Breaking News in Nigeria this Evening, Tuesday 9th June, 2020

1. We have applied for re-assignment of Orji Uzor Kalu's case - EFCC reveals.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it is waiting on the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to reassign the N7.1bn fraud case of a former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, so that his fresh trial ordered by the Supreme Court can start.

The prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told our correspondent on Tuesday that the anti-graft agency had already applied to the Federal High Court Chief Judge to assign the case to a judge who will now handle it.

Asked on Tuesday if the EFCC had begun moves for the fresh trial, the prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Jacobs, said an application had been submitted to the Federal High Court Chief Judge and his decision was being awaited.

Jacobs said, "We are not filing new charges. We have applied to the CJ to reassign the case in line with the decision of the Supreme Court. We have yet to see whether it has been assigned."

2. The Senate has received Buhari's request to confirm Dongban-Mensem as Appeal Court President.

The Senate on Tuesday received a formal request from President Muhammadu Buhari for the confirmation of the Acting President of the Court of Appeal, Monica Dongban-Mensem.

The request was contained in a letter read on the floor during plenary by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

The letter from the President reads: "Pursuant to Section 238(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), I write to request for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Honourable Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem as the President of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria.

"It is my hope that the Senate will consider and confirm the nominee in the usual expeditious manner." The letter read.

3. Senate confirms NDIC and Law Reform Commission nominees.

The Nigeria Senate has confirmed the nominations of Mrs. Diana Okonta (South-South); and Mrs. Ya’ana Talib Yaro (North-East) as Non-Executive Directors of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) today.

The appointment of both nominees was approved after the Senate considered the report of the Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions.

They also confirmed the appointments of the Chairman and two Members of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission today.

The confirmation of the nominees followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

4. The Federal Government has approved hazard allowance for health workers.

The Federal Government has approved two months hazard allowance for health workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking at a meeting between representatives of the Federal Government and Health Professional Associations, the Minister for Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, said the hazard allowance for the months of April and May would be paid before Friday, June 12, 2020.

The decision, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment today, was part of the agreement reached between the Federal Government representatives led by the minister and representatives of the health sector workers.

Chris Ngige said the urgent approval granted by the President Muhammed Buhari was in appreciation of efforts of the health workers risking their lives on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19.

5. A Court in Lagos has acquited a man after staying 5 years in prison for robbery.

An Igbosere High Court in Lagos State on today being Tuesday, discharged and acquitted a man, Jelili Dimeji, of an armed robbery charge brought against him five years ago.

Lagos State Government had accused Dimeji of robbing some valuables from an apartment in Ikotun in 2015.

Dimeji while testifying on February 26, 2019, said he was on his way to board a bus to Ifo, Ogun State to see his wife, who had just been delivered of a baby, when he was accosted by a vigilance group who claimed he was a member of a gang of robbers which robbed a nearby residential premise.

According to him, he did not partake in the robbery attack but was arrested, taken into custody, and remanded at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre.

"I, therefore, find you Jelili Dimeji not guilty of the charges as contained in counts one to four of the information dated March 3, 2017. You are hereby discharged and acquitted," Justice Ipaye held.

6. Seven die of Covid-19 in Lagos, Kano and Kastina states.

According to the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), no fewer than seven patients have died coronavirus related complications in Nigeria in the past 24 hours.

The NCDC made this known in its COVID-19 Situation Report for June 8 published was published today.

Out of the seven COVID-19 fatalities, five were recorded in Lagos State while one death each was reported in Kano and Katsina states.

7. The House of Representatives has urged the IG of Police to go after the Kogi bank robbers.

The House of Representatives has asked the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to go after the armed robbers, who attacked a branch of FirstBank Nigeria Limited and invaded the Isanlu Divisional Police Headquarters, both in the Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing eight cops and others.

At plenary session today, a member of the House from Kogi State, Leke Abejide, moved a motion entitled, ‘Need to Investigate the Armed Robbery Attack on FirstBank Branch and the Killing of Eight Police Officers and Others in Isanlu, Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State.’

Following the unanimous adoption of the motion, the House urged the IG to investigate the bank attack and the killings “and to apprehend and prosecute the suspects”.

The House also urged the President, Muhammadu Buhari and the IG to ensure formidable security apparatus, including efficient back-up response to armed robbery attacks in Isanlu and its environs.

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These are some of the breaking news in Nigeria this evening, Tuesday 9th June, 2020.

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