Read today's newspaper headlines [Monday, February 1, 2016]

Find out what is making headlines all over the country from the covers of The Punch, Vanguard, The Guardian and more.

For today, Monday, February 1, 2016:

VANGUARD NEWSPAPER

Alleged N1trn rail contracts scam: Reps invite Amaechi, NRC MD, others

ABUJA—MEMBERS of the adhoc committee of the House of Representatives on failed rail contracts have summoned the Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi; Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, Seyi Sijuwade; former Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Mohammed Bello Haliru; and former Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, to explain their roles in the alleged N1 trillion rail contracts scam.

Judiciary, my main headache in anti-graft war —Buhari

Addis Ababa — President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, said in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that the judiciary remained his main headache in the fight against corruption. According to him, corruption is so pervasive in the country that it requires the strong support of the judiciary to effectively fight.

N5.2trn Pension fund: Fashola advocates investment in real sector

Federal government efforts at containing the massive corruption embedded in pension fund in time past may have achieve results but not enough to allow the N5.2trillion lay fallow, says the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola The Minister at the Nigerian Pension Industry Strategy Implementation Road Map Retreat organised by the National Pension Commission (PenCom) retreat held in Abuja penultimate Friday, advocated proper use of pension fund to build the required infrastructures for a rapid development for the country. READ MORE:

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THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER

How we rigged Ekiti poll for Fayose – Ex-PDP secretary

A former Secretary of the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Temitope Aluko, has alleged that former President Goodluck Jonathan gave Governor Ayo Fayose N4.7bn cash to prosecute the June 21, 2014 governorship election in the state. Aluko said the money was used to defeat the then Governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

Anti-corruption war: Judiciary, my main headache, says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday said as far his administration’s ongoing anti-corruption fight was concerned, the nation’s judiciary remained his major headache. He said the fight against corruption in Nigeria could only be effectively tackled with the strong support of the judiciary. According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President spoke in Addis Ababa at a town hall meeting he held with Nigerians living in Ethiopia

Boko Haram burns children, kills 86 in Borno attacks

Terror group, Boko Haram, was alleged to have burnt some children to death when the militants overran Dalori, a village four kilometres outside Maiduguri, where about 80 residents of the community were killed on Saturday night. The Area Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency in Borno State, Mohammed Kanar, said 86 bodies were picked up in the village on Sunday. Hospital sources added that no fewer than 70 persons were receiving treatment in hospitals around the area.

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THE GUARDIAN

Protest as new electricity tariffs begin today

THERE is apprehension among residential and commercial electricity consumers across the country as the new Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO 2015) takes off today amid doubts over commensurate electricity supply. A meeting called by the regulator, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) on Friday failed to convince the manufacturers to drop their earlier opposition to the new tariff regime. The Guardian learnt that at the meeting with NERC management, MAN insisted that its members would not discuss the tariffs because the matter was in court.

How PDP spent $37m in Ekiti guber poll, by Aluko

Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Temitope Kolawole Aluko, yesterday confessed that he played major role in the 2014 governorship election that brought incumbent governor Ayo Fayose to power. He claimed that former President Goodluck Jonathan and his minister of state for Defence, Musliu Obanikoro spent more than $37 million to rig Fayose into office. The bulk of the money, according to him, was delivered in his (Aluko’s) presence to some military officers and other stakeholders in the election.

Judiciary my main headache in anti-graft drive, says Buhari

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has described the judiciary as his major headache in his administration’s campaign against corruption. For him, the ongoing fight against corruption could only be effectively tackled with a strong, supportive judiciary.

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THE NATION NEWSPAPER

PDP chief: Jonathan gave Fayose $37m for Ekiti poll

Former President Goodluck Jonathan gave Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose $37 million cash for the June 21, 2014 governorship election, it was learnt yesterday. A former Secretary of the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Temitope Aluko, a member of the team that prosecuted the election, said Dr. Jonathan gave Fayose $2 million in March 2014 for the primary election. He alleged that the cash was collected at the NNPC Towers in Abuja from businessman Ifeanyi Uba, who last night denied playing any role in the election or giving Fayose any money.

Aluko is desperate, says governor

Governor Ayo Fayose yesterday condemned the statement by a former secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Tope Aluko, saying he does not deserve a response. The governor spoke through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media Mr. Lere Olayinka. He said Aluko was beclouded by his desperation to seek revenge against Fayose because of his refusal to make him his Chief of Staff. He (Aluko) is not mindful of committing the criminal offence of perjury, the statement added.

Nigeria ‘imported N20.2tr fuel in five years’

Nigeria spent N20.2 trillion to import petrol, diesel and kerosene between January 2010 and September 2015, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said. Figures jointly compiled by both the NBS and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) released at the weekend indicate that N12, 529, 746, 397, 978. 48 was spent on the importation of 102,374,588,480.91 litres of petrol (Premium Motor Spirit).

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Business Day

$2.1bn arms deal: My sons are innocent, Obanikoro tells EFCC

Immediate past minister of state for foreign affairs, Musiliu Obanikoro, has challenged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and online media platform, Sahara Reporters to publish the names of the directors and signatories to the alleged Sylvan McNamara Limited account to the public. The company was said to have received about N4.8 billion from the $2.1 billion arms deal allegedly diverted to other purposes by the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

Coca-Cola acquires 40% equity in Nigeria’s Chi Limited

Coca-Cola Company has acquired 40 percent shareholding in Nigeria’s Chi Limited, Nigeria’s dairy and juice company and manufacturer of Chivita brand. Cola Cola also intends to increase ownership to 100 percent within three years, subject to regulatory approvals, while working on other long-term commercial structures. The binding agreement for Coca Cola investment in Chi was…

Forte Oil profit rises on other income, lower finance charges

Forte oil Nigeria Plc recorded a 30.11 percent rise in net profit, stoked by the contributions from other income and the company’s ability to reduce finance charges amid delay in subsidy payments and currency devaluation. Analysts say the company’s stellar performance at the bottom line means its strategic risk management strategy is yielding fruit as…