metro
EFCC: Benue withdraws from suit seeking to declare commission illegal
EFCC: Benue withdraws from suit seeking to declare commission illegal
The Benue State government has formally applied to withdraw from a lawsuit that seeks to have the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared an illegal organization.
The lawsuit, originally initiated by Kogi State, questions the legality of the EFCC’s operations.
Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, on Wednesday, directed the indefinite suspension of the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Fidelis Bemsen Mnyim, for unilaterally including Benue State as a plaintiff in the suit without proper consultation.
Expressing his dissatisfaction, Governor Alia emphasized that both the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), which could be affected by the case, are vital anti-corruption agencies working to help Benue State recover stolen funds.
“No appointee is permitted to act unilaterally. No matter how pressing or urgent the issue is, one must resort to due consultations with me or appropriately brief me and seek my permission before acting, especially in a sensitive matter such as this.
“My administration is holding accountable those who embezzled money and drained our state dry. The EFCC and ICPC are assisting us in this effort.
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“How can I now turn around and begin to challenge these watchdogs? I gave no permission for him to enter an appearance for the state. Because he acted on his own, I hereby suspend him indefinitely pending a satisfactory explanation of his actions,” the governor added in a statement that was signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the suspended AG had before his sanction came to light, quickly applied for Benue state to be removed from the list of 18 other states that were cited as plaintiffs in the matter.
His notice of discontinuance, dated October 23, read: “Take notice that the Attorney-General of Benue state who is the 8th plaintiff hereby discontinues this suit against the Attorney-General of the Federation, the defendant.”
It will be recalled that three other states- Anambra, Adamawa and Ebonyi- had when the suit came up before the Supreme Court on Wednesday for hearing, also announced their decisions to withdraw from the matter.
The Attorney General of Anambra state, Prof. Sylvia Ifemeje, told the apex court that the state was no longer willing to be a part of the case which was originally instituted by Kogi state.
She disclosed that the state’s withdrawal notice was dated October 20.
EFCC: Benue withdraws from suit seeking to declare commission illegal
metro
200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has disclosed that about 200,000 repentant terrorists have so far dropped their arms and surrendered to troops in the North East, noting that the twin strategy of kinetic and non-kinetic operations was responsible for this achievement.
The CDS made this known at the Security and Justice Symposium organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in collaboration with the British High Commission, which began at the National Counterterrorism Centre in Abuja on Tuesday.
He disclosed that the theme of the symposium, ”Securing Peace, Ensuring Justice, Protection, Conduct, and Accountability,” speaks volumes about the deluge of security challenges the armed forces and security agencies are facing.
His words, “All the challenges we are facing today have to do with fairness, equity, justice, and accountability.
“There will not be peace without justice, equity, fairness, and accountability. In our operations, we are conducting both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, which have to a large extent yielded significant successes, and we want to particularly thank the National Security Adviser for his great support in this regard.
“Nigeria is going through so many challenges, and we feel we’re able to address this, and everybody has a sense of belonging. A lot of the security challenges we are having, we are sure, will go down. I want to thank the National Security Advisor for all the support he’s given us, both the kinetic and the non-kinetic.
“We have said it; the kinetic aspect is just less than 30%. The non-kinetic has a lot to play. The non-kinetic, because when you have democracy, people must have the evidence of democracy. As long as it tells people to sleep well and be peaceful, and they are hungry, their children cannot eat, and all this creates more problems.
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“The issue of informants. We have to look at how we tackle this issue of informants. Because these are the people who have created the issue.
200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
metro
Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
The spokesperson for the police in Delta State, SP Bright Edafe, has confirmed the death of two robbery suspects in the state.
Mr Edafe, who disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Warri, said that the deceased were killed from the bullets shot by their gang members.
According to him, the incident occurred on Wednesday at Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
Mr Edafe explained that the deceased were leading the police surveillance team attached to the Ekpan Division to their hideout when they were caught during a shoot-out.
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“The suspects were arrested at Effurun roundabout with a bag containing 57 live cartridges and other items. They were leading the surveillance team to their hideout at Warri/Sapele road when their gang members, on sighting the vehicle of the police team, engaged them in a shootout.During the gun duel, the arrested suspects that were leading the police team were fatally wounded by the gun shot of their colleagues. The two injured suspects were taken to the hospital and later died while receiving treatment,” he said.
Mr Edafe said that items recovered from the hoodlums hideout included: one English pump action gun, one locally made cut-to-size gun and eight live cartridges.
Others were: six iPhones, Smart phones and a Rolex wrist watch.
He said that the command had intensified manhunt on the fleeing members of the gang.
Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
(NAN)
metro
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