Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Thursday, 19th May, 2022

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 19th May 2022

1. 2023: President Buhari To Take Decision On Ministers Who Made U-turn After Resigning To Contest Political Offices

The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari is yet to reveal his final decision on the fate of some Ministers who earlier declared political ambitions and then backed out.
According to the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed who spoke on the matter on Wednesday, the President will decide the fate of such persons.

The President had directed members of his cabinet with political ambitions to tender their resignations on or before May 16, 2022.

Some of the affected persons turned in their letters but after the valedictory session held for all of them, some backed out of their political ambitions and decided to maintain their positions in the cabinet.

Addressing newsmen after the FEC meeting, Mohammed was asked about the fate of the affected persons. He however replied that he would have to consult with the President on the true situation of things.

He added that the final decision on who stays and who leaves lies with President Buhari.

2. Buhari Govt Suspends Accountant-General Of The Federation, Ahmed Idris Over EFCC Probe

The Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has suspended the embattled Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris.

Naija News reports that the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. Zainab Ahmed, suspended Ahmed Idris from office over his alleged involvement in fraud being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Recall the anti-corruption commission had arrested Idris in connection with an alleged N80 billion fraud.

EFCC’s spokesman, Wilson Uwajaren, confirmed Idris’s arrest on Monday after he failed to honour the invitations of the operatives.

The anti-graft agency stated that Idris allegedly diverted funds and laundered N80 billion.

3. IPOB: Lai Mohammed Speaks On FG Banning Facebook

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed on Wednesday noted that President Muhammadu Buhari-led government does not have a plan to ban Facebook in the country.

Mohammed stated this while addressing State House reporters after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The minister in a meeting he had with a team from Facebook on Tuesday, asked the social media platform to prevent the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) from inciting violence on the platform.

According to Mohammed, people had been killed because of the activities of the group.

When asked if the federal government has a plan to ban Facebook like it did in the case of Twitter, the minister said there is no such plan.

4. APC Fixes New Dates For Presidential Primary, Others

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has shifted its presidential and other primary elections.

The development was disclosed in a statement released by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka.

The statement was titled, ‘APC adjusts schedule of activities for 2023 primary elections’.

According to Morka, the National Working Committee of the party approved the new dates on Wednesday.

Morka noted the presidential primary of the ruling party will be held on May 29, 2022.

5. Babayemi vs Adeleke: Court Delivers Ruling On Osun PDP Guber Candidate Tussle

Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State has affirmed the validity of Senator Ademola Adeleke as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Naija News reports that the court delivered its ruling on Wednesday.

The court, however, dismissed the suit filed by Chief Dotun Babayemi, who approached the court to invalidate the primary election that produced Adeleke as the PDP candidate.

Justice Nathaniel Emmanuel nullified the primary election that produced Babayemi, which held at WOCDIF event center, Osogbo on March 8th 2022.

Justice Emmanuel affirmed Senator Ademola Adeleke as the valid elected PDP candidate for the poll.

6. Sanwo-Olu Imposes Total Ban On Okada In Six Local Councils

The Lagos State Government has banned the operation of commercial motorcycles popularly called Okada, in six Local Government Areas of the state.

Naija News reports that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made the announcement while briefing heads of security agencies in the state at a meeting at the State House, Ikeja on Wednesday.

The governor stated that the total ban on Okada in the six local councils takes effect from June 1, 2022, and would be fully enforced.

Sanwo-Olu pointed out that the ban in the six local councils is part of the phase banning okadas in the state.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) under the six local government areas would also be affected.

The governor listed the six affected local councils as Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island and Apapa.

He, however, charged all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), Area Commanders and the Taskforce to enforce the total ban from June 1.

7. Nnamdi Kanu Denied Bail

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has denied the bail application of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB).

The judge said Nnamdi Kanu must account for his whereabouts for years when he was first given bail but refused to appear in court for trial.

The court disagreed with the defendant’s claim that he fled the nation when an armed retinue raided his ancestral home in Abia State.

Naija News earlier reported that the Federal government removed one charge out of the seven against the pro-Biafra activist.

This development was made known to newsmen on Wednesday by Nnamdi Kanu’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor.

8. EFCC Arrests Former NDDC Boss, Nsima Ekere

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Nsima Ekere.

He was arrested on Wednesday by EFCC operatives over corruption allegations running into about N47 billion.

Ekere was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Akwa Ibom State during the 2019 general election.

The arrest was confirmed by the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwajaren.

9. President Buhari Reacts To Kano Gas Explosion, Prays For Victims And Family

The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the victims of the recent gas explosion in Kano State and their family members.

The President in his reaction via a statement on Wednesday evening signed by his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu described the incident as very sad.

He further gave instructions to relevant agencies to provide adequate treatment for the injured persons while commending them for the steps taken so far.

President Buhari commended the immediate steps taken in response to the incident by the agencies of the State Government, National Emergency Management Authority, NEMA, the military, Police and other agencies of the Federal Government.

10. Dangote Broke, Doesn’t Have $1.1 Billion Needed To Complete Refinery – Fitch

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote needs about $1.1 billion (N900 billion) to complete his refinery in Lagos according to American credit rating agency Fitch Ratings.

The refinery which was expected to be ready in 2019 was delayed due to the adverse effect of coronavirus in the country.

Fitch Ratings in its report in May disclosed that Dangote invested all of his money and borrowed additional funds to finance the refinery.

According to Fitch, Dangote Industries Limited was planning to establish a local bond worth $750 million to partially fund the remaining part of the project.

Fitch noted that Dangote Industries suffered from weak corporate governance, adding that having Mr Dangote as CEO and main shareholder will pose a lot of risk to the operations of the organisation.

President Muhammadu Buhari-led government is depending on the refinery to turn around the economy of the country.

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