10 top stories from Nigerian newspapers Monday morning, October 28, 2019

These 10 top stories from Nigerian newspapers will interest you this Monday morning

1. Bakare sparks fresh controversy, says ‘thieves’ in ‘Bourdillon’ won’t succeed in 2023

Serving overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare, has sent a message to those living in highbrow Bourdillon, Ikoyi, Lagos, feeding fat on public funds, saying that they would eventually be made to vomit the funds they have stolen. Recall that only a few weeks ago, a video of Bakare had surfaced where he was declaring that he would succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, generating widespread reactions.

2. SERAP demands from Buhari govt full disclosure on failed $460m CCTV project

A Freedom of Information (FoI) request has been sent to Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, asking her to provide information on the total amount of money paid to contractors from the $460 million loan obtained in 2010 from China to fund the apparently failed Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) contract in Abuja. The request was sent on Saturday by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) which noted that the Federal Government has continued to repay the loan.

3. Open grazing now attracts five-year jail term in Oyo

Open grazing of livestock now attracts a five-year prison sentence in Oyo State. Ripples gathered this was one of the provisions in the state’s anti-open gracing bill passed by the State House of Assembly on Saturday. The bill titled: “The Oyo State Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Bill, 2019,” which was sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Adebo Ogundoyin, his Deputy, Abiodun Fadeyi, Majority Leader, Sanjo Adedoyin and Minority Leader, Asimiyu Alarape, was made available to journalists late on Saturday. According to the bill, herdsmen, cattle rearers or any other persons who rear or graze cattle or any other livestock openly in any part of Oyo State now risk at least five years jail term or a fine of N500,000.00 or both if found guilty.

4. Supreme Court begins hearing in Atiku’s appeal against Buhari October 30

The Supreme Court will next Wednesday commence hearing on the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 23 election. The PDP disclosed this on its official Twitter handle – @OfficialPDPNig – on Sunday.

5. ATIKU/BUHARI: We’ll reject any Supreme Court panel not based on our recommendation —CUPP

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has insisted that the Supreme Court should constitute the panel that would hear the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s appeal case against President Muhammadu Buhari based on order of seniority. CUPP spokesperson, Imo Ugochinyere, who stated this when he addressed newsmen in Owerri on Sunday, vowed that the group would declare a total lack of confidence in any panel set-up in violation of the Supreme Court age-long order of seniority.

Read also: 10 top stories from Nigerian newspapers Sunday morning, October 27, 2019

6. ‘All borders in the north are open,’ Fani-Kayode faults Nigerian govt on border closure

A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, on Saturday night, faulted Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s comments on the Nigeria border closure. Osinbajo, who spoke at a town hall meeting in Edo State on Friday, said border closure was aimed at ensuring that Nigerian farmers become prosperous. He added that part of the reason for the border closure was to force the neighbouring countries to take border policing more seriously. But Fani-Kayode said the southerners feel the brunt of the closure more. The ex-minister, in a tweet, declared that “all borders in the north are open!”

7. The coming NDDCgate. We raked up 5 scandals and thought you should know

President Olusegun Obasanjo established the NDDC on June 5, 2000 and while he was reading the inauguration speech for the intervention agency stated: “let me reiterate here that NDDC will not be a honey pot to serve the personal greed of anyone. I will personally make sure of that and I have the anti-corruption Commission to support me.” The story, however, has been a sorry one.

John Chukwu of Ripples Nigeria takes a look at the striking scandals that have rocked the NDDC over the years. (Read more)

8. In strategic move, Gov Bello receives Igala traditional title weeks to election

The Attah Igala and Chairman Kogi State traditional council, Micheal Ameh Oboni II, has conferred a traditional title on Governor Yahaya Bello. The monarch, who had earlier received a Rolls Royce as a gift from one of the governor’s allies, conferred the traditional title of the -Onu-Ogu-Attah of the Igala kingdom on Bello. Many will view this as a strategic political move by the governor whose main rival in the forthcoming election is of the majority Igala ethnic group.

9. Oyo community decries non-inclusion in N7.6bn CBN loan, tells Gov Makinde to reverse course

Indigenes of Oke Ogun community of Oyo State have faulted the decision of the state government to spend the N7.6 billion Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) loan on developmental projects that would only benefit one senatorial district in the state. They appealed to the State Governor, Seyi Makinde to have a rethink on his plan, saying that the loan should not be spent only on the two proposed farm settlements located in Ido and Eruwa, which are in Oyo South Senatorial District.

10. Police arrests 71 suspected cultists, others in Anambra

The Anambra State Police Command said at the weekend that at least 71 persons were arrested for various crimes in the state. The command’s spokesman, Haruna Mohammed, said in a statement the operation to free the state from activities of criminal elements would continue until all criminals relocate or refrain from their unlawful acts.

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