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A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja, yesterday heard how former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika approved contracts to a company – Al Buraq Global Investment Limited – in which his daughter, Fatima, and son-in-law, Jalal Sule Hamma, have interests.

A former Director of Procurement in the ministry, Musa Odiniyan, said this while testifying as the fifth prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Sirika, Fatima, Jalal, and Al Buraq Global on a six-count charge bordering on corrupt practices.

In the charge, the prosecution alleged, among others, that Sirika used his “position to confer unfair advantage upon Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, whose alter ego, Fatima Hadi Sirika and Jalal Sule Hamma, are your daughter and son-in-law, respectively, by using your position to influence the award to them, the contract for the Apron Extension at Katsina Airport for the sum of N1,498,300,750”.

Fatima is said to be a staff member of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, while Jalal Sule Hamma is described as an employee of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

During his cross-examination yesterday by Sirika’s lawyer, Michael Numa (SAN), Odiniyan insisted that for a contract to be executed, the minister must have approved it.

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When asked about the role of the minister in the award of contracts, the witness said the former minister gave the final approval before the implementation of the contracts approved by the Ministerial Tenders Board (MTB).

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Nine Passengers confirmed dead, others injured in expressway ghastly road accident

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Nine Passengers confirmed dead, others injured in expressway ghastly road accident

Nine persons have been confirmed dead, while three others were severely injured in a road accident that occurred in Ayetoro area on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Monday.

This is contained in a statement by Mrs Florence Okpe, the Public Education Officer, of Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC), Ogun Sector Command.

Okpe attributed the cause of the crash to speeding and fatigue, which led to loss of control, causing the driver to ram into a stationary truck.

She said that the accident which happened at about 5:30a.m, involved a Toyota Hiace bus marked UYY 165 ZY and a truck with registration number DKA 244 XC .

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Okpe said that the accident involved 13 people comprising 10 men and three women, adding that six men and three women were recorded dead.

“The injured victims were taken to Famobis Hospital, Mowe, while the deceased were deposited at Idera Morgue, Sagamu,” she said.

The FRSC spokesperson admonished drivers to always observe stipulated speed limit.

She lamented the carelessness of some drivers who disregard the stipulated speed limit and the requirement. (NAN)

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Man allegedly stabs Uber Driver, steals his car

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Man allegedly stabs Uber Driver, steals his car

The Police Command in Lagos State has detained a suspect accused of stabbing a uber driver and dispossessing him of his car.

The command’s spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Monday in Lagos.

Hundeyin said that the incident happened on Saturday at 7:34p.m., at Ile-Zik in the Agege area of the state.

“A uber driver reported at Isokoko Division that the suspect boarded his Toyota Camry at Nitel by Old Abeokuta Motor Road, Agege, to Marriott Hotel, GRA, Ikeja.

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“On getting to Ile-Zik along the way, the suspect brought out a sharp knife, stabbed him all over his body and stole his vehicle, ” he said.

Hundeyin said that based on the report,
a team of policemen later trailed the vehicle to Oshodi where the suspect was intercepted.

“He was immediately apprhended and the vehicle was recovered from him to the station, ” he said.

The police spokesman said that the victim had been taken to the hospital for treatment.

Hundeyin said that investigation into the case was ongoing. (NAN)

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BREAKING; Killing: University closed down by School’s Management over students’ protest

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BREAKING; Killing University closed down by School’s Management over students’ protest

The Management of the Federal University Dutsinma (FUDMA) in Katsina State has announced a one-week Mid-Semester break starting from Feb. 24.

The closure of the school followed a protest embarked on by the students on Sunday after they alleged that the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) had shot to death one of their colleagues.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the students’ protest continued Monday morning.

Reports indicated that the JTF members on Sunday shot the student, alleging that he was an informant.

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The FUDMA Vice Chancellor, Prof. Armaya’u Bichi, announced the decision of the Senate to close the school in a statement issued in Katsina on Monday.

Bichi further advised the students to leave campus before 6.00 p.m. on Feb. 24.

“The Management wishes the students a happy and peaceful mid-semester break,” he said. (NAN)

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