Top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 31st May 2022
1. Ango Abdullahi’s Son, Osinbajo’s Classmate Speak From Terrorist Den
Recall that the terrorists attacked the train when it was less than 20 minutes to its destination.
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The terrorists killed nine people, while over sixty passengers were abducted on the train.
The group responsible for the attack has released several videos of the victims since the abduction took place.
The terrorists in one of the videos threatened to kill the abductees if the Federal Government fails to yield to its demand.
The terrorist had charged the federal government to release their children and some insurgent commanders.
Eight of the victims (five men and three women) in the new video called on the Federal Government to accede to the demands of terrorists.
The son of the Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum, Ango Abdullahi and a classmate of Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo was captured in the video.
2. 2023: Obi Emerges Labour Party Presidential Candidate As Utomi Steps Down
A Presidential aspirant under the Labour Party, Prof Pat Utomi has withdrawn from the race to support the presidential ambition of former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi.
Utomi while giving the reason for stepping down said he was stepping down for a younger aspirant with the capacity to affect the needed change in the Nigerian system.
The economic expert stepped down at the party’s presidential primary in Asaba, Delta State.
Another presidential aspirant, Joseph Faduri who had earlier made his speech returned to the podium to also step down for the former governor of Anambra State.
Recall that Obi dumped the Peoples Democratic Party last week to join the Labour Party.
Obi while stating his reason for resigning from the main opposition party said he resigned in consonance with his belief in growing a nation of producers rather than consumers.
3. APC Member Seeks Tinubu’s Disqualification Over Alleged Age Falsification
The presidential screening committee of the All Progressives Congress has been charged by a member of the party, Sagir Mai Iyali to disqualify the national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu over alleged certificate forgery.
The petition which was written on the 17th of May, 2022, was submitted on Monday, May 30, and its receipt was acknowledged by one Emmanuel Akpan.
The academic qualifications of the former Governor of Lagos State have been a subject of controversy for over a decade.
Tinubu had indicated he graduated from the University of Chicago in his INEC form 001 filled when he contested the Lagos State governorship poll in 1999.
The presidential aspirant also stated that he lost his university degree certificate while he was in exile between 1994 and 1998.
Iyali in the petition forwarded to the chairman of the presidential screening committee, John Odigie-Oyegun said Tinubu never graduated from the University of Chicago.
He added that the former governor lied about his age and state of origin.
4. Kidnapped Methodist Prelate, Samuel Kanu Released
The Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Samuel Kanu Uche abducted on Sunday has reportedly been released.
Truetells Nigeria had earlier reported that unknown gunmen abducted the cleric alongside other clerics including the Bishop of Owerri, Dennis Mark.
The Prelate and other clerics were kidnapped along the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway in Umunneochi LGA of Abia state.
The abductors of Kanu and two others from the same church had on Monday demanded a sum of N100 million before they could be set free.
Dr Michael O. Akinwale, secretary of the conference, in a statement, acknowledged the kidnappers’ demand, stating that the church is appealing to parishioners to rise and help.
However, hours after the demands were made a source that spoke with Daily Post claimed that the Prelate has been released.
The source, however, did not state if any ransom was paid before the cleric was freed.
5. Court Remands Okorocha In EFCC Custody, Fixes New Date For Hearing
Former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha has been remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Truetells Nigeria reports that Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja gave the order on Monday during the arraignment of the presidential aspirant by the EFCC over alleged N2.9bn corruption charges.
The EFCC had earlier arraigned Okorocha, an ally to the former governor, Anyim Nyerere Chinenye and five companies on a 17-count money laundering charge.
Dressed in his usual green coloured Agbada with a brown cap to match, Okorocha who is wearing a pensive mood was made to sit near a dock where his plea on the fraud charges against him would be taken this morning.
Okorocha’s usual smiles and waiving of the handkerchief to admirers were completely absent in his mood in the courtroom.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo ordered that both Okorocha and Chinenye be detained in EFCC custody pending the determination of their bail applications.
6. More Trouble For Ahmed Idris As EFCC Uncovers Another N90bn Fraud
The embattled and suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, may be facing further charges as another 90 billion Naira fraud has been traced to him.
Truetells Nigeria learned that another N90 billion scam has been traced to the suspended AGF apart from the alleged N80 billion he was initially accused of.
It is understood that the probe of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into the suspended AGF has reached 170 billion Naira.
It was learned that EFCC operatives have discovered some illegal transactions in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) following his arrest and interrogation.
This was after Idris disclosed that some top government officials were allegedly involved in the transactions and other shady deals.
7. 30 Terrorists Killed As MNJTF Rescue Babagana
The Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF, said on Monday that it rescued a five-year-old child from terrorists while combing Lake Chad in a recent operation.
The child whose name is identified as Babagana is suspected to be a child of one of the terrorists who fled the fierce confrontation by the troops from Nigeria and Chad in cooperation with the troops of Operations Hadin Kai.
At least 30 terrorists were killed in the raid while a fully-loaded gun truck was recovered, Naija News learnt.
A statement signed and made available to newsmen on Monday by Lieutenant Colonel Kamarudden Adegoke, Chief of Military Public Information, Ndjamena, said, “MNJTF troops from Nigeria and Chad, alongside Operation HADIN KAI, stormed the general area of Tumbun Rago, Tumbun Dilla and Jamina settlement deep inside the Lake Chad Islands, and killed over twenty-five terrorists.
8. They Do Not Have Votes For You – Wike Opens Up On What He Told Atiku When He Visited Him
Governor of Rivers state Nyesom Wike has opened up on what he told the People’s Democratic Party presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar when he visited his home
Wike warned Atiku to be careful of those around him as he explained that those people do not have any votes for him.
He said that the Sokoto Governor, Aminu Tambuwal ought to have not spoken twice as it was a clear violation of the primaries’ guidelines.
Wike disclosed this in a national TV program on Monday.
9. 2023: Peter Obi Could Have Been My Running Mate – Kwankwaso
The National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Monday revealed that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi could have been his running mate if he joined his party.
The former Governor of Kano State made this claim in an interview on Channels Television.
There was speculation that Obi might join NNPP following the presidential campaign poster spotted online showing Obi and Kwankwaso as the candidate of the party.
However, Obi who was not ready to be a running mate in the 2023 presidential election joined the Labour Party where he emerged as the presidential candidate of the party.
Obi joined the LP after announcing the resignation of his membership in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Kwankwaso when asked if Obi was approached about joining NNPP, the former Governor of Kano State said he discussed national issues with Obi a few days before he joined LP.
10. PDP To APC: Abdullahi Adamu, Uzodinma, Ekweremadu Hold Closed-Door Meeting
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abdullahi Adamu has met with Governor Hope Uzodinma and former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu behind closed-doors.
Truetells Nigeria reports that the meeting between the trio was held at the National Secretariat of the governing APC on Monday.
It was gathered that the meeting between the political bigwigs lasted for three hours.
Governor Uzodinma had told newsmen after the meeting that he was at the Secretariat to see his ‘friend’ for a tete-a-tete.
Naija News reports that the meeting may be connected to the alleged plan of Ekweremadu to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC.
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