Victor Ezeja
Here we present to you the top 10 stories across Nigerian newspapers today, Tuesday, January 17, 2023, on business and economy, politics and entertainment.
1. Tinubu, Atiku Trade Words Demand Each Other’s Arrest
Presidential candidates of the ruling APC and the opposition PDP have once again got embroiled in a fresh war of words accusing each other of corruption.
The APC accused Atiku of engaging in corrupt activities that involved siphoning public funds while he was vice president between 1999 and 2007 and called for his immediate arrest and prosecution.
The PDP on the other hand said Tinubu has no moral authority to accuse Atiku of any wrongdoing alleging that he has cases of scandals hanging on his head and was simply making attempts to divert public attention. Read more
2. Hoodlums Attack Enugu INEC Office, Kill Police Cop
Gunmen on Sunday night attacked the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Enugu South Local Government Area killing one police officer and injuring another.
The incident is the latest in the series of assaults on INEC offices in the South-East
INEC National Commissioner, and Chairman, of Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, confirmed the attack in a statement released on Monday.
3. Emefiele Resumes Duty, As DSS Denies Arrest
Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, on Monday resumed duty after his annual vacation.
Emefiele proceeded on leave in December 2022.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Services (DSS) has denied going to arrest the CBN governor. Read more
4. Obi At Chatham House, Vows to Dismantle Structures of Corruption in Nigeria
Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, has reiterated his resolve to carry out key reforms including tackling all forms of corruption in Nigerian public institutions if elected in the upcoming general elections. Read more.
5. 25m Nigerians At Risk Of Hunger in 2023 – FAO Report
The United Nations agency, the Food and Agriculture Organisations (FAO), has in its latest 2022 report, warned that nearly 25 million Nigerians are at risk of facing hunger between June and August 2023 if urgent action is not taken.
6. Omobolanle: Suspected Killer Cop Pleads Not Guilty As Trial Begins
The trial of suspended Police Officer, ASP Drambi Vandi, who allegedly murdered a female lawyer, Mrs Omobolanle Raheem on Christmas Day in the Ajah area of Lagos, has begun before the State High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS).
Vandi, who is facing a one-count charge under Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015, before Justice Ibironke Harrison, was arraigned on Monday and pleaded not guilty.
7. Inflation Eases for the First Time in 11 Months To 21.34%
The latest consumer price index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday, indicated that the inflation rate decreased to 21.34 per cent in December 2022, from 21.47 in November.
On a month-on-month basis, this is the first time the inflation rate is decreasing in the last 11 months.
8. Ahead of 2023 Polls, Jonathan Urges Politicians To Shun Bitterness
Former Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan, has warned politicians to desist from playing politics of bitterness in the build-up to the February 25 and March 11 general elections.
Jonathan stated that the use of negative expressions by embittered politicians against their perceived enemies or opponents was posing threat to the nation’s democracy and also impeding development.
The ex-president called on security agencies to go after people who hide under the cover of playing politics to commit crimes.
9. Mini Oil Bid Round Will Boost Energy Sufficiency – NUPRC
Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), has stated that Nigeria’s oil mini-bid round will boost global energy sufficiency in the long run.
Chief Executive Officer, of NUPRC, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, made this known at a pre-bid conference in Lagos on Monday.
10. 2023: We Can’t Allow Temporal Voter Cards in Elections – INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that it will not allow registered voters that failed to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), before the deadline, to participate in the forthcoming general elections.
The Commission made this known while appearing before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday.
INEC’s legal team led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr Abdulaziz Sani, appeared in court Monday over a suit seeking to compel the Commission to allow the use of temporal voter cards during the election.
The electoral body insisted that the use of PVC was critical to its planned accreditation process, adding that only accredited voters will be allowed to vote on election day.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
