The day to you! The headlines from today’s Nigerian newspapers are as follows.
1. The House of Representatives has initiated a probe into the alleged misappropriation of approximately N447.6bn in COVID-19 intervention fund from 2020 to 2022 by summoning 83 ministries, divisions, and agencies of the Federal Government. In 2020, 22 of the MDAs received a total of N447.6 billion from COVID-19.
On Monday, the Nigerian presidency placed the blame on former president Olusegun Obasanjo for the country’s ailing democracy. The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has pointed out that the country’s current form of democracy can be traced back to Obasanjo’s time in charge, first as military Head of State from 1976–1979 and then as civilian President from 1999–2007.
3. The Peoples Democratic Party has urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, to form up a judicial panel of investigation to explore the alleged All Progressives Congress interference in the Court of Appeal verdict that fired the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang. Debo Ologunagba, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, issued a statement condemning an APC leader named Yusuf Gagdi’s brazen boast that the APC has connections at the Supreme Court.
The original deadline for land allottees in Abuja to pay their outstanding ground rents had passed, but now that date has been extended to December 14, 2023 by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike. Debtors were notified that their titles might be revoked if they did not pay “within two weeks from the date of publication,” according to a publication signed by FCTA Permanent Secretary Olusade Adesola.
5. Factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Edison Ehie, has claimed he is willing to die while doing what is right for the interest of the state. He said that he was the target of an assassination attempt because he opposed an evil plot to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Yesterday’s meeting between Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz improved the outlook for German investment in Nigeria’s electricity and rail industries. It was the second time in a month that the two heads of state had met to discuss German investment in Nigeria.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has stated that monthly income inflow into the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) budget has increased from N650 billion to N1trillion since the elimination of subsidy on petrol. He made these remarks at the beginning of a four-day retreat for FAAC members in Asaba, the state capital of Delta.
On Monday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld the election of All Progressives Congress (APC) member Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia as governor of Benue State. Alia was proclaimed the victor of the March 18 elections after the court rejected an appeal made by Peoples Democratic Party candidate Titus Uba.
Ade Olowopopo of Lakwe Lekki, Lagos State, has filed a lawsuit against his sons Kunle and Mayowa for allegedly beating their sister Bisi and stealing from him. The Olowopopos were charged on Monday before Magistrate O. M. Ajayi presiding over an Ebute Metta Magistrate’s Court on five counts bordering on breach of peace, assault, breaking, stealing, and threat to life.
The Lagos State Police Command claims they have not received the results of the autopsy performed on the late musician Ilerioluwa Aloba, alias Mohbad, two months ago. On Monday, Benjamin Hundeyin, the State Police Public Relations Officer, made this information public and asked Nigerians to reject the rumor.
Mismob Media