Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 1st December 2021
1. #EndSARS: Lagos Govt Releases White Paper, Disagrees With Judicial Panel On Killing Of Protesters
The White Paper on the report by the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other matters has been released.
Naija News reports the White Paper was released on Tuesday night in accordance with the promise made by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu earlier on the same day.
According to a report, the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu disagreed with the judicial panel of enquiry and rejected its earlier submission that nine persons were killed at the Lekki Toll Gate when soldiers opened fire on protesters last year.
The Lagos State government in the White Paper, described the claim of killings by the panel as “assumptions and speculations”.
It is further understood that while the panel made 32 recommendations, the Lagos Government according to the White Paper only accepted 11.
One was totally rejected and six others accepted with modifications.
14 recommendations said to be outside the powers of the Lagos State Government will be forwarded to the Federal Government for consideration.
2. Killing Of Policemen In Anambra Barbaric – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has described the killing of two officers of the Nigerian Police in Anambra State as barbaric.
The Nigerian leader stated that the heinous crime shows that some Nigerians are completely overtaken by hatred, and reduced to the basest level imaginable.
Naija News had reported that gunmen executed a daring ambush attack on operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Anambra state.
The policemen who were travelling, ran into an ambush by the gunmen as confirmed in a statement on Sunday by the Anambra Command spokesperson, Ikenga Tochukwu.
In a statement on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, President Buhari accused the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, of being behind the killings.
Buhari also condemned the group for recording the killing of the policemen and proceeded to circulate the video on social media.
He stated that the slain officers were serving the country and providing security to those who ironically turned against them.
President Buhari commiserated with the bereaved families of the slain policemen and prayed for God’s comfort in their deep sorrow.
3. AGF Malami Denies Sales Of FG Properties, Sets Up Probe Panel
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) has denied officially authorising the sale of recovered properties.
Naija News recalls that reports had emerged which allegedly claims that a syndicate allegedly from the Ministry is selling Federal Government’s recovered properties without the knowledge of Malami.
Malami in a statement on Tuesday denied approving, being aware or ordering any sale of recovered properties.
This was made known in the statement released by the Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu.
4. #EndSARS: What Sanwo-Olu Told Lagosians About The Lekki Tollgate Incident
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state on Tuesday addressed Lagosians on the Lekki Tollgate shooting.
Naija News recalls that a panel set up by the state government to investigate the incident had indicted the Nigerian Army and Police, as well as the state government in the killing of unharmed peaceful protesters at the Lekki tollgate.
Speaking to the people of Lagos, Sanwo-Olu expressed regret over the leakage of the panels report.
He said just as his administration has established a mechanism to compensate all those who lost homes, businesses, and livelihoods to the violent destruction of October 2020, “we shall also establish a detailed procedure for the just compensation of citizens with verified claims of police brutality committed during the protests.”
“In December, I will be leading A WALK FOR PEACE to herald the healing of our land. Let me use this occasion to extend an open invitation to our youths, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society groups, students and the media as well as other stakeholders to join me,” the Governor added.
5. Former Emir Sanusi Lamido Wins In Court Against Kano State Govt
The Kano State government has been ordered to apologize to the former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi for banishing him to Awe, Nasarawa State after his dethronement on March 9, 2020.
The directive was handed down on Tuesday, 30th November 2021 by Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court in Abuja while delivering judgement on a case before her bordering on Sanusi’s dethronement and subsequent banishment from Kano State by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
Justice Chikere held that the action of the Kano State government was not only unlawful, but also a violation of the human rights of Sanusi as contained in Section 34 of Nigeria’s constitution.
She submitted that it was wrong of security operatives acting on the directive of the Kano State government to have forcefully moved the former traditional ruler out of Kano.
The Judge, therefore, directed the Kano State government, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the State Security Services (SSS) to apologize to Sanusi in two national dailies while also awarding N10miliion as cost against them.
6. NINAS: Akintoye, 44 Leaders Of Ilana Omo Oodua Pull Out
Prof. Banji Akintoye of the Ilana Omo Oodua, the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, has resigned as the Chairman of the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS).
NINAS is an umbrella body of Self-Determination Groups in the South and Middle-Belt Regions of Nigeria with Ilana Omo Oodua representing the Yoruba bloc, Lower Niger Congress (LNC) representing the South East and South-South, and the Middle-Belt Rennaissance Movement representing the Middle-Belt Region.
Akintoye and forty-four other leaders in a statement on Tuesday said it is important to resign from their position to preserve the integrity and reputation of the Yoruba Nation agitation for self-determination.
7. Court Recongises Shekarau’s APC Faction Against Ganduje’s Group
The congresses of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje‘s faction of the All Progressives Congress in Kano State has been nullified by an Abuja High Court.
The presiding judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, in his ruling on Tuesday upheld the congresses conducted by Senator Ibrahim Shekarau-led faction of the party.
The ruling party in the state is currently in crisis due to the battle between the state Governor and Shekarau to control APC in the state.
Justice Muazu stated that the congress which returned 17,908 members was valid.
He also restrained Ganduje’s faction from appointing a new executive.
8. Bandits May Attack Super Tucano Jets In Niger State – Reps Member Warns FG
A lawmaker representing Agwara/Borgu Federal Constituency of Niger State in the House of Representatives, Jafaru Muhammad has warned the federal government that the present location of the Super Tucano fighter jets in Niger State is an easy target for bandits.
To this end, he has called on the government to urgently provide additional security to the location to prevent an attack on the Tucano Jets by the bandits.
The legislator who revealed the current location of the jets as the 407 Air Weapon Training School, New Bussa stated that the area is close to the Kainji National Park in the Borgu Game reserve which is a known area used by the bandits as a hideout.
He argued that the close proximity may prompt an attack by the bandits on the National Assets thus also exposing residents of the area to increased risks.
Lamenting previous attacks by bandits in the area, the lawmaker stated that the Correctional Centre situated in 221 and 101 battalions need to be fortified against any planned attack by the bandits.
His motion was thereafter adopted and passed by the House, Naija News reports.
9. EFCC Arraigns Ondo Speaker Over Alleged Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Tuesday arraigned the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Bamidele Oleyelogun, over allegations of fraud.
Naija News understands that the lawmaker was made to appear today before a High Court sitting at the Olokuta Correctional Centre, Akure, the state capital.
Though journalists were prevented from gaining access to the courtroom by officials of the Olokuta Correctional Centre, the trial was subsequently stalled.
It was noted that the trial could not continue due to the absence of counsels to the anti-graft agency.
Trouble started with Oleyelogun in March 2021 after the EFCC detained him over petitions regarding his involvement in an alleged N2.4 million seminar fraud that rocked the assembly, Naija News reports.
10. Sit-at-home Order: Soldiers, Gunmen Exchange Gunfire In Imo
There was pandemonium in Mgbidi and Akata communities in the Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State following a clash between troops of the Nigerian Army and some unknown gunmen.
It was gathered that the gun battle started as early as 6am on Tuesday when the gunmen were allegedly enforcing the sit-at-home order of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The gunmen were said to have barricaded the roads, ordered residents to return to their homes and observed the lockdown order.
However, troops of the Nigerian Army were called in and engaged the gunmen in a shoot out which led to residents scampering for safety.
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