News

Lalong directs MDAs to cooperate with transition committee

Published

3 years ago

April 4, 2023

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The Governor of Plateau State Simon Lalong has directed Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) and relevant government parastatals to give the transition committee the necessary support to ensure a smooth handing over from the Rescue Administration to the incoming government on May 29, 2023.

Lalong disclosed this on Monday during the inauguration of the transition committee headed by the Secretary to the Government of the State, Prof Danladi Atu, held at Government House Rayfield, Jos.

“This Central Planning Committee whose membership is drawn from the outgoing Rescue Administration is expected to be joined by members to be nominated from the incoming Government to work out details of programmes for the Handing and Taking Over of the affairs of the state in an orderly, smooth and coordinated manner. You have been carefully chosen because of your experience, capacity and record of achievements over the years.

“The Committee is expected to work painstakingly, cooperatively and in one accord for the success of the transition programme. As always, the work of the Committee should result in the staging of a transition programme that will be one of the best in the country. This will in effect give the incoming Government an opportunity to start on the right footing and with fewer challenges. The SGS is further directed to liaise with the Governor elect to nominate members from his side to join the committee to carry out the assignment.

“I have therefore directed the Secretary to the Government of the State to ensure that all MDAs give total support to the Committee in ensuring that it carries out the task before it. Similarly, I urge the Committee members to work together without allowing personal or political sentiments to becloud their sense of judgment and contributions during the exercise.

“We should all realise that the elections are over and the business of governance is about to end for the Rescue Administration and to commence for the incoming government.”

Lalong said there was no needed to overheating the polity with unnecessary political statement, unsubstantiated speculations, insinuations and rhetoric that appear to cast aspersions on the Government, civil servants and other appointees.

He reiterated the commitment of his administration to give account of his stewardship to Plateau people who entrusted his with their mandate.

“Already, all MDAs under the leadership of the SGS are putting together their reports which will be part of the handing over notes to be transmitted to the incoming administration.

“May I also use this opportunity to remind all civil servants and appointees that we have up till the 29th of May 2023 to complete our mandate as stipulated by our constitution. As such, we shall not tolerate any act of sabotage, disregard to directives and flagrant violation of government guidelines and regulations. Anyone found to be involved in such acts will not be spared and should blame himself for whatever consequences that might follow.”

He appealed to Plateau citizens, particularly politicians to refrain from making bogus claims that are misleading and capable of creating tension in the state.

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Bandits kill pregnant woman, husband in fresh Plateau attack

Published

1 minute ago

May 13, 2026

Preport

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed a couple, Iliya Gyang, 30, and his pregnant wife, Grace Iliya, 25, in a fresh attack on the Angwan Ishaku community in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.

Rwang Tengwong, spokesperson for the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), told Peoples Gazette that the incident occurred at about 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

In a statement sent to the Gazette, Mr Tengwong condemned the gruesome attack carried out by terrorists on Wednesday evening.

“The couple were both shot by the assailants while the husband was working in front of their home, leading to the immediate death of Mrs Grace Iliya at the scene, while her husband, who sustained serious gunshot injuries, was rushed to the hospital but sadly later gave up while receiving treatment,” he said.

Mr Tengwong noted that the attack came a day after the State Security Council meeting, where the Plateau government announced decisive measures aimed at addressing persistent attacks and destruction of farmlands across communities.

According to him, the attackers arrived on a motorcycle, opened fire on the couple and others in the area, and fled through the road leading to Fulani settlements in Fass along the Rakung-Sho road.

“The deceased woman had only recently finished breastfeeding their one-year-old twin boys and was pregnant again. The tragic killing of the couple has now left the innocent twins orphaned and devastated their entire family.

“Two other persons also sustained gunshot injuries during the attack, while their health conditions are yet to be confirmed,” Mr Tengwong said.

The group described the attack as barbaric, wicked, and inhuman, saying it reflects the worsening insecurity confronting residents of Barkin Ladi and surrounding communities.

Mr Tengwong also called on the Plateau government to immediately provide support for the orphaned twins left behind by the deceased couple.

Efforts to reach the police spokesman in the state, Alfred Alabo, were unsuccessful. Text and WhatsApp messages sent to him remained unattended as of press time.

Business

Court Jails Saleh Mamman 75 years for N33.8billion Fraud

Published

3 minutes ago

May 13, 2026

Preport

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, sentenced a former Minister of power, Saleh Mamman to 75 years imprisonment for money laundering charges.

Mamman, who was absent in court, was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503,73( Thirty Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, Seventy Three kobo).

Justice Omotosho convicted him last week on all the 12-count charges preferred against him by the EFCC but deferred his sentence to Wednesday.

Count one of the charges reads:

“That you, SALEH MAMIVIAN {Male), sometime in 2019, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, whilst you were the Minister of Power conspired with other officials of your Ministry and some private companies to indirectly convert the total sum of =N=33,804,830,503.73

{Thirty-Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, and Seventy-Three Kobo) through various private companies which sums you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity, to wit: criminal breach of trust in relation to the funds released for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant Projects by the Federal Government of Nigeria; and you thereby commit an offence contrary to Sections 18(a), 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 {as Amended), and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

Count two reads:

“That you, SALEH MAMMAN (Male), sometime in December 2019, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, conspired with SAMSON BITRUS to make a cash payment of US$665, 700:00 (Six Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand and Seven Hundred United States Dollars) to MOHIBA INVESTMENT LTD (acting through Mohammed Asheik Jidda), without going through a financial institution, and that you thereby commit an offence contrary to Sections 1 and 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as Amended), and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.”

At Wednesday proceedings, Prosecution Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo,SAN informed the court that the convict again was not in court and no reasonable excuse was given from his lawyers about his whereabouts. He urged the court to continue with the sentencing in his absence citing Section 266 and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 which provides guidelines for such an occasion.

Oyedepo also urged the court to order the forfeiture of properties traced to the convict to the Federal Government. The properties are, two units of four- bedroom detached apartments located at 93 Ahmed Joda Crescent, Kado Estate, Abuja and a property located at No 12A & B, Lingo Street, Wuse, Abuja.

Also, Oyedepo, who is also the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, urged the court to order the forfeiture of cash recovered from Mamman’s house: $13,890, €19,960, £10,000 , 42,390 Doran, R35,000, ₹50,60,00 and 247 Saudi Arabia Riyadth . He also urged the court to direct that the convict refund the difference of the amount recovered and the amount remaining in the N22bn for which he was found guilty.

Delivering judgment, Justice Omotosho sentenced Mamman to 75years imprisonment: seven years each on counts 1,2,3,6,7,8,9,10,11& 12 without an option of fine, three years on count 4 with an option of fine of N10m and two years on count 5 without an option of fine. The sentence will run consecutively from the date of his arrest.

Justice Omotosho ordered all national and international security agencies to arrest and handover the convict to the Nigerian Correctional center.

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