Welcome to Truetells Nigeria roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Tuesday, 20th July 2021
1. Be Patient As We Address Hardship – Buhari Tells Nigerians
Nigerians have been charged by President Muhammadu Buhari to be patient with his administration as they address the hardship in the land.
President Buhari while sending greetings on the occasion of Eid-el-Adha, linked the current challenges facing the country to the COVID-19 pandemic, insecurity and flooding that hindered local production for self-sustenance.
He renewed his commitment to creating a just, harmonious and prosperous country in which the safety of life and property is assured.
2. NAF Finally Confirms Another Military Plane Crash In Nigeria
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that one of its Alpha Jets crashed in Zamfara State while on an operation against bandits.
The Air Force added that the incident occurred between the boundaries of Zamfara and Kaduna States.
According to a statement on Monday by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the aircraft was attacked by terrorists on Sunday, 18th July but the Pilot, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, successfully ejected and escaped to safety.
Truetells Nigeria recalls there had been reports on Sunday of a fresh military plane crash involving a NAF Alpha jet in Kaduna state but NAF spokesperson, Edward Gabkwet said as at then that he didn’t have any information of a crash in the particular state but was expecting information from other locations.
Giving a further update on Monday, Gabkwet confirmed the plane crash but pointed out that it happened in Zamfara State, adding that the pilot successfully ejected before the plane crashed when it came under bandits’ attack.
3. PDP: Wike, Secondus, Ortom Meet In Benue
Governor Samuel Ortom on Monday hosted a meeting between Governor Nyesom Wike and the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus.
Truetells Nigeria reports that the meeting was held behind closed doors at the Presidential Lodge of Benue State Government.
Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Governor Ortom said the meeting of the trio was part of the building process of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to the Benue governor, the meeting was for repositioning the party for future elections.
4. ₦29bn Fraud: You Have A Case To Answer – Court Tells Former Adamawa Governor, Nyako
A federal high court sitting in Abuja on Monday told former Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako that he has a case to answer in the alleged ₦29bn fraud case against him.
Justice Okon Abang told him this when he ruled on the no-case application entered by Nyako and others allegedly involved in the fraud.
Truetells Nigeria and seven others to court on a 37-count charge of criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering, allegedly perpetrated while he was a governor in Adamawa State.
5. Lagos Court Grants Yoruba Nation Agitators Bail
A Magistrates’ Court in Yaba, Lagos State has granted bail to the 49 Yoruba Nation agitators arrested for holding a rally.
Truetells Nigeria reports that human rights lawyers led by Olasupo Ojo and Oladapo Kayode had filed a motion for their bail.
Among those granted bail are Olasunkanmi Tanimola; Kabiru Lawanson; Chinemerem Emmanuel; Rasaki Musibau; Lukman Olalade; Olasanmi Oladipupo; Bashiru Shittu; Taofeek Abdusalam; Olamilekan Abata; Abdullahi Sikiru; Tosin Adeleye; Babatunde Lawal.
Others include Abiodun Taiwo, Adagunodo Babatunde, Oluwafemi Adeleye, Oloye Taiwo, Saheed Kareem, Adebayo Waheed, Akinbode Sunday, Lawal Akeem, Samuel Ire, Ogundile Dare, Oba Tajudeen Bakare.
In a statement on Monday, the Communications Manager for the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, said the agitators are to provide N300, 000 with two sureties each.
6. Nigeria Needs To Heal – Atiku Abubakar
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has appealed to Nigerians to take advantage of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration as a reminder of what Nigeria needs to do to heal.
He made the submission in a personally signed statement on Monday where he congratulated Nigerians for witnessing another eid celebration.
He noted that the lessons of sacrifice, love and tolerance preached by the Eid-el-Kabir celebration should send a strong message to Nigerians on the need to heal from all forms of mistrust and embrace mutual respect and tolerance.
Atiku added that the frequent and unnecessary killings of innocent souls need to stop.
7. DSS Stops Kanu From Signing Letter For UK Consular Assistance — Lawyer
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has been stopped by the Department of State Services from signing a consular assistance form by the United Kingdom.
The development was revealed by one of the counsels for the IPOB leader, Aloy Ejimakor, in a statement released on Monday after visiting Kanu in DSS custody today.
The IPOB leader holds both Nigerian and British citizenship.
Kanu, who was rearrested recently from overseas, is facing terrorism-related charges.
The IPOB leader had jumped bail before fleeing to the United Kingdom.
Kanu was, however, rearrested and brought back to Nigeria.
He has since been detained in the custody of the Department of State Services.
The counsel to the IPOB leader in a statement released on Monday said the forms were returned to him unsigned.
8. COVID-19: Kano Govt Cancels Sallah Durbar
The Kano State Government has cancelled the traditional Sallah durbar and all other festivities amid the third wave of the COVID-19.
In a statement on Monday by the Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba said the state government cancelled the festivities after the federal government placed the state on red alert due to the resurgence of COVID-19.
Garba, however, said that the Eid Prayers would be held in all the five Emirates and mosques across the state.
He said the development was part of the measure adopted by Nigeria, like most parts of the African continent now facing a COVID-19 third wave after detecting the more transmissible Delta variant.
9. President Buhari Appoints New NECO Registrar
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday approved the appointment of Professor Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi as Registrar/Chief Executive of the National Examination Council (NECO).
Recall that Ebikibina John Ogborodi from Bayelsa State has been acting as a registrar since the death of Prof Godswill Obioma, the former registrar.
Obioma died in Minna, Niger State capital, last month.
In a letter with reference No: FME/PSE/NECO/1078/C.1/36, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, stated that the appointment of Wushishi is for an initial tenure of five years.
He said the appointment took effect on 12the July.
10. Court Restores Soludo As Anambra APGA Guber Candidate
A Federal High Court sitting in Awka has reinstated a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Charles Soludo, as the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had in a list released on July 16 picked Michael Umeoji over Soludo as the standard-bearer for APGA.
According to the electoral umpire, the decision was based on court orders.
Festus Okoye, INEC’s commissioner for Information and Voter education, revealed that Musa Ubale, judge of a high court in Jigawa State, had passed judgment in suit JDU/022/21, upholding the suspension of Victor Oye (Chairman of a faction of APGA) and affirming Jude Okeke as the party’s national chairman on June 30, 2021.
Okoye said the commission would continue to act in compliance with the constitution, the laws establishing it, and court orders.
Delivering judgment on the case on Monday, Justice Chukwudi Okaa held the other parties in the suit, comprising Jude Okeke, Edozie Njoku, and Chukwuma Umeoji, were “meddlesome interlopers”.
