Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, on Thursday visited the Kaduna State Correctional Service Facility to see his former Chief of Staff, Bashir Saidu, who is currently in custody over allegations of money laundering and other charges.

El-Rufai arrived at the facility around 10:19 am, accompanied by three of his former commissioners: Jafaru Sani (Education), Hafsat Baba (Human Services and Social Development), and Ibrahim Hussaini (Environment). The visit lasted less than 30 minutes, with the former governor departing at 10:47 am.

Bashir Saidu, who held various key positions during El-Rufai’s administration, including Commissioner of Local Government Affairs and Commissioner of Finance, faces serious allegations of financial misconduct.

He is accused of laundering ₦3.9 billion and misappropriating ₦244 million. The charges also include a claim that he sold $45 million belonging to the Kaduna State Government in 2021 at an exchange rate of ₦410 per dollar, significantly below the market rate of ₦498 per dollar, resulting in a shortfall of ₦3.9 billion.

Saidu was arrested on Monday and arraigned before a magistrates’ court in Rigasa, which ordered his remand in custody pending further investigations.

Dressed in a green cap and light green agbada, El-Rufai declined to address journalists who approached him after the visit. He quickly entered a vehicle in his convoy and left the facility without making any public statement.

This visit underscores the close association between the former governor and his embattled ally, raising questions about potential political implications as investigations continue.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Thursday, decorated over 100 officers in the Delta State Police Command, with a charge for hard work.

Egbetokun, represented by the state Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, performed the decoration at the police headquarters in Asaba, the state capital.

Among the decorated officers were Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ado Ibrahim, who until his promotion was the AC CID State Criminal Investigation Department; Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sadiq M. Mana who was until his promotion the DPO ‘A’ Division Ughelli and ACP Maiyaki Joyce Mathew, who was also until her promotion the DPO Kwale Division.

Others were Admin Officer Department of Operations, CSP Obekpa Michael, the Commander, Rapid Response Squad, CSP Omo-Uwuigbe Nosakhare and the Commander, Crack Squad, CSP Mohammed Balarabe Ibrahim

“I want you to remember that the reward for hard work is more work and, therefore, I advised you to put more effort while discharging your duties and ensure that you don’t disappoint the Inspector General of Police and the public,” he said.

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has approved N8b for the payment of the backlog of liabilities in pensions and gratuities for retired primary school teachers and other civil servants that have worked with the government.

The N8b will clear liabilities accrued from 2019 to 2021.

Zulum announced the approval on Wednesday at the council chamber of the government house in Maiduguri.

The governor released N3b in June and September 2019, to clear gratuities of 1,684 retirees that left the civil service between 2013 and 2019 and disbursed over N12b in 2020 for retirees that left both the state and local government civil service between 2013 and 2017.

“Since I took over in 2019 to date, we have paid about 25 billion naira for the settlement of gratuities for those that have worked with local and state governments,” Zulum said.

Meanwhile, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has assured that his administration will settle the backlog of gratuities and pensions before the end of his tenure in 2027. He said, “Insh’Allah, I will clear all the backlog of gratuities before I leave office in 2027.