President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

Oluyede will act in the position pending the return of the indisposed substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.

Until his appointment, Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna.

The 56-year-old Oluyede and Lagbaja were coursemates and members of the 39th Regular Course.

He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992, effective from 1987. He rose to Major-General in September 2020.

Oluyede has held many commands since his commissioning as an officer. He was Platoon Commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion, Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer Guards Brigade, Commandant Amphibious Training School.

General Oluyede participated in several operations, including the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAI in the North East theatre of operations, where he commanded 27 Task Force Brigade.

Oluyede has earned many honours for his meritorious service in various fields of operations. These include the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, Passing the Staff Course, and Membership in the National Institute.

Others are the Field Command Medal, the Field Command Medal of Honour, and the Field Training Medal.

Oluyede also received the coveted Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.

He is married and has three children.

The Congress of APC Youth Groups has faulted the recent removal of Engineer Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo as Minister of State Housing and Urban Development.

The group in a statement Tuesday signed by its Chairman Abdullahi Wada Kura described the removal of Gwarzo as shocking and risky for the All Progressives Congress in the state.

“Ruwa Baba enjoys the sympathy and support of the majority in the state. His sacking has led to a widespread discontent that will definitely weaken the APC’s influence and future prospects in the state,” the group warned.

Gwarzo who was removed along with 4 others has thanked the President for giving him the opportunity to serve his country.

However, the group alleged that his sacking was politically motivated by a well placed political individual in Kano.

“The person behind the removal of Gwarzo misled the President, it’s pertinent to know that one person cannot decide for Kano,” it said.

It further warned that the action is a silent endorsement of the NNPP noting that politicians like Gwarzo shouldn’t be thrown away without any justifiable reason other than the decision of a single individual who claims to control the politics of Kano.

“If not returned to office, by 2027, the President will know whether Gwarzo is for the people or not but it’s evident from the sympathy people are showing and the prayers conducted due to his removal.

“Kano North is a stronghold of APC because of Gwarzo and other stakeholders from the zone, not one person.

The President should give it a look but it’s a risky decision ahead of 2027,” Wanda said.

A Chinese woman named Pambanzang has been arraigned on Tuesday morning before Justice Sunusi Ado Maaji of Court No. 15, Miller Road, Kano metropolis on two counts of charges bordering on forgery and malicious damage.

Barrister Eristor Hasab, a prosecutor with the Nigerian Police, Force Headquarters Legal Department, told newsmen, “We have succeeded in making the arraignment this morning. The matter before my noble lord is a two-count charge which is predicated on malicious damage. The defendant has taken our plea and she has pleaded not guilty. The defense counsel has also filed a bail application, and we need time to respond to the bail application. We pleaded with my lord to give us more time to review the situation and he granted us Friday the first of November for the bail application. We are not witch-hunting anybody and it’s for the interest of justice. So on Friday, we will come back to respond to the bail application and wait for my lord’s ruling.”

On his part, Segun Kareem, counsel to the nominal complainant, said, “It’s a case that involves two Chinese people. The defendant has been arraigned on two counts; the first one is forgery on the sum of 80 thousand US dollars, and the second is malicious damage where she destroyed a structure within the premises . That is why she was arraigned on Tuesday morning. It’s an era where the government is trying to eradicate vices, especially those perpetrated by foreigners. The issue of malicious damage is a very sensitive one, and the nominal complainant is also a Chinese man.”

Barrister Segun Kareem counsel to the nominal complainant

Counsel to the defendant, Barrister Ibrahim Abdullahi Chedi, said his client, Pambanzang, a Chinese woman, was arraigned before this noble court for the alleged commission of forgery and destruction of property. She denied the charges, and the judge adjourned the matter till Friday for the consideration of the bail application. She is remanded in correctional custody till the hearing of the bail application on Friday, 1st of November 2024.