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Court Sentence 3 Youth For Smuggling Of ATM Cards

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The Kano State High Court presided over by Honorable Justice Tanimu Shehu today December 20th convicted and sentenced three ATM cards smugglers to six months imprisonment each on a three separate count charges.

The suspects Abdullahi Usman, Musa Abubakar and Abdulwahid Auwalu were arrested by the operatives of Commission between 24th of November and 1st of December 2021.

Upon their arrest, it was discovered that Musa Abubakar who was on his way to Dubai UAE had concealed 714 ATM cards while Abdullahi Usman was heading to Saudi Arabia and had in his possession 298 ATM cards.

Abdulwahid on the other hand was arrested with 132 ATM cards while trying to board Ethiopian Airlines to Istanbul Turkey.

All the defendants pleaded guilty to their separate charges when it was read to them.

Consequently, Counsel for the prosecution Usman Shehu asked the court to convict them accordingly.
After listening to plea for mercy from the defense counsel A.M Bashir, Justice Shehu convicted the defendants and sentenced them to six months imprisonment each or pay a fine of N50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira) only.

The charge against Musa Abubakar read “That you MUSA ABUBAKAR UMAR on or about 24th November, 2021 at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, within the Judicial Division of the High Court of Kano State, while trying to board a plane scheduled for Lagos, did commit an offence to wit; retain possession of 714 (Seven Hundred and Fourteen) Automated Teller Machine
(ATM) Cards of Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith, Sterling, Access, Stanbic IBTC, First,
Polaris, Fidelity Banks and FCMB respectively issued in the name of different card
holders, which cards you reasonably ought to know were taken out of the possession of
owners under circumstances which constitute card theft, and you thereby committed an
offence contrary to SECTION 319 (A) of the PENAL CODE and punishable under the same
SECTION 319 (A) of the PENAL CODE.”

While Musa was charged for retaining and taken possession of 714 ATM cards, Abdulwaheed Auwalu was charged under the same law for possession of 132 ATM cards.

Also charged on the same law was Usman Abdullahi who was charged for possession of 298 ATM cards.

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Nigeria Moves Toward Electricity Tariff Increase-Adelabu

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Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has said that the country’s economy can no longer afford to maintain electricity subsidies. He advised Nigerians to prepare for the introduction of tariffs that reflect the true costs of electricity.

At a meeting with the Chairmen of Nigeria’s Generating Companies in Abuja, Adelabu emphasized that, “We have to understand that our economy cannot sustain subsidies indefinitely.”

He, nonetheless, emphasized the government’s commitment to offering targeted subsidies to support economically disadvantaged Nigerians.

The Federal Government presently has an outstanding debt exceeding N4 trillion owed to Generating Companies (Gencos) for overdue subsidy payments.

In its performance report for February, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) indicated that the average real tariff stands at N116.18 per kilowatt-hour, whereas consumers are charged N88.2 per kilowatt-hour.

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Cover Story :Maternal Mortality Rate in Nigeria A Rising Concern

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Due to rising cases of maternal mortality in Nigeria and its causes Nigerian Tracker’s Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa takes a look and files in this report

Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR)–the rate of deaths that occur due to complications from pregnancy or childbirth–is a pressing issue that demands urgent attention.

Research has shown that Nigeria is one of the top three African countries with the highest recorded cases of MMR. In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that South Sudan and Chad had the highest MMR rates, with Nigeria ranking third.

The rise in maternal mortality is most prevalent in rural areas of the country. Between 2008 and 2018, states in the Northeastern and Northwestern regions recorded higher numbers compared to those in the Southeastern and Southwestern parts.

Furthermore, the Federal Ministry of Health recorded that between 2019 and 2022, out of the 36 states in Nigeria, only 15–16 actively participated in post-natal care. The postpartum period accounts for 27% of maternal mortality cases.

In response, the federal government, through the Ministry of Health and in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3.1), launched the National Strategic Health Development Plan II. By 2030, the plan aims to reduce Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate to no more than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Healthcare is Dead in Rural Areas”—Dr. Nurudeen Mustapha Speaks on Causes of MMR

Dr. Nurudeen Mustapha, a medical doctor at the maternity ward of Ahmadu Bello University Medical Centre, highlights the gravity of the situation.

 

Dr Nuraddin Mustapha ,Medical expert

Dr Nuraddin Mustapha ,Medical expert

“Maternal Mortality, as defined by the World Health Organization, refers to the deaths of women due to complications from pregnancy or childbirth—either during delivery or up to 48 days postpartum. In Nigeria, for every 22 women who give birth, one dies. This contrasts sharply with developed countries, where maternal deaths occur only after thousands of births.”*

Dr. Mustapha attributes Nigeria’s high MMR to multiple factors, with marginalization of rural communities being a significant contributor.

“Access to proper healthcare is nearly impossible for people living in rural areas. As a result, they resort to self-administered healthcare, often performed by untrained individuals pretending to be midwives. This leads to complications, including severe hemorrhaging during childbirth—one of the major causes of maternal death.”

Illegal abortion is another contributing factor.

*”Unwanted pregnancies are rampant in our society. Many young girls under the age of 15 get pregnant, and in an attempt to terminate their pregnancies, they succumb to fatal complications.”

Additionally, hypertensive disorders and pulmonary edema—excessive fluid buildup in the lungs—are serious contributors to maternal deaths.

“Women with severe hypertension, particularly those over the age of 35, face heightened risks. Their cases often result in respiratory failure, leading to mortality.”

“Government Negligence Fuels Illegal Healthcare Practices”—Dr. Mustapha Criticizes Unregulated Hospitals.

When asked about the recent deaths at Afolmi Hospital in Durumi, Abuja, Dr. Mustapha did not hold back.

 

“This tragedy could have been avoided if the government actively enforced policies regulating healthcare facilities. Many illegal hospitals operate without consequences, allowing untrained staff to perform life-threatening procedures. Corruption is a major impediment to effective enforcement.”

On April 27, 2025, reports surfaced that Afolmi Hospital, along with staff member Murtala Jumma, was implicated in the deaths of two women due to childbirth complications. Jumma was reportedly responsible for a failed cesarean section that led to one of the fatalities.

The Path Forward: Experts Urge Government Intervention

According to Dr. Mustapha, improving maternal health in Nigeria requires strategic actions.

“Pregnant women should maintain a healthy diet and attend antenatal appointments regularly to monitor both their health and that of their baby. Family planning is also crucial, as excessive childbirth increases the risk of cervical tears, contributing to maternal mortality.”

 

 

Government intervention is equally vital.

Authorities must ensure that rural communities have access to quality healthcare facilities. In urban areas, medical personnel should receive fair remuneration to discourage them from leaving the country. Unregistered hospitals operating illegally must be shut down, and violators should face severe penalties.”

Maternal mortality remains a critical issue in Nigeria, especially in rural regions where healthcare is virtually non-existent. Without immediate action, the country faces severe economic consequences due to dwindling manpower and reduced contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Regulating abortion, enforcing hospital standards, improving healthcare infrastructure, and retaining medical professionals through better compensation could drastically reduce Nigeria’s MMR rate and safeguard the lives of thousands of women.

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Peter Obi Condemns Allegations Against Seyi Tinubu, Calls for Justice

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Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over the recent allegations leveled against Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu. The accusations, made by Atiku Abubakar Isah, the factional president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), have sparked widespread debate and raised critical questions about the state of student leadership and democracy in Nigeria.

According to reports, Isah alleged that Seyi Tinubu abducted and tortured him after he refused to accept a bribe purportedly offered to him[ The student leader further claimed that Tinubu’s son attempted to disrupt the inauguration of the NANS leadership in Abuja, using thugs to disperse the gathering

 

These allegations have ignited discussions about the independence of student leadership and the broader implications for Nigeria’s democratic values.

Reacting to the controversy, Peter Obi described the allegations as “troubling”, emphasizing that if proven true, they would signify a dangerous erosion of young voices in the country’s political landscape

He stressed that Nigerian youth should not be coerced, silenced, or forced into political agendas that do not reflect their will.

**“The oppression of young voices, whether through force, patronage, or intimidation, is a dangerous path that we must not normalize,”Obi stated. He further called for a return to a Nigeria where justice is done and seen to be done, where youth can speak freely, and where institutions act responsibly

Meanwhile, Seyi Tinubu has strongly denied the allegations, dismissing them as false and defamatory.

In a statement posted on his social media, he refuted claims that he had ever met Isah or orchestrated any attack against him. **“I have never held a meeting to discuss any subject matter with Comrade Isah in Lagos or anywhere else in the world,”** Tinubu stated, adding that the accusations were entirely fictional.

As the controversy unfolds, Nigerians await further developments, with calls for a thorough investigation into the matter. The allegations have intensified discussions on the role of student leadership in Nigeria and the influence of political figures on youth organizations.

 

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