NDLEA SEIZES N10BN HEROIN, KHAT AT LAGOS, KANO AIRPORTS – SUN PG.5, THISDAY PG.53, PUNCH PG.5

Operatives of the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport,

Lagos, and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, have intercepted and seized consignments of heroin and khat with a street value of over N10billion. At the MMIA, Lagos, during cargo examination at SAHCO Import Shed, a freight agent had presented a cargo from South Africa with an Ethiopian Airline ET 3901 Airway Bill no: 071-40689003 for examination before NDLEA operatives attached to the beat. 

FRESH CONTROVERSY TRAILS TRIAL OF 400 BDC ALLEGED B’HARAM SPONSORS – SUN PG.28, NATION PG.7, THISDAY PG.49

Over one week after security forces arrested 400 Bureau De Change (BDC) operators alleged to be financial sponsors of Boko Haram, senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has opposed moves by the Federal Government to opt for a secret trial. According to media reports, the businessmen were arrested in an operation, coordinated by the Defence Intelligence Agency and in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The operation was said to have been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020.

ICPC RECOVERS N1.1BN, 29 BUILDINGS IN Q1 2021 – THISDAY PG.5

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recovered N1.1 billion and 29 buildings, that have now been forfeited to the federal government between January and March 2021. ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, at the weekend, told the Senate Committee on Anti-corruption and Financial Crimes Committee, led by Senator Suleiman Kwari, during an oversight visit to the national headquarters of the agency in Abuja that N418.8 million and $1.5 million in domiciliary accounts were forfeited to the federal government between January to March 2021.

NIGERIA FACING ASYMMETRIC, EMERGING SECURITY THREATS – DEFENCE MINISTER – DAILY TRUST PG.7

The Minister of Defence, General Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd), has said that the Nigerian nation in the last few years is being challenged by asymmetric and emerging security threats, kidnapping and economic sabotage. Retired General Magashi spoke through the Chief of Defence Staff, General Leo Irabor, at the passing out parade of Batch 30 trainee cadets and ratings of the Nigerian Navy at the Nigerian Naval College, Onne, Rivers State.

GOVERNORS, SPEAKERS DISAGREE ON FIXED MONTHLY PAYMENT TO STATES’ LEGISLATURES – THISDAY PG.1&4

Governors and speakers of Houses of Assembly in the 36 states of the federation have disagreed over the modality for the disbursement of funds to the legislature under the financial autonomy regime billed to begin in May. It was gathered at the weekend that while the governors are offering an irreducible minimum payment of N100 million monthly to each of the legislatures in the states to fund their operations, the speakers are insisting on N250 million monthly.

SECURITY: SOUTHEAST GOVERNORS, LEADERS INSIST ON EBUBE AGU – NATION PG.1&6, THISDAY PG.1&48, PUNCH PG.9

Southeast governors on Sunday said the legal framework for Ebube Agu has been set in motion.They directed attorneys-general of the five states to propose laws to give the outfit legal teeth. “The attorneys-general and commissioners for Justice of the Southeast states have been directed to work with the Joint Security Committee to come up with the amendment of the existing state laws to reflect the new Ebube Agu outfit,” they said.

OFFICER WHO SNEAKED DRUGS, PHONES INTO PRISON NABBED IN KANO – DAILY TRUST PG.7

Operatives of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) have nabbed one of their officers who reportedly sneaked in over 4.8kg of cannabis sativa and eight Android phones into the correctional facility in Kano. There was an uproar at the correctional centre on Thursday after the prison wardens detected and seized the cannabis allegedly brought to some inmates on death row at Kurmawa prison.

PROBING ANTI-TERROR ARMS PURCHASES  – NATION PG.11

The National Security Adviser (NSA) Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno spoke with the BBC Hausa service. The heavens almost came down after this. In the interview, Maj.-Gen. Monguno was quoted as alleging that the immediate past Service Chiefs, who are now ambassadors-designate could not account for funds allocated for equipment.  A statement by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) dismissed the reports saying the NSA was quoted out of context. “We would like to state that the NSA was quoted out of context as he did not categorically say that funds meant for arms procurement were missing under the Former Service Chiefs as reported or transcribed by some media outlets from the BBC interview.

FIRE PANTAMI NOW – NATION PG.25, PUNCH PG.9

The allegations against him are incredible, damning and incurably damaging. It is simply incredulous that a man who is not just a member of the country’s highest decision making organ, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), but also heads one of the country’s most critical and sensitive ministries could allegedly have sympathies for notorious terrorist groups and their nefarious agenda. Trouble began for Dr. Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, when a local news outlet reported that the minister had been placed on a United States watchlist for his alleged links to terrorism. The minister’s first reaction was to deny the allegation and threaten to sue the newspaper and any other medium that published the story, while also demanding a retraction and apology.