THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION – THISDAY PG.6&7

An Attorney is a person designated to transact business for another – a legal agent with the authorisation of a principal, to do what the principal can lawfully do.

The expression Attorney-General was originally used to refer to any person who holds a general power of attorney to represent a principal in all matters. In modern usage, Attorney-General refers to the Law Firm of the State. Its origin or basis is said to have been that, as the Sovereign – President, Prime Minister, Governor, et cetera, as the case may be – could not appear in person in his/her own courts to plead in a case in which he/she had an interest; an Attorney appeared on his/her behalf.

WHY TRIAL OF HIGH-PROFILE ‘KIDNAPPING KINGPINS’ STALLED – DAILY TRUST PG.34

The delay in concluding trial in the cases of many high-profile kidnapping kingpins in the country is a source of worry for their victims and observers. Among the most celebrated of such cases are those of Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike popularly known as Evans and that of Hamisu Bala aka Wadume.

GOVERNORS, MIYETTI ALLAH: OPEN GRAZING MUST END – NATION PG.1&5, SUN PG.6&26, PUNCH PG.2&11, DAILY TRUST PG.3, THISDAY PG. 1&8

An end to herders-farmers clashes across the country appears in sight. Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) on Monday agreed that “free-range grazing must be stopped. ”The NGF and MACBAN also resolved that night grazing should be banned henceforth, and that a standing committee be constituted in each state to ensure a harmonious relationship between herders and farmers.

COURT ORDERS RELEASE OF EL-ZAKZAKY’S WIFE – NATION PG.4, SUN PG.26, PUNCH PG.7, THISDAY PG.36

A High Court sitting in Kaduna has ordered the release of Zeenat, wife of Sheikh Ibrahim Elzakzaky, the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), for COVID-19 treatment.  Last Thursday, Mohammed, son of the IMN leader, said his mother, Zeenat, tested positive for COVID-19 at the Kaduna correctional centre, where he demanded for her release for treatment and authority refused. Femi Falana, counsel to El-Zakzaky, however, presented a medical report to back up his case for the release of Zeenat.

COURT DISMISSES JUSTICE PERVERSION CHARGES AGAINST HIGH COURT JUDGE – NATION PG.8

An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Monday dismissed a case of alleged pervasion of justice against a judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Mohammed Yinusa. The Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC) filed the suit against the judge. The court discharged Justice Yunusa, following an application filed by second defence counsel, John Odubela (SAN), urging the court to strike out the criminal charges against the defendant.

COURT DISCHARGES ATIKU’S LAWYER, BROTHER OVER $2M FRAUD – NATION PG.8, PUNCH PG.11, THISDAY PG. 35

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday dismissed a $2 million money laundering charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed against Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie, a lawyer to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. The court also discharged his brother, Erhunse Giwa-Osagie, of the same charge.The siblings were re-arraigned on February 23, 2020, on a three-count charge of laundering $2 million in the build-up to the last general elections.

NDLEA TO CONDUCT DRUG TESTS ON STUDENTS, SECURITY AGENTS, GOVT OFFICIALS – NATION PG.8, SUN PG.4, PUNCH PG.7, DAILY TRUST PG.9

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is seeking government’s approval to conduct drug tests on fresh students of tertiary institutions, newly recruited security agents, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and government workers to check the menace of drug abuse in the country. The agency’s Chairman/Chief Executive Officer the Agency, Brig-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd.), gave the hint when he hosted NDLEA commanders across the country on Monday in Abuja.

SIX SHIITE MEMBERS ARRESTED IN ABUJA – NATION PG.6

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command on Monday arrested six members the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) in Abuja. Police spokesperson Yusuf Mariam, in a statement, said the arrested members were part of a protest, which the police dispersed.Mariam said they were destroying public property and attacking innocent citizens including police officers with stones and other dangerous objects.

OFFA ROBBERY: PROSECUTION, NOT COURT, DELAYING TRIAL –JUDGE – PUNCH PG.11

The trial judge in the April 5, 2018 Offa bank robbery case, Justice Haleema Salman, on Monday said prosecution, and not the court was delaying the trial of suspects. At the resumed hearing, Justice Salman expressed displeasure of the court on the media reports that the court was delaying the trial of the suspects.

EFCC RE-ARRAIGNS EX-NDDC BOSS AIDE, OTHERS FOR N2.9BN FRAUD – PUNCH PG.12

THE Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday re-arraigned George Turnah, a former Special Adviser to Dan Abia, an erstwhile Managing Director of Niger Delta Commission. Also re-arraigned before Justice Mohammed Turaki of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, are two other persons and nine firms.