Author: Hamza Rufai

BANDITS, who abducted 10 persons from an estate, Sagwari Layout, Dutse, Abuja, on January 7 have reportedly killed three more of their victims as a warning to their relatives negotiating ransom. Thereafter, the bandits increased their demand from the initial N60 million per person to N100 million. The total sum is now N700 million. Residents said the victims were allegedly killed over the ‘delay’ in raising the ransom demanded by the kidnappers. This newspaper had reports that the kidnappers dumped the remains of four victims they executed, around a former military checkpoint behind Idah Junction along the Bwari-Jere SCC Road…

THE 14th Emir of Kano and leader of Tijaniyya in Nigeria has rallied support for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the president took over at an extremely difficult time. He therefore called on political officeholders to end politics and concentrate on governance. Sanusi spoke in Lagos at the weekend during the special Maulud Nabiyy celebration organised by Jam’iyyatu Ansariddeen (Attijaniyya). This was as Vice-President Kashim Shetima said President Tinubu understands the burden of trust handed to him by the people of Nigeria and promised that he would lead with compassion, fairness and Justice. He pledged that the…

BORNO State Governor, Babagana Zulum, on Sunday, led a delegation of Borno people to attend the funeral prayer of his spokesperson, Isa Gusau, which was held at the National Mosque, Abuja. The delegation comprises the senators representing Borno Central, Kaka Lawan, Borno North, Barr. Mohammed Monguno, members of the House of Representatives from Borno, Secretary to the State Government, Bukar Tijjani and the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Mele Kyari. Before the prayers, accompanied by the Vice President President, Kashim Shettima, Zulum personally conveyed the remains of his late spokesperson from Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport to the National Mosque…

FORMER Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami, has announced the raising of N50 million ransom for the remaining abducted sisters of Al-Kadriyar family by a friend. This newspaper had reported how bandits invaded Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Tuesday night, and abducted a man and his six daughters. They had released the father and asked him to raise N60 million for his daughters freedom. The criminals had given an ultimatum of Friday for ransom to be paid, but the family raised N30 million, which they rejected and killed Nabeeha, the eldest child.…

THE Borno State government says the late spokesman of the governor, Malam Isa Gusau, would be laid to rest today after janazah prayers at the Central Mosque, Abuja. Isa Gusau passed away on Thursday at a hospital in India after a prolonged illness. A statement released yesterday by the Borno State commissioner for information and internal security, Prof Usman Tar, said the remains of the deceased are expected to arrive Abuja today afternoon while the burial is scheduled for 4pm. The statement added that the Borno State governor expressed gratitude for condolences already received and would appreciate the presence and…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of star actor, Ali Nuhu as Managing-Director of Nigerian Film Corporation and ten others as CEOs of agencies under the Ministry of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy. This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, Friday. According to the statement, “the president mandates the appointees to discharge their duties in accordance with the highest standards of professionalism, diligence, and patriotism with a view to making the creative sector more vibrant and robust The statement read in full: STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU…

BANDITS said to number around 40 stormed the Kawu community in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday and abducted 23 people. This newspaper reports that Kawu shares boundaries with Niger and Kaduna states. Speaking about the development, the Councilor representing the area, Abdulmumini Zakari, who is the deputy speaker in the council, said the gunmen arrived in the community on Wednesday, from the Kuyeri Forest in Kaduna State. He explained, “They divided themselves into groups and some went into the palace of the district head, Abdurrahman Ali, where they abducted his son, Lukman, and his wife,…

THE Supreme court has affirmed the election of Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the Bauchi State governor. The apex court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal and dismissed the appeal by Sadique Abubakar of the All Progressives Congress for lacking in merit. The appellate court had in November affirmed the victory of Governor Bala Mohammed in the March 18 governorship election. This followed earlier judgement by the tribunal upholding Mohammed’s victory. In the Court of Appeal judgement, the panel of three justices were unanimous, awarding no cost as the court ruled that each party…

THE Special Adviser Media and Publicity To Borno state governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, Malam Isa Gusau is dead. Gusau, reportedly died late Thursday in India after a prolonged illness. He was a Correspondent, Bureau Chief, Regional Editor and Deputy Editor with Daily Trust Newspapers. At the Daily Trust, Gusau was the first to win the Board Chairman’s Star Award and cash prize for integrity in the journalists’ category. He resigned from Daily Trust in March 2012, the same week he was promoted to the rank of Deputy Editor, to venture into public relations activities following his appointment by the then…

THE Henley Passport Index has listed the most powerful passports in the world on Thursday. HPI is a global passport-ranking website with an original, authoritative ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. Their index is often based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) – the largest, most accurate travel information database – and enhanced by Henley & Partners’ research team. The passport ranking website listed Nigeria as 95th out of the 104 countries with the most powerful passports. Nigeria sits behind Ghana, Guinea,…

THE Supreme Court will deliver judgements in seven governorship appeals on Friday, January 12, 2024, beginning 9am. The states are Lagos, Kano, Zamfara, Plateau, Ebonyi, Bauchi and Cross River. Yusuf VS Gawuna Late December, the apex court reserved judgement in the appeal filed by the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, challenging the verdict of the Court of Appeal and the State Election Petitions Tribunal, which removed him from office. The five-member panel led by Justice John Okoro reserved the judgement after the parties adopted their brief of arguments. In September, the tribunal nullified the victory of Yusuf, the candidate of…

THE Nigeria Police Force has cautioned Nigerians not to use the viral new slogan “No gree for anybody.” The Force spokesperson, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, gave the warning during a press conference at the police headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday. He said, “The new slogan for 2024 for our young ones is; ‘No dey gree for anybody’”. “According to our intelligence, the slogan is coming from a revolutionary sector that might generate difficulties across the country. “‘No dey gree for anybody’ is considered as just a typical talk, but in the security world, we see it as a highly dangerous term…

A FEW hours after dissolving the board of directors governing Polaris, Union, and Keystone banks, the Central Bank of Nigeria has appointed new executive directors to oversee the affairs of the deposit money banks. The apex bank, in a statement signed by the acting Director of Corporate Communications, Sidi Hakama, released on Thursday morning, said the appointment takes immediate effect. According to the statement, Yetunde Oni, the first female CEO of the Standard Chartered bank in Sierra Leone, was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Union Bank, while Mannir Ubali Ringim was selected as the Executive Director of the…

THE Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Musa Aliyu, has said he will be appearing in court to defend anti-corruption cases involving the commission. The anti-graft agency boss who was the Attorney-General of Jigawa State before his appointment as ICPC Chairman, made this known on Wednesday during a media chat with reporters in Abuja. Aliyu said, “I’ll lead by example. By the grace of God, I intend to be appearing in cases of ICPC (in court). I don’t think there was ever a chairman of ICPC who appeared in court, but I’ll be the first.…

A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the remand of a former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, in Kuje Correctional Service. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned Agunloye over allegations of fraud in the Mambilla Power Project. Agunloye was brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges read against him. The judge, however, ordered that the embattled former minister be remanded in pending when bail would be granted. It will be recalled that the EFCC declared Agulonye wanted in connection with a $6 billion power…

THE CEOs of Zenith, Providus, and Jaiz banks have been apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with financial misappropriation and fraud linked to disgraced Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, and her predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouk. The banking executives, who have been under stealth scrutiny since the public outcry over the unscrupulous diversion of public funds into private accounts, are now in EFCC custody, multiple credible sources within the Presidency told this newspaper on Tuesday. The anti-graft agency is presently probing numerous instances of substantial public funds directed into private accounts, an action…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has summoned the minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo to the Presidential Villa. News Point Nigeria gathered that the summon follows the controversy that has hitched the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the award of a consultancy contract to the tune of N438 million, for the National Social Register to New Planet Projects Ltd, a company he is a beneficial owner. The meeting is expected to take place on Tuesday afternoon. This newspaper had earlier reported that Mr. Tunji-Ojo is a Person with Significant Control in the company as at the 14th of November, 2023, and a major…

JUSTICE Olukayode Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court Abuja has awarded the sum of 100 million naira against the Federal Government, in favour of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, for the violation of his right to personal liberty. The Court also declared his prolonged detention without trial, as a flagrant violation of his fundamental rights. It also restrained the Federal Government and its agents from re-arresting or detaining Emefiele without an order of court. The judgment was given in a fundamental human rights suit filed by the former CBN governor following…

THE Nigerian Army has approved the posting and redeployment of no fewer than 975 officers. The exercise affects 206 generals, 64 colonels, 302 lieutenant colonels; 139 majors, and 122 captains, among others. A circular signed by Maj. Gen. E.F. Oyinlola and dated January 4, 2024, which was sighted by our correspondent on Sunday, stated that the appointments and redeployment of the officers would take effect from Monday (today). Also, according to the circular, the authorisation for the amendment and deletion of a total of 120 officers was given. The affected officers comprise six colonels, 26 lieutenant colonels, 33 majors, 26…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has cleared the outstanding payment that the Federal Government owed the Super Eagles and other sporting teams of the country. According to a statement on the X handle of Tinubu’s Media Centre, on Sunday, the payment entails the clearing of the senior national team coach salaries running up to 15 months, payments of allowances and promises due to the senior national teams, females, and Under-20 national team. The statement reads, “President @officialABAT has approved the payment of N12 billion outstanding backlog for Nigeria’s National teams of various sports, which includes Super Eagles and others. “The payment entails…