Nation
EFCC, ICPC Fault Proposed Amendments To ACJA
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have rejected proposal to submit case file of a matter to the Attorney-General of the Federation and exposing whistle blower.
The Senate, in the ongoing amendment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), had proposed that a case file must be submitted to the Attorney-General of the Federation by the agencies.
But, Chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, kicked against the provision in the bill while appearing before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters chaired by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele during public hearing on the bill to amend the Act and six other bills.
Bawa argued that the provision would constitute undue interference by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation who is a political appointee, in the work of the law enforcement agencies.
The EFCC in memorandum presented said, “This will constitute undue interference by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation who is also the Minister of Justice and a political appointee, in the work of the law enforcement agencies”.
ICPC toed the EFCC line by rejecting the proposed amendment bill.
According to the representative of ICPC chairman, Prof. BolajiOwosanoye, the agency supported all the positions of the EFCC in the amendment of the bill.
The two anti-graft agencies also kicked against provision for the freezing of account under investigation for period of 14 days by ex parte order, saying the section is unnecessary as it would impede the activities of the investigation agencies and freezing of account containing proceed of crime.
In his opening remark, Hon. Bamidele said the bill sought to establish Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Council as obtainable in other jurisdictions, similar to the Bureau of Justice in the United States of America and the London Criminal Justice Board.
According to him, “The Bill also seeks to establish the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Council as obtainable in other jurisdictions, similar to the Bureau of Justice in the United States of America and the London Criminal Justice Board.
“This is with a view to delivering a fair, efficient and effective criminal justice service in Nigeria and to improve outcomes, through active partnership”.
The House Chairman, however, assured that the entire memorandum submitted by the various stakeholders would be look at critically before submitting the report to the Senate.
The Tide reports that the bill was sponsored by Senator Orji Kalu in December 2021 and forwarded to Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.
Nation
Council Boss Impeached 48 Hours To LG Polls In Katsina
The Chairman of Malumfashi Local Government Council of Katsina State, Maharazu Dayi, has been impeached.
Maharazu Dayi was impeached yesterday by 11 out of 12 councillors, barely two days before the local government elections in the State.
The councillors reportedly took action following allegations of misconduct and poor governance against the chairman after a dispute over the distribution of the council’s Paris Club funds.
The development has sent shock waves across the local government area, especially as the impeached chairman is among those who failed to secure the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest in the forthcoming election.
Nation
Association Tasks Fubara On Rumuwoji Market Phase Three
The Rumuwoji Ultra Modern Market Traders Association, Mile 1, Port Harcourt, has urged the state government to utilise the available spaces within the area to build phase 3 of the Rumuwoji Market in order to solve the ever increasing needs of traders.
The association, which said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt, also described as a welcomed development the decision by the state Governor to open the phase 2 of the market for business.
According to the association, “We consider it as an answer to the various cries of the people, because he is a man on a mission who is out to place the interest of Rivers people first. It is a dream come true for the first time for the market to be dully allocated and open for business”
Chairman of the association, Hon Godspower Wobo, who briefed the press shortly after a meeting of the association in Port Harcourt, also urged the public to disregard the activities of some persons whose stock in trade is to cause disaffection in the market.
He said the attention of the association was drawn to the activities of some strange fellows who went about misforming the people about situation in the market, stressing that apart from his association, no other group exists in the market except subdiary unions.
Wobo also tasked the reallocation committee to tread with caution so as to avoid being deceived by any group.
According to him, time has come for the state government to engage in robust discussion with aggrieved shop owners who went to court and those who paid monies to the state coffers and issued with allocation certificates for the overall interest of peace.
He also advised the public to deal directly with his association, stressing that the meeting was to review activities for the last year as well as unveil their new Constitution.
Also speaking, former Chairman of the association, Deacon Kenneth Eze urged the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to open the phase 2 of the market, as it is long overdue.
Eze who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the association also urged the public to do business with only the Rumuwoji Ultra Modern Market Traders Association as it is the only union recognised by the traders.
Nation
AfDB President Denies 2027 Presidential Ambition
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina, has debunked reports linking him with the race for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027.
Reacting to the report on his X handle yesterday, following a recent interview with Arise TV, the AfDB boss said his quotes were misrepresented and misinterpreted in several Nigerian media reports.
However, the AfDB president denied the media reports, stating that he never said that he wanted to contest for President.
“A segment of my recent interview on @Arise TV has been both misinterpreted and misrepresented in several Nigerian media outlets. What I said was, “I will be available to serve in any capacity, globally, in Africa, anywhere, including my own country.”
“A listen to the substantive and robust interview, which is available online, will show this to be the case. For clarity and for the record, I did not say that I am running for the office of President of Nigeria,” Adesina said.
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