Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Saturday, 7th December, 2024

Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naijaonpoint roundup of top Newspaper Headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 7th December, 2024.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has berated its faction, Team New Nigeria, after flooding the Kano metropolis with the 2027 campaign posters of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Naijaonpoint reported that posters of Jonathan running for election in 2027 flooded Kano streets, on Thursday, sparking speculations about his possible return to the political space.

...ers, seen at strategic locations such as Gyadi-Gyadi/Zoo Road flyover, Kofar Nasarawa, and State Road, featured messages like “Team New Nigeria 2027; The Goodluck Nigeria Needs — Dr Goodluck Jonathan.”

TNN also constituted a harmonisation committee in Kano State and was on the verge of registering as a political party with the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The group claimed to have mobilised 26,382,000 registered voters across Nigeria and has developed essential party structures, including a flag, logo, constitution, and manifesto.

In an interview with PUNCH, Deputy National Organising Secretary of the APC, Nze Chidi Duru, stated that Jonathan cannot be given the ticket because he is not a card-carrying member.

Duru stated that the printing and promotion of Jonathan’s campaign was a further validation the TNN was never from the fold of the APC.

President Bola Tinubu has cancelled the appointment of Yazid Shehu Umar Danfulani as the Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (SMDF/PAGMI).

Naijaonpoint understands the appointment was cancelled hours after presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga released a statement on Friday announcing some fresh appointments by President Tinubu.

The earlier statement noted that Yazid Danfulani holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Master’s in Arts and Management from the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom.

It added that he has extensive experience in Banking, Computing, and Business Administration. He once worked at the Central Bank of Nigeria and was also a Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Zamfara State.

The President expressed belief that Danfulani and other appointees’ experience and track record will bring a new sense of commitment, progress, and positive outcomes to fulfil Nigerians’ expectations of their respective organisations.

However, hours after the announcement, an update emerged that President Tinubu has approved the renewal of Fatima Umaru Shinkafi’s appointment as the executive secretary of SMDF/PAGMI and the earlier announcement of Yazid Shehu Umar Danfulani’s appointment has been cancelled.

An updated statement released by Onanuga disclosed that Shinkafi was first appointed to the job by former President Muhammadu Buhari and is said to be one of the driving forces behind the changes in the solid mineral sector.

President Bola Tinubu has directed the allocation of funds to address pension arrears, salary increments, and other benefits owed to retired military personnel.

Naijaonpoint reports that the President’s directive comes two days after peaceful demonstrations by military veterans at the Federal Ministry of Finance.

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, confirmed President Tinubu’s directives in a statement issued on Friday, commending the Nigerian leader for his prompt action.

Matawalle praised Tinubu for facilitating the timely disbursement of the three-month salary increase and for ensuring the release of funds to settle pension arrears and other entitlements owed to retired military personnel.

The statement from the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Defence, Henshaw Ogubike, confirmed that military personnel have already received payment notifications regarding the salary increases.

The Minister lauded President Tinubu for his steadfast commitment to the welfare of both active and retired military personnel, highlighting that the administration is dedicated to resolving outstanding pension arrears to improve the living conditions of those who have served the nation.

Matawalle also recognized the efforts of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, for his commitment to ensuring the effective distribution of the funds.

He encouraged the Nigerian military to remain resolute in their responsibilities, assuring them of the President’s determination to enhance morale and provide essential support to combat insecurity throughout the country.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared the seat of the member representing Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, vacant.

The PDP declared her seat vacant following her defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The party also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately commence the process of conducting a fresh election to fill the seat.

Naijaonpoint recalls the defection of Erhiatake, the daughter of former Delta State Governor James Ibori, was announced by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, during plenary on Thursday.

She cited issues within the PDP leadership as the reason for her defection.

However, the PDP, while reacting in a statement on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said Ibori-Suenu should stop parading herself as a member of the House of Representatives as such would amount to impersonation with likely criminal consequences.

The party said its position is backed by the country’s constitution.

The Nigerian police have filed 12 fresh charges against human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, before the Federal High Court In Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, over allegations of cybercrime.

It would be recalled that Farotimi was arrested in Lagos on Tuesday and transferred to Ekiti State.

The activist appeared before the court on Wednesday following charges brought against him by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afe Babalola (SAN), under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.

Naijaonpoint learned that the police filed fresh charges on Friday to frustrate Farotimi’s bail application and keep him in remand.

According to SaharaReporters, some of the fresh counts read “That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ on 28th August 2024 knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in an online interview on Mic On Podcast by Seun Okinbaloye on your YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4USuxBfZCOA) in respect of a book authored and published by you titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” wherein you stated in the interview that: “Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the judiciary” which you know to be false information for the purpose of causing breakdown of law and order thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1) (b) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 as amended.”

The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, has said there was no need for the Muslim North to reject the Tax Reform Bill.

Bayo Onanuga said there was no section of the bill that proposed taxing family inheritance, which is against Muslim injunctions.

In a post on his X handle Friday afternoon, he clarified that income and not inheritance was recommended to be taxed in the bill.

“For example, the question about if the bill is antithetical to Islamic injunctions. I have come across various write-ups by highly respected intellectuals and academics in northern Nigeria, erroneously referring to a section of the bill, giving the notion that the bill will charge tax on inheritance after the reform is done.

“Those respectable scholars are making specific reference to chapter 2, part 1, section 4, sub-section 3 of the National Tax Bill, titled ‘Income, profits or gains chargeable to tax’.

“This section states, and I quote, ‘Income of a family recognized under any law or custom in Nigeria as family income in which several interests of individual members of the family cannot be separately determined’.

“The section is clearly referenced in error because the section is not speaking about inheritance, but about income,” he said.

Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has called out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) to rise to their responsibilities of holding the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) accountable.

Naijaonpoint reports that Adeyanju, during an interview with Arise News, criticised the LP and PDP leadership over their inability to provide credible opposition to APC.

Speaking on the threats of legal action by the acting PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagun and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, over his recent remarks criticising the opposition parties, Adeyanju insisted that his comments were aimed at urging the opposition to fulfil their responsibility of holding the ruling party accountable.

Adeyanju expressed his readiness to face any legal challenge, describing the threats as an attempt to stifle critical voices.

The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, has dismissed reports suggesting that Senate President Godswill Akpabio overruled his deputy, Jibrin Barau, regarding the controversial Tax Reform Bills.

Moro clarified that the Senate remains united in its approach to addressing issues related to the bills.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, Moro, who chairs the special committee on the Tax Reform Bills, described the situation as a procedural adjustment rather than a conflict.

The controversy began on Thursday when Akpabio, reaffirming the Senate’s commitment to advancing the Tax Reform Bills, stated that no aspect of the bills had been suspended or withdrawn.

He emphasized that the Senate would not bow to external pressures and remains focused on representing Nigerians’ interests.

His comments followed an announcement by Barau, who presided over Wednesday’s plenary, that a committee led by Moro would meet with the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to address contentious issues in the bills.

Some interpreted Akpabio’s remarks as undermining Barau’s authority, sparking speculation about a rift.

Moro dismissed these interpretations, reiterating that the Senate is working collaboratively.

Investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo has claimed that he decided not to carry the Nigerian military along during his recent investigation into crude oil bunkering in the Niger Delta, because some of its operatives collude with the bunkerers.

He made the allegation on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television.

Recall that Soyombo was apprehended by the Nigerian Army for three days, with the Army claiming that the ace journalist was arrested during a raid on an illegal bunkering site in the region.

However, he was eventually released after social media went agog with the news of his detention.

Sharing more details on his investigation, Soyombo blamed his non-collaboration with the military on the alleged involvement of some of its personnel in bunkering.

“The most important point to make is that illegal oil bunkerers bribe security operatives across the different security agencies, bribe them to make the bunkering happen.

“That is the real story – the fact that those who should be ending bunkering are partners, collaborators, allies of those involved in illegal oil bunkering and that is why I could not carry the military along,” Soyombo said.

To further buttress his point, the journalist claimed that his cover was blown to the illegal bunkerers by some military personnel.

“These people were telling me everything about me, they were telling me who I was, and I was in detention, I didn’t speak to anyone else. As a matter of fact, they did not give me a phone to call anyone until Friday evening just before my release.

“How did the illegal bunkerers then know everything about me? Which then vindicates my decision not to involve the army from scratch,” he said.

The legal representatives of Afe Babalola, SAN, the founder of Afe Babalola University in Ado Ekiti, have asserted that the controversial human rights attorney, Dele Farotimi, will remain in custody until he substantiates his claims against the esteemed elder statesman.

The attorneys indicated that Babalola had formally requested the police to investigate the defamatory statements made by Farotimi in his publication titled, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.’

They emphasized that the decision to bring the activist before the court was a necessary step for the law to address the allegations appropriately.

Furthermore, the lawyers contended that Farotimi’s actions were aimed at damaging Babalola’s hard-earned reputation, which he has cultivated over many years of dedicated effort.

Naijaonpoint reports that Afe Babalola’s lawyers stated this at a press conference held on Friday in the capital of Ekiti State.

Babalola’s counsel who addressed the media at the event is Owoseni Ajayi, Olakanmi Falade, and Lawrence Fasanmi, all of whom are former chairpersons of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ado Ekiti Branch.

In response to Babalola’s petition, the police in Ekiti State apprehended Farotimi in Lagos on Tuesday and subsequently presented him before an Ekiti State Magistrates Court in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, facing charges related to defamation against the elder statesman.

That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naijaonpoint. See you again tomorrow.