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FG Approves N3b For Airport Scanners

In a bid to reduce multiple agencies involved in manual bag checks at the airports, the federal government has approved N3 billion for airport scanners.

Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Monday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said the proposed solution involves the supply and installation of state-of-the-art customized explosive and narcotic detection screening systems.

According to him, the approved contract will cover major international airports in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Enugu.

He explained that the cutting-edge systems, equipped with remote and dual-view capabilities, aimed to revolutionise security procedures.

He said instead of manual bag searches, the new detection machines will swiftly identify explosives or other illicit substances as bags pass through.

He said, “It’s what Nigerians will be interested in because since I came to office, we have been inundated with complaints of the harrowing experiences that passengers go through at the airports where they have to physically search their bags.

“I’m sure you all know about that, and it’s been really getting under the skin of Nigerians.

“You’ll see various agencies lined up; NDLEA, they’ll say open your bag, Immigration, they’ll say open your bag, Customs, they’ll say open your bag, EFCC, they’ll say open your bag, and they will dip their hands in your bag.

“So we thought we should do something like you have the TSA in America, where you have detection machines. So when they pass your bags through the machines, they detect explosives or any other thing and that’s the end of the search.

“So it’s for the approval of the award of contract for the supply and installation of customized explosive and narcotic detection screening systems, with a remote and dual view for the International Airports of Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu.

“Luckily enough, the Council saw the need for this kind of equipment in order to relieve Nigerians of such experiences and it was graciously approved by Council”.

Keyamo also said the council approved a memo for the signing of a bilateral air service agreement (BASA) with the Republic of Guyana.

“We have entered into an agreement with Guyana and they have been very anxious to have direct flights from Guyana to Nigeria.

“This agreement was entered way back in 2014 with the administration at that time, but you understand that international agreements, which are treaties, don’t come into force until their internal processes are completed in both countries”, he stated.

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Court denies Yayaha Bello bail

Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has dismissed the bail application filed by the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who is being tried for an alleged N110 billion fraud.

In her ruling, the judge held that Bello’s bail application was premature and incompetent as he filed it when he had not yet surrendered himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The however, admitted Bello’s alleged co-accomplice Umar Oricha, to bail in the sum of N300million with two sureties in the like sum.

In her ruling on Bello’s application, the judge said the former Kogi governor was only making an attempt to invoke the jurisdiction of the court too early.

She said, “Consequently, the instant application, having been filed prematurely, is hereby refused.”

The 16-count charge preferred against Bello has to do with conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully obtained property.

He is alleged have used state funds to illegally acquire properties, at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja , No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja, among many others.

News

Man arraigned for unlawful possession of human skull

A 52-year-old man, Akeem Rasheed, has appeared before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan, for alleged unlawful possession of a human skull.

The defendant who resides at Jegede area, Ibadan, was charged with two counts of improper interference with dead body and unlawful possession of human skull.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him by the police.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Cpl. David Adepoju, told the court that on Oct. 11, at 1.00 a.m., at Jegede Estate, Odeyale area, Ibadan, Rasheed improperly interfered with a dead human body.

He said that the defendant allegedly exhumed a corpse from its grave, removed the skull and burnt it.

The prosecutor alleged that the defendant burnt the human skull into ashes for spiritual purposes.

He said the offences contravened Section 242 (1) (b) and 352(A) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N250, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Ogunkanmi said one of the sureties must be a blood relative of the defendant.

She , thereafter, adjourned the case until May 5, 2025 for hearing.

NAN

News

EFCC Arrests 22 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Abia State

Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission EFCC, have arrested twenty-two suspected (22) internet fraudsters.

They were arrested on Friday, December 6, 2024 at Umuagu and Olokoro in Abia state in a sting operation.

Items recovered from them include six exotic cars, eight laptops and 36 mobile phones.

They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.