Top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 22nd March 2022
1. Buhari Summons Uzodimma, Minister Of Power, Economic Adviser To Aso Rock
President Muhammadu Buhari has summoned Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State over the latest violence in the South-East state.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, made this known in a statement issued on Monday.
Truetells Nigeria reports that unknown gunmen killed some police officers and set ablaze a police station and also burnt down the country home of the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Prof. George Obiozor.
Shehu stated that the duo will discuss the recent attacks on the federal facility and the destruction of the residence of the former Ambassador to the United States.
He recalled that the President while condemning the spate of violence in Imo State in the aftermath of the violence in Imo, pledged to review the security situation in the South East.
The presidential aide also disclosed that President Buhari would meet with the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu and the Chief Economic Adviser, Prof Doyin Salami.
2. Court Sacks Cross River Lawmakers For Joining APC
Twenty members of the Cross River State House of Assembly have been sacked for dumping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, sacked the lawmakers in a ruling on Monday, Naija News reports.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had filed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/975/2021 against the lawmakers alongside Governor Ben Ayade over their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The presiding judge ruled that the lawmakers ought to vacate their seats having abandoned the political party that brought them to power.
Justice Taiwo, however, ordered the Assembly Speaker and the other lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the APC should immediately vacate their seats.
He held that all salaries and allowances paid to the lawmakers from the period of their defection to the present should be forfeited to the government coffers.
3. EFCC Grants Former Anambra Gov, Obiano Bail
The immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano has been granted bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The development was disclosed by EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa while speaking with newsmen on Monday.
Bawa addressed journalists in Abuja on the sideline of the 5th Annual General Assembly (AGA) of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIMA).
He, however, stated that Obiano is yet to perfect his bail condition and he is still in the custody of the commission.
4. Court Throws Out Stay Of Execution Request By Umahi, Deputy
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck out a request for a stay of execution brought before it by the embattled Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe.
The two persons had approached the court seeking a stay of execution on the court order which sacked them from office based on their defection from the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
But Justice Inyang Ekwo in his ruling on Monday, said it couldn’t entertain the request because the matter is already before the Court Of Appeal.
Truetells Nigeria reports Ekwo struck out the case following a request by the lawyer representing Umahi and his deputy, Chukwuma Ma-Chukwu Ume (SAN) who had approached the court to withdraw the motion.
He told the court he would like to withdraw the motion on the grounds that an appeal had been entered at the Court of Appeal on the matter.
5. National Convention: APC Governors Have Reconciled – Sule
Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress have resolved their differences ahead of the national convention of the ruling party.
The national convention of the APC has been fixed for Saturday, March 26 at Eagle Square in Abuja.
The Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule on Monday claimed that the Progressives Governors Forum is on the same page on the convention of the party.
Governor Sule who is the Chairman of the Media Committee disclosed this through Garba Shehu, the secretary.
According to Sule, the caretaker committee led by the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni is working on bringing everyone on board.
6. Details Of Buhari’s Meeting With Uzodinma Emerge
The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma has revealed the details of his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa on Monday.
According to Uzodinma, President Buhari summoned him over the security challenges in his state and how to resolve the issue.
The Imo State Governor disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after his meeting with the President on Monday.
Recall that President Buhari summoned Uzodinma over the latest attacks in Imo State targeting the residence of the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, George Obiozor, and some police assets.
Uzodinma while speaking on the meeting said, “Generally, it is the subject of insecurity in the South East and what is required to ensure that it is properly controlled.
“We discussed that and he took seriously my recommendations and indeed I tell you, he immediately gave approval to all that which includes increase in manpower of security agencies and then logistics supports ranging from additional arms and ammunition.”
7. Court Fines DSS N1m Over Illegal Arrest, Detention Of Sowore
The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Department of State Services (DSS) to pay N1million as damages to a human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore over his arrest and detention in 2019.
In a ruling on the fundamental rights suits filed by the activist, Justice Obiora Egwuatu ruled that Sowore’s arrest and detention were unlawful and illegal.
According to the judge, the arrest of the former presidential candidate was infringed on his fundamental human rights and asked the secret police to pay the activist the fine.
Recall that the activist had challenged his unlawful abduction at a Lagos hotel for asking Nigerians to take to the streets and protest against bad governance, insecurity and corruption.
8. Wake Up And Protect Yourselves – CAN Tells Southern Kaduna People After Fresh Bandits’ Attack
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the people of Southern Kaduna to wake up and defend themselves from their attackers.
The call was made on Monday by the Kaduna State Chairman of CAN, Rev. John Hayab following the renewed attacks by bandits in the area.
He lamented that the government of the state led by Nasir El-Rufai has failed in its responsibility to protect the people and only pays lip service to bringing the attackers to justice.
Hayab described the latest attack in which not less than 15 persons were killed and several houses burnt on Sunday as sad and a loss too many.
He added that the frequent cases of innocent killings in Kaduna must stop as they are tired of the continued killings, kidnappings, banditry, and the unimaginable evils been perpetrated without corresponding action/response from the government and security forces which in turn has emboldened the criminals.
9. Ganduje’s Former Aide, Salihu Tanko-Yakasai Dumps APC
A former Media aide to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, Salihu Tanko-Yakasai, announced his decision to quit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement he posted on his social media handles on Monday morning, Tanko-Yakasai disclosed that he is yet to make a decision on his political career as he is still consulting.
According to him, he was punished and betrayed for speaking against the failure of government and the APC.
Tanko-Yakasai accused the APC of betraying the trust of Nigerians, adding that members of the party do not see themselves as failures despite the hardship and economic woes of the country.
While recalling how he bashed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for its failures, the former aide to Ganduje said it will be hypocritical of me today to keep quiet when the APC government and party have under performed.
He however thanked the Kano State governor for giving him the opportunity to serve as his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.
10. Three Police Officers Killed In Taraba Communal Crisis
At least three officers of the Nigerian Police Force have been killed in communal crisis in Taraba State.
The State Police Command confirmed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday, Naija News reports.
The police report noted that the officers were murdered by some hoodlums involved in the crisis between Ndaka and Bissaula communities in the Kurmi Local Government Council of the state recently.
The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Usman Abdullahi, who spoke in Jalingo earlier today, explained that the personnel were overpowered by a yet-to-be-identified militia group, whom he believed the command would soon track down.
The gruesome killing of the officers is coming barely a month after the State Governor, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku, inaugurated a commission of inquiry to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the upheaval that erupted in the communities early this year, Naija News understands.
Abdullahi has, however, assured that the force will tread all legitimate paths to bring the killers of the officers to book.
