₦airaland Forum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn-Cs2-YteM?si=0U-LBd_0PbbEg3jE

From 1974 construction, Festac Town roads were thoughtfully designed with features for blind and disabled persons, plus families and kids. The layout included:

1. Bicycle lanes for children
2. Sidewalks for pedestrians
3. Children’s playgrounds
4. Service lanes and main lanes on major avenues
5. Underground sewers, drainage systems
6. Underground power and telephone lines
7. Shopping complexes
8. Telephone Exchange
9. Fire Service Station
10. Police Station

This made Festac Town a pioneering, inclusive, and well-planned community. Festac Town was also Nigeria’s first estate to have automatic generating sets installed across the area.

These generators kicked in automatically when NEPA power failed and switched off once electricity was restored, ensuring continuous power supply for residents. Pretty advanced for the 1970s.

Some underground sewers in Festac Town were so well-built that after rainfall, you’d barely see any standing water even hours later. The drainage system efficiently channels rainwater away, keeping roads dry and flood-free.

The underground sewers in Festac Town worked by efficiently channeling rainwater away through a network of wide, well-graded pipes beneath the roads.

Ex-Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello’s Trial: EFCC Witness Confirms Multiple N10Million Withdrawals From Government Account

The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, continued on Wednesday at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presenting additional witnesses to substantiate its case.

Bello, who governed Kogi State between 2016 and 2024, is facing a 16-count charge of alleged money laundering filed by the anti-graft agency. He is being prosecuted alongside two former state officials, Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, over their alleged involvement in a N110 billion fraud.

Taking the stand as the third prosecution witness (PW-3), bank official Ms. Williams Abimbola provided insight into several transactions linked to the case, according to Vanguard.

Identifying herself as a Compliance Officer with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Abimbola told the court that all transactions involving her bank “followed the due banking process.” She maintained that “no regulation was breached in the transactions that were allowed by her bank.”

The witness explained that she had earlier testified in a related case before the Federal High Court in Abuja, suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024, involving the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the former governor, Bello.

While noting that she represented the bank in court, she clarified that she was not the manager of the Kogi Government House account, which she said was domiciled in Lokoja.

During cross-examination by Bello’s lead counsel, Mr. J.B. Daudu, SAN, Abimbola stated that part of her duties was to safeguard the bank’s integrity “to avoid legal penalty, reputational damage and financial loss.”

Citing exhibits before the court, she confirmed that one of the defendants, Hudu, made multiple withdrawals of N10 million each between July 31 and August 6, 2019. However, she said she was “not in the position to ascertain why the withdrawals were made by the defendant.”

Abimbola explained that while banks sometimes inquire about the purpose of large transfers, “the bank does not make such enquiries in the case of cash withdrawals.” She added that “a banker does not act as an internal auditor for customers.”

She also confirmed that “transfers were made from the account in tranches, on July 5, 2019, by one Bello Abdullateef,” maintaining that the bank did not breach any rule in processing them.

According to her, “none of the withdrawals in the proof of evidence exceed N10m,” adding that as a banker with over 19 years of experience, she understood that the duties of a cashier “included paying cash and receiving cash.” The witness stressed that “a customer was at liberty to withdraw his money as much as he liked, so far the payment mandate was correct.”

Under cross-examination by counsel for the third defendant, Mr. A.M. Aliyu, Abimbola was shown a bank statement reflecting the withdrawals.

She admitted that the narration on the credit entry was “the governor’s security fund,” noting also that it contained “a credit entry of N100m in two tranches of N50m each.”

When asked if she could swear that the funds were not used for security purposes after withdrawal, Abimbola replied: “My Lord, I am not privy to the details of the transaction and cannot categorically answer that question.”

She further testified that she had never met or had any business relationship with the second defendant, Oricha, nor had she met the first defendant, Bello.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that on Thursday, June 26, 2025, a prosecution witness revealed in court how over ₦1.09 billion was withdrawn from the Kogi State Government House’s Administration Account within three days, amid the ongoing trial of the former governor.

Testifying before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, the witness, Mashelia Arhyel Dada, a compliance officer at the Zenith Bank Maitama Branch, provided a detailed account of multiple questionable transactions linked to the alleged financial misconduct. Dada, who appeared as the fourth prosecution witness (PW4), was summoned under a subpoena.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Prof. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), Dada explained that his testimony was based on seven sets of documents submitted in response to the subpoena served on the bank’s managing director. The documents were admitted into evidence as Exhibits 20 to 24C.

Among the key accounts examined were those operated by individuals and corporate entities, including Adamu Jagafa Ishaya, Whales Oil and Gas, Jimeda Properties Nigeria Limited, Alyeshua Solutions, and, critically, the Kogi State Government House’s Administration Account.

Pinheiro drew the court’s attention to what he described as a flagrant violation of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) cashless policy.

Beremx:
..The real owners of Lagos and Nigeria as a whole. They're taking over Kwara State and drifting towards the entire SW.The Igbos are truly the problem of Nigeria

TimeMachine2:
We have no issue with Fulanis until you show me one that claims lagos is a no man's land or better still, show me any Fulani contesting for any elective position.

In 2025, several African currencies have held up remarkably well against the US dollar, benefiting from strong commodity exports, prudent fiscal management, foreign exchange controls, and investor confidence.

Here’s a look at some of the best-performing African currencies and what is driving their relative resilience.

1. Tunisian Dinar (TND) — Edge in value retention (2.9–3.1 TND per USD)
The Tunisian dinar remains at the top in nominal value relative to the dollar in Africa. Thanks to tight controls on capital flows and disciplined monetary policy, it has preserved value even as other currencies weakened.

2. Libyan Dinar (LYD) — Oil-backed stability (4.8–5.4 LYD per USD)
Libya’s heavy reliance on oil exports supports the dinar. While political and institutional instability remains a risk, the inflow of hydrocarbon earnings bolsters FX availability.l

3. Moroccan Dirham (MAD) — Balanced regime, diversified base (9.0–10.0 MAD per USD)
Morocco operates a managed floating exchange system (often pegged to a basket of currencies). With a mixed economy—tourism, agriculture and manufacturing—it enjoys relative resilience to external shocks.

4. Botswana Pula (BWP) — Resource discipline (13.0–14.0 BWP per USD)
Botswana’s prudent fiscal policy and diamond exports give the pula a strong foundation. Its currency is often cited for its relative stability in Southern Africa.

5. Ghanaian Cedi (GHS) — Dramatic reversal (10–14 GHS per USD)
Perhaps the standout story is the cedi’s sharp turnaround. After years of sharp depreciation, Ghana’s reforms, investor confidence, and capital inflows have helped the cedi post strong gains in 2025, with some reports calling it the world’s best-performing currency this year.

helinues:
Press more of their button. Emotions will do the rest