Abubakar Mannir, a 36-year-old Bureau De Change operator, has been accused of defrauding Mr. Manas Das, the Chief Executive Officer of Allkraft Technology and Industries Limited, of $737,015.00.
According to Saturday Vanguard, it was gathered that Das, a Nigerian-based Indian, contacted the Bureau de Change operator, who operated under Emirates Booth company, to purchase the United States dollars under three agreements that totaled $900,000.
General Manager of Allkraft Technology and Industries Limited, Abdulrahman Abubakar, told Saturday Vanguard that 100 per cent of the Naira equivalent was transferred from the Allkraft company Zenith Bank account to Emirates booth account number, in December 2023.
However, trouble started for the Indian , after Mannir was said to have paid him only $162,985 through Emirates Booth but allegedly fled without paying the balance of $737,015.00
Abubakar explained that : “The contracts were supposed to be fulfilled in November 2023, but the Emirates Booth owned by Mr. Mannir cited a delay and finally agreed to make the transfers from January 15, 2024, to January 19, 2024. By that time, Mr. Manas Das had travelled to Abuja, from where the remittance was scheduled to be transferred.
Mr. Mannir was scheduled to meet with members of staff of both companies (Allkraft Technology and Industries Limited and Emirates Booth) on January 14, 2024, for a dinner meeting to discuss and ensure that payments were made the next day.
”The last call I received from Mr. Mannir was on January 14, 2024, at about 5 p.m, informing that members of both companies would meet at about 7 p.m. But the meeting never held
“The next day, after contacting the Emirates Booth office, including its managers and assistants, it was suspected that something was wrong.
“ Staffers of both companies travelled from Abuja as early as 5am to Kano, where it was confirmed that Mannir had disappeared. We had to report the case to the Police.
“In spite of regular follow-ups with the police from that day until date, Mannir could not be traced and the money is yet to be recovered.
”The police informed us that Mannir had fled to Niger. However, we also know that he is in contact with his family because there are recordings of his conversation with his mother.
“The victim has been pushed into deep financial trouble and he is now trying to borrow money to survive and pay salaries to the staff and labourers who used to work in the company. Most of them have stopped working because there is no money to pay their salaries”.
Attempts to reach Mannir failed as his mobile lines were not connecting. His younger brother, Abubakar Imam, told Saturday Vanguard when contacted, that “ We have not been able to reach him. I don’t know his current location, so I can’t say exactly where he is.
“Earier this year, he was released from prison over the same fraud case with Zenith Bank. My 50-year-old mother is already battling with sickness about this case because she is aware of the matter.”
When Saturday Vanguard contacted the Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna on the matter, he confirmed that the command was aware of it, adding that investigation had commenced.
The Bayelsa State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the death of a 14-year-old girl named Shallon Ebitare, who was found deceased in the company of her 17-year-old lover in a hotel room in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The incident happened on Wednesday when the minor and her 17-year-old boy friend, identified as Lucky Okubo, went to a hotel room in Yenagoa, but she was said to have slumped and died in a bathroom inside the hotel.
It was gathered that the deceased was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Yenagoa for medical attention but she was later confirmed dead.
It was gathered that the duo had been lovers for some months before the unfortunate incident.
Already, operatives of the Bayelsa State command have arrested the deceased’s boyfriend over allegation of murder.
Confirming the incident, Bayelsa State Police Command’s spokesman, ASP Musa Muhammed, said in a statement that the state’s Commissioner of Police had ordered a discreet investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of the girl.
He said: “Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Bayelsa State Police Command apprehended a suspect in connection with the suspected murder of one Shallon Ebitare, ‘f’ a 14-year-old resident of Akaibiri Community in Yenagoa LGA.
“The suspect claimed that the deceased went to the bathroom to take her bath but fell, and sustained injuries. Sequel to this, he invited the hotel manager who assisted in taking the deceased to FMC Yenagoa where she was confirmed dead by a medical doctor on duty. Meanwhile, the suspect is in custody at the SCID Yenagoa while investigation continues with a view to ascertain the cause of death.”
The manager of Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp seems to have figured out how to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 7.
In an interview with Liverpool’s official website, Jurgen Klopp who is expected to leave the Anfield club at the end of this season said the only way his team can beat Manchester United at Old Trafford is if his team plays a very good game.
Manchester United have been very inconsistent this season as they have recorded 12 defeats, 3 draws, and 15 wins which left them on the 6th spot with eight games in their hands.
Amidst their inconsistency, they have managed to knock out in-form Liverpool from the quarter-final stage of the FA Cup with a man down on March 17. The thrilling encounter ended in a 4-3 victory for the Red Devils.
Hence, their meeting at Old Trafford which is a must-win for both sides (for Liverpool’s title hopes, and Manchester United’s European spot hopes), is expected to be more or less a final.
Ahead of the game, Jurgen Klopp admitted that Manchester United are a very strong team especially while playing in front of their home fans. Hence, he urged his team to double their output if they want to stand a chance against the Red Devils coached by Erik ten Hag.
“United is a top side playing at home, we all know that,” Jurgen Klopp said.
“Football is not that easy. We have to find a way to cause United problems and they will try exactly the same.
“On that level, with this opponent, in this stadium, we better play a really good football game, to be honest, if we want something there.”
[NaijaNews]
Naira abuse: "She pleaded guilty. The court will not impose maximum punishment to her - Bobrisky’s lawyer
AFOLABIAyo Olumofin, the lawyer to Idris Okuneye, a.k.a Bobrisky, has said that the popular crossdresser pleaded “guilty” to charges of abuse of Naira when they were read to him.
The social media celebrity was arraigned on Friday, April 5, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Abimbola Awogboro sitting at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos over mutilation of the Naira notes.
Justice Abimbola Awogboro deferred judgment in the matter to Tuesday, April 9, 2024, after Bobrisky pleaded guilty to a four-count charge of Naira abuse brought against him by the EFCC.
The judge ordered that the convict be remanded in EFCC custody pending sentence. The defendant’s counsel, Ayo Olumofin,
Speaking after the adjournment, the defendant’s counsel said; “There is no striking out. She pleaded guilty. The court is the master of the court. So there is nothing we can do about the adjournment. But we cited the relevant section to the honourable court that Idris is a first offender and by the relevant provisions of the Criminal Justice Act, the court will not impose maximum punishment on her
“What is the punishment? Six months or N50,000 fine. EFCC has considered the fine and they have even accepted the defendant's request to stop the abuse of Naira. We are not pained. The honourable court is the master of the court,” he added.
On Friday, the Plateau State Police Command showcased a counterfeit soldier and 43 other suspects involved in various crimes, including kidnapping, defilement of a minor, culpable homicide, armed robbery, cultism, and gun running.
The Commissioner of Police in the State, Hassan Yabanet, paraded the suspects while briefing journalists at the Command’s headquarters in Jos.
He said, “On 4th of March, 2024, at about 02:30pm, one Shedrack Sabo of ATM quarters, Bukuru, reported at the SWAT Unit that on 16th February, 2024, at about 04:30pm, one Lucky Okoh, male, showed him a military identity card and introduced himself as a captain in the military.
“He further convinced him to pay the sum of N110, 000 to secure him a job.
“The suspect, one Lucky Okoh, male, of Guratopp, was arrested by SWAT operatives on 4th March, 2024, at about 03:00pm.
“After a thorough search was conducted on his house, one military identity card, three Nigerian army recruitment forms and one NSCDC recruitment form were recovered.”
Yabanet said investigation on the matter is still ongoing.
The CP also disclosed that a 24 years old man was arrested for allegedly defiling a 13 year old girl.
According to him, “On the 6th March, 2024, at about 11:20hours one Fatima Abdul, female, 52 years, of Farin Lamba village, came to the Barkin Ladi Police Station and reported that her 13 years old daughter left home to Farin Lamba market on 11/02/2024 to buy food items and in the process, one John Sati Choji, male, 24 years of Vwang village, lured her to his house and had carnal knowledge of her.
“The suspect was immediately arrested on receipt of the complaint and investigation is ongoing,” the CP explained.
Yabanet added, “On 3rd April, 2024, at 10:30hours, intelligence information was received by the DPO Bokkos who acted on the tip-off and led a crack team of IGP intervention squad.
“The operation led to the arrest of one Saddam Abdulmumuni, male, of Angwan Shukur of Bokkos town, who was an escapee of the 2021 Jos jailbreak.
“The suspect is currently under investigation at the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the Command.”
He said the suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed.
On the arrest of a suspected cultist, the CP said, “On the 3rd April, 2024, at about 1800hrs while on routine patrol around Bauchi Road, Jos North, SWAT operatives apprehended one Mohammed Awal of Filin Sukuwa area of Jos North LGA who, with his gang members, stabbed one Halima Hussaini, female, of Angwan Rogo of Jos North on her left hand and dispossessed her of her TECNO handset.
“When search was conducted in his house and premises, one long cutlass was recovered.”
The CP assured that all suspects arrested for the crimes would be charged to court upon completion of investigation.
“I wish to at this juncture appreciate members of the public for their cooperation, support and encourage them to continue to give us timely and accurate information to enable us stem the tide of crime in the State,” the CP admonished.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has revealed how Governors could be prevented from abusing the proposed State Police.
He said proper guarantees under the law must be put in place to prevent situations where governors use police apparatus to intimidate and oppress political opponents.
Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) spoke when he featured as a guest of Inside Sources With Laolu Akande aired on Channels Television on Friday.
He said at the moment, policing has been decentralised in the country as residential estates and communities have private security outfits with personnel armed with different weapons guarding inhabitants of such communities.
Falana described state police as an idea whose time has come but said jurisdictions must be clearly defined to prevent inter-rivalry and more clashes between security agents, adding that state police must be a people-police service and not a government-centred one.
He said one federal police force is not really antithetical to federalism as the success of the system depends on its the management. “Unfortunately, our governors have allowed the Nigeria Police Force to become the Federal Government Police Force hence the demand for state police,” he said.
“Under Section 216 of the Constitution, the President of the Republic cannot appoint or remove an Inspector General of Police without consulting the Nigeria Police Council.”
“In that 39-member body, 36 of them are chief executives of states. It’s a council where the members should discuss the number of police personnel should be in every state, how the police should be funded and how the police should be managed and administered. But what has happened?”
He said though there are other regular security council meetings in the country, the Nigeria Police Council has not been meeting. “We must go back to the provisions of the Constitution. It’s not unusual in a federation to have federal government police and state police but again, we have to go back to the drawing table and finetune our policies before we have state police. We must assure our people.
“There are governors in Nigeria that will turn state police into an instrument of oppression because even right now, the federal police is turned into an instrument of oppression.
“So, we must agree that in a Federation, every tier of government, every federating unit should be able to enforce its own laws, with its own security apparatus but you must guarantee that there will be no intimidation or oppression of political opponents, either by the federal government police, state police or even local government police.
“Right now, we deceive ourselves, we already have decentralisation of police; every community, every estate all have their own private security arrangement and majority of them are armed.”
Social commentaries on state police continue to dominate public discourse with some governors and regional socio-political groups like Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo saying it would curb menacing trend of kidnapping, banditry and sundry crimes.
Already, there are state-owned security outfits in about 23 states like the Civilian Joint Task Force in Borno State, the Amotekun Corps in the South-West geopolitical zone, Ebube Agu in the South-East, Benue Guards in the North Central State, Community Protection Guards in Zamfara, Community Watch Corps in Katsina, the Neighbourhood Watch in Plateau, state-backed vigilante outfits in Niger and Bauchi, amongst others.
However, these outfits have been handicapped in their operations due to a number of factors including lack of license to bear assault rifles and superior weapons to confront deadly insurgents and criminals but governors are upbeat that with a constitutional backing, these outfits will live up to their full potential.
To this end, President Bola Tinubu and governors of the 36 states mid-February, agreed on state police as a method to curb the escalating security challenges in the country.
About a month later, 16 governors submitted their reports to the National Economic Council (NEC), expressing their support for the creation of state police and the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to allow for same. The decision of the remaining 20 governors are still being expected.
Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, says only 1.5 million customers — out of 12 million — are affected by the recent electricity tariff hike.
On April 3, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved a tariff increase for Band A customers.
Customers on B and A are those who receive 20 to 24 hours of power supply in the country.
Speaking at a ministerial briefing in Abuja on Friday, the minister said the hike would address the issue of liquidity affecting the power sector, adding that power supply would still be subsidised for 85 percent of consumers.
Adelabu said the N2.9 trillion electricity subsidy in 2024 is too much of a burden for Nigeria.
“The recent tariff hike only affects 15 per cent of electricity customers. We have 12 million, but this tariff affected only 1.5 million customers,” he said.
“It is because the government is sensitive that 100 per cent of the subsidy will be removed. That is why we started with gradually removing the subsidy for the selected customers.”
Adelabu said the infrastructure deficit is a challenge in the country’s power sector, noting that transformers installed in the ’60s are still in use in some parts of Nigeria.
“All our gas pipelines are bad. There has been vandalisation of the gas pipelines; there will be a lack of adequate pressure on the gas pipelines where we need compressors and boosters,” he said.
“The generating companies’ plants are also deteriorating. They are obsolete. For the transmission companies, the lines were installed over 50 years ago, the cables are weak, the towers are falling and people are vandalising them. Transformers are also weak.
“I have seen a transformer that was labelled (Electricity Company of Nigeria) which means that it was installed in the ’60s; it has not been replaced.”
Adelabu said the deterioration of infrastructure is a major challenge in the government’s push to provide power for Nigerians.
South Africa has issued new visa regulations for skilled foreign remote workers, Business Live reports.
The new remote work visas are applicable to foreigners earning more than R1m a year (about $53,665) who want to relocate to South Africa.
Although there has been no official statement from the country’s department of home affairs, the digital nomad visa reportedly replaces the critical skills visa.
The draft regulations signed by Aaron Motsoaled, minister of home affairs, had been published in February for the public to share feedback and comments that would shape the eventual outcome of the visa.
The deadline for submissions was set as March 29.
But some parts of the regulations required other laws to be amended before taking effect.
For instance, the digital nomad bill had proposed an income tax exemption for foreign employees working in South Africa for less than six months, and the income tax act would have to be amended to provide for the exemption to be legal.
Some South Africans said the digital nomad visa would make the country’s tech ecosystem attractive to foreign talent, while others believed an influx would lead to a rise in the cost of living, an increase in inequality, and tax leakage concerns.
Other African countries that offer remote work visas include Cape Verde, Mauritius, the Seychelles, and Namibia.
Florin Talapan, ambassador of Romania to Nigeria, says his country will increase scholarships for prospective Nigerian students.
Talapan spoke on Friday when he presented his letter of credence to President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.
“Nigeria is a second home to me, and I have lived here for many years. I have to give back every good thing I have received from Nigeria,” a statement issued by Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, quoted the ambassador as saying.
“My country is looking towards a strategic alliance with Nigeria in the areas of education, energy, and defence.”
Tinubu also received letters of credence from Lincoln Downer and Leilani Bin-Juda, high commissioners of Jamaica and Australia, respectively.
During separate meetings, Tinubu assured the ambassadors of Nigeria’s support for a rewarding stay.
The president reaffirmed his government’s commitment to maintaining an open-door policy toward strengthening existing economic, cultural, and diplomatic relations.
In his conversation with Downer, the president spoke of Nigeria’s readiness to reactivate energy cooperation with Jamaica, particularly in the context of climate change and the utilisation of gas as a transition fuel.
”The essence of a relationship is to understand one another. With Nigeria’s energetic and talented youth, we have a cultural affinity with Jamaica and a lot of potential for cooperation in the areas of culture and tourism that will benefit the youth populations of both countries,” Tinubu said.
The high commissioner conveyed his prime minister’s willingness for a relationship with Nigeria and announced plans for a Jamaican business delegation to visit the country later this year.
Downer also invited Nigerian investors to explore opportunities in Jamaica’s special economic zones.
Speaking with Bin-Juda, Tinubu acknowledged the shared values and interests between Nigeria and Australia.
He called for more cooperation in mining, given Australia’s leading position in iron ore export.
“The Minister of Solid Minerals was in Australia recently, and we look forward to further collaboration in this area. We are also ready to deepen our mutual cooperation in the area of education,” Tinubu said.
In response, the Australian high commissioner expressed readiness for further collaboration.
He extended an invitation to Tinubu to consider visiting Australia during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will on Monday, April 8, 2024, arraign the embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele at the Ikeja State High Court in Lagos for alleged abuse of office over allocation of billions of United States dollars.
Emefiele alongside his co-defendant, one Henry Isioma Omole, will be arraigned on 26 counts before Justice Rahman Oshodi.
The charge, marked ID/23787c/2024, dated April 3, 2024, was filed by Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
EFCC alleged that Emefiele committed abuse of office between 2022 and 2023, in Lagos, of abuse of office.
The commission alleged that Emefiele “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary act, to wit: allocating foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $2,136,391,737.33 without bids, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians.”
EFCC, further alleged that Emefiele between 2020 and 2021, in Lagos, “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary, act to wit: allocating foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $291,945,785.59, without bids, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians.
Emefiele was alleged to have, in 2021, in Lagos, “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary act, to wit: special allocation of foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $1,769,254,793.16, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians.”
In count four, the sum involved was $370,872,893.01.
Emefiele’s co defendant Omoile was alleged to have November, 17, 2020, in Lagos, whilst acting as an agent accepted from Raja Punjab through Monday Osazuwa, the total sum of $110,000, for Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, gifts as reward for allocating foreign exchange by the Central Bank in favor of Raja Punjab’s employer.”
According to the charge the offences committeed contravened Section 73 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, thanked the Central Bank Investigator, Mr Jim Obazee, for his services, officially closing the months-long investigation.
“Subsequent to the conclusion of the assignment and the submission of a final comprehensive report, and with the winding up of all apparatuses used during the scope of the task which terminated on March 31, 2024, the investigation is formally closed,” a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, read Friday evening.
The statement is titled, ‘President Tinubu thanks Jim Obazee as special investigator of the CBN at conclusion of investigation.’
Tinubu noted that with the investigations closed, all appropriate law enforcement and regulatory agencies have since begun conducting follow-up action.
The President commended Mr. Obazee for the dedication and professionalism he exercised in handling the complexities of this critical national assignment.
He thanked the CBN investigator for answering the call of duty while wishing him success in his future endeavours.
On 30 July 2023, the President appointed Jim Obazee, Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, as a special investigator to probe the Central Bank of Nigeria and related entities.
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The lagos government to demolish the popular Landmark Beach Resort to give way for the coastal highway construction of Lagos-Calabar road project.
This was contained in a letter to the business mogul Paul Onwuanibe dated March 19, 2024, and signed by the Deputy Director (Development Matters Department) Tpl Shomolu O., on behalf of the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
According to the letter, the state government noted that the sections of the property billed for demolition such as the Beach Resort, Kids and Bay Arena, Members Area, Lagos Beach Club fall within the Right of Way of the proposed road project by 50 meters.
Onwuanibe, receiving seven day’s notice of removal of property felt it was an April fool that had come early.
The beach resort which is valued at over $200 million, according to Onwuanibe, the Landmark site is home to over 80 businesses and provides more than 4,000 direct jobs.
It also generates over 2 billion naira ($1.5 million) in annual tax revenue.
Recall that the Lagos state government had written the company in two different national newspaper on the demolition .
“Following the publications of Friday 15th and Saturday 16th March, 2024, in the two national newspapers, The Nation and The PUNCH respectively, for the constriction of 103km stretch of the 700km Lagos-Calabar coastal highway by the Federal Ministry of Works, in collaboration with Lagos State Government, I am to inform you that your property falls within the Right of Way Alignment of the project by 50 meters.
“Consequently, the affected portion shall be removed in overriding public interest, to pave way for the road construction project from seven (7) days of serving this notice.
“In view of the above, I am to request you to forward all documents supporting your ownership of the property to the Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Block 13 and 14, The Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.’’
The acclaimed musician, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, kicked off the new month in spectacular fashion by adding yet another private jet to his impressive collection.
In a stunning announcement on the micro-blogging platform X (formerly Twitter), the father of five proudly unveiled his latest acquisition—a pristine Bombardier 7500.
According to reports, the recently acquired private jet, a Bombardier 7500, is regarded as one of the most luxurious and costly aircraft available on the market, with estimated prices ranging from $68 million to $78 million, depending on the source.
The video showcasing the interior of Davido’s newly acquired private jet quickly circulated online, offering a brief glimpse into its luxurious design and opulent features.
SEE VIDEO BELOW
AS the controversy over the recent embarrassing escape from custody of an executive of the cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, Nadeem Anjarwalla through the Nnamdi Azikwe International airport rages on, key players across the country’s aviation sector have described the development as confirmation of the lack of synergy amongst security agents at the airports.
Nadeem Anjarwalla, the regional manager for Binance in Africa, was reported to have fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport through the Abuja airport to escape trial and prosecution.
Many stakeholders who reacted to the news condemned the lapses in Nigeria’s security system and intelligence which they argued made it seamless for the Binance official from perfecting his escape.
A key player who spoke under anonymity queried how a passenger could go through many uniformed personnel at the airport to not only process his papers but comfortably travel through the airport unnoticed.
Commenting on the controversy, the Chief Executive Officer at Selective Security International Ltd, Mr Ayo Obilana described the escape of the Binance executive as unacceptable.
According to Obilana: “I rate the efficiency of the securitymen in charge of airport immigration and state security as unacceptably poor on controversial escape of Mr Anjarwala if he passed through them.
“It’s not about porosity this time but about human error and failure which definitely points in one direction of either systemic failure or compromise. I believe his name should have been put on watchlist in the data base of the two security agencies. There are other possibilities, however, the matter should be thoroughly investigated and thereafter, the tasking authorities should take appropriate steps for redress or mitigation. I hope the airport has a functional CCTV system and if it has, the fugitive’s movements through the airport can be easily tracked including those who aided his escape.”
Equally, the Managing Director of another security agency, Centurion Security Services and a onetime military commandant of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Group Captain John Ojikutu, retired, likened the escape of the Binance official to what happened with the escape of the now known popular underwear bomber, Farouk Abdulmutalab through the Lagos airport in 2009.
His words “Security begins with intelligence which is more than 60% of the Airport Security Defence Layers. If they get intelligence early and it is appropriately shared, what we saw happened last week would not have happened. What happened last week with the escaped man is not different from what happened with the Abdulmutalab escape in December 25, 2009 even when the father warned the National Intelligence Agent and the US Embassy about the irregular behaviour of his son.
While arguing that the airline that boarded the Binance official can only be blamed if it was informed earlier that the man was on the watch list or no-fly list.
“The airport government security agencies on the Aviation Security Defence Layers too appeared not to have any information about the man. What I can tell you from the experience of the Abdulmutalab case and his escape through the Avsec Defence Layers is the disconnect between the government security agencies in their line of duties. Starting with the intelligent agency to the border security agencies which include the immigration, DSS, Avsec/Airlines through the NCAA, etc.”
Other stakeholders who spoke on the controversy further took a swipe at the crop of security personnel manning the different airports who they accused of just sitting at their duty posts idly.
“Our airports are the only airports where security personnel sit instead of on their feet moving around. The Binance official can still come back to Nigeria and make another return same way as he escaped without being detected. The level of corruption in the airport security system particularly with immigration and State security protocols is unimaginable.
The key players also faulted the type of multiple security checks at the international airports which they said does not exist at any known airport in the world. “What obtains at our international airports is indeed shameful and some of us have tirelessly and repeatedly pointed same out to the tasking authority for corrective action but to no avail.”
Popular cross-dresser, Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye popularly known as Bobrisky, has been convicted by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos, after he pleaded guilty to abuse of the naira.
The judge has reserved judgement on Bobrisky’s sentencing till April 9, ordering his remand in EFCC’s custody.
Before his conviction, Bobrisky pleaded with the court that he was not aware of the law on abusing the Naira.
The judge then told him that ignorance of the law was not an excuse to which Bobrisky replied,”I know my lord.”
He further said to the judge,”My lord I wish that you can give me a second chance to use my platform to inform and educate my followers about spraying money.
“I’m a social media influencer with over five million followers. I would do a video on my page and I will educate people about spraying money.
“I will not repeat it again my lord, I regret my actions my lord”.
With the conviction, Bobrisky could either serve six months in prison, pay a fine of N50,000 or do both.
Section 21 (1) of the CBN Act 2007 states that “a person who tampers with a coin or note issued by the Bank is guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable for imprisonment for a term not less that six months or to a fine not less that N50,000 or to both such fine and imprisonment.”
When the charge was read, Bobrisky pleaded guilty to the first four counts bordering on Naira abuse.
Before the charge was read however, the EFCC’s counsel, Suleiman Suleiman, asked the court to strike out counts five and six bordering on money laundering allegations.
Justice Abimbola Awogboro subsequently struck out counts five and six.
This paved the way for the arraignment of Bobrisky on only counts one to four which is on the abuse of the naira.
When the counts were read, Bobrisky was asked if he understood the charge that was read to him, he replied, “yes, I am guilty”.
Bobrisky was brought into the court in a white bus at 9.12 a.m. on Friday morning by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He was arrested on Wednesday by the EFCC on account of naira abuse and money laundering.