Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Friday, 13th October, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 13th October 2023.

1. Tinubu Appoints Olukoyede As New EFCC Chairman

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Ola Olukoyede as the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, made this known in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, Naija News reports.

Ngelale said the president appointed Olukoyede for a renewable term of four years in the first instance, pending his confirmation by the Senate.

He added that the appointment is in line with the powers vested in President Tinubu as established in Section 2 (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.

Ngelale said Olukoyede is a lawyer with over 22 years of experience as a regulatory compliance consultant and specialist in fraud management and corporate intelligence.

He said Olukoyede had previously served as the Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman between 2016 to 2018, and the Secretary to the Commission between 2018 to 2023.

2. Tinubu Violating Constitution For Failing To Convene FEC Meeting – Atiku

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of violating the 199 Constitution for failing to convene a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting since August.

Naija News reports that Tinubu has not convened the FEC meeting 44 days after the inaugural cabinet session held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on August 28.

However, 44 days after the inaugural meeting, the President’s failure to preside over any FEC meeting has continued to raise questions about his capacity to lead the country.

Reacting to the development in a statement on Thursday, a media aide to the PDP candidate, Phrank Shaibu, said President Tinubu is breaking the law by presiding over just one FEC meeting since he inaugurated his cabinet.

Atiku’s spokesman claimed that Tinubu is breaking section 148(2) of the 1999 Constitution, adding that having presided over just one FEC meeting is an indication that Tinubu is not ready for governance.

Shaibu said the cabinet might not be having regular FEC meetings because “they are clueless” and have “nothing to discuss”.

3. CBN Lifts Forex Restrictions On Rice, Cement, Building Materials, Toothpicks, Others

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has finally lifted the foreign exchange restrictions it placed on the importation of 43 items, including rice, cement, and some building materials, among others.

Naija News reports that after imposing foreign exchange restrictions, the apex bank announced in a statement signed by the director of corporate communications of the bank, Dr Isa AbdulMumin, said a significant change has been made in the foreign exchange market policy.

It would be recalled that importers of these items were restricted from purchasing foreign exchange as outlined in the 2015 Circular referenced as TED/FEFPC/GEN/O1/010 and its addendums.

However, with this new policy, importers of such items are now allowed to participate in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market to buy foreign currency for their transactions.

4. Ifeanyi Ubah Defects To APC From YPP

The Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Ifeanyi Ubah, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Young Progressives Party (YPP).

According to a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during a brief plenary session on Thursday, Ubah said his defection was due to irreconcilable differences in the YPP.

The letter further explained that Ubah’s decision is in the interest of his constituents.

Born on the 3rd of September, 1971, Ubah is a Nigerian business mogul, politician and philanthropist. He was also the Vice Chairman of the Petroleum Upstream Senate Committee from June 2019 to June 2023.

5. House Of Reps Confirms NDDC Board, Management

The House of Representatives, on Thursday, screened and confirmed the members of the board and management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The designates had earlier appeared before the House ad-hoc committee mandated to conduct the screening, chaired by Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu

In her remarks, Hon. Ibori-Suenu, who doubles as Chairman of the House Committee on NDDC, charged the nominees to justify the confidence reposed in them by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The screening exercise featured presentations by Chiedu Ebie and Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, NDDC Chairman and Managing Director/CEO designates respectively, who shared details of their respective career trajectories, and vision for the commission.

Subsequently, the Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Ali Isa moved the motion for the designates to take a bow in deference to the fact that the Senate had similarly screened and confirmed the designates, and also in consideration of the fact that some of the designates are former parliamentarians.

The motion was seconded by Deputy Leader of the House, Hon. Abdullahi Halims, and unanimously carried by the committee.

6. ‘It Is Jankara Judgement’ – Sylva Reacts To Court Order Sacking Him As APC Guber Candidate In Bayelsa

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the November 11 polls in Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva has described the court order which sacked him as the party’s candidate as ‘jankara judgement.’

According to Sylva, the judgment can not stand because it is against natural justice.

He further claimed some people who are afraid of his rising profile and have started panicking ahead of the polls are behind the court order.

Naija News recalls that an Abuja High Court on Monday disqualified Sylva from contesting the November governorship election.

Justice Donatus Okorowo who gave the order held that allowing Sylva to contest the November 11 governorship polls would be against the constitution of the country which states that no person should be voted for as a governor more than twice.

The Judge explained that Sylva having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of Bayelsa would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.

Reacting personally to the court order, Sylva, who spoke for the first time after the court ruling while campaigning in Agoro in the Ekeremor local government area of Bayelsa on Thursday, told the people and his supporters not to be dismayed.

He urged them to come out in large numbers on election day and vote for APC.

7. Why Tinubu Has Not Convened FEC Meeting After Inauguration – Presidency

The Presidency has given the reason President Bola Tinubu has not convened the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting 44 days after the inaugural cabinet session.

Recall that the president inaugurated 45 ministers who attended the maiden cabinet meeting held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on August 28.

However, 44 days after the inaugural meeting, the President’s failure to preside over any FEC meeting has continued to raise questions about Tinubu’s capacity to lead the country.

Speaking on the development, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Print Media, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, said it is not an issue because there is no specific time for the FEC meeting.

In a chat with Daily Trust, Abdulaziz asserted that President Tinubu had a different idea of the functions of the FEC, adding the fact that the meetings have not been held does not stop governance.

8. Dismiss Atiku’s Appeal, It Lacks Merit – Tinubu Tells Supreme Court

President Bola Tinubu has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal filed by the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and the opposition party.

Tinubu, who was the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 election, said this in a response filed by his lawyers on Saturday to Atiku’s notice of appeal.

Recall that the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, in its judgment on September 6, dismissed the petition filed by Atiku challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election.

According to the tribunal, the former Vice President failed to prove all the averments in his petition, stressing that his petitions lacked merit and was dismissed.

However, Atiku filed 35 grounds notice of appeal before the Supreme Court on September 18 and asked the apex court to set aside the entire findings and conclusions of the tribunal.

In the appeal, the PDP candidate submitted that the tribunal’s findings were done with “grave errors and gross misrepresentation”, which resulted in a miscarriage of justice.

In response to the appeal filed by Atiku, President Tinubu stated that the presidential election petition tribunal was correct in arriving at its verdict and affirming his election.

The president insisted that the appellants failed to prove all their allegations and submissions at the tribunal, adding that they have demonstrated any reason why the apex court should disturb any of the findings of the lower court.

Tinubu, however, described the appeal filed by the PDP candidate as “abusive in nature” and prayed for its dismissal.

9. Peter Obi Can Consider Career In Evangelism, He Is Campaigning After Election – Reuben Abati Drags LP Candidate

Veteran Nigerian journalist, Reuben Abati has called out the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi over the press conference he held in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to Abati, the conference by Obi was pointless and needless, adding that the LP candidate should stop moralizing issues.

Naija News recalls Obi on Wednesday during his press conference, called on President Bola Tinubu to re-introduce himself to Nigerians and say the truth about his name, identity, school records and other details.

However, Abati on Thursday during the Morning Show on Arise TV, slammed Obi, telling the LP candidate to stop seeking undue publicity and media attention.

According to Abati, what the former Anambra State Governor is doing, is like campaigning after election, adding that Obi should understand the matter is already before the Supreme Court and the court should be allowed to do its work.

10. CBN Governor, Cardoso Reveals Tinubu Govt’s Eight Years GDP Target

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Yemi Cardoso, disclosed on Thursday that the economic policy proposals put forth by President Bola Tinubu‘s administration have the potential to achieve a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of one trillion dollars within a span of eight years.

Naija News reports that the CBN governor revealed this during the ongoing 2023 World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings in Marrakesh, Western Morocco.

According to Cardoso, the apex bank is currently undergoing a process of reorientation to prioritize overall economic growth. He furthermore said the incumbent administration will identify fiscal reforms and growth targets that will enable the realization of this ambitious goal within the specified timeframe.

Cardoso highlighted that a study conducted on emerging markets has indicated that Nigeria’s economic trajectory aligns with the proposed economic reforms, provided they are faithfully implemented.

This study involved an examination of economies such as Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS), as well as Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey (MINT).

These countries share similar population sizes and developmental characteristics with Nigeria, Naija News understands.

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