Author: Abdullahi Maitama Sani

THE Dangote Petroleum Refinery is set to import crude oil from the United States in the coming months, as the $20 billion facility intensifies moves to start pumping out refined products. Africa’s largest refinery’s move to import crude from the US is a sign of just how competitive American barrels have become in the global market, Bloomberg reported on Monday. The multi-billion dollar refinery is also reportedly expecting two million barrels of crude oil from Trafigura Group in February. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Project, a subsidiary of Dangote Industries Limited, is a 650,000 barrels per day crude oil…

THE Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the appeal by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Aisha Dahiru, popularly called Binani, against the governor of Adamawa state, Ahmadu Fintiri. The tribunal and Court of Appeal had dismissed Binani’s petition challenging the victory of Finitiri in the governorship election held last year. The five-member panel led by John Okoro adjourned the matter for judgment after listening to the arguments of the parties involved in the matter. The main contention of Binani, through her counsel, Akin Olujimi, at the day’s proceeding, is that the controversial declaration by the Resident…

OWNING a private jet in Nigeria isn’t just for convenience, but also a display of wealth and affluence as many Nigerians ranging from politicians, to artists and also pastors have been known to acquire private jets. AMB reports that Billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote tops the list and on an average, the maintenance of a private jet costs about $500,000 to $1 million (approx. N290 million – N580 million) per year yet people still pay this huge sum. There are also general checks that should be done on a private jet which include ‘C’ checks, software checks, fuel level, preflight, post-flight…

THE Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says it is yet to receive any direct formal notification from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic about their intention to withdraw from the Community. In a statement on Sunday, the Commission said it has been “working assiduously with these countries for the restoration of constitutional order. Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali remain important members of the Community and the Authority remains committed to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse”. “The ECOWAS Commission remains seized with the development and shall make further pronouncements as the situation evolves,”…

THE Federal Government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission ( RMAFC), have resolved to strengthen collaboration to block revenue leakages in the mining sector. Speaking while welcoming the RMAFC chairman, Mohammed Bello, and his team to his office recently, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake commended efforts of the commission to boost revenue accruing to government coffers through mining operations. Bello in his remarks stated that the commission’s visit is hinged on pledging support for efforts of the Minister to transform the mining sector since assumption of office…

THE military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced Sunday their immediate withdrawal from the West African bloc ECOWAS. The leaders of the three Sahel nations issued a statement saying it was a “sovereign decision” to leave the Economic Community of West African States “without delay”. Struggling with insurgency and poverty, the regimes have had tense ties with ECOWAS since coups took place in Niger last July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020. All three were suspended from ECOWAS with Niger and Mali facing heavy sanctions. They have hardened their positions in recent months and joined forces…

AN ex-beauty queen, Ms. Aderinoye Queen Christmas also known as Ms. Queen Oluwadamilola Aderinoye has been declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). She was declared wanted after escaping from her Lekki, Lagos residence when operatives raided her apartment at Oral estate, Lekki on Wednesday 24th January. According to a statement by the NDLEA, The raid came following credible intelligence that the ex-beauty queen deals in illicit substances. The suspect was Miss Commonwealth Nigeria Culture 2015/2016 and founder of Queen Christmas Foundation. Recovered from her home during the search witnessed by the estate officials include 606 grams…

THE Supreme Court has upheld the five years sentence of former House of Representatives member, Farouk Lawan, for receiving a bribe of $500,000 from businessman Femi Otedola. His appeal sought to set aside the February 24, 2022 judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which sentenced him to a five-year jail term and discharged him on two out of the three counts on the corruption charge brought against him by the Federal Government. In the lead judgment prepared by Justice John Okoro but read by Justice Tijjani Abubakar, the apex court held that Lawan’s appeal was without merit and…

THE Supreme Court will on Friday pass verdict on an appeal by a former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan against the judgments of the lower court which imprisoned him. News Point Nigeria had reported that A five-member panel led by Justice John Okoro chose the date after lawyers to parties made their final submissions and adopted their written briefs in November A cause list of the court sighted Friday by our correspondent showed the matter will be sorted today. A Federal Capital Territory High Court had sentenced Lawan to seven years imprisonment for receiving a $500,000 bribe…

THE Federal Government has intensified efforts to secure the nation’s natural resources as the presidential inter-ministerial committee held an expanded meeting with service chiefs. The inter-ministerial committee chaired by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake met with the Security Chiefs on Thursday in Abuja. It will be recalled that President Bola Tinubu at last week’s Federal Executive Council (FEC), established an inter-ministerial committee to draw up a blueprint for securing the country’s natural resources, including solid minerals, forests, and marine economy. The committee held its maiden meeting last Friday. Giving highlights of the expanded meeting, Dr. Alake…

THE Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Agbu Kefas as governor of Taraba State. The apex court in a unanimous decision on Thursday, dismissed the appeal by Professor Yahaya Sani of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) for grossly lacking in merit. Professor Sani had asked the apex court to set aside the victory of governor Kefas Agbu in the March 18, 2023 governorship election. He had alleged non compliance with the Electoral Act, irregularities and other malpractices. He is asked the court to pronounce him winner of the election on ground of scoring majority of the lawful votes…

CONTRARY to speculation in some quarters, President Bola Tinubu has no plan to move the Federal Capital to Lagos, the Presidency has said. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy stated this in a statement on Wednesday,  following a rumour that surfaced on social media that the President plans to move the FCT to Lagos State after a department under the Ministry of Aviation, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, moved some of its departments to Lagos. He said administrative decisions should not be politicised, warning that those pushing this campaign of falsehood were “dangerous politics to…

THE FCT Police Command has reacted to reports of an explosion in the Maitama area of the Federal Capital Territory. In a series of tweets via X on Wednesday, some residents attributed the incident to bomb. But the FCT police command in a statement by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said the incident was as a result of an overheated metal refuse bin. “The FCT Police Command hereby wishes to update the public on an alleged explosion on 24/01/2024 at about 1145 hrs, near a refuse dump outside the Bureau of Public Enterprise premises in Maitama, Abuja.”…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu is expected to depart Abuja on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, for a two-week private visit to Paris, France. According to a release issued on Wednesday by presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu is due back in the country in the first week of February, 2024. See full statement below: PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU TRAVELS TO FRANCE PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu departs Abuja for Paris, France, on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, for a private visit. He will return to the country in the first week of February, 2024. Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, (Media & Publicity),…

THE immediate-past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, has pleaded not guilty to the nine charges of money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The alleged money laundering is to the tune of N4,008,573,350. He was said to have moved the amount from security votes into different accounts. The offences were said to have been committed between March 2014 and March 2022. When the charges were read to him upon his arraignment on Wednesday, the former governor pleaded not guilty to all the nine counts. Some of the counts read, “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi…

THE eighth witness called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Hamma-Adama Bello, at the Federal High Court, on Tuesday, said former Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, and others awarded contracts to companies they incorporated or had stakes in. Oyo-Ita and others are standing trial on the allegations of fraud regarding duty tour allowance, estacodes, conference fees, and receiving kickbacks on contracts to the tune of N3bn. Oyo-Ita was in March 2020 arraigned by the EFCC alongside her Special Assistant, Ubong Effiok, Frontline Ace Global Services Limited, Asanaya Projects Ltd, Garba Umar and his companies, Slopes International Ltd and…

THE US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has assured of the country’s companies’ readiness to partner with and invest in the Nigerian economy. Blinken, who is on an African tour, made the remark in Abuja during his visit to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa. “American entrepreneurs and companies are ready to partner and invest in Nigeria, particularly in the tech sector,” he said while briefing the press after he met with Tinubu at the State House in Abuja “We have tech giants that have teamed up with Nigerian partners to help meet President Bola Tinubu’s one million digital…

THE Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has raised alarm over plans to disrupt the February 3 re-run and bye-elections in parts of the country. Yakubu raised the alarm on Tuesday in Abuja at the first quarterly meeting of the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES). “From experience, the conduct of isolated elections such as bye-elections and re-run elections can be very challenging. We must pay attention to the potentials for disruptive behaviour by some candidates and their supporters.” “A re-run election conducted in one Polling Unit (PU) or a handful of Polling Units…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has directed the management of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to expand its focus area by extending interest-free loans to Nigerian students interested in skill-development programmes. The President issued this directive at the State House on Monday after a briefing from Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, Executive Secretary of NELFUND, on the build-up to the launch of the programme later in the month. The President said it is important for the scheme to accommodate those who may not want to pursue university education, noting that skill acquisition is as important as obtaining undergraduate and graduate academic qualifications. “This…

BAYO Omoboriowo, the ex-official photographer of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has narrated how he got an appointment to be his cameraman without knowing any bigwig in his political circle. Omoboriowo, who is also the founder of MadHouse by Tikera, made this known in an interview with Channels Television on Monday monitored by News Point Nigeria. He noted that his talent as a creative and freelance documentary photographer gave him the platform to work with the former President while adding that he created his MadHouse for creative talents to explore limitless opportunities abound in the creative world so as to maximise…