Hey there! The following is a synopsis of today’s news in Nigerian newspapers:
1. On Wednesday night, Abiodun Alamutu, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, confirmed the murder of Mr. Taiwo Oyekanmi, the Director of Finance and Accounts attached to Governor Dapo Abiodun’s office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. He had taken a bullion van to the bank to withdraw some cash for the state, but according to Alamutu, Oyekanmi was assassinated on his way back.
2. The 2024 budget for defense and security, education, and infrastructure is set to get N6.75tn out of a projected N27.5tn from the Bola Tinubu administration. An increase of N576.16 billion over the 2023 allocation, it set aside N6.48 trillion (or 96% of the total amount to be spent on the aforementioned three sectors) for personnel and pension.
3. On Wednesday, three officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were arrested and detained by the Nigerian Police for the shooting deaths of two pupils at Senior Secondary School, Life Camp, in the FCT’s Jabi and Gwarinpa regions. Gwarinpa Hospital is now treating the two pupils who were shot by the NSCDC officials.
Mohammed Usaini Gumel, the commissioner of police in Kano state, has issued an arrest warrant for the inspector who shot and killed a local during a gang war. On Wednesday, in the Kurna Asabe area of Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State, at least two people were shot when the police were called in to suppress a violent outburst.
5. On Wednesday, a crowd besieged the INEC office in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State; the Nigerian Army had to intervene to clear the group. Who “sponsored” the mob that besieged the INEC office is a point of contention between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
6. On Wednesday, the parallel market naira/dollar exchange rate remained unchanged at N1,167. The Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) showed, however, that it gained value to N831.47 per dollar.
7. The Ondo State Executive Council is holding its meeting today in Akure, the capital of the state, after a three-month hiatus, which could signal a return to calm. The gathering, to be chaired by Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, will be the first since the opposing factions approved a peace accord during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reconciliation summit in Abuja over the weekend.
8. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court put an end to concerns about the longevity of the old 200, 500, and 1,000 naira notes. It approved the request by the federal government to let the bills circulate endlessly. The bills’ lifespan extension will remain in effect until the required infrastructure is established to replace them.
Isabo, Abeokuta, Ogun State’s Chief Magistrate Court handed down a six-month prison term to Muftau Dosunmu, Osolo of Ado-Odo, for impersonating an oba. Under Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s government, 74 chiefs in Ogun State were elevated to the coronet of Oba, including the Osolo of Ado-Odo in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area.
Throughout the state of Benue, the Benue State Police have apprehended 25 individuals on suspicion of various offenses. From Delta State to Benue State, six people were apprehended, including a husband and wife who were believed to be spiritualists, as well as five others. The arrest of fifteen individuals suspected of being arm manufacturers was also announced in a statement released and made accessible to journalists on Wednesday by SP Catherine Anene, who is the spokesperson for the state command.