Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Friday morning

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. Former military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, on Thursday, expressed regret over the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, acknowledging that the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, MKO Abiola, won the poll. He described the annulment of the election as an “accident of history.”

   

2. Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Justice Minister, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has cautioned the Osun State Government against proceeding with Saturday’s Local Government election. Fagbemi argued that the outcomes of the poll would be invalid since the tenures of ‘’elected officials’’ of the councils would end in October.

3. Senate President, Godwill Akpabio, on Thursday, called security for the lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, amid a heated argument over a sitting arrangement at the plenary. An ensuing rowdiness threatened plenary proceedings as Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, refused to use the seat allocated to her, citing Order 10 of the Senate Standing Rules, which protects the privileges of members.

4. Convicted billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, has told the Lagos State High Court, sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square, that he is now a teacher at the correctional centre in Kirikiri after obtaining a teaching diploma in economics from the Yewa College of Education, and is no longer a criminal.

5. A Federal High Court sitting in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State has ordered the remand of 14 Philippine nationals for their alleged involvement in cryptocurrency fraud. This was contained in a statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday.

6. A Magistrates Court sitting in Isabo in the Abeokuta area of Ogun State has granted bail to controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, following his arraignment on charges of assault and obstruction of government officials. The singer was declared wanted by the state police command on Monday but surrendered himself on Wednesday.

7. The naira strengthened to 1,494.03/$ at the official window on Thursday according to data from FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited. Similarly, it appreciated at the parallel market to 1,510.00/$, further reducing the spread between the markets to 15.5/$.

8. At least one female student was killed, while 5 sustained injuries after a classroom wall collapsed at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Potiskum, Yobe State, on Thursday. Multiple sources told Daily Trust that the unfortunate incident happened when the victims were in the classroom.

9. The National President of the Afenifere Youth Council, Eniola Ojajuni, has been abducted by unknown gunmen in Abuja. A statement on Thursday by the National Secretary of the council, Abiodun Aderohunmu, said the incident occurred on Monday, February 17.

10. The United States of America, USA, Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has said that there was no evidence that the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, was funding Boko Haram or any terrorist group in Nigeria.