Author: Vera

Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has once again lashed out at calls for bandits to be declared terrorists, saying even if the federal government decides to make the decision, it won’t change anything. Point News247 reports that this remark was made in a statement by Malam Tukur Mamu, the Dan-Iyan Fika and Media Consultant to Sheikh Gumi, the Muslim scholar said: “I think the Federal Government has succumbed to media blackmail by a section of the country. It will not have any practical value because even before the declaration they are being fought and treated as terrorists.” “So it’s…

Point News247 reports that the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday, declared the recently-discovered B.1.1.529 strain of Covid-19 to be a variant of concern, renaming it Omicron. “Based on the evidence presented indicative of a detrimental change in Covid-19 epidemiology… the WHO has designated B.1.1.529 as a variant of concern, named Omicron,” the UN health agency said in a statement. Meanwhile, EU officials holding an emergency meeting over the variant agreed on Friday to urge all 27 nations in the bloc to restrict travel from that region. “Member States agreed to introduce rapidly restrictions on all travel into the EU…

Transatlantic military alliance (NATO), has warned Russia that any attempt to invade Ukraine would have consequences, as the Russian military amasses hundreds of thousands of troops near Ukraine’s borders. Ukraine says Moscow kept 90,000 troops near their border following massive war games in western Russia earlier this year. Point News247 reports that the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said units of the Russian 41st army remain near Yelnya, about 160 miles north of the border. Moscow denies that it’s planning any invasion and refuses to provide details about troop movements, saying their Army can move anywhere within Russian territory. NATO Secretary-General Jens…

Contrary to recent publications,Chukwudumeme Nwamadike alias Evans, has not been convicted in any of the three courts where he is being prosecuted over allegations of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, attempt to kidnap and sale and transfer of firearms for an attempted kidnap. Point News247 reports that the trial of Evans and his co-defendants before Justice Hakeem Oshodi, is at written address stage. His trial before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo is at the stage where prosecution is still calling witnesses while his trial is still ongoing before Justice Adedayo Akintoye. It was also gathered that his cases are before…

The principal of Auga Community Grammar School, Joshua Adeyemi, has been kidnapped at gunpoint. Point News247 reports that Joshua Adeyemi and four others were kidnapped along the Auga/Ise-Akoko Road in Akoko North-East Local Government Area, Ondo State. Adeyemi was abducted together with his vice, Ifedayo Yesufu, and three other teachers in the school at gunpoint. The incident happened on Thursday afternoon when the victims were travelling in a Toyota Corolla. They were rounded up and taken into the forest by the attackers. One of the victims, a pregnant lady, Blessing Okeke, was released by the abductors due to her condition…

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) yesterday, sealed a plastic company and arrested three persons for producing harmful plastics. Point News247 reports that according to the Director General, SON, Farouk Salim, the enforcement exercise was part of the efforts by the agency to reduce to the barest minimum, sub-standard and harmful products being circulated across the country. He stated that the agency’s Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) makes it quite clear the standard requirements for locally manufactured plastic products, adding that the erring company has been producing plastic products below standards parameters.The three arrested suspects have been subsequently taken to…

The former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Madueke has lost her bid to recover $40m jewellery from Federal Government of Nigeria. Point News247 reports that the Court of Appeal Lagos Division has dismissed an appeal by the former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, challenging the forfeiture of her $40million worth of jewellery to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The court held that there was no substance in Alison-Madueke’s bid to overturn the lower court’s order and thereby affirming the 2019 judgment of Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court which forfeited the jewellery following an application by the Economic and…

President Muhammadu Buhari, has ordered security agencies to intensify surveillance and patrol activities along the Abuja-Kaduna highway. The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, disclosed this to State House Correspondents on Thursday after the National Security Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Aregbesola also disclosed that the government was impressed by the recently concluded governorship election in Anambra State, which saw the emergence of the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Charles Soludo, as the governor-elect. He stated, “The police and other security agencies have been mobilised to intensify surveillance, patrol and pursuit of the criminals. And it’s not…

Three Lebanese judges have resigned over interference by politicians in the work of the judiciary, including a probe into last year’s Beirut blast, a judicial source said Thursday. In a country where political leaders determine judicial appointments, including in top courts, there is little room for the judiciary to work against Lebanon’s ruling elite. A probe into last year’s monster port explosion has exposed the extent of such interference, with top officials mounting a complex web of court challenges to obstruct the work of lead investigator Tarek Bitar. On Wednesday three judges, all women, handed in their resignation “to protest…political…

United States government has added more Chinese firms to its blacklist. Point News247 reports that dozens of Chinese companies have been restricted by the US government for national security and foreign policy concerns. According to the US authority, eight Chinese-based technology firms were added to the “Entity List” for their alleged role in assisting the Chinese military’s quantum computing efforts and acquiring or attempting “to acquire US origin-items in support of military applications”. The US Commerce Department also said 16 individuals and entities operating in China and Pakistan were added to the list due to their involvement in “Pakistan’s unsafeguarded…