THE Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Friday, gave the Federal Government approval to challenge the judgement that barred the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from reopening the trial of a former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. The appellate court, in two separate rulings by a three-member panel of Justices, granted an extension of time to enable FG to file processes to set aside the September 29, 2021, judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which stopped the EFCC from prosecuting the former governor who is currently representing Abia North in the Senate. Kalu,…
Author: David Akonuche
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THE Abia Police Command has killed six suspected kidnappers and rescued four abductees unhurt in Osokwa, Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of the state. The police also recovered two AK-47 rifles, six magazines, and 34 rounds of live ammunition from the scene. According to the spokesperson of the Abia State Police Command, Maureen Chinaka, the rescue followed a report about the abduction of the said persons. “On 09/03/2025 at about 09:30 hours, the Abia State Police Command received a report that the above-mentioned victims, who were driving in their Toyota RAV4 along New Umuahia Road, Obingwa, were kidnapped by unknown…
GOVERNOR Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra says his administration pulled out of an existing loan arrangement with the World Bank to save the state from “debt overhang”. Soludo said this while addressing members of the Late Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah Media team who were on inspection of the ongoing Government House and Governors Lodge project in Awka on Sunday. He said his administration had not only refused to borrow from any bank or institution but also refused to access the Federal Government loan to states in 2024. He said that notwithstanding the development, his administration had embarked on ambitious and people oriented…
AKWA Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has distanced the state government from the ₦700 billion fraud allegation leveled against his immediate predecessor, Udom Emmanuel, by the Network against Corruption and Trafficking, and being probed by anti-graft agency EFCC. “I don’t know where they get those figures from because it can’t be from Akwa Ibom State; it can’t be from us – we don’t have such figures,” Eno said at a town hall meeting in the Abak area of the state on Saturday. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor condemned what he described as a vilification of the past governors of…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has led tributes for a former presidential spokesman Doyin Okupe who died on Friday morning, describing the late politician as one who played “a significant role in Nigeria’s political landscape”. In his tribute to the Ogun-born politician, Tinubu’s spokesman Bayo Onanuga said Okupe was “a bold and articulate advocate for national development” and expressed “deep sorrow over his passing at a time when his wealth of experience and insight were still invaluable to the nation”. Onanuga in a statement said Tinubu commiserates with “the government and people of Ogun State, particularly the Iperu-Remo community, who have lost…
FORMER presidential spokesperson and prominent political strategist, Doyin Okupe has passed away. A family source confirmed his death to News Point Nigeria was on Friday, March 7, 2025 via telephone. Okupe, 71, was a key figure in Nigerian politics, having served as a senior adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan and, more recently, as the Director-General of Peter Obi’s 2023 Presidential Campaign. However, his political journey was marked by controversies. In December 2022, Okupe stepped down from Obi’s campaign after being convicted of money laundering. He later resigned from the Labour Party following the 2023 general election. In a surprising…
SENATOR Orji Uzor Kalu says Nigerians are unfair to former military president, Ibrahim Babangida following the recent release of his memoir. In the 420-page memoir titled, A Journey in Service: An Autobiography of Ibrahim Babangida’, the former military leader admitted that MKO Abiola won the 1993 election his government annulled. His admission after 32 years generated different reactions across the country, with some critics saying that it was coming too late. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday monitored by News Point Nigeria, Uzor Kalu, who represents Abia North in the Senate, said that Nigerians are not being fair…
DR Daere Akobo, Chairman of PANA Holdings, has been recognized as one of the world’s top business leaders for 2025 by White Page International. He will attend the Global Business Conclave 2025 today, Friday, February 28, 2025, at the House of Lords, The Palace of Westminster in London. The Global Business Conclave 2025 brings together successful business leaders from around the world. The event will feature keynote speeches, delegate interactions, short interviews, networking opportunities, a Gala Dinner, and the Global 100 CEO & Leadership Awards ceremony. “This transition represents more than a name change; it is a renewal of our…
A FORMER chief executive officer (CEO) of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria, Valentine Ozigbo, has said Peter Obi will not contest the 2027 presidential election on the Labour Party (LP) platform which he ran on in 2023. Ozigbo recently dumped the LP for the ruling All Progressives Congress, citing his “unwavering commitment” to the greater vision of Anambra State. However, when he appeared on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Thursday monitored by News Point Nigeria, Ozigbo said during his time in LP, he was part of some coalition discussions that shaped his belief that Obi will soon dump the party. “I…
THE detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, urging her to direct the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, to reassign his case to another judge with proper jurisdiction. In a letter to the CJN, Kanu’s legal team, led by Aloy Ejimakor, argued that Justice Binta Nyako, who is currently presiding over the case, had already recused herself following Kanu’s allegations of bias. Kanu is facing seven counts of terrorism-related charges brought against him by the Federal Government. Ejimakor argued…
THERE is growing tension as two suspects linked to the murder of Justice Azuka, a member of the Anambra House of Assembly, have escaped from police custody in the state. Spokesman of the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday. Ikenga said the state Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, received a report on Tuesday that two of the suspected killers had escaped from custody. He explained that the two suspects who were assisting police operatives had gone out with the operatives for an investigation to arrest a receiver of vehicles used by the criminal…
THE National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has suspended its Chief Transport Officer attached to Uyo Zonal Office in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Akwaowo Jonah Emmanuel for alleged sexual violations and exploitation of female suspects. News Point Nigeria reports that Emmanuel was suspended without pay over accusations of sexual violations and exploitation of female suspects, including minors retrieved on transit and kept in the agency’s custody pending conclusion of investigation. The suspended official accused of promising freedom for female suspects in custody if they agree to his sexual advances. The agency said the suspension followed a…
THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Friday uncovered a major operation depot dealing in expired and falsified drugs at Umumeje village, Osisioma Ngwa area of Abia State. NAFDAC disclosed this in a statement on X, saying it revealed that the illegal operation was being run from multiple buildings near the Ariaria International Market. According to the agency, the expired medicines were repackaged and revalidated for resale, posing a significant health risk to consumers. “Seized items consisted of expired potassium chloride, allergy medications, immune boosters, and cholesterol treatments,” the statement read. “Machines used to rebrand…
THE leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, on Monday, questioned the jurisdiction of his alleged terrorism case when he re-appeared before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court for the resumed hearing of his protracted case. Despite Kanu’s insistence that Justice Nyako has no jurisdiction over his case, the judge adjourned the matter indefinitely. Kanu was brought into Nigeria in June 2021 and has since been detained and tried for alleged terrorism. His trial was stalled after Justice Nyako recused herself from the case following an oral application by the defendant on September 24,…
THE Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has taken its legal battle against its proscription as a terrorist organization to the Supreme Court. IPOB, through its lawyers dissatisfied with the ruling of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division which affirmed it as a terrorist organization, is seeking to overturn the judgment that affirmed its designation as a terrorist entity by the Federal Government. In its appeal filed at the apex court, IPOB argued that its proscription violated constitutional provisions, particularly the right to fair hearing, as enshrined in Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). IPOB’s legal counsel led by…
THE abductors of Anambra State lawmaker, Justice Azuka, appear to have collected N100 million from his account before killing him, according to one of the suspects arrested in connection with his disappearance. The Police yesterday confirmed arresting nine persons over the abduction and killing. Azuka’s decomposing body was found near the Niger Bridge, Onitsha, Anambra State early Thursday, 44 days after his abduction. Four armed young men had pounced on him at Ugwunabamkpa in Onitsha on Christmas Eve. One of the suspects seen in a video that has gone viral claims his gang shot Azuka dead on Boxing Day after…
Demands Apology, Retraction, N1bn Compensation THE General Secretary of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Dr Iyobosa Uwugiaren has threatened to sue two bloggers: Daybreak.ng and Environmentreporters.com, for publishing alleged defamatory information against his person. Dr Uwugiaren in two separate letters addressed to the Editor-in-chief of the respective online media organizations, specifically gave Daybreak.ng and Environmentreporters.com, seven days to apologize and retract the offensive publications or face legal action. Besides, the General Secretary in the letters dated January 23, 2025 and signed by his lawyer, Mr Fidel Bassey, is demanding the sum of N500 million from each of the media houses…
THE decomposing body of a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Justice Azuka, has been discovered on the 2nd Niger Bridge. Azuka’s body was discovered by a combined security team. The lawmaker representing Onitsha North Constituency 1 was kidnapped on December 24, 2024, along Ugwunabankpa Road, Inland Town, Onitsha. After weeks of investigation, security operatives from Abuja apprehended the suspects late Wednesday. The arrested individuals later led authorities to the location where they had dumped the lawmaker’s remains. Police authorities in Anambra State have said details of the incident are sketchy. However, the spokesman of the command, Tochukwu…
THE Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Ebonyi State Chapter, Chinedu Uburu, disclosed on Monday that workers who have passed away since 2009 are still receiving salaries in the state’s local government system. Uburu made this revelation during a courtesy visit by the state’s NUJ executives, led by Chairman Samson Nwafor, to his office in Abakaliki. He explained that the discovery came to light during an ongoing verification exercise and urged patience from workers who have yet to receive their payments. He stressed that no local government chairman in Ebonyi is undertaking a project of less…
IN recent years, Africa’s investment climate has seen significant fluctuations, with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) declining amid widespread economic uncertainties. Nigeria, as the continent’s second-largest economy, hasn’t been immune to these challenges. Issues such as economic instability, currency volatility, and rising operational costs—compounded by increasing inflation—have made doing business in Nigeria increasingly difficult. As a result, more than 20 companies have shut down and relocated their investments to other markets between 2020 and 2024. This exodus has not only affected the business landscape but has also led to substantial job losses, further aggravating the already dire youth unemployment situation in…