PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu was on Wednesday given a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle as the Nigerian leader began his state visit to the United Kingdom. The president and his wife, Remi Tinubu, were treated to a 42-gun salute by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery. Before that, Prince William and Princess Catherine met and greeted the Nigerian leader and his wife at the Fairmont Hotel before the short ride to Windsor Castle, where King Charles III hosted them. There was also an exchange of gifts and a display of items related to Nigeria that are kept in the Royal Collection.…
Author: Farouk Abbas
THE Kano State Government has confirmed that the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, will lead this year’s Eid-el-Fitr Durbar, even as authorities roll out stringent measures aimed at preventing any breakdown of law and order during the Sallah celebrations. The decision, approved by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, follows what officials described as credible intelligence reports suggesting that certain individuals may attempt to incite unrest during the festive period. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, the government reiterated its commitment to preserving Kano’s rich cultural…
THE Federal Government of Nigeria has declared Thursday, 19 March, and Friday, 20 March 2026, as public holidays to mark the celebration of Eid-el-Fitr, which signifies the end of the holy month of Ramadan. This was made known in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Magdalene Ajani, on Tuesday. According to her, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, extended warm greetings and heartfelt congratulations to the Muslim faithful on the successful completion of the holy month of Ramadan. The Minister urged Muslims…
THE Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on Muslims across Nigeria to begin the search for the Shawwal crescent, which will signal the end of Ramadan and the commencement of Eid-el-Fitr celebrations. The directive was contained in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Tuesday by the Sultanate Council of Sokoto and signed by the Wazirin Sokoto and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sambo Wali Junaidu. According to the statement, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, corresponding to the 29th day of Ramadan 1447AH, has been designated for the sighting of the new moon. “The…
TWO convicted drug traffickers, Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, on Monday narrated how some top officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) allegedly aided them to beat security checks at Enugu International Airport before their arrest by the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT). The duo, who had since served their two-year jail term, told Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja in a video evidence played in the open court at the instance of a former head of IRT, Abba Kyari, and his co-defendants. Justice Nwite had, on February 27, admitted the video recording of…
SEVERAL passengers sustained injuries on Monday morning after a train operating along the Abuja–Kaduna rail corridor was involved in an incident that disrupted the journey and temporarily halted rail services on the busy route. News Point Nigeria learnt that the passenger train, which departed Kaduna and was headed for Abuja, failed to arrive at its destination as scheduled after the disruption occurred along the strategic rail line linking the Federal Capital Territory to Kaduna State. Sources within the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirmed that the incident took place during the morning trip, although officials were still assessing the situation at…
THE 19th Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Almustapha Haruna Jokolo, has congratulated renowned banker and entrepreneur Chief Fola Adeola following his appointment as Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Petroleum Reform Value Optimisation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Jokolo described the appointment as a well-deserved recognition of Adeola’s longstanding commitment to national development, integrity, and patriotism, expressing confidence in his ability to deliver on the critical national assignment. In a congratulatory message sent to News Point Nigeria on behalf of his family, friends, and associates, the monarch reflected on his decades-long relationship with Adeola, which dates back to the late…
Says ‘Deed Of Assignment Not Signed By Alleged Buyer A PROSECUTION witness has said that no Power of Attorney was presented on behalf of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, or the second defendant, Shuaib Oricha, for a property under investigation. James Igbakuleh, who is the 11th witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in the ongoing alleged money laundering trial of the former governor and two others, added that he was also seeing the former governor for the fourth time. “The first time was on Monday at the Federal High Court, then Tuesday, yesterday and…
THE Inspector General of Police (IGP) has urged Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to dismiss the rights enforcement suit filed by former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai. El-Rufai is seeking ₦1 billion in compensation against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Chief Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, the IGP, and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF). He is challenging a recent search of his Asokoro home in Abuja by law enforcement agents, during which some items were allegedly recovered. In a counter-affidavit, the IGP justified the…
A PROSECUTION witness in the alleged money laundering trial of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has said that the transactions between January 1, 2016 and April 2023, linked to the Kogi State Government in Exhibit AH1, were done before he joined Access Bank Plc. The witness, Olomotane Egoro, also noted, during the continuation of cross-examination on Wednesday, that he was not the account officer of the account in question. Egoro, who is the 10th witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the ongoing trial, admitted, when asked, that his bank did not flout any…
MINISTER of Defence, Christopher Musa, has summoned the country’s top military commanders for an emergency meeting following a series of deadly attacks on military bases in the North-East region. News Point Nigeria reports that the high-level security meeting, held at the **Ministry of Defence Nigeria headquarters in Abuja, brought together key members of the military high command to review the nation’s counter-terrorism strategies amid rising insurgent activities. The meeting comes in the wake of recent attacks by terrorists in Borno State, which reportedly claimed the lives of several soldiers, including three commanding officers. Among those present at the meeting were…
OPERATIONS of Turkish Airlines were disrupted on Tuesday after aviation workers under the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) picketed the airline at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, protesting the alleged dismissal of seven union members. News Point Nigeria reports that the protest led to the temporary grounding of the airline’s activities at the Lagos airport and left hundreds of passengers stranded as workers blocked operations in a dramatic escalation of a labour dispute. The development triggered tension at one of Nigeria’s busiest airports, forcing passengers scheduled to travel on the airline to abandon their plans and return home.…
THE Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has relieved the State Head of Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa, of his appointment with immediate effect in what officials described as part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the state civil service. The decision was announced on Tuesday evening in a statement issued by the Director-General, Media and Publicity at Government House, Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa. According to the statement, the move forms part of the administration’s broader effort to reposition the Kano State civil service for improved efficiency, discipline, and better service delivery across government institutions. Although no specific…
THE 10th Prosecution Witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Olomotane Egoro, on Tuesday, maintained that the transactions being examined in the ongoing alleged money laundering trial of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, were within the threshold prescribed by the Central Bank of Nigeria. He, however, noted that the names of the first defendant, former Governor Bello; and the second defendant, Shuaib Oricha, did not appear in any of the records of transactions. Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank Plc, said, during the continuation of cross-examination by the Defendant’s Counsel, Paul Daudu, SAN, that…
GOVERNOR Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has cited the prolonged internal crisis and legal disputes within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the major reason behind his decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The formal announcement of the governor’s defection was made on Monday by the Zamfara State Deputy Governor, Mani Mummuni, following a crucial stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Gusau. According to officials, the decision was reached after extensive consultations among political leaders, party stakeholders and government officials across the state. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by the governor’s spokesperson,…
THE EFCC’s witness, Mahmoud Abdulazeez, on Monday, stated that the name of former Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi was not linked to the transactions in the fresh documents tendered by the commission in the ongoing money laundering trial. Abdulazeez, a staff of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited, told Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja when he was being cross-examined by the defence lawyer, Joseph Daudu, SAN. It would be recalled that Abdulazeez, the 10th prosecution witness (PW-10), had identified two documents sought to be tendered as evidence by the EFCC during the evidence-in-chief in the…
THE Dangote Petroleum Refinery has raised the depot price of petrol for the fourth time in just over a week, increasing the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to ₦1,175 per litre amid mounting pressure in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market. News Point Nigeria reports that the refinery also adjusted the price of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, raising it to ₦1,620 per litre. Industry sources confirmed that the revised pricing template has been communicated to fuel marketers and distributors across the country following multiple adjustments that began earlier in March. The latest revision marks the fourth…
THE leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reaches a decisive moment on Monday as the **Court of Appeal of Nigeria in Abuja delivers judgment on nine consolidated appeals filed by rival factions within the party. News Point Nigeria reports that the highly anticipated ruling is expected to determine the legitimate leadership of Nigeria’s main opposition party after months of legal battles, political maneuvering and internal divisions. Notices sent to the parties by the court’s registry confirmed that the appellate court will deliver its verdict on the appeals challenging various decisions of the **Federal High Court in Abuja. A…
ZAMFARA State Governor Dauda Lawal may soon defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as political realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections. Sources within both parties told News Point Nigeria that the governor’s anticipated move could take place as early as next week, depending largely on the outcome of the Court of Appeal ruling on the leadership dispute currently rocking the PDP. Multiple party insiders in Abuja, Gusau and Kaduna confirmed that Lawal and many of his loyalists within the PDP are closely watching the pending court judgment before making a final…
TROOPS of the 7 Guards Battalion, Guards Brigade, Nigerian Army, have rescued 19 kidnapped victims and neutralised a suspected terrorist during a coordinated security operation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations at the Headquarters Guards Brigade, Lieutenant Olawuyi Itunuoluwa, disclosed this in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Saturday. According to the statement, the operation was conducted around Gidan Dogo in the Bwari Area Council following credible intelligence on the whereabouts of terrorists responsible for the recent abduction of residents in the Byazhin area of Bwari. The troops carried…