Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Friday, 8th April, 2022

April 8, 2022 Mary

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 8th April 2022

The Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), has presented a report on the proposed new revenue sharing formula to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The RMAFC led by Engr. Elias Mbam made the presentation to the President at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja on Thursday, Naija News reports.

The report proposes a sharing formula of 45.17 percent for the federal government, 29.79 percent for state governments and 21.04 percent for the local governments.

Speaking at the event where he received the report, presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina in a statement quoted President Muhammadu Buhari to have said he will await the final outcome of the constitutional review process before presenting the report of the review of the vertical revenue allocation formula to the National Assembly as a Bill for enactment.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday confirmed that a notorious Boko Haram Commander, Saleh Mustapha has surrendered to troops of the Nigerian Army.

The DHQ revealed that Mustapha surrendered in Bama, Borno State to troops of Operation Hadin Kai, in the north-east.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Bernard Onyeuko gave the confirmation in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the activities of the Nigerian Military between March 25 and April 7, 2022.

He added that as at April 5, a total of 51,114 insurgents and families comprising of 11,398 men, 15,381 women, 24,335 children had so far surrendered to the troops.

In the period under review, the troops also killed many of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists while 22 spies, 11 bandits, and three logistics suppliers were arrested with 30 civilians rescued.

Weapons including one battle tank, five artillery guns, two GTS, and three AA guns were also recovered from the insurgents.

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has refused to sack Prof Ben Ayade and Prof Ivara Esu as Governor and Deputy Governor of Cross River State respectively.

Naija News recalls that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had dragged Ayade and his deputy to court over their defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2020.

The opposition PDP had asked the court to declare the seat of the governor vacant for dumping the party for the ruling APC.

Delivering a judgement on Thursday, Justice Taiwo Taiwo dismissed the suit brought before it by the PDP for being inconsistent with the Constitution and extant laws of the country.

The presiding judge also ruled that Ayade and his deputy were not allowed to be sacked from office based on the principle of Stare decisis.

Justice Taiwo cited the recent judgement declared by the Court of Appeal in Enugu State which refused to sack David Umahi as Ebonyi state governor.

The judge said the appeal court had ruled that defection did not constitute any known offence and his merely the constitutional rights of freedom of association as enshrined under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution is guaranteed.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has ordered the posting of CP Abutu Yaro to the Edo State Police Command as the new Commissioner of Police in charge of the State.

In a statement by acting Force spokesman, CPS Muyiwa Adejobi, the IGP also ordered the posting of CP Sikiru Akande Kayode, CP Yekini Adio Ayoku and CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde to head the Adamawa, Kaduna, and Imo State Police Commands respectively.

CP Abutu Yaro, the new Commissioner of Police, Edo State Police Command, holds a B.A [Hons] from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

According to the statement, he was appointed to the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1988. He has served in various supervisory capacities within the Nigeria Police Force, including as Commissioner of Police in charge of Zamfara and Imo State Police Commands respectively.

Until his recent appointment, he was CP Force Provost Marshal, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho has released a new practice direction for the trial of terrorism cases before the court.

The terrorism case filed against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is currently before the Abuja High court.

The case of Bureau de change operators indicted over sponsorship of terrorism, and Boko Haram suspects are also before the court.

According to Justice Tsoho, the new practice direction is in the exercise of his constitutional powers as enshrined in Section 254 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

The new direction prohibits media coverage during proceedings.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has appointed former Assistant Inspector General of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, and ex-chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Musiliu Akinsanya popularly called MC Oluomo, as the head of its Parks Management Committee.

Recall that in March, MC Oluomo’s son had taken to social media to congratulate his father on his appointment hours after his suspension by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

Reacting, the Lagos State government had denied giving Akinsanya any appointment.

Sanwo-Olu’s Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile had told Naija News that the news was false and should be discarded.

But in a statement on Thursday morning, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso announced the appointment of MC Oluomo and Odumosu.

According to the Lagos State government, the appointment was to avoid any vacuum in the management of commercial vehicle operations in the state.

The statement revealed that MC Oluomo would serve as the chairman of the committee, while Odumosu serves as the Liaison Officer between the government and the committee.

The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday played host to the newly elected chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.

Adamu was brought to the Villa by his predecessor in office, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State who was the chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee, Naija News reports.

Speaking during the meeting, President Buhari charged Adamu to be fair and firm in the discharge of his duties.

He also appreciated the efforts and commitments of the Buni-led committee to the affairs of the party which eventually resulted in the conduct of the APC National Convention and the emergence of a national working committee led by Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has on Thursday said that he did not endorse Buhari in 2015.

Soyinka stated during a press conference in Lagos that he did not vote on election day in 2015.

He explained further that he only asked Nigerians not to vote for Goodluck Jonathan.

He said: “It is false to say that I supported the election of Buhari.”

Soyinka said that it is his right to vote for anyone he pleases and if the person in question fails to get the job done, he is entitled to say it.

The former Minister of Interior, Senator Abba Moro, has been discharged and acquitted by a Federal High Court in Abuja over fraud charges in the 2014 Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment exercise.

Naija News recalls that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had accused Moro and two others of conspiracy, procurement fraud and money laundering during the NIS recruitment exercise.

The anti-graft agency claimed that the defendants’ actions led to tragedy witnessed during the exercise, with over 14 deaths caused by a stampede in some states.

Others dragged to court by the EFCC are former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia and an ex-director in the ministry, Felix Alayebami.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, the presiding judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba held that the EFCC failed to establish the allegation of fraud against the defendants.

Justice Dimgba dismissed the allegation of abuse of office against Moro over inadequate arrangement and safeguards for the exercise after 667, 000 applicants paid N1, 000 each.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, on Thursday, reacted to the report of his alleged plan to resign from office.

Malami in a statement released on Thursday charged Nigerians to be rest assured that he had no intention to resign as AGF.

There had been reports that Malami has the intention of contesting the governorship election in Kebbi State.

A speculation which was denied by the Minister, adding that he is focused on discharging his duty as a Minister and Attorney-General.

Malami in a statement released through his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, said he appreciates the love people have for him.