Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Saturday, 18th November, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 18th, November 2023.

Tinubu To Depart Abuja For Germany To Attend G20 Conference

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will, on Saturday, November 18, depart Abuja for Berlin, Germany.

In a statement on Friday by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu will attend the G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) Conference on November 20, 2023, hosted by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

During the conference, President Tinubu will join other Heads of State and Government of CwA member countries, bilateral partners, as well as Heads of International Organizations to deliberate on the immediate enhancement of economic and business cooperation with a view to outlining concrete measures to boost investments in critical areas such as energy, trade, infrastructure, and new technologies, among others.

The G20 CwA Conference will be taking place alongside the Fourth G20 Investment Summit, co-hosted by the German government and German business associations.

Appeal Court Sacks Kano Gov, Abba Yusuf

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has sacked Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.

The panel upheld the Tribunal’s verdict led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan Osadebay, which sacked Yusuf on September 20, 2023.

Naija News recall that in the March 18, 2023 election, Yusuf of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) was declared the winner by the Independent National Electronic Electoral Commission (INEC) with 1,019,602 votes, surpassing Nasiru Gawuna’s 890,705 votes.

However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) took the matter to the Tribunal, alleging electoral malpractice.

Subsequently, a three-man panel, including Justice Oluyemi Akintan Osadebay, along with two other judges, removed Yusuf from office on September 20, 2023, after declaring 165,663 of his votes invalid due to the lack of signatures or stamps from the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Appeal Court Affirms Bala Mohammed As Bauchi Governor

The Appeal Court, Abuja Division has affirmed the victory of the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, in the March 18 governorship election.

The panel of three justices was unanimous, awarding no cost as the court ruled that each party to the matter should bear their costs.

Naija News had earlier reported that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, had challenged the judgment of the election petition tribunal, which affirmed the re-election of Mohammad of the PDP.

The presiding justice read the judgment in the order of the appellant’s plea before the appeal court.

Tinubu Stops 40% IGR Deduction From Universities

President Bola Tinubu has announced the cancellation of the automatic deduction of 40 per cent from the Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) of federal universities.

Tinubu made this known on Friday at an ongoing 75th Founder’s Day ceremony of the University of Ibadan (UI) in Ibadan.

President Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, said the policy implementation is ill-timed, adding that universities are struggling.

In his speech as a Visitor to the university, Tinubu pledged his commitment to the reform of the nation’s education sector as the bedrock for national development.

Court Remands Emefiele In Kuje Prison, Adjourns Bail Application Ruling

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has ordered the remand of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.

The presiding judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, gave the order on Friday and adjourned the ruling on the bail application filed by the former CBN boss till November 22, 2023.

Emefiele was arraigned by the Federal Government on a six-count charge bordering on procurement. The original charge, which was 20 counts of N6.5 billion, has been reduced to six, to N1.6 billion.

In the amended charge sheet, the Federal Government alleged that Emefiele illegally bought 43 vehicles between 2018 and 2020 worth N1.2 billion.

Governor Adeleke Denies Suspending Osun Chief Judge

The Osun State Government, led by Governor Ademola Adeleke, has denied claims that the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Oyebola Ojo, was suspended.

Naija News recalls that Justice Ojo approached the National Industrial Court, Ibadan division, over the move to remove her.

The presiding judge, Justice Dele Peters, following the appeal before the court, granted a restraining order to Governor Adeleke and three others from removing her.

However, Justice Ojo was suspended, and Adeleke ordered that Justice Yinka Afolabi be sworn into an acting capacity pending the time Osun State House of Assembly will investigate the petition filed against her.

Appeal Court Sacks Labour Party Lawmaker In Lagos

The Court of Appeal has sacked Labour Party (LP) candidate, Olukayode Doherty, as the winner of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Amuwo-Odofin II Constituency election.

The court upheld an earlier ruling by the Election Petition Tribunal, which sacked Doherty and declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Rauf Age-Suleiman, as the winner of the election.

The tribunal had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to present Sulaiman with the certificate of return as the winner of the election.

The court held that the Electoral Act 2022 does not allow a candidate to be declared winner if the candidate did not fully participate in the election process.

Plateau: Governor Mutfwang Speaks On Judges Receiving $5 Million Bribe To Remove Him From Office

The Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, on Friday, distanced himself from the report claiming that judges received a $5 million bribe to nullify his election victory.

Naija News reports that Governor Mutfwang, who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), described the claim as “baseless and defamatory”.

Mutfwang debunked the claim in a statement released through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, in Jos, the State capital.

He attributed it to the deliberate actions of his detractors aimed at sowing discord between him and the esteemed judges and other constituted authorities.

While expressing his deep concern over the matter, Mutfwang demanded thorough investigations by security agencies to identify and apprehend those responsible for the libelous publication.

“I Can Not Sign A Document Seeking Vote Of Confidence On Akeredolu Without Executive Meeting’ – Ondo Commissioner

Two members of the Ondo State Executive Council have failed to sign a statement passing a vote of confidence on the state Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

Naija News understands that Akeredolu is still in Ibadan Oyo State, recuperating after returning from a medical vacation in Germany.

Thirty-three out of thirty-five members in a statement released on Thursday, declared their unflinching trust in the governor.

The statement was titled ‘We stand by our courageous principal and mentor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON. Governor, Ondo State.’

Police Release Naira Marley, Sam Larry

Popular Nigerian singer, Azeez Fashola, known as Naira Marley, and show promoter, Sam Larry, have been released from detention by the Lagos State Police Command.

The duo was released after meeting their bail conditions.

The spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed their release.

Speaking via Twitter, Hundeyin said, “Naira Marley and Sammy Larry, having met their bail conditions, have been released.”

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