Headlines from Nigerian Newspapers: Key Highlights for Tuesday Morning, December 19, 2023

In the Olota area of the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos, an unidentified husband allegedly murdered his wife last Thursday due to her failure to prepare his desired meal. According to reports on Monday, the conflict arose when the husband, returning from work, discovered that his wife had only made noodles instead of his preferred dish.
The Delta State Police Command successfully thwarted an attempted kidnapping and armed robbery, seizing two AK-47 rifles along with 13 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition from the suspects. The security personnel discovered these items concealed in the vehicle’s engine compartment and trunk.
There are indications that the National Assembly is poised to pass the 2024 budget of N27.5 trillion on Saturday, following the completion of defense presentations by approximately 541 ministries, departments, and agencies of the Federal Government. Senator Adeola Solomon, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, announced that the Senate would resume plenary on Wednesday to initiate the budgetary process.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has mobilized its entire workforce, including Special Marshals, to ensure smooth travel for commuters nationwide during the festive season. Deputy Corps Marshal Bisi Kazeem stated in a Monday release in Abuja that the personnel’s primary focus is to address traffic congestion and prevent road traffic accidents.
In a ruling on a garnishee proceeding initiated by former council leaders in Oyo State, who were dismissed by Governor Seyi Makinde on May 29, 2019, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has issued an order freezing the accounts of the Oyo State Government in ten commercial banks across the country.
On Monday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja rejected the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its gubernatorial candidate, Senator Aisha Dahiru Binani. The petition sought to invalidate the election of Umar Ahmadu Fintiri as the duly elected governor of Adamawa State.
On Monday, the Vatican granted approval for blessings for same-sex couples, a contentious matter within the Catholic Church. The endorsement, given by Pope Francis in an official document, allows for blessings in cases involving irregular situations (such as unmarried or divorced couples) and for same-sex couples, provided the context is not related to civil unions or weddings.
Progress was made in resolving the political crisis in Rivers State as President Bola Tinubu facilitated a meeting on Monday, December 18, with the involved parties. During the meeting, the president secured commitments from both sides to adhere to a set of eight resolutions formulated at the discussion.
On Monday, December 18, President Bola Tinubu officially inaugurated the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and urged its members to commence their duties promptly. Emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy for non-performance, Tinubu cautioned against any behavior indicating a sense of entitlement.
A Monday morning inferno at the Opadoyin compound, belonging to the late former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, reportedly claimed the lives of at least two people and caused the destruction of valuable property worth millions of Naira. The fire, which began around 7:50 am, engulfed one of the buildings on the premises.