Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Wednesday, 30th June 2021
1. FG Arrests IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu
The federal government of Nigeria has confirmed the arrest of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
According to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) on Tuesday, Kanu was arrested and brought back to Nigeria on Sunday.
The AGF during a media briefing, stated that the IPOB leader was arrested based on a collaborative effort between security agencies in Nigeria and Interpol.
Kanu would continue his trial for charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms, and management of an unlawful society, Malami disclosed further.
2. Buhari Asks Reps To Okay N894bn Supplementary Budget
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday wrote to the House of Representatives seeking approval of N894.842bn supplementary budget.
Naija News reports that the supplementary budget is meant to fund purchase of COVID-19 drugs and weapons for the Armed Forces.
In a letter addressed to Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila read at Tuesday plenary, Buhari said the supplementary budget is limited to some critical needs, stressing other needs will be contained in the 2022 budget.
He indicated the 2022 Appropriation Bill will be presented to the National Assembly in September.
According to Buhari, COVID-19 drugs will be procured from the supplementary budget as the Federal Government intends to vaccinate about 70 percent eligible Nigerians before the end of 2022.
3. Matawalle Officially Dumps PDP, Joins APC
Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle has officially dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The official defection took place in Gusau, the state capital on Tuesday evening at an event attended by some APC governors and chieftains.
Matawalle was also presented with the APC flag by Mai Mala Buni, governor of Yobe and chairman of the APC caretaker committee.
Some APC governors who attended the event included Nasir el-Rufai, Yahaya Bello, and Simon Lalong, of Kaduna, Kogi, and Plateau states respectively.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha who was also present at the ceremony, represented President Muhammadu Buhari.
4. Nnamdi Kanu Remanded In DSS Custody, Trial Resumption To Begin July 26
The Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
In a short ruling on Tuesday, the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako ordered that Kanu be remanded based on an application that was brought by the Federal Government.
Justice Nyako ordered that Kanu should remain in custody till July 26 pending the resumption of his trial.
The court proceeding took place barely 15 minutes after the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), disclosed to journalists that Kanu had been arrested.
During a media briefing on Tuesday, Malami stated that the IPOB leader was arrested based on a collaborative effort between security agencies in Nigeria and Interpol.
5. FG Fixes New Date For NIN-SIM Verification Deadline
The Federal Government has approved the extension of the deadline for NIN-SIM data verification to July 26, 2021.
Naija News reports that this was made known in a joint statement by the Director, Public Affairs Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Ikechukwu Adinde; and the Head, Corporate Communications, Nigeria Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Kayode Adegoke.
In the statement titled ‘FG approves July 26 as NIN-SIM verification deadline as enrolment systems increase to 5,410,’ the federal government said the decision to further extend the deadline was made based on a request by stakeholders.
6. IPOB Breaks Silence On Nnamdi Kanu’s Arrest
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has confirmed the re-arrest and repatriation of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Naija News had reported earlier that the separatist was arrested by the federal government of Nigeria, and was subsequently arraigned before the Federal High Court for the continuation of his trial.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Bar. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, IPOB/Nnamdi Kanu lead Counsel, demanded that the Biafran group leader’s fundamental rights must be respected while in custody.
7. Governors Who Defect To APC Lack Conscience – Wike
The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday said his counterpart who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress lacks conscience.
The Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, on Tuesday officially confirmed his defection to the APC.
Wike while speaking at the flag-off of Woji-Aleto-Alesa-Refinery Road and bridge on Tuesday, said those defecting from PDP after winning through the party’s platform are hopeless and shameless human beings.
8. NNPC Speaks On Petrol Price Increase In July
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, on Tuesday, disclosed that the price of the Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol will remain N162 in July.
The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari, noted that the corporation is still discussing with the Organised Labour on the appropriate price of petrol.
This is coming at the time crude oil price has hit $74.72 per barrel at the international market early Tuesday.
Kyari while speaking on Channels TV said until the conclusion of engagement with Labour, Nigerians would continue to buy petrol at the current price.
He noted that though the price of petrol should be N256 per litre based on the current crude oil price, the federal government, through the NNPC, had decided to continue paying the differential until an appropriate price is agreed upon by the government and Labour.
9. Oyo: Gov Makinde Dissolves State Executive Council
The Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde has dissolved the state cabinet.
The dissolution was said to have occurred during the state executive council meeting held on Tuesday at the council chambers of the Agodi Secretariat in Ibadan, the state capital.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Taiwo Adisa has confirmed the development.
10. Nnamdi Kanu: Go After Pantami, Gumi And Real Terrorists – Deji Adeyanju To FG
Popular political activist Deji Adeyanju has reacted to the arrest and extradition of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
In a post on his Twitter page on Tuesday, Adeyanju asked the federal government to respect the rights of Nnamdi Kanu.
According to the former member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), called on the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to also arrest the ‘real terrorists’ terrorising the country.
He wrote: “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s rights must be respected at all times. The Buhari Govt should go and arrest the real terrorist terrorising our country and their sympathisers in and out of Govt.”
“The Pantami & Gumis of this world.”
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 Nigeria News