Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Saturday, 29th May, 2021

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Sunday, 29th May 2021.

The Supreme Court in a unanimous judgement on Friday dismissed the certificate forgery case against Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State.

The apex court in its lead judgement that was delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim held that the prosecutors failed to prove their case against the Edo State Governor.

Naija News reports that the case was instituted by the All Progressives Congress (APC), and one of its members, Mr. Williams Edobor.

They had accused Governor Obaseki of presenting false credentials to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest the September 19, 2020 governorship election which held in Edo State.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday appointed Major General Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

Naija News reports that he replaces Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in a military plane crash in Kaduna last Friday.

However, Yahaya’s emergence may spell the end of the careers of about 25 major generals who were of the Regular Course 35 and Regular Course 36.

According to military tradition, the new COAS, who is of Course 37 is junior to these officers and cannot superintend over them.

The Minister of Defence, Bashir Salihi-Magashi has defended the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint Major General Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff.

According to the Minister, Buhari didn’t consider ethnic or religious factors but only national interest in choosing the new Army chief.

Naija News recalls President Buhari on Thursday appointed Major General Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff to replace the late Lt-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru who died in a military plane crash in Kaduna last week.

He resumed duties on Friday at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

Parents of the remaining abducted students of Greenfield University in Kaduna State have accused the Federal Government of abandoning them.

The Greenfield University students were abducted on April 20 from their Kaduna campus after which three of them and a staff member of the school were killed by their kidnappers.

Speaking with SaharaReporters on Thursday, one of the parents decried the deafening silence by the government over securing the release of the students.

He berated the government for failing to assist the parents in rescuing their abducted children from the captivity of bandits.

The parent described the children’s continuous stay in captivity, coupled with the government’s position, as worrisome.

Nigeria security agencies have out an operation which resulted in the killing of seven operatives of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Rivers community.

Naija News reports that the security agents include operatives of the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The operation was confirmed in a statement to newsmen on Thursday night by the Nigerian Army.

According to the military, the operation which took place at about 6:15pm also resulted in the arrest of five ESN members.

The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Biodun Ogunyemi has completed his tenure in office and delivered his valedictory speech on Friday.

Ogunyemi concluded his tenure as allowed by the ASUU constitution and gave his valedictory speech at the conference of the union held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.

The ASUU president noted that though his tenure is coming to an end, the struggle for the welfare of the academic staff of universities continues.

The suspended aide of Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Abidemi Rufai who was arrested May 14, 2021, at JFK Airport in New York, has been indicted for conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

Acting U.S. Attorney, Tessa M. Gorman, said Rufai was indicted for his scheme to steal over $350,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department.

Gorman added that Rufai will remain in detention at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Prosecutors have asked U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle to order Rufai detained and transported to the Western District of Washington for arraignment on the indictment.

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has condemned the acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Usman Alkali, for saying that the outcome of the investigation of the assassination attempt on his life is contrary to his earlier claim.

Naija News had reported Alkali announced the arrest of the masterminds of the assassination attempt on the Governor at Tyo Mu community last March.

During a press conference on Thursday, the IGP added that “those who organized and those who pulled the trigger have all been arrested and investigation is ongoing.”

He also allegedly added that investigation so far showed that the outcome was contrary to the claims made by the Governor.

Reacting to the statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, Governor Ortom berated the IGP for claiming that he lied about the attack.

Lawmakers on Thursday visited the company which is manufacturing fighter jets for the Nigerian Air Force, A-29 Super Tucano.

President Muhammadu Buhari-led government in 2018 approved $469.4 million for the purchase of the aircraft to boost the fight against insecurity.

The Air Force in a post on Twitter noted that the delegation from the National Assembly visited the company to assess the progress work on the aircraft.

Minister of Transportation and former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, is celebrating his birthday today.

The Nigerian politician has decided to mark his birthday uniquely as he turns musician releasing a gospel song to mark his 56th birthday.

The former governor of Rivers State titled the song ‘Psalm 33’ with the catchphrase “Blessed the people the Lord has chosen as his heritage.”

The minister featured his family members in the song packaged by Obiblo Music.

That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.