Buhari to Economic Council: do more to develop Nigeria

THE Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) was directed to develop more strategies that will put the country on a sound economic lever by the President.

President Muhammadu Buhari gave the directive during a virtual audience he granted the Prof Doyin Salami-led PEAC.

The President, according to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, expressed appreciation to the council for the outstanding support and guidance it had been providing, which he described as a ‘tutorial’.

He said: “We are a country characterised by a large population of poor people, serious infrastructure deficit, lack of housing and a vulnerable economy now haunted by the COVID-19 pandemic and collapse of the oil sector and its effect on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”

Making a presentation to the President, the Council commended the administration for implementing several of its recommendations, even as it presented the government with a number of tough choices to make in order to put the economy on a higher growth path.Prof. Salami, who led the presentation, specifically expressed delight with the ongoing review of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the 2020 Budget in view of the disruptions   caused by COVID-19; the deregulation of the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS); approval for the implementation of the Oronsaye Report on the need to rationalise and restructure federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), as well as the adjustment of the exchange rate of the naira.

He, however, noted that more needed to be done to increase efficiency, coordination and accountability on the part of MDAs.

The Nation

Why I pleaded guilty to $11m fraud - Invictus Obi

Obinwanne Okeke, popularly known as Invictus Obi, arrested in the United States last August for fraud, has admitted to American authorities that his participation in the fraudulent schemes for which he has pleaded guilty “was undertaken knowingly, intentionally and unlawfully and not as a result of an accident, mistake or other innocent reason.”

Mr Okeke, who was charged with two counts of computer fraud and wire fraud, also said he decided to plead guilty because he realized that the findings by investigators and the ‘statement of facts’ filed in court by prosecutors are true and accurate.

He said had the matter proceeded to trial, he was sure the United States authorities would prove the allegations against him beyond a reasonable doubt.

Mr Okeke’s explanations are contained in the Statement of Facts submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia by G. Zachary Terwilliger (United States attorney), Brian J. Samuels (assistant United States Attorney) and Mathew P. Mattis ( special assistant United States attorney).

The document was filed in open court on June 18 as the ‘businessman’, also known as Invictus Obi in Nigeria, capitulated and pleaded guilty. He is to be sentenced on October 22.

Mr Okeke’s attorney, John Iweanoge, also agreed, saying pleading guilty remained the best course of action for his client.

“I have carefully reviewed the above Statement of Facts with him,” Mr Iweanoge said.

“To my knowledge, his decision to stipulate to these facts is an informed and voluntary one.”

The NATION

Akeredolu tests positive for COVID-19

Ondo Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who on Tuesday tested positive for COVID-19, has begun treatment at home.

Akeredolu said he is still very strong to continue working from home where he is self- isolating.

The Governor stated that he had malaria few days ago and was advised to undergo COVID-19 test by a colleague Governor.

The Nation

Redeemer’s University denies outbreak on campus

THE management of Redeemer’s University has frowned at the news of an outbreak of Covid-19 on its campus as reported by some media houses recently.

The report according to the institution  has the potential of undermining its efforts at safeguarding the health of the nation through free medical services being provided by Its  African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases.

The Nation

Court strikes out suit against Obaseki

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck out a suit filed against Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The plaintiffs, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/553/2020, accused the governor of engaging in certificate forgery.

Listed as plaintiffs in the suit are Edobor Williams, Ugbesia Abudu Godwin and Amedu Dauda Anakhu.They accused Obaseki of forging his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) certificate in Classical Studies from the University of Ibadan.

The plaintiffs contended that the alleged certificate forgery contravenes Section 182(1)(i) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).They prayed the court to among others, hold that Obaseki is “not qualified to run or seek election to the office of the governor of Edo State” in the coming 2020 governorship election.

At the mention of the case on Monday, neither the plaintiffs nor their lawyers were in court.  The defendant too was not represented.

Following the development, Justice Anwuli Chiekere struck out the suit.

The Nation

Police in search of families of stolen children

Police in Abuja on Monday called on members of the public to come forward and identify three children stolen from their families since June last year.

The children consisted of two girls and one boy.

Force spokesman DCP Frank Mba said the three children were among six rescued by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in an operation that was launched following reported cases of child theft.

The Nation

Graduating pupils to resume for exams

Pupils who are to go to new classes can resume so as to write their examinations, the Federal Government said on Monday.

In effect, those in Primary Six, Junion Secondary III and Senior Secondary III who are to sit for the National Common Entrance Examination, the Basic Education Certificate Examination and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) can return to school.

The schools must comply strictly with safety measures to be issued by the Federal Ministry of Education.The government said all daycares and primary schools, as well as secondary and tertiary institutions, are to remain closed until further notice.National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, who spoke during its briefing in Abuja, said: “Students in only graduating classes – Primary 6, JSS 3 and SSS3, will be allowed to resume in preparation for examinations.

“All day cares and primary schools remain closed till evaluation. Schools are encouraged to continue with the electronic learning and visual teaching, but the pupils may proceed to take the National Common Entrance as soon as it is feasible, provided that they are compliant with issued non-pharmaceutical interventions.

“For secondary and tertiary institutions, all schools are to remain closed until further evaluation.”

Aliyu said arrangements are to be made for graduating students in JSS 3 and SSS 3 to resume at both boarding and day schools as soon as possible for intensive revision.