Author: Gloria Lamar Johnson

THE Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday said it would probe the fracas involving its officials and personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) at the Federal High Court in Lagos. On Tuesday, DSS operatives got physical with the prison officers on the court premises over custody of suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele. News Point Nigeria had reported that the scuffle between both agencies occurred after Justice Nicholas Oweibo admitted Emefiele to bail in the sum of N20m and ordered that the embattled CBN chief be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending…

OPERATIVES of the Department of State Services (DSS), on Tuesday, re-arrested suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, after a tussle with officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS). News Point Nigeria reports that, Emefiele’s re-arrest occurred after Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos admitted the embattled and suspended apex bank chief to bail in the sum of the N20m. The judge also ordered that Emefiele be remanded at the correctional center pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions. Shortly after the ruling, DSS operatives strategically positioned their Hilux Pick Up van…

OFFICIALS of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), on Tuesday, fought over the custody of suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. News Point Nigeria reports that, the secret police and prison officials clashed over the agency to take custody of the suspended and embattled apex bank chief after Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos admitted Emefiele to bail in the sum of the N20m. The judge also ordered that Emefiele be remanded at the correctional center pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions.…

LAWYERS to suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, have raised the alarm that the Department of State Service (DSS) is planning to re-arrest their client despite the bail granted him by a Federal High Court in Lagos. News Point Nigeria reprots that, the lead counsel for the embattled and suspended CBN chief, Joseph Daudu, made this known after the court’s ruling on Tuesday. Earlier on Tuesday, Justice Nicholas Oweibo admitted Emefiele to bail in the sum of the N20m and ordered that he be remanded at the correctional center pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions. Shortly…

THE Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos has granted bail to the suspended CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele in the sum of N20m with one surety in like sum News Point Nigeria reports that Justice Nicholas Oweibo granted bail after listening to the submissions of Emefiele’s counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN). The judge rejected the Federal Government’s claim that Emefiele was a flight risk. He ruled that the government failed to provide any fact to support its claim. Emefiele, 61, had also pleaded “not guilty” to the two-count charge of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition filed against him by the Federal…

THE Federal High Court, Lagos has rejected the Federal Government’s claim that it had not received a copy of the bail application filed by the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, in his alleged gun possession trial. In a short ruling on the issue, Justice Nicholas Oweibo held that there was evidence that the government was served. The bail application was filed by Emefiele’s lawyers led by Joseph Dauda (SAN). Dauda had asked the court to hear the application seeking bail on self recognizance, noting that his client had fulfilled all the conditions necessary to make the…

SUSPENDED Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday, was arraigned at the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on two counts of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition. News Point Nigeria reports that, he was brought to the court by officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) at 09:21am. Emefiele was arraigned before the vacation judge, Justice Nicholas Oweibo. Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joseph Daudu, led other lawyers in Emefiele’s defence. The suspended apex bank chief, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him. After the plea, Daudu, a…

JUSTICE Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court Abuja has affirmed an ex-Auditor General of Local Government in Kogi State, Usman Ododo, as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the November 11, 2023 governorship election in the state. Delivering judgement, Justice Egwuatu dismissed a suit that was brought before it by an APC governorship aspirant of the party, Abubakar Achimugu. Ododo emerged as winner of the party’s primary conducted in the state on April 14. However, dissatisfied with the outcome of the poll, the plaintiff approached the court, alleging that the APC candidate did not validly resign…

NIGERIA’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to 22.79% in June from the 22.41% recoded in May 2023. This is according to the latest CPI report released by the National Bureau of Statistic (NBS) on Monday. The CPI measures the rate of change in prices of goods and services. “In June 2023, the headline inflation rate rose to 22.79% relative to May 2023 headline inflation rate which was 22.41%. Looking at the movement, the June 2023 Headline inflation rate showed an increase of 0.38% points when compared to May 2023 headline inflation rate,” the Bureau stated. The report also showed that…

THE Department of State Services (DSS) says it has charged Godwin Emiefele, suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to court. The secret police said this in response to the order of a high Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that said Emefiele should be released within seven days or charged to court immediately. Ruling in a fundamental human rights suit filed by Emefiele, Justice Hamza Muazu held that detention no matter how short is a breach of fundamental rights. Responding, Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesman, said, “Sequel to an Abuja High Court Order of today, 13th July,…

A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has restrained all security agencies in the country, from arresting or detaining Murtala Ajaka, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the forthcoming November governorship election in Kogi State. The court also barred Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello and security agencies from harassing the SDP candidate. Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order on Thursday following a fundamental right enforcement suit brought before it by the SDP candidate. Ajaka, had in the suit filed through his team of lawyers led by Sunday Aruwa, sought protection from the court. Insisting that his life was…

THE Asset Recovery Committee set up by Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, on Tuesday, raided an automobile shop owned by ex-Governor Samuel Ortom in Makurdi, the state capital. Some vehicles were seized during the operation. The committee reportedly used towing vans to pull out some luxury vehicles after attempts to drive them away failed. In its reaction, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue accused Alia of witch hunting his predecessor. PDP State Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom, described the committee’s outing as “a shameful showing of naked tyranny and impunity.” “Earlier today, thugs accompanied by security agents purporting to…

UNKNOWN gunmen Saturday morning invaded Zaki Akpuuna 1 and Diom communities of Mbaterem district in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State and reportedly killed no fewer than 24 people and burnt down many houses. Ukum is one of the three hotspots in Sankera axis where local bandits suspected to be gang members of the slain Terwase Akwaza aka Gana hold sway. Other hotspots are; Logo and Katsina-Ala. It was gathered that the gunmen invaded the sleepy communities around 8am on Saturday and launched a deadly attack leading to the death of 24 people. Locals who spoke to our correspondent…

YUNUSA Dahiru popularly known as Yunusa Yellow has regained his freedom Saturday after serving his six-year jail term for child trafficking and sexual exploitation of Ese Oruru, News Point Nigeria reports. Recall a Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, had sentenced Yellow to 26 years imprisonment for the offence. Delivering the judgement in the case in 2016, Justice Jane Inyang, held that Dahiru was not guilty of count one which bothered on abduction. The judge, however, found him guilty of child trafficking, illicit sex, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge. He was jailed five years in count two (Child trafficking),…

THREE people have been reportedly killed and dozen others kidnapped by bandits who attacked the Sabon Layi community in the Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Although the police and Birnin-Gwari local government authorities have yet to comment on the incident, a community leader, Anas Musa, confirmed the attack to News Point Nigeria on Friday. He said that the bandits stormed Sabon Layi village at about 12pm on Thursday  and started shooting sporadically, killing three farmers in the process. He gave the names of the victims as Anas Sabonlayi, Abubakar Dankibiya, and Harisu Un-Guwar Lemu. The Chairman of Birnin…

THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has certified noodles manufactured in Nigeria, saying they are safe for consumption. The confirmation followed the Agency’s investigation into the presence of ethylene oxide or its metabolite in noodles or their seasonings. This was made known by the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Moji Adeyeye, during a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday. She noted that ethylene oxide or its derivative was not found in any of the instant noodles produced in Nigeria and their seasonings which make them safe for consumption. The NAFDAC boss also declared that the…

SOME gunmen have reportedly invaded Ejule town in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing residents in the process. Our correspondent learnt that the attack started around 3.am on Thursday. A commercial motorcyclist popularly known as okada rider, and the wife of a youth leader in the community were reportedly killed in the attack. The okada rider was said to have been hit by a stray bullet while the woman was said to be out looking for her husband when she was hit and died immediately. Also, a family house in the town was reported to have been set…

EX-GOVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State has been released from custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This newspaper had reported how the former governor granted the invitation of the commission around 10:00am on Tuesday. He drove into the Makurdi zonal office of the agency, which is located at Alor Gordon street in the state capital, accompanied by two of his former IDES. The former governor’s media aide, Terver Akase, and Principal Special Assistant on Special Duties, Abraham Kwanhgu, were sighted with him. Detectives grilled Ortom on the financial expenditure of Benue under him as governor. Ortom handed…

THE immediate past Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom is currently in custody of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Our correspondent gathered that the ex-Governor was invited by the anti-graft body for questioning over his stewardship. Ortom, however, drove into the Makurdi zonal office of the agency, which is located at Alor Gordon street in the state capital at exactly 10:08am. He walked straight into the building. The former governor’s media aide, Terver Akase, and Principal Special Assistant on Special Duties, Abraham Kwanhgu, were sighted with him. He had not left the premises as of 11:25am when this report…

SUSPECTED gunmen have kidnapped the Oba of Idofin, Shedrack Durojaiye Obibeni, and his wife in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi. They were kidnapped along Makutu-Idofin road in Kogi State at about 5pm on Monday, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria. Confirming the incident, Mr Abdulrasak Asiru, Yagba East Local Government Council Chairman described it as “very shocking” and “sad”. Asiru said that he was still in shock over the incident which had not happened in the area for almost two years. “I as the council chairman and the people of Yagba East are in…