P&ID: UK COURT RELEASES $200M GUARANTEE FOR $10BN JUDGEMENT – PUNCH PG.7, DAILY TRUST PG.12, NATION PG.25, THISDAY PG.1&5, SUN PG.25

A United Kingdom Commercial Court on Tuesday ordered the release of the $200m used as security for the Process and Industrial Development $10bn arbitral award. The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), and the Central Bank of Nigeria revealed this on Tuesday.

This came on the heels of a September 4, 2020 judgment of the UK court pointing out suspected cases of fraud in the process leading to the gas supply contract allegedly breached by Nigeria and the basis upon which the award was issued in favour of P&ID by a London arbitration panel in 2017.

FG TO DECONGEST JUVENILE INMATES IN PRISONS – MALAMI – PUNCH PG.6

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), said on Tuesday that the Federal Government was planning to embark on second phase of prison decongestion exercise which would focus on juvenile inmates. The minister who spoke during a virtual interactive session with the Attorneys-General and Commissioners of Justice and heads of courts, said 3,751 inmates were released in a nationwide decongestion exercise shortly after the outbreak of COVID-19.

MAGU’S LAWYERS PLANTING FALSE PUBLICATIONS AGAINST PANEL – SALAMI – PUNCH PG.40, SUN PG.29

A former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami (retd), has denied reports about him expressing regrets for accepting the appointment to chair the Federal Government’s Judicial Commission of Inquiry probing the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ibrahim Magu. Since July, the panel, which was set up by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), has been probing Magu for various allegations, including abuse of office and mismanagement of recovered assets, leveled against him in a memo sent to Buhari by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN).

BUHARI ASKS SENATE TO CONFIRM EIGHT NEW SUPREME COURT JUSTICES – PUNCH PG.10, DAILY TRUST PG.4, NATION PG.2, THISDAY PG.5

The President, Muhammadu Buhari, has asked the Senate to approve the appointment of eight new Supreme Court justices. The letter read by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, at plenary on Tuesday, said the appointment was based on the recommendations of the National Judicial Council.

REPS TO REINTRODUCE WATER RESOURCES BILL – DAILY TRUST PG.1&5, NATION PG.5, SUN PG.6

The National Water Resources Control Bill, 2020 is to be represented to the floor of the House of Representatives following its withdrawal on Tuesday. There was serious opposition to the bill by some members over alleged breach of House Standing Rules while working towards passing the bill into law.

BOKO HARAM GOV: COURT REJECTS MAILAFIA OPPOSITION TO POLICE INVITATION – PUNCH PG.9, THISDAY PG.10

The suit filed by a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, at the Plateau State High Court seeking to stop the Nigeria Police from investigating him suffered a setback on Tuesday as the court dismissed his application. The court ruled that the police had the constitutional right to invite and investigate him when necessary.

ABSENCE OF MAINA, SURETY, NDUME STALLS EX-PENSION BOSS TRIAL – PUNCH PG.7

The trial of a former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, was stalled at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday. The trial on 12 counts of money laundering involving about N2bn was stalled because he and his surety, who is the serving Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, were absent.

COURT DISMISSES EL-ZAKZAKY’S NO-CASE SUBMISSION APPLICATION – PUNCH PG.9, NATION PG.6, THISDAY PG.10, SUN PG.4

The Kaduna State High Court on Tuesday dismissed a no-case-submission filed by the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria otherwise known as ‘Shi’ite’, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and wife, Zeenat. Counsel for the El-Zakzakys, Abubakar Marshall, holding the brief of Mr Femi Falana(SAN), had asked that the charges against his clients be quashed.

EFCC: NO REGRET OVER MY APPOINTMENT AS PROBE CHAIR, SAYS SALAMI – NATION 5, THISDAY PG.5

There are no regrets accepting to serve as Chairman of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Justice Isa Ayo Salami said yesterday. The former President of the Court of Appeal said he has handled more complex cases than that of the EFCC, stating that no one can dampen his spirit with propaganda. Justice Salami said the panel will do a thorough investigation of the allegations against the suspended acting EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

MAGU’S CLOSING REMARKS TO SALAMI PANEL TWISTED, SAYS COUNSEL – NATION PG.5

Counsel to suspend acting chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Wahab Shittu has alleged misrepresentation of Mr. Ibrahim Magu’s closing remarks before the Justice Ayo Salami’s Commission of Inquiry. Shittu said Magu did not at any time admit guilt before the probe panel, stating that the only thing going for Magu is his conviction of his innocence.The commission is probing the activities of the EFCC under Magu.