The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) apprehended Abdullahi Yahaya and Ibrahim Haruna within Kaduna metropolis on charges related to currency counterfeiting.

The commission disclosed that upon their arrest, a total sum of $81,700 all in fake $100 denomination, was found in their possession. 

A statement made available to newsmen in Kaduna at the weekend by the commission’s head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, stated that Haruna, upon interrogation, claimed that the counterfeit dollars were delivered to him some months ago for safe-keeping by one Babangida, said to be at large.

It further explained that Yahaya on his part claimed that he got to know that Haruna possessed fake dollars when one Kabiru, also said to be at large, connected him to Haruna for the purpose of collecting the fake dollars for delivery to a buyer who was waiting at an agreed location.

The commission also disclosed other items found in their possession as at the time of the arrest included a small quantity of colourless substance, suspected to be mercury, a chemical allegedly being used to aid the production of fake dollars.

According to the statement, the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has been commended for the professionalism and dedication it brings to the fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes.

It received the commendation when the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Kaduna State Branch paid a courtesy visit to the Kaduna Zonal Command of the EFCC.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the apprehension of a 70-year-old man named Adamu Mohammed by its operatives.

Mohammed was arrested at Mbulamel in the Biu Local Government Area of Borno State for allegedly dealing in illicit drugs.

The anti-narcotic agency also said that its operatives intercepted China and UK-bound consignments concealed in steel bolts and shea butter in Lagos and recovered 2,025 explosives in Niger, Kano and Sokoto states.

The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in a statement issued on Sunday said that NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations (DOGI), attached to a courier firm in Lagos on Wednesday intercepted two parcels containing cocaine and amphetamine concealed in steel bolts and shea butter.

Babafemi stated that while the cocaine weighing 587 grams was concealed in eight steel bolt screws going to China, the amphetamine consignment packed in vape pens and hidden in shea butter was going to the United Kingdom.

He further stated that NDLEA operatives also thwarted an attempt by one Emeka Nwadiaro, also known as Mega, to export 3.6kg of Loud, a strain of cannabis concealed in 36 water flasks to Dubai, UAE at a logistics company in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, on Thursday.

He said a follow-up operation led to the arrest of the owner of the consignment, Nwadiaro in Onitsha, Anambra state on the same day.

Babafemi also stated that while NDLEA operatives in Lagos intercepted a Mercedes Benz bus loaded with 840kg cannabis and arrested the driver, Samuel Henry, at Olojo in the Ojo Local Government Area of the state.

He said another suspect, Lawal Adam, was arrested along Otukpo Road, Aliade in Benue State on Friday with 75,000 pills of opioids including tramadol and exol-5.

Also, two suspects identified as Olisa Etisi, 32, and Jonathan Umeh, 25, were arrested along Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State following the discovery by NDLEA operatives of a big gas cylinder used to conceal six blocks of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 3.85kg.

He also said that on Thursday, 27-year-old Gaddafi Sani was arrested with 30 kilograms of cannabis, 2kg cannabis and 33.55grams of diazepam, along Abuja-Kaduna Road in Kaduna State.

Babafemi said in Yobe State, a consignment of 91.1kg opioids and 13kg cannabis going to Maiduguri, Borno State, was recovered from the hidden compartments of a petrol tanker along Potiskum-Damaturu Road by NDLEA operatives who also arrested the driver, Ismaila Ali.

The NDLEA spokesperson said, “No fewer than four suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure of 2,025 pieces of improvised explosive devices (IED) materials intercepted in a Toyota hummer bus marked AGL 905 XX by NDLEA officers along Agaie - Lapai Road, Niger State.

“While the duo of Abdulrauf Shitu Adeyemi, 46, and Asmiyu Rahim, 45, conveying the IED materials were arrested on the spot, follow-up operations led to the arrest of Husaini Abdullahi, 25, at Sokoto main market, Sokoto and Nazifi Abdullahi, 37, at Naibawa Motor Park, Kano on Friday 17th May.

“The Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has directed that all four suspects and the explosive materials be transferred to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.”

He noted that in another operation, 42-year-old Muhammad Lawal was arrested at Central Market Motor Park, Katsina State with 1,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection.

He said, “A total of 105kg cannabis was on Friday recovered from a house at Obola community, Owan West Local Government Area, Edo State and a suspect, Gloria Oris, was arrested when NDLEA officers raided the area.

“In Kwara State, two suspects: Abdulganiyu Karaman, 55, and Sunday Abel, 37, were on Saturday 18th May arrested with 83kg cannabis and tramadol at Boriya, Baruten LGA, and Offa respectively.”

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, arrived in Nigeria penultimate Friday to champion mental health for young people affected by conflicts and to promote the Invictus Games, which the prince founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick service members and veterans.

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, says it was “humbling” to find out through a genealogy test that she is partly Nigerian as she met with women in the West African nation penultimate Saturday. On her second day in Nigeria, according to AP News, she acknowledged Nigeria as “my country.”

The Duchess at an event on women in leadership co-hosted by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a Nigerian economist and head of the World Trade Organization (WTO). “It’s been eye-opening to be able to know more about my heritage.

Never in a million years would I understand it as much as I do now. “And what has been echoed so much in the past day is, ‘Oh, we are not so surprised when we found out you are Nigerian.

“It is a compliment to you because what they define as a Nigerian woman is brave, resilient, courageous, beautiful”. Meghan had announced on her podcast in October 2022 that she found out through DNA-based test that she was “43% Nigerian.”

Her first reaction after finding out was to tell her mother, she said at the event held in Abuja. “Being African-American, part of it is really not knowing so much about your lineage and background … and it was exciting for both of us,” she said.

Mo Abudu, program anchor and Chief Executive of EbonyLife Media Group, then asked the audience to suggest a Nigerian name for Meghan. “Ifeoma,” someone shouted from the excited crowd, a name from Nigeria’s Igbo tribe which means ‘a treasured thing.’

“Omowale”, another suggested, from the Yoruba tribe, which means ‘the child has come home.’ Meghan joined female leaders such as Okonjo-Iweala to discuss the importance of mentorship for young women and the career challenges women face in a country like Nigeria, where it is not common for women to be in top leadership and political positions.

Asked by the anchor about how she feels about becoming the first woman and first African to lead the WTO, Okonjo-Iweala said it was long overdue.

“When I will feel right is when we stop saying, ‘the first woman to do this … to do that’. I have very mixed feelings about being the first woman because I think women should have been there already.” She also spoke about mentors who have helped her career, including as Nigeria’s former finance minister.

One way to mentor young girls is by “returning home” to be closer to them, Meghan said, citing the case of Okonjo-Iweala as an example.

“You need to come back home, you need to, at least, be a familiar face for the next generation to say, ‘Oh she looks like me and I can be that’,” she added.

Earlier in the day, Meghan watched as Harry and his Invictus Games team lost to the Nigerian military’s team in a sitting volleyball game. It featured soldiers recovering from injuries sustained in the country’s fight against Islamic extremists and other armed gangs in the country’s conflict-battered north. After the match held at the Nigerian Armed Forces’ Mess in Abuja, Harry and Meghan were surrounded by players, their families and a group of women who gifted Meghan a Nigerian fabric.

“We are friends and family supporters of Harry and Meghan,” said Peace Adetoro, 57, a member of the group. “They are a beautiful couple and we love them so much. We support them 100%.” Nigeria’s fashion and dancing styles were in the spotlight during the visit.

The family of David Ukpo, who was taken to the United Kingdom by the former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, for a kidney transplant has cried out as they have not heard from their son David, following the conviction and sentencing of Ekweremadu.

The former deputy senate president and his wife, Beatrice, were sentenced on March 23, 2023, at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, United Kingdom.

Ekweremadu was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison, while his wife was sentenced to four years and six months in jail for organ trafficking.

Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice, and Obinna Obeta, a doctor who acted as the middleman, were alleged to have attempted to convince doctors at the Royal Free Hospital in London to perform an £80,000 transplant on 21-year-old David Ukpo, who was presented as the cousin of their daughter Sonia Ekweremadu.

Speaking with family members in their village in Ndioffia Ishieke of Ebonyi State, where David Ukpo hails from, they stated that they have not heard from their son since the incident broke out and they don’t know if their son is dead or alive.

The 46-year-old mother of David Ukpo, who gave her name as Mary Ukpo, stated that the last time she saw her son was in November 2021, when he visited the village and since then, she has not heard from him or seen him.

Speaking to our correspondent at the family compound in Ndioffia Ishieke village in Ebonyi State, she said, “I don’t know if my son is alive or not because I have not heard from him since 2022.

“The last time I saw him was in 2021 when he came to the village. I am begging anyone who knows where my son is to please grant me access to speak to him.

“We heard Ike Ekweremadu has been sentenced to prison, but until this very moment, we have not heard from our son. It’s been years now, and I don’t know if he is alive or dead. David is my son and first child. I just gave birth to another child in his absence, which makes it seven younger ones that are next to him.”

With tears, the stepmother of David, who gave her name as Ukpo Felicia, said since David’s departure, the father has been sick with his leg swollen.

Acting means everything to Hope Omenihu Samuel as she has done just about everything regarding the craft, including making a mark as a producer.

But for the woman from Elelenwo, Porthacourt, Rivers State pursuing a career in acting shouldn’t be at the expense of every other thing in anyone’s life.

She frowns at the fact that some girls drop out of school to pursue a career in acting, saying that it is a wrong choice that could have dire consequences in the future.

“Aspiring to make a living in the movie industry should not be a do or die affair. I don’t believe in young girls dropping out of school and messing themselves up because they want to be movie stars. Go to school hold onto something as a graduate and then you can join the queue in the industry,” she advises.

Hope Samuel understands the place of priorities all too well as she has had to put her passion aside to focus on a more important thing in her life.

“I started producing and acting professionally in 2003. It wasn’t easy for me in my early days. My kids were still little,,  so l had to stop acting and producing to tend to issues. I came back in 2013, though it’s not being rosy, I believe we will get there,” she says.

Apart from acting and producing movies, the woman who also revealed that she came into the industry as a married woman and mother is an entrepreneur and Motivational speaker. She is currently resident in Abuja.

She has displayed her acting prowess in movies such as Household Murder, Broken Home,  Love/SACRIFICE, Domestic Chaos, Locked, Christmas Holiday and many others.

As an executive producer, her works include Sweet Candy, The Love I Found, My Rich Girlfriend, and Kiki’s Dilemma.

Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has disclosed that he has never for once accepted a bribe of any kind since he started active service as a police officer.

Adejobi, who is an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), made this revelation in a post on his verified X account on Sunday.

The Force PRO, while responding to a netizen who asked if he had ever taken bribes before, said accepting bribes is a taboo for him as a royal prince.

According to him, accepting a bribe is not just ungodly but also affects someone somewhere anytime it is taken.

Adejobi, an alumnus of the University of Ibadan, added that the essence of life is to put smiles on the faces of others and not to be the source of their tears.

He further revealed that he has taken it upon himself to preach against accepting bribery to his fellow police officers and other people around him.

He wrote, “No. It’s a taboo for a royal prince to take a bribe. Taking bribe definitely makes someone somewhere cry for many reasons, and it’s ungodly to do so. Your main purpose in life is to put smiles on people’s faces. It’s Godly and rewarding. It’s my personal principle and a call to duty. I preach this to my colleagues and many others always. May we have the grace to remain steadfast and purposeful in life.”

Adejobi, who is a prince from Orile-Owu Community in Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State, was reappointed as the Force PRO by the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, in August 2023.

Says things may get worse even till 2026

‘This govt should go into agriculture...’ he declares

Seer and spiritual head of Inri Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Babatunde Elijah has to his credit a catalogue of fulfilled prophecies. These include the current political state in Chad; the Togolese constitutional amendment; the coup against Ali Bongo as Gabon’s president; warning against increment in Nigeria’s VAT and stamp duty; the current legal crisis that Nigeria’s ex-CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, is faced with; the economic hardship being faced under the current presidential administration, among several others. In this interview, Ayodele speaks on what Nigeria and the rest of Africa should expect.

Security

NIGERIA’S military should build three towers to curb the incessant killing of military personnel and to help end insecurity in the country. ISIS, Boko Haram, and Al-Qaeda are working to form a formidable network to attack the nation’s military convoys and formations. There are moves to attack some sensitive places. The military must rise against these for them not to happen. They must be watchful and careful. The military must carry out airstrikes and cleansing in the locations where these terrorists are lodged. One of the top second-in-commands of Boko Haram will be arrested. There will be a rise in kidnappings in the country which will unsettle the military. The following states should be under serious security surveillance: Kogi, Kaduna, Sokoto, Yobe, Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Niger, Imo, and Anambra.

There will be disasters as a result of floods. This will render many people homeless, thereby creating panic and tension. The government must do something about it very urgently to avert it. We must pray against attacks on our refineries. We must also pray against gas and tanker explosions in the country. We must pray against the collision of airplanes. Let them keep all our airports safe against fire outbreaks. We must protect all our universities.

The African continent

There will be moves to construct inter-regional road networks to create free trade zones in Africa. Also, another coup is possible in Africa. Burkina Faso must be very careful. Mali must be very careful. Gabon must be very careful. This is because of unexpected coup attempts. In Chad, the president will make advances to remain in office for a very long time beyond what is allowed. He will take over the sectors of the country. He wants to become a life president. The military will rise against him. The Togolese president, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, will go for another term in office. There will be political tension in Togo. In Benin Republic, there will be confusion on who to pick but the president will pick someone in his cabinet who will take over from him. If he picks someone in his cabinet, not an outsider, then the election will be tough for the opposition parties. A close associate of the president will be up against him. The coming election in Benin Republic will shock the opposition.

Let us pray not to lose any president or former president in Africa; we must also pray that no president will be incapacitated. The Togolese head of parliament, the Benin Republic’s head of parliament, and Congo Brazzaville’s head of parliament must pray for good health. China will take over the economic direction of many African nations. China will enslave a lot of African nations. Africa will have so many financial difficulties. Some African countries will go into recession. Some nations will experience natural disasters. The president of DRC will have tough times ahead as a result of many political tensions. This country must be very careful. It should pray against natural disasters. Cote d’Ivoire will experience flooding. The same thing will happen in Cameroon. Also, the Benin Republic and Niger must watch very closely against this. In Mozambique, the current president will not be allowed to run for another term. Someone else will take over; whoever this is will be from the ruling party. He will be the next president of Mozambique.

Politics

Peter Obi is not ready to be Nigeria’s president. His plans to be president in 2027 are not intact. There is no certainty that he can be president in 2027. If former Vice President Atiku Abubakar decides to run in 2027 on PDP’s platform, the party will lose. Only a new presidential candidate from the PDP will take the party to the next level. The northerners will gang up against President Bola Tinubu; the northern region will be divided about Tinubu. A sitting governor will decamp from PDP if the party is not careful enough. Let us pray against accidents and attacks on governors’ convoys. Not all Tinubu’s cabinet members will finish their terms in office. Some of his ministers will be removed. We must pray against death or explosion at the villa. We must also pray against protocol breaches at the villa. The president must address the issue of hardship in the country. I see this hardship turning into a mass protest. If the president does not implement regulations in his government, this will affect him within three to four months from now. Nyesom Wike should leave Governor Fubara alone. It is not his war because God is fighting for Fubara. Also, there should be no political tension in Taraba. The current governor will take the state to greater heights. God is with the governor. Osun APC will experience more crises. Not all the governors will finish their term in office.

Economy

The exchange rate between the naira and the dollar will not go down despite the work being done at the moment. Nigeria will still borrow money despite the huge debt profile of the nation. China will take over a part of the economic governance of Nigeria. This government should go into agriculture. Many states will collapse under the weight of the proposed minimum wage. Nigeria’s civil servants should not be deceived because the government cannot pay a minimum wage of N120,000. Let them fight against hunger in the land. The price of a bag of rice cannot be reduced to N30,000 anymore. The government must fight against hunger, famine, and food scarcity. Many economists are deceiving Tinubu’s government. Many of them are not qualified to be in his economic team. They are only there to carry out their business. Unless the government has its cement factory, a bag of cement cannot be bought for N2,000. The economy will bite very hard if it is not handled very well and very quickly. Nigeria is sitting on a time bomb. Many are deceiving the president. The economic team is doing nothing. I warned earlier that the energy tariff would be increased. What do we do now? Tinubu needs to review his cabinet. Many of them don’t know why they are there.

The truth is bitter. The president is refusing to listen to the truth. Let him look for people who are proactive and are ready to work. The people surrounding him are not ready to work. Our economy is not smiling. Nigeria will experience more inflation. It cannot come down this year. No magic can be done in this regard this year. If care is not taken, it will be extended to 2026. Concerning the crisis in the price of petrol, the Nigerian government is yet to do the right thing. Until we refine crude oil ourselves, the pump price will not come down. The Dangote refinery will not help at all. We are just deceiving ourselves.

The following banks should be watchful so as not to run into unforeseen crises: First Bank, Titanic Bank, Providus Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Access Bank, Zenith Bank, Union Bank, Wema Bank, and Heritage Bank. They must be very careful and they must pray not to lose any of their prominent directors. The names of some banks will be changed.

Telecommunications

I have seen another indigenous telecommunications trying to start operations in Nigeria. This is meant to compete with Globacom. Globacom will have several challenges; there are moves to knock Globacom out of operations. Despite all these challenges, Globacom will remain a leading telecommunications company. Yet, the company must be careful. 9Mobile will retrench some of its workers. Airtel will be penalized. Meanwhile, the government will increase VAT on telecommunications. There will also be an increase in the tariff paid on telecommunication. This will affect the services of the telecommunications companies. The NCC will issue a notice to all telecommunications companies which will be protested seriously against. There will be issues with Nigeria’s satellite.

British heavyweight fighter, Tyson Fury has expressed his frustration over his split decision loss to Ukrainian fighter Oleksandr Usyk, implying that sympathy for Usyk’s war-torn country influenced the judges’ verdict.

The undefeated Ukrainian became the first undisputed world champion of the century after a closely contested fight against Fury in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.

Usyk, donning his national colours, dedicated his historic win to the people of Ukraine in the aftermath of the judges’ announcement in Riyadh. 

He had temporarily returned to Ukraine following the Russian invasion in February 2022 before resuming his boxing career.

Fury, visibly disappointed, suggested that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine may have swayed the judges.

“I believe I won that fight. He won a few rounds, but I won the majority of them,” Fury stated in the ring after the fight.

“We both put on a good fight. His country is at war, so people are siding with the country at war. Make no mistake, I won that fight in my opinion.”

Grammy-winning singer, Damini Ogulu, aka Burna Boy, has sparked debate on who is the biggest artiste in Nigeria once again, with his bold claim on the remix of the viral South African song ‘Tshwala Bam’ by TitoM and Yuppe.

The ‘African Giant’ crooner boldly declared in the opening verse of the remix, which was released last week, that he is the godfather of the Nigerian music industry.

“As long as Naija la wa…Them they call me the Godfather,” he sings. 

Burna Boy has been very vocal about being the leader of the Nigerian music industry.

He sparked controversy years back after declaring himself the “blueprint” of the Nigerian music industry following his Grammy win.

His colleague Davido has also laid claim to Afrobeats’ leadership in the past.

On a track titled ‘Godfather’ in his fourth studio album, ‘Timeless’, Davido asserted himself as the godfather of the Nigerian music industry.

Nigerian singer, Oritsefemi Majemite Ekele, popularly known as Oritsefemi, has claimed that he is his colleagues, Wizkid, Burna Boy and Davido’s godfather.

He said he had already made money from music before they came into limelight.

According to him, he encouraged the trio to do music.

Speaking in a recent interview with Chude Jideonwo, Oritsefemi said, “I had already made money [from the music industry] when some people were sleeping [yet to come into limelight].

“Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, so many of them [young artists], I encouraged them. I’m like their godfather.

“Even some female celebrities who are now trolling me on social media, I accommodated them in my mansion in Lekki back in the days. Even Burna Boy, I once accommodated him.”