Author: Maimuna Bashir Isa

FORMER Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has spent a third consecutive night in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after failing to meet the stringent bail conditions imposed by investigators. News Point Nigeria reports that Malami, who is currently under interrogation over allegations relating to terrorism financing and the operation of 46 bank accounts, has strongly denied all claims, describing them as politically motivated attempts to tarnish his image. Sources disclosed that the former minister’s inability to meet key bail requirements including the surrender of his international passport and…

FIRST Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has dismissed public backlash over her interaction with Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, calling the reactions a “needless controversy.” In a statement posted on her official Facebook page on Tuesday sighted by News Point Nigeria, Mrs Tinubu said critics often magnify minor issues and create distractions around leadership. She wrote: “Those entrusted with leadership understand their duties and how to steer the affairs of society. “More often, it is the followers and critics who scrutinise every step, amplify minor missteps, and turn them into needless controversy. Ọṣun lè tèǹtẹ̀ – Osun is ahead.” The comments…

NIGERIA’s external reserves hit a six-year high, rising above $45 billion mark, in a historical move. Latest data released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sighted by News Point Nigeria showed that such a peak was last recorded on July 23, 2019, when they stood at $45.04 billion. The external buffers now stand at $45.04 billion, after climbing to $42.03 billion on September 19, 2025. This means the nation has added nearly $5 billion to its reserves within a short period. The rise in the country’s external reserves is not a one-off spike but a steady, consistent accumulation that…

SENATE President, Godswill Akpabio, has slammed a fresh N200 billion defamation lawsuit on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. News Point Nigeria reports that Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central disclosed this in a Facebook post on Friday where she attached the notice of the suit with number: FCT/HC/CV/3356/2025 before Justice U. P. Kekemeke. She said the development will offer her an opportunity to now present her account before the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges which previously declined to hear her complaint. Akpabio, in a suit before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, accused the Kogi Central senator of making “false, malicious,…

THE Federal Government has confirmed the release of three Nigerian nationals in Saudi Arabia following their arrest at King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah, in August 2025. The disclosure was made in a statement posted on the Nigerian Presidency’s X handle on Thursday. The released Nigerians were identified as Miss Sadiya AbdulHamid, Mrs. Maryam Hussein Abdullahi, and Mrs. Bahijah Aminu Abdullahi. According to the statement, the arrests followed the discovery of prohibited substances in luggage that had been fraudulently attached to their air tickets by criminal syndicates at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), without the passengers’ knowledge. Upon learning…

THE Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy has announced that the first-ever Nigerian Foods and Culture Festival will hold from December 16 to 17, 2025, at the Cricket Pitch, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, marking a major boost to Nigeria’s cultural calendar. The Minister, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq., disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, stating that the initiative organised in partnership with Irabor Creative Minds is designed to celebrate Nigeria’s rich culinary traditions, cultural diversity, and creative excellence. According to a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Tuesday by her Special…

JUSTICE Chizoba Orji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court Maitama has granted the request by the Federal Government, to shift the hearing in the alleged criminal defamation case against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, to February 23, 2026. News Point Nigeria reports that at Monday’s proceedings, Counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, Ehiogie West Idahosa (SAN), announced his appearance and informed the court that the prosecution was not represented. Justice Oji stated that the court had received a letter from the prosecution seeking an adjournment, and the letter was handed over to Idahosa,…

THE Federal Capital Territory Police Command has foiled a planned attack by a notorious kidnapping syndicate, killing three suspected bandits and recovering arms and ammunition during an operation. According to a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Monday by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the breakthrough followed recent kidnapping incidents in the ACO community, Gwagwalada, and Bwari, prompting the Commissioner of Police to direct the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to intensify efforts to dismantle the gang. Adeh said credible intelligence revealed that the syndicate had planned another violent attack on or before December 1, 2025, with the…

THE Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its indefinite nationwide strike after reaching an agreement with the federal government. News Point Nigeria reports that NARD had on November 1 declared a “total, comprehensive and indefinite” strike to demand better pay, settlement of salary arrears, improved working conditions, adequate staffing and critical hospital infrastructure. The doctors also cited overwhelming workloads that they said undermine the quality of care in public hospitals. In a post on X late on Saturday, NARD president Mohammad Suleiman announced that the union’s National Executive Council voted to suspend the industrial action. “The National Executive…

THE United States government has ordered a sweeping review of all Green Cards issued to immigrants from Afghanistan and 18 other “countries of concern” following Wednesday’s shooting of National Guard troops in Washington, officials announced on Thursday. Nigeria is not among the countries affected. The review was triggered after US authorities identified the detained suspect in the attack as a 29-year-old Afghan national who previously worked alongside American forces in Afghanistan. The man, who was arrested shortly after the shooting, was granted asylum rather than permanent residency in April 2024, according to AfghanEvac, a group coordinating the resettlement of Afghans…

JUSTICE Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that the Federal Government, the 36 states, and the Federal Capital Territory have a legal obligation to provide free, compulsory, and universal basic education for every Nigerian child of primary and junior secondary school age. News Point Nigeria reports that the judgment was delivered on October 9, 2025, in a suit filed by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) and Hauwa Mustapha, who sued for themselves and on behalf of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond. The Federal Government, the states, and the FCT were listed as…

FORMER President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is safe and has successfully left Guinea-Bissau, the Federal Government confirmed on Thursday, easing concerns after a dramatic military coup plunged the West African nation into chaos. News Point Nigeria reports that the reassurance came from the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, who briefed journalists in Abuja. “Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is very safe and out of Guinea-Bissau. He left with a special flight with members of his delegation, including Mohamed Chambas,” Ebienfa said. Jonathan had been in Guinea-Bissau as head of the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Observation…

THE 19 Northern State Governors will hold a crucial meeting on Saturday November 29 to discuss the region’s pressing security challenges. Peter Ahemba, Senior Special Assistant to the Nasarawa State Governor on Public Affairs, disclosed this in a phone interview with our reporter. According to Peter Ahemba, the Northern Governors’ meeting, scheduled for November 29, will hold in Kaduna. He said prominent traditional rulers will attend the meeting. “The meeting aims to develop a unified approach to tackling security concerns affecting the region and discuss the way forward on security matters.” Ahemba assured that decisive decisions will be made during…

A FEDERAL High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to publish the names of all individuals and companies indicted in the alleged misappropriation of over ₦6 trillion meant for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) between 2000 and 2019. News Point Nigeria reports that the landmark judgment, delivered by Justice Gladys Olotu on Monday, November 10, and obtained in certified form last Friday, arose from a Freedom of Information (FOI) suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in November 2021. The ruling mandates the…

THE Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy has announced the postponement of the 2025 edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST), earlier billed to begin on Saturday, November 21, 2025 in Enugu State. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Saturday by Nneka Ikem Anibeze, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Honourable Minister, Hannatu Musa Musawa, the Ministry said the decision was reached after a careful review of the national atmosphere in the wake of recent insecurity incidents that have caused widespread grief across the country. According to…

THE Federal Government has ordered the immediate closure of 41 Federal Unity Colleges over rising security concerns. The directive was issued through a circular dated November 21, 2025 from the Federal Ministry of Education sighted by News Point Nigeria. According to the document, the Minister of Education approved the shutdown following “recent security challenges” in parts of the country and the need to prevent breaches. Principals of affected schools were instructed to enforce the closure without delay. The ministry listed all 41 schools in states across the North-West, North-East, North-Central and parts of the South. The circular was signed by…

NIGERIA has recorded another major step in its quest to reclaim cultural treasures looted during the colonial era, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday formally handed over two Benin Bronzes to the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy in Abuja. The artifacts; a bronze relief plaque and a commemorative bronze head were originally looted from the ancient Benin Kingdom during the 1897 British invasion. They were recently repatriated from the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston, after years of diplomatic engagement and negotiation. At the handover ceremony, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama…

THE Federal Government has suspended all enforcement activities carried out nationwide by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), following mounting concerns over the agency’s recent operations in the hospitality and tourism industries. The directive was issued by the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy and approved by the Honourable Minister, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq. The suspension takes immediate effect. According to the Ministry, the decision follows a comprehensive review of NIHOTOUR’s recent compliance and enforcement activities, which have sparked criticism and anxiety among operators in the sector. Stakeholders had raised alarms over what they…

VICE-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Olufemi A. Peters, has been awarded the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) 2025 Individual Prize of Excellence. He received the highly coveted honour at the ICDE Award Night in Wellington, New Zealand, on Wednesday. Peters was honoured alongside Professor Josep Duart for exceptional leadership and impact in open and distance education at national, regional, or global levels over the past five years. The ICDE Prize of Excellence is basically awarded for excellence in the field of inclusive, scalable and sustainable education. The ICDE awards are presented to…

THE African Union chief said there was no genocide in Nigeria’s north after US President Donald Trump claimed that Christians were being slaughtered by insurgentss and faced an “existential threat”. News Point Nigeria reports that Trump this month threatened to carry out an armed intervention in Nigeria, saying insurgents were killing “Christians in very large numbers”. The US leader said Christianity was “facing an existential threat” in the West African nation, adding that if Nigeria does not stem the killings, the United States will attack and “it will be fast, vicious, and sweet”. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, chair of the African…