Top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 16th June 2022
1. FG Reacts As Nigeria Loses $1.7bn Court Case Against JP Morgan
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed that the government will study the judgment of the commercial court and take appropriate action.
Mohammed made the disclosure on Wednesday in a chat With State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to the minister, the government’s lawyers would study the judgement and advise whether to appeal or accept the court verdict.
Recall that the Federal Government of Nigeria had dragged JP Morgan bank to court on the ground of breaching its Quincecare duty.
The Nigerian government claimed that the bank should have known that there was corruption and fraud in the transaction which saw Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd sell its 100 percent stake in OPL 245 to Shell and ENI for $1.1 billion in 2011.
It argued that the action of JP Morgan breaches the rules which oblige banks to disregard a customer’s instructions if following those instructions might actually facilitate fraud against that customer.
2. Tinubu: APC May Not Win Without Muslim-Muslim Ticket – Orji Kalu
The Chief Whip of the 9th Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu on Wednesday spoke on the All Progressives Congress fielding a Muslim/Muslim ticket in the 2023 presidential election.
According to Kalu, the ruling party will find it difficult to win the presidential election if it fails to present a Muslim as its Vice Presidential candidate.
The former Governor of Abia State while addressing newsmen at the National Assembly on Wednesday said APC will be in trouble if it does not field a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Kalu while speaking on the controversial issue said “If I were in Bola Tinubu’s shoes, I would go for a Muslim-Muslim ticket; the most important thing is for the party to win.
3. Lai Mohammed Gives Update On Plans By The Federal Govt To End ASUU Strike
The federal government has stated that while it has not given up on attempts to end the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the issues involved are very complex.
This was made known on Wednesday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed who addressed newsmen after the weekly federal executive council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He assured that a lot of effort are been put in behind the scene to ensure ASUU ends the strike and the students are able to return to school.
Mohammed spoke after questions from newsmen on the approval given by the government on the approval of e-learning centres while government-owned universities are closed.
4. Atiku: PDP NWC Backs Panel Report, Endorses South-South Governor For Running Mate
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national working committee (NWC) on Wednesday backed Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State as the vice-presidential candidate of the party for the 2023 elections.
It was gathered that the PDP NWC wants Wike to be the running mate of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
According to TheCable, NWC members voted 13-3 to endorse the report of the panel which had earlier nominated Wike for the VP ticket.
Sources revealed that members of the PDP NWC has also communicated their decision to Atiku Abubakar.
Truetells Nigeria reports that an advisory panel set up by the PDP to help select Atiku’s running mate had voted in favour of Wike over Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State.
Recall that Wike had joined the race for the PDP vice-presidential ticket after losing to Atiku Abubakar in the opposition party’s presidential primary.
Reports revealed that Wike had secured 13 votes out of 17 members of the panel to emerge as the selected running mate.
This platform however learnt that the final decision on the running mate will be taken by the party’s presidential candidate.
5. Oyo House Of Assembly Moves To Impeach Deputy Governor, List Five Major Offences Against Him
The Oyo State House of Assembly has initiated steps to impeach the State Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan.
This follows the petition against him brought to the attention of the House by some members of the assembly during plenary on Wednesday.
Truetells Nigeriareports some of the offences listed against Olaniyan by the lawmakers include gross misconduct, abuse of office, financial recklessness, abandonment of office, official duty and insubordination.
Twenty-four out of the thirty-two members in the State Assembly signed the petition for impeachment against the Deputy Governor.
According to them, if the Deputy Governor fails to respond to the allegations against him, then impeachment proceedings will be initiated.
6. 2023: NNPP Speaks On Proposed Alliance With Labour Party
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has denied media reports that it is mulling an alliance with the Labour Party (LP).
Truetells Nigeria recalls that the Spokesman of the National Consultative Forum, Yinusa Tanko, had said there are plans to merge the LP and NNPP to defeat the two major political parties in 2023.
In an interview on Arise TV on Monday, Tanko said merging the two parties will be beneficial to their Presidential candidates, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso respectively.
Tanko said that the two former Governors have exhibited character, resilience, and determination while working closely with the disadvantaged.
He, however, urged Nigerians to support Obi and Kwankwaso if the talk about merging the two political parties come through.
Reacting, the National Publicity Secretary of the NNPP, Agbo Major, said the party is not in any alliance talks with anybody.
In a chat with Daily Trust, Major said the NNPP will be fielding its presidential candidate and whoever wants to join the party can do so.
7. Olubadan’s Younger Brother, Kola Balogun Explains Why He Dumped PDP For APC
The Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Kola Balogun, has explained why he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
Recall Kola Balogun resigned his membership of PDP on 3rd May 2022 following the refusal of the PDP to give him a return ticket to the Senate.
Kola Balogun in his defection letter read at the plenary on Wednesday, 15th June said his decision to dump Oyo State’s ruling party was due to the lack of internal democracy in the party at the state level which he claimed prevented the formation of leaders and representatives.
He added that the development has further led to the existence of several factions and aggrieved groups within the party.
8. PDP Speaks On Emergence Of Wike As Atiku’s Running Mate
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied reports that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has emerged as the running mate to the party’s flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar.
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, made this known in an interview on Arise News on Wednesday.
Truetells Nigeria earlier reported that the PDP committee set up to recommend a Vice-presidential candidate for Atiku has reportedly picked Wike as his running mate.
While picking Wike as its first option, the panel said the governor as the vice-presidential candidate will do better for the ticket than his other challengers.
Other candidates considered for the PDP presidential ticket are Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State.
But according to Ologunagba, the report that Wike had been chosen as the running mate to Atiku is just mere rumour and speculation.
He stated that the PDP would announce the running mate to its presidential candidate after the panel constituted to look for a suitable candidate is done with its assignment.
9. APC Cannot Lose 2023 General Election – Adamu Boasts
All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman, Abdullahi Adamu has assured that the ruling party will conduct itself well for the forthcoming general elections in accordance with international best practices.
This is as the party stalwart boasted that APC cannot afford to lose the 2023 general election to the opposition.
Adamu said the ruling party currently has a 43 million membership base and hence it cannot lose the elections.
Truetells Nigeria understands that Adamu made the assertions in a statement handed to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday through his Special Assistant on Media, Muhammad Nata’ala Keffi.
The APC national chairman was with the Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, Joanna Tarnawska earlier today in his office in Abuja, Truetells Nigeria understands.
Speaking during the reception of the diplomat, Adamu said the APC was sure to win the 2023 general elections which will be held in a fair and just manner.
He stressed that the party have won the heart of Nigerians and has now a large support base enough to win the forthcoming polls.
10. 2023: Lawmakers Ask INEC To Extend Voter Registration By 60 Days
The House of Representatives has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the deadline for continuous voter registration (CVR) by 60 days.
This follows the adoption of a motion by a member of the House, Benjamin Kalu from Abia State.
This recommendation was raised during the plenary session on Wednesday, and the lawmakers adopted the motion.
Recall that the electoral umpire had fixed the deadline for the suspension of CVR across the country ahead of the 2023 general election for June 30.
Moving his motion, the lawmaker said the extension of the voter registration will enable many eligible Nigerians to get registered.
The motion was adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house.
The house subsequently mandated the committee on electoral matters to engage INEC and ensure that the deadline for voter registration is extended by 60 days.