Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has hosted the High Commissioner of the Great Britain, Ms. Catriona Laing on Thursday. The meeting which lasted for almost an hour discussed bilateral issues relating to Asset Recovery, Anti-corruption crusade, amendment of the Electoral Act, the Audit Bill, Petroleum Industry Bill, Twitter ban and counter terrorism approaches. Malami said the fundamental interest and objective of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was to leverage on the bill to enhance value in terms of creating amiable environment for investment, protecting the public interest for the maximum benefit of the…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
The Senate has passed the long-awaited Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). This followed approval of recommendations of the report of the Senate Joint Committee on Petroleum, (Downstream,) Petroleum (Upstream) and Gas at plenary on Thursday. Presenting the report, Chairman of the committee, Sen. Mohammmed Sabo said the bill consisted of five distinct and logically connected chapters. Sabo listed the chapters to include governance and institutions, administration, host communities development, petroleum industry fiscal framework and miscellaneous provisions, comprising 319 clauses and eight schedules. He said the committee carried out its assignment effectively and conducted a public hearing to collate inputs from critical…
A Kaduna High Court on Thursday, fixed July 28 for ruling in the No-case-submission filed by the leader of the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat. Justice Gideon Kurada fixed the date after the prosecution and counsel to the defendants, addressed the court on the no case submission prayer. Mr Femi Falana, SAN, and lead counsel to El-Zakzaky, who spoke to reporters shortly after the adjournment, prayed the Court to rule in favor of his clients. “The prosecution and the defence addressed the court on the the no-case-submission prayer. “We did indicate last time…
A businessman, Tunde Akeem, 35, was on Thursday, remanded by an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defiling a 13-year-old girl. The Magistrate, Mrs Ejiro Kubeinje who did not take the defendant’s plea, ordered that he be remanded in Kirikri Correctional Centre. Kuneinje, however, directed the police to send the case file to the state Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice. She adjourned the case till Sept. 29, for DPP’s advice. The defendant, who resides at Alakuko Lagos, is being tried for defilement. The Prosecution Counsel, ASP Bisi Ogunleye told the court that the defendant committed the offence on June…
The World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund, IMF, World Health Organisation, WHO, and World Trade Organisation, WTO, have expressed deep concern about the limited COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and support for deliveries available to developing countries. This is according to a joint statement issued on Thursday by the Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics for Developing Countries at its first meeting in Washington. The task force is headed by David Malpass of the World Bank, Kristalina Georgieva of the International Monetary Fund, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus of World Health Organisation and Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of the World Trade Organisation…
Sokoto state government under its Committee on Prerogative of Mercy on Wednesday, freed 32 inmates, with different degree of offences from the state correctional centre. The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state, Suleiman Usman (SAN), announced the pardon at the Sokoto Central Correctional Centre on behalf of the Governor, Aminu Tambuwal. According to Usman, “the pardon was at the instance of the state governor, who is empowered executive powers vested on him by Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, to offer mercy to inmates.” He said the gesture, while aimed at enabling the ex-prisoners to…
The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) on Wednesday announced a joint financing package of 600 million euros for Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd. to expand local vaccine manufacturing capacity. A statement by the U.S. State Department Spokesperson, Ned Price, said DFC is working together with DEG of Germany, Proparco of France and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), an affiliate of the World Bank, to provide financing support. It said the package would help increase capacity to support Aspen’s efforts to produce COVID-19 vaccines with Stringent Regulatory Authorization (SRA) and/or World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing, including the Johnson &…
The Defence Headquarters says the troops of Operation AWATSE, have arrested a suspected member of Islamic States West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Sango Otta area of Ogun. The Acting Director, Defence Media Operation, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on operations of the armed forces between June 18 and June 30, on Thursday in Abuja. Onyeuko said the arrest of Ibrahim Musa was made during standing patrols and raid operations at strategic areas in the Majidun area. ”The troops sustained operational activities to forestall activities of vandals on NNPC pipelines at Gaun, Akute, Wawa I and II and Mabgero…
The Kano State Road and Traffic Agency (KAROTA), has increased tricycle licence permits from N8,000 to N100,000. The Managing Director of the Agency, Baffa Dan’agundi, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Kano. “We have to check the operations of these operators for security reasons. The tracker is free while the permit is not. “If you must operate a tricycle, you have to register for a permit,” he said. The agency has registered 60,000 for permits. Dan’agundi said that the agency will enforce the payment of N100 daily through Point Of Sale (POS) distributed by the Kano State Internal Revenue Service…
Two officer cadets, Ahmad Lawal and Anthony Oranu, on Thursday dragged the Nigerian Defence Academy ( NDA), before the National Industrial Court, Abuja, challenging their alleged unlawful withdrawal from the Academy. The other co-defendants in the suit are the Commandant and Council of NDA, and Chief of Defence Staff. The claimants’ counsel, P.A Attah told the court that the matter was slated for mention. The counsel further informed the court that the defendants were served the necessary process. The judge, Justice Olufunke Anuwe on her part confirmed from court’s record that defence had been served and that they had in turn…