Events in the past weeks betoken a pristine approach to Nigeria’s foreign policy utility. There are indications that the nation’s foreign policy plank will follow a clear and unconfused trajectory. And it is apparent that Nigeria will play a purposive role in the affairs of West Africa and Africa under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

A firm, decisive and progressive leadership at home, commands global attention and respect for the country. Essentially, a clear direction on the domestic front reflects on the utterly transactional and anarchical international front. Global or continental leadership, as it is with every other aspect of leadership, begins and succeeds with personal example. Evidently, Nigeria is beginning to show leadership in its internal affairs. That is the utility of personal example.

In the past, Nigeria was bogged down by domestic problems such that it could not extend itself a bit more robustly. Insecurity across the country meant previous administrations had to look exceptionally inwards. But there was also the problem of lack of interest or capacity, and policy direction. Although Nigeria did try to maintain some presence within Africa, its leadership was not all too palpable.

At times of internal upheavals, most states tend to be more nationalistic and protectionist. Between 1937 (Era of the Great Depression) and 1944, the US, battling its own domestic problems, exercised the Doctrine of Isolationism which advocated non-involvement in external wars and politics. But the US joined the Second World War at the twilight when its territorial interest was threatened. And with it came the Truman Doctrine in 1947 -- by President Harry S. Truman which states that ‘’the United States would provide political, military, and economic assistance to all democratic nations under threat from external or internal authoritarian forces’’.

The vacuum in pilotage on the continent is conspicuous. Nigeria is by the conspiracy of history, geography, size, and economy, a default leader of Africa – and as such it should exercise this leadership.

The concept of Africa as the centrepiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy was ideated and articulated in the 1960s during the administration of Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa. The abstraction has been adopted and iterated by successive administrations. The spirit of the idea, which was a dominating motif of the de-colonisation era, is that Africa must come first in Nigeria’s foreign policy formulation. And true to the objective, Nigeria has over the decades played a decisive role in Africa.

President Tinubu has shown a clear understanding of the leadership example and imperativeness of Nigeria in Africa. At every turn in his foreign engagements, he has centred Nigeria and Africa as the denominators of his blueprint.

At a meeting with President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic at the New Global Financing Pact Summit in France recently, President Tinubu reaffirmed Africa as the centrepiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy. He said: “We are ready to improve relations. Africa has been the centrepiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy. I believe in Africa. We have the necessity to grow the continent. The world’s economy is wobbling, and Africa has been left behind. On risk factors, Africa is always placed high, with higher interest rates on borrowing. We are always classified as high risk. We must work together for systematic recovery and growth.”

At the ECOWAS summit in Guinea-Bissau where he was elected as the chairman of the sub-regional group, President Tinubu made an impassioned and audacious declaration on the fundamentals of defending, protecting, and nurturing democracy in the zone. The President said: “We must stand firm on democracy. There is no governance, freedom, and rule of law without democracy. We will not accept coup after coup in West Africa again. Democracy is very difficult to manage but it is the best form of government. There is no one here among us who did not campaign to be a leader. We didn’t give our soldiers resources; we didn’t invest in them, in their boots, in their training to violate the freedom of the people. To turn their guns against civil authorities is a violation of the principles upon which they were hired, which is to defend the sovereignty of their nations. We must not sit in ECOWAS as toothless bulldogs.”

This patently demonstrates a keen sense of duty, obligation, responsibility – which I encapsulate as Tinubu’s Doctrine of Responsibility, of duty. It is a bounden duty and an unrelenting obligation for Africans and Africa to work together for ‘’systematic recovery and growth’’, and to protect and defend democracy.

Africa and Africans are afflicted by the same problems and are connected by the umbilicus of poverty, political, instability, unstable economy, and the like. So, it is important that African states deal with their shared challenges as partners. The fallout of the chaos in Libya and how it imperilled the security of some African countries, including Nigeria’s, points to why cohesion, partnership and mutual trust is a desideratum for the continent.

The Doctrine of Responsibility, as it relates to transnational relations, establishes patriotism, loyalty and commitment to African ethos, values, survival, success, and future. It evokes a sense of duty to father land and Africa.

However, it is important that while Nigeria retakes its place as the lodestar of Africa, it must evolve and not stay fastened to the old ways of ‘’big-brother diplomacy’’, but adopt more of mutualism, diplomacy of reciprocity. International relations is governed by an anarchy of interests, and as such Nigeria must protect its own domestic interest.

With a vibrant national leadership and a defining presence in West Africa and Africa, Nigeria is well on its way to status redemption.

Veteran Nigerian entertainer, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has reacted to the recovery of exotic vehicles allegedly belonging to the former governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom.

Naija News recalls that the asset recovery committee set up by the new Benue State governor, Hyacinth Alia, had raided an automobile shop reportedly belonging to Ortom.

Alia had accused the former governor’s administration of looting, maintaining that he “met no single car or truck in the government house”.

The committee was said to have seized some vehicles during the operation and used towing vans to pull out others, after attempts to drive them away failed.

Reacting to the development via his Twitter handle, Charly Boy lamented that he was disappointed with Ortom.

He berated Ortom for constantly condemning the government of former President Muhammadu Buhari whilst also getting involved in questionable acts.

He wrote, “See as Ortom go fall my hand.

“How come dem discover over 30 cars for ur garage, wetin you dey take am do.

“Na only u alone wan ride 30cars, una don craze be dat.

“Before, I bin like U small as u dey follow us tackle Buhari, I no know say u fk up pass

“I hope all the salaries U dey owe, say u pay before u leave.

“Kai, U no just try at all.

“APC/PDP who thief pass?

“Der Fathers.”

Says Dispute Was Resolved By Committee In 2015 And Urged Parties To Honour Resolution

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has affirmed that the ruling of the Bankers’ Committee regarding the contentious issue between Ecobank Nigeria Limited and Honeywell Group over an alleged N5 billion debt still stands.

Sanusi said the Bankers’ Committee, acting as a consensus-based body, has the authority to make binding decisions for banks.

“The Bankers’ Committee by consensus, in general, makes binding rulings for banks. All the banks submit to its decisions. It acts almost like an arbitral court but no it is not a court,” he said.

Highlighting the significance of the committee’s rulings, Sanusi said that bankers themselves understand their rules and practices better than the courts, making the committee’s decisions widely respected and followed within the banking sector.

“However, this is a ruling by peers that all tend to abide by because these things go around. Bankers actually know their own rules and practices better than the courts,” he said.

The dispute between Ecobank Nigeria and Honeywell Group over the alleged N5 billion debt seems to have been resolved as early as 2015, following the declaration by the Bankers’ Committee.

According to a report from the committee’s Ethics and Professionalism sub-committee, the agreement for Honeywell to pay Ecobank N3.5 billion as a full and final settlement was deemed valid and should be honoured.

In response to a letter from Ecobank Nigeria, lawyers representing Oba Otudeko clarified that the claims made about decisions from the Supreme Court in case SC/CV/210/2021 on January 27, 2023, affirming the indebtedness of their client or Honeywell Group Plc were false.

The lawyers stated, “The letter falsely alleges that there was a decision of the Supreme Court in SC/CV/210/2021 made on 27th January 2023 ‘affirming the indebtedness’ of our clients and that the decision also ‘commanded,’ our above-stated clients to perform certain acts, neither Dr. Oba Otudeko, CFR nor Honeywell Group Plc was a party to the Supreme Court decision/proceedings and no order was made against them.”

They further clarified that the specific amount of N13,507,052,417.99 mentioned in Ecobank’s letter was not part of any court decision or judgment in Nigeria or elsewhere.

“The sum of N13,507,052,417.99 (thirteen billion, five hundred and seven million, fifty-two thousand, four hundred and seventeen naira, ninety-nine kobo) stated in Ecobank’s letter is/was not contained in the Supreme Court decision or any extant Court decision in Nigeria or elsewhere. No order of the court has also awarded same or any judgment sum (as debt owed) at all in favour of Ecobank as a liability from our clients or any of the Honeywell companies.”

The lawyers concluded that no court order has awarded such a sum as a debt owed by their clients, or any of the Honeywell companies, in favor of Ecobank.

The Bankers’ Committee, in the June 26, 2015 report, with reference number ODA/FMA/BUO/1493, said it received a petition that Ecobank was “attempting to renege on a settlement agreement” on facilities it granted to Anchorage Leisures Limited, Siloam Global Services Limited and Honeywell Flour Mills Plc.

The committee’s report, which was addressed to Ecobank’s managing director and chief executive, said “after several offers and counter offers with respect to the amount for the settlement, the parties agreed at the meeting of 22nd July 2013, involving your bank’s MD/CEO and the Honeywell Group chairman that Honeywell would pay the sum of N3.5 billion in full and final settlement of the indebtedness of the three companies. It was also agreed that Honeywell would immediately proceed to pay the sum of N500 million as a sign of faith towards the agreement.”

According to the report, Honeywell paid the agreed N500 million to Ecobank on July 23, 2013 and completed payment of the agreed N3.5 billion on January 10, 2014. Thereafter, the group requested for a letter of discharge from Ecobank.

However, Ecobank in a November 14, 2014 letter to Honeywell Group, claimed that the N3.5 billion was a partial payment and that the agreement that the sum was in full and final settlement was an “in principle understanding”.

How it all started

On July 23, 2013, Honeywell wrote to Ecobank accepting the terms for the resolution of the claim by the bank as agreed at the meeting held the day earlier and saying, “we confirm our agreement to pay the sum of N3.5billion as full and final settlement of our indebtedness to your bank. As part of the verbal agreement reached at the meeting, we shall immediately pay the sum of N500 million towards the facilities. We propose that the balance of N3 billion be paid in three equal half-yearly payments.”

That same day, Ecobank sent back a response in which the bank said, “please note that the agreement was for a full and final payment of N3.5 billion to be partly paid immediately by – N500 million on Monday, July 22, 2013, and the balance to be paid immediately thereafter before the CBN examiners leave the bank.”

The timing of the payment became a big issue and this saw both parties moving their wranglings to the court on October 16, 2015, via a suit by Ecobank before Justice Tsoho seeking to wind up Honeywell.

However, both parties began to get public attention for their dispute after Ecobank secured an ex-parte motion to restrain Honeywell and Oba Otudeko from operating their accounts in all banks and financial institutions and an order directing their respective banks to furnish Ecobank with details of their accounts in the banks.

This same bank-customer dispute was submitted to the subcommittee of ethics and professionalism of the Bankers’ Committee for adjudication and ruling was issued in favour of Honeywell, but Ecobank in a letter dated November 14, 2014, maintained that “during a recent CBN/NDIC review of the bank, the accounts were flagged and that the CBN had insisted that the amount outstanding be paid without further delay.”

On August 6, 2015, Honeywell filed a suit before Justice M. B. Idris in which it sought an interim injunction to restrain Ecobank from making any representation suggesting that it owed the bank and on August 10, 2015, the interim injunction was granted and both parties ordered by the court to maintain status quo.

Following this, Ecobank filed a preliminary objection on the basis that the Federal High court lacked jurisdiction to hear the dispute and on December 11, 2015, the court presided by Justice Idris held that the Federal High court had jurisdiction to hear the matter. Ecobank immediately appealed this decision.

On October 16, 2015, Ecobank filed two separate suits before Justice Abang. On this same day, Ecobank filed another two petitions before Justice Yunusa who on December 4, 2015, varied the ex-parte orders by granting Honeywell Flour Mills restricted access to its bank’s accounts allowing the company to take no more than N15 million weekly.

On July 13, 2018, justices of the Supreme Court made two rulings, both in favour of Honeywell.

In one, suit number SC.401/2016, which was an appeal by Honeywell against the ruling of a lower court in favour of Ecobank, the justices in the ruling read by Amiru Sanusi upheld the appeal.

In another ruling delivered by John Inyang Okoro, the Supreme Court justices reviewed an appeal brought before them by Ecobank in relation to the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on March 30, 2016, said inter alia, “having resolved all five issues against the appellant (Ecobank) , I hold that this appeal lacks merit and is hereby dismissed. I affirm the decision of the court of appeal delivered on 30th March 2016.”

In doing so, the Supreme Court justice said, “honestly, I have tried to understand the complaint of the appellant in this issue but it appears to be the more you look, the less you see.”

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, says contrary to insinuations, the lawmakers are not as rich as being projected to the public.

Rep. Kingsley Chinda, the Minority Leader of the House, representing the speaker, said this at an interactive session with the House press corps organised by the ad hoc committee on Media and Public Affairs, in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to him, this arm of government isn’t as rich as being projected.

“You have heard that members go home with N30 million every week or that we earn more than American lawmakers.

“And when you tell people that these are not correct, we can’t achieve success because it is coming from us, but when it comes from the media, people will believe it because it came from you,” Abbas said.

He said one of the cardinal points of the 10th Assembly was putting round peg in a round hole, adding that the parliament remained the unsung arm of government and their success depended on the media.

He described the media as partner in progress of the Nigeria project, while urging the media to reciprocate the gesture.

“If democracy must succeed, the parliament must be strengthened through the media. We are not asking you not to give information but give correct and accurate information.”

Also speaking on behalf of the minority caucus in the House, Kingsley said their role as minority was to ensure that the House stood straight by checkmating the ruling party.

“If criticisms are not constructive that is dangerous to us. Let your information not destroy us, but should right the wrong in the society.”

Rep. Khadijat Bukar-Abba, the Chairman, ad hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs, said the House would sustain efforts to engage with everyone with a stake in the affairs of the House and the committee.

“Together, we can make the House of Reps and Committee proud in discharging her responsibilities,” she said.

On his part, Rep. Julius Ihvonbere, the Majority Leader of the House, lamented that the lawmakers were not telling their stories as they should.

He said the 10th House would strenthen those that would work on media and media related issues to put their stories out and not a recycling of the usual perspectives.

He said it was unfortunate that some constituents still believe that constituency money were given to lawmakers, adding that even his own constituency believed the narrative.

According to him, this time, there will be an effort to pay attention and define the narrative. we will engage and communicate better.

(NAN)

A young man, Abdulgafar Ayanrinde, who claimed to have dropped out of the University of Ibadan where he studied Law, has been sentenced to six years imprisonment for impersonating a legal practitioner and committing fraud.

Ayanrinde, aged 25, had been dragged before a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps in the state and slammed with a two-count charge bordering on impersonation and fraud.

He was said to have impersonated a legal practitioner and duped a Point of Sales operator.

When Ayanrinde was arrested and paraded by the corps in Osogbo recently, he had revealed that he ventured into criminal acts to spite his father whom he claimed to be a prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He had disclosed that he dropped out of the university at 200 level (Faculty of Law), owing to lack of money.

He confessed to have paraded himself as a SAN and deceived unsuspecting litigants into hiring him.

The NSCDC prosecuting counsel, T. J. Ayayi, had informed the court, upon arraignment, that Ayarinde paraded himself as a lawyer at the premises of the Osun State High Court on May 22, 2023 and also defrauded a female PoS agent of the sum of N150,000 at INEC Area, Osogbo on May 18, this year.

Ayanrinde had also admitted to having presented himself as a SAN to dupe five unsuspecting members of the public of their hard earned money.

He also confessed to stealing an iPhone worth N450,000,00.

The charge had read, “That you Ayanrinde Abdulgafar on the 22nd day of May, 2023, at the Osun State High Court, Oke-Fia, Osogbo, Osun State, in the Osogbo Magisterial District, willfully represented yourself to one Abdulsalam Adbulhafeez Abiodun that you are a legal practitioner and did pretend that you are qualified to act as a legal practitioner, representation which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(1) of the Legal Practitioners Act, Cap L11, LFN 2004 and punishable under the same section.

“That you (defendant) on the 18th day of May, 2023, at INEC Area, Osogbo, Osun State, in the Osogbo Magisterial District, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N150,000. 00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) from one Adeoye Iyanu Seun on the pretence that you would transfer the said sum to her Polaris Bank Account, a pretence which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act – Cap A6 L.F.N. 2004 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

Ayanrinde had pleaded guilty to the allegations.

He was not represented by any lawyer in court.

The prosecutor had urged the court to adjourn the matter in order for him to prepare for the presentation of facts in lieu of the defendant’s guilty-plea.

The presiding magistrate, M. A. Olatunji had adjourned for presentation of facts.

When the matter was mentioned for presentation of facts, the corps prosecutor had proved to the court that the defendant specialized in fraud, impersonation, stealing and obtaining money under false pretence.

However, Magistrate Olatunji found him guilty of the charges and convicted him accordingly.

Delivering her judgement, Olatunji sentenced Ayanrinde to three years imprisonment on first count charge and another three years on the second charge.

The magistrate further ordered the transfer of the sum of N150,000, being part of the proceeds of the crime from the convict’s bank account to one of the victims, Adeoye Iyanu Seun’s account while the Nigeria Correctional Service should provide facility and enabling environment for the academic advancement of the convict while in custody.

Reacting to the judgement in a statement issued on Wednesday by the corps Public Relations Officer, Kehinde Adeleke, the state NSCDC Commandant, Agboola Sunday called on parents and guardians to cater for their children and wards adequately.

He urged youths to embark on productive ventures that add value to their lives, rather than embarking on crimes and criminalities.

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, met with the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulkarim Chukkol.

The meeting comes about a month after he suspended the chairman of the commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, who has since been detained by the Department of State Service (DSS).

No information was released on the closed-door meeting, which took inside the president’s office.

Bawa had been directed to handover the affairs of the anti-graft agency to Chukkol who is the Director of Operations in the commission.

With effect from July 24, Nigerians will now pay more for bread as the As­sociation of Master Bakers & Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN) has announced an increase of 15 percent on all its products.

This is as respondents on Wednes­day decried the planned increase on price of bread, saying they are already going through enormous hardship following the removal of fuel subsidy. They asked President Bola Tinubu to assuage their condition with people-centric policies.

The association in a statement on Wednesday jointly signed by Alhaji Mansur Umar and Hon. Jude Okafor, the National Pres­ident and National Secretary, respectively, stated that the deci­sion was agreed upon after the National Executive Council ex­traordinary virtual meeting.

The association said that the decision was taken due to the multifarious increases on the prices of baking materials, flour, sugar, yeast, vegetable oil, twist tie, petrol, diesel (occasioned by subsidy removal), multiple tax­ations from federal and states agencies including Standards Or­ganisation of Nigeria (SON), Na­tional Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), EMBLEMS, local government authorities fees and levies, consumer protection council, among others.

According to the statement, “We critically assessed the state of our business operations, con­sequently resolve that the recent general increases on our factors of production including but not limited to additional N1.2 million on one truck of flour (N2,000 per bag), N3.6 million on one truck of sugar (N6,000 per bag); yeast, additional N2,000 per carton; fuel from N205 to N550; diesel, N650 to N700 (depending on the part of the country), multiple taxations from Federal Govern­ment regulatory agencies, state government tax agencies, state government emblem collectors, state and local government health agencies and other taxing agencies too numerous to men­tion here, continuous collection of now heavily increased wheat levy (which is now diverted to other uses other than the objec­tive for establishing it).

“Charge of all manner of lev­ies on flour millers that is finally transferred to bakers; it has now thrown a great number of our members into unemployment market and still counting.”

The statement further states that “effective July 24, 2023, as an interim measure, all members of AMBCN are hereby advised to adjust their prices by 15% (in consonance with the now heavily increased cost of factors of our production) across the board as we can only produce standard baked products in accordance with NAFDAC regulation as we cannot sacrifice the health of our fellow country men and women on the altar of breaking even point by resorting to unhealthy practices pending further reso­lutions.”

The association thereby called on federal and state governments to intervene urgently and save the industry from total collapse.

The association directed that all zonal chairmen, state chair­men and local chapters’ chair­men should commence full scale mobilisation towards implemen­tation of the interim resolutions and await further directives from the national secretariat.

“We sincerely appreciate the understanding and cooperation of our numerous customers na­tionwide as they grapple with the extra burden placed on them with the imminent increase and promise to revert back should there be significant governments interventions”.

"But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, 'Don't be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What's more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you'. So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said" (Acts 27:22-25).

     It is time to hang on to his word. When God speaks, it is final. Many Christians enjoy every aspect of serving God, but when things get so rough that demand absolute faith in God's word to scale through, you see them faltering and disappointing God. Following God's leading at normal situation does not require much struggle. But during uncertainties and perilous times, it could be the most herculean decision to make. Following God is not a tea party. It takes a man or a woman who is ready to plunge into any situation believing and holding to his word. Yes, following him is a big risk. Sometimes you are required to go from the known to the unknown. Other times from the natural to the supernatural. But in all depending on nothing but what he has said concerning that particular situation.

      There are so many Christians in the church today, but very few that God can boast of. I mean very few that God can boldly say, "Yes, this is my faithful son (or daughter). Devil, go and try him them and see how he they will stand for me till the end." You know from the scriptures that God boasted of people like Job, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. But, can he do same with anyone today? Can he boast of you? We fail because we don't want to hold on to his word till the end of our trials. We fail because we don't want to take any risk in his name. We also fail because we don't want to lose our comfort.

     Now, anybody that will follow God must be ready to 'hang' on to his word even when every other thing has failed. You must be ready to march on even when the road looks very gloomy or bleak. When it looks senseless to still believe what he had told you. I know you understand what I am talking about here. In that your situation, you already know that every solution tried has failed. Just go get a word from the Lord. Brood over it and begin to walk on it. If truly that word is from God for that specific situation, it will never disappoint. It doesn't matter how complex the enemy might try to make it, you will prevail at last because God has spoken! When God speaks, it is final. Nothing will be added or subtracted from it. It might take time, meet opposition, be mocked and even in some cases be forgotten, yet, it will ultimately come to pass. Stop looking at your circumstances; rather focus on the word of God.

     Now let's go back to our main text - Acts 27. But if you want to follow the story from the very beginning, you can start from chapter 21.When Paul was arrested in Jerusalem by the Jews; who accused him of teaching against the Jewish laws and defiling the temple by bringing in Gentiles into it. You know how the Apostle was rescued by the soldiers, handed over to the Jewish Council, then to governors Felix and Festus and was on his way to Rome to stand before Caesar (the Roman emperor).That you're in the will of God does not guarantee that the enemy will not fight you. But our confidence is that the word and the will of God will always prevail. Though Paul was being bungled to Rome in chains and as a prisoner, it was the original plan of God that one day; the Apostle will take the gospel to Rome. And he (God) allowed that problem to be the vehicle for that particular purpose. When the Apostle finished addressing the Jewish Council and was brought back to the fortress by the commander, the Lord appeared to him that same night, "That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, "Be encouraged Paul. Just as you have told the people about me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome". - Acts 23:11. I hope you got that? So it was God that sending Paul to Rome in chains not his enemies? Wow! This present problem will be a vehicle to your destiny!

    God planned that Paul would take the gospel to Rome. Also, remember that at the beginning, when Paul was converted, the Lord told Ananias concerning Paul, "But the Lord said, Go and do what I say. For Saul (Paul) is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I must show him how much he must suffer for me" Acts 9:15. So, from the beginning, God made it known that Paul was going to be his instrument to take the gospel to the kings and the gentiles. Now, the Apostle was being taken to Rome (in chains) to stand before Caesar. But on the way, the enemy rose up against the journey. Like I said earlier, that you're in the will of God does not guarantee that the enemy will not fight you. But our confidence is that the word and the will of God will always prevail.

Rev Gabriel Agbo is the author of the books / audiobooks Power of Midnight Prayer, Power of Sacrifice, Breaking Generational Curses: Claiming Your Freedom and many others. Website: www.authorsden.com/pastorgabrielnagbo Tel: 08037113283 E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The total number of issued Bank Verification Numbers rose to 57.96 million as of July 3, 2023, according to data obtained from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc.

This was as the Central Bank of Nigeria planned to the close bank accounts without BVNs. According to the NIBSS, the increasing incidents of compromise on conventional security systems (password and PIN), had increased the demand for greater security for access to sensitive or personal information in the banking system.

It stated that in recent times, biometric technologies havd been used to analyse human characteristics as an enhanced form of authentication for real-time security processes.

It stated that BVN gave a unique identity that could be verified across the Nigerian banking industry (not peculiar to one bank), and ensured that customers bank accounts were protected from unauthorised access.

It said, “It will address issues of identity theft, thus reducing exposure to fraud. The BVN will enhance the banking industry’s chances of being able to fish out blacklisted customers.”

It noted that the BVN is an acceptable means of identification across all Nigerian Banks. Since launching in 2014, 57.96 million Nigerians have now got BVNs. Data from NIBSS indicated that there were 133.5 million as of December 2021.

According to the apex bank, BVN is part of its overall strategy of ensuring the effectiveness of the Know Your Customer principles, and the promotion of a safe, reliable, and efficient payments system.

As of December 26, 2021, there were 51.7 million BVNs. Recently, the CBN, through its Director, Risk Management Department, and Chief Risk Officer, Blaise Ijebor, noted that the CBN was working to remove accounts not linked to BVNs from the financial system.

According to him, this was to clean up the sector and reduce the growing incidence of fraud.

A recent report by FITC revealed that bank customers in Nigeria lost N472m to fraud in the first quarter of 2023. It noted that there was a total of 12,553 cases of fraud recorded within the three months.

Recently, the CBN said that it had placed 6,047 BVNs of bank customers under a watch list for fraudulent transactions. It stated that the number of BVN-linked accounts was 130.57 million out of 148.46 million active accounts.

It disclosed this in the CBN Financial Stability June 2022 report published in December 2022. It said, “The number of accounts linked with BVNs was 130,569,656 out of 148,462,947 active customer accounts, while the number of watch-listed BVNs associated with fraud and deceased persons stood at 6,047 and 11,871, respectively.”

A subpoenaed witness from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) called by the governorship candidate of the Labour Party(LP), Mr. Chijioke Edeoga, has told the Enugu State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Enugu that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate submitted to the commission by the Enugu State governor, Dr Peter Mbah, was certified by the NYSC.

The witness, Mr Dimas Friday Emmanuel, while under cross examination by Mbah’s lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), averred that Mbah’s NYSC discharge certificate was forwarded to the NYSC for authentication, stressing that the NYSC certifies only a document emanating from it.

Olanipekun had said to the INEC witness, “Have a look at Exhibit EPT01/A, B, and C, particularly the NYSC Certificate there, that Certificate which you said Mbah forged was certified by the NYSC”, to which he replied in the affirmative.

“Am I correct to say that NYSC can only certify a document in its possession and a document emanating from the institution?” Again, he said “Yes”.

On further cross examination by the counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Alex Iziyon (SAN), the witness, who is a legal practitioner, also admitted that Mbah’s NYSC Certificate carried a stamp of the NYSC, certifying the document.

“Look at Exhibit 08A and B, there is an NYSC Certificate, it carries a stamp of NYSC, certifying that document”, Iziyon had asked, to which the witness answered “Yes”.

The witness further confirmed that the name on the said certificate was Mbah Peter Ndubuisi, that it was dated 6th January 2003 and that the certificate number was also A808297.

Mbah’s NYSC discharge certificate has been a subject of controversy between the governor and the NYSC, with the NYSC alleging that Mbah forged the certificate with number A808297 and that it was not issued by them, while Mbah insisted that it was genuine and issued by the institution.

Meanwhile, the witness, Mr. Emmanuel confirmed upon cross examination that LP’s governorship candidiate, Chijioke Edeoga’s name, was not contained in Exhibit 16, being the LP membership register for Enugu, which he also tendered.

Efforts by Edeoga’s lawyer, Ehitayo Fatomi, SAN, to have the court refuse the admission of the register was overruled by the court.