University of Abuja expels 54 students for examination malpractices

The University of Abuja on Friday announced the expulsion of fifty-four students for cheating during examinations.

The University's Deputy Registra (Information), Mr Waziri Garba said that the expulsion of the students was approved by the Senate following the recommendations of the Central Examination Misconduct Committee.

Garba said in a statement that that 21 of the expelled students were from the Faculty of Social Sciences, 16 from Science, 11 from Education and 3 students each from the Faculties of Law and Management Sciences.

also approved the rustication of 19 students from the institution spanning various academic periods.

He also said that 14 students were rusticated for one academic session while five were rusticated for one semester with carry over of some of their courses.

“Of those rusticated, seven were from the Faculty of Arts, four from Social Science, three each from the Faculties of Science and Education and two from the Faculty of Management Sciences,” said the statement.

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FG distributes relief materials as one million IDPs return home

With the return of some one million Internally Displaced Persons to their villages in Adamawa and Taraba States, the Federal Government has launched the distribution of relief materials to help them start a new life.

The exercise which is at the instance of the Presidential Initiative for the North East was inaugurated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, David Babachir Lawal.

Lawal was however represented at the occasion by Alhaji Ibrahim Patel.

“Today, we are launching the distribution of relief materials to over one million internally Displaced Persons who already have returned to their various respective homes and villages in Adamawa and Taraba.

“Government felt it necessary to see how it palliates the suffering of the affected communities in the region and other parts of the country,’’ he said.

He advised the returnees to judiciously utilize the relief materials in restarting their lives.

The Adamawa State government which was represented at the occasion by the state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ahmad Sajo, pledged to cooperate with the Federal Government to assist the returnees.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, the relief materials included food, building materials and clothing.

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Operation Lafiya Dole: troops kill dozens of terrorists, rescue 455 hostages

Troops engaged in counter-terrorism operations in the Northeast of Nigeria on Friday rescued 455 Boko Haram captives, killing several dozens of the insurgents in the process.

The troops also destroyed some of the terrorists' camps and recovered a number of arms and ammunitions.

Here is a statement signed by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col Sani Kukasheka Usman on the exploits of the troops.

"Today (Friday), in the early hours, some elements of Boko Haram terrorists in 5 gun trucks, motorcycles and 2 Golf cars laden with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from Sambisa forest axis attempted an attack on 121 Task Force Battalion at Pulka. The ever alert and vigilant troops rose to the occasion and successfully repelled the attack and killed 7 Boko Haram terrorists, wounded several others and recovered 4 AK-47 rifles, 3 AK-47 rifle magazine and 92 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) belt ammunition. We wish to state that our troops are hale and hearty.

"In a related development, troops of 3 Battalion caught a suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ spy near the Battalion Headquarters at Gamboru Ngala. On interrogation, he confessed that he was sent to spy on the troops from Wulge.

"Consequent upon this the troops organized a fighting patrol comprising elements of Army Headquarters Strike Group and Civilian JTF to Wulge and Walamari. The troops had encounter with Boko Haram terrorists in which they killed 27 of them, recovered 5 motorcycles and 8 bicycles. They also cleared 12 terrorists’ camps and recovered 1 AK-47 rifles as well as 1 Dane gun.

"The troops also rescued 455 persons and escorted them to Gamboru Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) camp. Unfortunately, we lost one of the Civilian JTF. Nevertheless, the troops’ morale remains very high. Similarly, troops of 103 Battalion this evening ambushed Boko Haram terrorists atMairimri village crossing point in which they killed quite a number of terrorists, recovered 15 bicycles and foodstuffs. Further confirmatory reconnaissance would be conducted to further exploit the situation."

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Police arrest 458 crime suspects in Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command on Friday announced the arrest of 458 suspects for involvement in various criminal activities across the state.

The suspects were apprehended for alleged involvement in kidnapping, cattle rustling, car snatching, armed robbery and illicit drug dealings.

The renewed clampdown on criminal activities is attributed to new measures adopted by
Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Ballah Nasarawa, who was redeployed from Abuja to Kaduna only two weeks ago.

“In prosecuting this important campaign of getting rid of all miscreants in Kaduna State, I requested and got personnel from the counter terrorism unit, the special protection unit, the intelligence response team as well as the forensic and crime data unit, all from the force headquarters in Abuja," said AIG Nasarawa.

The Guardian reports that among the arrested suspects were "eight people, suspected to be behind the kidnap of the three pastors recently released with one dead, three suspects held in connection with the kidnap of Dr. Mansur Ahmed, an executive director with Dangote Group, two in the case of the kidnap of one Pastor Elijah Afolabi, six arrested in Rigasa, one kidnapper in Kafanchan, three kidnappers in Mararaban, Jos and a notorious kidnapper who has been terrorizing Jere Local Government of the state. He remarked that two suspects were also arrested while trying to kidnap one Samuel David at Sabon Tasha in Kaduna, while a car snatcher in Rigasa, and a cattle rustler were also nabbed."

Nasarawa said that 71 cattle and 38 sheep, 5 AK-47 riffles and several rounds of ammunition as well as a sizeable amount of illicit drugs and intoxicants were recovered from the suspects.

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ICPC to publish list of most corrupt MDAs

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC has announced the seizure of 61 houses from a corrupt female public servant and the monitoring and arrest of civil servants living beyond their means.

The Chairman of the ICPC, Mr. Ekpo Nta who addressed participants of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS at the Abuja headquarters of the agency on Friday, disclosed that the ICPC will soon start to publish the list of the most corrupt Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

Nta while speaking on the theme, ‘The role of the ICPC in the War Against Corruption: Mandate, Strategies and Challenges’, said, “We are developing a scorecard like Transparency International which rates countries as to the level of corruption of countries. We have developed one for Ministries Departments and Agencies . Hopefully, we will know those who will take the first prize.”

He also said that once the 2016 Budget is passed, the ICPC would begin to watch how monies are being spent, adding that the commission has been prosecuting public servants found to be living beyond their means.

“From one of the employees of one of the organisations, we seized about 61 or 62 houses in an estate. The matter is in court so I can’t say too much but I want to say that the officer was not a man. We do prosecution but also try to seize the assets acquired through corrupt means so that apart from prosecution, we can strip you of the assets within and outside the country,” he said.

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I came back with $6b investments from China - Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his latest foreign trip has fetched Nigeria over six billion dollars in investments from China.

According to a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the agreements signed with the Chinese during the visit boost key sectors of the Nigerian economy including power, solid minerals, agriculture, housing and rail transportation.

“In the power sector, North South Power Company Limited and Sinohydro Corporation Limited signed an agreement valued at $478,657,941.28 for the construction of 300 megawatts solar power in Shiriro, Niger State.

“In the solid minerals sector, Granite and Marble Nigeria Limited and Shanghai Shibang signed an agreement valued at $55m for the construction and equipping of a granite mining plant in Nigeria.

“A total of $1bn is to be invested in the development of a greenfield expressway for Abuja-Ibadan-Lagos under an agreement reached by the Infrastructure Bank and Sinohydro Corporation Limited.

“For the housing sector, both companies also sealed a $250m deal to develop an ultra modern 27-storey high rise complex and a $2.5bn agreement for the development of the Lagos Metro Rail Transit Red Line project.

“An agreement valued at $363m for the establishment of a comprehensive farm and downstream industrial park in Kogi state was also announced at the Nigeria-China business forum.

“Other agreements undergoing negotiations include a $500m project for the provision of television broadcast equipment and a $25m facility for production of pre-paid smart meters between Mojec International Limited and Microstar Company Limited.

“About 100 Nigerian businesses and 300 Chinese firms participated in the Nigeria-China business forum which took place a day after President Buhari began his visit to China,” the statement said.

Buhari returned to Abuja on Friday after a five-day official visit to China.

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Police to confiscate firearms from Fulani herdsmen

Following sustained public outcry over incessant attacks by armed Fulani herdsmen on their host communities and farmers, the Nigeria Police Force has vowed to arrest and prosecute any herdsmen found to be in possession of guns without police license.

Amid accusations that Fulani herdsmen use assault rifles like AK47 and other high caliber guns whenever they are involved in  clashes with farmers over grazing areas, the police said that it does not issue gun licenses to herdsmen.

The Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase told Saturday Punch that any herdsman found to be in possession of a firearm would be arrested and prosecuted according to the law.

“We have always confiscated illegal and prohibited firearms and prosecute those arrested. Police cannot issue firearms licence to herdsmen. We are encouraging citizens to provide information on illegal arms across the country. Public safety is the absolute priority.  

“The Police cannot issue out firearms licence to anyone that is not qualified to possess firearms. There are procedures to obtain firearms licence; if you don’t follow the procedure and you don’t meet the requirements, you will not be granted the approval to possess one,” he said.

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