Friday New Titbits.

Good morning,the News is coming in late because it is running around in a red satin dress......So Here are 10 things you need to know this Friday morning:

-  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Thursday, dragged a former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi and seven others , including Captain Eziekiel Agaba, Executive Director, and their two companies before Justice Salihu Sa’idu to the Federal High Court Lagos on a 30- count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraudulent conversion of funds and Money Laundering. Also arraigned are Ekene Nwakuche, Felix Bob-Nabena, Captain Warredi Enisuoh, Governor Amechee Juan, Ugo Frederick, Timi Alari, Alkenzo Limited and Penniel Engineering Services Limited. The accused were remanded in Ikoyi prison pending commencement of trial.

- Report says February 15, 2016 has been fixed as the date the Supreme Court would pass its judgement on the appeal filed by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki where he is challenging his continued trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

- Protests have continued to greet the choice of Yahaya Belo as APC candidate for the Saturday’s supplementary election in Kogi State. Hundreds of women clad in black clothes, Thursday besieged the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) office in Lokoja, saying the choice of Belo was unacceptable.

- Latest images from the Nigerian army have shown the discovery of Boko Haram tunnel and the subsequent rescue of those held by the insurgents, including women and children. The Army equally promised to coordinate their operations to ensure the insurgents do not escape back to towns.

- No fewer than four persons have been confirmed killed following attack by gunmen on Tangaran village in Anka local government area of Zamfara state on Tuesday night, the police have said. The command Public Relations Officer, DSP Sanusi Amiru, confirmed the incident on Thursday in Gusau while briefing newsmen.

- Despite protests at some quarters over this Saturday’s Kogi supplementary election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has distributed sensitive materials for the election that will hold in 91 polling units in the state. The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Halilu Pai, who supervised the distribution in Lokoja yesterday, listed the materials to include ballot papers, result sheets, and others.

- The Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose Thursday suspended the Secretary to the State government, Dr (Mrs) Modupe Alade, over alleged incompetence. This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Idowu Adelusi. According to the statement, the suspension would last for three months.

- Attempted jail-break in Jalingo prison, Taraba State, by some inmates on Wednesday morning, has resulted in the killing of two inmates. Report says several others were injured. The inmates were protesting against poor medical service in the prison.

- Former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), has denied making statement indicting anyone or group in the allegation of $2billion arms purchase deal brought against him by the federal government.
While speaking through his lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Raji, Dasuki said he never made such a statement, and such, did not name anyone to EFCC. He wondered ‎where the authors got their information.

- The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, on Thursday reserved judgment in the appeal filed by Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, where he is challenging his removal by the election petitions tribunal for the state. The appeal panel presided over by Justice Dongban Memsem promised to communicate the judgment date to parties involved.

-Imo State Governor, Rochas Owelle Okorocha has replied former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, over his recent media attack on him.

Ihedioha had claimed that the governor was earmarking N600 million for decorations for the yuletide season.

Speaking through a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, the governor said he was shocked that Ihedioha decided to attack him in the media without verification.

-Telecommunications giant, MTN, is seeking a further reduction in the fine slammed on it by the Nigerian government.

MTN had been fined $5.2bn by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, for failing to disconnect unregistered subscribers from its network.

However, Nigerian authorities had slashed the fine by 30 percent to $3.2bn and gave the South African company Dec. 31 to pay up.It was gathered that the decision to reduce the fine was taken by President Buhari’s office, which passed on the information to the NCC on Wednesday.However, Reuters reports that management of the troubled company is still pleading with the Nigerian government to further reduce the fine.But the reduced fine, if enforced, is still more than two times MTN’s average yearly capital expenditure of about $1.5 billion over the last five years and can still cause a lot of trouble for the company.

News culled from dailypost.