MILITARY TO RESCUE ABDUCTED PUPILS ‘WHICHEVER WAY’ – NATION PG.1&3, THISDAY PG.1&8, DAILYTRUST PG.4&14

There is a rev up in the moves to rescue abducted pupils of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State.

The military said on Wednesday it is determined to get the boys out “whichever way.” Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu has deployed a Special Squad in the state.

APPEAL COURT ORDERS RETRIAL OF METUH, FIRM – NATION PG.5, SUN PG.5, THISDAY PG.42, PUNCH PG.12, DAILYTRUST PG.14

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has voided the February 25, 2020 judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which convicted former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman Olisa Metuh and his firm, Dextra Investment Limited. Metuh and Dextra were sentenced to seven years imprisonment for money laundering offences. In a unanimous verdict on Wednesday, a three-man panel of the Appeal Court held that Metuh and Dextra’s trial before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court was tainted with bias and prejudice against the defendants.

ANTI-CORRUPTION HERO PRESIDENT BUHARI LEADS BY EXAMPLE – NATION PG.14, SUN PG.31, DAILYTRUST PG.20

As he marks today, December 17 as his birthday, Muhammadu Buhari, driver of change and mobiliser of voters continues in his role as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, leading by setting examples as the country wades through the thick waves of corruption, insecurity and a Covid economy. David Aaker, the American marketing guru says every person has a brand that affects how the person is perceived and whether he or she is liked and respected.

#ENDSARS: NIGERIANS ASKED TO SUBMIT COMPLAINTS TO ASCAB INDEPENDENT PANEL – NATION PG.35

Nigerians have been asked to submit complaints of human right violations encountered, witnessed or heard during the #ENDSARS protests which rocked the country in October. The Alliance for Survival of COVID-19 and Beyond, (ASCAB) in a statement at the weekend, asked victims of human rights abuses to approach the independent panel set up by the coalition in the wake of the nationwide protests.

LAI MOHAMMED, FG, IGP, OTHERS SUED FOR N50BN OVER #ENDSARS – SUN PG.5

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Joe Nwokedi, has filed a suit against the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, the Federal Government and the police over their roles in the #EndSARS protest, demanding restraining order and N50 billion as damages. Other respondents in the suit include the Attorney General of the Federation, Inspector General of Police, Nigeria Armed Forces, Chief of Army Staff, Lagos State Government, Attorney General of Lagos State, Imo State Government, Attorney General of Imo State.

ALFA IMPERSONATES ADESINA, GMD NNPC, BUILDS HOUSES IN ILORIN –WITNESS – SUN PG.5

The trial of a self-styled herbalist, Alfa Jamiu Isiaka, resumed on December 15, 2020 with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recalling its star witness, Dare Folarin. The suspect allegedly impersonated the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, and a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru, to defraud a South Korean, Keun Sig Kim, to the tune of N30million. Isiaka, 31, while parading as senior government official, deceived the foreigner to collect various sums of money to the tune of N30 million under the pretext of securing for him an NNPC approval/ marketing form and license certificate to buy crude oil in Nigeria.

ALLEGED FORGERY: APPEAL COURT ORDERS PROMPT HEARING OF SUIT AGAINST OBASEKI – THISDAY PG.44

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ordered accelerated hearing at the Federal High Court, Abuja in the suit seeking the sack of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State over alleged certificate forgery. A three-man panel of the Appeal Court, presided over by Justice Stephen Adah, rejected an application for stay of proceedings filed by Obaseki.

SHIITES CONTINUE FREE-ZAKZAKY PROTEST IN KADUNA – PUNCH PG.7

MEMBERS of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria on Tuesday stormed major streets of Kaduna metropolis, demanding the unconditional release of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat. This was despite the proscription of the sect by the Federal and the State Governments. The IMN, also known as Shiites, clutched the Nigerian flag, and some placards with various inscriptions, such as ‘Free Zakzaky’, ‘Obey court order’, among others and marched through the ever busy Ahmadu Bello Way towards the Leventis Roundabouts in the heart of the city.

I’M UNDER PRESSURE TO PROBE PAST ADMINISTRATIONS – BAUCHI GOV – PUNCH PG.9

BAUCHI State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has declared that he is under pressure to probe former administrations particularly his predecessor, Mohammed Abubakar. Mohammed also stated that former governors in the state would be buried politically because of the legacies he would leave behind at the end of his administration.

RESTRUCTURING NOT AGITATION FOR SECESSION, DISUNITY – FALANA, SANUSI – PUNCH PG.11

A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, and the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, on Wednesday cautioned against perceiving agitations for restructuring as secession. They said the agitations should rather be seen as a bid for equitable distribution of wealth and resources between the federal and state governments and building of strong systems through strong moral values.

POLICE TORTURED MY CO-DETAINEE TO DEATH, WITNESS TELLS PANEL – PUNCH PG.11

A witness, Abbah Onoja, told the panel probing cases of police brutality in Abuja that a co-detainee, Obinna Jonah, was tortured to death in police custody in Abuja on January 28, 2020. Onoja was called to testify in the case of alleged extra-judicial killing which was lodged before the panel by the deceased person’s brother, Okechukwu Jonah.

NORTHERN GROUPS STORM KATSINA FOR #BRINGBACKOURBOYS PROTEST – DAILYTRUST PG.6

Members of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) have stormed Katsina State for an indefinite protest to compel the authorities to rescue hundreds of students abducted from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State. The protest, hashtagged #Bringbackourboys, will kick-off in Katsina on Thursday. The demonstrators are expected to proceed to Daura to register their concerns to President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently holidaying in the ancient town.