Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Sunday, 8th October, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Sunday, 8th, October 2023.

NDLEA Replies Police, Speaks On Arresting Mohbad, Releases Evidence

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has denied arresting the late Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, also known as Mohbad, at any time.

Naija News reports that the agency was reacting to a statement by the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Idowu Owohunwa.

Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, CP Owohunwa had stated that the police was yet to get a response from the NDLEA on social media allegations bordering on alleged arrest and detention of Mohbad.

Recall that a viral video of Mohbad had shown the singer accusing the Agency of arresting and giving him an unknown substance to drink that affected his health.

But in a swift reaction in a statement titled ‘Mohbad: NDLEA responded to police inquiry since September 28, 2023,’ the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said NDLEA had since responded to the police.

FG Issues Licence To 11 Independent Electricity Distribution Network Operators (Full List)

President Bola Tinubu-led government earlier this week revealed that licences have been issued to seventeen Independent Electricity Distribution Network operators, among which 11 are currently operational.

The Federal Government revealed this in the 2022 Market Competition Report released on Tuesday by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, an agency of the Federal Government.

The report reads in part, “The commission has also licensed 17 Independent Electricity Distribution Network operators of which 11 are operational.”

Tinubu Govt Suspends Buhari’s N-Power, Begins Probe

The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government has suspended the social intervention scheme, N-Power, indefinitely.

Naija News recalls that the N-Power Program was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to address the issue of youth unemployment and help increase social development.

But speaking in an interview on TVC News on Saturday, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Betta Edu announced the indefinite suspension of the program, adding that the government has begun an investigation into its activities.

She stated that the decision to suspend N-Power was due to some irregularities within the scheme, adding the government has launched an investigation into the utilization of funds since the inception of the program.

According to the Minister, some beneficiaries are not found in their place of assignment, yet they expect monthly stipends.

IPOB Announces Plan To Negotiate Biafra Referendum With Federal Government

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Saturday announced its intention to negotiate with President Bola Tinubu-led government on a peaceful exit of Biafra from Nigeria through a United Nations-supervised referendum.

According to IPOB, the peaceful agitation for Biafra Independence started in 2012 without any violence or criminality.

The group, however, claimed that the Federal Government has continued to attack its members.

The spokesperson of the group, Emma Powerful stated this in a press statement released on Saturday.

Tinubu’s Academic Records: Why Atiku Will Fail At Supreme Court – President’s Lawyer

The lawyer to President Bola Tinubu, Oluwole Afolabi on Friday said the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar will fail in his bid to unseat his client.

Naija News understands that Atiku who came second in the 2023 presidential election approached the apex court over the discrepancies in the records of President Tinubu obtained from Chicago State University (CSU).

The former Vice President is also challenging the ruling of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which struck out his petition against Tinubu’s victory.

Afolabi described Atiku as being on a wild goose chase while reacting to Atiku’s press conference following the release of Tinubu’s academic record.

Do Not Waste Your Money In Court, Use It To Help Those In Need – Otti Advices Opposition

The governor of Abia State, Alex Otti has advised his political opponents to join him in developing the state.

Naija News recalls that on Friday the election tribunal dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Okey Ahiwe against the victory of Otti.

Speaking via a statement on Saturday, Otti thanked the residents of the state for standing by him during and after the election.

He subsequently urged his opponent to stop further litigation and use the money to help communities that are in need.

Otti argued that there are communities without roads and water and if financial resources are channelled into making their situation better they would be grateful.

Hamas-Israel War: 198 Killed In Gaza, 40 In Israel

Not less than 198 Palestinians have been killed following retaliatory Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip, health officials confirm.

Officials added at least 1,610 people had been injured in the strikes.

Israel launched what it called “Operation Sword of Iron” in response to Hamas’s incursion, which began with massive rocket strikes early Saturday morning.

The health minister in Gaza had earlier declared a state of emergency in hospitals across the territory.

Ohanaeze Slams Supreme Court For Shifting Nnamdi Kanu’s Judgement To December

The youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), has slammed the Supreme Court for adjourning the judgement of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The group has called on the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government to release the IPOB leader in other to avoid a looming conflict, Naija News reports.

The National President General, of the council, Igboayaka O. Igbo Sayaka told presume in Owerri, Imo State capital on Saturday that the Nigerian government’s refusal to release Kanu is a clear sign that the Southeast, dominated by Igbos are political captives in Nigeria.

The group described the continuous “derogatory incarceration” of Kanu in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) as “a deliberate act to perpetually keep the Igbos in servitude and fiefdom as political captives in Nigeria.”

PDP Wins 11 States In Governorship Tribunal, APC 10, LP 1

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has so far emerged victorious in ten states, following the ruling of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on the March 18 governorship elections.

Naija News understands states won by the APC are Gombe, Cross River, Benue, Lagos, Kano, Ogun, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kebbi and Sokoto.

In Gombe, the tribunal affirmed the re-election of Muhammadu Yahaya as governor of the state.

The state tribunal on the 26th of September, 2023 dismissed the petitions of the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Jibrin Barde, and that of the African Democratic Congress and its candidate, Nafiu Bala.

FG Issues Final Warning To Arise TV

The Federal Government through the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has issued a final warning to Arise Television over the use of derogatory and incendiary remarks on its station.

Naija News reports that the warning was contained in a letter by the NBC’s Director General, Dr Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, on October 6, 2023.

The letter urged the TV station to have a delay mechanism to guard against undesirable contents.

The letter, which was addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Arise Global Media Limited, also urged the TV station to keep to its responsibility of keeping its guest on check.

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