BAWA’S EFCC FOCUSES ON SCAMMERS, FAILS TO ARRAIGN EX-GOVS, VIPS – PUNCH PG.4
ALMOST 10 months in the saddle as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa-led anti-graft agency has not arraigned any politically exposed persons and other Very Important Persons for money laundering and embezzlement of public funds. While the commission has been going after suspected cyber scammers and other petty criminals, it has yet to take those facing allegations of stealing billions of naira of public funds to court. Bawa was appointed by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), in February after his predecessor, Ibrahim Magu, was removed for alleged corruption.
NDDC FORENSIC AUDIT: UNENDING WAIT FOR A CRUCIAL REPORT – PUNCH PG.9
Whenever and wherever the Niger Delta Development Commission is mentioned, especially among critical stakeholders, two thorny and lingering issues readily come to mind. These are the disturbing silence on the non-inauguration of a substantive board for the commission and recently, indeed even more disturbing is the continued delay to make public the report of the submitted NDDC forensic audit ordered by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.). Membership of the NDDC comprises nine states; Abia, Imo, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Ondo and Cross River, spanning 185 local government council areas. From the outset, the rule guiding the establishment of the NDDC is that the President will compose the board and forward members’ names to the Senate for confirmation.
LAWYERS CONDEMN UNJUST CONVICTIONS, URGE ADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS – PUNCH PG.2
In 1979, when an African-American, Kevin Strickland, was only 18, he was arrested and convicted of killing three people in Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America. Even though no physical evidence linked him to the scene of the crime, an all-white jury convicted him of the crime. Strickland, who maintained his innocence during the trial and afterwards was sent away for nearly two-thirds of his life based solely on the testimony of one woman, who later recanted her testimony on her death bed. She stated that she was pressured by the investigating police officers to pick him.
EL-ZAKZAKY, WIFE SUFFER 11 AILMENTS, NEED PASSPORTS – FAMILY DOCTOR – PUNCH PG.4
The detained leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky; and his wife, Malama Zeenah, are down with 11 ailments each and cannot travel overseas for treatment as their passports have been seized, the family’s physician, Dr Abubakar Yahaya, has said. Yahaya also faulted the claims by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), that the government did not seize El-Zakzaky and his wife’s passports and that there was no fresh evidence showing that the couple were suffering from any health challenges.
DSS STARVING NNAMDI KANU IN DETENTION – IPOB ALLEGES – NATION PG.6
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has alleged continued maltreatment and humiliation of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), Abuja. The group, in a statement by the Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, also alleged continued confinement of its leader to a solitary cell under harsh conditions since his rendition to Nigeria.It insisted that Kanu should be sent to Kuje Prison pending his court dates, warning that nothing should happen to him in detention.
TRAFFICKERS USING SURROGACY, ORPHANAGES TO LURE VICTIMS – NAPTIP – NATION PG.36
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has revealed that traffickers now lure victims under the guise of surrogacy and orphanages among others. It said that traffickers are aware of trends in the society and take advantage of such trends to perpetrate their acts. NAPTIP said the criminals are getting more confident and will do anything to protect their actions and ill-gotten wealth, which is why the agency is pushing for officers to be allowed to carry arms to protect themselves and victims.
