10 top stories from Nigerian newspapers Saturday morning, November 9, 2019

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

1. Nigeria’s secret police gives reason detained activist, Sowore, is still in its custody

The Department of State Services has acknowledged receiving the court order asking it to release the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore. It, however, said that “no person has turned up at the DSS to take delivery of him.” This was contained in a press release signed by DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya. Read more

2. Sanwo-Olu presents N1.68tr 2020 budget to Assembly for approval

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday presented the 2020 appropriation bill of N1.168 trillion to the state House of Assembly. The 2020 budget comprises of N723.6 billion earmarked for capital spending, which is 62 percent of the total budget, and N441.8 billion for recurrent expenditure. Read more

3. Oshiomhole is a liar, Gov Dickson fires back

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has blamed the delayed approval by regulatory agencies for the non-commencement of operations in the state airport. The governor also clarified that only N70 billion was spent on the acquisition of land, clearing, sand filling and actual construction of the airport as opposed to the N100 billion claimed by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole. Ripples Nigeria had on Thursday reported that Oshiomhole accused Dickson of wasting N100 billion on the airport which he said was flooded. Read more

4. Ayade triumphs at Appeal Court

The re-election of Ben Ayade as the Governor of Cross River State has been reaffirmed by the Court of Appeal. The tribunal had in an earlier ruling held that he was duly elected as the state governor during the 2019 general elections. The appellant court not only reaffirmed the ruling of the tribunal but also ordered his petitioner, a former Minister for Niger Delta, Usani Usani, to pay the governor, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), N200, 000 each as punitive cost. Read more

5. If court’s ruling was based on highest bidder I would have lost – Abia lawmaker

A House of Representatives member from Abia State, Samuel Onuigbo, has applauded the Appeal Court for dismissing the petition challenging his victory in the February 23 National Assembly election. Onuigbo was declared winner of the election in Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He was reacting to the Friday ruling of the Appeal Court which affirmed the earlier ruling of the tribunal on his victory in the election. Read more

Read also: 10 top stories from Nigerian newspapers Friday morning, November 8, 2019

6. Are these Nigeria’s emerging class of political prisoners? And, is the presidency in panic mood?

In this special report, Ripples Nigeria notes that stories of people arrested and detained under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration have become common. Both the Federal Government and some state governors appear to be in competition over how to silence perceived vocal opponents allegedly causing underserved distractions.

John Chukwu of Ripples Nigeria examines a few Nigerians whose travails, arguably, appear to qualify them as prisoners of conscience. Those examined include: Sambo Dasuki, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, Omoyele Sowore, Agba Jalingo, Jones Abiri, Stephen Kefas and Deji Adeyanju. Read more

7. Nnamdi Kanu needs no permission from Aso Rock ‘cabal’ to return to Nigeria ―IPOB

The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has stated that its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, does not need anyone campaigning for his return to bury his mother. In a statement issued on Friday by Emma Powerful, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Director, the group further stated that Kanu does not need any form of permission from the ‘cabal’ in Aso Rock to return to Nigeria. There are suspicions that security agencies may re-arrest Kanu, if he returns to Nigeria. Some southeast monarchs had appealed to the Federal Government to allow Kanu attend his mother, Sally Meme Kanu’s funeral. Read more

8. KOGI GUBER: PDP is not campaigning because their plan is to buy the election —Smart Adeyemi

Director General of the Bello/Onoja campaign organisation, Smart Adeyemi has called on anti-graft agencies to monitor cash movement in Kogi State ahead of the November 16 governorship election. He said the presence of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was needed to monitor the quantum of money purportedly stockpiled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to compromise the election to its advantage. Read more

9. 16 terrorists surrender to troops in North-East

The Nigerian Army said on Friday that at least 16 members of Boko Haram and Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) and their spouses had surrendered to troops battling terrorism and insurgency in the North-East. However, many others were killed during a gun duel with troops. Read more

10. Dangote partners with Sports Ministry to renovate Abuja stadium

Billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote is partnering with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to renovate the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. This was revealed in a tweet on Thursday night by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, who thanked Dangote and his group of companies for the support. Read more

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