Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Sunday, 5th December 2021.
Nnamdi Kanu: Your Visit To IPOB’s Leader Laced With Suspicion – Ifeanyi Ejiofor Fires Back At Orji Kalu
The lawyer of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has fired back at Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
Ejiofor had recently clashed with the former Abia State governor over his visit to the IPOB leader in the custody of the DSS without him (Ejiofor) being present.
While accusing the lawmaker of breaking protocol, Ejiofor said his visit to the IPOB leader in the custody of the Department of State Services violated court orders.
Reacting in a statement on Wednesday, Orji Uzor Kalu expressed disappointment with the statement released by Ejiofor, stressing that the lawyer is only angry he could not listen to his conversation with Nnamdi Kanu.
According to Kalu, the IPOB leader’s lawyer sounded like someone who is enjoying the crisis rocking the Southeast region.
But in a statement titled, ‘Keeping the record straight’ on Saturday, Ejiofor stated the that Senate Chief Whip’s visit to Kanu was to boost his selfish interest in the 2023 elections.
Bukola Saraki Welcomes Lagos APC Faction To PDP
A former President of the Nigerian Senate, Abubakar Bukola Saraki on Saturday welcomed a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Naija News reports that the APC faction in Lagos under the aegis of the Lagos4Lagos formally defected at a ceremony held in Lagos.
Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, led members of the Lagos4Lagos movement from the 20 local governments of the state to the PDP on Saturday.
Anti-Open Grazing Law Is An Invitation To War, I Won’t Sign It – Ben Ayade Of Cross Rivers
The Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade has questioned the objectivity of signing the anti-open grazing law, saying the action is insensitive and an invitation to war.
He argued that the Fulani herdsmen that will be affected if he signs the bill into law are his brothers and it would be wrong to block their legitimate line of business.
Ayade stated further that instead of signing the anti-open grazing law like many of his colleagues in the southern states have done, he has, however, found a solution that will be acceptable to both the herders and farmers and keep both of them in business.
#EndSARS: White Paper Committee Unknown To The Law, Sanwo-Olu Can’t Reject Judicial Panel Report – Falana
Renowned human rights lawyer and activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has declared that the Lagos State government goofed by setting up a white paper committee to review the findings and submissions of the judicial panel on the #EndSARS protests as well as the Lekki Toll Gate shootings.
Falana said though it was normal for the government to issue a white paper report on the findings of a commission of inquiry, the law under which the Lagos judicial panel operated didn’t give room for any white paper committee to challenge or modify the outcome of its findings after it was submitted to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
He argued that the retired Justice Doris Okuwobi judicial panel of inquiry is backed up by section 15 (2) of the Tribunals of Inquiry Law of Lagos State, and its findings can only be challenged in a competent court but the white paper committee has no legal backing, making its report illegal.
Commotion As Explosion Rocks 1000 Housing Estate In Borno
There was tension on Saturday morning in Maiduguri, Borno State, after massive explosion rocked a 1000 Housing Estate.
It was gathered that the explosion may have be triggered by fighters of the now-depleted Boko Haram terrorists group.
Daily Trust reports that a rocket launcher also landed at Gomari Airport, a community about four kilometres from the airport located in Maiduguri.
According to a video, some residents were seen discussing the incident in groups, while a large crowd were also spotted in one of the houses affected by the explosion.
IPOB Threatens Orji Uzor Kalu, DSS Over ‘Unsolicited’ Visit To Nnamdi Kanu
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has vowed to hold Senator Orji Uzor Kalu responsible if anything happens to its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Naija News reports that IPOB’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor and Nnamdi Kanu’s family had kicked against the visit of the Senate Chief Whip to the pro-Biafra activist in the custody of the Department of State Service, DSS.
In a statement to newsmen, the outlawed group’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, described as worrisome the unsolicited visit of Kalu to Kanu.
While stating that the visit was suspicious, IPOB said the former Abia governor’s mission remains unknown.
Presidency Gives Update On What Buhari Is Doing With Electoral Amendment Bill
The presidency has debunked rumours that President Muhammadu Buhari has decided not to sign the amended electoral bill sent to him by the National Assembly into law.
Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu said the President is still consulting stakeholders on the matter before taking a final decision.
While assuring that there is no cause for concern on the matter, Shehu called to attention that the President has until the 19th of December to take any action or decline the bill.
Naija News recalls two major amendments been proposed in the bill by the National Assembly is the compulsory use of direct primaries by political parties to choose candidates for election as well as the provision to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit election results electronically or decide otherwise.
Former Supreme Court Judge, Babalakin Is Dead
A former judge of the Nigerian Supreme Court, Justice Bolarinwa Babalakin, has died at the age of 94.
Naija News reports that Babalakin who was called to the London bar in the late 1950s died on Saturday morning.
He is the father of billionaire businessman and lawyer Wale Babalakin.
Peace Walk: Lagos Doesn’t Need Peace Of The Graveyard
Shortly before the release of the White Paper on the reports by the EndSARS Panel of Inquiry set up by his government, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced that he will be embarking on a Peace Walk as part of efforts to herald the healing of Lagos residents and bring closure to last year’s protest against police brutality and the shooting of unarmed protesters by soldiers and police personnel at the Lekki toll gate on October 20, 2020.
The Governor stated that he would lead the Peace Walk which, according to him, is meant to engender harmony in the State amid prevalent misunderstanding and trust deficit trailing the recent leak of a report by the Judicial Panel of Enquiry on the #EndSARS debacle, particularly the killings at the Lekki tollgate epicenter of the protest.
What May Happen To Nigeria Before 2023 Elections – Cardinal Onaiyekan
A former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has said Nigeria may split before 2023 because of security challenges and other factors.
He told PUNCH in an interview that due to greed, wickedness and stupidity, politicians would want to remain in office even when their tenure has expired.
Onaiyekan also slammed President Paul Biya of Cameroon for remaining in power for 30 years.
He stated that Nigeria’s neighbor have not developed and they remain stagnant.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
This article was originally published on Naija News