GOVERNORS Bassey Otu and Caleb Mutfwang have emerged as the governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress in Cross River and Plateau states respectively ahead of the 2027 general elections. News Point Nigeria reports that Otu was officially declared winner of the APC governorship primary election in Cross River State after polling 116,038 votes across 196 wards in the state’s 18 local government areas. Chairman of the Cross River APC Primary Election Committee, Mr Samuel Yarnap, announced the result at the party’s state secretariat in Calabar on Friday. According to Yarnap, Governor Otu, who contested unopposed, secured victory in what…
Author: Farouk Abbas
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THE Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday adjourned until June 23, 2026, for the continuation of trial in the alleged N8.7 billion money laundering case involving former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and their son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami. News Point Nigeria reports that the trio are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to N8,713,923,759.49. The charges were filed under the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition)…
GOVERNORS Agbu Kefas in Taraba State, Umaru Bago in Niger State, and Umo Eno in Akwa Ibom State have emerged as governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 elections. News Point Nigeria reports that in Niger State, Governor Umaru Bago secured the APC gubernatorial ticket for a second term through affirmation during an event held at the APC Secretariat in Minna, the state capital. The governor emerged unopposed after APC card-carrying members from all 277 wards across the state unanimously endorsed him as the sole candidate for the 2027 governorship election in the state. Chairman of…
THE Nigerian Army has acquired additional drones and other military platforms described as force multipliers aimed at significantly improving surveillance, target acquisition, precision strikes and casualty evacuation operations across the country. News Point Nigeria reports that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, disclosed this at the close of the three-day First Bi-Annual Chief of Army Staff Conference 2026. According to him, the changing nature of contemporary security threats requires the Nigerian Army to remain proactive, adaptive and innovative in its operational approach. Shaibu noted that the newly acquired platforms had already contributed to recent operational successes recorded…
AS political realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, former Jigawa State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Sule Lamido, has advised former President Goodluck Jonathan to stay away from partisan political contests, warning that renewed calls for his return are misplaced. Political stakeholders have recently stepped up appeals urging Jonathan to re-enter active politics, but Lamido dismissed the growing calls as driven by desperation and lacking in genuine political direction. News Point Nigeria reports that the former governor made his position known in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday, where he strongly cautioned against…
THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Wednesday said it dismantled what it described as a sophisticated Nigerian-Mexican methamphetamine production syndicate operating from a clandestine laboratory hidden deep inside a forest in Ogun State. News Point Nigeria reports that the operation, carried out by operatives of the agency’s Special Operations Unit (SOU), led to the arrest of 10 suspects, including the alleged kingpin, three Mexican nationals, and six Nigerian collaborators. It also led to the seizure of methamphetamine and chemical substances valued at over ₦480 billion. Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,…
FORMER Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has withdrawn from the governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled for May 21 in Gombe State. The decision was announced in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria and signed by Ibrahim Attahir on behalf of the Pantamiyya Movement. Pantami, who had earlier submitted his nomination form at the APC national headquarters in Abuja on May 7, attributed his withdrawal to alleged violations of the electoral process and non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. Earlier this month, the APC in Gombe announced Jamilu Gwamna as…
FORMER Minister of Defence, Retired Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, on Tuesday, donated N3 billion at the public presentation of the autobiography of former Head of State, Retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, in Abuja. News Point Nigeria reports that Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of the Dangote Group, also supported the book launch with a donation of N500 million. This newspaper also reports the presentation of the 20-Chapter autobiography, titled, “My Life of Duty and Allegiance,” was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima who represented President Bola Tinubu, top government officials, members of Diplomatic Corps, and military top brass. Danjuma, who served as…
THE trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over allegations bordering on treason and breach of national security resumed on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with the prosecution presenting evidence aimed at supporting claims that the former governor received an intercepted private conversation involving the National Security Adviser (NSA). News Point Nigeria reports that during proceedings before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, the prosecution played a 43-minute television interview featuring El-Rufai, in which he allegedly stated that someone had wiretapped a conversation involving the National Security Adviser and forwarded it to him. According to the prosecution, El-Rufai was…
A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has granted a final forfeiture order for a Hawker private jet 125 linked to alleged fraud and money laundering involving the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project (MEPP) awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in 2021. News Point Nigeria reports that the spokesperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Dele Oyewale, disclosed that the final forfeiture of the aircraft, a Hawker 800XP with model number 125, serial number 258553, and registration number 5N-AMK followed an application filed by the anti-graft agency. According to Oyewale, Justice Emeka Nwite, who presided over the…
THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has published a list of 47 senatorial aspirants that are not cleared from contesting in its Senate primary elections ahead of the 2027 general polls. News Point Nigeria reports that the names of the affected aspirants were disclosed on Monday in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka. According to the APC, the screening process was carried out by its designated committees in line with the party’s laid-down rules and procedures. Among the prominent figures denied clearance is former Bayelsa East senator, Ben Murray-Bruce. Benson Agadaga, another aspirant from the same…
JUSTICE Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in the sum of ₦100 million with one surety in like sum. News Point Nigeria reports that delivering the ruling, Justice Abdulmalik imposed a series of stringent conditions the defendant must meet before perfecting the bail. The court held that the proposed surety must reside in either the Maitama or Asokoro districts of Abuja and must deposit the original Certificate of Occupancy of a landed property at the court registry. The surety is also required to be a federal civil…
SAUDI Arabia on Sunday officially announced the sighting of the Dhul-Hijjah crescent moon, confirming that Eid al-Adha will be observed on Wednesday, May 27. With the moon sighting confirmed, Monday, May 18, will mark the first day of Dhul-Hijjah, the Islamic month associated with the annual Hajj pilgrimage and the celebration of Eid al-Adha. The Day of Arafah, regarded as the most significant rite of Hajj, will be observed on Tuesday, May 26. On that day, millions of Muslim pilgrims from across the world are expected to gather on the plains of Arafat to perform the central ritual of the…
CONVICTED terrorist, Kabiru Umar, popularly known as Kabiru Sokoto, has said he was wrongly convicted for terrorism in 2013 and has now approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja to challenge both his conviction and life sentence over terrorism-related offences. Fresh court documents obtained by News Point Nigeria showed that Umar, through his lawyers, Don Akaegbu & Company, filed a motion dated May 13, 2026, seeking an extension of time to appeal the judgment delivered by Justice A.F.A. Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on December 20, 2013. The application, filed pursuant to Sections 6(6)(b) and 36 of the…
THE United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has released footage of the military operation that led to the killing of Islamic State commander, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki. In a statement on Saturday, AFRICOM said the operation was conducted under the direction of the United States President and the Secretary of War, in close coordination with the Government of Nigeria. It said initial assessments indicated that multiple terrorists were killed during the operation. The command said the strike targeted a significant ISIS presence in northeastern Nigeria, describing it as part of sustained joint counterterrorism efforts in the Lake Chad Basin region. “At the direction…
THE Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced the appointment of distinguished journalist, lawyer and pro-democracy advocate, Osa Director, as the National Publicity Secretary of the party, alongside the appointments of Peter Agbo Ekele and Lawal Sabo Ibrahim as Deputy National Publicity Secretaries. The appointments were contained in a press statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Saturday, and signed by the National Working Committee of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). According to the party, the appointments reflect the NDC’s commitment to building what it described as a formidable communication architecture driven by professionalism, integrity, intellectual depth and unwavering dedication to…
THE Dangote Petroleum Refinery has filed a new lawsuit against Nigeria’s Attorney General in a bid to overturn fuel import licences issued to marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. News Point Nigeria reports that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) recently issued six licences to marketers for the importation of petrol, saying imported fuel is necessary to complement domestic supplies. Court documents seen by this newspaper show that the case seeks to nullify import permits issued to the NNPC and several oil traders. It would be recalled that Dangote had in 2025 withdrawn a similar…
AN UNSPECIFIED number of students were reportedly abducted by suspected Boko Haram insurgents at Mussa-Biri Primary and Junior Day Secondary Schools in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, while a separate school attack in Oyo State also left a principal and several students kidnapped by gunmen. News Point Nigeria gathered that the Borno incident occurred in the early hours of Friday while students were in class receiving lessons, according to local sources who spoke on the development. An eyewitness claimed that the terrorists invaded the community shortly after military personnel on routine patrol had left the area. According to…
THE National Judicial Council (NJC), has recommended the elevation of 12 Justices to the Court of Appeal. News Point Nigeria reports that at its 111th Meeting held on Wednesday, under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the Council made the recommendation to President Bola Tinubu. A statement signed by the Deputy Director of Information of the NJC, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, disclosed that those recommended for elevation are Justice Emeka Nwite, Justice James Kolawole Omotosho, Justice Yakubu Mohammed, Justice Abodunde Oluwatoyin and Justice Ajuwa Raphael. Others are Justice Abua Ojie, Justice Ijohor Jennifer, Justice Shuaibu Bala, Justice…
THE Presidential Air Fleet received at least N4.24bn in disbursements between June and December 2025, latest updates on GovSpend, a civic technology platform that tracks and analyses Federal Government spending, have revealed. Findings by this newspaper further showed that the disbursements, made into the Presidential Air Fleet naira transit account operated by the Presidential Air Fleets under the State House, were recorded in eight separate transactions across June, July and December 2025. The bulk of the transfers were concentrated in July, when four transactions totalling N2.43bn were made within the space of one week. A breakdown of the transactions showed…