welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Tuesday, 13th July 2021
1. 2023: You Were Still In School When Rotation Of Presidency Was Agreed – Ohanaeze Blasts Kogi Governor
The apex Igbo socio-cultural and political organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has lashed out at Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello over his recent comment in which he rejected rotational presidency.
Truetells Nigeria recalls Governor Bello had rejected the zoning of the 2023 presidency to the south as advocated by governors from the southern region.
According to him, rotational presidency is not recognized by the 1999 constitution and Nigerians must be allowed to choose their leader.
However, Ohanaeze in a response on Monday via a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Alex Ogbonnia told the Governor that he was still studying accountancy at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria when an agreement was reached between the North and the South with respect to rotational presidency.
The group urged the Kogi governor not to abuse the fact that fate smiled on him and he got political power in 2015 at such a young age.
2. Buhari Govt Makes Promise To Ohanaeze Over Nnamdi Kanu
The federal government of Nigeria has assured the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo socio-cultural organization that it will be allowed to monitor the trial of the re-arrested leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The FG in a statement on Monday through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami also assured that Kanu will get a free trial.
The government gave the assurances in response to the communique issued by Ohanaeze after the meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC) held on Saturday in Enugu and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia.
Ohanaeze also raised a legal team led by the National Legal Adviser of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and eminent Igbo leaders to monitor Kanu’s trial.
Responding on Monday, the AGF in a statement made available to newsmen by his media aide, Dr. Jibrin Umar Gwandu assured that it has nothing to hide and the IPOB leader will get a free trial.
The government also appealed to the monitoring group to come with an open mind and be ready to accept whatever verdict the court reaches after the trial.
3. Open Grazing Ban: Expect No Peace In Nigeria – Fulani Group Declares
Southern governors have been told to expect no peace for refusing to back off from the ban on open grazing in the region.
Truetells Nigeria reports that Southern governors following incessant killings and attacks by alleged Fulani herdsmen in their various states, declared that open grazing will no longer be allowed in other to curb troubles between farmers and herders.
The state leaders had also declared September 1, 2021, as the commencement date for the implementation of the ban.
A Fulani group, Gan Allah Fulani Development Association (GAFDAN) has, however, said that the ban on open grazing in the South will spell doom for the entire country.
4. Obaseki Speaks Out On Dumping PDP For APC
The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has described as laughable, rumours that he is set to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This is as the Governor on Monday revealed that there is no truth in rumours that he is planning to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and return to the APC which he dumped in 2020 in the build-up to the Edo State governorship election.
According to a statement by the PDP national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, Obaseki declared he is committed to serving Edo under the “stable, people-oriented and democratic structure” of the PDP.
The Governor was quoted to have urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in their determination of supporting the PDP to “rescue the nation from the misrule of the APC”.
5. Bandits Release Kaduna Monarch, Hold On To Daughter, Other Captives
Gunmen believed to be bandits have released from their captivity, the Emir of Kajuru, Alhassan Adamu.
According to Daily Trust, a source that spoke with the news platform disclosed that other 13 people abducted from the monarch’s private residence are still in captivity.
“The Sarkin Kajuru was released around the forest areas leading to Kajuru castle,” the source said.
A member of the Emir’s family who spoke on the development noted that he is well and will be taken to the hospital for examination.
6. Buhari, APC’s Desperation To Foist Onochie As INEC Commissioner Is A Bad Omen For Our Democracy – Wike
A call has been made for the withdrawal of Lauretta Onochie’s name among nominees for appointment as commissioner for Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who made the call condemned and described the move by President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressive Congress, APC to foist Onochie as a bad omen for the country’s democracy.
Wike made the call during the presentation of a six years progress report to mark the second year of his second tenure as governor held at the Obi Wali Internation Conference Center in Port Harcourt on Monday
7. Defection: PDP Wants Court To Sack Gov Matawalle Of Zamfara, Deputy
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approached a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to order the sack of Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle and his deputy, Mahadi Aliyu Gusau.
According to the PDP, the recent defection of the Governor from the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) should have made them lose their seat.
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/489/2021 was filed in the names of two PDP members from Zamfara State – Sani Kaura Ahmed and Abubakar Muhammed.
The party is of the view that it would be unlawful for Matawalle and Gusau to retain their offices based on the earlier Supreme Court judgment that the APC had no candidates in the 2019 governorship election in Zamfara State.
8. I Didn’t Kill Super TV CEO – Chidinma Makes U-Turn
The prime suspect in the murder case of Super TV CEO, Usifo Ataga, Chidinma Ojukwu, has denied killing him.
Recall that Ataga’s remain was found days after checking into an apartment with the suspect in Lekki, Lagos.
It was gathered that the suspect fled the scene of the crime until the Lagos State police arrested her at her father’s house in Yaba, Lagos.
The suspect while been paraded by the police disclosed that she killed him while he was trying to force himself on her.
She also sought forgiveness from the family of Usifo and pleaded that she does not want to die.
But in a video which is currently in circulation, Chidinma said she knows nothing about Ataga’s death.
9. Court Denies Bail For 49 Yoruba Nation Agitators
A Magistrate Court sitting in Yaba, Lagos, has denied bail application for the 49 Yoruba Nation agitators arrested and detained by the Lagos State Police Command.
The agitators were arrested at Ojota, Lagos on July 3, 2021, during a rally in support of the actualisation of Yoruba Nation.
Parading the suspects the following day, Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, said the agitators include 47 men and two women.
Odumosu added that some of the suspects were intercepted and found with guns, axes, Oodua flags, Yoruba Armed Forces vests and other items.
The motion for their bail application, filed by human rights lawyers led by Olasupo Ojo, Esq and Oladapo Kayode, Esq, was adjourned to July 27, 2021, for a ruling.
10. Alleged N10bn Fraud: Court Threatens Arrest Against Stella Oduah
A Federal High Court in Abuja has threatened to issue arrest warrants against former Aviation Minister, Stellah Oduah and eight others named in a charge pending should they fail to attend court on the next date.
Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the warning on Monday when Oduah and some other defendants were absent at the proceedings with no explanation from their lawyers
Named with Oduah, as defendants in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/316/2020 are Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd, Sobora International Ltd and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Ltd.
In the 25-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC, the nine defendants are accused, among others, of engaging in the laundering of about N10billion.
