BUHARI ACCUSED OF ETHNIC BIAS IN S’COURT JUDGE’S APPOINTMENT – PUNCH PG.8

Judiciary watchdog, Access to Justice, says it has reasons to believe that the President, Major General Muhamadu Buhari (retd.), is ethnically manipulating the appointment of Supreme Court justices.

The group, in a statement on Thursday, pointed out that while it took Buhari about 11 months to send to the Senate for confirmation the first list of justices recommended to him by the National Judicial Council, the second list sent by the NJC took him only two weeks to send to the upper legislative chamber.

EL-RUFAI RELEASES 25 PRISONERS, CONVERT DEATH SENTENCES – PUNCH PG.10

THE Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, on Thursday announced the release of 25 prisoners and had others’ jail term reduced, including converting death sentences to life imprisonment. The governor stated this in a message to mark Nigeria’s 60th Independence anniversary. El-Rufai also advised Nigerians to reflect “on governance and how powers and responsibilities are devolved between the states and the Federal Government.”

IPOB’S SIT-AT-HOME ORDER RECORDS MIXED COMPLIANCE – PUNCH PG.9, NATION PG.28

The sit-at-home ordered by the Indigenous People of Biafra recorded partial compliance in the South-East and some parts of the South-South on Thursday. In Enugu State, the sit-at-home was partially observed unlike in the past when such a directive was strictly adhered to.

#REVOLUTIONNOW PROTESTERS, SECURITY AGENTS CLASH – NATION PG.8, THISDAY PG.5

A photojournalist, Kayode Jaiyeola, was injured on Thursday and 30 others were arrested after hundreds of protesters marched on Lagos streets against Federal Government’s policies. Jaiyeola was hit with a baton on the head by a Police Inspector attached to the Mobile Force (PMF), Innocent Adadu, while covering the #RevolutionNow protest at Ojota.

MAGU: THE PROBE WITHOUT END – THISDAY PG.15

This appears not the best of times for Ibrahim Magu, who has been under suspension as the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for almost three months. A Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Magu was initially arrested, detained and eventually released at the instance of the Presidency based on investigations reportedly being conducted on his stewardship. Without a clear idea as to when the investigations will end, the whole saga has been reduced to a media circus. Dismissing media report of claims of regretting his appointment as Chairman of the Presidential Judicial Commission of Inquiry currently investigating allegations against Magu, Justice Ayo Salami is accusing the legal team of the former EFCC acting chairman of orchestrating propaganda against him. “I want to point out that such wild claims against me and the commission are not strange to me, given the manner in which the lawyers to Magu have been carrying on in the conduct of their client’s case before the commission,” Salami wrote in a press statement he signed.

MAINA,EX-PENSION TASK FORCE BOSS, BEGS BUHARI FOR 30 DAYS TO – RECOVER LOST $10BN

The embattled former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina has expressed his readiness to use his technical expertise and patriotism to recover $10billion for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari within the span of 30 days if given the nod. Maina had been arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraud and money laundering while in office. Maina had been arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraud and money laundering while in office.