Encomium
1. PRESIDENCY FLOORS CHARLY BOY AND OTHERS CALLING FOR DIEZANI’S EXTRADITION
The Presidency on Tuesday described Charly Boy and other members calling for the repatriation of former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke as ‘Mumu’ (Ignorant). Special Assistant on Social Media to President Muhammadu Buhari, Lauretta Onochie, made the remark in a series of tweets late Monday.
Onochie wrote: “It appears that some of us especially those who are not good or are selective at remembering the past, are also not willing to use Google.
“The United Kingdom does not charge foreigners for crimes committed in other countries. They charge them for crimes committed against UK”.
Recall that a Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, led by Charlyboy on Monday stormed the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, demanding that the former Minister be repatriated.
The Commission, however, promised to explore the possibility of extraditing the former Minister from the UK to face trial for her crimes in Nigeria.
2. SENATOR MAHMUD KANTI DIES AT 72
Former Nigerian Senator, Mahmud Kanti Bello is dead.
According to reports, the 72-year old Senator Kanti died in the early hours of Tuesday in Abuja.
Senator Kanti was elected as a Katsina senator in 2003 on the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) platform. In the 2004 local elections in his state, he protested strongly against electoral fraud which resulted in People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidates being returned. However, in 2007 he successfully ran for re-election on a PDP slate.
He was the Senate majority whip during his term as a lawmaker.
3. NIGERIA LAUNCHES $200 M FUND TO SUPPORT LOCAL OIL AND GAS FIRM
Nigeria has launched a $200 million to support local oil and gas firms operating in the country.
The Minister of Petroleum Ibe Kachikwu said this is part of government drive to improve access to low-cost credit across the economy. The new fund would offer finance to energy firms setting up manufacturing facilities or acquiring assets such as oil rigs.
Oil sales make up about two-thirds of national revenues in Africa’s biggest economy, which is in its first recession in 25 years largely caused by low global crude prices.
4. ASUU MEETS FG TODAY TO RESOLVE ONGOING STRIKE
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, is set to meet with the federal government today, Tuesday, to resolve the body’s nationwide strike which has paralyzed academic activities of universities in the country.
This is according to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige. A statement from his office said the meeting will hold in Abuja.
The government delegation at the meeting would include the ministers of Education and Finance, Chairman, National Income Salaries and Wages Commission, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission and the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
The union leaders were expected to brief the government delegation on the resolutions reached on the offers made by the Federal Government during the last meeting held on August 17, 2017.
5. COURT ORDERS PERMANENT FORFEITURE OF N7.7BN LINKED TO DIEZANI
The Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos State, on Monday morning, ordered the permanent forfeiture of alleged money linked to a former Minister on Petroleum Resources under President Goodluck Jonathan, Diezani Alison-Madueke, N7, 646 , 7 00, 000. 00 to Federal Government.
Justice Abdulaziz Anka delivered the ruling in Lagos on Monday. It was however, revealed that, the money was allegedly traced to a commercial bank.
6. 3 STATES JOIN OPEN-GOVERNANCE TO PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has said that Kaduna, Anambra and Kano states have formally declared interest to participate in Open Government Partnership (OGP) to increase openness in governance and also to prevent and detect corruption.
The OGP being funded by the MacArthur Foundation is an international multi-stakeholder initiative which brings together government and civil society organisations to ensure that government activities are open and not shrouded in secrecy and mystery.
The AGF represented by his Special Adviser Justice Section Reform, Barrister Julie Ibekaku-Nwogu spoke at the training of members of open alliance organised by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD).
7. I AM PLEASED WITH THE IMPROVING ECONOMY – PRESIDENT BUHARI
President Muhammadu Buhari has met with the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udoma, Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, and Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
President Buhari was briefed on the improving state of the economy, implementation of the 2017 Budget, preparation for the 2018 Budget, revenue strategies and debt management.
Also discussed were monetary policy strategies and their economic impact, among others.
After the two-hour meeting, President Buhari said he was pleased with the progress being made on different fronts.
He said the government was committed to bringing succour to Nigerians.
8. OGUN POLICE PARADE 38 CRIMINAL SUSPECTS ARRESTED UNDER KARA LONG BRIDGE
Police in Ogun State have arrested 38 suspected criminals in their hideouts under the Kara long bridge along Lagos Ibadan Expressway.
While parading the suspects, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Ahmed Iliyasu said the suspects have been terrorising commuters along the axis.
He noted that the police recovered weapons including cutlasses, Jack knives, charms and different kind of drugs.
Some of the suspects admitted that they live under the Kara long bridge but claimed that they are not into armed robbery or kidnappings.
9. RIVERS POLICE PLACE N1M BOUNTY ON ESCAPEE RITUAL KILLER
The Rivers State Police Command has offered a one million naira reward to anyone with useful information that can lead to the arrest of the suspected ritual killer who escaped from police custody.
The state police commissioner, Zaki Ahmed disclosed this while giving update on the ongoing efforts to rearrest the fleeing suspect.
Ifeanyichukwu Dike was earlier arrested for the alleged murder of an 8-year old girl for ritual purposes.
The police commissioner also added that the investigating police officer who was in charge of the case, sergeant John Bosko has been dismissed from the force and is currently facing trial.
10. POLICE CLAIM SENATOR MISAU IS A DESERTER, DISMISS CORRUPTION ALLEGATION
The Nigeria Police authorities have traded words with the lawmaker representing Bauchi Central in the Senate, Isah Misau. Spokesman for the police Jimoh Moshood dismissed several allegations of corruption levelled by Misau against the Police under the leadership of Ibrahim Idris.
The Senator alleged the officers have to part with huge sums of money before they are posted on supposedly juicy assignments. Senator Misau queried the rationale for special promotion approved by the Police Chief.
The police authorities have described Senator Misau as a serving police officer who deserted the force in 2010 and urged him to submit himself for disciplinary action.
