Newspaper review: Embattled Maina goes into hiding as EFCC raids his $2 million mansion

macfranc007 October 24, 2017 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Oluwatobi Bolashodun

The headlines of mainstream Nigerian newspapers for Tuesday, October 24, 2017, are focused on the ex-chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, who has gone into hiding, governors of the Southern States of Nigeria meeting for the first time in 12 years, among other stories.

The Punch reports that the embattled ex-chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, who has been accused of complicity in a N2bn fraud, has gone into hiding.

The fugitive, who is still on the wanted list of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for the alleged offence, went into hiding soon after news that the anti-graft agency had launched a manhunt for him became public.

One of our correspondents gathered that Maina, who had been reinstated as an acting director in the Ministry of Interior, was to meet with yet to be identified persons in his office but apparently had a change of heart because he was nowhere near the office building when our reporter arrived at the office at 8.20am and at 2.00pm when he left.

The office located at the Old Secretariat in Area 1, consists of a reception, a waiting room before a massive door leading up to the director’s office.

The Punch newspaper

Vanguard reports that for the first time in 12 years, governors of the Southern States of Nigeria on Monday met in Lagos, where they unanimously reiterated the call for true federalism and devolution of powers to States.

The Governors, in a communique at the end of the meeting read by the host Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, also resolved to collaborate with one another for the growth and development of their economies.

Aside Governor Ambode, the meeting was attended by Governors of Ogun, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Oyo, Seantor Abiola Ajimobi; Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Ebonyi, David Umahi; Edo, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Ondo, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; Abia, Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu; Enugu, Mr. Henry Ugwuanyi; Bayelsa, Mr. Seriaki Dickson and Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.

Governors of Cross River, Anambra and Delta were represented by their Deputies – Mr. Evara Esu; Dr. Ikem Okeke and Mr. Kingsley Otuaru respectively.

Vanguard Newspaper

The Nation reports that President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday hit back at former President Goodluck Jonathan, saying his achievements are neither lies nor propaganda.

The former President last week alleged that the government had been running on lies and propaganda.

Buhari also reminded the former president that unlike during his regime, when between N800 billion and N1.3 trillion was paid out yearly as “petrol subsidy” without making the products available even at regulated prices, his administration had not been paying any subsidy, yet the product is available and queues disappeared from filling stations.

Speaking at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Conference for media handlers of state’s chief executives, the President, represented by Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed, said: “Those who accused this Administration of ‘propaganda and lies’ in the fuel supply sector, for example, did not tell Nigerians that whereas they paid between 800 billion and 1.3 trillion Naira as ‘subsidy’ yearly in their time, without making the products available even at regulated prices, this Administration is not paying any subsidy, yet all products are currently available at competitive prices and fuel queues are now history.

The Nation newspaper

ThisDay reports that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday in Jakarta, Indonesia, said Nigeria was yet to overcome the consequences of the shady award of OPL 245 to Malabu Oil and Gas Limited in 1998.

Osinbajo made the remark while addressing the conference on beneficial ownership organised by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

Malabu, which has been described as one of the largest corruption scandals in the global oil industry involved controversial $1.3 billion deal on OPL 245 perceived as the most valuable oil field in West Africa.ice-President Yemi Osinbajo on monday in Jakarta, Indonesia, said Nigeria was yet to overcome the consequences of the shady award of OPL 245 to Malabu Oil and Gas Limited in 1998.

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Osinbajo made the remark while addressing the conference on beneficial ownership organised by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).