Shocking no indicted person held accountable — Eze Onyekpere
Govt must urgently develop strategy to address corruption — Dr Zikirullahi
Five years after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, launched with fanfare, a robust effort to verify the execution of constituency projects by Nigerian lawmakers across the country, the anti-graft agency has failed to prosecute those it indicted in its yearly reports in accordance with the Act setting up the commission.
The Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 which established the ICPC vested it “with the responsibility for investigation and prosecution of offenders thereof”.
Records have shown that at least N2 trillion has been sunk into the so-called constituency projects in Nigeria between 2003 and 2024 without any concrete results to show in terms of projects and programmes that could add even marginal value to the people of Nigeria. The huge cash, which is dispensed in the sums of N95 billion to the 109 senators and N100 billion to 360 House of Representatives members yearly, is meant to provide additional quick impact schemes to the communities where lawmakers come from and quicken the pace of development in those places.
On April 2, 2019 when it launched its initiative, the ICPC focused its attention on 12 states, taking along officials from the Budget Office of the federation, Accountant-General Office, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and some journalists to track the projects claimed to have been undertaken by lawmakers in the states of Kogi and Benue in the North Central, Adamawa and Bauchi in the North East, and Sokoto and Kano in the Northwest. Others were: Imo and Enugu in the South-east, Lagos and Osun in the South-west and Edo and Akwa Ibom states in the South-south.
Between 2019 and 2023, the commission has carried out numerous verification exercises across the length and breadth of Nigeria and found some disturbing levels of graft ingrained into the constituency projects by lawmakers. Evidence seen by the commission also confirms that rather than abate, the venom of looting the treasury has been sharpened year-on-year by those who are eager to use constituency projects as a seamless avenue to draw from the public till and smile to their banks.
After verifying constituency projects across the country, the ICPC in its report in 2022, frowned seriously at the deep-seated misnomer that has continued to rob the nation of funds. However, the commission did not do more than render scathing remarks. Although the commission claimed that it found instances where lawmakers awarded contracts under their constituency projects to themselves or their proxy companies, it did not have the courage to mention the names of those involved in the illicit acts but admitted that the overall amount involved in constituency project fraud ran into billions of Naira.
As an unwritten rule guarding the verification programme, the ICPC has been very reluctant to expose those found to have inflated constituency projects or diverted the cash meant for the projects while it has also remained silent over the lawmakers indicted and has failed to prosecute anybody for the constituency projects fraud. But early this week, the commission came again with its generic report of achievements, claiming that no fewer than 50 unnamed contractors, consultants and officials of MDAs were being probed under its phase five tracking project. It shared the report on its Twitter handle also known as X.
The anti-graft agency also boasted that no fewer than 200 bank accounts used for the fraudulent transactions in respect of constituency projects were frozen and cash worth N5.6 billion was recovered and as cumulative savings for the government. The ICPC spokesman, Azuka Ogugua, however, declined to respond to an inquiry by Saturday Vanguard on what they were doing to prosecute those their own reports indicted over constituency projects.
Although ICPC has launched the fifth phase of the verification programme and rendered its reports, it has also discovered to its chagrin that the country was still losing billions of Naira to the antics of lawmakers, government officials in critical ministries, departments and agencies. There were constituency projects in which contractors were proxies of the nominating lawmakers and top government officials.
That may perhaps, explain why despite the searchlight being beamed on the implementation of constituency projects by the ICPC over the years, not much appears to have changed in terms of reducing the amount of money being diverted by those who also nominated the projects and the contractors to execute them.
The narrative around constituency projects has not changed from when former president Olusegun Obasanjo frowned at the developments, saying that they were shrouded in fraud. “You and I know what constituency projects mean. It is simply corruption,” Obasanjo said at a public event in Minna, Niger State on August 15, 2017, without blinking an eye. The former president was bold to look at the people including lawmakers at the event and made the audacious allegation.
Even the immediate past chairman of the ICPC, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, who spearheaded the tracking of constituency projects under an initiative called Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Group, CEPTG, must have been shocked at the level of rot inherent in the scheme.
But he managed to give a balanced view of the commission’s finding. He said, “The outcome of the tracking exercises was positive with regards to the commission’s desire to engender value for money in government projects implementation and sustaining impactful governance within the local level.
Aside from diverted funds, which were recovered or completed projects hitherto abandoned by contractors, the outcome of phase one was a mixed bag of revelations. The tracking exercise revealed lots of mismanagement of funds and the non or shoddy execution of projects that would have had greater impacts on the lives and well-being of the people if they were executed to specifications.
Out of 524 projects under phase one, 195 were education projects, while 46 were health-related. The implication of diversion or mismanagement of public funds meant for development purposes is that communities are being short-changed and unable to access life-changing social services, thereby deepening poverty, increased diseases, heightened ignorance, spiralled criminality and unrest in the society”.
Reacting to the failure of the ICPC to prosecute those it indicted in its reports, Dr Zikirullahi Ibrahim, the Executive Director of Resource Center for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), said: “We have always argued that anti-corruption agencies such as ICPC, EFCC, and the Code of Conduct Bureau are not truly independent due to political interference from higher authorities. This interference hampers their work and prevents them from effectively addressing the issues they encounter. As a result, these agencies are not free to investigate and reveal the details of corruption cases thoroughly. The refusal of the ICPC to expose corrupt individuals and recover illicit funds highlights the challenges faced in combating corruption. Preventing corruption is crucial, as it is better to prevent it than to cure it later.
Unfortunately, large sums of money have been lost, and much of it cannot be traced. This is why there is an urgent need for the current government to develop a comprehensive strategy to address corruption. A clear, detailed plan is necessary, not just vague statements about fighting corruption. Such a strategy would allow for accountability and measurement of progress. Right now, the situation is unclear, and the government’s approach to fighting corruption is unknown. To resolve these issues, the government needs to establish the autonomy of anti-corruption agencies and remove any political interference. Until this is achieved, the problems will persist. Recent incidents, such as the arrest of a journalist for reporting on corruption in the military, demonstrate the need for change. Transparency and accountability are essential for combating corruption effectively.”
On his part, Mr Eze Onyekpere, Executive Director, Centre for Social Justice, said: “It shouldn’t have been just a matter of recovering the money; there should have been some form of punishment and prosecution to deter such irresponsible conduct in the future. I am shocked that despite claiming to have conducted loot recovery, no one has been prosecuted or held accountable. This lack of action means that they (lawmakers) could continue their activities in the future without consequence, which is unacceptable.”
In his contribution, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the Head of Transparency International (Nigeria), and Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), said: “I commend the ICPC for recovering public funds that had been misappropriated by some lawmakers. The issue of looting funds for Constituency projects began during the Obasanjo era when he encouraged the idea of projects without putting in place any proper legal framework for it. Legislators, ministries, and the press must begin to take responsibility, as these projects frequently lack proper oversight and accountability. In many cases, these lawmakers collude with contractors, resulting in subpar projects, incomplete work, or total non-execution. Furthermore, there is a pressing need for increased transparency and public input regarding the projects’ relevance to the community’s needs.
“Currently, appointees in the ICPC and EFCC are often limited by political corruption and influence, which can hinder necessary action, including recovery and prosecution. This environment of judicial and political corruption may prevent successful legal proceedings, leaving those responsible for embezzlement untouched while they enjoy their ill-gotten gains.
“As a result, the ICPC focuses on recovering funds within its jurisdiction while avoiding judicial processes that may prove unsuccessful due to corruption. This approach prioritizes the recovery of public funds over full legal prosecution to avoid losing both the money and the case. ICPC and EFCC must be supported by the President to overcome significant challenges to fulfil their mission, including budget cuts that limit their capacity to tackle fraud effectively. Public support for anti-corruption agencies is also vital, as the very institutions that oversee them can impede their work.
“To advance their mission, these agencies must navigate a challenging environment in which the lawmakers they investigate are often the same individuals who could either provide or withhold the resources necessary for them to fulfil their mandates through the Appropriation Bill. Consequently, the ICPC seems to place greater emphasis on recovering misappropriated funds while steering clear of prolonged legal battles that could deplete their already limited resources. This strategic decision prioritizes the recovery of funds for the public’s benefit.”
“While the commission may appear to be working and fulfilling its mandate of investigating, and monitoring constituency projects to checkmate corruption, the inability of ICPC to prosecute lawmakers and top government officials involved in siphoning huge cash meant for such intervention, leaves much to be desired and sets the anti-graft fight back. It is as if the commission is not only condoning the suspects because of their overriding political influence but it is also appeasing them, while the nation’s scarce resources are actively being frittered away by the same set of predators posing as defenders of the people’s mandate and well-being.
“The ICPC must move away from the unhelpful ritual of playing to the gallery by regularly ‘verifying’ constituency projects across the country to reprimanding those found to have soiled their hands in the process of awarding and implementing the so-called projects whose impact is not being felt where they are said to be located. The relevant laws are there in the country’s statutes and the agency only needs to muster the needed political will and determination to face the people whose appetite for diverting public funds knows no bounds.
“By merely recycling this national annual ritual and drawing media blitz to itself and its officials, the ICPC may end up advertising itself as a toothless bulldog that can only bark but cannot bite while the stench of graft arising from the zonal intervention projects suffocates the land. If that happens, the commission might etch itself on the wrong side of history and unwittingly appease those who don’t wish us well as a nation”.
Nigeria star athletes Victor Osimhen and Tobi Amusan top the list of Forbes Africa’s ’30 Under 30′ list recently released.
The list features notable Nigerians including Osimhen, a footballer and striker for the Super Eagles; Tobi Amusan, a track and field athlete; Ruth Erikan James, the founder of Veekee James; and Josiah Akinloye, founder and CEO of Mainlogix Technology.
Forbes Africa celebrates a decade of honoring young achievers with its acclaimed. This year’s cohort, like those before them, comprises exceptional individuals driven by a passion for impact across diverse industries.
The list showcases innovators and revolutionaries shaping the future in media, art & style, food & drink, education, science, music, sports, healthcare, and more.
- Alex Mativo, 29, Kenya
CEO and Co-founder, E-LAB, Nanasi and Duck
Industry: Multiple ventures - Ann-Kathrin Joos, 28, South Africa
CEO and Founder, Standard Beauty
Industry: Beauty - Vimbai Masiyiwa, 29, Zimbabwe
CEO, Batoka Hospitality
Industry: Tourism - Andrew Ddembe, 28, Uganda
Co-founder and CEO, MobiKlinic
Industry: Healthtech - Chad Jones, 28, South Africa
Social Media Content Creator and Brand Influencer
Industry: Social media - Adedamola Oyinlola Adefolahan (Fireboy DML), 28, Nigeria
Singer-songwriter
Industry: Entertainment - Tyla Laura Seethal, 22, South Africa
Singer-Songwriter
Industry: Entertainment - Ayushi Chandaria, 26, Kenya
Founder, Design Thinking Program (Kenya)
Industry: Education - Ama Qamata, 25, South Africa
Actress, Producer
Industry: Entertainment - Daniel Novitzkas, 28, South Africa
Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Specno
Industry: Software Development and Technology Solutions - Prisca Wegesa Magori, 29, Tanzania
CEO and Co-founder, TenTen Explore and Smart EFD
Industry: Software Development - Luke Mostert, 27, South Africa
Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer, CatalyzU
Industry: Venture Capital - Arooj Sheikh, 28, Kenya
Founder and CEO, Beyond Kenyan Bars
Sector: Social development - Kenneth M. Njeru, 25, Kenya
Director and Founder, Africa Afya Healthcare
Industry: Health Investment Services - Cayley Jorgensen, 29, South Africa
CEO and Founder, Ingage Support; Registered Counselor
Sector: Mental health - Hildah Magaia, 29, South Africa
Forward for Mazatlán F.C Femenil and Banyana Banyana
Industry: Sport – Football - Victor Osimhen, 25, Nigeria
Footballer and Striker for Super Eagles
Industry: Sport – Football - Tobi Amusan, 26, Nigeria
Track and Field Athlete
Industry: Sport – Athletics - Damian Willemse, 25, South Africa
Stormers and Springboks rugby player
Industry: Sport – Rugby - Ricardo Lognath, 29, South Africa
Co-Founder and CEO, Omninela Medical - Nicolas Lognath, 27, South Africa
Co-Founder and Director, Omninela Medical
Industry: Healthcare/E-commerce - Ruth Erikan James, 29, Nigeria
Founder, Veekee James
Industry: Fashion - Shaun Maswanganyi, 23, South Africa
Track and Field Athlete
Industry: Sport – Athletics - Jeremiah Thoronka, 24, Sierra Leone
Founder and CEO, Optim Energy
Sector: Climate Change and Sustainability (Social Impact) - Calvin Usiri, 28, Tanzania
Co-founder and CTO, Ramani
Industry: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) - Peace Wutawunashe, 27, Zimbabwe
Founder, Trigershot Engineering
Industry: Solar/Renewable Energy - Esethu Cenga, 29, South Africa
Co-founder and CEO, Rewoven
Industry: Fashion - Josiah Akinloye, 29, Nigeria
Founder and CEO, Mainlogix Technology
Industry: Automation and Technology - Abioye Oyetunji, 29, Ghana
Founder and CEO, FXKudi
Industry: Fintech - Nadine Roos, 27, South Africa
South African Rugby Union (Springboks) and Sevens player
Industry: Sport – Rugby
The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has set up a 13-man committee to enhance safety measures and welfare provisions for its members following the tragic boat accident on the River Niger which claimed the lives of five Nollywood members, including actor Obumneme ‘Junior Pope’ Odonwodo.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the guild’s Director of Communications, Kate Henshaw, late Friday.
Emeka Rollas, the AGN’s president, noted in the statement that the committee is also tasked with reviewing and refining existing regulations.
The statement reads, ”Following the recent fatal boat mishap on river Niger which claimed the lives of five film practitioners including renowned actor, John Paul Odonwodo aka Junior Pope in Asaba, Delta State, the National President, of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Dr. Ejezie Emeka Rollas, MON, has set up a special committee with the following terms of reference:
- Fine tune the existing bye laws to include members welfare, standard safety guidelines and set protocols.
- Engage all relevant Guilds and Associations for the full implementation.
- Also Recommend disciplinary measures against erring members, producers and production companies.
- Seek further engagement with other Guilds/Associations and relevant stakeholders on drafting a general bye law for the industry.
- Recommend possible requirements in setting up a royalty collecting body or rights collecting society for performers in Nollywood.”
The committee members, chaired by veteran actor Emeka Ike, include Joke Silva, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Francis Duru, Bimbo Manuel, Patience Ozokwor, Hilda Dokubo, Abubakar Yakubu, Gideon Okeke, Anthony Ogbetere, Femi Branch and Kevin Uvo.
Jude Orhorha will serve as the secretary.
Rollas, while expressing gratitude to the committee members for their willingness to serve, emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of AGN members.
Recall that Junior Pope, 39, drowned alongside three others when their boat capsized in the River Niger while on their way back from a movie location. Their bodies have since been recovered.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has begun drumming support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election barely months into the president’s first term.
Addressing a gathering of state governors and federal lawmakers that paid Sallah homage to Tinubu at his residence in Lagos on Friday, Akpabio expressed confidence in the president’s leadership, going as far as praying for Tinubu’s victory in the 2027 general elections.
“As you coast home to victory for a second term, may all the governors seated here also coast home to a second term victory in their states,” Akpabio proclaimed, setting the tone for an early push for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Barely 11 months into Tinubu’s first term, Akpabio appears to be eager to secure Tinubu’s political future despite the administration having not marked its first anniversary.
Akpabio spoke at the Sallah homage that brought together 27 state governors, the leadership of the National Assembly, and some former governors.
President Bola Tinubu receives state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly in Lagos on Friday.
At the gathering, Vice President Kashim Shettima, who spoke on behalf of President Tinubu, called for collective efforts to propel the nation forward.
“Let us unite, rally around our leader, and catapult this nation to a greater pedestal,” said Shettima, speaking on behalf of the president.
Shettima expressed confidence in Nigeria’s economic resurgence, noting that the gathering of 27 governors in Lagos, along with the legislative leadership, was a testament to Tinubu’s unifying leadership that transcends ethnic and religious lines.
“The future of the black man rests on Nigeria to make or mar. Our economy has turned the corner. By the coming months, the economy will roar back to glory,” Shettima declared.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who also chairs the Nigeria Governors Forum, praised the President’s efforts in stabilizing the economy and improving living conditions.
“We commend your efforts because the ship is gradually turning. We have seen how the exchange rate of the naira against the dollar is coming down. The cost of food is coming down. The dry season harvest is commencing soon. Things are getting better, and there is light at the end of the tunnel,” the Governor said.
He urged President Tinubu to persevere in his efforts towards achieving economic stability.
AbdulRazaq expressed gratitude for the support provided by the Federal Government to states, particularly in distributing grains to alleviate food shortages.
”We are here to support you, and we also thank you for the support that you are giving to the sub-nationals. Trucks are wheeling up across the nation, distributing grains. I have received, and most of the states have.
”Because of what you are doing, those who are hoarding food items are releasing them, and that is why the prices of food are coming down,” he said.
Relationships have the potential to make us incredibly happy but sometimes, we can end up feeling miserable without even knowing why.
Let’s face it – all couples, happy and otherwise, have negative feelings in their relationships. Yes, there is a place in every relationship for anger, hurt and disgust. After all, we’re only human and we all screw up and do things that piss each other off.
Jokes aside, there are some legitimate (and more valid) red flags that really shouldn’t be ignored. Sure, maintaining any relationship requires compromise or sacrifice, but you should never give up your wants and needs or put your happiness at bay. When we’re newly in love, relationship red flags can be notoriously easy to miss or ignore — although they’re usually clear as day after the fact.
It can be difficult to pinpoint the signs of an unhealthy relationship, especially when we’ve invested in and committed to it, and when it might be hard to leave.
Nevertheless, it’s important to give your relationship an accurate appraisal from time to time, so you can identify any problems and work to put them right. Otherwise, you could find yourself stuck in a toxic relationship.
What Are Red Flags?
If you’ve ever played the game “Red Flag or Deal-Breaker” with friends, you know that some “red flags” are totally subjective. Most of the time, they’re specific to each individual and their “values, desires, and preferences,” according to Dr. Behr. (For example, not being religious may be a deal-breaker to one person and a total non-issue to another person.)
Also, what we consider to be a red flag can evolve.
“What is a red flag today might not be one tomorrow, and vice versa,” Dr. Behr said before adding that “some common red flags that people report have to do with communication, values, and judgment.”
Sometimes, we get a warning sign — either by someone’s words or actions — that they’re not ready for a relationship or not ready for a relationship with you,
However, depending on the person and the behavior, it could take one date or several years for that alarm bell to sound.
Major Signs Tio Look Out For
Your Partner Treats You Much Better In Public
If in front of others or outside the home they treat you much better, it could be a warning sign
Behind closed doors your partner is either rude, grumpy, always busy, emotionally unavailable or even overtly critical and hostile towards you, yet in front of others or outside the home they treat you much better.
This suggests that their image matters more to them than you do, and they know their behavior towards you is wrong. They’re treating you with disrespect when they think they can get away with it.
You Are Preoccupied By Thoughts Of Whether Your Partner Loves You And Whether You Can Trust Them
Whilst some people are naturally a little more insecure than others, if you find yourself preoccupied and concerned about your relationship and whether your partner cares for you enough it suggests you are not getting enough emotional nourishment from your partner to help you feel safe and secure.
You Find Yourself ‘Snooping’ And Going Through Your Partner’s Messages
If you feel overly suspicious and concerned that your partner might be hiding something, then you may have a problem.
If you feel overly suspicious and concerned that your partner might be hiding something, but talking about things isn’t enough to reassure you, then you may have a trust problem within your relationship.
This might be because of your own insecurity, or it might be because your partner is not being appropriately transparent and is giving you cause for concern.
You’re Told You’re Too Sensitive Or Over-dramatic
If you voice concerns but your concerns are frequently invalidated, belittled or even mocked as arising out of your own excessive sensitivity or over-active imagination then this suggests your partner is trying to undermine your faith in your own judgement and perceptions and places more importance on their own opinions and judgements than yours. They may or may not have something to hide, but either way, to undermine your sense of reality or lead you to question your own mind is very damaging for your health.)
Your Partner Frequently Compares You To Other Women
If your partner makes frequent comparisons between you and his ‘wonderful’ ex you should be having a serious re-think about your relationship
If your partner makes frequent comparisons between you and his ‘wonderful’ ex or someone else perhaps, like his mother, or a friend’s partner, saying that you should be/think/behave more like them, then this is obviously damaging to your self-esteem and sense of self-worth. Your partner should make you feel special, wonderful, and should far more commonly highlight your strengths rather than your weaknesses.
You Feel As If Your Partner Might Abandon You If You Do{ Say Something They Don’t Like
If the continuation of your relationship feels conditional, as if you’ll be punished or cast aside if you fail to measure up, then you will not be able to relax and feel secure in your partner’s presence and instead you’ll feel like you have to perform and keep them happy. This is an uneven power balance within the relationship, and it keeps you ‘on your toes’ working hard while your partner holds all the cards.
[Leadership]
Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has met the bail conditions imposed on him by Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja and subsequently released.
Emefiele met the bail terms before the court closed on Friday, and he was released after the court proceedings.
Justice Oshodi had granted Emefiele, who is standing trial before him over allegations of abuse of office and fraud, $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion bail with two sureties in like sum.
The judge also directed that the sureties must be gainfully employed and have paid tax to the Lagos State Government in the last three years.
The court further directed that the sureties must show proper identification, and they must be registered in the Lagos State Bail Management System.
Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoil, was also granted bail by the court.
Isioma-Omoile is to continue to enjoy the conditions of the N1 million bail, earlier granted to him by Justice Olufunke Sule-Hamzat of the Lagos State High Court sitting in the Yaba area of the state
Justice Oshodi, however, ordered that the bail documents must be transferred to the Special Offences Court and that they must also be registered in the Lagos State Bail Management System.
The defendants were accused of accepting gratification, accepting gifts through agents, corruption, and fraudulent property receipts.
He was also accused of conferring corrupt advantage on his associates contrary to the Corrupt Practices Act of 2000 in the charge filed on April 3rd by the EFCC Prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
At the hearing on Friday, a prosecution witness, Monday Osazuwa, had narrated to Justice Oshodi how the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on different occasions directed him to collect the sum of $3 million cash in tranches.
Osazuwa, an employee of the CBN, also told the court that he collected the money from a businessman on behalf of Emefiele, who is accused of abuse of office and fraud of $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.
While being led in evidence by the prosecutor, Osazuwa narrated to the court how he served as a dispatch rider in Zenith Bank and later joined the CBN running errands for the former CBN governor.
The witness told the court that he worked with Zenith Bank Plc as a dispatch rider till 2014 before he started working with the CBN.
Osazuwa said, “I joined the CBN in 2014 as a contract staff and became staff in 2015. I have known the first defendant since he was a Deputy Director of Zenith Bank, and he became Director. I have worked with him since then.”
Osasuwa said that he was later appointed a senior supervisor (full-time) to record and handle documents while working in the CBN Governor’s office in Lagos.
“I was still working in the governor’s office while I was appointed as a full staff, and we usually communicate through WhatsApp or email. I perform as a senior supervisor, recording and filing, with other official roles.
“When he called me, he directed that I call a businessman who gave me 11 million dollars on his behalf. Some weeks later, the first defendant also called me to go and see the man, and he gave me $850,000, $750,000 and $400,000 in cash,” he said.
Osazuwa further testified that he knew Dumies Oil and Gas Limited while in Zenith Bank and that the former governor, who was also the MD of the company, always sent him to collect cheques from one Monday.
The witness told the court that he always logged the money into the account of Dumies on the order of Emefiele.
Osazuwa also stated, “Whenever I receive the money and take it to the residence of Mr Emefiele, he always tells me to give it to the second defendant whenever he is not at home.
“I did not record transactions because the instruction was to collect and bring the money to his house. The highest amount I collected is $1 million in cash,” Osazuwa said.
The witness also told the court that the embattled former CBN governor had never rewarded him by giving him a part of the collected sum, saying, “He has never for one day said to take this. I have never been rewarded, paid or given anything.”
Scores of people have been feared killed in Kukawa village of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State during airstrikes by the troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation Hadarin Daji.
This was as the army denied the killing of any civilian in the state saying “the military was fighting bandits and not the innocent people of the state.”
An indigene of the village, Musa Abubakar who narrowly escaped told newsmen on Friday that his community was performing the Eid El Fitr prayer last Wednesday when the Nigerian Air Force bombarded the area.
Abubakar said the bombardment led to the death of no fewer than 40 people.
He said, “We were performing the Eid El Fitr prayer when we saw a plane approaching the area.
“Immediately the plane approached the Eid praying ground, we heard a terrifying sound and everybody took to their heels
“I was one of the lucky ones who escaped unhurt but several people were killed and many others sustained various degrees of injuries.
“I lost 13 people who are my blood relations while two others.”
However, another person from the village who sought anonymity said the bombardment of the village was a result of gunshots from the suspected bandits who targeted the military aircraft.
He said, “The aircraft was passing over the village and suddenly the bandits started shooting toward its direction
“This forced the military to drop several bombs in the village during the Eid El Fitr prayer and many people lost their lives.”
Speaking newsmen , the spokesperson of Operation Hadarin Daji, Lieutenant Suleiman Omale, said the military was fighting bandits and not the innocent people of the state.
He added that he was not aware of any civilians killed during the bombardment.
“We are fighting bandits, not the innocent Nigerians. I am not aware of any civilian that was killed during the operation.”
On Sunday that airstrikes by the air components of Operation Hadin Kai and Hadrin Daji killed terrorists planning to attack soft targets.
The strikes were conducted at various terrorist hideouts in Katsina and Borno states.
In Katsina, a terrorist enclave located Northwest of Yartsamiya Village in Danmusa Local Government Area was bombed.
The UK on Thursday increased the income required to sponsor someone coming to the country on a family visa as part of the government’s plan to cut immigration.
This was revealed by the UK home office via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday.
“We’re delivering the biggest-ever cut in legal migration and an immigration system that works for the British people.
“We have increased the family visa minimum income requirement,” the statement read.
From Thursday, the minimum income requirement needed to bring a family member to the UK will go up to £29,000 ($36,800) from £18,600, rising to £38,700 early next year.
The move forms part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s plan to “cut unsustainable and unfair levels of migration, and ensure those arriving here do not burden the taxpayer”.
Immigration, at record levels in recent years, is likely to be a key issue in a general election due later in 2024, with polling showing that Sunak’s Conservatives are due for a heavy defeat.
“We have reached a tipping point with mass migration. There is no simple solution or easy decision which cuts numbers to levels acceptable to the British people.
“We’ve acted to cut unsustainable numbers, to protect British workers and their wages, to ensure those bringing family to the UK do not burden taxpayers,” Interior Minister James Cleverly said.
The income requirement is designed to ensure families are self-sufficient and can be met in a number of ways, including through savings and income from employment.
The government unveiled a raft of measures in December aimed at cracking down on the record migration levels, including a 47-percent hike in the minimum salary for skilled work visas.
The government intends to ultimately synchronise the threshold for family visas with that of skilled work visas.
Tightened regulations for students and a 66-percent increase in the health surcharge for foreigners using the National Health Service (NHS) were also part of the broader immigration strategy.
Cleverly said at the time that the overall plan was to reduce annual net migration to the UK, currently running at 745,000, by 300,000.
We’re delivering the biggest-ever cut in legal migration and an immigration system that works for the British people.
— Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) April 11, 2024
We have increased the family visa minimum income requirement.
This will ensure people only bring dependants to the UK they can financially support. pic.twitter.com/dbpORREDdk
Obey Etok Chima, the Nollywood actress, has lost her father — a few hours before the burial of her husband.
The movie star announced the passing of her dad on her social media pages.
In a Facebook post, Obey disclosed that her father passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The film star added the “tragedy” happened a day before her husband’s burial.
“What a tragedy, 2024. I just lost my dad early hours of yesterday 11th April. Just a day to bury my husband. It is well,” she wrote.
Obey described the death of her father as “another blow on me” via her Instagram page.
“Another blow on me. I just lost my dad and I am burying my husband today. It is well oo,” she wrote.
The film star lost her husband on January 15, 2024, at age 57.
Obey gained prominence after she took the role of Sandra in the soap opera ‘Super Story; No Pain, No Gain’.
In 2008, the film star took a break from acting to focus on her marriage and returned in 2021.
Obey has starred in several movies including ‘Forever’, ‘Hidden Scar’ and ‘Betrayer Sister’.
In light of Idris Olarewaju Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, being imprisoned on Friday for mishandling the naira, we have compiled a list of nine actions involving the naira that could result in legal repercussions.
Justice Abimbola Awogboro said the sentencing of Bobrisky, a controversial crossdresser, would be a deterrent to others who are found abusing and mutilating the naira.
The Clean Notes Policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria was implemented with the aim of enhancing the visual appeal and durability of the banknotes in circulation, as stated on the official website of the apex bank.
According to the CBN, the objective is to guarantee that the naira banknotes in circulation maintain a high standard of quality, enabling them to be easily processed and accepted by the general public.
Below are the ways you can abuse the naira:
- Spraying: It is illegal to spray banknotes at events.
- Writing: Writing on banknotes is prohibited by law.
- Stapling: Stapling banknotes is prohibited by law due to the potential for corrosion caused by the pins.
- Tearing: Tearing banknotes is also illegal.
- Dancing or stamping on naira: Dancing or stamping on naira banknotes is prohibited by law. Getting oil or ink on the banknotes can be considered a form of defacing.
- Selling: Selling currency banknotes is illegal.
- Mutilation: Anyone caught tampering with the naira note will face legal consequences, as stated in the CBN Act Section 21.
- Rejecting the naira: Rejecting the naira is strictly prohibited by law (Section 20, Subsection 5).
Money bouquets: In February 2023, the CBN also identified money bouquets as a type of naira abuse.
Bobrisky’s Friday sentencing is not an isolated incident.
Earlier in February 2024, actress, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, was convicted and sentenced to six months in prison for defacing the naira notes by spraying and stepping on them at a social event in Lagos.
More...
Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba has asked Nigerians to contribute money for him.
The father of late singer, Mohbad has now setup a GoFundMe account for that reason.
According to reports, he is asking Nigerians to donate towards seeking justice for his late son.
Some internet users had earlier slammed him for wearing Mohbad’s clothes and not acting like a man who has just lost his son
Media
Mohbad’s father opens a GofundMe account. He said all the Nigerians who want justice for Mohbad should donate money. pic.twitter.com/95fx18nrJw
— OLAMIDE ???????? (@Olamide0fficial) April 12, 2024
We’re holding Bobrisky in male Prison facility; we’ll protect him from sexual predators - Correctional Service Assures
AFOLABI
Idris ‘Bobrisky’ Okuneye, a crossdresser who delights in adorning female outfits, will be kept in the male section of the prison facility throughout his six-month imprisonment, Peoples Gazette has reliably learnt from officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court on Friday sentenced Bobrisky to jail after he pleaded guilty to a four-count charge of naira abuse.
Bobrisky told Ms Awogboro that he was a man when asked to clarify his gender status before the court. The Gazette was told that his answer would later inform the prison officials to keep him in the facility designated for men.
“Since he admitted to being a male in court, then we have to abide by what was submitted in court,” the correctional spokesperson told our masthead on Friday.
Prison officials also said Bobrisky will be offered adequate protection from other inmates who might want to sexually violate him.
“He shouldn’t be afraid of sexual assault from other male inmates because our men can give him protection.”
Bobrisky, posting a video of him clutching what appeared to be bosoms and posing half-naked in a bathrobe, has given his five million Instagram followers the impression that he has transitioned to a female.
In one of his photos on Instagram, he wrote, “My journey transitioning into a woman has been going smooth, no health issues, everything is going smooth for me.”
Goldman Sachs has reported that the continuous rise of the Naira against the Dollar has positioned it as the top-performing currency for the month of April.
A report by Goldman Sachs economists said that with the appreciation rate of the Naira in the foreign exchange market, the currency may exchange below N1,000 per Dollar in the coming months.
The think-tank disclosed this in its latest report on Nigeria’s economic realities.
The report stated that the Naira rallied 12 per cent against the Dollar in April, adding to its 14 per cent surge in March.
In March, Goldman Sachs forecasted that the Naira would appreciate to N1,200 per Dollar in 2024. The group’s projection became a reality on Monday when the Naira exchanged at N1,230.61 at the official market and N1,200 at the parallel market.
With the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, intervening by selling FX to Bureau De Change operators at a reviewed rate of N1,101 per Dollar from N1,251, the Naira appreciated by N60, trading at 1,140 per Dollar at the Parallel Market on Friday.
In the past months, CBN has said the country has witnessed a surge in capital inflows on the backdrop of several policy interventions.
At its last Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, meeting, the CBN raised the interest rate to 24.75 per cent, helping it retrace losses caused by two devaluations since June last year.
The former Chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, has slammed Norther Elders Forum.
He warned them that it is too early for the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, to threaten Nigerians with the 2027 election.
In a statement on Friday, Hayab said, “It is sad to read that some members of NEF are saying North will not vote for Tinubu in the next election in 2027.”
He added, “As a stakeholder, I find this call coming at the wrong time and lacking good reasoning. The speed at which our Naira is improving against dollars shows Tinubu is doing better than our almighty Buhari.”
He further explained that the speed at which Nigeria got the Kuriga school children from Kaduna State back is a huge progress in handling insecurity compared to how innocent parents suffered when Bethel Baptist school children and others were kidnapped.
He advised, “NEF should instead seek ways to collaborate with this government to find solutions to insecurity, hunger, improved economy and making our currency add value for the overall progress and development of the country.
“Threatening the government with no vote in 2027 shows they may not have a good heart for the progress of the country but are only interested in what they will benefit.”
Hayab challenged groups like NEF to support government to make the country great and a better place for all Nigerians.
“Let us not bring issues that have no basics at this time for the progress of our land. We need elders that will help unite the country, offer useful advice that will help the nation not coming up with provocative statements that will only provoke other regions to start making statements that will further bring division and confusion in the country,” he further advised.