Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 25th May 2022
Bandit terrorists who abducted passengers on the Abuja-Kaduna bound train have vowed to start killing those in captivity if the Muhammadu Buhari-led government doesn’t meet their conditions.
Naija News reports that gunmen reportedly related to the Ansaru terrorist group had attacked the train on 28th March 2022, killing nine individuals and kidnapping others.
Recall that the Federal Government had recently suspended the resumption of the train service indefinitely following protests from families of the kidnapped victims.
The terrorists have now stated that they will start killing the captives in the next seven days of the government refused to release their children allegedly kept in a Yola detention facility.
According to the Vanguard, leaders of the terrorists spoke on phone to the spokesman of Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, Malam Tukur Mamu, ‘And Dan Iyan Fika.
In the audio of the conversations between Malam Tukur Mamu and the leaders of the terrorists, the terrorists claimed that the Federal Government suspended the resumption of the train service because of their threats.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Owelle Okorocha.
Naija News reports that the anti-corruption agency had forcefully broke into the Senator representing Imo-central house in Abuja after laying seige to his residence.
The EFCC had forcefully evacuated everyone from the premises, using teargas to disperse journalists from the compound.
The EFCC had accused Okorocha of refusing to honour invitations to him after jumping the administrative bail granted to him following allegations of stealing public funds to the tune of 2.9 billion naira.
The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress has yet again released another timetable for Governorship, State House of Assembly, Senate, and House of Representatives primary elections.
This is coming a few hours after the ruling party adjusted the old timetable.
There are slight changes in the new timetable, with the primary for senatorial aspirants earlier slated for Friday, May 27 shifted to Saturday, May 28.
The primary for the House of Representatives aspirants, earlier scheduled for Saturday, May 28 has been shifted back to Friday, May 27.
The date for primaries of the governorship and State House of Assembly aspirants remains Thursday, May 26.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, who apologised for the late changes disclosed that “the special convention for the Presidential Primary will be held as scheduled on Sunday, 29th-Monday, 30th of May, 2022.”
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has restrained a former chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Lagos branch, Alhaji Musilu Akinsanya, a.k.a. MC Oluomo and seven others from collecting union dues and levies from commercial drivers that are non-union members in all motor parks in Lagos State.
Naija News reports that the judge issued the restrain on Tuesday.
Justice Lifu gave the order by granting an ex parte application in a suit filed by a lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje.
Ogungbeje had instituted the suit for himself and a new transport union, Transport Union Society of Nigeria (TUSON).
Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye has reacted after losing the Peoples Democratic Paty (PDP) primary election which ended his bid to return to the Senate.
Melaye in his reaction on Tuesday evening, said the gang up is unimaginable but he still gives praises to God.
He also went ahead to appreciate all those who supported and voted for him as well as going ahead to congratulate the eventual winner, Honourable Tajudeen Yusuf.
He wrote: “The Primary has been fought and won. I congratulate Hon. T.J YUSUF and thank all those who voted in the first and second ballot for me. The Gang up is unimaginable but l give God praise. God bless you all. SDM”
As earlier reported by Naija News, Dino Melaye was defeated at the primaries by a three terms House of Representative member, Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf who represents Kabba/Bunu Ijumu Federal constituency.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed that its operatives laid siege on the Abuja residence of former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha on Tuesday.
The EFCC in a statement on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren explained that the step taken became necessary after Okorocha jumped administrative bail.
Uwujaren added in the statement that the lawmaker has been evading service of court papers and refused to show up in court to answer charges against him.
He explained that Senator Okorocha is standing trial for a 17-count criminal charge bordering on diversion of public funds and properties to the tune of N2.9billion brought against him by the EFCC but has refused to show up in court.
The EFCC explained that the trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja had warned during the last sitting (March 28th, 2022) when the case was adjourned till May 30, 2022 that no further adjournment will be granted hence the need by the operatives to forcefully arrest Okorocha to present him in court.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the increase of the interest rate to 13.5 per cent for the first time in years.
Naija News reports that the increase was made known by the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday.
He made the announcement while addressing newsmen after Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja.
The interest rate was increased from 11.5 per cent to 13.5 per cent.
On the raise, Emefiele said the MPC is suspicious there might be an aggressive accretion of inflation.
He said to prevent the looming inflation the MPC had to increase the monetary policy rate by 150 basis points.
Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers State has sacked all his commissioners and chief of staff.
A statement by his Media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, said the governor has dissolved the State Executive Council with effect from Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
The Chief of Staff to the governor and Senior Special Assistant (Protocol), have also been relieved of their office.
“His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, commends the members the Rivers State Executive Council for their service and contribution to the development of the State. He has also wished them the best in all their future endeavours.”
Governor Wike, has therefore instructed all the former members of the State Executive Council to hand over to the most senior officers in their respective ministries.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has given the sum of N27.2 billion being the operating surplus from 2017 to 2022, while N9.7 billion was used for capital projects in the same period.
Professor Is-haq Oloyede, the Registrar of JAMB who revealed the development on Tuesday, said the sum of N3 billion operating surplus was remitted to the Government in 2022.
He gave the breakdown of the remittances as follows: 2017-N7.8 billion, 2018-N5.2 billion, 2019-3.76 billion, 2020 – N4 billion, 2021 – N3.5 billion and 2022 – N3 billion.
The registrar said that the Minister of Education Malam Adamu Adamu has approved the establishment of Advanced Level (A-Level) certificates data bank in the country in order to curtail the use of fake certificates by candidates in securing admissions into tertiary institutions in the country.
The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has reacted to the gruesome murder of a heavily pregnant woman called Fatima and her four children.
Naija News recalls that gunmen suspected to be members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) killed Fatima, her four children and six other individuals in Anambra State.
In a statement on Tuesday by its National President, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, AYCF said the killing of the victims who are Northerners is an attempt to achieve ethnic cleansing agenda.
The forum said the murder of Fatima and her children was totally unacceptable act of undue provocation, adding that the lives of Northerners are no longer valued in the region.
It, however, called on South East governors to quickly curb the killing of innocent Northerners in the region, adding the North’s respect for the rule of law should never be taken as a weakness.
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