FEATURES
The Chairman of the Presidential Tax Reform Committee, Taiwo Oyedele has called out northerners.
He was reacting to the opposition being staged by Northerners against President Bola Tinubu's tax reform bills.
During an appearance on Arise News Morning Show on Wednesday, he noted that the federal government did not anticipate this pushback from the northern states, as they believed the resistance would come from Lagos and Rivers states instead.
“We had not envisage that this was going to be pushback from the other states; we thought the pushback would come Lagos mostly maybe a little from Rivers.
“It almost like we ended up with the people we are fighting for are we now fighting us”, he said.
Oyedele pointed out that VAT derivation is a sensitive issue for states because it differs from oil and gas derivation, which is based on production.
He explained, “VAT derivation I think that word is sensitive because people think about where it’s based on production. If they’re not producing crude oil, you don’t get any part of that derivation.
“Whereas for VAT, every state consumes. If you share anything based on VAT derivation, everyone gets something from it.”
He also stressed that the government’s proposal aligns with the constitution.
“The Constitution with respect to stamp duty it actually says under Section 163 says stamp duty should be shared based on derivation.
“So what we are proposing is not strange to our constitution, when it comes to matters of tax generation we must recognise where they’re being generated otherwise we end up in a situation where one state will get a supreme court judgement”, he added.
Forbes has named American rapper, Sean Carter aka Jay-Z, as the greatest rapper of all time.
This comes after the publication released its 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time list, celebrating the best in the hip-hop world.
Jay-Z topped the list, followed by Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, J. Cole, and Tupac at numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively.
Drake, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Nas, and Eminem complete the top 10.
Also on the list are Andre 300 (11), The Notorious B.I.G (12), Missy Elliott (13), Chuck D (14), A$AP Rocky (15), Lil’ Kim (16), Tyler, the Creator (17), Snoop Dogg (18), Ghostface Killah (19) and Common (20).
Popular names in hip-hop like 50 Cent, Ice Cube, Juice WRLD, Lauryn Hill, Dr. Dre, Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes, Future, Childish Gambino, Bad Bunny, Pusha T, Cardi B and Young Thug, rank at number 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 40, 46, 48 and 49, respectively.
An ex-okada rider, Donatus Matthew has dumped the Labour Party after using the party to secure seat in the House of Representatives.
Matthew who represents the Kaura federal constituency, has now abandoned LP and switched allegiance to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
He had defeated Gideon Gwani, the House of Representatives Minority Chief Whip from the Peoples Democratic Party.
His victory sparked enthusiasm among many activists in Southern Kaduna, particularly as he unseated a four-term incumbent lawmaker of the Kaura Federal Constituency.
Stephen Kefason, an activist who celebrated Mathew’s triumph at the time, has now voiced his disappointment over the lawmaker’s defection to APC.
He shared his sentiments via his X account, saying, “This opportunistic okada rider, who capitalised on Peter Obi’s popularity to secure the House of Representatives seat for Kaura constituency in Southern Kaduna, has shamelessly defected to the APC. He has failed miserably as a lawmaker, boasting 0 bills and 0 motions to his name since joining the National Assembly.
Nigerian politician, Doyin Okupe has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not be held responsible for the failures of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking in an interview with The Sun, Okupe highlighted the fractured nature of the APC, describing it as a “conglomerate of strange bedfellows.”
He argued that the amalgamation of political groups such as the Congress of Progressive Change (CPC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and others created an unstable foundation for governance.
“Tinubu cannot be held responsible for the government before him,” Okupe stated, acknowledging the pivotal role Tinubu played in bringing Muhammadu Buhari to power but insisting that the current administration should be judged independently.
Okupe dismissed claims of collapsing manufacturing and dwindling foreign direct investments, citing recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
He pointed to a reported 3% growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and significant improvements in the manufacturing sector during the last quarter.
“Foreign direct investment is increasing,” he asserted, adding that Tinubu’s administration had already resolved pressing financial issues, including settling $7 billion owed to international airlines.
Okupe urged Nigerians to adopt a realistic perspective on the nation’s challenges, emphasizing that the rot inherited from the previous administration cannot be resolved within a short timeframe.
“The lifespan of an administration is four years. If you have had rottenness that was unabated for more than eight years, do you think it can be fixed in 18 months? It cannot,” he argued.
Addressing the alarming rise in out-of-school children and youth restiveness, particularly in Northern Nigeria, Okupe attributed the situation to the neglect of social programs like the Almajiri schools initiated by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He called for acknowledgment of Tinubu’s reformist agenda, comparing his approach to that of Lee Kuan Yew, who transformed Singapore over three decades.
“We’ve got a reformer in the villa, somebody who says, ‘I take responsibility, and I’m going to try to reform this country,’” Okupe said.
He emphasized the importance of national unity and support to achieve the government’s objectives.
“Let us agree, let us be factual,” he concluded, urging Nigerians to rally behind the reforms rather than demonize the administration.
Senior employees at several institutions offering nursing and midwifery courses in Afghanistan on Tuesday said women would be barred from classes, following an edict by the Taliban supreme leader.
Health officials met with directors of education institutes on Monday in the capital Kabul to inform them of the ruling, an official from the public health ministry who was not authorised to speak to the media told AFP.
“There is no official letter but the directors of institutes were informed in a meeting that women and girls can’t study anymore in their institutes,” he said.
“They were not provided with any details and justification and were just told of the order of the supreme leader and were asked to implement it.”
The manager of an institute who attended the meeting and asked not to be named for fear of reprisal said dozens of managers were in attendance.
A senior employee of another centre told AFP his boss had been at a separate meeting with health officials on Tuesday after confusion about the rule.
The employee said institutes had been given 10 days to hold final exams.
Some managers petitioned the ministry for clarity, while others carried on as normal in the absence of a written order.
Not long after Taliban authorities swept back to power in 2021, they barred girls from education beyond secondary school as part of restrictions labelled “gender apartheid” by the United Nations.
Women students then flocked to health institutes, one of the few avenues still open to them.
They now make up the majority of students in these centres.
Afghanistan has around 10 public and more than 150 private health institutes offering two-year diplomas in 18 subjects, ranging from midwifery to anaesthesia, pharmacy and dentistry, with a total of 35,000 women students, health ministry sources said.
“What are we supposed to do with just 10 percent of our students?” one manager said.
Aysha — not her real name — a midwifery teacher at a private institute in Kabul, said she received a message from management telling her not to come to work until further notice with little explanation.
“This is a big shock for us. Psychologically, we are shaken,” the 28-year-old said.
“This was the only source of hope for the girls and women who were banned from universities.”
The United Kingdom’s charge d’affaires said he was “deeply concerned” by the reports.
“This is another affront to women’s right to education and will further restrict access to healthcare for Afghan women and children,” he posted on social media platform X.
The health ministry source said the ban would squeeze an already suffering health sector.
“We are already short of professional medical and para-medical staff and this would result in further shortages.”
Two suspects, Emmanuel Linus and Moses Daniel, have been arrested by the operatives of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Police Command for impersonating Nigerian Army officers.
Naija News reports that the Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, while parading the suspects and others recently arrested across FCT on Tuesday, stated that Linus and Daniel were members of a criminal syndicate specialising in defrauding unsuspecting victims.
Disu said Linus was apprehended in a full Nigerian Army camouflage uniform on 30th November 2024, around 2:00 p.m.
During the initial interrogation, Linus allegedly presented a fake military identification card listing his date of birth as 20th December 2024, which immediately raised suspicions.
He said, “The group reportedly purchases goods and services using fake bank alerts to deceive sellers. The police have commenced a thorough investigation into the matter, with efforts ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the syndicate. Authorities have assured the public that additional updates will be provided as investigations progress.”
In another development, Disu said that following his directive banning vehicles without number plates and using tinted glasses, no fewer than 296 vehicles had been impounded.
He said, “I am pleased to report our progress since the launch of the Command’s Special Tactical Team. To date, the Command has impounded 296 vehicles for violations such as the use of tinted glasses, driving with only one plate number, and the use of concealed or defaced number plates.”
Disu also revealed that two suspects were arrested for destroying streetlight poles behind the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and stealing cables.
According to him, one of the suspects is a dismissed police officer, and the recovered cables were valued at over ₦20 million.
He said, “Following five days of surveillance after noticing suspicious movements around manholes in the area, a significant breakthrough was made. On 29th November 2024, at approximately 3:49 a.m., a distress call was received regarding the vandalism of streetlight poles behind the Foreign Affairs Office in Abuja.
“Acting swiftly, operatives apprehended two suspects, Awal Mustaf and David Maji (a dismissed police officer), during the operation. The stolen streetlight cables, property of the Federal Capital Development Authority, were estimated to be worth between ₦20 million and ₦25 million. Items recovered from the suspects include: Two medium-sized streetlight poles, Several large streetlight poles and Cables.
“Both suspects are currently in custody and undergoing comprehensive investigation.”
South Africans have expressed mixed reactions following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of simplified visa processes for Nigerians.
The new measures include five-year multiple-entry visas and the option for Nigerian tourists to apply for visas without submitting their passports.
The announcement was made during the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town on Tuesday, where President Bola Tinubu was also present.
“Our efforts to create a favourable environment included simplifying the visa process for Nigerian business people travelling to South Africa. Qualifying Nigerian business people were granted a five-year multiple-entry visa,” Ramaphosa said at the event.
Although the initiative seeks to strengthen business and tourism connections, some South Africans have taken to social media to express their disapproval, criticizing President Ramaphosa for the decision.
@maggyvalen wrote, “This man hates South Africans,you cant tell me otherwise,he is now gaslighting us because he knows how we feel about Nigeria.”
@Packer_an noted, “Why Nigeria of all countries.”
@Lebona_cabonena said, “The whole of Nigeria is gonna come to South Africa.”
@nkulipp noted, “This president knows very well how we feel about Nigerians, but no, he wants to pass us off even more. Let’s start in 2026 let’s punish ANC.”
@Bongani_Wale wrote, “Yeah @CyrilRamaphosa is a traitor. If it’s not foreign shop owners then it’s Nigerians. Why would South Africa opt to ease visa rules with Nigeria whilst others countries are considering canceling them because of the delinquent behaviors of these people.”
“A 5-year visa deal? More like a 5-year disaster for South Africa. Ramaphosa is compromising our economy, safety, and sovereignty. Who gave him the right to gamble with our future for his personal benefit?.” @visse_ss noted,
[OpinionNigeria]
The lead Pastor of the Harvesters International Christian Center (HICC), Bolaji Idowu, will reportedly sleep in the custody of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) of the Nigerian police in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, over allegations of ₦1.5 billion fraud.
Pastor Idowu was detained for his alleged involvement in real estate fraud and money laundering.
“Pastor Bolaji Idowu, known for his Next Level Prayer Conference, has been taken into custody and is undergoing interrogation in Abuja regarding allegations of real estate fraud and money laundering,” one police insider revealed.
Top police sources at the FCID who spoke with SaharaReporters said Pastor Bolaji would be sleeping over in the police cell for the alleged crime, noting that several billions of naira in the scheme were traced to the clergy’s church account.
The source said, “The case emanated from one of his pastors who duped several people in a real estate scheme.
“The police investigation showed that several billions of naira in the scheme were traced first to Pastor Bolaji’s church account and later to his personal account.”
Pastor Idowu founded Harvesters International Christian Center in December 2003. Since its inception, the church has expanded its presence across Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
According to its official website, the church attracts more than 70,000 worshippers in person and online.
In addition to his pastoral duties, Pastor Idowu runs the “Next Level Prayers” platform, a ministry designed to encourage individuals to strengthen their prayer lives, both offline and online.
Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has granted bail of N2m to two doctors in the state standing trial for alleged manslaughter.
The doctors, Dr Jude Okpani, a gyneacologist (1st defendant) and Dr Isaiah-Tunde Akinlade, an anesthesiologist (2nd defendant), were arraigned by the Rivers State Government through the Ministry of Justice on two counts bordering on manslaughter and negligence.
According to the charge, the two doctors are alleged to have on February 2, 2024, at a clinic in Port Harcourt, did cause the death of one Rebekah Tamunotorukubu-Sekidika, an offence contrary to Section 325 of the Criminal Code of Law of Rivers State 1999.
The accused are also alleged to have neglected to administer the required dose of local spinal anesthesia to Rebekah Tamunotorukubu-Sekidika, which recklessly ruptured her uterus while carrying out a medical procedure on her leading to her death.
When the charges were read to them in court, the doctors pleaded not guilty.
Their counsel, C.T. Walter, orally applied for bail which was not opposed by the prosecution counsel, Christiana Tombari Bodo, a Senior State Council in the Ministry of Justice, but requested stringent conditions from the court on the grounds that the matter is sensitive.
The trial judge, Justice Jumbo Stephens, after listening to the defence and prosecution counsels, granted bail to the two accused in the sum N1m each and two sureties who must be the Chairman and Secretary of Nigeria Medical Association, Rivers State Chapter.
Justice Stephens also directed that the sureties must provide two passport photographs and their addresses must be verified by an official of the court and photocopies of either a valid driving licence, passport or voter card must be deposited in court.
For the accused persons, Justice Stephens said, “The 1st and 2nd defendants who have just been admitted to bail are also to deposit to the registrar of this court two copies of their passport photographs. These are the bail conditions.”
Justice Stephens thereafter adjourned the matter to January 20 and 27, 2025, for ‘definite’ hearing.
Our correspondent recalls that Miss Rebekah Tamunotorukubu-Sekidika, (24-year-old at the time), a first class graduate of Microbiology from the Benson Idahosa University, Benin in Edo State was preparing for a trip to the United Kingdom for a Masters degree when the incident occurred.
It was a rowdy session in the House of Representatives plenary on Tuesday, following the declaration of support for President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills by the spokesman of the Green Chamber, Mr Akin Rotimi.
Rotimi, a member of the All Progressives Congress, incurred the wrath of his colleagues when he stood up to present two reports on behalf of the Chairman, Committee on Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring, Boma Goodhead, who was absent at Tuesday’s plenary.
The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the plenary, recognised Rotimi as conducting the brief exercise.
Rotimi chose to inform his colleagues about the stand of Ekiti federal lawmakers on the controversial four tax bills transmitted to the parliament on September 3, 2024.
He said, Mr Speaker, I am from Ekiti State, the first state whose National Assembly caucus has unanimously endorsed the tax bills.”
Members present at plenary did not allow him to complete his sentence as shouts of “No, no thereafter”, rented the air.
Repeated appeals by the speaker to restore order failed, as members vowed that the report would not be laid.
The Speaker waded in, saying “He is expressing his personal opinion”, just as the Ekiti lawmaker reminded his colleagues that he had the protection of the presiding officer.
Abbas’ remark that “He (Rotimi) was just talking on a lighter note. Let’s not take it seriously,” failed to calm frayed nerves.
Rotimi continued, “My introduction does not affect the substantive matter,” just as the speaker urged him to be restricted “to the person you are representing here. We are not talking about tax bills.”
With barely any way out for him, Rotimi said, “Hon colleagues, I withdraw the introduction. Mr Speaker, I withdraw the introduction. I will introduce myself properly. Mr Speaker, can I have the opportunity to speak?”
Abbas thereafter took over, saying “Mr Rotimi, you know this (tax bill) is a controversial issue. I don’t want you to be mentioning things that are not relevant to the subject matter. On your behalf, I withdraw that statement that you have made.”
With a semblance of order in place, Rotimi again stood up, saying, “Hon, colleagues, I would like to withdraw that introduction and restrict myself to the Order Paper.”
He later introduced himself without a word on the tax bills and laid a background of the report he was to present on behalf of Goodhead.
That said, the speaker asked for a seconder only for members to revert to the shouting mode, forcing the Speaker to again call for caution.
“I beg you. This has nothing to do with the tax bills,” Abbas pleaded repeatedly, all to no avail.
With all options exhausted, Rotimi took to the floor once again.
“I seek the leave of the Speaker and Hon members to step down the report,” he said.
Like Rotimi, the deputy spokesman of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese also had his dose of trouble when Kano lawmaker, Tijjani Ghali, standing on a matter of personal explanation (Order 6 rule 5), called on the former to resign from his position.
He said, “I woke up this morning to see an online publication from the deputy spokesman, saying that those opposed to tax reform bills are seeking speedy passage. I am one of the first persons that opposed these bills vehemently but the deputy spokesperson did not contact me as a stakeholder and did not seek my opinion on this.
“The heading is insinuating that for those who opposed these tax bills, there is an inducement somewhere. Therefore, I am calling for the withdrawal of this statement and an investigation and apology in print media because this is injurious to me, my people, my religion and the region where I come from.
“Mr Speaker, this is a breach of privilege and is unprofessional, unethical and immoral. Therefore, I am personally calling (chorus, we are calling) for this matter to be investigated to find out those people opposed to the bills that are now asking for their speedy passage.”
The member representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency, Katsina State, Sada Soli, moved that the matter be referred to the Ethics and Privileges Committee for investigation.
Ruling on the matter, Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu promised action, stating “Once a point of privilege is moved, it is not debated. You have asked for this to be investigated. But you did not tell whether to move it to ethics and privileges and that is why Sada Soli came with his own. It is not in your prayer. There are many ways to investigate this.”
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A Nigerian airline, Aero Contractors, has reduced its airfare price across all destinations amid the 2024 Yuletide celebration.
Ado Sanusi, managing director of Aero Contractors, made this announcement in a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday.
The domestic airline said that its airfare to all destinations has been reduced to N80,000 per trip.
According to him: “Though the slash in ticket price, is billed to end in January next year, we aim to give back to Nigerians and support them during the Christmas season.
“Our prices will start from N80,000 to all of our destinations, and we intend to make it affordable to the flying public. And this is to allow the flying public/families to meet their loved ones during this Christmas season.”
Blessing, a sister of the Dowen College student who died in controversial circumstances in 2021, Sylvester Jnr, has mourned the death of her mother, Mrs Rosemary Oromoni, who reportedly passed away on November 25, 2024, PUNCH Metro learnt
Mrs Oromoni was said to have “succumbed to an intermittent blood pressure-related illness.”
Family and close associates of the deceased confirmed the news in a series of condolence messages shared on social media on Tuesday.
The Executive Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area, Jaro Egbo, in a Facebook post, confirmed the development, as he offered condolences to the family.
In the pictures of his condolence visit to Oromoni Snr on November 28, shared on Facebook by the Ughelli North Local Government Council, Egbo was said to have described Mrs Oromoni’s sudden death as shocking and painful.
He added that she passed away at a time when her presence would be needed most by the husband.
The caption partly read, “Mrs. Oromoni’s passing has left a void in the lives of those who knew her.
“On behalf of my immediate family and the good people of Ughelli North Local Government Area, I expressed my heartfelt condolences to my dear brother, friend, and great colleague on the passing of his beloved wife, Mrs. Rosemary Oromoni.”
Blessing, a sister of the late Sylvester, identified as b_anuta247, also shared a post on her Instagram story on Tuesday containing a prayer for those who are grieving.
The post partly read, “Dear God, we pray for those who are grieving today. Please, wrap your loving arms around them and bring them comfort in their sorrow. Remind them that You are near to the brokenhearted and your presence brings peace even in the deepest pain.”
Mrs. Oromoni’s death sparked an outpouring of sympathy on social media, with many reflecting on the journey the family has endured since Sylvester’s tragic death. Some however linked her passing to the unresolved grief she carried.
Controversy trailed the death of Sylvester after a family member alleged that the Junior Secondary School 2 pupil died from the injuries he sustained during an assault by colleagues who allegedly wanted to initiate him into cultism.
Meanwhile, the school claimed he died after an injury he sustained during a football match.
Meanwhile, PUNCH Metro reports that the father rejected the judgment of the Coroner’s Inquest which indicted him, his wife and the family doctor for their son’s death.
He said it was not the end of the case, as the medical expert did not give them a concluding result of the black substance that was found in their son’s stomach.
The Coroner’s Inquest that looked into the findings of the death of Sylvester Oromoni Jnr exonerated Dowen College and the five students who were accused of bullying, beating, and forcing the deceased to drink a substance that allegedly caused his death and indicted the deceased’s parents and family doctor of negligence.
The coroner, Magistrate Mikhail Kadiri, in his judgment at the Ogba Magistrate Court, held that Dowen College, its staff members, and the five students namely, Favour Benjamin, 16; Edward Begue (16); Ansel Temile (14); Kenneth Inyang and Michael Kashamu, 16, son of the late Senator Buruji Kashamu, did not play any role that led to the death of Oromoni.
He cleared the school of any negligence as well as the five senior students accused of bullying the deceased and administering a poisonous substance to him.
The Ikeja Special Offences Court, on Tuesday, admitted further evidence in the ongoing trial of Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha.
Mompha is facing trial over alleged N6bn money laundering before Justice Mojisola Dada.
He is being tried, alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, on eight counts bordering on conspiracy, retention of proceeds of crime, failure to disclose assets and properties, possession of documents containing false pretences, the use of properties derived from unlawful acts, and laundering of N6bn, preferred against him, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Justice Dada had granted Mompha bail in the sum of N200m, with two sureties in like sum.
At the resumed hearing of the trial on Tuesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission counsel, Suleiman Suleiman, continued its case with testimony from Prosecution Witness Six (PW6), Detective Idi Musa.
While testifying, Musa presented Mompha’s iPhone in court, claiming it was used in fraudulent activities, and sought to tender it as evidence.
The defence counsel, Ademola Adefolaju, objected to the submission, arguing that the prosecution had not laid a proper foundation regarding the iPhone.
He urged the court to reject it.
“My Lord, I object to its admissibility on the grounds that proper foundation has not been laid regarding the iPhone,” Adefolaju stated.
However, Justice Dada overruled the objection and agreed with the prosecution’s argument.
The EFCC explained that the iPhone was recovered during the investigation and sent to the FBI for forensic analysis. A representative from the FBI, testifying as PW3, confirmed that documents retrieved from the iPhone were submitted to the court as evidence.
Consequently, the judge admitted the iPhone as evidence and marked it as Exhibit P7.
Justice Dada, however, adjourned the case to February 3, 2025, for the continuation of the trial.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has explained that it is against ethics to reveal the identity of individuals indirectly linked to forfeited assets.
The clarification follows criticism that trailed EFCC’s failure to reveal identity of the owner of a 753-duplex Abuja estate that was forfeited to the government on Monday.
The anti-graft agency had revealed that it recorded its single largest asset recovery through a verdict issued by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
The commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, made the clarification in a statement on Tuesday.
“It will be unprofessional of the EFCC to go to town by mentioning names of individuals whose identities were not directly linked to any title document of the properties,” Oyewale said.
He faulted the claim by activist and publisher, Omowole Sowore, over his claim that the forfeited asset belonged to the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), Godwin Emefiele and that the commission was fond of hiding identities of high profile criminals.
The statement partly read; “The commentaries of reform-minded Nigerians to the Commission’s painstaking efforts in securing the final forfeiture of the Estate to the Federal Government of Nigeria, are appreciated.
“However, the denigration of such efforts by Omowole Sowore and his think-same and act-same, is unacceptable and grossly un-charitable.
“The allegation of a cover up of the identity of the promoters of the Estate stands logic on the head in the sense that the proceedings for the forfeiture of the Estate were in line with Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act which is a civil proceeding that allows for action-in-rem rather than action-in-personam.
“The latter allows legal actions against a property and not an individual, especially in a situation of an unclaimed property. This Act allows you to take up a forfeiture proceeding against a chattel that is not a juristic person. This is exactly what the Commission did in respect of the Estate.
“The proceedings that yielded the final forfeiture of the Estate were products of actionable intelligence available to the Commission. The company flagged by our investigations denied ownership of the Estate following publications made in leading national newspapers.
“On the basis of this, the Commission approached the court for an order of final forfeiture which Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court granted on Monday, December 2, 2024.”
The anti-graft agency through its spokesperson expressed its disappointment in the human rights activist,Omowole Sowore and Nigerians, pointing out that the agency expected an appreciation for the asset recovery rather than being called out negatively.
“The expectation of the EFCC from citizen Sowore is a patriotic appreciation of its efforts in securing such a landmark forfeiture.
“It is shocking that the activist is not concerned about the systemic lassitude and unhelpful permissiveness that allowed such a monstrous corrupt act in the first instance.
“Nigerians should gear up more against lapses and loopholes in our system that continue to make the nation vulnerable to corrupt tendencies.”
The future commission reiterated its commitment to combating financial crimes, noting that investigations on the forfeited assets were yet to be concluded.
“The EFCC will continue to safeguard the financial space of the nation against manipulators and organised brigandage.
“It is important to note that the substantive criminal investigation on the matter still continues.
“The EFCC is unwavering in its no-sacred-cow approach to every matter and together we will make Nigeria greater,” he said.