Headlines from mainstream Nigerian newspapers today, Friday, December 22, are mostly focused on the presidential bid by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the reaction of the Senate to the $1bn approved for use by the federal government to fight the Boko Haram insurgency, and the arrest of the finance chief of the Goodluck Jonathan 2015 campaign by operatives of the EFCC.
ThisDay reports that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has disclosed that he has not yet decided if he would contest the 2019 presidential election or not.
This comes following his highly publicized defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and his open criticism of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
He stated: “For now I have not made up my mind. When I decide, I will let the world know.”
Atiku’s defection had raised hopes that he would run for the presidency on the platform of the PDP.
Front page of ThisDay newspaper, today, Friday, December 22
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The Nation is reporting that Dr Ngozi Olojeme, the deputy chairman, finance committee of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation in the 2015 presidential election, was quizzed for hours by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Olojeme, a former chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) is facing allegations of diversion of $48,485,127 of the agency’s funds.
According to the publication, the EFCC had declared her wanted weeks ago, on the orders of a court.
She finally turned herself in to the anti-graft commission; after which, she was detained and questioned.
Front page of The Nation newspaper, today, Friday, December 22
Punch is also focused on the arrest of Dr. Ngozi Olojeme, by operatives of the EFCC.
The publication disclosed that shortly after she was sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, Olojeme fled the country.
This was after she had also been declared wanted by the anti-graft agency.
She reportedly finally reported at the anti-graft agency on Monday, December 18, and was detained afterwards.
An EFCC detective stated: “After months of running, Mrs Olojeme finally turned herself in. She is currently being detained, and we have identified most of her properties."
Front page of Punch newspaper, today, Friday, December 22
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The Guardian is focused on the reaction of the upper legislative chamber, to the federal government’s plan to withdraw $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account to tackle the Boko Haram terrorist sect in the North-east.
According to the publication, during plenary on Thursday, December 21, senators expressed disappointment over the failure by the leadership of the Senate to open a debate on the issue.
President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, reportedly had a hard task trying to convince his colleagues to postpone the debate on the matter until resumption from the Christmas and New Year recess.
However, his colleagues rejected his appeals.
Front page of The Guardian newspaper, today, Friday, December 22
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Source: Naija.ng