Author: Farouk Abbas

THE second batch of no fewer than 705 Nigerian refugees has voluntarily returned to Borno State after being repatriated from Cameroon to the Banki border community in the Bama Local Government Area of the state. News Point Nigeria reports that the state government’s repatriation exercise is part of a coordinated resettlement drive in insurgency-affected border communities. The returning refugees, comprising 85 households, were formally seen off in Maroua by the Governor of Cameroon’s Far North Region, Midjiyawa Bakari, on Thursday. Their arrivals on Friday mark continued progress in efforts to repatriate 3,000 citizens displaced by the 16-year Boko Haram insurgency,…

A FORMER governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has been granted permission by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the 2026 lesser Hajj. News Point Nigeria reports that in granting the application, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered that Bello’s international passport, which has been in the custody of the court, be temporarily released to him. The former governor is currently standing trial before the court over alleged misappropriation of funds, in a case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The application for permission to travel was personally deposed to by…

THE Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, has publicly called on the Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, to resign from office if he can no longer align politically with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. News Point Nigeria reports that Waiya made the call during a live programme on Muhasa Radio, while responding to questions surrounding reports that the deputy governor has chosen to remain loyal to the Kwankwasiyya political movement led by former Kano State governor and NNPP national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, despite Governor Yusuf’s recent political realignment. According to the commissioner, political divergence…

JUSTICE Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court High, has fixed fresh ten days to conclude trial in the corruption charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, on naira redesign. News Point Nigeria reports that Justice Anenih fixed the days following the consensus by counsel to the Commission, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), and counsel to Emefiele, Olalekan Ojo (SAN). The fixed dates are February 3 and 10, April 1 and 2, May 11, 12, 13 and 14 as well as June 9 and 10th during…

OPERATIVES of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have arrested six suspected cybercriminals for allegedly hacking into the systems of a Nigerian telecommunications company and diverting airtime and mobile data valued at approximately ₦7.7 billion. The arrest was confirmed on Wednesday in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who said the suspects unlawfully accessed the core infrastructure of the telecom firm to perpetrate the large-scale fraud. According to the police, the suspects were identified as Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu, and Masa’ud Sa’ad. Adejobi disclosed…

THE Progressive Governors Forum under the leadership of Hope Uzodimma IS currently meeting behind closed doors at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja. News Point Nigeria reports that those in attendance include Governors Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Monday Okpebholo (Edo), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi). Others include Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) and Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom). However, Governors Dikko Radda (Katsina), Babagana Zulum (Borno) and Muhammad Yahaya (Gombe) were absent. They sent their deputies to represent them at the meeting. The agenda of the meeting is unknown as…

THE Presidency has played down concerns over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s health following a brief stumble during a ceremonial reception in Ankara, Türkiye, on Tuesday, assuring Nigerians that the President is in good condition and that his state visit is proceeding as scheduled. News Point Nigeria reports that the reassurance was given by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, who provided an update via his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle. According to Dare, President Tinubu moved seamlessly from the ceremonial welcome to his scheduled bilateral engagements with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other top…

THE Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the arrest of 16 military officers over acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations, with several of the affected personnel now set to face trial before military judicial panels. News Point Nigeria reports that the confirmation was made on Monday in Abuja by the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Samaila Uba, who disclosed that the investigative panel constituted by the military authorities has concluded its assignment. According to Maj.-Gen. Uba, the panel’s findings revealed that a number of the officers have serious cases to answer, necessitating further disciplinary and judicial action in line…

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed reports suggesting that Vice President Kashim Shettima might be replaced as Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the 2027 elections. APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, addressed the speculation on Channels Television’s Politics Today monitored by News Point Nigeria on Monday. Asked about calls within and outside the party for a balanced 2027 ticket, Morka said the party remains focused on governance rather than premature election speculation. “A few hours ago today, I put out a statement to dismiss some of the rumours swirling around this question regarding the possible replacement of the Vice…

THE political landscape in Kano State has been thrown into fresh turmoil following a wave of high-profile resignations from Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration, including the resignation of Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, son of former governor and NNPP leader Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. News Point Nigeria reports that Mustapha Kwankwaso, who served as Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, announced his resignation on Monday, stepping down both from his cabinet position and his membership of the Kano State Executive Council. In a resignation statement, Mustapha said the decision was taken with a “heavy heart,” while expressing gratitude to Governor Yusuf for…

KANO State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside 22 members of the Kano State House of Assembly and nine members of the House of Representatives. News Point Nigeria reports that the governor announced the decision at a political event held at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano on Monday. Addressing party leaders, lawmakers and supporters at the event, Governor Yusuf said the decision followed extensive consultations with elected representatives and key stakeholders across the state. “After wide consultation, 22 out of 24 members of the Kano State House of Assembly and nine out…

THE Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has taken over the criminal case brought against a senior lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC). News Point Nigeria reports that the development, however, stalled Ozekhome’s planned arraignment before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on the three-count charge filed against him by the ICPC and in which he is accused of, among others, forgery. At the day’s proceedings, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), said he was representing…

KANO State Governor, Abba Yusuf, is set to rejoin the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, January 26, 2026, following his resignation from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). The development was confirmed in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Sunday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa. According to the statement, Governor Yusuf’s decision marks a return to the APC, a party he first joined in 2014. He had emerged winner of the party’s primary election for the Kano Central Senatorial seat that year but later conceded the ticket to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Explaining the…

THE political crisis rocking Kano State deepened on Saturday following the resignation of the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Kofarmata, from Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s cabinet. Kofarmata announced his resignation in a letter dated January 25, 2026 sighted by News Point Nigeria, addressed to the governor, formally stepping down from his position and withdrawing from the State Executive Council. In the letter, Kofarmata said his decision was informed by growing political tensions in the state and his concern that remaining in office under the prevailing circumstances could compromise his independence, objectivity, and professional integrity. According to…

THE political landscape in Kano State was thrown into deeper uncertainty on Saturday as Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf relieved his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Sunusi Surajo, of his appointment, barely 24 hours after resigning from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). News Point Nigeria reports that the dismissal of Surajo, a staunch loyalist of former governor and NNPP national leader Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, comes amid a wave of mass defections that has seen 22 members of the Kano State House of Assembly and several other elected officials abandon the NNPP in solidarity with the governor. Surajo, a former…

VICE President Kashim Shettima has returned to Abuja after a week-long diplomatic and economic mission to Guinea-Conakry and Switzerland, declaring that Nigeria has reclaimed a frontline seat in global and regional policy discussions. A statement sent to News Point Nigeria by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, said the Vice President arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Saturday. He had represented President Bola Tinubu at the inauguration of Guinea’s President, Mamadi Doumbouya, and led Nigeria’s delegation to the 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos. According to the Vice President, the trip reflects…

FORMER presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and national leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has declared that he remains firmly committed to his political ideology, insisting that no amount of pressure or inducement would make him abandon his principles. News Point Nigeria reports that Kwankwaso made the declaration on Friday while addressing party supporters at his residence in Kano, hours after the resignation of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, from the NNPP alongside dozens of political office holders across the state. The governor’s exit, which also affected several local government chairmen, members of…

NIGERIA’s fragile electricity system suffered another major setback on Wednesday as the national power grid collapsed once again, plunging large parts of the country into darkness and disrupting economic and social activities nationwide. Checks by News Point Nigeria revealed that electricity generation dropped precipitously from over 4,500 megawatts (MW) earlier in the day to an alarming low of 24MW by about 1:30pm, one of the steepest declines recorded in recent times. Data obtained from industry sources showed that all 23 power generation plants connected to the national grid lost output almost simultaneously, resulting in zero power allocation to each of…

THE United States on Thursday urged the Nigerian government to intensify efforts towards protecting Christian communities in the country. News Point Nigeria reports that the US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, who made the call, said that while some progress had been made in recent months, recent attacks indicated that Nigeria must do more to guarantee the safety of Christians. “Today, we are here to discuss how we can work together to deter violence against Christian communities, prioritising counterterrorism and insecurity; investigating attacks and holding perpetrators accountable; and reducing the number of killings, forced displacements, and abductions of…

FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Senate of deliberately frustrating efforts to amend the Electoral Act 2022, warning that continued delays could seriously undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections. Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), raised the alarm in a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday sighted by News Point Nigeria, where he described the existing Electoral Act as deeply flawed and partly responsible for the controversies that trailed the last general elections. According to Atiku, weaknesses in the Electoral Act 2022 created room for widespread…