The Nigeria Immigration Service ( NIS), Lagos Seaports and Marine Command have foiled an attempted smuggling of seven Nigerian girls to Burkina Faso for prostitution.


The girls were intercepted on Sunday, 12th November 2023 at about 19.00 hours.


The Comptroller, of Lagos Seaports and Marine Command NIS, Mohammed Saddiq, disclosed this during a press briefing in Lagos on Friday, November 17, 2023, said the suspects had been under the command’s radar for about two months following intelligence gathered by its operatives which in turn led to their arrest by Badagry, Marine Border Patrol Team along Pashi waterway bordering Nigeria and Benin Republic.


He said the prime suspect, Miss Helen Dandam Nanbyen, 26, hails from Wadata village in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.


“It was uncovered during the course of the investigation that the seven smuggled victims whose ages range from 19 to 23 hail from Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State,” he stated.

“It is important to state that the girls willfully consented to the journey under false identities with intent to indulge in prostitution while in their country of destination,” the Comptroller said.

He noted that the suspects neither have any valid travel documents nor financial means to sustain themselves during the journey.


"Narrating her role in the illicit business, Miss Dandam admitted her involvement in prostitution and facilitating the transportation of potential sex workers into Burkina Faso with the support of her Madam, an indigene of Edo State who operates a Beer Parlour in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso capital. She also admitted working with one Miss. Ella whom she claimed recruited four out of the girls but she is currently at large.”


Saddiq maintained that the arrest is a fallout of the Command‘s renewed commitment to the directive of the Ag, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Caroline Wura-ola Adepoju toward curbing migrant smuggling, human trafficking and all forms of trans-border crimes within the maritime space.

“I want to use this medium to commend the role of the intelligence community in this endeavour. I also call on parents to be more concerned about their children’s activities,” he said.


The Immigration boss further disclosed that illegal migration and human trafficking via the waterways have continued to increase, noting that the service will continue to patrol and police the riverine communities against the backdrop of discouraging the Illicit acts.


Based on the directive from the Ag, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Caroline Wura-ola Adepoju, the Lagos Seaport and Marine Command boss also disclosed that the females will be handed over to the Plateau State Government thus, they will be reunited with their families and love ones.


Miss Helen Dandam Nanbyen who spoke with newsmen said that she had travelled to Burkina Faso once, adding that her madam had assured them that a bartender job is available for them over there in Ouagadougou.


She admitted to spearheading the voyage of the females' attempt to migrate to Burkina Faso via the waterways from Lagos.

One of the girls expressed regret on the attempted migration to Burkina Faso, saying that she never knew that the trip would end up in Burkina Faso; rather she was told that there were pub jobs for them in Lagos State.

Representatives from Plateau State led by Mr. Emmanuel Sebu from the Liaison Office received the females and he’s expected to hand them over to the state governor.

Amina Audu, the recently freed chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Area in Benue State, revealed the distressing details of her abduction, stating that she and her driver were sustained on a diet of pawpaw and garri during their three-day captivity.

Audu, who had been under suspension since the arrival of Governor Hyacinth Alia, was abducted alongside her driver on the deteriorated Naka-Makurdi road. She and her counterparts from 22 other local government areas had faced suspension.

Speaking to journalists in Makurdi, the state capital, Audu recounted the challenges of being held by kidnappers. She expressed the difficulty of the situation, noting, “You know how harrowing it is to be with kidnappers; I cannot even say much now. They (kidnappers) don’t have food in the bush; they only gave us pawpaw and garri to drink.”

Audu emphasized that the exact ransom amount paid for their release had not been disclosed to her by those involved in the negotiation process.

Earlier confirmation of the abduction came from SP Catherine Anene, the Police Spokeswoman for the Benue Command, adding to the growing concern over the security situation in certain regions. The incident highlights the challenges faced by individuals, including public officials, navigating insecure routes.

Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Kano State, has expressed confidence in the party’s victory at the Supreme Court following the recent Appeal Court judgment. The Appeal Court had declared Dr. Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, the APC candidate, winner of the March 18 governorship election, overturning the earlier victory of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

During a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Ganduje commended the judiciary for upholding justice and assured the public that the APC would prevail even if the case proceeds to the Supreme Court. He highlighted that Gawuna’s administration would surpass his own achievements during his eight years as governor.

Ganduje stated, “This is an indication that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. Democracy, we can say, is matured in Nigeria. We have to thank all those stakeholders, the political parties, even the NNPP that took us to the Appeal Court.”

While acknowledging the possibility of the case moving to the Supreme Court, Ganduje expressed readiness for the legal process. He said, “There is nothing wrong for them to go to the Supreme Court. We too, we are ready to meet them in Supreme Court. And Insha Allah, we will win at the Supreme Court as well.”

Gawuna, the governor-elect for Kano State, also expressed happiness over the judgment and assured the people of good governance under his leadership. Ganduje affirmed his belief that Gawuna’s administration would surpass the achievements of his previous tenure.

The political landscape in Kano remains dynamic, and the legal proceedings are expected to continue, emphasizing the significance of the judiciary in upholding democratic principles.

There is apprehension in the camp of major opposition parties that some chieftains could switch allegiance to the All Progressives Congress, following a series of election petition cases that had been decided in favour of the ruling party in the last two months.

Recall that the Supreme Court had affirmed the victory of President Bola Tinubu on October 26, 2023.

The verdict ended the 171-day legal battle to nullify the election of the President by the Labour Party and Peoples Democratic Party candidates, Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar respectively.

Five days after the apex court’s judgment, the immediate past National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Prof Rufa’i Alkali, and 25 chieftains of the party, including three governorship candidates announced their defection to the APC.

The new ‘converts’, who were warmly received by the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, at its secretariat in Abuja on October 31, claimed that they switched allegiance because the ruling party was accommodating.

Shortly before that, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, representing Anambra South Senatorial District, moved from the Young Progressive Party to the APC.

State governors as well as former ministers and other officials, who served in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, and the political associates of President Bola Tinubu have launched an intense lobbying for appointment as Nigerian ambassadors to foreign countries.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress, National Assembly members and retired military officers were among those jostling for ambassadorial nominations.

Nigeria has a total of 109 missions, 76 embassies, 22 high commissions and 11 consulates abroad.

The desperate lobby for ambassadorial appointments commenced after the Federal Government recalled all the envoys from their posts on September 2, 2023.

The envoys were directed to return to the country on or before October 31.

On October 20, 2016, former President Muhammadu Buhari approved the nomination of 46 non-career ambassadors-designate in addition to the previous nomination of 47 career ambassadors-designate.

Earlier, there was controversy over the recall of ambassadors by Buhari’s government but his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, debunked the reports in a statement, saying only 25 career ambassadors, who had attained the retirement age and had been in public service for 35 years, were recalled.

He explained in a statement, “There was nothing like mass recall of ambassadors. What happened lately is that 25 career ambassadors, who attained the retirement age, or 35 years of public service in December 2018, were recalled.

“They were allowed to remain at their duty posts and given an extension, if that is the word, in view of the upcoming elections, which are now behind us.”

In January 2021, Buhari approved the posting of 95 envoys, comprising 43 career and 52 non-career ambassadors, to man the nation’s diplomatic missions.

Before the approval, the Senate had ratified their nomination in 2020.

The diplomats were deployed after they were confirmed by the Senate in accordance with Section 171(2) (1c) and subsection 4 of the 1999 Constitution.

But the envoys were recalled by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, on September 2, 2023.

The minister confirmed the development following reports that Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Isola, had been recalled.

But while clarifying the directive, Tuggar said the action was not a witch-hunt and that it applied to all career and non-career envoys.

The minister, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Al-Kashim Abdul-Kadir, had said, “Sequel to the enquiries on the letter recalling the Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has reaffirmed that all career ambassadors and non-career ambassadors have been recalled on the instructions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

The Presidency later clarified that all the country’s United Nations permanent representatives in New York and Geneva were exempted from the recall.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said the exemption was a result of the UN General Assembly, which was held between September 18 and 22.

Our correspondents could not confirm whether the recall order had been extended to Nigeria’s UN permanent representatives in New York and Geneva after the UNGA.

Foreign affairs ministry officials had yet to provide information on the status of the diplomats as of the time of filing this report on Friday.

Saturday PUNCH had reported that the Presidency had begun compiling the list of new ambassadors.

Following the development, it was gathered that the jostle for the vacant diplomatic posts escalated with politicians and other interested individuals bombarding the President and his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, with requests for nomination.

Our correspondents further learnt that the foreign affairs minister and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Ambassador Olusola Enikanolaiye, had come under immense pressure from prominent Nigerians seeking appointments.

Sources disclosed that those who failed to get ministerial nominations were at the forefront of the rush for the ambassadorial positions.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official said, “The President’s associates and state governors are intensifying their lobbies for career and non-career ambassadorial nomination.

“They are pushing the profiles of their candidates. They are jettisoning those with a year or less to retire and picking those with longer career years ahead.”

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Ambassador Olusola Enikanolaiye; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, are under intense pressure from the lobbyists, including National Assembly members, APC support groups and party chieftains to be listed as ambassadors.

“Some of these lobbyists include past administrators, politicians, retired military men, unsuccessful governorship aspirants, and those who served as heads of agencies under Buhari, among others.”

When asked about the ratio of career and non-career diplomats that may be appointed, the source said, “Fifty-five per cent to 45 per cent.”

One of our correspondents gathered that the majority of the recalled ambassadors had returned to the country, while those who had yet to do so had formally handed over to the most senior officers at their diplomatic posts, while perfecting travel plans to return home as directed.

Confirming this, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Most of the ambassadors are rounding off their tours of duty and heading back to Abuja. A good number of them have already returned.”

Similarly, a source in the Presidency said while some of the bigwigs in the APC and former governors had started submitting their curriculum vitae, some former ambassadors were also jostling to be reappointed.

While noting that the names of persons to be shortlisted remained confidential, the source added, “The Presidency didn’t extend it (ambassadorial appointment) for them (former envoys). Some of them are returning (to Nigeria) already.

“I don’t know anyone lobbying. I know that they’re working on it but I don’t know the specifics. People are submitting CVs.

“Different party leaders and stakeholders are pushing their interests. Even some of them (former ambassadors) are lobbying to be reinstated, so until the list is made official and published, anything can change.”

However, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Prof Bola Akinterinwa, urged President Tinubu to desist from appointing ambassadors as a reward system for his cronies.

He said the President should consider appointing academic ambassadors who specialised in handling international affairs of the countries they would serve in, saying most political ambassadors usually pursue personal interests over national interests.

Akinterinwa said, “Political ambassadors are not interested in any national interest to protect abroad. The moment they are appointed, they look out for how to survive even after the tenure of the President who appoints them.

“Nigerian politicians do not place priority on the protection of national interests. If President Tinubu is not careful with the appointments and decides to reward his political cronies and friends, Nigeria will certainly be in trouble very shortly.

“If we are suggesting academic diplomats, I agree with that; there are many academic diplomats in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There can be a focus on the specialisation of those who have served in some countries if they meet the level of Grade Level 16 or 17; those are the people they should be looking out for.”

Speaking further, the former NIIA DG explained that anyone appointed as an ambassador without prior training as a diplomatic agent, or career ambassador was referred to as a “political ambassador.”

“Political ambassadors need diplomatic training to be able to perform diplomatic functions enshrined in the 1961 Vienna Convention. Most unfortunately, it is the political ambassadors that have always behaved in a manner considered not compatible with the status of diplomats,” he added.

The Lagos State Police Command on Friday, November 17, 2023, released controversial singer, Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley; and his associate, Balogun Samson, popularly known as Sammy Larry, after the duo met their bail conditions.

This was made known by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin on Friday in a terse statement saying, “Naira Marley and Sammy Larry, having met their bail conditions, have been released.”

Hundeyin, a Superintendent of Police, made this known on Friday afternoon after the artiste and the socialite perfected their bail conditions granted by a Lagos State Magistrates’ Court.

The court, on Monday, November 6, had granted both of them bail in the sum of N20m with three responsible sureties.

“As part of the bail conditions, the defendants are to surrender their passports and make weekly appearances at the State Criminal Investigation Department (Panti, Yaba, Lagos),” the court ruled.

They were arrested as part of an investigation into a singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad’s death after videos of assault against the late singer surfaced online.

Mohbad died in controversial circumstances on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.

Before his death, the singer had cried out that he was being harassed by his former record label, Marlian Music, owned by Marley.

Saturday Beats had visited Panti (where they were detained) on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, a day after Naira Marley was taken into custody. The duo was observed to have been in low spirits, even as Nigerians called for a thorough investigation.

The Code of Conduct Bureau has arraigned the Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Graft Commission, Muhuyi Magaji on a 10-court charge of corruption before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja.

The charges against Magaji, who was arraigned on Thursday, November 17, bother on alleged breach of the code of conduct for public officers; conflict of interest, abuse of office, false asset declaration, bribery, and accepting gifts, among others.

The CCB in a document exclusively obtained by our correspondent noted that investigation showed that the Chairman failed to declare some bank accounts bearing his name and that have the sum of N394m, thereby raising suspicion of corruption.

The defendant was, however, granted bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties that have properties within the FCT, while the case was adjourned to January 10, 2024.

Saturday PUNCH had earlier reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Code of Conduct Bureau are probing Magaji over his stewardship under the administration of the former Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.

Magaji who was probing the former Kano State governor, now National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, for alleged corruption over a viral video showing the former governor allegedly receiving kickbacks in dollars from a contractor, had vowed to investigate the video and bring Ganduje to book, if found guilty.

While a letter by the EFCC, obtained by our correspondent on Saturday, directed the PCACC’s Director of Finance and Accounts to appear for an interview at its headquarters in Jabi, Abuja on August 29, a correspondence by the CCB, also seen by our correspondent, requested for documents concerning his stewardship.

Both federal agencies asked the PCACC’s chair to furnish them with financial records and details of forfeited properties.

“In view of the above, you are requested to kindly release the director of finance and accounts to report for an interview with the undersigned through the team leader AFF/TC at Plot 301/302 Institution and Research District Jabi, along Airport Road, Abuja on Monday, 29th August 2023 by 10:00 hours.

“He should come along with the following information; Details of total funds released to your office by the Office of the Accountant General of Kano state from 2019 to 2021 fiscal year.

“Details of total funds released to your office by the Kano State Ministry of Local Government from 2019 to 2021 including contracts executed and details of beneficiary accounts,” the correspondence stated.

The CCB letter, however, read in part, “Consequently, you are kindly requested to furnish the Bureau with certified True Copies of detailed information on the following: All contractual undertakings by the Commission from 2016 to date.

Liberian incumbent president and football legend George Weah conceded defeat on Friday evening after nearly complete returns showed opposition leader Joseph Boakai leading with nearly 51 per cent of the run-off ballots.

"The results announced tonight, though not final, indicate that... Boakai is in a lead that we cannot surpass," Weah said in a speech on national radio.

The "CDC (party) has lost the election, but Liberia has won. This is the time for graciousness in defeat, to put national interest above personal interest," he said.

The expected victory for former vice president Boakai would be sweet revenge for the 78-year-old, who lost to Weah, 57, by a large margin in the second-round presidential vote in 2017.

With more than 99.5 per cent of the polling stations reporting vote tallies after Tuesday's second-round vote, Boakai had garnered 50.89 per cent of ballots cast, with Weah on 49.11 per cent, according to official results released by the electoral commission.

Boakai was 28,000 votes ahead of Weah, according to Friday's figures, after the two men finished neck-and-neck in the first round last month, with a national lead of just 7,126 votes for Weah.

The United States extended its congratulations to "president-elect Boakai on his victory and President Weah for his peaceful acceptance of the results".

"We call on all citizens to follow President Weah's example and accept the results," US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Weah said he had spoken to Boakai "to congratulate him on his victory".

"The Liberian people have spoken, and we have heard their voice. However, the closeness of the results reveals a deep division within our country," Weah said in his speech.

"Let us heal the divisions caused by the campaign and come together as one nation and one united people."

The elections were the first since the United Nations in 2018 ended its peacekeeping mission, created after more than 250,000 people died in two civil wars in Liberia between 1989 and 2003.

International observers, including the European Union, commended Liberia this week for holding a peaceful election.

Regional bloc ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States, said the election was "largely" peaceful, but it noted isolated incidents that led to "injuries and hospitalisations" in four provinces.

Clashes during the campaign left several dead before the first round and raised fears of post-election violence.

Around 2.4 million Liberians were eligible to vote on Tuesday, but no turnout figures have been released.

Boakai is an old political hand, having served as vice president to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female head of state, from 2006 to 2018.

He is set to lead the English-speaking country of around five million people, one of the poorest in the world, for six years.

More than a fifth of the population lives on less than $2.15 a day, according to the World Bank.

Boakai forged alliances with local barons, including former warlord and senator Prince Johnson, who supported Weah six years ago.

Dozens of Boakai's supporters danced in celebration outside one of his party's offices in the capital Monrovia.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released the seven serving military personnel linked with alleged internet-related fraud.

The suspects which include one Army personnel and six from the Nigerian Air Force were arrested by the Kaduna Zonal office of the anti-graft agency on Monday and were remanded in the custody of the commission for further investigation and possibly prosecution.

However, the matter took a new twist on Friday morning as armed soldiers from the Nigerian Air Force invaded the EFCC office at Number 4 Wurno Road in the Kaduna State capital to enforce the release of their colleagues from detention.

The soldiers who arrived at the EFCC office in five Hilux patrol vans at about 10 am, surrounded the main gate of the commission, thereby preventing the EFCC officials from going in or coming out of their offices.

The situation led to a showdown between the Air Force personnel and EFCC security operatives, who engaged themselves in a shouting match and threatened to pull the trigger against each other.

After nerves were calmed, the EFCC Zonal Head and the leader of the Air Force team, met briefly after which the suspects were released.

Reacting to the incident, the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale told Channels Television in a phone call that the Commission released the suspects upon completion of an investigation and forensic profiling.

“The EFCC exercised restraint in the face of the provocation and flagrant abuse of power. The Commission continued to engage with the leadership of the Nigeria Air Force and released the officers to the NAF Provost after they had been duly profiled,” Oyewale said in another statement late Friday.

He explained that the release and handing over of the suspects to their agency was done in line with the commission’s operating procedure, adding that the suspects would still be arraigned in court at the appropriate time despite being released to their agency.

Victor Osimhen has made the final list for the 2023 CAF Best Player award, a statement from the football body has shown.

“CAF has announced the shortlists for the men’s categories for the CAF Awards 2023,” the African football governing body said on Friday.

The Napoli forward, who is the overwhelming favourite, is the only Nigerian to make the cut and will be aiming to cap off an impressive year in which he won the Italian Scuddeto and top scorer gong in the league.

A few weeks ago, Osimhen finished eighth in the 2023 Ballon d’Or awards held in the French city of Paris.

Apart from the Nigerian, other top players who made the final 10 nominees for the CAF award include holder and Senegalese forward Sadio Mane; Riyad Mahrez of Algeria; and Achraf Hakimi of Morocco among others.

The ultimate winner of each category will be decided after votes from a voting panel consisting of the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, Head coaches, and captains of member associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions, CAF added.

The Awards Gala is billed for Monday, 11 December 2023 in Marrakech, Morocco.

Final Shortlist For 2023 CAF Best Player Prize

Riyad Mahrez (Algeria, Al Ahli)
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon, SSC Napoli)
Vincent Aboubacar (Cameroon, Besiktas)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain)
Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco, Manchester United)
Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal)
Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco, Sevilla)
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, SSC Napoli)
Sadio Mane (Senegal, Al Nassr)