Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Friday, 3rd December, 2021

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 3rd December 2021

1. Again, Court Adjourns Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial

The trial of the embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, will resume on January 18, 2022.

Naija News reports that the new trial date for the Biafra agitator was declared by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday at his emergency hearing.

Justice Nyako had earlier scheduled Kanu’s trial for January 19 and 20, 2022.

However, the court granted an abridgment of time after a motion was filed in that respect by Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor and the hearing proceeded December 2, 2021.

Justice Nyako also ordered DSS to allow Kanu to practice his faith, change his clothes, and be given the maximum possible comfort in the detention facility.

2. 2023: Wike Reveals Type Of Candidate He Will Support For PDP Presidential Ticket

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has revealed that he will only support a person who is prepared to lead and not just bear the title of ‘president’ to emerge as the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He added that whoever would emerge as the 2023 presidential candidate of the PDP must be ready to confront the ‘evil’ called APC.

This is as he predicted that there will be turbulence in the PDP for the presidential candidate of the party to emerge.

The Governor however assured that the kind of turbulence he is envisaging is not the type that will tear the party apart but the process won’t be easy.

Wike made the submissions on Thursday in an interview with a national television in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

3. Fayose Re-arraigned By EFCC Over Alleged Money Laundering

Former Governor of Ekiti, Ayodele Fayose has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the allegation of money laundering.

Naija News reports that Fayose and his company, Spotless Limited were re-arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday.

EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the court that a newly amended charge had been filed and he sought the court’s permission to re-arraign Fayose and his company.

According to the EFCC, the two defendants were re-arraigned based on an amended charge bordering on money laundering and non-declaration of assets.

4. Fuel Scarcity Averted As NUPENG Suspends Planned Strike

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has suspended its nationwide strike notice issued two weeks ago.

Naija News reports that NUPENG had announced its plan to embark on strike due to the unfair labour practices against its members by the National Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and others.

Following the expiration of the two-week ultimatum, the union extended the notice by seven days.

But in a statement on Thursday signed by its President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary of the union, Afolabi Olawale, NUPENG said it resolved to suspend the strike following an assurance from the Federal Government that its demands will be addressed.

5. 2023: “We Will Teach APC A Bad Lesson, They Will Lose All Elections From Presidency To Councillorship Levels” – Fintiri

Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri has submitted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) should be ready to taste the bitter pill of defeat in the 2023 general elections.

The Governor made the submission on Thursday in Yola, the state capital where he noted that the people of the state have lost confidence in APC and just as they voted for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019, they will do it again in 2023.

Fintiri spoke when he played host to members of the state Forum of Councillors, stressing that the PDP will defeat all other parties including the APC when the election comes.

However, the APC has replied the Governor, saying it won’t be a smooth ride for him in a bid to return for a second term in 2023.

6. “We’ll Do The Needful” – Malami Gives Update On When Buhari Govt Will Name Sponsors Of Terrorism

The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that it is not shying away from the responsibility of publicly naming terrorists’ sponsors but the work is still in progress.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami who gave the update said the list contains names from Nigeria and some other countries.

He said the government was only taking its time to ensure all due processes are followed before the names are made public.

The AGF assured that work is in progress, some arrests have been made and at the appropriate time, the details of those involved but locally and internationally will be made public as no one will be spared.

7. Emirates Finally Resumes Flight Operations In Nigeria

International carrier, Emirates Airline has said that flight operations between Dubai and Nigeria will resume from December 5, 2021.

Recall that the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had said that the Nigerian Government and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have settled their differences.

The Muhammadu Buhari government had barred Emirates airlines from flying into Nigeria over UAE’s travel restrictions on Nigerians as regards COVID-19 protocols.

But the minister stated that the ban was lifted following successful dialogue with the UAE, adding that the country had also removed all discriminatory policies on Nigerians.

Siriki equally stated the ban was lifted due to the calls by Nigerian travellers to resolve the impasse with the Middle East country.

On Sunday, Emirates had stated that flight operations to and from Nigeria to Dubai remain suspended until further notice.

But in a statement on Thursday, the airline said it is resuming operation in the country following the resolution of its row with Nigeria.

Emirates added that it will operate to and from its Nigerian gateways with daily flights, providing travellers from Nigeria with convenient access to Dubai.

The carrier said throughout the pandemic it has been updating passengers with industry-leading health and safety measures at every point of the travel journey.

It said the COVID-19 PCR tests are mandatory for all inbound passengers arriving in Dubai, including UAE citizens, residents and tourists, irrespective of the country they are coming from.

8. “Nigerians Cannot Have This Type Of Evil Come Up Again In 2023” – Wike Predicts APC Crash Before 2023 Elections

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has predicted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be hit by turbulence which will crash the party before the 2023 general elections.

The Governor also urged Nigerians to reject APC which he described as an ‘evil’ party and vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

While submitting that both the PDP and APC will have their fair share of turbulence ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Rivers State Governor maintained that PDP will survive but the APC will be submerged.

Wike made his view known on Thursday during an interview with the African Independent Television (AIT) in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

9. Why Shekarau’s Lawyer’s Office Was Sealed – Kano Govt

The Governor Abdullahi Ganduje-led administration in Kano State has disclosed why the building housing the chambers of Barrister Nuraini Jimoh was sealed.

There had been reports that the state government locked the facility housing the chamber of one of the lawyers of Ibrahim Shekarau, hours after Shekarau’s All Progressives Congress faction defeated Governor Ganduje in court.

Recall that a high court in Abuja validated the exco elected at the APC congress conducted by Shekarau’s and dissolved the excos of Ganduje’s faction.

The closure of the facility had been linked to the loss suffered by the Ganduje APC faction.

The state government in a statement released on Thursday through its Bureau for Land Management said the target was the owner of the building, not the lawyer.

The spokesperson of the bureau, Murtala Shehu Umar, described reports which linked the issue to the court verdict as mischievous, adding that several other properties were sealed that day.

10. Kaduna Gov’t Sacks 233 School Teachers Over Certificate Forgery

Governor Nasir El-Rufai-led government of Kaduna State has sacked no fewer than 233 primary school teachers over certificate forgery.

This is as the State Universal Basic Education Board carried out verification on about four hundred and fifty-one certificates to ascertain their authenticity and to ensure the teachers meet certain requirements, Naija News understands.

Chairman of the board, Tijjani Abdullahi, who disclosed the development to newsmen in Kaduna on Thursday, maintained that there was no going back in the conduct of competency tests for public school teachers in the state.

Abdullahi noted that the board had commenced verification exercises since April in order to confirm if teachers possess the qualifications they claimed.

He noted that so far, the board verified 451 certificates from 13 institutions, adding that out of the figures, 233 certificates were discovered to be ‘fake’.

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