$1.5BN LIABILITY: US TRIBUNAL FREES NIGERIA, AWARDS FG $660,000 –PUNCH PG.7, NATION PG.5, THISDAY PG. 1&9, SUN PG.5, DAILYTRUST PG.10

The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Dispute in the United States of America has relieved Nigeria of a $1.5bn liability in connection with a contract agreement involving two oil firms, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement issued on behalf of the AGF by his Spokesperson, Dr Umar Gwandu, stated that the tribunal headed by Prof. William Park, had in its decision delivered earlier on Tuesday, ruled that Nigeria did not breach any of its obligations in the contract.

EX-GOV OHAKIM CHARGED WITH FRAUD, GIVING FALSE INFORMATION – PUNCH PG.8, DAILYTRUST PG.8

The police have charged a former governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, with fraud and giving false information. The office of the Inspector-General of Police filed the case marked, CR/993/2020 and dated September 23, 2020, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja.

DIEZANI SLUSH FUNDS: EFCC WITHDRAWS CHARGES AGAINST EX-BANK ED – PUNCH PG.9

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday discontinued criminal charges against a former Executive Director, First Bank, Dauda Lawal, who is being prosecuted for alleged money laundering. In the charges before the Federal High Court in Lagos, Lawal was accused of handling $25m out of a total of $153m, which a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, allegedly doled out to influence the 2015 general elections.

PRESSURE ON NDUME OVER MAINA WHEREABOUTS – NATION PG.4

The whereabouts of the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) Abdulrasheed Maina and his son, Faisal were unknown. It was learnt that complaints have been made to the Department of State Service (DSS) and the Police (FCT Command) to locate him. This has put Maina’s surety, Senator Ali Ndume under pressure to revoke his guarantee.

EFCC SECURES 646 CONVICTIONS, IN 10 MONTHS – NATIONS PG.6

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday said it secured 646 convictions and recovered N11 billion in 10 months, despite the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic caused in its operations. The commission also said the Federal Government’s Whistle-blowing Policy was being fine-tuned by the Ministry of Finance to make it achieve better results.