Good morning, Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Tuesday, 25th August 2020
1. Boko Haram Commander: Mailafia Drags Police To Court Over Invitation
A former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia has gone to court to challenge the invitation extended to him by the Nigerian Police.
Naija News recalls Dr. Mailafia was summoned by the Police last week and was expected to appear at the Abuja headquarters office of the Nigerian Police on Monday by 11am.
However, instead of appearing, Mailafia has filed an action in court; challenging his invitation by the Police.
According to Mailafia’s legal team, represented by Yakubu Bawa, their client will not be honouring the Police invitation.
Bawa told journalists in Plateau, the capital city of Jos on Monday that the invitation given to Mailafia is strange and alien to Nigeria’s extant laws and procedures.
Bawa noted that the said invitation which came as a photocopy is being challenged in the court and all relevant parties have been served.
2. Nigerian Govt Borrowed Food From ECOWAS – Ministry Of Agric
The Federal Government on Monday revealed that it borrowed over 5,000 metric tonnes of grain from ECOWAS to feed Nigerians.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mustapha Baba-Shehuri, disclosed this on Monday.
He stated this while receiving the 3,999 tonnes of cereals donated to Nigeria by ECOWAS.
According to Shehuri, “The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria loaned 5,000MT of assorted grains from ECOWAS Stock which was agreed to be paid back on grain for grain basis.”
“Modalities had been put in place to replace the ECOWAS Stock before the advent of COVID-19 Pandemic. That notwithstanding, I can assure you that the stock will be replaced in due course.”
3. Amaechi vs Sylva: APC Reconciles Buhari’s Ministers
The Governor Mai Mala Buni led Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee (CENCPC) of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) has reconciled Minister of Transport, Rotimi Ameachi and his counterpart Minister of State, Petroleum, Timipre Sylva.
Naija News reports that the political differences between the two South-South leaders had been at loggerheads which had a toll on the party’s fortune in the region.
The two of them who were one time governors of Rivers and Bayesla States.
Speaking to newsmen after a closed-door meeting with the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, Amaechi said they have agreed to work together to reposition the party in the South-South geo-political zone of the country.
4. Salami Panel: Malami Witch-Hunting Me Over Refusal To Testify Against Magu – Lawyer
The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami has been accused by an Abuja-based lawyer, Victor Giwa of conspiring with one Donald Wokoma, a former Special Adviser to Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, to witch-hunt him over his refusal to testify against the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu.
Recall that Giwa was lack week arrested while testifying before the retired Justice Ayo Salami-led Presidential Panel inside Aso Villa in the ongoing probe of Magu.
He was arrested alongside another lawyer, Fatima Hassan.
They were granted bail on Thursday from EFCC custody after they were asked to produce a level 12 officer of the federal service as surety.
Giwa in a statement released on Sunday noted that both Malami and Wokoma had made a desperate move to lure him to nail the suspended Acting EFCC Chairman.
5. Prof. Folasade Ogunsola Emerges UNILAG Acting Vice-Chancellor
The Senate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Monday elected, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution.
She was elected at an emergency senate meeting held today at the institution’s auditorium.
Operatives of the Sabo Police Station provided security during the meeting.
Ogunsola, a Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services) polled 135 votes compared to Prof. Ben Oghojafor’s 31 votes.
It was gathered one vote was declared void.
6. Gov Sule Denies Plotting With Buhari’s CoS To Stop Christian NPC Chairman
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has denied reports that he was plotting with the chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof Ibrahim Gambari to stop the appointment Silas Agara as Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC).
Naija News reports that Silas Agara is the immediate past deputy governor of Nasarawa State.
A publication by SaharaReporters had claimed that Governor Sule was working against a Christian being appointed to head the NPC.
“Some officials with the Nigerian government are making frantic moved to replace Ali Silas Agara, a Christian from Nasarawa state nominated to take over as chairman of NPC, with a Muslim from Kano state.
“Governor of Nasarawa state and chief of staff to the President had told the President not to handover NPC to a Christian, there is a plan to replace Agara with a Muslim, Kura Isa from Kano,” the report had claimed.
Reacting in a statement by his chief press secretary, Ibrahim Addra, Sule described the report as false.
7. Ondo 2020: PDP Wants APC’s Kekemeke Arrested
The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the arrest of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon Isaacs Kekemeke.
A video emerged online of Kekemeke purpotedly threatening to use members of the road transport unions and federal might during the October 10, Ondo governorship election.
Speaking to newsmen in Akure, State Chairman of the PDP, Mr Fatai Adams, disclosed that the opposition has sent petitions to all security agencies in the state asking for the arrest of Kekemeke.
According to Adams, Kekemeke’s statement ‘was careless, very reckless and unbecoming of a man who parades himself as a lawyer.
8. Nigeria’s Economy Shrunk By 6.1% In Q2 – NBS
A new report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that the Nigeria’s gross domestic product shrunk by six percent in the second quarter of 2020.
In the report released NBS revealed that oil GDP contracted by -6.63 percent from 5.06 percent in the first quarter and 5.15 percent in the second of 2019.
It was further revealed that Non-oil GDP was contracted by -6.05 percent from 1.55 percent in the first quarter of 2020 and 1.64 percent in the second quarter of 2019.
This development Mark’s the first time in three years that Nigeria records a negative growth after its exit from the 2016 recession.
The report attributed the decline to significantly lower levels of both domestic and international economic activity during the quarter, which resulted from nationwide shutdown efforts aimed at containing the COVID-19 pandemic.
9. Lagos Health Commissioner, Akin Abayomi Contracts COVID-19
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health Professor Akin Abayomi has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).
This was made known on Monday via Twitter by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso.
He said: “Subsequent to close contact with persons feeling unwell and testing positive for the COVID-19 infection, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, has tested positive for the virus. Professor Abayomi became aware of his status following the required testing protocol of contact tracing procedures.
“However, he is doing well with no symptoms.
10. FG Gives Updates On Reopening Of Tertiary Institutions
Emeka Nwajiuba, the Minister of Education, on Monday disclosed updates on the plan to reopen tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
The Minister while speaking at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID revealed that the government has met with groups pressurizing it to reopen universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Nwajiuba noted that Coronavirus is still virulent, while mandatory guidelines haven’t been put in place by the institutions yet.
“We have reviewed responses from about 78 universities already, most of which are private universities who are insistent that they are ready to go.”
“From the state-owned universities, we have a 50-50 response and we are working to upscale that and make sure that everybody is actually ready to go,” the Minister said.
He, however, expressed optimism that the institutions would soon be reopened.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
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