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…
Author: Farouk Abbas
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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…
LONG queues are beginning to build up at AA Rano and Aliko filling stations where Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol is sold below ₦1,000 per litre, as consumers hurry in search of cheaper products. News Point Nigeria market survey as of Saturday morning revealed that private car owners and commercial bus drivers are starting to form long lines at AA Rano and Aliko Oil stations, especially along the nation for petrol currently sold at ₦937 per litre. Other stations across the nation, however, do not have as many queues as the AA Rano stations, as most have increased pump…
FRESH political manoeuvring ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections may trigger a cabinet shake-up in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as several ministers are reportedly considering resigning their positions to pursue elective offices in their home states. Investigations indicate that at least four cabinet members are positioning themselves for state-level contests, particularly in states where incumbent governors will complete their constitutionally allowed two terms by 2027. Among those reportedly weighing their political options are the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu; Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; and Minister…
A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; his wife, Asabe Bashir; and their son, Abdulaziz Malami, in an ongoing money laundering case. News Point Nigeria reports that Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of ₦200 million with two sureties in like sum. As part of the bail conditions, the court ordered that one of the sureties must deposit title deeds of properties located in either Maitama or Asokoro, both highbrow districts of Abuja. The court also directed the defendants to deposit their…
THE Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed that no fewer than 100 senior lawyers in Nigeria are currently facing prosecution for various corruption-related offences, raising fresh concerns about ethical breaches within the legal profession. News Point Nigeria reports that Olukoyede made the revelation on Thursday in Abuja while speaking at the second annual lecture of the Body of Benchers, an event attended by prominent members of the legal community and key stakeholders in the justice sector. The EFCC chairman expressed worry over what he described as the growing involvement of some legal practitioners…
NIGERIA’s electricity generation has fallen below the 4,000 megawatt threshold, following persistent gas supply shortages affecting thermal power plants across the country. The development was disclosed on Thursday by the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), which manages the country’s national electricity grid. According to the system operator, total electricity generation on the national grid stood at 3,940.53 megawatts as of 5:00 a.m., highlighting ongoing fuel supply constraints that continue to limit output from gas-fired power plants. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria, titled “Gas Constraints Lead to Temporary Reduction in Power Generation,” NISO explained that the drop in…
THE Kano State House of Assembly has commenced impeachment proceedings against the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, following a series of allegations bordering on gross misconduct, abuse of office and breach of public trust. News Point Nigeria reports that the impeachment process was formally initiated during plenary after the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Lawan Hussaini Dala, presented a notice detailing the accusations against the deputy governor. According to Dala, the action was taken in compliance with the provisions of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, particularly Section 188, which outlines the legal framework for…
THE Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), to personally appear before it on March 10 to respond to a contempt charge filed by the National Rescue Mission (NRM). News Point Nigeria reports that Justice Obiora Egwuatu fixed the date after counsel to INEC, M.S. Bawa, sought an adjournment, citing an emergency that prevented the commission’s chairman from attending Wednesday’s proceedings. Bawa informed the court that a counter-affidavit had already been filed challenging the competence of the contempt proceedings and urging the court to quash the charge.…