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Top 10 Stories of Thursday, November 2, 2017

1. HOW PRESIDENT BUHARI REACTED TO FIGHT BETWEEN ABBA KYARI AND OYO-ITA
There was a heated argument at the presidential villa on Wednesday as between President Muhammadu Buhari’s chief of staff, Abba Kyari and the Head of the Civil Service of the federation Winnifred Oyo-ita over a leaked memo on the reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina, a former pension reform boss accused of siphoning state funds who is now on the run.
President Muhammadu Buhari was not in the room when the confrontation happened but despite the presence of some officials, the presence failed to calm the nerves of the two senior officials as they went at each other and the confrontation almost turned physical.
It’s said that President Muhammadu Buhari was embarrassed by the incident. He, therefore, asked the two officials to see him after the FEC meeting.
2. HOW JIDE TINUBU DIED – FAMILY MEMBER
Ahmed Bola Tinubu, a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Tuesday lost his first son, Jide Tinubu. According to a family member, Jide’s death was unexpected. He suddenly collapsed and died from what was suspected to be a heart attack around 9 pm on Tuesday.
“However, after the incidence, close family members rushed him down to a hospital on Lagos Island where he was confirmed dead on arrival,” the person said.
He added that the tragic news was kept secret because the father, Bola Tinubu, was in Abuja for the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of his party, the APC.
3. COURT STRIKES OUT JONATHAN’S APPLICATION
The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the applications by former President Goodluck Jonathan against the subpoenas ordering him to appear to testify in defence of a former National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh.
The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, held that he had no jurisdiction to entertain Jonathan’s application challenging the subpoena since the (the ex-President) had yet to be served with the court’s subpoena directing him to appear in court.
4. DASUKI ‘SUFFERS MEMORY LOSS’, UNABLE TO TESTIFY IN METUH’S TRIAL – LAWYER
Former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki suffered a loss of memory following his two years of incarceration and was unable to testify in the trial of former PDP spokesman, Olisa Metuh before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday.
Dasuki’s counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN) stated this while opposing his testifying in court.
He said the evidence to be given, is only a small aspect of his tenure as NSA, adding that he does not have “access to relevant files, records and documents required to refresh his memory of any decisions or actions he took or authorised in the course of his duties.”
Raji asked Justice Okon Abang to “tarry a while” in proceeding in the matter pending the determination of the appeal before the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
5. BENUE STATE OFFICIALLY BANS OPEN GRAZING
Open grazing is no longer allowed in Benue State.
Governor Samuel Ortom announced the prohibition, in a broadcast, in which he called on all residents of the state who are into livestock business to abide by the new law.
He said adequate machinery has been put in place to enforce the law. Traditional rulers in the state had in August expressed support for the anti-open grazing law, with the leader of the majority Tiv ethnic group, the Tor Tiv, James Ayatse, commending the state government for passing the law.
6. SENATE CONDEMNS NON-COMPLETION OF NATIONAL LIBRARY 11 YEARS ON
The Senate has criticized the inability of the Federal Government to complete the National Library building project in Abuja, eleven years after the contract was awarded. This, according to the lawmakers, has shot the original cost up from about N8bn (eight billion) to N50 bn (fifty billion naira).
In a motion by Senator Gbenga Ashafa, the Senate has now urged the Federal Government to prioritize the funding and completion of the permanent site of the National Library. The Senate also resolved to mandate the Senate Committee on Education to meet with the Ministers of Education, Federal Capital Territory and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria to adopt a strategy that would ensure the completion of the project starting from the 2018 Appropriation Bill.
7. NIGERIAN ARMY ENDS OPERATION CROCODILE SMILE II IN LAGOS
The Nigerian Army operation Crocodile Smile 2 has come to an end in Lagos with a medical outreach at the Owode area of the state.
Top military brass gathered for the official closing ceremony, at the tactical headquarters of sector 7.
The chief of army staff LT GEN Buratai said the Operation which was flagged off on October 13, 2017, was successful.
The General Officer Commanding 81 division of the Nigerian Army thanked Ogun and Lagos state governments for their cooperation during the operation.
8. SENATE BACKS BUHARI ON BABACHIR LAWAL’S REMOVAL
The Senate said it supports President Muhammadu Buhari’s removal of Babachir Lawal as Secretary to the
Government of the Federation. Senate President, Bukola Saraki, congratulated the president for, “doing the right thing on this matter.”
Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah recalled that the Senate initiated the probe that led to Lawal’s indictment and removal, and said the lawmakers were also responsible for the sacking of ex-Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina.
9. SGF MUSTAPHA DESCRIBES ‘EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR’, ‘YOUR EXCELLENCY’ AS BANANA PEELS, GIVES FIRST ORDER
The new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has described ‘Executive Governor’, ‘Your Excellency’ appellations as banana peels, saying it is unconstitutional.
He also said he would prefer to be addressed simply as ‘The SGF’ without the prefix of ‘Your Excellency’.
Boss Mustapha stated this yesterday as he received handover documents from former acting SGF, Dr. Habitat Lawal.
He described some nomenclatures used to glorify high offices in Nigeria as banana peels.
“I don’t claim any superior experience or skills other than the grace of God,” he added.
10. CABAL BOUGHT EXOTIC HOUSES ABROAD IN MY NAME – IBRAHIM MAGU
The chairman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has raised an alarm, alleging that a cabal has bought houses abroad in his name in a bid to discredit him.
EFCC Spokesman Wilson Uwujaren alleged that “shadowy interests at the receiving end” of EFCC’s anti-corruption war as those behind the move.
“Those behind the plot, which is believed to be part of a grand design to discredit the anti-graft czar, have allegedly finalised plans to name Magu as the owner of choice properties in exotic locations abroad.
“The commission, however, wishes to alert the public that, “He has neither bought a house anywhere outside Nigeria nor commissioned any person or corporate body to acquire property in his name or any name remotely linked to him.
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Here are the major headlines for Thursday, November 2, 2017