Court Orders 10 Strokes of Cane for Bus Conductor Who Slapped Female Passenger

• Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel handed down the corporal punishment after the 20-year-old conductor, Abubakar Shehu, pleaded guilty to assaulting Hadiza Rabiu in a dispute over transportation fare.

A Kaduna Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a 20-year-old bus conductor, Abubakar Shehu, to 10 strokes of the cane after he pleaded guilty to slapping a female passenger twice during an argument over transportation fare. Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel, who delivered the judgment on Wednesday, held that the conductor should receive the corporal punishment after admitting to the charge of assault. The magistrate explained that the court was lenient with the convict because he did not waste the court’s time by pleading guilty to the offence. In addition to the caning, Magistrate Emmanuel ordered Shehu to write an undertaking to be of good behaviour henceforth. He also warned the convict to desist from such acts, stating that the court would not take it lightly with him if he appeared before it again for a similar offence.

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Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Chidi Leo, told the court that the convict committed the offence on July 24, 2026, at Kawo in Kaduna. Leo said that the convict had an altercation with the complainant, Hadiza Rabiu, over transportation fare and slapped her twice on the face. The prosecutor informed the court that the offence contravened the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.

This sentencing follows a pattern of Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel taking firm action against offenders who plead guilty to minor offences. The magistrate has previously imposed similar corporal punishments in several cases. In February 2025, the same magistrate sentenced a trader, Jibrin Yusuf, to 10 strokes of the cane for assaulting his friend over a N3,000 debt and also ordered him to pay N230,000 in restitution. In October 2024, Magistrate Emmanuel ordered a 21-year-old scavenger, Ibrahim Usman, to receive eight strokes of the cane for stealing a she-goat. He also sentenced a 30-year-old mason to 10 strokes of the cane for stealing four bags of cement worth N15,000. In November 2025, the magistrate sentenced Kingsley Timothy to 15 strokes of the cane for stealing two phones valued at N650,000 from a church. Magistrate Emmanuel has also handled cases where bus conductors were involved in transport-related violence. In May 2024, he admitted a bus conductor, Saminu Illiyasu, to bail after he was charged with beating a tricycle rider with a log of wood. In another case, he admitted a conductor, Salisu Mohammed, to bail for allegedly beating up a motorcyclist.

Court Orders 10 Strokes of Cane for Bus Conductor Who Slapped Female Passenger

“We Can’t Produce Him” — IGP Explains Adeyemi’s Absence at PFIPC Hearing

• The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has told the House of Representatives that the self-acclaimed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeyemi Adeniyi, could not be produced before lawmakers because he is being held in custody pursuant to a valid court order.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has explained why the Nigeria Police Force failed to produce Adeyemi Adeniyi, the self-styled Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) , before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the activities of the purported agency. The committee, chaired by Honourable Yusuf Gagdi, had on Monday directed the IGP to produce Adeyemi before the panel by noon on Wednesday to answer questions arising from testimonies presented by several government institutions. The directive followed submissions from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Budget Office of the Federation, the Nigeria Police Force and other agencies, all of which distanced themselves from the purported council.

At the resumed investigative hearing on Wednesday, the IGP was represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police Olufemi Akinola, who appeared alongside Assistant Commissioner of Police Bashir Abdullahi. Addressing the committee, Akinola explained that Adeyemi could not be produced because he was being held pursuant to a valid order of the Federal High Court. “We are here to convey the confidence of the Inspector-General of Police. The Nigeria Police Force may not be able to produce the suspect as requested in view of the subsisting warrant,” Akinola said. He stated that the police would require a production warrant or other appropriate order from the court before complying with the committee’s request. Reading the police correspondence, Committee Chairman Yusuf Gagdi informed lawmakers that the IGP had explained that Adeyemi remained in custody in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation into alleged conspiracy and forgery. “We have a standing rule. We are mindful of it. The first leg of the investigation is conspiracy and forgery, which is what has taken the man into custody. We are a respecter of the principle of the separation of powers,” Gagdi said. The chairman noted that he made the letter public to prevent the impression that Adeyemi had deliberately ignored the committee’s summons. “I decided to read the letter so that members of the press would not say the man failed to show up. We have proceedings and procedures,” he stated.

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The police had earlier confirmed that the Nigeria Police Force investigated part of the case late last year and filed eight-count charges against Adeyemi before the Federal High Court. The investigation was initiated following a petition dated October 17, 2025, from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, alleging that Adeyemi falsely presented himself as Director-General of both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the PFIPC. According to the police, further petitions alleged that the suspect used the purported office to secure accommodation at the Phase III Federal Secretariat in Abuja, sought approval to recruit about 300 personnel, attempted to obtain a N1.32 billion allocation for the council in the 2026 Appropriation Act, and planned to organise a World Investment Summit under the council’s platform. The police representative had earlier cautioned lawmakers against demanding disclosures that could prejudice the ongoing criminal investigation and court proceedings. “We don’t want to say things that are under investigation. It is definitely going to prejudice the ongoing investigation and make people have opinions that may prejudge the outcome of an investigation or judicial decision,” Abdullahi had told the committee.

In response to the police explanation, the committee chairman, Yusuf Gagdi, accepted the explanation and assured the police that the committee would take the necessary legal steps to obtain the required court order. He also pledged that the committee would communicate with the Office of the Inspector-General of Police as soon as the order is secured. Gagdi emphasised that the committee would respect the powers of the judiciary and would not interfere with the criminal investigation being conducted by security agencies. “We cannot tamper with the ongoing investigation. We respect the good jobs the Inspector-General of Police, the Police, DSS, ICPC, EFCC and the National Security Adviser are doing, and we would not undermine the whole process,” Gagdi said.

During the investigation, the committee had uncovered about 29 documents suspected of being forged in connection with the operations of the purported agency. The documents included purported approvals from the State House, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Finance and several other government institutions. One of the highlights of the hearing was the committee’s examination of signatures on documents allegedly issued from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President. When lawmakers asked whether the signatures matched authentic official correspondence, the police witness replied: “They are not the same.” Reacting, Gagdi said the findings had reinforced suspicions that several official government documents were forged. “So, it is not only a letter that was suspected to be forged? We are dealing with documents that include what is said to be a forged Act of the National Assembly in an attempt to establish a fake agency,” he said.

The PFIPC has been in the news recently after the Presidency disowned the agency amid revelations that it received a N1.32 billion appropriation in the 2026 budget and opened accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate and submit a comprehensive report within 30 days. The House of Representatives constituted the ad hoc committee to investigate the activities of the purported council following allegations that it operated without legal backing while presenting itself as a Federal Government agency. The committee’s ongoing investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the creation and operations of the body, identify those responsible, and recommend appropriate legislative and legal actions. Gagdi disclosed that the committee would continue to correspond with the police and other relevant agencies to obtain further information and resolve outstanding issues, with the aim of laying its report by next week.

“We Can’t Produce Him” — IGP Explains Adeyemi’s Absence at PFIPC Hearing

Oyo APC Governorship Crisis Deepens as G6 Aspirants Reject Alli’s Candidacy Claim

• The G6 group of aggrieved governorship aspirants insists the party has no candidate yet, describing Senator Sharafadeen Alli’s assertions as “delusional” and demanding a credible consensus process supervised by President Tinubu.

The crisis rocking the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) intensified on Tuesday as six governorship aspirants, operating under the banner of the G6, openly rejected Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli’s claim that he is the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election. The aggrieved aspirants insisted that the APC is yet to produce a standard bearer and described Alli’s assertions as premature and unfounded. The G6, comprising former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan; Engr. Hakeem Alao; Dr. Ayobami Lam-Adesina; Barrister Akeem Agbaje; Mr. Ololade Bakare; and Barrister Musibau Asanike, made their position known in a statement issued on Tuesday. The group maintained that no agreement had been reached on the emergence of a consensus governorship candidate, and that their position on the governorship race has not changed.

Senator Alli, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly and is one of the APC governorship aspirants, has maintained that his nomination is valid. Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Ibadan organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Alli expressed confidence that efforts were already underway to heal divisions within the party and unite key stakeholders ahead of the 2027 polls. “On my part, I have also been going round to reconcile with members, both the governorship and the senatorial aspirants. I can tell you this party is going to resolve all that you think is a crisis,” Alli said. The senator also disclosed that he had held meetings with some of the aspirants in recent days and expressed optimism that disagreements within the party would soon be resolved.

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The G6, however, swiftly distanced itself from the senator’s remarks. In a statement, the aspirants said Alli was moving ahead of events and creating the impression that a consensus had already been reached when discussions were still ongoing. They stressed that none of them had abandoned their political ambitions and that their supporters remained committed to ensuring a fair process for selecting the party’s eventual candidate. “Oyo State APC is yet to have a governorship candidate, and Senator Sharafadeen Alli, who has been parading himself as the candidate of our great party, is living in delusion,” the statement read. The aspirants maintained that they remained loyal members of the APC and had no intention of working against the party. They noted that their primary concern was the emergence of a candidate through a process that would enjoy broad acceptance among members and stakeholders across the state. According to them, the success of the APC in 2027 depends on unity, transparency and a consensus-building process that accommodates different interests within the party.

The G6 reiterated its support for President Bola Tinubu and said it would stand by any decision reached through a credible consensus arrangement initiated by the President and the party leadership. “We are good party members and will gladly work for the victory of our great party with anyone President Bola Ahmed Tinubu picks as the consensus candidate,” the statement added. The group further argued that imposing any aspirant on party members could deepen divisions and weaken the APC’s chances in the next governorship contest. They called for wider consultations and a review of ongoing political arrangements to ensure that all stakeholders are carried along. “While G6 is committed to the success of our party in the 2027 general elections, we insist that the process must be reviewed to produce a consensus that will ensure the emergence of a candidate that most party members will accept and support. Not an aspirant who is using propaganda in his bid to impose himself as the candidate of the party,” the group stated.

The crisis within the Oyo APC has been brewing for months, with multiple factions and aggrieved aspirants raising concerns over the conduct of the party’s governorship primary. In July 2026, the party inaugurated a high-powered reconciliation committee led by Senator Olufemi Lanlehin and Professor Taoheed Adedoja to resolve internal grievances and strengthen unity ahead of the 2027 polls. During separate consultative meetings held on July 8 and July 10, the aggrieved aspirants expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the governorship primary, raising concerns over both the process and the outcome of the exercise. Despite their grievances, the aspirants reaffirmed their commitment to the party and agreed to honour any invitation by President Tinubu to discuss their concerns. The crisis has also been compounded by supporters of the Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, who have continued protests at the APC Secretariat in Oyo State, insisting on “Adelabu or nothing” and rejecting what they described as an alleged attempt to impose a governorship candidate.

Despite the deepening crisis, the APC’s reconciliation committee has continued to meet with aggrieved aspirants in an effort to restore unity. The committee has assured all parties of its commitment to handling the process with sincerity, transparency and objectivity, stressing that every submission and concern will receive fair consideration. President Tinubu has also been expected to intervene directly in the matter, with the aspirants expressing readiness to honour any invitation by the President to discuss their concerns. The party leadership has expressed confidence that the ongoing reconciliation exercise will promote peace, unity and progress within the Oyo State chapter of the APC ahead of future political activities. Despite the disagreements, the G6 emphasized that the APC in Oyo State remains united and capable of reclaiming power in the state if internal issues are properly managed. They described the party as one family and said their demand for a credible consensus process should not be interpreted as rebellion against the party leadership.

Oyo APC Governorship Crisis Deepens as G6 Aspirants Reject Alli’s Candidacy Claim