Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Tuesday, 20th December, 2022

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 20th December 2022

1. Buhari Govt Insists It Negotiated With Twitter Before Lifting Ban

The Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has dismissed claims that it failed to negotiate with social media giants, Twitter, before allowing the platform resume operations in the country last year.

Naija News recalls that a former senior Twitter official had claimed that there was no negotiation between the company and Nigeria to lift its suspension on Twitter.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said the present government carried out a series of painstaking negotiations with Twitter.

2. INEC Speaks On What Would Happen If BVAS Breaks Down On Election Day

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has come out to give the way forward in case the Bimodal Voter Registration System (BVAS), machines break down on Election day.

Naija News reports that the commission has disclosed that plans have been put in place to replace faulty BVAS machines that might fail at various polling units on the day of election.

According to INEC’s spokesman Festus Okoye, the electoral body has provided spare BVAS machines across polling units in the country, therefore any machine that fails would be replaced with the spare ones.

Okoye while speaking on Channels Television explained that 176,000 BVAS has been deployed to polling units in the country, noting that some personnel have also been trained to handle issues of such.

He however noted that in case there is no remedy till the end of the election day, elections would be undermined and voting would be repeated within 24 hours as stipulated in the Electoral Act.

3. Doyin Okupe Sentenced To Jail For Money Laundering

The Director-General of the Labour party presidential campaign council, Doyin Okupe has been sentenced to a two-year jail term for the offence of money laundering.

Okupe was convicted on Monday by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The judge gave the ruling as it relates to a money laundering case brought before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on alleged money laundering and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N702 million.

Okupe was was found guilty of collecting cash payments in excess of the threshold allowed under sections 16(1)&(2) of the Money Laundering Act, without going through a financial institution.

According to the judge, the embattled Labour Party DG was reported to have received hundreds of millions in cash from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki while he was in office.

Naija News recalls Okupe served as a Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the then President, Goodluck Jonathan.

He was dragged before the court by the EFCC alongside two companies – Value Trust Investment Ltd and Abrahams Telecoms Ltd on a 26 count-charge.

Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Ojukwu convicted Okupe of diverting public funds through the Office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki to the tune of about N240m.

The judge ruled he kept receiving more than 5 million in cash contrary to the money laundering act and should therefore serve a two-year jail term each for count 34 to Count 39 which will run concurrently or pay 500,000 each on the 26 counts totalling N13,000,000.

4. PDP Crisis: Tension As Sani Abacha, Jafa, Wali Await Court Ruling On Kano Gubernatorial Ticket

A Federal High court sitting in Kano has on Monday reserved ruling on the contentious Kano Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial ticket till Thursday, December 22nd.

Naija News reports that Muhammad Sani Abacha, Sadiq Aminu Wali, and Sani Bello have been involved in a struggle for the governorship ticket of the PDP Kano state.

Abacha had earlier approached the court demanding that he be declared the winner of the Party Primary Election conducted on 25th May, 2022.

He also prayed the court to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), its officers, agents, and privies from further recognizing Sadiq Aminu Wali or any other person as the gubernatorial candidate of PDP in Kano State.

While Abacha was contesting the case at the court another candidate, Jafar Sani Bello instituted a fresh suit challenging both Mohammed Abacha and Sadiq Wali on alleged ground of qualification in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian constitution, Electoral Act and PDP constitution.

Jafar Sani Bello, similarly joined INEC in the suit for recognizing Sadiq Wali as the flag for the party, as he urged the court to join him as an interested party in a suit he instituted and Wali was however joined.

Dissatisfied with the court decision, Sadiq Wali approached the court of appeal asking it to nullify the Federal high court rulling.

The Court of Appeal, consequently upheld that the Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction to hear the matter as such Wali should not be joined as party in the suit

At the resumed hearing on Monday, the trio were informed by their counsel that the judgement would be delivered via zoom but was adjourned to next Thursday, December 22nd.

5. Cash Limits: PoS Operators Give CBN Ultimatum

The call for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to reverse its cash withdrawal limits policy is still on the high.
This is as the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria on Sunday expressed optimism that the apex bank will reverse the policy.

The AMMBAN National President, Victor Olojo in a chat with Punch said the National Assembly has promised to prevail on the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to revise the policy.

Recall that the apex bank a few days ago fixed weekly cash withdrawals for individuals at N100,000 and corporate bodies at N500,000 weekly.

According to CBN, withdrawals above the thresholds would attract processing fees of five per cent and 10 per cent respectively, for individuals and corporate entities effective January 9.

In addition, third-party cheques above N50,000 shall not be eligible for over-the-counter payment while extant limits of N10 million on clearing cheques still remain.

Olojo on Sunday said the statement by the apex bank that POS operators would not be affected by the policy has made the group soft-pedal on its planned legal action.

He, however, warned that if the policy was not reversed before the end of the year, its members would take to the streets to demand its reversal and also drag the apex bank to court.

The PoS operators’ union president said, “We have not gone to court yet because we have gotten assurances and we are waiting for a formal response from the CBN. We have visited the National Assembly and we have also explored other tools at our disposal at this time.

6. Police Shoot Dead 12 Terrorists In Bauchi

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Bauchi State have reportedly killed no fewer than twelve terrorists in recent operations.

The State Police Command revealed this in a statement released on Monday through its Public Relations Officer, SP Ahmad Wakil.

Wakil said the assailants, including kidnappers and bandit terrorists, were neutralized during a raid on their hideouts in the Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state.

He said the Police also recovered weapons and motorcycles from the bandits. Wakil said that a joint operation of security operatives engaged the suspects in four hideouts at Mansur, Digare, Gwana and Dajin Madam in Alkaleri Forest.

7. Ohanaeze Speaks On Alleged Killing Of Northerners In South-East, Link To Peter Obi

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, on Monday, distanced itself from a report of 100 northerners being killed in the South East.

The group in a statement released through its National Publicity Secretary, Alex Ogbonnia described the report as a lie from the pit of hell.

Ogbonnia in the statement called on the people behind the claim to show evidence of the allegation.

According to Ogbonnia, the allegation levelled against the region is capable of setting the country on fire.

He further stated that the claim should not be treated with levity, urging security agencies to arrest those behind the false allegation.

The group noted that the allegation was targeted against the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, who is gaining popularity and acceptance across the country.

8. Igbo Presidency: You Don’t Even Understand What You Are Promising – APC Fires Atiku

The spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential council in the southeast, Dr. Josef Onoh has knocked the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar over a recent promise to be the stepping stone to an Igbo presidency in Nigeria.

Onoh said Atiku was Vice President of Nigeria for eight years and didn’t do anything tangible about empowering the Igbos politically.

He also took a swipe at the PDP candidate, saying he has not made any significant contribution on how to tackle the insecurity plaguing the southeast but wants the people of the region to vote for him in 2023. Speaking further, Onoh alleged that Atiku does not understand the concept of restructuring which he is promising or how to achieve it but only lying in God’s name.

The reaction of the APC chieftain followed Atiku’s submission last Thursday in which he urged the people of the southeast region to vote for him to pave way for the Igbo presidency.

The former Vice President described himself as the stepping stone to the Igbo presidency.

Naija News reports he made the submission in Anambra State while addressing supporters during his party’s presidential campaign in the state.

Atiku boasted that he has shown his support for the Igbo presidency by running with an Igbo man on three occasions while seeking the country’s presidency. He told the people of Anambra that a vote for the Atiku/Okowa ticket in 2023 is a faster route to realizing the dream of an Igbo presidency.

But reacting, Onoh blasted the former Vice President, stating that his only affiliation to the southeast is marrying from the region but later divorcing the woman.

9. “Give Him Space”: Moment Okupe’s Lawyer Confronted Security Agents Over His Client After Court Order

A trending video has emerged on the internet which captured the moment the lawyer of the embattled Doyin Okupe warned security agents not to harass his client.

The incident which happened on Monday just outside the courtroom took place shortly after a judge of the Federal High Court sentenced Okupe to two years in prison for money laundering.

Okupe was convicted of violating the money laundering act by receiving cash in excess of the law’s provision from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki while he was in office.

However, as earlier reported by Naija News, the presiding judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu gave Okupe the option of paying a fine

of N500,000 for each of the 26 counts he was found guilty, making a total of N13 million instead of going to jail but added that the issue must be resolved before 4.30pm else he would be remanded in prison.
The lawyer was however caught seriously warning the security agents to give his client space needed to sort himself as directed by the court.

He added that if by 4.30pm as directed by the Court Okupe is unable to sort himself, then the security agents can have their way.

10. Presidency Speaks On Governors Meeting Buhari Over CBN’s Naira Withdrawal Limit

The Presidency has said a date is yet to be fixed for President Muhammadu Buhari to meet with a delegation of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

Naija News reports that governors, across party lines, had resolved to meet Buhari over their rejection of the N100,000 and N500,00 cash limit for indidviduals and corporate organisations recently announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

A source told Daily Sun that Buhari’s itinerary is not known having just returned to the country from the official visit to Washington DC, the United States of America, where he participated in the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit.

Naija News reports that the forum, after its meeting in Abuja last Thursday, resolved to send a delegation to President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the CBN to review the policy.

A source revealed that the state governors, across party lines, believe the new CBN policy will pitch Nigerians against the administration of President Buhari.

A source said that governors also resolved to appeal to Buhari to retain the prevailing cash withdrawal limits in the country and extend the January 30th, 2023 deadline for the phasing out of the redesigned Naira notes.

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