DAILY NEWSPAPERS REVIEW THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

YOUR SILENCE KILLING US, RELEASED CHIBOK GIRL TELLS BUHARI – PUNCH PG. 8, DAILY TRUST PG.25, THE NATION PG.2& 3, THIS DAY PG.1 & 8

One of the released Chibok girls on Wednesday lamented that the Federal Government was silent on the release of their colleagues still in the captivity of Boko Haram.

The student, identified as Tabitha Stover, while speaking at the seventh anniversary of the kidnapping hosted by the Allamin Foundation in Maiduguri, Borno State, said the Federal Government’s silence was killing them. The student, who noted that their lives had not remained the same since the incident happened, urged the Federal Government to come to their rescue. She said, “I passed through hell, thank God I am back but many are still in captivity, I am appealing to the government to please come to their rescue.

ARMY PLANS TRAINING OF NCOS ARMED SQUAD TO TACKLE JAILBREAKS – PUNCH PG.9, DAILY SUN PG.4

The Nigerian Army has accepted to assist the Nigerian Correctional Service in giving refresher training to its armed squad personnel. This is sequel to the spate of invasion of custodial centres by hoodlums and the consequent jailbreaks. The acting Controller-General of Corrections, John Mrabure, had, in a letter to the Chief of Army Staff, requested assistance in training the armed squad personnel in low intensity engagement of armed non-state actors, who had made jail attack a regular feature. A statement on Wednesday by the NCoS spokesman, Francis Enobore, a Controller of Corrections, said the training, which was expected to commence soon, would cover relevant tactical components to strengthen the capacity of Correctional Service armed guards to engage invaders adequately and squarely.

AFE BABALOLA SEEKS JUDICIAL SYSTEM REFORM – PUNCH PG.23

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and founder of the Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, has made a case for urgent far-reaching reforms in the country’s judicial system particularly in the area bothering on the retirement of judges and aftermath. Babalola also reiterated the need to change the structure of the country, saying, “It is restructuring that would enable each state to curb insecurity, unemployment, poverty, defective justice system and do away with failed leaders.  The ABUAD founder spoke during a virtual unveiling in honour of the retired Supreme Court justice, Bode Rhodes-Vivour, which he chaired.

KATSINA UNREPENTANT DRUGS BARON JAILED 15 YEARS – NDLEA – PUNCH PG.23

The Katsina Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency on Wednesday revealed that it has secured a conviction of fifteen years’ imprisonment for an unrepentant drug trafficker in the state, Ibrahim Ali. Ali, also known as ‘the Good, the Bad,’ was not given options of fine, according to the agency. The NDLEA commander for the state, Sule Momodu, made the disclosure in Katsina while briefing on the activities of the agency. He said Ali’s conviction was secured at the Katsina Division of the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Hadiza Shagari.

EFCC ARRESTS EX-A’IBOM COMMISSIONER OVER N1.4BN FRAUD, KEEPS OKOROCHA – PUNCH PG.  THE NATION PG.29, THIS DAY PG.37

Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Akwa Ibom State, Uwemedimo Nwoko. Nwoko, an alleged accomplice in the N1.4bn money laundering charge against Paul Usoro, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association had been at large for over two years. A source said the suspect was finally nabbed in Uyo on Tuesday for his role in the conversion of N1.410bn property of the Government of Akwa Ibom State.

AFE BABALOLA PROPOSES 100 YEARS’ RETIREMENT AGE FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICES – DAILY SUN PG.3

Luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola, has proposed 100 years as retirement age for Supreme Court Justices from 70. He made the call at the virtual launch of books in honour of Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour (retd) of the Supreme Court to mark his retirement from the bench on attaining 70. He canvassed for a review of the age of retirement of judges, especially those of the Supreme Court Justice from the current 70 to 100 or more, if life service is not possible.

NDLEA SOLICITS ARMY’S SUPPORT TO FIGHT DRUG ABUSE, TRAFFICKING – DAILY SUN PG.5

Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier-General Buba Marwa, has solicited the support of the Nigerian Army in tackling the menace of drug abuse and trafficking in Nigeria. He said the nation is currently under drug siege with about 15 million youths affected by the effect of drugs. The NDLEA boss made this known when he visited the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru, at the army headquarters in Abuja.

REPS MEET JUSUN, BACK CALL FOR JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE – DAILY TRUST PG.5

The House of Representatives on Wednesday supported the call for judicial independence to allow the judiciary functions without interference. The House Committee on Judiciary disclosed at its meeting with members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN). The chairman of the committee, Onofiok Luke, said the house supported the concerns and yearnings of members of the association adding that, the autonomy of the judiciary is vital to the survival of democracy and operations of the three arms of government. Mr Victor Okpara, the defence counsel of Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans has said the ongoing strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has stalled the trial of his client.

JUDICIARY/LEGISLATURE AUTONOMY: FALANA, AKINTOLA BACK GOVS’ REJECTION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 10 – DAILY TRUST PG.26, THIS DAY PG.1 & 8

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), on Wednesday, said state governors have the right to ignore Executive Order 10 in their implementation of judicial and legislative autonomy in their states. The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) had on Tuesday faulted the Executive Order 10, President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law last year for the implementation of the autonomy of state legislature and judiciary. The NGF, through the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, however, said they were not opposed to financial autonomy for the judiciary and the legislature.

JUDICIARY WORKERS STRIKE STALLS EVENA’S TRIAL – THE NATION PG.5

Mr Victor Okpara, the defence counsel of Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans has said the ongoing strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has stalled the trial of his client. Evans was scheduled to continue his defence on Wednesday before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court for the alleged kidnap of Mr Donatus Dunu, the Managing Director of the Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Speaking, Okpara said that Evans had opened his defence and testified that he was innocent of all the allegations levelled against him by the state.

17 DRUG, ROBBERY SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN EDO, KOGI, JIGAWA – THE NATION PG.5

The Nigerian Army, 4 Brigade, Benin yesterday handed over 12 suspects arrested in connection with peddling illicit drug to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspects comprising 10 males and two females were apprehended with about 450kg of substance suspected to be cannabis sativa. During the handover of the suspects and exhibits to the NDLEA, Maj. Ojo Adenega, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade, said the recoveries made were as a result of clearance operations.

CHIBOK SCHOOLGIRLS: PAUSE AS A PARENT, TO IMAGINE 2,549 DAYS OF PAINS – THE NATION PG.7

As a father of daughters, I can’t even imagine the pains of having one’s daughter held by terrorists for as long as seven whole years. However, I urge parents, especially anyone with a female child to pause for a while, no matter how brief, to imagine how it might feel to have one’s daughter abducted and held for more than 2,549 days so far. Imagine how parents and relations of these girls have been feeling in each of these days. Certainly, the mental torture of not knowing the fate of one’s daughter in the hands of Boko Haram is far worse than losing a child.

AFE BABALOLA: ALLOW SUPREME COURT JUSTICES STAY ON BENCH FOR LIFE – THE NATION PG.29

Foremost legal icon Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) has proposed that Supreme Court Justices should remain on the bench for life. Justices of the apex court retire at the age of 70 in the subsisting arrangement. But, Babalola said Nigeria should take a cue from other jurisdictions to make the Justices remain in the bench for life. Babalola (SAN), a founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, made these views known during a virtual book presentation in honour of Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, who retired from the Supreme Court on March 22 after spending 27 years on the bench.