Read today's newspaper headlines [Tuesday, February 2, 2016]

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

For today, Tuesday, February 2, 2016:

VANGUARD NEWSPAPER

Buhari, Awujale hold closed-door meeting

ABEOKUTA—President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, held a closed door meeting with the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona inside the monarch’s Ijebu-Ode palace for about 20 minutes. Buhari who arrived in the state at about 6:15pm, flew into the Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu Ode in a chopper, arrived Awujale palace to commence a two-day official visit to the state. READ MORE:

Senate uncovers N10bn hidden in education budget

ABUJA— THE Senate Committee on Education, yesterday, uncovered N9,982,258,479 hidden in the budget of parastatals by the Federal Ministry of Education. The committee, which discovered the amount at the commencement of its 2016 budget defence, said the amount was hidden in the ministry’s parastatals. READ MORE:

Why we transferred Fr Mbaka —Catholic Church

ABUJA—The Catholic Church has explained the recent transfer of controversial Catholic priest, Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka from Enugu to Emene. The Church said the essence of his transfer was to make him more useful. In a reaction through the Secretary-General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Reverend Father Ralph Madu, yesterday, the church said the posting was not meant to be punitive but a “normal church procedure.” READ MORE:

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THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER

Why I didn’t pick Aluko as my CoS – Fayose

The Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has said the allegation by the former Ekiti State Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Tope Aluko, that the military was used to influence the outcome of the June 21, 2014 governorship election in the state, is another ploy by the All Progressives Congress to rubbish the mandate freely given to him by the people of the state. READ MORE:

EFCC raids former VP Sambo’s office in Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has raided an office complex in Abuja belonging to former Vice President Namadi Sambo.The PUNCH learnt on Monday that the EFCC operatives raided the office complex, which is not far from the National Defence College along Herbert Macaulay Way, Abuja, between 12noon and 6pm on Saturday. Aside from being on the list of those to be probed for arms purchase, it was gathered that the former vice president was also being investigated for his role as the Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation in the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration. READ MORE:

Govs live like emperors, divert council funds –Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday accused some state governors in the country of living like emperors while demanding sacrifice from the citizens for Nigeria to survive the prevailing hard times. Obasanjo spoke at the inaugural conference of the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy at the University of Ibadan, where he was the chairman on the occasion. The two-day conference has as theme, ‘‘Getting government to work for development and democracy in Nigeria: Agenda for change’’.

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THE GUARDIAN

Governors have become emperors, says Obasanjo

FOR former President Olusegun Obasanjo, some governors in the country are not really engaged in the business of governing their states with the overall objective of improving the lives of the citizens. Rather, they have turned themselves into emperors in their states. Equally lamenting the state of affairs in the country, former Commonwealth Secretary- General, Emeka Anyaoku, has said that for Nigeria to survive the harsh effects of its political structure amid dwindling government revenue, it must revert to regionalism, such that the six geo-political zones will become federating units.

Senate alleges inflation of education budget by N10b

A FRESH controversy is brewing over the 2016 Appropriation Bill President Muhammadub Buhari submitted to the National Assembly. The Senate Committee on Education yesterday alleged that during its scrutiny of the budget , it discovered that the provision for the education sector was inflated by N10 billion.

Iheanacho takes over Nasri’s place in City’s CL squad

MANCHESTER City have included Kelechi Iheanacho in their Champions League squad.The 19-year-old who has been in fine form for the Citizen this season replaces Sami Nasri who has been ruled out of the competition. “Yes, Kelechi will be in the Champions League squad. I told Samir Nasri I would take him out of the list as he needs two months more to be fit. We need Kelechi now as Bony is injured too. We couldn’t take the risk to go into the last 16 game with just Kun,” Pellegrini confirmed to club’s website. READ MORE:

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THE NATION NEWSPAPER

Mbaka’s transfer not punitive, says Catholic church

The Catholic Church has clarified the controvery trailing the transfer of Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka. It said the priest was merely sent to where he would be more useful to the church. In its first reaction since the controversy broke, the church said the posting was not meant to be punitive. Secretary-General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria Rev Fr Ralph Madu said transfer of priests was a “normal church procedure”. READ MORE:

EFCC searches Sambo’s office

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the weekend searched the office of former Vice President Namadi Sambo in Abuja. The anti-graft commission may also grill the ex-VP on the alleged N20 million monthly subvention from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). The EFCC was yet to vacate the office as at yesterday because of the alleged uncooperative attitude of Sambo’s employees. READ MORE:

Why Federal Government introduced new policy, by Minister

Power, Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola yesterday explained why the Federal Government approved a new electricity tariff regime. He said the new Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) which kicked-off yesterday would correct the whole system in the entire value chain of the power sector. Besides, Fashola, who spoke through a statement by his media aide, Mr. Akeem Bello, said the measure remained the most viable means to attain steady power supply in the country.

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Business Day

$620,000 bribe: Farouk Lawan, Emenalo’s trial continues today

Trial of the former chairman, House of Representative Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy, Farouk Lawan, for allegedly obtaining $620,000 bribe from Femi Otedola, chairman of Forte Oil, will commence today. A reliable source at the chambers of the prosecuting counsel for Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), authoritatively disclosed this to BusinessDay. READ MORE:

Adeosun says FG exploring mix of cheap financing for 2016 budget

Nigeria’s finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, said on Monday that the overall objective of foreign loans being explored in the 2016 budget is to provide the lowest possible cost of financing for capital projects proposed under the government’s plan to stimulate the economy. These capital projects include power, transport, road, housing etc. In a statement released… READ MORE:

Lagos gives 14-day ultimatum to illegal abattoirs to close down

In what is aimed at curbing unwholesome processed meat and meat products, the Lagos State government on Monday issued a 14-day ultimatum to operators of illegal abattoirs and slaughter slabs in the state to stop operation or faced prosecution. Toyin Suarau, the commissioner for agriculture, said the action became necessary in order to guarantee wholesomeness in the process of meat consumed by Lagosians.