Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 23rd November 2021
1. What Buhari Would Do To #EndSARS Panel Reports – Presidency
The Presidency has said President Muhammadu Buhari would not receive the reports of the states’ judicial panels on police brutality and extrajudicial killings.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Buhari’s media aide, Femi Adesina, stated that the president would only act on the report submitted by various state governments.
Recall that the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other matters had last week Monday submitted a 309-page report to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel, in its report, accused the Nigerian Army and Police of killing unarmed peaceful protesters at the Lekki Tollgate.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, thereafter, constituted a Committee to bring forward a White Paper within the next two weeks.
Speaking today, Monday, Femi Adesina said the reports by the states’ panels won’t be submitted straight to the Federal Government.
The presidential spokesperson said the federal government would only act and address areas of interest in the report.
2. APC National Convention To Hold In February 2022 – Bagudu
Amid the crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the leadership of the party has fixed its National convention for February 2022.
Naija News reports that the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, made this known on Monday.
Speaking to State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Bagudu said a committee for the convention will be set up very soon.
Bagudu was in the company of the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman and governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni and the governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru.
3. Malami Orders EFCC To Hand Over Stella Oduah’s Casefile
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been ordered to hand over the case file of former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, to the Federal Ministry of Justice for review.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) gave the directive following a petition alleging that the anti-graft agency was being used to persecute the former minister.
Naija News reports that the Senator representing Anambra North in the National Assembly is facing a 25-count money laundering charge the EFCC preferred against her and eight others.
Other Defendants in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/316/20, are Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd and Sobora International Ltd.
EFCC alleged that the defendants conspired and laundered funds to the tune of about N5billion.
At the scheduled arraignment of the defendants before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday, a lead defence counsel, Ogwu Onoja SAN, notified the court that Malami had on the strength of the petition dated February 4, called for the case file.
4. Nigerians Going To America To Feed Them With Incorrect Positions About What Is Happening In The Country – Presidency
The presidency has condemned what it described as the habit of some Nigerians running to the United States to feed America wrong information on what is going on in the country.
According to the presidency, the development is what made the US government place Nigeria on the list of religious violators in 2020.
Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina who made the submission however said after internal investigations, America discovered it had been misled and subsequently had to remove Nigeria from the list of religious violators.
Adesina aired this view on Monday during an interview with Channels Television where he reacted to the recent decision of the United States government to remove Nigeria from its list of religious violators.
He described the removal as a good development for Nigeria.
5. #EndSARS Report: Adegboruwa Alleges Threat To Life
One of the members of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other matters, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has alleged threat to life over the report released by the panel.
The panel in the report had stated that EndSARS protesters were killed at the Lekki toll gate on October 20, 2020.
Adegboruwa raised the alarm in a statement released on Monday titled, ‘Nigerians Should Hold Government Responsible If Anything Happens To Me’.
The civil society organization representative on the panel, said members of the panel are being unfairly persecuted by some state government officials.
6. APGA Speaks On Soludo Defecting To APC After Winning Anambra Governorship Election
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has rubbished reports that the Governor-elect of Anambra State, Professor Charles Soludo has concluded plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party also debunked trending rumours that the incumbent Anambra Governor, Willie Obiano is set to dump APGA for APC.
Speaking at a press briefing in Akwa, Anambra State on Monday, the National Co-ordinator of APGA Media Warriors Forum, Chinedu Obigwe, said “it’s childish propaganda” for anyone to say the two APGA leaders are set to dump the party.
He added that nothing could be farther from the truth about the alleged defection plans, describing it as “a lie from the pit of hell.”
7. El-Rufai Reacts To Kaduna-Abuja Road Attack
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has reacted to the attack on the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway on Sunday by suspected bandits.
Naija News reports that the armed bandits blocked the road at Katari village at about 2 pm and operated for more than an hour.
A statement on Monday by the Commissioner for Internal Security, Samuel Aruwan, said the bandits killed one person and kidnapped scores of travellers during the attack.
Aruwan revealed that eleven persons had been rescued from the assailants.
The commissioner identified the deceased as the Chairman and CEO of Famaks British School and former governorship aspirant in Zamfara State, Muhammad Sagir Hamidu.
Aruwan said the deceased’s vehicle was recovered by the Police.
8. Omoyele Sowore Faces Fresh Charges On Treasonable Felony
The publisher of SaharaReporters and convener of Revolution Now movement, Omoyele Sowore, faces fresh charges on alleged treasonable felony today, November 22 at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, is filing a fresh charge against Sowore on behalf of the Nigerian government in a charge marked ABJ/CR/CS/365/19.
The document revealed that Sowore would be arraigned on Monday before Justice Obiora Egwuatu.
It was gathered that the activists is being arraigned afresh following the transfer of the former trial Judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu to Calabar in Cross Rivers State.
9. WAEC Announces Increase In WASSCE Registration Fee
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced an increment in the registration fees for school candidates for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
It was revealed in a statement released on Monday, November 22 by the WAEC Head of National Office (HNO), Mr Patrick Areghan, that candidates will henceforth pay the sum of ₦18,000 against the previous ₦13,950 fee starting from 2022.
Naija News reports that the exam body confirmed this in Lagos State while announcing the release of results of the 2021 WASSCE for school candidates.
Areghan related the increment to the current cost of business operation and insecurity situations in the country.
He, however, warned school administrators against collecting any amount other than that which was mentioned by the WAEC.
10. Veteran Nollywood Star, Baba Suwe Is Dead
The death has been announced of veteran Nollywood Yoruba comic actor, Baba Suwe whose real name is Babatunde Omidina.
The shocking news of his death was announced on Monday by his son, Adesola Morenikeji Omidina, who posted it via his official Instagram page, @omo_omidina.
Though the cause of his sudden death wasn’t disclosed, Baba Suwe was believed to have been battling illness for a long time before his demise.
His son said other details will be made available later.
Those are the top Nigerian newspapers headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
This article was originally published on Naija News