Japa: Many Nigerians abroad living in regrets, depression, Abike Dabiri-Erewa claims
Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said many Nigerians abroad kept bombarding her agency with calls, expressing regrets and depression.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), on Saturday claimed many Nigerians living abroad live in regrets and depression.
Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said in a tweet on Saturday that many Nigerians abroad kept bombarding her agency with calls, expressing regrets and depression.
Her statement comes as a reaction to a UK-based lawyer, Dele Olawale’s tweet stating, “The UK immigration atmosphere is becoming toxic. Things are becoming increasingly difficult. If you are doing well in your home country, think very well before you leave or sell everything to come over here.”
“Many depressed people. Many broken lives. Many broken homes. Many stranded families. Irreversible regret. Could you not do it because others are doing it? Think thrice before making the jump! Most importantly, get legal advice before you throw your job and prized possessions away for nothing,” Mr Olawale said.
Quoting Mr Olawale’s tweet, Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said, “I hope this message resonates. We @nidcom_gov have been bombarded with many cases of regrets and depression,” Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said. “As @MoroOjomo said, “ the grass is not greener on the other side; it’s greener where you nurture it.”
This comes as Nigerians continue to leave the country for greener pastures abroad, a trend popularly termed japa, a Yoruba word for escape.
Increased economic hardship, inflation, and unprecedented cost of living crisis have increased the number of Nigerians leaving the country in recent times.
In 2024, Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said some Nigerians fled to countries worse than Nigeria.
Mrs Dabiri-Erewa appealed to Nigerian influencers and bloggers to help sensitise citizens against fleeing to countries “worse than” Nigeria.
“Please, we appeal to bloggers and influencers. Help us appeal to Nigerians that where you are running to is worse than where you are running from (Nigeria),” she said.
Adeleke petitions EFCC, alleges $20m, N1.5bn fraud during Oyetola’s govt
The Osun State Government has formally petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate the immediate past governor and current Minister of Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, over the alleged misappropriation of a $20m World Bank health grant.
The government also accused Oyetola of money laundering, financial misconduct and violations of the Public Procurement Act in the disbursement of the grant meant for health sector improvements in the state.
According to an acknowledged copy of the petition dated March 7, 2025, and obtained by our correspondent on Friday, Oyetola, during his tenure as governor, chaired a special Health Intervention Committee tasked with allocating and applying the grant funds.
The committee, whose members included former government officials such as Remi Omowaye, Dr. Rafiu Isamatu, and Bola Oyebamiji, decided to use the entire $20m for renovating 320 primary health care centres across the state.
According to the petition written by the government’s lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, “This so-called renovation of primary health care centres involved building, renovation and adjustments/restructuring of some of these centres in order to attain the position of modern health centres. Having made these decisions, the Oyetola-led committee decided to award the contracts for the renovation.
“In flagrant violations of the above clear provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, Oyetola did not call for bidding as mandatorily required under the PPA, let alone allowing competition which would have afforded the state the best qualified contractors to handle the projects.
“Rather, the former governor in observing the provisions of the Act in breach, awarded the contracts to individuals who were either his cabinet members, head of one agency of government or the other, his proxies and cronies who claimed to have incorporated business names/inactive companies.”
The government noted that the beneficiaries of the contract allegedly included businesses with no construction experience, such as food vendors, salon operators, supermarket owners, and web designers.
Among the companies named in the petition are Poshpreneurs Nig., owned by the children of the former Head of Service, Olowogboyega Oyebade; Dotfam Multiventures Ltd, linked to the siblings of the former APC State Chairman; The Ice Firms Nig. Ltd, allegedly owned by Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adebayo Adeleke; and Afamoks Web International, linked to former Amotekun Field Commander, Amitolu Shittu.
The state government alleges that the companies, lacking the expertise for construction, executed substandard renovation works while receiving full contract payments, thereby leading to the misappropriation of the $20n grant.
The petition named former ALGON Chairman, Abiodun Idowu, Secretary, Olubisi Oladosu; 28 former local government caretaker chairmen; and the former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Yekeen Adebayo Adeleke, as key actors in the alleged scheme.
“In a similar vein, the government equally laid its hands on some financial records which clearly show a clear case of money laundering of huge magnitude by the past administration of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.
Financial records cited in the petition indicate that funds “were repeatedly transferred from the ALGON account at Zenith Bank (Account Number: 1016607858) into the private account of one Akeem Ibitoye, a local government employee and Director of Finance at Ejigbo Local Government.”
The state government alleged that withdrawals ranging from N30m to over N10m per day were made in cash, with no records of the funds being used for any official projects.
However, Adebayo dismissed the allegations, describing them as frivolous.
The former commissioner who requested for more details on the petition, said, “EFCC has not invited me and I have not seen a copy of the petition for me to know what it is all about.
“If there is no proof, then the allegations are frivolous and of no stance.
“I have bec6ome a torn in the flesh of Gov adeleke and PDP and I won’t be surprised if some baseless allegations are levied against me.
“Anyway, they think trying to dirty my white garment will make me keep mute about their fraudulent ways of governance.
May his soul rest in peace. I have nothing against him, His is an accomplished achiever. He did great for himself and family. Death will certainly come to us all..
Alleged fraud: Ex-minister detained in EFCC facility
A former Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, on Thursday spent her first night at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s custody.
Operatives of the anti-graft agency questioned Ohanenye on Thursday, over her alleged involvement in the misappropriation, violation of procurement processes, and diversion of public funds amounting to N138,413,253.89.
The funds were allegedly misappropriated during the disbursement of the 2023 budgeted allocation for the ministry.
A top source within the commission disclosed that the former minister arrived at the EFCC headquarters around 11 a.m. on Thursday and was interrogated by operatives regarding her alleged involvement in the fraud.
The source said, “Investigators are questioning former Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, over her alleged role in the misappropriation, violation of procurement processes, and diversion of public funds totaling N138,413,253.89.
Ex-minister Kennedy-Ohanenye breaks silence, details EFCC visit over N138m probe “She arrived at the commission’s headquarters around 11 a.m. on Thursday and is currently facing interrogators over her alleged involvement in the fraud.
“Investigations by the EFCC revealed that funds donated for the P-Bat Cares for Women Initiative were diverted.”
Efforts to obtain a reaction from the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, proved abortive at the time of filing this report.
The PUNCH reports that Ohanenye was among five ministers relieved of their duties following the 19th Federal Executive Council meeting held at the State House in October 2024.
In her place, President Bola Tinubu reappointed the former Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, as the new Minister of Women Affairs
The fact is that most of us do not KNOW what constitutes sexual harassment-
Educate yourself and play safe.
■ Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that creates a hostile or offensive environment.
■ Here's a more detailed explanation: ●UNWELCOME NATURE: The key element is that the behavior is not wanted or desired by the recipient.
●SEXUAL HARASSMENT CAN INCLUDE: Unwelcome sexual advances: This includes unwanted physical contact, gestures, or verbal comments of a sexual nature.
●Requests for sexual favors: This can involve pressure or coercion for sexual activity in exchange for employment benefits or other advantages.
●Verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature: This can include offensive jokes, slurs, epithets, or name-calling, as well as physical assaults or threats, intimidation, ridicule, mockery, insults, or put-downs.
■HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT: Sexual harassment can create a hostile or offensive work environment when the behavior is pervasive, severe, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or abusive atmosphere.
■EXAMPLES: ●Unwelcome sexual comments, jokes, or innuendoes.
●Continuing to ask for a date or sex after someone refused.
●Pressuring someone for sexual activity.
●Talking about a person's body, clothing, or sexual orientation.
■WHO CAN BE A HARASSER? •Supervisors •Co-workers •Non-employees, such as clients or customers •Male and Female
■LEGAL FRAMEWORK: Nigeria has laws and legal frameworks to address sexual harassment, including the Constitution of Nigeria, federal laws, state laws, and international instruments.
●The National Industrial Courts have been commended for their innovations on workplace sexual harassment through their judgments and rules of court. Good job.
💢But we need to go further with enforcements of such laws and constitutional provisions in social settings too.
Afenifere Youth Leader Eniola Ojajuni Confirms He Was Abducted By Fulani Herdsmen In Ondo State
The Afenifere youth leader assured Nigerians that once he recovers, he will formally appreciate everyone who stood by him.
Prince Eniola Joseph Ojajuni, the National Youth President of Afenifere, has confirmed that he was kidnapped by Fulani herdsmen on February 17 while travelling to Abuja.
The incident had reportedly occurred around 2pm in Akunnu Akoko, Ondo State.
Ojajuni recounted his ordeal in a Facebook post on Friday, stating that he is still receiving medical treatment following the ordeal.
He expressed gratitude to those who supported him financially, spiritually, and emotionally during the difficult time.
He also acknowledged those who reached out to his wife with words of encouragement.
The Afenifere youth leader assured Nigerians that once he recovers, he will formally appreciate everyone who stood by him.
According to him, "I was kidnapped by Fulani heardsmen on the 17th of February on my way to Abuja in Akunnu Akoko around 1:42pm.
"I'm undergoing serious medical treatment , besides I want to use this opportunity to thank everyone who supported me massively financially, spiritually and by calling my dear wife for words of encouragement. Once I'm out of hospital bed I'll come out to appreciate you all specially," Ojajuni added.
SaharaReporters had on Match 1 reported that the release of Ojajuni was secured with at least N17million, according to a top family source.
The money was said to have been paid to secure his freedom from the kidnappers after about 12 days.
According to the top sources, Ojajuni’s wife reportedly personally delivered the ransom to the abductors in Akure before his release.
They also noted that despite repeated pleas, the Nigerian government did not provide financial assistance, and security agencies were also unable to track the kidnappers’ location until the ransom was paid.
“We did not hear anything from the government despite repeated promises, and the police efforts did not yield results. We had no choice but to raise funds ourselves,” one of the sources had told SaharaReporters.
Ojajuni is currently receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed location for security reasons.
Prior to his release, the Afenifere group had condemned the deteriorating security situation and demanded urgent intervention from the Ondo and Kogi state governments.
The group had urged authorities to act swiftly to ensure Ojajuni’s safe rescue, noting that the abduction took place near the Ondo-Kogi state boundary.
Ojajuni was kidnapped on Monday, February 17, 2025, while travelling to Abuja.
The Afenifere Youth Council’s National Secretary, Abiodun Aderonhunmu, disclosed that the kidnappers initially demanded a N100million ransom.
NMDPRA issues licenses for new refineries in Edo, Delta, Abia
The Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Resources Authority has issued refining licenses to three companies to build new refineries in Abia, Delta, and Edo States.
The three proposed refineries are expected to have a combined refining capacity of 140,000 barrels per day.
According to an X post by the NMDPRA on its official page, the proposed refineries that have issued licenses include:
Eghudu Refinery Ltd in Edo state issued a 100,000 bpd refining license.
MB Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Ltd in Delta State issued a License to establish a 30,000 bpd refinery.
HIS Refining and Petrochemical Company Ltd. in Abia state issued a license to establish a 10,000 bpd refinery.
The statement read: “The Authority Chief Executive, Engr. Farouk Ahmed presented a License to construct a 100,000 bpd refinery to Eghudu Refinery Ltd in Edo state, a License to establish a 30,000 bpd refinery to MB Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Ltd in Delta state, and a License to establish a 10,000 bpd refinery to HIS Refining and Petrochemical Company Ltd. in Abia state.
“These Licenses, which would add 140,000 barrels per day to Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity, were presented to the MDs of the companies.”
The growing number of refineries in Nigeria According to data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigeria has nine operational refineries, which include the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE, the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company, the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company, and the Port Harcourt Refinery Company Limited.
Others are the Aradel Refinery, OPAC Refineries, Waltersmith Refinery and Petrochemical Company, Duport Midstream Company Limited, and the Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company.
These refineries have a combined refining capacity of 974,500 barrels per day, with the Dangote refinery having the largest capacity of 650,000 bpd. However, the majority of the refineries are not producing at full capacity.
According to the NUPRC, the nine refineries would require a combined daily crude supply of 770,500 bpd and 123,480,500 barrels in the first half of 2025.
This number is growing with more new refineries under construction and licensed by the NMDPRA.
Nigeria is like Ancient Roman Empire, the rich and ruling class built a whole arena (The Coliseum) where poor people cheer and jubilate by just watching fellow poor people kill themselves.
Akpabio-led Senate Under Fire For Disobeying Federal High Court Order In Suspension Of Senator Natasha
The Nigerian Senate under Godswill Akpabio has come under attack and criticism for defying a court order in the suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central.
Natasha was on Thursday suspended for six months after the Senate disciplinary committee found her guilty of breaching its rules in the wake of her sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio.
The suspension is set to take effect from March 6, 2025, and comes with additional restrictions.
The committee, headed by Neda Imaseun, had presented the panel’s report during plenary on Thursday, stating that Natasha’s actions had brought the Senate and its presiding officer into disrepute.
“That the Senate should suspend Senator Natasha for six months for her violation of the Senate Standing Rules 2023 as amended, for bringing the Senate President (presiding officer) and the Senate in general to public disgrace,” Imasuen had declared.
However, a document shared by SaharaReporters revealed that the action by the Senate was in disregard to a court pronouncement.
The document showed that Natasha had earlier approached the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division in “FHC/ABJ/CS/384/25; between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan v. The Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria & 3 Ors.”
In a ruling delivered on the 4th of March, 2025, the court, inter alia, granted “an interim order restraining the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct from proceeding with any investigation against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan concerning the alleged misconduct arising from the events that occurred during the Senate plenary on 20th February, 2025.”
SaharaReporters gathered that order was granted pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice while the court adjourned the matter to the 10th of March, 2025.
Speaking to SaharaReporters, Barrister Hamza Nuhu Dantani faulted the Senate's nonchalant attitude towards the supremacy of the rule of law and the constitution to which they swore when taking oath of office.
He said, “An alien from another planet new to this country would have heard of the ongoing saga between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“In total disregard for the Federal High Court's valid order, the same Senate Committee suspended Senator Natasha for six months today, March 6th, 2025. With tremendous respect, I submit that this is contrary to the rule of law, which stipulates that all persons and institutions are subject to the rule of law.
“A key component of the rule of law is obedience to court orders. Court orders are not made for mere fun. They have to be obeyed. The court of appeal, in the case of Adesoye v. Olagunju (1998) 6 NWLR (Pt. 552) 65, stated thus:
"For the sake of emphasis, it must be reiterated that a court of law is not a toothless bulldog. It must bark and bite as circumstances may demand. Court's orders, whatever their nature, must certainly be obeyed."
“Not done, the three wise men held in Balonwu v. Obi (2007) 5 NWLR (Pt. 1028) 488 that: An order of court, whether valid or not, must be obeyed until it is set aside. An order of court must be obeyed as long as it subsists by all, no matter how lowly or highly placed in society. An act of disobedience towards an order of a court can render any further act by those who have acted disobediently to sanctions from another court because no court would want its orders flouted. This is what the rule of law is all about."
“The Supreme Court in the case of Mobil Oil (Nig.) Ltd. v. Assan (1995) 8 NWLR (Pt. 412) 129 pronounced the following words with all authority: "It is the plain and unqualified obligation of every person against, or in respect of whom, an order is made by a court of competent jurisdiction, to obey it unless and until that order is discharged or set aside on appeal. This extends even to cases where the person affected by an order believes it to be irregular or void."
“Those are not my words but the words of the highest court in the land. In the matter at hand, since we are in a democratic society, the proper course the Senate Committee would have followed was to suspend today's proceedings in obedience to the court's order. It can then apply to have the order set aside, as it is its right to do so.
“The action taken by the Senate Committee is, in my opinion, an affront to the judicial arm of government. It ridicules the judiciary as a toothless bulldog and derides the court's orders as paper tigers.
“An institution like the Senate should exemplify how citizens and institutions are subject to law; it should not be seen as encouraging disobedience to court orders. If an institution constitutionally mandated to make laws cannot respect court orders, how can it inspire citizens to obey or even respect the rule of law?
“Therefore, in my opinion, the Senate Committee's decision to suspend Senator Natasha instead of obeying the order of a court of competent jurisdiction renders the suspension process invalid.”
Cherrybae: This is sad and heartbreaking. Nigeria have lost a great Gem.
A man who built Nigeria to greatness rendering his services to his father land.
At a time when his wealth of experience is needed Death took him away.
We call on all organisations, institutions, industries and our Armed forces including para military to fly all flags at half in honour of this great and distinguished leader.
Mexico-based Nigerian fraudster Matthew Akande nabbed in London, extradited to U.S. over $8.1 million benefits scheme
An indictment unsealed Wednesday said Matthew Abiodun Akande led a syndicate that used the personal information of Americans to request millions in social benefits.
Authorities in the United States have arrested and charged a Nigerian national who was accused of defrauding Americans in a sprawling benefits scheme.
An indictment unsealed Wednesday said Matthew Abiodun Akande, based in Mexico, was the ringleader of a syndicate that used the personal identifying information of Americans to request about $8.1 million in social benefits from the government. At least $1.3 million was received by Mr Akande, who appeared preliminarily in a Boston, Massachusetts, court on Wednesday.
Mr Akande, 36, was arrested at London Heathrow on October 24, 2024, and his extradition was completed with his transfer to Boston on March 5, U.S. prosecutors said.
He used “fraudulent phishing emails to be sent to five Massachusetts tax preparation firms,” prosecutors said.
“The emails purported to be from a prospective client seeking the tax preparation firms’ services but in truth were used to trick the firms into downloading remote access trojan malicious software (RAT malware), including malware known as Warzone RAT,” they added.
Officials said Mr Akande “allegedly used the RAT malware to obtain the PII and prior year tax information of the tax preparation firms’ clients.”
Stolen funds were transferred to Mexico, with authorities identifying at least “1,000 fraudulent tax returns seeking over $8.1 million in fraudulent tax refunds over approximately five years,” adding that the fraudsters “successfully obtained over $1.3 million in fraudulent tax refunds.”
His co-conspirator, Kehinde Oyetunji, another Nigerian national, had previously been charged and sentenced to prison over his role in the vast scheme, which authorities said was carried out between June 2016 and June 2021.
Mr Akande faces several counts of stealing government funds and identity theft. He was summarily remanded in prison pending the appointment of an attorney and trial.
The case comes amid a flurry of high-profile prosecutions of internet fraudsters of Nigerian origin in the U.S. A senior Nigerian politician and a monarch were charged in separate fraud cases in recent weeks.
U.S. Secret Service seizes $1.5 million linked to Nigerian fraudster Omokri’s Binance crypto account
The secret service sought forfeiture of the seized $1.5 million, having established they were proceeds of wire fraud and money laundering.
The U.S. Secret Service seized $1.5 million from the Binance wallet of Nigerian serial fraudster Avwerosuo Omokri after numerous complaints from victims triggered a detailed investigation into the suspect’s activities and bank records.
Special agent Katrina Caulfield uncovered the operations of an internet fraud syndicate, running fraudulent trading investment platforms to lure unsuspecting victims. She was seeking a forfeiture in rem of the seized funds, documents seen by Peoples Gazette showed.
Victim 1, a resident of Newton in Massachusetts, March 2024, filed an internet crime complaint form to seek help after she fell for a cryptocurrency scam where she lost 1.33272285 BTC.
She told Ms Caulfield that she joined a group on Facebook in February 2024 named ‘Financial Independence Forum’, where members were promised “financial independence and early retirement through reliable investment.”
Victim 1, who was not named, said she soon began to connect with the members of the Facebook group, including Tom Sheldon Haley. They began to exchange messages on Facebook Messenger.
Mr Haley, an administrator of the group, portrayed himself as an investment expert versed in online trading. Their chats became frequent, and she was asked to invest in Trade Propel, an investment platform that promised high returns.
Mr Haley sent her detailed steps on how to create a new account on Trade Propel.
On March 13, 2024, Victim 1 transferred 1.3 BTC from Coinbase to a destination wallet provided by the Facebook group administrator.
After some time, she observed her deposit had increased on the website and tried to withdraw the funds, only to be told by Trade Propel customer support that she must pay “tax on earnings” before initiating withdrawal.
The U.S. Secret Service special agent said the demand for more money for investors to access their funds was typical of many scammers, as they often tried to squeeze every penny out of victims.
“Based on my training and experience, I know that scammers often attempt to extract additional funds from victims by instructing victims to pay ‘taxes’ to the scammers before the victims can withdraw funds,” said Ms Caulfield in her submission.
Checks on the Trade Propel website ticked all the fraud boxes as the Secret Service special agent said she could not find any relevant company information, policies and company contact details.
Instead, the website had bios of hedge fund billionaires George Soros, Paul Tudor, and Ray Dialo, claiming that the trio co-signed Trade Propel.
“Also, the website falsely claims to be part of FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) and SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation),” wrote the U.S. Secret Service special agent.
Ms Caulfield said the platform owner went to great lengths to make the website look legitimate for the purpose of defrauding people.
A money trail by the Secret Service showed how the syndicate immediately transferred the victim’s 1.3 BTC to an intermediary wallet before sending it to another wallet ending in –HKbIS.
Intermediary wallets are often used by fraudsters to disguise and clean up illicit money trails on the Blockchain in order to throw security agencies off their scent.
“Intermediary wallets support the movement of illicitly obtained funds as they help to conceal and disguise the source of the BTC by layering and severing straight line coordinates of transaction activity on the Blockchain to cash out exchangers,” Ms Caulfied stated in her motion seeking forfeiture.
However, the Secret Service special agent was able to bypass all the layering and cover-ups to track the bitcoin to its final destination wallet.
Account records for user ID ending in XXXXX3280 obtained from Binance showed that the wallet was registered to Nigerian passport holder Avwerosuo Omokri with the registered email address johnrichie513@gmail.com.
Coinbase provided information that showed additional victims had paid into the same intermediary wallet of the fraud syndicate. Victim 2 paid $ 29,000, while Victim 3 paid $35,000. The fourth victim was instructed to pay into a different intermediary wallet.
Further investigations revealed that the Tom Sheldon Haley’s Facebook account was not operated by one person but by a fraud syndicate that often deployed the rank and files to approach victims on social media platforms, including Facebook and LinkedIn.
The higher-level fraudsters were the ones on the wallet backends receiving and trying to cover up illicit money flows. Binance records showed that Mr Omokri’s syndicate used four different devices to access the wallets.
Ms Caulfield, on February 16, 2025, sought a forfeiture in rem of the seized $1.5 million, having established that they were proceeds of wire fraud and money laundering.
The seized funds include 7.23918814 BTC1, 105.75351403 ETH2, 636.11899592 AVAX3, 14120.995091 USDT4; 2380467906.17 SHIB and 319008151.01 PEPE.
The Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria has publicly denounced a video circulating on social media that depicts a controversial Bishop doing a "tongue-to-tongue" anointing ceremony, while calling the act “horrific” and despicable before God and man.
The church in a statement issued on Wednesday distanced itself from the individuals involved, emphasising that they are not affiliated with the Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria and do not represent its doctrines or values.
The church expressed deep concern over the video’s content, particularly the mention of its reverred founder, St. Moses Orimolade Tunolase, and the unauthorised use of its religious symbols.
“Ordinarily, we would not dignify such incidents with a response, but we must set the record straight,” the statement read.
The church said that following an internal investigation, it identified the key figure in the video as Alfred Oluwasegun Okikiola Ogunnusi, who refers to himself as “His Eminence Baba Aladura LAHOJAH.”
The ceremony reportedly took place in Ogijo, Ogun State, while the man being anointed, known as Benjamin (also called Ajigbo), operates a makeshift ‘church’ in Adamo, Ikorodu, Lagos State.
The church condemned Ogunnusi’s attempt to justify the act using Genesis 48:10, stating that his interpretation of the passage was flawed and misleading.
The Church reaffirmed its strict opposition to idolatry, noting that the actions in the video blatantly contradicted its beliefs.
It also clarified that not everyone who wears a white garment is a member of the C&S Church, urging the public not to assume affiliations based solely on appearance.
“We strongly abhor idolatrous practices and reject their satanic and unholy acts in their entirety,” the statement emphasized.
“As a church, we anoint our members with olive oil only and baptise through immersion in water—not through any other practice.”
Additionally, the church disowned an individual in the video seen wearing a robe with the official C&S logo, stressing that he was neither a recognized member nor authorised to wear the emblem.
Urging the public to disregard the video and its misleading portrayal of Christian practices, the church called for a collective condemnation of the incident.
“These impostors are attempting to exploit the name of St. Moses Orimolade Tunolase for personal gain, but invoking his name does not grant legitimacy or membership in our church,” the statement concluded.
The Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria remains committed to upholding its spiritual traditions and maintaining the integrity of its teachings.
Tompolo’s Tantita unveils 250-seater JAMB CBT centre
It was a moment of jubilation in the riverine communities of Ogulagha Kingdom in the Niger Delta as Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited formally inaugurated the refurbished and upgraded Sologha Ekpemukpolo JAMB Computer-Based Test Centre on Monday.
Stakeholders hailed the initiative as a major enhancement to educational infrastructure in Delta State’s riverine communities.
The project, part of TSSNL’s corporate social responsibility, includes the provision of 250 brand-new HP laptops, Starlink internet services, and a solar inverter system to ensure uninterrupted power supply.
Originally donated by Shell Petroleum Development Company in 2012 as an ICT hub, the centre has now been fully transformed into a JAMB-accredited CBT facility.
Speaking at the event, Victor Isereke, who has been associated with the facility since its inception, detailed the upgrades.
“Tantita has renovated the entire facility, painted it, and replaced all the computer systems with 250 brand-new computers. They also built toilet facilities, provided Starlink internet services, and installed a solar inverter system to reduce dependence on diesel,” he said.
The process of converting the centre into a JAMB-accredited CBT facility began in 2021, spearheaded by the lawmaker representing Burutu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Julius Pondi.
Recognising the challenges faced by students from riverine areas—who previously had to travel long distances to hinterlands for examinations—Pondi pushed for a local JAMB centre.
Despite initial resistance due to its location, his efforts eventually led to its approval and subsequent upgrades to meet JAMB’s standards.
Expressing gratitude to TSSNL, Pondi, represented by his Senior Legislative Aide, Tonkiri Apu, lauded the initiative.
“Upgrading the Ogulagha JAMB Centre to an international standard makes education more accessible to our people in rural areas. Our students no longer need to cross the high sea to write JAMB; now, they can do it at their doorstep,” he said.
Ogulagha Community Chairman, Mr. Daniel Okebor, also expressed his appreciation and pledged to safeguard the facility.
“We will do everything within our power to preserve it. Security measures have been put in place to ensure that nobody vandalizes this place,” Okebor assured.
Local students shared their excitement over the development.
Which job? .......efcc is toothless and very corrupt. We have a case of crowdfunding investment fraud ongoing in efcc, their handling is not satisfactory at all.
Nigerian pleads guilty to $3m romance scam targeting elderly Americans
A 47-year-old Nigerian man, Darlington Akporugo, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy in connection with a nationwide romance scam, US Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced.
According to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, on Monday, Akporugo played a central role in an elaborate scheme based in Houston that preyed on victims from Chicago to Kentucky.
Working with accomplices, he lured individuals into fraudulent online relationships, eventually convincing them to send money to bank accounts under his control.
According to ICE, Akporugo, who is an illegal immigrant in the US, pleaded guilty in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, as well as wire fraud, aiding, and abetting in an elaborate scheme that involved more than 25 victims, the majority of whom were either retired or elderly.
“This individual and his co-conspirators preyed on the vulnerability of the elderly and recently widowed to defraud them of their hard-earned life savings.
“Thanks to the victims who bravely came forward to report this matter to law enforcement and the outstanding relationships that we have with our domestic and law enforcement partners abroad; we were able to expose this reprehensible scheme and hold the criminals involved in it accountable,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz.
Authorities revealed that Akporugo, arrested just a month before his wedding, used fake identities to contact victims on social media, build trust, and then manipulate them into sending funds for fictitious business ventures or fabricated personal emergencies.
As part of his plea agreement, Akporugo admitted to soliciting victims primarily through platforms like Facebook and directing them to deposit money into accounts belonging to him or his co-conspirators.
Much of the stolen money was then funneled overseas.
Beyond cash and wire transfers, Akporugo also convinced victims to open lines of credit in his name and, in at least one instance, purchase a luxury vehicle for his personal use.
During a multi-year investigation, conducted by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, authorities identified more than 25 victims, most of them elderly or retired.
“As we unfortunately have seen, victims of romance scams suffer tremendous financial loss, sometimes amounting to their entire life savings.
“Those have fallen prey to such fraudsters are often too embarrassed to come forward and report the incident to law enforcement. Although this is an understandable reaction, we encourage victims to nonetheless come forward, as their story may help the future victimization of others,” said Ganjei.
Akporugo is set to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge on June 6.
He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
He will remain in custody pending hearing.
In May 2024, The PUNCH reported that a highly anticipated wedding took an unexpected turn when the bride and groom, Darlington Akporugo, 46, and Jasmin Sood, 35, were arrested just days before their ceremony.
The couple faces charges of defrauding elderly Americans out of more than $3 million through online romance scams.
According to details from their wedding website, the ceremony was set for May 25, 2024 in Houston, Texas.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas revealed that Akporugo and Sood allegedly orchestrated a seven-year scheme, preying on widowed victims through social media and dating platforms.
‘Buy land again,’ AY questions Nigerians’ cycle of selling lands to relocate, then repurchasing
Nigerian comedian and actor, Ayo Makun, widely known as AY, has shared his perspective on the trend of Nigerians relocating abroad in pursuit of better opportunities.
AY pointed out that many Nigerians sell their properties at home to move overseas, hoping for a more stable and prosperous life.
However, upon arrival, he noted, they often find themselves juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet while adjusting to the challenges of a new environment.
He then highlighted that many of these individuals eventually send money back to Nigeria to buy land—essentially repeating the same cycle.
Reflecting on this pattern, AY posed a question to his followers, seeking insight into what he described as a recurring experience for many Nigerians.
He wrote: “Nigerians abroad are working so hard doing multiple jobs to buy land back home, while Nigerians back home are selling their lands to relocate abroad so they can do 3 jobs to buy land again in Nigeria. Please explain to me what type of cycle is this?”
Why guests had to squeeze between 2 naked models to enter an art show
An art exhibition in London featured a unique installation where visitors must squeeze between two nude models to enter.
The exhibition was part of a career retrospective of Serbian performance artist Marina Abramović. According to Royal Academy head of exhibitions Andrea Tarsia, the installation forces visitors to confront unclothedness, gender, sexuality, and desire.
Two naked performance artists are standing on either side of a small entryway in a piece named Imponderabilia, according to the description. The performance by Abramovic and Ulay explored the notion of "the artist as a door to the museum."
They entice the spectator to move diagonally between them. Other pieces in the exhibition include Nude with Skeleton, in which a performer is exposed beneath a skeleton, and Luminosity, in which a naked artist is hanged from a bicycle saddle put on the wall.
Abramovic and her then-partner, Ulay, performed the odd work for the first time in 1977. In the 255-year history of the Royal Academy, Abramovic is the first female artist to hold a solo exhibition in the main galleries.
The exhibition has received mixed reviews, with the Guardian calling it "vital" and the Times calling it "remorseless."
Foreign Affairs › Re: Trump Poses With Teslas In Front Of The WH, The Company’s Slumping Stock Climbs by Morbeta11(m): 9:20am On Mar 12, 2025
nice job EFCC