Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Wednesday, 23rd June 2021
1. Approve N895bn Supplementary Budget – Buhari To Senate
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday asked the Nigerian Senate to consider and approve N895billion as a Supplementary Budget.
Naija News reports that the request was made known at the senate on Monday
Senate President Ahmad Lawan read Buhari’s letter of request on the floor at plenary.
This online newspaper reports that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had earlier approved the amount.
A substantial part of the fund has been earmarked for the procurement of military hardware to prosecute the war against insurgency and banditry.
The Federal Government is also expected to use part of the fund for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines and other health-related needs.
2. Farouk Lawan Sentenced To 7 Years In Prison
A former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan, has been jailed for 7 years for demanding a bribe of $3million and receiving $500,000.
Justice Angela Otaluka of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting at Apo, Abuja, on Tuesday, found the former lawmaker guilty in the three-count charge brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against him.
Justice Otaluka proceeded to sentence him to seven years in respect of counts one and two and five years on count three.
The judge said the sentences are to run concurrently, implying that he will spend seven years in custody.
Lawan, who was the chairman of House Adhoc Committee on Petroleum Subsidy Regime in 2012, was dragged to court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on behalf of the Federal Government.
The former lawmaker, a four-term member of the House of Representatives, who represented Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency of Kano State between 1999 and 2015, in the case marked FCT/HR/CR/76/13, was alleged to have demanded the sum of $3million for himself from the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, Femi Otedola.
3. SERAP vs FG: Court Gives Fresh Order To Buhari Govt On Twitter Ban In Nigeria
The ECOWAS court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday ruled that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration should not stop anyone from using Twitter until the final suit is determined by the court.
The court barred the federal government and its agents from intimidating, sanctioning, arresting, or prosecuting anyone for using Twitter in Nigeria, pending the final determination of the suit.
It will be recalled after the operation of Twitter were suspended in Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, also threatened to arrest and prosecute Nigerians who were using Virtual Private Network to bypass the suspension of Twitter.
But the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), instituted a suit before the ECOWAS court, arguing that the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria is unlawful and an infringement of fundamental human rights.
The ECOWAS court on Tuesday, ruled in their favour.
4. Senate Confirms Farouk Yahaya As New Chief Of Army Staff
The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Major General Farouk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had appointed General Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff following the death of Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru who died in a plane crash near Kaduna International Airport.
Buhari had last week, written to the Senate, seeking for the confirmation of the appointment of Major General Farouk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff.
The letter according to President Buhari was in line with the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan had read the letter during plenary.
According to Buhari in the letter, Yahaya’s appointment was in compliance with the provisions of Section 18 subsection 1 of the Armed Forces Act 2004.
5. Buhari Approves FG’s Team To Meet Twitter Over Suspension
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the composition of the Federal Government’s Team to engage with Twitter over the recent suspension of their operations in Nigeria.
The approval was announced in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
According to the statement signed by Segun Adeyemi, Lai Mohammed will chair the team.
The Federal Government’s team also comprises the Attorney General of the Federation and Honourable Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, as well as other relevant
government agencies.
6. President Buhari Unveils New Strategy To End Insecurity In Nigeria
President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated the commitment of his administration to the security of Nigerians through effective policing.
Speaking on Tuesday at the passing out parade of 418 officers of the 3rd Regular Cadet Course at the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil-Kano, Buhari said “a citizen-led policing system” will be deployed to tackle insecurity.
The President who was represented at the occasion by the Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi stated further that the welfare of police operatives remains a top priority for his administration.
He recalled that it is based on this that he directed the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to carry out an upward review of police wages and entitlements.
The President noted that more personnel will join the force with the recruitment of 10,000 junior officers annually by his administration.
7. Biafra: Nnamdi Kanu Slams Southeast Governors For Disowning IPOB
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has lashed out at governors from the southeast region for disowning his organization.
Describing them as hypocrites, Kanu in a statement on Tuesday by the spokesperson of IPOB, Emma Powerful told the governors that they are not speaking the mind of the people.
He added that the governors can’t decide the fate of the people of the region, noting that they have lost touch with reality.
Naija News recalls the governors had earlier dissociated themselves from the activities of IPOB and the agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra.
But reacting to the position taken by the governors, Kanu described them as traitors and accused them of fighting for their own selfish interests alone.
8. Nigerian Troops Arrest Bandit In Possession Of Military Kits
The troops of the Nigerian Army operating along Mokwa-Jebba road has arrested a fleeing bandit in a vehicle travelling from Zuru to Ibadan during a stop and search operation.
The development was disclosed on Tuesday by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu.
Nwachukwu while speaking on the development noted that the troops spotted an occupant of the vehicle, who claimed to be Sgt. Aminu Sule.
He noted that the suspect was seen with a pair of camouflage, military boots, a knife and substance suspected to be charms.
According to him, the suspect confessed to be travelling to Ogbomosho in Oyo State and further claimed that the uniform and boots belonged to his brother, who was a soldier.
9. NLC To Resume Strike In Kaduna As Negotiation With El-Rufai Suffers Setback
The Nigeria Labour Congress on Tuesday threatened to resume strike in Kaduna State.
The development was disclosed by the president of NLC, Ayuba Wabba, while speaking with newsmen after an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday.
Wabba noted that the congress was forced to take the decision after exhausting all avenues to resolve the issue amicably.
The NLC President further stated that part of their efforts was writing letters to President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, but the actions failed to yield any positive results.
According to him, members of the congress have been mobilized to resume the suspended mass action.
10. Ondo: #EndSARS Protester Who Put To Bed In Prison Granted ₦10 Million Bail
The #EndSARS protester who was delivered of a baby in prison, Kemisola Ogunniyi, has been granted bail and released temporarily.
Naija News reports that she was released from Surulere Prison in Ondo East Local Government on Tuesday afternoon.
A judge of an Ondo State High Court had granted her a N10 million bail on Tuesday but ordered that she should be allowed to attend her child’s naming ceremony even before fulfilling her bail condition.
Ogunniyi is currently on her way to Akure, the state capital, where her temporary freedom will be ratified by Justice Omolara Adejumo.
She is expected to return to the prison after the naming ceremony.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
