Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Thursday, 5th October, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 5th October 2023.

1. Presidency Speaks On Tinubu Presenting Forged Certificate To INEC

The presidency has debunked claims that the certificate presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by President Bola Tinubu to be able to contest the 2023 presidency is forged.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi who issued a statement regarding the controversy on Wednesday said there is nowhere in the deposition made by the Chicago State University (CSU) that the institution admitted that the certificate presented to INEC by President Tinubu is fake.

He argued further that the university affirmed under oath that Tinubu attended and graduated from the institution and that the school does not handle replacements for lost certificates.

His rebuttal comes amidst reports that the Chicago State University has said in the testimony of the institution that the Nigerian President presented a forged degree certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when he filed his paperwork to lead Nigeria in June 2022.

However, Ajayi in his submission said there is no truth in such claims as no man can forge a certificate he already possesses and it is only what you don’t have that you forge.

2. Senate Confirms Nomination Of Three Ministers

The Nigerian Senate has confirmed three additional ministerial nominees sent to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu.

The nominees who were screened and confirmed were Balarabe Abbas Lawal from Kaduna State, Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim from Kwara State and Ayodele Olawande from Ondo State.

The three nominees were confirmed after their screening which was presided over by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. Their confirmation comes a day after President Tinubu wrote to the Senate, seeking its confirmation of the nominees.

About two and a half hours after the exercise commenced around 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Senate President Godwill Akpabio put the nominations to a voice vote.

The senators voted in favour of the nominees’ confirmation.

3. CJN Swears In 23 New High Court Judges

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, on Wednesday swore in 23 newly appointed Federal High Court judges.

Naija News reports that the new judges were inaugurated at the Main Courtroom of the Supreme Court in Abuja today.

Also, a valedictory court session in honour of the late Justice Chima Lentus Nweze would be held in the ongoing swearing ceremony at the Main Courtroom of the Supreme Court.

Present at the event was Lai Mohammed, the former Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism in Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

4. Lagos Police Declares Mohbad’s Childhood Friend, Primeboy Wanted

The Lagos State Police Command has declared talented Nigerian singer, Owodunni Ibrahim, popularly known as Primeboy, wanted.

Naija News reports that Prime Boy, the childhood friend of Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, was fingered in the death of the singer last month.

In a statement via X on Wednesday, the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said Primeboy was declared wanted over failure to honour the command’s invitation.

The Police said a one million Naira bounty had been placed on the suspect, and anyone with information about his whereabouts should report to the nearest station.

5. Senate Confirms NDDC Board Members, Management

The Senate has confirmed the appointment of a new Board and Management team of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

President Tinubu, on August 29, 2023, appointed Chiedu Ebie as the Chairman of the Board of the Commission and Samuel Ogbuku as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The president reappointed Ogbuku for a second term and has been in an acting capacity, pending the Senate’s confirmation of his reappointment.

Recall that the president also approved the immediate replacement of the Ondo State Representative nominee on the board, Victor Akinjo, with Hon. Otito Atikase.

Tinubu also approved the immediate replacement of the NDDC’s Cross River State Representative nominee, Asi Oku Okang, with a new Rt. Hon. Orok Otuk Duke.

6. Akpabio Speaks On Health Condition Of Nominee Who Collapsed During Screening

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has given an update on the condition of Balarabe Abbas Lawal, the ministerial nominee, who collapsed during screening, on Wednesday.

Naija News reported that Abbas slumped during screening after he had read out his profile and was answering questions on why the lawmakers should confirm him.

The development forced the Senate into a closed session as medical personnel were brought into the chamber to revive the ministerial nominee.

After some minutes, Abbas was successfully resuscitated and taken out of the Senate Chamber by an ambulance.

While speaking on the development, Akpabio said Balarabe admitted that he was exhausted, having been overworked for some days before the screening.

The Senate President said the nominee insisted on proceeding with the screening, saying he was fine.

7. Terrorists Storm Katsina University, Abduct Female Students

Gun-wielding terrorists have reportedly kidnapped five female students of the Federal University in Dutsin-Ma in Katsina State.
Reports obtained by Naija News on Wednesday morning revealed that the terrorists stormed the varsity and headed to a female hostel where they abducted the students.

According to SaharaReporters, a relative of one of the victims identified as Muhammad Fatima, who hails from Lafiagi town of Kwara State, confirmed the attack on Wednesday morning.

The source disclosed that the terrorists arrived the school environment on Wednesday morning and invaded the students’ private lodge along Moriamoh Ajiri School at Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, where they whisked away at least five female students of the university dwelling in the area.

It was asserted that three of the abducted students hailed from Kwara State, one is from Kano and another is from Niger State.

8. Foreign Affairs Minister Speaks On Tinubu’s Certificate Saga Affecting International Engagements

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has reacted to the controversies surrounding President Bola Tinubu‘s academic records from the Chicago State University (CSU), saying the administration cannot waste time on such frivolous matters.

Naija News reports that Tinubu’s academic records released by the Chicago State University (CSU) have continued to stir reactions across boards, with some questioning the authenticity of the credentials.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Tuggar said the controversy does not affect the president’s recent international engagements because no one has shown interest in the saga.

The minister argued that the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, experienced a similar issue of certificate controversy.

9. Concrete Roads: I Won’t Accept Surface Dressing – Umahi Issues New Order To Contractors

Road contractors working with the federal government have been told to use concrete for road shoulders across the country, Naija News has learned.

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, in a statement issued by the Director (Information), Press & Public Relations Unit, Federal Ministry of Works, Lere-Adams Blessing said the government won’t compromise on the durability of road shoulders, hence he won’t accept road shoulders with surface dressing.

Umahi, since assuming office, has continued to advocate for concrete roads instead of asphalt, arguing that they are more durable.

The minister explained that it’s not compulsory for all ongoing projects to switch to concrete pavement, but the Ministry under his watch would only accept concrete road shoulders instead of asphalt.

10. Court Remands Naira Marley, Sam Larry, Others Over Mohbad’s Death

Marlian record label boss, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, also known as Sam Larry has been remanded in police custody by a Magistrate Court sitting in the Yaba area of Lagos State.

Naija News gathered that the Lagos State Police Command requested that Naira Marley and the others be remanded for 30 days pending the completion of their investigation.

The Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun, however, ruled that Fashola and the others be remanded for just 21 days.

Recall that Naira Marley on Tuesday announced his return to Nigeria to aid the investigation of Mohbad’s death.

The controversial singer disclosed the news about his return in a post on Tuesday via his account on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter).

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