Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 2nd November, 2024.
1. No Limit To Your Inhumanity – Atiku Lambasts Tinubu
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has slammed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration for detaining and prosecuting #EndBadGovernance protesters who are minors.
Naturenex reported that minors were on Friday arraigned by the Nigeria Police for alleged treason. The minors were said to have been arrested by Nigeria Police during the August hunger protest.
Four of the malnourished minors detained for three months over #EndBadGovernance protests slumped during an appearance in the courtroom.
Reacting in a statement to Naija News, Atiku described the video showing the moment the minors slumped as disturbing.
Atiku, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, said he finds it reprehensible that Tinubu, who claims to have fought for Nigeria’s democracy and had led protests, now demonizes those who decide to demonstrate against the effects of his harsh policies.
2. EFCC Allegedly Arrests Edo State Govt Officials
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has allegedly arrested some Edo State government officials who are signatories to the state government accounts.
Sources told Naturenex on Friday that about five officials, including the Accountant General of Edo State, are being held at the Benin office of the anti-graft agency.
The sources revealed that the government officials were said to have been arrested on Thursday after they had been called in for briefing.
“With the arrest, government activities have been halted, as the state is unable to pay emoluments due to civil servants, pensions, and other public servants, throwing the state into chaos. Other statutory payments such as security bills and other obligations are also affected,” the source said.
The source disclosed that the EFCC plan to keep the arrested officials till November 12, on the day of the termination of the tenure of the outgoing Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki.
3. Tinubu To Withdraw Controversial Tax Reform Bill
The Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration is poised to withdraw the Tax Reform Bills presented to the National Assembly barely two months ago.
This decision comes amid widespread backlash and controversy, primarily fueled by northern governors and traditional rulers opposing elements of the proposed legislation, particularly those impacting the Value Added Tax (VAT) distribution model.
Daily Trust gathered last night that the presidency has agreed to withdraw the bills, but sources said those pieces of proposed legislations would be modified and resubmitted to the National Assembly in due course.
On October 31, the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, officially recommended the withdrawal of the bills.
NEC’s recommendation aligns with a resolution made by governors from Nigeria’s 19 northern states during a meeting in Kaduna.
Accompanied by prominent traditional leaders, the governors expressed concerns that the new tax proposals could negatively impact their region’s economic standing.
4. Fuel Scarcity: Oil Marketers Increase Petrol Pump Price
Major oil marketers across Nigeria have raised the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly referred to as petrol, from N1,010 to N1,050 per litre, reflecting a 4% increase in Lagos and surrounding regions.
Independent marketers have also adjusted their prices, now ranging between N1,100 and N1,200 per litre, up from approximately N1,060 per litre, with prices varying by location.
An investigation by Vanguard reveals that in the deregulated market, petrol prices are not standardized, leading to minor price differences across various filling stations, although some stations maintain similar rates.
Meanwhile, Dangote Refinery has described the claim by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) that its members are experiencing difficulties loading refined products from its facility as misleading.
The refinery, in a statement on Thursday, clarified that there is no direct dealing with IPMAN, neither has it accepted any money from it for petroleum purchases.
Naturenex recalls IPMAN President, Abubakar Garima, had claimed during a TV interview that despite having paid ₦40 billion to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), members of the association are facing significant difficulties in loading petrol from the Dangote Refinery in Lagos.
However, Dangote in a statement on Thursday by its Group Chief Branding and Communication Officer, Anthony Chiejina, countered the IPMAN boss, explaining that the petroleum marketers are yet to register or start dealing directly with the refinery.
5. APC Seeks Court Order To Halt Revenue Allocation To Rivers LGAs Pending Valid Elections
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to halt the allocation and distribution of revenue from the Federation Account to any Local Government Area in Rivers State until valid local government elections are conducted.
The suit names the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), the Accountant General of the Federation, and the Minister of Finance as the first, second, and third defendants, respectively.
The APC is requesting that the court prevent these parties and their agents from releasing funds to Rivers State local government councils until democratic elections are held to install duly elected representatives.
The APC argues that the absence of validly elected local government officials in Rivers State councils undermines the principles of democracy and calls for the sixth defendant, the state electoral body, to conduct fair elections for the councils.
The party insists that these allocations should be withheld to ensure that funds are managed by democratically elected representatives.
This move follows ongoing political tensions in Rivers State, as the APC seeks judicial intervention to address what it considers a lapse in democratic governance at the local government level. The court has yet to set a hearing date for the case.
6. Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of Emefiele’s $2.045 Million, Properties
The Federal High Court in Lagos, on Friday, ruled for the final forfeiture of $2.045 million, seven premium landed properties, and share certificates tied to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu issued the ruling after determining that neither Emefiele nor any other claimant contested the interim forfeiture order.
The forfeiture includes two share certificates of Queensdorf Global Fund Limited Trust and seven high-value properties, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) argued were not linked to any verifiable lawful earnings from Emefiele’s time at Zenith Bank or the CBN.
Justice Dipeolu held that Emefiele had not provided documentation or any legitimate source of funds to substantiate his acquisition of the properties.
Emefiele, who has consistently denied any connection to the implicated companies through which the properties were purchased, did not appear in court to defend his ownership claims.
7. Fubara Is Running A Solo Government, He Has No Commissioners – Chidi Lloyd
Former Rivers State lawmaker, Chidi Lloyd has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of running a solo government.
Lloyd stated this during an interview with Arise News on Friday.
He claimed that Fubara had no commissioners in his administration.
“Nobody has bothered to find out that the governor of Rivers State is running a solo government because, one, he has no commissioners, two, he has no appropriation,” he said.
His comments comes amidst heavy backlash towards the Federal High Court’s judgement, which prevents the Central Bank of Nigeria from disbursing funds to Rivers State.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had earlier vowed to halt all duties its members perform if the judgement is not reversed.
However, Lloyd urged the National Assembly to consider legislation that would criminalize disparaging remarks about judicial officers.
8. Price Of Dangote Fuel Higher Than Other Places, We Have To Pity Nigerians – IPMAN
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has claimed that the price of fuel from Dangote Refinery as of last week, was higher than the price of the product from other sources.
The Association explained that it is only fair for its members to go to where the price is lower and where they can get profit.
The National Assistant Secretary of IPMAN, Yakubu Suleiman, disclosed this on Friday during an appearance on Arise News.
He opined that Dangote is supposed to disclose the amount he plans on selling his product.
Suleiman explained that the body can only advise its members to buy from where the product is cheaper.
9. ‘This Is Inhumane And Unjust’ – Senator Condemns Detention Of Minors
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), has condemned the detention and prosecution of minors involved in the EndBadGovernance protest in the nation.
In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, the senator described the detention as inhumane and unjust, urging the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the detention of the teenagers.
He also urged the NJC to examine the actions of the presiding judge in their case.
Naturenex reports that the minors were brought before an Abuja Federal High Court, where Justice Obiora Egwuatu presided on Friday.
Justice Egwuatu granted bail of ₦10 million to 72 defendants, including the “malnourished minors,” in connection with their alleged involvement in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest.
He also mandated that each defendant secure two sureties in the same amount.
It is important to note that a significant number of Nigerians participated in protests against “bad governance” during the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which commenced on August 1 and concluded on August 10, 2024.
However, many of the demonstrators, including minors, were subsequently arrested for their participation in the protests.
10. Top Judicial Officer Came To My Hotel Room And Demanded Bribe – Senator Abbo
Former Nigerian Senator, Ishaku Abbo has condemned the alleged corruption going on in the judiciary.
He argued that Nigerian democracy would fail to grow if the judiciary were not overhauled to deliver justice and not injustice.
Abbo shared his reservation in Yola during an interaction with journalists.
The erstwhile senator, who was sacked this year by the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja after earlier winning his case at the Tribunal to return to the Senate for a second term of legislative duties, claimed that the case of vote-buying was more pronounced in the courts than in practice in the real sense of it.
