ADDRESS NIGERIANS ON PROTESTS NOW, SENATE TELLS BUHARI – PUNCH PG.7, THE NATION PG. 1&5, THISDAY PG.5

The Senate on Tuesday asked the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to address the nation immediately on the current nationwide protests by youths against police brutality and bad governance.

The Senate also directed the police to offer protection to the #EndSARS protesters to prevent hoodlums from hijacking their genuine action. The decision of the Senate was sequel to a point of order by Senator Biodun Olujimi, titled, ‘#EndSARS: The need for a comprehensive and holistic reform’.

NHRC ASKS POLICE TO PAY 35 LAGOS, ABUJA, RIVERS VICTIMS N164M – PUNCH PG.7

The Nigerian Police Force has been ordered to pay at least N164m to 35 identified victims or the families of the slain victims of the brutality of some operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, in Lagos and Rivers states as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. About 37 operatives were indicted and recommended for various punishments ranging from dismissal, prosecution, personal liability for payment of damages and reduction in rank.

$1BN SUIT: SERAP HIRES FALANA TO DEFEND TWITTER CEO – PUNCH PG.8, THIS DAY PG.41

A 2019 presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, Adamu Garba, has made good his threat to sue the Chief Executive Officer or Twitter, Jack Dorsey, demanding $1bn damages, over the raging #EndSARS protests in Nigeria. Garba is also praying the court to order the Nigeria Communication Commission “to stop the operation of Twitter International Company in any part of the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” He further urged the court to direct the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and the 2nd to 6th respondents in the suit to take measures, including “using force that is reasonably appropriate in the circumstance of the protest” to stop activities of Dorsey and Twitter.

ARMED THUGS IN ‘GOVERNMENT VEHICLES’ ATTACK #ENDSARS PROTESTERS – PUNCH PG.9

Armed thugs conveyed in what appeared to be black government Sports Utility Vehicles with concealed number plates were seen attacking #EndSARS protesters in the Wuse 2 area of Abuja on Tuesday. In a video that has gone viral on social media, some of the thugs are seen jumping into a black Prado driven by a man in suit on Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent Wuse 2. The vehicle is seen reversing unto Hospital Avenue and then the doors are flung open while thugs wielding stones and sticks run riot.

#ENDSARS: WE’RE COMMITTED TO IMPLEMENTING DEMANDS, FG TELLS INT’L COMMUNITY – DAILY TRUST PG.35

The Federal Government has told members of the Diplomatic Community in Nigeria that it is committed to meeting the demands of Nigerians protesting police brutality and will not allow those with ulterior motive hijack the movement. The Diplomatic Corps was briefed in Abuja by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed and Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika.

BUHARI MULLS NATIONWIDE STATE OF EMERGENCY – DAILYSUN PG.6

Worried by the escalating tension and seeming inability of security agents to curtail the EndSARS protests, President Muhammadu Buhari is reportedly considering a declaration of national state of emergency. A senator told Daily Sun that the president may soon convene a security meeting where a decision on state of emergency would be discussed. Daily Sun learnt that during a meeting between President Buhari, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila last weekend, the issue came up.

INVESTOR TO INJECT $150M INTO PAN – THE NATION PG.1 & 5

NEW Investor, NESBITT Investment Nigeria Limited, which took over Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN), has assured that it will inject $150 million into the company within three years. The fund will be invested in retooling and upgrading the assembly line, the support infrastructure and as working capital. Speaking during the handing over and taking over ceremony at the PAN assembly in Kaduna, the Chairman, Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, assured that, the company would soon be rolling out cheap and affordable brand new vehicles for Nigerians.

 NHRC TO INAUGURATE INDEPENDENT PROBE PANEL TODAY – THE NATION 6

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said it will inaugurate the 11-member Independent Investigative Panel (IIP) it recently constituted to probe allegations of human rights violations against the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other units of the Nigeria Police Force (NFP). The inauguration, according to the NHRC’s spokesperson Fatima Agwai Mohammed, will hold in the agency’s auditorium at noon today.

1,993 INMATES ESCAPED FROM BENIN CORRECTIONAL CENTRES, SAYS FED GOVT – THE NATION PG.6

An update on the Monday’s jailbreak in Benin City showed that 1,993 inmates escaped from the Nigerian Correctional Centres in Edo State, the Federal Government said yesterday. The government said that besides freeing the inmates, those who attacked the facilities looted the center’s, including the weapons in their armory.

ALLEGED N570M FRAUD: JUDGE’S ABSENCE STALLS EX-HOSF OYO-ITA’S TRIAL – THE NATION PG.7

The scheduled commencement of trial in the alleged money laundering case involving the immediate past Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoSF), Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, was stalled on Tuesday due to the absence of the judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, of the Federal High Court, Abuja. Oyo-Ita is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with her Special Assistant, Ubong Effiok, Frontline Ace Global Services Limited, Asanaya Projects Limited, Garba Umar, Slopes International Limited, Gooddeal Investments Limited, U & U Global Services Limited and Prince Mega Logistics Limited. The defendants are accused, among others, of engaging in fraud in relation to Duty Tour Allowance (DTA), estacode, conference fees and receiving kickbacks on contracts.