BUHARI ORDERS INVESTIGATION INTO ATTACK ON ORTOM – NATION PG.1&4, DAILY TRUST PG.6&12, SUN PG.6, PUNCH PG.2, THISDAY PG.1&10

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered an investigation into the attack on Benue Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Saturday.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari also ordered anyone found culpable in the attack should be made to face the law.“Let there be open and transparent investigation and whoever is linked to it should be caught and be made to face the law,” the President directed.

POLICE: AYENI’S ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HOSA OKUNBO BASELESS, MALICIOUS AND FALSE – TISDAY PG.1&10

The police have cleared business mogul, Capt. Hosa Okunbo, of an allegation of theft and criminal diversion of company funds brought against him by his erstwhile business partner, Dr. Tunde Ayeni, saying the petition of the latter could not be established. Ayeni had through his lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), filed a petition on December 7, 2020, with the police accusing Okunbo of theft of the funds of Ocean Marine Solutions Limited, a company they, in company with others, had formed.

ALL EYES ON EFCC AFTER ITALIAN COURT DECIDED OPL 245 – THISDAY PG.21

After more than three years and a total of 74 hearings, an Italian court sitting in Milan last Thursday acquitted energy companies, Eni and Royal Dutch Shell along with a series of past and present managers, including Eni Chief Executive, Claudio Descalzi in one of the oil industry’s biggest corruption scandals. The trial judge, Marco Tremolada, who read out the judgment in court, held that the companies and defendants had been discharged as there was no case to answer.

NDLEA SEIZES 200KG OF HARD DRUGS IN LAGOS, ABUJA, KANO AIRPORTS – DAILY TRUST PG.29, PUNCH PG.8, PUNCH PG.8, NATION PG.2, THISDAY PG.48

The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had seized 200 kilograms of illicit substances in the Lagos, Kano and Abuja airports. The agency’s director of media and advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.

JANG SEEKS PRESIDENTIAL PARDON FOR DARIYE, NYAME – THISDAY PG.49

Former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang has appealed to President Mohammadu Buhari to consider granting a presidential pardon to his predecessor, Senator Joshua Dariye, who is currently serving a prison term. Jang was speaking yesterday at the finals of the Plateau North Peace and Unity football tournament at the Rwang Pam township stadium in Jos.

SERAP URGES LAWAN, GBAJABIAMILA TO PROBE MISSING ₦4.4BN NASS FUNDS – PUNCH PG.9

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Senate President Dr Ahmad Lawan, and Speaker of House of Representatives Mr Femi Gbajabiamila to urgently probe allegations that N4.4 billion of public money budgeted for the National Assembly is missing, misappropriated, diverted or stolen, as documented in three audited reports by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation. In an open letter dated January 30 and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “By exercising strong and effective leadership in this matter, the National Assembly can show Nigerians that the legislative body is a proper and accountable watchdog that represents and protects the public interest, and is able to hold both itself and the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to account in the management of public resources.”

AGAIN, GUNMEN ATTACK, CART AWAY ARMS IN IMO POLICE STATION – SUN PG.26

Gunmen numbering over 20 Saturday night attack another divisional police station in Umuelemai, Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State and cart away arms ammunition, as well setting some suspects free. The attack which occurred at about 8 pm according to an eye witness also saw the gunmen attacking the Ihite Uboma council secretariat and injuring people at the process.