Author: Sani Nura

THE Adamawa State Police Command has arrested one Lot Bitrus, 24, said to have attacked the convoy of the wife of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, Hajiya Lami Fintiri, on Saturday. Fintiri was attacked in Muchala town, Mubi Area of the state as thugs stoned her convoy while entering the village to attend a gathering of Catholic women. In a press statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Suleiman Nguroje, disclosed deployment of security operatives to go against thugs led to the arrest of Bitrus. “The suspect, Lot Bitrus, 24 years old, a resident of Muchalla ward was…

THE Supreme Court of Nigeria, on Wednesday, dismissed two appeals brought against the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Kaduna State, Uba Sani, in the 2023 poll and the Independent National Electoral Commission. The appeals were filed by Sani Sha’aban, an in-law to President Muhammadu Buhari. Sha’aban, a former APC governorship aspirant, later moved on to clinch the governorship ticket on the platform of the Action Democratic Party to contest the 2023 governorship poll in the state. But the solicitor for the APC, who is also a former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Kaduna branch, Sule Shu’aibu,…

A FORMER Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has accused the United Kingdom of denying Sonia Ekweremadu a kidney transplant despite having many donors who are willing to assist. Sonia, 25, is the daughter of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who is being tried alongside his wife, Beatrice, in a British court for allegedly plotting to harvest a street trader’s kidney. The kidney was allegedly intended for Sonia, who remains on dialysis with a renal condition, in return for up to £7,000 ($8,430) and the promise of a new life in Britain for the 21-year-old trader. Taking to his verified…

AFTER listening to the endless lists of unprecedented achievements by the Inuwa Yahaya-led administration in the last 3 and a half years, the Gombe State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC yesterday spoke with one voice that not only has the Governor performed excellently well, but also deserves their support for a second term if the wheel of advancement in the State needs further progress. This came to the fore during an interactive session organized by the Political Commission of the Nigeria Labor Congress, for all candidates of Political Parties in Gombe State. The leadership of the NLC who…

THE presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar has promised to ensure the crude oil discovered in Bauchi/Gombe states is used to develop the area. He made the promise during the PDP presidential campaign rally at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi, on Tuesday. “I have also pledged that the petroleum resources that have been discovered between Bauchi and Gombe will be exploited and brought back to the benefit of the people,” the former vice president told the gathering, weeks before Nigerians head to the polls. He also vowed to ensure the smooth exploration of petroleum resources discovered…

GOVERNOR Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has flagged off yet another phase of empowerment programme as part of his administration’s broader goal of addressing the human capital deficit in Gombe State. Speaking during the inauguration, the Governor said, his administration attaches much priority to human capital development owing to the central role it plays in the overall development of the society, maintaining that his government is determined to continue taking holistic developmental steps in order to improve the lives of the people by creating employment and income generating opportunities. He said the second phase of the empowerment programme will cover over 2000…

THE Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has described as “fake” news doing the rounds that its over 30, 000 members would be shutting down their filling stations. The National Controller Operations, IPMAN, Mike Osatuyi, who spoke with journalists on Tuesday, said the memo to members which emanated from the Chairman, IPMAN Borno chapter, Mohammed Kuluwa, earlier on Tuesday, asking all its members in the state to suspend services was a wrong move. “Fake news. Bad eggs and sabotage,” Osatuyi told PUNCH. Also, the IPMAN National President, Elder Chinedu Okonkwo,said when contacted by our correspondent via the telephone that Kuluwa…

THE Borno chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has directed members to suspend all operations. In a statement signed on Tuesday by Mohammed Kuluwu, IPMAN chairman in the state, the marketers were also ordered to suspend the payment of ordering products from source until further notice. The association said the decision followed, “the critical situation as it affect our sourcing and selling of product at lost (sic) and the action of the authority to impose the selling of product at a lost price (sic) on our side”. More to follow…

HE presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has promised to defeat and eliminate terrorists if elected in the forthcoming general elections. He also assured the Katsina electorate of his readiness to cater for the children and widows of victims of the terrorist attacks in all parts of the country. Tinubu stated this on Monday during a campaign rally in Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, where he met residents mourning the death of over 100 civilians killed by terrorists in the last four days. He also empathised with the victims and their families, promising…

THE police in Rivers State have said that the arrest of over 30 persons in Port Harcourt on Sunday was purely a criminal matter with no political undertone. There were reports have about 30 members of the Atiku Support Organization were arrested by armed policemen during a meeting in the state capital. According to the spokesman of the Organization, Victor Moses, some of those arrested were state and local government leaders of the group. He alleged that the police operatives may have acted on the instructions of Governor Nyesom Wike. In a statement on Monday, the police spokesperson in the…

THE Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja has committed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, to prison for disobeying a court order. The court also directed the Inspector General of Police to effect Bawa’s arrest and remand him in Kuje prison for the next 14 days until he purges himself of the contempt. Justice Rukayat Ayoola of the Kogi State High Court, in his judgement on Monday, granted the application for committal to prison of the EFCC chairman for disobeying a court ruling delivered on November 30, 2022, wherein the EFCC chairman was…

FOR the fourth time in less than 4 years,  Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has yet again put smiles on the faces of senior citizens in Gombe State with the commencement of payment of another tranche of over 3 billion naira as backlog of gratuity to more than 5000 State and local government retirees. With dance steps, broad smiles and songs of appreciation, the retirees received their Cheques during the flag off ceremony of the payment held at the Banquet Hall,  Government House,  Gombe. The payments covers retirees from both the employment of the State and the Local Governments. In his…

A COALITION of Civil Society Groups in Nigeria has called out the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for failing to include CSOs in the  campaign against persistent attacks on their personnel and facilities. The Coalition, in a statement jointly signed and issued by the Coordinator of the Coalition, Dr Abdullahi Usman and its Secretary, Amb Nwokoma Messiah, called on the umpire body to immediately mobilise groups with proven capacity to engage Nigerians on the dangers such attacks will have on the smooth conduct of the 2023 general elections. The statement further described the non-mobilisation of members of the Civil Society…

THE members of the Taraba State Executive Committee (SEC) of the All Progressive Congress (APC) on Saturday passed a vote of no confidence on the Chairman Barrister Ibrahim Tukur El-Suldi and removed him from office as the Chairman of APC in the State. In a release jointly signed by the APC Taraba State Executive Committee members, the committee members said the powers conferred on them by Article 21(d)(vi) of the APC Constitution gave them the power to remove the Chairman. The statement read, “our grounds and justification for passing a vote of no confidence on El-Suldi, and to consequently remove…

THE Niger State Police Command says its operatives attached to Gawu-Babangida Division have arrested one Ibrahim Ali aka Bajala for being an informant and food supplier to suspected kidnappers. His arrest, according to the police followed, the arrest of the two suspected kidnappers at Lambata, Gurara Local Government Area on January 27, 2023. In a statement, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP WA Abiodun, said the 25-year-old Ali of Gwalo village in Paikoro Local Government Area was arrested on February 1. He said Ali confessed to the crime during interrogation and said that he usually monitors targets for…

GOVERNOR Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has appealed to the the military to remain focused and determined to continue in confronting emerging challenges ahead of next month’s elections. He also commended the resilience and doggedness of the armed forces in their efforts to secure the state and create an environment for peaceful elections. The governor made the remarks during the 2022 West African Social Activities organised by the 23 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Yola, the Adamawa state capital. The activities, which took place at Gibson Jalo Cantonment, are an annual event held by the Army to mark the…

GOMBE State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has commiserated with the family of elder statesman, Dr Joshua Maina over the death of Architect Leslie Phanuel Maina, a director in the state civil service. In a condolence message, signed and issued by the Director-General of Press Affairs to the governor, Ismaila Uba Misilli, Saturday, Governor Inuwa described the deceased as a seasoned technocrat, hard working administrator and fine gentleman who devoted his time, energy and resourcefulness to the service of his State, community and humanity in general. He noted that the late Lesile Maina had demonstrated competence and exhibited wonderful character throughout…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun a mock accreditation exercise across the country ahead of the 2023 general elections. The Commission, last week, noted the exercise would hold on February 4 to test the efficacy of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in preparation for the Presidential and National Assembly elections on February 25. The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, added that the machines used for the mock exercise would be reconfigured in preparation for the main elections. News Point Nigeria on Saturday observed the mock accreditation exercise as it began at Majidadi ‘A’ Registration Area in…

A MEMBER of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Ahmad Lawan has urged Nigerians to vote for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the fourth-coming  general elections. Lawan, who made the call during an interview with Nas FM Radio in Adamawa, stated that, Asiwaju is the best man for the job, and his vision for the country, as encapsulated in the “Renewed Hope” manifesto, is clearly defined and well thought out. According to him, Tinubu positive antecedents as governor of Lagos state is a clear testimony of his vision and leadership qualities, adding…

THE Police Command in Nasarawa State has confirmed the rescue of the remaining four abducted pupils of Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) Primary School Alwaza, Doma Local Government Area. DSP Ramhan Nansel, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state made the confirmation to newsmen on Friday in Lafia. Six pupils of LGEA Primary School Alwaza, Doma LGA were kidnapped by gunmen on motorcycles on Friday, Jan. 20, around 7:00 a.m. Two out of the pupils were rescued by the police in collaboration with other security agencies and hunters on Jan. 21, a day after they were kidnapped. The PPRO…