Ahead of the final match between Nigeria and Ivory Coast at the ongoing African Cup of Nations, a self-acclaimed prophet, Dr Kan Ebube Muonso of the Power and Victory in Christ Church has predicted that Ivory Coast will go home with the cup but in error.
In a post on his church’s Facebook page on Friday, Kan predicted that the error would be caused by the referee.
However, the self-acclaimed prophet said he would collect the cup from Ivory Coast and hand it over to Nigeria after his mountain program by the power of God.
According to him, Nigeria is the rightful team to go home with the cup.
“IVORY COAST VS NIGERIA.
“I saw Ivory Coast going home with the cup in error by ref/partial against Nigeria but Nigeria is the rightful team that is supposed to go home with the cup, but I will collect the cup from Ivory Coast to Nigeria by the power of God after my mountain program which will commence tomorrow.
“In my next post after mountain, you will know that there is power in God.
“Operation show your power. My God will prove himself again,” the post read.
The highly anticipated friendly match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Argentina has been officially cancelled.
The cancellation comes in the wake of controversy surrounding Argentine football superstar, Lionel Messi‘s absence from a recent exhibition match in Hong Kong.
Messi, who currently plays for Inter Miami, was expected to be the main draw for a match against a Hong Kong XI.
However, the Argentine captain did not participate, leading to widespread disappointment and frustration among fans.
This incident has had a domino effect, influencing the decision to call off the upcoming friendly between Argentina and Nigeria, which was set to take place in Hangzhou, China, in March.
The situation escalated when Messi, despite missing the Hong Kong match due to injury, appeared in a game in Japan just days later.
In response to the outcry, organizers of the Hong Kong event offered a 50% refund to ticket holders, acknowledging the fans’ dissatisfaction with Messi’s absence.
The fallout from the incident has led sports authorities in Hangzhou to announce the cancellation of the friendly match.
In a statement, Hangzhou authorities, said, “As a commercial event, a company and the Argentinian soccer team negotiated that the team would play a friendly match in March this year in the city of Hangzhou.
“In view of the current well-known reasons, according to the competent authorities, conditions to hold the friendly match are not mature, therefore (we) have decided to cancel it.”
[NaijaNews]
Ms. Koosum Kalyan and Ms. Rabi Isma joins the Board of the Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria as Non-Executive Directors
AdminThe Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria (Society) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Koosum Kalyan and Ms. Rabi Isma to its esteemed Board of Directors as Non-Executive Directors.
These appointments mark a significant milestone for the Society as it continues to strengthen its Board leadership with individuals of exceptional expertise and commitment to the pursuit of corporate governance excellence.
Ms. Koosum Kalyan, an accomplished economist and lawyer, brings a wealth of experience to the Board. Her illustrious career has been marked by exemplary leadership and strategic acumen. Having served on the boards of several prestigious companies, Ms. Kalyan’s demonstrated expertise aligns seamlessly with the goals and values of the SCGN. Her insights are anticipated to play a key role in steering the society toward continued success.
Ms. Rabi Isma, with a background in human resources and extensive experience in business partnership within the telecommunications sector, adds a valuable layer of expertise to the Board. Her achievements underscore her dedication to fostering corporate governance best practices. The Society is confident that Ms. Isma’s insights and commitment will significantly contribute to the organization’s mission of promoting ethical and effective corporate governance.
Commenting on these notable appointments, Mr. Muhammad K Ahmad OON, Board Chair and President, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are happy to welcome Ms. Koosum Kalyan and Ms. Rabi Isma to the Society’s Board. Their wealth of knowledge, experience, and dedication to corporate governance align perfectly with our mission to champion excellence in governance practices across industries. We are confident that their contributions will strengthen our initiatives and drive positive change within the corporate governance community.”
The Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria looks forward to the valuable contributions of Ms. Koosum Kalyan and Ms. Rabi Isma as they embark on this significant journey.
About the Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria (SCGN)
The Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria is a leading advocate for corporate governance excellence in Nigeria. Committed to fostering ethical practices and effective governance, the SCGN serves as a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the advancement of corporate governance standards across industries.
Ms Koosum Kalyan
Ms. Koosum Kalyan is a South African businesswoman and economist whose career began in the Electricity Commission in Melbourne Australia as an economist. She subsequently joined Shell South Africa as an economist and became a member of the Shell Global Scenario Planning Team after which she embarked on her expatriate posting to Shell International London for nine years. The scope of her work included projects in Nigeria, Gabon, Mozambique, Tanzania; etc. Ms. Kalyan assisted governments in transforming their energy policies and in joining the Extractive industries Transparency Initiative during her tenure at Shell and assisted in digitising government institutions.
She has served on the Boards of several prestigious companies where she expertly contributed her wealth of knowledge to the progress of these companies and was recently appointed the Chairperson of Control Risk for Southern Africa.
Ms. Kalyan has a B. Com Law degree and a degree in Economics from the University of Urban Westville. She has also completed the Senior Executive Management Program at London Business School and a Leadership Management Program at Shell Leadership Institute.
Ms. Rabi Isma is an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of the Stanbic IBTC Bank. She was previously Director of HR Business Partnering & Health and Safety at Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited (operators of 9Mobile). Prior to this, she had served in various roles as HR Consultant and Lead (international assignment) at Etisalat Sri Lanka; Director of Leadership and Organization Development at Etisalat Nigeria. Between 2011 and 2013, Ms. Isma also served as Special Adviser to the Governor of Kano State on matters relating to Non-Governmental Organizations, the policy framework for investment and governance technical reform advisory.
Ms. Isma also served as a Marketing Director for the British Council in Nigeria delivering strategic goals in the organization’s partnership relations across education, marketing and communications. Prior to this, she had for the three preceding years served as Director, of Support Services, where she amongst other things, developed and led the British Council Nigeria strategy for learning and development hubs, corporate communications, customer service support and the national strategy for outreach. Ms. Isma started her career as an Assistant Banking Officer at Guaranty Trust Bank PLC in 1996 and rose to the cadre of Assistant Manager in 2002 when she left the Bank.
Ms. Isma holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.) Degree in International Development from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom; PD Certificate in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok Thailand; Master of Science (M.Sc.) Economics, Management of Information Services, University of Wales, Aberystwyth; Master of International Affairs and Diplomacy (MIAD), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Computer Science and Economics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
[Nairametrics]
This report presents the biggest headlines of the week.
Nigerians hope to swap Grammys for AFCON; protests hit Kogi, Niger, Rivers as Nigerians lament high cost of living; states get N3.3tn allocations even as Nigerians, including Labour leaders, urged state governors to justify increased allocations by addressing the increasing hardship among the masses.
Here are the highlights of the week’s biggest news stories, from February 4 to February 10, 2024.
- Grammy 1 Nigeria 0
On Sunday night, the 66th Annual Grammy Awards were held in Los Angeles, United States, to kick off the week. A record number of Nigerians were represented at the Grammys, with Davido, Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Asake, and Olamide nominated, thanks to the Best African Performance category.
But on Monday morning, it was all about how they returned home empty-handed. Their fans took to the internet to lament the losses.
South Africa’s Tyla won the inaugural Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance with her single ‘Water’, edging out Nigerian stars.
Interestingly, because Nigeria would play against South Africa on Wednesday in the AFCON semi-finals in Ivory Coast for a chance to make it to the final, netizens challenged the Super Eagles to avenge the Grammy loss to Tyla by beating the Bafana Bafana of South Africa. This led to a tense semi-finals fixture that kept Africans at the edge of their seats.
- AFCON: Grammy avenged
After a fierce 90 minutes of play, the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, were tied 1-1 and forced into an additional 30 minutes of extra time. It all came down to a penalty shootout, which Nigeria won 4-2. The Grammy loss had been avenged and Nigerians had a field day on the internet taunting South Africa with Tyla’s ‘Water’. Nigerians also claimed that ‘Amapiano,’ a music genre that has its roots in South Africa, now belongs to Nigeria. Several celebrities joined the internet banter.
Kelechi Iheanacho scored the decisive kick that secured Nigeria’s spot in the final. But one hero reigns supreme…
- Nwabali steals the show
The Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, clinched the Man of the Match award after saving two penalties in the shootout.
With several clean sheets and remarkable saves, Nwabali is poised to secure the tournament’s Golden Glove award. In the tournament, Nwabali kept a tally of four straight clean sheets, which helped him break the clean sheet record held by Alloy Agu and equal Best Ogedegbe’s 44-year-old record.
In addition to his clean sheets, Nwabali has made numerous crucial saves at critical moments in matches. Fans praised his crucial saves, hailing him as Nigeria’s key to winning the tournament.
The final against Ivory Coast will be played on Sunday (tomorrow), 9 pm Nigerian time.
- AFCON heartbreak
In what can only be described as a bitter victory, PUNCH Online reported five deaths after the AFCON victory, with many reportedly dying during the penalty shootout. The individuals who lost their lives include a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Cairo Ojougboh; the Deputy Bursar of Kwara State University, Alhaji Ayuba Abdullahi; a sales representative named Mikhail Osundiji; a National Youth Service Corps member identified as Samuel; and an Anambra-born businessman based in Cote d’Ivoire, Osondu Nwoye.
Many experts have cautioned Nigerians, especially those with pre-existing health conditions, to avoid excessive emotional stress during such events. Some have even warned wives to keep their hypertensive husbands away from the AFCON final on Sunday
- His Excellency returns
President Bola Tinubu returned to Nigeria after a two-week private visit to Paris, France. The President came back at a time when protests were erupting in parts of the country over rising food and living costs, with angry youths and women taking to the streets.
Tinubu directed immediate interventions to address the situation, while discussions are ongoing to increase food supply and reduce prices in collaboration with millers and commodity traders.
After a series of meetings, more than 102,000 metric tons of various grain types from the National Food Reserve and the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria were released to address the food crisis. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced to State House correspondents the release of 42,000 metric tons of maize, millet, garri, and other commodities from the strategic reserve.
Additionally, discussions with the Rice Millers Association led to a commitment of 60,000 metric tons of rice. The government said it is prepared to import commodities if necessary and is ready to take punitive measures against food hoarders to ensure food security for Nigerians.
- Cries across the nation
Protests erupted in various parts of Nigeria, including Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Kano, and Niger State, over the rising cost of living, food prices, and poor power supply. In Port Harcourt, scores of married women protested outside the office of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company due to prolonged blackouts, which they said affected their personal lives, including marital relations.
Some of the placards carried by the Rivers women read, “‘We lack romance with our husbands’ and ‘Our husbands no longer touch us at night’.”
Similarly, in Kano, angry youths and women took to the streets to voice their grievances over the economic challenges facing the country and the high prices of food items. Meanwhile, in Niger State, residents protested against the high cost of living, demanding government intervention.
- Alcoholic backlash
Another wave of protests followed the ban imposed by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on the production of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small bottles. A coalition of civil society groups protested at the National Assembly. The Food Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association and the National Union of Food Beverages and Tobacco Employees rejected the plan, citing potential job losses for over 500,000 workers.
The House of Representatives has directed its committee on NAFDAC to investigate the circumstances surrounding the ban on the production of beverages in sachets and small bottles by the agency.
- States allocation
Allocations from the Federal Account Allocation Committee to 36 states and 774 local governments from July to December 2023, increased to N3.34tn, a 19.5% increase from the previous half-year according to figures obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics earlier in the week.
The bulk of the revenue shared at FAAC meetings comes from oil exports, taxes, and other statutory allocations, with the Federal Government receiving 52.68%, states 26.72%, and local governments 20.60%.
Despite increased allocations, some governors have faced criticism for failing to alleviate the impact of fuel subsidy removal, with complaints about poor infrastructure, rising kidnappings, and insecurity.
Labour leaders and Nigerians have urged state governors to justify the increased allocations by addressing the hardships faced by the masses.
[Punch]
Pop star Davido has parted himself at the back, declaring that being nominated for the just concluded 66th edition of the Grammys Awards was enough to make him carry his shoulder high.
This year’s Grammy Awards was held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles last Sunday night.
Davido, who’s a first time Grammy nominee, failed to win any of the three categories he was nominated for, as well as other Nigerian nominees.
However, speaking about his journey to stardom in an interview with Rolling Stone, which was posted online, Davido recalled what his Dad told him that despite the loss he remains a legend.
“Being nominated alone is enough to make me proud of myself. I just want my song to be heard on the radio once or twice in the beginning, but for it to transcend to this is just amazing and God’s doing.
“I was on the phone with my dad yesterday and he was like ‘Son no matter what happens, you are still a legend’. So yeah, he is a big fan,” he said.
[Vanguard]
The match officials for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final have been announced by the Confederation of African Football, CAF.
Referee Dahane Beida from Mauritania will be the man in the middle for Sunday’s game.
The first assistant referee will be Jerson Emiliano Dos Santos of Angola.
Diana Chikotesha has been appointed second assistant referee for the match.
The fourth official will be Morocco’s Bouchra Karboubi.
The final on Sunday will kick off at 9pm WAT at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.
In 1988, Nigeria lost 1-0 to Cameroon in the final, with referee Idrissa Sarr from Mauritania controversially ruling out a Henry Nwosu header for offside.
A former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Otunba Segun Adewale, has blamed the repeated electoral defeats of the opposition party in the state on lack of unity in the party.
Naija News reports that Adewale stated this on Thursday while speaking with newsmen in Lagos.
The PDP chieftain also attributed the party’s serial electoral loss to the mismanagement of election funds by party leaders and their anti-party activities.
Adewale, who was the Lagos West Senatorial District PDP Candidate in 2023, said the case of the 2023 election was higher, adding that until the party leaders changed their ways, it would be difficult for PDP to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
He said, “How Lagos PDP leadership mismanage election funds each election year will not allow the party to win elections in the state. This happens every election year.
“It happens every four years. One of the 2023 general elections was higher.
“Out of all the money released to Lagos PDP to prosecute the 2023 election, less than 50 per cent got to the state and the party foot soldiers.
“It was the one that I brought into the state to fund the election that the party’s foot soldiers got, others collected the money and pocketed it.
“I saw for the first time how few Lagos PDP leaders spent election mobilisation funds in the last 2023 general elections.
“I was involved last year and it was horrible the way the money got taken away by a few Presidential Campaign Council, PCC leaders.”
The former party chairman further alleged that some PDP Presidential Campaign Council members compromised in the 2023 general elections.
Adewale said that he had video evidence to prove that some PDP leaders, including some of the Alhaji Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Council members, worked for the ruling APC in the last election.
Men of the Nigerian Navy Jubilee in the Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have arrested 10 suspects and impounded a vessel containing a petroleum product suspected to be crude oil in the state.
The Commander of NNS Jubilee in Ikot Abasi, Commodore Madumom Ide, disclosed this to journalists at Ibaka in the Mbo Local Government Area of the state on Friday, noting that the vessel impounded was called Motor Tanker Queen Hansal.
He, however, added that the suspects and vessel were arrested on December 28, 2023.
Ide said, “10 suspects were arrested, all Nigerians, one captain, and nine crew members in the vessel. The vessel as it stands has a capacity of 1,022 tonnes (and) translates to over 7,000 barrels of oil which is over N800m.
“Imagine what that amount will do for the community and country at large.”
He stressed that the Nigerian Navy was committed to safeguarding the maritime space and warned criminal elements involved in economic sabotage to desist or be arrested.
The Christian Association of Nigerians in the 19 Northern States and Abuja, on Friday, expressed concern over the prevailing harsh economy, declaring that the suffering in the country is becoming unbearable to ordinary Nigerians.
Besides, the organisation noted that of grave concern was the increasing security challenges as well.
This is coming on the heels of similar concern raised by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar lll-led Jama’atu Nasril Islam that urged both federal and state governments to intervene in the prevailing economic hardship which had forced Nigerians into protests.
The PUNCH reports that on Monday through Tuesday, angry youths and women took to the streets of Minna, the Niger State capital, and Kano to protest what they described as the rising cost of living in the country.
Similar protests also erupted in Ondo State in the Southwestern part of the country.
In Niger, a group of women reportedly blocked the ever-busy Minna-Bida Road at the famous Kpakungu Roundabout and called on the Tinubu administration to address the challenge of ‘hunger in the land.’ The mob deflected attempts to quell the protest by security operatives who fired tear gas canisters into the crowd and arrested others.
In the face of this, the Northern CAN, in a statement released by its Secretary-General, Elder Sunday Oibe, in Kaduna, called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, step in and address the depressing economic and escalating security situation in the country.
According to the organisation Secretary, the suffering in the country is becoming unbearable for ordinary Nigerians as the high cost of foodstuffs, transportation, goods, and services have made life difficult for many Nigerians.
All these, he argued, were being compounded by the escalating insecurity occasioned by rampant killings and kidnapping for ransom.
He also said the Christian body was sad over the continued attack on Plateau State, where no fewer than 300 people were killed while calling on the government to do everything possible to halt the killings not only in Plateau but across the country.
The statement is entitled, “The Federal Government should urgently address the escalating insecurity and hunger in the country.”
It said, “The Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory wishes to express its deep concern over the prevailing economic hardship and the increasing security challenges across the country.
“The suffering in the country is becoming unbearable for ordinary Nigerians. The high cost of foodstuffs, transportation, goods, and services has made life difficult for many Nigerians.
“The epileptic power supply has led to the collapse of many small businesses.
“The continued decline in the value of the naira and the seeming inability of the government to address the situation has completely weakened the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians.
“The situation is further compounded by escalating insecurity occasioned by rampant killings and kidnapping for ransom.
“Unless justice is done, by ensuring that the perpetrators and whoever are the sponsors are brought to book, all the talks about peace may be mere rhetorics.
“Government must take urgent steps to address the depressing economic and escalating security situation in the country.
“We called on governments at all levels to support our security agencies with all that is required to fight these criminals.
“We also called on Nigerians to cooperate with security personnel and pray for them as they confront these enemies of the nation.”
This was just as the Northern CAN blasted regional groups such as the Arewa Consultative Forum, the Northern Elders Forum, as well as some Northern Senators for opposing the government plan of relocating some departments in the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, from Abuja to Lagos.
“It is unfortunate that we introduce ethnic and regional sentiments in a harmless policy that is meant to streamline operations and make the agencies more effective and reduce cost,” the statement said.
Former Vice President, Nigeria Football Federation, Shehu Dikko, has given insight into why new Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper and fans favourite, Stanley Nwabali, didn’t feature for the team under former coach Gernot Rohr, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Nwabali has established himself as the country’s undisputed first-choice goalkeeper with his impressive performances at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
While Nwabali’s rise to stardom has come as a big surprise to many Nigerians, Dikko said the keeper had always been under the watchful eyes of the federation.
“Nwabali has always been on the radar of the national team,” he tweeted.
“I recalled in June 2019 during the NPFL Super Six in Lagos and he was on the books of Enyimba FC, we invited Gernot Rohr to watch him as a potential successor/competitor to Uzoho. Unfortunately, his club GM went to inform him that Rohr was around to check on him, thinking he was helping him. But that made him so jittery being a young keeper just getting into the groove but he has always been a very good keeper as he even made the NPFL Allstar team in 2022 for the Budweiser match with John Terry and Roberto Carlos and the home-based Super Eagles match with Mexico in USA.
“Anyway, God’s time is always the best and he has once again proved the talent available in the domestic game.”
On Wednesday, the 27-year-old saved two penalty kicks from Teboho Mokoena and Evidence Makgopa to help Nigeria claim a 4-2 win over South Africa and progress to the final of the 34th edition of the AFCON.
The Chippa United shot-stopper, who is a strong contender for keeper of the tournament, was named Man of The Match for his impressive display.
Surprisingly, Nwabali has only six appearances for the Eagles and was only invited to the national team a few weeks before the AFCON after Nigeria’s head coach, Jose Peseiro, decided to make him his preferred choice ahead of Francis Uzoho, who has failed to live up to expectations.
In his competitive games so far, he conceded just two goals against Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.
Nwabali will hope to continue with his impressive form when Nigeria take on Ivory Coast in the final of the AFCON on Sunday.
More...
The United States of America Attorney’s Office, Maryland District, has revealed that as a result of a law enforcement operation carried out on February 7, 10 persons were arrested.
The arrests were made at locations throughout Maryland. Also, three search warrants were executed related to an alleged money laundering conspiracy involving more than $9.5 million in proceeds from fraud schemes.
The suspects are believed to include at least two Nigerians.
The Attorney’s Office which made this known in a statement issued on Thursday said that law enforcement agents from the Homeland Security Investigations Mid-Atlantic El-Dorado Task Force, the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service participated in the searches and arrests.
The statement added that additional suspects were at large.
The statement further noted that a federal grand jury in Maryland returned two indictments in 2023 that were unsealed upon the arrests of the defendants.
The statement identified the arrested suspects in a Case Number: 23-CR-411 (MJM) to include: 38-year-old Adanegbe Gift Osemwenkhae, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland; 26-year-old Emily Gil Arias, of Silver Spring, Maryland; 30-year-old Fatoumata Boiro, of Largo, Maryland; 31-year-old Lakeisha Parker, of Baltimore; 35-year-old Martin Ogisi, of Severn, Maryland; 30-year-old Blondel Ndjouandjouaka, of Silver Spring, Maryland; 33-year-old Kevin Colon, of Curtis Bay, Maryland and 27-year-old Lorena Perez Herrera, of Silver Spring, Maryland.
Also arrested in Case Number: 23-CR-304 (MJM) were 40-year-old Yahye Sowe, popularly known as “Cash,” of Largo, Maryland and 24-year-old Areal El-Lovieta Harris, of Hanover, Maryland.
The Attorney’s Office stated that the defendants had initial appearances on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court in Baltimore before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Austin after their arrest.
“Osemwenkhae, Ogisi, and Ndjouandjouaka consented to detention, Sowe and Boiro were detained pending detention hearings scheduled for February 9, 2024, and the remaining defendants were released on conditions under the supervision of U.S. Pretrial Services.
“The indictments were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) Baltimore; Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), Washington, D.C. Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Nicolas Evans of the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Inspector General (“EPA OIG”); and Special Agent in Charge Ken DeChellis, of the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service - Cyber Field Office (“DCIS”).
“According to the indictments, the defendants allegedly created and used limited liability companies and other shell businesses to open bank accounts on which the shell entities were listed as the account holders.
“Members of the conspiracy had signature authority for the bank accounts, at times using aliases or stolen identities.
“The defendants and their co-conspirators used the bank accounts to receive money obtained from the fraud victims.
“The victims included government agencies, organizations, and companies, such as an environmental trust, an urban redevelopment program, a medical center, a transportation and logistics company, a school district, a college, and a county government, among others,” the statement added.
It further stated that some of the co-conspirators obtained and used forged and counterfeited identification documents, including documents bearing the names of individual identity theft victims.
“As detailed in the indictments, the victims were deceived into sending money to the conspirators’ bank accounts based on false pretenses, such as being provided with false bank account information for legitimate vendor payments and false wire transfer information for legitimate transactions.
“After the fraudulently obtained funds were received in the bank accounts, the defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly engaged in financial transactions to conceal and disguise the nature and source of the money through cash withdrawals, the purchase of cashier’s checks, debit card transactions, and by transferring funds to other bank accounts controlled by the conspirators.
“According to the indictments, the defendants obtained and used a portion of the fraud proceeds for themselves.”
According to the statement, the defendants allegedly used some of the fraud proceeds to purchase vehicles, some of which were shipped or attempted to be shipped outside the United States.
“As alleged in the indictment, the defendants also engaged in international financial transactions and caused fraud proceeds to be sent outside the United States.
“The indictment further alleges that the defendants in case 23-CR-411 (MJM) and their co-conspirators collectively conducted and attempted to conduct financial transactions involving more than $9.5 million in fraud proceeds.
“The indictment in 23-CR-304 (MJM) alleges that the defendants and their co-conspirators conducted and attempted to conduct financial transactions involving more than $2 million in fraud proceeds.
“If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the conspiracy and for each count of money laundering. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
“United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the HSI Mid-Atlantic El Dorado Task Force, IRS-CI, EPA-OIG, and DCIS for their work in the investigation and recognized the Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County and Montgomery County Police Departments for their assistance.
“Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber and Stephanie Williamson, who are prosecuting these cases. He also recognized the assistance of the Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber.”
1-year-old Nigerian athlete, Favour Oghene Tejiri Ashe, has been arrested on multiple counts of theft and fraud.
Ashe, according to WTVM report, was arrested by Auburn Police on Thursday at his Alabama base.
The report stated that Ashe is specifically being charged with four counts of fraudulent use of a debit/credit card and two counts of theft of property third degree.
Auburn Police initially received a theft report on February 4, 2024, when a victim reported that multiple items were stolen from a purse near the 100 block of West Magnolia Avenue.
A credit card was among the items stolen, and the victim discovered several fraudulent charges were made using the stolen card.
Ashe was transported to the Lee County Jail and held on a $9,000 bond, the report indicated.
Ashe is one of the fastest Nigerian sprinters in history, having run 9.99s in the 100 meters at the national championships in 2022. He however holds a personal best of 9.96s he ran at the semi-final of the NCAA Championships last year.
He also represented Nigeria at the 2022 and 2023 World Athletics Championships and the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where he won a bronze medal in the 4 x 100 meters relay.
Ashe is the latest set of US-based Nigerian athletes to be arrested on fraud-related charges in the US, BoldSports reports.
Bold Sports in November 2022, reported how five Nigerian athletes, Toluwani Adebakin, Emmanuel Ineh, reigning African Games 100m champion Raymond Ekevwo, Mercy Abire and Aniekeme Etim were indicted and charged over wire and mail fraud in the US.
Adebakin and Ineh had earlier both been convicted of fraud and faced a possible 10-year jail term after they pleaded guilty to “violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1957, for engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activities, collectively sending tens of thousands of illicitly obtained proceeds to fraudsters in Nigeria as part of a larger mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy.”
Abire went on to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and risked 20 years in jail.
he Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction and sentencing of Abdulazeez Isah to three years imprisonment for parading himself as a staff member of the agency.
Abraham Adama and Uzoma Isaac Iwu were also jailed for fraud by Justices Darius Khobo and A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court, sitting in Kaduna.
While Justice Isiaka jailed Isah after pleading guilty to a one-count charge bordering on impersonation, Justice Khobo handed Adama two years imprisonment for cheating by impersonating American movie star, Sylvester Stallone on social media and three years to Iwu for cybercrimes.
The charge against Isa reads: “That you Abdulazeez Isah sometime in November 2023 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence of impersonation to wit: falsely presenting yourself as a staff of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the general public, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.”
The charge against Adama reads: “That you Abraham Adama (a.k.a Sylvester Stallone) (m), sometime in 2023 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence to wit: cheating by impersonation when you falsely presented yourself as Sylvester Stallone (an American actor) on several online social media applications to several unsuspecting victims and in that assumed character cheated one Amelia James of the total sum of $200.00 (Two Hundred USD) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law of 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.”
The charge against Iwu reads: “that you ISAAC UZOMA IWU (a.k.a This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) on or about the 18th of January, 2024 at NITEL Quarters of Sabo Axis, Kaduna State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court falsely presented yourself as Man Paul Markus and in that assumed character defrauded members of the public by luring them into investing into Crypto Currency via your email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.”
The three defendants pleaded guilty to their charges when they were read to them.
Based on their pleas, EFCC lawyers, M.U Gadaka and K.S Ogunlade prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Isiaka convicted and sentenced Isah to three years imprisonment or a fine of N150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) while Justice Khobo convicted and sentenced Adama to two years prison term with a fine option of N150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) and Iwu to three years imprisonment or a fine of N150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira).
Isah bagged his imprisonment by falsely parading himself to unsuspecting members of the public as a member of staff of the EFCC. Upon arrest, he admitted financing the production of fake T-shirts, identity cards and caps of the Commission found in his possession.
Adama impersonated Sylvester Stallone (an American actor) while Iwu got his imprisonment by indulging in internet crimes.
Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the umbrella body of Muslims in Nigeria led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa'adu Abubakar has called on the federal and state governments to intervene in the rising cost of living before the situation worsens.
The umbrella body of Muslims in Nigeria, which made the call in a statement issued on Thursday, which was signed by its Secretary General, Prof. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, implored the business community to resist the temptation to hoard for selfish gains.
Titled ‘The Need To Address The Inflation Crisis In Nigeria,’ the JNI said that instead of hoarding foodstuffs, business owners should make essential commodities more affordable by lowering prices to serve as an act of charity for them.
Lamenting that the current trying-time ordinary Nigerians are experiencing, occasioned by food insecurity, inflation and abject poverty is distressing, the group urged Nigerians to emulate the generosity of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by being more generous and kinder, especially during Ramadan.
It said, "The JNI under the leadership of His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, with all sense of responsibility calls on President Bola Tinubu’s government to urgently intervene over the difficulties Nigerians are passing through.
"This call is made over the exhilarating pains citizens are airing in both print and electronic media, inclusive of the social media, wherein Minna, Niger State and Lokoja, Kogi State Protests and other dissenting concerns being raised.
"In light of the troubling impact of hoarding and inflation on the availability and affordability of essential goods and services, particularly food items, the JNI is therefore compelled to raise its voice on the matter.”
The apex Muslim body explained that its leadership had been inundated with reports and pleas from ordinary Nigerians, expressing their anguish over the soaring prices of necessities.
It said, "We urgently call on the FGN and State Governments to intervene before the situation worsens. Likewise, all those arrested during the protests should be released and future recurrence be avoided through synergy and prompt interventions. This call has become necessary such that citizens would not be further provoked.
"Government functionaries are also cautioned to choose their words very well while addressing citizens on the matter. More so, the impending Ramadan fast heightens the urgency of our call, as access to three square meals becomes a luxury for many households. As believers, we understand that food security is synonymous with home security, as enunciated in the Glorious Qur'an 106:4.
"We equally implore the business community to resist the temptation of hoarding for selfish gains; instead they should make essential commodities more affordable, by lowering prices, so as to serve as an act of charity for them. Let us emulate the generosity of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by being more generous and kind, especially during Ramadan.
"As we approach Ramadan, we urge all levels of government to extend assistance to the less fortunate, as reports of their plight are both alarming and worrying. All stakeholders must unite in patriotic fervor to implement measures that mitigate the impact of rising food costs, ensuring Nigeria's continued path of growth and development is not halted.
"In this time of challenge, we pray for guidance, protection, good health, and peace for all leaders, and for tranquility to prevail in Nigeria. May Allah, the Most High, also provide the quickest relief to all problems bedeviling the Nigerian state. Amin."