Nigeria News
Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Saturday, 22nd July, 2023
Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 22nd July 2023.
Rubber-Stamp National Assembly? Not Again!
There were at least three developments this week that gave the current National Assembly away as being out to break a new record in rubber-stamp legislating. The feelers in this early going have left many a Nigerian wondering if the Senator Godswill Akpabio-led parliament won’t worsen the despicable nadir to which its immediate predecessor fell in terms of crassly ingratiating itself to the Buhari government. Indeed, the disturbing signals to be highlighted shortly, pose a serious danger to democracy and public accountability in Nigeria as they call to question the utility of the staggering amount which the country spends in maintaining the National Assembly and its members.
It all started with President Bola Tinubu announcing the intention of his government to disburse N500bn to 12 million households as a palliative measure to mitigate the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy on vulnerable Nigerians. This will however require the approval of the National Assembly which was given post haste by both chambers, without care that the intervention which budgets ₦8,000 to each of the households for a period of six months elicited widespread criticisms from Nigerians. The condemnations were so deafening that presidential spokesman, Dele Alake came out to announce a review of the conditional cash transfer programme after the proposal has been approved by federal lawmakers, pointing out that the rescission “is in deference to the views expressed by Nigerians against it”.
There Would Be Anarchy If Rule Of Law Is Truncated – Peter Obi Lawyer Fires President Tinubu
The Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have dismissed a written address by President Bola Tinubu regarding the February 25 presidential elections.
They labelled the President’s response as a sign of “desperation taken too far.”
Recall that in the address, the President’s representatives, led by Wole Olanipekun, challenged the claims made by Obi’s witnesses, including Clarita Ogah, a supposed cloud engineer at Amazon.
They warned the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) that a misinterpretation of the law related to lawful votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, could lead to chaos and anarchy.
EFCC: Corruption, Nepotism, Blackmail Rocks Nigeria’s Anti-Corruption Agency
Shocking allegations of corruption, promotion racketeering, tribal bigotry resulting in the elevation of persons from a particular region is currently rocking the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to an investigation by Daily Independent, sources have revealed corruption in the disposal of assets and proceeds of crime seized by EFCC, fingering the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in the sleaze.
The officers alleged that the leadership of the commission ran an extortionate regime made possible by institutionalised nepotism.
Some officers said governors were blackmailed into paying hefty sums in hard currencies. One instance was given of a former South-East governor, who was made to part with $6 million of late.
A source said the emergence of EFCC chairmen was skewed to favour a particular section of the country, saying, “We are running an institutionalised apartheid system in this agency,” adding that the chairmen were put in the office at the expense of more experienced professionals who are their seniors.
We Will Address Nigerians’ Concerns On 2023 Elections – INEC
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has said the various concerns raised by Nigerians regarding the results declared during the 2023 elections will be addressed.
Yakubu gave the assurance on Friday while speaking at the post-election review meeting with Collation and Returning Officers who participated in the 2023 general election, held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
He said the commission intends to discuss concerns in-house and share experiences on the way forward, even though some of the concerns raised during the elections were before the courts.
The INEC boss, therefore, stated that a comprehensive report will be prepared and released after the completion of the review of the 2023 elections.
Lawyers, Journalists, Others Barred From Ex-Terrorists Negotiator, Tukur Mamu’s Trial
An unexpected turn of events unfolded on Friday in Courtroom 7 of a Federal High Court in Abuja during the trial of Tukur Mamu, a former negotiator for terrorists. Lawyers, litigants, and journalists were instructed to vacate the room.
When proceedings began, E.A Kaswe, a lawyer representing the Attorney-General of the Federation, indicated that the prosecution’s witnesses were present and ready.
He then requested Justice Inyang Ekwo to enforce an order allowing only involved parties to remain in the courtroom, which was granted.
Surprisingly, this contradicted an earlier request by the prosecution to let accredited journalists stay and observe the proceedings. The trial continues behind closed doors.
Justice Ekwo had previously agreed to an application from the Federal Government to protect its witnesses in the case against Mamu, who is accused of having ties to terrorists involved in last year’s attack on a train heading to Kaduna.
Peter Obi Issues Warning Against Distracting Presidential Tribunal Judges
The Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate in the February 25, 2023 elections, Peter Obi has urged individuals he referred to as “agents of retrogression” to refrain from behaviour that might sidetrack the judiciary from impartially while addressing the cases before them.
His message was relayed via a statement issued on Friday by the Head of the Obi-Datti Media office, Diran Onifade in Abuja.
The statement highlighted Obi’s deep concern about attempts by these unnamed entities to distract and divert the nation’s Judiciary from handling its crucial national tasks.
Suspended CBN Governor, Emefiele Set To Appear In Court
The suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele is scheduled to make a court appearance on July 25 at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court.
Emefiele has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) following allegations levelled against him. He is due to enter his plea before Justice Nicholas Oweibo.
Recall that on June 10, DSS operatives visited Emefiele’s residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, a day after his suspension as CBN governor by President Bola Tinubu.
Emefiele has been in custody since his arrest, a move that DSS insists was authorized by an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court.
Presidential Tribunal: Atiku Claims Victory In 21 State In Final Address Seeking Tinubu’s Removal
The former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar has urged the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja to recognize his victory in the presidential election, claiming he won in 21 states.
The claim, submitted via his legal team led by Chief Chris Uche, SAN, is based on a response filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Atiku’s petition challenging the election of President Bola Tinubu.
Atiku argues that INEC neither disputed nor denied his victory in the states he listed in its final brief of argument. He contends that the electoral body’s silence on his claim is an admission of its validity.
In his appeal, Atiku lists Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Ekiti, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Osun, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara as states where he emerged victorious.
UNILAG Increases Tuition Fees From N19,000 To N100,000
The management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka in Lagos has increased the tuition fees for its undergraduate students.
This was contained in a statement released on Thursday by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) UNILAG branch, following a meeting with the top management staff.
According to the statement, the management of the institution has increased the tuition fee from N19,000 to N100,750 for students who are offering programmes that do not require a laboratory and studio.
The statement disclosed that the new fee is fixed at N190,250 for students studying medicine, while students offering courses that require laboratory and studio will pay N140, 250.
Govt Hikes Fees Of Federal Govt Colleges From N45,000 To N100,000
The school fees of Federal Government Colleges, otherwise known as Federal Unity Colleges, across the nation, have been increased from N45,000 to N100,000.
Naija News understands that the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, has directed that new students of these colleges across the federation would pay N100,000 on resumption.
The new directive was contained in a circular from the Office of the Director of Senior Secondary Education Department of the Federal Ministry of Education, reference number ADF/120/DSSE/I, dated 25th May 2023 and addressed to all Principals of Federal Unity Colleges.
The circular titled “Approved fees/ charges for Federal Unity Colleges (1st Term) for new students“, signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, says new students are expected to pay ₦100,000 instead of the previous N45,000.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
