Daily Watch – DHQ issues bandit bounties, Court sacks APC candidates in Akwa Ibom & Taraba

19 terrorists were declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters on Monday, with a ₦5 million bounty placed on each of them. Defence spokesperson Major General Jimmy Akpor said this on Monday in Abuja while displaying a poster containing the information of the wanted terrorists. Those declared wanted have been known to operate in Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara. The DHQ urged anyone with any information on the wanted terrorists to call a designated hotline. The wanted bandits and terrorists are include: Sani Dangote who hails from Dumbarum Village in Zurmi Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara; Bello Turji Gudda from Fakai in Zamfara; Leko from Mozoj Village in Mutazu LGA of Katsina State; Dogo Nahali – Yar Tsamiyar Village in Kankara LGA of Katsina State; Halilu Sububu from Sububu Village in Maradun LGA of Zamfara; Nagona – from Angwan Galadima in Isa LGA of Sokoto State; Nasanda from Kwashabawa Village in Zurmi LGA of Zamara; Isiya Kwashen Garwa from Kamfanin Daudawa Village of Faskari in Katsina State; Ali Kachalla, aka Ali Kawaje, from Kuyambara Village in Dansadau Maru of Zamfara; Abu Radde from Varanda Village in Batsari LGA of Katsina State; Dan-Da from Varanda Village in Batsari LGA of Katsina; Sani Gurgu also from Varanda Village in Batsari LGA of Katsina; Umaru Dan Nigeria – from RAFI Village in Mada District of Gusau; Alhaji Ado Aliero from Yankuzo Village in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara; Monore from Yantumaki Village in Dan LGA, Katsina State; Gwaska Dankarami from Shamushele Village in Zuri LGA of Zamfara; Baleri – from Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara; Mamudu Tainange from Varanda Village in Batsari LGA of Katsina State; and Nagala from Maru LGA of Zamfara.

The Federal High Court in Uyo has nullified the election of Akanimo Udofia as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State. Justice Agatha Okeke, who delivered the judgement ordered the APC to conduct a fresh governorship primary election within 14 days. The case was filed by a former senator, Ita Enang, who claimed that he was the validly elected candidate of the APC in Akwa Ibom. Justice Okeke concurred with Mr Enang’s argument and ruled that Udofia was not a member of the APC as he did not participate in all the stages of the process for electing a governorship candidate of the party. The Court of Appeal in Abuja has nullified the election of Godswill Akpabio as the APC candidate for Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district. In a judgment delivered on Monday, a three-member panel of justices set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept and publish Akpabio’s name as the party’s senatorial candidate. The former minister was in the race for the party’s presidential ticket but dropped his bid at the primaries. Prior to the 27 May presidential primary, Udom Ekpoudom, a former deputy inspector-general of police won the APC primary for the district. A parallel primary was conducted and won by Ekperikpe Ekpo but was cancelled due to irregularities. A rerun conducted on 8 June was said to have produced Akpabio as the winner of the exercise. Also in Abuja, the Federal High Court nullified the Taraba APC governorship primary that produced Senator Emmanuel Bwacha as its candidate. The Federal High Court in Jalingo had earlier sacked him as the party’s governorship flag bearer. The two courts, in separate rulings, have called on the leadership of the APC to conduct a fresh governorship primary. While the first ruling which came in Jalingo was instituted by one of the aggrieved aspirants, Chief David Sabo Kente, the Abuja ruling, delivered Monday, was instituted by the senator representing Taraba Central, Yusuf A. Yusuf.

Nigerian broadcaster Arise Television has been fined ₦2 million by the National Broadcasting Commission over a  fake report about the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu. The TV station had aired a report that the Independent National Broadcasting Commission (INEC) was investigating Tinubu’s alleged crime bordering on narcotics and illicit drugs. A statement purportedly issued by the INEC had gone viral on social media but the electoral body, on Saturday, debunked the report, saying it was a handiwork of mischief. Arise TV had, on Sunday, apologised to Tinubu and INEC for misleading the general public. According to The Nation, the ₦2 million fine was for breaching the broadcasting code.

Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo sacked finance minister Charles Adu Boahen on Monday. The presidency announced this after allegations of impropriety were circulated by popular Ghanaian investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas. Mr Akufo-Addo made the decision after being “made aware of the allegations” against Mr Boahen in the documentary “Galamsey Economy” produced by prominent Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas. Anas has broken several corruption scandals in the past, including the Ghana football association and the judiciary. In the documentary, Adu Boahen is said to have been caught on tape telling undercover investigators that Mahamudu Bawumia, Ghana’s vice president, needs $200,000 as an appearance fee before meeting with supposed investors. Bawumia denied the allegations and accused Adu Boahen of using his name to peddle influence and collect money from supposed investors. The government has announced an investigation.