Nigeria on Friday recorded 575 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the country’s total caseload to 31,323
1. If you don’t allow WAEC exams, Nigerians will cross into other countries to write it, Atiku tells FG
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said on Friday the Federal Government’s decision to cancel the West African Examination Council (WAEC) examination in Nigeria this year was not in the nation’s best interest.
He said in a statement that the federal government should have consulted Nigerians, particularly stakeholders in the education sector before taking the decision.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had said on Wednesday that all federal schools across the country would remain closed until it was safe to reopen them.
2. Nigeria’s debt hits N28.63 trillion —NBS
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Friday the total public debt portfolio of the Federal and State governments stood at N28.63 trillion as at March 31.
The NBS stated this in its Nigerian domestic and foreign debt report released in Abuja.
The bureau said further disaggregation of Nigeria’s total public debt showed that N9.99 trillion which represented 34.89 percent was external.
It added that the domestic debt was N18.64 trillion which represented 65.11 percent of the total debt.
3. Magu’s arrest, suspension has vindicated 8th Senate —Shehu Sani
A former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, said on Friday the current travails of the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, had vindicated members of the 8th Senate who refused to confirm him as substantive chairman of the commission.
Senate had on December 15, 2016, rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for confirmation of Magu as the EFCC helmsman.
The Bukola Saraki-led Senate cited unfavourable security report for its refusal to approve Magu’s nomination for the commission’s plum job and asked President Buhari to immediately replace him.
In a statement he personally signed, the former federal lawmaker hailed President Buhari for taking the bold step to suspend the anti-graft czar and directed his interrogation for alleged corruption and insubordination.
According to him, the EFCC under Magu was nothing but a private army for persecution and witch-hunting.
He also alleged that the suspended EFCC chief was a dubious and fake anti-graft czar who was sustained by corrupt politicians within the ruling elite.
4. MAGU: EFCC in alleged cover-up as unknown persons burgle NFIU office, destroy computers
Some unknown persons on Friday morning broke into the new office of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and destroyed computers containing certain vital and sensitive documents that could help in the ongoing investigation of the commission’s suspended chairman, Ibrahim Magu, THISDAY reports.
The move is suspected to be the latest attempt by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to cover up some facts about the commission’s operations following the arrest and detention of Magu who is being questioned for alleged corruption by a presidential panel headed by a former president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami.
The newspaper reports that some officials of NFIU appeared before the presidential panel on Thursday to help with the investigation of Magu, who has been in detention since Monday.
The agency had earlier investigated the allegation of financial malfeasance against the EFCC chairman.
The NFIU officials, who were without the documents required by the panel to aid the investigation, advised the team to visit their office Friday morning to sight the documents.
However, before the panel members got to the NFIU office on Friday morning, some unknown persons had broken into the office, went straight to the room where the documents were stored in the computers and destroyed them all
5. Please, release me on bail, Magu begs IGP
Suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has begged the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu to release him on bail.
Magu has not been released since he was arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS, on Monday.
He is being investigated over corruption allegations by a special presidential panel.
Magu is said to have requested to be granted bail through a letter sent on his behalf by one of his lawyers, Mr Oluwatosin Ojaomo, on Friday.
6. Kogi State Govt begins demolition of illegal structures in Lokoja
The Kogi state bureau of land and urban development has commenced demolition of illegal structures in Lokoja the state capital, warning residents to ensure that they seek approval from town planning authorities before embarking on any form of building construction.
The Director General of the Bureau Nasiru Ochi who gave the warning in Lokoja while supervising the demolition of illegal structures at Gadumu area in Lokoja said the structures were built on water pipes, under high tension electric wires and access roads, which contravened the state’s town planning laws.
7. Force Headquarters withdraws all police personnel in EFCC
The Nigerian Police Force has withdrawn its officers and men deployed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC with immediate effect.
This is contained in a communication emanating from the Office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG Mobile Police at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
8. Coronavirus: FG donates grains to 64,613 households in Edo
The Federal Government has donated assorted grains as palliatives to no fewer than 64, 613 households in Edo, to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
Muhammed said that the food items allocated to the state consisted of 323.29 tonnes of maize, an equivalent of 11 truck loads and 156.51 tonnes of garri, totalling six truck loads respectively.
9. Osinbajo’s daughter Kiki denies owning N800m property in Abuja
Kiki says she doesn't believe that a grown man will sit in his home and lie about her.
Kiki Osinbajo, Vice President's daughter has dismissed the claim that she owns a property worth N800m in Abuja, saying it is completely unbelievable.
Kiki, who runs a fashion retail outfit in the Federal Capital Territory, debunked the claim in an Instagram post on Friday, July 10, 2020
10. Buhari’s Govt Best Ever In Corruption Fight – Osinaga
member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Segun Osinaga has reacted to the probe of the embattled boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of corrupt practices.
Osinaga, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, said President Muhammadu Buhari’s government is the best administration in fighting corruption in Nigeria’s history.
“This government has done tremendously well in fighting corruption; the pieces of evidence are there. We have seen how much money (has been recovered).
“No government in the history of Nigeria has done more in fighting corruption than this government. Don’t forget that. And of course, things can be done better.
11. Buhari’s Govt Is The Most Corrupt In Nigeria’s History – Ononuju
A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Katch Ononuju has reacted to the probe of the embattled boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu over corruption allegations.
Speaking on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ononuju alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is the most corrupt in Nigeria’s history.
According to him, the anti-graft agency was used as a recruitment agency for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after sweeping to power in 2015.
“No government in Nigeria’s history has ever shown itself to be this massively corrupt. Nobody has ever done this quantum of corruption,” he said.
Speaking further, he accused the suspended EFCC boss of using who he described as ‘boys’ to intimidate people under the pretext of prosecuting corrupt individuals.
“Don’t forget, Mr Magu was used for recruitment. They would come to you and if you are guilty, the Magu boys will go and perform heavy shake-down. The next day you travel to your village, come back with a card, you are in APC and you are free,” he said.
On the travails of Magu, the PDP member explained that the suspended EFCC czar began to deal with the system upon realizing that he was being used by the ruling party
“A person like Mr Magu should have gone through periodic reviews, checks, and balances. In that way, you could check things. So those are missing,” he said
