ALLEGED MONEY LAUNDERING: COURT FREES ATIKU’S SON IN-LAW, BABALELE – THISDAY PG.16, NATION PG.38, SUN PG.5, PUNCH PG.11

A Federal High Court in Lagos has freed Abdullahi Babalele, a son-in-law to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar on a two-count allegation of alleged money laundering of $140,000.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke threw out the charge and discharged the defendant on the grounds that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had chosen a wrong venue.

COURT ORDERS IG TO RELEASE FACEBOOK USER DETAINED FOR BLASPHEMY SINCE FEBRUARY – THISDAY PG.16, SUN PG.28

The Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday ordered the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and the Nigeria Police Force, to release a Facebook user, Mbarak Bala, who was arrested in Kaduna on February 28, 2020 for alleged blasphemous posts about Islam. Delivering judgment in the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Bala, Justice Inyang Ekwo declared that his arrest and detention by the IG and the NPF in an unknown detention centre since February 28, 2020 “because he expressed his option about religion on Facebook, constitutes an infraction of the applicant’s rights to personal liberty, fair hearing, freedom of thought, freedom of express and freedom of movement”.

HOUSE TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED N19BN RAILWAY CONTRACT AWARDED TO UNKNOWN COMPANY – THISDAY PG.16, NATION PG.8

The House of Representatives yesterday resolved set up an Adhoc Committee to investigate the N19.2 billion railway rehabilitation contract awarded in March 2011 to a contracting company which was allegedly not in existence. The resolution followed the unanimous adoption of a motion of urgent national importance, sponsored by the Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu.

NJC RECOMMENDS JUSTICE OLUSIYI FOR APPOINTMENT AS KOGI CJ – THISDAY PG.36, NATION PG.8, PUNCH PG.8

The National Judicial Council (NJC) yesterday released the names of judicial officers recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors for appointment into various offices in the federal and states judiciary. Those shortlisted include Justice Henry Olusiyi as Chief Judge of Kogi State; Justice Aisha Bwari as Chief Judge of Niger State, and Kadi Shu’aibu Achida as the Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Sokoto.

COURT FIXES JANUARY 25 FOR RULING IN FAISAL MAINA’S SURETY COMMITTAL PLEA – NATION PG.38, PUNCH PG.7

The Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday fixed January 25, 2021, for ruling in the committal application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against a House of Representatives member Sani Dan-Galadima, who stood as surety for Faisal, son of former chairman of Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdurasheed Maina. Justice Okon Abang, who adjourned the ruling, said it was not ready.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court had on December 1, ordered Dan-Galadima, who represents Kaura-Namoda Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, to appear in court over his suretyship for Faisal, who was said to have jumped bail in his ongoing money laundering trial.

OSUN TAKES OVER PROSECUTION OF #ENDSARS LEADER FROM DSS – NATION PG.38

Osun State of Ministry of Justice yesterday took over the prosecution of a leader of #EndSARS movement, Emmanuel Adebisi (aka Captain), from the Department of State Services (DSS). Adebisi has been standing trial before a State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Osogbo, the state capital, for alleged forgery, impersonation and illegal possession of Nigerian Army uniform.  The Nation recalls that the presiding Magistrate, Mr. Isola Omisade, refused an oral bail application by Adebisi’s counsel, A. C. Olaniyi, and ordered that a formal bail application be made for him.

NDDC: TRAVELLERS STRANDED ON EAST-WEST ROAD AS IJAW YOUTHS PROTEST – SUN PG.27

Commuters along the East-West Road were stranded for hours yesterday as Ijaw youths protested the appointment of Mr Effiong Okon-Awka as sole administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). President Muhammadu Buhari announced Okon-Awka’s appointment last week, but the announcement did not go down with the Ijaw youths who demanded that a substantive management board be put in place at the NDDC instead.

DSS PROBING ALLEGED STOCKPILING OF ARMS IN MARKET –EBONYI – PUNCH PG.7

THE Ebonyi State Government on Monday said the Department of State Services had begun investigation into the alleged stocking of arms and ammunition in the popular Building Materials Market in Abakaliki. Recall that the market was condoned off by security forces last Thursday, following information that arms and ammunition were brought into the market by some miscreants in the state.

FREE LEAH SHARIBU AS OUR CHRISTMAS GIFT –PARENTS – PUNCH PG.8

MORE than two years after her abduction by Boko Haram insurgents, the parents of Leah Sharibu on Monday called on the Federal Government to make the freedom of Leah Sharibu their Xmas package. They also demanded the immediate release of the more than 100 Chibok school girls still in captivity, along with the release of all other women and girls held hostage.