Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Thursday, 24th August, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 24th August 2023.

1. Emefiele Reportedly Opts For Plea Bargain With FG

The suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele has reportedly opted for a plea bargain leading to an indefinite shift in his arraignment in court.

Sources privy to the development said Emefiele and his his-co accused, Saadat Yaro, have opted for a plea bargain policy to settle with the Federal Government.

Naija News recalls the federal government filed a 20-count charge bordering on alleged breach of procurement laws and contract inflation on the suspects. to the tune of N6.9 billion.

However, the arraignment scheduled for Wednesday by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory was not stated on the cause list of the court this morning.

Similarly, Emefiele and his co-defendant, Yaro were not in court neither was any unusual security presence observed around the court premises.

The lawyers of the parties involved in the matter were also not present in court.

According to Daily Post which quoted sources said to be in the know, the arraignment was shifted at the instance of the detained CBN Governor to enable all parties come into an agreement.

2. APC Elects Six New NWC Members, One National Officer

The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (APC) on Wednesday elected six members to its fold.

The decision was reached in line with the directives of the APC National Executive Committee (NEC).

The ruling party’s NEC in its last meeting ceded part of its powers to the NWC to allow the party’s administrative organ to fill vacant NWC and zonal positions.

The party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, during a media briefing, disclosed the outcome of the NWC meeting held at the APC National Secretariat and election of the new officials.

The new officials are the Deputy National Chairman, North, Ali Bukar Dalori (Borno State); National Vice Chairman, North West, Garba Datti Muhammad (Kaduna State); National Legal Adviser, Prof. Abdul Karim Abubakar Kana (Nasarawa State); National Welfare Secretary, Donatus Nwankpa (Abia State); National Woman Leader, Mary Alile Idele, PhD (Edo State); and, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko (Kogi State). Also, the North Central Zonal chapter of the party has a new Zonal Organizing Secretary, Ikani Shuaibu Okolo (Kogi State).

3. ‘Wike’s Appointment Is One Of President Tinubu’s Groundbreaking Decisions’ – Oshiomhole

The lawmaker representing Edo-North Senatorial District, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has said the appointment of the former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, as Minister of FCT is one of the groundbreaking decisions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Naija News reports that the former national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) stated this during an interview with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said President Tinubu broke the jinx in FCT ministerial appointments by appointing Nyesom Wike as its minister.

Oshiomhole stated that Tinubu had listening ears even though many Nigerians thought appointing Wike as a minister was impossible.

4. Lagos State Assembly Disqualifies 17 Sanwo-Olu Commissioner Nominees

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Wednesday disqualified 17 of the commissioner nominees out of the 39 sent to it for screening by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Naija News gathered 22 Commissioner Nominees were however confirmed by the lawmakers.

This follows the presentation before the House by Hon. Mojeed Fatai of the report of the 12-man ad hoc committee on the screening of the Governor’s commissioner nominees.

Speaking after the decision of the lawmakers, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa thanked the committee members and added that they will as legislators continue to diligently perform their oversight functions in the state.

5. It’s Easier To Get More Women Into Appointive Offices Than Elective Positions – Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has expressed his desire to see more women elected to the National Assembly as Senators and Representatives.

He said despite his desire he still feels that it is easier to get more women into appointive offices than into elective positions in the current political space.

The former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs asserted that the number of women in the Red Chamber is not encouraging and must be deliberately improved upon moving forward.

Akpabio stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at an International Conference on women in governance organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).

6. JAMB Bans Schools From Selling Admission Forms For Distance Learning, NCE, Others

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a fresh directive that bans tertiary institutions from selling admission forms for First Degree, National Diploma, National Innovation Diploma, and the Nigeria Certificate in Education into Full-Time, Distance Learning, Part-Time, Outreach, Sandwich, and other related courses.

The board in a statement on Wednesday directed that all such admission processes must now pass through JAMB only as no institution is henceforth allowed to advertise or sell “application forms” for admissions into the programmes.

The statement noted that the move is part of measures to sanitize the process and urged all institutions to comply with the directive.

JAMB added that it would work with regulatory agencies such as the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) as well as other professional regulatory agencies to ensure the policy is adhered to.

7. My Husband Has Forgiven Ortom After Eight Years Of Political Battle – Mrs Akume

The wife of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Regina Akume, has said her husband, Senator George Akume, has forgiven the former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom.

She stated this during the reception for the newly appointed minister from Benue, Josef Utsev, in Abuja on Monday.

Mrs Akume, while addressing Ortom and other dignitaries at the event, said her husband has so much love for Benue people, adding that he is so compassionate and forgiving.

The member representing the Gboko/Tarka federal constituency in the House of Representatives added that her husband has forgiven Ortom despite their political battle for eight years.

8. NDLEA Launches Manhunt For Lekki Drug Dealer Who Crushed Officer To Escape Arrest

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has launched a manhunt for a Lekki-based drug dealer who crushed one of its officers to escape arrest, Naija News has learned.

The agency, in a statement issued by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed on Wednesday that the suspect had crushed one of its operatives with his luxury car, to escape being arrested.

The statement revealed that when the suspect sighted the NDLEA officers, he put his car in reverse and knocked down one of the officers, pulling down his gate in the process before plunging the vehicle into the fence of the opposite compound.

The force of his car’s speed reportedly pulled down the concrete wall of his neighbour’s compound, then drove out to escape.

It was following this that the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd) ordered the suspect to be fished out.

9. Niger Coup: UK Defence Minister Meets With Military Chiefs, Supports ECOWAS

The Minister of State for the Armed Forces in the United Kingdom (UK), James Heappey MP on Wednesday met with defence leaders and military chiefs in Nigeria.

The meeting was held to deepen defence cooperation between both countries and discuss the situation in Niger.

Heappey met top leaders in the Nigerian Ministry of Defence, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; and Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.

The UK defence chief also met with Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru; and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

He also met with the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Omar Touray.

10. Corn Sellers Cause Insecurity In Abuja – Wike Claims

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has prohibited street vending in Abuja saying that street traders, including those selling corn, contribute to crime and instability in the city.

The former governor of Rivers State made this announcement during a meeting with the management staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration and Federal Capital Development Authority, urging them to prioritise doing what is right.

“The important thing we must do is to ensure that Abuja is back to what it ought to be. I moved around Abuja and found out there is total darkness in most of the places.

“What we need to do is to ensure light comes back as soon as possible,” he said.

Wike ordered the immediate cleanup of Abuja adding, “If you are in charge of sanitation, I will call you at any time of the day.”

He warned that he would not hesitate to remove any official who is not meeting his standards of cleanliness. He also stated that motor parks would not be allowed to operate in unauthorised areas.

That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.