Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Thursday, 20th January, 2022

January 20, 2022 Mary

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 20th January 2022

Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade on Wednesday praised President Muhammadu Buhari for saving Nigeria from total collapse.

The Governor also alleged that the insecurity plaguing the nation particularly the northern region is part of an international conspiracy to tear Nigeria apart.

He however added that Buhari used the experience of his military background to keep things together and avoid a collapse but according to him, most people don’t understand this fact.

Naija News reports that Ayade made the submissions during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme.

The office of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has debunked a trending story claiming the National Economic Council (NEC) led by the Vice President has recommended ₦302/litre as the new price of petrol in Nigeria.

Speaking on the matter, the spokesperson for the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande stated on Wednesday that at no time did his principal or NEC make such a resolution or recommendation to the federal government.

He added that discussions are still ongoing on the issue of fuel subsidy removal in the country and the claim in the viral report should be disregarded by Nigerians.

He wrote on Twitter: “While there are indeed ongoing discussions on the issue of fuel subsidy, at no time has NEC made any such resolution as this report claims. Public discourse can be better served by seeking further clarification from relevant quarters on matters of such importance.”

Justice Benson Anya of the Federal High Court in Umuahia has ordered the Federal Government and the Nigeria Army to pay N1billion to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Naija News reports that the presiding judge ruled that the fine was for invading the IPOB leader’s house in September 2017.

Justice Anya also directed the government and the Army to apologize to Kanu for the violation of his Fundamental Rights and the illegal invasion of his home.

The presiding judge described the invasion of Kanu’s Afaraukwu residence in Abia State as notorious and brazen.

Justice Anya advised the Federal Government to adopt a political resolution in dealing with issues involving Kanu.

He, however, struck out other reliefs sought by Kanu’s legal team, including his repatriation from Kenya and continued detention by the DSS.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says he does not know the federal government’s exact stance on the removal of fuel subsidy.

Mohammed disclosed that he would need to consult with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ascertain the government’s position on the removal of petrol subsidy.

He made this known on Wednesday in a chat with State House correspondents after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Mohammed added that he cannot react to the issue of subsidy removal until he gets the right information regarding the matter, asking for more time to initiate a fact-finding mission.

The immediate past Director-General of Progressive Governors’ Forum, Salihu Lukman has revealed why he decided to resign from his position.

Lukman, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said he resigned due to the failure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership to tolerate criticism and be democratic.

He advised the APC to ensure that the new executives that will be elected at the national convention will take criticism and not be dictatorial or show tyrannic posture.

The APC chieftain stated that another reason he left his position was to continue to freely hold the party accountable to the principles of internal democracy.

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has adjourned the case of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Naija News gathered that the judge moved the case to the 16th of February, 2022 to hear the applications of the pro-Biafra activist.

Nnamdi Kanu had pleaded not guilty to the treasonable felony charges leveled against him.

But after taking his plea, the Prosecution counsel, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran, informed the court that he was ready to proceed with the trial.

He stated that he had brought two witnesses to testify against the Defendant.

However, Kanu’s lead counsel, Mike Ozekhome, revealed that he had on Tuesday evening, filed a 43-paged Preliminary Objection for the charge to be quashed and struck out without the matter proceeding to trial.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has reacted to the claim that the current Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) has expired.

Naija News earlier reported that presidential aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu while speaking to some party women leaders in Abuja on Tuesday, claimed that the current voter cards have expired.

Reacting to the claim, INEC Chairman spokesman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, denied the statement credited to the former Lagos state governor, saying that the current PVCs are valid.

He revealed that a PVC doesn’t have an expiry date, advising Nigerians who have obtained their PVCs to keep them and those whose cards were missing or defaced could renew them.

Oyekanmi, however, stated that double registration is an offence under the law and anyone caught will be severely punished.

He advised eligible Nigerians that haven’t registered for their PVCs to do so in the ongoing Continuous Voter’s Registration (CVR) exercise.

The Nigerian Senate has on Wednesday, dumped the compulsory use of the direct mode of primary elections for political parties in the amended electoral bill.

The Senate’s decision came after an amendment by the conference committee which recommended that the direct primary mode of elections be eradicated.

The direct primary option has subsequently been replaced to reflect the options of direct, indirect and consensus in clause 85 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2021.

The clause for political parties to use the direct mode of primaries to choose their candidate for election has been a major talking point in the bill and was one of the reasons cited by President Muhammadu Buhari for rejecting the bill last year.

A retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Felix Ogbaudu has recommended a solution to the inadequacy of police operatives in Nigeria.

Speaking on Wednesday against the backdrop of the rising cases of insecurity in the country and the shortage of security agents to tackle the situation, Ogbaudu recommended that the police officers attached to very important persons (VIPs) in the society for special protection should be withdrawn and such operatives deployed to places like Niger State where they are needed to confront criminals.

He said many of the VIPs have too many police operatives in their security detail while ordinary Nigerians are suffering from insecurity.

Naija News reports the retired officer made his view known during an appearance on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme.

He, therefore, recommended that such officers be withdrawn from the VIPs and deployed to areas where they are needed.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) led by Governor Mai Mala-Buni has released schedules for its national convention.

After a series of controversies, the ruling party on Tuesday announced that its national convention will hold on February 26.

Naija News understands that the party will during the convention elect its national officers to the National Executive Committee (NEC).

APC in a communique released on Wednesday (today) after a meeting of its national leaders, said the Interim Report of the National Reconciliation Committee will be received on January 31.