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Battle Against Corruption Is Like Fighting Colombian Drug Cartels, Says Kano Anti-Corruption Tzar

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The fight against corruption in Nigeria is as dangerous as fighting armed Colombian drug cartels, former Chairman of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Muhyi Magaji Rimin Gado, has said.

The Medellín Cartel led by Pablo Escobar and the Cali Cartel dominated cocaine trafficking, leading Colombia to vast illicit wealth for the few whose crimes promoted corruption, violence, mass public revenge, and prolonged bloody gunfights with the authorities. The PCACC was established in April 2005 to fight corruption in Kano State.

Mr. Magaji also warned that the increase in violence and banditry in the North is partly linked to the naked abuse and stealing of public funds by corrupt officials whose self-serving policies create a stagnant pool of poverty and human misery from which criminals find many potential recruits.

He said it was when he started investigating corruption petitions, doing his statutory duties, that he discovered the suspect companies were linked to his former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, discovering that a lot of Public-Private Partnership Initiatives were actually linked to the former Governor. He said he also discovered billions of illicit funds relating to the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), especially concerning fraudulent land rents.

The anti-corruption crusader said his experience while investigating an avalanche of corruption cases in Kano indicated that corrupt politicians are like cancerous ailments that should be removed through a painful but necessary surgical operation before Nigeria can reclaim her pride in the comity of nations.

He said Nigerians should explore democratic opportunities to the brim by casting their votes against a league of corrupt elites that have sold the birthrights of the people.

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He said his decision to investigate the looting of billions of public funds in Kano State under former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje spurred ceaseless threats to his life and that of his family, culminating in his arrest last week Friday by tens of armed security guards who drove him from Kano to Abuja in the night where he was locked up. He said for 17 hours he and his family were subjected to harrowing experiences. He said the armed men bundled him into a vehicle where he was sandwiched between armed policemen who drove in the night from Kano to Abuja in order to gag him. He said if armed bandits had attacked the convoy, there was only a slim chance that any of them would escape.

“The cases I started investigating in Kano involved billions of public funds diverted by public officials. They are desperate to kill in order to sit on stolen funds. They are as dangerous as drug cartels in Colombia. Fighting them is like fighting drug lords.”

He said corruption cannot be fought effectively when law enforcement agents are compromised by the same corrupt politicians who have no respect for accountability.

Rimin Gado said some policemen are currently being used against him by powerful but stupendously corrupt politicians who feed on the misery of the toiling masses. He said he was deeply concerned that the Police initiated criminal investigation into a judicial process, duly initiated under Section 211 of the Nigerian Constitution, and that it is prejudicial for the police to hunt and malign someone who has filed corruption charges on behalf of the State against politicians that consistently ruin the frontiers of democracy and human prosperity.

“I was given fiat by the Attorney General to prosecute allegations of offenses against the laws of Kano State. Why arrest me for doing what I have a legal duty to do? Why not arrest the State if they can?

“The police have no legal or moral reasons to enquire about what is already before the Court of Law, especially a criminal matter which the court had already taken cognizance of,” he said.

He spoke as a Keynote Speaker on the topic Youth as Catalyst of Integrity: Building a Corruption-Free Future for Nigeria, at the Public Presentation of the 19th Edition of the Compendium on 100 Profile Corruption Cases in Nigeria held in Lagos on Tuesday. The event was organised by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) in partnership with local and international groups to mark this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day celebration. The theme of the conference was Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity.

Rimin Gado said from his experience in Kano, corrupt politicians are as vicious as the world’s most violent drug lords who are prepared to kill and burn the country down rather than face justice or give up their crimes. He said prosperity and development in Nigeria would remain stunted as long as corrupt actors dominate the political economy.

 

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Broadcast Journalist Ikechukwu Oyemike Joins The Isle 95.9 FM Lagos as Head of Events And OAP

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FemyWalsh Limited, a business, economy, and development-focused media group, is pleased to announce the appointment of veteran broadcast journalist  Ikechukwu Oyemike, popularly known as Ogbuefi ItisIkechukwu, as Head of Events and On Air Personality (OAP)  at  The Isle 95.9 FM Lagos.

Oyemike joins The Isle 95.9 FM Lagos after more than 11 years of superlative service at Wazobia FM, where he built a strong reputation for credible journalism, compelling storytelling, and audience-centred broadcasting.

Over the years, he has become widely respected for his ability to connect deeply with listeners while delivering news, current affairs, and commentary with clarity, energy, and cultural resonance.

Speaking on his move, Oyemike said:
“I am delighted to join The Isle 95.9 FM Lagos as Head of Events and On Air Personality. This new chapter offers an exciting platform to engage listeners on air while also creating dynamic experiences through events that connect with our audience in meaningful ways.”

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Welcoming his arrival, Management described the appointment as a strategic investment in talent and audience experience. In his dual role, Oyemike will strengthen on-air programming and lead the development of high-impact events designed to deepen community connection, expand partnerships, and create memorable experiences for listeners and stakeholders.

FemyWalsh Limited is the owner of **The Isle 95.9 FM Lagos, *Souq News Television, and the soon-to-be-launched Kasuwa 97.9 FM Kano, as well as **Arewa Bayan Television, Abuja**. Across these platforms, the group is committed to business and development storytelling that elevates enterprise, strengthens institutional credibility, and amplifies African excellence.

Listeners and partners can look forward to fresh programming energy, stronger listener engagement, and innovative event experiences as Oyemike continues his mission to inform, inspire, and entertain audiences across Lagos and beyond.

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Public Calling for Justice in Kano as Six Arrested in Brutal Killing of NSCDC Officer

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Two weeks after the brutal killing of NSCDC volunteer, Abdurrauf Ali Ahmad Sharifai, on New Year’s Day, a wave of public outrage continues to sweep across Kano as the investigation unfolds.

The shocking and ruthless murder, which took place along the long Zoo Road/Court Road while Sharifai was on official duty, has sparked widespread calls for justice, with many residents demanding swift action from the authorities.

Sharifai, who was performing his constitutional duties to protect the public, was viciously stabbed by a group of thugs, an act that has left the community reeling.

His tragic death has not only shaken the NSCDC but also stirred deep anger among the people of Kano, who are now rallying for justice for the slain volunteer.

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) moved quickly to arrest four suspects in connection with the murder. These individuals were found in possession of dangerous weapons, and they were promptly handed over to the police.

In a further development, the police made two additional arrests, bringing the total number of suspects to six.

However, five more individuals linked to the crime have been identified by the NSCDC, but they remain at large.

Despite the severity of the crime, the public’s anger has been compounded by the reported attempts of the arrested suspects’ families to seek bail.

Many residents view these efforts as an attempt to undermine the gravity of the crime, and this has sparked an outcry for justice.

“The fact that they are trying to get bail for these suspects, who brutally murdered a law enforcement volunteer, is an insult to the family of the deceased and to the people of Kano,” said one local resident, who asked to remain anonymous. “We cannot allow this to happen. We demand justice for Abdurrauf.”

The silence from the police regarding these recent developments has only fueled the growing frustration.

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FG, ASUU Seal Landmark Agreement to End Decades-Long Disputes

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

 

The Federal Government has finalized and unveiled a comprehensive renegotiated agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, presented the agreement in Abuja on Wednesday, framing it as the culmination of President Bola Tinubu’s direct intervention to secure lasting stability, rebuild trust, and restore quality to the nation’s tertiary education.

“For decades, unresolved remuneration concerns, welfare gaps, and recurring industrial disputes disrupted academic calendars, undermined staff morale, and threatened the future of our young people,” Alausa stated. “Under President Tinubu’s leadership, we deliberately chose dialogue over discord, reform over delay, and resolution over rhetoric.”

Key Provisions of the Agreement

The cornerstone of the pact is a significant review of remuneration for academic staff in federal institutions, approved by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission and backdated to take effect from January 1, 2026.

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A major highlight is a 40% upward review of total emoluments, implemented through a newly established Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance. This allowance, now integrated into the salary structure, is designed to cover essential academic expenses including journal publications, conference participation, internet access, learned society memberships, and book allowances.

To promote transparency and productivity, nine previously contentious Earned Academic Allowances have been clearly structured and tied directly to specific duties performed.

In a groundbreaking development, the government has introduced a first-of-its-kind Professorial Credit Allowance, recognizing the elevated scholarly and administrative burdens on senior academics. Under this new structure: Professors will receive an additional N1.8 million per annum (approximately N140,000 monthly), while Academic Readers will receive N840,000 per annum (approximately N70,000 monthly).

This allowance is intended to support research coordination, academic documentation, and administrative tasks, freeing senior academics to focus on teaching, mentorship, and innovation.

The government has signaled its commitment by immediately commencing implementation. A circular from the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, dated December 30, 2025, has been issued to enact the new wage components.

ASUU President, Prof. Chris Pinuwa, provided the historical context, noting that the agreement concludes a renegotiation process that began in 2017 for a pact originally due for review in 2012. He recounted that successive renegotiation committees under previous administrations—chaired by Wale Babalakin, Munzali Jibrin, and Nimi Briggs—had failed to produce a collective bargaining agreement.

The current administration inaugurated a new committee chaired by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed in October 2024, which reached this consensus approximately 14 months later. The final agreement comprehensively addresses conditions of service, university funding, autonomy, and academic freedom.

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