A tragic incident occurred on Wednesday in Jos, Plateau State, when a policeman accidentally shot and killed his colleague during an enforcement operation.
The deceased officer, identified as Tanko Emmanuel, was part of a team deployed by the state government to clear traders from Ahmadu Bello Way.
According to a source who spoke to SaharaReporters, the incident took place while the 48-year-old Tanko Emmanuel, who was attached to the Akwanga division, was engaged in an argument with a civilian. In the midst of the confrontation, another officer on the team, led by Inspector Haruna, fired a shot that accidentally hit Tanko Emmanuel.
The source expressed condolences, stating, “May Almighty God give his family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss and may the Almighty Allah continue to protect security operatives from catastrophic incidents like this.”
Efforts to reach the Plateau State Police Command spokesperson, Alabo Alfred, for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not answer calls or respond to a text message sent to his mobile line.
This unfortunate incident highlights the risks faced by security operatives in the line of duty and underscores the need for proper training and safety measures to prevent such accidents from occurring.
Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman has attributed his career and personality evolution to his decision to play for Nigeria.
Ademola Lookman was born in Wandsworth England on October 20, 1997, to Nigerian parents which makes him eligible to play for both countries.
The 26-year-old striker has played for England’s under-19, 20, and 21 levels before he decided to settle for Nigeria at the senior level in 2022 after failing to get the Three Lions of England invite.
Since then, the tricky winger has made himself a very important member of the national team which he has scored 6 goals in 21 games.
“It’s incredible [to play for Nigeria]. The support and the love I get back home from the people is unbelievable,” Lookman told the UEFA official website.
“It gives me the motivation to evolve in different areas – as a person, not just in my game.”
Just like at the 2023 AFCON where Ademola Lookman recorded some brilliant moments as he helped Nigeria to reach the final of the tournament, Lookman has enjoyed some unforgettable moments at Atalanta this season.
The best of them all was his performance in the Europa League final on May 22, 2024, where he became the first player to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final.
The most mind-blowing aspect of that achievement is that Ademola Lookman achieved the feat against newly crowned German Bundesliga champions, Bayer Leverkusen who were enjoying a 51-game unbeaten run before the final.
Meanwhile, Lookman’s national teammate, Kenneth Omeruo has urged the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) to make Atalanta winger the 2024 Africa player of the year.
”@CAF_Online your Arica Player of the Year..@ALookman_ top player”, Kenneth Omeruo wrote on X after Ademola Lookman helped Atalanta to win the Europa League with a hat-trick on Wednesday.
Veteran Nigerian singer, John Odafe Asiemo, aka Daddy Showkey has opened up on his music career.
According to him, he discovered his musical talent while working in a motor park.
The ‘Ghetto Soldier’ crooner disclosed this in a recent episode of ‘The Honest Bunch’ podcast.
“I was working in the motor park as a ticketer when someone told me I have a good voice and that I should consider becoming a musician,” he recalled.
“At first, I was sceptical because I didn’t know how to sing but when I attempted it, I discovered that everyone liked it so that was how I became a musician.”
On the controversy of young artists denying music legends contributions to the success of their careers, Daddy Showkey said he wasn’t interested in giving himself any accolades for paving the way for young artists.
He added that it is left for the young artists who benefited from his legacy to admit it.
![FX Crisis: CBN Bans Commercial Banks, Public Officers, Others From Owning BDCs [Full List]](/media/k2/items/cache/1b3fb93443dadc1506c41280395b44bc_M.jpg)
The Central Bank of Nigeria has issued a new order.
The apex bank has banned commercial banks, all financial institutions, public officers, non-governmental organizations, non-Nigerian natural persons, non-resident, non-regulated companies, telecommunication services providers, and others from owning Bureau De Change firms in Nigeria amid efforts to defend the naira against the dollar at foreign exchange market.
On Wednesday, the apex bank disclosed this in its latest guideline to BDC operators.
Recall that CBN ordered all BDC operators to reapply for operational licenses in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 (CBN Act) and the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020.
Further details of the CBN’s guidelines revealed that those not permitted to own or promote BDC in Nigeria were not permitted to do so.
CBN said the following shall not be allowed to participate in the ownership of BDCs, directly or indirectly: commercial, merchant, non-interest and payment service banks; financial holding companies; other Financial Institutions (OFIs), including International Money Transfer Operators and payment service providers; serving staff of financial services regulatory and supervisory agencies; serving staff of regulated financial services providers; government at all levels; public officers as defined in the 5th Schedule Part IV of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and Non-Governmental Organizations;
Others are cooperative societies; charitable organizations; academic and religious institutions; non-Nigerian natural persons; non-resident non-regulated companies; telecommunication services providers; sanctioned individuals and entities; a shareholder in another BDC (whether directly or indirectly); and any other persons that the CBN may designate from time to time.
The Central Bank of Nigeria has mandated all existing Bureau De Change Operators to re-apply for new licenses in their preferred category.
This was announced on Wednesday in a circular issued by the apex bank, which was signed by the Director of the Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Haruna Mustafa.
However, BDC operators have rejected the new licensing guidelines, saying it is against best global practices.
However, the CBN noted that those adjustments aimed to streamline BDC operations and enhance financial accessibility.
The apex bank noted that the BDCs were expected to adhere to corporate governance requirements and anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and counter-proliferation financing provisions.
The latest circular comes a day after the Monetary Policy Committee of the apex bank raised the benchmark lending rate to 26.25 per cent to tackle the country’s soaring inflation.
Reading the communiqué of the meeting, the Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, said, “Members further observed the recent volatility in the foreign exchange market, attributing this seasonal demand, a reflection of the interplay between demand and supply freely functioning market system.”
The naira has depreciated significantly since the CBN unified the country’s exchange rates, trading between 1,400/$ and 1,600/$ at the official and parallel markets in the last two weeks.
The new guidelines, which are an update on the draft that was exposed earlier in the year, go into effect on June 3.
The CBN removed the mandatory caution deposit, which the industry players had kicked against.
CBN set up two new categories; Tier 1 and Tier 2 BDC licences.
According to the new guidelines, “A Tier 1 BDC: a. May operate in any State of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, b. May establish branches and appoint franchisees in any state and FCT, subject to the written approval of the CBN. c. Shall maintain a minimum distance of one kilometre between its branches, its branch and a franchisee, and between its franchisees. d. Shall exercise oversight on its franchisees. All franchisees shall adopt their franchisor’s name, logo, branding, technology platform and regulatory rendition requirements. 2 Classified as Confidential: e. Shall comply with the franchising standards prescribed in this guidelines.”
A tier 2 BDC Licence allows the operator to operate from only one state of the federation or the FCT, and it is allowed to establish five branches in a state of operation, subject to the written approval of the CBN.
It is also required to maintain a minimum distance of one kilometre between its branches and is not allowed to appoint franchisees.
The BDCs (existing or new) would also be required to meet the capital requirements for their license category within six months.
Meanwhile, the President of the Association of Bureau de Change Operators of Nigeria, Aminu Gwadebe, speaking with The PUNCH said, “The requirement is huge. It is not in line with global practices. Capitalisation in the UK is 50,000 pounds; in Kenya, it is $50,000 and so on. I don’t think it reflects global practice. A BDC is not a deposit taker; it is only buying and selling.
“Also, I’m afraid, we would not go the way of Algeria when they came with such policies and at the end of the day, every other player runs to the open market operations and at the end of the day, Algeria had to look for that open market to even determine their local currency exchange rate. We should be careful so that we will not throw away our experience, capacity and investment,” he warned.
According to the ABCON president, the deadline given to BDCs is short.
“When you are giving other sectors, one year, or two years, why the rush with the sub-sector? The deadline is quite short. It is not feasible and then we should also guide against what we are trying to avoid. The CBN in its mind is checkmating money laundering and we may meet money laundering in the future,” he argued.
According to the new rules, BDCs in the Tier 1 category would be required to have a minimum capital requirement of N2bn, pay N1m as a non-refundable application fee and N5m as a non-refundable licence fee.
The apex bank disclosed that Tier 2 BDCs would be required to have a minimum capital base of N500m, N0.25m as a non-refundable application fee and N2m as a non-refundable licence fee.
The new rules allow BDCs to participate in the Nigerian foreign exchange market as a dealer, following application and approval to the director of the Trade & Exchange Department for an authorised dealership licence.
The CBN said while BDCs could source dollars from individuals, adding, “Sellers of the equivalent of $10,000 and above to a BDC are required to declare the source of the foreign exchange and comply with all AML/CFT/CPF regulations and foreign exchange laws and regulations and customers may sell foreign currencies in their individual domiciliary accounts with Nigerian banks to BDCs. All such sales shall be credited to the BDC’s Nigerian domiciliary account.
“Every BDC shall conspicuously display its buying and selling rates. Such rates shall apply throughout all its branches, and where applicable, its franchisees. Disclaimers or statements by a BDC to the effect that an exchange rate indication is not to be relied on are prohibited. i. A BDC shall not give customers price indications which are misleading or make price comparisons which are not genuine or fair. Every BDC shall maintain adequate records of all its transactions for transparency and compliance with CBN Guidelines, AML/CFT/CPF provisions, circulars or directives,” part of the guidelines stated.
In terms of prudential requirements, the CBN said, “BDCs are required to observe the following prudential requirements: Net Open Position (NOP) limit in foreign currency of the equivalent of 30 per cent of its shareholders’ funds unimpaired by losses or as may be determined by the CBN from time to time. Limit total borrowing to 50 per cent of shareholders’ funds unimpaired by losses and maintain insurance cover over cash (both naira and foreign currency) in office and in transit, fire, and staff fidelity.”
Atalanta winger, Ademola Lookman, has said the 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final on Wednesday is one of the “best nights of my life’.
Lookman scored twice in the first half and once after the break, as they became the first Serie A team to win the title.
The win also ended Leverkusen’s 51-game unbeaten run in emphatic style.
Lookman, speaking to TNT Sports, said: “One of the best nights of my life.
“Amazing performance from the team, we did it, we did it, we did it! Not got much else to say but yeah fantastic.
“They do always say third time lucky, so yeah it is for us today [winning a final at the third attempt this season]. I’m just happy we won. We won today so yes very pleased.”
The federal government has apologised to Nigerians over the economic pains they go through as a result of the reforms embarked upon by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
The apology came yesterday from the minister of budget and economic planning, Atiku Bagudu, at a Ministerial Sectoral Update in Abuja
He, however, staunchly defended the policies of the Tinubu-led administration.
Bagudu acknowledged that both foreign exchange rate and inflation figures were still above target levels, putting strain on the economy and the citizens’ pockets.
The minister said, “I apologise for the pains that they (policies) may occasion, but they are necessary.”
The naira has plummeted from around N460 to a dollar to a staggering N1,480 while inflation skyrocketed to 33.69 percent as of April 2024, up from 22.22 percent a year prior.
Despite the economic crisis, the minister insisted the Tinubu administration’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” centered around eight priority areas was on the right track to spur growth in the economy.
“Is our strategy right? Absolutely. We believe our strategy is right, but it requires occasional calibration,” Bagudu asserted.
He argued that restoring macroeconomic stability was crucial to attract investment and generate revenues to address underinvestment in sectors such as security, education and social welfare.
The minister portrayed the current economic challenges as pains accompanying an overdue economic restructuring.
“Nothing we do can solve the problem of underinvestment without restoring a macro-economy that can stimulate investment,” he said.
Meanwhile, the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has said the current administration has made significant strides in reviving the economy and implementing social programmes to lift the citizens during its first year in office.
Delivering the administration’s one-year progress report at a ministerial sectoral updates session yesterday, Akume highlighted Tinubu’s efforts to unleash Nigeria’s economic potential through major reforms.
“This administration has implemented significant economic reforms aimed at stabilising our economy and fostering sustainable growth,” Akume said.
He pointed to policies that have attracted foreign investment and spurred job creation across various sectors.
According to him, a major economic move was the dismantling of monopolistic control over electricity through the 2023 Electricity Law, allowing states, corporations and individuals to generate, distribute and transmit power.
On the fiscal front, he said the removal of the contentious fuel subsidy was hailed as a “challenging but necessary” step to curb corruption, inefficiency and reduce the annual fiscal burden on the government.
The SGF said infrastructure development has been another key focus area, with the completion of extensive road networks, improved rail systems and modernisation of ports to facilitate trade and connectivity.
Alongside economic measures, Akume emphasised the administration’s people-focused policies through an array of social intervention programmes targeting poverty alleviation and empowerment of vulnerable groups.
“These initiatives have provided financial assistance, skills acquisition opportunities and improved access to essential services,” he explained.
The SGF said investments have also been channelled into healthcare through new facilities and educational reforms to boost human capital development.
However, Akume admitted the first year had its challenges from various angles. But he commended President Tinubu for his “calm, unwavering commitment and resilience” in serving Nigerians with diligence.
Moving forward, the administration remains focused on implementing its “Renewed Hope Agenda” centered on economic revitalization, social inclusion and infrastructural progress for the betterment of all Nigerians, Akume stated.
He called for collective efforts towards unity, peace and realizing Nigeria’s full potential through the government’s vision and policies.
Super Eagles of Nigeria forward, Ademola Lookman has noted that all he and his teammates need to do to win their first Europa League trophy is to be at the top of their game.
At 8 p.m. tonight, May 22, the German Bundesliga giants, Bayer Leverkusen and Atalanta will clash at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland for the Europa League title.
While Atalanta are in the 5th spot of the Italian Serie A table, Bayer Leverkusen finished their league season as champions without losing a game for the first time in the history of the Bundesliga.
In the league alone, Atalanta have recorded 10 defeats so far this season, while Bayer Leverkusen are unbeaten in all competitions. Hence, it is a bit of an imbalance in terms of the form of the respective teams.
However, the fact that Atalanta defeated Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool on their way to the Europa League final will be a huge motivation for the Serie A side.
Ademola Lookman believes that his team can stop the unbeaten run of Bayer Leverkusen tonight and grab the European title.
“A big occasion for us as a club, as players, as a team, so I’m looking forward to it. We need to be at the top of our game. We know that coming into the tie against a top team, we play top football,” Ademola Lookman told the club’s official website.
“Like we’ve shown this season we play our football to the best of our abilities and we do the necessary.”
[NaijaNews]
The Champions League final in 2026 will be played in Budapest, Hungary.
UEFA confirmed this on Wednesday.
The European football governing body also delayed giving the 2027 final to Milan amid uncertainty over the future of San Siro.
The Puskás Arena and San Siro were the venues for the two finals scheduled to be awarded.
This year’s final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund will be played on June 1 at Wembley Stadium in London.
Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena will host next year’s showpiece event.
[DailyPost]
Political activist, Reno Omokri has warned men on the type of woman to marry.
He warned them not to marry any woman disvirgined with urgent N2k.
Taking to his social media page, he wrote:
"When Aliko Dangote's daughter married, her bride price was ₦500,000. Please fact-check me. And the wedding ceremony itself was modest and respectable and demonstrated the moderation that can only come from a highly developed culture.
You are going to marry a woman whose parents live in an uncompleted building in a village, and they are asking you to bring ₦3,000,000 and fulfil a long list of demands as bride price? Reason the matter, my friend.
As a man, if you are getting married anywhere in Africa, and your in-laws are demanding drinks like Martell VSOP and XO, designer wear, foreign exchange and expensive jewellery, just know that that is not a customary or traditional marriage. That is modern-day extortion by criminally minded people, and it is in your best interest to rethink that marriage.
A broken engagement is better than being entrapped by heartless Industrial Money Obtainers. Whatever they are asking you to pay is just a down payment. If you marry that girl, they will squeeze the life out of you with their demands. If someone dies, you pay. Someone is born, you pay. When someone starts school, you must shake your body. You are not an in-law. You are an in-money, and you will not have harmony.
Our ancestors were not that greedy. And the items they are demanding from you are not African items. They are foreign. Mostly from Europe. And, therefore, could not have been part of any native law and custom. These are just opportunists trying to use you for poverty alleviation.
African bride price list should not be more than a reasonable amount of money, and then things like kola nut, livestock, palm oil and agricultural produce, and in the Ghana area, gold (because gold has always been abundant in precolonial Ghana).
Ask yourself this question. If truly the bride price in their custom is running into millions, how come the bride's parents live in a rented house or modest uncompleted building? They ought to be wealthy.
The truth is that the father married her mother with ₦5, and now they want you to marry their daughter with ₦3,000,000. To them, they are negotiating a business, not a marriage.
If this were a virgin, then perhaps ₦3,000,000 could be demanded. But ₦3,000,000 bride price for a girl that was disvirgined with urgent ₦2k? Tufiakwa!
Do not be too desperate to marry that you do not see the trap you are entering and the alternatives at your fingertips. You are a successful young man. Your type is rare. There are more beautiful young women than there are successful young men. Sit back. Take your time and marry where you will have peace, not where your in-laws want a piece of your wealth!"
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Mosun Filani, the Nigerian actress, has disclosed that she took a break from her acting career to prioritize raising her children, underscoring the swiftness of time.
She said that business was never a priority for her.
After many years off-screen, the movie star recently announced her return to the industry.
In an interview with Oyinmomo TV, Mosun explained that she prioritized her children’s upbringing over her career.
She noted that once a child gains admission to the university, they are no longer under their parent’s care.
Mosun added that she wanted to ensure she raised her kids well, especially considering the influence of social media.
She wrote: “Business was not my priority. I decided to take that break. I took a long break for the kids to grow up. For how long do they stay with us? When a child is in University, he or she is no longer under the parents’ care, take it or leave it.
So, how many years do you have to spend with your children? To train them?
“Some people are even alleging that they are the ones releasing their s3x tapes, just to have followers. Let there be a scandalous post about anyone and see the massive growth that will happen to his/her Instagram page. That aspect bothers me a lot.”
Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded social media influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as Verydarkman in police custody.
Trial Justice Mobolaji Olajuwo issued the remand order after the defendant pleaded not guilty to a five-count cybercrime charge the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, preferred against him.
For instance, police, in one of the counts in the charge, alleged that the defendant posted videos on his Instagram handles ‘verydarkblackman’, containing information that was “grossly offensive, pornographic or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character.”
People Talk: On sale of new Naira notes at Nigerian parties
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It told the court that the defendant alleged that one Iyabo Ojo was having indecent sexual relationship with her daughter, even though he knew that the information in the video he posted on Instagram was false.
Police further alleged that the defendant, in another video he shared on social media, falsely published that an actress, Tonto Dike, was accused of criminal conversion of the proceeds of crowd funding for #JusticeforMohbadMovement, and equally alleged that she was the person behind a controversial gossip blog, Gistlover.
It maintained that the defendant made the publication “for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to the person of the said King Tonto Dike.”
More so, the prosecution alleged that the defendant, in another video he posted on social media, falsely alleged that top police officers and Senators were having sexual relationship with a now convicted male cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky.
Police told the court that the defendant added that Bobrisky was pimping young boys for Senators and Senior Police Officers to sleep with, which statement he “made for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, insult, injury.”
The defendant was said to had by his actions, committed the offence of Cyberstalking, contrary to and punishable under section 24 (1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) ACT, 2015.
Meanwhile, following the defendant’s plea of innocence to the charge, his lawyer, Mr. Deji Adeyanju, urged the court to release him on bail, pending the determination of the case against him.
Adeyanju noted that the charge contained bailable offences, stressing that the defendant ought to enjoy his right of presumption of innocence as guaranteed under by the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
However, police said it would need time to respond to the defendant’s bail application.
Even though the prosecution counsel applied for the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of his bail request, trial Justice Olajuwon ordered that he should remain in police custody.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter till next week Wednesday, May 29.
It will be recalled that Verydarkman was in March, arrested and detained by the police over the same allegations.
Verydarkman was later released on administrative bail after various human right activists mounted pressure on the police.
Margaret Oyibo Atayi, a Nigerian woman, has reportedly committed suicide in Nasarawa State.
The woman killed herself over her failed marriage.
The mother of two from Ugbokolo Local Government Area of Benue State was found dead three days after she was declared missing by her family members.
She was last seen around City College Of Education, Abacha road, Mararaba, Nasarawa State at about 3am on Friday, May 17, 2024.
Since then, all efforts to locate her whereabouts proved abortive until her sister, Ochanya Chelle, confirmed that she was found dead on Monday, May 20.
According to her father, Mr. Patrick Atayi, she committed suicide after falling into depression due to her marital crisis.
“Margaret was a mother of two children. She has been in depression for some time now due to mistreatment by her husband," he explained.
“She went out on that fateful Friday morning by 3am without the knowledge of anybody. Her body was discovered in the late hours of Monday, and every available evidence confirmed that she committed suicide.”
A close source who confirmed the incident to Idoma Voice Newspaper said; “This is very unfortunate. In an effort to search for her, I reached out to her father and discovered that she was a mother of two children and that she went into depression for some time, which led to her going out that Friday night at 3 am without anyone’s knowledge, resulting in this unfortunate incident.
"Please, no one should die in silence, no matter the situation you find yourself in. Please speak out; you could be helped and overcome it. Nothing is worth taking your life for or dying for. Above all, embrace God and enjoy the peace of God."
The Trade Union Congress, TUC, said the proposed N54, 000 by the Federal Government falls short of what Nigeria should be paying.
The President of TUC, Festus Osifo stated this in an interview with Arise Television.
People Talk: On sale of new Naira notes at Nigerian parties0:00 / 0:00
Recall that the Federal Government had previously proposed the sum of N48,000 for minimum wage.
This was rejected by the trade union because it was “ridiculous,” leading to a meeting on Tuesday for a new proposal where the sum of N54,000 was suggested.
Speaking on the development, Osifo said the Tuesday meeting was held with the expectation that the proposal will be “something reasonable.”
He said the N615,000 was a negotiation strategy by the union, saying that “you don’t go into negotiation with your barest minimum, after looking at all factors then you add markup to it so you have room for adjustment. The N615,000 submitted was a strategy.”
Osifo highlighted the remarkable difference between the minimum wage of 18,000 naira in 2011, and the suggested 54,000 naira in 2024, using the value of dollar and consumer purchasing power.
He said, “2011 when N18,000 was passed as the minimum wage, what was the value of USD? In 2011, N18,000 using an exchange rate of about 140-145 will give you about $125, which when converted today will get you close to N200,000.
“What that means is what N18,000 could buy in 2011 you will need almost N200,000 to buy it today.”
Osifo said one of the reasons the meeting held today made no progress and was rescheduled, was due to the absence of the 6 state governors, and lack of mandate by 2 who were represented.
“We asked them if they had any mandate and they said no, so we adjourned the meeting to 4pm on Wednesday,” he said.
He urged the governors to be present for the meeting on Wednesday and recognise that they “are not here to play and the Nigerians workers are waiting for the outcome of this conversation.”
Osifo said regardless of the presence of the governors at the meeting tomorrow, “as long as the federal government is seated we are going to move forward but not with the N54,000 they have presented to us.”