By Mukhtar Yahya Usman

Parents of abducted Kano children deserve arrest–Emir Sanusi

Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II had said that parents of the nine Kano children who were abducted, forcefully converted to Christianity and sold in Anambra state, deserved to be arrested by the police for “criminal negligence.”

Mr Sanusi, who broke his silence on the issue for the first time, had said when the abductions were first reported to him at his palace, he had asked his aides to find out from the Kano Police Command if there was any law on negligence.

The Emir spoke at the 2019 public campaign on drug abuse organized by League for Societal Protection Against Drugs Abuse (LESPADA) held in Kano.

Kano court dissolves 4 emirates created by Ganduje

A Kano High Court dissolved the four first class emirates carved out of the Kano emirate by the Kano state government.

KANO FOCUS recalls that Kano state governor Abdullahi Ganduje had on May 8, assented to a law establishing Bichi, Karaye, Rano, and Gaya emirates.

However, the court presided by Justice Usman Na’Abba had declared the law as null and void.

Mr Na’Abba had ruled that the Kano state House of Assembly did not follow the proper procedures in making the law.

My comments on Kano abducted children were deliberately twisted–Emir Sanusi

Emir of Kano Malam Muhammad Sunusi II has complained that his recent comments on the abduction of native Kano children by Igbo kidnappers, were deliberately misinterpreted by journalists.

Kano Focus reports that Mr Sanusi had November 9, 2019 sparked controversy after he accused parents of abducted children in the state of “criminal negligence”, with many people describing his comments as “insensitive”.

However, reacting to the controversy, Mr Sanusi had said his comments were deliberately misinterpreted by journalists.

He spoke while receiving the Commander-General of the state Hisbah board Sheikh Muhammad Harun Sani Ibni Sina, who had paid him a visit at his palace.

“So, you have to understand. We know journalists and we have already said it that our comments will be deliberately twisted and misinterpreted and that was what happened. Even these latest comments I am making will be misinterpreted,” he had said.

Kano gov’t seizes Emir Sanusi’s N250m land, pays monarch N4.5m compensation

The Kano State Government seized a plot of land worth N250 million belonging to the Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II and approved a peanut N4.5 million as compensation to the monarch.

There is a brewing crisis between Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and the emir, which culminated in whittling the influence of the latter by creation of four additional emirates and first-class emirs in Bichi, Rano, Karaye and Gaya.

A Kano High Court had last week nullified the law that created the emirates and the emirs, triggering fears that the judgement might trigger the simmering crisis.

 Ganduje appoints new commissioners

Kano state governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje inaugurated 21 commissioners after six months without a cabinet.

The governor swore-in the commissioners and assigned portfolios to them less than 48 hours after their screening by the Kano State House of Assembly.

Mr Ganduje held his first state executive council meeting just hours after inaugurating the new cabinet members.

Appeal Court upholds Ganduje’s election

The Kaduna division of the Court of Appeal upheld the March 23 election of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as the governor of Kano State.

In its ruling, the appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate Abba Kabir Yusuf, challenging Mr Ganduje’s election victory.

Kano Focus recalls that on October 2, 2019 chairman of the Kano Election Tribunal, Justice Halima Shamaki had dismissed the petition filed by the PDP and Mr Yusuf for lack of proof.

Kano Assembly cuts break to consider Education Development Support bill

 The Kano state House of Assembly resumed its plenary session to consider a bill for the establishment of an Education Development Support Board.

KANO FOCUS recalls that the Assembly had gone on break on November 07, to resume on December 16.

However, the Assembly Clerk, Abdullahi Alfa said the House will resume to consider the bill.

The bill was approved by the Kano state Executive Council in a meeting held at the Government House, Kano.

Yusuf Maitama Sule varsity to start medicine course next year

Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano (YUMSUK) has revealed that it would commence degree programme in medicine and surgery (MBBS) by 2020.

The Vice Chancellor of the university Professor Mustapha Ahmad Isah disclosed this while defending the university’s budget before the Kano Assembly Committee on Higher Education.

Mr. Isah had said the institution is set to enroll its first set of medical students in the next academic session, Kano Focus reports.

He said the sum of N3 billion was budgeted for the university in order to renovate the site for the purpose of the medical programme.

Swiss foundation honors Kano journalist

 The Fetisov Charitable Foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland has shortlisted Kano-born journalist Abdulaziz Abdulaziz for its international journalism award.

KANO FOCUS reports that Abdulaziz Abdulaziz of the Premium Times was shortlisted in the Outstanding Investigative Reporting category for his series of stories that led to the resignation of former minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun.

Mr Abdulaziz had exposed how Ms Adeosun skipped the mandatory one year national service and used a forged exemption certificate to secure public service appointments illegally.

Kano blogger accuses PPRO of human rights violations

A Kano based blogger, Bashir Bashir Galadanci has petitioned the state police command to investigate its public relations officer over alleged abuse of office and violations of fundamental human rights.

Mr Galadanchi had accused Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, of illegal detention, torture, and coercing him into making a false confession.

KANO FOCUS recalls that Mr Galadanci was arrested on September 11 for allegedly divulging police internal information on social media without authorization.

In a videotaped confession that went viral, Mr Galadanci apologized to the police command and alleged that he was sponsored by a former PPRO to tarnish the image of the Kano state police command.