Buhari sacks Babachir Lawal, PDP demands Buhari’s impeachment

After a long wait, Buhari sacks Babachir Lawal, Ayodele Oke, appoints new SGF; Tinubu says there is no cabal in Buhari government in APC leaders’ meeting with Buhari; Six feared killed in farmers, herdsmen clashes in Adamawa and much more.

1. Buhari sacks Babachir Lawal, Ayodele Oke; appoints new SGF

President Muhammadu Buhari has studied the report of the panel headed by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, which investigated allegations against the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and the Director General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke.

The president accepted the recommendation of the panel to terminate the appointment of Mr. Lawal, and has appointed Boss Mustapha as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The appointment takes immediate effect.

President Buhari also approved the recommendation to terminate the appointment of Mr. Oke, and has further approved the setting up of a three-member panel to, among other things, look into the operational, technical and administrative structure of the Agency and make appropriate recommendations.

2. PDP demands Buhari’s impeachment over Babachir Lawal, Oke’s sack

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has demanded the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari over his response to corruption cases involving the former Secretary to the Government, Babachir Lawal, and former National Intelligence Agency, boss, Ayodele Oke.

The party, while calling for the prosecution of the duo, said Messrs. Lawal and Oke were being treated under “a different set of laws.”

The two top officials, who have been on suspension for months, were relieved of their duties on Monday by President Buhari after widespread outcry.

Mr. Babachir has since been replaced by Boss Mustapha while Nigerians await the replacement of the NIA boss.

The PDP in a statement signed by the party’s spokesperson, Dayo Adeyeye, said it was not pleased with the action.

3. APC says it has been vindicated by Babachir Lawal’s sack

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has said that the party has been vindicated following the sack of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal.

The APC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this on Monday in Abuja while reacting to the sacking of the suspended SGF.

He added that President Muhammadu Buhari had done the needful by sacking the embattled SGF.

“Few days ago when the president directed the dismissal of Abdulrasheed Maina, some people say that is right, but what about the suspended SGF.

“But the President, by virtue of the position he occupies, is the only one who has all the information and he would do what is necessary at the right time.

4. Buhari in private meetings with Tinubu, Saraki, Dogara

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Before his meeting with Mr. Tinubu, Mr. Buhari had earlier met with the Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Dogara Yakubu.

The two separate meetings between the president and his visitors took place at the new Banquet hall.

President Buhari, had on October 26, met with the leaders of the National Assembly after the cancellation of the planned dinner for lawmakers in the Presidential Villa.

5. No cabal in Buhari’s govt, it’s a myth — Tinubu

A leader of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress said on Monday that there was no cabal in the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Mr. Tinubu said this after a closed door meeting with the president at the Aso Villa on Monday.

“What is the myth in this leadership thing? What is cabal? It is a myth,” the former Lagos governor said.

6. Protesters at APC secretariat demand chairman Odigie-Oyegun’s removal

Ahead of the All Progressive Congress, APC, National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting, some protesters referred to as the “Save APC and Democracy youth Vanguard” on Monday, at the party’s national secretariat, demanded the removal of the party’s chairman, John Oyegun.

The group, whose members displayed various placards showing their discontent, also called for the audit of the party’s accounts.

The placards had several demands including: “Audit APC account now”, “No to non-elective convention”, “APC must support anti-corruption,” among others.

Amidst the protest, Mr. Oyegun arrived the secretariat. This led to more agitation by the protesters.

7. Buhari meets Quattara behind closed door in Aso Rock

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed-door with visiting President Alassane Quattara of Cote D’Ivoire at the presidential villa, Abuja.

Mr. Quattara, who arrived the presidential villa at about 12.15 p.m., was introduced to some cabinet ministers and presidential aides by President Buhari before the commencement of their meeting.

The two presidents are meeting officially for the first time since the inauguration of President Buhari’s administration on May 29, 2017.

Mr. Quattara, had on April 20, 2015, met with Mr. Buhari, then, as president-elect, shortly after a meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan.

8. 47 years after Biafra civil war, Nigerian govt agrees to pay victims N88 billion

About 47 years after the Nigeria civil war ended on ‘No victor, no vanquish’ terms, the federal government on Monday agreed to pay victims of the war N88 billion compensation for their losses.

A breakdown of the compensation adopted by the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice as consent judgment for government and the victims showed that N50 billion will go direct to the victims of the war in eleven affected states in the South-east, South-south and part of North-central regions, while the remaining N38 billion will go for the evacuation of abandoned bombs and other lethal weapons and construction of schools, courts, churches and mosques among others in the affected areas.

9. Nigerian Army redeploys six top generals, two others

The Nigerian Army has redeployed eight top officials including six generals, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

Those redeployed include a major-general, five brigadier-generals and two lieutenant colonels.

Top military insiders told PREMIUM TIMES that those redeployed include I.O. Rabiu, a major general, who was formerly military secretary at the army headquarters, He was redeployed to defence headquarters as director, technical and equipment.

10. Six feared killed in farmers, herdsmen clashes in Adamawa

At least six people were reportedly killed in separate clashes between farmers and herdsmen in Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

The first incident occurred on Wednesday when some herdsmen damaged a farm in Sangere, a suburb of Yola, the Adamawa State capital.

Witnesses said a security guard named Gibson Nathan who was engaged by the owner of the farm challenged the herders for encroaching on the farm.

They responded by “attacking and killing him,” a resident of the area said.

The resident also said the herders “hacked Nathan to death with their sharp axes beyond recognition before leaving the scene”

Similarly, four members of the same family were reportedky attacked and killed in their farm by some herdsmen on Friday at Tudun-Hassan Village, adjacent to the popular Malkohi IDP’s Camp also in Yola South Local Government Area.