Author: David Akonuche

THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday constituted a ” 50-Member Wise Men and Women Policy and Manifesto Committee” chaired by Odigie Oyegun. Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s national publicity secretary, in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria, said the constitution of the Policy and Manifesto Committee, followed the approval by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, led by David Mark. The party revealed that this is in line with the party’s commitment to building a credible, people-centred, and forward-looking policy framework for national governance. The party had earlier constituted the Committees to review membership register and draft…

ANAMBRA State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has described as “delusional” the claim by some traders in the Onitsha Main Market that they do not open their shops on Mondays due to insecurity. News Point Nigeria reports that in a state broadcast on Wednesday, Governor Soludo maintained that the sit-at-home order ended in Anambra State in 2023, calling the continued failure of most traders to open their shops on Mondays an act of economic sabotage. “It could be said that since 2023, anybody saying he didn’t open the shop because of insecurity is just delusional,” Governor Soludo said. “Go round some other…

ANAMBRA State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has ordered the immediate closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week following traders’ continued defiance of the state government’s directive to resume normal business activities on Mondays. News Point Nigeria reports that the governor issued the directive on Monday during an unscheduled on-the-spot assessment of the market, accompanied by senior government officials and security chiefs, after observing that a large number of shops remained shut in apparent compliance with the outlawed sit-at-home order. Soludo described the action as a necessary enforcement measure aimed at restoring economic normalcy and breaking what he…

THE Anambra State Government has announced the termination of the Monday sit-at-home in the state “with immediate effect”. This was contained in a statement signed by the Board Secretary, Mgbemena Loveline E., on behalf of the state universal basic education board sent to News Point Nigeria. It also warned that errant civil servants who flout the directive would either receive 20 per cent of their salary or forfeit it entirely. “Sequel to the state exco retreat held on January 21, 2026, presided by the Executive Governor, Charles Chukwuma Soludo, I am directed to inform you that the state government has…

FORMER Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Monday appeared before the Southwark Crown Court in London for a preliminary hearing in her long-running corruption case involving alleged bribery totalling £100,000. News Point Nigeria reports that the appearance marked the formal commencement of pre-trial proceedings ahead of her full trial, which is scheduled to begin on January 26, 2026, and is expected to last between 10 and 12 weeks. Alison-Madueke, 65, served as Nigeria’s petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015, becoming the first woman to hold the position and later the first female president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting…

THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) is witnessing a surge in political momentum following the defection of the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, with no fewer than eight federal lawmakers reportedly set to formally join the party, barring any last-minute change of plans. News Point Nigeria reports that Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, officially joined the ADC on Wednesday in Enugu, urging Nigerians and opposition forces to unite under a broad national coalition to “rescue Nigeria from poverty, disunity and democratic decline.” Explaining his decision to leave the Labour Party, Obi said his move was driven…

A FORMER presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, is set to formally join the African Democratic Congress amid ongoing consultations ahead of the 2027 general elections. A principal official of the party in Abuja told News Point Nigeria that Obi had concluded plans to join the party and hold a declaration rally in Enugu, the political capital of the South-East, on December 31. According to the official, Obi’s supporters and loyalists have begun arrangements for the defection. The source disclosed that Obi, after the ADC asked him to make up his mind on joining the party about three…

THE Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau on Tuesday confirmed an accident involving a Cessna 172 aircraft operated by Skypower Express at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State. This was disclosed in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by the bureau’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji. This newspaper gathered that all four occupants of the aircraft were hospitalised following the incident. NSIB officials said the aircraft, with registration number 5N-ASR, was en route from Kaduna International Airport to Port Harcourt International Airport when the crew declared an in-flight emergency and diverted to Owerri. Both…

NIGERIA’s Super Falcons have dropped to 37th position in the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking released on Thursday, but remain Africa’s highest-ranked team. The ten-time African champions had held the 36th spot for six consecutive rankings before slipping one place, despite securing qualification for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with a 2-0 away win and 1-1 home draw against Benin Republic. The Falcons continue to lead the African standings, with South Africa second on the continent but dropping to 55th globally. Ghana are third in Africa and climbed five places to 62nd in the world, while Zambia and…

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the defection of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as “pitiful.” Fubara announced his decision to leave the PDP for the APC at a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. In his address at the meeting, Governor Fubara claimed that he did not receive protection from his former party, which influenced his decision to join the ruling party. Reacting to the development in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP, led by Kabiru Turaki,…

ONE person has been killed, and several others sustained serious injuries following an attack on a church in Lili, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State by armed criminals on Sunday. News Point Nigeria reports that the incident was confirmed in a statement on Monday by the Anambra State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga. According to Ikenga, the Anambra State Police Commissioner, CP Ikioye Orutugu, condemned the attack, which occurred on Sunday morning. The church building was partially burned, and other properties within the premises were also destroyed. The Commissioner described the act as “heinous and abominable,”…

THE Imo State Government has sealed a hotel and a private mortuary in Umuhu community, Ngor-Okpala, after authorities discovered decomposed and mutilated corpses kept in unhygienic conditions, sparking suspicions of illegal organ harvesting activities. News Point Nigeria reports that the development was announced in a statement issued on Sunday by the state’s police spokesman, Henry Okoye, who said the action followed a coordinated operation targeting kidnapping and violent crimes along the Owerri–Aba Expressway, and that the operation was led by the Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, in collaboration with other security stakeholders. He explained that the crackdown was informed by…

FORMER British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he feels safe in Nigeria, contrary to the negative reports he had read before his visit. News Point Nigeria reports that Johnson stated this on Thursday in Owerri, the Imo State capital, while delivering a speech at the Imo State Economic Summit 2025 hosted by Governor Hope Uzodimma. “I want you to know that when I decided to come to Owerri, I read some things, and there were people saying, ‘There may be some security problems in Nigeria.’ Have you heard that? And I said, ‘Well, I am going to go anyway.’ “And…

EX-PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has returned to Nigeria after being trapped in coup-hit Guinea-Bissau where he went for election observation. News Point Nigeria reports that Jonathan arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja late Thursday, about two days after military officers took over power in the West African country. He arrived at the Abuja airport aboard a Guinea-Bissau government aircraft and was welcomed on the tarmac by team of supporters and government officials. The former president was in Guinea-Bissau to monitor the presidential and parliamentary elections as head of the West African Elders Forum Observation Mission. His team, that…

GUNMEN on Thursday launched a violent attack on the convoy of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, along the Nkpor–Nnobi Road in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, shooting one police officer and forcibly stripping him of his uniform and rifle. News Point Nigeria reports that Ngige, a former governor of Anambra State, was not in the convoy at the time of the attack, his former media aide, Sir Fred Chukwuelobe, confirmed. The armed attackers reportedly ambushed the security team, opened fire, and targeted the police escorts, injuring one officer before forcibly taking away his…

UNKNOWN attacked a joint police patrol team along the Abatete–Eziowelle Road in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State on Wednesday. The incident reportedly caused panic in the area as it led to a shootout between the policemen and the assailants. Eyewitnesses told News Point Nigeria that the gunmen burnt a patrol vehicle and injured one of the police officers. One of the eyewitnesses said, “The gunmen, who were heavily armed, ambushed the patrol operatives from the Department of Operations, State Headquarters, Awka, and the Special Anti-Cultism Squad while they were on routine surveillance along the axis. “The attackers…

THE Federal High Court in Abuja has indefinitely adjourned the N4 billion money laundering trial of former Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano. News Point Nigeria reports that Justice Mohammed Umar granted the adjournment on Tuesday following a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s legal team, led by S.O. Obila. The case, which came up for the first time before Justice Umar, was previously handled by Justice Inyang Ekwo, who is currently serving a one-year suspension imposed by the National Judicial Council for misconduct. Obila told the court that he had the instructions of the lead prosecuting counsel, Sylvanus…

THE South-East caucus of the House of Representatives has urged President Bola Tinubu to consider a pardon for the convicted leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. News Point Nigeria reports that they said releasing Kanu through pardon would open space for broader engagement between the Federal Government, elected leaders, and community stakeholders, leading to long-term peace. The lawmakers, in a statement on Monday after a meeting, said Nigeria has, in critical moments, relied on presidential magnanimity to heal divisions and consolidate peace. “Indeed, the authors of our constitution conceived of Section 175 in anticipation that the bare…

A FORMER governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Kalu, has said that the killings and abductions in Nigeria are politically motivated. Kalu said the bandits formenting violent attacks in different parts of the country were sponsored by politicians to destabilise the administration of President Bola Tinubu. According to him, the politicians responsible want Tinubu to fail just as they did to former President Goodluck Jonathan. He, however, did not disclose the names of the alleged sponsors. “What we are seeing is always a routine, something that goes with the elections, and when you have an election, people will try to…

A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has handed life sentence to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). News Point Nigeria reports that Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgement after convicting Kanu on all seven counts of terrorism offences. He also sentenced the IPOB leader to 20 years imprisonment and five years imprisonment on Count Seven, with no option of fine. He said the sentence shall run concurrently. Delivering judgment, he said “I hereby sentence the convict to life imprisonment for counts one, four, five, and six, instead of death sentence. “With respect to Count Three,…