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Shiroro-Katampe transmission line vandalised – TCN

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), says one of its critical infrastructure, the Shiroro-Katampe 330 Kilo Volt (kV) transmission line has been vandalised.

Mrs Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs said this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

According to Mbah, this is the fifth incident between February and March.

She said that at approximately 9 am on Sunday, the Shiroro-Katampe transmission line experienced a trip.

Mbah said that following initial investigations, TCN engineers attempted to restore operation but were unsuccessful.

”Subsequently, efforts were made to identify the fault location. Hence, linesmen were dispatched to physically patrol the suspected area.

”During the fault tracing process, the vigilante team leaders in the vicinity notified TCN linesmen of vandalism along the transmission line.

”The company’s personnel confirmed the vandalisation of the transmission line 1, from Towers 244 to 245, and the conductors stolen,” she said.

She said that the wheeling capacity of TCN towards Abuja and environs would be enhanced by the Lokoja – Gwagwalada 330kV transmission line.

”The company is working hard to minimise the adverse effect of these acts of sabotage on bulk power supply to Abuja and environs.

”This incident adds to a series of vandalism incidents recorded by TCN in February, including the destruction of Tower 70 along the Gwagwalade-Katampe transmission line on Feb. 26.

”Other incidents include the vandalisation of towers 377 and 378 along the Gombe-Damaturu 330kV transmission line on Feb. 23,” she said.

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Ekiti court strikes out defamation suit against Dele Farotimi

The Ekiti State Chief Magistrates Court, has struck out the defamation suit against human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi.

The court’s decision followed the application and motion by Martins Akala, the police prosecutor, to withdraw the suit from the court.

The Federal High Court, sitting in Ado-Ekiti, on January 29, 2025, struck out cyberbullying and defamation charges against Farotimi following the police application to withdraw the charge.

In the matter at the Magistrate Court, the Ekiti State police on December 4 2024, arraigned Farotimi following alleged defamation of legal luminary, Afe Babalola in his book, titled, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.

Farotimi had in the book claimed that Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court justices among others.

Farotimi was granted bail on December 20, 2024, and adjourned the case till February 13 for a hearing.

However, on January 27, 2025, Afe Babalola agreed to withdraw the criminal defamation cases against Farotimi from the court, following the intervention of prominent traditional rulers led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

When the matter came up on Thursday, Akala, the police prosecutor, told the court that the defamation suit against Farotimi should be withdrawn following directives from the authorities.

He said, “This matter is slated for hearing today. But I want to seek leave of the court to withdraw the charge against the defendant on the instruction of the police authorities.”

Reacting to the court’s ruling, Farotimi’s counsel, Kemi Adejare said, “the case was struck out based on the application of the prosecution. We welcomed it, they brought us here and they asked us to go.

“In the open court, I said they had just removed the chains, they brought the chains, they removed the chains. Why should we complain?”

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2,363 Ghost Workers Uncovered by Zamfara Govt

The Zamfara State Government said it had uncovered 2,363 ghost workers following the verification of civil and public servants in the state.

Governor Dauda Lawal constituted a committee headed by the state Head of Service in August 2024 with the mandate to conduct the verification exercise of state workers.

A statement by the governor’s spokesman, Sulaiman Idris, revealed that the verification process exposed 220 minors receiving monthly pay as civil servants.

The statement noted that the verification exercise was necessary due to the state government’s efforts to implement the N70,000 minimum wage.

Idris said, “The committee’s final report submitted to Governor Dauda Lawal highlighted that 27,109 permanent workers were cleared while workers with questionable employment include 2,363 ghost workers, 1082 civil servants who are due for retirement, 395 contract staff, 261 not on the nominal roll, 213 on study leave, 220 minors in employment, and 67 workers on secondment.

“The report highlighted that 75 workers’ first appointment dates were not in compliance with the issue dates, and all of them were minors at the time of employment.

“During the verification, 2,363 ghost workers were exposed. They were paid a total of N193,642,097.19 every month.

“1082 workers are due for retirement, and they collect a total sum of N80,542,298.26 monthly. At the same time, five workers found to be on secondment were paid monthly N354,927.60.

“The verification committee recommended suspending 207 workers who were not cleared. They are paid a total salary of N16,370,645.90 monthly.

“The committee found 12 workers on the payroll but not in the database and collected a monthly salary of N726,594.

“These verification exercises are ongoing efforts to monitor the Zamfara workforce and ensure transparency and accountability in service, especially as the minimum wage payments begin in March of this year.”

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Court adjourns Ganduje’s bribery case to April 15

A Kano State High Court has fixed April 15, 2025, for the hearing of all pending preliminary objections in the case of alleged bribery and misappropriation involving the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat Umar, and six others.

The Kano State Government instituted an eight-count charge against the defendants, accusing them of bribery, misappropriation, and the diversion of public funds amounting to billions of naira.

The other defendants in the case include Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.

Court Proceedings
When the case came up for the hearing of pending applications on Thursday, the prosecution counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, told the court that he was ready to proceed.

“My Lord, we have filed a motion on notice, dated February 2 and served on February 5, seeking an extension of time to enable us to regularize our preliminary objection,” Adedipe said.

Counsel for Ganduje, his wife, and Umar, Mrs. Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, also indicated readiness to proceed with their defense.

However, some defense counsels requested more time to regularize their legal processes. Counsel for the 3rd and 7th defendants, Adekunle Taiye-Falola, said, “My Lord, we filed our application for an extension of time, dated December 12, 2024, to reply to our further and better affidavit on points of law. We need to regularize our processes.”

Similarly, counsel for the 5th defendant, Sunusi Musa, SAN, moved a motion on notice for an extension of time, dated and filed January 7, 2025. “Our motion is supported by a 10-paragraph affidavit and a written address. We urge the court to grant the application,” Musa stated.

While counsel for the 6th respondent, Abubakar Ahmed, informed the court that he had filed a preliminary objection dated September 9 and was ready to proceed, counsel for the 8th defendant, Ibrahim Aliyu-Nasarawa, requested additional time.

“My Lord, I am not ready to move my application. I intend to file and reply on points of law,” Aliyu-Nasarawa told the court.

Court’s Decision
After listening to the submissions, the presiding judge, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, granted all the applications for an extension of time and adjourned the matter until April 15, 2025.

“The case is hereby adjourned to April 15, 2025, for the hearing of all pending preliminary objections,” Justice Adamu-Aliyu ruled.

The case, which has drawn significant public attention, is expected to proceed with the hearing of objections before moving to the substantive trial.(Channels)

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