Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Thursday, 11th May, 2023

Good morning! Here are the headlines for today, May 11, 2023.

1. Buhari Writes Senate, Seeks Approval Of $800m Loan Request
   President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the Senate requesting approval for an $800 million loan from the World Bank. The loan will be used to expand the National Social Safety Net Programme as part of the government’s subsidy palliative measures. Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed has been in discussions with the Presidential Transition Council and incoming administration to manage the program.
   
2. Tinubu Jets Out Of Nigeria Weeks After Returning From Europe
   President-elect Bola Tinubu has left Nigeria for Europe to refine transition plans and programs, discuss policy options, engage investors and allies, and promote investment opportunities in Nigeria. Meetings with investors in various sectors have been scheduled, and Tinubu hopes to convince them of Nigeria’s readiness for business under his leadership, focusing on job creation and skills acquisition.
3. 
   ‘You Have Released A Dangerous Tool For The Opposition’ – Akeredolu Warns APC Over Zoning Of NASS Leadership Positions
   Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has criticized the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the zoning of the 10th National Assembly leadership positions. Akeredolu said the decision was reached hurriedly and announced without proper consultation with the governors of the APC and aspirants to the Speakership position. He also declared support for aspirants who rejected the zoning formula adopted by the APC, and called on President-elect Bola Tinubu to intervene to review the decision in the interest of equality, fairness, and justice.
4. Ex-Nigerian Minister Nabbed For Fraud
   Former Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, has been arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with an alleged N22 billion fraud. The former minister was accused of conspiring with staff of the ministry in charge of the accounts of the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects to divert N22 billion and share among themselves. Properties in Nigeria and overseas allegedly linked to the suspects have been uncovered, and millions of naira and dollars have reportedly been recovered.
5. Details Of What Adamu Told Protesting House Of Reps Speakership Aspirants About Zoning Emerges.
   The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, has assured protesting members that the leadership of the party will look into their grievances over the zoning of leadership positions for the 10th National Assembly. Adamu made the statement during a discussion with aspirants for the National Assembly principal positions who had stormed the party secretariat to register their grievances on the zoning formula released by the party.

6. Peter Obi and Labour Party Support Call for Live Broadcast of Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Proceedings

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and his party have joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in supporting the call for a live broadcast of the proceedings of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja. The lawyer representing the LP, Livy Uzuokwu (SAN), disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday after the court adjourned pre-hearing sessions in their petition challenging the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

Uzuokwu noted that it is important for the court proceedings to be broadcast live so that Nigerians would have first-hand information on what is going on in the court. He claimed that the live broadcast of court proceedings was initiated by colonial masters but was jettisoned when Nigeria gained independence. He argued that the realities on the ground necessitate a live broadcast of court proceedings and declared that Obi and the Labour Party support the request by Atiku and his party.

Uzuokwu explained that the courtroom cannot accommodate 200 people, and the 200 people cannot adequately represent Nigerians. However, if the proceedings are broadcast live, Nigerians will be better informed.

7. Court Stops National Broadcasting Commission from Imposing Fines on Broadcast Stations

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has stopped the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from imposing fines on broadcast stations in the country. Justice James Omotosho, in his ruling on Wednesday, voided the N500,000 fines imposed by the NBC on 45 broadcast stations on March 1, 2019.

Justice Omotosho stated that the NBC, not being a court of law, lacked the power to impose sanctions as punishment on alleged erring broadcast stations. He held that the NBC Code, on which the commission relies to impose sanctions, is in conflict with Section 6 of the Constitution that vested judicial power in the court of law.

The judge said the court would not sit idle and watch a body imposing fines arbitrarily without recourse to the law. He added that the commission did not comply with the law when it sat as a complainant and at the same time, a court and a judge on its own case.

8. Fire Breaks Out at Nigerian Air Force Base in FCT

A fire broke out at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base on Airport Road in the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday morning, causing panic among the residents. The cause of the fire at the military base, which is located next to the Nigerian Correctional Service National Headquarters, is still unknown.

According to Punch, Federal Fire Service operatives intervened promptly to put out the fire. The Head of Operations for FFF FCT, Amiola Adebayo, stated in an interview with the platform that firefighters were diligently working to extinguish the blaze completely. Adebayo explained that the cause of the fire outbreak could not be confirmed yet, but a statement would be released once their investigation was concluded.

9. Tinubu’s Monthly Salary Revealed

The Executive Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mohammed Shehu, disclosed on Wednesday that the Nigerian President’s monthly salary is N1.2 million, while Governors earn N1.1 million.

Unless the proposed review of the Remuneration Act for elected and designated public officials is passed into law before President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration ends on May 29, President-elect Bola Tinubu will receive the same salary package.

10. Another Political Party Withdraws Petition Against Tinubu

The Allied Peoples Party (APP) and Simon Nnadi have withdrawn their case against the All Progressives Congress (APC), President-elect Bola Tinubu, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Presidential Election Petitions Court. The APP sought to nullify Tinubu’s election, arguing that he was not qualified to run.

However, at a pre-hearing on Wednesday, the petitioner informed the court that his client had asked him to withdraw the suit. The APC and Tinubu’s lawyers commended the APP for their decision and called on the Labour and Peoples Democratic parties to withdraw their cases as well.