Newspaper review: Ex- minister faces probe over alleged $1bn illicit deals

macfranc007 November 10, 2017 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Buchi Obichie

Headlines from mainstream Nigerian newspapers today, Friday, November 10 2017, are mostly focused on the tussle for the national chairmanship position of the PDP, the opposition of Morocco’s bid to join ECOWAS by prominent Nigerians, a probe of ex-Minister Amina Mohammed over an alleged $1bn illicit deal, Atiku Abubakar’s speculated bid for the presidency on the platform of the PDP, and 2 serving military officers and bank managers who have been remanded in jail for allegedly stealing N339 million meant for the payment of military pensions.

The Guardian is reporting about a probe of a former minister in the environment ministry alleged $1b illicit deals

The publication’s report is based on a report released by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), on Thursday, November 9, which stated that over 1.4 million illegal rosewood logs from Nigeria, worth $300 million, were laundered into China.

According to the report, top Nigerian officials were paid over $1 million to release the woods which were stopped by Chinese authorities.

The report indicted the former minister who is now the deputy secretary general of the United Nations.

Newspaper Review: Buhari’s former minister faces probe over alleged $1bn illicit deals

Front page of The Guardian, today, Friday, November 10, 2017 (Photo credit: NAIJ.com)

ThisDay reports that Senator Walid Jibrin, Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stated that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former Vice President, would not be given an automatic ticket by the opposition party to contest for the presidency in 2019.

According to Jibrin, the former Vice President would have to jostle for the presidential ticket, just like other contenders, if he eventually chooses to defect from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Front page of ThisDay, today, Friday, November 10, 2017 (Photo credit: NAIJ.com)

Punch is focused today, on the issue of Morocco’s bid to become a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

According to the publication, several prominent Nigerians including members of the House of Reps; foremost human rights lawyer, Femi Falana; a former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Dipo Fashina; and a former Director-General of the NIIA, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, have opposed Morocco’s bid.

The stakeholders reportedly warned Nigeria against allowing the North African country to join ECOWAS; and also advised the federal government never to pull Nigeria out of the community.

They made their comments at a public hearing tagged: ‘Review of Nigeria’s Membership of ECOWAS in View of the Clamour to Admit Morocco into the Community,’ which held in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Front page of Punch, today, Friday, November 10, 2017 (Photo credit: NAIJ.com)

Vanguard is reporting about 2 serving military officers- Wing Commander Ishaka Yakubu and Lieutenant Commander Akinbamidele Odunsi- and two female bank managers- Mrs. Abidemi Aderemi Kolade and Violet Ofoegbunam- who were sent to Kuje Prision on the orders of Justice D.Z. Senchi of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The publication reports that the 4 individuals were accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), of allegedly conniving and stealing N339 million meant for the payment of military pensions.

The judge ordered that the accused be remanded in prison for at least he next 4 days, as he fixed their bail hearing for Monday, November 13.

Front page of Vanguard, today, Friday, November 10, 2017 (Photo credit: NAIJ.com)

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The Nation is focused on the race for the national chairmanship chair in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The publication reports that some former PDP governors held a secret meeting on Thursday, November 9, where they resolved to quit the party if the party’s former Deputy National Chairman, Uche Secondus (South-south), is imposed as the new National Chairman.

The former governors reportedly claimed that there was a plot by some current governors to impose Secondus on the party because of their own agendas; but insisted that the party’s next National Chairman must come from the South-west and not the South-south.