The order of the court for the detention of journalist and politician who convened the Revolution protest and the probe of the killing of three police officers by soldiers are some of the trending stories in the Nigerian press on Friday.
The Punch said that the Federal Government and the judiciary came under attack on Thursday as a Federal High Court in Abuja granted the Department of State Services (DSS) permission to detain the publisher of SaharaReporters and convener of the #RevolutionNow protests, Omoyele Sowore, for 45 days.
The Tribune said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that former Vice-President and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the last general elections, Atiku Abubakar, was behind the recent #RevolutionNow protest to express discontent against the policies of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
The APC in a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu, described Atiku Abubakar as a sore leader and “the patron and cheerleader of the unpatriotic elements, who would rather bring our country down for being rejected at the polls.”
The Sun said that the Security Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari has set up a committee to investigate what it described as “unfortunate killing” of three police intelligence officers in Taraba State by soldiers.
Channels Television said the police are obviously not giving up yet on knowing why soldiers killed three of their officers who were on a covert operation in Taraba State.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, said the police demanded to know the whereabouts of a notorious kidnap suspect, Hamisu Bala Wadume, who was arrested by the police and set loose by the army.
The Guardian said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwu, before the Federal High Court in Lagos on an alleged N1.23 billion fraud.
The Nation reported that education, health, agriculture and other sectors are beneficiaries of the more than $11 billion net commitment to Nigeria by the World Bank over the years.
The World Bank Group’s Country Director Rachid Benmessaoud, announced the figure on Thursday in Abuja at the maiden edition of the Nigeria Portfolio Performance Award.
ThisDay reported that following the move by the Kogi State House of Assembly to remove the Deputy Governor, Simon Achuba, from office, the state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has also taken unfriendly step by suspending Achuba from the party for alleged anti-party activities before, during and after the 2019 general elections.
MM/GIK/APA