Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Friday

Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Friday

1. Buhari Gives Reasons He Would Leave Office Immediately His Tenure Expires In 2023

The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has again reiterated his resolve not to extend his stay in office beyond the constitutionally allowed time.

The President on Thursday vowed to hand over to his successor on May 29, 2023, as stipulated in Nigeria’s constitution.

It was reported President Buhari who is on an official visit to Nasarawa State made the submission during a courtesy visit to the palace of Emir of Lafia, retired Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad.

He said apart from the constitutional requirement, he swore with the Holy Quran and is therefore liable to God to uphold his oath.

Buhari said he was looking forward to becoming a former President.

2. Nigeria Govt To Evacuate Citizens In Ukraine

The Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has announced plans to immediately evacuate its citizens from Ukraine.

It was reported that this is following an invasion by Russia early Thursday morning.

In an interview with NTA, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said the Nigerian embassy in Kiev has been contacted.

He stated that the embassy will arrange for those wishing to return home from other areas including Donestk and Luhensk.

According to Onyeama, the ministry was following the events since the beginning.

He however promised to do everything for the safety of Nigerians in Ukraine, particularly students.

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3. No Nigerian General Wanted To Get Arrested In America – El-Rufai Reveals Why Military Didn’t Want To Bomb Bandits

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai on Thursday revealed that the fear of getting arrested for war crimes prevented the Nigerian Military from bombing bandits in the past.

El-Rufai who spoke during the weekly press briefing organized by the presidential media team observed that before the court proscribed bandits as terrorists, there was no legal backing for the military to bomb them.

It was reported that after several calls for the government to declare the bandits as terrorists, Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the federal high court in Abuja eventually did so on November 25, 2021.

The order was thereafter gazetted by the government.

El-Rufai said now that the order has been issued and gazetted, the military can now go after the bandits and treat them as terrorists without any fear.

He pointed out that it was difficult to proscribe the bandits as terrorists because they had no identified leader or structure like the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists.

4. Nude Photos: Nigerian Govt Withdraws Charge Against Ex-Imo Governor, Ohakim

The Federal Government has withdrawn a criminal charge filed against a former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim.

It was reported that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation withdrew the case from the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday.

At the court session, the lawyer to AGF’s office, Sani Bagudu, told the court that the action was taken to enable the government to study the case file and take appropriate action.

Following the withdrawal, the trial judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, struck out a criminal charge filed against the former governor and one Chinedu Okpareke.

5. Nigerian Army Bursts IPOB/ESN Camps In Anambra, Imo, Enugu States

Troops of the Nigerian Army conducting clearance operations in the southeast region have routed some members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed unit, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Anambra and Imo States respectively.

It was reported troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army carried out the operation at Azia, Orsumoghu, Lilu Forest, Mbosi and Uli in Ihiala and Orsu Local Government Areas of Anambra and Imo States respectively on Wednesday 23rd February, 2022.

This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu.

He stated that the IPOB/ESN fighters attempted to ambush the troops but were overpowered by the gallant soldiers who successfully cleared the forests and the adjoining areas.

Nwachukwu added that troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army in collaboration with operatives of the Nigerian Police in a separate operation on Thursday bursted an IPOB/ESN syndicate that disrupted the just concluded Local Government Council elections at some polling stations in Nkanu West of Enugu State.

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6. 2023: El-Rufai Speaks On Contesting For Presidency, Supporting Southern Candidate

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai on Thursday denied reports that he is planning to contest in the 2023 presidential election.

Governor El-Rufai stated that he just wants to finish his tenure in 2023, continue with his private business and make money to take care of his family.

The governor made the submission during the weekly press briefing organized by the presidential media team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

El-Rufai disclosed that he would support any presidential candidate who emerged from the All Progressives Congress (APC) zoning structure in the Southern region.

The Kaduna governor stated that he would support any APC candidate that will have the interest of the country at heart no matter the region he is from the South.

7. Drug Trafficking: Court Takes Action On Abba Kyari’s Bail Request

The bail application filed by the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, received a boost on Thursday at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

In a ruling on Thursday, the presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to respond to the request filed by the embattled police officer within 48 hours.

Earlier, counsel to the anti-narcotic agency, Mike Kasa, had informed the court that he had not been served with Abba Kyari’s bail request attached to his suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/182/22.

In a short judgement, the judge asked the parties to sort out themselves and appear before him on February 28 for the continuation of the case.

8. Nigerian Army Kills 55 Terrorists In Kaduna

Troops of the Nigerian Army conducting clearance operations in the North West region have killed 55 terrorists in Kaduna State.

It was learned that troops of Operation Thunder Strike/Whirl Punch carried out the operation around Labi general area along the Kaduna – Birnin Gwari road in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state.

The Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, made this known during a press conference on Thursday at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

Nwachukwu said the troops engaged 75 bandits in a fierce battle around Labi general area close to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and neutralized 55 of the criminals.

9. Declare All Known Terrorist Leaders Wanted, Senate Tells Buhari

The Nigerian Senate has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately declare all known terrorist leaders in the country wanted.

It was reported that the Red Chamber made the submission on Wednesday following a motion moved by Senator Bala Ibn Nallah, over the activities of bandits in Kebbi State.

Presenting the motion, the lawmaker noted with concern that bandits are moving in hundreds from village to village, house to house in search of cattle to rustle and people to abduct.

Nallah said the bandits have been reportedly laying siege around Yar-kuka, Morai, Dankade to Wadako and recently in Bena where 20 people were abducted.

He said that if urgent steps were not taken, the peace-loving communities might be forced to resort to self-defense by acquiring arms and ammunition.

10. ‘Incident Unfortunate’ – NFF Apologises To Super Falcons Over Airport Delay

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has apologized to the Super Falcons over their delay at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport in Abuja.

The officials and players of the Super Falcons were held up for hours on Thursday at the airport after returning to the country from a qualifying game in Ivory Coast.

The national team, who sealed a spot at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nation, were prevented from leaving the airport by officials of the airport and Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) due to issues with COVID-19 tests.

Reacting to the development in a statement, NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, said the federation was not responsible for the delay at the airport.

Sanusi described the incident as “unfortunate”, adding that the officials of the federation were on ground to welcome the players and officials.