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Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 23rd September, 2024
1. Tinubu Orders Fresh Crackdown On Cybercriminals, Car Thieves
President Bola Tinubu has issued a fresh directive to security agencies in the country to go after cyber criminals and other organized crime groups.
President Tinubu said security and law enforcement agencies — including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), must intensify efforts in cracking down on individuals in possession of and trafficking in stolen vehicles.
He stressed that Nigeria is not a destination for stolen vehicles or other ill-gotten wealth.
The President made the declaration in a statement on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, while reacting to the recent handover of 53 vehicles and $180,300 by the EFCC to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), on behalf of two Canadian citizens who were victims of cybercrimes perpetrated by Nigerian nationals.
While commending the EFCC for its efforts, President Tinubu further assured of the commitment of his administration to fighting all criminals and their activities.
2. Edo Guber: INEC Declares APC Candidate, Monday Okpebholo Winner
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday Okpebholo, has emerged victorious in the September 21, 2024 governorship election.
The off-cycle election had 17 candidates contest for the exalted seat at the Dennis Osadebay House in Benin City, Edo State.
The governorship election was held in 4,519 polling units across the 18 local government areas of Edo State.
Naija News understands that Okpebhole had the support of the former governor and lawmaker representing Edo North senatorial district, Adams Oshiomhole.
The electoral process was widely contested by Okpebhole, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asue Ighodalo and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP).
Okpebholo won in Esan West, Owan West, Egor, Akoko-Edo, Esan Central, Orhionmwon, Etsako East, Etsako Central, Etsako West, Oredo.
3. Shettima Departs Abuja For US To Attend 79th UNGA
The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has departed Nigeria to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in the United States.
This was contained in a statement by Shettima’s Senior Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, on Sunday.
At the event, the Vice President on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, would deliver Nigeria’s national statement, participate in key meetings and engage in bilateral meetings.
It added that the meeting will focus on addressing domestic issues, including devastating flood disasters.
4. #EdoDecides2024: Why I Stormed INEC Collation Centre – Gov Obaseki
The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has explained why he had to visit the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) collation center for Saturday’s governorship election.
Governor Obaseki said that he got a call that INEC suspended the collation of results without informing the public.
Obaseki added that he was also informed that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agents were not allowed into the collation center by INEC.
Speaking with newsmen on Sunday, the Governor of Edo noted that it was after he visited INEC’s collation center that INEC gave a statement.
5. DSS Releases Six Detained #EndBadGovernance Protesters, To Arraign Three
The Department of State Services (DSS) has released six individuals detained in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protests that swept across Nigeria from August 1 to 10, 2024.
The protests aimed to draw attention to the escalating hardship faced by citizens but were marred by incidents of violence and criminal activities.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the detainees were released last Thursday in Kaduna following directives from the DSS Director General, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi.
The protests, which initially sought to highlight government inefficiencies, were reportedly hijacked by criminal elements in various states, leading to harassment and intimidation of innocent participants.
While six individuals were freed, three others remain in custody and are facing prosecution for their involvement in criminal activities during the protests.
6. Adamawa Governor, Fintiri Accuses INEC Of Bias In Edo Governorship Election Collation
The Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, has levelled serious allegations against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the conduct of the Edo governorship election.
Speaking at a press conference in Benin on Sunday, Fintiri, the chairman of the Edo PDP campaign council, claimed that agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were denied access to the INEC office before the collation process.
The governor further alleged that the collation of results was violently disrupted in several local government areas, raising alarms about the integrity of the election.
As the situation unfolds, the PDP is demanding accountability from INEC and urging for a transparent and fair collation of the election results, emphasizing the need for every vote to count in line with democratic principles.
7. Boko Haram Destroys Damaturu-Maiduguri Transmission Line Again
Boko Haram terrorists have once again targeted critical infrastructure, destroying the Damaturu-Maiduguri 330 Kilovolt transmission line in the early hours of Sunday.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama reported that the attack occurred around 2 a.m. when insurgents used improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to blow up the facility.
This incident has plunged Maiduguri and its surrounding areas back into darkness, raising concerns over the ongoing targeting of essential services by the group.
The transmission line had only been restored on September 4, 2024, after a previous attack that disrupted the electricity supply to the region.
In his post on X, Makama emphasized the repeated nature of these attacks, highlighting the challenges faced in securing critical infrastructure against insurgent actions.
8. DHQ Denies Six-Year Detention Of Naval Rating
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has denied claims that Seaman Abbas Haruna was detained for six years, as alleged by his wife, Hussaina Iliya.
According to the DHQ, Haruna was never arrested.
The allegation surfaced after Haruna’s wife went on a popular Abuja radio station, accusing Brig. Gen. A.S. Adamu of ordering her husband’s detention since 2018.
Naija News reports that the story gained widespread attention, leading Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa and Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle to call for an investigation.
Following this, a video circulated online showing Haruna resisting attempts by fellow personnel to disarm him. The video cut off mid-scuffle, but gunshots were heard.
In an interview with The Punch, Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, dismissed the claims.
When questioned about Haruna’s current location, Gusau noted that the investigation is ongoing and the public would be informed once it concludes.
He reiterated that Haruna’s wife knew her husband was not in detention, and more information would be revealed upon the investigation’s conclusion.
9. #EdoDecides2024: Ighodalo Won, Don’t Change Results Or You Will Cause Huge Crisis In Edo – PDP Tells INEC, APC
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), 0n Sunday, declared that its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, won the 2024 governorship election.
The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, insisted that the results of the Edo State Governorship election, as garnered by its polling agents across the State, indicate that the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, clearly won the election.
Ologunagba added that the same position was echoed by the Chairman of the Edo PDP National Campaign Council, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State and warned both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the All Progressives Congress (APC) against tampering with the results.
The PDP accused the APC of trying to steal the mandate of its candidate.
The party warned that any attempt to change the results of the Edo State governorship election and allocate victory to a defeated candidate would provoke dire consequences and may be a recipe for a huge crisis in Edo State.
Naija News recalls that Fintiri had levelled serious allegations against INEC regarding the Edo election.
Speaking at a press conference in Benin on Sunday, Fintiri, accused INEC of bias, claiming that agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were denied access to the INEC office before the collation process.
The PDP, through its spokesperson, also declared total support for what Fintiri said.
10. #EdoDecides2024: INEC Promises To Investigate Some Uploaded Results On IREV
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it would investigate some of the results uploaded to its viewing portal, IREV.
INEC stated this in response to allegations of uploading controversial results to the viewing portal by some collation officers during the Edo governorship election on Saturday.
Former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, on his X handle, alleged that two INEC staff, Remiloluwa Oluwajuwon and Obozuwa Josephine, uploaded result sheets that have more votes than accredited voters to the IREV.
In reaction, INEC on its X handle, wrote, “The Commission’s attention has been drawn to an allegation of wrong figures entered into polling unit result sheets in the ongoing Edo State Governorship election.
“This is the second complaint we have received out of the 4,519 polling units used for the election.
“The Commission will immediately investigate the matter and deal with any proven infraction.”
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