Headline

Bauchi Govt Demolished Citizen’s Property Without Court Order Because Of Party Differences- Aide

Published

4 years ago

October 6, 2021

Mr. Ukkasha Rahama, the Secretary to Hon. Yakubu Abdullahi, member, representing Bauchi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives has insisted that the state government demolished his principal’s building in the middle of the night and without any court order.

Rahama, who stated this in a news conference with journalists in Bauchi on Wednesday, further stated that the state government was aware that his principal had instituted a legal action against it, the Attorney General of the state, Ministry of Land and Survey as well as Bauchi State Urban and Development Board.

It could be recalled that the state government had on October 1, 2021
demolished the building of Hon. Yakubu Shehu Abdullahi.

The state government explained that the building belongs to it but was illegally sold out by an official of the immediate past administration.

The government, through a team of officials led by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor of Bauchi State, Mukhtar Gidado, explained that the building was part of the nine houses dedicated as ‘legacy assets’ having been there right from the creation of the state in 1976.

The government further said that the nine houses have over the years been used as official residences of Commissioners and other top Government functionaries including security chiefs posted to the state and therefore could not have been sold on owner-occupier basis as claimed by the Federal lawmaker.

While reacting to the government’s stand, Rahama said “For record and clarity, Hon. Yakubu Shehu Abdullahi owned the property through purchase from the original owner. A Deed of Assignment was prepared between him and the original owner. The Deed of Assignment was duly registered after the State Government approved the consent to assign the property to him.

“The Honourable paid all the necessary fees to the State Government for registration of his title in the land registry Bauchi in 2018 after obtaining the consent of the Bauchi State Government. He acquired title to the property in 2018 before the birth of the current administration of Governor Bala Mohammed.

“Before commencing building on the land he lawfully acquired, he submitted a building proposal to the State Urban and Development Board for approval. The building proposal and plan was approved by the Board in 2018 and the amended building proposal was approved on the 22nd October, 2020 and he paid all the necessary fees.

“After obtaining building approval from the Board to erect structures on his plot of land he lawfully acquired and the structures have gone far, the saddest thing that will ever happen to a Nigerian citizen was what befall Hon. Yakubu Shehu Abdullahi, member representing Bauchi Federal Constituency at the National Assembly because of political party differences.

“The State Government, after collecting a huge sum of money from him for registration of title documents with the land registry and hugely paid for obtaining building approval from the State Government as well as spending millions of naira in raising the structure, the Bauchi State Government has done what can be termed as robbery,” he said.

Rahama further stated that the building construction on property covered by Certificate of Occupancy No. BA/39705 was not an illegal construction, adding that the state government granted approval to his principal to erect the structures.

He also said that in line with the State Government approval, his principal commenced construction on his plot of land at No. 7 Buba Yero Road, old GRA, Bauchi.

“Having collected huge money from him, the State Government is now raising issues on the property just because of political differences with him.

“Hon. Yakubu Shehu Abdullahi came into the property lawfully after following due
procedure for acquisition of the landed property and at no time his title was challenged by the Bauchi State Government before a Court of law.

“It is unfortunate that the Government that ought to protect the life and properties of its citizens as guaranteed in our law, is the one using its hands to grievously injure the citizens and demolish the property.

“The causing of grievous injury to the security guards of the property without any provocation in a desperate attempt to illegally demolish the property of Hon. Yakubu Shehu Abdullahi further confirmed that the Bauchi state government does not value the Sanctity of human lives created by Almighty Allah,” He stated.

Headline

Africa Coups: 10 In Five Years

Published

40 minutes ago

December 7, 2025

Editor

A military coup attempt in Benin Sunday adds to a list of such incidents on the turbulent African continent.
A group of soldiers announced that they had ousted President Patrice Talon, although his entourage said he was safe and the army was regaining control.

Here is a recap of the 10 successful coups in Africa in the last five years:

Mali

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita is overthrown by five army colonels in August 2020.

In May 2021, the Malian military takes over from the civilian leaders of an interim government.
Colonel Assimi Goita, who led both coups, is sworn in as transitional president.

After promising to hold elections in February 2024, the military puts them off indefinitely, pointing to the jihadist violence plaguing the country.

In July 2025, Goita approves a law granting himself a five-year presidential mandate, renewable without election.
In September jihadists launch a fuel blockade, weakening the ruling junta.

Guinea

On September 5, 2021, mutinous troops led by lieutenant-colonel Mamady Doumbouya take over in Guinea, arresting President Alpha Conde.

Doumbouya in early November 2025 submits his candidacy ahead of December 28 elections that are meant to restore constitutional order.

Sudan

After weeks of tension between the military and civilian leaders who had shared power since the ousting of dictator Omar al-Bashir, the armed forces led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan stage a new coup on October 25, 2021.

Since April 2023 war has raged between the regular armed forces led by Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, led by his former deputy Mohammed Hamdan Daglo.

The conflict has so far killed tens of thousands of people and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso underwent two military coups in 2022.

In January that year mutinous soldiers led by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba arrest President Roch Marc Christian Kabore.

Then in September army officers announce they have dismissed Damiba. Captain Ibrahim Traore becomes transitional president, but elections he promised do not materialise. In May 2024 the junta authorises him to stay for another five years in a country wracked by Islamist violence.

Niger

On July 26, 2023, members of the presidential guard overthrow Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum, elected in 2021. General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of the presidential guard, takes over.

In March 2025, the junta extends by at least five years its transitional leadership of the country which is plagued by jihadist violence.

Gabon

In Gabon, ruled for 55 years by the Bongo family, army officers on August 30, 2023 overthrow President Ali Bongo Ondimba, less than an hour after he is declared winner of an election the opposition says was fraudulent.
General Brice Oligui Nguema is named transitional president.

In April 2025 he is elected president with 94.85 percent of the vote. He is sworn in on the basis of a new constitution approved by referendum during the transition.

Madagascar

In October 2025, the military ousts Madagascar’s president Andry Rajoelina and takes power following weeks of “Gen Z” anti-government protests.

Army colonel Michael Randrianirina is sworn in as Madagascar’s new president, promising elections within 18 to 24 months.

Guinea-Bissau

In November 2025, military officers in Guinea-Bissau declare they have “total control” of the coup-prone west African country, closing its borders and suspending its electoral process three days after general elections.

The military says a command “composed of all branches of the armed forces” is taking over the leadership of the country “until further notice”.

Headline

Benin Republic Presidency Breaks Silence On ‘Military Takeover’

Published

7 hours ago

December 7, 2025

Editor

Benin Republic military
Military personnel in Benin on Sunday said they had ousted President Patrice Talon, but the Presidency said he was safe and the army was regaining control.

Talon, 67, a former businessman known as the “cotton king of Cotonou,” is due to hand over power in April next year after 10 years in office marked by strong economic growth and rising jihadist violence.

West Africa has seen several coups in recent years, including in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and most recently Guinea-Bissau.

Early on Sunday, soldiers calling themselves the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR) said on state television that they had met and decided that “Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic.”

The signal was cut later in the morning.

Shortly after the announcement, a source close to Talon told AFP the president was safe.

“This is a small group of people who only control the television. The regular army is regaining control. The city (Cotonou) and the country are completely secure,” they said.

“It’s just a matter of time before everything returns to normal. The clean-up is progressing well.”

A military source confirmed the situation was “under control” and said the coup plotters had not taken Talon’s residence or the presidential offices.

The French Embassy reported on X that “gunfire was reported at Camp Guezo” near the president’s official residence in the economic capital and urged French citizens to remain indoors.

Benin has a history of coups and attempted coups.

Talon, who came to power in 2016, is due to end his second term in 2026, the constitutional maximum.

The main opposition party has been excluded from the race to succeed him, leaving the ruling party to compete against a so-called “moderate” opposition.

Talon has been praised for driving economic development but is often accused of authoritarianism.

(AFP)

Headline

JUST IN: Soldiers Announce Military Takeover Of Govt In Benin Republic

Published

8 hours ago

December 7, 2025

Editor

A group of soldiers appeared on Benin’s state television on Sunday to announce the dissolution of the government in what is being described as an apparent coup, marking yet another power seizure in West Africa.

Identifying themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation, the soldiers declared the removal of the president and all state institutions.

President Patrice Talon, who has been in office since 2016, was scheduled to leave office next April after the presidential election. His party’s preferred candidate, former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, had been widely viewed as the frontrunner. Opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was disqualified by the electoral commission on the grounds that he did not have “sufficient sponsors.”

The takeover comes a month after Benin’s legislature extended the presidential term from five to seven years while retaining the two-term limit.

(AFP)