TOP 10 NEWS IN NIGERIA TODAY, FRIDAY

TOP 10 NEWS IN NIGERIA TODAY, FRIDAY

 

1. 2023: President Buhari Tells UK Prime Minister His Position On Contesting For A Third Term

The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has declared he is not interested in seeking a third term in office as the country’s leader.

President Buhari made his position known on Thursday during a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Boris Johnson on the sidelines of the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda.

During the meeting, Johnson had asked Buhari categorically if he would be seeking another term in office as the President of Nigeria.

Responding, the Nigerian President declared that he is not interested.

He went on to make a veiled reference to the failed ambition of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to run for a third term in office.

2. Ekweremadu, Wife Arrested In UK Over Alleged Organ Harvesting

A Nigerian, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice, have been arrested and charged for alleged conspiracy to harvest the organ of a child.

Ekweremadu and his wife were arrested in London by the Specialist Crime Team of the UK Metropolitan Police.

In a statement on Thursday, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that the pair conspired to facilitate the travel of a child to the county in order to harvest the minor’s organ.

According to the police, the pair have been charged to court following an investigation by its special crime team.

The police added that the investigation was launched after detectives were alerted to potential offences under modern slavery legislation in May 2022.

It, however, disclosed that the child has been taken into protective custody.

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3. Drama As Lawyer Storms Supreme Court In ‘Herbalist’s’ Attire

A Lagos-based Human Rights Lawyer, Malcom Omoirhobo raised eyebrows on Thursday when he appeared at the Supreme Court, Abuja in traditional outfits, making him look like a herbalist.

Security operatives at the court made effort to stop the legal practitioner but was left alone when he gave his reasons for approaching the court in that manner.

Giving his reasons, Malcom said a recent judgement by the Supreme Court which allowed all Nigerians to express their way of worship and the use of hijab in schools and public places, validated his choice of dress for the proceedings today.

According to the lawyer, the Supreme Court’s judgement last week implies that every Nigerian, including doctors, police, military students, and journalists, can now wear their mode of worship in public places.

He added that he was not against the judgement rather he was happy with the decision because it strengthened and enriched the rights of all Nigerians as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

4. FG Moves To Enforce NIN Linking On Sports Betting Accounts

Online sports betting customers in Nigeria may henceforth have an additional hurdle to cross as the House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to ensure gamers link their accounts with their National Identity Numbers.

The resolution was reached on Thursday, June 23 after the lower chamber of the National Assembly read and assented to a motion by the member representing Ifo/Ewekoro constituency in the 9th National Assembly, Ibrahim Isiaka.

The Ogun State lawmaker explained in the motion that the global gaming market is undoubtedly a huge one estimated to generate between $400 to $500 billion yearly and with the consistency of the current trends, by 2022.

He observed that the platform is set to be worth around $565 billion with increasing amounts of revenues coming from online gaming in its many forms.

Isiaka expressed concerns that the customers are mostly anonymous, noting that with the level of transactions, it is risky to have poor data.

5. FG Makes U-Turn Lifts Ban On International Basketball Competitions

The Federal Government has lifted the ban on Nigeria’s basketball teams from all international competitions following a letter of appeal.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had in May approved the withdrawal of Nigeria from all international basketball competitions.

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, who confirmed the development said the suspension will last for two years.

According to Sunday Dare, the development would allow the government to concentrate on efforts to revamp the sport.

However, at a conference in Abuja on Thursday, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Ismaila Abubakar said the government reinstated the team based on a letter of appeal from the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), signed by Mr Musa Kida.

He added that intervention by concerned stakeholders, former Nigerian international basketball players and well-meaning Nigerians to seek solutions to the issues triggered the decision.

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6. Biafra: “Let Him Defend All That He Has Said” – Buhari Gives Update About Releasing Nnamdi Kanu

President Muhammadu Buhari has ruled out any immediate chances of releasing the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Speaking on Thursday during a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Boris Johnson, the Nigerian leader said there’s no assurance that Kanu won’t jump bail if he is granted bail again.

Recalling that the IPOB leader once jumped bail and fled the country, President Buhari said Kanu should defend all that he said while outside the country.

Buhari and Johnson met on the sidelines of the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda, Naija News reports.

The Nigerian leader however declared that there’s no truth in some claims that Nnamdi Kanu is being denied access to his lawyers.

Buhari according to a statement by his media aide, Femi Adesina submitted that Kanu has “to justify all the uncomplimentary things he had been saying against Nigeria in Britain.”

He added that it is unfortunate that the likes of Orji Uzor Kalu and Hope Uzodinma supported a northern candidate to grab the presidential ticket of the APC.

7. 2023: PDP May Soon Form Majority In Senate – Aduda

The new Senate Minority Leader, Philip Aduda, has boasted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) might soon form the majority in the Red Chamber.

While addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Aduda stated that his comment is based on the number of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators defecting to the PDP.

Aduda said that there would surely be challenges as the new Minority Leader, expressing hope that those challenges would be surmounted.

The lawmaker, however, promised to give meaningful leadership to the minority in the Senate.

8. Ike Ekweremadu Officially Applied For Kidney Transplant Visa For ‘Homeless’ Boy

Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu officially applied for a kidney transplant visa for Ukpo David, a 15-year-old ‘homeless’ Lagos boy.

A letter correspondent revealed that Ekweremadu informed the UK authorities that he was taking David abroad for a kidney transplant for his daughter, Sonia Ekweremadu.

The former Deputy Senate President applied for visa for David Ukpo on December 28, 2021, the documents showed.

9. Gunmen Kidnap DPO In Nasarawa, Demand N5m

There was palpable tension in Nasarawa State on Thursday after some unknown gunmen reportedly kidnapped a Divisional Police Officer in the State.

Reports have it that CSP Haruna Abdulmalik who is in charge of Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area was whisked away on Wednesday night while on Patrol along Akwanga road.

The gunmen suspected to be bandits reportedly ambushed the DPO last night just around Bakyano and later reached out to his family.

Vanguard reported that the kidnappers reached out to the family today and demanded the sum of N5m as a ransom for the release of the senior police officer.

Confirming the report, Deputy Chairman of the Local government area, Benjamin Kuze told reporters that the CSP was kidnapped at about 9 pm in the area, adding that efforts to reach the DPO have not yielded positive results since the incident took place.

10. Economy Under You Worse Than It Was In 2015 – MAN Tells Buhari

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has slammed President Muhamamdu Buhai over his claim that the economy under him is better than it was in 2015.

Buhari had in a recent interview with Bloomberg said that the country’s economy is now better than what he met in 2015.

The Nigerian leader pointed to increased investments in infrastructure, recovery of stolen funds and improved security as key achievements.

Buhari had said: “We leave Nigeria in a far better place than we found it.

“Corruption is less hidden, for Nigerians feel empowered to report it without fear, while money is returned; terrorists no longer hold any territory in Nigeria, and their leaders are deceased, and vast infrastructure development sets the country on course for sustainable and equitable growth.”

Reacting to the claim, MAN President, Ola Adebayo, said Buhari’s regime’s policies have not translated into positive economic growth and real sector development.

Adebayo faulted the regime’s implementation of policies under Buhari, stressing that his regime would not score a pass mark.