Latest Nigerian News Headlines for Today, Wednesday, 7th April, 2021

Welcome to Gistlover roundup of Latest Nigerian News Headlines for Today, Wednesday, 7th April, 2021.

1. Buhari Terminates Adamu Appointment, Appoints Usman Alkali Baba as Acting IGP

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of a new Inspector-General of Police to take over from Mohammed Adamu.

Gistlover understands that the President appointed the Deputy Inspector-General, DIG, Usman Alkali Baba as the Acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, who disclosed the appointment on Tuesday during a briefing with state house correspondents in Abuja, noted that the appointment is with immediate effect.

2. ASUP Begins Indefinite Strike Nationwide

Academic activities have been halted in all Nigerian public polytechnics as the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), declared an indefinite strike nationwide.

Gistlover had reported earlier that the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, on Monday invited the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics to an emergency meeting following their threat to embark on another strike.

A statement issued on Monday by Ben Bem Goong, spokesperson for the ministry of education had said that the meeting was to address the issues raised by ASUP in a bid to avert the planned strike.

But the leadership of the union led by its president, Anderson Ezeibe, told newsmen later on Tuesday that members of the union will shut down the Nigerian Polytechnics till the Federal Government meets their demands.

3. Police Will Go All Out against IPOB, Others – IGP

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has declared that all those responsible for the attacks in Imo State will not be given any hiding place.

The Police Chief made the declaration on Tuesday when he visited the Imo State Police Command for an on-the-spot assessment of facilities damaged during Monday’s attacks.

It will be recalled that Gistlover had reported how gunmen in the early hours of Monday, attacked the Imo State Police Command headquarters and the Owerri Correctional Prison, razed their operational vehicles, and freed about 2,000 inmates.

After the attacks, the IGP in a statement on Monday, claimed that the members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the security arm of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are responsible for the attack.

Though IPOB had also denied any involvement or complicity in the attack, again, while speaking after arriving in Imo State on Tuesday, IGP Adamu declared that the criminals responsible for the attack will not be allowed any hiding place.

4. Buhari’s Driver Detained by DSS for Tricking President Dies

The official driver of President Muhammadu Buhari, Saidu Afaka, who was recently detained by the Department of State Services after tricking his principal to sign a fraudulent document to make millions of naira is dead.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, on Tuesday, disclosed that Afaka died at the State House Clinic after a prolonged illness.

Buhari expressed sadness over the death of his driver.

5. FG Will Pardon Escaped Inmates Who Return Voluntarily – Minister

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, on Tuesday vowed that the Federal Government will pardon any prisoner who escaped from the custodial centre in Owerri, Imo State and decides to return voluntarily.

The former Governor of Osun State stated this while inspecting the centre on Tuesday following an attack on the correctional facility.

Aregbesola in his statement described unlawful escape from correctional centres as a crime but promised that prisoners who voluntarily return will be pardoned.

He added that the Federal Government will do everything possible to bring to justice the criminals responsible for the act.

6. May/June 2021 WASSCE May Not Hold, New Timetable to Be Released – WAEC

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has said the 2021 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates fixed for May/June may not hold.

Gistlover reports that this was made known in Tuesday by the Council’s Head of National Office (HNO), Mr Patrick Areghan.

He stated this while announcing the release of results of the 2021 first series of the WASSCE for private candidates on Tuesday in Lagos, NAN reports.

Areghan stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the education sector, adding that the entire education calendar has been distorted.

According to the WAEC chief, this has made it impossible to conduct WASSCE as scheduled.

7. Another Police Station Attacked In Imo after Visit by Osinbajo, IGP Adamu

Gunmen on Tuesday attacked and burnt down another police station in Imo State shortly after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and outgoing Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu departed Owerri, the Imo State capital.

Gistlover understands the gunmen razed Ehime Mbano Local Government Area Divisional Police Headquarters.

They also set free all suspects in detention at the station before setting the Police Divisional headquarters ablaze.

This is coming shortly after the federal government delegation which also included the Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola, had visited the state over the recent attack and burning of the police headquarters and correctional facility (prison).

8. COVID-19: Buhari Disbands PTF, Constitutes New Committee

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has transitioned to the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 based on an approval by President Muhammadu Buhari.

This follows the expiration of the mandate given to the task force when it was formed.

This development was confirmed on Tuesday by the Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha during a media briefing in Abuja.

The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 will now have modified responsibilities, Gistlover understands.

According to Mustapha, the new committee will still be headed by him and has a tenure which lasts till 31st December 2021.

9. Atiku Is Not A Nigerian, Not Fit To Run For President, Malami Tells Court

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has told a Federal High court in Abuja that Atiku Abubakar is not eligible to contest for president in Nigeria.

Gistlover reports that Atiku Abubakar is the former vice president of Nigeria, a former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the 2019 presidential candidate of the Peopes Democratic Party (PDP).

In an affidavit in support of a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/177/2019 and filed before the court by the Incorporated Trustees of Egalitarian Mission for Africa (EMA), Malami said Atiku is not qualified to be the president because he is not a Nigerian by birth.

In 2019, the EMA instituted the suit challenging Atiku’s eligibility to contest for president.

10. Judiciary Workers Begin Strike, Shut Federal High Court Lagos

Members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) have shut down the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos State in compliance with its indefinite nationwide strike, which begins today.

Gistlover gathered that JUSUN members arrived at the court premises before 9am and evicted court staff from their offices.

The judiciary workers also directed their colleagues in courtrooms and around the premises to comply with the industrial action, thereby sealing some of the offices and pasted strike notices on doors in the court.

In Abuja, the Supreme Court has been sealed off by members of the union. The entrance of the apex court has been locked, leaving workers stranded.

Staff of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) whose offices are within the Supreme Court are also affected.

That’s the Latest Nigerian News Headlines for Today, Wednesday, 7th April, 2021. Read more Nigerian news on GISTLOVER website. See you again tomorrow.