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FEATURES

FEATURES

The Anambra Police Command has declared one of its officers, Inspector Audu Omadefu, wanted over suspected murder.

The Police spokesperson, Ikenga Tochukwu disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

He said the cop, with the AP No. 362178, has turned fugitive after the alleged crime as his whereabouts remained unknown.


He urged anyone with useful information on the officer’s whereabout to report to the nearest Police Station, assuring that such information would be treated with utmost confidentiality.

The statement reads: “Anambra State Police Command hereby declare AP No. 362178, Inspector Audu Omadefu WANTED for MURDER.

“The Command urges any member of the public who sees the fugitive or has information on his whereabout to report to the nearest Police Station or call the Command Control Room number *07039194332* or the PPRO on *08039334002*


“Any information given in this regard shall be treated with utmost confidentiality.”

Music streaming platform, Spotify, announced on Tuesday that it has exceeded 600 million monthly users as of the end of 2023 and anticipates a profitable start to 2024, according to a statement released following its fourth-quarter earnings report.

CEO Daniel Ek expressed optimism about the company’s performance, highlighting a significant year of growth. “Spotify had a very strong quarter, rounding out a great year of truly remarkable growth across the company,” Ek shared on X following the publication of its fourth-quarter earnings.

 

By the end of 2023, the company boasted 602 million monthly active users (MUAs), marking a 23 percent increase compared to the previous year. Additionally, paying subscribers, which form the cornerstone of Spotify’s revenue, grew by 15 percent to reach 236 million.

Despite its success, Spotify reported an operating loss of 446 million euros in 2023, although this represented an improvement over the 659 million euro loss in 2022. Notably, the company has yet to achieve a full-year net profit, despite sporadic quarterly profits.

To streamline operations, Spotify announced in December a workforce reduction of approximately 17 percent, following earlier cuts in January and June 2023. Moreover, in July, the company adjusted its premium subscription prices in several markets globally, aligning with similar adjustments by competitors like Apple and Amazon.

 

Spotify’s growth strategy has involved substantial investments, including expansions into new markets and exclusive content such as podcasts. Last week, the company renewed its partnership with Joe Rogan for his highly popular podcast, securing a “multi-year partnership” deal.

Looking ahead to the first quarter of 2024, Spotify anticipates reaching 618 million MUAs and achieving an operating profit of 180 million euros.

[Leadership]

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Olawale Edun on Tuesday, February 6, disclosed that the tax to GDP level in Nigeria is 10%, with states included it rises to 13% making it one of the lowest in the world.

He noted that the tax-to-GDP ratio in other African countries is close to 25%.

In the developed world it is over 50% in ways of tax collection which facilitates investment in social infrastructure, social services, welfare, and a whole lot more.

 

The minister disclosed this during the bilateral inter-ministerial meeting with the German minister of economic development and cooperation Svenja Schulze and the minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka Anite in Abuja, stating that the government requires these tax funds to carry out its responsibility, so there is no getting away from the fact that adequate tax must be paid.

He said: “There is a need to grow the economy and increase productivity, create jobs, and reduce poverty as these can only be done by having a successful and thriving private sector. Issues of rising prices are also a concern to the government and all Nigerians.

 

 

“Some of the major steps taken are on demand and supply, especially in the area of agricultural products. President Ahmed Tinubu has intervened in that sector by providing grains and fertilizer to farmers. He also intervened in the area of rice, maize, wheat, and cassava production, these all will bring down inflation very soon.

The German Minister of Economic Development and Cooperation, Svenja Schulze said there is a need to promote a bilateral relationship between the two countries as Nigeria has so many creative young people.

 

She also noted that jobs, food security, and education must be addressed. Germany she said is looking forward to deepening the relationship between both countries.

The Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka Anite said the German government is interested in building skills and ensuring education for artisans, these are areas where both countries can conveniently partner under the MSMEs.

 

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding MOU will take place to streamline planning and decision programmes.  

[TheNtaion]

 

Security and intelligence agencies in the country have reportedly uncovered plots by some unnamed individuals to pitch Northern Senators in the 10th 10th National Assembly against Nigerians.

 

Recall that a report had emerged alleging that an influential Northern Senator is closely being watched by security agencies in the country for reportedly spearheading terrorism, banditry, and Kidnapping.

According to the report, the influential lawmaker, who is also heading a sensitive committee in the Senate, has been identified as one of the sponsors and financiers of banditry and other terror-related activities in the North.

But officers, who pleaded anonymity, told PRNigeria that some “unscrupulous elements” are behind the false report.

The intelligence officers disclosed that the “mischievous persons” hatchet job also aims to pit the nation’s security services against one another.

The top-ranking officer disclosed that their investigation revealed those behind the story, which he described as a “fabrication.”

He said: “Our discreet has unmasked those instigating the baseless story in the media. Presently, our security service is not prosecuting or investigating any Senator for sponsoring banditry or terrorism.”

Another senior military officer said they had identified the mastermind of the media report aimed at ‘denigrating’ northern senators.

He said: “However, I wish to inform you that we are reaching out to security agencies to ensure they find out those behind the sponsored negative campaign.

“During our investigation, we gathered that a retired security officer who is still in the service, having been retained, is the chief mastermind. The ex-security officer is from a state in the middle belt.

“But by the time we track him, he will be made to reveal the Senator he is accusing. Because you cannot pitch some group of people against Nigerians.”

[NaijaNews]

 

•Drops Mad Over You on Valentine’s Day

Afrobeats star, Kingsley Amoni aka Rayce, is love-struck! And for this reason, he has recorded a love song titled, Mad Over You, with which he plans to serenade his sweetheart, as well as lovers all over the world.

Scheduled to drop on Lover’s Day, February 14, 2024, Mad Over You features Adebayo Adeleke aka B-Red who doubles as Davido’s cousin and son of Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke. Speaking on the new track, Rayce, who released Ara (Wonder) to a wide acclaim last year, said Mad Over You was inspired by his mood and spiritual flow.

“Music is spiritual, so I sing about what I feel within me and what I think my fans would love. Sometimes, the melody of a song drives the lyrics and most times, I write and add melodies to the lyrics. I just go with the flow.

“Mad Over You is just one of those songs I created while I was in the studio one day in Abuja. I actually went with the flow of the music. I made the beat in two hours and it came out banging. All I kept hearing in my head was ‘mad over you, omo yi mad o’. So, I dropped it and boom, it turned out a banger!”

On the choice of B-Red for collaboration on the song, Rayce disclosed that it was all the idea of his record label, Black Wall Street’s CEO, Ambassador Big Suni.
According to him, “After recording the song, I played it to Black Wall Street’s CEO, Ambassador Big Suni and he suggested that a collaboration would be good for the jam, and I said yes. Big Suni then said B-Red would be nice on it. I immediately concurred. He later sent the file to B-Red who didn’t take long before responding. And here we are today. B-Red not only liked the track, he also nailed it.”
For B-Red, collaborating with Rayce on Mad Over You was exciting and exhilarating. “I’ve known Rayce for a long time. He’s a talented artiste. He featured my cousin, Davido on his song, Wetin Dey, which turned out a hit. So, collaborating with him on Mad Over You was an exciting experience,” he noted.

A sneak peek of Mad Over You’s video revealed that it was shot at the Osun Osogbo Grove, a romantic ambience for lovers, and spiced with faces of popular actors. Commenting, Rayce said the visual concept belonged to the director who wanted something flavoured with African motif.
“The director of the music video basically wanted an African touch to it. He also wanted an environment suitable for love and romance. And that’s exactly what we got by shooting the video at the Osun Grove. Honestly, we had fun during the shoot. That was actually my first time at the grove and I loved the place. The chemistry between B-Red and I was unexplainable. My fans should please watch out for the video.”

In his remarks, Big Suni said everything has been put in place to drop the track on Valentine’s Day.
“Mad Over You is a love song and that’s why we are dropping it on Lover’s Day, February 14. So, all lovers of good music, most especially, Rayce’s fans worldwide should keep a date with us. And with the song featuring a talented musician like B-Red, you can’t expect less. The track is a club banger. I can assure you,” the ambassador declared.
Meanwhile, a nationwide tour tagged: ‘DeycallmeRayce Tour’ is being planned to promote Mad Over You.

[Sun]

Chapter Seven, Section 713 of Nigeria’s Financial Regulations 2009 states that “Personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private account.”

 

Last month, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, was suspended from office by President Bola Tinubu following public outrage over the disclosure that she authorised the payment of N585.2 million public funds into a private account in violation of financial transparency laws. However, PREMIUM TIMES’ findings show that the “crime” she is accused of is prevalent across several ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). At least N159.6 billion (N159,626,619,959) was paid into private accounts by MDAs in six years, a review of data published by Govspend, a platform tracking government spending, show.

The findings do not exonerate Ms Edu but show that the problem is not peculiar to her and is widespread within the Nigerian government.

The Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta tops the list of MDAs making such controversial payments with a total payment of N8.3 billion in 130 transactions to Ebikabowei Victor-Ben, an ex-Niger Delta militant.

The Nigerian office of the New Partnership for African Development, a pan-African poverty-eradication programme funded by member states, comes next having paid N1.5 billion in 111 tranches to one Afangekung Mfon Okon.

Other MDAs that made multiple transactions into private accounts include the Ministry of Information and Culture, Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Women Affairs, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Over N13bn public funds paid into private accounts in 2023

Last year, more than N13.6 billion was paid into private accounts in violation of the country’s Financial Regulations 2009.

The violators include the Office of the SGF, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and many parastatals.

Findings showed that the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta paid N4.72 billion into individual accounts of some camp leaders in the Niger Delta where the struggle for oil wealth and agitation against environmental hazards have propelled ethnic militias to pick arms against the state.

For instance, in a total of 10 transactions, Mr Victor-Ben, the ex-militant also known as Boyloaf, received N564.7 million from the office between July and November 2023. According to the transactions’ descriptions, the money was meant for “delegates of Boyloaf camp.”

Money paid into Ebikabowei Victor-Ben's account in 2023
Money paid into Ebikabowei Victor-Ben’s account in 2023

His counterparts also benefited, having received N3.5 billion collectively. 

other Niger Delta camp leaders top 10 leaders
other Niger Delta camp leaders top 10 leaders
 

Despite its oversight functions, the SGF office was also caught in the web. It paid public funds amounting to N3.1 billion into 15 private accounts between March and December 2023.

.

Sadiya Umar Farouq, former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
Sadiya Umar Farouq, former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

The scandal-ravaged Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development paid at least N918.5 million public funds into private accounts. This is in addition to other scandalous payments in the ministry as seen in the cases of the pioneer minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq and her successor, Betta Edu.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu [PHOTO CREDIT: @edu_betta]
Suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu [PHOTO CREDIT: @edu_betta]

The Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning paid N1.5 billion in tranches to 16 individuals for various projects and services between February and December last year.

In other suspicious transactions, the Ministry of Women Affairs paid N1.6 billion into the accounts of vaguely identified individuals for travel purposes, palliative for widows, and monitoring and evaluation of capital projects among others.

Between March and September, NEPAD paid N1.67 billion into the accounts of two individuals, Bello Nagwaggo and Afangekung Mfon Okon.

 

EFCC, Police, Human Rights Commission, AGF office, others complicit

While five parastatals paid billions into private accounts, 12 others paid in millions with the lowest being N17.6 million.

The MDAs that paid millions into individual accounts include, the EFCC, Police Formations and Commands, Nigeria Police Academy Wudil, Kano, National Directorate of Employment, National Commission for Refugees, Auditor General for the Federation, National Commission for Persons with Disability, Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Federal Character Commission, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Budget Office of the Federation and National Human Rights Commission.

 

 

Others are the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult & Non-formal Education, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and the Ministry of Niger Delta.

 

The EFCC in two transactions between May and October last year, paid a total of N211.7 million into two private accounts; one for Aliyu Naibi (N154,974,745.00) and the other for Abdullahi Mohammed (N56,767,056.83).

In total, the police (police formations and commands and Nigeria Police Academy Wudil, Kano) paid N173.8 million into five individual accounts.

Prominent Nigerians as beneficiaries

Some of the payments made into individual accounts could be explained. For example, former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former SGF Boss Mustapha and many ministers and aides who served in the Buhari administration were paid their severance allowances.

One notable controversial payment made to a known public official was the N89.8 million that the police paid to the then-police spokesperson, Frank Mba, in 2019. The official records show that the payment was for issues such as the production of presidential portraits to be used by the police and the cost of “airing” a police programme on TV; payments the police could have made to the service providers directly.

What the law says

Chapter Seven, Section 713 of Nigeria’s Financial Regulations 2009 states that “Personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private account.”

It also added that: “Any officer who pays public money into a private account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intention.”

Commenting on our findings, Joe Abah, a former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, said:  “Things like that should not be paid into personal accounts but should be transparently procured.”

He added that the financial regulations condemn “paying project activity money into private bank accounts, like was alleged to be done in the Betta Edu case.”

However, the Deputy Director of Fiscal Accounts in the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, James Abalaka, said that the Financial Regulations 2009 recognises circumstances in which public money can be paid into private accounts. 

Chapter 10, Section 1001 of the regulations sheds light on what it described as ‘imprest’, which is “applicable to all sums advanced to a public officer to meet expenditure under current estimates, for which vouchers cannot immediately be presented to a Sub- Accounting Officer for payment.”

“Imprests are issued by the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Accounting Officers of Self-Accounting ministries/extra-ministerial offices and other arms of government,” section 1002 explains further. “The authority for issuing Imprests is conveyed in the Annual General Imprest Warrant issued by the ‘Minister of Finance to the Accountant-General.”

According to the financial regulation, there are two types of imprest namely: standing imprest and special imprests. The latter which is granted for a particular purpose “must be retired in full when the purpose has been achieved.”

 

The former “may be replenished from time to time during a financial year by the submission of paid vouchers to Sub-Accounting Officers for reimbursement.”

Mr Abalaka noted that MDAs are responsible for money paid into private accounts. According to him, the accountant general’s office through the Government Integrated Financial and Management Information System (GIFMIS) only facilitates payments of vouchers raised by MDAs.

Mr Abalaka told PREMIUM TIMES that there are three layers — initiator, reviewer and final approval — of payments in every MDA.

“The initiator is someone who initiates payment after a permanent secretary’s approval,” he explained. “The reviewer then reviews it and checks whether there are adjustments to be made before passing it for final approval where the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) makes the payments.”

The accountant general’s office, he explained, only makes the government’s daily expenditures open through the open treasury portal and is not responsible for any payment made “except the one made within the AGF office.”

He, however, declined comment on the N11.5 million paid to one Lanre Gbajabiamila by the accountant-general’s office.

A screenshot of payments made by the office of the Accountant General of Federation to Lanre Gbajabiamila. Source: Govspend
A screenshot of payments made by the office of the Accountant General of Federation to Lanre Gbajabiamila. Source: Govspend

On 25 September 2023, N5.7 million was paid to Mr Gbajabiamila as “Payment of furniture allowance to 19 political office holders.” The same amount was in 2018 paid into his account for a similar purpose.

Seven men on Monday appeared before the Federal High Court in Lagos State for allegedly tampering with a petroleum product pipeline.

The defendants are Godbless Ebi, Gabriel Otovor, Saheed Abdularahman, Anthony Arubayan, John Adebayo, Emmanuel Ajayi, and Godwin Joseph.

They were arraigned before Justice Abimbola Awogboro on a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawfully tampering with petroleum pipeline.

They, however, pleaded not guilty.

Prosecution counsel, Mrs. O. Halima, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on Jan. 10 at Obawole, Fagba, Lagos State.

The alleged offences contravene Sections 1(19) and 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Law of the Federation, 2004.

The court granted the defendants bail in the sum of five million Naira each, with two sureties in like sum.

The court also ordered that one of the sureties must have a landed property.


It adjourned the case until March 11 for trial, and ordered that the defendants should be kept at the Ikoyi custodial facility, pending perfection of their bail. (NAN)

Beggars in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, have cried out over the declining rate of assistance from members of the public.

The beggars described their condition of living as “terrible” and unbearable.

Speaking with DAILY POST at the popular old market in Lokoja, a beggar, who identified himself as Malam Abubakar Alli, expressed concern that he and his colleagues in the alms business no longer made enough money to feed.

Alli said: ”Few years back, I could boast of making N1,500 to N2,000 a day from begging, but for the past one year or so, I hardly make up to half of that amount.”

Another beggar, Mohammed Adamu, who noted that he lost his sight many years ago, said he has been finding it very difficult to cope with life due to diminishing earnings from begging.

“We cannot engage in meaningful physical work that can bring money to our pocket.

“As persons with disabilities, we depend solely on other members of the society.

“What they keep on telling us is that they are also feeling the negative impact of the bad economy. We are dying of hunger. Where do we go from here?” He asked.

The beggars called on the State and the Federal Government to find meaningful solutions to the current social and economic challenges facing the country.

DAILY POST reports that the cost of living in Kogi State, especially Lokoja, is very high.

For instance, garri, a staple food hitherto regarded as the common man’s food, has gone beyond purchasing capacity, with a measure of it skyrocketing from N500 to N2,200.

A market survey by DAILY POST in Lokoja revealed that prices of rice, beans, noodles, semovita, meat, tomato, pepper, onion, maize, corn, fruits, groundnut oil, red oil, among others have hit the roof top.

This is coupled with the high cost of transportation and other social services due to the removal of fuel subsidy by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government in 2023.

The Tactical team of the Nigeria Police have rescued Godwin Oniovosa, the driver of one of the two buses involved in the kidnapping incident at Inele Eteke, in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The incident happened on Saturday, February 3rd, 2023, at about 3 pm as kidnappers hijacked two buses belonging to God is Good Motors and ABC transport and whisked about 14 passengers to an unknown destination.

According to a report, God is Good Motors was with 12 passengers, while ABC was with 2 passengers.

Tthe two buses were heading to Abuja from Umuahia, Abia State.

The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye Aya confirmed the rescue of Oniovosa in a statement on Monday night.

“The tactical team set up by the Kogi State police command, the DPO, local vigilantes and hunters rescued the driver of God is Good Motors, Mr Godwin Oniovosa,” he stated.

Meanwhile, abductors of the 14 passengers have demanded N15 million from the family of one of their kidnapped victims.

Chude Nnamdi, a social media influencer, in a post on his X handle, quoted one of the victim’s family members as saying: “The kidnappers phoned this morning via my wife’s phone and were demanding N15 million”.

In another post, yesterday, Nnamdi said: “Passengers in two loaded buses were kidnapped and everywhere is just quiet like it is nothing. Is this the new normal? Two buses for that matter!”

Executive secretary/chief executive officer (CEO) of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, has commended the artistic performance of Burna Boy at the 66th edition of the Recording Academy Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles, California, USA on Sunday.


The Grammy winning sensation, who is the first Nigerian artist to perform at the main ceremony of the Grammy Awards, raised global consciousness that has brought recognition to Nigerian culture with the hit song “Sitting on top of the World”.


Extolling Burna Boy’s performance which featured legendary artists Brandy and 21 Savage, Ajiboye said it was indeed a stamp of authority on African culture and Nigeria in particular that will see a perfect recognition of our culture.

While extending his commendation to Davido, Ajiboye said the artist has made a great mark in his chosen career and should not have any regrets as the world recognizes the fact that the Grammy was truly his but just didn’t come to him. He expressed hope that in the years to come, there will be Grammys to be won over and over again that will bring glory to Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has assured of its continued support for Nigerian artists to keep showcasing their talents towards placing our culture on top of global civilisation.


The minister of art, culture and creative economy, Hannatu Musa, who represented Nigeria at this year’s Grammy, encouraged the nominated artists to remain focus and keep faith with the industry, saying even without winning any of the award categories, it did not take the shine off Nigeria as our music was aptly and perfectly presented to the world.

Last modified on Tuesday, 06 February 2024 07:40