Bida and Munya Local Government football teams have emerged as the finalists of the 2023 edition of the Niger State Governor's Cup football competition, tagged "Bida 2023".
Bida local government defeated Kontagora local government by a lone goal in the first semi-final match decided at the Lapai Football Academy Mini Stadium, Kobo campus of IBB University, Lapai.
On the other hand, the resilient Munya local government team edged out the Mokwa local government team by 9-8 via penalty shootouts, as both teams tied one all at regulation time in the second semi-final match decided at the same venue on Sunday.
In a post-match reaction shortly after his team's victory, the council chairman of Bida Local Government, Hon. Bala Shaba, said he was optimistic that his team was going to carry the day even before the start of the game and appreciated God for granting them the victory.
He disclosed that the harmonious unity among the players who played for a collective goal led them to the victory, urging them not to lose focus on their main target, which is to come first in the championship.
"I want them to put more effort into the finals, particularly as the final is going to take place at our home ground," he added.
The council chairman of Munya Local Government, Hon. Aminu Najume, also said in his reaction that it was a joyful moment for the entire soccer-loving people of Munya to have come from behind to win the match through penalties.
He said he was calm because he knows his team will carry the day when it comes to penalty shootouts because he has confidence in his players.
He charged the boys to be calm, resolute, play safe, and go for the gold during the final match, saying the 2023 Governor's Cup is going to Munya and promising that he has a special gift for them.
On his part, the Chairman of the Niger State Football Association (NSFA), Comrade Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, said the two semi-final matches had lived up to expectations with the beautiful football artistry displayed by both teams.
He commended the players and officials of all the semifinalists for the sportsmanship spirit they have exhibited during the matches, which he said were keenly contested.
Comrade Yusuf Fresh also appreciated the presence of all the local government council chairmen whose teams played in the semi-final and specifically commended the council chairman of Lapai, Hon. Mohammed Kirikpo, for accepting to host the semi-final matches and for his presence, as well as his warm reception and the hospitality accorded to the state FA officials.
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The Minna Chief Magistrate Court Number One has revoked the bail earlier granted to Hadiza Mohammad and Usman Alhaji Umaru.
The Presiding Chief Magistrate, Hajiya Fati Umar Hassan, who revoked the bail of the two defendants, noted that there was a discrepancy in the police first information report (FIR) filed against them by the state anti-kidnapping squad of the Niger State Police Command.
The Magistrate then ordered the police to re-investigate the defendants and re-arraign them before the court for the commencement of a hearing into the matter after the completion of the investigation.
She ordered that a neutral body of the state police or an independent body of the state Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) conduct a discreet investigation in the case before re-arraigning them.
"A neutral body or an independent-minded department of the State Investigation Department of the state police command will investigate the case.
"I'm not convinced with the content of the First Information Report (FIR); there are so many inconsistencies in the FIR. Please take them back for a discreet investigation," she told the police prosecutor.
However, this reporter's findings revealed that the two defendants were found with a Tecno handset that was forcefully taken from one Abubakar Mohammadu, who went to pay ransom to some kidnappers that invaded their camp in the Wushishi area and kidnapped his brother and his wife.
The kidnappers, it was learned, killed their victims after collecting the ransom of two million naira from the said Abubakar Mohammadu and killing him.
It was also gathered that the Tecno handset was tracked to the Sabon Gari area of Wushishi, and the handset was tracked to the two defendants, and they were linked to the kidnapping and killing of their victims after collecting the ransom from the said Abubakar Mohammadu before killing him too.
The anti-kidnapping squad of the police in Niger State, where it was gathered, refused to include culpable homicide and kidnapping in the police First Information Report brought to the court, which informed the revocation of the bail earlier granted them.
They were earlier arraigned on three counts of criminal conspiracy, belonging to a gang of thieves, and being in possession of a handset suspected to have been stolen, which was ordinarily bailable and informed the granting of bail by the chief magistrate.
The three-count charges, according to police Prosecutor Ahmed Saidu, DSP, were punishable under sections 97, 306, and 319 of the penal code law.
However, the police prosecutor told the court that he was not objecting to the revocation of it as long as it was in the interest of justice.
