Author: Musa Bello

More than 100 inmates facing the death penalty in Kano State have appealed to the state government and the Committee of Prerogative of Mercy for clemency. In a press release issued by Musbahu Lawan Kofar Mata, the Public Relations Officer of the Correctional Center in Kano, it was revealed that the Controller of Correctional Centers, Suleiman M. Inuwa, has submitted a list of inmates seeking clemency to the Committee. The Controller presented the list during the Committee’s visit to the Maximum Security Custodial Centre in Janguzu, Kano, handing it over to the Chairperson of the Kano State Prerogative of…

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has offered free education to rescued Kuriga school children under his foundation. The governor also promised to rebuild the primary and government secondary school kuriga, in addition to providing other basic infrastructure in the community. Details soon… (CHANNELS TV)

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Jabi has acquitted former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke, and six co-defendants accused of fraudulent activities related to the contentious Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 245, commonly known as the Malabu Oil deal. Adoke, alongside businessman Aliyu Abubakar, Rasky Gbinigie, Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited, Shell Nigeria Extra Deep Limited, and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited, faced charges concerning the alleged Malabu Oil scam. In a ruling issued on Thursday, Justice Abubakar Kutigi upheld the no-case submissions presented by all defendants in…

In a resolute stance, the House of Representatives has pledged to retrieve two Bell Helicopters, specifically identified as Bell 206L4 BZB and Bell M2061-L4, which were sold to private entities, depriving the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, of crucial training assets. During an investigative hearing held in Abuja on Thursday, Rep. Ademorin Kuye, Chair of the House of Reps Committee on Public Assets, voiced the House’s determination to rectify the sale of the helicopters, expressing concern over the ramifications of the college being left without helicopters for training purposes. Questions were raised by the committee regarding the…

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission has said it is investigating over 400 cases of privacy breaches involving online loan apps. Cases of data privacy breaches have become prevalent in recent times due to the proliferation of digital lending platforms. The commission made this known in its 2023 Annual Report made available to The PUNCH on Thursday. It noted that its ongoing investigations have revealed that “loan apps are overly intrusive.” NDPC is also seeking a ban or restriction on mobile numbers found to have been used by lenders to breach the privacy of their customers. “They generally violate the…

The Defence Headquarters has declared eight persons wanted over their roles in the recent killing of 17 military personnel in Delta State. The military released the list on Thursday at a briefing in Abuja. Those declared wanted are PROF. EKPEKPO ARTHUR, ANDAOWEI DENNIS BAKRIRI, AKEVWRU DANIEL OMOTEGBO (AKA AMAGBEN, AKATA MALAWA DAVID, SINCLEAR OLIKI, CLEMENT IKOLO OGHENERUKEYWE, REUBEN BARU, IGOLI EBI. Details later… (CHANNELS TV)

The Air Component of Operation Delta Safe launched airstrikes, annihilating multiple illegal refining installations and boats in Rivers State. Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), disclosed that the air assaults form part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal oil processing plants and vessels engaged in pilfering crude oil products in the Niger Delta region. Gabkwet detailed, “The sites and barges destroyed were discovered between March 25 and 26, 2024, at various locations including Bille, Dariama, Elem Bekinkiri, Temakiri, Opumakiri, and Degema in Rivers State.” He elaborated further, “At…

Stakeholders have appealed to concerned authorities to earmark significant resources in the educational system in the country to build a prosperous future. The stakeholders made the call at the end of the roundtable discussion organised by Bëtá Nigeria Campaign (BN), a growing movement campaigning for an improved education system in the country. Participants at the roundtable, include members of civil society organizations and media practitioners, believed education reform remains a critical investment to Nigeria’s future stability and prosperity. Abdulsalam Badamasi, Federal Lead, Bëtá Nigeria said the roundtable discussion that culminated Bëtá Nigeria’s first efforts was launched in January 2024…

President Bola Tinubu at a Ramadan dinner with members of the Federal judiciary in Abuja on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 President Bola Tinubu has declared that individuals involved in despicable crimes such as kidnapping must be treated as terrorists. The President made the declaration on Tuesday at a Ramadan dinner with members of the Federal judiciary led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. Reiterating the government’s resolve to defeat banditry, the President said those who resort to kidnapping children are cowards, incapable of confronting the might of the Nigerian Armed Forces. ”We must treat kidnappers…

Independent Hajj Reporters, IHR, has called on all intending pilgrims for Hajj 2024 to avoid the temptation of seeking a refund of their deposits in view of the sudden increase of N1.9 million. The group in a statement by its national coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammed worried on Tuesday that hundreds of intending pilgrims who are rather at a loss with the latest development are left with no alternative. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, on Sunday issued the fresh fare increase few months after pilgrims completed their N4.9 million final deposits, attributing the development to increasing volatility of the…

The Federal Government of Nigeria has asserted that Kaduna-based controversial cleric, Shaikh Ahmad Gumi, is subject to the laws of the land, emphasizing that no individual, regardless of status, is exempt from legal scrutiny. This declaration was made by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris, during a press briefing at the State House on Monday. Addressing reporters, Minister Idris affirmed the government’s firm stance on Shaikh Ahmad Gumi, revealing that the cleric had been summoned for questioning concerning his remarks amidst the surge of kidnappings in the North. Social media reports had circulated comments attributed to…

The Edo State chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Tony Aziegbemi has been released after being kidnapped by a gang of gunmen near his home in Benin City. He was set free by his abductors in the early hours of Tuesday. Aziegbemi returned to his Benin City residence around 3 a.m. The Special Adviser for Media Projects to the Edo State Governor Crusoe Osagie confirmed the release in a telephone conversation with Channels Television. The former member of the House of Representatives represented the Esan North-East/Esan South-East federal constituency of Edo State. His abductors, who rode in two…

One of the two Binance executives detained in Nigeria for alleged tax evasion and other offences, Nadeem Anjarwalla, has reportedly escaped from custody. In February, the Federal Government detained the two senior executives of Binance. The arrest came amidst efforts by the government to rein in speculation on the naira by cracking down on cryptocurrency exchanges. The charges against Binance include non-payment of Value-Added Tax, Company Income Tax, failure to file tax returns, and complicity in aiding customers to evade taxes through its platform. Anjarwalla, on Friday, reportedly escaped from the Abuja guest house where he and his colleague…

FOUR people have lost their lives in a stampede during an almsgiving zakat exercise for the poor in Bauchi State. The stampede occurred at the Shafa Holdings Company plc headquarters along Jos Road, on Sunday at about 12pm Another individual, 17-year-old Naima Abdullahi, is currently receiving medical treatment at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi. The police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakili, confirmed the incident to News Point Nigeria and guaranteed that the situation is currently stable. He stated that the police acted swiftly upon hearing the news, and the police commissioner encouraged the public to…

Veteran Nollywood actor, Amaechi Muonagor, has died at the age of 62 after a prolonged illness. This was disclosed by a social commentator, Morris Monye, via his X handle, on Sunday. Muonagor was said to have suffered kidney failure and was on dialysis. The sudden news of his demise comes just few days after a viral video where he solicited funds to help him have a Kidney transplant. Monye wrote, “Deeply heartbroken by the news of Amaechi Muonagor’s passing. “He was a talented Nollywood actor whose presence on our screens was truly masterful. “We watched with concern as he battled…

Rampaging bandits on Saturday night attacked Mairuwa village, Faskari local government area of Katsina State, killing worshippers observing Ramadan prayers. At least two persons were shot dead while another sustained injury during the attack. It was gathered that one of the deceased persons was a prominent man simply identified as Alhaji Lado. He was suspected to be the prime target of the assailants. A source who described the deceased as a businessman, politician and large scale farmer, said the victim was killed when he refused to take orders from his murderers. “They opened fire on him when they attempted…

Kano State Government on Sunday denied budgeting N6bn for its Ramadan Feeding Program. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf refuted the claim in a post on his verified X handle on Sunday. It could be recalled that the state government through the Commissioner for Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye said the government set aside N6bn, with a target of reaching four million people in the 2024 Ramadan feeding Program across the 44 local government areas of the state. Only yesterday, the opposition party in the state, APC had asked the state government to come out clean on the N6bn set aside for…

The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has demanded Kano state government to account for the sum of N6 billion disbursed for the annual Ramadan feeding programs in the state. Kano APC Chairman, Prince Abdullahi Abbas made the demand on Saturday while flagging the distribution of palliatives to party members across 484 political wards in the state. Prince Abbas who described the entire feeding program of the state government as an organized scam, insisted the NNPP administration has failed the credibility test entrusted by Kano people. According to the APC Chairman, instead of dispensing the state resources judiciously as promised,…

The Defence Headquarters on Friday said it has declared 97 persons wanted for terrorism, violent extremism and secessionist threats against the state. Prominent among the wanted persons is the factional leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Simon Ekpa. Major Gen Edwaed Buba, Director, Defence Media Operations, confirmed the names and pictures of the people declared wanted in Abuja on Friday night. The wanted persons, terrorists/ bandits and insurgents commanders are from the North East, North West, North Central and South-East zones. The military authorities did not place any bounty on the wanted persons. A breakdown of…

The detained President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, was arraigned by before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday. Bodejo is being prosecuted by the Federal Government on charges, bordering on terrorism, stemming from allegations of raising an armed militia detrimental to national unity, contravening Nigeria’s constitution. The leader of Miyetti Allah was apprehended on January 23 in Malia, Nasarawa State, and detained by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), faced a three-count charge brought by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF). The AGF sought an order to remand Bodejo…