WE STAND BY PANTAMI, SAYS PRESIDENCY – NATION PG.6, DAILY TRUST PG.32, PUNCH PG.26, THISDAY PG.1&48

The Presidency has declared its support for the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami,

describing his current travail as an orchestrated attempt to ‘cancel’ him. In a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the Presidency alleged that the recent calls for the sack or resignation of the minister is being sponsored by the opposition and some unnamed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies.

FG: NIGERIA IS BLEEDING – DAILY TRUST PG.4&5

The Minister of Defence, retired Major-General Bashir Magashi, has said that Nigeria is “bleeding” due to self-interest and other primordial considerations of the elite. General Magashi said this Thursday in Abuja at the seventh edition of the ministerial briefing organised by the Presidential Media Team. The minister said quite a number of political, ethnic and religious leaders were exploiting the social division for their personal gains.

EFCC: JOURNALISTS SEEK SPEEDY PASSAGE OF ASSETS FORFEITURE LAW – SUN PG.5

The Federal Government has been urged to put in place legislation to prevent impunity and mismanagement of seized assets by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). A journalist, John ChuksAzu, while reacting to EFCC’s alleged conversion of seized assets or properties under interim forfeiture to accommodation and transit camps, as made public during a radio programme, Public Conscience, produced by the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development (PRIMORG), in Abuja, said the regulatory framework for assets management would clearly define how recovered assets will be managed.

JAILBREAKS: REPS SEEK INCREASED SECURITY IN PRISONS – SUN PG.26

House of Representatives, yesterday, charged the controller general of Nigeria Correctional Service to reinforce the armed squad of the service, as part of measures to improve security at the various custodial centres nationwide. The House also called for synergy between the federal and state governments to curb the spate of attacks on custodial centres nationwide.

JUDICIAL AUTONOMY: WHY WE CAN’T SUSPEND STRIKE, JUSUN TELLS CJN – SUN PG.27, NATION PG.3, NATION PG.8, THISDAY PG.1&45

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has vowed not to suspend its nationwide strike until state governors demonstrate some level of seriousness by putting in place measures precedent to the implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary in their respective states. The union told the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, that it expects each state to start implementing its self-accounting law to deal with the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in line with section 121 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), while states without such laws should put it in place.

N5BN LIBEL: EX-EDO APC SPOKESMAN SEEKS OUT-OF-COURT SETTLEMENT – PUNCH PG.11

There are indications that the N5bn libel suit instituted by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Mike Igini, against former spokesman of the Edo State All Progressives Congress Media Campaign Council in the September 19 governorship election, Mr. John Mayaki, may be settled out of court as hearing was stalled in the case on Wednesday. When the case came up at the Benin High Court, counsel for Mayaki, Austin Osarenkhoe, informed the court that his client had reached the plaintiff (Mr. Igini) to opt for settlement.

REPS REJECT BILL SEEKING TO LIMIT CERTAIN CASES AT APPEAL COURTS, REDUCE WORKLOAD ON SUPREME COURT – DAILY TRUST PG.51

House of Representatives, Thursday, rejected a bill seeking to reduce the workload on the Supreme Court by limiting certain cases to the court of appeals. Sponsored by Hon. Onofiok Luke from Akwa Ibom State, the bill was presented to be read for a second time. Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/04/reps-reject-bill-seeking-to-limit-certain-cases-at-appeal-courts-reduce-workload-on-supreme-court/

OHANAEZE: ARMY VINDICATING UK ASYLUM FOR IPOB, ESN – SUN PG.27, PUNCH PG.13

OhanaezeNdigbo, yesterday, said the military forces’ clampdown and arrest of Igbo youths by in the guise that they were suspected members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network will justify the United Kingdom proposal to offer asylum to person who actively and openly supports IPOB and likely to be at risk of arrest or detention, and ill-treatment which is likely to amount to persecution. It called on the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, to immediately stop the clampdown, intimidation and arrest of the Igbo youths over membership of a terrorist organisation unless there was sufficient evidence of crime or unlawful possession of fire arms.

NIGERIANS DIVIDED DUE TO POLICIES OF BUHARI GOVT – FALANA – THISDAY PG.5

Popular Nigerian lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has claimed that Nigerians are so divided due to the policies of the Muhammadu Buhari government. Speaking on Thursday during his appearance on an ARISE News programme, The Morning Show, Falana said the division among Nigerians was due to lopsided appointments made by the current government.