By Suleiman Yakubu

A 64-year-old trader of Bosso Estate, Isah Usman, has been remanded in correctional custody for armed robbery on the order of Minna Senior Magistrate Court No. 7 sitting at the High Court Complex.
Isah Usman was arraigned by operatives of the anti-robbery squad of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) of the Niger State Police Command for alleged robbery.
The presiding senior magistrate, Hajiya Fati Kabir, who ordered the remand of the defendant after taking his plea, said he should be remanded in correctional custody.
The police arraigned the trader on a one-count charge of armed robbery, which contravened sections 1 (1) a and b of the Robbery and Firearm Special Provision Act Cap R11 in 2004.
The charge sheet marked MN/MC7/CR/56/2023 made available in court and obtained by our reporter stated that on August 17, 2023, one Naziru Habibi of Pyata Village in Bosso Local Government Area reported at Maikunkele Divisional Police Command that on August 16, 2023, at about 1400 hrs, while operating his commercial Bajaj motorcycle, with registration MNA 64 UY engine Nos Duxiwint 94394 and Chassis Nos MD 2A18 AX6 WH 11438 along Pyata Junction, Isah Usman of Bosso Estate Minna, boarded his motorcycle to Rafin Yashi area at the rate of N200, and on reaching a point before Rafin Yashi, he brought out a knife and threatened him to choose between the motorcycle and his life.
When the charge was read to him by the presiding senior magistrate, the defendant pleaded not guilty, and at this point, the police prosecutor, Sgt. Sani Mohammed, told the court that an investigation into the matter had just commenced and requested the remand of the defendant in correctional custody pending the completion of the police investigation.
While granting the prayer of the police prosecutor, Senior Magistrate Fati Kabir ordered his remand and adjourned the case to September 29 for further mention.

By Suleiman Yakubu

The Niger State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Mua'zu Hamidu Jantabo, has assured local government workers of better days.
The commissioner, who was at Labour House to meet with the executives of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on a familiarisation visit Thursday in Minna, said all pending issues on salaries, allowances, and promotions of local government workers will be resolved.
He said his visit was to reinforce the existing relationship and understanding that organised labour and the ministry have, emphasising his willingness to change the narrative and improve the working conditions of local government workers.
The commissioner said "We will implement the domestic allowance for local government workers, hopefully by next month, and we will continue to solve all pending issues bothering local government workers".
"On grade level 17, we shall open engagement with the local government service commission to see that this is implemented. We are determined to make a big impact, and I would like to personally count on your support ", he said.
Hamidu Jantabo said the present administration will suspend overdraft, which, according to him, was responsible for many problems local governments in the state were facing.
He said the governor has given marching orders that taking overdrafts by local government areas must be stopped, saying this was necessary to prevent insolvency and encourage local governments to look inward and generate the funds they need to carry out their activities.
The NLC Chairman, Comrade Abdulkareem Idrees Lafene, appreciated the commissioner's visit and assured his visitor that organised labour will support the new administration in achieving its lofty purpose.
He said that although there were pending issues pertaining to local government workers, he was confident that the commissioner was aware of the matter and would work towards addressing them.
He said the visit was a demonstration that the commissioner meant business by visiting them instead of the other way around. He said labour will partner with the ministry to help it achieve its mandate.
The commissioner, during the familiarisation tour, visited the Niger State Environmental Protection Agency (NISEPA) and the Local Government Audit.
He pledged to work towards addressing challenges facing agencies partnering with the ministry, revealing that his appointment as commissioner was to frontally confront some of the challenges with a view to addressing them.