Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Friday 10th April, 2026

Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the NaijaChoice News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday 10th April, 2026.

1. EFCC Arrests ‘Fake’ Football Agent, Osagie Destiny Over Alleged N11m Scam

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Benin Zonal Directorate, have arrested Osagie Destiny Etinosa for allegedly defrauding an aspiring footballer of N11 million.

The agency said the suspect was picked up through open source intelligence after he posed as a genuine football intermediary on social media.

Etinosa operated an Instagram account, @officialking_etto, where he claimed to specialise in linking Nigerian players with foreign clubs for trials and recruitment.

2. Akwa Ibom Assembly Passes Mental Health Bill

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has passed a bill establishing a Mental Health Services Department to regulate and strengthen mental healthcare delivery across the state.

NaijaChoice News reports that the legislation, which replaces the outdated Lunacy Law of 1916, sailed through third reading on Tuesday during plenary at the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Chamber, Government House, Uyo.

3. UCL Quarter-Finals: Hansi Flick Blames Lack of Luck as Atletico Madrid Beat Barcelona 2-0

Hansi Flick has explained why Barcelona lost the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final to Atletico Madrid. The Spanish giants went down 2-0 at the Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday night, with Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth scoring for the visitors.

The Barcelona manager told reporters after the game that his team simply lacked fortune on the night. He pointed to defensive errors on the opening goal and the impact of a red card that handed Atletico a dangerous free-kick. “On the first goal, we needed to defend much better, and the red card led to a free-kick goal. We could’ve done better,” Flick said.

4. Ex-Obidient Movement Member Alleges Peter Obi Admitted Losing 2023 Election

Lawrence Okoro, an X user who claims to be a former member of the Obidient Movement, has alleged that Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, once admitted he lost the election.

The presidential election, held on February 25, 2023, was contested by Obi, alongside other candidates, including President Bola Tinubu, who was then the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Obi came third with 6,101,533 votes, behind Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 6,984,520 votes, while Tinubu won the election with 8,794,726 votes.

5. INEC Is Filled With APC Members — Former Tinubu Campaign Coordinator Warns

Senator Kabiru Marafa, former coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Organisation in Zamfara State, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of losing its independence.

The ex-lawmaker, who represented Zamfara Central in the Senate, claims that many top officials in INEC are card-carrying members of the ruling All Progressives Congress. He warned that this development poses a serious threat to the credibility of the 2027 general elections.

6. “Atiku Will Return To Dubai” – Sowore On Not Joining Opposition Leaders’ Protest

Activist politicianOmoyele Sowore has defended his decision to stay away from the Occupy INEC demonstration staged by chieftains of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abuja. He insists his own activism rests on firm principles, not temporary political convenience.

The protest on Wednesday drew heavyweights including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi, David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola. They marched to the Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters to challenge INEC’s decision to delist their faction following a Court of Appeal ruling on the party’s leadership crisis.

7. Verydarkman Says Tinubu Shouldn’t Remain President, Reveals Alleged DSS Call

Controversial Nigerian social commentator VeryDarkMan has stirred fresh debate online after sharing details of an alleged encounter with Nigeria’s security agency — alongside a bold statement about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a recent video, VeryDarkMan claimed he was contacted by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) over reports linking him to a planned protest.

8. Tinubu Absent as Akpabio Commisoned Project on his behalf in Lagos

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commissioned three landmark projects in Lagos State, reinforcing his administration’s drive to ease traffic, digitise governance and boost economic activity in Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre. Senate President Godswill Akpabio represented the President at the ceremony held on Wednesday at the newly named Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administrative Complex in Alausa.

9. National Assembly Dismisses Calls for Decentralisation of Pipeline Surveillance Contracts

The joint committees of the National Assembly on petroleum resources have thrown out petitions demanding the decentralisation of pipeline surveillance contracts across oil-producing states.

The decision came on Wednesday during a high-stakes roundtable on pipeline security held in Abuja. Lawmakers adopted a motion moved by Hon. Prince Henry Odianosen Okojie, chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream), stressing that fragmenting the contracts would weaken coordination and accountability.

10. Saheed Osupa Admits Using Juju For Success: “It’s Not Good To Be Poor”

Saheed Osupa, the veteran Fuji musician popularly known as King Saheed Osupa, has triggered heated debates across social media after candidly discussing his use of traditional spiritual practices.

The Fuji icon made the remarks during a live performance at the 52nd birthday celebration of Nollywood veteran Fatai Odua, better known as Lalude, held on March 30.

While entertaining guests, Osupa paused to address his backup singers, who appeared to be struggling with their cues. In a mix of humour and seriousness, he urged them to consider spiritual assistance to boost their memory and stage delivery.

That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on NaijaChoice News. See you again tomorrow.