If you are building in Lagos, to have a smooth construction process without any legal issues depends on having the necessary documents.
If you are building in Lagos, the building projects must be carefully planned, and you must ensure you comply with all applicable laws to have a smooth project without problems.
However, to have a smooth construction process without any legal issues depends on proper documentation for everything starting from establishing land ownership to obtaining various licenses and approvals.
Here are ten essential documents that you will need while starting a building project in Lagos
Survey Plan
A survey plan is necessary for building projects in Lagos to guarantee that the dimensions and borders of a plot of land adhere to the laws.
Get a qualified surveyor who would create a survey plan showing the landscape, borders, and existing structures of the site. The Survey Plan is often required when applying for a building permit.
Architectural Drawings (sealed, signed, and stamped by an ARCON-registered architect)
Another crucial document needed for construction in Lagos is an architectural drawing that is sealed, signed, and stamped by an architect registered with the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), which offers comprehensive plans and specifications of the proposed structure, including layout, measurements, and architectural elements.
These designs show that the building codes and regulations in Lagos are being followed, which is essential for getting building permits. It also acts as a construction blueprint, steering the project from start to finish and reducing expensive errors.
Tax Clearance Certificate
A Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC), certifies that all taxes have been paid or are in good standing. This shows that a person or entity has complied with their tax responsibilities to the government.
It is essential to the building process in Lagos because, without a valid Tax Clearance Certificate, builders may find it difficult to apply for permits and approvals.
Land Use Charge Receipt
This is an essential document in Lagos that indicates if a particular area or land is designated for residential, commercial, or industrial uses.
The receipt of the Land Use Charge is required before one can get a building permit and approvals. Building without the receipt will attract fines or project delays.
Proof of Ownership
To demonstrate that the applicant is the rightful owner of the land or property on which the building is planned, Proof of Ownership is an essential document. A Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), a Deed of Assignment, or any other legal documents confirming the ownership rights are usually included.
To receive building licenses and clearances from the Lagos state government, one must possess a legitimate Proof of Ownership. Having this document avoids property rights conflicts by ensuring the government that the construction is occurring on legitimately owned land. In the absence of proper paperwork, builders can get a demolition order.
Structural Drawings
Structural drawings give critical information regarding the dimensions, materials, and construction procedures to be employed, ensuring that the building is safe, stable, and following Lagos building rules. They often comprise specifications for foundations, beams, columns, load-bearing walls, and other components.
Structural Stability Letter
A structural Stability Letter is provided by a certified structural engineer following extensive examinations
and studies of the building’s design, materials, and intended use is needed to confirm that Lagos building laws and standards are followed, with a focus on load distribution, foundation integrity, and material strength.
The Structural Stability Letter assures both regulatory authorities and the property owner that the building will be structurally sound and safe to occupy.
Structural Engineer’s Supervision Letter
The Structural Engineer’s Supervision Letter is a document that gives property owners peace of mind regarding the safety of the project and reassures regulatory authorities that a qualified professional will oversee the work.
Subsoil Investigation Report
The Subsoil Investigation Report, which is produced by certified geotechnical engineers, contains data on groundwater levels, soil types, and bearing capacities that are frequently acquired by laboratory testing and drilling.
This report is needed to direct the foundation design and construction approach by detecting potential concerns such as soil instability and groundwater issues.
Electrical Drawings
Electrical drawings are essential records that offer thorough layouts for a building’s electrical systems. To guarantee adherence to safety laws and standards, these drawings incorporate layouts for wiring, circuit configurations, lighting, and power distribution.
Mechanical Drawings
Mechanical drawings are the critical papers in construction projects that detail the mechanical systems of a building, such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), plumbing, and other mechanical installations. These drawings provide specifications for equipment layout, pipe systems, and airflow designs, ensuring that all mechanical aspects work properly and safely.
Getting all of these documents sets one free from problems associated with building projects in Lagos State and also assures the builder that the building is of quality standard.
The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has criticised the Nigerian government for embracing Coca-Cola’s $1 billion investment pledge, citing the company’s alleged history of broken promises and harm to public health.
CAPPA in a statement signed by its Media and Communication Officer, Robert Egbe, accused Coca-Cola of attempting to “whitewash” its image despite multiple dishonest trade practices and regulatory infractions.
This is in reaction to Coca-Cola’s recent visit to President Bola Tinubu, during which the corporation announced a $1 billion investment pledge to Nigeria over five years.
“The Coca-Cola System has been part of Nigerian communities for over 70 years and believes in the strength and continued potential of the market. We are excited to announce this investment, which demonstrates our dedication to fostering economic growth and creating job opportunities in the country,” Zoran Bogdanovic, the chief executive officer of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, told Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu.
“Our investment goes beyond business growth; it’s about contributing to the well-being of the communities we call home. We foresee significant social and economic advancements, which is why we continue to invest in our business operations and community programs in Nigeria,” he added.
However, according to CAPPA, Coca-Cola’s latest pledge is a recycled commitment made three years ago during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, which the company failed to deliver.
The presidency had, however, clarified in a statement last week that the corporation halted the previous investment due to the “challenging business environment” prevailing in the country then.
But CAPPA criticised the government for defending Coca-Cola despite its alleged “persistent onslaught against public health and regulatory infractions than anything else.”
The group accused the beverage manufacturer of regulatory infractions, negative impact on public health, and recent investigations by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
In 2017, a Lagos High Court issued a judgement against the company, revealing that its products were unfit for consumption as they contain high levels of sunset yellow and benzoic acid.
High levels of sunset yellow and benzoic acid, according to European and American food and drug agencies, can form the carcinogen benzene when combined with ascorbic acid (Vitamin C).
“On this ground, the court mandated the company to place warning labels on its beverages, advising consumers against combining their intake with Vitamin C. But to this day, the corporation has refused to comply with this directive.
“This contempt and disregard for public health and judicial authority should ordinarily disqualify the company from receiving any form of state endorsement, let alone at the highest level of government,” the CAPPA statement read.
Recently, the FCCPC found Coca-Cola guilty of deceptive trade practices. The Commission’s investigation which began in 2019, revealed that the company had consistently engaged in deceptive product packaging and inconsistent pricing strategies that misled consumers.
“Sadly, by endorsing Coca-Cola’s shady investment only months after the FCCPC indicted it, the Nigerian government is not only setting itself up as an image launderer for a dirty corporation but also unbelievably, undermining and embarrassing its own regulatory authority,’’ the CAPPA statement said.
Public health concerns
The statement also quoted CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, as emphasising that Coca-Cola’s products contribute to Nigeria’s public health crisis, particularly non-communicable diseases like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
The statement further reads in part: “The question the Nigerian government must ask itself in light of all this is what truly it stands to gain by endorsing a multinational corporation with a dark history of non-compliance, and whose products are even actively contributing to a public health crisis in the country?
“Sugar-sweetened beverages, like many of Coca-Cola’s products under such category, are well known and documented contributors to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease and other associated health conditions that are already straining Nigeria’s healthcare system and economy.
“As such, while the company’s promises of an economic investment may sound appealing, the potential gains pale in comparison to the long-term public health costs and injury that the consumption of its products inflicts on the Nigerian population as with elsewhere across the world’’.
The organisation further warned that the government’s cozy relationship with Coca-Cola could jeopardise the implementation of Nigeria’s sugar-sweetened beverages tax, aimed at reducing consumption and tackling rising NCDs.
“We, therefore, call on the Nigerian government to prioritise the interests of Nigerians by shunning questionable associations with corporate lawbreakers and adversaries of public health. We urge the state to defend public health without scruples and consider genuine ethical investments that rank the well-being of Nigerians over empty promises and profit-driven deception,” it added.
[Premium Times]
Fred Amata, the ace actor, has called out Agatha, his ex-wife, for walking Stephanie, their daughter, down the aisle while he is still alive.
The couple got divorced in 2005 due to irreconcilable differences.
On Wednesday, Agatha shared pictures of Stephanie’s wedding and a video of her walking her daughter down the aisle — a ritual usually carried out by the bride’s father.
Fred was also noticeably absent at the ceremony.
Reacting in a lengthy rant on Facebook, the actor described Agatha’s action as an “abomination”, adding that it was a “challenge to tradition”.
He questioned why the wedding date and time were hidden from him, despite his prior blessing.
Fred also spoke about his failed marriage and recounted his contributions to Agatha’s success, specifically creating the talk show ‘Inside-Out with Agatha,’ which he claimed made her a household name.
The actor also alleged that Agatha exploited his name, reputation, and intellectual property for personal gain.
Read the full post below:
For over 20 years I kept silent, and desisted from any comments on my failed marriage, allowing the ‘good wife’, hoping the wounds will heal and a reconciliation possible. But for 20 years the ‘good wife’ pounded me, rubbished my reputation, belittling my achievements, exploiting my name for her selfish benefits.
It was over 25 years ago that I came up with the unique idea of Inside-Out with Agatha, a talk show with six informed and opposing points of view represented by a person with oratorial skills, now male now female. We had gone to see a talk show by Regina Askia, and Agatha wanted to be a talk show host. I told her not to worry ‘I will come up with something, it will make you be like Oprah Winfrey’.
And I did. Ingeniously. I was the dedicated creator, throwing in flesh blood and sweat to create and deliver a concept that had never before been done in Nigeria, save for a similar perhaps less engaging 6 episodes of a program called MEE to you, or something like that, by the late May Ellen Ezekiel, who was married to RMD. A program that could stand the test of time and put bread on the table of the young marriage.
A program, so versatile, it is still relevant today. Inside-Out with Agatha was an instant hit, the genius of the angle the production values the directorial approach the lighting and production design were so engaging, it was irresistible. I was at the height of my directorial rendezvous, and I gathered a production crew of the best technical hands in what is now early Nollywood and TV soaps were the biggest things because we dared to stand out from the emerging crowd of Nollywood directors.
Kingsley Ogoro my friend brother and nemesis would lead a high. I co-opted Nollywood greats Zack Orji, Okey Bakassi, Sunny Mcdon, Francis Onwochei, Emeka Ossai, Zik Zulu Okafor, Francis Duru, Prince Jide Kosoko and numerous friends who looked up to me and I asked their support for the first episodes, and soon everybody who was anybody wanted to be part of Inside Out.
I staked every resource, friends, favours, loyalties, family, extended family wife and links, I involved the creme de la creme of the big production, studios. Tunde Kelani, Wale Fanu, Tade Ogidan, Tunde Oloyede, Pat Nebo, Uzor Okpeche, Simi Opeoluwa, Opa Williams, the late Chico Ejiro and numerous others to ensure no failure of the program. I staked even my first attempt to be president of DGN. Don Pedro Obaseki and Matthias Obahiagbon will attest.
With the influence it wielded and the contacts and connections it gathered, ‘The Good Wife’ soon built an empire with no emperor. She employed maligning my name to acquire favours and contracts. Inside Out is the source of all the Good Wife’s wealth. My genius, my sweat, my vision, and for 20 years, I swallowed it. My reputation diminished as the Good Wife’s gathered momentum. So today, the Good Wife, using my brainchild, has become a billionaire—no credit to me.
No compensation, no royalty. But the good wife is good; let raising the children be my royalty. Buoyed by her success without recourse to the creator, the Ebu Delta State-born Good Wife has gathered a litany of resentment. She has registered a new company to own the programme, discarding the company we set up. She has sued for and obtained a divorce, and 20 years on, she still carries bitterness and will go to extremes to tarnish my image.
But understand this, ‘good wife’ Agatha: everything you have ever owned and will ever own is because of ‘Inside Out’. It is my brainchild, my intellectual property. You have yet to put a nail to a coffin to bury me for being silent, taking no heed of the billions you have harvested, carefree of your stupendous assets. The ‘good wife’ will dare tradition.
Challenge abomination, embrace taboo, stare Africa in the eyes to manipulate my daughter and her husband, hoodwink the lovebirds, and walk my daughter down the aisle to give Stephanie away to a husband. I can’t keep quiet anymore. It’s time to speak up. This is an abomination. This is taboo. Nowhere in the world, nowhere in Africa, nowhere in Delta State and the lands where we come from can a woman give away her child in marriage especially where the father is alive.
Especially when the father is willing and able. Worse when the father is in the same city. What malice would drive a woman in an attempt to rubbish her ex to lead his daughter to marriage? What manipulation would warrant concealing the date and time from a father who has already given his blessing? Even if the daughter forgets when father and daughter are in the same city of London. Is it not the place of ‘The Good Wife’?
Good people, netizens, well-wishers, haters, and influencers. What options are left to this heartbroken father? How do you throw away the baby with the bathwater? Do you cast away the ones you will forever love because a ‘good wife’ has been blinded by wealth and fury to jeopardise the father’s blessings on his daughter? They came to me in London; Aaron brought drinks as kola to me, the father, as the pictures show. What kind of ‘good wife’ does a thing like this simply to make a man look bad?
As of the time of this report, Agatha has not responded to her ex-husband’s allegations.
[TheCable]
Popular singer Bankole Wellington a.k.a Banky W is the latest of Nigerian entertainers who have relocated abroad with his family in recent times.
Few years back, the likes of actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Emem Isong-Mosidi, Joseph Benjamin, singer Tekno, Princess Chineke, Bukky Wright, Prince Eke, Jeta Amata among other top entertainers have left the shores of this country for reasons that are not unconnected with the worsening economic situation, insecurity and unending cases of kidnapping in the country.
Injuries, male colleagues' attitude almost made me quit welding - Zainab Giwa, Yaba Tech graduate
Also, many other entertainers have said they relocated abroad in search of a better life. And the EME boss is no exception. The singer however revealed in an instagram post that relocating to America with his family was to enable him pursue a Master’s degree at Georgetown University in Washington DC.
Banky W’s relocating to America with his family has raised concerns about the steady mass exodus of Nigeria citizens, including celebrities. His joining the trend, however, speaks volumes of the hopeless situation that Nigerian youths have found themselves.
The federal government has declared Tuesday, October 1, as a public holiday to commemorate Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary.
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, announced the holiday on Saturday in a statement by Magdalene Ajani, permanent secretary in the ministry.
The minister praised patient and hardworking Nigerians, adding that their sacrifices would not be in vain.
He also “reiterated the need for Nigerians to reflect on the labour of our heroes past and be inspired for the tasks ahead, realising that a Nigeria of our dream can only be built when we unite”.
“While wishing Nigerians a Happy Independence Day Anniversary, Dr. Tunji- Ojo urged the citizens to continue to be steadfast in nation-building,” the statement reads.
The federal government had announced that this year’s Independence Day anniversary will be a “low-key event” due to the economic hardship and spiralling inflation bedevilling millions of households.
Nigeria will be celebrating its 64th Independence Day on October 1, 2024.
While the government prepares for the traditional celebrations, certain groups have slated this day to begin sustained protests against the current hardship, which they attribute to ‘bad governance.’ This planned protest, tagged #FearlessInOctober or EndBadGovernanceProtestInNigeria 2.0, follows a similar 10-day protest in August where thousands across various states expressed grievances against government policies.
The August protests focused on reversing government policies, including the removal of subsidy on petrol, floating the naira, and increasing electricity tariffs. Despite passionate pleas and cautions from authorities, protests turned violent, with attacks on persons and infrastructure.
To prevent a repeat of the August violence, the presidency is engaging with protest organizers to reach an understanding before October 1. Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga said that the government supports peaceful protests but is apprehensive about potential riots.
“Government is not against any peaceful protest by Nigerians. After all, it is their fundamental right to stage any protest.
“But government is always apprehensive about such protests degenerating into a riot as we experienced in August or the 2020 EndSARS protest in many parts of the country.
“Security agencies have been discussing with some of the organisers and they are being monitored so that they do not plunge the country into chaos or allow themselves to be used by internal and external forces which want to subvert the country and the 16-month-old administration”, he said.
He highlighted that economic reforms have started yielding dividends, citing indicators from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
Since the August protests, the economic situation has worsened. Petrol prices have risen to over N1,000, and the exchange rate exceeds N1,600
Makes U-Turn from supporting Tinubu
Joe Igbokwe, a staunch supporter of President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), has alleged that those who will rescue Nigeria have not been born.
Igbokwe, one of those who campaigned actively for Tinubu in the buildup to the election, said this while commenting on the cost of living crisis.
In a Facebook post on Friday, Igbokwe lamented that a bag of rice now costs N100,000
“With all the rice mills we have in Nigeria, my wife just told me that a bag of rice is now ₦100k plus. Without sounding immodest, I am constrained to say that the men and women that will rescue this country from self-inflicted pains and tears are not born yet,” he wrote.
Recently, Igbokwe, who served under virtually every Lagos governor since 1999, has been critical of some policies of the Tinubu administration, marking a departure of what he stood for.
Two weeks ago, he lamented over the hike in electricity tarrif, asking Tinubu to look into it.
In a post on his Facebook page three weeks ago, Igbokwe lamented that N20,000 worth of units only lasted him for just a day.
He said: “PBAT, please look into the new electricity tariff in Nigeria. It will kill businesses if the government does not act as quickly as possible. I have a small office in Surulere with about 7 units of AC.
“We used to buy 300 plus units for N20,0000. Yesterday we bought N20,000 worth of units and it lasted for just one day. They call it band A group. I pray that we review this.”
Buba Galadima, a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), says President Bola Tinubu‘s planned cabinet reshuffle would not make any difference.
On September 25, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said Tinubu “has expressed his desire to reshuffle his cabinet and he will do it”.
Speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels TV on Friday, Galadima said reshuffling the cabinet would not curb food inflation.
Galadima claimed that the president intends to reward his cronies with the reshuffle.
“That (planned cabinet reshuffle) has nothing to do with me or any Nigerian. What is of importance to all of us is bringing down the harsh conditions of living and the buck stops only on the table of one man. That is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Galadima said.
“No amount of reshuffling can make a difference. As far as that team is only ‘job for the boys,’ nothing will come out of it.
“Anybody that calls himself president or governor is responsible for their cabinet’s performance. He should be told that some of his appointees are more interested in their pockets than service delivery.
“I expected him to do better than this; and to hit the ground running.”
The NNPP chieftain asked Tinubu to find a solution to the country’s foreign exchange crisis “which has seen the naira performing abysmally”.
There have been growing calls from Nigerians and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Tinubu to reshuffle his cabinet and remove underperforming ministers.
Tinubu’s policies have driven petrol prices to record highs and depreciated the naira to record lows since he assumed the reins on May 29, 2023
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has said that President Bola Tinubu is not responsible for the fuel subsidy removal.
According to him, Tinubu simply made the announcement.
Dogara said there was no provision for fuel subsidy in the budget before Tinubu made the announcement.
He stated this on Friday during an appearance on Channels TV.
The former speaker opined that fuel subsidy removal was a good move for Nigeria despite the effect.
He said, “In this case, there was no provision for it, and anybody who told you Tinubu suspended it was just joking because how did he suspend payment that was not budgeted for in the first instance?
“There was no provision for subsidy in that budget and I am not aware of any amendment that took place to accommodate the payment of subsidy.
“The truth is that he (Tinubu) was not the one who removed the subsidy. But he did make that pronouncement.
“There was no provision for it in the budget and you know the budget is backed by the Constitution. If there’s no provision for it in the budget, then how do you pay for it?”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has outlined at least fifteen charges against the former Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku.
Naija News reports that the anti-graft agency whisked away the former state leader from his residence in Abuja during the early hours of Friday, September 27.
Ishaku was apprehended for involvement in an ₦27 billion fraud.
The former governor is set to stand trial on 15 charges, ranging from criminal breach of trust to misappropriation and embezzlement of public money.
These alleged crimes took place from 2015 to 2021 while Ishaku was in office, involving the state’s and local government’s funds.
In particular, Ishaku is accused of siphoning off ₦1.01 billion from the 2.5% reserve fund of the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, between August 2015 and March 2016.
He is also said to have misused ₦3.348 billion from the funds of local government councils for his own benefit and took ₦639 million for personal use.
More accusations point to the theft of ₦1.138 billion from the same reserve fund between July 2015 and May 2019, as well as the theft of ₦193 million from the Donga Local Government Council’s funds.
Other charges include the theft of ₦650 million from the Gassol Local Government Council, ₦170 million from the Gashaka Local Government Council, and ₦201 million from the Ardo Kola Local Government Council.
The ex-governor is also being accused of purchasing a duplex in Abuja with funds from the Taraba State Government and using ₦761 million to settle a loan for his company, Worthy Construction Limited.
The spokesperson for the Commission, Dele Oyewale, has confirmed these allegations.
The charge sheet reads in part: “That you, DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU, while being the Governor of Taraba State and BELLO YERO, while being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, between 25th August 2015 and 21st March 2016 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N1,010,000,000 (One Billion and Ten Million Naira), which sum formed part of the 2.5% contingency funds belonging to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to your own use and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same Section.
“That you, DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU, while being the Governor of Taraba State between 3rd September 2015 and 29th January 2018 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N761,301,000 (Seven Hundred and Sixty-One Million, Three Hundred and One Thousand Naira), which sum formed part of the funds belonging to Taraba State Government and Local Government Councils in Taraba State, and you hereby committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to defray the loan of One Billion Naira granted by Zenith Bank Plc. to your company, Worthy Construction Limited, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same section.”
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The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has revealed that the Nigerian government spent N15.57 trillion between 2006 and 2023 on the Petrol Motor Spirit(Petrol) subsidy.
NEITI disclosed this recently during the unveiling of its 2022 and 2023 Independent Oil and Gas Industry Reports in Abuja.
The report was unveiled by George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ola Olukoyede, the chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other government officials on Thursday.
According to NEITI’s report, the year with the highest amount paid for fuel subsidy termed as under-recovery and price differentials was N4.714 trillion in 2022.
The report also revealed that the federal government was owed $6.071 billion and N66.4 billion in unpaid revenues from the oil and gas sector as of Jun 2024.
DAILY POST reports that fuel subsidy had been a subject of controversy despite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announcing its removal in May 2023.
However, the World Bank had hinted that with the price per liter, Nigerians buy petrol, the product is still subsidized.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo also stated that Fuel subsidy is back.
However, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company had clarified that the firm only takes care of petrol importation shortfalls between the company and the federation.
In recent times NNPCL has increased fuel prices to N950 and N1,100 per litre indicating removal products’ subsidy.
Aliko Dangote, the President of Dangote Group recently called on the Nigerian government to completely remove fuel subsidies.
His comments come after Dangote Refinery’s petrol commenced distribution into the Nigerian market on September 15, 2024, through NNPCL.
While Dangote push for complete fuel subsidy removal which will see fuel rise above N1,100 per liter, Nigerians have continued over high energy costs.
Meanwhile, a recent report by Major The Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, MEMAN on Thursday revealed that the landing cost of Petrol import dropped to N981.08 per liter in September 2024 from N1,130 in July.
Nigerian man pleads guilty to defrauding 15 Americans of over $1M, faces five-year jail term
AFOLABI
Isaiah Okere, a 42-year-old Nigerian man, has pleaded guilty to charges of internet fraud that defrauded over 15 Americans and organizations out of more than $1 million.
Okere appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Liman in New York on Tuesday, admitting his role in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, revealed that Okere collaborated with members of the transnational criminal group, Black Axe, to carry out a series of romance scams, lottery frauds, and business email compromise schemes targeting vulnerable individuals.
The frauds primarily affected elderly and isolated victims, some of whom lost their entire life savings.
Okere was arrested in South Africa in December 2021 and extradited to the U.S. on August 23, 2024. He now faces a potential five-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to “one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.”
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated, “Isaiah Okere and his co-conspirators preyed on elderly and vulnerable victims, some of whom lost their entire life savings. This office’s global reach ensures that he will be held accountable in the United States for his crimes.”
The scam, which began in 2015 and continued until November 2019, resulted in significant emotional and financial damage to its victims.
Some victims were tricked into believing they were in romantic relationships with Okere and his associates, leading them to drain their retirement savings and even borrow from family and friends. One victim reported becoming suicidal after losing her savings to the scam.
In addition to romance schemes, Okere and his accomplices used fraudulent lottery schemes and business email compromise (BEC) fraud to steal from individuals and companies.
“Many victims experienced severe emotional harm, including a woman who reported becoming suicidal after losing her retirement savings to this scheme.
“He used the phony lottery scheme to inform certain victims that they had won a cash prize but first needed to make certain payments to access the funds.
“Similarly, using the BEC fraud scheme to induce a corporate victim located in Manhattan to release company funds under fraudulent pretences by impersonating the founder of the company.
“Okere used accounts under false identities to communicate directly with his US victims. He also controlled multiple foreign bank accounts in South Africa that received funds from victims targeted by these schemes,” the US stated.
Okere’s accomplice, Timy Hakim, was sentenced to two years in prison in 2023 and ordered to pay over $1.4 million in restitution.
Two Nigerians, Shodiya Babatunde (43) and Jamui Ahmed (31), have been indicted by the United States for their alleged involvement in a $13 million fraudulent business email scheme targeting healthcare companies in Minnesota.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota announced the charges on Thursday, revealing that the two suspects, along with co-conspirators, siphoned millions intended for Fairview Health into accounts under their control.
According to U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger, Babatunde and Ahmed manipulated unsuspecting employees of several Minnesota-based healthcare firms, deceiving them into redirecting payments to fraudulent accounts.
The scheme, which spanned from October 2020 to 2024, involved the creation of fake internet domains and email accounts impersonating top Fairview Health executives.
“As part of the scheme, Babatunde and Ahmed created a fake ‘spoofed’ internet domain designed to appear as though it was controlled by Fairview Health,” Luger said.
The duo used these fake accounts to carry out phishing attacks, acquiring sensitive information such as passwords and account details from vendors.
The statement added, “Unbeknownst to the vendor companies, the new accounts were actually controlled by Babatunde and Ahmed and their co-conspirators, not Fairview Health.
“In total, Babatunde and Ahmed fraudulently directed more than $13m in payments intended for Fairview Health from Minnesota-based healthcare companies to accounts controlled by Babatunde, Ahmed, and their co-conspirators.”
Babatunde and Ahmed have since fled and are currently fugitives from justice, residing in Nigeria.
Popular Nigerian singer David Adeleke, aka Davido, has opened up about how he handles the pain of losing loved ones.
The singer is no stranger to grief, having lost his mum, Mrs Victoria Imade Adeleke, at 11, and his 3-year-old son, Ifeanyi Adeleke, as well as associates, Tagbo, DJ Olu, Obama DMW, and personal photographer Fortune, in quick successions.
Speaking in a recent interview with Mystery Fashionist in New York, Davido said his faith has kept him going despite the tragedies.
“I have lost a lot of people. I lost my mum at the age of eleven. I’m just being strong. I did a song called ‘Stand Strong.’
“I feel like strength and obviously, my faith has kept me going,” he said.
Davido also addressed some misconceptions about him.
“I think sometimes, people think I am not approachable. Another misconception is that people also think I am too accessible.
“I grew up in a big family, I’m used to having people around me. My talent and success is God-given,” he explained.