Nigerian newspapers: 10 things you need to know this Sunday morning

1. The World Bank has stated that the collapse in oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic could plunge the Nigerian economy into the worst economic recession since the 1980s. The institution raised the alarm in a statement in Abuja on Thursday as part of its latest Nigeria Development Update (NDU).

2. The Commander of the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Taiwo, has said Lt.- Col. S.O. Bello and Brig.-Gen. F.O Omata led the team that shot at protesters at the Lekki toll gate. Taiwo said Bello who was the Commander on ground had given the order for the soldiers to shoot in the air. Taiwo who is a military witness disclosed this during cross-examination at the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry for Restitution, on Saturday in Lagos State.

3. After dumping the PDP for the APC, Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has sacked more of his appointees to accommodate new party supporters. This came barely 48 hours after his defection. Umahi equally dissolved all boards and commissions except a few that are tenured by law.

4. Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers attacked three persons in their vehicle, along Kaduna railway station on Friday night, injuring one, abducting the other person, and killing the third person instantly. This happened after the victims’ meeting with the Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Zailani.

5. Helen Grant, United Kingdom Trade Envoy to Nigeria, has ranked the country’s economy as the fastest growing in Africa. The rating came the same day statistics revealed that Nigeria has slipped into recession again. Grant spoke at the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) organised by Nigerian in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).

6. The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, on Saturday, declared that its members are not going to be pressured to call off the prolonged industrial action without a concrete agreement with the Nigerian government. Dr Edor J. Edor, the ASUU Chairman of University of Calabar said lecturers were determined to ensure that the challenges of universities are substantially resolved.

7. Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has urged the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). A statement on Saturday by Fayose’s Spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, said the duo met in Afao-Ekiti Friday night where Fayose begged the embattled Deputy Governor to ignore the past and return to the PDP.

8. The Oyo State Police Command has arrested suspects allegedly linked with the roasting and eating of the flesh of police officers burnt in Ibadan during the End SARS protest. Police Spokesman at the Oyo State Command, SP Olugbenga Fadeyi, made this known in Ibadan. Fadeyi added that the suspects, a 34-year-old expectant mother and a 43-year-old man have been transferred to the Force Intelligence Bureau at the Force Headquarters in Abuja for further investigation.

9. Nigeria on Saturday recorded one coronavirus death as 246 fresh cases were confirmed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. According to the NCDC, this brings the total of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country to 66,228. The public health agency said that 102 COVID-19 patients were discharged within the period across the country.

10. A U.S. federal court, on Saturday evening dismissed President Donald Trump’s suit that sought to cancel millions of mail-in votes in the Nov. 3 election in Pennsylvania. The presiding judge, Matthew Brann, in his ruling threw out the case “for lack of compelling legal arguments and factual proof of rampant corruption”. Brann berated Trump’s lawyers for filing a “disjointed lawsuit,” adding that he would not “disenfranchise almost seven million voters” on baseless allegations.