Author: Peter Noah KC

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended election in Enugu East Senatorial District. INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu made this known at a media briefing on Friday in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. According to him, the election in the senatorial district earlier slated for Saturday, February 25, 2023, has been moved to March 11, 2023. Yakubu said the postponement in the district which covers six local government areas became necessary with the murder of the Labour Party (LP)’s senatorial candidate for the district, Oyibo Chukwu. He said the Labour Party reached out to the electoral body to convey its…

THE Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on Thursday refuted allegations of a rift between the G5 – five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors abstinent from campaigns for the party’s presidential campaign, Atiku Abubakar. Aside from Ortom, the G5 includes Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikepazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu). The Benue governor, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Terver Akase made available to News Point Nigeria, described an online medium as peddling barefaced lies. “The publication ‘quoted’ Governor Ortom as saying that the four members of the G-5 were in sharp disagreement…

GUNMEN have murdered Labour Party (LP)’s senatorial candidate for Enugu East Oyibo Chukwu and his personal assistant.  The Enugu Police Command spokesman Daniel Ndukwu confirmed the development in an early Thursday statement. He said the incident happened Wednesday when the assailants on a Hilux vehicle, attacked and set ablaze Chukwu’s campaign vehicle. The spokesman said they “attacked and set ablaze the campaign vehicle of the Labour Party, at Eke-Otu Amechi-Awkunanaw Enugu, burning to death the Party’s Senatorial Candidate for Enugu East Senatorial District, Barr. Oyibo Chukwu (male) and his Personal Assistant (male) who was with him in the vehicle. “However,…

THE Senate Chief Whip, Orji Kalu, has said some aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors that make up the G5 or Integrity Group will support the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, in Saturday’s election. Specifically, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his counterpart of Enugu State, Okezie Ikpeazu, will throw their weight behind the former Lagos governor, Kalu said during a live appearance on Channels Television’s The 2023 Verdict on Monday monitored by News Point Nigeria. The G5, which includes Wike, Ikpeazu and three other state governors, have taken a stand to abstain from supporting the…

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday said three Internet fraudsters have been sent to prison on separate one-count charges of impersonation and obtaining by false pretence. In a statement by the EFCC’s Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, on Friday, convicted and sentenced Onukwugha Favour, Lawrence David and Omoghan Destiny Igbinosa. The charge against Igbinosa is said to read, “That you, OMOGHAN DESTINY IGBINOSA sometime between 2021 and 2022 at Benin, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently impersonate the…

THE trial of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu continued on Monday at the Old Bailey court in Central England, the United Kingdom, News Point Nigeria gathered. Ekweremadu is standing trial for allegedly plotting to harvest the kidney of a 22-year-old street trader. Also being tried alongside the Nigerian lawmaker are his wife – Beatrice, 25-year-old daughter Sonia, and a doctor, Obinna Obeta. They are accused of conspiring to exploit the man for his organ. Channels Television had on February 6 reported how the four accused persons appeared in London’s famous Central Criminal Court, known as the Old Bailey,…

GUNMEN in the early hours of Monday attacked the Isiowulu Police station, Awada, in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, killing the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and two others. News Point Nigeria gathered that, the hoodlums in large numbers stormed the police facility at about 2:18am and engaged the police officers in a gun duel. The police, with the help of the military men, reportedly repelled and killed three of hoodlums during the attack. A source told this newspaper that the DPO a newly recruited constable and one inspector were the victims. The attack comes less than 24…

NO fewer than six persons were killed when some gunmen attacked 3-3 Police Divisional Headquarters, Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State. This comes less than 24 hours after an attack at Ukpo and Ogidi where three policemen were killed. It was gathered that five of the suspects and a police officer were those that died in the attack that occurred on Sunday around 5:58 am. A source in the area said the rampaging gunmen started shooting indiscriminately as they approached the entrance of the station but were engaged and resisted by officers attached to the station. The source…

THE Federal Government yesterday wound up the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, after 46 years of operation and in its place, the Petroleum Industry Act enabled Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, took over as the nation’s oil company. NNPCL was set up in 2021 in line with the Corporate Affairs Commission’s companies registration rules following the enactment of the PIA. Speaking at an event to officially mark the end of NNPC in Abuja, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva said with the reforms introduced by the Federal Government, NNPCL is expected to be a competitive and…

THE display of solidarity in Nigerian politics continued in Ebonyi State on Thursday where the Hausa community unanimously visited and threw their weight behind the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Ifeanyi Odii.  They also pledge to work assiduously to ensure his victory at the polls.  Speaking on the visit, leader of the delegation, Alhaji Idris Datti, said that the PDP candidate is the only one who has a plan for inclusion in his campaign manifesto.  According to him, the Dave Umahi administration has neglected the Hausa community and treated them with a lot of disdain.  Datti said…

UNKNOWN Gunmen attacked Ukpor High School, venue of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) training in Nnewi South Local Government Area, Anambra State, late Thursday. The attackers disrupted the training activities ahead of the 2023 general elections. A source in the community said the incident which occured around 5:35pm, left the students, NYSC corps members and others participating in the training perplexed. “I doubt if those people will still agree to work for INEC in that area. But we thank God that no one was killed in the process. The incident left me traumatized. We are not sure these people will…

THE Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by Professor Terhemba Shija against the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary that produced Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia as the Benue State governorship candidate of the party for the 2023 general elections. News Point Nigeria reports that, Justice John Okoro who led a five-man panel of justices dismissed the appeal on Friday following its withdrawal by Professor Shija. The panel dismissed it on the ground that it was statute barred. The Apex Court also entertained an appeal filed by a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State Missus Aida Ogwuche…

GOVERNOR  Samuel Ortom of Benue State has secured an interim injunction barring the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from suspending, expelling, or giving any form of punishment against him pending the determination of an interlocutory injunction filed before Justice A I. Ityomyiman of the High Court sitting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital. News Point Nigeria gathered that, Gov Ortom also secured an interim order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from taking any action against him in the forthcoming election where he is standing as the PDP candidate for the Benue North senatorial district, pending the determination of the…

GOVERNOR Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has ordered the arrest of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, over his alleged role in a protest that led to the destruction of banks and the death of no fewer than three people in the state. Obaseki, in a Wednesday statement by his Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, alleged that Oshimohole, a former governor of the state, mobilised thugs to vandalise banks and disrupt the peace of the state over the naira scarcity. The statement read, “We have been around the city all day, speaking with the protesters,…

THE Lagos State High court, sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square, on Lagos Island has ordered kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, to refund the sum of €233,000 ransom he coercively collected from one of his victims, Chief Donatus Dunu. Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi also ordered the convicted kidnapper to pay N50 million as general damages in favour of the Claimant. The claimant, a pharmacist was abducted on February 14, 2017 for ransom and held hostage, before he managed to escape from captivity. Upon his escape, he alleged that the Defendant collected the sum of €233,000 as ransom prior…

A CIVIL society group and an accredited observer group for the 2023 general election, Vote Count Campaign Organization has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to as a matter of national interest and credibility of the elections, postpone it. Vote Count Campaign while decrying statements made by INEC Chairman Prof. Yakubu Mahmud and the Resident Electoral Commissioner for FCT that the Commission is having issues with availability of funds ten days to the elections, said the feasibility of holding a free, fair and credible elections come 25th February and 11th March is bleak with such statements. The Organisation…

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released emergency telephone numbers to the public to officially report erring Point of Sales (POS) agents selling new naira notes and those selling charging exorbitantly for withdrawal. The Director, CBN Governor’s Department, Mr Joseph Omayuku, made this known during a briefing with journalists in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital on Tuesday. While warning syndicates engaging in illegal practices to desist forthwith, Omayuku advised members of the public to report erring PoS agents by reaching out to the CBN contact centre on 07002255226; Telephone Ext: 711025 – 7; contactcbn@cbn.gov.ng and its social media handles. The…

A FORMER governor of Enugu State and senator representing Enugu East Senatorial District, Chimaroke Nnamani, has sued the Peoples Democratic Party over the disciplinary actions taken against him for alleged anti-party activities. It was gathered that Nnamani filed the suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja on February 7, 2023, few days before his expulsion from the party. Nnamani declared support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola  Tinubu, which had led to his initial suspension from the PDP. The former governor of Enugu State said his support for the APC candidate was because he could…

THE Anambra State Police Command has rescued 15 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) abducted by gunmen in the state. New Point Nigeria gathered that, the corps members were en route to Lagos after their three weeks of orientation programs before their vehicle was intercepted at the Ihiala area of the state. Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed the rescue in a statement on Tuesday, made available to News Point Nigeria. Tochukwu, a deputy superintendent of police, said the gunmen kept the NYSC members hostage and were trailed by police operatives. Having observed that…

THE presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has promised to develop the Calabar port as part of efforts to promote commercial activities in the South-South region of the country. He made the promise on Monday while addressing the electorate in Cross River State during the PDP presidential campaign rally at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar. He said he will also ensure the construction of rail lines from Lagos through Calabar to Port Harcourt while promising to link the state with other parts of the country through the construction of road infrastructure. “If you open up…