₦airaland Forum

The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has said his level of appreciation for his political benefactor is the reason he is restrained from taking certain actions.

The governor was replying those tagging him as an ungrateful politician in the wake of the crisis between him and a former governor of the state now the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Governor Fubara stated this when he hosted on courtesy visit the Stakeholders of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality, including the leadership of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, the Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers, and others at Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday.

The Ikwerre Ethnic Group, made of four Local Government Areas of Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Emoji and Ikwerre, is the ethnic group of Wike.

Governor Fubara assured that despite the political events in the state, he will not throw caution to the wind, but will continue to show respect to people for what they are.

The clarification came following the swearing-in of Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara who was screened and confirmed as a commissioner by the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led assembly on Monday.

The swearing ceremony was held at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House in Port Harcourt at about 5 pm.

Giving his charge after the oath-taking ceremony, Governor Fubara defended his recognition of the Oko-Jumbo-led assembly, insisting that it is the lawfully recognised legislative arm.

Governor Fubara, however, expressed his disappointment with the police for not doing enough to unravel the facts about the bomb explosion in Port Harcourt some weeks ago.

He claimed that the relevant authorities were silent because the suspects in the attack were not his supporters.

“I’ve not been hearing anything and I’m wondering, after how many weeks now, the Nigeria police are still not able to come out and make a statement about the attempt by someone – who I don’t know what his name is – tried to detonate dynamite in front of Hotel Presidential,” Fubara said.

“I’m still wondering why it doesn’t happen. But if it’s maybe any other thing that has to do with us, they will say they should even charge the person for terrorism.”

The Rivers State governor recalled how his supporters were arrested and charged with terrorism for crimes they did not commit.

But Fubara said he will continue to rely on God’s grace and protection to govern the state.

US President Joe Biden, under intense scrutiny over his fitness to serve, accidentally introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as Russian strongman Vladimir Putin at a NATO ceremony before correcting himself.

“Now I want to hand it over to the president of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination. Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin,” Biden said on Wedneday.

Biden quickly corrected himself, saying, “I’m so focused on beating President Putin, we’ve got to worry about it.”

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a couple (name withheld) attempting to sell their two-year-old son to travel to Canada.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Lagos.

Hundeyin said that the couple, aged 28 and 22, were apprehended on Tuesday while trying to sell their child off.

He stated that around 2.45 p.m. on Tuesday, the Isolo Divisional Police Officer received information that the couple went to Isolo General Hospital and expressed their intention to sell their baby boy.

“Upon receipt of the information, operatives from the station moved swiftly to the hospital where they were about to sell their child.

“The baby’s age is two and he has been rescued. Upon interrogation, the couple confessed that they decided to sell the baby to enable the man to travel to Canada for a greener pasture.

“However, the investigation is ongoing,” he said.

The Anambra State Local Government Service Commission said it had discovered over 427 ghost workers earning salaries from the state government without being staff members.

The Chairman of the Commission, Vin Ezeaka, disclosed this to journalists in Awka, the state capital, on Friday.

Ezeaka said the commission also discovered that about six senior employees at the various local government areas forged their certificates purportedly to have been issued by the Imo State University.

According to him, among the ghost workers include 59 staff of the commission who had died a long time ago, 40 others who had retired and are still on the payroll of the commission, and about 11 others living abroad are on the payroll of the state government.

He said, “The discovery was made during a staff personnel audit launched to sanitise the local government system in the state. In the process, a startling revelation of over 427 workers were discovered to have been on the local government payroll without being staffed.

“Out of the 427 ghost workers uncovered, 59 were staff of the commission who had died a long time ago, 40 others had retired and are still on the payroll of the commission, while about 11 others are staff living abroad whose names were still on the payroll of government.

“Others were some staff members of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe. We discovered 59 deceased staff who are still receiving salaries, 40 retirees also receiving salaries, and above all, we discovered 222 workers on the payroll who nobody could identify as workers in any of the 21 LGAs and we have many of them living abroad and still receiving salaries.

“So we wrote to the Joint Account to remove them from the payroll. Some of them have come to voluntarily retire, but we refused because you can’t cheat the government and want to retire.

“We are going to finish our investigation and those we caught in this unholy act will face the full wrath of the law in accordance with civil service rules.

“Apart from this discovery, made at the end of May 2024, something dramatic happened, we descended on the certificate racketeering cartel within the local government system. We set up a committee that came up with reports of people with suspicious certificates working in various local government areas of Anambra State and we then set up a screening committee that indicted so many of them.

“Those indicted were identified and we started investigating the certificates they presented to the committee and went as far as going to the universities whose certificates they brandished and out of the 20 persons who tendered Imo State University certificates, we screened 14 so far, where we discovered that six out of the 14 were fake certificates.

“So we have dealt with that aspect also. It is our duty to sanitise the system in line with the mandate given to us by the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo so that the genuine workers who sacrifice their time and energy can get value for their service and not looters who do not contribute anything to the development of Anambra state.”

The commission chairman further disclosed that the ongoing local government and certificate verification was not for any witch-hunt, but purely to sanitise the system, adding that even senior local government staff, including deputy directors and treasurers, were also sacked for fake certificates.

Ezeaka said those working with forged certificates in the LGA system in the state had been given a grace period to come and voluntarily report themselves or be sacked when the amnesty would elapse.

A popular tap-2-earn app, Tapswap, powered by TON Blockchain, has said the token allocation to users has been postponed to quarter three of the year.

The app, which required users to repeatedly tap the icon in the centre of the Telegram Tapswap bot screen to mine coins, recently gained momentum among Nigerians tapping on their phone screens in pursuit of financial earnings and has amassed over 50 million users since it launched on February 15, 2024.

The management said it decided to move the share-to-token exchange event scheduled for July 1st to the third quarter to better serve its players.

In a series of threads created on X, on Monday, to share what it described as ‘bad and good news’ for its players, the management said it is in active talks with tier 1 exchanges around the world to price the highly ranked game from the prey of scammers and leaders in web3 industry who are moved by the successes the game had attracted.

“We’ve got some bad and really good news for you at the same time: our team has decided to move the date for the Shares-to-Token exchange event. You might wonder, what’s good about that? Just FUD?

“Not exactly. The whole point is that you’ll benefit from this. Let us explain how:

Recently, there’s been a lot of buzz around Tapswap, especially about listing on tier 1 exchanges, a massive drop, and more. And it’s no surprise: the project has become one of the major players globally, ranking at the top. This kind of attention attracts not just scammers but also leaders in the web3 industry.

“So, not all rumours are just rumours. The Tapswap team is actually in active talks with tier-1 exchanges!

And they are thrilled with you – our community! Isn’t this what we’ve been tirelessly working towards together?”

The management further reiterated its effort to devote a high level of attention to the task, which requires much more detailed work on tokenomics and the right launch strategy.

“However, this success comes with some ‘inconveniences’. This level of attention requires much more detailed work on tokenomics and the right launch strategy. And that means extra time.

“But know that this is all to ensure that our launch in Q3 is fair and, more importantly, profitable for all of you who stand by us no matter what,” it added.

Tapswap, however, charged its players to be happy about the bigger news in the future while appreciating the support and feedback gotten from them.

So, as you can see, there are plenty of reasons to be happy about this change. And very soon, we’ll give you some even bigger news about our future, tier 1 partnerships, and the drop itself!

We really value your support. And we truly listen to your feedback, so don’t forget to share it in the comments. Together, we’ll keep reaching higher and higher levels!

The PUNCH reports that Tapswap postponed its token launch date, which was scheduled for July 1st, indefinitely.

This was disclosed by the Head of Communications of the gaming firm, John Robbin, on June 20, 2024.

Before the aforesaid disclosure, it announced that its coin allocation date would be July 1st after it couldn’t establish a date in May because of too many bot accounts that they are working on separating from the authentic gamers.

According to Robbin, the method of token allocation has not yet been ascertained, stressing that the processes cannot be communicated before the allocation.

“The token launch was postponed from July 1. The new date will be communicated.

“We will allocate a significant part of the tokens to the community to retain the tappers. We want you all to be part of the tapswap community.

“We need a token airdrop to be a win-win for all of us. We have started communicating with many exchanges and platforms,” he said.

Nigerians, including young and old, have been obsessively tapping on their phones, with some asserting that they are waiting for the tokens to be allocated to buy cars and houses of their choice from the many taps they have accumulated.

In a viral clip, a Keke driver was seen tapping away on his phone with one hand while simultaneously steering his moving vehicle and transporting passengers.

Another viral video showed several traders in Northern Nigeria tapping vigorously on their screens.

The sixth prosecution witness, Idi Musa, in the trial of Ismaila Mustapha, (a.k.a Mompha) on Monday, told Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos how N35bn was found in two bank accounts linked to the defendant.

The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, had, on January 12, 2022, arraigned Mompha alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity, failure to disclose assets and property, possession of documents containing false pretences and use of property derived from unlawful act.

One of the counts read, “Ismaila Mustapha, Ahmadu Mohammed (at large) and Ismalob Global Investment Limited, sometime in 2016, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to conduct financial transactions to the tune of N5,998,884,653.18 with the intent of promoting the carrying on of specified unlawful activities to wit: obtaining by false pretence.”

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.

On September 22, 2022, Justice Dada had ordered that the trial of Mompha would continue in absentia after he jumped bail.

At Monday’s proceedings, Musa, an investigator with the EFCC, while being led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, S. I. Suleiman, narrated how he knew the first and second defendants in the course of investigations into the alleged criminal activities.

He told the court how the commission had received intelligence from the Federal Bureau of Investigations, informing it that the first and second defendants were into cybercrime in the United States of America, USA.

In his testimony, he said, “Sometime in 2019, we received intelligence from the FBI, USA. The letter was addressed to the commission, informing us that the first and second defendants were involved in cybercrime, otherwise known as Yahoo Yahoo.”

According to him, in the course of the investigation, some letters were written to two major banks requesting the account statements of the second defendant linked to the first defendant.

In his further testimony, he told the court that “The account statements were received and analysed.

“During the analysis, we discovered a heavy flow of N30bn through the account of the first defendant (Mompha) in one of the banks and about N5bn in another bank account.

“Letters were written to the FBI, and the Special Fraud Unit of the vommission, regarding the defendant’s claim that he was into Bureau De change business, in view of the volume of these transactions.

“A letter was also written to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and other relevant agencies.”

He also told the court that the investigation revealed that the first defendant did not reside in Nigeria and that efforts to reach him proved abortive.

The witness said, “A letter was written to the Nigeria Immigration Services, on October 16, 2019, to arrest the defendant anytime he was seen in the country.

“On October 18, 2019, the first defendant got information that the Commission was looking for him, while he was in Nigeria. So, he quickly got to the airport and boarded a flight in order to jet out of the country to evade arrest.

“The team got the information through the NIS officers at the airport. By then, Mompha had already boarded the flight. So, they had to call him to come down and he was immediately arrested. He was subsequently handed over to the EFCC by the immigration officers.”

When asked about the findings regarding the defendant’s bank account, Musa said over N30bn was discovered, adding that “he told us that he was into Bureau De Change business. But investigation showed that he was not.

“We have already concluded investigations in that regard. The offences border on money laundering, operating BDC without a licence before a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.”

He also told the court that a report from the FBI’s forensic analysis revealed that Mompha’s iPhone was used to send account details to a United Arab Emirates telephone number, which he used to search for Swift Codes of a bank.

“Upon his arrest, all the properties recovered from him were registered with the Exhibits Section in the EFCC office.

“Most of the properties were released to him on bond, except his iPhone 8 which is still with the commission.

“The items are proceeds of crime because when he was given the Assets Declaration Form, he did not include those items,” he added.

The prosecution then tendered both the first defendant’s statement as well as the Asset Declaration Form.

They were admitted in evidence as exhibits P5 and P6 by the court.

Consequently, Justice Dada adjourned the case till Tuesday, October 8, 2024, for the continuation of trial.

The Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Chike Olemgbe, on Tuesday, announced the suspension of four members for an alleged plot to impeach the speaker.

The suspended lawmakers included Ahiazu-Mbaise, Samuel Otuibe; Ezinihitte-Mbaise, Henry Agbasonu; Okigwe, Chidiebere Ogbunikpa and Oru-West, Dominic Ezerioha.

The Speaker said the decision to suspend them was taken at the executive session.

The Speaker also announced that all standing Committees belonging to the suspended members have been retrieved from them.

PUNCH gathered that during the plenary, the Speaker made minor reshufflement on the standing Committees.

Some of the suspended members present during the announcement declined to speak to newsmen.

The Federal Government on Thursday said the disbursement of N150bn loans to micro, small and medium enterprises and manufacturers would commence by the end of July.

It also disclosed that 60 per cent of the proposed one million beneficiaries of the Presidential Conditional Grant had received a financial grant of N50,000 without repayment obligations in the 774 local government areas of the country.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, revealed the latest information in a post via her official X handle on Thursday.

In December 2023, the Federal Government unveiled the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme as part of the Presidential Palliatives Programme aimed at supporting businesses to navigate the economic crunch caused by government policies.

The fund dedicates N75bn to MSMEs and another N75bn to the manufacturing sector.

The minister noted the government is well aware of the current business climate and created the fund to help Nigerian businesses navigate the harsh economic conditions.

She said, “To all applicants of the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme who are yet to be paid, thank you for your continued patience. The disbursement process is still ongoing, and we have allocated about 60 per cent of the 1 million grants.

“You can track the number of beneficiaries per LGA paid so far on grant.fedgrantandloan.gov.ng/learn-more/dis.

“We are also at the final stages of vetting for the MSME and Manufacturing loans. Applications remain open, and disbursement will begin by July ending.”

She thanked applicants of the Conditional Grant Scheme who are yet to be paid for continued patience, stressing that her team have worked tirelessly to ensure this process is fair and accurate.

Reacting to complaints by aggrieved applicants, she explained that the selection was not based on who applied first but on random computer-generated selection.

She stated that the ministry had hoped to complete all 1 million disbursements by now; however, the process has been delayed due to issues such as incorrect or missing data, duplicate applications, and spurious entries.

Last month, The PUNCH exclusively reported that the government had disbursed a total sum of N20.11bn to 402,283 beneficiaries to their bank accounts via their Bank Verification Number.

The minister added, “It’s important to note that almost 4 million Nigerians applied for the Palliative grant of 50k, but only 1 million beneficiaries can be accommodated.

“This means not all applicants will receive the grant. The selection is not based on who applied first; everyone has an equal chance but by random computer-generated selection.

“While Mr. President may launch other social intervention programs in the future, there are no immediate plans at this time.

“The teams in my office and BOI have worked tirelessly to ensure this process is fair and accurate. Testimonial videos are already being shared, showcasing how the grant has positively impacted lives and we will share many more.”

She added, “We have prioritized accuracy over speed to ensure every Nigerian who applied has a fair shot. We had hoped to complete all 1 million disbursements by now but the process has been delayed due to incorrect or missing data, and duplicate and spurious applications, which we have had to meticulously clean up to ensure eligibility and validation.

“Finally, it is your right as citizens to criticise and hold the government accountable. However, we encourage constructive feedback without resorting to abuse or bigotry. Personal insults and hate speech are not likely to aid your applications and will not be tolerated. Together, we can build a more prosperous Nigeria. Thank you once again.”

The Federal Government, on Thursday, approved the disbursement of N12,911bn through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.

The amount represents the 2023 fund for one quarter, to be utilised in the third quarter of 2024.

This is according to the 2020 BHCPF guideline, pending the review of the new guideline.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this at the 7th meeting of the BHCPF Ministerial Oversight Committee in Abuja.

In March 2024, the Nigerian government authorised the disbursement of N25 billion through the BHCPF across the states of the federation

The allocated funds were earmarked for direct facility financing and workforce incentives across states.

Available data from the BHCPF and the Africa Health Budget Network shows that from 2019 to 2022, funds disbursed through BHCPF summed up to an estimated N89 billion.

Only 7,250 out of the 35,514 Primary Healthcare Centres in the country are currently benefiting from the BHCPF, according to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

Pate said that in line with Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Initiative and President Bola Tinubu’s approval for a Sector-Wide Approach, urgent comprehensive reforms were being undertaken to improve BHCPF.

“A sub-committee set up by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare during the 5th Ministerial Oversight Committee meeting in late 2023, is leading these reforms.

“Key developments include: Ongoing review of the BHCPF Guideline, with proposed reforms for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) already approved in March 2024.

“A thorough assessment has revealed significant flaws in the implementation of BHCPF, prompting all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to commit to immediate corrective measures.

“The MOC has approved the release of ₦25 billion to key health agencies to prevent disruption of services while awaiting the new guideline by the third quarter of 2024,” he explained.

He said that these reforms aimed to better align resources and improve health outcomes, such as increased antenatal coverage, skilled birth attendance, immunisation rates, and overall health insurance coverage in Nigeria.

The Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr Muyi Aina, said that two memos were submitted and approved by the MOC.

“The first memo, jointly presented by the NCDC Gateway and EMT Gateway, outlined proposed reforms.

“These reforms focus on programmatic improvements at both state and national levels, as well as fiduciary interventions to ensure proper resource utilisation.

“The second memo focused on the disbursement of N12.9 billion across all states for the third quarter, following a previous approval and disbursement of N25 billion for the first two quarters,” he said.

Nigeria losing experienced health workers to developed countries, minister laments
Aina said that these reforms and disbursements were part of ongoing efforts to implement the Sector-Wide Approach and government reforms, aimed at improving coordination and resource efficiency across various gateways.

He stressed the need to improve the quality of primary health centres across states, utilising resources from both state funding and external sources like World Bank loans.

“We have conducted assessments with the National Health Insurance Authority and states to identify facility gaps and prioritise improvements.

“The focus now is on working closely with each state to sequence the refurbishment of these facilities, starting with those most urgently in need of support,” he said.

Also speaking, the Director General, NHIA, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, said that the meeting was to ensure visibility into how funds were utilised, promoting openness about the allocation and expenditure of resources.

Ohiri said that it was an atmosphere to hold stakeholders responsible for their actions and decisions regarding fund usage, involving peer review and scrutiny from various sectors, including government, empowerers, and civil society.

“Serving as a platform to address challenges and constraints in implementing healthcare initiatives, aiming for collective resolution and proactive steps forward,” he said.

He said that these elements underscored the importance of effective governance and collaboration in achieving the goals of BHCPF.

He disclosed that approximately 2.7 million Nigerians were now insured under this initiative, ensuring they have access to a minimum package of healthcare services at primary healthcare centres without out-of-pocket expenses.

“We are working with the NPHCDA to improve healthcare quality in facilities, making sure services remain affordable and covered under health insurance.

“The initiative has spurred states to contribute their resources, with 25 states funding their own health insurance programmes to support the poor and vulnerable, expanding coverage beyond federal efforts,” he disclosed.

He said that since the last 6th MOC, additional states have begun implementing their health insurance funds, accrediting multiple facilities to provide comprehensive care at the primary healthcare level.

He said that these achievements highlight the programme’s impact in enhancing healthcare access and affordability across Nigeria, driven by collaborative efforts between federal and state entities.

NAN reports that the federal government established the BHCPF in 2014, under Section 11 of the National Health Act, to provide funding to improve access to primary health care.

BHCPF was designed to be financed from not less than one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federal government and other sources, including donors’ contributions.

The Fund provides a Basic Minimum Package of Health aimed at increasing the fiscal space for health, strengthening the national health system, particularly at the PHC level, and ensuring access to healthcare for all.

Georgia stunned former champions Portugal 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the knockout stage at Euro 2024 —- their first-ever major tournament.

The match was settled by an early Khvicha Kvaratskhelia strike and a Georges Mikautadze penalty kick.

The win, albeit against a largely second-string Portugal who had already made it into the next round, represented the greatest result for Georgia.

This was since the country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.



But there was nothing undeserved about the way Willy Sagnol, a former Bayern Munich and France defender, and his side claimed a third-place finish in the tournament’s Group F.

It was a win that had now set them up for a last-16 meeting with three-time Euro winners Spain.

Georgia’s win also means that England will line up against Slovakia, Romania take on Netherlands and Portugal face Slovenia in the round of 16.

Hungary, who had been in contention for a spot in the next round, were edged out.

The tournament debutants took the lead in the second minute when Kvaratskhelia, the Napoli winger, raced away after a careless pass by Antonio Silva.

He then powered a low shot past Diogo Costa in Portugal’s goal.

This was as he sought to become the oldest goal scorer at a Euro tournament at the age of 39.

But Georgia defended as if their lives depended upon it and sought to catch Portugal on the break.

In the 53rd minute, Silva compounded his earlier error by committing a foul in the penalty box which led to an award of a penalty kick after a VAR check.

Mikautadze, who had provided the pass for Kvaratskhelia to open the scoring early on, steered his kick past Costa, making him the top scorer at Euro 2024 so far with three goals.

Ronaldo was booked in the first half for arguing and he cut a frustrated figure when he was substituted after the break, kicking out at a water bottle.

Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili made late saves to keep Portugal at bay in the final minutes.

At full-time, Georgia’s squad and coaching staff sprinted onto the field to celebrate in front of thousands of their fans.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has reported a $172m increase in direct remittances in one month.

The latest CBN data analysed by PUNCH Online showed that the remittances totalled $138.56m in January, $39.14m in February, $104.90m in March, $193.31m in April, and $365.44 m in May 2024.

The data indicates a surge of 90 per cent ($172m) from April to May, reaching $365.44m, and 163 per cent from January to May, indicating a robust growth in foreign-currency inflows, a positive development for the economy amid rising debt and efforts to diversify revenue sources.

This increase is reflective of efforts by the CBN to enhance foreign currency remittance flows through formal channels.

In response to challenges hindering remittance flows, the CBN recently approved in principle 14 new International Money Transfer Operators.

This initiative aims to streamline processes and eliminate bottlenecks, thereby encouraging more remittances through official channels.

The Acting Director of Corporate Communications at the CBN, Sidi Ali, emphasised the bank’s commitment to facilitating smoother remittance transactions.

“We are wasting no time driving progress to remove any bottlenecks hindering flows through formal channels permanently. We have a determined pathway and a sequenced approach to tackling all challenges ahead, working hand in hand with key stakeholders in the remittance industry,” she said.

Earlier regulatory changes also contributed to this positive trend.

In January 2024, the CBN removed the exchange rate cap previously imposed on IMTOs, allowing for more flexible currency quoting.

This regulatory adjustment was complemented by revised operational guidelines and increased licensing fees for IMTOs, underscoring the CBN’s efforts to strengthen the sector’s operational standards and financial requirements.

This current surge is pivotal as Nigeria seeks to stabilise its economy amidst rising external debt obligations.

Recent reports indicate that the Federal Government spent $2.18bn on debt servicing between January and May 2024, underlining the significance of foreign exchange earnings from remittances.

The increase in remittance inflows aligns with broader economic strategies aimed at diversifying revenue sources away from oil-dependent revenues.

The Nigerian government, despite focusing on domestic borrowing, faces substantial external debt servicing obligations.

This fiscal challenge underscores the critical role of remittances in bolstering foreign exchange reserves and mitigating external debt pressures.

The CBN’s proactive measures and collaborations with IMTOs are expected to sustain this positive momentum in remittance inflows.

As Nigeria continues to navigate economic reforms and external debt dynamics, the resilience of remittance inflows provides a crucial buffer against fiscal vulnerabilities.

An economic expert at Lotus Beta Analytics, Shadrach Israel, noted that a ” substantial increase in direct remittances to Nigeria underscores the effectiveness of recent regulatory reforms and strategic initiatives by the CBN.

“These efforts not only enhance the transparency and efficiency of remittance channels but also contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic resilience amidst evolving global economic landscapes.”

In two months, Nigerians will begin utilising the services of the proposed three-in-one identity card, the National Identity Management Commission has confirmed.

It said the single multipurpose card combining multiple functions of identity, financial and social services will be made available to citizens across the country by August this year.

A high-ranking member of the implementation team, who asked not to be named, disclosed the new information during an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH on Friday.

The official stated that the commission had been working tirelessly to meet its goals, adding that the plan remains on track and would be launched in the upcoming months.

He also disclosed that the commission has begun the testing and deployment stage.

The official said, “We actually plan for July although there have been a few delays but we are still hopeful that it would come in July. So we are hoping to get it done between July and August. We are still on plan and if there is any shift, the public will know.”

The official added, “When you are deploying a new technology, there is a lot of work to be done, you need to configure the card, enable the outlet, and enable the wallet to work. We also have to do tests and that is what is ongoing.

“The deployment is ongoing, the portal that people need to access the service has to be deployed, and we have to make sure that it is scaleable and those are the ongoing works.

“There are integrations that all the banks need to do to enable the card and all of those little details are ongoing. We have that target and we are working extra hard to make sure that we achieve that.”

On Friday, April 5, 2024, the NIMC announced that it had launched a new card layered with payment capabilities and social service features in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System.

It explained that the identity solution was equipped with payment capability for all types of social and financial services.

According to a statement issued, the initiative represents a collaborative effort to offer increased options for domestic consumers while fostering the delivery of services in a more innovative, cost-effective, and competitive manner.

The identity cards will include a bank-enabled National ID card, a social intervention card, and an optional ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday, said contrary to the claims in circulation, President Bola Tinubu immensely benefited from his goodwill.

Atiku said but for him, Tinubu’s political career might have been terminated while he was governor of Lagos State in the early part of the Fourth Republic.

On Thursday, Vice President Kashim Shettima stated that both Atiku and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, once benefited from Tinubu’s political support during their times of persecution.

Shettima specifically said Tinubu’s residence in Bourdillon, Ikoyi, Lagos, served as a refuge for Atiku when he faced harassment and expulsion from the PDP.

“He (Tinubu) has been a veritable sanctuary for victims of political witch-hunts. When Atiku Abubakar was harassed in the Peoples Democratic Party, it was Bourdillon he ran to for support and it was in Bourdillon that he got the needed support and later contested for the presidency of this country,” Shettima stated during the inauguration of the Vice Presidential Lodge constructed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration in Abuja.

Reacting through a statement by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, on Sunday, Atiku said Shettima “goofed,” adding that “truth be told, it was Tinubu that actually benefited immensely from Atiku’s goodwill.”

The former vice president stated that without his support, Tinubu would not have enjoyed his tenure as Lagos State governor and might have been impeached.

He stated, “But for Atiku’s support, hinged on his pro-democracy instincts and the rule of law, Tinubu’s tenure as governor of Lagos State would have been rough with a wide possibility of termination of his political career.

“For some time, and especially leading up to the 2023 election, there has been a deliberate attempt to distort the history of the politics of the early Fourth Republic by ascribing the AC, the political platform that Atiku ran in 2007, as Tinubu’s party.

“Nothing can be further from the truth. Vice President Shettima, obviously carried away with the euphoria of the unveiling of his official residence as Vice President, repeated the same lie.”

Atiku urged Shettima to avoid commenting on topics about which he had little or no knowledge.

“Shettima needs to be reminded that Atiku did not run under the Action Congress of Nigeria, but Action Congress. AC came out of a coalition of Advance Congress of Democrats, formed mainly by PDM members and other associates and Tinubu’s faction of Alliance for Democracy.

“Moreover, Tinubu was not in a position to lend the platform to Atiku as erroneously suggested, as he (Atiku) was nominated by all the delegates from all the states.

“The delegates to the primary of the election that threw up the former Vice President as the party’s presidential candidate included Atiku Abubakar himself, Lawal Keita, Amb. Yahaya Kwande, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, Alexis Anielo, Titi Ajanaku, ex-Governor Rashidi Ladoja, Chief Tom Ikimi, and Chief Dapo Sarumi. Others were Chief Sergeant Awuse, Alh. Lawan, Dr Chris Ngige, Prof Ango Abdullahi, Dr Farouk Abdul Azeez, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Chief Ejiofor Onyia, and Dr Iyorchia Ayu, among others.

“From the Tinubu’s Alliance for Democracy were Bola Tinubu, Chief Segun Osoba, Chief Adebayo Adefarati, and Chief Bisi Akande, among others,” the statement noted.

To sustain the economic drive of the Federal Government and expand the Nigerian economy for accelerated revenue and job creation, about nine ministries will be submitting a fresh working policy document to the Federal Executive Council in the next six weeks, Sunday PUNCH has gathered.

The Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa-Musawa disclosed this in an interview report made available to our correspondent on Saturday.

Recall that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, on Tuesday presented to President Bola Tinubu an Accelerated Stabilisation and Advancement Plan (ASAP), designed to address key challenges affecting the reform initiatives and stimulate development in various sectors of the economy.

According to reports, the plan has given an insight into how the administration seeks to address some of the many problems hindering the effective delivery of some of the economic reforms so far implemented by the current administration.

The plan reportedly captured the Federal Government’s eight priority areas to stabilize the economy and it is broken down into Agriculture and Food Security Sub-Committee plan, Energy Sub-Committee plan: Oil, Energy Sub-Committee plan: Gas, Energy Sub-Committee plan: Power, Health and Social Welfare Sub-Committee plan, and Business Support Sub-Committee plan.

But in a statement on Thursday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the ASAP policy proposals has not been made official because it will still be subjected to further scrutiny and analysis before being presented to the public.

However, in her interview seen by our correspondent on Saturday, Musa-Musawa said the Federal Executive Council would receive a fresh economic expansion proposal in six weeks which would have inputs from nine ministries in a bid to raise the sum of $100bn to increase the country’s Gross Domestic Products by 2030 and create jobs for no fewer than two million Nigerians in the creative and entertainment industry.

She said, “Last week, the Minister of Trade and Investment and I set up a committee that is going to look into ensuring that within the span of four to six weeks, we have IP protection and securitisation. Already, we have a working document.

“IP protection cuts across the span of many ministries. You have about nine or eight ministries that are involved. So we have to get inputs from all these ministries involved in terms of what they need to be captured within the kind of documents that we are already working with.

“Hopefully, within the next six weeks, we will present that to the executive council and ensure that we have IP securitisation that is needed not only to give the protection of people in the industry but also to ensure that people in the industry can use their IP as collateral.”

She noted that her ministry had been collaborating with eight other ministries to put together the new policy working document owing to the important roles strategic partnership plays in the economic stability of a country.

She said, “Policy framework is central when you talk about building a foundation. We decided to look at all the policies that are needed, the issue of culture policy, creative economy policy, and infrastructure policy. These were some things that we felt were very important. Of course, there is the issue of stakeholder engagement.

“The issue of strategic partnerships is very key. One of the things that we looked at in terms of the potential of the industry was its ability to create an economic expansion. We came up with a very ambitious goal of trying to contribute at least $100bn to increase the GDP by 2030 or 2031. It’s the potential to bring in economic growth.”

On how the Federal Government plans to achieve the $100bn target set for 2030, the minister said, “It is doable. The numbers that we have are based on the metrics out there already.

“The kind of numbers coming in from Spotify, YouTube, and NETFLIX; you look at the number from the great Funke Akindele’s movie, which grossed a billion plus with hardly any major cinema. Can you imagine the numbers that can be generated if we can expand the cinemas?

“If you do that and you can give them infrastructure, you can draw a lot of concerts coming into the country. Nigeria’s movie industry is the second biggest in the world, but they don’t have the infrastructure and the proper backing to be able to produce good productions.

“The productions that we can gross are billions that we are talking about in Bollywood and Hollywood. If you can give them that enabling environment, those numbers are not very difficult if you look at what South Korea and Japan are doing.

“I am just looking at the movie industry, but we have the fashion industry, the music industry, and the culinary industry. Can you imagine the kind of money that we can make just by monetising our jollof or monetising our food? It is not very difficult. It is not something that can be done overnight, but we need to put in place an enabling environment that would be able to foster a certain amount of growth from 2027 to 2030,” the minister added.

On job creation, she further said, “We hope to create at least two million jobs by 2027. That is our hope, and I think with what we have done so far, we will be able to do that. Part of our mandate is to engage a younger demographic in almost everything that we do. This is almost all part of job creation, and I have all my agencies pursuing that goal.”

President Bola Tinubu has again acknowledged the economic challenges confronting Nigeria, assuring citizens that his administration is “retooling” the financial system to ease their economic difficulties.

Tinubu, former Lagos governor, who was sworn in as Nigeria’s President on May 29, 2023, said it has been “a very challenging time for us in the country”.

“Up till now, we are still retooling and rejigging our financial system to bring prosperity and relief to the people of this country,” the President said when he commissioned the Guzape Lot II Infrastructure Project in Abuja on Saturday.

He said the completion of the project was testament to what could be achieved through “diligent planning, collaboration and shared commitment to excellence”.


The President said commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for delivering on the infrastructure renewal promises of the Federal Government to the people of the FCT.

“Nyesom Wike, you have provided exceptional leadership at a trying time for the country,” Tinubu said. “You’ve (Wike) demonstrated the capacity to build a team, to lead a team and to deliver on promises. I commend you. Well done.”

‘Pursue Dialogue, Not Litigation’
The President also urged the stakeholders in the FCT to pursue dialogue and not litigation to resolve land disputes.

“To all of you here and the district head of Guzape or representing the district head, litigation is not the answer, conversation is the answer,” Tinubu said.

“Development that is focused on the people for the economic prosperity, the benefit of all, is what should reside in us.

“Of what value is the land that is blocked by these high mountains and rocks that you cannot access, nor provide drinkable water?” the President queried.

“It’s not a personal thing. I stand here as the President. I don’t have a plot here but I have the people’s support and the mandate to deliver good quality of life and living environment. That should be enough for all us to share in the joy of commitment, dedication, perseverance, and the gifts that God has endowed us with.”

The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; and the FCT Minister of State, Mariya Mahmoud; among other dignitaries were also at the event.

Prices of food and basic commodities have gone through the roof in the last weeks, as Nigerians battle the country’s current economic crisis sparked by the current government’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex windows.

On Sunday, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, assured Nigerians that food prices would come down in the coming months.

“Inflation, yes, it is high at 33.65%, food inflation at 40.5% is worrisomely high but the fact is that inflation is coming down, month-on-month. It is slowing and it is expected to reduce as we continue the dry season harvest and then we go into the wet season harvest.

“That is the place to focus on and a lot of emphasis is being placed on that to get agriculture output up, to get prices down, and that will be a big factor in bringing down inflation.”

The President of Nigeria’s Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has described the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), as Nigeria’s Cambridge and Harvard Universities.

Akpabio, who made the comparison at the permanent site of the Institute in Abuja, said the infrastructure and conducive environment provided for teaching and learning were akin to what were obtainable in Cambridge, Harvard and other top rated Universities in the world.

“The Institute’s impressive facilities, vision and focus, make it a very significant potential contributor to Nigerian democracy.

“With this infrastructure, Nigerians no longer need to travel overseas for legislative training. This is our own Cambridge and Harvard”, he said.

Akpabio was accompanied on the visit by the leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong and Senator Adetokunbo Abiru.

At the event, the Director General of NILDS, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, unveiled NILDS’ latest publication, “25 Years of Democracy and Development in Nigeria,” which features a foreword by the President of the Senate.

The publication chronicles Nigeria’s democratic journey and development since 1999.

In a similar development, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Maimounatou Ibrahima visited NILDS to seek the institute’s assistance in the capacity development of parliamentarians and their support staff.

The Director-General, Sulaiman assured her of the Institute’s readiness to provide its services to the ECOWAS Parliament, emphasizing their commitment to the advancement and overall well-being of the sub-region.

The US government has filed a civil forfeiture action to recover $5.3 million linked to a business email compromise (BEC) scheme that defrauded a Massachusetts workers union.

In January 2023, a spoofed email led the union to transfer $6.4 million to a fraudulent account.

The funds were then routed through various international banks and cryptocurrency exchanges.

US authorities have seized money from seven domestic accounts connected to the scheme.

These were stated in a Wednesday press release obtained from the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusets website on Thursday.

“BEC fraud schemes present a serious threat to businesses and individuals nationwide, causing significant financial and emotional harm to victims by exploiting trusted communication channels they rely upon every day.

“Today’s civil forfeiture action demonstrates that when victims report such misconduct to the authorities there may be steps we can take to recover stolen funds.

“We hope today’s action helps restore some level of stability and justice for those impacted by fraud,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy.

Issued in Boston, the statement also admonished that “members of the public who believe they are victims of a cybercrime – including cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, investment scams and business email compromise (BEC) fraud scams – should contact USAMA.CyberTip@usdoj.gov.”

According to the press release, the fraudulently obtained funds were then transferred through a series of intermediary bank accounts, with some funds transferred, or attempted to be transferred, to a cryptocurrency exchange or various bank accounts located in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, and Nigeria.

“The United States filed a civil forfeiture action today to recover approximately $5,315,746 alleged to be proceeds of a business email compromise (BEC) scheme targeting a Massachusetts workers union, as well as property involved in money laundering.

“The complaint alleges that in January 2023, a workers union located in Dorchester received an email requesting a change of payment information from someone it believed worked at an investment consulting firm.

“The complaint also alleges that the email came from what initially appeared to be the consulting firm’s true email address but was in fact a spoofed email address that had been changed by one letter. The spoofed email instructed the workers’ union to make a $6,400,000 transfer to a different bank account than had been previously arranged, which the workers union did, in fact, do.

“The spoofed email, however, was a fraudulent communication intended to mislead the workers union into unwittingly transferring funds to an account controlled by someone other than the intended recipient.

The fraudulently obtained funds were then allegedly transferred through a series of intermediary bank accounts – with some funds sent or attempted to be sent, to a cryptocurrency exchange and various bank accounts located in Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Nigeria.

“Investigators were able to trace proceeds of the scheme to seven domestically held bank accounts, the contents of which were subsequently seized by U.S. authorities,” it read.

PUNCH Online reports that this announcement implies that the US government is taking legal action to recover funds allegedly obtained through fraudulent means.

It involves cooperation between various law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to pursue the case.

The statement also highlights the legal process involved in civil forfeiture, indicating that the government must provide evidence to prove its case before any forfeiture can be ordered by the court.

Other parts of the statement read, “Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement today.

“The civil forfeiture action is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Lyons of the Asset Recovery Unit along with Trial Attorneys Jasmin Salehi Fashami and Adrienne E. Rosen of the Justice Department’s Money Laundering & Asset Recovery Section.

“The accusations in the complaint, and the description of the complaint, constitute only allegations that certain property is subject to forfeiture.

“The United States must prove, by a standard of preponderance of the evidence, that the property is subject to forfeiture. If the United States prevails, the court will order all interests of any potential claimant forfeited.”

A BEC scheme is a type of sophisticated fraud scheme targeting businesses that use wire transfers as a form of payment.

BEC schemes affect large global corporations, governments, and individuals, with current global daily losses estimated at approximately $8 million.

Criminals compromise legitimate business email accounts through various hacking schemes, including social engineering and the use of malware.

The Imo State University in Owerri, Imo State, has been under investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board over an allegation of admission racketeering involving some staff members of the institution.

PUNCH Metro gathered that JAMB officials, after observing that its admission portal had been compromised, traced no fewer than 230 fake admission letters to IMSU.

In a bid to get the matter investigated, the JAMB officials were said to have alerted officials of the ICPC to the fake admissions traced to the university and the commission, during the investigation, invited staff members linked to the fraudulent act for questioning.

While some of the staff members linked to the admission racketeering allegation were reportedly arrested in the office of the institution’s VC, Prof. Uchefula Chukwumaeze, some were said to have been arrested at the offices of the Registrar, Dr. Julius Osuagwu, and the Director of Admissions, Ndubuisi Ubaku, among other offices in the institution.

Speaking with our correspondent on Monday, the spokesperson for JAMB, Fabian Benjamin, confirmed that close to 10 employees of the institution were arrested, adding that during a joint operation involving JAMB and ICPC officials, the 230 students whose names were on the fake admission letters traced to the school were also interrogated.

He said, “Yes, 230 fake admission letters were traced to IMSU. We took the matter to the ICPC and close to 10 staff members were arrested. Those involved in the admission office of the university were arrested and the VC was helpful as he ensured that all staff members involved, even those in his office, were not spared.

“Even the 230 students whose names were on the fake admission letters were also interrogated and their admission would be withdrawn. Some of the students are in the 400 level, and some are in the 300 level but whoever is involved will certainly lose that admission.

“How we discovered it is that we have automated our admission processes. We have what we call a matriculation list. So, when the university submitted their matriculation, we automated the admission process on what we call the Central Admission Processing System (otherwise known as CAPS) in such a way that we would monitor the movement of students from the point of admission to their progression and graduation.”

Benjamin said when JAMB was monitoring the admission process at IMSU, its officials discovered that the numbers differed from what was approved by JAMB.

He said, “It was at that point that we involved the ICPC because we didn’t have the power to prosecute. When we invited the ICPC, we also discussed with the VC, who was very helpful and supportive because he also said he had been suspecting but did not have the evidence. He said he wanted a situation where we could help in cleaning the system and that is what we have done.

“Close to 10 workers were arrested at the offices of the VC, Registrar, and Admissions Office. The ICPC and JAMB formed a team during the investigation and the 230 students were interrogated.

During the interrogation, we were able to ascertain that money was exchanged between the students and some of the staff members. We will withdraw the admissions of the students and the ICPC will take over from there.”

Benjamin, while describing the affected students as conspirators in the admission racketeering at IMSU, advised admission seekers to desist from accepting admissions printed on any university’s admission letter.

He said, “If a university gives you an admission letter, it is a red flag that you should be careful. The instruction is that no admission should be done outside of CAPS. So, if somebody comes, and creates a pseudo-admission letter, do not accept it because the admission must come through JAMB.

“We don’t offer admission. But we created a process where the university will make recommendations, send them to us and we will approve if they fall in line with the rules and regulations. So, any admission that is not approved through us, do not accept it.

“But some institutions are still giving candidates admission using their institutional admission letters, despite the minister of education making it clear that institutions should stop giving candidates their institutional admission letters and that the only admission letter candidates should collect should come from JAMB.

“These candidates, out of desperation, the university will give them an admission letter and they will go and register, and when they get stuck in the middle of nowhere, they will now be mounting pressure on JAMB that the institution said they should come to JAMB for regularisation. And when we refuse to regularise such admission, they will be saying we are frustrating them.”

The spokesperson for the ICPC, Demola Bakare, when contacted, said the commission had gathered credible evidence to prosecute those linked to the admission racketeering at IMSU, adding that the case would be charged to court soon.

Responding to our correspondent’s inquiry on the commission’s investigation of IMSU on admission racketeering, Bakare said, “It is true; the ICPC is undertaking some investigations at IMSU. The focus (of the investigation) is on admission racketeering, as reported by JAMB.

“The JAMB admission portal CAPS was compromised and 230 fake admission letters were traced to IMSU. Four individuals, including one Dr. Simon, were detained for two days only at a facility in Owerri, Imo State, but they now report every Tuesday at the ICPC office in the state.

“Though further investigation is ongoing, there is enough evidence to sustain prosecution. The IMSU registrar and the admission officer were interviewed in Abuja but never detained. The investigation is continuing. The matter will soon be in court.”

Meanwhile, a source, who spoke anonymously to PUNCH Metro over fears of being sacked, said the case of admission racketeering was a lingering issue in the institution, adding that staff members were fond of selling admission to non-qualifying applicants who scored low in JAMB’s UTME.

The source, during a conversation with our correspondent on Monday, said some of the staff members invited by the ICPC regarding the case include the institution’s Director of Admissions, Ndubuisi Ubaku; the registrar, Dr Julius Osuagwu, and others.

The source said, “The school management has been exploring all available options to ensure the matter is not public knowledge. This is admission racketeering, bordering on the fraudulent sale of admission to non-qualifying applicants who scored low in the UTME.

“At IMSU, admission is sold to the highest bidder, particularly children whose parents are wealthy. Admission to study medicine is sold at N1.5m; getting admitted into the law faculty, medical laboratory, nursing, optometry and other health sciences-related courses attracts N1.2m.

“All other disciplines’ admissions go between N300,000 and N800,000. The accused staff members invited by the ICPC included the Director of Admissions, Ndubuisi Ubaku, the registrar, Dr. Julius Osuagwu, and others.”

Explaining further, the source said aside from the sale of admission, the agents, who collaborated with some of the accused staff members, usually produced fake JAMB registration numbers to give irregular admissions to non-qualifying candidates, adding that when the students got to their final year, the agents reportedly demanded between N100,000 to N200,000 for JAMB regularisation from the students.

“All these people go to the ICPC office in Owerri every two days to register and sign, to ensure they will not run away. The investigation is ongoing. Imo citizens need to be aware of what is happening at the institution,” the source added.

The spokesperson for IMSU, Ralph Njokuobi, in his reactions to the allegations levelled against all the staff members mentioned in this report, said the case was still under investigation.

Njokuobi said, “Some of them (the staff members mentioned) were invited to come and explain. It is an allegation until it is substantiated. The investigation is ongoing and I don’t need to comment, even though the case hasn’t gone to court.

“The law says you are innocent until proved guilty. It is an allegation and if it is substantiated, they will face the music. There is no doubt about that. But they (accused officials) have continued to go to the ICPC for interrogation.”

Njokuobi, however, explained that the school did not know who was behind the 230 fake admissions issued to people who had been parading themselves as students of IMSU.

He added, “The management went on air to inform the general public that almost 230 students were given fake admission and whoever was behind it, we didn’t know because we have scammers who have surrounded both in and out of the university, which is a very large place.

“So, we announced the names (of the students with fake admission) to the public because JAMB officials came to our university and brought it to our attention that they didn’t clear them. We told the public that they (students with fake admission) were just parading themselves as our students and that they were not our students.”

The Police Service Commission has announced the approval and release of a list of 10,000 successful applicants for recruitment into the constable and specialist cadres of the Nigeria Police Force.

The commission noted that to ensure fairness and justice in the recruitment process, it worked with guidance from relevant stakeholders, including the Nigeria Police Force, the National Assembly, and the Federal Character Commission.

It added that it ensured equity in the spread of successful candidates across the 774 local government areas of the country.

The spokesperson for the PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, made the development known in a statement on Tuesday.

Ani said, “The Police Service Commission has approved and released the list of 10,000 successful applicants for recruitment into the constable cadre of the Nigeria Police Force.

“The commission today, Tuesday, June 4, 2024, received the report of the Police Recruitment Board. 9,000 applicants were approved for recruitment for General Duty, while 1,000 applicants were recruited for the Specialists cadre.

“To ensure fairness and justice in the Recruitment process, the Commission worked with guidance from relevant stakeholders including the Nigeria Police Force, the National Assembly and the Federal Character Commission. It ensured equity in the spread of successful candidates across the 774 local government areas of the country.”

The commission had earlier inaugurated a Recruitment Board – a broad-based stakeholders’ body populated by representatives from the PSC, the NPF, the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Federal Character Commission, Police Colleges, and the Police Trust Fund to Superintendent over the recruitment process and report back to the PSC.
Interested Nigerian youths were invited to apply online for consideration for the subsequent stages of the exercise through paid advertisements in several national media.

Interested applicants were given six weeks to conclude the online applications (October 15, 2023 to November 26, 2023) in line with the Federal Character requirements.

The PSC revealed that a total of 609,886 applications were received, while 416,323 applicants who met the advertised requirements were shortlisted for the second stage of the exercise, which was physical and document screening.

This stage was held in the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory between Monday 8, January, 2024 to Monday 29, January 2024.

The commission, after the physical and credentials screening, shortlisted 171,956 applicants who met the requirements for the Computer Based Tests (conducted by the Joint Admission and Martriculation Board, JAMB an organisation renowed for its expertise in computer based tests.

Ani on Tuesday noted that, “15,447 General duty applicants who did well in the CBT were further invited for medical screening to determine their health status. The 55,645 Specialists who were shortlisted from the Physical and credentials screening were subjected to practical tests and later medical screening. Each stage of the Recruitment process was carried out with a high level of scrutiny and care.

“A total of 10000 applicants made up of 9000 General Duty and 1000 Specialists were recommended for final selection.

“The selection of specialists was done in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force on the need assessment ensuring capability and balance of geographical representation.

“The Chairman of the Commission, Dr Solomon Arase, retired Inspector General of Police declared that the rigorous recruitment process was to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force and to reinforce its commitment to community rooted and service oriented policing.”

Arase noted, “I am filled with optimism because these young men and women represent the future of our nation’s security and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that their journey begins on a foundation of integrity, transparency and excellence.”

The PSC Chairman disclosed that the entire process reflects a deliberate effort to build a Police Force that is competent, reliable, and truly representative of the best that Nigeria has to offer.

He noted that the final selection process was meticulously structured to ensure fairness and inclusivity with 10 candidates selected from each of the 774 local government areas as advised by the National Assembly in its Plenary decision of Thursday February 29th 2024 aimed at creating a representative and diverse Police Force.

The PSC Chairman disclosed that to uphold the highest standards of confidentiality, “list of successful candidates must be presented to the public in a manner compliant with the Nigeria Data protection Act of 2023.”

He noted that this would ensure that the personal data of recruits entering a sensitive security organisation remained secure, thereby protecting their personal and family safety.

Ani noted that candidates are invited to check the status of their application through the Police Service Commission dedicated Web page, which can be accessed on computers and mobile devices on www.policeservicecommission.cloud.

Applicants are also to contact the PSC recruitment help desk on WhatsApp numbers 08094767777 and 09031318499 for complaints or inquiries.

The Nigerian Deposit Insurance Commission has commenced the liquidation process of failed Heritage Bank with verification and payment of the bank depositors.

NDIC disclosed this on Monday following its appointment as liquidator of Heritage Bank by the Central Bank of Nigeria, who announced the revocation of the licence of the bank.

In a statement signed by the Acting Director of Corporate Communication, Sidi Ali, the CBN said, “This action has become necessary due to the bank’s breach of Section 12 (1) of BOFIA, 2020. The board and management of the bank have not been able to improve the bank’s financial performance, a situation which constitutes a threat to financial stability.

“This follows a period during which the CBN engaged with the bank and prescribed various supervisory steps intended to stem the decline. Regrettably, the bank has continued to suffer and has no reasonable prospects of recovery, thereby, making the revocation of the license the next necessary step.”

In its capacity as the liquidator of the bank, NDIC issued a statement signed by the Director, Communication & Public Affairs, Bashir Nuhu, where it revealed that depositors will be get up to N5m.

“Depositors of the bank that have an alternate account within the industry will be paid up to the insured amount of N5m per depositor using their Bank Verification Number to locate their alternate account. Depositors with funds in excess of N5m will be paid liquidation dividends upon realisation of the bank’s assets and recovery of debts owed to the bank.

“Verification and Payment of Depositors Without Alternate Bank Account: All depositors of the defunct bank without alternate bank account in the industry are advised to visit the nearest branch of the bank with proof of account ownership, verifiable means of identification such as driver’s license, permanent voter’s card, National Identity Card, together with their alternate account and Bank Verification Number for the verification of their deposits and subsequent payment of insured sums or file an online claim on the NDIC website,” part of the NDIC statement read.

The corporation urged the bank’s creditors to visit the nearest branch of the bank to file their claims or via the online platform.

It explained that the creditors would be paid after depositors, adding that the failed bank’s debtors, who were yet to complete the repayment of loans, were advised to do so.

“The NDIC wishes to assure the entire banking public of its commitment to the continued safety of depositors’ funds in all licensed banks. As such, depositors are urged to continue their banking businesses without fear, as banks whose licences have not been revoked remain safe and sound,” NDIC concluded.

Meanwhile, the Bank Customers Association of Nigeria has supported the revocation of the licence of Heritage Bank by CBN.

In an exclusive chat with The PUNCH, the President of the Bank Customers Association of Nigeria, Dr Uju Ogubunka, opined that the apex bank’s decision provided safety for the banking sector.

Ogubunka told The PUNCH, “The CBN cannot just take action without considering the implications. If a bank has been run aground, of course, it has implications for others. Other banks have dealings with it, and other institutions and individuals deal with the bank. So, if you put all of these together, that institution can jeopardise the system as a whole if the authorities do not take the necessary actions.

“The CBN would have considered the position of the bank; if irredeemable, for instance, from whatever status it is, can it be redeemed? Can it be acquired by another bank or merged with another bank, or can it be allowed to raise more money to shore up its capital and fulfil other obligations? If those questions are answered in the negative, the authorities will have no alternative. Instead of everybody being affected, let just one go and that is exactly what has happened.”

He noted that CBN would have arrived at the decision having engaged with the bank’s senior management and directors.

“They would have been asked to do one or two things they had been unable to do and the situation gets critical. The regulator would have no choice but to take the necessary steps within the law. Whatever CBN had done would be within the law and after several requests from those who are managers or directors of the bank to do certain things,” he asserted.

He added that while the CBN’s move was the right one, it would bring some inconvenience for bank customers, “especially those who have accounts with the bank and those who have relationships with the bank, even fellow bankers because the business is connected”.

“Bank customers, except those who are indebted to the bank, are the ones who will be bothered so much because they are the ones who are supposed to pay back some money to the bank, but if you have credit in your account, you just have to wait until NDIC takes over the bank, sees what is there and how they are going to repay those who have credit,” Ogubunka explained.

Professor of Capital Market, Uche Uwaleke, echoed similar sentiments, saying, “I think the revocation of the license of Heritage Bank by the CBN is a step in the right direction.

“This proactive step by the CBN is in the overall interest of financial system stability. With the NDIC taking over the liquidation process, efforts should be made to protect the depositors as well as the interests of employees using liquidation dividends.”

Also, the House of Representatives has pledged its commitment to engage with relevant stakeholders, to ensure the safety of depositors’ funds with Heritage Bank.

In a statement issued by its spokesman, Akin Rotimi, the House said it was aware of the revocation of the licence of Heritage Bank and the appointment of the NDIC as the liquidator under the provisions of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act.

“We assure the public, particularly depositors and stakeholders of Heritage Bank, that the House is committed to carrying out its constitutional oversight functions to ensure that this development does not negatively impact Nigerians. The relevant House Committees on Banking Regulations and Insurance will be up to their duty, to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding this decision and the subsequent steps taken by the NDIC.

“Our priority is to safeguard the interests of all depositors and maintain the stability of the financial system. We will engage with the CBN, NDIC, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure a transparent and orderly resolution process, providing necessary support to mitigate any potential negative impact on the public.

“We urge the CBN and NDIC to establish clear channels of communication to allay the fears of the public and prevent any loss of trust in our financial system. Effective public engagement is crucial to maintaining confidence during this period,” the statement read in part.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Banking Regulations, Mohammed El-Rufai, stated, “The committee will closely monitor the liquidation process to ensure that the rights of depositors are protected and that the process adheres to the highest standards of transparency and accountability.”

Similarly, the Chairman of the Committee on Insurance and Actuarial Matters, Ahmed Jaha, said, “We will work diligently to oversee that the NDIC executes its mandate effectively, ensuring the protection of depositors’ funds and maintaining confidence in the financial sector. The NDIC Act and the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act are clear in their provisions that depositors’ funds are insured and protected.”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has seized codeine-based syrup and Loud, a synthetic cannabis strain worth over N2.1 billion at the Port Harcourt seaports and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

This was made known in a statement signed by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, and shared on the agency’s website on Sunday.

Additionally, NDLEA operatives arrested a 70-year-old grandfather with 57.2kg of cannabis in Nasarawa State, and two suspects with 426kg of cannabis in Ekiti State.

Other arrests were made in the FCT, Katsina, and Nasarawa.

The statement said, “Large consignments of codeine-based syrup and Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis worth over N2.1bn in street value have been intercepted at the Port Harcourt seaports, Onne and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

“At the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers with the cooperation of other security agencies on Friday 31st May 2024 intercepted a large consignment of Loud, packed in eight suitcases, containing 320 parcels with a total weight of 164.50kg of the strong psychoactive substance coming from Canada on a KLM flight via Amsterdam, Netherlands.

“The consignment estimated to be worth N960m which was brought in by a passenger, Ughenu Nnaife Francis was discovered at the E-arrival hall of the airport by personnel of NDLEA, Customs and others during a joint search operation by the security operatives while the suspect was attempting to smuggle the suitcases out of the hall.”

Suspect
Suspect
According to the statement, the suspect arrested at the Lagos airport claimed he was recruited to transport drugs from Canada to Nigeria for a fee of 6 million naira.


He said he was a resident of Germany but travelled to Toronto to collect the drugs. He was caught with a large consignment of Loud, a synthetic cannabis strain, worth 960 million naira.

NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex seized a container from India containing 1,750 cartons of codeine, weighing 26,250kg and valued at N1.225 billion. The container marked TEMU 6807401, was destined for Enugu and was discovered during a joint examination by NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies.

NDLEA operatives also arrested a 25-year-old woman, Blessing Thomas, in Abuja on May 31st, after finding 1kg of methamphetamine in her possession. She was travelling by bus from Lagos to Yola, Adamawa state, when she was caught along the Kwali-Gwagwalada expressway.

The statement added, “In the same vein, operatives in Nasarawa state on Wednesday 29th May nabbed a 70-year-old grandfather, Muhammadu Ibrahim, with 57.2kg cannabis in Lafia, the state capital.

“Two suspects: Suleiman Kazeem, 35, and Sunday Gbenga, 20, were arrested when NDLEA officers raided Ara forest, Ara-Ekiti in Ekiti state where they recovered 426 kilograms of cannabis sativa already processed and packed in big sacks, while they destroyed over 4,000kg of same substance on 1.66 hectares of farmland on Thursday 30th May.

“In Katsina state,76 blocks of cannabis weighing 42kg were seized from a Nigerien, Suleman Audu, 29, when he was arrested by NDLEA officers along Zaria – Malumfashi road on Wednesday 29th May.”

A suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, has been released from the Kuje Custodial Centre in the Federal Capital Territory after spending 27 months in detention.

Kyari was detained following his arrest on February 14, 2022, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for alleged involvement with an international drug cartel.

Kyari, along with four members of the Police Intelligence Response Team—Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba, and John Nuhu—was arraigned on March 7, 2022.

Two suspected drug traffickers, Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, who were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, were also charged.


While Kyari and the IRT members pleaded not guilty, Umeibe and Ezenwanne pleaded guilty and were convicted.

Despite multiple applications, Kyari’s requests for bail were repeatedly denied until a recent decision by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

On May 22, 2024, Judge Emeka Nwite, granted Kyari bail to allow him to conclude the burial rites of his mother, Yachilla Kyari, who died on May 5.

As part of his bail conditions, Kyari was required to deposit his passport with the court and report to the nearest NDLEA office during the bail period.

The court scheduled May 31, 2024, for the hearing on Kyari’s main application for bail about the drug trafficking charges.

Giving updates, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Correctional Service of the Federal Capital Territory Command, Adamu Duza, confirmed to our correspondent on Friday night that Kyari met his bail conditions and was released on Friday.

Duza said, “DCP Kyari has perfected his bail conditions, and has since been released today.”

The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has said that the state generates N10 billion monthly as Internally Generated Revenue.

The governor, who averred that the government was working towards generating N100 billion by 2025, noted that the state inherited N4 billion from the previous administration, noting that his government has surpassed it.

Bago made this known on Wednesday during his one-year anniversary lecture, where he pointed out that the new Niger agenda of his administration was not just a mere slogan but a dream that is realisable with the support of the people of the state.

“We are ambitious and bold about what we want to do. We will not spend people, but we will spend money to have people live. Don’t worry about where the money will come from. Only worry about how we will spend the money.

Niger gov grants 30 prisoners amnesty
“Our New Niger Agenda is not just a slogan. The ongoing projects across the state are just the beginning of the plans. We are determined to give the best to the people and ensure they benefit from every sector.

“When we do these works, don’t thank me. It is your right, it is not a privilege but your right. It is your right for us to provide you with basic necessities. If you do not have, task us and we will give you. We need to give to the society what the society has given to us,” Bago said.

Bago expressed appreciation to his team and the other arms of the government for making the state’s programmes, projects, and policies a reality and thanked them for their patience, prayers, and support in the last one year.

In their lectures, former Minister of Commerce Mustapha Bello and former Vice Chancellor of IBB University, Lapai, Nasiru Maturate, urged the Governor to remain focused on his transformation drive and not allow himself to be distracted.

Justice Peter Lifu, of an Abuja Federal High Court, on Friday, granted Chioma Okoli, bail in the sum of N5m and two sureties in like sum.

The judge held that one of the sureties must be the defendant’s spouse or a blood relative with a variable source of income who resides within the jurisdiction of the court.

The judge also ordered the sureties to deposit a passport photograph each.

He instructed the defendant to also deposit her international passport if any.

Okoli is facing a two-count charge bordering on cybercrime.

Okoli was sued over a Facebook post she shared on September 17, 2023, where she made some commentary on Erisco Foods Limited’s tomato paste.

In her post, she claimed she purchased Nagiko Tomato Mix from Erisco Foods, the day before and found it utterly sugary.

She mentioned that she normally buys Gino or Sonia brands, but they were out of stock.

Her post, however, generated reactions and forced the management of the company to involve the police through a petition to the Inspector-General.

The controversy also got the attention of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.

This prompted NAFDAC to embark on a scrutiny of the product’s registration and an overall inspection of the Erisco Foods’ Nagiko Tomato Mix’.

The trial judge, in his ruling, on Friday, agreed with the arguments of the defendant’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, that the offence with which Okoli was charged was a bailable one.

Justice Lifu further held that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty under Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Justice Lifu also held that denying her bail is a wrong application of discretion which will amount to a pre-trial judgment and judicial rascality.

He equally based the ruling on the health status of Okoli.

On this ground, he granted her bail request while he adjourned the matter until June 13 for further hearing.

She was arraigned on Tuesday before Justice Lifu.

Although she pleaded not guilty to all the counts, the judge ordered her remand till today to deliver a ruling on her bail application.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Abdulrashid Sidi, urged the court to reject the bail application that was moved by the defence counsel, Effiong.

Sidi had objected to the bail application on the ground that given the history and antecedent of the defendant, there was a likelihood that she would jump bail.

The prosecution informed the court specifically that the defendant had, while on administrative bail, refused to honour the bail terms and would most likely jump bail.

The police also alleged that initial investigations revealed significant evidence suggesting Okoli’s involvement in breaking existing laws, especially concerning the appropriate use of cyberspace.

Those who live by their strength may readily explain how they surmount odds. Those who live by the power of the Almighty need no such explanation. They work hard but they let God be God, directing them as unmoved mover creatively structuring their paths that eventually yield boundless rewards. That is the story of the Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, as he clocks three scores plus four and five years in the saddle at the Gateway State, Nigeria’s top investment destination.

For many governors, May 29 is just the day they assumed office. For Abiodun, it is the very day of his birth, and so the celebration is always multi-pronged. The Royal Air Force has a motto that both instructs and motivates and captures Abiodun’s trajectory: Per ardua ad astra (through difficulty to the skies). It’s been a long, tortuous, often lonely journey for the Ogun state helmsman that many loved to mock in the days he sought a lawmaking ticket: those days when he swiftly congratulated the winners and immediately collapsed his structures into their own in the interest of the party, elevating the future above the present, confident that his time would come, and trusting in the grace of the One who gives and, adds no sorrow to it.

In his epochal document, My Early Life (1968), the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, left as a gem for all generations: “After rain comes sunshine. After darkness comes the glorious dawn. There is no sorrow without its alloy of joy. There is no joy without its admixture of sorrow. Behind the ugly terrible mask of misfortune lies the beautiful soothing countenance of prosperity. So, tear the mask!” When you look at the trajectory of Dapo Abiodun’s political life, you see that the words of Nigeria’s sage fit right into the tapestry of his odyssey. Abiodun got into office decades after he first thought of doing so, and the battle when he announced his interest in the Oke Mosan top job couldn’t have been fiercer. Those for whom he literally put his life on the line in the days gone by decided that he was an enemy that must be stopped by all means. The yellow vests usually worn by his supporters were treated like disdainful rags and his posters and billboards were pulled down in blind rage. Abiodun did not have the luxury of a handover note, and even the vehicle in which he rode on inauguration day was borrowed from a neighbouring state. What a truthful but incredible story!

If getting into the Government House was arduous, living in it has been war. There was no trick the naysayers, confounded in their refusal to embrace the reality of their exit from power, did not deploy to take him down. They deployed hack and hired writers buoyed by the rustle of currency notes. They deployed blackmail and character assassination. They scoffed at his projects, including international airports and dry ports altruistically designed to lift the Gateway State into international reckoning. For each road he did across the state, they mocked him for the one not yet done. They called him a non-performer but could not fault the verdict by local and international agencies that recognised his genius in ICT, agriculture, business development, education, arts, health and housing sectors. When he would not budge, they went after his men, cooking up stories to break marriages and demoralise his leadership but they failed with embarrassing rapidity.

The last four years have been so turbulent for his administration. The Iperu-born prince and business mogul has faced character assassination and political betrayal by diverse camps of crooks and laissez-faire personalities. But when many believed that there should be a casting down, the Almighty God decreed a lifting up. Today, as he celebrates his 64th birthday, it is evident that God has put an end to his political travails. When you look at what he has gone through in the last four and half years, you can only give thanks to the Almighty God. Court cases, blackmail, the threat by his predecessors and opposition vote buyers, the treachery by certain devious party men who hobnobbed with the opposition after riding to power on the ticket of his generosity; the list was literally endless. Many thought the music had ended for Abiodun after his first four years but God did his wonders. Many naysayers believed he would not survive the grand betrayal but he did, and today treachery has buried those who hatched by it in hot lava. They are like fish out of water, and birds shorn of wings. Abiodun is 64, in good health, and with a great record. It is the Lord’s doing and it is marvellous in our sight.

The night is past, and Ogun is on the way to a glorious dawn. Those who thought he could not do well in government and cast aspersions on his personality are now serenading him for what he has done. It is no coincidence that his remedy for the economic anguish in the land remains unmatched, his palliatives alluringly novel. From students to civil servants, and artisans to market (wo)men, everyone has a sense of belonging. Ogun students in higher institutions got N50,000 each while their counterparts from other states got nothing. Those in the lower levels got N10,000 each. Thousands benefited from his festival of surgeries, civil servants enjoyed cash and food packages, and rice was sold at half the price. Buses, tricycles and bikes running on CNG crashed transport costs, and special food markets charging half the normal prices of foodstuff eased the pains of the populace. Close to 600km of roads have been built, but of course, much more remains to be done because of Ogun’s massive size. Recognising his genius, the Federal Government appointed him a member of its economic team. The economy is recovering, thanks to the President’s ingenuity and vision in appointing Abiodun as part of Nigeria’s economic brain box. Most analysts say that Abiodun’s ISEYA mantra has been a massive success, yet he is conducting a multidimensional survey to solidify the feedback mechanism.

Significantly, the political atmosphere is calm. Ogun, once a war zone, is at peace. Blood flowed before him. Now, it is commerce conducted in the tranquillity that pervades the state. Instead of thugs and touts, entrepreneurial youth rule both the public and private spaces. Those who fed from trouble and piled up weapons of war in the dark days have been pushed into irrelevance. In Abiodun’s Ogun, peace is the common currency of life, and troublemakers have no hiding place. The governor has no enforcers, only supporters who love good governance. As the international relations and public policy experts Roshan Paul and Sarah Jefferson contend, “Peace is a pre-requisite for development as a whole because it creates an enabling environment for the fundamentals of a society’s progress: human capital formation, infrastructure development, markets subject to the rule of law, and so on. In the absence of peace, education and health structures break down, systems to provide infrastructure disintegrate, and legal commerce is crippled. Critically, peace also frees up resources, both financial and human, that would otherwise be diverted to controlling (or creating) violence.”

Abiodun is a man of his word, and the people love him for it. Says the Bard of Avon: “The purest treasure mortal times afford is spotless reputation—that away, men are but gilded loam, or painted clay.” As he moves into the middle of his second term, we wish him greater strides in office.

Happy Birthday to the people’s governor.

Akinmade is the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to Ogun State Governor

Controversy has surrounded the death of a final-year student of the Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, identified as Favour Ugwuka, on Wednesday night.

Our correspondent gathered that Ugwuka took her life in her hostel at the Ishieke Campus of the school in Abakaliki.

Further investigations revealed that the deceased, a final year student in the Department of English, passed all her courses but repeatedly failed a particular course, whose lecturer was said to have vowed she would never pass.

It was learnt that the late Ugwuka went into depression after several attempts to pass the said course and was frequently seen on the campus wandering alone until she decided to take her life on Wednesday night.

In a video seen online by our correspondent, a woman said to be the deceased’s mother blamed a lecturer for making her daughter commit suicide.

According to the woman, who was seen lamenting in the video, “The lecturer said he is the best, that nobody can teach like him. He should come and carry my daughter who has committed suicide.”

Also, a graduate of the institution who identified himself as Rex Nwome claimed that the girl committed suicide because she had been failing a particular course repeatedly.

He said, “Favour was my classmate and a best friend to me in the English Department. The above-mentioned lecturer did vow never to allow Favour to graduate.

“You could imagine where she later passed all the courses except that lecturer’s that, she had to pay another extra year tuition fee to rewrite.

“Unfortunately the man failed her again. What resulted in this intense depression is the latest NYSC names that were recently shortlisted, and her name wasn’t there.”

He added, “The girl suffered a lot of depression because she was only left wandering about the EBSU seeking help. She was very desperate to graduate and serve. This and many more of the disgusting stories resulted in this suicide mission.

“I wish she didn’t go this far to end her life. R. I. P. Ugwuka Favour till we meet to part no more.”

The Ebonyi State Police Command confirmed the incident on Thursday.

The command’s spokesman, DSP Joshua Ukandu, told our correspondent that the matter was reported to the headquarters.

He said, “Yes, the command received the report of a suicide by a female student.”

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to get the reaction of the university proved abortive

A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the interim forfeiture of $4,719,054, N830,875,611, and several property linked to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

The order was issued on Friday, by Justice Yellim Bogoro after an ex-parte motion by EFCC counsel Bilkisu Buhari and C.C. Chineye.

The forfeited funds, held in various banks, were linked to Omoile Anita Joy, Deep Blue Energy Service Limited, Exactquote Bureau De Change Ltd, Lipam Investment Services Limited, Tatler Services Limited, Rosajul Global Resources Ltd, and TIL Communication Nigeria Ltd.

Emefiele’s properties forfeited to the federal government include;
1) 94 Units of 11 Storey building under Construction at 2, Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue (Formerly Club) Road, iKoyi, Lagos;
2) AM Plaza, 11 Story Office Space, Situate on 1E, Otunba Adedoyin Crescent, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos;
3) Imore Industrial Park 1, Esa Street, Imoore Land purchased with (Deep Bive Industrial Town, Oriade LCDA, Amuwo Odofin LGA, Lagos;
4) Mitrewood and Tatler Warehouse (Furniture Plant at Bogije) near Elemoro Lagos, Owolomi Village, Ibeju-Lekki LGA, Lagos
5) 2 properties purchased from Chevron Nigeria, Closed PFA Fund, Block B.Lot.Twin Completed Property Lakes Estate. Lekki, Lagos.
6) One plot measuring 1,038.069 sqm, at Lekki Foreshore Estate Scheme, Block A, Plot 4, Foreshore Estate, Eti-Osa, LGA;
7) Estate located at 100, Cottonwood Coppel Texas Drive, Coppel, Texas, Owned by Lipam investment Services;
8] a Land at 1, Bunmi Owulude Street, (Maruwa), Lekki Phase 1, Lagos and a Property Situate on 8, Bayo Kuku Road, lkoyi Lagos.

The EFCC had sought an interim forfeiture of the monies and properties under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, Section 44(2)(b) of the Constitution, and the court’s inherent jurisdiction.

Specifically, the anti-graft agency requested “an interim order forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the funds held in the accounts listed in Schedule ‘A,’ which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”

“An Interim order forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria Properties provided in 2nd Schedule ‘B’ which are proceeds of unlawful activities.

“An Order directing the publication In any National Newspaper, the interim order under reliefs 1-2 above, for anyone who Is interested in the properties and funds sought to be forfeited to appear before this Honourable Court to show cause within 14 days why the final order of forfeiture of the said properties and funds should not be made in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

In granting the ex-parte motion, Justice Bogoro after he had taken submission of the EFCC’s counsel held; “I have listened to the submission of the applicant’s counsel and also perused the motion just moved, together with the affidavit in support.”

The case was, however, adjourned to July 2, 2024, for the motion for final forfeiture.

The 210,000-barrel-per-day Port-Harcourt refinery may finally commence operations by the end of July after several postponements.

The new date was disclosed on Monday by the National Public Relations Officer, Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chief Ukadike Chinedu.

He stated that the development would stimulate economic activities, reduce the price of petroleum products and ensure adequate supply.

Last year in December, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, announced the mechanical completion and flare start-off of the biggest crude refinery in Port Harcourt.

The refineries comprise two units, with the old plant having a refined capacity of 60,000 barrels per day and the new plant has 150,000 BPD.

The refinery shut down in March 2019 for the first phase of repair works after the government secured the service of a technical adviser of Itay’s Maire Tecnimont to handle the reviews of the refinery complex, with oil major Eni appointed technical adviser.

On March 15, 2024, it was reported that the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari, stated that the Port Harcourt refinery would commence operations in about two weeks.

The NNPC boss disclosed this during a press briefing after he appeared before the Senate Ad hoc committee investigating the various turnaround maintenance projects of the country’s refineries.

He said, “We did a mechanical completion of the refinery that was what we said in December. We now have crude oil already stocked in the refinery. We are doing regulatory compliance tests that must happen in every refinery before you start it, and I assure you that this Port Harcourt refinery will start in two weeks.”

However, the machinery had yet to begin operations two months after he made the promise.

In an exclusive interview on Monday, the IPMAN official stated that the work done represented a complete turnaround, not just rehabilitation, emphasising that every effort would be made to meet the July deadline.

Ukadike said, “Yes when we visited the place, the MD told us that the refinery was almost ready and by the end of July, they would start producing. It has been turned into a new one they changed all the armoured cable to brand new and everything there is almost like a brand-new refinery.

“The turnaround on maintenance is very massive and the job is being done day and night. All hands are on deck to make sure that they meet that target. By ending of July the refinery should be ready.”

When reminded of several promises by the government to kick start the project, Ukadike replied, “Yes, there have been delays but they didn’t tell us any reason for the delay of the last deadline given in April.

“They are not facing any challenges at all; I can say the refinery is 99 per cent ready.

“What we want is competition. I am very sure that with the two refineries, the price of petrol will be reduced. Dangote is coming soon and the Port Harcourt refinery is almost ready too and that is very good. We need that competition for the benefit of the nation.”

The new timeline coincides with a proposal by the Dangote Refinery to commence petrol production by ending of next month (June).

The Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, while speaking at the Africa CEO forum annual summit in Kigali, assured Nigerians that following the laid-down plans of the Dangote Refinery, Nigeria would no longer need to import petrol starting next month.

According to him, the refinery can meet West Africa’s petrol and diesel needs, as well as the continent’s aviation fuel demand.

With an average monthly consumption of 1 billion litres, Nigeria currently spends approximately N520bn on the importation of PMS every month.

This means the government may cut approximately N6.2tn yearly import bill.

Commenting, the NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Femi Soneye, said regulatory approvals from international bodies were the only impediment stalling the operational commencement of the refinery.

Soneye in an exclusive interview with our correspondent on Monday reiterated that mechanical completion had been achieved, and all pipes were operating flawlessly, transporting crude oil supplied by Shell.

He said, “We have said that the mechanical completion has been done and every other thing is done. There is crude oil and all the pipes are working; we are only waiting for regulatory approvals. Like I said, some of our materials and the things we use have to do with nuclear and we need the nuclear authorities to give us approval to use all those things at the site.

“And some of these approvals come from bodies outside of Nigeria. Until they give us those approvals, we can’t begin operations. We are ready to go but if something happens without it, which would be another issue. Everything has been completed in terms of our work, and once we get those approvals, it will start operations.”

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi has said that improved salaries and allowances for judges and other judicial officers was a step towards judicial independence in the country.

Fagbemi stated this on Monday in Abuja in his address at a public hearing on “A Bill for an Act to Prescribe the Salaries and Allowances and Fringe Benefits of Judicial Office Holders in Nigeria and Related Matters Bill 2024,” organised by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria noted that the upward review of judges and other judicial officers’ salaries has become imperative given the inflationary trends being experienced in the country in the past few years.

He said, “This bill will birth an appropriate and commensurate remuneration that will ensure judicial independence and integrity.

“Sometime in July 2023, the National Judicial Council forwarded a Proposed Review of Consolidated Salaries and Allowances for Judicial Officers for consideration by the President. The NJC proposal was the revision of the remuneration package earlier proposed by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission which was not consummated before the end of the previous administration.”

Ahead of the formal opening of the Students’ Loan portal this Friday, the Nigeria Education Loan Fund has said it will commence with students in federal tertiary institutions.

This comes as the Fund has said only students whose institutions have uploaded their data on its dashboard would be eligible to apply.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Fund, Akintinde Sawyerr, stated this on Monday at a Pre-Application Sensitisation Press Conference in Abuja.

He said 1.2 million students from federal government-owned universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and technical colleges would benefit from the first phase of the scheme.

While calling on students in federal tertiary institutions to visit the website, www.nelf.gov.ng to apply from May 24, the Managing Director said students in state universities and vocation skills centres would apply at a later date.

He said the requirements to apply include the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board admission letter, National Identity Number, Bank Verification Number, and a completed application form from its website.

“The loan application process has been streamlined to ensure easy access for all eligible students in federal tertiary institutions.

“Applicants can access online support to assist with any questions or concerns during the application process.

“We believe that education is a vital investment for the future. We envisage that the student loan initiative of Mr. President is a testament to this commitment,” he said.

One of the key features of the programme, he stressed, is the absence of physical contact between the loan applicant and NELFUND.

According to him, the portal provides a user-friendly interface for students to submit their loan applications conveniently.

He encouraged students in federal tertiary institutions to take advantage of this opportunity to secure the required financial assistance for their education, even as he urged applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible to ensure timely processing.

He revealed that in addition to the interest-free loan, applicants will also receive monthly stipends for upkeep. He, however, did not state the amount, saying: “That figure will be capped.

We will look very closely at each application and make a decision based on several factors as to what fees will be paid to them.

“The fees for the institution are going to be paid not to the students but to the institution.

And that will be paid at the maximum of that fee per session. We will only pay for a session at a time. Because people drop out of institutions, they change institutions.”

The NELFUND boss also pointed out that institutions have vital roles to play in providing the Fund with data on fees payable by students at the institution, departmental, faculty and other levels.

Sawyerr said the agency is also working with security agencies to ensure that people do not take advantage and defraud the process.

President Bola Tinubu had last month signed the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2024, into law, with a promise that no student would be denied the opportunity to build his future regardless of background.

The Act empowers the Nigeria Education Loan Fund to provide loans to qualified Nigerian students for tuition, fees, charges and upkeep during their studies in approved public tertiary institutions and vocational and skills acquisition establishments in the country.

The new law which repeals the Student Loan Act, 2023, removes the family income threshold so Nigerian students can apply for these loans and accept responsibility for repayment according to the Fund’s guidelines.

The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested one Gabriel David, a 400-level student at the State University, Keffi, for allegedly raping a 100-level student of the same institution.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ramhan Nansel, made this known while speaking with our correspondent in Lafia on Saturday.

Nansel said the suspect was arrested by police operatives attached to the Agwan Lambu Division close to the university in the Keffi Local Government Area of the state for allegedly raping the 100 level student on May 9, 2024.

He said, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect travelled to the village where he and the victim come from. So the victim’s parents gave the suspect some foodstuff to give to the victim since they are schooling in the same school.

“When he brought the food items, he l called the victim to come over to his place of residence to collect the foodstuff sent by her parents.

“On her arrival, he lured the victim into his room and had unlawful carnal knowledge of the victim.”

Nansel further explained that upon his arrest, the suspect was immediately transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Lafia, where he confessed to committing the crime.

“He will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigation into the matter,” he added.

The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, says contrary to what many people have been saying, his administration has achieved a lot silently without blowing trumpet.
Fubara said this on Friday during the inauguration of Emohua/Kalabari Tema Junction Road in Rivers State.

Explaining details of the project, the governor said it is “for those who said that we have not been doing anything to know that we have been doing a lot silently, not with noise or media exaggeration.

“Let me assure our people, as I have said before, this government is a government this is focused, this government is a government that wants the forgotten people to feel the impact of governance.”

According to him, the total budget for the project is N21.2 billion of which the previous administration committed N6 billion while the current administration completed the balance of N15.2 billion.

He said that 70 per cent of the job was done by his administration and therefore he can boldly say that the project was delivered by his administration.

The governor said that the success of the administration should not be ascribed to another administration, as government is a continuous process.

Fubara assured the people of Rivers that the government would continue to carry out its function without entertaining sycophants.

The governor also announced that he has directed the permanent secretary in the ministry of works to immediately commence the process of extending the road project from Tema Junction to Abonnema, eliciting a rousing joyful noise from the crowd.

Former governor of Bayelsa State, SeriakeDickson, was a special guest of honour at the road inauguration which had in attendance other political leaders in the state as well as traditional rulers.