Magu, Lawyer submit 34-page defence, photos to presidential panel
The suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, along with his lawyer, Wahab Shittu, on Thursday presented a 34-page letter with 100 annexure to the Presidential panel investigating him.
It was learnt that Magu appeared before the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel around 1pm and was still there as of 6pm.
Magu is currently explaining to the panel how recovered assets were disposed of and how monies seized from looters were kept.
A top source at the EFCC said, “Magu arrived at the Presidential Villa along with his lawyer and some aides. However, only Magu and his lawyer were allowed inside the main hall. They have been there for the last five hours.
“Magu presented a 34-page letter which was spiral bound with 100 annexure including pictures. We are hopeful that he will be able to convince the panel that all the allegations levelled against him are trumped up.”
Akpabio writes National Assembly, denies saying lawmakers got NDDC contracts
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The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has replied to the National Assembly denying he said that the lawmakers got 60 per cent of the contracts awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission.
The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who announced the receipt of Akpabio’s response, said the minister claimed to have referred to old contracts awarded by the NDDC which had not been paid for and some of which are part of the constituency projects of the lawmakers.
Gbajabiamila said Akpabio’s response would be referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges to look at the merits of the minister’s arguments.
Doctors warn against reopening schools
Medical doctors under the auspices of Pediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) have warned against ongoing moves to reopen schools following the increasing cases of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
PAN, in a statement by its President, Prof. Edward Alikor and Secretary Dr. Petronila Tabansi, said the current upward trend in COVID-19 infections, the evolving and changing scientific facts about the pandemic do not support the call to reopen schools.
The association named other factors that should discourage the move as the capacity of the health system to quickly respond to unexpected increase in the incidences of COVID-19 and experiences of other countries where reopening of schools had recently been tried.
PAN said: “Figures from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), show exponential rise in Covid-19 incidence and deaths. It would appear that Nigeria has, at this time, not reached its peak incidence of the pandemic.
Courts shun AGF Malami, begin annual vacation
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THE Supreme Court and other courts have ignored a post-COVID-19 advisory issued in April by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), asking the judiciary to jettison this year’s annual vacation.
Malami had also in the advisory contained in a statement issued by his media aide, Dr. Umar Gwandu, on April 2, 2020, stated that there was an urgent need “to adjust the judicial process to make for recovery of lost grounds occasioned by the lockdown.”
But findings by our correspondent showed that none of suggestions by Malami on how the courts could address backlog of cases piled up because of the COVID-19 restrictions was taken.
Apart from not sitting extra hours as suggested by the minister, the courts have also ignored the minister’s advisory for judges not to go on vacation and take the almost two months of court shutdown for about two months as their year 2020 holiday.
The Director of Information of the Supreme Court, Dr. Festus Akande, confirmed to our correspondent on Tuesday that the Justices of the apex court started their annual vacation on Monday.
Aid workers: Zulum demands fresh ideas against B’Haram
The Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, on Thursday, condemned the killing of five aid workers by Boko Haram insurgents, saying there was an urgent need for fresh ideas that would stop the ongoing insurgency.
A viral video had shown the insurgents shooting the aid workers at close range on Wednesday.
The victims were travelling on the road between Monguno and Maiduguri when they were kidnapped.
A statement by the governor’s spokesman, Mallam Isa Gusau, read in part, “Governor Zulum wants a new thinking that will hopefully stop these endless killings. We cannot continue to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result.
“The governor believes in a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic approaches and he is of the position that the Nigerian military has, through its Operation Safe Corridor, demonstrated its willingness to rehabilitate and reintegrate insurgents willing to stop the killing of fellow humans.
Jegede talks tough, vows to end Akeredolu’s reign
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the October 10, Ondo State governorship election, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, on Thursday said his emergence marked the beginning of the end of the Governor Rotimi Akeredolu-led administration.
Jegede won the PDP primary on Wednesday, polling 888 votes to defeat seven others, including the state deputy governor, Mr. Agboola Ajayi.
The PDP candidate, who spoke with journalists in Akure said, “By the support of the people of the state and other party members, we will take over the government of Ondo State come October 2020.
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