Newspaper review for Friday, December 6: Reactions as court jails Orji Kalu 12 years
Orji Uzor Kalu, a former governor of Abia state, was on Thursday, December 5, sentenced to 12 years in prison after being convicted by the Federal High Court in Lagos over N7.1bn fraud.
This is the focus of two major Nigerian newspapers published on Friday, December 6: The Guardian and ThisDay.
With the headline, Mixed Reactions As Court Jails Orji Uzor Kalu 12 Years, The Guardian newspaper focuses on the reactions of Nigerians to the landmark judgement.
The newspaper reports that the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) described the ruling as proof that President Muhammadu Buhari's anti-corruption war is not subjective as the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has repeatedly claimed.
An Abia based lawyer, Similarly, Chief Ukpai Ukairo, also praised the judgment as "momentous".
Source: UGC
ThisDay newspaper, with the headline After 12-year Legal Battle, Kalu Bags 12 Years Imprisonment for Fraud, chronicles the trial of the Abia state former governor from trial to conviction.
The newspaper also reports that the former governor will also forfeit some assets to the federal government, according to the ruling just as it notes that 19 other former governors are also currently on trial.
Source: UGC
Away from the Orji Uzor Kalu sentence, The Nation's front page focuses on Aisha Buhari, Nigeria's fearless outspoken first lady.
The first lady is known to always air her views no matter whose ox is gored. This time around, her focus is on the presidential aides and the menace of social media.
Recall that Ms Buhari has earlier stated that she is in support of social media regulation. In The Nation's front-page story headlined Aisha Buhari: President’s Aides Not Defending Govt, the first lady accused presidential aides of not defending the government enough.
She said the aides cannot be keeping silent while fake news is being peddled against the government.
Ms Buhari vowed to continue to air her views on important national issues.
Source: UGC
Vanguard newspaper focuses on the 2020 budget which has just been passed by the National Assembly.
The newspaper notes that the Senate jerked up the budget by N263.946 billion to N10.594 trillion from N10.33 trillion earlier proposed by President Buhari.
Vanguard also reports that the All Progressives Congress (APC) lauded the efforts of the lawmakers who worked hard to ensure the budget's early passage.
Source: UGC
The Punch newspaper's focus is on the crises rocking the ruling APC in Edo state.
Headlined APC crises: Buhari Meets Oshiomhole, State Chairmen, Intervenes in Edo, the newspaper reports that President Buhari has intervened in the escalating crises rocking the APC in Edo, Bayelsa, Anambra, Edo and Ondo states with a view to calming all nerves and ensuring that the future of the party is not jeopardised.
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Source: UGC
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the APC chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, APC state chairmen, were present at the meeting.
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