By Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna

Inmates awaiting trials at the Minna old Correctional Custody are being conveyed to courts on Keke napep and commercial vehicles due to lack of Green maria to convey them to court. Investigations have revealed.

The green maria,according to our findings conducted at Minna old Correctional Custody, revealed that the two functional vehicles have broken down for past two years without been repaired

The Chief Judge of Niger State,Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik had in March,2026, purchased four tyres for the broken down only functioning water tanker in the Minna old Medium Security Custodial facility.

Our reporter in Minna was told that the water tanker has been jack on top of stone for the past three years,due to lack of tires forcing the inmates to source water from some public boreholes in Minna until the Chief Judge bought the four tires that brought the tanker back to the road.

Also, the only functioning borehole in the Medium Custodial Centre has dried up the same time the water tanker tires lost its four tires.

It was gathered that the development has forced the Niger State of command of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NcoS),to park the vehicle which now resulted in conveying the inmates on trial to courts with kekenap and any other means of transportation.

Our Correspondent reliably gathered that,the immediate past governor of Niger State, now Senator Abubakar Sani Bello bought two of the green maria to the both correctional Custodies some times in 2016.

Investigations further revealed that the already parked green maria,is the only functional vehicle that conveys awaiting trials inmates to over 35 courts within and outside Minna the state capital.

“ The already parked and the then only functional vehicle conveys inmates to and from courts in Gwada,Kuta,Paiko,Beji, Sakinpawa Kafinkoro and other courts in Minna and environs.

“ We are in a serious mess since the green maria parked up. We have to convey them to court with an alternative means of transporting the inmates to courts within Minna.

“ In fact,we have no option . They have to be in court and we have to find any alternative means of conveying them to court. At times we have to engage the service of tricycle operators to convey them to court” a source close to one of the facilities in Minna who craved anonymity told our Correspondent.

In alternative,it was further gathered that inmates are now being conveyed to courts with the only existing official ambulance that is to convey patients to hospital against the green maria.

The spokesman Niger State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, (NCoS) Mallam Rabiu Shaibu Mohammed CSC,while confirming the development,appealed to well to individuals and corporate entities in the state,to extend their kind hearted gesture to the command with functional green maria to safeguard the movement of inmates to courts.

By Uthman-Baba Naseer, Minna

In a renewed push to curb the spread of illegal weapons, the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has strengthened collaboration with the Minna Emirate to tackle the growing threat of illicit small arms and light weapons in Niger State North Central Nigeria.

This formed the focus of a sensitization and courtesy visit by the North Central Zonal Director of the Centre, Abdul Adamu Eneche, who led his management team to the palace of the Emir of Minna, Umar Faruq Bahago.

The visit aimed to deepen cooperation and raise awareness on the dangers posed by the proliferation of illegal weapons across Niger State and the North Central region. The Emir warmly received the delegation in the presence of members of his cabinet.

Speaking during the meeting, Eneche conveyed goodwill from the Director General of the Centre, Johnson Babatunde Kokumo. He explained that the Centre was established through a Presidential Executive Order in 2021 and later backed by law in 2024 to regulate and control small arms and light weapons in Nigeria. He added that the Centre operates under the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The Zonal Director identified key security challenges facing the country, including terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes, and communal conflicts. He stressed that the widespread availability of illegal weapons continues to fuel these threats.

According to him, earlier efforts to address the problem were weakened by poor coordination, which led to the establishment of the Centre as a more structured and unified body to handle the challenge effectively.

Eneche also highlighted the critical role of traditional institutions in intelligence gathering. He urged the Emir and other traditional leaders to use their closeness to the people to report suspicious activities and the presence of illegal arms. He added that the Centre collaborates with security agencies, conducts public sensitization, and maintains a national database on small arms.

He further noted that illegal weapons enter the country through porous borders and are also produced locally by illicit blacksmiths, whose activities are becoming more advanced.

In his response, the Emir of Minna described the partnership as timely and necessary. He emphasized that addressing the spread of illegal arms requires strong collaboration with traditional rulers, who are deeply connected to their communities.

The Emir expressed concern over the increasing presence of illegal weapons in his domain and commended the Centre for its efforts. He pledged full support to NCCSALW through public awareness campaigns, reporting of suspicious activities, and discouraging the local production and misuse of arms.

By George Mgbeleke

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has welcomed the Supreme Court ruling affirming Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, describing the decision as a clear validation of the party leadership’s position and a definitive confirmation that the INEC’s decision to de-recognise the David Mark leadership was fundamentally faulty.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the judgement reinforces the primacy of the rule of law in Nigeria’s democratic space and justifies the party’s faith in the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The party commends the five-man panel of the Apex Court, whose unanimous judgment, it says, has done great credit to the institution of judiciary in our country.

It also urges ts members and democratic stakeholders to remain vigilant, while renewing its call for the resignation of INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan.

The full statement read:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) congratulates all our members and leaders across the country on today’s Supreme Court ruling which affirmed the leadership of our party under Senator David Mark as National Chairman, and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.

Today’s decision is a clear and unequivocal affirmation that our party, its structures, and its leadership under our National Chairman, Senator Mark, and our National Secretary, Ogbeni Aregbesola, are legitimate. It lays to rest all contrived disputes and manufactured uncertainties, and reinforces the principle that the rule of law, not political manipulation, must guide the affairs of our democracy.

We commend the five-man panel of the Supreme Court, whose unanimous judgment, has today done great credit to the judiciary in our country and our political system.

However, while we welcome this judgement, we do not mistake it for the end of the struggle. The events leading up to this moment have exposed a troubling pattern of interference, bad faith, and attempts to weaken opposition voices in Nigeria. Let it be clearly stated: the ADC will not be intimidated, distracted, or silenced. We remain resolute in our mission to provide Nigerians with a credible alternative, anchored on ending insecurity, reducing the cost of living, and creating jobs at scale.

We therefore urge all our members, supporters, and democratic stakeholders across the country to remain vigilant. Democracy is not defended in a single courtroom victory, it is sustained through constant vigilance, active participation, and the courage to resist any attempt to undermine the will of the people. What has been attempted once can be attempted again, hence, we must not let our guard down.

In light of this ruling, the ADC reaffirms its long-standing position that Prof. Joash Amupitan, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), must resign. The circumstances surrounding this matter, now clarified by the Supreme Court, point to either a grave failure of judgment or a deliberate act of bad faith. Whichever it is, the outcome is the same: the integrity and neutrality required of the office have been compromised. Nigeria’s democracy cannot afford an electoral umpire whose actions raise legitimate questions about impartiality.

INEC must now restore the recognition of the David Mark-led leadership on its website, and in all formal channels of communication.

On its part, the ADC will continue to stand firm, speak clearly, and act decisively in defense of democracy, justice, and the Nigerian people.