Read today's newspaper headlines [Tuesday, June 21, 2016]

For today, June 21, 2016

THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER

Forgery: Uncertainty over Saraki, deputy’s arraignment today

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, and others accused of forgery of the Standing Rule of the Senate 2015, are to be arraigned before a Federal Capital Territory High Court on Tuesday (today) barring any last-minute change of plans.

Officials of the Ministry of Justice told one of our correspondents that they had got notice that the arraignment would take place on Tuesday even when reminded that Saraki would be appearing before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for his ongoing trial on the same day. READ MORE

Workers ground finance ministry over unpaid N1.2bn allowances

Civil servants at the Federal Ministry of Finance on Monday shut down the headquarters of the ministry in Abuja over what they described as poor welfare condition since the assumption of office of the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun.

The workers in their hundreds expressed disappointment over the non-payment of the entitlements due to them, adding that except their demands were met, they would not stop the protest.

They vowed to shut down business activities in the ministry for five days if the minister and the Permanent Secretary did not address their plight. READ MORE

Proposed pension, immunity for Saraki, Dogara immoral – Sagay, TUC

The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to disregard any bill from the National Assembly on life pension and immunity for its principal officers.

Also, the Trade Union Congress has strongly condemned the proposed life pension for principal officers of the National Assembly, describing it as ungodly and disgraceful.

In the same vein, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign and Domestic Debts, Senator Shehu Sani, on Monday, opposed the proposed life pension and immunity for principal officers of the National Assembly. READ MORE

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VANGUARD NEWSPAPER

EFCC freezes Gov Fayose’s account

The personal accounts of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and those of some of his associates have been frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The action immediately prompted diverse reactions with a large majority of lawyers and Nigerians contacted affirming the validity of the commission freezing a governor’s account, but only upon the orders of a court.

Governor Fayose, who opened up on the EFCC’s action while speaking at the premises of Zenith Bank, Ado-Ekiti, where he has his personal account, claimed that he got notice of plans by the Presidency to freeze his account some days earlier. READ MORE

N50bn debt: AMCON takes over Jimoh Ibrahim’s firms, freezes bank accounts

The Federal High Court, Lagos Division, yesterday, restrained NICON Investment Limited, Global Fleet Oil and Gas Limited and Mr Jimoh Ibrahim from dealing with any assets or funds belonging to NICON Investment, Global Fleet Oil and other assets.

The order was granted to AMCON as an interim injunction against NICON Investment Limited, Global Fleet Oil & Gas Limited and Mr Jimoh Ibrahim on the application of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

Justice Saliu Saidu, while granting the order on the application of Mr. Yusuf Ali, SAN, counsel to AMCON, restrained NICON Investment. READ MORE

FG suspends tenure policy in civil service

The Federal Government, yesterday, suspended the tenure policy in the Federal Civil Service, which prescribes 60 years of age and 35 years of service for the mandatory retirement.

In a circular to all Ministries Departments and Agencies, MDAs, by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, the government said: “The President has directed the suspension of tenure policy with immediate effect and all concerned are to comply accordingly.” READ MORE

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THE NATION NEWSPAPER

Drama in bank as EFCC freezes Fayose’s account

When a big customer physically visits a bank – in these days of online banking – something must be amiss.

Other customers will make way for him and the staff will be on their toes.

That was the scene yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, when Governor Ayo Fayose defied the rain to visit a bank where he demanded his statement of account.

Told that his account had been temporarily frozen, His Excellency was enraged. He protested and vowed to stay put in the banking hall until the matter was resolved. He was still there at 6pm.

The bankers stood their ground – that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) ordered that the account be frozen. READ MORE

Thousands rally for Ajimobi in Ibadan

Thousands of supporters of Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday stormed Ibadan, the state capital, to show their backing for his administration’s policies.

At a rally, which was attended by a mammoth crowd, the supporters called on workers to dialogue with the government in the ongoing impasse over non-payment of salaries.

This came as the governor waved an olive branch to the striking workers to come for dialogue, stressing that “it is an element of democracy”.

The supporters, numbering about 50,000, were made up of members of about 168 trade associations from the 33 local government areas of the state. READ MORE

Justice Niki Tobi dies at 75

Former Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Niki Tobi, is dead.

It was learnt the former justice died of an undisclosed ailment last Thursday at the National Hospital in Abuja.

The late jurist, who is regarded as a highly brilliant judicial officer, had been ill for sometime.

His body is said to have since been deposited at the Garki Hospital’s mortuary in Abuja.

Sources at the Supreme Court told our reporter that the court was only informed yesterday about the jurist’s death and the movement of his remains to the Garki hospital.

Justice Tobi, who died almost a month to his 76th birthday, was born at Esanma in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, on July 14, 1940. He retired on July 14, 2010 as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. READ MORE

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BUSINESS DAY NEWSPAPER

Naira settles at N282/$ as CBN intervenes with $4.06bn

The Nigerian naira adjusted by 29 percent to N282 against the dollar in the interbank foreign exchange (FX) market yesterday as the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) intervened massively to ease pent up demand for the greenback.

In a confidence building move, the CBN called for one-time bids to clear backlogs and stated that demand…READ MORE

ICT seen to cushion declines in oil revenue

The need for effective policy intervention has been identified by experts at a BusinessDay technology conference as the means to make ICT a viable alternative to oil and reinvigorate Nigeria’s economy at a time of slowed growth and continued volatility.

It was emphasised at the conference that governments particularly at the state level, need to… READ MORE

AMCON takes over Jimoh Ibrahim’s NICON Investment, Global Fleet, other Assets

The Federal High Court Lagos Division has granted interim injunction against NICON Investment Limited, Global Fleet Oil and Gas Limited and Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim on the application of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

Justice Saliu Saidu while granting the order on the application of Yusuf Ali SAN, counsel to AMCON restrained NICON Investment Limited…READ MORE