Index to Nigerian Newspapers

As the Supreme Court today hears the appeals challenging the electoral victory of President Bola Tinubu, the ruling All Progressives Congress has expressed confidence that the President will come out victorious. Tinubu's victory in the February 25 presidential poll is being challenged by the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party. Displeased with the verdict of the PEPC, both parties and their candidates, Atiku Abubakar (PDP) and Peter Obi (LP) proceeded to the Supreme Court, which has fixed today for hearing. Speaking on Sunday ahead of today's hearing, the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, told The PUNCH the opposition would lose again. But the PDP expressed optimism that the Supreme Court will sack Tinubu and declare Atiku as winner.

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, have travelled to Turkey to facilitate the speedy delivery of T-129 ATAK helicopters to the Nigerian Air Force. The Director, Public Relations and Information at NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said, in a statement on Sunday, that two of the six units of T-129 ATAK helicopters procured by the Federal Government from the Turkish Aerospace Industry would be delivered in the coming weeks. The remaining four helicopters are expected to be delivered before the end of the second quarter of 2024. Gabkwet said the Turkish defence minister promised Nigeria all the support required from the Turkish military and defence companies to accelerate the defeat of terrorism and other criminal challenges in Nigeria. He stated also that Badaru and Abubakar visited selected Turkish companies, including Turkish Aerospace Industries, MKE, Aselsan, and Roketsan, in their quest for collaboration. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy has said it will take delivery of the Nigerian Navy 2 x 76m, 1200 Tons High Endurance Offshore Patrol Vessel by September 2024. The Navy's Director of Information, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

The Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority has sealed Al-azhar Academy in Zaria following the alleged flogging of a JSS 3 student, Marwan Sambo, to death. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Sambo, 19, was reported to have died from severe corporal punishment meted out to him for absenteeism. In a statement on Sunday, the Director General of the KSSQAA, Dr Usman Abubakar, said the state had commenced an investigation into the case. Abubakar added that the KSSQAA team visited the Divisional Police Headquarters, Zaria City, where the school principal and the vice-principal were being detained. The DG, therefore, noted that the State Government, under the leadership of Gov. Uba Sani, assured the general public of its firm resolve to ensure a conducive learning environment, equity and justice. Against the backdrop, he urged members of the general public to remain calm and law-abiding while the investigation continued for justice to be served accordingly.

The Chairman of the Supreme Court panel hearing the appeals against the election of President Bola Tinubu, Justice John Okoro, said on Monday that the Peoples Democratic Party standard bearer in the February presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, must prove the allegation of certificate forgery levelled against the ex-Lagos State governor beyond reasonable doubt. Okoro handed down the admonition during the hearing of the election petition appeals filed by Atiku and Peter Obi of the Labour Party. He stated this following the submission of Atiku's lead counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, urging the court to admit the fresh evidence brought by the petitioners. Atiku's application was opposed by Tinubu's lawyers, citing privacy concerns even as they conceded that only the certificate should be released and not other privileged records. But Justice Okoro, while describing the matter as criminal in nature, said it must be proven beyond reasonable doubt. The court which had Uwani Aji, Mohammed Garba, Ibrahim Saulawa, Adamu Jauro, Abubakar Tijjani, as other panel members, however, reserved judgment in the matter. The court also reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, against the tribunal's judgment affirming Tinubu's election. The seven-man panel led by Okoro after listening to the submissions of the parties involved in the matter said the judgment date would be communicated to them.

The Supreme Court, on Thursday, ended the 171-day legal tussle to nullify the election of President Bola Tinubu with the rejection of the election appeals filed by the Peoples Democratic Party standard bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Labour Party. Atiku and Obi's appeals commenced on May 8 and were concluded on Thursday, October 26, with the Supreme Court effectively ending their dreams of overturning Tinubu's election victory. In the lead judgment delivered by the Chairman of the seven-man panel, Justice Inyang Okoro, the apex court refused to consider the academic records of the President obtained from the Chicago State University, which Atiku sought to tender as fresh evidence to prove his allegation of certificate forgery against the ex-Lagos State governor. The other justices on the panel-Uwani Aji, Mohammed Garba, Ibrahim Saulawa, Adamu Jauro, Abubakar Tijjani, and Emmanuel Agim, agreed with the lead judgment dismissing Atiku and Obi's appeals. An elated Tinubu welcomed the Supreme Court verdict and sought the support of Nigerians, promising to exceed expectations in service delivery in the remaining years of his administration.

Troops of Operation Safe Haven, a special military task force maintaining peace in Plateau and parts of Bauchi and Kaduna states, have arrested 34 suspected gunrunners, kidnappers, cattle rustlers and various other criminals. The Media Officer of the operation, Capt. James Oya, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Jos. According to Oya, the suspects were arrested during separate operations in various locations within the operation's areas of responsibility. He explained that the operations were conducted between October 22 and 29. Oya said that at the conclusion of the investigations, the suspects would be arraigned in court. He quoted the OPSH Commander, Maj. Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, as calling on residents to support the task force in its war against criminality.