‘Your plot to cause division between Buhari, Tinubu won’t give you victory at polls,’ Presidency tackles PDP over alleged stoning incident in Kano

The presidency, on Wednesday, January 31, said that the alleged futile attempt by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to bring division between President Muhammadu Buhari and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, will not give victory to the main opposition party in the forthcoming presidential election.

The presidency described the narrative by the PDP to the effect that President Buhari was pelted with stones during his official visit to Kano state on Monday was aimed at maligning the president.

This was contained in a statement signed by the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.

The statement reads, “We have seen fake reports of a stone-pelting incident that took place in the Hotoro area of Kano on the day of the visit to the city by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, an incident, even if minor, that should stand condemned by all well-meaning citizens.

“Facts on ground as rendered by the law enforcement agencies speak of a clash between the local road transport authorities, the Kano Road Transport Authority (KAROTA) and thugs hired by a yet-to-be identified group that took place when the president was being treated to a banquet at the government house, well after he had finished commissioning projects in the state.

“The president was in the state to work on the development, safety and security of the lives of common citizens and the happy thing about it was that the good people of Kano state were appreciative of him for the progress the state and the nation at large are making under him.

“The divisive rhetoric of an opposition in a futile attempt to mailing the image of the president and the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming elections, and its desperate wedge-driving activities to cause a division between the party and the government is not what will give them victory.

“A so-called leading opposition party that controls 14 states, going into elections with eight or nine of the states in tow should look inwards to see why their campaign is flagging and destined to fail. Their defeat is a foretold story by many discerning individuals.

“The stone-pelters as seen from the video clip in the fight against the traffic police were innocent children sponsored by politicians and terrorist sympathizers. There is no place for violence in a democracy.

“The PDP should use the opportunity of the electioneering to put their point of view in a democracy.

“When problems can be resolved through talks, there is no place for stone-pelting, arson and unruly behavior as we are witnessing in some of the campaigns.

“It is equally unhealthy for society and it becomes the duty of political, social and religious leaders to correctly inform the misled youngsters to shun the path of violence which is inimical to their own future.

“Lastly is to say that the president has not lost his command and respect in Kano. For those who hold the border closure against him, they must come to realize that the 60-70 integrated rice mills in the city today would not have been in place if he had allowed the free-for-all smuggling to continue.”

https://thestreetjournal.org/bomb-explosion-kills-27-fulani-herdsmen-in-nasarawa/

27 Fulani pastoralists have been reportedly killed after a bomb exploded on Tuesday night of January 24, 2023, at the border linking Nasarawa and Benue States in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa state.

According to PUNCH, Police Public Relations Officer, Nasarawa State Command, DSP Ramhan Nansel, disclosed this in Lafia on Wednesday, January 25, 2023.

Nansel said the incident occurred in Rukubi community of Doma LGA.

He, however, said the state police command was working in collaboration with sister security agencies and the state government to unravel the circumstances that led to the bombing and arrest the perpetrators.

He said, “It is unfortunate that such a thing happened. Twenty-seven of the herdsmen were killed after a bomb exploded in Doma LGA. The police and other security agencies are working round the clock to understand what led to the attack and track down those involved in the act.”

Meanwhile, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, had commented on the sad incident which led to the death of the Fulani pastoralists, vowing to ensure that those behind the killing are apprehended and made to face the law.

The governor urged all Fulani people across the state to remain calm, saying that the state government was liaising with the Benue State Government to proffer a lasting solution to the incessant attacks on the people along the Nasarawa/Benue borders.

He added that security operatives have been deployed to curtail any further breakdown of law and order in the area.

Sule said, “On behalf of the state government, I want to sympathise with the Fulani people across the state over the killings of their people by an unknown bomber. I want to assure them of the state government’s commitment to unravelling the perpetrators of the act to face the full wrath of the law.”

Speaking on the incident, the Chairman of Doma LGA, Ahmed Sarki-Usman, who condemned the attack, said, “It must be the activity of some bad elements in the area. The act is capable of causing unrest in the LGA but I particularly want to thank the Fulani people for being calm and allowing the government and security agencies to handle the issue. I assure them that we will get to the root of the matter.

The State Chairman, Miyetti Allah Kautal Horai, Ardo Dano, expressed shock over the bombing that killed his kinsmen.

He appealed to the federal and state governments to come to their aid to arrest those involved in the act, calm the situation and restore normalcy in the area.

“The Fulani people are law-abiding citizens. We don’t like trouble, so let the government address the situation because we are pained losing our loved ones,” he added.

https://thestreetjournal.org/wunmi-toriola-was-the-bread-winner-despite-being-mentally-tortured-by-ex-husband-akeem-adeyemi-defends-colleague/

Pope Francis criticized laws that criminalize homosexuality as “unjust,” saying God loves all his children just as they are and called on Catholic bishops who support the laws to welcome LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people into the church.

“Being homosexual isn’t a crime,” Francis disclosed this on Tuesday, January 24, 2023.

Francis acknowledged that Catholic bishops in some parts of the world support laws that criminalize homosexuality or discriminate against the LGBTQ community, and he himself referred to the issue in terms of “sin.” But he attributed such attitudes to cultural backgrounds, and said bishops in particular need to undergo a process of change to recognize the dignity of everyone.

“These bishops have to have a process of conversion,” he said, adding that they should apply “tenderness, please, as God has for each one of us.”

According to AP News, Some 67 countries or jurisdictions worldwide criminalize consensual same-sex sexual activity, 11 of which can or do impose the death penalty, according to The Human Dignity Trust, which works to end such laws. Experts say even where the laws are not enforced, they contribute to harassment, stigmatization and violence against LGBTQ people.

In the United States (US), more than a dozen states still have anti-sodomy laws on the books, despite a 2003 Supreme Court ruling declaring them unconstitutional. Gay rights advocates say the antiquated laws are used to harass homosexuals, and point to new legislation, such as the “Don’t say gay” law in Florida, which forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, as evidence of continued efforts to marginalize LGBTQ people.

The United Nations has repeatedly called for an end to laws criminalizing homosexuality outright, saying they violate rights to privacy and freedom from discrimination and are a breach of countries’ obligations under international law to protect the human rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Declaring such laws “unjust,” Francis said the Catholic Church can and should work to put an end to them. “It must do this. It must do this,” he said.

Francis quoted the Catechism of the Catholic Church in saying gays must be welcomed and respected, and should not be marginalized or discriminated against.

“We are all children of God, and God loves us as we are and for the strength that each of us fights for our dignity,” Francis said.

Such laws are common in Africa and the Middle East and date from British colonial times or are inspired by Islamic law. Some Catholic bishops have strongly upheld them as consistent with Vatican teaching that considers homosexual activity “intrinsically disordered,” while others have called for them to be overturned as a violation of basic human dignity.

In 2019, Francis had been expected to issue a statement opposing criminalization of homosexuality during a meeting with human rights groups that conducted research into the effects of such laws and so-called “conversion therapies.”

In the end, the pope did not meet with the groups, which instead met with with a clergy in the Vatican, who reaffirmed “the dignity of every human person and against every form of violence.”

On Tuesday, January 24, Francis said there needed to be a distinction between a crime and a sin with regard to homosexuality.

“Being homosexual is not a crime,” he said. “It’s not a crime. Yes, but it’s a sin. Fine, but first let’s distinguish between a sin and a crime.”

“It’s also a sin to lack charity with one another,” he added.

Catholic teaching holds that while gays must be treated with respect, homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered.” Francis has not changed that teaching, but he has made reaching out to the LGBTQ community a hallmark of his papacy.

Starting with his famous 2013 declaration, “Who am I to judge?” when he was asked about a purportedly gay priest, Francis has gone on to minister repeatedly and publicly to the gay and trans community. As archbishop of Buenos Aires, he favored granting legal protections to same-sex couples as an alternative to endorsing gay marriage, which Catholic doctrine forbids.

Despite such outreach, Francis was criticized by the Catholic LGBTQ community for a 2021 decree from the Vatican’s doctrine office that the church cannot bless same-sex unions “because God cannot bless sin.”

The Vatican in 2008 declined to sign onto a United Nation declaration that called for the decriminalization of homosexuality, complaining the text went beyond the original scope and also included language about “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” it found problematic. In a statement at the time, the Vatican urged countries to avoid “unjust discrimination” against gays and end penalties against them.

https://thestreetjournal.org/wunmi-toriola-was-the-bread-winner-despite-being-mentally-tortured-by-ex-husband-akeem-adeyemi-defends-colleague/

Nollywood actor, Akeem Adeyemi has defended his female colleague, Wumi Toriola over her marriage break-up saga.

Toriola’s ex-husband, was the first to open up about their crashed marriage.

He stated that their union was filled with violence, deceit and betrayal from Toriola’s part.

Describing his marriage as a total regret, he accused the actress of assaulting his mother.

Speaking up in her defense, Adeyemi narrated how Toriola gave her all in the marriage and endured torture from her husband.

He stated that the actress was the one financing her marriage as she took care of the responsibilities in the home, including their wedding.

Adeyemi added that the actress’s ex-husband was only trying to tarnish Toriola’s image as his mother still calls her frequently.

He revealed that he was not only torturing her mentally, but he was having extra marital affairs as well.

“Wumi is not a violent person. She gave her all in that marriage but it didn’t work out as expected. She was a maga in the marriage.

“Ayo, her ex is so manipulative and he is lying to his new woman just to tarnish Wumi’s image. The mother-in-law he claimed Wumi beat still calls her till today.

“Wumi funded 90% of the wedding. When Ayo her ex was terribly sick and needed money for surgery, Wumi paid 80% of it.

“When he had no job, Wumi was taking care of the finances in the home without complaining yet this guy was having extra marital affairs and he gave her a mental torture.

“When she went to deliver their baby in America. Ayo never called her to check on her. How many women can accept this?”, he wrote.

https://thestreetjournal.org/senate-confirms-reappointment-of-seven-icpc-commissioners/

The senate, on Tuesday, January 24, confirmed the reappointment of seven nominees as national commissioners of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

President Muhammadu Buhari, last week, in a letter sent to the senate requested the reappointment of seven members of ICPC as commissioners.

The letter for the confirmation of the commissioners was read during the plenary on Tuesday, January 24, by the senate president, Ahmed Lawan.

The nominees include Adamu Bello, Katsina state (North West), Hanatu Muhammed, Jigawa state (North West), Olubukola Balogun (Retd.), Lagos state (South West), Obiora Igwedibia, Anambra state (South East), Dr. Abdullahi Saidu, Niger state (North Central), Dauda Umar, Nasarawa (North Central), and Grace Chinda, Delta state (South-South), The Nation reports.

The letter reads, “In accordance with the provisions of Section 3 sub-section (3) and (7) of the corrupt practices and other related offenses Act, 2000, I write to forward for confirmation by the Senate the under-listed names of seven persons for re-appointment as members of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission.

“It is my hope that the distinguished senate will consider and confirm the appointment in the usual expeditious manner.”

At the plenary, Lawan ignored the reservation raised by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele about the south-west representative, Olubukola Balogun.

Bamidele noted that her name carried “Retd.”, and would like to find out what she retired from.

He said that, “Mr. President, I have an observation about the name of the south-west representative, her name reads, Mrs. Olubukola Balogun (Retd.).

“A person only retires from a profession. I would like to know what she retired from.

“Also, I have some questions about the age, her Curriculum Vitae reads that she was born in 1996 and she is already a commissioner.

“I wouldn’t know how she became a commissioner at such age,” he added.

Lawan, in his response, noted that it was too late for such questions as she was already screened for previous appointment and should be passed for the second term.

https://thestreetjournal.org/hoodlums-attack-peter-obis-convoy-after-presidential-campaign-rally-in-katsina/

The presidential campaign council of the Labour Party (LP), on Tuesday, January 24, said that Peter Obi, its flagbearer, was attacked in Katsina state.

In a statement issued by Diran Onifade, its head of media, the campaign council said that Obi’s car was attacked by hoodlums when he was on his way to the airport after a rally in the state.

“Our presidential candidate, on Tuesday, met with women in a townhall and then held a hugely successful rally at the Muhammad Dikko Stadium,” the statement reads.

“However, on his way to the airport, hoodlums attacked the convoy conveying our presidential candidate was riding in with heavy stones from his driver’s side, causing substantial damage to the vehicle.

“To the glory of God, Mr. Obi and other occupants of the car were unhurt.

“Subsequently, another set of thugs also threw stones outside the stadium which damaged several vehicles including that of our official stage crew.”

The campaign council alleged that the attacks may have been orchestrated by some “desperate politicians.”

It condemned the attacks and called on security agencies to investigate the incident and prevent future occurrences, The Cable reports.

“This incident makes us suspect that the attacks may have been premeditated at the behest of desperate politicians who had been deluding themselves with the false claim that they had the northwest locked up but are now shocked by the show of force of the Obidient movement in the region,” Onifade said.

“While thanking the good people of Katsina who came out en masse to support our campaign, we call on security agencies to investigate this matter to forestall future occurrences.”

https://thestreetjournal.org/suspected-ritualists-kill-12-year-old-boy-in-kaduna-remove-body-organs/

A 12-year-old boy, Suleiman Aminu, known as Abul Khair was discovered killed in Zaria, Kaduna State on Monday, January, 23, 2023, with some of his organs removed.

According to Daily Trust, the father of the deceased, Aminu Saleh Mohammed, said the boy was sent on an errand by his sister around 4pm on Sunday, January 22, 2023, to collect her phone from the neighbourhood and went missing.

“We embarked on his search and reported his missing to the Kaduna Police Command that Sunday (January 22).

“It was around 6:15 pm on Monday (January 23) that I was informed of the boy’s discovery behind the Madarkaci rock in Kwarbai, Zaria, (Kaduna)” he said.

Mohammed further explained that upon examining the body, it was discovered that some parts of his organs including his private part, tongue and eyes had been removed.

“His shoulder was also broken while his head was smashed with a cement block. In fact, he had been severely beaten with knife cuts all over his body,” the distraught father added.

The corpse of the boy was later handed over to the family for burial by the Kaduna Police Command.

Confirming the incident, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mohammed Jalige, said further investigation was ongoing to apprehend the culprits and bring them to book.

The Kaduna Command PPRO however advised parents to always monitor the movement of their children to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.

https://thestreetjournal.org/bbtitan-ipeleng-blaqboi-both-emerge-heads-of-house-as-8-housemates-face-eviction/

Big Brother Titans housemates, Ipeleng and Blaqboi (Blaqleng) have both emerged as Heads of House for this week with four pairs of housemates up for possible eviction.

Following a pairing of housemates on Sunday, the duo on Monday emerged as Heads Of House after winning the weekly game.

Biggie on Sunday after the live show came up with a twist that led to the pairing of the 24 housemates. The pairing meant that whatever happens to a member of the pair impacts the other. This means if a member of the pair gets a strike, the second of the pair also gets a strike.

The housemates were asked to play a set of games. After the games, Biggie instructed each housemate to pick from the bowl with different gender and nationality for whoever was picking. At the end, the housemates were paired in a union that sparked conversations on social media.

These are the pairs up for possible eviction: Yelisa (Nelisa and Yemi Cregx), Juiovla (Juicy Jay and Olivia), Juvone (Justin and Yvonne), and Santheo (Sandra and Theo Traw).

https://thestreetjournal.org/nigerians-spent-695m-on-foreign-education-within-nine-months-cbn-reveals/

Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revealed that $695 million was released for educational purposes between January and September 2022.

The figure which was released on January 22, 2023, did not include the forex obtained from the black market.

The figure was calculated based on the information provided on the amount spent on educational services under the sectoral utilisation for transactions valid for foreign exchange.

In January 2022, the apex bank noted that “$60,202,730.84 was spent on foreign education”, while noting that “$69.9 million was spent in February 2022.”

In March 2022, there was a significant increase as the bank stated that $87.26 million was spent.

In April, there was a little reduction as a total of $78.62 million was recorded by the apex bank.

The figure for May 2022 was put at $82.70 million

In June 2022, the CBN released $84.90 million, while $61.99 million was released in July 2022.

A slight increase was recorded in August 2022 when $84.01 million was released.

In September 2022, $86.34 million was released for the same purpose.

Meanwhile, Nigerians have continued to troop out in their numbers in pursuit of foreign academic qualifications.

Recent data released by the Home Office of the United Kingdom (UK) revealed that the number of study visas released to Nigerians increased by 222.8 percent, with 65,929 issued as of June 2022 as against 20,427 during the same period in 2021.

Education in Nigeria, especially in the tertiary educational sector, has been marred by industrial actions by tertiary institution-based unions such as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union.

The data from CBN revealed that Nigerians remitted more than $695 million to foreign academic institutions in nine months without significant reciprocity in form of inflows from foreign sources to the local educational sector, The Punch reports.

It is worth noting that the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), in 2018, observed that about 76,338 Nigerians were studying abroad as of 2018, the highest from an African country.

https://thestreetjournal.org/court-sentences-internet-fraudster-to-two-years-in-prison-for-false-pretence-n1-68m-fraud/

An Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos State, on Monday, January 23, 2024, sentenced a former student of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi (Edo state), Francis Nduka, to two-year imprisonment for pretending to be an American lawyer.

Nduka, an Internet fraudster, defrauded his victims of $3,700 (N1.68m), PUNCH disclosed.

Justice Ramon Oshodi handed down the verdict after the convict, who said he had been into romance scam since 2020, pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Nduka was also accused of procuring a register of eminent lawyers printed from his Gmail account.

After the convict pleaded guilty to the charges, the EFCC counsel, Mrs Orhieoghene Adewunmi, gave the facts of the case.

Adewunmi said, “Sometime in April 2022, we received an intelligence report that some individuals were carrying out fraudulent activities in the Iju Ishaga area of Lagos State.

“EFCC operatives arrested him and recovered a black iPhone 11 Plus, a gray Lenovo laptop, and a Silver Lexus 350 Saloon car, with number plate, SMK 297GW, 2011 model.

“We found in the defendant’s gadgets that he had been pretending to be an American lawyer named Richard Ratz and also acted as Holland Diana, a Yoga therapist, and collected $3,700 from people.

“He admitted to the offence when he was arrested and also wrote a confession statement.

“Initially, a seven-count charge was filed and he opted for a plea bargain; that was why we narrowed it down to a two-count charge. I have the confessional statement and other documents and the car that was retrieved from him was registered.

“As restitution for the money, the defendant has agreed to forfeit the car, laptop, and iPhone 11 to the Federal Government,” she said.

Nduka, in his plea for mercy, told the court that he started Internet fraud in 2020.

“I am very sorry for what I have done; it will never happen again,” he added.

The convict’s lawyer, K. A. Adam, urged the court to be lenient in sentencing Nduka.

While delivering the judgment, Justice Oshodi, said, “You have hurt every lawyer in court today. Do you think you are better than them? So you have been posing as an American lawyer since 2020?

“Francis Nduka, I have listened to your plea of mercy and that of your counsel that I should give you a non-custodial sentence.

“Let it be known that the legal profession is a noble profession and you didn’t show any remorse while pleading for mercy.

“I hereby sentence you to one-year imprisonment for the first count and one-year imprisonment for the second count or pay a fine of N5m to the Lagos State registry.

“He should be taken to the maximum custody and the sentence should run concurrently.

“All the items, Apple black iPhone 11 plus, a grey Lenovo laptop, and a Silver Lexus 350 Saloon car, with number plate SMK 297GW, 2011 model, should be forfeited to the Federal Government.”

https://thestreetjournal.org/nnpc-lawyers-stage-walkout-in-suit-challenging-sack-of-ifeanyi-araraume-as-companys-board-chairman/

There was drama on Monday, January 23, at a federal high court, Abuja, in the suit challenging the sack of Ifeanyi Araraume as the board chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).

Araraume, a former senator representing Imo north, in 2022, sued President Muhammadu Buhari for removing him as board chairman of NNPC.

Buhari appointed Margaret Chuba Okadigbo, widow of Chuba Okadigbo, a former senate president, to replace him.

In the suit, the former Imo senator is seeking N100 billion in damages.

President Buhari has since filed a preliminary objection, urging the court to dismiss the suit.

However, during the court session on Monday, the lawyers representing the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) in the suit, Kayinsola Ajayi, and Etigwa Uwa, staged a walkout on the court.

Ajayi, while adopting his processes, informed Justice Ekwo of an application seeking to stay proceedings in the suit.

After identifying the processes filed by the NNPC against the suit, he argued that the motion seeking stay of proceedings must be heard separately and ruling delivered by the judge before any other motion should be entertained.

Justice Ekwo, however, informed him to move all the applications together, adding that he would deliver separate rulings in each of the applications so as to save judicial time of the court.

Although Araraume, represented by Chris Uche (SAN), claimed that the motion for stay of proceeding had not been served on him, Ajayi stood his ground to move the application separately.

However, following the decision of Justice Ekwo to take all the applications together in line with the provision of the practice direction of the federal high court, Ajayi and Uwa announced their withdrawal from the suit and immediately staged a walkout on the court.

They were joined by their juniors in leaving the court immediately the judge ordered them to move their three applications together.

Later during the proceedings, Ararume’s counsel, Uche, while adopting his final brief of argument, urged the court to invoke the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) to nullify the removal of his client as board chairman of NNPC, The Cable reports.

Uche informed the court that Buhari acted outside the law to remove Araraume after incorporating the oil company in his name and was billed for inauguration in the capacity.

However, Buhari’s counsel, Abubakar Shuaib, asked the court to dismiss the suit against his client on the grounds that it was statute barred at the time it was instituted.

Specifically, Shuaib argued that Ararume’s suit offended Section 2(a) of the Public Officers Act and as such was incompetent.

The counsel for the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), which is the third defendant in the suit, Akeeem Mustapha (SAN), asked the court to decline jurisdiction in entertaining the suit.

According to him, his client did not play any role in Araraume’s disputed removal apart from incorporating the NNPC as a limited liability company based on the document submitted to it.

Mustapha however said that Ararume’s appointment was political, adding that Buhari had the power to hire and fire.

He noted that the appointment had nothing to do with CAMA law.

After taking arguments from Araraume, President Buhari, and Corporate Affairs Commission, Justice Ekwo fixed the case till March 28 for ruling and possible judgment in the suit.

Recall that Araraume, in 2022, dragged Buhari before the court, asking it to declare his removal as the NNPC chief illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

He noted that it was a total breach of CAMA law under which the NNPC was incorporated.

https://thestreetjournal.org/cbn-excludes-lagos-abuja-pos-operators-from-cash-swap-programme/

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has excluded mobile money/Point of Sales (POS) agents in Abuja and Lagos state from its newly launched cash swap programme.

The CBN, in a document released to selected agents on Monday, January 23, provided some guidelines for the cash swap programme.

The apex bank noted that this development was needful as the January 31 deadline for the phasing out of the old N1,000, N500 and N200 notes approaches.

According to the document, only five banks have been approved to engage in the programme.

They include Access Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), First Bank of Nigeria Limited, and First City Monument Bank, The Punch reports.

The document partly reads, “Not all agents can participate. This is open to only selected agents profiled by the super agent/MMO/bank and participating banks (Access, Zenith, UBA, First Bank, FCMB).

“Selected agents are in all the 36 states (except Lagos state and FCT, Abuja). Lagos and Abuja agents are excluded from this.”

It was learnt that the agents are restricted from using the new notes for their regular transactions, only for the programme.

On where the agents can get the new notes, the document added that, “You can get the new notes from one of these designated banks (Zenith, First Bank, Access, UBA, FCMB).

“However, you must have a bank account with that bank and your operators (super agent/MMO/bank) must have pre-registered you with the bank where you have an account.

“You can go to the bank after you must have informed your operator (super agent/MMO/bank).

“That is where your agent details will be submitted to for verification.”

Also, each agent’s name, BVN number, and operator’s name are required before the new notes will be released.

The document added that the apex bank would also verify the agent’s picture and finger print.

It also noted that an agent is expected to have a record of the customer’s Know-Your-Customer (KYC) information, which includes name, phone number, bank, account number and amount.

The document added that while there is no restriction on how much a customer can deposit, only N10,000 can be released per customer under the cash swap programme.

The CBN urged the agents to open a bank account or wallet for customers with bank accounts.

Meanwhile, an agent can only get up to N500,000 new notes weekly for the programme.

Also, each agent is expected to record all transactions performed with the new notes and submit the record to the operator (super agent/MMO/bank).

The apex bank, in the document, noted that, “There will be severe sanctions such as de-listing as an agent, withhold of any applicable benefit, de-list from future programmes, negative report to bank and CBN, and other penalties as directed by regulatory authorities, if an agent uses the new notes for other purposes other than the new naira initiative.”

The CBN, when announcing the cash swap programme which began on Monday, noted that the initiative was aimed at enabling citizens in rural areas or those with limited access to formal financial services to exchange old naira notes for the redesigned notes.

The apex bank added that the service was also available to anybody without a bank account.

It further noted that agents might, on request, instantly open a wallet or account, leveraging the KYC framework.

This, according to the bank, will ensure that this category of the populace (unbanked citizens) is able to exchange or deposit their cash seamlessly without taking unnecessary risks or incurring undue costs.

Meanwhile, the national president, Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMBAN), Victor Olojo, while confirming the development on Monday, stated that a framework had been provided to guide the programme.