Operation Amotekun: Govs Meet Osinbajo, To Back Exercise With Law [PUNCH]
The Federal Government and the governors of the South-West states on Thursday reached a middle ground on the controversial security outfit, Operation Amotekun, as both settled for a legal “framework.”
This implies that the states will put in place all the necessary legal backing for the outfit to continue.
The resolution was reached at a meeting between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, also attended the meeting.
Malabu Scam: Adoke, Others Remanded In EFCC Custody [PUNCH]
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Gwagwalada, Abuja, on Thursday ordered the remand of a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke (SAN), and two of his co-defendants in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The court made the order for remand following their arraignment in relation to the Malabu Oil scam.
Justice Idris Kutigi fixed Monday for the hearing of their bail applications.
This came after the defendants pleaded not guilty to the 42 counts filed against them by the EFCC.
Those arraigned alongside Adoke were Aliyu Abubakar, who was accused of offering N300m gratification to the ex-AGF in relation to the Malabu Oil deal; and a former Company Secretary and Legal Adviser of Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, Rasky Gbinigie.
FG, South West Govs Agree To Formalise Amotekun [SUN]
The Federal Government and the six governors of South West states of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo and Lagos, yesterday agreed to formalise the South West Security Network, Operation Amotekun.
The agreement was reached during a meeting with the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, told State House Correspondents at the end of the meeting that the legal framework will help resolve all burning issues surrounding the security network.
The Federal Government had while declaring the outfit illegal, maintained that “the 1999 Constitution (as amended) has established the Army, Navy and Airforce, including the Police and other numerous paramilitary organisations for the purpose of the defence of Nigeria.”
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, were part of the meeting.
Amotekun: Balarabe Musa Slams Tinubu, Soyinka, Adams [SUN]
Former governor of Old Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, has slammed Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, over the comment he made on his statement about the Western Nigeria Security Network code-named, Operation Amotekun.
He also took on the O’odua Peoples Congress (OPC) leader and Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams and described Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as belonging to a government that is showing lack of aptitude to govern Nigeria.
Operation Amotekun was Introduced by the six South West governors to curb kidnapping, banditry and ritual killings that has thrown the region into panic.
Musa had said in an interview with one of The Sun newspaper titles that Operation Amotekun was a ploy by the Yoruba preparatory to the declaration of Oduduwa Republic.
Enugu Airport Ready Soon –Minister [SUN]
- Ugwuanyi demolishes illegal structures
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has said the Federal Government was on course to ensure rehabilitation of the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu, is complete and reopened for flight operations before Easter.
On his official Twitter handle, he said they were almost done with the installation of Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) and are on course to open the airport before the Easter celebrations.
“We are almost done with the installation of Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) at Enugu Airport. We are on course to reopen the Airport before Easter, God willing,” he said.
… YCE Cautions Tinubu Against Being More Federal Than Regional [SUN]
Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has urged National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, not to be more federal than regional in his disposition to Operation Amotekun, and other issues that affect the South West.
The Yoruba elders disclosed this at the sideline of their National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the YCE national headquarters, Old Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State capital, yesterday.
Secretary General of the council, Kunle Olajide, who fielded questions from journalists after the meeting presided over by the council’s President, Demola Bakre, said the measured statement issued by Tinubu on Wednesday on Amotekun was belated.
Gunmen Kill Popular Trado-Medical Doctor, Oko Oloyun [SUN]
President of the Physiotherapists’ Association of Nigeria, and founder of a company dealing in traditional herbal medicines, Oko-Oloyun Worldwide, Alhaji Fatai Yusuf, fondly called ‘Oko Oloyun’ is dead.
He was said to have been shot dead at about 4:30p.m at Igboora, the headquarters of Ibarapa Central Local Government Area of Oyo State in his car on his way to Iseyin.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the murder of Yusuf, who is also the founder of De-Fayus International, and has launched a manhunt for his killers.
Traditional herbal products from his companies include Yoyo Bitters and Fijk Flusher.
$1.1bn Malabu Scam: Adoke, Others Plead Not Guilty [SUN]
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Gwagwalada, Abuja, on Thursday ordered the remand of a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), and two of his co-defendants in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over their alleged involvement in the Malabu Oil scam.
Justice Idris Kutigi, made the remand order after all the defendants entered a plea of not guilty to the 42- count charges preferred against them by the EFCC.
The judge further adjourned the trial to Monday when the separate bail applications filed by the defendants would be heard.
Although, Justice Kutigi, had initially indicated intention to order the remand of the defendants in prison, he later changed his mind and asked EFCC to take keep them in their custody.
Govt ‘Blows’ N1.7tr On Power Sector In Three Years, Says El-Rufai [NATION]
- 80m Nigerians lack electricity
The power sector has broken down completely, the government declared on Thursday after its activities were reviewed by the National Economic Council (NEC)
The government said there is no result to show for the N1.7 trillion financial support it gave to the sector in the last three years.
It added that Nigerians must now be involved in finding solutions to the ‘broken’ sector.
Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai made the government’s position known at the end of NEC’s January meeting at the State House in Abuja.
E-Rufai, who is the Chairman of a committee set up by NEC to harmonise the Power Sector Reform, told reporters that the government was desirous of ending the challenges hindering the sector.
Lassa Fever Death Toll Rises To 38 In 11 States [NATION]
The death toll in the Lassa Fever outbreak across the country hits 38 last night as more cases were breaking out.
The cases in Edo, Borno and Enugu where deaths were announced, took the number of affected states to 11.
The other states battling the fever are: Ondo, Ebonyi, Taraba, Plateau, Kano, Delta, Bauchi and Ogun as announced by the Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC).
But the Ogun State government has denied the outbreak of the fever in its territory.
Power Sector Has Collapsed, Says National Economic Council [LEADERSHIP]
The National Economic Council (NEC), which comprises of top officials of the federal and the 36 states of the federation, yesterday posted a damning verdict on Nigeria’s power sector.
In no mistaken words, NEC, which met in Abuja, declared that the country’s entire power sector had collapsed and called for steps to revive it.
The NEC meeting, which is overseen by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, as the chairman, was attended by state governors, who are automatic members alongside some ministers.
AMOTEKUN: FG, South West Govs To Work Out Legal Framework [LEADERSHIP]
The federal government and governors of the South West states have reached a truce on the raging controversy over the latter’s establishment of the Western Nigeria Security Organisation code named “Amotekun.”
After a meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, which was attended by the affected governors, the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) and the inspector-general of police (IGP), Adamu Mohammed, the parties agreed to come up with a legal framework for the outfit in line with the community policing of the federal government
Lassa Fever: NCDC Confirms 103 Cases, 24 Deaths In 9 States [LEADERSHIP]
As Lassa fever outbreak persists in the country, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 103 cases and 24 deaths, out of 398 suspected cases from 9 states and 32 local government areas (LGAs).
The states are Ondo, Edo, Delta, Ebonyi, Ogun, Taraba, Plateau, Abia and Bauchi and 89 per cent of all confirmed cases are from Edo (38%), Ondo (38%) and Ebonyi (11%) states.