Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Wednesday, 5th May 2021
1. Presidency Reveals Alleged Plot To ‘Overthrow’ Buhari
The Presidency has vowed to deal with any group plotting to overthrow the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government.
Naija News reports that this was made known on Tuesday in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
The presidency stated that any group making such plans will be dealt with even if some unruly feathers would be ruffled in the process.
According to the statement, some persons have planned to hold an illegal conference where a vote of no confidence will be passed on President Buhari.
The presidency disclosed that some highly placed individuals in collaboration with some religious leaders and their foreign elements were working hard to undermine the sovereignty and corporate existence of the country.
2. FG Not Responsible For Prosecuting Kidnappers, Bandits – Lai Mohammed
The Federal Government on Tuesday stated that it was not its responsibility to prosecute suspected kidnappers and bandits.
Naija News reports that this was made known by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed while responding to statements credited to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party on the security challenges facing the country.
Speaking at a press conference, he said kidnapping and banditry were not federal offences.
3. Declare War On Terrorists, Bandits Now, Atiku Tells Buhari
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately declare war on Boko Haram terrorists and bandits.
In a statement, he personally signed on Tuesday, Atiku said the security situation in Nigeria is deteriorating rapidly and ordinary Nigerians are living in fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones.
He noted that terrorists are spreading their areas of operation beyond the Northeast, into areas as far as Niger State in the North-Central.
The PDP chieftain also urged the federal government to recall and mobilize all ex-soldiers who are willing to join the fight against insurgency.
4. Boko Haram Kidnapped Greenfield University Students, Not Bandits – Gumi
Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, on Tuesday disclosed that the students of Greenfield University were abducted by Boko Haram and not bandits.
Recall that twenty-two students and a teacher were kidnapped on April 20 when armed men stormed the school.
The armed men days after abducting the students killed five of the students.
Naija News had earlier reported that the armed men that abducted students of Greenfield University, Kaduna State, have threatened to kill the remaining 17 students.
Gumi, however, in an interview with AIT on Tuesday said Boko Haram members were behind the abduction.
When asked by the reporter if he indeed mentioned that Boko Haram were behind the abduction, Sheik Gumi said.
5. Insecurity: Service Chiefs To Appear Before Senate On Thursday
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Tuesday, noted that Service Chiefs and heads of security agencies would appear before Senate on Thursday, to brief it on efforts to end security challenges in the country.
Lawan disclosed this on Tuesday, in an announcement during the commencement of plenary proceedings.
He noted that the service chiefs will appear before the upper chamber due to the resolution by the Senate last week Tuesday, wherein it was resolved that the service chiefs and other heads of security agencies be invited against the spate of insecurity across the nation.
The President of the Senate added that the service chiefs were unable appear before the Senate on Tuesday due to an ongoing security meeting at the Presidential Villa which is scheduled to end on Wednesday this week.
He noted that in view of the development, the service chiefs would, therefore, appear before the chamber on Thursday, May 6, 2021.
6. Boko Haram Regrouping In North-East Again – Ndume
Nigerian lawmaker, Senator Ali Ndume has raised the alarm that Boko Haram insurgents have started regrouping again in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa State.
He made this known on Tuesday while briefing journalists after plenary on his bill seeking to establish Federal College of Education Gwoza, Borno State.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Army said the resurgence of Boko Haram activities should not stop the establishment of more educational institutions in Borno South.
He said the area, which he is representing at the National Ass existed without a higher institution of learning despite its size and population.
7. Nobody Has Confidence In Buhari – Adebanjo
The leader of Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Ayo Adebanjo, on Tuesday, noted that nobody needs to pass a vote of no confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari before the whole world is aware that he has failed Nigerians.
Adebanjo stated this during an interview with Punch on Tuesday.
The Afenifere leader made this claim while reacting to the statement of the President’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, that some people are recruiting ethnic groups where a vote of no confidence will be passed in the President.
Adesina further stated that the motive of those people is to further throw the country into turmoil.
However, Chief Adebanjo in his statement said the President already failed and there was no need for any group to gather anywhere to pass a vote of no confidence in him.
8. Amaechi Denies Saying Buhari Govt Has Been Printing Money Since 2015
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has denied viral audio recordings credited to him as saying the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has been printing money since 2015 to run the government.
Reacting to the audio clip which has been trending on social media, Amaechi told members of the public on Tuesday to disregard the clip as fake.
It will be recalled that Naija News earlier published that in an interview with journalists prior to the 2019 general election, Amaechi was quoted to have said that they swore an oath never to publicly admit to Nigerians that the government was on a printing spree of the national currency.
But reacting in a statement through his media aide, Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni, Amaechi denied talking about the issue, adding that he does not have a specialty in the area of finance.
9. APC Reward System Not Benefiting Youths – Okorocha
The lawmaker representing Imo West Senatorial District, Rochas Okorocha, on Tuesday said nobody is defending President Muhammadu Buhari at the time the country is going through economic and security challenges.
The former Governor of Imo State stated this while playing host to the APC Progressives Minds from Cross River state, at the Unity House in Abuja.
He further stated that no one has been speaking up in support of the President among his appointees or close aides.
10. Baba Ijesha Faces Possible Life Imprisonment As Lagos Recommends Prosecution
The Lagos State government on Tuesday recommended the prosecution of Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as ‘Baba Ijesha’, under 5 provisions of Criminal Laws of the state.
Recall that the actor was arrested by Police for sexually harassing a 14-year-old girl.
The spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, while announcing the arrest, alleged that the actor had been sexually assaulting the teenager since she was seven.
The Lagos State Attorney-General, Moyosore Onigbanjo, in a statement released on Tuesday, said Baba Ijesha would be charged under the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
One of the charges includes Indecent Treatment of a child, which is punishable by seven years imprisonment.
Another is the Defilement of a Child, which is punishable by life imprisonment.
Sexual Assault by Penetration is also punishable by life imprisonment.
Baba Ijesha is also being charged for Attempted Sexual Assault by Penetration, punishable by 14 years imprisonment, and Sexual Assault, which is punishable by three years imprisonment.