The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it did not force the former Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, into confessing his alleged involvement in N109bn fraud.

An operative of the EFCC, Abdulhamid I. Muri, whose duties involve intelligence gathering, conducting surveillance, undercover operations and interacting with informants, told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja on Tuesday during the continuation of the hearing in the 14-count charges bordering on money laundering brought against him by the EFCC.

EFCC arraigned Idris alongside Godfrey O. Akindele, Mohammed K. Usman, and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited before the FCT High Court on 22nd July 2022.

However, during the sitting on Tuesday, Muri, who was also the third Prosecution Witness (PW3), in the ongoing trial-within-trial of the former AGF, told Justice Halilu Yusuf of the FCT, High Court that EFCC did not promise Idris that he was not going to face prosecution for his N109bn alleged loot.

While narrating how the defendant made his statement voluntarily, pointed out that the Commission did not make such promises to the defendant.

Muri said he first met the defendant through the former EFCC Kano Zonal Commander, Faruk Dogon Daji, who introduced him to the defendant and informed him that the defendant came to submit some documents linked to the investigation.

He said: “On the 10th June, 2022, the first defendant went to our office and met the then zonal commander, Mr Faruk Dogon Daji, an Assistant Commander of EFCC, ACEI, in his office and based on this, the Zonal Commander sent for me and told me that the first defendant came to submit some documents that are linked to the investigation that was on-going concerning him and that I should take him to my office to write a about the documents.

“The first defendant in the company of one Lawal Badamasi followed me to my office and the office is an open office where everybody can come in and go out and there in the office, there is one Mubarak, a staff of the Commission and Yusuf Baba Yusuf.

“I administered a cautionary word, I told him his rights, I wrote out the cautionary word and he said he understood and thereafter he volunteered his statement mentioning the documents one after the other and signed the documents with the date of that day.”

When confronted by the prosecution counsel, A.O. Atolagbe, with the allegation of the EFCC promising the defendant that the Commission will not prosecute him, Muri, said the Commission did not make such a promise to the defendant.

He said: “The first defendant is alleging that this statement of June 10, 2022, is a product of promise, that he will not be prosecuted, what is your take,” Atolagbe asked.

“It is not true my Lord; I am not the investigation officer, I am just directed to take his statement.”

According to Muri, the former AGF was not detained in the facility of the Kano Zonal Command of the Commission.

The judge then discharged the witness after the cross-examination and adjourned the matter till 29th October 2024, for defence of trial-within-trial after the counsel to the first defendant cross-examined the PW3.

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja on Tuesday adjourned until Oct. 21 for the continuation of the trial of the suspended governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele over alleged procurement fraud.

Emefiele is charged with an alleged 20-count amended charge, preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He was alleged to have engaged in criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence and obtaining money by false pretence when he served as the apex bank’s boss.

Specifically, the EFCC alleged that the former CBN boss forged a document titled: Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions dated January 26, 2023, with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201 and purported same to have emanated from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (AGF).

Besides he is also accused of using his office as CBN governor to confer unfair and corrupt advantage on two companies; April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.

Emefiele in the amended charge was alleged to have, on Feb. 8, 2023, knowingly obtained, by false pretence, 6.2 million dollars by falsely representing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation vide a letter dated Jan. 26, 2023, with Ref No. SGF 43/L.01/201 requested the CBN to provide a contingent logistic advance for $6,230,000 “in line with Presidential directive.”

Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned until Oct. 21 after hearing the testimony of the 9th prosecution witness (PW9).

He further adjourned until July 8 for a hearing of Emefiele ‘s application seeking for the release of his passport to enable him attend to medical appointments.

Earlier, the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, brought two witnesses PW8 and PW9.

Umar Tilde the 8th prosecution witness (PW8) works with Zenith Bank as Compliance Office.

He told the court that EFCC, requested account opening documents, a statement of account, and a certificate of identification for the account of Emefiele

” We responded by submitting the requested documents to the EFCC.

The documents from Zenith Bank, account statement of the defendant and the certificate of identification were all admitted in evidence and marked as: Exhibits ED1, ED2 & ED3.

On whether Emefiele had only one account with the bank, he said the letter from the EFCC had different account numbers.

” We responded based on the account numbers supplied,” he said.

The prosecution 9th witness is
Mrs Abibia Ockiya-Ogeleye, a lawyer Principal Partner, A & A Legal Consociate.

She handled the incorporation matters at the CAC for Architkun Nigeria Ltd.

According to the witness, before 2021, the company had two directors.

” I added one person, which is Madam Esther Oyeladun.

” There are three Directors- Omoile Makonbo, Omoile Margaret and Esther Oyeladun.”

The witness added that all she did was given to her by Esther Oyeladun.

After her testimony, Matthew Burkaa, SAN, Emefiele’s counsel told the court that, his client applied for the release of his passport to travel for a medical appointment.

The Debt Management Office says the rise in Nigeria’s public debt stock from N97.34tn in December 2023 to N121.67tn in March is partly due to exchange rate fluctuations.

The Director-General of DMO, Patience Oniha, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja.

She was clarifying misconceptions about the recently released update of the country’s total debt profile.

She said that the securitisation of N4.90tn as part of the securitisation of the N7.3trn Ways and Means Advances approved by the National Assembly was also responsible for the N24.33tn increase in the debt stock.
According to her, there is also the interest rate, as well as new borrowing of N2.81trn as part of the N6.06tn provided in the 2024 budget.
She, however, emphasised that the debt stock included the domestic and external debt stock of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“The total public debt as of March 31, showed that the total public debt in Naira terms stood at N121.67trn compared to N97.34trn as of December 31, 2023.
“While detailed information was provided on the data, such as the split between external and domestic debt as well as the fact that the debt stock includes the domestic and external debt stock of the 36 states and the FCT, it has become imperative to provide some explanations.
“It is important to recognise the fact that Nigeria has undergone some major reforms that have impacted economic indices such as the dollar/Naira exchange rate and interest rates.
“These two, in particular, affect the debt stock and debt service,” she said.
Oniha said that the increase in Naira in terms of N24.33tn between the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, did not strictly represent new borrowing.
She said that the total external debt stock was relatively flat at 42.50 billion dollars and 42.12 billion dollars in the fourth quarter of 2023, and the first quarter of 2024, respectively.
“The Naira values were significantly different at N38.22tn and N56.02tn, respectively, representing a difference of N17.8tn.
“This explains the perceived sharp increase of N24.33tn in the total debt stock in the first quarter of 2024.
“The difference in the exchange rate for the two periods also explains why, in dollar terms, the total debt stock actually declined in the first quarter of 2024 to $91.46bn,” Oniha said.
She said that the debt report was somewhat an improvement from the past, before President Bola Tinubu’s government.
According to her, if you discount FX impact, the debt is moderate and within the normal limit.
She urged the Federal Government to prioritise fiscal retrenchment while assuring that the various measures to attract foreign exchange inflows would increase external reserves and support the Naira exchange rate.

Popular Nigerian music star, David ‘Davido’ Adeleke has expressed excitement as he ties the knot with his partner Chioma Rowland.

Speaking ahead of the occasion on Tuesday, Davido said, “I feel good, men, it’s a great day, the best day of my life. We are here to receive our wife.”

The couple is set to tie the knot today, with the singer being surrounded by family members, friends, colleagues, and specially invited friends.

Photos of their stunning outfits, as well as those of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke and Davido’s father Adedeji Adeleke, Davido’s sister Sharon, Cubana Chief Priest, and other close associates of the singer, have surfaced online.

See photos below:

The Naira abuse case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu aka Cubana Chief Priest, has been struck out by the Federal High Court in Lagos State.

Recall that the anti-graft agency arraigned Cubana Chief Priest on April 17.

He was charged with three counts of spraying and mishandling naira notes, actions that contravene Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act of 2007.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail for N10 million.

The matter was initially adjourned to May 2, where Mr Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, representing Okechukwu, indicated that both parties were seeking a settlement under Section 14(2) of the EFCC Act.

Following discussions, the defence counsel requested the withdrawal of a preliminary objection, which was unopposed by the prosecution and subsequently granted by the court.

In a post via his Instagram page, Cubana Chief Priest disclosed that his case was struck out at the hearing today, June 25, and he has been cautioned and discharged.

He also warned his fans and followers against the mutilation of the Naira.

He wrote, “Thank You God As My Case Is Struck Out, CP The Defendant Is Cautioned & Discharged. Thank You @officialefcc ? & My Legal Team Being Headed By Chikaosolu Ojukwu Senior Advocate Of ?? Now Let’s Get Straight To The Venue For #ChiVido2024? With ? Composure & Steeze. NB: Pls Don’t Mutilate Naira You If There Be Need Better Do It In Dollars”

See Post Below;

Afrobeats star, Davido has assured the parents of his bride, Chioma of his commitment to their union.

He vowed to give the mother of his twins a ‘’lifetime assurance''.

The 'Feel' crooner made the pledge to Chioma's parents while asking for her hand in marriage at their wedding holding in Lagos today, June 25.

‘’Your daughter will be protected, respected and connected'' he assured her parents.

Watch a video of him speaking below;

The Ogun State Police Command has said a pregnant woman, Rahemat Lateef, who claimed to have been abducted by some unknown gunmen while going to the state hospital at Ijaiye, Abeokuta for child delivery, faked the kidnap.

The state police command, SP Omolola Odutola, disclosed this on her X handle.

Odutola said the woman faked the kidnapping after she discovered she had suffered another miscarriage to avoid the wrath of her husband who was naturally expecting her to be put to bed.

According to the police, Rahemat, who had suffered repeated miscarriages, travelled to Kwara State but later returned to Abeokuta with her father.

Odutola while giving updates on the incident said, “Rahemat Lateef who the husband reported abducted, was never abducted, but planned her journey to Kwara State, to escape the wrath of her husband, because she has remained unlucky due to miscarriages.

“She is under medical attention, safe,” she added.

Last week Rahemat’s husband, Ogunbunmi Lateef, said he received a WhatsApp message, informing him of his wife’s kidnap.

The Police Spokesman, Omolola Odutola, in a statement had confirmed the incident but refused to give more details on the incident.

“One Ogunbunmi Lateef of Oke Lantoro reported that his pregnant wife due for delivery left home for State Hospital Ijaiye Abeokuta.

“He received a WhatsApp message confirming the abduction of his wife by unknown armed men,” Odutola said.

The Presidency has pleaded with Nigerians not to mount unnecessary pressure on President Bola Tinubu over the new minimum wage demand.

The government assured that Tinubu would transmit the proposed bill to the National Assembly once it is ready.

Speaking to Punch, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga wondered what the rush for the transmission of the bill was all about.

Onanuga’s position is coming barely 24 hours after the Organised Labour asked the President to consult with them before transmitting the bill to the National Assembly.

The Union had complained that the National Executive Committee which will accommodate about 300 Labour leaders, is being stalled by Tinubu’s delay to transmit the wage bill.

The President, during his Democracy Day broadcast, disclosed that a consensus had been reached between the Federal Government and Labour on the new wage, a development which the Organised Labour debunked.

However, Onanuga, while admitting that he had no idea when the bill would be submitted, called for patience.

“People should be patient,” he stated.

His appeal comes one week after he reiterated that the ₦250,000 wage being demanded by the workers’ union is unsustainable, warning that the Federal Government cannot channel all its resources to meet such demand.

Governors of the southern region of the country, have maintained their stand on the need for the creation of state police.

The Governors, who met yesterday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, under the auspices of the Southern Governors Forum, reiterated the need to have control over the security architecture of their respective states as the chief security officers.

Speaking on a national television interview, the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, who just replaced former Ondo governor, the late Rotimi Akeredolu as the chairman of the forum, said the governors of the region are united in their call for state police.

He argued that federal security officers deployed to various states do not understand the local terrain, language or culture of the people, and before they settle down to understand such things, they are transferred to another state, making it difficult to gather intelligence on security issues.

Abiodun stated that it is obvious that the federal police is short of manpower, but with the creation of state police, security operatives who understand the terrain will be able to complement the efforts of the federal officers in curbing insecurity.

The Ogun Governor said: “We all spoke with one voice in support of state policing.

“We spoke with one voice in support of regional security outfits which almost all regions have set up.

“The outfits are working hand in glove with the law enforcement agencies and providing them with intelligence and support.

“We all know that we cannot have any meaningful development in the atmosphere of insecurity.

“We all spoke with one voice in support of state policing, and regional security outfits, working hand-in-glove with the security outfits.

“The governors are called state chief security officers. But, we know that the Commissioner of Police is appointed by the Inspector General of Police and is only answerable to the IG.

“And when the governor needs to call the attention of the CP on an urgent task in his state, the governor will have to first clear with the IG.

“What have we discovered? In most cases, a policeman from Borno, Maiduguri, posted to Lagos or Ogun states, for instance.

“Such an officer doesn’t understand the terrain, he doesn’t speak the language and he does not get the level of intelligence he needs.

“By the time he is settling down to understand these factors, he is transferred to another state.

“We’re calling for community police to tame insecurity in the state and the nation.

“Under the state police arrangement, a policeman posted to his ward won’t have problems with language and intelligence.

“In that case, the policeman understands the community and the locals, language, the sentiments and, he knows the criminals within his territory.

“It is also common knowledge that the federal police have a shortage of manpower.

“We, as governors, are not in charge or control of our states as far as security is concerned.

“Yet, we fund the federal police operations, yet we are not getting the best from them. They don’t have enough personnel.

“State policing is not something new.

“We have several types of policing structure in other climes where we took our democracy from.”