Paper review: Casualty recorded as Boko Haram fighters invade military base

The newspapers for today, April 19, focus on an array of issues ranging from the attack on an army base by Boko Haram insurgents, to the ongoing trial of Senator Bukola Saraki at the code of conduct tribunal.

Scores of insurgents were killed while some soldiers were wounded after Boko Haram fighters attacked soldiers early on Monday, April 18, near the border with Niger in the northern town of Kareto in Borno state, according to the Sun newspaper.

Confirming the attack, army spokesman, Col Sani Usman in a statement, said “troops of 113 Battalion at Kareto attacked by the terrorists “have been battling the insurgents since the early hours of yesterday.”

The Sun citing military sources reported that the attack which is coming is coming on the heels of many other attacks in military and police formations in the northeast lasted for about three hours.

A soldier who told the media about the attack said: “Today at about 6:30 am (0530 GMT), two suicide bombers approached us and we shot at them and they exploded.

“As soon as the explosives went off, there were barrages of heavy artillery fired by Boko Haram, who came in large numbers with heavy weapons.

“We took up position in our trenches and fired back but they kept firing RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades), which we didn’t have.

 “We lost some men, I don’t know how many, and many others were injured. Some of us fled in disarray. We realised that we were outnumbered and outgunned.”

In another development, the Punch focuses on the trial Senate President Bukola Saraki at the code of conduct tribunal which resumed yesterday, April 18, with a witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging the Saraki failed to declare houses in the United Kingdom, as well as the upscale areas of Ikoyi, Lagos and Abuja.

According to the witness, Michael Wetkas, who is an operative of the EFCC, there were alleged falsehood in the details of the assets Saraki had declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau when he was the governor.

He said: “We invited the members of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Sale of Federal Government Properties. From our findings, one person is only allowed to acquire one property under the scheme. But the first defendant got three properties using his personal name and the name of his company.

“No15 Mcdonald Street, Ikoyi, was got in the name of the defendant’s company, Tiny Tee Limited and 17, 17A and 17B were got in his personal name.

“Exhibit P21 relates to Plot 2481 and 2482, Cadastrial Zone A06, Maitama, Abuja, otherwise known as 1 and 3 Targus Street, Maitama, Abuja. From Exhibit 21, they were acquired in 1993.

“From Exhibit 1, under Appendix 3 (details of landed property in Nigeria), I did not see the property.

“The defendant did not declare Plot 2481 and 2482, Cadastrial Zone A06, Maitama, Abuja, on assumption of office in 2003. Neither did I see No 1 and 3 Targus Street, Maitama, Abuja, in the asset declaration form.

“Exhibit 3 is the asset declaration form in 2007. In 2007, the defendant declared 1 Targus Street, Maitama, Abuja. Number 3 was not declared

“In the asset declaration form of 2011, No. 1 Targus, Musa Yar’ Adua was declared. He did not declare No 3 Targus Street, Maitama.

Meanwhile a confrontation is brewing between senators and the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over the trial of Bukola Saraki over alleged falsification of assets as the Senate committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions yesterday, April 18, summoned the CCT chairman, Justice Danladi Umar over allegations of corruption against him.

The Nation reports that in the invitation which was contained in a letter signed by the clerk of the committee, Freedom Odolo, the Senate asked Justice Umar to appear unfailingly by 2pm on Thursday, April 21.

However, Justice Umar replied the committee that he has a court sitting on Thursday and throughout the week.

A source told the Nation that some senators are angry over Justice Umar’s decision to allow the tribunal to sit from 9am to 6pm.

According to the source: “They saw the CCT Chairman’s decision as a plot to deny Saraki any opportunity to preside over the Senate plenary throughout his trial.

“Now, these Senators have also launched a counter-attack against the CCT chairman by revisiting the outstanding petition against the judge.

“Shortly after the CCT chairman decided to be sitting daily till 6pm,  a letter came from the Senate Committee inviting Justice Umar on the outstanding petition against him.”

In other news, the confrontation between the presidency and the National Assembly over the 2016 budget may soon be resolved as indications emerged last night, that the lawmakers had soft-pedaled on their tough stance by accepting to review the budget.

A presidential source confirmed to Vanguard last night that the truce between the presidency and the National Assembly was brokered the by the minister of budget and national planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, who had also met severally with key functionaries of the NASS

The source said since the return of President Muhammadu Buhari from China, the presidency has discussed with NASS on the possibility of reworking the budget in the overall interest of Nigerians.

“After some formal and informal interactions, both leaders of the NASS have indicated willingness to reconsider the controversial appropriation bill,” a Presidency official confirmed last night.

Meanwhile, a report by the Guardian indicates that depot owners are an obstacle to the availability of fuel in the country.

The newspaper reports that the depot owners are obstructing the smooth supply premium motor spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol, by selling a litre of the product for over N120 as against the ex-depot price of N76.50 per litre.

The newspaper learnt that a litre of petrol has been selling well above the official ex-depot price in the last two weeks, which may have given reasons for filling stations to also sell at above the regulated price of N86.50 per litre.

A source told the Guardian that depots in Apapa and Ibafon, Lagos, are now selling to customers who are ready to pay above the official price, leaving the others to wait for days without getting the product.

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