DAILY NEWSPAPERS REVIEW SATURDAY MARCH 6, 2021

BUHARI, BAWA AND THE MALAMI ANTI-CORRUPTION TRIANGLE – THISDAY PG.26

It no doubt took time in coming, but like good food which takes time and resources to cook,

the meal is ready and everyone who knows has shouted that a Daniel has come to judgment in what arguably has been the Achilles heels of this nation. Even antagonists of President Muhammadu Buhari cannot deny his commitment to getting things right and stemming corruption which has stultified growth in all sectors of development as well as tarred the country with a bad brush that has rubbed off negatively on the its image. The reason it was so easy for Nigerians to root for him as leader was based on his antecedents as Mr. Integrity though the war had appeared slow and not as effective and quick as his traducers expected, people still felt the vibes that it is no longer business as usual.

EFCC BOSS ASSUMES OFFICE, UNVEILS NEW ANTI-GRAFT STRATEGIES – THE NATION PG.4, SATURDAY SUN PG.11

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, on Friday officially assumed duties and unveiled new anti-graft strategies.He said the EFCC would now engage in proactive and intelligence-led investigation. He said he would create a full-fledged directorate of intelligence that would spearhead intelligence gathering. He also said he would ensure that the operation of the commission is digitalised. Bawa, who unveiled his plans after taking over from the immediate past Acting Chairman, Mr. Mohammed Umar Abba, said the EFCC would fight corruption to a standstill.

STOP DEMANDING AMNESTY FOR BANDITS, QUERY THEM FOR KILLINGS, MASARI TELLS GUMI – THISDAY PG.6

Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has lampooned the renowned Islamic Scholar Sheikh Abubakar Ahmad Gumi over his call on the federal government to grant amnesty to bandits terrorising communities in the North-west, saying the cleric should preach the implications of killing people to the outlaws and not amnesty. The governor, who spoke to THISDAY yesterday in Katsina, was visibly disturbed by the nefarious activities of the brigands in his state, explaining that majority of herders living in adjoining forests in Katsina and other neighbouring states in the region were bandits and that government should treat them as criminals.

FALANA DISMISSES RENEWED ALLEGATION OF BUYING SEIZED PROPERTY – THISDAY PG.6

Lagos lawyer and former President of the West Africa Bar Association (WABA), Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), yesterday dismissed what he described as repackaged allegation that he bought an Abuja property allegedly recovered by the Pension Reform Taskforce for N1 billion in 2015. The fiery lawyer, who insisted the allegation was merely being renewed after past attempts could not be substantiated, said in a statement that he had never bought any property from the federal government including the controversial property in Maitama, Abuja.

FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION WILL BE INTELLIGENCE-DRIVEN, SAYS BAWA, NEW EFCC CHAIR – THISDAY PG.6

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, yesterday officially assumed duties with a pledge to steer the organisation towards proactive and intelligence-led investigation. Bawa, who took over the reins of office at the headquarters of the commission in Abuja, said he would create a full-fledged directorate of intelligence that would spearhead intelligence gathering which would ensure proactive response in the fight against corruption.

SEX FOR MARKS: APPEAL COURT DISMISSES OAU LECTURER’S APPEAL – PUNCH PG.6

Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Friday struck out the appeal filed by a former lecturer of Obafemi Awolowo University,  Ile-Ife, Osun State, Richard Akindele, who was convicted for demanding sex for marks  from one of his students  Monica Osagie. In 2018, Akindele was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment by a Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, having been found guilty of the offence.

MAGU DIDN’T MISAPPROPRIATE SEIZED ASSETS, EFCC REPLIES MAINA’S WITNESS – PUNCH PG.10

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday defended the allegation that its former acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, misappropriated 222 properties worth N1.63tn recovered by the Abdulrasheed Maina-led Pension Reformed Task Team. Counsel for the EFCC, Mohammed Abubakar, said the allegation made by one Ngozika Ihuoma could not be proved.