By Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has described as misleading and malicious a report Published by Sahara reporters alleging that a personnel who took an inmate out of custodial centre for conjugal intimacy with his lover in Afikpo was pardon by the Civil Defence, Correctional Fire and Immigration Board (CDCFIB), while the whistle blower was dismissed.

This was contained in a press Statement signed by the head of Public Relation and Media of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Umar Abubakar DCC stated that the report is misleading and intended to tarnish the inmates of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

The Service, according to the Press release, wishes to categorically state that this report is misleading and intended to tarnish the image of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

The attention of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has been drawn to a misleading and malicious report published by Sahara Reporters alleging that a personnel who took an inmate out of the custodial centre for conjugal intimacy with his lover in Afikpo was pardoned by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Board (CDCFIB), while the whistleblower was dismissed.

“The facts of the matter is that the officer in question was dismissed after a thorough investigation by the disciplinary unit of the Service and was found to have committed an act unbecoming of a public officer, specifically for taking unauthorized pictures of an inmate by name Ibuchi Okoro Eze, within the premises of the Barracks of the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Afikpo, and uploading same on the internet”.

The dismissed officer, he disclosed,ASC 1 Efe Onakpoya with Service number 57790 also made malicious allegations against the service, including the false claim that an inmate was taken out of the Custodial Centre for conjugal intimacy with his lover.

The Nigerian Correctional Service is committed to maintaining the highest standards of discipline, integrity, and professionalism. The Service will not tolerate any behavior that undermines these values.

The service hereby urges the public to disregard the misleading report by Sahara Reporters and to be aware of the antics of mischief-makers who seek to tarnish the image of our beloved Service.

By Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna

The Commissioner of Police in Niger State,CP Abdullahi Adamu Elleman,has called upon to as a matter of urgency,order for the arrest of the District head of Ekugi village in Katcha Local government area of Niger State Mallam Abdullahi Kaffa, for masterminding the brutal killing of one Mohammed Baba Mohammed.

Mohammed Baba was said have completed his National Youth Service from far away Enugu state,in May 2025 just returned to the village to the embrace of his Community before his life just cut short on the order of the District head.

In a petition forwarded to the Commissioner of Police by a Minna based legal practitioner Chief Olukunle Oluwole and copied to our correspondent in Minna,alleged that Mallam Abdullahi Kaffa, had on the July, 25th 2025 spearheaded and Personally led over twenty persons to the Ekugi village and shot the deceased severally until he was killed.

According to the petitioner,the Invaders were fully armed to the teeth with dangerous weapons,” such as: Cutlasses,axes,dane guns among other dangerous weapons chanting war songs right in the presence of the Mornach.

” Upon sighting the rampaging Invaders, the villagers consisting of women, children,youths and elderly took to their heels for the safety of their lives and ran Helter Skelter.

” In the process the Invaders also attacked and killed Mohammed Baba Mohammed who just finished serving his Father’s land in Enugu state and members of his family while working in their farm.” the petitioner alleged.

He further alleged that one Alhaji Baba Ali Matu ordered Suleiman Saidu Gbapo to shoot the deceased Mohammed Baba Mohammed at a shot range and was instantly killed adding that,not satisfied that he was dead, his body was further riddled with bullets.

Reiterating that the deceased just completed his NYSC in Enugu state and have just returned to the village only to be killed therefore his life was cut short for committing no crime or offence.

” It is pertinent to state that other Victims who sustained various degree of injuries are Presently receiving medical attention at different health care centers.”he added.

Alleging further, Chief Olukunle Oluwole, insisted that the Invaders numbering over twenty two while still rampaging the villagers carted away with six Bajaj Motorcycles,200 bags of rice, and destroyed the ware house where the rice were stored and carted away the sum of Seven hundred thousand Naira (N700,000) cash being the money collected from rice sellers as revenue generated for the local government.

It was further alleged that the rampaging Invaders stole the sum of N1.5 million belonging to one Hon. Ibrahim Baba Mohammed, an elder brother to the deceased.

” At this juncture,we are inclined to state that despite the loss of lives and properties and unprovoked intimidation from the Invaders,as law abiding Citizens,we have emphasized to our clients the need to maintain the peace and not to make any reprisal attack to avoid blood shed and total breakdown of law and order” he added.

The Invaders, according to the legal practitioner, still go about threatening and boasted that they have the backing and support of people highly placed in the government of Niger State and Abuja nothing will happen to them.

He said since the incident happened, he cautioned his clients to remain calm and law abiding assuring them that the Hudlooms are not above the laws of the land ” and they would be made to face the full wrath of the law if found culpable”

” We are aware quite aware of the current Insecurity prevalent in the state.and in order to avoid blood shed and lost of lives and total breakdown of law and order we implore, as a matter of urgency to intervene in this matter and save our clients lives from being terminated prematurely and be displaced from their ancestral village by these hudlooms” the legal practitioner concluded

Speaking in a telephone interview the District head of Ekugi, Mallam Abdullahi Kaffa he said the petitioners are supposed to report him to the Police Commissioner rather than speaking to the Press.

” I expect them to complain to the Commissioner of Police instead of coming to report me to the Press. I’m waiting for their police invitation because I’m informed that they have filed a petition against me to the Commissioner of Police.

” I don’t want to talk to you Journalists. I expect to hear that the Commissioner of Police will call me not a Journalist please,” he told our Correspondent through his phone number 08039698877.

By Uthman Baba- Naseer,Minna

As part of measures put in place to instill discipline in the Niger State Judiciary, the state Judicial Service Commission (NJSC) has taken a bold step to uphold its integrity.

Already, the Niger State Judicial Service Commission NJSC, has used its sledgehammer on a Chief Magistrate, a Shariah, Court Judge, and senior Registrar an five others for Judicial misconduct.

In an emergency meeting held at the NSJSC Secretariat on the 28th July 2025, a stringent measures was taken against the Chief Magistrate and the Senior Registrar aimed at upholding the integrity and accountability of the Judicial officers.

Among the major step taken by the state Judicial Service Commission Chief Magisrate Isaac Yisa of Chief Magisrate Court in Kontagora, Judicial division alongside with the Registrar Mohammed Alhaji Ahmed were dismissed from the service with immediate effect.

In a Press release signed by the Secretary of the Niger State Judicial Service Commission (NJSC) Barrister Hauwa Kulu Isah, stated that their dismissal was as a result of their involvement in a serious official misconduct.

According to the Secretary, the Registrar was as a result of receiving a gratification from a litigant to grant him bail, refusal granting bail without due regards to the laid down procedure, lack of proper ecord of proceedings among other official misconduct.

Similarly Barrister Hauwa Kulu Isah, explained that Mohammed Alhaji Ahmed, was said to have requested and recieved the sum of ten thousand (N10,000) through his account as gratification before filling bail bonds and production warrant to release a litigant from detention.

Also, the commission sledgehammer felled heavily on Fatihu Hassan a Judge of Upper Shariah Court, Wushishi for recieving the sum Eight Hundred thousand naira in a land related dispute case before him and his failure to determine the matter between the parties.

The dismissed staff’s actions according to the Secretary of the NSJSC,were found to be in contravention of section 58 (1) (2) (4) (6) and(8) of the Niger State Judicial Service Regulations 2018 and “consequently dismissed under section 61 of the Regulations”

Furthermore Hauwa Kulu Isah disclosed that the Commission compulsorily retired Hajiya Ramatu Suleiman, the Registrar of Shariah Court Bida for conflicts of interest and complexities in a matter of administration of estate of Late Alhaji Hussain Babvana Katcha.

She said the Hajiya Ramatu Suleiman is found to have been engaged in another employment known as (RIFAN COORDINATOR) while still in the services of the Niger State Judiciary,act that contravened section 58(1)4 and liable for dismissal under section 61 of Commission’s Regulations 2018.

The Commission, she said had earlier during its 151st meeting held on the 1st of July, 2025 sanctioned Sadiq Samaila of Kontagora Magistrate court two,Idris Alhaji Idris of Shariah Court Lapai, Senior Registrar and a court clerk to different forms of displinary action ” having found them culpable by the Investigation committee that investigated the petition against them”

However, Sani Aliyu ,a Judge of Upper Shariah Court Salka, and his Registrar escaped the sledgehammer of the disciplinary committee as petition against them by Barrister Solomon Jiya was dismissed for lack of merit.

The Petition with the captioned ” Petition Against the Shariah Court Judge,Salka ( Suleiman Aliyu) ,the Registrar ( Saidu Idris), and Sani Aliyu (GT) for abuse of Judicial process, Aiding Criminal Activities Obstruction of Justice and other gross Misconduct” was dismissed.

The Hauwa Kulu declared that the Commission found the claims to be unsubstantiated and consequently issued a serious warning to the petitioner and the general public to refrain from filing frivolous fictious and sensational Petitions capable of tarnishing the image of its state Judicial officers and staff as well as using the courts to disrupt the peaceful coexistence of people of different faith in the state.