Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Friday morning

‎Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers;

1. The United States of America says it has withdrawn most of its forces deployed for a joint counterterrorism operation in Nigeria’s Lake Chad Basin. The Commander of US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, disclosed this during a press briefing on the outcome of the African Chiefs of Defence Conference 2026.

2. Adeniyi Adeyemi, the man accused of forging government appointment letters and parading himself as Director-General of a controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC and Presidential Economic Advisory Council, PEAC, said his life was under threat. The president’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, had on June 11, announced that the council did not exist under the Tinubu administration.

3. Security operatives have killed one suspected attacker after gunmen attempted to invade the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, Plateau State, on Wednesday night. It was gathered that the other assailants fled into a nearby bush after troops engaged them in a gun battle. Security operatives also recovered an AK-47 rifle and ammunition from the attackers.

4. A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, affirmed the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, headed by former Senate President, David Mark. The court dismissed a suit filed by a member of the House of Representatives, Leke Abejide, for lacking merit.

5. A Kaduna State High Court has dismissed a fresh bail application filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, after the National Hospital, Abuja, disowned a medical report tendered in support of the request. Justice Darius Khobo rejected the application, which was based on claims that El-Rufai was suffering from advanced metastatic prostate cancer requiring specialised treatment allegedly unavailable in Nigeria.

6. The vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress for the 2027 general election, Rotimi Amaechi, on Thursday held a closed-door meeting with former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, in Abuja. Although details of the meeting were not immediately disclosed, it comes amid the ongoing political consultations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

7. Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Atiku Abubakar, has appointed actor-turned-politician and ADC chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo as his spokesperson. Okonkwo announced the appointment in a statement posted on his official X handle on Thursday, expressing appreciation to Atiku for the confidence reposed in him.

8. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that another 271 Nigerians affected by the recent xenophobic protests in South Africa will arrive in Lagos today as the ongoing evacuation exercise continues. The Ministry, in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the latest batch would bring the government closer to completing the evacuation of Nigerians who voluntarily registered to return home.

9. Shock and confusion gripped residents of Adebiopon Village in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State on Wednesday after a 50-year-old traditional priest, Muritala Shodiya, allegedly set himself ablaze. It was gathered on Thursday that the incident occurred on Wednesday evening when Shodiya reportedly doused himself with petrol inside an uncompleted building before setting himself ablaze.

10. The Federal High Court, Abuja, has awarded N200 million against the Nigeria Police Force over the unlawful killing of Mallam Kabiru Babai. The suit was filed by Mr Okpi Adaafu on behalf of the Muslim Community of Gwarimpa Estate, Abuja. Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu held that the applicant proved her case on the preponderance of affidavit evidence.

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