Good morning! Here is today’s summary of Nigerian newspapers :
1. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday detained Precious Chikwendu, wife of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, and his son, Aragorn. A statement issued by FFK on Monday evening, said his wife had gone to Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, to see Governor Ayodele Fayose when she stopped at the branch of Access Bank in the town to withdraw money. He claimed the staff of the Bank invited the operatives of the EFCC who stormed the Bank and detained, brutalized and humiliated Chikwendu who was with their child. She was however, released after Governor Fayose led some of his supporters to the bank.
2. Relatively, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday commenced questioning of two judges accused of corruption. The two Federal High Court judges, Mohammed Nasir Yunusa and Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa, were summoned to the Lagos Office of the EFCC, and were quizzed by top operatives of the commission.
3. The National Universities Commission (NUC) has announced the scrapping of sub-degree diploma programmes in Nigerian Universities, warning universities running such to wind them down as soon as possible. Executive Secretary, NUC, Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed on Monday said it is not the business of universities to run such programmes, especially that it cannot be used for employment.
4.The Kano State House of Assembly has proposed life imprisonment as punishment for kidnappers in the state. The bill successfully scaled the second reading at the State House of Assembly on Monday. The Deputy Majority Leader, Alhaji Maifada Bello read the Kidnapping, Abduction and Forced Labour Amendment Bill before the Assembly.
5. The #BringBackOurGirls campaign group, has said it was not part of the fund-raising organised in its name by President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Hadiza and a group, the Peace Corps of Nigeria, on Monday in Abuja. The group in a statement by Co-coordinators, Oby Ezekwesili and Aisha Yusuf, said it was not a party to the alleged fund-raising, stating that it was shocked that the organizers used its name at the event. The statement said the group was considering taking legal action against the organizers if it does not retract its name.
6. The Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), has called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to suspend Judges accused of corruption. While the Executive Secretary of the Committee, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, told newsmen in Abuja that Judges suspected of complicity in financial crimes should not preside over cases in court, the Chairman of the Committee, Professor Itse Sagey said a corrupt Judge is committing crime against humanity and must not preside over cases.
7. A brother to the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr. Joseph Ovbokhan Odubu and his company, Even Handed Services Limited have been arraigned by the EFCC over fraud allegation. He was docked before Justice P. I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court, sitting in Benin, Edo State on a 3-count charge bordering on forgery, and obtaining money by false presence to the tune of N9.3 million.
8. Report says Nigeria has commenced negotiations with the Indian government for the release of $15bn as upfront payment for crude oil purchase. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, disclosed this on Monday in a statement signed by the Director, Press, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Idang Alibi. He said the deal would be in consideration for Indian public sector companies collaborating with Nigeria in the refining sector as well as exploration and production activities.
9. President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday said he was ready to continue to dialogue with Boko Haram, provided the sect agreed to involve international agencies. Buhari made his position known while granting audience to the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. Peter Maurer, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
10. Report says the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has accepted to stand as Surety for PDP former Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh in the case hanging on his neck over diversion of funds meant to fight insurgency. This was made public on Monday, at the resumed hearing of the case, when Metuh’s lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, notified the court of his intention to use Ekweremadu as one of his sureties.
Comments