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Top 10 Stories of Friday, October 27, 2017

1. BUHARI, MINISTERS APPROVE DRAFT 2018 APPROPRIATION BILL
The Federal Executive Council on Thursday approved the draft 2018 Appropriation Bill, making way for President Muhammadu Buhari to present the document to the National Assembly. The approval was given at a meeting of the council presided over by President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma, confirmed the approval to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.
Udoma said the Executive would liaise with the National Assembly to agree on a date that the President would present the document to the lawmakers. Meanwhile, no details were given on the approved draft budget.
2. BUHARI APOLOGISES TO SARAKI, DOGARA OVER AIDE’S ‘OVER ZEALOUS ACT’
President Muhammadu Buhari has apologised to the leadership of the National Assembly over the “overzealous behaviour” of the security operatives at the Statehouse, Abuja. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, admitted that there was an “incident involving overzealous operatives” between the lawmakers and the presidential aides.
Shehu said when the President was informed about the development, he hurriedly sent his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, to go and make peace with the lawmakers.
He added that Buhari had ordered an investigation and would get to the root of the matter.
3. AISHA BUHARI REACTS TO SENATOR MISAU’S ALLEGATION
Aisha, wife of Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has faulted claims by Senator Hamman Misau that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris bought 2 SUVs for her. Senator Misau made the claim when he appeared before the Senate committee probing the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
According to him, the First Lady had requested, through her Aide de Camp, ADC, for a Sienna and Hiace, but he (IGP) bought two Prado SUVs, which were not in the budget, for the First Lady.
But Aisha Buhari in a tweet on Thursday said,
“I am still using my personal cars”, she tweeted.
4. INTERPOL ISSUE FRESH WARRANTS FOR MAINA’S ARREST
International police, popularly called the INTERPOL had issued fresh warrants for the arrest of the embattled former Chairman of the defunct Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed that Maina’s investigation had been extended beyond his reinstatement and subsequent posting.
He said the investigation would even be extended to some foreign countries. He further stated that the Senate is also carrying out its own investigation on the matter and that the investigation will also touch some foreign countries.
5. NIGERIAN NAVY TO LAUNCH OPERATION OCTOPUS GRIP IN NIGER DELTA
The Flag Officer Commanding,(FOC), Central Naval Command, (CNC), Rear Adm. Bello Al-hassan, said the command would soon commence riverine and sea exercises, code-named “Octopusgrip,’’ in Bayelsa and Delta. Al-hassan, who said this on Thursday while addressing a news conference in Yenagoa, said that the exercise was expected to last from October 30 to November 1. The FOC said the command was tasked with the responsibility of security of the waterways by providing adequate security within the command’s area of responsibility.
He said the command in January launched “Operation Rivers Sweep.’’ “So far, the operation has recorded huge success in reducing crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other maritime crimes.
6. WHY DAMBAZZAU WAS ABSENT AT FEC MEETING
The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau, was absent at the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said this was because the minister was in Saudi Arabia. Dambazzau is one of the top government officials who has been in the eye of the storm over the reinstatement and deployment of the former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina.
The president had on Monday directed Maina’s immediate disengagement from service while studying report for his reinstatement into the service.
7. NIGERIA POLICE ISSUES STATEMENT ON IG IDRIS AND CARS DELIVERED TO AISHA BUHARI
The Nigeria police force has defended Inspector General Ibrahim Idris over the two cars delivered to Aisha Buhari, as claimed by Senator Isa Misau.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, said the allegation was “baseless and outright falsehood”.
The police denied claims that Ibrahim donated two Sports Utility Vehicles, SUVs, to the first lady, Aisha Buhari. The police said the vehicles, which it insisted were not SUVs, were given to police officers serving as aides to the wife of the President.
“It is pertinent to state that at no time did the Wife of the President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs Aishat Buhari, requested (sic) directly or indirectly for vehicles for her use from the Inspector General of Police and no vehicle whether Jeep or SUV has ever been given for her personal use,” the statement said.
8. WHAT FAYOSE SAID ABOUT THE ‘SPIRITUAL BOMB ATTACK’ ON HIS CAR
The big-mouthed governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, was quiet on Thursday when he was asked to speak about the recent accident in which he nearly lost his life. When he came in contact with newsmen on Thursday, Fayose, who is usually outspoken, kept mum about the incident.
“I don’t want to comment on that,” he said tersely, cutting off the reporter who was in the process of asking him the question.
It would be recalled that Fayose’s vehicle recently caught fire in Lagos, prompting him to jump into another vehicle in his convoy to continue his journey to the airport.
9. ROBBERS ATTACK BANK IN ONDO, KILL TWO POLICEMEN
A gang of armed robbers on Thursday attacked a branch of Skye Bank Plc in Ifon, the headquarters of the Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The robbers killed two policemen attached to the bank and reportedly made away an undisclosed amount of money. The incident put a stop to social and commercial activities in the town for several minutes as residents living close to the bank ran helter-skelter for safety, while the robbery operation reportedly lasted for about 40 minutes.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Femi Joseph, confirmed the incident and said the command deployed more officers and men in the scene while another team, led by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gbenga Adeyanju, went to the area after receiving the information.
10. UK RETURNS $85M MALABU FUND TO NIGERIA
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami has said Government has recovered $85million Malabu fund from the United Kingdom.
Speaking at the Agenda for Pre-Global Forum on Asset Recovery Consultative Meeting in Abuja, Malami also revealed that Government negotiating with Switzerland on the return of $331 million recovered from the family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
According to him, the Civil Society Organizations will be involved in the monitoring of the utilisation of the funds to ensure that the money is not mismanaged or re-loot.
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Here are the major headlines for Friday, October 27, 2017

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