10 top news from Nigerian newspapers this Thursday morning

Good morning! TopNaija.ng brings you today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. Concerned Nigerians have announced that they will commence a daily sit-out at the National Assembly in the next 18 days if lawmakers fail to respond to the health of President Muhammadu Buhari in line with the constitution. In a statement released on Wednesday by its convener, Deji Adeyanju, and Secretary, Dr. John Danfulani, the group noted that Buhari had now been absent from office and Nigeria for 72 days, disclosing that it would commence the sit-outs on the 90th day of his absence.

2. The Federal High Court in Lagos, on Wednesday, ordered the temporary forfeiture of a property at Banana Island, Lagos, worth $37.5m owned by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke. The building has 24 apartments, 18 flats and six penthouses.

3. Ailing Nollywood actress, Halima Abubakar has lamented that some persons are using her condition to enrich themselves. She warned those trying to make money from her ailment to discontinue, adding that she needs no more donations from people.

4. Nigeria total debt has risen by N4.76tn in 2016. The Debt Management Office disclosed this in its 2016 Annual Report and Statement of Accounts in Abuja on Wednesday. It said the significant increase is mainly in the domestic debt component. According to the DMO, the development reflects an increase of N4.76tn or 37.74 per cent within a period of one year.

5. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while reacting to the controversy generated by the plans to ban production of movies and music videos insisted that government’s decision that any programme meant for Nigerians must be produced in Nigeria was the best for the country. He said the Creative Industry’s potential of creating 1 million jobs in three years cannot be realized if jobs meant for Nigerians are being exported to other countries.

6. The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos State Wednesday dismissed the appeal brought before it by Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over the Bench Warrant issued against him by Justice Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos. The court ruled that the warrant of arrest issued remains valid.

7. The Management of Diamond Bank Plc, Wednesday, confirmed that there was a fire incident as a result of mob action at its Creek Road, Apapa branch in Lagos State. A press statement by Head, Corporate Communications, Chioma Afe, said the bank was set ablaze by an angry mob after a policeman allegedly shot dead a trailer driver outside the bank premises.

8. There was pandemonium in the Benin garage axis of Akure, the Ondo state capital on Wednesday night, as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) engaged in free for all fight. The members of the union in the Benin garage unit, were brandished in different dangerous weapon including cutlasses, axes, broken bottles and local guns. No fewer than 10 people sustained serious injuries in the fight that is connected to leadership crisis.

9. The committee on a new National Minimum Wage will begin sitting before the end of July. This was made known by NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, on Wednesday.
   He said that before the end of this month, the process of discussions on a new minimum wage will commence.

10. Niger Delta militant groups have declared their support for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu’s calls for people of the Southeast to boycott the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State. The militant groups, comprising Rainbow Marabas Squad, RMS, Concerned Militant Leaders, CML, and the Niger Delta People’s Democratic Front, NDPDF argued that since May 30, 2016 when soldiers allegedly massacred innocent IPOB members in some parts of the Southern states, the Federal Government has remained silent.