Author: David Akonuche

NIGERIA have qualified for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) following a 3-1 aggregate win over neighbours Benin Republic. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the  Super Falcons drew 1-1 with the Amazons of the Benin Republic in the second leg of the qualifier played on Tuesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State. But a 0-2 victory in the reverse fixture in Lome, Togo, courtesy of goals from Esther Okoronkwo and Chinwendu Ihezuo, was enough to secure Nigeria’s ticket for the tournament with a 3-1 aggregate win. Defender Ashleigh Plumptre headed in from a brilliant Okoronkwo corner to give Nigeria…

THE leader of the proscribed separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has shelved his earlier plan to call witnesses in his defence in his ongoing trial for alleged terrorism offences. The court had adjourned the case until October 27 for Kanu to open his defence on October 24. The IPOB leader had written the court, indicating his intention to call witnesses and applied for a witness summons. He also begged the court for time to study his case file. At the resumed hearing, Kanu said he has gone through the case file and has realised that there…

THE Association of Igbo Town Unions (ASITU) has petitioned the United Nations Human Rights Council, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the ECOWAS Court of Justice over what it described as the “targeted demolition of properties belonging to Igbo traders and investors in Lagos State.” News Point Nigeria reports that addressing journalists in Umuahia, National President of ASITU, Chief Emeka Diwe, said the demolitions amounted to “economic cleansing,” warning that Nigeria was “dying slowly from the cancer of ethnic discrimination and selective justice.” He said the move to seek international intervention became necessary after several attempts to…

THE Senator representing Delta North, Ned Nwoko, says peace has continued to elude the South-East geopolitical zone due to the perceived marginalisation of the region by successive governments. The South-East has witnessed persistent unrest in recent years, following agitations by the separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which has been calling for the creation of an independent state of Biafra. News Point Nigeria reports that Senator Nwoko, who is leading the campaign for the creation of Anioma State out of the present Delta State to serve as the sixth state in the South-East, said the government only needs…

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared that the ongoing investigation into alleged corruption involving former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa remains active, dismissing speculations that the ex-governor is being shielded following his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). News Point Nigeria reports that the anti-graft agency emphasised that no politically exposed person or public figure enjoys immunity from investigation or prosecution on account of party affiliation. Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, made this clarification at a press briefing held in Abuja to commemorate his second anniversary in office. Daily Trust had earlier reported that Okowa…

THE detained leader of the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), made a dramatic turn on Tuesday by agreeing to enter his own defence. News Point Nigeria reports that this development comes hours after Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, led protests in parts of Abuja demanding Kanu’s release. The detained IPOB leader had last Thursday filed a motion of preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to continue with his trial. He filed the objection the same day a team of medical experts enpanelled by the court to determine his…

THE Magistrate Court sitting in Kuje, Abuja, has remanded Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the brother of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who has been held in custody for about five years by the federal government. News Point Nigeria reports that also, Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, was also remanded in prison custody by the court. They were both arrested during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest on Monday, October, 20. They were arraigned alongside 11 others before the court on Tuesday. The suspects were arraigned over allegations of breach of public peace by the police. The #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest…

AHEAD of the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State, Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Sunday said security has improved across the South-East state. The governor, who is seeking a second term of four years in office, said that as opposed to what he met when he came into office, people can now sleep with both eyes closed. He said eight councils, including Ihiala, which were “no-go areas” when his administration came on board, had been recovered from non-state actors. This, he said, resulted from his resolve to protect lives and property as part of the five-point agenda of his administration.…

EBONYI State was aglow with celebration as two of the state’s most influential families were joined in marriage, following the traditional wedding between Engr. Silas Umahi, brother to the Minister of Works and former Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi, and Princess Cynthia Rebecca Nwifuru, sister to the incumbent Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru. News Point Nigeria reports that the colourful ceremony, which drew political leaders, royal fathers, and dignitaries from across the South-East, took place at the palace of His Royal Highness, Ezekiel Nwifuru Nwakpu, in Oferekpe Agbaja, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The…

THE team led by the president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has said the ailment complained about by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, is not life-threatening. News Point Nigeria reports that Justice James Omotosho had ordered the medical team to ascertain Kanu’s actual health status following conflicting claims on the issue by medical experts engaged by the prosecution and the defence. In the panel’s report, submitted to the court on October 13 by the prosecution team led by Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), part of which was read in open court during Thursday’s proceedings, it…

ENUGU State Governor, Peter Mbah, has officially dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC). News Point Nigeria reports that he made the declaration during a state-wide broadcast to the people of the state. The governor defended his decision to switch camp, saying the move was necessitated to connect the South-Eastern state to the central government. “There comes always a time when everyone must make a bold choice to determine their destiny. Today, after a long reflection, we have made a decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and join the All Progressives Congress,” Mbah stated.…

SUPER Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has expressed optimism that his team will rise to the occasion in Tuesday’s decisive 2026 World Cup qualifier against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic, assuring Nigerians that the players are mentally ready and fully focused on victory. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that Chelle gave the assurance on Monday during the pre-match press conference at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, where the Super Eagles will host the high-stakes encounter. Nigeria currently sit third in Group C with 14 points, trailing Benin Republic who top the table with 17 points, and South Africa in…

RENOWNED Nigerian evangelist and spiritual leader of Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, Rev. Uma Ukpai, is dead. This was confirmed in a statement on Monday by his family received by News Point Nigeria, who said he passed away on October 6, 2025, at the age of 80. The family described his passing as a “glorious transition” from a life of devoted service. “He was a faithful soldier of the cross who devoted his life to spreading the gospel with passion and integrity. “His teachings, insights, and mentorship have left a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire believers for years to…

SUPER Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has come under intense fire from Nigerian football fans following a costly blunder that nearly cost Nigeria three vital points in their 2–1 victory over Lesotho in Friday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match. News Point Nigeria Sports report that the Chippa United shot-stopper, who has enjoyed a rapid rise as Nigeria’s number one since the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, was at the center of controversy after a fumbled corner kick allowed Hlompho Kalake to pull one back for Lesotho in the 83rd minute. The goal momentarily silenced fans at the packed Godswill Akpabio…

ENUGU State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, is set to formally defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, in a move that could significantly alter the political landscape of the South-East. News Point Nigeria reports that the much-anticipated defection, scheduled to take place in Enugu, is expected to attract top APC chieftains, including the National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and Deputy National Chairman (South), Hon. Emma Eneukwu, as well as governors, ministers, and other senior party figures. Governor Mbah, who was elected under the platform of the PDP…

THE presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant agencies to begin immediate verification and authentication of the academic and professional certificates of all political candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections. Obi made the call in a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday sighted by News Point Nigeria, stressing that the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy rests on truth, transparency, and integrity in the leadership selection process. The former Anambra State governor said it was unacceptable that…

JUSTICE James Omotosho of the federal high court Abuja, has adjourned the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu on alleged terrorism, to October 16th. News Point Nigeria reports that the trial was adjourned following the inability of the Nigerian Medical Association to present its report on the health status of Kanu to the court. At the last adjourned date, Justice Omotosho ordered the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to constitute a board of medical experts to investigate the alleged deteriorating health of the defendant and to determine whether the medical facility…

THE controversy surrounding the academic credentials of Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, took a dramatic turn on Monday as his camp accused Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, of masterminding a smear campaign against him, an allegation the governor swiftly denied. News Point Nigeria reports that addressing journalists in Abuja, Nnaji’s media aide, Robert Ngwu, described the widespread forgery allegations against the minister as a politically motivated witch-hunt allegedly orchestrated by Governor Mbah to tarnish his principal’s reputation. Ngwu dismissed reports that the minister forged his University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and National Youth Service…

JOURNALIST, columnist and author, Azu Ishiekwene, has released a new book, entitled A Midlifer’s Guide to Content Creation and Profit. The ten-chapter book focuses on how older adults can profitably interact with and expand their frontiers in the evolving new media landscape, particularly in light of the complex and promising developments of generative artificial intelligence (AI). In a statement, Ishiekwene, fondly called Azu, said, “It shares insights with midlifers on the possibilities for rewarding their mental exertions handsomely, whether literary, artistic or acoustic talent, or the sheer capacity to curate and tell a good story from their experiences using new…

THE Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has expressed optimism that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, will soon be released from custody, assuring residents that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is open to a political resolution of the long-standing case. News Point Nigeria reports that the Governor Otti gave the assurance on Friday during President Tinubu’s one-day working visit to Abia State, represented by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi. “I can assure you that I am engaging with Mr President. He is favourably disposed to it, and I am sure…