FG SPURNS UK PARLIAMENTARIANS’ THREAT OF SANCTION OVER RIGHTS ABUSE – THISDAY PG.1&45, SUN PG.7

The federal government yesterday said it was unperturbed by resolutions of the United Kingdom parliamentarians for sanctions against top Nigerian officials and security agents involved in the alleged violation of #EndSARS protesters’ rights as it did not represent the position of the British government.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, told THISDAY in Abuja that the UK government will not sanction Nigerian officials based on a fake report.

LEKKI SHOOTINGS: NEW REPORT SHOWS CNN IS DESPERATE —LAI MOHAMMED – PUNCH PG.7

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has accused CNN of desperation over its second report on the Lekki toll plaza shootings that happened on October 20. The Minister said this on NTA on Wednesday.Newsmen reports that CNN had on Tuesday released a second ‘investigative report’ on the shootings at Lekki toll plaza during the #EndSARS protests amid threats of sanction from the Federal Government.

N2BN LAUNDERING: COURT ORDERS MAINA’S ARREST, NDUME DENIES SUSPECT’S WHEREABOUTS – PUNCH PG.8&10

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the arrest of the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reformed Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, adjudged to have jumped bail, causing a setback to his trial for N2bn money laundering. Justice Okon Abang issued the arrest warrant after revoking the bail earlier granted the defendant.He ordered all security agencies in the country to arrest Maina without delay.

NDUME SPENDS SECOND NIGHT IN PRISON, APPEALS REMAND – PUNCH PG.10, DAILY TRUST PG.5

THE Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, has spent his second night at the Kuje Prison, where the Federal High Court judge, Justice Okon Abang, directed that he should be held. Ndume was remanded in prison for his inability to produce the former chairman of the defunct Pension Reformed Task Team, Mr Abdulrasheed Maina, who was said to have jumped bail.

CJN FOR ARBITRATORS’ CONFERENCE – PUNCH PG.9

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Ibrahim Muhammad will declare the conference open. Justice Amina Augie will discuss the keynote paper, to be delivered by the Chief Justice of Rwanda, Dr Faustin Ntezilyayo. About 72 speakers and panellists from within and outside Nigeria, drawn from various professions and disciplines, will speak on the theme and other related topics.

TRIAL-IN-ABSENTIA: COURT ORDERS MAINA SON’S ARREST FOR JUMPING BAIL – PUNCH PG.10, THISDAY PG.50, NATION PG.3

The trial of the former chairman of the defunct Pension Reformed Task Team, Mr Abdulrasheed Maina, on charges of N2bn money laundering, proceeded at the Federal High Court in Abuja in his absence on Tuesday. In another case, the same court revoked the bail granted his son, Faisal Maina, and ordered Nigerian security agencies to arrest and produce him in court for his separate money laundering charges.

MY COUSIN LOST MEMORY, DEVELOPED BRAIN TUMOUR AFTER TORTURE BY SARS –WITNESS – PUNCH PG.27

Proceedings at the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing allegations of human rights abuses against men of the disbanded Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad continued on Tuesday with a businessman, Chukwu Vincent, telling the panel that his cousin, Basil Ejiagwa, who is now dead, suffered loss of memory and eventually developed a brain tumour after he was tortured by SARS operatives in May 2014. Vincent told the retired Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel that after struggling with failing health for six years following the torture by policemen, his cousin eventually died last week on November 17, 2020.

KANU’S TRIAL IN ABSENTIA BEGINS THURS, MASSOB DEFENDS ABARIBE – PUNCH PG.27

The Federal High Court in Abuja has slated November 26 for the commencement of the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, with five prosecution witnesses lined up to testify against him, The Newsmen has learnt. Our correspondent on Tuesday saw the hearing notice issued on November 24 for the Thursday’s proceedings.