By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

In a shocking revelation, authorities in Katsina State have arrested a young man named Falalu, who confessed to orchestrating the abduction of his own mother.

The incident has left the community in disbelief, raising concerns over the lengths to which individuals might go for financial gain.

In a video released by authorities, Falalu openly admitted his involvement. “I arranged for the abduction of my mother,” he stated without remorse. “We worked on it together with one Nakande and another accomplice. We were three in total.” His casual confession and tone sent a wave of outrage and sorrow throughout Katsina, as he described how he meticulously planned his mother’s ordeal.

According to local sources, Falalu was motivated by financial issues. By working with Nakande, a known figure in the region, and another unnamed associate, they devised a scheme to demand ransom from their own family members. While such incidents have tragically become common across some parts of Nigeria, family involvement has added a new dimension of horror to this case.

The Katsina State Police have since taken Falalu and his accomplices into custody, assuring the public that justice will be served.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

President Bola Tinubu on Friday conferred a post-homous award of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.

He made the declaration during the interment in honour of the late senior officer at the National Cemetery in Mogadishu, Abuja.

The President extoled the virtues of the late warrior, eulogising his contributions to national security.

According to Tinubu, the appointment of Lagbaja as the COAS was one of his finest made so far.

President Bola Tinubu on Friday conferred a post-homous award of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.

He made the declaration during the interment in honour of the late warrior at the National Cemetery in Mogadishu, Abuja.

The President extoled the virtues of the late warrior, eulogising his contributions to national security.

According to Tinubu, the appointment of Lagbaja as the COAS was one of his finest made so far.

“As an eternal symbol of our appreciation, I have granted the late Chief of Army Staff, the post-humous national honour of the Commander of the Federal Republic of the Niger (CFR),” Tinubu declared.

He after that invited the wife of the late COAS, Mariya who collected the award on behalf of the Lagbaja family amid applause from the congregation.

The President urged the officers of the military not to allow “death defeat us. Lift your heads in pride in memory of your army chief.”

Tinubu also reiterated his administration’s commitment to support members of the armed forces who work hard to defend the nation.

He expressed gratitude to the Lagbaja family for allowing the late COAS to serve with honour, saying that the works of the late warrior would continue to serve generations yet unborn.

The event had in attendance Vice President Kashima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Defence Minister, governors and top military officials.

Last week, Tinubu announced Lagbaja’s death, saying the late warrior passed away in Lagos after a period of illness.

Born on February 28, 1968, Lagbaja served as the Chief of Army Staff for one year and four months. President Tinubu appointed him to the role in June 2023.

He played pivotal roles in numerous internal security operations, including Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in Southeast Nigeria, and Operation Forest Sanity across Kaduna and Niger States.

(Channels TV)

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a suit filed by 19 state governments against the federal government, challenging the constitutionality of the laws establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and two others.

The apex court threw out the suit for lacking in merit and substance.

Justice Uwani Abba-Aji who read the lead judgment held that the states were completely wrong in holding that EFCC established by an act of the National Assembly was an illegal and unlawful body.

In the unanimous judgment of a 7-man panel of Justices of the court, the power of the EFCC, ICPC and NFIU to arrest and prosecute offenders were affirmed.

The plaintiffs, in the suit, marked: SC/CV/178/2023 had argued that the Supreme Court, in Dr Joseph Nwobike vs Federal Republic of Nigeria, had held that it was a United Nations Convention against corruption that was reduced into the EFCC Establishment Act and that in enacting this law in 2004, the provision of Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, was not followed.

The argument was that, in bringing a Convention into the Nigerian law, the provision of Section 12 must be complied with.

According to them, the provision of the Constitution necessitated the majority of the states’ Houses of Assembly agreeing to bring the convention in before passing the EFCC Act and others, which was allegedly never done.

The argument of the states in their present suit, was that the law, as enacted, could not be applied to states that never approved of it, in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian constitution.