THE Supreme Court has nullified the National Lottery Act 2005 enacted by the National Assembly. In a unanimous judgment of a seven-member of the apex court, read by Justice Mohammed Idris, held that the National Assembly lacked the powers to legislate on issues relating to lottery and games of chance. The court held that such powers only reside with the state Houses of Assembly, which possess exclusive jurisdiction over lottery and games of chance. Justice Idris ordered that the National Lottery Act 2005 should no longer be enforced in all states, except the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in respect of…
Author: Gloria Lamar Johnson
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A FIRE outbreak has destroyed property worth millions of naira at Laranto Market in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. Daily Trust reports that there have been recurring fire outbreaks at the market. Last year, a section of the market was engulfed by fire due to an electrical fault, resulting in destruction of goods, including vehicles. Our correspondent gathered that the latest incident occurred around 11pm on Sunday after businesses had closed for the day. It was learnt that people rushed to the market at night to help put out the fire. Alhaji Idris Shehu, the chairman of…
THE Governing Council of the Federal University, Lokoja, has approved the dismissal of four lecturers on account of examination misconduct and sexual misconduct. Our correspondent gathered that the governing council gave the approval at its Second Council Meeting on Thursday. This is coming on the heels of the investigation following allegations of examination malpractices and sexual harassment levelled against the lecturers last year. The council, under the leadership of Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, appreciated the university management for following due process in the investigation that followed the allegations of examination misconduct and sexual harassment against the lecturers. Ndoma-Egba said, “The council…
ANOTHER power blackout looms as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has said that armed men invaded its construction site at Obajana in Kogi State. A statement by TCN’s General Manager on Pubic Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, made available to News Point Nigeria, said its 330/132/33kV transmission substation was attacked Tuesday night. She stated that according to reports from security personnel at the site, the assailants opened fire indiscriminately, causing the guards to flee. “During the attack, a 150MVA 330/132/33kV power transformer, already positioned on its plinth, was struck, resulting in a burst radiator. In response to the incident, TCN is…
NO fewer than 13 persons have been killed at a mining site in Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau after part of the area collapsed. The Chairman of the LGA, Dr Joshua Riti, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Jos on Monday, describing the incident as unfortunate. The chairman, who expressed sadness over the number of deaths recorded, said that the collapsed mining site is located at the boundaries between Bassa, Jos South and Jos North LGAs. Riti said seven of the deceased hailed from Bassa LGA. “This is an unfortunate incident; these young people were only out in…
THERE is panic as a powerful explosion shook the city of Jos on Tuesday morning, sending shockwaves through surrounding communities News Point Nigeria gathered. Eyewitnesses reported that the explosion occurred around 10:30 am near the densely populated Terminus market area. Initial reports indicate that several people were injured in the explosion, with some sources suggesting there may have been fatalities. The extent of the damage remains unclear, but witnesses described scenes as chaotic. “I was nearby when I heard a loud bang,” said an eyewitness. “I saw people running and screaming. It was terrifying,” added Gyang Buba, a clothes vendor…
JUSTICE Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja has declared Julius Abure as the substantive Chairman of the Labour Party. Delivering judgement, Justice Nwite affirmed the Abure-led leadership and the March 2024 Nnewi convention that produced the national leadership. Justice Nwite further ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Abure as the legitimate chairman, overriding the Commission’s earlier stance that Abure’s leadership was invalid. In his words, “I am of the view that and so hold that the basis of these cogent verifiable documents, the defendants attempt to impeach the validity of the leadership of the plaintiff…
A FORMER president Goodluck Jonathan has cautioned against the derailment of the country’s democracy owing to the crisis over the local government election in Rivers State. Rivers has made the headlines for some months now owing to the council polls. A court verdict had barred the police from providing security for the election while also ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to release the voter register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). But in a statement he released on Saturday, Jonathan warned that if not resolved, the crisis in Rivers may collapse the country’s democracy. “The…
GOVERNOR Umo Eno has broken silence days after he lost his wife, Patience Umo-Eno into the cold hands of death. A statement by the governor on Friday described the demise of his wife, Pastor as “everything a man could ever wish for in a virtuous woman” and he would “miss her for a lifetime.” Eno, nine days after the shock passing of the Akwa Ibom State First Lady, was sharing the pains of losing his wife of 38 years. In the statement titled “We’re Are Perplexed But Not In Despair” in Bible text from 2 Corinthians 4:8, the governor expressed…
KOGI State Government has asked the Federal Government to urgently come to its rescue as flood sacked 70 communities in some parts of the state. Salifu Oyibo, the state Deputy Governor made the appeal while inspecting the Edeha community in Kogi Local Government area which was affected by the flood. Oyibo who is also the Chairman, 2024 Flood Disaster Response Committee, set up by the State Government, said that in spite of the government’s preparedness for the flood, the present situation in Edeha and other communities along the route is beyond what the state alone could handle. “It is obvious…
AKWA Ibom State Government has announced the shock passing of Pastor Mrs Patience Umo Eno, Wife of the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno. The State Commissioner for Information, Ini Ememobong, in a release at dawn on Friday on the sad news, stated that the State 1st Lady died following a yet undisclosed illness. Ememobong’s statement tagged “Unexpected Sunset” read, “It is with heavy hearts that we (Akwa Ibom Government) announce the passing of the Wife of the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Her Excellency, Pastor Mrs Patience Umo Eno, following an illness. She passed away peacefully at the hospital,…
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has finally announced time for the collation of results for Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State. This newspaper reports that INEC head office in Benin, Edo capital, is the main collation centre for the election. There has been tension in the state over delay in the formal announcement of results. In a statement issued by the commission, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, said collation would kick off by 10am. He asked politicians to maintain peace and order, vowing that INEC will conduct the process transparently. “This is to inform the general public,…
AHEAD of the Edo State governorship election on Saturday, the Nigerian Police Force has advised voters to return home after casting their ballots. Deputy Inspector General of Police, Frank Mba, who was a guest on the special edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today monitored by News Point Nigeria on Friday for the Edo election, said that only those accredited to move around would be allowed to do so. “Tomorrow it is important for parents and for everybody to know that if you are not accredited to carry out any of the functions related to the election, you should not be…
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refused to recognise Julius Abure as the National Chairman of Labour Party, despite retaining his name on its website, on the list of political party chairmen. This new revelation is contained in a counter-affidavit filed in the Federal High Court Abuja, in response to Labour Party’s suit, challenging its exclusion from INEC’s refresher training for uploading party agents, ahead of the Edo and Ondo states governorship elections INEC insisted in the document that Abure’s tenure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party expired in June 2024. The Labour Party has been entangled…
TROOPS of Operation Safe Haven have arrested five notorious gunrunners and recovered arms and ammunition in an intelligence-driven operation carried out in Plateau State. A statement by the Military Public Information Officer, Operation Safe Haven, Major Stephen Zhakom on Tuesday, said the feat is in pursuance of one of its core mandate of mopping up illegal arms and ammunition in the Joint Operations Area. According to him, the operation commenced from midnight of 16 Sep to the early hours of 17 Sep 2024. He said the troops raided the hideout of a gunrunner identified as Mohammed Sani at Naraguta Mining…
THE Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended one of its members, Dino Melaye, over alleged anti-party activities. Melaye, a former senator from the state, was suspended by the PDP exco in Ayetoro Gbede, Ward 1 following his refusal to honour a summon. According to the Ward exco, the action was taken due to Melaye’s anti-party activities and alleged misconduct. The resolution to suspend him was taken by the Ward party executive committee during a meeting in Aiyetoro/Luagba Ward 1 on Friday. The meeting was held to review the report of the disciplinary committee set up…
THE Federal Government has signed the Cape Town Convention (CTC) Practice aimed at reducing the cost of airline operations in the Nigerian aviation sector. The CTC Practice Direction was signed on Thursday by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, during a stakeholders’ meeting of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. With the signing of the CTC Practice Direction, the Cape Town Convention becomes actively and fully operational in Nigeria, thereby reducing the cost of insurance for airlines, restoring investors’ confidence in the nation’s…
PROPERTIES worth millions of naira have been destroyed following a fire outbreak at a GSM village around Kpata market in Lokoja the Kogi State capital. Our correspondent gathered that the fire outbreak started in the early hours of Thursday due to a power upsurge. It was further learnt that shop owners could not salvage anything from the fire after it got out of control. One of the traders in the market, Muhammed Yahaya who lost his goods to the fire narrated the incident saying, “Somebody called me around 5:30 am today that the market is on fire. On getting there,…
THE Benue State government on Tuesday confirmed the suspension of five senior staff members in connection with a missing transformer and the vandalisation of another. Dr. Agbogbo Ode, the State Head of Service (HOS), told journalists in Makurdi that four of the individuals involved would face charges. Among those suspended is the Director of Planning and Research in the Ministry of Rural Development and Cooperatives, who was placed on indefinite suspension for his role in the missing transformer. The HoS explained that following an investigation, the Permanent Secretary and Director of Administration and Supply in the ministry were cleared of…
THE Department of State Services (DSS) did not arrest Presidential Candidate of Labour Party in the last election, Valentine Obienyem, his media aide, has clarified. There have been unconfirmed reports of Obi being arrested alongside Margaret, his wife. But in a statement released on Tuesday, Obienyem categorically dismissed the reports as entirely false and baseless. He said the rumour first surfaced on Saturday, but was promptly refuted. Obienyem said Obi was not even in Anambra State at the time of the alleged incident. “As of Saturday, Mr. Obi was in Rwanda attending to important engagements,” he said. “He has since…