Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Friday, 22nd October, 2021

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 22nd October 2021

1. Anambra Election: Buhari Issues Fresh Directive To Military

President Muhammadu Buhari has given a marching order to the Nigerian Military to ensure everything necessary is done to make Anambra State peaceful and ready for the scheduled governorship election.

The President gave the instructions on Thursday after receiving briefings from the nation’s security chiefs and heads of security agencies at the presidential villa in Abuja.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno revealed Buhari told the service chiefs that the people of Anambra have the right to elect their leader and everything must be done to make the atmosphere conducive for elections to take place.

The President warned that despite the heightened security challenges, no group or individual must be allowed to sabotage the upcoming elections in Anambra State scheduled for November 6.

2. IPOB’s Nnamdi Kanu Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ To Charges Levelled Against Him

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has pleaded ‘not guilty’ during his re-arraignment at a federal high court in Abuja on terrorism charges.

Naija News reports that the court session on Thursday commenced at 10 am.

When the charges were read to him, the IPOB leader pleaded ‘not guilty’.

Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers also made a case for the IPOB leader to be transferred from the DSS custody to the correctional facility but their wish was not granted by the court.

3. Nigerian Military Kills New ISWAP Leader, Mallam Bako

The Nigerian Military has killed the new leader of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), Mallam Bako.

He was killed two days ago as confirmed on Thursday in Abuja by the National Security Adviser, General Babagana Monguno (retd).

Monguno made the disclosure while briefing newsmen after the security meeting in the Aso Rock Villa presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari during which he received briefings from the nation’s security chiefs and heads of security agencies.

The NSA made the disclosure while recounting the victories won by the troops of the military in the ongoing fight against Boko Haram, ISWAP, kidnappers, terrorists, insurgents, and other criminals in the country.

4. Abuja-Kaduna Train Service Suspended Indefinitely After ‘Bomb’ Attack

Services on the Abuja-Kaduna railway service have been suspended indefinitely by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

The suspension was announced via a notice to customers on its booking website where the corporation said the step was taken to keep the passengers safe.

It added that the services will be restored as soon as possible and passengers will be notified.

“Due to unforeseen circumstances, train services have been immediately suspended for the safety of our dear passengers.

“Efforts are in place to restore service. Further information would follow immediately, the service is restored,” information on the website reads.

The suspension of service is believed to be linked to the recent attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train.

5. Nnamdi Kanu: Soldiers Kill Five IPOB Members In Abia

The Nigerian Army has killed five members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the Arochukwu area of Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State.

According to a source, the IPOB members were killed on Thursday during an exchange of gunfire with soldiers around the palace of the community’s monarch.

He said the IPOB members were enforcing the sit-at-home order they declared to protest the unlawful detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The source said the pro-Biafra agitators took to the streets to celebrate the news that their leader had been brought to court.

He added that the IPOB members who were also in a jubilant mood that Kanu is alive, contrary to reports they had been getting about the safety of the separatist leader, marched on the streets.

On arriving at the First Bank axis of the town, the IPOB members engaged the soldiers in a gun duel, but five of them surrendered to the superior firepower of the troops.

6. Sen. Ndume Threatens To Relocate Overseas Over Rising Expenditure In Nigeria

The Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has condemned the yearly recurrent expenditure component of the national budget of the Federal Government.

The senator described as worrisome and dangerous the money being paid as personnel and overhead costs despite an embargo placed on employment by President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.

Ndume threatened to exit Nigeria and relocate overseas if relevant authorities refused to put necessary arrangements in place to arrest the ticking time bomb.

Naija News understands that the lawmaker expressed himself during the submissions by the Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Mr Ekpo Nta while defending his agency’s 2021 budget before the Senate Committee on Establishment on Thursday.

7. IPOB’s Nnamdi Kanu Terrorism Case Adjourned To November 10

The case of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been adjourned to November 10, 2021.

Naija News gathered that Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had postponed the case to November 10.

Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Nnamdi Kanu’s lead counsel, had asked the court to transfer him from the custody of the DSS to Kuje prison.

But Binta Nyako, the judge, refused the application.

Nnamdi Kanu was driven away by the DSS from the courtroom, and he will remain in their custody until the next hearing date.

8. LPPC Promotes Seven Varsity Professors, 65 Others To SAN Rank

The Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) has promoted seven university dons and sixty-five others to the rank of the Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs.

The names of the promoted individuals were revealed on Thursday by the Supreme Court led by the acting Chief Registrar of the court who also doubles as the Secretary of the LPPC, Hajia Hajo Sarki-Bello, Naija News understands.

According to a statement made available to newsmen, the promoted persons would be inaugurated on December 8 by the Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN Honourable Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad.

9. ’16 APC Governors Support Tinubu’s 2023 Presidency’

Sixteen All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors are supporting the presidential aspiration of the National leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The Chairman, Southwest Agenda for Tinubu (SWAGA), Senator Dayo Adeyeye, made this known on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

According to the former Minister of Works, the governors are ready to work for the actualization of Tinubu’s presidential bid.

He explained the governors are supporting Tinubu because of his administrative acumen, mental capacity, rare leadership quality, and unequaled political structures which cut across the six geo-political zones.

Adeyeye noted that the Office of President was too important to be given to a political lilliputian without structure, adding that Tinubu is perfectly suitable for the plum position by all standards.

10. IPOB Gives Two Conditions That Must Be Met Before It Can Negotiate With The Government

The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has listed two conditions that must be met before it can enter into negotiations or deliberations with the government.

The group on Thursday through its spokesperson, Emma Powerful demanded the unconditional release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and also want a date set for the referendum on Biafra to take place.

Powerful said once these two conditions are in place, discussions can now follow.

The IPOB spokesperson argued that Kanu has done nothing wrong, adding that some people are openly relating with known bandits and roaming the streets freely while the government is harassing Kanu for asking for what is within his constitutional rights.

Those are the top Nigerian newspapers headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.