Obasanjo, Shettima, Atiku, ex-govs storm Kano for Kwankwaso daughter’s wedding

Kano literally stood still on Saturday as eminent personalities across the country including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Vice President Kashim Shettima and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar breezed into the city to witness the wedding Fatiha of the daughter of former Governor of Kano State, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The wedding fatiha took place at the palace of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi, and conducted by the Chief Imam of the city central mosque, Prof. Sani Zahraddeen.

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, gave Kwankwaso’s daughter, Dr Aishatu Kwankwaso’s hand in marriage to Fahad, the son of Katsina-based business mogul, Dahiru Mangal.

The sum of N1 million was paid as dowry by the groom amid thunderous supplication to Allah(SWT).

The arrival of former President Obasanjo, wearing a red cap which is the symbol of the Kwankwasiyya political movement led by Kwankwaso, took the attention of many, especially the Kwankwasiyya supporters.

Former Vice President Abubakar and former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, also graced the occasion.

Other personalities that also graced the wedding are former governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi; Senator Abdulaziz Yari, former Governor of Zamfara State; Senator Adamu Aliero, former Governor of Kebbi State; and Senator Abdul Ningi.

Former Governor Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State, former Governor Mahamud Shinkafi of Zamfara State, former Governor Isah Yuguda of Bauchi State, former Governor Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom, and former Governor Achike Udenwa of Imo State were present.

Dapo Abiodun ally Bidemi Rufai released from US prison

Abidemi Rufai, Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun’s associate, has been released from prison in the United States, Peoples Gazette has learnt.

Mr Rufai, 47, was released from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons’ custody in Fort Dix, New Jersey, on November 15, 2024, The Gazette understands via correctional documents. The convicted felon would now ready himself for deportation from the U.S. as stipulated in his guilty plea. His Nigerian passport was returned to him on October 21, 2024, after he filed a motion to reduce his sentencing.

When he pleaded guilty to allegations of tax fraud and aggravated identity theft in 2022, Mr Rufai waived his rights to challenge deportation after serving out his jail sentence.

He was sentenced to 60 months in prison on two counts of fraud in 2022 after prosecutors presented a strong case of multimillion-dollar fraud backed with 100,000 pages of evidence before a federal judge in Tacoma, Washington. The terms were scheduled to run concurrently.

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Mr Rufai, widely known as Elele Ruffy, was scheduled to be released on Valentine’s Day in 2025 but a judge approved his motion to be released earlier based on new sentencing guidelines, and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons forwent the three months left of his sentence.

He was ordered to pay $607,000 in restitution to the U.S. government agencies across multiple states, and a Nigerian court ordered the seizure of his Lekki mansion in Lagos and bank accounts after the anti-graft office EFCC filed fraud charges against him.

Mr Rufai was widely known as a notorious Internet fraud ringleader in Lagos and Ogun for many years before he extended his fraudulent operations to the U.S., where he got nabbed.

He served in the same prison as infamous Internet fraudsters Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas and Jacob Olalekan Ponle, also known as Mr Woodberry, who are still serving long sentences in American jails.

It was not immediately clear whether or not Mr Rufai would return to his job as an aide to Mr Abiodun in Ogun. The governor was arrested for fraud in Florida over three decades ago, but his punishment was unclear.

Dapo Abiodun ally Bidemi Rufai released from US prison

Dismissed soldier arrested for armed robbery in Osun

A 34-year-old dismissed soldier, Anthony Emmanuel, has been arrested over several robberies in Esa-Oke community in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State.

The Nation learnt that Emmanuel perpetrated the crime with three other dismissed soldiers.

Parading the suspects at the Osun Police Command, the Police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, stated Emmanuel with others took their victims into a bush and forced them to transfer N3m before they were released.

“They also robbed one Olawumi Oluwaseun and Ishola of their iphone 12 and iphone 13 respectively, valued at N1.25million before they were also freed. They carried their operations in military uniform,” she stated.

She noted that the anti kidnapping squad of the Command led the operation where Emmanuel was arrested. It was also discovered that one David Agbebaku who carried out the operation with him has been arrested in Oyo State for another offence.

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Emmanuel said: “I and David, another dismissed Soldier, kidnapped a young man who transferred money into an account. David later transferred N2million to my account.

“The victim didn’t transfer money to me. The military paraphernalia are all mine, I bought the rank and put on it. David brought me for the operation from Ibadan to Esa-Oke.

” I served in the Nigerian Army for fourteen years, nine months I went on foreign mission with the United Nations in 2014 under 35 192 battalion and went for a mission in the North East.

“I was being court marshalled for misconduct to the service, indiscipline, insubordination and desert. I was dismissed as corporal in January. I know I have committed an offence against the Military and Nigeria and I hope I can be forgiven. This will not repeat itself again.”

Dismissed soldier arrested for armed robbery in Osun