News In Brief Today 19/04/16

Good morning! Here are 10 things you need to know this morning:

1. Report says Boko Haram terrorists, Monday, attacked troops of the 113 Battalion at Kareto in the northern part of Borno. The troops in resistance had been battling the insurgents since th early hours of the day, leading to serious casualties as the army later confirmed that some of its men were injured in the attack.

2. There was a new dimension to the trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, at the resumed trial on Monday when the chairman of the CCT, Danladi Umar, directed that the trial will henceforth proceed day-to-day until the conclusion of the case. He equally announced that the trial will always begin by 10am and end 6pm.

3. Relatively, an operative with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Michael Wetkas on Monday, testified at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki paid over N522m for a property in Ikoyi Lagos without declaring the asset. Wetkas was led in evidence by counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs. He tendered cheques allegedly drawn from Saraki’s personal account and the account of his firm, Carlie Properties Investments Limited used for payment of the property at 17, Mcdonald Street, Ikoyi, Lagos.

4. Report says there is an ongoing war in Okpokwu LGA of Benue State following an ensuing communal war Okpoga and Inleng, a neighboring town. Report is claiming that no fewer than five persons have been killed in the fight that resulted from reprisal attacks over alleged killing of some suspected armed robbers.

5. Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, Mr. Ekpo Nta, has disclosed that the commission was investigating an unnamed state governor who allegedly diverted the bailout funds meant for the payment of workers’ salaries. He was speaking when he hosted students of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS in Abuja.

6. The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has taken on the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, over its recent uncomplementary remarks on the operations of the group where it also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to clampdown on IPOB members and every other group agitating for freedom in Nigeria. The group said ACF had shown lack of understanding of what actualization of sovereign state of Biafra stands for by their statement.

7. No fewer than 90 herdsmen have been arrested in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, by the soldiers of the Guards Brigade of the Nigeria Army.
The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of the Guards Brigade, Capt. Bashir Jajira, said that 36 of the suspects were arrested by the troops at a military checkpoint between the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State. The suspected herdsmen were reportedly on a mission to recover their stolen cows.

8. The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, on Monday morning, shut down the Jos Electricity Distribution head office for non-compliance to the laid down Laibour guidelines. National Vice President, Comrade Musa Ayisa said the shut down of Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) headquarters became necessary following the company’s refusal to work according to the Labour Law in the area of conditions of service.

9. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday arraigned a former Niger-Delta militant commander, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, in absentia on a 22-count charge which borders on conspiracy, advanced fee fraud and money laundering. Also arraigned in absentia in relation to the alleged N47.6bn fraud were six brothers of a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi. They are Igo, Julius, Victor, Norbert, Emmanuel and Clement.

10. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested Mr. Warimopei Dudafa, a former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. Dudafa and Jonathan’s ex Aide-de-Camp, Col. Ojogbane Adegbe, are been accused of giving N10bn to delegates at the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, in December 2014 in which Jonathan emerged as the winner. The N10bn is believed to have been diverted from oil receipts.

dailypost News.