Stop using killings as excuse to gain power, cleric tells politicians
Religious leaders seek collaboration to tackle corruption Suspected pipeline vandal escapes from court during proceedings
CHAIRMAN of Kaduna State chapter of NasrilLahil-fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT), Ustaz Muyideen Alimi Yusuf, has charged politicians to desist from using ongoing killings in the country to seek power.
He made the statement shortly after inaugurating new executive members of NASFAT in Kaduna.
He urged any politician who wants Nigeria’s progress to support government in proffering solution to insecurity instead of hyping the killings.
Yusuf said: “If these politicians love Nigeria, why can’t they support the govern- ment to end the killing of innocent Nigerians without being at the corridor of power.
He explained that NASFAT is not a political or tribal society, but one committed to the progress of the country.
“Our politicians must stop dancing on the grave of the dead. As a people let us do our best to save this country,” he said.
He expressed concern that treasury looters are celebrated more than religious leaders who have supported the development of the country.
The chairman disclosed that NASFAT has trained over 3000 youths on voca- tional training as cake baking, soap making and others.
NASFAT zonal Vice Chairman Adekunle Adesanya, charged the incoming executives to be God-fearing in the discharge of their duties.
Also, the outgoing women leader, Hajiya Kudirat, and Public Relations Officer, Zainab Tanimu, urged the new executives to carry other members along.
In a related development, the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, Rt. Rev. Humphrey Bamisebi Olumakaiye, and Chief Imam of Lagos, Alhaji Muhammed Suleiman, have called for collaboration to tackle corruption.
ASUSPECTED pipeline vandal, Kingsley Ibeto, played a fast one on a Federal High Court in Lagos presided over by Professor Chuka Obiozor, and disappeared after his plea was taken.
Ibeto, who was arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on unlawful dealing in petroleum products.
The offences, according to the prosecutor, Mrs. Ezeli Rita, are contrary to section 3(6) of Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of
Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under section 1(7) of the same act.
The defendant had pleaded not guilty to the charge. After his ‘not guilty’ plea, and in an attempt by his lawyer, Babatunde Adeyanju, to secure his bail, Ibeto informed the court that he had filed a bail application, which was not in the court’s file.
However, Justice Obiozor, who confirmed that the application was not in his file, consequently stood down the matter and asked the court registry to produce the application.
The prosecutor had also told the court that she was yet to be served the bail application.
While the matter was stood down for his bail application to be brought before the court, the accused disappeared.