Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Monday, 5th October, 2020

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Monday, 5th October 2020

1. IGP Bans F-SARS, Others, Declare Checking Of Citizen’s Phone Illegal

The operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, F-SARS, and other Tactical Squads of the Nigeria Police Force have been banned from routine patrols including searching phones of citizens.

Naija News reports that the order is coming after Nigerians called out the Police authorities and political leaders to disband the controversial unit of the police force.

Responding to the outcry of citizens, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu in a statement on Sunday signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, banned the unit from carrying out its usual patrols including other low-risk operations.

According to Mba, the IGP’s directive is with immediate effect. The directive affects the Special Tactical Squad, Intelligence Response Team, Anti-Cultism Squad, and other Tactical Squads operating at the Federal, Zonal and Command levels.

The order also banned the police units from setting up checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks and traffic checks. Hence, no personnel of the Force is authorized to embark on patrols or tactical assignments in mufti, the IGP ordered.

2. Some People Planned To Use Suspended Labour Strike To Cause Anarchy – Presidency

The presidency on Sunday observed that some people are unhappy with the decision of the organized labour not to proceed with its planned strike due to their selfish ambitions.

The presidency in a statement by Femi Adesina, special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity alleged that some people had planned to hijack the expected labour strike and use it to cause unrest in the country.

The statement noted that such persons have been attacking labour leaders after the decision to shelve the planned strike following a negotiation with the federal government.

Naija News recalls the organized labour had mobilized to commence an indefinite strike action over the decision by the government to increase electricity and petrol price.

However, less than 24 hours to the expected kick-off of the strike, labour reached an agreement with the federal government and the strike didn’t hold again.

In a fresh reaction to the development, Mr. Adesina on Sunday who didn’t mention any specific names, noted that some people are smarting from the suspended labour strike for their own selfish reasons.

3. Fuel Price: You Can’t Caution, Query Buhari – APC Fires PDP

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lacked the moral authority to caution or query President Muhammadu Buhari.

Naija News recalls that the PDP had called slammed President Buhari over his decision to remove petrol subsidy and compare fuel prices between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

Reacting, the APC describes as baffling PDP decision to query the Buhari administration.

The ruling party made this known in a statement on Sunday titled: “Reasons PDP has No Moral Authority to Query PMB’s Administration – APC,” by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena.

The statement read in part “Between 2006 and 2013, PDP governments spent over N5.42 trillion on subsidy, which was 15.57% higher than the 2014 national budget of N4.69 trillion.

“It was also under the PDP government that the number of fuel importers rose from 5 in 2006 to 10 in 2007, 19 in 2008 and spiked up to 140 in 2011. This was one of the biggest causes of corruption because many firms only existed on paper and collected subsidies on fuel that never existed.

“To make matters worse, 60 million barrels of oil valued was stolen under the watch of PDP controlled NNPC between 2009 and 2012. The NNPC during the PDP years also failed to remit US$20 billion in oil revenues owed to the nation, which was confirmed by PwC and Deloitte investigative reports.

“The PDP has no genuine reason to cry wolf or display moral authority over subsidy under the Buhari administration.”

4. SARS Did Not Kill Anybody In Delta – Keyamo

Festus Keyamo has asked Nigerians to disregard the reports that some officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS shot to death one person in Ughelli, Delta State.

According to the Minister of State, Labour and Employment in a thread of tweets on his microblogging site account on Sunday, October 4, men of the controversial unit of the Nigeria Police Force didn’t kill anybody as alleged in some quarters.

Keyamo noted that the Delta State Police Commissioner and a sibling to the alleged victim, Ochuko confirmed that his brother is not dead.

He, however, disclosed that the man attacked was alive and currently been treated. The minister noted further that the attack was not carried out by SARS officials but by operatives of the Operation Delta Safe.

Naija News recalls earlier reports had it that the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad killed a man around Wetland Hotel, Ughelli in Delta State.

5. Cutting Hands Off Will End Corruption – Senator Smart Adeyemi

Senator Smart Adeyemi (APC-Kogi West) has stated that public officers will not steal funds if their hands are cut off.

He stated this while speaking at a retreat for the senate press corps in Lokoja, Kogi state, on Saturday.

According to him, bills for the enactment of the Mosaic law as a measure to curb corruption in the country was needed.

Senator Adeyemi said: “Like I said on the floor of the senate; if we want this country to be great, we must look at some acts of parliament; more so the ones that have to do with anti-graft agencies. I want my children to be happier than I am in Nigeria, and to do that there must be enough money to meet the needs and aspirations of the people,” he said.

“What am I talking about? Let us confront corruption. Very soon I’m coming back to the chamber to bring bills on ICPC and EFCC. I want us to introduce Mosaic law, what you call Sharia law. By the time you cut the hands of 10, 20 people in this country, nobody will want to steal again.

“By the time you say two, three people should face serious punishment; if you say that is too harsh let us have mechanised agriculture of about 200, 250 acres, once you are involved in corruption, you will spend your life farming for us.”

The Mosaic law is ascribed to Moses in the old testament of the Bible. He wrote the 12 testaments which guided Israel at the time.

6. One Killed As APC, PDP Supporters Clash In Ondo

Supporters of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have again clashed with those of Eyitayo Jegede, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of the October 10 Ondo governorship election.

Naija News reports that the clash between supporters of the rival political parties resulted in the death of a yet-to-be-identified man.

It was gathered that Akeredolu and Jegede’s supporters clashed at Oba Nla area of Akure, the state capital, on Saturday night.

The incident also left several persons injured while many vehicles were vandalised during the confrontation, according to SaharaReporters.

Recall that about two weeks ago eight people were injured in a clash between supporters of the APC and the PDP.

A car was also burnt in the clash that occurred at Oba Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Government Area of the state.

7. EFCC: Magu’s Latest Demand To Invite Buhari’s CoS, Minister Rejected

The Presidential panel probing the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has rejected a request by Magu.

Naija News understands that the former EFCC boss had asked the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel to invite President Muhammadu Buhari‘s Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari; the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi; and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas.

He also requested the invitation of a former Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde; the Director-General of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, Modibbo Hamman-Tukur; EFCC’s Acting Director, Directorate of Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Management, Mr Aliyu Yusuf; an EFCC lawyer, Bala Sanga; and a former EFCC official, Isa Dongoyaro.

The Salami-led panel had last week drafted a subpoena addressed to the naval chief, minister and others to appear, The Punch reports.

It was however learnt that the panel made a U-turn and decided not to invite them anymore following the refusal of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to honour a summons.

A lawyer to Magu, Mr. Tosin Ojaomo, accused the panel of dening Magu a chance to properly defend himself against the allegations levelled against him.

8. Pastor Adeboye Has Blessed Restructuring – Shehu Sani

Former lawmaker representing Kaduna Central senatorial district, Shehu Sani, has reacted to the statement of the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Enoch Adeboye, calling for restructuring of Nigeria.

The cleric on Saturday called on President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to restructure Nigeria to avoid the possibility of break-up.

Adeboye in his statement noted that restructuring of Nigeria would hinder the country from breaking up.

He stated this at the 60th Independence Day celebration Symposium organized by RCCG and the Nehemiah Leadership Institute on Saturday.

Sani in his post on Twitter wrote, “Denied its physical blessing by the establishment, restructuring got its spiritual blessing from Pastor Adeboye.”

9. Edo2020: Why I Didn’t Campaign Against Obaseki – Fayemi

Ekiti state governor and chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi has spoken on why he did not campaign against Godwin Obaseki in the just concluded governorship election in Edo state.

He said campaigning for APC during the election would have amounted to campaigning against his colleague, Governor Godwin Obaseki who ran on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Obaseki polled a total of 307, 955 votes to defeat All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Osagie Ize-Iyamu who got 223, 619 votes, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

However, speaking with journalists in Lagos, Fayemi said he could not campaign for the APC in the election because his role as chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum does not allow him to campaign against any sitting governor who is seeking reelection.

He said those who are allowed to do so are the chairmen of the APC Governors Forum headed by Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and Aminu Tambuwal who is the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum.

10. Peter Obi Speaks On Killing Of Young Nigerians By SARS, Makes Demand

A former Vice Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the activities of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) which has led to the deaths of many young Nigerians.

Naija News reports that the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) chased a young Nigerian to his death last month and on Saturday, October 3, it was reported that SARS officials killed another young Nigerian in Delta State, southeast Nigeria.

It was learned that the SARS operatives allegedly shot the young Nigerian in front of Wetland Hotel, Ughelli in Delta State and left the scene, with the development resurrecting the clamour by Nigerians for the department of the Nigeria Police to be shut. Nigerians called for #ENDSARS in a series on tweets on the micro-blogging site, Twitter on Saturday.

Reacting to the recent activities of the SARS operatives which led to the death of the young Nigerian, Obi, a former governor of Anambra and VP candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 Presidental election, said: “SARS was not set up to harass, intimidate, extort, maim or kill citizens.”

The former governor, who was reacting to claim that he did little or nothing to stop SARS brutality during his time as the governor of Anambra added that “it is time to review its activities and put a stop to the excesses now associated with it.”

That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.