Nigerian press spotlights Supreme Court’s hearing of appeals against Tinubu’s election, others

APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
The report that the legal battle to unseat President Bola Tinubu will continue at the Supreme Court on Monday as the apex court has listed for hearing the election petition appeal filed by former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, is one of the trending stories in Nigerian newspapers on Friday.
The Punch reports that the legal battle to unseat President Bola Tinubu will continue at the Supreme Court on Monday as the apex court has listed for hearing the election petition appeal filed by former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party standard bearer in the February presidential poll.
The Supreme Court Registrar, Zainab Garba, in a notice issued to the parties on Thursday, disclosed that the hearing proceedings in Atiku’s appeal would take place before the Supreme Court sitting in Abuja on October 23.
It read, ‘’Take notice that the above appeal/motion will be listed for hearing before the Supreme Court of Nigeria sitting at Abuja on Monday, October 23, 2023.
“And further take notice that in accordance with Order 2 Rule 1(2) of the Supreme Court Rules 1985, as amended, this notice is deemed sufficiently served on you if it is left at your address of service or sent by registered post and since the date of service by post is material, section 26 of the Interpretation Act, 1964, shall apply.”
The Supreme Court Director of Information, Dr Festus Akande, also confirmed that Atiku’s election appeal had been slated for hearing on Monday.
The newspaper says that Nigeria’s exports to Angola hit $ 16.8 million between 2020 and 2022, the Secretary of State for International Cooperation and Angola communities, Domingos Lopes, said.
Lopes stated this at the first interactive Angola-Nigeria business forum held in Abuja on Thursday.
The Secretary, who represented the Minister of External Relations, Téte Antonio, said the ties between both countries were marked by signing the first economic, technical —scientific and cultural cooperation agreement in 1976, adding that the exchange between the duo has been remarkable in the diplomatic, defence and security, petroleum, education, culture and transportation.
“In the last three years (between 2020 and 2022), Angola’s exportation of goods to Nigeria was estimated at USD 5.6 million and its importation stood at USD 16.8million, corresponding to a negative trade balance of about USD
11.2million,” he stated.
Concerning the main product group, Angola exported crude oil weighing about 42% to Nigeria, optics and precision accounting for 20%, and mechanical machines and devices with their function, accounting for 14% of the total volume of exports.
In the area of importation of acquired product group were machine and apparatus, CKD, plastics, rubbers and other transport materials. These groups in their total represent more than half of the total exportation during the period (41%,19% and 15% respectively).
He also noted that Angola counts on the support of Nigeria during its economic reform.
The Guardian reports that the Nigerian Government has declared that, henceforth, Nigeria would adopt the principle of reciprocity in issuance of visas to foreigners seeking entry into the country.
It explained that foreigners seeking visa to Nigeria will be accorded the same treatment meted to Nigerians in other countries.
This came as the government planned to introduce more stringent surveillance measures at the country’s borders to checkmate inflow and outflow of people and ensure the country is safe.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this, yesterday, at the Business Day conference, titled ‘Nigeria Forward: Catalysing Funding for High Impact Social Projects’, with the theme, ‘Funding for Change: Building Bridges for a Resilient Nigeria’.
Tunji-Ojo said the era where countries treat Nigerians with disdain in terms of visa issuance is over, stressing that the administration is poised to adopt the principle of give and take.
The minister, who was the keynote speaker, said: “The director for the Centre for Illegal Migration in Turkey came to my office. And I told him that in the next couple of weeks, expect reciprocity in terms of travel policy. Any country that does not give me a visa on arrival cannot have a visa on arrival in Nigeria. I’m sorry, but it is the truth. We’re not a dumping ground. If you say you are useful, people will see you as useful. But if you tell people you are useless, people will ask you: why are you this useless?
“We want to partner with you. And so, on the table, we must be partners, we must be equal partners, and our relationship on investment must be on the basis of the principle of reciprocity. We are doing that to all the countries in the world. The committee is working. I will receive the report tomorrow. You charge me $100 for a visa; I will charge you $100 for a Nigerian visa.”
The newspaper says that the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), has emphasised on the relevance of policies and strategies that promote ease of doing business in Nigeria and Commonwealth countries for accelerated economic growth.
Stating that the current gross domestic product (GDP) of Commonwealth is $14.5 trillion and is estimated at $19.5 trillion increase by 2027, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), CWEIC, Rosie Glazebrook, said the council invested in a dissolution of trade barriers that counter the ease of trade in Nigeria.
Speaking at a media parley in Lagos, on the upcoming Commonwealth Trade and Investment Summit slated for November 27 to 28, in London, she said Nigeria’s investment climate elicits much interest, especially after the concluded general elections, which has reinstated stability.
She urged businesses in Nigeria to leverage on the summit and also the Commonwealth Trade and Investment Forum, which would be held in October 2024, at Samoa before the Commonwealth Heads of State Summit to accelerate business relations and growth.
She said that though Nigeria emerged second after the United Kingdom (UK) in its strategic partnership rating, CWEIC seeks to advance the trade and investment sector by providing support to businesses.
Explaining the need for deeper trade relations, she stressed that trade between Commonwealth countries is 21 per cent cheaper.
“Trading between Commonwealth countries is on average 21 per cent cheaper. This is why we encourage the breakdown of the trade barrier to make it easier for Nigerian businesses. The Commonwealth has a huge population and huge business opportunities and that is what we seek to harness,” she said.
Glazebrook stated that the organisation seeks to follow-up on partnership, in order to support businesses and to build links across other sectors.
GIK/APA