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$350 Million Loan: Kaduna Assembles Committee to Probe El-Rufai’s Administration

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The Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Liman has inaugurated a 13-man committee to investigate how the $350 million World Bank loan obtained by the former Governor Nasir El-Rufai administration was spent, as well as other financial spending and abandoned projects initiated by the immediate past government between 2015 to 2023.

The constitution of the committee that took place during today’s plenary, followed a motion moved by the member representing the Kauru constituency, Mugu Yusuf, asking the House to investigate all the loans obtained by the El-Rufai administration.

“There have been uncomplimentary comments and assassinations of character on the leadership of the state, which the assembly cannot sit and watch. That is why I came up with this motion that the Speaker constitute a committee to investigate the allegations and negative comments on them,” he said.

“This is the only way the state can rekindle its confidence in its development partners, collaborators, and also those who give us loans and grants; failure to do this will push the indicators of the state to a situation whereby nobody will want to do business with us.”

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During the debate, the former speaker, Yusuf Zailani, during whose tenure as presiding officer of the House that the Kaduna State Government obtained the loan, denied that the ninth assembly approved the loan for the executive.

“I suffered a lot in order not to give approval for the loan to be collected; even the then deputy Speaker Isaac Auta Zankhai was against me because I disagreed with the loan to be collected. I told the then-governor to look at the number of loans we had on hand, and he didn’t listen to me,” he said.

In their separate submissions, the member representing the Jaba constituency, Henry Marah, and his counterpart from the Zangon Kataf constituency, Samuel Kambai, insisted that the legislators have the duty and constitutional rights to give approval before the governor can go ahead to collect loans but lamented that the case of Kaduna was different.

They therefore urged the committee to summon the 8th and 9th assembly speakers, along with some members of the same assembly, to come and give explanations on how the loans were collected and spent.

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Liman urged the ad-hoc committee to invite the speakers of the 8th and 9th assemblies and all other relevant stakeholders and agencies for investigation.

He assured the House that the matter will be properly looked into, saying they will give everyone the liberty to speak the truth.

The 13-man committee included Aminu Anti, representing Doka Gabasawa as the chairman; Yusuf Mugu Kaura as the deputy chairman; Munira Tanimu, Hon. Shehu Yunusa as member and nine others.

In March, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State said that he inherited a huge debt burden of $587m, N85bn, and 115 contractual liabilities from the immediate past administration of El-Rufai, lamenting that the huge debt has eaten deep into the state’s federal allocation.

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SAD! Angry fan k!lls female influencer during live stream

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Tokyo police are investigating the tragic killing of a 22-year-old female influencer who was fatally stabbed during a live stream on a public street.

The horrifying incident, which unfolded in real time, left viewers in shock as they witnessed the attack before the screen went dark.

According to local media reports on Wednesday, the suspect, a 42-year-old man believed to be a longtime follower of the influencer, was arrested at the scene. Investigators found multiple stab wounds on the victim’s body, including injuries to her head and neck.

Eyewitnesses reported that the influencer was engaging with her audience when she suddenly screamed for help. Moments later, sirens could be heard in the background as emergency responders arrived.

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Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspect had been following the influencer’s content for years and may have deliberately tracked her movements based on details she shared about the live-stream. Authorities believe the attack was premeditated.

The suspect reportedly claimed that he had lent the influencer two million yen (approximately $13,450) but had not been repaid. Police are currently verifying his claims as part of the ongoing investigation.

Authorities are urging social media users to exercise caution regarding their online interactions and personal security.

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Security operatives chase away thugs from PDP HQ amid leadership crisis

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Operatives of the Police, Department of State Service, and Nigeria Civil Defence Corps, on Wednesday, cleared thugs from the Peoples Democratic Party’s headquarters in Abuja.

A party source, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to fear of victimisation, revealed to The PUNCH on Wednesday that the thugs were reportedly recruited to block members of the National Working Committee from entering the party headquarters for their meetings.

The crisis within the PDP has deeply affected all party organs, with recent developments seeing Samuel Anyanwu and former National Youth Leader Sunday Ude-Okoye both claiming the position of PDP National Secretary.

While the Court of Appeal in Enugu upheld Ude-Okoye as the National Secretary, Anyanwu took the matter to the Supreme Court.

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As a result, the Supreme Court reserved its judgment on Monday, with the date to be communicated to the parties involved.

“The party staff, with the support of security personnel, confronted the thugs and dispersed them,” the source said.

At the party’s national headquarters, a reporter from The PUNCH noticed a heavy presence of security personnel.

Around six Nigeria Police, DSS, and NSCDC vans were stationed near Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

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The Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, is currently leading the NWC meeting, with Ude-Okoye attending as the National Secretary.

Details shortly…

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Authentic Lawmakers Resume Sitting At Rivers Assembly After Shutting Out Governor Fubara From Presenting 2025 Budget

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The Rivers State House of Assembly on Wednesday resumed plenary amid reports that lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, blocked Governor Siminalayi Fubara from presenting the 2025 budget.

A video seen by an online medium showed the lawmakers already seated inside the chamber while Speaker Martin Amaewhule and other officials carrying the mace made their way into the hall.

The development follows an earlier dramatic standoff at the Assembly complex, where Fubara accused the legislators of locking the gates to prevent him from presenting the 2025 Appropriation Bill.

SaharaReporters had reported that the governor, who arrived at the Assembly complex early in the morning, expressed frustration over the situation.

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He stated that he had made multiple attempts to reach Speaker Amaewhule and other lawmakers before his arrival.

“I have made several attempts—by phone calls and through official letters—to reach the speaker and other members. But it is unfortunate that the gate is completely sealed, and there is no sign that anything is going to happen today,” Fubara had said.

He added that the budget presentation was crucial for the state’s development, warning that failure to pass the appropriation bill would disrupt governance and slow ongoing projects.

A video of the incident, shared by a Facebook user, Prince Yemi Itodo, showed the Assembly complex under lock and key, with security operatives reportedly ordered to vacate the premises.

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“The implication is that the state will be run without a budget, which will slow development and lead to financial irregularities,” he wrote.

The blockade is the latest escalation in the ongoing political battle between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, whose loyalists dominate the Assembly.

The crisis has also drawn the attention of President Bola Tinubu, who recently urged both sides to implement a Supreme Court-backed political agreement aimed at resolving the dispute.

Despite Tinubu’s intervention and Fubara’s call for dialogue, Wednesday’s sitting suggests the battle for control of the Rivers State government is far from over.

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