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NDLEA intercepts bus carrying Indian hemp at checkpoint
By Abubakar Sadiq Isah
The Abaji Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Saturday morning intercepted a luxury bus carrying a substance suspected to be Indian hemp near Army checkpoint at Abaji, on Abuja Lokoja road.
A source with the NDLEA who preferred anonymity confided in our reporter yesterday that the Marco Polo bus was intercepted during a stop and search operation.
He said the officials were on patrol and they decide to stop the bus, on which they found the substance suspected to be Indian hemp wrapped in a black polythene bag and concealed inside a carton.
“So it was in the process of bringing out some of the load inside the bus that one of the cartons sealed with cello tape was forcefully opened and Indian hemp was discovered sealed in a black polythene bag, “he said.
He said after the discovery, the bus driver was asked to drive to the command office in the area, where the bus was impounded, while passengers on board alighted and looked for an alternative means of transportation to their destinations.
He said the substance has been taken to the FCT command, while the bus was still at the Abaji unit command.
Our reporter learnt that the bus passengers who were stranded had to disembark and find another vehicle to continue with their journey, while those with heavy luggage went to hire another vehicle to convey them to their destination.
When contacted, the Abaji commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Ahmed Abubakar Wali, could not be reached for comment, as his phone was not connecting as at the time of filling this report yesterday.
Stakeholders tackle Candido on AMAC Marshalls
By Hussein Yahaya
Leader of the FCT Stakeholders’ Forum, Ambassador Ayuba Jacob Ngbako, has challenged the chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area (AMAC) to make the roles of the newly constituted AMAC Marshalls public to avoid misinterpretation.
Ngbako, a former Nigerian envoy to the Gambia and currently the Executive Director of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services, insisted that the formation of the newly created force did not pass through the legislative process of the council.
He further warned the chairman of the attendant danger the force will instill in the lives of already suffering residents of the council, adding that the chairman should have consulted widely, especially with the stakeholders, who have major roles to play in terms of policy formation of the council.
“I am much aware that the creation of such force did not pass through legislative process and stakeholders were not invited to air their opinion on the creation of such body.
“We are also not comfortable with such decisions because it will tell on our people, so we want the chairman to come out with the explanation behind the body without legislative backing,’’ he said.
He called on the chairman to always relate with the legislative arm of the council before creating any organ of the government and also seek for the opinion of the stakeholders before coming up with policy that will have direct impact on the people of the council.
Abaji chairman tasks parents on education (pic)
By Abubakar Sadiq Isah
The chairman of Abaji Area Council, Alhaji Abdulrahman Ajiya, has called on parents to send their children to acquire both western and Islamic education in the area.
He stated this during the graduation and celebration of the 5th year anniversary of Center for Islamic Excellence, Nursery/Primary and Secondary School in the area on Saturday.
He said the only legacy parents will give to a child was education, saying the council was ready to support any parent whose child is ready to acquire both western and Islamic education.
“I believe what this gentleman has established here in Abaji, is very beneficial and we need to come together to also contribute towards propagation of Islam, “he said.
Earlier, the director of school, Malam Abdulsalam Imam, said he established the school to encourage children to acquire both western and Islamic knowledge.
Highlights of the event were the recitation of Qur’an, debate and presentation of certificate of merit to students.
Man arraigned in court over theft
By Richard P. Ngbokai
A 22 year old man has been arraigned before an Abuja Grade 1 Area Court for allegedly attempting to dispossess one Opone Sunday of his property at Zenith Bank Gwarinpa, Abuja.
The suspect who was identified as Jeff Itodo, a resident of No24 Makaranta Kakuri, Kaduna state, was arraigned under sections 79 and 95 of the penal code for joint act and an attempt to steal.
The prosecutor A.Z. Dalhatu told the court that on July 11, the complainant reported at Gwarinpa police station that the accused person and one Sunday Kayode now at large, conspired and opened his car at Zenith Bank premises, Gwarinpa and attempted to steal his money or other valuable documents.
The prosecutor added that the accused person was caught while his accomplice sped off in his car to an unknown destination.
When the charges were read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty and he was released on bail by the presiding judge Abubakar Sadiq in the sum of N50, 000 with a surety who must be on grade level 5 in the federal civil service and must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction. The case was adjourned for July 22 for hearing.
In another case, a 30 year-old housewife at Karmo, Abuja, has been arraigned in the same court for allegedly accusing a neighbour of witchcraft.
Jumai Sani, a resident of Angwan Hausawa, Karmo, was arraigned under section 392 for alleged defamation of character having impugned witchcraft on the complainant, Jamila Hamisu.
The prosecutor, A.Z Dalhatu told the court that the defendant accused the complainant of bewitching her by planting a snake inside her stomach thereby holding her destiny.
The accused person, however, denied liability and was released on bail by the presiding judge Abubakar Sadiq in the sum of N10, 000 with a surety within the court’s jurisdiction and the case was adjourned to August 10.