Author: Farouk Abbas

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday arraigned three senior officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation before the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja over alleged fraud, corruption and money laundering amounting to over N2.04bn. News Point Nigeria reports that the defendants are Felix Njoku, a former Director of Finance of the NRC; Benjamin Chinwuba Iloanusi, currently a Director in the corporation’s Procurement Department; and Oche Jerry Ogbole-Inalegwu, Director of Mechanical. They were docked before different judges of the Special Offences Court on separate charges bordering on abuse of office, unlawful enrichment and corruption. Njoku was arraigned before…

A UNITED States district court has sentenced Paulinus Okoronkwo, a former senior executive of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, to 87 months in federal prison over a 2.1 million dollar bribery scheme linked to a Chinese oil company. News Pont Nigeria reports that Okoronkwo, who previously served as a general manager in the upstream division of the now restructured Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, was convicted on multiple counts including transactional money laundering, tax evasion and obstruction of justice. The sentence was handed down by John Walter, who also ordered the former oil executive to pay $923,824 in restitution to the…

NIGERIA’s newly appointed Acting Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, on Wednesday declared an end to impunity within the Nigeria Police Force, vowing to enforce zero tolerance for corruption and human rights abuses. News Point Nigeria reports that Disu made the declaration moments after being decorated with his new rank by President Bola Tinubu at a ceremony held inside the President’s office at the State House, Abuja. Standing before State House correspondents, the visibly emotional police chief outlined an ambitious reform blueprint anchored on accountability, citizen-centred policing, and improved officer welfare. “I will let them know that the era of impunity…

JUSTICE Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the case against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to April 23 for arraignment. News Point Nigeria reports that the DSS filed a three-count charge against him over the alleged unlawful interception of communications, following comments he made during a television interview. The court had earlier fixed February 25 for the former governor’s arraignment. The former governor was absent during Wednesday’s proceedings. Counsel for the DSS, Oluwole Aladedoyin, informed the court that the former governor is still in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related…

VICE President Kashim Shettima says the naira would have appreciated to ₦1,000 in “weeks” if the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had not intervened in the foreign exchange (FX) market on Monday to ensure market stability. News Point Nigeria reports that Shettima said this on Tuesday at the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Renewed Hope Ambassadors Strategic Summit in Abuja. “In fact, if not for the interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria yesterday, the 1,000 Naira to a dollar we are going to attain in weeks, not in months. But for the purpose of market stability, the CBN generously intervened…

THE Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Annex, Lagos, Tunji Disu, has been appointed as Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Senate. News Point Nigeria reports that before his elevation, Disu served as Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State, and was later deployed to Abuja by the former IGP, Kayode Egbetokun. Over the course of his career, he has held several sensitive and strategic roles within the Nigeria Police Force, including leadership positions in the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), anti-kidnapping units and state…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the resignation of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, marking a significant leadership transition at the helm of the Nigeria Police Force. The development was announced on Tuesday in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria and signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. According to the statement, Egbetokun tendered his resignation letter to the President, citing pressing family considerations. President Tinubu, who received the resignation earlier in the day, expressed profound appreciation for Egbetokun’s decades of service to the Nigeria Police Force and the nation. The President…

NIGERIA’s gross external reserves climbed to $50.45 billion as of 16 February 2026, marking the highest level in 13 years, according to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso. News Point Nigeria reports that Cardoso disclosed this on Tuesday while addressing journalists at the end of the 304th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting held in Abuja. He said the increase reflects stronger macroeconomic conditions and improved confidence in the country’s policy direction. “Gross external reserves rose significantly to 50.45 billion dollars as of February 16, 2026, the highest in 13 years. This provides an import cover of…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified that no voter migration took place in 2026, following concerns raised over difficulties experienced by some voters during the February 21 Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In a press statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Tuesday, and signed by Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, the Commission said that claims suggesting voters were moved to new polling units shortly before the election are inaccurate. INEC noted that while the Area Council election was conducted successfully, it observed that some voters had…

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has yet to grant bail to former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, eight days after he was first detained, sparking growing concerns from his legal team and family members. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria late on Monday, his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, disclosed that El-Rufai has remained in custody since February 16, 2026, when he voluntarily honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). According to Adekeye, El-Rufai was initially interrogated by the EFCC between February 16 and 18. Late on February 18, he…

FORMER Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kayode Fayemi, has revealed that the underground mining site in Zurak, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, where at least 37 persons reportedly died following a gas leak last week was shut down during his tenure in office. Reacting to the tragic incident, Fayemi disclosed that the facility had been sealed in 2017 after complaints from the host community over illegal and unsafe mining activities. Fayemi served as minister of solid minerals development from 2015 until 2018, when he resigned to contest the Ekiti State governorship election, which he subsequently won. In a…

THE Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by alleged terrorist negotiator, Mr Tukur Mamu, against the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), to April 23 for the adoption of final written addresses. News Point Nigeria reports that Mamu is challenging his designation as a “terrorist” by the AGF while he is still standing trial on terrorism-related charges. The matter, which was slated for adoption of written addresses before Justice Mohammed Umar, could not proceed as scheduled and was subsequently fixed for April 23 for further hearing. In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/713/2024, Mamu, through…

AT least 2,356 Nigerians have been deported from India between 2019 and 2024, with removals surging dramatically in recent years, according to official data obtained from India’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). News Point Nigeria reports that the figures, drawn from three separate MHA annual reports, show that deportations of Nigerians quadrupled from 339 in 2021 to 1,470 in the 2023–2024 fiscal year representing a staggering 333 per cent increase within three years. In the most recent reporting period between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024, Nigerians emerged as the most deported nationality from the South Asian country, accounting…

THE Senate of the University of Abuja has approved the expulsion of 28 students for offences including cult-related activities, examination malpractice, drug possession, and threats to life. News Point Nigeria reports that the decision was taken at the institution’s 191st Regular Senate Meeting, following consideration of a report by the Student Disciplinary Committee. This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Acting Director of Information and University Relations, Dr. Habib Yakoob, as reported by The Cable. According to the statement, “the affected students were found culpable of serious misconduct, including assault, conspiracy, burglary, theft, falsification of ‘O’…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed it will review the Electoral Act 2026 and subsequently issue a revised timetable for the 2027 general elections to ensure compliance with the new legal framework. News Point Nigeria reports that the development follows mounting pressure from political parties, legal experts, and civil society stakeholders who argue that the commission cannot continue preparations under a repealed statute. Speaking in an interview with this newspaper, Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the commission remains committed to upholding the law. “The recently released timetable…

THE Department of State Services (DSS) has fixed February 25 for the arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged cybercrime and breach of national security. News Point Nigeria reports that the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was assigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, who subsequently scheduled the date for the defendant’s arraignment. The DSS on Monday filed a three-count criminal charge against the former governor, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. According to…

THE Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has explained the National Assembly’s decision to reduce the election notice period from 360 days to 300 days. News Point Nigeria reports that speaking at the State House on Wednesday after President Bola Tinubu signed the Electoral Bill into law, the Speaker said the adjustment would help avoid conducting the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections during Ramadan. He said, “Well, I think the Senate President has said most of the things that we have done yesterday during the amendment exercise. However, there is one area that I’m sure he forgot…

THE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has issued a detailed clarification on how foreign exchange rates are applied in customs valuation, following recent public commentary concerning forex pricing, investor behaviour and trade processing procedures. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by the National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, the Service emphasised that it does not independently determine or alter exchange rates used in import and export valuation. According to the NCS, all exchange rates applied within its digital clearance platform, B’Odogwu officially known as the Unified Customs Management System are electronically transmitted…

THE Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has returned to Abuja after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government, and the 30th AU General Assembly held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Friday and Saturday. The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, announced this in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria. The Vice President also held a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who urged Nigeria to lead Africa’s push for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned…

THE Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has formally denied allegations that it procured a highly toxic chemical substance and has directed former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to submit any evidence supporting his claims to the Department of State Services (DSS) for investigation. News Point Nigeria reports that the development follows a letter written by El-Rufai to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, dated January 30, 2026, in which he sought clarification over what he described as the alleged procurement of approximately 10 kilograms of thallium sulphate by ONSA. In his correspondence, El-Rufai claimed that the substance reportedly…