News
Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Monday morning
Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:
1. The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, on Sunday disclosed that the whereabouts of dreaded bandit leader, Bello Turji, is still unknown. A statement by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, however, said top bandit commanders were killed in a series of airstrikes in Zamfara State.
2. The Federal Government has approved four airlines as official air carriers to transport intending pilgrims for the 2025 hajj pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Executive Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Prof. Abdullahi Usman, made this known in a statement by the commission’s Assistant Director, Information and Publication, Mrs Fatima Usara, on Sunday in Abuja.
3. The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a new trend of kidnapping, dubbed ‘Constructive Kidnapping’, where unsuspecting ladies are lured by kidnappers posing as internet friends and lovers. According to the command, this sinister scheme has already ensnared 16 ladies from various parts of the state, who were fortunate to be rescued by the police command.
4. The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, said at the weekend that discussions about the Tax Reform Bills should remain within the National Assembly. He also said that only second-term governors are opposing the bills, while first-term governors have not raised concerns.
5. Oyo State Government has slammed a fresh suit on former wife of Ooni of Ife, Olori Naomi Silekunola, the proprietor of an Ibadan-based radio station, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat and the Principal, Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, Mr Abdulahi Fasasi. The 18-count suit is: the state government versus Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat and Fasasi Abdulahi Babatunde.
6. Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has freed 15 convicted inmates to celebrate his 60th birthday. The birthday bash of the governor was put on hold due to the death of the Secretary to the State Government, Oluwatuyi Tayo, popularly called ‘Tukana’. Aiyedatiwa also pardoned 25 other inmates, who were sentenced to death or life imprisonment.
7. A 22-year-old lady identified as Iyanu Adedeji allegedly stabbed her husband, Funsho Jimoh, to death in the Gbonogun area of Abeokuta, Ogun State capital. It was learnt on Sunday that the duo of Iyanu and Funsho were married with two children. Sources said that an argument had ensued between the couple after Funsho allegedly accused Iyanu of extramarital affairs.
8. A midnight bomb explosion occurred in the Umuneke community, Mbieri in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. It was learnt that the explosion, which occurred at a newly completed family house on Saturday night, reduced the house to rubble though no casualty was recorded.
9. The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service, FCT-IRS has urged private companies, government ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, and other employers of labour in the territory to file their employee annual tax returns for 2024. The acting Executive Chairman, Mr Michael Ango, who made the call in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, said that the employers have up to Jan. 31 to comply.
10. The Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has confirmed the deaths of four individuals following an attack by suspected terrorists on its facilities at the Kangiwa border, Kebbi State. This is contained in a statement issued by the Service Public Relations Officer, SPRO Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, DCI, Kenneth Udo on Sunday in Abuja.n Abuja.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Thursday, swore in General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd) as Minister of Defence at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
General Musa’s appointment follows the resignation of Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar on Monday, December 1, 2025. His nomination was announced the following day and transmitted to the Senate, where it received expedited screening and confirmation.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, General Musa was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Nigerian Army in 1991 and had a distinguished military career. He was appointed Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023 and retired in October 2025.
As Chief of Defence Staff, he championed inter-service security collaboration.
With his swearing-in, the new Defence Minister is expected to immediately assume duties as the Tinubu administration seeks to consolidate recent security gains and fast-track reforms aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability nationwide.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Sen. Adeniyi Adegbonmire, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, attended the swearing-in ceremony.
Also in attendance were the spouse of the new Minister, Mrs Lilian Oghogho Musa; Chief of Defense Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs (rtd).
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has said it has appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, which ordered the release of twenty-seven houses to James Ibechukwu Okoye and his company.
In the Notice of Appeal filed at the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, the Commission expressed dissatisfaction with the decision of the trial court, which was delivered on October 31, 2025.
EFCC counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, sought two orders from the Court of Appeal, which include; Staying the execution of the judgment of the trial court pending the hearing and determination of the appeal; and such further or other orders as the court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.
Meanwhile, the Commission said it felt obliged to correct the distortions and misrepresentations contained in a news story titled “EFCC Invades Abuja Property Despite Court Order Restraining Agency, Awarding N20 million To Jona Brothers”.
It explained in a statement on X that the Abuja property, Plot 680-689 Cadastral Zone B06, Mabushi, Abuja, referenced in the report, is a subject of criminal charge before Justice A.I Kutigi of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court .
However, the EFCC said it sought and secured an order of interim forfeiture of the property before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja pending the determination of the criminal charge before Justice Kutigi.
“In granting the order, the court authorized the EFCC to ‘appoint competent persons/ firm to manage the assets/properties listed in the schedule therein, temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government pending the conclusion of investigation and determination of criminal charges against the suspect,’”
“It is also important to point out that the criminal charge struck out by Justice Osho Adebiyi and the N20m cost she awarded is not in any way connected to the interim order.
“In addition, the enforcement of the interim forfeiture order of the property by the Commission is without prejudice to ongoing appeals on court pronouncements about the true ownership of the property. The appeals are ongoing and the EFCC is diligently attending proceedings.”
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has reaffirmed the commitment of the country’s judiciary to protection of human rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and other international laws and treaties.
She emphasized that the judiciary remains steadfast in its constitutional mandate to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of citizens.
The CJN spoke on Thursday at the conference on ‘Proportional Force and Respect for Human Dignity: A Dialogue in Governance’, organized by the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, in collaboration with Citizen FM.
The Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, NJI, Justice Babatunde Adeniran Adejumo, represented the Chief Justice of Nigeria at the conference.
In the goodwill message, Justice Kekere-Ekun congratulated the National Human Rights Commission on its 30th anniversary and commended the organizers for holding the conference on International Human Rights Day.
She emphasized that when authority is exercised with restraint, discipline, and accountability, it strengthens public trust and reinforces the legitimacy of institutions.
The CJN reiterated the judiciary’s commitment to protecting human rights and providing remedies where they are infringed.
“Let me make it abundantly clear that the judiciary remains steadfast in its constitutional mandate to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of citizens,” she said.
The CJN further commended the NHRC for promoting dialogue and awareness on critical human rights issues in Nigeria.
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