NEWS
Bauchi Governor Flags off N8bn Road Project in Tafawa Balewa

From Mohammed Muktar Umar, Bauchi
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state has on Saturday flagged off road construction project worth N8 billion in Burga town of Tafawa Balewa local government area.
The Governor who performed the plagging off ceremony explained that the road linking the two local governments of Alkaleri and Tafawa Balewa is to cover 58. 4km.
Communities to benefit from the road according to him, includes; Yalwan Duguri to Badaran Dutse, Birim-Bajama to Kumbala, Kundak-Wurno to Burga.
Speaking at the project site in Burga Town of Tafawa Balewa LGA, the
governor revealed that already over 4 billion naira have been released.
The Governor who revealed that already over N4 billion has been released for the contact said the award for the construction of the road was in line with the policy thrust of his administration of providing infrastructure that have direct bearing on the lives of the teeming populace.
According to him, "adequate government's attention will be given continuously to facilitate the timely completion of the project".
The Governor acknowledged the courage and endurance demonstrated by the communities for patiently waiting for long to see the day of the execution of the project
"In an effort to remain focused and committited to my campaign promises, my administration will embark on meaningful projects that have socioeconomic impacts to the citizens of the state". He reaffirmed.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Works and Transport, Engineer Stephen Abubakar said the road when completed, would increase accesses to social amenities and other opportunities associated with road transport to the communities.
He explained that, the road was designed to have a lenght of 58.4km with total width of 10.3m which comprise a carriageway of 7.3m and 1.5m shoulders on each side.
The Permanent Secretary noted that the road would be constructed with 4 bridges, 45 box culverts and 70 pipe culverts of different sizes as it will be completed within 24 dry months.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Tafawa Balewa local government,
Barrister Kefas Magaji who spoke on behalf of the benefiting communities, described the gesture as a welcome development and assured the governor of their support for the success of his administration.
Magaji said the day Bala Mohammed was declared Governor was one of the most exciting moments for him and the people of Bauchi state in 2019.
CRIME
Troops arrest 10 Robbers, rescue 3 Victims in Kaduna

By Gom Mirian, Abuja
The military high command, yesterday said its troops deployed on internal operations in Kaduna state has arrested ten armed robbery suspects at Kafanchan town in Jema’a local government area of the state.
A statement issued by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Bernard Onyeuko stated the names of the arrested suspects as: Messrs Manga Ismail, a 22 – year-old, Idris Haruna (Ban Sambo), 20- year-old, Sani Bali, 19- year-old.
Others are Shamsudeen Ladan, 25 – year-old, Abdulmajid Yau (Sele), 22 – year – old , Abubakar Hassan, 23 – year-old, Abbas Aliyu, 15 – year-old, Mohammed Umar (Jazuli), 17 – year – old, Jonathan Vincent (Bamai), 19 – year-old and Stephen Joseph, 25 – year-old.
According to him, items recovered from the criminals include: TV, DVD, gas cookers, Mattresses, woofer, phones, scissors, among others.
Gen. Onyeuko also said on the same day, troops acting on intelligence reports, conducted a cordon search operation at Fanock Village, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State and found a Toyota Corolla car with registration number ABUJA KUJ 452 AZ with no occupant.
Onyeuko explained that Troops conducted search operations in the surrounding bush and rescued 3 kidnaped civilians comprising two females and a male.
Speaking further, he said :”Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN in a sustained effort to eliminate criminals elements in their Area of operation on 28 June 2022 based credible intelligence conducted clearance operation in conjunction with vigilantes at Kan Duniya Village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau State, neutralized notorious bandit and kidnapper.
“Similarly, on the same day, troops on fighting patrol sighted 2 x suspected kidnappers around Sara High Ground Mangu Local Government Area Plateau State on a motor cycle, suspects abandoned their motor cycle on sighting troops and fled.
” Troop exploited area and recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 101 rounds of 7.62mm special, 5 magazines, 1 motor cycle, 1 iron digger and 2 black jackets amongst others”, he said.
Foreign News
Husband of Slain Kenyan Runner Tirop Seeks Plea Bargain

The husband of slain Kenyan distance runner Agnes Tirop is seeking a plea bargain after initially denying a charge of murder, his lawyer said yesterday.
Tirop, a rising star in the world of athletics, was killed last October in her home in Iten, a high-altitude training hub in western Kenya for top runners.
Emmanuel Ibrahim Rotich was arrested after a dramatic late-night chase the day after Tirop’s body was found with stab wounds, and has been in custody ever since.
The 41-year-old denied a charge of murder at a November court appearance.
But in the latest twist in the legal saga, his lawyer Ngigi Mbugua told the Eldoret High Court that Rotich was willing to plead guilty to a lesser charge in the hope of attracting a more lenient sentence.
The prosecution said it was not against the idea of a plea bargain but wanted Tirop’s family to be involved in the process.
A hearing on Rotich’s request will take place on 22 September.
NEWS
HEDA Petitions ICPC over Allegations against Ex-CJN

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the allegations against the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Chairman, HEDA, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, yesterday in Lagos.
Suraju, in a letter to the Chairman of ICPC, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, urged the commission to stand tall over the allegations of corruption, maladministration and incompetence leveled against Muhammad.
“As a leading anti-corruption organisation in Nigeria and non-partisan human rights and development league, we call on the ICPC to commence investigation into the budgetary allocation, utilisation and development process of the judiciary with a view to sanitisation of that critical arm of government,” he said.
Suraju said it was widely reported that the immediate past CJN responded to the allegations brought against him by 14 Justices on the aforementioned allegations.
“It is unarguable that the judiciary is the last hope of the helpless and its judges are only meant to be heard and not seen.
“However, these allegations made by fellow Justices of the apex court against the CJN cannot be overlooked as it is weighty and must be diligently investigated by the commission in order to protect that vital institution.
“If the Supreme Court of Nigeria is infested with corrupt persons, then our democracy is doomed, ICPC and others relevant bodies should rise and act fast to redeem the temple of justice from possible collapse,” HEDA said. (NAN)