Read today's newspaper headlines [Tuesday, March 28, 2017]

THE GUARDIAN

National Assembly may pass 2017 budget before May

The 2017 Appropriation Bill may be passed before May 2017.Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje, who disclosed this yesterday warned heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to desist from the practice of “mopping up” of funds at the end of March, 2017.

CBN pegs N360 to one dollar at retail market

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday approved an exchange rate of N360 to the United States dollar in line with its liberalisation policy for the retail segment unveiled five weeks ago. During the period, the apex bank committed nearly $2 billion in the foreign exchange sub-sector through the interbank for invisible items and the 30 to 60 days forwards market for the real sector.

Saraki not owner of imported N298m SUV, says importer

An importer, Tokunbo Akindele, yesterday declared that the controversial N298 million sports utility vehicle seized by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for being found with fake documents was not for Senate President Bukola Saraki.

THE NATION NEWSPAPER

CBN crashes dollar to N360

Banks are to sell dollar at N360 for travel allowances, tuition and medical fees. A statement from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday noted that “ $85 million for sale to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) at the rate of N 357/$1 has been released by the apex bank for onward sale to retail end-users at not more than N360/$1, for invisibles, such as Basic Travel Allowance(BTAs), medicals, school fees, etc.”

Ile-Ife: Aregbesola seeks justice for all

Northern Socio-Political group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday urged Yoruba elders to restrain from giving ethnic coloration to the crisis that erupted in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Governor diverts N500m refund to repay loan

Detectives have recovered N500million allegedly diverted by a governor from the London-Paris Club loan refund. The governor diverted the N500million (out of his state’s share of the N19b first tranche) to a mortgage bank but the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) tracked and secured the cash.

VANGUARD NEWSPAPER

‘We imported N298m SUV, sold to Senate’

AN official of an automobile marketing firm yesterday disclosed that the controversial Range Rover SUV whose ownership was ascribed to the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, was actually imported by his company on behalf of an oil major and subsequently sold to the National Assembly.

Naira appreciates to N385 in parallel market

The naira yesterday maintained its upward performance against the dollar in the parallel market, appreciating to N385 per dollar.

BDCs reluctant to buy dollars as CBN pegs FX rate for invisibles at N360/$, injects $185 million

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday, directed banks to sell dollars for invisible transactions such as personal travel allowance, business travel allowance, school fees and others at N360 per dollar.

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THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER

Probe uncovers masive fraud in Youwin programme

An ongoing probe, ordered by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has uncovered a massive fraud in the Federal Government Youth Enterprise With Innovation In Nigeria programme.

Melaye graduated from ABU with different name — VC

The Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof Ibrahim Garba, on Tuesday, said the lawmaker representing Kogi-West senatorial district, Senator Dino Melaye, graduated from the institution.

Suswam, two others diverted N9.8bn Sure-P, Police funds — FG

The Federal Government, on Monday, accused a former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, and two others of diverting the sum of N9.79bn, part of which was meant for police reform programme and Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme.