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WHAT’S NEWS? Wednesday, October 4, 2023.
By Ezinwanne Onwuka
● Tinubu’s certificate scandal merely a distraction: Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister
Nigeria’s minister for foreign affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar has said the Nigerian government is not interested in the controversy about President Bola Tinubu’s academic records from the Chicago State University (CSU). The Minister said the Administration does not have time to waste on such “frivolous issues.”
The CSU turned over copies of Tinubu’s records to Atiku Abubakar on Monday following an order by a Chicago federal district court. Tinubu’s attorneys fought tooth and nail to stop the extraction of the documents – requested by Atiku to boost his chances of invalidating Tinubu’s election in February and its affirmation by an election tribunal in September – but failed. During a deposition on Tuesday, CSU registrar Caleb Westberg confirmed that Tinubu is an alumnus of the school.
Tuggar said Wednesday morning during a TV interview that Nigerians should show more concern about the prevailing economic travails rather than waste time “about some certificate; whether there is a ‘T’ missing or an ‘i’ hasn’t been dotted.” He said despite the certificate saga, Tinubu’s presidency is welcomed by the international community. “The foreign leaders that we’ve been engaging, and the international organisations clearly are disinterested in wasting time on such,” Minister Tuggar said.
● 3 suspects detained over murder of Fulani leader in Plateau
The Nigerian Army has arrested 12 suspects in connection with the murder of Adamu Idris Gabdo, a Fulani leader in the Panyam community in the Mangu district of Plateau State. Gabdo is believed to have been killed by gunmen on September 23. His corpse has yet to be recovered.
Nigeria’s Army Chief General Taoreed Lagbaja ordered the arrest of Gabdo killers within 48 hours. Abdusalam Abubakar, the leader of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), a military task force maintaining peace in Plateau, Bauchi, and Kaduna States, said out of the 12 arrested suspects, three were held and nine were released after a series of investigations.
“The three are really cooperating with us and are providing useful information that is leading us to the real culprits,” Abubakar said in a meeting with religious and community leaders from the Mangu district in Jos on Tuesday. He said his men would do everything possible to track down everyone involved in the murder.
● Schoolgirls abducted in northern Nigeria
Five schoolgirls of Federal University Dutsinma in Nigeria’s northwestern Katsina State were abducted from their off-campus hostels by gunmen on Wednesday morning (Sept. 4). The attack began at 2:00 a.m. local time. All victims were final-year students.
It is the latest attack on a university by gunmen in Nigeria, 13 days after 24 schoolgirls were whisked away in neighbouring Zamfara State. The latest attack is believed to have been carried out by one of several groups of bandits active in northwestern Nigeria. The groups are notorious for kidnapping people for ransom.
Police have confirmed the arrest of an alleged informant to the terrorists and said efforts are ongoing to rescue the victims unharmed.
● Three killed, many abducted, in Sokoto community
Three persons have been killed while several others sustained injuries in an attack by masked killers at Soro community in the Binji district of northwestern Sokoto State. Ahmad Rufai, a police spokesperson in Sokoto, said the attack took place on Monday (Oct. 2).
The killers, armed with assault rifles, stormed the agrarian village, set houses on fire, and abducted whomever they could before authorities could arrive. A house fire led to the loss of three lives, and the survivors sustained various degrees of injuries. “Eight people, mostly women, were abducted and carried away on motorcycles by the bandits,” a local hunter told The PUNCH.
● Nominee for ministerial role slumps during Senate screening
Balarabe Abbas Lawal, one of the three latest nominees for a ministerial appointment by President Bola Tinubu, passed out Oct 4 during an review session by Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber, the Senate.
Abbas, 65, had just finished his introductory remarks and was about to take questions from the lawmakers when he suddenly fell to the floor. There was a momentary turmoil in the House as several lawmakers rushed to his aid.
Amid the frantic scene, Nigeria’s Senate President Godswill Akpabio was heard requesting for a cessation of live broadcast of the event. The lawmakers immediately went into a closed-door session.
