CSOs to EFCC: Revealing details, identities of minors whose parents are under investigation lawless, condemnable

Scores of Anti-Corruption Organisations have berated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for flouting the Child's Rights Act by revealing details and identities of minors whose parents are being investigated over alleged corruption.

With specific reference to the case of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, whose children's names abd other details were reportedly made public by the EFCC, the anti-graft CSOs expressed shock, arguing that the commission had recklessly exposed the affected children to all manners of dangers.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos on Monday, the Anti-Corruption Organizations condemned the EFCC for not considering the safety and protection of the minors as required by both international and national laws, stressing that, "when minors are exposed to public and peer ridicule in the name of investigating their parents, no matter the allegations, such minors are automatically subjected to excruciating trauma that they don't deserve."

The press conference/protest was the fourth by the human rights crusaders since they began the struggle to demand that the rule of law prevails in the ex-Kogi Gov/EFCC face-off.

The Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, Debo Adeniran, who led other activists, on a peaceful protest shortly after the press conference, said, "We are here today, as parents who have children in and out of school, to appeal to the conscience of this nation and those in authority. First, permit me to state unequivocally that I cannot see myself either now or at any point of my life to ever align with corrupt public officials or individuals no matter the remuneration or temptation. I can also say the same thing for my colleagues on this Coalition.

"We have passed such elementary stages of amenability to corrupt environment or people. We will continue to fight them and support antigraft agencies to do their jobs as constitutionally assigned to them by extant laws. We will continue to confront corruption with the same vehemence and resolve as we do against all forms of injustice.

"Make no mistakes about it, this struggle is beyond this Coalition or any individual. It is about saving the spirit and soul of our democracy and rule of law. We are convinced that where law and order are jettisoned under the excuse of political exigencies, society suffers irreparable injustice and damage due to the necessary anarchy that ensues from such a course of action.

"It is in this respect that we think that in the course of investigating and prosecuting corruption, special care must be taken to ensure that innocent minors are not dragged into what they know absolutely nothing about.

"Children cannot be made collateral victims of the alleged indiscretions of their parents even when proven. Law is about justice. Justice is about humanity. Humanity is about our common good as a people. When minors are exposed to public and peer ridicule in the name of investigating their parents, no matter the allegations, such minors are automatically subjected to excruciating trauma that they don't deserve.

"I know enough of child psychology to understand that in their vulnerable state, they may suffer irreversible trauma when subjected to undeserved pressures that destroy their self-esteem. Unfortunately, this is what we believe the recent action of the EFCC in putting the identities and details of minors whose parents are under investigation for alleged corruption in the case of Kogi State has caused those little kids."

"They do not deserve that kind of treatment no matter the sins of their parents. We believe that whatever would affect those children in the course of investigation are better left in the safe custody of the Court. And, this is what we have been saying ; that our courts must be respected and obeyed at all times! Let's always follow the due processes of law in law enforcement duties," the Coalition stated.

Quoting relevant sections of the laws that EFCC allegedly disregarded, it said, "Going public with all the details involving minors is a direct violation of Section 35 of the Child's Rights Act that prohibits ALL forms of harmful publication about a child.

"The mother of the Child's Rights Act is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child of 1989. This convention passed most of the rules that were incorporated into the Child's Right Act in Nigeria.

The Child's Rights Act was passed in Nigeria in 2003 after lots of Government and Civil Society engagements. Section 277 of the Child's Rights Act defines a child as any person under the age of 18. This effectively nullifies the earlier law under the Children and Young Persons Act which defines a child as a person under the age of 14 years.

"Section I of the Child's Rights Act specifically provides that the BEST INTEREST of a child is to be of PARAMOUNT CONSIDERATION IN ALL ACTIONS. This is capitalized and underlined for emphasis. We do not believe that by releasing details of minors to the media, this section has been complied with. It has been violated, in our opinion

"Section 2 of the Child's Right Act provides that a child SHALL be given ALL protection and care for his well being. ALL. In the present case, the affected children have been recklessly exposed to all manners of danger by the Commission's action. Section 11 of the Child's Right Act provides that a child is entitled to the dignity of his person.

"Section 33 of the Child's Rights Act forbids anyone from any form of exploitation of a child. The EFCC can be said to be exploiting the transaction with the children for its media showmanship."

Meanwhile, the Coalition has demanded apologies from the Commission and the affected parents to the minors, noting that, "We make bold to say that the EFCC could have achieved its objectives without doing anything that could be viewed as attacking the sensibilities of these children under whatever guise."

The Coalition added, "We will restate here for the umpteenth time that EFCC should learn to stop sensationalizing its operations. It is not only counterproductive but seriously injurious to the anticorruption fight that the government is supposedly doing

"To break the Child's Rights Act is to break a child's heart. We condemn such deliberate violation in its entirety. As a matter of fact, those children deserve public apologies from both the Commission and their parents and we shall see to that."

70 years from now when the history of Nigerian enterprise is written, one name will tower, head and shoulders above many – Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Ishola Adenuga Jr GCON.

Mike Adenuga as he is popularly known will turn 71 on April 29 and as has become the norm, the air waves, newspapers and blogosphere would be redolent with congratulatory messages and tributes like this one you are about to read.

But this year, the drum beats of celebration began to reverberate early. In the second week of March, a clear one month before his birthday, the universe conspired to give the man affectionately referred to as The Bull an early birthday present.

On Monday March 14th 2024, telecom subscribers across many countries in Africa – South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Ivory Coast – woke up unable to connect to their networks. It would later emerge that damage to undersea cables had caused the outage.

Affected cables included – the West Africa Cable System (WACS), the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE), MainOne, and SAT3.

The damage to these cables led to a connectivity black out, akin to what happens when the national grid goes on a snooze fest.

But what became immediately obvious was that only the Globacom owned Glo 1 submarine cable was unaffected which meant that only Glo subscribers continued to Glo while others wallowed in the outage.

A story in TheCable which ran under the caption: “Main One, WACs down as Glo 1 comes to rescue of internet users” captured the unfolding scenario. Continuing, the online publication informed its readers that “However, Glo 1, owned by Nigeria’s leading digital services company, Globacom, was not affected by the damage and has continued to operate normally.Industry analysts believe the sturdy nature and resilience of Glo 1 International Submarine Cable is the reason why the damage did not affect the cable.”

Mike Adenuga aka The Bull aka The Spirit of Africa aka The Great Guru has not just built a proudly Nigerian network; he has built one that has all the unique attributes of the bull – strong, sturdy, resilient!

The story of the man from Ijebu Ode in Ogun state seems to have been fashioned out of a fairy tale defined by tenacity, resilience, persistence and consistency.

Starting out in business as a trader who became a millionaire at age 26 from selling lace materials and soft drinks, he had segued into oil and gas where his Consolidated Oil (now Conoil) became the first among 11 to strike first oil.

As time went on, he would spread his tentacles into banking and finance, real estate and construction, but it was his venture into the telecommunication space that made him a household name.

Globacom, the company he founded in 2003 changed the telecoms landscape and gave Nigerians a new lease of life with the innovative introduction of per-second-billing which other operators had said was impossible.

Mike Adenuga has evinced in every iteration of his business journey the traits already mentioned – tenacity, resilience, persistence and consistency while showing clearly that he is blessed with the Midas touch.

In 70 years’ time when that chronicle of 20th and 21st century Nigerian enterprise is written, many would read about Adenuga and his business acumen and accolades at home and abroad but what they will get would be mostly broad strokes because while Mike Adenuga looms large across Nigeria’s business landscape and is the subject, always, of fevered speculations in the press and elsewhere, he remains a remarkable enigma.

So much ink has been spilled and newspaper acreage covered by writers trying to unmask the big masquerade that is Mike Adenuga and for his 71st birthday, this writer will provide two inalienable morsels that will provide a point of departure for those who continue to seek to decode him.

One is professional and the other is personal.

The Bull is a workaholic; long meetings; a fixation on detail and insistence on excellence. He is that boss who will rage one minute like thunder because your work is slacking then leave you in stitches the next as he regales you with rib cracking reminiscences.

Mike Adenuga is a man incapable of holding a grudge or making a fist because his hand is always open, ready to give and bless and show generosity.

Those are puny and shadowy glimpses of Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Ishola Adenuga Jr GCON whom we salute as he turns 71.

Happy birthday, Baba!

**Toni Kan is a former Head of PR at Globacom.

Yahaya Bello: EFCC boss, Olukoyede, to face criminal trial for Contempt of Court, May 13

...summoned to show cause why he shouldn't be committed to prison


A Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja has ordered the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, to appear in court on May 13, 2024, to show cause why an order of committal should not be made against him for allegedly disobeying court order.

The EFCC boss is facing a contempt charge for carrying out "some acts upon which they (the EFCC) have been restrained" by the Court on February 9, 2024, pending the determination of the substantive Originating Motion.

Justice I. A. Jamil, delivering a ruling in Suit No: HCL/68M/2024 and Motion No: HCL/190M/2024, ordered that "the said act was carried out by the Respondent (EFCC) in violation of the order, which was valid and subsisting when they carried out the act. That same act of the Respondent amounts to Contempt.

EFCC operatives had laid siege on the residence of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, as early as 8am on April 17, 2024, with a bid to arrest him, despite a court order restraining them from taking such action, pending the determination of the Originating Motion.

Justice Jamil's order was based on a motion ex-parte filed by Yahaya Bello through his lawyer, M.S. Yusuf, Esq, where he prayed the court
for an order to issue and serve the Respondent (EFCC Chairman) with Form 49 Notice to show cause why Order of committal should not be made on Olukoyede.

Having listened to the arguments of the Applicant's counsel, the submission and exhibits attached in the Written Address, Justice Jamil granted Yahaya Bello's prayers and ordered Olukoyede to be summoned to appear before the court to answer the contempt charge.

Delivering his order on the motion on April 25, 2024, Justice Jamil said, "The applicant's application before me is to the effect that the Respondent has carried out some acts upon which they have been restrained by this Court on the 9th of February, 2024, pending the determination of the substantive motion on Notice before this Court.

"That the said act was carried out by the Respondent in violation of the order which was valid and subsisting when they carried out those acts. That same acts of the Respondent amounts to acts of contempt.

"That the Respondent should be summoned to appear before this Court to answer to the contempt charge.

"It's against the above facts that this Court hereby grants the prayers sought in line with the principle of "Audi Ultra Patem". To wit:

"An order of this Honourable Court for the issuance of Form 49 Notice to show cause why order of committal should not be made against the Executive Chairman of the Respondent - Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

"An order for service of Form 49-Notice to show why order of committal should not be made on the Executive Chairman of the Respondent - Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at EFCC Corporate Headquarters, Plot 301/302, Research and Institution District, Abuja.

"This matter is adjourned to the 13th of May, 2024 for the Respondent's Chairman to appear before this Court in answer to form 49 ordered to be served on him."

Absence of formal invitation: EFCC's invasion of Bello's residence nothing but oppression, persecution, says Coalition


A coalition of Civil Society Organisations has kicked against the increasing media trial of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, saying the development is "grossly unprofessional and uncalled for."

The No Corruption Coalition, at a press conference on Thursday in Lagos, said it decided to add its voice to call for the respect of the rule of law, owing to the growing concern about the recent avoidable crisis between the Commission and the Governor.

The acitivists said the outburst of the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, which revealed that no formal letter of invitation was extended to ex-Gov Bello, had shown clearly that the operation the EFCC operatives went to carry out in his house was illegal and had "no other interpretation than oppression, persecution and political witchunt."

The Convener of the Coalition, Comrade Akintunde Adedeji (a.k.a Boosecart), said members of the coalition were not questioning the constitutional mandate of the EFCC to investigate and prosecute corruption matters.

"But the attitude of the Chairman has given a lot of credence to the suspicions in some quarters that the Commission is doing the bidding of some powerful interests around the presidency to politically persecute former Governor Yahaya Bello," he said.

They criticised the EFCC boss for allowing emotions to take over his job, saying he should go to court and marshal his points in the presence of a judge rather than engaging in aggressive media blackmail of the defendant.

Adedeji said, "Part of the obnoxious media trials includes sending lawyers to TV stations to go and turn law upside down by claiming that the Commission can violate court orders at will. This won't help them at all. Everyone is in court now, so the status quo must be maintained. That's a decent way to go about.

"Considering the premeditated media trials and threats to the defendant's life through military invasion, we demand that the Federal Government apologise to Yahaya Bello. From the outburst of the EFCC’s Chairman, Barrister Olukoyede, it has shown clearly that the operation they went to carry out in his house was illegal and has no other interpretation than oppression, persecution and political witchunt.

"The withdrawal of the Appeal also shows that they knew a case was pending when they laid siege on his house in the desperate bid to detain him without respect for lawful court orders on his fundamental human rights as guaranteed under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended."

On Olukoyede's alleged media trial, the Coalition stated, "If the head of an agency investigating your case is taking the case so personal, as to be engaging in such emotional outbursts, it is already clear that it is persecution.

"You told Someone to come through the backdoor, and he said, no, he is not a thief, he would rather come through the front door. But do things according to the law. For that he has incurred your wrath. Where is justice in this scenario?

"Yahaya Bello may not have constitutional immunity anymore, but he has his humanity. We demand that his humanity be respected and he deserves some respect as a former chief executive of a state in this country without prejudice to the allegations against him.

"Until he is convicted by a Court of competent jurisdiction, EFCC should stop its maligning campaigns of blackmail via incessant media trials. The consistent procurement of lawyers willing to throw away their honor in order to compromise the spirit and letter of our laws and, through deliberate mischief, misinterpret the law to suit the persecution agenda of their masters, has further exposed the fact that what's currently ongoing is nothing but political witch-hunting."

"For how long are the authorities willing to go to continue bastardizing out legal procedures and rubbishing our courts? For how long will a mere suspect be treated like a terrorist and hounded like a common criminal? For how long will wielders of state power continue to misuse it? We will not sit idle and allow rule of law truncated without fighting to save our democracy.

"We demand that all parties to this dispute revert to the hallowed chambers of court rooms and be guided strictly by the decisions of courts of competent jurisdiction. Until that happens, Yahaya Bello must be treated like a free citizen of this country that he is," the Coalition said.

Kogi State House of Assembly has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to vacate the 'wanted' tag that it has placed on the name and picture of the immediate past Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello,.

This forms part of the resolutions during the House plenary on Tuesday and follows a matter of urgent public importance that was presented on the floor of the House by the member representing Ajaokuta State Constituency in the house, Hon Jibrin Abu.

In their resolutions, the lawmakers stated, "The EFCC, IGP, Immigration, NSA and other agencies conscripted into this melodrama be so informed and involved to act accordingly. The Commission should not allow itself to become a tool of political vendetta, blackmail, or intimidation against any individual through personal grudges, persecution, and campaign of calumny to tarnish the image of personalities from Kogi State, especially Alh Yahaya Bello or any perceived political enemy of the characters hiding behind their executive powers to unleash allegations through media for public consumption and sympathy.

"The House condemns in its entirety a statement by legal practitioner suggesting a request that the military be involved in the case that does not constitute a threat to internal security or treasonable felony."

Earlier in his motion, titled, "A call to end all false, frivolous, fictitious, and far from the truth smear campaign against the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello," the Lawmaker representing Ajaokuta State Constituency, Hon Abu lamented that the anti-graft agency had been allegedly witch-hunting the former Governor of the State for a long time.

"The recent reports on the print, electronic and social media had featured various debasing forms of address against the former Governor of Kogi State. Recall that the whole narrative was principally sparked off by the blithe actions, without respect to due legal process by Nigeria's anti- graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

"The consequence of this has deeply affected the minds, emotions, and impressions of Kogi citizens, and by extension, Nigerians. Kogi State, over the years, has witnessed a worrisome trend and torrent of witch-hunt by the anti-graft agency, unrepentantly striving to force corruption claims on the State Government and officials.

"This is not forgetting the plight of late Prince Abubakar Audu in the hands of the same agency, albeit, giving his dog a bad name for the kill.

"The Commission started with claims that it discovered a non-existent fund in an alleged Fixed Deposit Account. By its statutory responsibility and while appreciating EFCC’s efforts in the fight against corruption, every right thinking individual would hold it a duty to support it in no small measure to succeed in its primary responsibilities. It is also possible as touted all around for those very wary of certain actions outside legal process by the EFCC to caution against allowing the Commission to become a tool for political vendetta.

"It is pertinent for House to further note that the new objectives assured by the leadership of EFCC upon assumption of duty and in his fight against crimes and corruption under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu are to fight financial crimes with due diligence and legal process. These objectives are being eroded by certain selfish group of political individuals with access to media and investigations in the commission.

"The 7th Legislative Assembly of Kogi State in August and September 2021 berated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission upon the completion of its investigation over the allegation of N20b Bailout diversion against the former Governor of Kogi State, Alh. Yahaya Bello through a fixed deposit account at Sterling Bank, Lokoja.

"The EFCC has continued the trajectory of persecuting the former Governor against all known legal decencies and now likened, by most, to personal vendetta. But the question is why?

"A point of reference for the House to take cognizance of is the submission, that having wasted taxpayers’ money, the time of the honourable court and Nigerians, one Kemi Pinheiro SAN, acting on behalf of EFCC and other Legal luminaries, discovered that the case of N20b against the State Government lacked substance and that it was aimed at disrespecting the rule of law. The case was accordingly withdrawn citing 6 reasons. These reasons were in line with findings of 7 Legislative Assembly and for berating the EFCC.

"The Rt. Hon. Speaker, distinguished honourable members, this was not without a fight by the then Governor, revealing to Nigerians the impotent drive
by the Commission and its sudden acceptance of duties not enshrined in the law establishing the same.

"Kogi State, by allocation standard, is not rich so much so that N80.4b will be missing that the State will not be shaken to its foundation. This claim by the EFCC should be sanctioned and taken as laughable. Innocent Nigerians and Kogi State citizens that bought into the lies should by their personal volition withdraw their support," he stated.
In his submissions, the member representing Kabba-Bunu State Constituency Hon. Oluwaseyi Bello berated EFCC for allegedly disobeying a subsisting court order in the State.

On his part, former Deputy Speaker of the house Rt. Hon. Enema Paul wants the anti graft Agency to respect the rule of law.

He said, "Why is EFCC in a haste? Nigeria is not a banana republic. I was surprised to hear a senior lawyer to EFCC inviting the military in a Civil case. Has the Police, DSS failed?

"I think EFCC should look at their lawyer and see if he is really qualified. The Man they declared wanted is in Appeal Court with them. Declaring him wanted, I think EFCC has al ot of questions to answer. We don't want military to rule this Country and some body is dragging us back to the olden days" he added.

In his ruling, the Speaker of the house, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, admonished the anti-graft agency not to act contrary to the law of the Country.

"This house is not against the EFCC doing their job but they should do it within the ambit of the law and not in a gestapo way.

"The Country belongs to all of us, so we must respect the law and work with it. The EFCC engaging in media trial and working in a gestapo way is unacceptable. If Yahaya Bello has a case to answer, it should be done within the rule of law," he stated.

Our attention has been drawn to a publication/press statement with the above title, issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, 22nd April, 2024, and signed by Wilson Uwujaren, its Acting Director of Public Affairs.

In the said statement, which the Commission carefully circulated widely as usual, Mr. Uwujaren, who we have to believe is not a lawyer, continues the EFCC's ongoing unconscionable lies against the former Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Yahaya Bello, CON, by labelling him as a fugitive from justice in order to disingenuously justify their established and willful pattern of defying lawful court orders.

Contrary to Mr. Uwujaren's claims, official records and court documents relating to their hounding of Alhaji Yahaya Bello establish a clear timeline of events. These documents are endorsed with dates and times of filing and payments, which are endorsed on court processes - all of which testify to the true sequence of events.

For The Records, here is a summary of key events:

No Formal Invitation: The EFCC claims to have invited Alhaji Yahaya Bello immediately after his tenure ended on January 27th, 2024. We challenge the EFCC to produce a copy of this invitation, including the delivery date and the recipient's name/endorsement. We are confident they cannot provide this simple evidence.

Preemptive Charge: Prior to any alleged invitation, the EFCC amended Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/550/22 on February 5th, 2023, to accuse Yahaya Bello of conspiring to convert over 80 Billion Naira of Kogi State funds in September 2015. This amendment listed Yahaya Bello as "still at large," demonstrating a clear intention to arrest him.

*Impossible Accusations: The alleged timelines provided by the EFCC for its phantasmagorical allegations of crime against Yahaya Bello predates his Inauguration as Governor of Kogi State on January 27th, 2016.

The second charge even attempts to correct the initial blunder and says the crime was committed in February 2016, less than a month after he became Governor! The total Kogi State budget in 2016 was significantly less than the sum alleged in the charges.

Seeking Protection Under The Law: To protect his reputation and fundamental rights, Alhaji Yahaya Bello filed Fundamental Rights Enforcement action Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 with the High Court of Justice, Kogi State on February 8th, 2024. Court records, even from the EFCC, all substantiate this.

Court-Ordered Restraint: The High Court granted an order restraining the EFCC from inviting, arresting, or prosecuting Alhaji Yahaya Bello pending the determination of the Originating Motion. This order was served on the EFCC on February 12th, 2024.

EFCC's Disregard for the Law: Despite the order, the EFCC, represented by Senior Advocates Rotimi Oyedepo and J.S Okutepa, filed Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024 against Yahaya Bello on March 6th, 2024, in violation of the order.

The EFCC's ‘Ex Parte Warrant’ Is Another False Narrative: Mr. Uwujaren falsely implies that the EFCC sought a warrant of arrest only after the Kogi State High Court ruling on April 17th, 2024. This ruling was at about 2pm. Records will show that the motion was filed at 8:24 am on April 17th, prior to the ruling. And Nigerians would testify to the fact that, at that time, EFCC agents had already laid siege on his residence, attempting his arrest. These are clear occurrences that cannot be denied.

EFCC - A Litany of Violations: The EFCC failed to present the warrant at Yahaya Bello's residence. The warrant itself is invalid, being obtained in defiance of a court order and based on misleading statements, as Alhaji Yahaya Bello is a defendant and not a fleeing suspect or a suspect, having been charged.

EFCC's Assault on Citizens’ Rights: The judgment of the High Court of Justice, Kogi State, on April 17th, 2024, highlights the EFCC's abuse of its statutory duties. We urge the public to denounce these unlawful transgressions until the EFCC undertakes a comprehensive reform of its practices.

In Conclusion: It is clear that the EFCC is engaged in a campaign of intimidation and harassment. Alhaji Yahaya Bello is not afraid of the EFCC. His demand is that the rule of law be respected.

Signed:
Ohiare Michael
MEDIA OFFICE
HE YAHAYA BELLO

23 April, 2024

By Mohammed Adamu

I am drawing the attention of the public to a kangaroo press briefing held by a group of people calling themselves concerned Nigerians.

I decided to add our voice to the ongoing saga in order not to allow a few embittered bigots and spent politicians get away with their evil acts.

I had been alerted since Sunday morning that Smart Adeyemi, the embattled politician, who represented Kogi West in the National Assembly, called journalists to arrange the press conference against the former Governor. The idea is for him to stay at the background.

Finally, Adeyemi, working with some desperate politicians, settled for Simon Achuba, the embittered, impeached Deputy Governor of Kogi State. He was asked to address the conference, with all sorts of accusations.

I am not surprised because he is simply doing the bidding of his pay masters and this further shows that the EFCC-Bello saga is beyond allegations of corruption.

Nigerians should not forget that the lawyer who is representing SDP at the Tribunal, JS Okutepa SAN, is also the lawyer who appealed the interim ruling of the High Court in Kogi on behalf of the EFCC.

The intention of these evil plotters is to put pressure on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to do the right thing, according to the law.

This is after more Nigerians are beginning to realise that the rush to arrest the former Governor by the EFCC and the siege on his residence were a direct breach of the laws of Nigeria, having not vacated an existing order.

As of now, the interim injunction, which the EFCC appealed but was not vacated is still standing.

The good people of Kogi State want to assure Adeyemi and his co-travellers that this is Nigeria and it is for everyone.

We will never allow a case where serial blackmailers, greedy politicians, who have never helped even members of their families not to talk of the less privileged, throw Nigeria into a state of anarchy.

The illogical claims by opposition members on social media that Yahaya Bello was hiding in the family house of the Minister of Steel, Shaibu Audu, is part of their game plan.

They are trying to frame the minister so that they will take his place.

We call on the President to call Smart Adeyemi and others in his corner to order in order to forestall a total breakdown of law and order in Nigeria.

Before anything can go on it the present case, the Federal Government must apologise to Bello publicly for embarrassing him and damaging his reputation despite the fact that he had not been convicted by a Court of law and was also lawfully protected against harassment and arrest as of the time of the shameful siege.

CONFUSING ALLEGATIONS
A Governor assumed office on January 27, 2016. The first charge before Justice Omotosho says he stole N80.2bn in September 2015. Those who concocted the charge with opposition probably forgot momentarily that Kogi was not like other states, that Bello did not become Governor like his colleagues in May 2015.

After they realised this, they took the same charge before another court in the same Abuja, and changed the period to February 2016. This means he stole a whopping N80.2bn under one month.

From our findings, his government met only about N2bn in the treasury in between huge debts obligations. How realistic is this?

*Mohammed Adamu, a public affairs analyst, Kogi State indigene, writes from Lagos, on behalf of patriotic Kogites.

...say EFCC can't be above the law

Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress have called on all sitting Governors, former governors and politically exposed persons to stand against the unjust persecution of former Governor of Kogi State by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. 

The Chairman, Tinubu Media Support Group, TMSG, Barrister Jesutega Onokpasa, who briefed the press on behalf of others, described as utter travesty the former Governor's unjust prosecution in the court of public opinion as against the court of law, saying it was a coordinated witch-hunt "against a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a former Governor of one of the states of this country."

Flanked by Honourable Abubarkar Iliyasu and Comrade Felix Etedjere, he spoke in Abuja on Sunday, saying: "Today it is Yahaya Bello's turn, tomorrow, it might be yours".

Onokpasa said categorically that the mischievous narrative of the former Governor evading arrest was reckless.

"As far as we are aware, former Governor Bello had obtained a court order retraining the EFCC from arresting, arraigning or prosecuting him and we state categorically that he was perfectly entitled in law to place reliance on the protection of the law, indeed the same law, which binds all of us in a civilized society," the APC chieftains said.

According to them, the motto of the EFCC is that no one is above the law and that starts with the EFCC, itself, which is certainly not and cannot possibly be above the law.

Onokpasa queried why the counsel to former Governor Bello's political adversaries was at the same time persecuting him on behalf of the EFCC "apart from one of them most irresponsibly threatening to send the armed forces against him."

He stated, "The remedy against an order of court is to vacate the order or to appeal the same and most certainly not for law enforcement to thump its nose against the court and decompose into lawlessness and brigandage.

"As usual, the EFCC has descended into grotesque unprofessionalism and playing to the gallery by taking what is beginning to appear as a persecution rather than a prosecution to the court of public opinion instead of lawfully canvassing it before the court of law.

"In the process, even the security details of former Governor Bello have been most rascally and illegally withdrawn thus exposing him to grave danger."

He added, "We unequivocally condemn this witch-hunt against a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a former Governor of one of the states of this country.

"We enjoin all well-meaning citizens of our great nation to repudiate these excesses even as we call on all sitting Governors, former Governors and all politically exposed persons to stand against this utter travesty.

"Today, it may be Yahaya Bello's turn but tomorrow it might be yours", he stressed.

Honourable Abubarkar Iliyasu and Comrade Felix Etedjere were present at the briefing.

The sixteenth season of DiamondXtra, a savings and reward account where customers of Access Bank are rewarded with several prizes, have been unveiled in Lagos.

The Season 16 th of the special interest yielding hybrid account which allows deposit of both cash and third-party cheques has been upgraded as customers will win prizes to the value of N200 million and three SUVs amongs other mouthwatering prizes.

Speaking at the unveiling in Alaba International Market, Lagos, Mr Bolarinwa Animashaun, Regional Sales Director, Lagos, said the new season will bring more goodies to the customers as the bank has taken their interest at heart.

“In the last fifteen years, we have been able to ensure customer loyalty, reward committed customers over time and show that we are a bank that is ready to empower people and partner with people.

“If I take it into specific figures, we have rewarded 26,696 customers and we’ve given a total sum of N6.5 billion over the period.

This Season16 is interesting, because, we have seen a lot of opportunities to expand into digital opportunities and this time around, we will be rewarding 15,786 customers, and 10,000 of them will be digitally rewarded.

This is almost half of what we have done over the last 15 years. So that is what is making it special. We have taken it into the possibilities of how technology can expand our business and reward customers”.

The draws for the new season are going to be the same like the previous ones as it will be held in different regions.

“So, we start from the monthly draws, quarterly draws and the annual draws. What makes it extremely interesting this year is that we will be rewarding with up to N200 million in prizes and we have added some very interesting gifts. We will be given out three SUVs as part of the N200 million price for this year,” Animashaun added.

At the unveiling, Access Bank conducted onsite draws where 48 customers who have DiamondXtra accounts and were present at the unveiling won cash prizes ranging from N20,000 to N200,000.

Breakdown shows 40 customers won N20,000 each, five customers won N50,000, two customers won N100,000, while one customer went home with N200,000.

Among winners of the N20,000 prize was Mr Victor Edobor, who said he opened the DiamondXtra accounts 24-hours before the draws.

One of the two winners of the N100,000 prize, Mrs. Maureen Nneka Oforka, said she was surprised to have won at the well-attended event as that was her first time winning any prize.

She said, “I have never won any prize in my life. This is my first. I came here reluctantly and thank God, I am here and I am a winner of N100,000 which has already been paid into my account.

The grand prize winner of N200,000, Mr. Emeka Ezikeugo, a trader in Alaba, said. “I will forever be grateful to Access Bank for the prize as I was not expecting it. I thank the bank for showing leadership among its peers”.

To be part of the winning train and qualify for the DiamondXtra season 16 which is open to both new and existing customers, new customers are required to open a DiamondXtra savings account with just N5,000 by dialling *901*5# or walking into one of our branches to open the account. However, the more multiples of N5,000 both new and old customers save, the higher their chances of winning at the monthly, quarterly and annual draws.

DiamondXtra is an interest yielding hybrid account which allows deposit of both cash and third party cheques. Hybrid means a combination of both savings and current account features. The DiamondXtra reward scheme has given away over N6.5 billion in cash and household items to over 15,000 loyal customers over the last 15years.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been asked by investors in Agrorite, one of Nigeria's numerous agritech crowdfunding platforms, to assist them in getting their more than N3 billion back that was lost in the company's investment program.

Agrorite takes great satisfaction in being a leading digital platform for agriculture that helps smallholder farmers make more money by putting them in touch with premium marketplaces, smart farming technologies, and financing.

The company received funding from willing investors to invest in farm projects with a promise of returns to the investors at a fixed time.

All seemed to be going well with Agrorite and the investors until late last year when investors were no longer able to receive their money at the due period.

According to the investors who spoke with Nairametrics in camera, the company’s founder and CEO of Agrorite Toyosi Ayodele, kept on shifting the date until it became clear that there was no intention to repay them.

Copies of the petition sent to the EFCC by the investors sighted by Nairametrics showed that the investments were not only made in Naira but also dollars. In one instance, one of the investors put in N482 million in a Naira-denominated Agrorite project and $100,000 in a dollar project. He is currently hoping that the EFCC will help him recover the money.

In a near-fatal situation, an aged woman who invested her entire pension benefit of N40 million in the Agrorite project is said to have collapsed and landed in the hospital when she realized her money might not be recovered.

“Our entire life savings have gone down the drain just like that. We trusted Agrorite with our lives and this is what we are getting. Some of us are now in depression and the only thing that can lead to recovery is for Ayodele (Agrorite CEO) to release our money,” one of the investors said.

All efforts to reach the company’s founder and CEO for comments proved abortive as his phone was off as at press time. However, some staff of the company, who agreed to speak under anonymity, confirmed that the CEO has been arrested by the EFCC over the matter.

Asked why the company has been unable to pay the investors, one of the staff of the company said:

“We don’t know what happened and why they are not being paid. Ours is to bring clients and they pay directly into the company’s account. The CEO is the only one that manages and authorizes payments to the investors. What the EFCC officials who came to pick up some of our staff said was that there was no money in the company’s account.

“Some top management staff of the company were also arrested and released after the EFCC was able to ascertain that they were not in control of the company’s accounts.

“Right now, all transfers from the company’s accounts are being tracked by the EFCC in a bid to recover the investors’ funds.”

Checks show that the company’s website, agrorite.com, is no longer available on the web, suggesting that the domain name might have expired and not yet been renewed.

Toyosi Ayodele founded Agrorite as a digital agriculture farming network in 2019. According to the founder, the company’s mission was in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) objective 2 “Zero Hunger” and primary core value, which entails sustainable food production for Africa by effectively involving smallholder farmers.

By 2022, Agrorite claimed it had amassed a network of over 130,000 farmers, and approximately 125,000 hectares of cultivated farmland, with about 350,000 metric tons (MT) of cultivated agricultural produce traded across 25 Nigerian states.

“This is in addition to managing commodity trade for more than ten agricultural commodities, including cocoa, sesame, cashew, ginger, maize, and shea butter, etc. With warehouses for storage, which meet needed local and international quality standards,” the company said in a statement issued at that time.

In 2021, the company received $50,000.00 from Nigerian Breweries at the United Nations World Food Program Zero Hunger Sprint.

Mustapha Habib Ahmed’s nearly three-year stint at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was characterized by significant and transformative improvements in disaster management and emergency response, leading to the elevation of NEMA to the forefront of disaster management across the entire West African sub-region.
Working in sync with what he has described as “NEMA’s paradigm shift towards disaster risk reduction and to take disaster risk management to the grassroots,” he has left a lasting impact on the agency and the country’s preparedness for emergencies.
Below we look at his tenure with a focus on some of his significant achievements.
1. Leadership and Vision: Mustapha Habib Ahmed’s tenure as the Director-General of NEMA was marked by his visionary leadership, which was instrumental in transforming the agency’s approach to disaster management. His leadership prioritised staff welfare, recognizing that disaster management personnel must be both physically fit and mentally prepared to effectively aid those in need of assistance. This strategic focus has led to the restoration of industrial harmony within NEMA, with staff members demonstrating a renewed commitment to their roles and responsibilities.
2. Completion of NEMA Headquarters: He oversaw the completion of the new NEMA headquarters, which had been abandoned for six years, bringing all departments under one roof and enhancing operational efficiency.
3. World-Class Facilities: Under his guidance, NEMA’s headquarters became more than just an office complex as it was equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including an Emergency Situation Room, GIS Laboratory, Nigeria Mission Control Centre and clinic.
4. Modern Communication Systems: He introduced the Hytera modern communication system, enabling real-time communication and live streaming from incident sites, which has significantly improved disaster response coordination.
5. Enhanced Search and Rescue Capabilities: His tenure saw the procurement of MICU Ambulances, Search and Rescue Boats, and other critical equipment, bolstering the capacity of NEMA’s Search and Rescue teams.
6. Revival of NEMA Air Wing: Mustapha Habib Ahmed was responsible for reviving the NEMA Air Wing, including the Fixed Wing Cessna Citation Air Ambulance and Bell 429 Helicopter, enhancing the agency’s search, rescue, and medical evacuation capabilities.
7. Reconvened the National ECF: On Thursday August 10, 2023 NEMA reconvened the National Emergency Coordination Forum (ECF), a meeting of multi-sectoral stakeholders comprising agencies of Government, international organisations and the United Nations systems. The reconvening was predicated upon the recognition of coordination and collaboration as vital components of disaster management
8. Institutionalizing Processes: The launch of the NEMA Service Charter under his leadership helped formalize and operationalize processes, setting clear benchmarks for service delivery while his collaborations with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the US Forestry Service facilitated the training on Incident Command System (ICS) and Emergency Operation Centre (EOC).
9. Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy: Ahmed spearheaded the development of a comprehensive national Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy (2024-2030) and Action Plan (2024 – 2027) to contextualize, address and anticipate the evolving landscape of risks and challenges facing Nigeria. Under his stewardship, the agency also launched the National Contingency Plan for Nigeria (2023-2025) a pivotal document for emergency preparedness and Disaster Risk Reduction.
10. Mitigated flooding: By prioritizing annual predictions and forecasts especially the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) NEMA was able to minimize the impact of flooding in 2023 thanks to downscaling of disaster early warning measures to grassroots for effective live-saving early actions.
11. Economic Livelihood Emergency Intervention: The Special National Economic Livelihood Emergency Intervention (SNELEI) was initiated and championed during his tenure to provide targeted support during emergencies, reflecting his commitment to not just immediate relief but also long-term economic recovery. SNELEI positively impacted 660,884 households, encompassing 3,965,304 individuals who were previously verified and earmarked to benefit from the special intervention across all 36 states and the FCT.
12. Recognition and Trust: He oversaw the successful evacuation of stranded Nigerians from countries as far flung as Sudan, Libya, Ukraine, India, Dubai and Turkey in collaboration with agencies such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Nigerian in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) with support from the Dangote Foundation.
13. Collaborations and Partnerships: He forged unique collaborations and partnerships while at NEMA with national, state, and sub-national level actors with NEMA forging strong ties with State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs). He initiated deliberate engagement and advocacy with Sub-national government including presenting a brief on NEMA and the 2023 Flood Preparedness, Mitigation, and Response Plan to State Governors at the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and the National Executive Council.
On the international scene, NEMA collaborated and forged partnerships with global relief agencies; it received relief support from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid Agency (KSRelief) to support IDPs in Borno and Yobe states as well as victims of banditry in Zamfara and Bornu states. KSRelief also funded the renovation and retrofitting of the NEMA Emergency Coordination Centre (EOC) at NEMA’s HQ.
14. Capacity building and knowledge sharing: The focus on capacity building and dissemination of knowledge and insights saw the training of military personnel, media practitioners, members of voluntary and community organizations, students, and others and a ground-breaking collaboration with the Disaster Management Centre of Bournemouth University saw NEMA hosting an Executive Disaster Management Course which focused on finding ways to enhance the capacity of disaster responders. He also facilitated a training program on the Incident Command System (ICS) and Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) conducted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the US Forestry Service.
15. Emergency Agricultural Intervention across all states and the F.C.T: Mustapha Habib Ahmed successfully executed the Emergency Agricultural Intervention across all states of the federation and the FCT. This initiative aimed to restore farmers who had lost their croplands to the soil and engage artisans in additional value chain activities. Such efforts were crucial in fortifying Nigeria's national food security and resilience.
16. Digital dashboard: Supervised 80% completion of the digital dashboard to enhance operational effiiency set to be commissioned in May which would have marked his 3rd anniversary in the saddle

Access Bank unveils ground-breaking banking platform, 901 Connect: Bridging convenience and security

Access Bank Plc, a leading institution in the Nigerian financial sector, has unveiled its innovative offline banking platform, www.901.ng to provide customers an additional digital channel to manage and carry out uninterrupted daily transactions.

With this innovative solution, Access Bank is redefining convenience and security in banking, ensuring uninterrupted access to financial services even in the absence of internet connectivity.

Speaking to journalists during a media round table chat at the bank’s head office recently, Victor Etuokwu, Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank, said “In today’s fast-paced digital age, connectivity is often taken for granted. However, millions of individuals worldwide still face challenges accessing online banking services due to various reasons such as poor internet infrastructure, remote locations or security concerns. Recognizing this gap, Access Bank has developed this solution to empower our customers to bank securely, anytime, anywhere, irrespective of internet availability.

We are committed to leveraging technology to enhance the banking experience for all our customers. With the introduction of our offline banking platform www.901.ng, we are breaking barriers and empowering individuals and businesses to manage their finances with confidence, even in offline environments.”

Reiterating Victor’s comments, Njideka Esomeju, Group Head, Consumer Banking, Access Bank, told newsmen that Access Bank’s offline banking platform www.901.ng reaffirms its one of the bank’s core values – Innovation and sets a new standard for accessibility and security in the banking industry. As part of its ongoing commitment to excellence, Access Bank will continue to evolve its offerings to meet the evolving needs of its diverse customer base. Some of the key feature of this offline banking platform – 901.ng include: a simple way to send money, buy airtime, and pay bills whilst incurring no extra fees or hidden charges, no internet subscription required and no session fees.

Head of Digital Channels, Access Bank, Oluremi Gabriel also speaking at the briefing said: “What we have today is a first-of-its-kind, and what it does is allow customers to do their basic banking with or without data. This innovation is driven by data as we know what customers want to do and we have made it very easy and available to our customers especially when they run out of data.”

Access Bank is a leading Nigerian financial institution committed to providing innovative and customer-centric financial solutions. With a focus on digital transformation and community engagement, Access Bank continues to redefine the banking experience for its customers.

Abuja Businesswoman nabbed for stealing Jewellery valued at 300m belonging to her boss

Police in Abuja have arrested a 32 year old lady named Rukayat Abbeyson who works as Principal Assistant to her sister-in-law on suspicion of theft.

The suspect has been accused of stealing expensive jewellery valued at over 300m belonging to her sister in law and boss.

Sources informed us that her boss who is a high profile businesswoman and philanthropist based in the FCT had discovered that a large portion of her jewellery kept in her safe had suddenly varnished without a trace

The accused Sister inlaw resides with her husband who is a brother to her principal with her children and lives a very comfortable life.

According to her boss, she’s the only person who has the keys and combination to the safe where the valuables are kept and shes the only person who has unhindered access to the private suite due to trust she has in her.

She’s also said to have benefited immeasurably from her boss’s benevolence and generosity severally and lives a very luxurious life with her family free of paying any rent in her sister inlaw house.

We also reliably gathered that she has been sponsored on several trips to Europe by her boss just to give her exposure and to exclusively shop for her twins that she recently gave birth to.

Her boss was said to have provided all her needs and that of her family so that she could have a sense of belonging and resist the temptation to steal.

However she has betrayed the trust imposed on her by taking the sets of expensive jewellery which are still nowhere to be found.

Sensing foul play the Businesswoman promptly reported the case to FCT police who dispatched their officers and arrested her.

She has since made useful statements to the police while further investigations are still going on.

The detectives investigating the matter made assurances that she would soon be charged to court once investigation is concluded.

The management of Jeveta Hotel in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State has petitioned the Lagos State Government over what the management calls encroachment into its premises by the Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area.

The petition, dated February 14, 2024, signed by Moshood Adeleke on behalf of the hotel’s solicitor and titled ‘Re: Blockage of Bankole Sodeke Street and re-encroachment into public open space/road set-back along Ikotun-Igando Road in Alimosho Local Government Area by the owner of Jeveta Hotel’, was also copied Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

A petition had initially been served to the Speaker in December last year with regard to the alleged infringement by the hotel management, upon which an invitation was served to the management to appear before the House Committee on Local Government, Chieftaincy and Rural Development on January 12, 2024.

Lawyer to the hotel management, Madebrief Solicitors, however said in the petition that their client acknowledged the invitation but he was out of Nigeria at the time and could not attend the summon.

They expressed dismay that consequent upon the client’s inability to attend the invitation, the Lagos State Building Control Agency, acting on another petition served it by some aggrieved parties, moved into the Bankole Sodeke Street and the open space/road set-back to remove the greenery/flowers planted by the client to beautify the area and improve its aesthetic, in addition to demolishing a public toilet erected by the client to discourage open defecation in the area, as a result of which the area has since become a threat for all the residents in the area.

According to the solicitor, the client is a responsible individual who has over the years shown his adherence to hygienic environment as the people resident in area can testify, the place having been a vast abandoned area that was infested by all kinds of criminals before the clients invested substantial amount of money to reshape the land to make it habitable.

The solicitor expressed surprise that the LCDA has continued to shun the petition against it by erecting an illegal market on the open space, thereby re-creating the past era when hoodlums exploited the lapses to perpetrate criminal activities, even as he also requested that the House of Assembly confirm through documentary evidence if the use of Bankole Sodeke Street in the Alimosho Local Government in the Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area has been changed from a street and access road into a market by the Lagos State government.

“The action of the LCDA in blocking the right of way and access into the street and other adjoining streets is willful recklessness, abuse of power, disregard for the constitution and illegal. We therefore request that a further invitation be extended to our client to appear before your relevant committee to enable him present his own side of the story and assist your hallowed chamber in the investigation of this matter,” the solicitor said in the petition.

Dangote Refinery worker becomes amputee after being shot by private security, laments abandonment by employer

A female staff of the Dangote Refinery, Ibeju Lekki in Lagos State, Rashidat Ahmed, whose right hand was amputated after a security official of the company shot her, has lamented that the company abandoned her in her worst moment.

Rashidat, who said she was employed as a cook by Dangote Refinery, said she was shot in her right hand by one of the local security the company recruited to scale up the security of the company.

Rashidat’s husband, Ishmaila Sa’adu Zango, who is also a casual staff of the Dangote Refinery narrated his wife’s ordeal to SaharaReporters, recalling how she was shot by the security personnel, Nanin Wada, a hunter recruited by the company and how Dangote Refinery gave them N730,000 and abandoned them while they were still in the hospital since 2023.

He further lamented how Dangote Refinery allegedly blocked every means of communication and anyone who attempted to contact the company over the matter.

Zango said; “I have been working with Dangote as their driver under the security department, casual staff, for almost 3 years now. Along the line, the company started having security challenges and brought enough security, army, police, and the hunters to protect the company.

“In March 2023, my wife was employed in the company to cook for security hunters. Ever since she started working with the company, there was no challenge until August 27, 2023, when Dangote bus came to pick us up to go to work in the morning.

“While we were inside the bus, one of the Dangote security hunters was inside the car with his gun. My wife and I were inside the bus also with some of our colleagues in the company.

“On our way going, when I saw the way this security was holding his gun inside the bus, I personally asked him why he held the gun that way but he looked at me and started laughing.

“I told him that was not how policemen hold guns but he refused to listen to me. On our way, I heard the sound of a gun. My wife and her colleague shouted inside the bus. When I looked at her, she told me that her hand was cut and immediately I saw my wife’s condition, I shouted.

“We went to two hospitals but they rejected us, until we went to the General Hospital Lagos before they started treating my wife. The hunter security that shot my wife, by name Nanin Wada, was arrested by police officers and locked up.

“Police wanted to collect the gun but they refused to give it to the police, saying that it was a family issue. Meanwhile, nothing joined me with Nanin Wada.

“While we were in the hospital, doctors said that the only thing they could do was cut my wife’s hand, so I called the company.

“Here is the listed money the company sent to me to treat my wife. On August 28, 2023, N100,000. On August 28, 2023, N150,000. On August 30, 2023, N30,000. On September 5, 2023, N150,000. On September 9, 2023, N100,000. On September 14, 2023, N100,000. On September 19, 2023, N100,000. In total, the company sent the sum of N730,000.”

Zango said that “After the company sent this mentioned money, they refused to send other money and we were still in the hospital by then. I was the one that kept on struggling, borrowing money before I was able to pay for the hospital bills before we were discharged on October 3, 2023.”

He said that while his wife’s hand got amputated, he had spent an extra N453,780, lamenting that “Since the time we were in the hospital, I kept calling Dangote orderly to send the money we spent in the hospital but he kept on turning me up and down.

“Up till now, my wife has not recovered properly because they asked us to be returning to the hospital every week for dressing, which involves money but the company has abandoned my wife and I.

“Because of this incident, my mother-in-law died because she had high blood pressure.”

Our efforts to contact Dangote Refinery for comment and reaction failed as none of its official means of communication was reachable.

Calls made to its contact phone numbers provided on its official website did not connect. Similarly, text messages sent to the numbers did not deliver as they bounced back.

Also, an email sent to the company’s official communication email did not deliver but bounced back saying, “Your message to communications@dangote.com couldn’t be delivered. The group communications only accepts messages from people in its organization or on its allowed senders list, and your email address isn’t on the list.”

We were informed that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) engaged the company through a letter after an attempt to visit the company’s Ibeju Lekki office was rebuffed by their private security.

However, though the letter was received on March 11, the company has not taken any action on the matter nor given any explanation to why it is no longer taking any action on the issue.

We were also informed that on Wednesday, an official of the National Human Rights Commission visited the company’s office at Falomo but the security also refused to allow the government officials access to meet the Head of Legal department of the company on the matter.

A Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, has issues an arrest against a 49 year-old self acclaimed property developer, Abiola Afolabi Sarafadeen, for his failure to appear before the court to face his trial on charges of fraud and stealing made against him by the police.

The defendant was arraigned before the court presided over Chief Magistrate Ademola Olatunbosun in a charge marked A/124/2023, on September 20, 2023, on charges of obtaining by false pretence and stealing of the sum of N8.4 million.

He was alleged to have fraudulently obtained the money from one Monsurat Shobowale Olabisi, with the pretence of building three units of bedroom flat.

The offences, according to the prosecutor, Mrs. Rita Momah, a Superintendent of Police, contravene sections 314 and 287 of Criminal Laws of Lagos state of Nigeria 2015, and punishable under the same Laws.

He has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following his not guilty plea, he was granted bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.

Chief Magistrate Olatunbosun also ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed, with evidence of three years tax payment.

However, since the defendant has been granted bail, he has failed and refused to appear in court to face his trial.

Following his continue refusal to appear in court, the prosecutor, Supol Momah, when the matter came up recently, informed the court that the defendant has flagrantly refused to appear before the court for trial.

She consequently, asked the court to issue a bench warrant against the defendant.

Chief Magistrate Olatunbosun, after listening to the prosecutor and upon perusal of the court’s record, acceded to the prosecutor’s request and held that: “the defendant is placed on bench warrant and surety to show cause.”

Further hearing on the matter has been adjourned to April 10, for mention.

The charges against the self-acclaimed developer read: “That you Abiola Afolabi Sharafadeen ‘m’ on 22nd March, 2021 in the ajos Magisterial District did obtain the sum of N8,400,000 (Eight Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira) from one Monsurat Shobowale Olabisi ‘f’ under the pretence that you are going to build three units of Bedroom flat knowing same to be false and thereby committed en offence punishable under Section 314 of Criminal Laws of Lagos state of Nigeria 2015.

“That you Abiola Afolabi Sharafadeen ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did steal the sum of N8,400,000 (Eight Million Four Hundred Thousand Naira) property of Monsurat Shobowale Olabisi’ ‘f’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

Zenith Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON, as Group Managing Director/Chief Executive with effect from June 1, 2024, subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

She takes over from Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, whose five-year term expires on May 31, 2024, after a very successful tenure. Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji is the first female GMD/CEO since the inception of the bank, and her appointment is consistent with the bank’s executive transition tradition, succession plan, and strategy of grooming leaders from within.

Prior to this appointment, Dr. Umeoji has been the Deputy Managing Director of the bank since October 28, 2016 and has close to thirty (30) years cognate banking experience of which twenty-six (26) years has been with Zenith Bank.

She is an alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School where she attended the Advanced Management Program (AMP) and an alumnus of Columbia Business School with a Certificate in the Global Banking Program. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Jos, a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and a First-Class honors in Law from Baze University, Abuja. She holds a Master of Laws from the University of Salford, United Kingdom, a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Calabar, and also has a doctorate in business administration from Apollos University, USA.

She holds a Certificate in Economics for Business from the prestigious MIT Sloan School of Management, USA, and has attended various management programmes in renowned Universities around the world including the strategic thinking and Management programme at Wharton Business School, USA. She also attended the executive program in Strategic Management, and has a Certificate in Leading Global Business all from Harvard Business School, USA.

She is a fellow of notable professional bodies including the Chartered Banker Institute, UK, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Management, Institute of Credit Administration, Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria, Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria among others.

In 2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria honored Dr. Umeoji with Officer of the Order of the Niger, as a recognition of her contributions to nation building. She is a Peace Advocate of the United Nations (UN-POLAC).

She has impacted many lives through her philanthropic and humanitarian activities through her NGOs; Pink Breathe Cancer Foundation and the Adorable Foundation that educates, caters for Cancer patients and indigent children education especially the Girl-Child. Her contribution to humanity was recognized by the Sun Newspaper which recently bestowed on her the Humanitarian Service Icon Award for 2023.

As a result of her passion for promoting professionalism in the banking industry and improving the well-being of the less privileged, Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON founded the Catholic Bankers Association of Nigeria (CBAN), a platform she uses to promote ethical banking and service to humanity.

She is a Lady of the Order of Knights of St. John International (KSJI), and was awarded a Papal Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester by His Holiness Pope Francis.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, is one of the confirmed dignitaries billed to speak at the Nigeria Development and Finance Forum (NDFF) 2024 Conference, a high-level gathering of public, private, social, and international sectors leaders scheduled to hold on the 8th and 9th of May 2024, at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

The NDFF conference is holding in Nigeria for the first time following five previous editions that have been successfully hosted in London, Washington DC, and New York. The theme of this year’s conference is “The Road to Economic and Social Welfare Transformation,” and it aims to provide a strong backing for a holistic and transformative reform agenda for the Nigerian economy.

Making these and other disclosures, Jide Akintunde, CEO of Financial Nigeria International and Convener of NDFF, said the confirmation of Professor Ali Pate as a keynote speaker is a mark of progress as the Planning Group for the conference aims to bring together leaders who are critical to the objective of fostering fiscal reform, monetary stability, and social welfare towards achieving sustainable economic progress in Nigeria. He said the honourable minister will be speaking on the subject, “Transforming Nigeria’s Population Health: Crowding in Policy, Market, and Social Actions.”

According to the Convener, “The ultimate goal of economic policy, either fiscal or monetary, is to enhance the welfare of citizens. Similarly, the goal of health policy is to enhance the wellness of citizens and make them productive. This insight is reflected in both the naming of the ministry and the appointment of a public health specialist with a global leadership experience in healthcare financing as the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.”

“Professor Ali Pate’s keynote speech will x-ray the concept of population health, which encompasses not only the elimination of diseases, but also the intersecting factors that influence health, including social and economic equity. A subsequent panel session will see policymakers, financiers, and leaders of healthcare product manufacturing and distribution dissect the challenges of the health sector, proffer practical solutions, and highlight investment opportunities to support innovation and a momentous improvement in Nigeria’s population health,” Akintunde added.

Confirming his decision to participate at NDFF 2024 Conference to the Planning Group of the conference, the honourable minister said: “The topic of my keynote speech is in line with our vision and approach for Nigeria’s health sector renewal. The goal of health policy under the administration of President Bola Tinubu is to improve governance, provide efficient and equitable access to quality health services, drive investment in healthcare value chains, and enhance health security for all Nigerians.”

He added: “Building an efficient healthcare system that responds to the needs of all citizens requires not only strong policies and effective leadership, but also strategic and coherent investments in the various building blocks that make up the healthcare system. As a government, we are committed to stimulating the sustainable production of health products, making the domestic markets more accessible for demand, and strengthening supply chains.”

With an impressive line-up of speakers and panelists, including accomplished Nigerians across the public, private, and social sectors, and notable international figures in the field of development economics and sustainability, NDFF 2024 Conference will provide a major platform of support for Nigeria’s economic transformation and serve as a structured interface between senior government officials and industry leaders, civil society leaders, academics, and leaders of international institutions.

The overarching aim of the conference is to provide clarity on how Nigeria and Nigerians will transition from the current acute economic, market, and social welfare stress to stability, growth, and progress. In addition to the plenary sessions on the Federal Government’s focal areas of impact on Day 1, there will be special briefings by subnational governments on the reform agenda and investment opportunities at the state level, as well as industry-focused sessions on Nigeria’s blue and green economy on Day 2.

NDFF Planning Group also announced Access Holdings PLC as a Headline Sponsor of the conference, with early sponsorship backing also provided by Nigerian Export-Import Bank and Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC. A growing list of media partners for the conference include Financial Nigeria, Government & Business Journal, TheCable, and TVC News. Detail Commercial Solicitors, one of Nigeria’s leading law firms, is an Organising Partner for the event.

Originally conceived to provide briefings to international investors, the global policy community, and Nigerians in diaspora on the Nigerian policy and investment climate and opportunities, the NDFF Conference is holding in Nigeria in 2024, and in the coming years, to address domestic policy issues and attract international participation in Nigeria.

For more information on the NDFF 2024 Conference, including registration and sponsorship details, please visit the official website www. ndffconference. com.

Helicopter-Booking Company, Vetifly’s CEO Okoh, COO Odumodu declared wanted by EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared wanted the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Emmanuel Wisdom Okoh and Chief Operating Officer and board member, Angel Odumodu of Vetifly Global Inc.

The anti-graft agency in a public notice on Wednesday, displaying the photographs of the wanted persons, said, “The public is hereby notified that the persons whose photographs appear above are wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of Conspiracy, Stealing and Obtaining Money by False Pretense linked to their company - Vetifly Global Inc.

“Odumodu is 36 years old, and his last known address is: Plot 6, ELM Street, Osbourne Forshore Estate, Phase 2, Ikoyi, Lagos State.

“Okoh, 37, was last seen at Plot 6, ELM Street, Osbourne Forshore Estate, Phase 2, Ikoyi, Lagos State.”

Vetifly says on its website that it offers helicopter ride services that include intercity shuttle, intracity shuttle, sightseeing experience, and helicopter charter. It also claims to offer private jet charter and luxury pickups.

“We also offer direct flights to bespoke locations of your choice,” it claims.

Former chief executive officer of Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending, NIRSAL Plc, Mr. Aliyu Abdulhameed, was on Wednesday, arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja over his alleged involvement in forgery.

Abdulhameed was docked alongside his co-defendant, Babangida Abdullahi, on a 10-count charge.

NIRSAL is a $500million non-bank financial institution that was created by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to manage agribusiness-related credit risks in the country.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari had on December 1, 2022, sacked Abdulhammed as NIRSAL’s MD, following allegations of corruption against him pertaining to agric loans.

In the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/555/2023, which was filed by the Nigeria Police Force, the duo were said to had sometime in October 2023, conspired with others that are now at large, to forge some public documents.

The defendants were said to have committed an offence that was contrary to Section 3(6) and punishable under Section 1(2){c} of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010.

Meanwhile, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them in the open court.

Though the prosecution counsel, Mr. Celestine Odo, urged the court to remand them in prison custody, however, trial Justice Inyang Ekwo held that he was minded to release them on bail.

The court allowed the defendants to go home on the terms of the administrative bail that was earlier given to them by the police.

Counsel to the defendants, Chief Akin Olujimi, SAN, had notified the court that he filed application for their release on bail, pending the determination of the case against them.

Chief Olujimi, SAN, noted that police did not file a counter-affidavit to challenge the defendants’ request for bail.

Confirming the development, the police lawyer said he was opposed to the application.

Odo further disclosed that he has lined up five witnesses that will testify and tender documentary evidence to establish the charge against the defendants.

In a short ruling, trial Justice Ekwo directed the parties to tender all their exhibits in the course of the hearing, saying he would not entertain unnecessary objections.

“You are going to bundle the documentary evidence per witness and paginate it from page 1 to the end.

“I will take the documentary evidence in bundle and will not entertain any objection on admissibility.

“Parties will be at liberty to address the court at conclusion of trial on both admissibility and probative value,” the judge held.

He adjourned the matter to May 20, 22, 22 and 23 for trial.

Justice Ekwo ordered the prosecution to transfer particulars of the defendants’ bail to the court’s registry.

Access Bank, Nigeria’s largest bank by customer base with a global footprint beyond Africa has launched a “YouThrive” initiative which targets to empower 700,000 MSMEs in the country through a 50bn loan.

Victor Etuokwu, Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank announced this during a press briefing held recently at the bank’s head office in Lagos. The bank’s Deputy Managing Director also revealed that the MSMEs that would benefit from the programme would undergo trainings to enable them optimally make use of the loan.

In his words, “Access Bank is set to financially empower over 700,000 youth MSMEs and to achieve this, we have set aside N50bn to lend to them at a huge, discounted interest rate. To be eligible to access this loan, all applicants must be within the ages of 21 to 40 years.

“The Youthrive’ is a transformative initiative designed by Access Bank to empower, uplift, and accelerate the next generation of MSMEs. In the next four years we will empower 4 million youth, one million per year.

It would not just be about lending, we are building various capacity-building activities for them, and the curriculum will be centred around Technology, Creatives, Business Management and Skill acquisition.

Reiterating Victor’s comments at the Inaugural Job Creation and MSME Quarterly Communications Forum, hosted by the Senior Special Assistant to the president on job creation and MSME held recently in Abuja, Chioma Ogwo, Head, Emerging Businesses, Access Bank said “In four years, we hope to empower four million people, or one million each year.

We have a business exchange program for the beneficiaries that would enable the SMEs to go and exchange ideas with their counterparts in other countries.

Every year, 700,000 would be given access to financing, and 300,000 would be trained.” After then, we will take the best advice from the best and return to Nigeria to implement it.

There is also going to be employment opportunities as 1000 outstanding individuals who receive these trainings by the Bank and its holding companies will be recruited within the Tech space, the Access corporation ecosystem and other partner companies” Ogwo concluded.

Speaking on this initiative, Temitola Adekunle Johnson, Senior Special Assistant to the president on job creation and MSMEs said that the initiative by Access Bank will help address the issue of access to affordable loans by small businesses.

He said the end point is to achieve a single digit loan by commercial banks for MSMEs. “Our aim is to ensure single digit loans become the norm for MSMEs.” He disclosed that disbursements will be made after the loan assessment is processed. This initiative will help reduce the bottlenecks often faced by MSMEs in securing funding for their businesses.

He commended the bank for using its funds and giving out the loan at a discounted rate and urged small businesses to take advantage of the opportunity and grow their businesses Adekunle-Johnson also disclosed that the government is working towards creating 100,000 thousand jobs by May 29 and 384,000 jobs in four years.

He said the initiative will be launched massively across the country as the government is willing to provide businesses with the support of the social and private sector partnership.

He therefore urged other financial institutions to come up with programmes to support the SME sector.
To be part of this initiative and learn more about the YouThrive project, please click HERE or send an email to Project.YouThrive @ ACCESSBANKPLC. com for more enquires.

Nigerian Army intercepts Dangote trucks, others for smuggling prohibited goods to Cameroon

Dangote Group, led by the wealthiest person in Africa, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has been under fire from a variety of quarters for allegedly engaging in economic sabotage and other treacherous actions near the Nigerian border.

Trucks loaded with 600 50kg bags of cement each, were on Friday paraded to journalists at the headquarters of the Nigerian police in Yola, the Adamawa state capital.

Troops of the Nigerian Army have intercepted two Dangote trucks and three others allegedly transporting banned goods to the Republic of Cameroon, SaharaReporters can report.

The trucks, loaded with 600 50kg bags of cement each, were on Friday paraded to journalists at the headquarters of the Nigerian police in Yola, the Adamawa state capital.

The interception followed an executive order banning the transportation of building materials across the country's border through Adamawa routes by the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

While jointly displaying the vehicles, the spokespersons for the governor and the police command, Humwashi Wonosikou and SP Suleiman Nguroje respectively, told journalists that the trucks were intercepted a few kilometres before Jamtari, a border village between Nigeria and Cameroon.

Wonosikou said: "We're here to address a disturbing trend in the state. As if the hardship on the people is not enough; there are some people who would want to test the will of the government and the government is saying such actions are unacceptable.

"We're all living witnesses when the government came up with a policy of banning the movement of building materials across the country's border. We're a border state and we've had issues where items are transported across the border.

"But then the government, for building materials, would not want them transported out of the country. You can see behind me are trucks that were apprehended and brought here. They were intercepted by the military.

"And it is believed that these products are being transported out of the country, because if you look at it, where is the community at the border area in Adamawa State that requires this amount of cement to be used?"

On his part, Nguroje said, "Personnel have been deployed throughout the state to enforce the government order, banning transportation of building materials across the border."

However, officials of the Yola depot of Dangote Cement, who were on the ground, vehemently denied that the products were being taken to Cameroon.

One of them who spoke on condition of anonymity for lack of authority argued, "This is a clear violation of our right to do business! It is absolutely wrong for our trucks to be intercepted within the Nigerian territory.

"The goods in these trucks were procured by our customer, who requested them to be conveyed to Jamtari. It is therefore not in our right to demand an explanation as to why he wants them there.”

But in a dramatic twist, one Abiola Oyetunji, identified on the waybill as the contact person, expressed surprise that the truck had left the company's depot in Yola.

According to her, the trucks can leave the depot only after the goods have been sold.

"I've not sold the cement yet; how could the truck have moved out of the depot in Yola? The driver told me he was at the depot up to this time," she added.

How Dangote, Customs smuggle foreign rice through Seme border

It should be noted that Dangote trucks is in the habit of smuggling commodities over borders to neighboring countries.

In August 2019, the Federal Government of Nigeria announced a border closure policy which saw the immediate halting of all trade activities across Nigerian borders with neighbouring countries like Benin and Niger State.

The border closure policy was triggered by Nigerian authorities’ frustration with the smuggling in of rice and illicit exports of locally subsidized petrol to neighboring countries Benin Republic and others.

Although it may seem like the blockade encouraged the consumption of locally grown produce such as rice, it also hurt factories in some countries across West Africa, which rely on Nigeria’s market of 200 million people.

However, our investigations revealed that while the borders remained shut, Dangote trucks resumed export of cement across neighbouring West African countries and upon returning back into the country, men of the Nigerian Customs Service suspected to be under the company’s payroll look the other way while the Trucks smuggle foreign rice and other contraband goods into the country particularly through the Seme border.

Olabode Somefun, a land border clearing agent who spoke to this reporter recounts how his business has been in decline since the border was shut, stating that he is even more frustrated seeing the shenanigans orchestrated by Dangote Cement truck drivers on daily basis across the border.

He said: “My colleagues and I who are badly affected by the border closure sit here every day gnashing, some of us are now out of business, but Dangote trucks loaded with cement drive pass the border freely and on their way back to Nigeria are again loaded with bags of foreign rice, groundnut oil and other goods. The trucks are not checked by officials of the Nigerian customs at the port of entry. We are suspecting that men of the Nigerian Customs are on the payroll of Dangote Group, which can only explain why they are often not checked.”

Meanwhile, other eyewitnesses also narrated that at times the truck drivers stop at some Customs check points to offload a few bags of rice as compensation for the officials who eventually grant them passage.

Meanwhile, in October 2019 when the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali spoke to the media in Abuja, he reiterated his agency’s commitment to President Mohammadu Buhari’s land border shut down directive, saying that it will help Nigeria to have total control over what comes in and goes out of the country.

“All goods, for now, are banned from being exported or imported through our land borders and that is to ensure that we have total control over what comes in,” Hameed said.

Reconciling the Customs chief’s statement with current realities has become a bit confusing giving current findings that Dangote Cement trucks has unfettered access to and from Nigeria’s land borders with the express support of officials of the Nigerian Customs.

Although Buhari’s border closure directive was targeted at encouraging the consumption of locally grown produce such as rice, despite that, the reason why foreign rice keeps flooding the Nigerian market can now be known to the public.

“In the wake of this new reality, a question now being asked across several quarters is if the Presidency is in support of Dangote Group’s smuggling activities through Nigeria land borders particularly the Seme border? If the answer is yes, then we may have a huge case of nepotism in our hands, but if for any reason, the presidency is not ‘aware’, then Dangote Group needs to be sanctioned immediately, said a concerned Nigerian.

Dangote Cement Plc is a Nigerian publicly traded multinational cement manufacturer headquartered in Lagos. It is a subsidiary of Dangote Group, a Nigerian multinational industrial conglomerate, founded by Aliko Dangote.

Aliko Dangote, a Nigerian businessman, is Africa’s richest man.

Justice Akintayo Aluko of a Lagos Federal High Court, has ordered that an engineer, Adeleke Adebesin, who was arraigned the Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) of the Nigeria Police, over alleged N40 million fraud, be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) till March 11, when his bail application will be heard and determined.

Justice Aluko remanded the engineer, who was arraigned before the court alongside his company, Kings Intercontinental Homes and Properties Nig. Ltd and one James Oladimeji Ogunsango, said to be at large.

At the hearing of the matter today, his lawyer, E. N. Offiah, told the court that he was just being briefed of the matter, and that he needed a short date to file his client’s bail application.

Consequently, Justice Aluko while adjourned that matter to March 11, for hearing of the bail application, ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the NCoS, till the hearing and determination of the bail application.

The 53 years old engineer, according to the prosecutor, Mr. Sylvester Azubike, have sometimes in 2019, induced a Lagos business man Taiye Fajana, the chairman of Twins Faja Nigeria Ltd, to deliver to him the sum of N40 million.

The prosecutor also told the court that the defendant, his company and the other said to be at large, issued Stanbic IBTC bank cheques with cheque number 20218203 and account number 00234349 dated October 30, 2019, in the sum of N20 million, drawn in favour of Twins Faja Nig Ltd, as part payment of a retuned of N40 Million which you obtained through your Company’s account from Twins Faja Nigeria Limited, but when the cheque was presented at the bank, it was dishonoured for lack of sufficient funds.

The offences according to the prosecutor, contravened sections 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud related Offence Act, No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the said Act. And Section 1(a)(i) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, 2004.

Charges against the defendant reads: “that you Engr. Adeleke Adebesin ‘M’, Kings Intercontinental Homes and Properties Nig. Ltd And James Oladimeji Ogunsango now at large sometimes in March 2019 in Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, by means of Contract of Sale, induced one Mr. Taiye Fajana, the Chairman of Twins Faja Nigeria Limited, to deliver to you, the sum of N40 million, by falsely representing to him that you own a piece or parcel of land situate, lying at Lekki-Epe Expressway, beside Farapark Estate Sangotedo Ajah in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State,which you said is available for sale for N40 million, and the money represented the cost of purchase of the property and that you were ready, willing and prepared to hand over the said property to him which representation you knew to be false or does not believe to be true, by this conduct, you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud related Offence Act, No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the said Act.

“That you, Engr. Adeleke Adebesin ‘M’ and Kings Intercontinental Homes And Properties Nig. Ltd, sometimes in March 2019 in Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, while operating under the name and style of Kings Intercontinental Homes and properties Nig Ltd, issued Stanbic IBTC bank cheques with cheque number 20218203 and Account number 00234349 dated 30th day of October 2019, in the sum of N20 million, drawn in favour of Twins Faja Nig Ltd as part payment of a retuned of N40 million which you obtained through your Company’s account from Twins Faja Nigeria Limited, however,upon presentation of the cheque for payment was dishonoured for lack of sufficient fund in the account against which the Cheque was issued, to meet the value of the said cheque and by this conduct , you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a)(i) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, 2004

“That you, Engr. Adeleke Adebesin ‘M’ And Kings Intercontinental Homes and Properties Nig Ltd sometimes in March 2019, in Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, while operating under the name and style of Kings Intercontinental Homes and Properties Nig Ltd, issued Stanblc IBTC Bank cheques with cheque number 20218202 and account number 0023434962 dated 5th day of February 2020, in the sum of N20 million, drawn in favor of Twins Faja Nig Ltd as part payment of a refund of N40 million, which you obtain through your company’s account from Twins Faja Nigeria Limited, however, upon presentation of the cheque for payment was dishonored for lack of sufficient fund in the account against which he cheque was issued, to meet the value of the said cheque and by this conduct, you hereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a)(i) of the dishonored cheques (Offences) Act, 2004.”

The Nigeria Development and Finance Forum (NDFF) 2024 Conference, a high-level gathering of public, private, social, and international sector leaders, will hold on the 8th and 9th of May 2024 at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, a statement by the organiser, Financial Nigeria International Limited, has revealed.

Themed “The Road to Economic and Social Welfare Transformation,” NDFF 2024 Conference aims to provide a strong backing for a holistic and transformative reform agenda for the Nigerian economy. The conference will feature plenary sessions on Day 1, focusing attention on the three main areas the Federal Government aims to deliver impacts, viz., fiscal policy, monetary policy, and social welfare. Special briefings and industry-focused sessions will hold on Day 2.

According to Jide Akintunde, CEO of Financial Nigeria and Convener of NDFF, “Over the past months, the new government has embarked on market reforms, which many stakeholders have canvassed for in the last few years to catalyse long-term economic growth and stability. In the short term, however, the introduction of market reforms has resulted in economic difficulties for many Nigerians.” Notwithstanding, Mr. Akintunde noted: "This policy pivot can help put the economy on the path of long-term stability, sustainable growth, and transformation. But there is an urgent need for adequate clarity and complementary policies to bolster investor and market confidence, and provide much-needed comfort for the citizens.”

Akintunde also added: “NDFF 2024 Conference will provide actionable insights on how to navigate this road to transformation. The conference is strategically timed to hold close to the first anniversary of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, providing a major platform for support of the government and a structured interface with industry leaders, civil society leaders, academics, and leaders of international institutions. The overarching aim of the conference is to provide clarity on how Nigeria and Nigerians will transition from the current acute economic, market, and social welfare stress to stability, growth, and progress.”

As indicated in the statement by Financial Nigeria, some of the topics for keynote presentations and panel discussions slated for Conference Day One include The Road to Economic and Social Welfare Transformation; Macroeconomic and Financial Stability: Communicating the Outlook; Revitalising Industries and Markets; and Transforming Nigeria’s Population Health: Crowding in Policy, Market, and Social Actions. For Conference Day Two, the Planning Group for NDFF 2024 Conference is working with stakeholders and sponsors to host special sessions on the Green Economy and the Blue Economy, as well as showcase the reform agenda and investment opportunities in at least two states of the Federation.

The line-up of keynote speakers and high-level panellists for the conference includes eminent Nigerians from the public, private, and social sectors. Also expected to speak at the event is a world-renowned economist from the United States, to be announced soon, to provide global perspectives to the discussions.

The website for the conference is www.ndffconference.com, where information on confirmed speakers, partners, and sponsors will be updated. On the site is also information on registration and sponsorship for the event.

Originally conceived to provide briefings to international investors, the global policy community, and Nigerians in diaspora on the Nigerian policy and investment climate and opportunities, the NDFF Conference is holding in Nigeria in 2024, and in the coming years, to address domestic policy issues and attract international participation in Nigeria. Past editions of the conference have successfully held in London, New York, and Washington DC.

In a shocking turn of events, Alex Iwobi, the talented footballer representing Nigeria in the Super Eagles national team, is reportedly considering retirement amidst escalating concerns over cyberbullying.

The talented midfielder, known for his contributions on the field, is now facing a critical decision regarding his future with the national team.

The decision comes in the wake of persistent cyberbullying directed towards Iwobi, highlighting the emotional toll it has taken on the player.

The cyberbullying concerns have transcended geographical boundaries, originating from various online platforms and social media networks.

Alex Iwobi, a key player for the Super Eagles, is the central figure in this distressing narrative, as he grapples with the decision to potentially retire from international football.

The decision to contemplate retirement is rooted in the relentless cyberbullying Iwobi has endured, impacting his mental well-being and overall experience as a representative of Nigeria on the global stage.

The cyberbullying has manifested through online harassment, negative comments, and unwarranted criticism, prompting Iwobi to assess the feasibility of continuing his career with the Super Eagles.

As the football community awaits further developments, the incident underscores the pressing issue of cyberbullying and its far-reaching consequences on the mental health of athletes. The call for increased awareness and support for players facing such challenges has never been more crucial.

...we’ll soon announce acting CEO -Bank

The Board of Directors of Access Holdings Plc (‘the Company’) has announced the passing of Dr. Herbert Wigwe, CFR, the Company’s founding Group Chief Executive Officer and former Group Managing Director of its flagship subsidiary, Access Bank Plc (‘the Bank’). Dr. Wigwe died alongside his wife and son on Friday, February 9, 2024, in a helicopter accident in the United States of America.

The entire Access Family mourns the loss of Herbert, Doreen and Chizi. We extend our deep and sincere sympathies to his family and loved ones. Dr. Wigwe was a key driving force and a larger-than-life personality who brought his remarkable passion, energy, and experience to the transformation of the Access franchise since joining the Bank in 2002.

Commenting on the passage of Dr. Wigwe, Mr. Abubakar Jimoh, Chairman of Access Holdings said: “The Access Family has suffered a major loss with the passing of Dr. Wigwe who was a great friend and fine gentleman. He had a prodigious intellect, admirable personal qualities, and vast business experience which he brought to bear on the Access Family and for which we owe him a debt of gratitude.

"We remain confident that the Access Group will build further on Dr. Wigwe’s legacy of growth and operational excellence.”

Dr. Wigwe was instrumental in the growth of Access Bank, which he co-founded with his friend and business partner Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede. He took over as Access Bank Group CEO in 2014, focusing on the Bank’s expansion in Nigeria and Africa before taking the helm at Access Holdings in 2022. Under his leadership, Access Bank drove its African strategy to become Sub Saharan Africa’s largest retail bank by customer base.

Dr. Wigwe was a member of the Access Bank UK board as well as the board of the Nigerian Business Coalition Against AIDS (NiBUCAA). He has long been an advocate for the eradication of malaria in Africa, working with the Corporate Alliance on Malaria to support this objective. He also sat on the board of the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company and Friends Africa and was an honorary member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and Institute of Credit Administration.

A two-time winner of the African Banker of the Year award from the African Banker Awards, Dr. Wigwe was a passionate advocate of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which form the bedrock of Access Holdings’ growth strategy.

His academic credentials include a degree in Accounting from the University of Nigeria, an MA in Banking and Finance from the University College of North Wales (now Bangor University), and an MSc in Financial Economics from the University of London. He also completed the Harvard Business School Executive Management Program.

Dr. Wigwe recently founded Wigwe University, Africa’s first ivy league institution dedicated to providing a world-class education and raising the next generation of fearless leaders.

Dr. Herbert Wigwe profile:

Dr. Herbert Wigwe is a visionary leader, philanthropist, and the founder of Wigwe University. In his professional life, he is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc (also known as Access Corporation”), a multi-national financial services organization that offers commercial banking, lending, payment, pension, insurance, and asset management services.

Access Corporation is headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria and operates through a network of more than 600 branches and service outlets, spanning three continents, 18 countries, and 50+ million customers managed by over 28,000 employees. Access Bank, the Corporations banking business, is one of Africas largest retail banks by customer base and total assets.

For eight years until May 2022, Dr. Wigwe led Access Bank Plc as its Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer through an extraordinary growth period. Some of the accolades accorded him include Banker of the Year, 2020 by Leadership Awards; African Banker of the Year, 2021 by African Banker Award; and Best Banking CEO, 2021 by Global Brands Magazine Awards.

A passionate advocate for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Dr. Wigwe speaks frequently at business forums and conventions, strongly encouraging a global business commitment to the achievement of the Goals. In his role as Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, Dr. Wigwe was the first African sponsor of the United Nations Global Compact Initiative.

He is a Board member of Nigerias Business Coalition Against AIDS which leads major businesses in Nigeria in fighting HIV and AIDS at all levels of intervention within the health system and the private sector workforce. Similarly, he advocates for the eradication of malaria in Africa, and is a partner of the Corporate Alliance on Malaria in Africa to achieve this objective.

Dr. Wigwes commitment to the development of Nigeria and Africa extends to numerous initiatives. At the onset of the COVID-19 global crisis, for example, Dr. Wigwe swiftly responded to Nigeria’s private and public healthcares inability to respond effectively by galvanizing support for and co-leading the formation of CACOVID (Coalition Against COVID-19) comprised of the Central Bank of Nigeria; major financial institutions in Nigeria; and key stakeholders in Nigerias private sector. Dr. Wigwe led the Coalition to support the Federal Government in mitigating the impact of the pandemic and reopening the economy.

Dr. Wigwe, Access Bank and UNICEF collaborate to support vulnerable children, orphans, and internationally displaced persons in the northern part of Nigeria. To raise awareness and funds for this purpose, the Bank organizes and hosts annual high-profile Access Bank/UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tournaments in Nigeria, London, and South Africa.

In 2023, Dr. Wigwe embarked on a transformative journey by founding Wigwe University. With a vision to ignite Africas potential for prosperity and nurture fearless leaders who will change the course of history, he has introduced an institution that is set to rival top universities around the world. Wigwe University promises to elevate educational standards while creating a unique African experience. Dr. Wigwe believes that education is the key to unlocking Africas potential and through Wigwe University, he seeks to leave a legacy that will contribute immensely to the continents greatness.

His commitment to education is rooted in the belief that nurturing intellectual capital is pivotal for societal development. Dr. Wigwe envisions Wigwe University as a beacon of knowledge, innovation, and excellence, designed to empower future leaders and contribute to the socio-economic advancement of the continent. This endeavor represents his profound dedication to shaping a brighter future for Africa, making education the cornerstone of his enduring legacy.
In 2023, in recognition of exemplary service to his country, Dr. Wigwe was awarded the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic – one of the nation’s top honours.

Dr. Wigwe is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School Executive Management Programme. He holds Honorary Doctorate degrees from the University of Port Harcourt, Gombe State University and University of Nigeria, Master’s Degrees in Law, Banking and International Finance, and Financial Economics from the University of London, University of North Wales and University of London, respectively. He also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Pan Atlantic University Alumni Association inaugurates new executives to drive growth


The Pan-Atlantic University Alumni Association (PAUAA) has inaugurated a new set of Executive members to drive the next phase of growth of the group, recognised as one of Nigeria’s most prestigious university post-graduation association.

The new executives include renowned broadcaster Gbemileke Oscar Oyinsan as President. Oscar, who comes with a lot of experience, is an all-round media personality, with established renown in Radio, TV, Advertising and Production. He is household name, as he has been in front and behind the cameras for over 20 years. To assist him as Vice President is the delectable Onyebuchi Odianjo, a Corporate Relations professional in the Energy sector. While Fumnanya Ochei, a prolific Film producer in Nollywood will serve as Secretary.

Other members of the executives are Austen Osokpor, a versatile and strong media advocate heading the Communications & PR Committee, saddled with the responsibility of maintaining transparent and effective communication for the group across all channels. Austen is currently Head of Corporate Communications at Ecobank Nigeria; Efeturi Doghudje, a Communications Specialist with over sixteen years of experience in marketing, public relations, digital marketing strategy and branding will also serve as Head, Membership Committee.

This committee seeks to increase and maintain active participation within PAUAA; and Yusuf Oladejo, an experienced Multi-Cloud Support Engineer is the Head, Alumni Chapters Committee, poised to establish and support regional and all affinity-based alumni chapters. He will guide the creation and activities of chapters, ensuring alignment with PAUAA's mission.

Also in the team are Ginika Frank-Durugbor, Head of Corporate Communications at Lafarge Africa Plc serving as Partnerships and Events Committee Head. She will be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of partnerships with external organizations, plan events and create opportunities for alumni connections; Stella Uwaechue, investor and media relations at GTCO is the association’s Head of Finance and Fund Raising Committee, charged with overseeing the financial health and sustainability of PAUAA; Also, Isioma Elumah, an executive at Guaranty Trust Bank coming in as Head, Young Alumni Committee, will connect with new graduates and facilitate their transition. The committee organizes events, mentorship programs, and networking opportunities.

Barinedum "Barry" Agara, a media and communications professional working with the International Organization for Migration is Head Innovation Committee and will be responsible for fostering creativity and forward-thinking initiatives for the association. The committee also explores and implement innovative ideas; and Opeyemi Olaleye, a Partner at OP Africa, a strategic communications firm, will oversee the affairs of all Committee Heads and ensure optimization of efforts by its members for PAUAA.

Playing host to the new Executive at the University’s main campus, Dr Peter Bamkole, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Pan Atlantic University said the PAU prides itself as an institution helping to form competent and committed professionals as its contribution towards a better society in Nigeria and Africa at large.

“We seek, by deliberate design of our programmes, to inculcate and groom the entrepreneurial spirit in our students. The university aims at nurturing individuals who are professionally competent, creative, and enterprising for the common good, and are able to make free and morally upright decisions, and thus act as positive agents of change in service to society”.

Also speaking, the President of the Association, Gbemileke Oscar Oyinsan stated the commitment of the new executives is to promote the aims and objectives of the University and forge stronger links among the alumni and administrators of the foremost citadel of knowledge.

According to him, " the focus of these new executives under my leadership is to ensure that the alumni stay connected and engaged through strategic execution of events and programmes that bring value". He reiterated that the PAU over the years has earned a well-deserved reputation, locally and internationally, as an institution that provides world class education, and this is the propelling force for the association.

...to empower over one million SMEs

Ecobank Nigeria, a subsidiary of the Ecobank Group, the leading pan-African bank has launched an innovative training program targeted at empowering operators of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country. Through the initiative, titled MySME Growth Series, the Bank will train over 1 million SME operators across the country in 2024.

Announcing the programme in Lagos, Osahon Akpata, Head, SME & Partnerships, Ecobank Nigeria, said the empowerment program is line with the Bank’s commitment to power the success of SMEs in different sectors of the economy.

“Ecobank aims to train 1 million SMEs in Nigeria to improve their capabilities and stimulate growth. We are launching the first phase of our training program – MySME Growth series, a selection of virtual bootcamps led by facilitators who are experts in their fields. SMEs are the growth engine of Nigeria’s economy contributing almost 50% of GDP and 90% of jobs. As a bank that is growth focused, Ecobank is committed to the success of SMEs in different sectors of the economy,” he said.

Further, he disclosed that with an overall theme of “Scaling up your SME in 2024”, the first weekly MySME Growth webinar series will hold on Thursday, February 1 with a focus on ‘Growing your business online’ and would be facilitated by Ijeoma Arum, Chief Commercial Officer, Jumia Nigeria. He noted that the webinar will hold every Thursday throughout the year.

In addition, Mr. Akpata explained that the series will dwell on various topics that cover key areas of concern for small businesses such as accounting, credit, sales & marketing, taxation and inventory management, adding that the Bank is also planning to launch an SME Mentorship program to collaborate with successful entrepreneurs.

 “We will also equip SMEs with tools to help their business such as budget templates, calculators for simulating scenarios and links to government forms. They will be trained on resources for starting a business including how to register, statistics for various industries and geographies and key points to consider when running a business. We will also provide articles on key topics including tips to increase sales, advertising ideas, business management practices, case studies and guides to leveraging technology, amongst others,” he enthused.

A Nigerian couple located in the United States is seeking N22 million in compensation from Landwey Investment Limited for a contract breach that resulted in a value degradation in the money paid for two properties on Ogombo Road in Lagos State.

The PUNCH reported that the couple, Olubukola Akande and Oluyomibo Olaniyan, claimed to have paid N26 million ($44,084 at the time) between February 18 and March 19, 2022, as part of the agreed-upon N56.7 million purchase price for a three-bedroom terrace duplex at OnyxUrban Prime Three Phase 2 and a corner property.

“Two years later, Landwey failed to fulfil the agreement, prompting us to request a refund and compensation,” the couple told reporters in Lagos recently.

According to the couple, a partial refund of N10m was received from Landwey on September 13, 2023, but it reneged on its promises to pay the balance.

The petition said, in part, “We call on your good office to prevent our life investment from being taken away from us.” We saw Landwey as a fake and a fraud.

“We have confidence in the Lagos State Government to come to our rescue by intervening such that Landwey can refund our balance even with interest on the money. We also hope that the state will shut down the company so that no one else falls victim.”

However, the couple acknowledged receiving the balance of N16.45 million on Wednesday, January 24, 2023.

The email said, “Hello: I hereby acknowledge your reimbursement of N16.45 million. Nonetheless, we must express our severe dissatisfaction with your unprofessional attitude, which resulted in the refund after more than 18 months of our financial transfer to your organization regarding the property in question.

“The waiting period for the refund had depreciated the money by more than half of its initial value. A law firm and a respected valuer firm are working together to establish our case.

“May I let you know, that I will formally bring a closure to this transaction, not only after an adequate litigation process by our legal team is established against you over the extended delay. They shall be demanding adequate devaluation compensations for the abuse of trust reposed in you that had caused me undue and untold stress. Thanks.”

The real estate company has stated that everything has been settled and so far, there is nothing to respond to because they have not been formally addressed.

The company stated that if a letter of complaint was sent by the couple, the company’s legal team would address it accordingly.

Nonye Ayeni, incumbent Chief Executive Officer at the Nigerian Export Promotions Council (NEPC) was upbeat on Thursday January 18, 2024 as she reeled out figures and statistics at her first major press briefing since taking over the reins at the Council.

“Since I assumed office on the 16th of October 2023, the performance of the non-oil export sector has showed clearly that the sector offers massive potentials for growth and is pivotal for economic development and diversification.”

For years, Nigeria has paid lip service to diversifying the economy away from the mono-cultural reliance on oil as our economic mainstay.

From the figures made public by Mrs. Ayeni, The seasoned banker and financial expert appointed to lead the council in October 2023, the country seems to be turning the corner.

Total value of non-oil exports in 2023 stood at $4.5bn. Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics as reported by TheCable indicate that the non-oil sector contributed 94.52% of GDP in Q3 2023

In her briefing the CEO of NEPC noted that the NEPC recorded an increase in the volume and value of exportable goods and services leading to earnings that will enhance foreign exchange inflow and facilitate the stability of the naira.

NEPC is redoubling efforts in repositioning the sector for sustainable and inclusive economic growth in alignment with the Industrial Revitalization Plan of the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite and the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR).

The council recorded 6.685 million metric tons of 273 exportable products ranging from manufactured, semi-processed, solid minerals to agricultural commodities and reflecting an uptick of 28.04% compared to 2022.

Urea and Fertiliser which contributed 20.10% of the total receipts led the way as the top two exports indicating improved momentum in the manufacturing sector. Cocoa Beans and Sesame Seeds came second and third with 13.19% and 9.03% respectively.

Indorama-Eleme Fertilizer and Chemical Limited and Dangote Fertilizer Limited contributed close to one billion dollars to the nation’s coffers with $524.4m and US$383m respectively.

Mrs. Ayeni’s time at the council is already yielding results. A memorandum of understanding signed between the NEPC and the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (COMCE) in November 2023 has led to a surge in exports receipts from Hibiscus flower which has been propelled into the top 10 rank of exported products.

Banks remain pivotal to the realisation of a geometric increase in the value of non-oil exports. By taking advantage of the opportunities that exist in the non-oil export sector especially in the form of financial support to exporters, Nigerian banks will help non-oil sector producers enhance their capacity to scale up production and access international markets.

2023 witnessed increasing activity in this regard with 32 Nigerian banks participating in the processing of 21,390 NXP forms in 2023. Three major banks led the pack in this regard with Zenith Bank, UBA and First Bank processing 39.03%, 10.55 and 9.88% of NXP forms respectively during the period under review.

With 1,145 companies actively exporting Nigeria's products in the year 2023, there is a huge market for banks willing to play in the sector where growth will be boosted with adequate funding, capacity building and mentorship.

In terms of capacity building, the NEPC facilitated a total of 92 capacity-building programmes held across its Regional offices in the 6 geo-political zones in the period under review with 13,751 participants attending.

These workshops are critical in downscaling and communicating some of the new projects and initiatives from the council and they include: Operation Double Your Export which is geared towards significantly increasing non-oil exports to improve foreign exchange earnings and for economic growth and diversification; “Export 35 Redefined” which focuses on already identified top 20 agricultural products to provide intentional support from the farm gate, through the value chain to market access; NEPC CONNECT a result-driven customer service team to help bridge the gap between exporters and the council; ELITE SQUAD, agile and nimble teams created to drive some of these initiatives and make a success of them; Go Global, Go For Certification” campaign which focuses on ensuring that exportable goods meet with global standards thus limiting cases of export rejects which impact negatively on non-oil export receipts.

The council is working with relevant agencies like NAFDAC and Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and others to create awareness, build capacity in the area of good agricultural practices, labelling and packaging and ensure adherence to quality and standards of Nigerian exports in the global market.

The addition of two exit points for products has given a fillip to the ease of moving goods out of Nigeria. Following the coming on stream of Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos and Ohunbe, a new border in Ogun State, the number of exit points comprised of seaports, international airports, and land borders has now increased to 21 with the South-West and South-South accounting for over 90% percent of the total non-oil exports.

Collaborations, trade agreements and partnerships have proven to be game changing for the non-oil export sector with Nigerian goods exported to 124 countries across jurisdictions from Africa to the Americas, Asia to Europe, and Oceania.

Brazil, China, and Japan emerged as the sweet spots for Nigeria’s non-oil exports. Africa is however lagging behind even though improvement is expected as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) gains momentum.

In the year under review 13 ECOWAS countries (excluding Cape Verde) actively imported Nigerian products amounting in volume to 1.6 million metric tons of and valued at US$ 343.9m with Ghana leading the way as the top sub-regional destination for Nigerian non-oil exports.

In the New Year, the council according to Mrs. Ayeni will continue to develop new initiatives and programmes to push forward the diversification agenda. There would be a renewed commitment in its collaboration with NACCIMA in hosting an international Trade Fair while prioritising the council’s participation in international fairs and setting up The Export Trade Houses (ETHs) and Domestic Export Warehouses (DEW). The DEWs would provide a one-stop-shop for exporters to¬ drop off their goods, and have them processed, packaged, labelled, and tested by laboratories before undergoing inspection and documentation.

NEPC has a new sheriff in town and it is business unusual as the drive towards diversification gathers steam.

You're an exemplary leader, Gov Bello replies visiting Wada

A former Governor of Kogi State, Capt Idris Wada, on Saturday, paid a courtesy visit to Governor Yahaya Bello, saying he could not but show his appreciation to the Governor for his notable achievements in the state, especially in the areas of security, healthcare, education and infrastructure.

He said his visit was specifically aimed at commending Governor Bello for his sterling stewardship since he assumed office in 2016 and to convey his best wishes for his future endeavours.

He also pledged his full support for the incoming administration in the state.

The incumbent and his predecessor also discussed state affairs, the challenges of governance at various levels, particularly within Kogi State, and broader security issues.

Governor Bello, while welcoming former Governor Wada to his Zone 4 residence, in Abuja, described him as an exemplary leader and a statesman of progressive qualities.

He acknowledged the challenges the former governor faced during his tenure and commended the diligent efforts made within the constraints of available resources, particularly given the unique political challenges of Kogi State.

"Sir, I feel deeply honoured to host you in my house, and I want to express my gratitude for all you have done, both within and outside your time in office as governor. Those of us following your footsteps are proud of your statesmanship and exemplary leadership. Your humility, fear of God and progressive qualities are virtues everyone speaks of.

"I pray that God continues to guide and protect you with good health. As you are aware, I will be handing over to the Governor-elect, Ahmed Usman Ododo, and the transition event is scheduled for next week Saturday. Ododo will need our support to succeed for the overall interest of the state. I want to thank you for this honour sir," the Governor stated.