News
State Governments Can Offset, Waive Minor Fines Owed By Inmates – Aregbesola
The Federal Government has revealed that state governors can offset or grant waivers to inmates with fines less than N1 million.
This is according to the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, during the commissioning of a 20-bed space medical facility at Port Harcourt maximum security custodial centre.
Aregbesola said while the Federal Government is finding long time solutions to the challenge of prison decongestion, the State Government can in the meantime provide basic supports, like offsetting the meager fines and debts, building court houses at the correctional services premises or try the defendants virtually from the Correctional Centres for speedy determination of cases.
He held that some of the inmates are held behind bars for minor offences that can be easily waved by the states.
The Minister further stated that he recently asked the comptroller of Correctional centres to compile the list of inmates whose reason for incarceration is a fine or a debt not more than one million naira that are meant to be paid to the state governments.
According to him, about 5,000 inmates where shortlisted under this category and most of them have stayed long enough in the care of the Federal Government to consume foods worth more than they are supposed to pay as fines and debt to the states.
According to him, in Rivers State, there are about 22 of such inmates and the 22 of them are collectively owing a little above 3million naira, an amount he thinks the State Government can offset or wave for the inmates to be freed.
The minister noted that apart from reducing the financial burden on the Federal Government, such decisions by the state will also help in decongesting the correctional centres.
He said for instance, the Maximum facility in Port Harcourt was built 1,800 inmates, but as of May 12, 2023 the centre was holding 3,100 inmates.
While emphasizing that the situation in Port Harcourt is a reflection of the cases in most of the facilities across the country, the minister said Additionally, the Federal Government is building 6 mega facilities with at least 3,000 capacity in the six geopolitical zones to further decongest the existing facilities.
The one for the South-South is located in Bori in Khana Local Government Area of the Ogoni ethnic group in Rivers State.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has successfully recaptured a high-ranking commander of the Ansaru terrorist group, Abdulazeez Obadaki.
He is believed to be the mastermind behind the horrific mass shooting at a Deeper Life Bible Church near Okene, Kogi State, which took place on August 7, 2012.
This recapture marks a significant step in bringing those responsible for the tragedy to justice. The attack on the church, a deeply sorrowful event, resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 19 worshippers, including the pastor, and left many others with varying degrees of injuries.
The DSS’s efforts to apprehend Obadaki demonstrate their commitment to combating terrorism and ensuring the safety of citizens.
Security sources disclosed that the suspected terrorist leader confessed to orchestrating the Kuje Custodial centre jailbreak following his transfer from Kabba Custodial Centre in June 2022.
According to the sources, after over three years of being on the run, DSS operatives in a, well-oiled intelligence operation recaptured Obadaki aka Bomboy, on Friday morning.
This arrest comes barely two months after the secret police arraigned five suspects linked to the 2022 Catholic Church attack in Owo, Ondo State.
During the February 2022 daylight bank robberies in Uromi, Edo State, which instilled widespread fear across the region, several policemen and bank customers were killed, while hundreds of millions of Naira was reportedly carted away.
The secret police has, of recent, been recording a chain of successes in the capture of terrorists and criminal elements across the nation, with its new leadership fast-tracking the trial of the arrested suspects.
News
Marwa To Serve As NDLEA Chairman Until 2031- Tinubu
Marwa, first appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2021, previously chaired the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse from 2018 to 2020.
•Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday renewed the reappointment of Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) as Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for another five-year term.
Marwa, first appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2021, previously chaired the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse from 2018 to 2020.
His renewed tenure will see him lead the NDLEA until 2031.
A former military governor of Lagos and Borno States, Marwa is an alumnus of the Nigerian Military School and the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). Commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1973.
He has held several strategic positions, including brigade major of the 23 Armoured Brigade; Aide-de-Camp to then Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Theophilus Danjuma; academic registrar of the NDA; Deputy Defence Adviser at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C.; and Defence Adviser at the Nigerian Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has issued a final mobilization directive to all its chapters nationwide, signaling readiness for an indefinite strike as its 21-day ultimatum to state governors expired today, Friday November 14.
The looming action which threatens to paralyze legislative operations across all State Houses of Assembly follows a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Bauchi State where it resolved to give State Governments a 21-day deadline, effective from October 24, to begin implementing the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) and financial autonomy for State Legislatures, as enshrined in Section 121(3) of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended).
In an official directive on Friday, the National Secretariat of the Union express disappointment that despite “ample window for compliance, reports from the states indicate that most State Governments are yet to begin the implementation as directed.
PASAN, therefore, instructed its zonal leaders to prepare for full-scale action.
The directive ordered all National Vice Presidents to “immediately mobilize all Chapters within their respective zones for industrial action as soon as the ultimatum elapses.
This action is to ensure full enforcement of the NEC resolution and to press home demand for the implementation of CONLESS without further delay.
The Union has formally notified the National Assembly leadership of the expiration of the ultimatum and its readiness for strike.
BREAKING: DSS Recaptures Ansaru Terrorist Commander Linked to Church Massacre
Marwa To Serve As NDLEA Chairman Until 2031- Tinubu
CAF announces free e-visas for fans attending AFCON Morocco 2025
Tech Expert, Zuckerberg trains with UFC champions, Adesanya, Alexander
Organ Trafficking: Ekweremadu bags 10 years in UK prison
SAINT OBI: Between his marriage and his death
-
News3 days agoWike in heated clash with naval officers over Abuja land (Videos & Photos)
-
News2 days agoNduka Obaigbena to Launch Leekeeleekee, A New Media Platform in January
-
Business3 days agoUBA commits $102m direct investments in Chad’s securities
-
News1 day agoLagos govt clears beggars, street occupants along Ketu-Alapere corridor
-
News3 days agoWorld Bank Scores Nigeria’s Poverty Reduction Programmes as Inefficient
-
News2 days agoEditors demand 10-year corporate tax relief for the media industry
-
News2 days agoNMPRDA Urges Nigerians to Avoid Panic Buying of Petrol and Diesel This Season
-
News3 days agoUPDATE: Wike Condemns Military Takeover Of Abuja Land, Orders Halt To Illegal Development