FORMER National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd, whose arrest was ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday over allegations of fictitious award of arms supply contracts, yesterday, countered the Federal Government. He alleged a deliberate campaign to rubbish him by the present administration.

The ethnic nationalities of the South- South geo-political zone, yesterday, denounced demands for Biafra by Igbo in the South-East zone and called for an immediate cessation of pro-Biafra protests on their soil.

DISTURBED by what increasing protests and agitation for a Biafra Republic portend, leaders of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and some affiliate groups have resolved to embark on wide consultations with all stakeholders to take a common position on the issue.

Indications emerged weekend, that the Single Treasury Account, TSA, may be grounded, following the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, order suspending payment of fees and charges to parties operating the system.

Temporary reprieve came the way of the Senate President, Dr. Olubukola Saraki, yesterday, as the Supreme Court aborted bid by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, to begin full blown hearing on the 13-count criminal charge preferred against him by the Federal Government.

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, assigned portfolios to the 36 new ministers with former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, and former Governor of Rivers State Rotimi Amaechi emerging as the administration’s point men in the drive to improve the country’s infrastructure and transportation system.

THE shape of the federal civil service, engine room of government, appeared in greater clarity, yesterday, as President Muhammadu Buhari fired 16 permanent secretaries, appointed 18 new ones and deployed a total of 36 permanent secretaries.

The 96 new standing committees of the House of Representatives were yesterday inaugurated at a session boycotted by the House leader, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila.

South-East governors appeared divided, yesterday over the ongoing pro-Biafra Republic protests.
While Imo and Ebonyi states kicked against the protests, Abia State remained neutral, while Anambra State said it was studying the developments.

The trial of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal for alleged false declaration of assets turned dramatic, yesterday, as Saraki’s lawyers, comprising three Senior Advocates of Nigeria and 24 other lawyers walked out of the court abandoning the Senate president in the dock. The defence lawyers staged a walk-out following the refusal of the tribunal chairman, Justice Danladi Umar to suspend the trial until Saraki’s appeal before the Supreme Court is determined.

Activities at the retail segment of the official foreign exchange market were grounded, yesterday, as end users avoided bureaux de change (BDCs), to avoid submitting their Biometric Verification Number (BVN) for foreign exchange transactions.

Anxiety among the 36 ministers-designate heightened, yesterday, after President Muhammadu Buhari reiterated that the nation’s economy can not support 36 ministers with portfolios.

AHEAD of the unveiling of names of chairmen and vice-chairmen of standing committees by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, tension has gripped the lawmakers over who heads the juicy committees.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has revealed why anti-graft agencies in the country often fail to successfully prosecute high profile criminal cases.

The intrigues that shadowed the confirmation hearing of the 36 ministerial nominees reached an anti-climax yesterday when all but one senator in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP caucus walked out to protest the confirmation of former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, as minister.