Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 26th April 2022
1. Osinbajo Reveals Two Things That Made Him Join 2023 Presidential Race
The Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo on Monday gave further insight into his decision to join the 2023 presidential race.
Speaking in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Osinbajo revealed that the need to bring his experience in the last seven years to bear in moving Nigeria forward, as well as God’s grace upon him, are two reasons for joining the race.
Naija News reports the Vice President said this at the office of the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu during his visit to him.
According to him, there’s so much that he can offer Nigeria as a country based on his experience as a Vice President and the unfettered opportunity accorded him by President Muhammadu Buhari as the acting President of Nigeria.
2. House Of Reps Postpone Resumption Date, No New Date Announced
The House of Representatives has announced a shift in date for the resumption of plenary by the lawmakers of the Green Chamber.
Naija News understands the legislators were expected to resume plenary on Tuesday, April 26 but the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Dr Yahaya Dan Zaria announce in a statement on Monday that the resumption has been postponed.
He explained that the plenary was shifted because of the ongoing renovations in the chamber and to allow committees to submit their outstanding reports.
The statement added that a new resumption date will be announced later.
3. APC To Commence Sale Of Nomination Forms Tuesday
The ruling All Progressive Congress, APC says sales of expression of interest and nomination forms for various elective positions for the party will commence tomorrow, Tuesday.
The party’s national organizing secretary, Suleiman Arugungu confirmed this in a terse statement on Monday, Naija News understands.
The party chieftain reveals that the sales of the forms would start on April 26 and span through May 6, 2022, ahead of the 2023 general elections.
4. ‘I Don’t Want Any Secret Trial’ – Nnamdi Kanu Heads To Court
The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has said he does not want his terrorism trial before the Federal High Court to be done in secret.
The IPOB leader made this known in an origination summons filed by his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, to challenge the practice direction of the court.
Naija News recalls that the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has released a new practice direction for the trial of terrorism cases before the court.
However, in the suit filed on Monday, Kanu rejected the new practice direction of the Federal High Court in its entirety and asked the court to declare it invalid, null and void.
The IPOB leader, who listed Justice Tsoho, and its court’s Chief Registrar as defendants in the case, said the presiding judge failed to first seek and obtain the approval of the Federal Executive Council prior to enacting the new practice of direction.
5. NDLEA Arrests Nigerian Billionaire Over ₦3bn Tramadol Linked To Abba Kyari, Others
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended Chief Afam Mallinson Emmanuel Ukatu.
The Nigerian ‘billionaire drug baron’ is the Chairman of Mallinson Group.
The spokesman of the Agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement released in Monday disclosed that Ukatu was behind the ₦3 billion Tramadol deal involving suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari.
NDLEA apprehended the billionaire at the Murtala Mohammed terminal in Ikeja after months of surveillance and evading arrest.
According to the drug law enforcement agency, Ukatu has been a major importer of Tramadol Hydrochloride, ranging from 120mg, 200mg, 225mg and 250mg.
The suspect allegedly uses his pharmaceutical and plastic manufacturing companies to import illicit drugs into Nigeria.
6. FG Gives Update On Casualties Of Imo Illegal Refinery Fire
The Federal Government has said that 110 bodies have been recovered so far from the fire incident at the illegal oil refinery site at Abacheke Kpofire in Egbema community in Imo State.
The Head of Operations of the National Emergency Management Agency, Ifeanyi Nnaji, made this known in an interview with reporters on Monday.
Giving an update on the fire incident which occurred on Friday night, Nnaji said officials of the agency have recovered more dead bodies from a popular river near the scene of the unfortunate fire incident.
The NEMA official added that some other victims died at different hospitals across the state, bringing the total death recorded to 110.
Nnaji stated that the agency has not ascertained what led to the fire disaster, adding that it will soon come out with a report on the incident.
7. “Don’t Allow Them To Deceive You” – Shehu Sani Warns Jonathan Over 2023 Presidency
Former Kaduna Central lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani has appealed to former President Goodluck Jonathan not to allow himself to be used and dumped.
The former lawmaker spoke against the backdrop of unfolding events and possible consequences regarding the 2023 presidential election with insinuations that Jonathan is under pressure to join the race.
Sani who took to his Twitter account on Monday warned Jonathan not to deceive himself or allow others to deceive him.
8. ISWAP Kills Top Boko Haram Commander, Mohammed Reejal
The Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) has killed a top commander of the Boko Haram terrorist group, Mohammed Reejal.
According to Counter Insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, the high-ranking Boko Haram member was gunned down by ISWAP fighters on Sunday.
Reejal was said to have been killed during an ambush by ISWAP terrorists around the Tokombare part of Sambisa forest in Borno State.
The slain insurgent was part of the Boko Haram group who were attacked during an alleged operation to invade some communities in the state and loot food items.
9. “We Will Not Spare Them” – IPOB Dares Fulani Herdsmen In Southeast
The Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) has vowed to resist any form of invasion by criminal herdsmen in any part of the southeast.
The Biafra agitators warned that Fulani herdsmen will not be allowed to take over any part of Igbo land as they have done in some other parts of the country.
IPOB in a statement by its publicity secretary, Emma Powerful said they are capable of handling any threat posed by the herdsmen and those bent on fomenting trouble would not be spared.
Naija News understands the proscribed IPOB group was reacting to a statement credited to former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon on the spate of killings and violence in Benue State.
Powerful has however submitted that they won’t succumb to any threat from the criminal herdsmen and vowed to match them battle for battle in protecting their heritage.
10. 2023: Wike Donates N200m To Kaduna State IDPs, Reveals First Target As President
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has donated N200 million to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kaduna State.
Doing this, the 2023 presidential hopeful said his first target if elected as Nigeria’s next leader, would be to address the issue of security challenges bevelling the country.
Naija News understands that Wike said this when he visited the Kaduna State secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday as part of his campaign tour to seek the party’s ticket for the 2023 presidential poll.
According to him, sentiment must be put aside if the party is concerned with winning the 2023 election.
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 Nigeria News