FEATURES
The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, resolved to investigate what it called unsolicited and illegal linking of National Identification Numbers (NINs) of subscribers to unknown telephone lines by service providers.
Consequently, the House urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to investigate the reports about the trend and take immediate actions against any telecom service provider found to be culpable in the practice.
It also asked the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to confirm whether the linking of NINs by telecom service providers was authorised and in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance jointly moved by Hon. Patrick Umoh (APC, Akwa Ibom) and the House Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo), at plenary.
Moving the motion, Umoh expressed concern over the recent reports of telecom service providers linking subscribers’ NINs to unknown phone lines without their consent, thereby exposing them to criminal activities and subjecting legitimate NIN holders to grave risk.
He said the action was a clear violation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019, which guarantee the right to privacy and protection of personal data of every Nigerian.
“Aware that the National Identification Number (NIN) was established to streamline the verification and identification of persons and enhance security in Nigeria.
“Also aware that the potential risks and consequences of this unauthorized data linking includes identity theft, financial fraud, and other forms of cybercrime that have become rife in Nigeria lately.
“Further aware that innocent citizens have been wrongly implicated in crimes, suffer reputational damage, harassment and legal challenges for crimes they know nothing about,” the lawmaker noted.
Adopting the motion, the House mandated its Committees on Communications and Interior to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
The House of Representatives Committee on the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) has asked President Bola Tinubu to facilitate the release of the detained leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to ensure lasting peace and development in the region.
The committee’s chairman, Hon. Chris Nkwonta, who made the call at the inaugural meeting of the legislative committee in Abuja on Wednesday, said the security situation in the South-east was a major concern that must be addressed for any meaningful progress to take place.
“Given the region’s security concerns, the Committee and other well-meaning Nigerians appeal to the President to facilitate the release of Nnamdi Kanu as a step towards lasting peace and development in the South-east.
“The establishment of the South-East Development Commission, 54 years after the civil war, is a monumental achievement. However, true reconciliation requires more than infrastructural development—it demands addressing historical grievances and ensuring justice for all,” he said.
Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, while inaugurating the committee, said the development marked a crucial step towards addressing the developmental challenges facing the South-East region.
Represented by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Abbas described the event as a renewed commitment to ensuring that the region receives the much-needed investment and attention for its growth and prosperity.
“The inauguration of this committee is not just a formality,” Abbas stated. “It is the beginning of a renewed effort to unlock the full potential of the Southeast, a region known for its resilience, industry, and entrepreneurial spirit.”
“The role of this committee is to provide legislative oversight, monitor the implementation of policies, and ensure that the commission fulfills its mandate with efficiency, transparency, and accountability,” the Speaker added.
International Business Machines (IBM) has revealed plans to exit Nigeria, Ghana, and other key African markets, transferring its regional operations to MIBB, a subsidiary of the multinational conglomerate Midis Group. The transition will take effect from 1 April 2025 as part of a new operating model in select African countries.
MIBB will assume responsibility for marketing and selling IBM’s range of products and services across 36 African nations. This includes providing direct access to IBM’s software, hardware, cloud solutions, and consulting services. According to an email sent to TechCabal, MIBB will also oversee operations, support, and customer relationships in the region.
IBM has had a significant presence in Nigeria for over five decades, playing a crucial role in the country’s technology landscape. The company provided infrastructure and consulting services to key sectors, including banking, telecommunications, oil and gas, and government. Its high-end storage and computing solutions were especially popular among financial institutions such as Zenith Bank.
However, IBM’s market share in Nigeria has declined in recent years due to growing competition from companies like Dell and Huawei, which have increased their presence in the banking sector.
On the global front, IBM has been facing financial challenges. In 2024, the company reported a 2% drop in consulting revenue, totaling 5.18 billion USD, while infrastructure sales decreased by 8%. Despite this, IBM’s overall revenue increased by 1%, reaching 17.55 billion USD, largely driven by a 10% growth in software sales, which amounted to 7.92 billion USD. The company also posted a net income of 2.92 billion USD for the fourth quarter and expects a minimum of 5% revenue growth in 2025, buoyed by a projected free cash flow of 13.5 billion USD.
IBM’s exit from West Africa marks the end of its direct operations in the region, creating uncertainty about the long-term impact on local businesses and government partnerships. While MIBB’s takeover may offer new opportunities for innovation and support, businesses that rely on IBM’s services will need to adjust to the changes. The full effects of this transition will become clearer in the months ahead as the African technology landscape adapts to the new operational model.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it recovered N20 billion paid to ghost workers as pensions in 2024.
Musa Aliyu, chairman of the commission, spoke on Wednesday at a media parley with editors in Abuja.
Aliyu said being proactive has enabled the anti-graft agency to stem corruption in the country.
“In 2024, we recovered over N20 billion ghost workers pensions, whereby we were able to track and recover this amount of money, and also we identified people inserting ghost workers into the system,” he said.
“We even discovered that somebody put his wife, his son, and his in-laws on the payroll.
“So, these are some of the challenges that we are trying to see that we tackle and don’t allow them to go on.”
The ICPC chairman also said the commission prevented the theft of N50 billion from a particular ministry.
“In 2023, there is a particular ministry where we restrained over N50 billion from being taken away because of our proactiveness,” he said.
Aliyu said he “had sleepless nights” battling corruption during his time as the attorney-general in Jigawa state between 2019 and 2023.
“I know how those who feel they can do and undo and use all avenues to ensure that they spread lies and confuse people in order to discredit what we were doing then, but through God’s grace, we reached our destination,” he said.
He said the ICPC avoids media trials because a suspect is innocent until proven guilty.
“We share verified information through reports, newsletters, press releases, our website, and social media. However, we ensure that informants and the integrity of investigations remain protected,” he said.
“We want our work to be judged by the performance standards in our strategic action plan (2024-2028).
“I urge the Nigerian media to work with us in raising public awareness and promoting ICPC’s programs. Our nation’s progress depends on it.
“All of us should join hands to tackle corruption in this country. Fighting corruption is not easy because when you fight corruption, corruption fights back.
“Those involved in corruption are united in their evil. They try to lie against us in order to discredit what we are doing.
“But as a nation, all well-meaning members of the public must join hands to tackle corruption.
“We don’t have an option. If we don’t tackle corruption, our children will have no future. If we don’t fight corruption, those involved will wreck the economy, and we will all suffer for it.
“We are partnering with credible civil society organisations to implement the corruption prevention programme for local governments to ensure proactive disclosure of information relevant to finances, procurement, and control of corruption.”
He said assets recovered from corrupt public officials are strictly subjected to the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The ICPC chairman added that he set up a panel comprising civil society organisations (CSOs), media, and government procurement experts to ensure a transparent public auction of assets.
Aliyu said there is a need to review Nigeria’s laws to make corruption less attractive, noting that in some countries those convicted of corruption are required to repay the full amount with interest and are barred from holding public office for up to 10 years.
A federal high court in Abuja has dismissed David Ukpo’s bid to overturn orders granting Ike Ekweremadu, the former deputy senate president, access to his biodata for use in a UK court.
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, held that the applicant, Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOSCO), lacked the legal right to institute the suit on Ukpo’s behalf.
Ekwo held that the provision of article 3 (e) of the preamble to the fundamental rights (enforcement procedure) rules, 2009 (FREPR 2009), under which EDOSCO filed the suit, cannot be said to have granted any person without legal personality to sue or be sued in the court.
The judge held that by the averments made by Bamidele Igbinedion, counsel to EDOSCO, “it is clear that the applicant in this case is Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOSCO)”.
“The counsel for the applicant knows this but cleverly avoided stating so on the face of the application and rather deposed to this fact in the affidavit in support,” the judge added.
Also, Ekwo agreed with the argument of the Ekweremadus that the prayers on the face of the motion paper were not prayers for the enforcement of fundamental rights.
The judge said the prayers on the motion paper had become academic and did not require any answer, nor could the court grant same.
“The information required for which this court gave order has been utilised as the respondents/applicants (the Ekweremadus) stood trial and were convicted in May 2023,” he said.
BACKGROUND
In June 2022, the London Metropolitan Police arrested and charged Ekweremadu and Beatrice, his wife, in court for allegedly bringing a child (Ukpo) to the UK for organ harvesting.
The UK authorities said the “child” had “been safeguarded,” while the police said their operatives “are working closely with partners on continued support”.
Although the London police said Ukpo was 15 at the time, his passport and bank verification number (BVN) showed he was 21.
In a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/984/2022 and filed on June 27, 2022, by Adegboyega Awomolo, counsel to the senator and his wife, at the federal high court in Abuja, the Ekweremadus prayed the court for an order directing the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to supply them with the certified true copy (CTC) of Ukpo’s biodata.
On July 1, 2022, Ekwo ordered the NIMC, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Stanbic IBTC, and United Bank for Africa (UBA) to supply information on Ukpo to Ekweremadu.
In March 2023, Ekweremadu, Beatrice, and Obinna Obeya, a medical doctor, were convicted of conspiring to traffic a young man for organ harvesting under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act of 2015.
On May 5, 2023, Ekweremadu was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison, his wife was sentenced to four years and six months, and Obeta was handed a 10-year prison term.
In his judgment, Jeremy Johnson, the trial judge, ruled that Beatrice should spend half of the sentence in custody and on license for the rest of the sentence.
Beatrice has been released from prison in the UK and has returned to Nigeria
Omotunde Adebowale, the actress and media personality better known as Lolo 1, has expressed discontent with a trending TikTok challenge.
The challenge involves young girls exposing their bare breasts on the platform.
In a post via her Instagram page, Lolo voiced her concerns with the trend, emphasizing the importance of modesty.
She highlighted the alarming rise in sexual abuse and violence against women, stressing that such challenges only exacerbate the issue.
The actress also urged parents and guardians to intervene, calling on them to correct their children’s behavior.
“I am not happy today at all. I saw a video on TikTok where another TikToker, a young boy is asking girls to flash their breasts on TikTok,” she said.
“And I see different girls, not one not two not three flashing their naked breasts on TikTok and people are watching. And I am wondering what is happening and they told me it is a challenge.
“We are already seeing girls being raped on a daily basis, not just raped, killed, assaulted and abused and yet our young children are not having the sense to keep their modesty.
“We need to stop this. Where are our mothers, caregivers and guardians, our wards are going astray on a daily basis. As a mother, I am unhappy, because I saw it with my two eyes.”
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it will implement a 4 percent charge on the free-on-board (FOB) value of imports.
FOB is when the seller is responsible for delivering the goods to the port of departure, clearing it for export and loading the goods on the vessel.
Once the goods are on the vessel, the risk transfers from the seller to the buyer, who is then responsible for all costs thereafter.
In a statement on Wednesday, Abdullahi Maiwada, NCS national public relations officer, said the directive aligns with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023.
“In line with the provisions of Section 18 (1) of NCSA 2023, the NCS is implementing a 4 percent charge on the Free On-Board (FOB) value of imports,” Maiwada said.
“The FOB charge, which is calculated based on the value of imported goods, including cost of goods and transportation expenses incurred up to the port of loading, is essential to driving the effective operation of the service.
“Furthermore, the NCS acknowledges concerns raised by stakeholders over the sustained collection of 1 percent Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS) fee.
“It is a regulatory charge imposed for funding Nigeria’s Destination Inspection Scheme alongside the 4 percent FOB charge.
“As a responsive government agency, the service wishes to assure the general public that extensive consultation is ongoing with the federal ministry of finance to address all agitations raised by our esteemed stakeholders.”
Maiwada urged all stakeholders to comply with the directive, which was conceived after extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders and organisations.
“All stakeholders are urged to support this legally binding initiative,” he said.
“As the measures introduced in alignment with the NCSA 2023, reflects a balanced approach born out of extensive consultations with industry players, importers, and regulatory bodies.”
He also described the contribution of stakeholders in shaping and actualising the NCSA 2023 as invaluable.
“Their insights, expertise, and unwavering commitment have been instrumental in ensuring a robust legal framework that enhances efficiency, promotes innovation and strengthens transparency in customs operations,” he added.
The customs official said under the leadership of Adewale Adeniyi, the comptroller-general, the service remains committed to transparency, fair trade practices, and efficient revenue management
Dogara Akolo-Moses, a police constable attached to Mada Station Division of the Nasarawa Command of the Nigeria Police Force, has killed himself.
Akolo-Moses was reported to have been seen going about his duty in his division in the Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area earlier in the day.
A witness said the officer went into a private room and shot himself.
According to the report, it was the sound of the gunshot that attracted all officers on duty, who then rushed to the scene but found the deceased lying in a pool of blood.
“Colleagues of the deceased who were outside the apartment heard the gunshot, prompting them to rush inside, where they found the officer lying on the floor with his gun beside him,” a source said.
The reason behind the act was still unclear at the time of filing this report.
The Public Relations Officer of the Nasarawa State Police Command, Ramhan Nansel, confirmed the tragic incident to journalists in Lafia on Wednesday.
He said an investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the officer’s tragic action
In a surprise move on Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu jerked up the proposed 2025 budget from the N49.7 trillion he earlier presented to the National Assembly to N54.2 trillion.
The President announced an increase in the proposed budget size in separate letters forwarded to the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The letter read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, said the increase arose from N1.4 trilliion additional revenues made by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, N1.2 trillion made by the Nigeria Customs Service, and N1.8 trilliion generated by some other Government Owned Agencies.
Akpabio consequently directed the request to the Senate Committee on Appropriation for expeditious consideration, and declared that the 2025 budget would be passed before the end of February.
Corroborating the National Assembly, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu recalled how the President submitted N49 trillion budget to the National Assembly and legislative work commenced.
He explained that the legislative work continued with interactions between the executive and the National Assembly, as well as the economic management team, which continued to interrogate all the figures.
According to Bagudu, “While the process was still going on, the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senate Committee on National Planning and Senate Committee on Finance established that we can generate more revenue by tasking all the institutions to do more and the Federal Inland Revenue Service confirmed the ability to do more than was submitted.
“It was established that the government-owned enterprises can contribute more revenue, as well as the Customs Service.
“So additional revenue amounting to over N4.5 trillion naira was established and this was taken to the President and he guided that this additional revenue should be used to further strengthen the Bank of Agriculture, Bank of Industry, support the diversification program by putting more money in the solid minerals sector, as well as infrastructure projects.”
Commenting on the adjustment of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, Bagudu stated that even when the budget was submitted, the MTEF was amended.
“The MTEF that was initially approved was for a budget of less than N49 trillion, so it goes together and so the consequential amendment to the MTEF will certainly follow.”
The Senate, through its Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations, on Wednesday declared that the mass migration, otherwise known as ‘Japa’, by Nigerians to overseas countries on a daily basis must be reversed.
The committee, now chaired by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, made the declaration at its maiden meeting held in Hearing Room 305 of the Senate wing of the National Assembly.
Senator Natasha, at the well-attended meeting, said the reversal of the ‘Japa’ syndrome would be a priority for the committee, as the tide must be stemmed.
“This committee will do this by collaborating with relevant stakeholders to encourage Nigerians, particularly the youth, to believe more in their country and not adopt the mindset of wanting to rush out,” she said.
“Patriotism is earned, not enforced or forced, and this will guide us in identifying steps to build our economy here using the energy of our diaspora.
“We will look at countries like India, Pakistan, and even Egypt in Africa to see how they have grown their capacities and made their countries attractive for a larger percentage of their citizenry to stay.
“The committee will start this process by gathering a database of Nigerians in the diaspora, country by country, and collaborating with various international organisations to focus on areas that can attract many of them back home.
“India is a very good example of reversing the ‘Japa’ syndrome by becoming the ICT hub of the world, with attendant jobs for its citizens,” she said.
Earlier, the immediate past chairman of the committee, Senator Victor Umeh (APGA, Anambra Central), expressed hope in Senator Natasha’s ability to take the committee to greater heights in tapping the required resources from Nigerians in the diaspora, while also making the country attractive to those at home through necessary collaborations.
“I knew that a great success was in store for this committee with Senator Natasha as chairman,” he said.
“She has what it takes to break new ground and galvanise all efforts towards tapping the potentials of Nigeria’s diaspora communities and also collaborating with other stakeholders to reverse the ‘Japa’ syndrome.”
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The former Senator Representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Sani has lampooned former Kaduna Governor, Nasir Elrufai for accusing Governor Uba Sani of collecting “N150 billion” from Tinubu and refusing to disclose it to the people of the state.
Writing on Facebook, Shehu Sani wrote on Wednesday alleged that nobody in Kaduna State can confidently claim they know the $350 million World Bank loans given to the state was spent.
He wrote, “The Ex-Governor of Kaduna State accused the Present Governor of Collecting “N150 Billion” from Tinubu and refusing to disclose it to the people of the state. Lets recall history and find the answers.
“The Ex-Governor collected millions of Dollars in Paris Refund from BUHARI and never disclosed it to the people of the state.
“He collected Billions of Excess Crude funds from BUHARI and never disclosed it to the Kaduna public.
“He collected Billions in Ecological funds from BUHARI and never disclosed it to the Kaduna People.
“He collected Billions of special grants from BUHARI through the CBN and never disclosed it to the Kaduna public.
“He collected stamp duties in Billions from BUHARI and never disclosed it to the people of the state.
“He collected Billions from a commercial Bank and mortgaged the state IGR and never disclosed it to the Kaduna people.
“There is nobody in Kaduna state who can confidently hold his Holy Book and swear that he or she knows how every kobo of the Kaduna’s $350 million World Bank loans was spent, Until the Kaduna Assembly probe.
“If the present Governor actually refused to disclose the mythical “150 billion”, he must have learned it from the Ex Governor. The ex Governor is coming to equity with dirty hands.
“If the Present Governor is supporting Tinubu because of money, can we say that the former one was supporting and kneeling down for Buhari for the same reason?
“The man with a body odour is accusing another of having a mouth odour.
“The ex-Governor also accused the present Governor of betrayal. Its simply a case of the Legend of betrayal being outsmarted by the grand guru.”
Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has described the former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, as a drowning man who is trying to drag Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, NSA, down with him.
Omokri made this assertion on his verified Facebook page, stating that el-Rufai found himself increasingly sidelined in both state and national politics.
He stated that El-Rufai lost out in Kaduna, where the governor has wisely refused to be his Man Friday, and he lost out on becoming a minister after Kaduna residents raised several petitions against him for allegedly paying killer herdsmen, who perpetrated the Southern Kaduna genocide, claiming that the killings unsurprisingly stopped as soon as Nasir left office.
Omokri added that El-Rufai is now turning his attention to Malam Nuhu Ribadu, a man widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most principled public servants.
El-Rufai recently resurfaced with claims allegedly implicating Ribadu, the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in past corruption-related remarks against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
However, Omokri insisted that a closer look at the evidence provided by El-Rufai suggests that his assertions lack substance.
“In a 2006 statement, Ribadu made a general remark about all serving governors at the time, stating that they were fortunate not to have faced the same fate as convicted former Governors Joshua Dariye and Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
“Contrary to el-Rufai’s claims, Ribadu did not single out or accuse then-Governor Tinubu of corruption, nor did he confirm that an EFCC investigation had found him guilty of any wrongdoing,” the statement read.
Omokri argued that Ribadu’s statement was part of a broader law enforcement strategy aimed at deterring corruption among political officeholders, similar to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s “show of force” tactics.
“The EFCC, at the time still in its infancy, sought to establish its authority and reinforce the perception that all public officials were under scrutiny,” Omokri added.
El-Rufai has further cited transcripts from Federal Executive Council meetings to support his claims. However, Omokri challenged him to produce these documents, arguing that their existence is questionable.
He noted that Ribadu’s later relationship with Tinubu, including the former EFCC chairman’s emergence as the Action Congress of Nigeria’s presidential candidate in 2011—a move reportedly facilitated by Tinubu—contradicts el-Rufai’s allegations.
Omokri stated that El-Rufai’s latest manoeuvre comes as no surprise, given his history of shifting loyalties.
“In 2010, he was a vocal critic of then-General Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as ‘perpetually unelectable’ due to his authoritarian past. Just months later, el-Rufai aligned himself with Buhari, becoming one of his most ardent supporters,” he said
Operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, have arrested two suspects for allegedly trafficking a 16-year-old girl to Burkina Faso for prostitution.
The commandant of the NSCDC in Edo State, Gbegan Agu, who paraded the suspects, named them Favour Idemudia, 16, and Precious Akpasuvbe, 25.
According to him, on 29 January 2025, Hope Friday reported her 16-year-old sister missing and suspected Akpasuvbe of being involved in her disappearance.
“Immediately, a combined team of NSCDC intelligence and counter-terrorism units swung into action and arrested the principal suspect, identified as Alex Omoseve, 47, boyfriend of Precious Akpasuvbe, at the Agbor Park area of Benin City.
“During the investigation, the Corps discovered that the missing girl was trafficked to Burkina Faso for prostitution without her parents’ consent.
“The suspects confessed to the crime, and the victim has been brought back from Burkina Faso and reunited with her family,” he said.
Agu said the suspects would be charged in court upon completion of the investigation.
In an interview with reporters, the victim said the suspect, who often came to play Bet9ja in her sister’s shop, promised to take her overseas to work as a housemaid.
“But on reaching Burkina Faso, they told me my job was to sleep with men, and I started crying. I later begged someone who gave me a phone to inform my sister, who wasn’t aware of my journey. That was how I returned to Nigeria,” she stated.
The principal suspect, Alex Omoseve, said he knew the victim at her sister’s shop where he used to play Bet9ja. He alleged that the victim told him she wanted to travel, and he introduced her to his girlfriend, who knew people in Burkina Faso, to help her.
He said he introduced the victim to his girlfriend because he didn’t know anyone there, and that his girlfriend, who was in Burkina Faso before, decided to assist her.
For her part, Precious Akpasuvbe told reporters that they took the victim to Burkina Faso for prostitution. She also confessed they were paid N200,000 by her partner in Burkina Faso.
Popular Nollywood actress, Olayinka Solomon has opened up about her struggle with memory loss.
The actress made the revelation while discussing her postpartum experience on Wednesday.
In a viral post on her Instagram page, Olayinka Solomon questioned other women on what changed after their childbirth.
Sharing her experiences, Solomon wrote; “Postpartum mom. What changed after childbirth?
“Mine, I get angry over little things and memory loss. We can gist now, next minute, I don’t remember. I don’t get full. I can eat now, and the next minute I’m hungry.”
DAILY POST reports that the actress welcomed her fourth child with her US-based husband on January 9, 2025.