Author: Hamza Rufai

THE Bauchi State Police Command has revealed that the 500-level Geology student of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, who was stabbed and later died in the hospital, was trying to retrieve his girlfriend’s handbag from some assailants when the incident happened. This newspaper had reported that the final year Geology student, Joseph Agabaidu, according to multiple sources on the campus, was stabbed by some assailants while trying to steal his mobile phone. Agabaidu, who hails from Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State but is based in Benue State, was said to be the eldest among four children of his…

THE Federal Government has pledged its commitment to collaborate with the Kaduna State Government in providing compensation for the victims of the recent bombing in Kaduna. In an interview with BBC Hausa, Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, confirmed that investigations into the incident were underway. The minister reiterated the government’s dedication to supporting those undergoing medical treatment and assured that anyone responsible for the attack would face the full consequences of their actions. He said, “We are deeply saddened by the occurrence of this incident. May Allah forgive those who died and grant them Jannah. “Indeed, we have suffered a…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has celebrated elder statesman and founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, OFR, on the occasion of his 98th birthday. The President in a statement by Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale joined the Yakasai family, friends and associates in celebrating the distinguished figure who has devoted his life to fight for the unheard masses of our country as well as for justice, the rule of law, and the enthronement of good governance and transparency in public service. The President described the elder statesman as a patriot and one of the noblest men in Nigeria’s…

DEFENCE Headquarters (DHQ) has broken its silence over the air strike by the Nigerian Army at Tudun Biri community in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, saying it’s because terrorists embedded with civilians. Eighty-five people were killed with several others injured in the bombing, making it one of the country’s deadliest military bombing accidents. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, said the airstrikes were targeted at terrorists. He said the army’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) detachment observed the movement of terrorists at Ligarma, an area notorious for being a haven of insurgents. “It should be noted that…

THE Nigerian Air Force has put up the Falcon 900B aircraft for sale, calling on interested persons to submit their bids for the purchase of the aircraft, which is a part of the presidential air fleet. Details about the sale was contained in a flyer shared on the X page of the NAF late Monday. According to the flier, the aircraft was put up for sale following the approval of the Federal Government. The announcement partly read, “The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the sale of Falcon 900B aircraft owned by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF). “In compliance with…

HUGE crowd besieged banking halls on Monday, as customers moved to link their Bank Verification Numbers and National Identity Numbers to their bank accounts. This followed the new directive of the banking regulator to the banks on Friday, to bar customers who were yet to link their BVN and NIN from having access to their accounts. CBN said in its new directive that existing customers must, “Ensure all operated accounts/wallets created through agents, are fully profiled in the NIBSS ICAD and tagged with valid and correct BVN and/or NIN.” It added that, “Effective immediately, any unfunded account/wallet shall be placed…

A FEDERAL High Court sitting in Sokoto has dismissed a suit filed by a former governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, over the ownership of vehicles he took away on leaving office in May 2023. In June, the police went to houses belonging to Matawalle to take possession of the vehicles as ordered by the court. A statement issued on Monday by Sulaiman Bala Idris, the spokesperson of the current governor of the state, Dauda Lawal, stated that the Federal High Court rejected Matawalle’s claims over the ownership of the vehicles. According to the statement, the immediate past governor of…

THE Federal Government on Monday resumed the trial of suspected Boko Haram members in the Kainji Prosecution Project Phase IV in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. Speaking at the opening of the court session, the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), noted that the first phase commenced in 2017. This newspaper quoted him as saying that the Federal Government, during the 2017 trial, secured 366 convictions, while 896 suspects were discharged for lack of evidence. He noted that 61 other cases were adjourned for further hearing. He noted that the resumption of the trial was…

THE Nigerian Army has taken responsibility for Sunday’s Air Strike that left many villager killed and several others injured at Tudun Biri village in Kaduna State. This development was confirmed by Samuel Aruwan, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs at the end of an emergency security meeting on Monday. News Point Nigeria had earlier reported that on Sunday night while the villagers were marking the Maulud celebration to commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW, an unmanned aerial vehicle bombed some parts of the community, killing a yet to ascertained number of individuals. Following the incident,…

BOKO Haram arms supplier and detained Nigerian soldier, Abba Gesh, has escaped from the Joint Investigation Centre (JIC), a military prison located at Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, this newspaper can report. This newspaper learnt that the prison, over the decade, has been known for detaining hundreds of suspected and confirmed Boko Haram terrorists arrested during the ongoing insurgency in the Northern part of the country. Though this newspaper could not establish when Gesh escaped from the facility, security sources revealed he was last sighted on November 26 at Malari, also in Borno State. Gesh, a member…

THE Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has named new chairmen and deputy chairmen for Standing Committees of the House. At the end of the debate on the general principles of the proposed 2024 budget of N27.5 trillion on Friday, the Speaker, who presided over the session, made the announcement on the floor of the House. Iritomi Thomas was named the Chairman of the Committee on Petroleum Resources Training Funds while the Deputy Chairman is Ajilo Shehu. The Committee on States and Local Governments is to be chaired by Shehu Rijau while his Deputy is Vincent Bulus from…

THE Federal Government, on Thursday, said it had raised N585m towards the settlement of fines for inmates in a bid to decongest correctional centres across the country. The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, represented by an Assistant Director in the ministry, Dr Anayo Romanus-Nzekwe, disclosed this on Thursday in Kano, during the release of 150 inmates, whose fines were settled by the Federal Government. This newspaper reports that the interior minister had repeatedly lamented that no fewer than 4,000 inmates were languishing in detention over their inability to pay fines. Tunji-Ojo had promised that the Federal Government would clear…

THE House of Representatives on Thursday passed the N27.5trn 2024 budget for second reading. Leading the debate on the general principles of the budget, House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere commended President Bola Tinubu, noting that national security and education which got significant allocations, will be enhanced if implemented. “Nigeria will be more secure with the allocation to defence and security. “As a teacher, I am impressed by the emphasis on basic education. I am sure that education will be better off this time,” he said. More details shortly…

BANDITS, on Tuesday night, attacked Dan-Honu II community in New Millennium City of Chikun local government area of Kaduna State, kidnapping eight persons. Among those abducted were a newly wedded couple who got married last Saturday, Chief Imam of the community mosque, his wife and three children, including a 10-month-old baby. The bandits, who stormed the community around 8:50pm numbering about 10, with AK47 rifles and other dangerous weapons, were said to be clad in black, with one of them masked. A community member, Mohammed, who escaped the abduction by the whiskers, told our Correspondent that the bandits started by…

THE Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has appointed Abdul-Azeez Suleiman as its new Director of Publicity and Advocacy. According to a statement by Professor Danjuma Doknan Sheni, Director General of the Forum, his appointment followed an extensive search for the most suitable candidate who will also double as its spokesman. The statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday reads: “Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, a seasoned journalist with an impressive track record, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. Having held various editorial positions in renowned national newspapers such as the Daily Trust, Summit, and The Road, Suleiman has consistently demonstrated his professionalism…

THE National Judicial Council may on Friday send the names of 11 successful candidates to President Bola Tinubu for appointment into the Supreme, this newspaper gathered on Tuesday. It also gathered that 22 shortlisted justices were screened on Tuesday at the Committee Room of the NJC in Abuja from 9am to 6pm. One of our correspondents learnt that the screened justices were divided into priority and reserved candidates. The priority candidates include Justice Jummai Sankey; Justice Stephen Adah; Justice Mohammed Idris; Justice Abubakar Umar; Justice Chidiebere Uwa; Justice Obande Ogbuinya; Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu; Justice Moore Adumein; and Justice Habeeb Abiru.…

OFFICERS of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone B of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in Kaduna State have impounded 61 smuggled Sports Utility Vehicles, textile products and drugs with a total Duty Paid Value of N2.8 billion. The FOU Comptroller, Dalha Wada, on Tuesday, said the smuggled vehicles were impounded from smugglers at different locations in the North-Central and North-West zones as a result of the intelligence drive and improved strategies to raise the service’s operational performances. The comptroller also raised the alarm that some smugglers had devised new methods to evade arrest by hiring bandits in the northern region…

A FEDERAL Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, has adjourned an alleged procurement fraud case involving ex-Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. The court adjourned the trial of the ex-bank chief to January 18 and 19, 2024 for continuation of trial. Emefiele is standing trial on a six count amended charge on alleged procurement of vehicles to the tune of N1.6bn. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was granted bail on November 17, 2023 to the tune of N300m and two sureties and remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, pending when he meets his…

THE Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has nullified the election of the Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Liman, and ordered a rerun in five polling units (PUs). News Point Nigeria reports that the State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal had on September 30 nullified the victory of Liman representing Makera State Constituency and ordered a rerun in 42 polling units. This followed a petition filed before the Tribunal by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Solomon Katuka, challenging the election of Liman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In his petition, the PDP candidate…

NO fewer than 32 bills have been tabled before the Senate and the House of Representatives for the creation of new universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, News Point Nigeria gathered. The Academic Staff Union of Universities and other experts, however, warned the government against the establishment of new institutions while failing to fund the existing ones. This newspaper reports that Nigeria has a total of 52 federal universities. The official data from the National Universities Commission also revealed that the country has 63 state universities and 147 private universities. The National…