FG RECEIVES €4.2M IBORI LOOT – NATION PG.4, SUN PG.6

The British Government has formally paid the £4,214,017.66 looted funds recovered from family members and associates of former Delta State Governor

, James Ibori into an account designated for that purpose by the Federal Government. The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who confirmed this development on Tuesday, said the amount has been credited into the designated Federal Government account with naira equivalent as of 10th May, 2021. Malami’s spokesman, Dr. Umar Gwandu, in a statement on Tuesday quoted the AGF as confirming the receipt of the recovered loot by the FG.

FG CONSIDERS NON-CONVICTION BASED PROCEDURES FOR RECOVERY OF STOLEN ASSETS – THISDAY

In a renewed bid to recover the country’s stolen assets, the federal government has said it was considering non-conviction based procedures to quicken its assets recovery drive.
It is also seeking repatriation of the nation’s stolen wealth from off-shore destinations even as it announced the recovery of $700 million from United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland. Speaking at the International Conference on Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) and Assets Recovery organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commision (ICPC), the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), said government was considering applying non-conviction based procedures to reduce time spent in court.

MALAMI: FINANCIAL AUTONOMY FOR STATE LEGISLATURES, JUDICIARIES NON-NEGOTIABLE – THISDAY PG.8

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has stated that the constitutional provision in Section 121(3) guaranteeing financial autonomy for the judiciary and legislature at the state level is a non-negotiable right exercisable by both arms of government. Malami faulted the arguments that queried the constitutionality of the Executive Order 10 issued by President Muhammadu Buhari to further the implementation of the provision of Section 121(3), contending that the presidential initiative was “designed and intended to give enforcement spirit to the autonomy provision.”

AGAIN, DELTA ASKS FG TO RETURN £4.2M RECOVERED LOOT – THISDAY PG.61, PUNCH PG.9

The Delta State government yesterday restated its plea to the federal government to return to the state the £4.2 million first tranche recovered from the associates of a former governor of the state, Chief James Ibori. The state was reacting to a confirmation yesterday by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) that the federal government was in receipt of the £4,214,017.66 from the United Kingdom (UK).

ABIODUN SUSPENDS AIDE ARRESTED IN US OVER ALLEGED $350M FRAUD – THISDAY PG.60, PUNCH PG.4&5

Ogun State Governor, Prince DapoAbiodun, has suspended his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Special Duties, Mr. AbidemiRufai, following his arrest in New York by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over alleged involvement in $350million unemployment benefits fraud in respect of COVID – 19 pandemic. Reacting through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. KunleSomorin, the Ogun State governor said the news of his aide’s involvement in fraud was disturbing.

EFCC ASKS SECONDUS TO RELEASE THREE PDP OFFICIALS FOR INTERROGATION – THISDAY PG.58, DAILY TRUST PG.45, PUNCH PG.41

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has requested the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince UcheSecondus, to release three party officials for interrogation. Those to appear before the commission are the National Auditor, National Organising Secretary and Director of Finance.They were said to have featured in a case of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of funds and fraud that the commission is investigating.

FG: LEGISLATIVE, JUDICIARY WORKERS’ STRIKE MAY END TOMORROW – THISDAY PG.59, NATION PG.6

The federal government has disclosed that the striking judiciary and legislative workers may call off their strike Thursday (tomorrow), just as it stated that it has waded into the strike and picketing in Kaduna State by the two labour centres. A statement signed by the Assistant Director, Press and Public Relations, Mr. Charles Akpan said the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has appealed to the Kaduna State Governor, MallamNasir El- Rufai; President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade AyubaWabba as well as President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade RasheedOlawale to immediately ceasefire.

GUNMEN ABDUCT KATSINA JUDGE INSIDE COURT – THISDAY PG.59, DAILY TRUST PG.6

A Sharia court judge, Alhaji HussainiSamaila, was yesterday afternoon kidnapped in the Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State. Bandits reportedly swooped on the judge’s court located at Bauren Zakat village in the council and whisked him away.The spokesman of the Katsina Police Command, GamboIsah, confirmed the incident last night.

CALL OFF YOUR STRIKE, CJN BEGS JUDICIAL WORKERS – DAILY TRUST PG.4, PUNCH PG.11, PUNCH PG.11

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad on Tuesday begged the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria to call off its nationwide strike. The CJN, according to a statement by his media aide, AhuruakahIsah, made the appeal while receiving the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, at the Supreme Court over the strike by the JUSUN to demand financial autonomy for the judiciary.Muhammad said calling off the strike would be in the interest of the nation and the larger interest of justice.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE: MAGISTRATES TO PAY REGULAR VISITS TO POLICE CELLS IN BAUCHI – DAILY TRUST PG.30

Magistrates will henceforth pay regular visits to police cells in Bauchi State to ensure that accused persons did not stay for more than 24 hours as part of implementation of Criminal Justice Law in the state. The Chief Registrar of the Bauchi State High Court, Barrister Emmanuel Danjuma, disclosed this during the inauguration of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) in the state.

ARREST OF ARMY DESERTER, 33 YAHOO BOYS SPARKS PROTEST IN OSOGBO – NATION PG.3, PUNCH 4&5

Youths yesterday went on rampage in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, after operatives of Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) arrested an Army deserter, AdebisiJamiu, 22, and 33 others. The Nation gathered that the operatives of the EFCC stormed Hallelujah Estate area around 2am and arrested the suspected fraudsters. The youths in the area moved against the EFCC men, saying the suspects should be left alone.

LAGOS MOBILISES LAWYERS TO DECONGEST POLICE CELLS – NATION PG.3

State Counsels in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lagos State Ministry of Justice were yesterday mobilised to decongest police cells of suspects. The new directive was informed by the lockdown of the courts due the strike by Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

POLICE ARREST LEBANESE FOR ALLEGEDLY DEFILING 10 TEENAGERS IN PLATEAU – SUN PG.5

Plateau State Police Command has arrested a Lebanese, Kfouri Sleiman, for defiling over 10 teenage girls, at Abattoir area of Giring, Jos, Plateau State. It was gathered that two of the girls are pregnant and were taken to police clinic for medical examination.Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Gabriel Ubah, in a press statement, said the Command is investigating the alleged case of sexual molestation by the foreigner.