Kebbi Islamic sect member seeks release of detained Shiite leader

Assembly summons ex-governor, contractors over contract inflation
A member of the Shiite Islamic sect in Kebbi State, Mallam Umar Bello has appealed to the Federal government to temper justice with mercy and release their leader, Sheik Al-Zaki-Zaki who had been detained for over one year.

Speaking to newsmen yesterday at the celebration of the birthday of Prophet Mohammed called eid-maulud in Birnin Kebbi, Bello said that the sect was appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to released their leader who was arrested in Zaria for exercising his fundamental rights to free association.

Members of the group had clashed with officers of the Nigeria Army in Zaria, which claimed many lives and which led to the arrest of their leader.

Meanwhile, the Kebbi State House Assembly has given the immediate past governor of the state, Usman Nasamu Dakingari and the six contractors handling the construction of the Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi three weeks to appear before it to explained their roles in the inflation of the contract sum to N10.6 billon.

Addressing newsmen yesterday, the House Committee Chairman on Information, Hon. Salihu Dangoje said the governor should appear to explain the award of the contract and the release of the funds which was allegedly inflated, adding that the House had set up a special investigation committee on the contract for the upgrading of the Airport.

He added that the House set up a special investigation committee on the contracts awarded for the upgrading of the airport in 2014 saying the committee’s report was submitted on March 30, 2017 by its Chairman, Hon. Muhammad Buhari Aliero, who is also the Deputy Speaker with 12 members.