TOP 10 NEWS MAKING THE ROUNDS IN NIGERIA TODAY, FRIDAY 

TOP 10 NEWS MAKING THE ROUNDS IN NIGERIA TODAY, FRIDAY 

1. Buhari Extends Usage Of Old 200 Naira Notes, Set New Deadline

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the continuous usage of the old 200 naira notes as a legal tender until the 10th of April.

Buhari made this known in a nationwide broadcast on Thursday.

The president stated that the old 200 naira notes will be distributed back into circulation.

Buhari said: “To further ease the supply pressures, particularly to our citizens, I have given approval to the CBN that the old N200 bank notes be released back into circulation and that it should also be allowed to circulate as legal tender with the new N200, N500, and N1000 banknotes for 60 days from February 10, 2023 to April 10 2023 when the old N200 notes cease to be legal tender.

“In line with Section 20(3) of the CBN Act 2007, all existing old N1000 and N500 notes remain redeemable at the CBN and designated points.

“Considering the health of our economy and the legacy we must bequeath to the next administration and future generations of Nigerians, I admonish every citizen to strive harder to make their deposits by taking advantage of the platforms and windows being provided by the CBN.

2. CBN Naira Policy: Buhari Wants To Cripple APC Before Leaving – Ganduje

The Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, has asserted that President Muhammadu Buhari wants to cripple the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) before vacating office in a few months.

The APC chieftain stated this in reaction to the nationwide broadcast by the Nigerian leader following a Supreme Court order on the Naira swap policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

President Buhari on Thursday, in a nationwide broadcast, maintained that the new monetary policy by the apex bank had minimized the influence of money in politics.

He further stated that the policy was put in place to lay a strong foundation for free and fair elections.

Reacting, Ganduje said the Nigerian leader was hellbent on making the party that brought him to power lose the election, alleging that the policy was targeted at the APC.

Ganduje, who somehow exonerated the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, said, “The CBN Governor don’t know anything; you now set the Nation Apex Bank on fire with this policy”.

The APC chieftain further expressed concern that even World Bank, IMF and other financial institutions have advised the President to think twice about the negative policy but he turned deaf ears.

3. DSS Confirms Boko Haram’s Plan To Launch Fresh Attack On Abuja-Kaduna Train Service

The Department of State Services (DSS) has written to the Federal Ministry of Transportation confirming that its intelligence revealed that Boko Haram terrorists have issued threats to launch a fresh attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train service.

This publication learnt that the Ministry of Transportation revealed the latest development in an internal memo obtained by Sahara Reporters.

The Federal Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, urged the security department to meet with relevant stakeholders to prevent the terrorist attack.

The letter read: “Re: Threat by Boko Haram terrorists to attack the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service” was signed by Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, the Transportation Minister.

“We are in receipt of a letter reference, S.314/31/C/5390, dated February 1, 2023, from the Department of State Services in respect of the above subject matter.

“It is our considered opinion that the Honourable Minister of Defence, as a matter of urgency, graciously convenes a meeting of all relevant stakeholders for the purpose of reviewing the reported alert with a view to ensuring that everything necessary to forestall any such occurrence is adequately dealt with.”

4. 2023: Makinde Reveals How Oyo People Will Vote During Meeting With Tinubu

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has dropped a hint on how the people of the state will vote in the February 25 presidential election in Nigeria.

The Oyo State Governor declared the stand on Thursday when he played host to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

As earlier reported by Naija News, Makinde received the APC presidential candidate at the Government House in the state capital, Ibadan.

Tinubu during the visit, asked for Makinde’s support ahead of the February 25 presidential election

Responding while speaking during the meeting, Makinde who is one of the PDP Governors popularly known as the G5 who have vowed not to support the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar due to some disagreements with the PDP national leadership stated that the people of Oyo would vote for equity, fairness, and justice over politics in the forthcoming polls.

The Governor also wished Tinubu well in his campaigns.

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5. Supreme Court Gives Verdict On Taraba APC Governorship Ticket

The Supreme Court has dismissed another appeal filed by Senator Yusuf Abubakar challenging the nomination of Senator Emmanuel Bwacha as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State.

At the hearing of the case on Thursday, a five-man panel of justices of the court, led by Justice John Okoro, threw out the fresh appeal based on its voluntary withdrawal by Senator Abubakar.

Counsel to the appellant, Sarafa Yusuff informed the apex court that the case of his client has become spent and mere academic exercise in view of the February 1, 2023 judgment of the court on the same matter.

The counsel specifically told the apex court that the reliefs being sought in the fresh matter had been granted in the February 1 judgment delivered by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

He, thereafter, applied for withdrawal of his client’s case from being adjudicated upon.

Based on no objection from other parties in the matter, Justice Okoro accordingly dismissed the case without any cost against the appellant.

6. Your Message Gave No Hope Of Ending Nigerians’ Suffering – Falana Fires Buhari

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has blasted President Muhammadu Buhari over the new directive to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The President on Thursday directed the apex bank to release old N200 notes into circulation to co-exist with new N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes for 60 days.

The President, however, said old N500 and N1,000 banknotes are no longer legal tender in the country.

In a statement he signed on Thursday, Falana said President Buhari’s address to Nigerians gave no hope to the common man, adding that the suffering of the Nigerian people is worsening by the day over the naira scarcity.

He stated that Buhari’s decision to allow only the N200 note in circulation and keep the old N500 and N1000 notes out of circulation is not enough to end the crisis.

The prominent lawyer asserted that there are not enough old 200 naira notes to replace all the old N1,000 and N500 notes, noting that the naira scarcity was created by the government.

Falana said it is only the government that can end the naira crunch, stating that unless firm action is taken, the crisis will get worse in the days to come.”

The Senior Advocate also said that the decision of the President to exclude old N500 and N1000 notes from the legal tender is of no legal effect as it constitutes a contravention of section 287(1) of the Constitution.

He urged the Federal Government to comply with the judgment of the Supreme Court which ordered that the old notes remain legal tender without any further delay.

7. We’re In Support Of Recirculation Of Old N200 Notes – PDP Campaign

The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council (PDP PCC) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for ordering the recirculation of the old N200 notes till April 10 to ease the suffering of the masses.

The President on Thursday directed the apex bank to release old N200 notes into circulation to co-exist with new N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes for 60 days.

The President, however, said old N500 and N1,000 banknotes are no longer legal tender in the country.

In a statement on Thursday by one of its spokesmen, Charles Aniagwu, the PDP Presidential Campaign Council said the decision of the President to authorise the release of the old N200 naira notes into the economy is a welcome development.

It however accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of taking advantage of suffering Nigerians to derail the electioneering process in the country.

8. CBN Governor, Emefiele In Aso Villa, Gives Directives

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele is currently in Aso Villa.

Emefiele’s meeting in the villa is coming hours after President Muhammadu Buhari addressed Nigerians on the challenges experienced due to the naira swap policy of the apex bank.

President Buhari on Thursday confirmed that he approved the policy carried out by the CBN.

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Emefiele while speaking on President Buhari’s statement in the early hours of Thursday said he had met with the leadership of at least 15 commercial banks.

Recall that President Buhari approved that only the old N200 note will remain a legal tender until April 10, 2023.

Emefiele disclosed that he met with the leadership of the banks to ensure an ample supply of the old N200 notes to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.

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Meanwhile, the CBN Governor was at the State House, Abuja, for a separate assignment and not with President Buhari.

9. US Returns $954,000 Alamieyeseigha Loot, Buhari Gives Directive

The sum of $954,000 stolen by a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha has been returned by the United States Government.

The US Government returned the loot through the Federal Government.

The development was announced by the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard at a press briefing on Thursday afternoon in Abuja.

According to Beth, Alamieyeseigha’s salary at the time he was the Governor of Bayelsa State, from 1999 to his impeachment in 2005 did not match the said amount.

She further stated that the former governor accumulated millions of dollars through abuse of office and money laundering.

President Muhammadu Buhari has immediately directed that the said sum be utilised in developing the healthcare of Bayelsa.

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10. Wike Slams Buhari Over New Directive On Old Naira Notes

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari over the new directive to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The President on Thursday directed the apex bank to release old N200 notes into circulation to co-exist with new N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes for 60 days.

The President, however, said old N500 and N1,000 banknotes are no longer legal tender in the country.

In a media chat on Thursday, Wike said with the new directive to the apex bank, President Buhari has overruled the Supreme Court order that says old notes remain legal tender.

The governor stated that the President would have obeyed the apex court ruling and not interfered, describing the directive as “corporate interference”.

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Governor Wike said the advisers of the President should have urged him to respect the Supreme Court order.