An officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdulwahab Magaji, serving in the Federal Capital Territory, reportedly shot himself dead in his residence on Binta Street, Farm Estate area, Abuja.

PUNCH Metro gathered from a senior law enforcement officer that the incident happened last Monday.

According to the source, the family of the deceased had raised the alarm that Magaji had shot himself with a rifle, prompting police officers to visit the scene of the incident.

The source added that when the police arrived at the scene, the victim was reportedly rushed to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

The source said, “A family of the deceased had raised the alarm that CSC Abdulahi Abdulwahab Magaji, a customs officer serving in Abuja, shot himself in his house at Farm Centre with a pump-action rifle.

“Police officers dashed to the scene of the incident and took the victim to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, where he was certified dead by the doctor on duty.”

The source added that the body of the deceased had been handed over to the family for burial, according to Islamic rites.

Meanwhile, efforts to get the reaction of the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, proved abortive as calls made to her line were not answered as of the time of filing this report.

Similarly, the Customs National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, could not be reached for comments as his line was switched off, and messages sent to him were not responded to as of the time this report was filed.

The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, WTO, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said Nigeria needs to continue diversifying to attract investment and boost trade surplus.

Okonjo-Iweala stated this while addressing newsmen after a meeting with the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle and other women at the Nigerian Women in Leadership event in Abuja weekend.

Nigeria recorded N1.41 trillion trade deficit between October and December of 2023, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS.

Mr Olisa Agbakoba has reacted to the controversial cybersecurity levy imposed on Nigerians by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

Agbakoba described the imposition of the levy as unconstitutional and not a “good idea”.

Speaking with TheCable, the former NBA President said: “It is not a good idea at all. I believe it is a good idea to have a cybersecurity act so that we can deal with cybercrime. However, it is not a good idea to create a fund for which the national security adviser will be entitled to deploy when that is contrary to what the constitution prescribes,” he said.

“So, I am going to court to challenge the imposition by the CBN on levies on the banks which will amount to the banks paying about N3 trillion a year.

“That is unconstitutional because what the constitution says is that everything concerning revenue, whether it is tax or non-tax revenue such as the levy in the cybersecurity act, must pass through the federation account for it to now be appropriated by the National Assembly.

“So, if the same National Assembly makes a law bypassing the appropriation process and putting money in the hands of an agency, that is unconstitutional.”

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted three truckloads of opioids, comprising 3,450,000 pills and 344,000 bottles of codeine syrup at Abule Ado, in the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Confirming the drug seizure which happened on Thursday, the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, said three suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.

The statement partly read, “The multi-billion naira consignments were loaded into two 40-ft container trucks and another 20-ft truck at the AML bonded terminal, Abule-Osun, near the International Trade Fair complex before heading to a large warehouse at Abule-Ado, where the NDLEA officers eventually arrested the suspects and recovered the opioid consignments on Thursday, May 9, 2024.”

The statement also revealed that in Ekiti State, a 75-year-old grandpa, Jibril Audu, was arrested on Friday with 7.5 kilogrammes of cannabis at Oke-asa village, Ijero-Ekiti, during a raid, while a 70-year-old grandma, Tikwase Nytor, was nabbed with 15.6 kilogrammes of the same substance on Thursday during a raid at Achusa, along the International Market Road, Makurdi, Benue State.

It also stated that in a separate operation on Tuesday, the NDLEA operatives arrested a suspect, Nwankwo Ejike, in the Coker area of Lagos, where 100 litres of codeine syrup were recovered from him, while 60 litres of the same substance were seized from one Clinton Akinye in the same area on the same day.

The statement added, “Not less than 37.5kg of cannabis sativa loaded in a Toyota Camry was recovered from another suspect, Adegbola Segun, 47, when the car was intercepted at the Mile 12 area of Lagos on Monday, May 6.

“Another consignment of opioids consisting of 59,106 pills of tramadol and different quantities of codeine syrup and Rohypnol being taken across the border to Garua, Cameroon, was intercepted by the NDLEA officers on Monday, May 6, along Mubi-Yola Road, Adamawa State.

“Two suspects linked to the drugs: Abubakar Auwal, 39, and Adamu Abubakar, 25, aka Bamanga, a trans-border trafficker, who was to take the consignment from Mubi across to Cameroon, were promptly arrested.”

Similarly, the NDLEA officials in Edo State were reported to have raided the Iguiye forest in the Ovia North East Local Government Area on Saturday, “where a total of 11, 636.185 kg of cannabis was destroyed on three farms measuring 4.654474 hectares, while an additional 188kg of the same psychoactive substance was recovered, and a suspect, Itah Nyong, was arrested during the overnight operation.”

The Chief of Staff to Rivers State Government, Edison Ehie, has alleged that he was offered money to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

He, however, did not disclose the identities of those who offered him money.

Addressing a rally in Ahoada East area of the state, the former factional speaker of the State House of Assembly disclosed the purported plot to impeach the governor, eliciting applause from the gathered crowd.

“They invited me, your son, to impeach the governor and I told them clearly, I was not interested.

“They gave me all the money that was hidden before, which I rejected. And because I refused, they conspired and declared me wanted,” Ehie said in a viral video clip from the rally.

Last year, Ehie was declared wanted by the police in connection with the invasion of the State House of Assembly.

In October 2023, an explosion rattled the state assembly building amidst reports of lawmakers attempting to impeach Fubara.

It was alleged that certain individuals with close ties to the governor were implicated in the incident.

The Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers had reportedly lodged criminal complaints against Ehie with the Rivers State Police Command regarding the invasion and arson of the Rivers State House of Assembly chambers by unidentified hoodlums.

Ehie’s revelation contributes to the protracted crisis in the state, stemming from the conflict between Fubara and his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The Anglican Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. David Onuoha, has lamented that Nigeria of today, looks more like a murder land than a motherland.

Onuoha made the lamentation, in a 117-page presidential address he delivered, weekend, at the first session of the 11th synod of the Diocese of Okigwe South, held at Emmanuel Church, Ehume, Obowo local council area of Imo State.

His words: “The consequences of past misdeeds, neglect, and wrong choices combined to make Nigeria of today, look like a land that devours its inhabitants, one that looks more like a murder land than a motherland.

“The search for a Nigeria that works, one that inspires hope, ensures safety, and engenders prosperity, has continued since her political independence about 64 years ago.

“However, one single business that seems to have thrived over these years is corruption, which is so pervasive and endemic. It cuts across the social strata, from the hawker in the street to the highest offices in the land.

“The cutting edge fraud witnessed in the 2023 elections, the handling of the petitions that ensued, the recent war between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, with some political heavyweights, the allegations trailing the award of certain contracts, as well as the impunity which some public office holders exhibit, sign-post grave danger for our dear country.

“The distress in the society today, ranging from poverty, unemployment, insecurity, and hunger, is a result of corruption that has bedeviled this country over the years.

“Public funds meant for the development of the society, are siphoned in such a senseless and primitive manner. The situation will become even worse until this hydraheaded monster is tackled head-on and made unattractive.”

Family corruption

While recalling his previous plea that members of the family of a corruption convict should also share in the punishment, Onuoha also opined that Nigeria has not made the desired progress in nation building.

Onuoha said: “Nigeria has not made the desired progress in nationbuilding because as an amalgamation of different ethnic nationalities, there is no common core value propelling or undergirding our behaviours, aspirations and expectations.

“It is evident that this core value exists at the level of the various component units that make up the country. This may be the reason why tribal sentiments and/or considerations are very prominent in any national discussion.

“It is, therefore, very necessary that restructuring the country, along the six geo-political zones, is seen as the key that will unlock the greatness of Nigeria.

“Restructuring must not be seen as disintegration, but a rediscovery of the good old days of regional government in Nigeria, where the pursuit of core values engendered healthy competition and growth among the regions. This, no doubt, announced Nigeria’s greatness to the outside world.

“While we all agree that the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable, returning to the vision of the founding fathers of the country, by encouraging regional governments that contribute to the centre, is the best way to strengthen the unity of Nigeria. It is time to end this suffocation and let in fresh air in our land.”

TotalEnergies Nigeria has launched the 2024 edition of its Startuppers challenge with each winner getting N8 million to support its business in Nigeria and the African continent.

The challenge was launched virtually on Thursday at an event attended by the Managing Director of TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc, Dr Samba Seye and other executives of the energy company.

During the launch, it was revealed that the 2024 edition of the challenge would be used to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the multinational.

A statement from the company said : 100 businesses across 32 African countries with each winner becoming a “Startupper of the Year by TotalEnergies” and will benefit from a monetary award of N8 million , personalised support and a communication campaign to enhance their project’s visibility.’

“This 4th edition aims to support and encourage young African entrepreneurs to innovate and bring their projects to reality in their country of application,”

Presenting the mode that this year’s competition would take, the General Manager, Country Services, TotalEnergies, Mrs Adesua Adewole, said registration for the challenge would open on May 13th and close on June 18th, 2024.

“100 startups would be selected at first before 15 finalists would be selected.

Aliko Dangote has been ranked as the world’s sixth richest person in the manufacturing industry.

Dangote whose net worth is put at $14.3 billion is the founder of Dangote Cement, the leading cement producer in Africa, in which owns about 85 percent stake, as well as Dangote Fertilizer and Refinery, the world’s largest single-train refinery.

The ranking was carried out by Insidermonkey.com, an American firm that uses a hybrid evaluation system to track insider transactions and other market anomalies, and educate investors about the intricacies of investing.

Dangote is the only African among the top 25 billionaires ranked.

The world’s richest billionaire in the manufacturing industry is Reinhold Wuerth with a net worth of $35.3 billion.

Wuerth joined his father’s wholesale screw business in 1949 and retired from the firm in 1994.

The second ranked billionaire in manufacturing is He Xiangjian, worth $26.1 billion.

Xiangjian created one of the world’s leading appliance makers, Midea Group Co. Ltd. In 2012, he stepped down from Midea Group operations.

Michael Hartono was ranked the third richest person in manufacturing, with a net worth of $23.1 billion.

Hartono and his family made a huge fortune from the tobacco business and are still one of the biggest clove cigarette makers in Indonesia. He also has investment in the Bank of Central Asia (BCA).

Takemitsu Takizaki was named the world’s fourth richest billionaire in manufacturing with a net worth of $20.7 billion.

Takizaki founded Keyence Corporation, a company that manufactures sensors and electronic components for factory automation systems.

The fifth richest billionaire, according to the rankings, is James Ratcliffe worth $16.2 billion

Ratcliffe is the founder, chairman, and majority owner of the chemical powerhouse, Ineos Group.

A former Commissioner for Works in Rivers State, George-Kelly Alabo, has stated that the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, would have been “a level 14 officer in the civil service” if not for his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who helped him to rise.

Alabo resigned from the cabinet of Fubara in March before he became the Director-General of the Border Communities Development Agency.

Speaking on his resignation in a video shared by Channels Television, Alabo declared his loyalty to Wike, saying he couldn’t be seen as a betrayer.

“My loyalty lies irreversibly with Nyesom Wike.

“ Let me tell you something, we must not forget those who helped us to climb. The governor, for instance, would have been a level 14 civil servant in the Ministry of Finance if not for Wike who made him a DFA, Permanent Secretary, Accountant General, and governor,” he said.

On his disagreement with the governor, the former commissioner said he couldn’t have taken sides with Fubara because he did not fulfil his side of the peace agreement initiated by President Bola Tinubu.

“Part of the resolution was that the budget should be represented to the House of Assembly. So, there is no appropriation. How are you spending? That’s probably why I couldn’t side with him,” he stated.

Fubara and his godfather, Wike, have been at loggerheads since some lawmakers loyal to the Federal Capital Minister moved to impeach the governor.

Speaking on Saturday, the minister apologised to the people of the state, saying he made a mistake that would be corrected at the appropriate time.

He, however, did not disclose the nature of the mistake.

“I want to say this clearly: in life, we make mistakes. I have made a mistake. I own it up, and I say God forgive me. I have said all of you forgive me. But we will correct it at the appropriate time,” he said.

Some hunters have found a baby reportedly buried alive in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State.

The incident, according to a resident of the local government who simply identified himself as Terna happened in the Ashav Kusuv community.

Terna said that hunters found her and brought her alive from the forest where she was buried alive.

“Some hunters on Saturday found a baby girl and said that they found her buried alive in a forest. The baby is currently being taken care of at Ashav Kusuv community,” he said.

Chairman of the local government, Iorkyaan Agber who spoke to our correspondent on the phone on Sunday confirmed the report and stated that the baby was found in a forest by some hunters.

“Some hunters indeed found a baby in the forest but we are investigating to know who went and dropped a baby in the forest and the reason for doing that,” he said.

Efforts to get the reaction of the Benue Police Spokesperson, Catherine Anene, were not successful as her phone rang out.