2016-10-28

One theme common in the major Nigerian newspapers today is the support the former EFCC chairman has shown for President Buhari’s war on corruption.

Some newspapers are also focused on the bid of the National assembly to seize the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), from the president.



The Guardian

According to Guardian, the National Assembly yesterday, October 27, transferred the power of the president to control the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to itself.

At the conclusion of work on the bill to amend the CCB and CCT law, the legislature successfully altered Section 18 (2) to enable it to confer additional powers on the CCB instead of the president.

The bill which was passed yesterday stopped the president from enjoying the powers of exempting public officers from investigation and trial and gave such powers to the National Assembly. Section 18 (1) of the existing Act reads:

“The president may by order exempt any cadre of public officers from the provisions of this Act if it appears to him that their position in the public service is below the rank which he considers appropriate for the application of those provisions.”

Section 18 (2) of the existing Act provides that: “The president may by order confer on the bureau such additional powers as may appear to him to be necessary to enable it to discharge more effectively the functions conferred upon it under this Act.”

The bill was initiated and first passed by the House of Representatives which transmitted it to the Senate for concurrence in May 2016.

READ ALSO: Customs under fire as Military slam Jonathan – Newspaper Review



Daily Sun

According to Daily Sun, former chairman of EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has said there is nothing wrong with the way and manner the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is prosecuting the fight against corruption.

He said: “However, even if we disagree with the method, we have to appreciate the fact that what is being done is needed. The Judiciary should understand this and cooperate fully. We have to have this all-out war against corruption without sparing any sacred cow.”

“On the opinion in certain quarters that the present administration lacked economic policy, he insisted that no policy could work in a confused environment.

“We have to do first things first; in a confused environment, in a free for all environment, things are terrible; everybody is taking advantage of wherever he finds himself, it could mean we will find it difficult to even come up with any policy that works.

“I am excited with the fact that the president understood that. He has a very powerful anti-corruption team, he is able to articulate very well his war against Boko Haram, and keep very decisive decision and laying the foundation for the economic work.”



Vanguard

According to Vanguard, investigations revealed that as at Thursday, October 27,  Emirates Airline had not made any airlifting arrangement of Abuja passengers with Arik Air.

Chief commercial officer of Arik Air, Mr Suraj Sundaram said that Arik had not received any official request from Emirates to help airlift its Abuja passengers after the airline close its Abuja office.

He added that the country manager of Emirates however approached him “to see how we could assist their passengers.”

According to Sundaram: “We have not received any such request from Emirates for yesterday’s flight. Their country manager here has however approached us to see how we could assist their passengers since they have decided to suspend their Abuja service. You should reach out to their country manager here to get all the facts.”

Punch

According to Punch, the Senate on Thursday, October 27, passed a bill to outlaw sexual advances from lecturers to students of tertiary institutions in the country.

Any lecturer found guilty to have broken the law, when passed, will risk a maximum five-year jail term or N5m fine or both.

The Senate also abolished the “consent” defense claim by sexual assault and rape suspects, as contained in the criminal and penal codes.

The bill provides that: “An educator shall be guilty of committing an offence of sexual harassment against a student, if he or she has sexual intercourse with a student who is less than 18 years of age, an imbecile or of generally low mental capacity or blind or deaf or otherwise physically challenged.”

It also categorizes it as an offence when such a person “has sexual intercourse with a student or demands for sex from a student or a prospective student as a condition to giving a grade or the granting of honours and scholarships, or the payment of stipend, allowance or other benefits, privileges or considerations.”

The bill further states: “An educator shall be guilty of committing an offence of sexual harassment against a student if he or she solicits sex from or makes sexual advances towards a student when the sexual solicitation or sexual advances result in an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for the student.

“Or directs or induces another person to commit any act of sexual harassment under this bill, or cooperates in the commission of sexual harassment by another person without which it would not have been committed; grabs or hugs or rubs or strokes or touches or pinches the breasts or hair or lips or buttocks or any other sensual parts of the body of a student.”

“Or displays, gives or sends by hand or courier or electronic (means) or any other means, naked or sexually explicit pictures or videos or sex related objects to a student.

“Or whistles or winks at a student or scream or exclaims or jokes or makes sexually complimentary or uncomplimentary remarks about a student’s physique.”

READ ALSO: Arms probe: Jonathan under attack (Newspaper review)

The Nation

According to the Nation, a gory sight confronted Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Delta Safe (ODS) troops at four shrines deep inside the creeks of Akpabuyo and Bakassi local government areas, Cross River state.

The troops found 25 human skulls at various decomposing stages. The discovery, it was gathered, raised concerns that the militants were engaged in human sacrifice.

The shrines, which were discovered at Ikot Ene Idam. Abakpa and Ikang creeks, belonged to a notorious militant group, the Bakassi Strike Force (BSF).

The troops, who raided the area following a tip-off, also found other human body parts, including a complete skeleton.

Confirming the development, the deputy coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC), Lt.-Com. Thomas Otuji, said the operation was conducted by ODS’ Sector 4.

He said: “During the cordon and search operations, the troops discovered 25 human skulls in various stages of decomposition, a complete human skeleton and several other human body parts.

“The shrines were destroyed as troops continued to search for the perpetrators of these heinous acts against humanity. With the clearance of these shrines, the Bakassi Strike Force has effectively been smoked out from the areas it used to hold sway.

“It should be noted that the senseless killing of humans for ritual purposes is sacrilegious and will not be tolerated in any form within the Joint Operation Area.”

This Day

According to This Day, the federal government under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari plans a $10 billion infrastructure development fund for the oil-rich but restive Niger Delta, the minister of state for petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, said yesterday, October 27, in Abuja.

He said: “We are launching $10 billion infrastructural rebirth investment programmes in the Niger Delta region. This is not money that is going to come strictly from the federal government.

“It is going to come from investors, individuals who are ready to do private sector infrastructure, obviously states and federal governments as the case may be and international organisations who have shown interest to help,” he said at the unveiling of the Roadmap for the Petroleum Industry tagged “7 Big Wins to Grow Nigeria’s Oil and Gas.”

The post Shocking! 25 human skulls found, Ribadu backs Buhari – Review appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read Naij.com 24/7.

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