EFCC SEEKS INTERPOL’S SUPPORT ON MAINA’S, P&ID OFFICIALS’ ARREST – PUNCH PG.8, THISDAY PG.10

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has said it will enforce the arrest warrant issued against the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina.

Our correspondent learnt that the agency would apply to the International Police Organisation for Maina’s arrest.Justice Okon Abang had revoked the bail granted to Maina, who is being prosecuted by the EFCC for N2 billion frauds.

COURT ORDERS REP TO PRODUCE MAINA’S FLEEING SON WITHIN NINE DAYS – NATION PG.3, DAILY TRUST PG.4

A Federal High Court in Abuja has given a House of Representatives member, Umar Sani Dan Galadima up till December 4 to produce Faisal, the son of former Pension Reform Task Team Abdulrasheed Maina, who is believed to have jumped bail. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Faisal before the court for money laundering-related offences.

HOW MAINA, EX-HOS ORONSAYE STOLE N14BN PENSION FUND – EFCC INVESTIGATOR – PUNCH PG.11

HE trial of a former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Force Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, proceeded in his absence at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s ninth witness testifying against the defendant. Maina is being prosecuted by the EFCC on 12 counts of money laundering, involving N2bn.

GUNMEN ABDUCT ATIKU SECURITY DETAIL’S WIFE, SON, LAWMAKER’S BROTHER – PUNCH PG.7

Suspected kidnappers have abducted the wife and son of a security detail of former vice president Atiku Abubakar. The aide, a police officer, was reported to be the primary target of the attack. However, when the gunmen did not find him, they took his wife and son.

#ENDSARS – GOVT SAYS UK PARLIAMENT CAN’T SPEAK FOR ITS GOVERNMENT – DAILY TRUST PG.4, PUNCH PG.9, SUN PG.7, NATION PG.28, THISDAY PG.1&8

The federal government has said that the United Kingdom (UK) parliament cannot speak for its government, following reports claiming that the lawmakers have proposed sanctions for Nigerian government officials over the recent #EndSARS protests. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, while fielding questions from State House reporters on Wednesday after the virtual cabinet meeting, said Nigeria had communicated the events surrounding the protest to the government of the UK.

HOW NIGERIA WILL EXIT RECESSION – FINANCE MINISTER – DAILY TRUST PG.18

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, on Wednesday, said the country hopes to quickly exit recession and save her economy through rigorous implementation of the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP). Hajiya Ahmed said this while fielding questions from State House reporters after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

COURT HEARS NDUME’S BAIL APPLICATION TO LEAVE PRISON TODAY – PUNCH PG.11, SUN PG.28

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Thursday for the hearing of the bail application filed by Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, who has been sent to prison since Monday over his suretyship for Abdulrasheed Maina, adjudged to have jumped bail. Maina’s son, Faisal, who is also being prosecuted by the EFCC in a separate money laundering case before the same court, is also said to have jumped bail.

COURT OKAYS SUIT SEEKING N523M SCHOOL FEEDING DETAILS – PUNCH PG.9

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted leave to a civil society group to commence a suit seeking detailed information on N523m which the Federal Government claimed to have spent on feeding of school children during the COVID-19 lockdown earlier in the year. Justice Nkeoye Maha granted the order following an ex parte application by the applicant, the Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International.

SARS BULLET KILLED MY THREE-DAY-OLD DAUGHTER, MAN LAMENTS – PUNCH PG.8

A 50-year old man, Norde Sylvester, on Wednesday said a bullet from the gun of personnel of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad killed his three-day-old daughter in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Sylvester, a civil servant with the Universal Basic Education, spoke at the hearing of the Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Police Brutality in Port Harcourt.

NIGERIA’S GENDER, SEXUAL VIOLENCE RATE DISTURBING – UK – PUNCH PG.8, THISDAY PG.10

The British High Commission in Nigeria has expressed worries over the rate of sexual and gender violence in the country, saying it is disturbing. The High Commissioner, Catriona Laing, said the mission would be partnering the government and various groups to address the situation to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, as well as the annual 16 days of activism against gender violence which started on Wednesday.

OGBORU, FIRM CHALLENGE AMCON’S N784M DEBT CLAIM – PUNCH PG.7

The 2019 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Delta State, Chief Great Ogboru, and his firm, Fiogret Limited, have opposed the move by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria to seize the funds in their bank accounts over an alleged N784m debt. AMCON, in an ex parte application by its lawyer, Mr Kunle Ogunba (SAN), had said the alleged N784m debt arose from a July 5, 2013 consent judgment entered in its favour by Justice Okon Abang.

SENATE SEEKS TO MAKE LAW SCHOOL BENEFICIARY OF TETFUND – DAILY TRUST PG.4, NATION PG.28

The Senate on Wednesday passed for second reading, a bill seeking to amend the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act. Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), who sponsored the bill, said it sought to amend Section 4 of the principal Act by inserting the Nigerian Law School as one of the tertiary institutions to benefit from the interventions of the  TETFUND.

CCB INAUGURATES ASSETS VERIFICATION COMMITTEES TO VERIFY DECLARED ASSETS FROM 2017-2020 – DAILY TRUST PG.4

The chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau, Professor Mohammed Isah, on Wednesday inaugurated seven committees on assets verification to verify assets declared by public officials from 2017 to 2020. Inaugurating the committees, Professor Isah stated that the exercise was consistent with President Muhammadu Buhari’s policy on transparency and accountability in the conduct of government business.

SARAKI’S IKOYI HOUSES: COURT ADJOURNS CASE TILL DEC. 16 – DAILY TRUST PG.10, SUN PG.5

The Federal High Court, Lagos, today refused to grant the application of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a forfeiture Order on the Ikoyi houses former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and instead ruled that the houses were not purchased with illicit fund or proceed of illegal activity. Justice Liman Mohammed who began giving judgement also stated that the EFCC has not provided any proof that the money with which the houses located on McDonald Road, Ikoyi, were bought came from any establishment related to the Kwara State Government.

COURT TO BEGIN NNAMDI KANU’S ‘TREASON’ TRIAL IN ABSENTIA – DAILY TRUST PG.31

A federal high court in Abuja is set to commence the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in his absence. A hearing notice from the court scheduled the case for November 26 during which five prosecution witnesses will testify against Kanu.

ENDSARS: PDP BACKS UK PARLIAMENT’S THREAT OF SANCTIONS – THISDAY PG.9

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday applauded the resolution by the British Parliament to impose travel restriction and visa ban to officials of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration involved in the violation of human rights, including the shooting and killing of unarmed and peaceful protesters in Nigeria. The PDP, however, urged the United Nations and other international bodies to immediately list indicted officials of the President Buhari’s government for the widespread crime against humanity going on in the country in the last five years.

MAINA: COURT REFUSES LAWYER’S REQUEST TO WITHDRAW FROM CASE – THISDAY PG.12

Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday refused a request by Mr. Ademola Adedipe, counsel to Common Input Property and Investment Limited to withdraw from representing the company in the trial involving former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Mr. Abulrasheed Maina. Maina, and his company, Common Input Property and Investment Limited, are standing trial on a 12- count criminal charge bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of N2 billion.

LEGAL PROFESSION THREATENED, SAYS BABALAKIN – THISDAY PG.10

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Wale Babalakin, has charged members of the silk on the need to save the profession from going down, adding that the legal profession is being threatened. Babalakin who lamented the dwindling standard of learning in the country, said except the lawyers accept to save the legal profession, it will soon become part of the decay in the country.