Author: Abdullahi Maitama Sani

THE Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has announced that Monday, June 19, will be the first day of Dhul-Hijja 1444AH. News Point Nigeria reports that, this was contained in a statement on Sunday signed by Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu, Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto. “The Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs in conjunction with the National Moon Sighting Committee on Sunday received reports on the sighting of the crescent of Dhul-Hijja 1444AH. “The Sultan accepted the report and accordingly declared Sunday, June 19, as…

THE Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has approved the redeployment of the Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs) Hafiz Inuwa, Bala Ciroma, and Frank Mba. This comes less than 24 hours after Ciroma and Mba’s promotion from Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) to DIG by the Police Service Commission). The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Saturday, disclosed that Inuwa was deployed to head the Department of Logistics and Supply. The recently promoted Ciroma and Mba were also said to have been posted to head the Department of Training and Development and…

PROMINENT  Niger Delta leader, Asari Dokubo, has accused the Nigerian military of being behind 99 percent of oil theft in the country. Dokubo made the accusation after a private meeting with President Bola Tinubu in his office on Friday. He stated that the President has promised to investigate allegations of huge oil bunkering by notorious naval commanders that are kingpins, and promised to take decisive action to halt the shameful act. Dokubo added that there are powerful cabals operating from Abuja, vowing that these powerful forces in place have now met their match and many people would soon be marching…

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reportedly told Deposit Money Banks to freely float the naira against the dollar and other international currencies. This is as the naira trades at N735 to N755 per dollar at the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window on Wednesday. Although the apex bank is yet to release an official statement on the matter, bankers and customers who traded in Foreign Exchange on Wednesday told Channels Television that the naira now trades between N730 and N750. The development came just two weeks after President Bola Tinubu vowed to unify the exchange rate in his inauguration…

THE presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, through his lawyer, says he has subpoenaed the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to testify in court. News Point Nigeria reports that, the lead counsel to Atiku, Chris Uche, who addressed the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, said he had also summoned the Secretary to the commission, Mrs Rose Omoa Oriaran-Anthony. Atiku is challenging INEC’s declaration of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the February 25 presidential election. The petition resumed…

A FORMER Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, says President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has started well and he is in the right direction with all the steps taken so far. Buratai, also a former Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, in a special congratulatory message to mark Democracy Day, called on Nigerians to support the president. “Mr President has started in the right direction. Therefore, it is incumbent on us as Nigerians to support him to achieve his vision. “With President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Nigeria’s Democratic saddle, his Renewed Hope Agenda is a sure way to Nigeria’s…

THE residents of Gidan Dare Quarters, Sokoto have call for relatives, family or anybody who knows the above pictured female to come forward and save the woman from untold hardship. According to one of the residents in a circulated voice note message, the woman was found at Gidan Dare Jummu’at Mosque, Opposite Bawuri’s Residence, Sokoto and nobody knows where she came from or where she is headed. “We wish to appeal to the members of the public, family or relatives of the above pictured woman to come to her rescue. She is here with us at Gidan Dare Jummu’at Mosque,…

FORMER Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has accused the lawmaker who branded the National Carrier as fraud of demanding five percent shares of Nigeria Air from him. During a hearing by the House of Representatives, Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, had declared the launch of Nigeria Air a fraud. He had picked holes in the project, criticising the Federal Government for what he described as poor handling. But speaking when he appeared on ARISE TV on Sunday, Sirika said the lawmaker approached him and  asked for five percent shares of the airline for “him and…

SECURITY officials attached to the National Assembly Complex in Abuja have arrested some legislative aides and National Assembly workers for engaging in last-minute looting of the offices of lawmakers and carting away valuables belonging to the second tier of government. Some of the items are television sets, cabinet shelves, electronics, computers, printers, furniture, air conditioners, rugs and carpets, and solar power systems. This newspaper gathered that outgoing and re-elected members of the Senate and House of Representatives were also engaged in moving those items out of their respective offices and residences as it had become the tradition so that new…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has justified the removal of fuel subsidy toughly, saying that the country cannot continue feeding smugglers and acting as Father Christmas to neighbouring countries. He said this at an interactive session with the Royal Fathers under the aegis of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) at the Aso Villa on Friday, according to a statement by State House Director of Information, Abiodun Oladunjoye. The President informed them of the decision to remove fuel subsidy, improve security, create jobs, and sustain the environment as well as the forthcoming election of principal officers of the 10th…

ALMOST six months after 38 herders were killed in the Nigerian Air Force airstrikes in Nasarawa State, the military authority has yet to compensate the victims. Also, the outcomes of the investigation carried out have not been made public. This newspaper had reported how controversy trailed the killing of the herders in the Rukubi community of Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State when returning from Makurdi, the Benue State capital, where they went to retrieve over 1,000 cows seized by the Benue Livestock Guards. Human Rights Watch, which disclosed that the NAF authorities had admitted to the killing, said…

A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has extended the order restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and Department of State Services (DSS) from detaining Sen. Abdul’aziz Yari. Justice Donatus Okorowo extended the order on Thursday after Yari’s counsel, Michael Aondoaka, SAN, made an oral application to the effect. The development occurred following a plea for an adjournment moved by the lawyer to the EFCC, Gloria Ogbason, and her counterpart representing the ICPC, Kemi Odogun, to enable them to file their responses to Yari’s motion. Upon resumed hearing in the…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Wednesday met with major oil marketers at Aso Rock in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The oil marketers were led by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who was a Chairman of oil marketers association. The President’s meeting with the oil marketers comes amid the controversy and protests trailing the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit known as petrol. The President during his inaugural speech on May 29 at the Eagle Square in Abuja had announced the removal of subsidy payment on petrol. The President said that the immediate past administration of Muhammadu Buhari did…

ABOUT 37 persons have been reportedly killed and several others injured in attacks on three communities in Tangaza local government area of Sokoto state. The communities include, Raka, Raka Dutse, and Filin Gawa. According to eyewitnesses, the bandits attacked the communities on Saturday evening. The immediate past chairman of the area, Bashar Kalenjeni, while confirming the attacks said 18 persons  were killed at Raka, 17 at Filin Gawa and two at Raka Dutse. “We wanted to bury them in the night but the bandits came back and dispersed us. As at this morning, the deceased are still there unburied,” Kalenjeni…

AS a minority party in the soon-to-be-inaugurated 10th National Assembly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged newly elected lawmakers to work in unison as “one family”. The acting National Chairman of PDP, Ambassador Umar Damagum, gave the appeal in his opening remarks on Saturday at a retreat in Bauchi State for party members elected in the 2023 general elections. “I want to reiterate, on the issue of the National Assembly, we have to know we are an opposition,” he said. “In order to remain relevant, we must work together as one family. That’s the only way you’ll be able…

THE expansive space called the Eagle Square in Nigeria’s capital city Abuja is set for the inauguration of former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s President for the next four years. Beautifully decorated with the green-white-green colours of the nation, last-minute preparations are already being concluded for the historic handover of President Muhammadu Buhari to his party man who won the February 25 presidential poll. Already, there is heavy security at the venue for the auspicious and remarkable event where Tinubu, 71, will be sworn in as Nigeria’s next leader after Buhari’s eight-year administration. Scores of operatives of the…

A COALITION operating under the umbrella of Kano Concerned Civil Society Group has called on Kano State Governor-Elect, Abba Kabiru Yusuf popularly known as Abba Gida Gida to look into allegations of financial misconduct and money laundering against Ex-Anti-Graft Boss, Muhuyi Magaji. The group, in a petition to Abba Gida Gida, jointly signed by the Chairman, Comrade Ibrahim Ali, and Secretary, Abbas Hassan requested that, the incoming administration conducts a comprehensive inquiry into Magaji’s financial practices and move quickly to see that justice is done. It could be recalled that, Abba Gida Gida’s Gubermatorial Transition Committee had invited members of…

THE House of Representatives is currently grilling the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), over the alleged illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil in China valued at over $2.4bn. Malami, in company with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice/Solicitor-General of the Federation, Beatrice Jedy-Agba, is appearing before the House’ Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate Alleged Loss of Over $2.4 Billion in Revenue from Illegal Sale of 48 Million Barrels of Crude Oil Export in 2015 Including All Crude Oil Exports and Sales by Nigeria from 2014 Till Date. While the ministry made…

IN the aftermath of the March 20th political attacks launched by some thugs in Kano State during the recent governorship elections, Governor Masari of Katsina State has approved and released N80 million as a gift to two All Progressives Congress (APC) musicians. The gesture, coming a few days before the handing over to the new administration, is meant for Dauda Adamu Rarara and Yusuf Baban Chinedu. In a memo obtained by News Point Nigeria titled: “Special Release of Funds,” and signed by Saminu Soli for the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the fund is meant for the…

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has conferred National Honours on president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima. Tinubu and Shettima were conferred with the National Honours of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) and Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON). The investiture which took place at the State House Conference Center in Abuja, is part of a series of events lined up for the May 29 inauguration ceremony. Expected also to happen today is an official handover of Transition Documents to the incoming Administration, a process that some believe will be the most organized and seamless…