Top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Monday, 2nd August 2021.
1. Buhari, APC Not Forcing Anyone To Join Party – Presidency
The presidency has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari or the All Progressives Congress (APC) does not force opposition politicians to join the ruling party.
Truetells Nigeria reports that this was made known by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
Shehu was reacting to a statement former ex-Jigawa governor, Sule Lamido, that it is not honourable for Buhari to receive members of other political parties into the APC at the Presidential Villa.
Lamido also accused the president and APC of using blackmail to get members of the opposition into their fold.
2. Hushpuppi: IGP Recommends Suspension Of Abba Kyari
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has recommended the immediate suspension of DCP Abba Kyari, the Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), from the Service of the Nigeria Police Force, pending the outcome of an ongoing internal investigation touching on him.
The IGP, in his letter to the Police Service Commission, dated 31st July, 2021, noted that the recommendation for the suspension of the officer, is in line with the internal disciplinary processes of the Force.
It will be recalled that the Nigerian supercop, Kyari has a bribe allegation against him by Ramon Abbas popularly known as Hushpuppi.
Hushpuppi had claimed that he bribed Nigeria’s celebrated police chief Abba Kyari, US court documents reveal.
3. APC Can’t Go Beyond 2023, Buhari Encouraging Defection – Sule Lamido
A former governor of Jigawa State and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamido, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of attaining power through lies.
According to the former Foreign Affairs Minister, the APC will not live beyond the 2023 election.
While insisting that the PDP would regain power in 2023, Sule Lamido said the ruling party has failed to fulfill its promises and its leaders exposed as liars.
The former Jigawa governor told DailyTrust in an interview that President Muhammadu Buhari is encouraging defection into the ruling party.
He accused the president and APC of using blackmail to get members of the opposition into their fold.
4. Hushpuppi: Police Commission Suspends DCP Abba Kyari
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has suspended decorated officer, DCP Abba Kyari from the Nigeria Police Force.
Truetells Nigeria reports that the suspension of Kyari from the Force followed a letter written by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali, dated 31st July 2021 to the commission.
The police boss had recommended Kyari’s suspension to allow for an independent investigation of the allegations against the officer following US court documents linking him to an alleged fraudster, Ramon Abbas popularly known as Hushpuppi.
According to a statement on Sunday by the Force spokesman, Frank Mba, the IGP noted that the recommendation for the suspension of the officer is in line with the internal disciplinary processes of the Nigeria police.
5. Twitter Ban: We Are Monitoring Activities In Nigeria – Commonwealth
The Commonwealth has disclosed that it has placed Nigeria on its watchlist over the suspension of Twitter.
Truetells Nigeria reports that the Muhammadu Buhari-led government had on June 4, 2021, ordered the indefinite suspension of Twitter.
The directive was sequel to the deletion of Buhari’s tweet, which according to Twitter violated the rules.
The Federal Government also threatened to prosecute citizens and broadcast stations who continue to tweet.
Reacting in a letter to the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, said the body is monitoring repression of the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, media gag, and disregard for the rule of law.
6. Gunshots As ISWAP Fighters Ambush Soldiers On Mission To Secure Politicians
A military convoy was attacked by dozens of suspected ISWAP fighters along Gubio/Damasak highway in the northern part of Borno State on Saturday.
It was gathered that an undisclosed number of military officers sustained injuries in the attack while utility vehicles belonging to the troops were forcefully taken away after a gun battle.
A further report had it that the soldiers ran into the ambush at Kareto while travelling to Gubio in Borno State to pick APC members for their ward congress fixed for Damasak.
Kareto is the hometown of Bukar Gana Kareto, who represents Kukawa/ Guzamala/Abadam/ Mobbar Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
The affected town has been abandoned for years due to the activities of Boko Haram/ISWAP.
The soldiers were supposed to accompany the politicians from Abadam to Damasak, the venue of their Ward Congress.
7. Hushpuppi: FBI Submits Evidence Against Abba Kyari
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has submitted detailed evidence against the Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), DCP Abba Kyari, to the Nigerian Police Force.
The Force Public Relations Officer (PRO), CP Frank Mba, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday made available to Truetells Nigeria.
According to Mba, the evidence submitted by the FBI to the Nigeria police contains documents detailing Kyari’s crimes and dealings with an arrested fraudster, Ramon Abbas popularly known as Hushpuppi.
Mba noted that the documents provided will assist a Special Investigation Panel set up by Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali, to properly investigate the weighty allegations against Kyari.
8. Four Killed, Houses Burnt As Gunmen Invade Plateau Communities
Suspected Fulani herdsmen have killed four persons and burnt several houses during an attack on some communities in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
It was learnt that the attackers invaded the communities on Saturday night while the people were sleeping, injuring several people during the attack.
In an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday in Jos, National President of Irigwe Development Association, Ezekiel Bini, said the attackers burnt houses from Zamuna village to Jebbu Miango.
9. Hushpuppi: Arewa Youths React To Abba Kyari’s Alleged Indictment
Northern Group, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, has reacted to the indictment of supercop, DCP Abba Kyari, in the fraud case involving infamous fraudster, Ramon Abbas, aka Huspuppi.
Truetell Nigeria recalls Hushpuppi had claimed that he bribed Nigeria’s celebrated police chief Abba Kyari, US court documents reveal.
Officials said in court filings that Hushpuppi disclosed during interrogation that he paid bribes to Abba Kyari, a deputy police commissioner, to have one of his rivals arrested and jailed in Nigeria following a dispute over a $1.1 million dupe of a Qatari businessman.
In a statement on Sunday, signed by its leader, Yerima Shettima, Arewa Youths described Kyari’s indictment as an “attempted intimidation of a police officer right inside his independent fatherland”.
The group also berated the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for issuing an arrest warrant for the decorated police officer.
However, AYCF declared that nothing must happen to Kyari in the wake of his indictment in the fraud case involving Hushpuppi.
10. Akwa United Win 2020/2021 NPFL Title
Uyo-based Akwa United have emerged champions of the 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season after defeating MFM FC on Sunday, 1st August.
The Uyo-based team defeated MFM 5-2 on Sunday to win the NPFL title for the first time since the club was established 25 years ago.
With 71 points after 37 matches played and a long run of 18 games unbeaten, Akwa United are deserved champions of this season’s title.
Though it is the first time Akwa United will be winning the league title, their coach, Kennedy Boboye made history as he is winning the title for the second time in his career after as he had led Plateau United to win their first league title back in 2017.
