Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Police Command have arrested four criminal elements terrorizing the territory.
A statement on Thursday by the command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh said the suspects are notorious kidnappers responsible for several killings and kidnappings in the nation’s capital.
According to the statement, the criminals suspected to be bandits have “confessed their intending plans to attack some government institutions and estates within the FCT”.
Josephine Adeh identified the criminal elements as Yau Sani, a.k.a. Baba (an ex-convict), Nuhu, a.k.a. Giwa, Kabiru Mohammed, and Yusuf Hassan.
She said they were arrested at their criminal hideout in Sauka, Abuja “living within the general population”.
The suspects also confessed to being responsible for the killing of seven kidnap victims in the territory.
“These gangs have attacked Dakwa, Dawaki, Aco estate, Dupe Village, Zuma Rock, Kuchiko village and some villages in Niger and Kaduna”, she said.
“They also led Police operatives to another hideout in Gauraka Forest, Suleja, Niger State, where they dug out four (4) AK-47 rifles, thirteen (13) AK-47 magazines, one hundred and sixty-two (162) rounds of 7.6 mm live ammunition”, the statement added.
The Delta State Police Command has arrested two women, Tessi Ikechukwu and Lauretta Akomen, for allegedly stealing and selling a three day old baby for N2 million.
The police also rescued a three day baby from the suspects.
Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
“On 1/10/2024, at about 1830hours, a tricycle rider (name withheld) came to Ekpan Police Station and reported that while he was on his daily commercial operation, four women boarded his tricycle, on reaching Efurrun Roundabout, two of them alighted from the tricycle.
“One of the two women who alighted handed over a newborn baby boy to the women left in his tricycle and he heard one of them saying ‘the balance has been paid’ while saying that when they get to their destination, they should inform her.
“The tricycle rider smartly diverted the two women, Tessi Ikechukwu and Lauretta Akomen, and the newborn baby to Ekpan Police Station.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that one of the suspects Lauretta Akomen, aged 38 years, bought the baby for the sum of N2 million from a traditional home located in Port Harcourt where they harbour teenage girls, and got men to have sex with them till they are pregnant after which they sell the babies to people looking for children.
“The suspect also revealed that she was given a drug which she took for some time to make her look pregnant. She later led the DPO CSP Aliyu Shaba and operatives to the house of one Gloria (surname unknown) who acted as an agent between her and the traditional home.
“Suspects are in custody while a manhunt for the other accomplices is ongoing,” the statement reads.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, has thanked the tricycle rider for being a patriotic citizen, just as he urged others to emulate him.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has kept mum over the commencement of the petroleum products rollout from Port Harcourt Refinery after several missed deadlines.
This comes after the government-owned refinery with a combined 250 barrels per day failed to kick off petroleum products production in September 2024.
Recall that in August, the Chief Financial Officer of NNPCL, Umar Ajiya disclosed that Port Harcourt Refinery’s petroleum products would be for testing before it is supplied to the domestic market in September.
However, when the DAILY POST correspondent reached out to the spokesperson of NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye on Tuesday for an update, he did not respond.
DAILY POST observed that the Minister of State Petroleum (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri has also kept mum.
However, Maire Tecnimont SpA, the contractor overseeing the rehabilitation of the refinery, said it would provide details on the project’s completion on or before October 2, Wednesday.
The contractor’s comment came through a law firm, Olajide Oyewole LLP, in response to a letter from a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, who had inquired about the completion timeline for the refinery’s rehabilitation.
Earlier, the President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Abubakar Maigandi confirmed to DAILY POST that work was in progress at the Port Harcourt Refinery.
He, however, failed to start when the petroleum products rollout will kick off.
Recall that in July, Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL had announced that the refinery, with a combined capacity of 250 barrels per day, would commence operation in August.
Earlier, NNPCL had announced March and July 2024 dates for the commencement of the refinery after its mechanical completion in December last year.
There are indications among stakeholders that the coming on stream of the Dangote Refinery and Port Harcourt Refinery will reduce the price of petrol which currently stands at between N950 and N1,100 per litre.
Recall that upon the lifting of Dangote Petrol in September, NNPCL announced fresh petrol pump prices across its retail outlets nationwide.
The Bauchi State chapter of the Retired Police Officers Association of Nigeria (REPON) has disclosed that over 500 members have passed on while fighting for their retirement benefits.
REPON also lamented the delay of a proposed bill, submitted to the National Assembly since 2012, seeking the establishment of a police pension board.
Speaking at a press conference held in Bauchi, the Secretary of the chapter, retired ASP John Iliya, expressed frustration, stating, “We can no longer tolerate these empty promises.”
Iliya recalled that on May 21, 2024, members of the association protested at the National Assembly gate.
According to him, during the protest, Senator Ahmed Abdulkadir Mallam Madori, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, and his colleagues assured that their demands would be addressed by September 2024.
However, as of October 2, 2024, there had been no mention of the retired officers’ plight, particularly for those in Bauchi State.
Iliya warned that if their demands remain unmet, the association would be left with no choice but to stage another protest at the National Assembly.
He disclosed that one of the key demands of the association is the removal of the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and the establishment of a Police Pension Board. This, Iliya argued, would allow police retirees to manage their pensions independently.
He expressed disappointment that despite various meetings with House committees during their last recess, the Committee on Police Affairs had failed to address their concerns.
The association also criticized lawmakers for quickly passing the bill extending the tenure of the Inspector General of Police without public hearings, while the police retirees’ proposal remains neglected.
Iliya, therefore, called on the National Assembly’s Committee on Police Affairs to expedite the passage of the bill to avoid further protests by his members.
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama has issued a public summon against immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
The court ordered Bello to attend court and answer to a fresh 16-count charge pending against him.
By the summons, Bello is to attend court on October 24 for his arraignment alongside two other defendants.
Justice Maryanne Anenih issued the order for public summons in a ruling on Thursday, following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Justice Anenih ordered the EFCC to publish the public summons in a widely circulating newspaper
She also ordered the EFCC to paste copies of the public summons on Bello’s last known address and in conspicuous places in the court premises.
The EFCC had claimed that it has been unable to serve Bello with the charge filed on September 24, in which the ex-governor and two others were charged with criminal breach of trust to the tune of N110.4billion.
The other two defendants in the charge are Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.
Bello’s absence stalled the arraignment earlier scheduled for Thursday.
[DailyPost]
The Senator representing Niger East senatorial district and chairman Senate Committee on Finance, Mohammed Sani has turned down the establishment of State Police.
Sani opined the political class would take advantage of the security outfit if established.
He insisted that what is required is adequate funding for the existing police structure adding that resources available for sub-nationals are inadequate to fund the State Police.
The legislator shared his reservation during a visit to the Kuta Internally Displaced Persons Camp to commiserate with the people over bandits’ attack.
He appealed to the service chiefs to extend the ongoing onslaught against bandits in Niger as it is doing in Zanfara State.
The senator while addressing the IDPs, said efforts are ongoing to beef up security in troubled parts of the state to enable the IPDs to return home.
He appealed to service chiefs to extend their anti-bandit operations in Niger State to those in Zamfara State.
Naija News understands that the Kuta IDP camp houses over 3000 displaced persons mostly women and children. There is a growing concern over inadequate facilities to cater for basic needs at the camp.
Esther Jonah who is the community health worker in charge of the IDP, said children die frequently due to poor health care and hygiene.
Hadiza Umaru, a mother of six, was sacked from her village four years ago after her husband was killed and the food bank was destroyed by bandits.
Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, has ruled out the use of military contractors in Nigeria’s ongoing fight against terrorism.
Musa stated that the funds that would be allocated to pay contractors could be better used to strengthen and equip the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Naija News reports that his response came after Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, suggested employing military contractors to combat terrorists in the country, following a deadly Boko Haram attack that left six farmers dead and five others abducted in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area.
Musa, speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show, highlighted that relying on military contractors has not yielded successful results in other countries, such as Mali and Afghanistan, where contractors have been engaged for years without achieving a lasting resolution.
He emphasized the complexity of asymmetric warfare, stating that it involves non-state actors who are highly mobile and difficult to track, often benefiting from informants.
While acknowledging Ndume’s right to suggest alternative strategies, Musa firmly rejected the idea, underscoring that investing in building the military’s own capacity through joint training with international partners like the U.S. and Europe is the more sustainable and effective option.
He further pointed out that Nigeria has made significant progress in eliminating terrorists, and more successes are being recorded.
Reacting to the Ndume’s suggestion, Musa said: “We appeal to Nigerians to support the Armed Forces, the challenges we are facing is not isolated. We are not where we want to be but we are heading there.
“Recently, we have military contractors in Mali and how far have they gone? Americans used military contractors in Afghanistan and they fought for 20 years, they left without finishing the war.
“What I’m saying is that asymmetric warfare is a very difficult operation because we are dealing with non-state actors. The only way to identify them is that they are carrying arms
“Ndume has spoken and there is freedom of speech in democracy, so I understand that he’s trying to look at options but for us it’s not an option. We are doing a lot of joint training with Europeans, Americans to build capacity in other to project this war.
“The war we are facing is not the conventional warfare where you know that the enemy is there, these guys are highly mobile and once you are going after them, there informants give them information about your movement and strength.
“On the 300 killed, we have done more than that, it’s still counting. Military contractors are not the solution because the money you are going to give them why not use it to equip your own military, that would be a better option.”
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, says citizens are migrating to countries worse than Nigeria, urging them to avoid illegal migration.
In a video shared on X on Wednesday, Ms Dabiri-Erewa appealed to Nigerian influencers and bloggers to help the federal government warn Nigerians against fleeing to “worse” countries.
“Please, we appeal to bloggers and influencers. Help us appeal to Nigerians that where you are running to is worse than where you are running from (Nigeria),” Ms Dabiri-Erewa said.
While reacting to the recent viral video of some Nigerians in Mali prison calling for help, Ms Dabiri-Erewa said some girls in the viral video returned to Mali after the Nigerian government had evacuated them.
“I want to address a viral video of some girls shouting from a prison in Mali, asking to be returned home. Some time ago, the chief of defence staff helped us bring back some girls,” the NiDCOM chief explained. “We have identified some of these girls are some of those brought back that time. That they found themselves back in Mali is shocking.”
She added, “We want to appeal. We need to obey the laws of other countries. Crime and criminality, irregularities migration, is very deadly now. As much as the mission in Mali is working to see if they can bring people back.”
A new tax regime that will minimise the cost of doing business, improve cost of living and promote cleaner energy has been unveiled by the Federal Government.
Value Added Tax (VAT) on cooking gas, diesel, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicles, among others, have been removed.
Small businesses will also, beginning from January, be exempted from paying taxes to boost income and employment generation.
Presidential aide Dada Olusegun yesterday on his verified X handle @DOlusegun, posted: “As part of efforts to reduce the cost of living, enhance energy security, and speed up Nigeria’s shift to cleaner energy sources, the President Tinubu-led administration has removed VAT on the following: Diesel, Feed Gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Electric Vehicles, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure, Clean Cooking Equipment.”
He added that in order to incentivize the energy sector and reverse its long-time investment drought, the government introduced tax reliefs for deep offshore oil and gas projects.
Olusegun, quoting Minister of Finance Olawale Edun, said the decision is meant to attract global investments to the country’s deep offshore projects.
The Notice of Tax Incentives for Deep Offshore Oil and Gas Production introduces new tax reliefs, fulfilling President Tinubu’s campaign promise.
Olusegun quoted the Coordinating Minister of the Economy as saying: “The Notice of Tax Incentives for Deep Offshore Oil and Gas Production introduces new tax reliefs to attract global investments to Nigeria’s deep offshore projects.
“A reminder that the President, during his campaign, promised to incentivize investors who were divesting away from the country to favorable nations like Guyana and Angola.
“Increased oil production, among other benefits of these reforms, are expected to improve the earnings of the administration in order to implement its programs successfully.”
Small businesses get tax relief
In the new regulations, small businesses with annual turnover of not more that N2 million will from January 1 no longer pay taxes.
They must, however, possess Valid Tax Identification Number (TIN) to qualify for the relief.
A Finance Ministry source added that the regulation is designed to foster an environment where small businesses and manufacturers can benefit from tax exemptions, especially in sectors with low profit margins.
He stated that tax deducted at source would henceforth, not be regarded as an additional cost or separate tax but treated as an advance payment towards the final tax liability of the supplier.
This approach, according to him, is meant to ease the burden on businesses and ensure compliance without adding unnecessary financial strain.
Under the rules, failure to remit deducted taxes or to deduct tax at source will attract significant penalties. The penalty structure aligns with existing legislation under the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act and the Personal Income Tax Act.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is expected to issue further guidelines to ensure their smooth implementation.
The measures are contained in ‘’Deduction of Tax at Source (Withholding) Regulations, 2024’’ signed by the Finance minister.
Edun said in a statement that the goals of the new tax measures include streamlining “the deduction of taxes at source from payments to taxable persons, reduce complexities, and promote ease of compliance for businesses.”
He added that the measures ‘’cover payments made under the Capital Gains Tax Act, Companies Income Tax Act, Petroleum Profits Tax Act, and the Personal Income Tax Act. Among its objectives are promoting global best practices, reducing tax evasion, and curbing arbitrage between corporate and non-corporate structures.’’
“The objectives of these Regulations are to (a) set out the rules for the deduction of tax at source from payments to taxable persons under the Capital Gains Tax Act, the Companies Income Tax Act, the Petroleum Profits Tax Act, and the Personal Income Tax Act regarding specified transactions, ” the minister added.
[TheNation]
Ex-Chelsea manager, Frank Lampard, has stated plans to make a return to coaching after being sacked by Chelsea Football Club in 2021.
In a chat with The Sports Agents podcast on Thursday, Lampard also admitted he is keen on managing the England national team.
According to reports, Lampard is one of the coaches being linked to the role after Gareth Southgate stepped down after Euro 2024.
He said: “As an English player who played 100-plus times, and an English person who’s very proud – of course, the England set-up is something that I never dreamed of.
“I played many times for England. So, now as a coach, you know, I think I would be crazy to sort of say, ‘Oh no, that would never interest me.”
The England national team also known as the ‘The Three Lions’ is currently being managed by Lee Carsley as an interim Manager who was appointed in August 2024 for the UEFA Nations League 2024 campaign.
[Punch]
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The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has launched a protest against the scheduled local government area (LGA) elections set for Saturday, October 5th.
Led by the party’s Chairman, Chukwuemeka Aaron, PDP supporters defied heavy rain on Thursday morning to march in protest. The demonstration began at the PDP Secretariat on the Port Harcourt-Aba expressway and proceeded to the Police Headquarters on Moscow Road.
Upon arriving at the police headquarters, the protesters submitted an official petition, urging the security agencies not to participate in the upcoming LGA election.
Speaking while handing over the petition, PDP Chairman Aaron, drenched by the rain, accused the state’s governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, of disregarding the rule of law. He informed police officials that a court order currently exists, halting the election and directing police not to provide security for the poll. He called on the police to comply with the court’s directive and refrain from supporting the election.
[Vanguard]
A federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Maitama has granted a N150 million bail to Darius Ishaku, former governor of Taraba state.
Ishaku was arraigned on Monday alongside Bello Yero, former permanent secretary, bureau for local government and chieftaincy affairs.
Both men are being prosecuted on a 15-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds.
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” when all the charges were read to them.
At the court session on Thursday, the defendants’ respective counsels moved their bail applications.
Rotimi Jacobs, prosecution counsel, said he would not object since the defendants have been granted administrative bail.
Sylvanus Oriji, presiding judge, granted the bail application.
He held that the defendants must produce two sureties each in like sum. The two sureties must be responsible citizens of Nigeria and must be residents within the FCT, with verifiable office and residential addresses.
One of the sureties produced by each defendant must be a director in the civil service.
The defendants must not travel outside the country without the court’s permission and must deposit their travel documents to the court.
Ishaku, 70, was governor of Taraba from 2015 to 2023.
In July 2023, the EFCC invited the former governor over some financial transactions conducted during his spell in office. He was later released on bail.
On September 27, 2024, Ishaku and Yero were arrested and detained by the commission.
[TheCable]
Analysis: From N465/$ to N1,700/$ in 16 months. Here’s why the Naira isn’t likely to appreciate anytime soon
AFOLABI
Since President Bola Tinubu's inauguration on May 29, 2023, the Nigerian Naira has experienced a sharp and persistent decline in value. At the time of Tinubu's assumption of office, the official exchange rate stood around N465/$. However, after the decision to float the Naira and unify Nigeria’s multiple exchange rates, the currency has depreciated dramatically, losing over 70% of its value. As of recent, the Naira traded at about N1,700/$ in the parallel market, marking a massive devaluation that has exacerbated Nigeria's inflationary pressures and living costs.
Several factors have contributed to this devaluation, with the following issues making it clear that the Naira will not appreciate in value in the near future.
1. Dependence on Crude Oil and Declining Output
Nigeria’s economy is heavily dependent on crude oil exports, which make up the bulk of the country’s foreign exchange earnings. However, Nigeria’s oil production has been hampered by significant challenges, especially massive oil theft in the Niger Delta region. While Nigeria once produced up to 2.4 million barrels per day (bpd), current estimates show the country’s output now hovers around 1.5 million bpd. This reduction severely limits Nigeria’s capacity to generate foreign exchange through oil exports.
Additionally, a significant portion of Nigeria’s future oil output is already committed to servicing loans, such as the recent $3.2 billion loan from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). The use of oil receipts to offset debts reduces the foreign exchange available to support the Naira.
2. Dangote Refinery and the Opportunity Cost of Local Refining
The much-anticipated Dangote Refinery, which promises to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products, is often cited as a possible solution to the Naira’s challenges. The refinery is expected to conserve about 35% of foreign exchange that Nigeria currently spends on fuel imports.
However, this gain comes with a significant trade-off. Instead of exporting crude oil to earn foreign currency, the government will have to sell crude oil to the refinery in Naira, thus missing out on potential foreign exchange earnings. This opportunity cost diminishes the potential benefit of local refining, further complicating efforts to stabilize or improve the value of the Naira.
3. Challenges in the Manufacturing Sector
Nigeria’s manufacturing sector has been severely constrained by the scarcity of foreign exchange and rising energy costs. Manufacturers who previously produced goods for export to the broader West African market are now struggling to stay afloat, as they face difficulties in obtaining the necessary foreign currency to import machinery, raw materials, and energy supplies.
The continued shutdown of manufacturing concerns means fewer foreign exchange inflows from non-oil exports, further weakening Nigeria's ability to accumulate foreign reserves and support the Naira. This sectoral decline contributes to the shortage of foreign exchange that is essential for stabilizing the currency.
4. Weak Foreign Investment Inflows
The floating of the Naira and exchange rate unification were intended to attract foreign investment by aligning the official and parallel market rates. However, the desired influx of foreign capital has not materialized at the scale needed to stabilize the currency. Foreign investors remain cautious, given Nigeria’s economic uncertainties, policy instability, and security risks.
Additionally, Nigeria’s high inflation rate, currently well above 30%, coupled with rising interest rates in developed economies, has made it less attractive for investors seeking stable returns. This is exacerbated by foreign exchange controls and difficulties in repatriating profits, making Nigeria a less appealing investment destination.
5. Inflation and Monetary Policy Limitations
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has faced challenges in managing inflation, which has been driven by both currency depreciation and supply-side factors, such as fuel and food price increases. The CBN's efforts to stabilize the Naira through higher interest rates and intervention in the foreign exchange market have so far been insufficient to counteract the broader forces driving the Naira’s depreciation.
Moreover, the float of the Naira, while theoretically designed to attract investment, has led to increased speculation and instability in the foreign exchange market, contributing to further depreciation. The divergence between the official rate and the parallel market rate has also created uncertainty, making it difficult for the CBN to exert effective control over the currency.
6. Global Economic Conditions
Global economic conditions, such as the increasing strength of the U.S. dollar due to rising interest rates by the Federal Reserve (until the first rate cut 2 weeks ago) have made it more expensive for countries like Nigeria to service foreign debt and acquire essential imports. As the U.S. dollar appreciates against other currencies, the Naira, already under pressure from domestic factors, has depreciated further.
The higher cost of servicing foreign debt means Nigeria must allocate more of its dwindling foreign reserves toward debt repayment, further reducing the amount of foreign exchange available to support the Naira.
‘Davido, Wizkid’s Songs Aren’t Selling Again, They Are Using Controversy To Stay Relevant’ – Portable
AFOLABI
Controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, better known as Portable, has reacted to the ongoing feud between his colleagues Davido and Wizkid.
Naija News earlier reported that Wizkid reignited the long-standing beef with Davidoon his X page, marking their second major online spat in 2024.
Wizkid, who labelled Davido ‘wack with no talent,’ also threw tantrums at the singer’s family, including his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke.
In a series of Instagram posts on Wednesday evening, Portable criticized both artistes, claiming their songs no longer sell and are using controversy for music promotion.
The ‘Zazzu Zeh’ hitmaker also said he is now more relevant and celebrated than Davido and Wizkid. However, the claims starkly contrast with the current happenings in the music scene.
He wrote: “Don’t use your brother to shine—shine by yourself. Your (Wizkid and Davido) songs are no longer in the market; now you’re (Davido and Wizkid) using fights for promotion.
“Let’s forget the fake promotion and focus on making hit songs. Portable is bigger than them (Wizkid and Davido)—who is big is big. We’re not on the same level; it’s only me and God. Omolalomi, the chosen one.”
Portable added that he does not support Davido or Wizkid’s ongoing online disputes.
He wrote, “I’m not here for Davido. I’m not here for Wizkid. I’m here for myself, which is why I support those who support me. Chosen one.”