20th Sep Newspaper Headlines From Nigeria

Posted on by Kelvin Funkeye

1. The Nigeria police Tuesday summoned Ademola Adeleke, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Osun state governorship election, for alleged examination malpractice and criminal conspiracy. They are to be charged to court for the alleged criminal acts. Force Spokesman, Jimoh Moshood in a statement on Wednesday said Adeleke who is contesting in this Saturday’s election and Sikiru, his brother, sat for the National Examination Council Examination (NECO) as internal candidates in 2017, “impersonating” students of OJO/Aro Community Grammar School in Osun state.

2. A report has, however, emerged that President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector-General of Police, not to invite Ademola Adeleke, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State for questioning until after this Saturday’s election.

3. The Federal Government, on Wednesday, suspended its controversial national carrier project, Nigeria Air. This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, while addressing newsmen. According to Sirika, the decision to suspend the procurement of Nigeria Air, was taken at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

4. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday, accused the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government as well as the State of Osun of paying policemen between N50,000 to N250,000, as inducement, ahead of the Saturday’s governorship election in the state. It said the payment was aimed at making the officers assist the ruling party in its plot to suppress a free, fair and credible governorship election in Osun, as they did in the July 14, 2018 governorship election in Ekiti state.

5. Ahead of the Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, the Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, on Wednesday alleged that vote-buying was ongoing in some Local Government Areas of the state. The group’s Chairperson, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, disclosed this to newsmen.

6. The Police Command in Enugu has confirmed the arrest of an Enugu-based Methodist cleric, Rev Kenneth Okafor, over his alleged involvement in the murder of a monarch in Enugu. Late Igwe Stephen Nwatu of Ogbozinne Akpugo community in Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state was murdered on June 11 in the community over a protracted town union leadership. Police spokesman, SP Ebere Amaraizu, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

7. Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has denied reports that he had withdrawn from the 2019 governorship race. Reports had on Wednesday emerged on social media that the governor had stepped down from the 2019 gubernatorial race and had endorsed Jide Sanwoolu as the governorship candidate for APC. But reacting, Ambode in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna said such reports making the rounds were mere propaganda by mischief makers.

8. The Federal Government, FG, has approved the mandatory use of the national identity number starting from January 1, 2019. The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) made this known on Wednesday in a statement signed by its Head, Corporate Communications, Loveday Chika Ogbonna.

9. The Federal Government is set to resume its legal battle to extradite serving senator, Prince Buruji Kashamu to the United States of America to face trial for an alleged drug trafficking. Report says the government will on September 24 at the Supreme Court resume the final legal action seeking the lawmaker’s extradition.

10. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday, reacted to the invitation of its governorship candidate in the Saturday’s election, Ademola Adeleke by the Nigeria Police Force. In a statement by its spokesperson, Kola Ogbondiyan, PDP described the latest twist in the “Adeleke certificate circus, leading to laughable trumped-up charges by the Police, as horrible, nauseating and displeasing.”