Latest Nigerian News Headlines for Today, Friday, 26th March, 2021

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Gistlover roundup of Latest Nigerian News Headlines for Today, Friday, 26th March, 2021.

1. Court Jails Professor for Manipulating Election Results In Favour Of APC

A professor of soil science at the University of Calabar, Peter Ogban has been sentenced to prison for manipulating election results.

A high court in Akwa Ibom State on Thursday which was presided over by Justice Augustine Odokwo, found him guilty of manipulating the 2019 senatorial election in Akwa Ibom north-west in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ogban who was the returning officer for the poll, was dragged before the court by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The court found him guilty of altering results from the election and therefore sentenced him to three years in prison.

2. FG Reveals Date National Assembly to Pass PIB

The Minister of State of Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has said the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) currently before the National Assembly will be passed in April.

Gistlover reports that the minister stated this Thursday while briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Timipre Sylva told newsmen that the bill has already passed second reading in the two chambers of the National Assembly.

According to the former Bayelsa governor, public hearings have been held while the views of oil communities have also been captured.

The minister said the Executive is ready to give the National Assembly all the necessary support to ensure the bill is passed by April.

3. Buhari’s Shoot-On-Sight Order Hindering Rescue of Abducted Kaduna Students – Gumi

Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, on Thursday disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s shoot-on-order is hindering the release of the abducted students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Kaduna.

Gistlover had earlier reported this month that the President directed security operatives in the country to shoot-on-sight any criminal carrying AK-47.

Gumi while speaking with Daily Trust noted that some bandits he met within the forest during his meetings have identified the leader of the gang responsible for the abduction of the students.

The cleric further stated that despite identifying the gang involved in the abduction of the student he has no access to them because of the President’s shoot-on-sight order.

4. Senate Moves to Check IGP’s Powers, Decentralises Police Structure

The Senate has introduced a bill seeking to decentralise the police structure, which checks the powers of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.

Gistlover reports that the bill seeks to amend the Police Act, 2020, six months after President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the Nigeria Police Bill 2020.

The new bill titled ‘The Nigeria Police Act 2020 (Amendment) Bill, 2021’, was sponsored by the Senate spokesperson, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru (APC – Osun).

Basiru noted that the bill seeks to enhance the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) through the removal of constraints of funds and whittling down the over-centralization of the command structure of the police force.

5. Igbo Leaders Threaten To Dump PDP If It Fails To Zone Presidency to South-East

A distinguished group of leaders from the South-East geopolitical zone has threatened to ask a huge number of its loyalists to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if it fails to zone the 2023 presidency to the region.

Gistlover understands that the group under the auspices of the Igbo Leadership Development Foundation stated this in a statement made available to newsmen by its Director of Public Affairs, Dr Law Mefor, in Abuja on Thursday, March 25.

The PUNCH reports that other signatories to the statement include Dr. Godwin I. Udibe (Chairman) and Onyebuchi Obeta (National Secretary).

The group vowed to drag the PDP to the court of competent jurisdiction if it failed to stick to its constitution which provides for a rotational presidency.

6. Oyo: Makinde Reveals Those Behind Shasha Market Crisis

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has accused those who do not mean well for Nigeria of causing the recent crisis which engulfed the Shasha market in Ibadan.

Speaking during a visit to Akinyele market, Makinde asked traders at the market to ensure that there is harmony among different ethnic groups in the market.

The governor explained that he will meet with the leadership of the market on how to organize the market.

7. Buhari Blames Unemployment in Rural Areas for Insecurity

President Muhammadu Buhari has blamed unemployment and lack of opportunities in most rural communities for insecurity being witnessed in parts of the country.

Buhari stated this while receiving members of the Fertilizer Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

This was made known in a statement titled “New 41.3bn fertilizer plant ready in months, President Buhari says,” by Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

8. Arewa Group Backs Amaechi, Tinubu, Akpabio, Others to Succeed Buhari

The Arewa Mandate Initiative (AMI) has backed Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rotimi Amaechi, Orji Uzor Kalu and others to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

The AMI in a statement issued by Malam Muhammad Mubarak, FCT, Coordinator and Alhaji Aminu Muhammed, Sokoto Secretary respectively, said the endorsement was in line with the gentleman agreement reached by the leaders of the party at the formative stage in 2015.

9. FG May Increase Petrol Price To Between N211/N234 Per Litre – Kyari

The group managing director of the Nigerian National Petrol Corporation (NNPC), Engr. Mele Kyari has disclosed that the federal government may be forced to increase the price of petrol again.

He made the disclosure during a statehouse press briefing on Thursday which was monitored by Gistlover.

According to him, it no longer makes sense for NNPC to import petrol at market price and sell at N162 per litre. He added further that the actual market price should be between N211 and N234 per litre.

The NNPC boss stated that the government can no longer bear the burden of the difference between the actual market price and what Nigerians are paying for petrol.

Justifying the probable price increase, Kyari added that most of Nigeria’s neighbouring countries pay as high as N300 per litre for petrol while some other countries pay as much as N500 per litre.

10. Insecurity: Senate President Lawan Speaks On Impeaching President Buhari

The Nigerian Senate President, Ahmad Lawan has ruled out the possibility of the lawmakers impeaching President Muhammadu Buhari over the waves of insecurity in Nigeria.

According to Lawan, impeaching Buhari will not solve the current security challenges the nation is battling with.

He made this position known during the finals of the first Plateau North Peace, Unity, and Reconciliation football tournament organized by Istifanus Gyang, senator representing Plateau North District in the Senate.

He however called for desperate measures to be deployed in addressing the situation.

Lawan was represented at the event by Benue North-East Senator, Gabriel Suswan.

10. Court Jails Professor for Manipulating Election Results In Favour Of APC

That’s the latest Nigeria news headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news Gistlover News website. See you again tomorrow.