Judges under investigation barred from sitting by NJC

Following the sustained pressure from various quarters including the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, the National Judicial Council, NJC has barred judges being probed for certain offenses from sitting until the cases against them are concluded.

In a statement issued by its Acting Director of Information, Mr. Soji Oye, the NJC said that the decision was taken at its 79th meeting held between Wednesday and Thursday.

“Council decided that Judicial Officers shall not be standing trial for alleged corruption related offences and be performing judicial functions at the same time.

“Council however decided that it will ensure that judicial officers who are being investigated for alleged high profile criminal offences do not perform judicial functions until their cases are concluded.”

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What EFCC said about Dikko's N2b Abuja mansion

A mansion belonging to former Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, has been seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The property which is located at number at 1 Audu Ogbeh Street, Jabi, Abuja is said to be worth N2b, two billion naira.

Dikko is suspected to have fleeced the NCS of over N40b during his time as the Comptroller-General between August 2009 and August 2015.

Here is what a source at the EFCC said about the seizure of the mansion.

“The EFCC Act Section 71 (b) gives us the power to commence investigations into the property of any person if it appears to the EFCC that the person’s lifestyle and extent of properties are not justified by law.

“Section 28 says concerning those arrested under the Act, the commission will immediately trace and attach all the assets and seizures of such a person which have been acquired.

“Section 29 permits the assets of a person arrested under Section 28 to be seized by the state.

“Dikko was a customs officer and served for about 30 years. He has to explain where he got the money to buy a mansion of N2bn.”

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Troops foil 8 suicide bombers in Borno

Eight Boko Haram terrorists on a suicide bombing mission to Gubio town in Gubio Local Council in Borno State were on Wednesday thwarted by men of Operation Lafiya Dole at a checkpoint.

This was confirmed in a statement issued by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman.

"Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE deployed at a checkpoint in Gubio, Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State at about 9.15am this morning, foiled a suicide attack on Gubio town by 8 Boko Haram terrorists. The suicide bombers who came in a Bedford pick up vehicle primed with Improvised Explosive Devices including suicide vests, attempted to force their way through the checkpoint but met stiff resistance from troops who insisted that the vehicle be thoroughly checked. The suicide bombers refused and blew up themselves by detonating one of the suicide vests killing all the 8 Boko Haram terrorists on board."

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PMB meets Niger Delta leaders (photo)

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday received stakeholders and leaders of the Niger Delta at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Niger Delta leaders presented their 16-point demand for peace in the region.
See photo.

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Police disperse Islamic movement protesters with teargas in Abuja (photo)

Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN protesting the continued detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakhzaky since December 2015 had an unpleasant encounter with men of the Nigeria Police Force at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja on Wednesday.

The IMN members protesting with placards bearing #BuhariFreeZakhzaky were dispersed with teargas.
See photos.

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Police arrest Abuja car snatcher

The Federal Capital Territory, FCT Police Command has arrested one Abubakar Umar of Daki Biu, Jabi, for alleged car snatching.

The command’s spokesman, ASP Anjuguri Manzah said in a statement on Sunday that the suspect was arrested during a stop and search operation conducted by the police at Dikwa, the boundary town between Abuja and Niger State.

“The suspect was intercepted and arrested on Oct. 20 by  eagle-eyed police operatives while trying to escape with a blue coloured Mazda BRV 822 BS,” he said

The car was reportedly snatched at gun point at Gosa, near Lugbe in Abuja.

The police spokesman said that the suspect's accomplice escaped from the car when he sighted the policemen on duty.

Meanwhile, the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Muhammad Mustafa, has ordered the transfer of the suspect and exhibit from Zuba Police Division to the Command Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, CIID, Abuja for further investigation.

Manzah hoped that the transfer of the suspect would lead to the arrest of other members of the gang who are now at large, adding that they would be charged to court after investigation.

“The suspect in police custody has been cooperating with the Team of Police detectives in the ongoing investigation.

“He will be charged to court on conclusion of investigation.

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Photo news: VP Osinbajo in Boston

Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo with Harvard Marshal, Jackie O’Neill, and Professors Jacob Olupona and Emmanuel Acheampong, in Boston, USA last Thursday.

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