– The presidency has said that former presidents of Nigeria always demanded kickbacks and tips before awarding contracts
– The presidency said President Muhammadu Buhari has abolished the old days of kickbacks within the system
– According to the presidency, frequent overseas travels made by President Buhari, Shehu said given the president has outdone all of his predecessors put together Nigeria’s presidency on Monday, November 4, said that former president always asked for tips and kickbacks before awarding contracts to different contractors.

The senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said President Buhari in his tenure has abolished the old days when kickbacks and tips superseded any major contract within the country.

Also reacting to frequent overseas travels made by President Buhari, Shehu said given the president has outdone all of his predecessors put together.

He also noted that with the emergence and internet speed and technology, any leader can function from any part of the world.

He said: “For one thing, President Buhari’s travels have not been excessive by the standards of this country’s past leaders and those of his counterparts in other countries. Given advances in modern travel and technology, a leader can maintain communication and govern from the air, on the road or at sea.”

“Given the advances made with satellite feeds, a leader needs not to be tied to his desk to make important decisions,” Shehu said.

He added that the days of frequent travels by leaders is the new norm as it is not something that will go away irrespective of the number or level of criticism dished out by the opposition.

The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on Tuesday, struck out the case of fraud brought against the President of the Nigerian Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick.

The court made the decision following an application by the federal government to withdraw its case against Mr Pinnick and others accused of mismanaging money gotten from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).

The federal government had in May arraigned Mr Pinnik and four others on 18 counts for allegedly diverting the sum, which was given to the NFF as fees for appearing at the last Russia 2018 World Cup.
The five officials, including the NFF Secretary, Sunusi Mohammed; the 1st Vice-President, Seyi Akinwumi; the 2nd Vice-President, Shehu Dikko and an Executive member, Yusuff Fresh, were accused of misappropriating N4 billion without the approval of the NFF.

They were also alleged to have contravened the law by failing to declare their assets.
They were arraigned by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP).
The panel, then led by Okoi Obono-Obla, has since been dissolved by President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr Obono-Obla is himself wanted for allegedly forging a WAEC certificate.

“The prosecution withdrew the charges against the defendants. And so we asked that the case be withdrawn. The court invoked section 355 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act to withdraw the charges,” a lawyer representing the NFF officials, Mohammed Katu, said on Tuesday.

The section quoted empowers the prosecution to withdraw its charges against the defendant where necessary.
This trial is, however, separate from that being conducted by the anti-graft agency, EFCC, against Mr Pinnick and others.

Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation and a PDP chieftain, has joined many Nigerians in criticizing President Muhammadu Buhari government over the recent signing of the amended Deep Offshore Act in London.

Buhari signed the bill on Monday in London, stating that the amended Bill will generate at least $500m additional revenue for the Nigerian government.

The Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari, was with him when he signed the Act.
This did not go down well with some Nigerians, as they posed questions about the function of the office of Vice President, Osinbajo.

According to them, Osinbajo should have signed the bill, rather than have Abba Kyari take a trip to London.
Fani-Kayode, speaking on the development queried Osinbajo for his loyalty to Buhari despite being ‘sidelined’
He wondered why Buhari cannot handover to Osinbajo whenever he is not in the country.

On his Twitter page, Fani-Kayode wrote: “How do you describe a VP that insists on remaining in office after his boss refuses to hand over power to him when he goes on leave and instead gets his Chief of Staff to fly over to London to sign legislative bills into law?
“If your boss can’t trust you, why are you still there?

Barely six months after his return for a second term in office, Kano State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has submitted the list of 20 commissioner nominees to the Kano House of Assembly for screening and constitutional endorsement.

The Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdulaziz Garba Gafasa read the names of the designates on the floor of the House on Monday.

He said that the list includes Murtala Sule Garo, Engr. Muazu Magaji, Barrister Ibrahim Muktar and a one-time commissioner in the state, Alhaji Musa Iliyasu Kwankwaso

Others who made the list are Dr. Kabiru Ibrahim Getso, Mohammed Garba, Nura Mohammed Dakadai, Shehu Na’Allah Kura, Dr. Mohammed Tahir, Dr. Zahara’u Umar and Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa

Equally nominated as commissioners are Sadiq Aminu Wali, Mohammed Bappa Takai, Kabiru Ado Lakwaya, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, Ibrahim Ahmed Karaye, Muktar Ishaq Yakasai Mahmoud Muhammad, Muhammad Sunusi Saidu, Barrister Lawan Abdullahi Musa

Our correspondent observed that the highly awaited list was made up of old and new faces in line the resolve of the governor to give the State Executive Council fresh energy.
The nominees were to appear before the State House of Assembly for their screening any time from now.