Naija News: Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Friday, 23rd June, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to CityNews roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 23rd June 2023.

1. The Federation Account Allocation Committee says it shared N786.16bn among the three tiers of government in May 2023. The figure represents an increase of N130.23bn compared to the N655.93bn shared in April 2023, and it is the highest this year and the first increase following a constant decline since January.

2. The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, arraigned a lawyer, Temidayo Eseyin, for allegedly defrauding the Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, to the tune of N19.3m. Eseyin, a former member of the Disciplinary Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin Branch, was arraigned before Justice Funsho Lawal of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.

3. The Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi on Thursday fielded more witnesses in aid of its petition at the Presidential Election Petition Court. During the resumed hearing in the matter, Dr. Chubuike Ugwuoke, a cyber security expert, who was led in evidence by the petitioners’ counsel, Patrick Ikweato, SAN, insinuated that the Amazon Web Service could not have shut down as it was the responsibility of the service provider to be up and running.

4. Former Ghanaian President, Mr John Mahama has identified asset declaration by the Public Officers in Nigeria as a tool to tackle the menace of corruption in the public sector. Mahama in his keynote presentation as a Special guest at the 53rd Annual Conference of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers held in Ilorin, Kwara State Capital on Thursday said that corruption is a cankerworm that retards the progress of a nation.

5. The Enugu State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Thursday ordered Governor Peter Mbah to appear before it today, Friday, to testify on his alleged National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, discharge certificate forgery. The order was sequel to an application made by the Peoples Redemption Party, through its Counsel, Mr Alex Amujiogo.

6. The All Progressives Congress in Rivers State has expressed readiness to receive former governor of the State, Nyesom Wike if he decides to defect to the ruling party. A chieftain of the APC and former Chief of Staff, Rivers State Government House, Chief Tony Okocha stated this at a news briefing in Port Harcourt.

7. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed dates to review the operations of the 2023 general elections. The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Festus Okoye, said this in Abuja on Thursday. According to him, the commission held its regular meeting on Thursday 22nd June 2023, and resolved to conduct a post-election review of the 2023 General Election in line with its practice over the years.

8. Some gunmen have reportedly invaded Ejule town in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing residents in the process. It was learnt that the attack started around 3 am on Thursday. A commercial motorcyclist popularly known as okada rider, and the wife of a youth leader in the community were reportedly killed in the attack.

9. The Federal Government has denied claims that the salaries of politicians, judicial and public office holders will be increased by 114 percent. Dele Alake, the Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communications & Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, refuted the reports, stating that there was no presidential approval for salary increase for political office holders and judicial officers

10. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Ogun State, on Thursday, confirmed the arrest of 181 suspected drug dealers and the recovery of three pistols in the last five months in the state. The state Commander of the NDLEA, Ibiba Odili, made the statement during a press briefing held in commemoration of the 2023 United Nations International Day against drug abuse.