has been identified as Bashir Mohammed of the Special Protection Unit, Base One, Kano. The inspector is attached to the government house, Kano from where he was deployed to work with the said Abdullahi Abbas as a security aide.
“In view of this seemingly unprofessional conduct of the inspector, the AIG has referred the matter to the Zonal X-Squad for investigation.
“If the inspector is found to have committed a disciplinary offence by this action, the appropriate disciplinary measure will be taken against him.
“Finally, we want assure members of the public that further development on the matter will be communicated please.”
Nasiru Yusuf
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Saturday grilled former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso over allegations of abuse of office, diversion of public funds and fraudulent allocation of government properties to cronies.
KANO FOCUS reports that Kwankwaso, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, was first invited by the EFCC in September but failed to honour the invitation as reported by Channels TV.
An associate of the politician informed Channels Television that Kwankwanso may have been invited in relation to a petition by some retired employees of the Kano State Government.
The retired employees had told the EFCC that the former governor mismanaged pension remittances to the tune of N10 billion between 2011 and 2015, to fund a housing project for his cronies.
EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren did not comment on the interrogation of the former governor when contacted on Saturday.
Aminu Abdullahi
Crisis rocked Kano chapter of All Progressive Congress (APC), as Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and faction loyal to former governor of Kano and serving Senator Ibrahim Shekarau held parallel state congress.
KANO FOCUS reports that while Ganduje group held their congress at Sani Abacha stadium, faction loyal to Shekarau had their own at Janguza town, Tofa local government area.
Ganduje’s led group endorsed Abdullahi Abbas as state chairman of APC for a second term in a consensus arrangement, while the faction loyal to Shekarau announced Ahmadu Haruna Zago as newly elected chairman of APC in Kano state.
Reports shows that the security have earlier disrupted Shekarau’s camp congress at Sani Abacha youth centre and sealed the premises before they moved to Janguza where they held the election.
Below are some pictures of the parallel Congress.
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje while voting at Sani Abacha stadium
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje with APC chieftains
Delegates at Sani Abacha stadium
Ballot box
Factional chairman of Kano APC Ahmadu Haruna Zago
Ahmadu Haruna Zago and Abdilkadir Jobe
APC factional congress at Janguza
AIG orders investigation of Policeman seen voting in Kano APC Congress
EFCC Grills Rabiu Kwankwaso
Crisis rocks Kano APC as Ganduje, Shekarau hold parallel Congress
NCC moves to address poor network service at densely populated Kano markets – Prof Danbatta.
NCC upbeat on plans for 5G deployment
Emir’s Rolls Royce: Kano Emrate refutes story linking purchase to BUA
Breaking: EFCC Arrests Ganduje’s Wife
Saudi Airlines resumes operation at Aminu Kano International Airport
Aminu Ado Bayero appointed chancellor of Al-Istikama University
