Federal Ministry of Justice
DAILY NEWSPAPERS REVIEW FRIDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2017
We’ve not been queried by AGF – CBN - Daily Trust pg.7, Nation pg.1
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said the Attorney General of the
Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), did not query the
apex bank over infractions in forex allocations. CBN was reacting to a report
that its governor, Godwin Emefiele, was queried by the AGF over several
petitions bordering on corruption in forex deals and “questionable exchange
rate policy.”
Diezani loses N34bn to FG - Daily Trust pg.1, Nation pg.1, Sun pg.6,
Punch pg.38
A federal judge in Lagos yesterday ruled the sum of $153 million (N34
billion) linked to a former Petroleum Minister Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke
be forfeited to the Federal Government. Justice Muslim Sule Hassan of
Federal High Court ruled in favour of the anti-graft agency, the EFCC, which
last month filed a forfeiture request.
N388.3b refund probe sets governors against Magu - Nation pg. 1, Daily
Trust pg.12, Sun pg.9, Punch pg.7, ThisDay pg1
Governors have joined the battle to stop Ibrahim Magu from becoming
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman. Some of them
are ganging up with some senators who are opposed to Magu’s renomination,
The Nation learnt yesterday.
Nigeria’s debt profile now N17.3tr – DMO - Daily Trust pg.3, Nation pg.12,
Sun pg.6
The Debt Management Office (DMO) yesterday said the country’s total public
debt stock comprising external and domestic borrowing of the Federal
Government, 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is now
$57.39billion equivalent to N17.36 trillion. The Director-General of the DMO,
Dr. Abraham Nwankwo released the figure when he appeared before the Senate
Committee on Local and Foreign Debt, chaired by Senator Shehu Sani (APC,
Kaduna) for budget defence. He said the figure was for December 31st 2016.
Reps reject ministry’s N6.97bn budget - Daily Trust pg.7, Nation pg.11,
Sun pg.13
A House of Representatives committee yesterday turned down the N6.97
billion 2017 budget proposal for the ministry of communications for lack of
details. The committee on communications chaired by Rep Saheed Fijabi (APC,
Oyo) said during budget defence that it would only consider the proposal after
a careful assessment of all the projects proposed in the details.
No receipts for N13bn diverted by ex-NAF chief –Witness - Punch pg.12
A former Director of Finance and Accounts of the Nigerian Air Force, Air
Commodore Salisu Yishau (retd.), on Thursday, gave reasons why there were
no documents and receipts for the money allegedly diverted from the
account of NAF by a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Mohammed
Umar (retd.), in 24 months. Yishau, testifying as the first prosecution
witness in Umar’s trial, had told Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High
Court in Abuja on Monday how he allegedly helped the ex-Air Force chief to
divert the sum of N558.2m monthly from NAF’s account between October
2010 and September 2012.
Appeal court decides Makarfi, Sheriff’s fate today - Daily Trust pg.41,
ThisDay pg.52
The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for some
time now may come to an end today as the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt
decides who the authentic national chairman of the party is. Senators
Ahmed Makarfi and Ali Modu Sheriff have tested their legal muscles through
various litigations in many courts in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, with
each getting favourable orders and directives with the attendant effect on
stability in the party.
Court grants Amosun, others time - Nation pg.40
An Ogun State High Court in Abeokuta, the state capital, has granted more
time to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, attorney – general and commissioner for
Works to file their responses to a motion for an Order of Mandamus to
provide information about road projects awarded since May 29, 2011. The
exparte motion was brought before Justice Mobolaji Ojo by M.O. Wawah on
behalf of Arabambi Abayomi (State Chairman, Labour Party), Oginni Olaposi
(State Secretary), Mrs Olufunmilayo Oginni (State Chairman, Unity Party of
Nigeria) and Sabur Aroyewun.
Why allocation to Ekiti was delayed – Ministry - Daily Trust.pg.7, Sun
pg12, Punch pg.11, ThisDay pg.51
The Federal Government has denied withholding statutory allocation due to
Ekiti State or any other state in the country. The Ministry of Finance in
statement yesterday described as incorrect the claim by Ekiti State Governor
Ayodele Fayose that the ministry withheld allocation to the state.
Buhari fit as a fiddle – Dogara - Punch pg.38
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, said on
Thursday that he met President Muhammadu Buhari fit in London. Dogara,
the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, and the Leader of the Senate,
Ahmed Lawan, had paid Buhari a visit in London on Wednesday.
Ozekhome Asks Court to Vacate Order Freezing His Account - ThisDay
pg.51, Sun pgs. 4&5
Human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has asked the Federal
High Court in Lagos to vacate the order freezing his account.
Justice Abdulazeez Anka on February 7, ordered a temporary forfeiture of
N75million found in Ozekhome’s Guaranty Trust Bank account. The order
followed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), which prayed the court to freeze Ozakhome’s account temporarily
on the grounds that the N75 million was suspected to be proceeding of
crime.