Ike Ekweremadu Denies Calling For Military Coup And Other Newspaper Headlines Today

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has denied making any statement which suggests that he was calling for a military coup In the country. According to the GUARDIAN, Ekweremadu spoke at the weekend in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State, when Governor Serake Dickson hosted him and other parliamentarians from African countries to a dinner. Ekweremadu maintained that his comments on the floor of the Senate were misconstrued. The lawmaker said he would never make derogatory statements against the military which he described as one of the best fighting forces on the continent.

Nigerian Army draws battle line against Killer-herdsmen, warning killers to stop their evil act or “face decisive action by troops”. It also warned that commanders who fail to act decisively would “face court martial”. According to THE NATION killings have persisted in Taraba, Benue and Adamawa states, despite the ongoing operation “Cat Race”.

Still on the issue of security, Police nabs herdsman over multiple murders heads DAILY SUN. The Plateau state   police command has arrested a herdsman, Muhammadu Musa Bimini, in connection with a bloody attack that claimed 16 persons in Daffo district of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State. He was caught in possession of a military AK-47 rifle.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is leading the move to bring Senate President Bukola Saraki, speaker house of representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and other aggrieved leaders of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to join the social Democratic Party (SDP), otherwise known as the Third Force movement says Daily Independent.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE reveals that NBA, Civil Society Groups Insist On Protest Tomorrow on Lagos’ Land Use Charge. It further disclosed that Tension is already mounting in Lagos as the ultimatum issued by the state government to reverse the contentious Land Use charges expires today.  The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) told the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday that the civil action promised to follow the expiration of the ultimatum, starting from tomorrow, remained in place.

Consumers are to pay more for cigarettes, alcohol from June 4^th, THE PUNCH has announced. The Federal Government has approved an amendment to excise duty rates for alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. The approval, according to the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, was given by President Muhammadu Buhari, and would take effects from Monday, June 4^th 2018.

Moving to the economic sector, Banks record 26,182 fraud, forgery cases worth N12bn heads both the NEW TELEGRAPH and VANGUARD. Deposit Money banks in the country are hiding cases of fraud from industry regulators, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporations NDIC, revealed this in a statement, yesterday. Head communications and Public Affairs, NDIC, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, disclosed this in a statement saying: “The NDIC is to investigate some banks for inadequate rendition of returns to the corporation on instances of fraud, forgeries and cases involving members of their staff who were either dismissed or had their appointments terminated on grounds of fraudulent activities.

Finally On BUSINESS DAY, The Math Doesn’t Add Up With Milost  is written boldly. Milost Global Inc, a private equity (PE) firm purportedly based in New York, United State, is in Nigeria making promises it may not keep. Take the firm’s latest announcement to invest some $250 million (90 billion at N360/$) in financial services company, Resort savings and loans- which has a market capitalization of N5.6 billion. According to data on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)