A 38-year-old driver, Farouq Babanle, was arraigned on Thursday before a Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing charcoal worth N730, 000.

The defendant, whose address was not provided, is facing two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The prosecutor, Insp. Chidi Leo told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Nov 12, at Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

According to Leo, the defendant was given charcoal worth N730, 000 to transport from Kachia to customers in Kawo Kaduna.

The prosecutor stated that the defendant stole the charcoal, sold it and diverted the proceeds to his personal use.

He added that after stealing the charcoal, the defendant ran to an unknown destination until he was seen and arrested on Nov. 20, at Rigasa Kaduna.

He said the offence contravened the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Emmanuel said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and must furnish the court with proof of tax payment to the Kaduna State Government.

He adjourned the case until Dec. 19, for hearing.

The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Ibaka, Akwa Ibom, has arrested three suspected drug dealers and impounded illicit drugs worth N500m.

The Commanding Officer of the Base, Capt. Uche Aneke disclosed this on Thursday while handing over the contraband drugs and industrial chemicals to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Nigeria Customs Service.

Aneke said the suspects were arrested in a boat on Monday at about 11:50 am during a routine patrol around the Bendero and Uta Uyata general area.

“The boat was laden with over 125 sacks of industrial chemicals (crystalline ammonia) and 62 cartons of different brands of contraband drugs.

“These included 820 tubes of Pethidine (containing opium) and 24,800 bottles of Codeine syrup, en route to Nigeria from the Republic of Cameroon with the intention of smuggling the controlled substances into Nigeria,” Aneke said.

He warned individuals or groups planning to engage in any form of criminality in Nigerian waters to desist or face the consequences.

Aneke said that under the current leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the FOB Ibaka remained resolute in ensuring that maritime crimes are effectively eradicated in the coastal areas of Akwa Ibom.

Receiving the suspects and contraband drugs, Mr Monday Jatau, the Deputy State Commander in charge of Operations and Training of the NDLEA in Akwa Ibom, said the agency would prosecute the suspects after further investigation.

Also receiving the industrial chemicals on behalf of NCS, Mr Abdulkadir Abubakar, a Deputy Superintendent, commended the Nigerian Navy for their sustained support in the fight against criminals.

Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board says it has concluded arrangements to refund over N95 million to 1,572 pilgrims, who performed the 2023 Hajj exercise from the state.

The Director-General of the board, Alhaji Ahmad Labbo, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse, on Wednesday.

Labbo said the refund was for some services not rendered to the pilgrims while in the Holy Land.

He said that each of the beneficiaries would receive N61, 080 through his/her bank account.

“This refund is for 2023 Hajj exercise and the total amount to be paid is N95, 156,680 in respect of 1,571 pilgrims.

“And if you divide the said amount by the number of the pilgrims, the refund stood at N61, 080 to each of the 1,517 pilgrims that performed Hajj in 2023 from the state,” he said.

The board, he said, instructed zonal officers to obtain bank account details of the beneficiaries at their respective areas.

“This is what we are doing now and as soon as we are through, all the 1,517 pilgrims from Jigawa will be refunded with the aforementioned amount,” he explained.