Today's National Newspaper Headlines/News - 22/5/2015

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PUNCH

***Corruption: Buhari May Discard AGF’s Guidelines For EFCC

There are indications that the incoming Muhammadu Buhari presidency may discard the regulations drawn for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), The Punch has learnt.

The regulation, a subsidiary legislation derived from provisions of section 43 of the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004, is believed to be hampering the independence of the anti-graft agency in prosecuting high profile corruption cases.

A senior lawyer, who is familiar with the incoming administration’s anti-corruption strategy, disclosed to Punch correspondent that the regulation drawn by Adoke would be dropped or reviewed.

According to the source, the independence of the EFCC as the Buhari government will desire in its bid to deliver on its promise to fight corruption, cannot be guaranteed under such regulation.

Section 10 of the regulation mandates the EFCC to report the outcome of its investigations on “serious or complex” cases to the AGF before commencing prosecution.

What constitutes a “serious or complex” case, according to Adoke, includes having a “significant international dimension,” involves money or assets worth N50m, or is likely to be of widespread public concern, among others.

“The incoming government will ensure that there is no interference with the investigation and prosecution by the EFCC. So, parts of Adoke’s regulation will be reviewed if not completely discarded,” the source said.

***Oyinlola’s Lawyer Loses Practising Licence Over Election Case

The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee has expelled a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Kunle Kalejaye, from further practising as a lawyer.

The LPDC disbarred Kalejaye after finding him guilty of professional misconduct. A five-man panel of the LPDC, led by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, conducted the investigation.

The LPDC found Kalejaye guilty of misconduct while representing the Peoples Democratic Party and its then candidate, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, at the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, where Oyinlola’s victory in the 2007 poll was being challenged by the then candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.

Kalejaye was said to have engaged in a “confidential, private and confidential telephone conversation” with the Chairman of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Thomas Naron, without the knowledge of the other party.

He allegedly engaged in the unprofessional act between March and June 2008 and the Justice Naron with whom he committed the misconduct had since February 20, 2013 been compulsorily retired by the National Judicial Council.

***Jonathan’s Acceptance Of Defeat Averted Crisis, Says Buhari

The President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan, for conceding defeat at the March 28 presidential election.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Buhari gave the commendation in Abuja on Thursday when he received Nigerien President Issoufou Mahamadouon Thursday. He said Jonathan’s action turned around Nigeria’s nervous political process.

He said, “The Nigerien president purposely came to congratulate me on my victory and President Goodluck Jonathan for the maturity and statesmanship that he exhibited by accepting that he had lost the election.

“His (Jonathan’s) action actually doused tensions and averted crisis in Nigeria.

“Not only Africa but the world has commended the President for that because if he had disputed the election, there would have been crisis in the country.

***Unpaid Salaries: Strike Imminent In 18 States

There are strong indications that workers in 18 states may start an indefinite strike on Monday over unpaid salaries.

The General Secretary of the NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, in a telephone interview with Punch correspondent on Thursday in Abuja, said that the congress had sent its task force team to various geo-political zones of the country.

According to him, the strike has started in Plateau State, adding that a similar exercise will begin in Cross River State and others on Monday.

The National Administrative Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress had, on March 19, 2015, set up a task force to pursue payment of salary arrears owed workers by some state governments.

The report of the task force, which was exclusively obtained by Punch correspondent, showed that 19 states are owing salaries and pensions.

Ozo-Eson disclosed that the NLC had sent its task forces to the affected states and directed those who were being owed to begin strike.

He said, “The various Task Forces are working. Plateau is on strike, Cross Rivers is going on Monday; the various task forces are working.

The states owing salaries or pensions are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, and Kogi.

Others are Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers and Zamfara states.

*National Assembly to abandon PIB

*We won’t resign, PDP NWC members vow

*Buhari receives transition committee’s report without FG’s input

*Gunmen abduct Rep-elect’s mother in Benue

*Crisis: Fayose imposes curfew on Ekiti

*I’ll support Mrs. Buhari, says Patience Jonathan

*Senate overrules Sultan, clears new Hajj commission members

*Senate Presidency: Yoruba youths rally support for Saraki

*APC can solve Nigeria’s economic woes – Tinubu

*Businesses owned by churches must pay tax – Anglican primate

*Lagos residents groan as fuel scarcity worsens

*AIB blames pilots, others for four Nigerian plane crashes

*Igbo politicians can’t dictate to Buhari – Okechukwu

*Fayose faults Yari’s emergence as NGF chairman

*Spurs release Adebayor on compassionate leave

*Alfa runs mad, dies after drinking herbal mixture

*Traders flee Lagos market as gunmen kill two

*Osun worker attempts suicide over unpaid salary

VANGUARD

*Measured Anti-Corruption Fights

Sanusi’s misreading of forensic report

*Durban : Beyond xenophobia, a city of delights

*APA drags Okorocha to tribunal, claims votes cast outnumbered PVCs collected

*Speakership: Tinubu, Lagos lawmakers-elect in ding-dong over Ikuforiji’s replacement

*Success of 2015 polls proved doomsday prophets wrong — Jega

*Final year student on excursion slumps, dies

*Ejigbo market torture victim demands justice

*Nigeria records 12,000 cases of VVF annually

*Orji is leaving behind happier people in Abia — Ntoh Abia Finance Commissioner

*With Buhari, God has visited Nigeria — Okafor, Rep-elect

THIS DAY

*APC Transition Committee Submits Report, Laments FG's Poor Cooperation

*Senate Presidency: APC Leadership Meets Senators Friday

*Ejigbo Pepper Attack: Victim Recounts Ordeal in Court

*Lawyers' Disciplinary Committee Disbars Kalejaiye, SAN

*Senate Probes Protracted Fuel Scarcity

*Nigeria Would Have Been in Crisis if

Jonathan Did Not Concede Defeat, Says Buhari

*Military Court Acquits Commander Accused of Failing to Stop Boko Haram

*N19.2bn Alleged Fraud: Sylva’s Case Adjourned Till May 27

*Jonathan Mourns Robinson

*Hausa/Drivers Crisis: Fayose Imposes Dusk-to-Dawn Curfew in Ekiti

*May 29: IGP Orders Increased Security at Strategic Places

THE NATION

*Merit will determine Assembly leaders, says Tinubu

*Two children die of hunger in Ibadan

*Prostate cancer breakthrough as scientists crack genetic code behind tumours

*PDP National Working Committee members won’t resign, says Secondus

*Nigeria’s human development index worse than ever, says El-Rufai

*IPMAN seeks to build refinery

*APC senators-elect for retreat

*South Africa’s minister warns mercenaries in Nigeria

*Police set to promote 36,599 officers

*Jega rates 2015 polls better than 2011

*Ganduje to APC deputy governors: be loyal to your bosses

*‘Buhari must overhaul security agencies’

*Northern youths back Femi Gbajabiamila for Speaker

*Mayhem: Fayose imposes dusk-to-dawn curfew