Newspaper Review For Tuesday 25th, August

1. Ban Ki-moon Invites Buhari To Meeting on Anti-extrimism in New York

President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted an invitation from the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon to a meeting of world leaders in New York to formulate fresh plan of action against extremism. Femi Adesina, the president’s Adviser on Media and Publicity, in a statement on Monday said that Ban made the request during a closed door meeting with Buhari at the Presidential Villa. It quoted Ban as saying the UN would welcome Buhari’s “input and experience” in finalising plans to introduce a new resolution against extremism at the General Assembly. US President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande are also expected to participate in the meeting billed for September 28.

2. Fashola's Reckless Spending, a Confirmation of Lagos Open Parliament - CACOL

Fashola identifies flouting of law and order as Nigeria’s greatest enemyThe Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, has reacted to a recent media publication of some contracts awarded under the Administration of Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, saying the publication was a confirmation of CACOL’s assertion in its two-volume publication titled “Lagos Open Parliament 1&2”, in which the Coalition raised several issues on Mr Fashola’s reckless spending on frivolous and white-elephant projects while his tenure as governor of Lagos State lasted. It would be recalled that CACOL had on several occasions complained of the reluctance of anti-corruption agencies and LAHA to probe the immediate past government in Lagos state for the regime’s alleged reckless spending on projects that were not fully relevant to the need of Lagosians.

3. Senate Lauds NERC's Pro- People Position

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has been commended for being responsive to the yearnings of the people. In a press statement which was issued on Monday, Senator Dino Melaye, Ad-hoc Committee Chairman on Media and Publicity stressed that the regulatory agency has demonstrated that it is responsible and sensitive to the people it serves. “While describing the steps taken so far by NERC in response to Senate’s resolution on the issue of fixed charges as a pro-people position, Melaye said the commission has shown that it is a responsible regulatory body”, the statement said.

4. DPR Shuts 29 Filling Stations in Benue, Nasarawa Over 'Sharp Practices'

The Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Makurdi field office, has shut 29 additional filling stations in Benue and Nasarawa states for engaging in what they tagged ‘sharp practices.’ This latest closure has brought the total number of filling stations that were shut by the department to 39 outlets in one week. It was gathered that no fewer than five of the outlets that were shut have paid the N100,000 penalties that would allow them open shop, with a warning to sell the right quantity at the right price.

5. Boko Haram: Switzerland Approves $8million For North East

Acting Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Chad and Niger, Dr. David Cavegn who was in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital alongside Mr. pascal Holliger, Political Adviser at the Embassy, has said that, his country has approved the sum of eight million dollars to help the northeast sub-region and neigbouring Chad Republic in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents. Dr. David, while speaking on Monday also said that, the amount would not be the only assistance that Switzerland is looking into, but a commencement of a long time assistance to the northeast sub-region, particularly in the fight against insurgency. He said it was an immediate assistance to the Internally Displaced persons,IDPs. According to him, while the root cause of the insurgency is being looked into in order to have a better understanding of the situation, the Embassy took the opportunity to visit and commiserate with the people and government of Borno state over the unfortunate incidents of Boko Haram attacks.

6. Ikorodu Robbery Suspects Sue Police For #5m for Forcing Them To Confess

The suspected robbers, who allegedly attacked banks in Ikorodu have told the Federal High Court in Lagos that the confessional statements they made to the police were under duress. The defendant’s lawyer, Olusegun Akanbi is, therefore, praying the court to order the police to produce them if they were still alive. He said the suspects “made confessional statements to the members of the press out of duress”. The lawyer maintained that it was unconstitutional for the police to parade criminal suspects and have them grant press interviews under compulsion. ‎

7. Reps Back Buhari Anti-graft War, Express Readiness To Slash Salary

The House of Representatives yesterday endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft measures, even as it expressed the readiness to slash its salaries as its own contribution to reducing the high cost of governance in the country. Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Mohammed Sani Zorro, who disclosed this in Lagos, said all members of the House of Representatives irrespective of party affiliations are on the same page with the President on the change agenda and are ready to give him the necessary legislative backing to actualize the agenda. He asserted that the need to streamline the funding of the House’s activities in line with best practices across the world and Nigeria’s economic fortunes was what led the Reps to set up the Dr Clement Nwankwo Committee.

8. Senate To Probe Lamorde Over Alleged Diversion of #1Trn Corruption Proceeds

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, is expected to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on Wednesday over allegations that he fraudulently diverted over N1tn proceeds from corruption recovered by the anti-graft agency. This followed a petition to the Senate from a certain George Uboh that part of the money said to have been diverted by the EFCC boss included the loot recovered from a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; and ex-Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun.

9. FG Orders Withdrawal of Diplomatic Passports From Unauthorized Persons

The Federal Government has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to withdraw diplomatic passports from unqualified persons holding them. The FG directives was contained in the statement issued Director of Press, Yusuf Isiaka Alhaji, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior. He said: “The attention of the Federal government that some Nigerians who are not entitled to hold diplomatic and official passports are in possession of these documents. “In view of the Federal government determination to protect and promote Nigeria’s integrity in the comity of nations, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Interior has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to retrieve all valid diplomatic and official passports with immediate effect from all persons who are not entitled to hold such documents”.

10. Illegal Fire Arms: DSS Charge Dasuki To Court

The immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) has been charged to court by the Department of State Security Services (DSS), over offenses related to possession of fire arms without license. A statement by the DSS on Monday issued by Tony Opuiyo said after searching Dasuki’s houses on July 16, 2015, its men discovered large cache of arms and ammunition and has subsequently charged him to court. Opuiyo stated that the search was necessitated by credible intelligence which linked him to acts capable of undermining national security.