Justice John Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has awarded N5m damages against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for wrongfully parading a photographer, Nasiru Saidu-Ali, popularly known as Kozzo, as a fraudster.

The incident happened in May 2019 when the photographer was arrested from his Abuja home and his photos splashed on the social media pages of the EFCC alongside those of other alleged internet fraudsters.

He was later released after his innocence was established, but Sa’idu-Ali dragged the anti-graft agency to court for criminal defamation..

The photographer, through his lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, demanded N100m damages from the EFCC, but after five years, the court, in a judgment delivered on March 22, 2024, awarded a N5m damages against the EFCC and ordered the anti-graft agency to tender a public apology to the photographer.

Details of the court judgment was revealed in a Certified True Copy obtained by our correspondent on Thursday.

The CTC read in part, “An order of mandatory injunction is hereby granted, ordering the respondent, whether by themselves, their officers, servants or agents to forthwith remove the image and name holding out of the applicant as a fraudster to the public from the respondents’ Instagram and other social media platform.

“An order of mandatory injunction is hereby granted restraining the respondent, whether by themselves, their officers, servants, or agents from further holding out the applicant as a fraudster to the public without judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

“An order of this honourable court is hereby granted directing the respondent to pay the applicant the sum of N2.5m as exemplary and punitive damages for the unlawful publication of the applicant’s image on the respondent’s Instagram, amounting to a breach of his fundamental rights to privacy.

“An order of this honourable court is hereby granted directing the respondent to pay the applicant N2.5m as general damages for loss suffered herein, amounting to a breach of his fundamental rights.

“An order of this honourable court is hereby granted directing that the respondents tender public apology on their online social media platforms to the applicant.”

Meanwhile, following the judgment, the lawyer to the claimant, Pelumi Olajengbesi, reiterated that it was unlawful and amounted to an abuse of powers for the EFCC to have publicised the images of individuals arrested for alleged crimes when such persons have not been convicted by the court.

In an interview with our correspondent, the lawyer said his firm, Law Corridor, took up the photographer’s case pro bono, and after extensive legal proceedings before the Federal High Court, Abuja, justice was finally served.

Olajengbesi said, “Following numerous legal arguments and delays orchestrated by the EFCC, Justice John Okoro of Court 8 of the Federal High Court, Abuja delivered the landmark judgment on Friday, March 22, 2024.

“The court deemed the EFCC’s actions unconstitutional, as they violated Ali’s right to human dignity, encroached upon his privacy, and disregarded the noble and fundamental principle of presumption of innocence to have posted his picture on their social media.

“We’re happy that the court awarded ₦5million in exemplary, punitive, and general damages against the EFCC. As you can see from the CTC, the EFCC was also ordered to publicly apologise to the young photographer.

“Even though we asked for N100m, the court awarded N5m and also granted a perpetual order against the EFCC from arresting the photographer again.”

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER has uncovered 16 illegal refining sites with refining capacity of 9.6million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) popularly known as ‘Diesel’ in a creek in Rivers State.

The operatives of the NNS Pathfinder led by its Commander, Commodore Desmond Igbo, during an operation at the creek around Elem -Krakama in Degema Local Government Area, also arrested 14 suspects, recovered over 1.5m litres of diesel already refined at one of the illegal sites in the area.

THISDAY at the illegal refining sites, observed that three wooden boats with a storage capacity of 70metric tones of crude oil worth 210metric tones still siphoning crude from a tapped oil wellhead owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) were also arrested by the Navy. 

It was further observed that the activities of the suspects at the oilfield wells owned by the NNPC’has dastardly polluted the environment, as crude oil illegally exploited from the wells by the suspects littered on the rivers, destroying the mangroves and other living plants in the area.

Speaking with journalists at the incident sites, Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Desmond Igbo, identified the oilfield as Oil Mining Lease(OML) 18, owned by NNPCL, saying that the wellhead badly compromised by the suspected oil thieves was well 15 in the same oil field.  

Igbo, who expressed shock at the wide-scale economic sabotage going on in the location, said the site has 16 cooking pots with the capacity to contain 600,000 litres of AGO each, assuring that the Navy will not relent in ensuring that illegal oil refining activities become a thing of the past. 

Igbo said: “This is Elem-Krakama in Degema LGA of Rivers State, we have come here to ensure that this oil stealing will not continue. We have about 16 cooking pots and some of them contain about 600,000 litres. It is very quite huge, as you can see where they are tapping it right from the oil wellhead belonging to NNPCL.

“We have made arrests, we arrested about 14 of them in the act of stealing the crude and also illegally refining this crude. Behind me is oil well head 15 belonging to OML 18, of NNPCL. You can see a very big 14-inch hose connected illegally to this oil well head 15. They are transferring it to this big wooden boat also known as the Cotonou boat. 

“The boats contain 70 metric tons of crude oil, the crude is still there, they will connect it to the reservoirs through the 4-inch hose from there they will start cooking it. We have three of these wooden boats in this camp. The cooking pots also contain about 1.5 million AGO. This is not good for our country, not good for the economy.”

Igbo continued that the success of the operation was in furtherance of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral,  Emmanuel Ogalla’s mandate to them to fish out the economic saboteurs and not to deter in ensuring that oil theft in Niger Delta become history are thing of the past, adding that they will continue to stamp out oil theft in the region.

He, however, revealed that both the arrested suspects and seized crude would be handed over to appropriate agencies for prosecution, saying his personnel would dismantle the illegal connection, just as he noted that the attention of the owners of the oil field has been drawn to clampdown the spilling wellhead. 

He urged community leaders to urge their youths to desist from such criminal activities for a safe and cleaner environment, warning that anyone caught in the act of sabotaging the national asset will be made to face the wrath of the law.

“It is actually economic sabotage.  The cooking pots, we are going to crush them and we have already told the company operating OML 18 owned by NNPCL to clamp down the wellhead permanently so that they cannot come back and engage in it and they said they would do so. We are hoping that they would do that and we will give them the necessary security and safety they would need to do that,” he said.

Meanwhile, the 14 suspects handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), were received by the Desk Officer, Intelligent and Investigation Rivers state chapter of NSCDC, Omale Ene.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, on Wednesday, approved an increase in electricity tariff for customers under the Band A classification.

The Vice Chairman, NERC, Musliu Oseni, said the increase will see the customers paying N225 kilowatt per hour (KW/h) from the current N66.

PUNCH Online notes that customers under Band A are those who enjoy 20-24 hours of electricity supply daily while those in Band B are subscribers who enjoy 16 to 20 hours power supply.

Those in Band C enjoy 12 to 16 hours daily power supply..

Also, Band D subscribers are beneficiaries of eight to 12 hours power supply and Band E subscribers only enjoy four to eight hours of electricity supply daily.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Oseni said customers in Band A represent a 15 per cent of the 12 million electricity customers in the country, which represents about 1.8 million subscribers.

He added that the review would not affect customers of the other bands.

Citing sources, Bloomberg had on Tuesday reported that power companies will be allowed to raise electricity prices to N200 ($0.15) per KW/h from N68 for urban consumers.

It quoted people in the presidency with knowledge of the matter saying this was in a bid to attract new investment and slash about $2.3 billion spent to cap tariffs.

In this report, PUNCH Online highlights the Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Kwara states’ subscribers of the Band A tariff plan who are benefitting from the 20 to 24 hours of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company daily consumption in documents prepared by NERC as of February 2024.

Oyo

1. Akanran (Frigoglass 11kva feeder) in Akanran Business Unit enjoys 90KW/h

2. Akanran (BAT/New Age 11kva feeder) in Akanran Business Unit enjoys 118KW/h

3. Akanran (Eagle Flour Mill 11kva feeder) in Akanran Business Unit enjoys 189KW/h

4. Apata (Ami 11kva feeder) in Apata Business Unit enjoys 267KW/h

5. Apata (Apata 33kv feeder) in Apata Business Unit enjoys 249KW/h

6. Apata (EFCO/EVANS 11kva feeder) in Apata Business Unit enjoys 1,090KW/h

7. Apata (JOYCE B/RATCON 11kva feeder) in Apata Business Unit enjoys 131KW/h

8. Apata (SEVEN-UP 11kv feeder) in Apata Business Unit enjoys 218KW/h

9. Apata (Eruwa Lanlate 33kv feeder) in Apata Business Unit enjoys 456KW/h

10. Apata (Iyaganku 11kv feeder) in Apata Business Unit enjoys 338KW/h

11. Apata (Oluyole 33kv feeder) in Apata Business Unit enjoys 189KW/h

12. Dugbe (Aerodrome 11kv feeder) in Dugbe Business Unit enjoys 244KW/h

13. Dugbe (Agodi Line 1 33kv feeder) in Dugbe Business Unit enjoys 265KW/h

14. Dugbe (Agodi Line 2 33kv feeder) in Dugbe Business Unit enjoys 260KW/h

15. Dugbe (Ami 11kv feeder) in Dugbe Business Unit enjoys 167KW/h

16. Dugbe (Bank Road 11kv feeder) in Dugbe Business Unit enjoys 302KW/h

17. Dugbe (Eleyele 33kv feeder) in Dugbe Business Unit enjoys 190KW/h

18. Dugbe (Housing 11kv feeder) in Dugbe Business Unit enjoys 227KW/h

19. Dugbe (Iyaganku 11kv feeder) in Dugbe Business Unit enjoys 220KW/h

20. Dugbe (Iyaganku 33kv feeder) in Dugbe Business Unit enjoys 230KW/h

21. Dugbe (Jericho T2A 33kv feeder) in Dugbe Business Unit enjoys 271KW/h

22. Dugbe (Jericho T2B 33kv feeder) in Dugbe Business Unit enjoys 271KW/h

23. Dugbe (Oremeji 11kv feeder) in Dugbe Business Unit enjoys 169KW/h

24. Dugbe (Semonda 33kv feeder) in Dugbe Business Unit enjoys 235KW/h

25. Dugbe (State House 11kv feeder) in Dugbe Business Unit enjoys 313KW/h

26. Molete (Molete Industrial 33kv feeder) in Molete Business Unit enjoys 142KW/h

27. Molete (Express 33kv feeder) in Molete Business Unit enjoys 161KW/h

28. Molete (Interchange 33kv feeder) in Molete Business Unit enjoys 141KW/h

29. Molete (Iyaganku 11kv feeder) in Molete Business Unit enjoys 167KW/h

30. Molete (Liberty 33kv feeder) in Molete Business Unit enjoys 157KW/h

31. Molete (Oluyole 33kv feeder) in Molete Business Unit enjoys 319KW/h

32. Monatan (Adogba 33kv feeder) in Monatan Business Unit enjoys 157KW/h

33. Monatan (State House 11kv feeder) in Monatan Business Unit enjoys 144KW/h

34. Monatan (Labo 33kv feeder) in Monatan Business Unit enjoys 288KW/h

35. Monatan (Adogba 33kv feeder) in Monatan Business Unit enjoys 157KW/h

36. Ojoo (Adogba 33kv feeder) in Ojoo Business Unit enjoys 131KW/h

37. Ojoo (Ibadan North 33kv feeder) in Ojoo Business Unit enjoys 167KW/h

38. Ojoo (UI/NISER 33kv feeder) in Ojoo Business Unit enjoys 233KW/h

39. Oyo (Ado Awaye 33kv feeder) in Oyo Business Unit enjoys 169KW/h

40. Oyo (Iseyin 33kv feeder) in Oyo Business Unit enjoys 113KW/h

Kwara

1. Baboko (General Hospital) in Baboko Business Unit enjoys 456KW/h

2. Baboko (Incomer T1B 33kv feeder) in Baboko Business Unit enjoys 174KW/h

3. Baboko (Incomer T1B 33kv feeder) in Baboko Business Unit enjoys 174KW/h

4. Baboko (Incomer T1C 33kv feeder) in Baboko Business Unit enjoys 174KW/h

5. Baboko (Incomer T2B 33kv feeder) in Baboko Business Unit enjoys 173KW/h

6. Challenge (Agba/ShopRite 11kv feeder) in Challenge Business Unit enjoys 278KW/h

7. Challenge (Basin 11kv feeder) in Challenge Business Unit enjoys 201KW/h

8. Challenge (Challenge Industrial 33kv feeder) in Challenge Business Unit enjoys 161KW/h

9. Challenge (GRA Ilorin 33kv feeder) in Challenge Business Unit enjoys 351KW/h

10. Challenge (ShopRite/Water works 11kv feeder) in Challenge Business Unit enjoys 482KW/h

11. Challenge (Tanke 11kv feeder) in Challenge Business Unit enjoys 189KW/h

12. Challenge (UNILORIN 33kv feeder) in Challenge Business Unit enjoys 222KW/h

13. Jebba (Dogongeri 33kv feeder) in Jebba Business Unit enjoys 295KW/h

14. Jebba (Jebba Paper Mill 11kv feeder) in Jebba Business Unit enjoys 598KW/h

15. Jebba (Jebba Township 11kv feeder) in Jebba Business Unit enjoys 615KW/h

16. Jebba (Jebba/Bacita 33kv feeder) in Jebba Business Unit enjoys 124KW/h

17. Jebba (Senior Staff Quarters F20 11kv feeder) in Jebba Business Unit enjoys 567KW/h

18. Jebba (SF2 New Bussa 11kv feeder) in Jebba Business Unit enjoys 561KW/h

19. Jebba (Wama/Kaima 33kv feeder) in Jebba Business Unit enjoys 430KW/h

20. Omuaran (Lamodi 33kv feeder) in Omuaran Business Unit enjoys 125KW/h

21. Omuaran (Lamodi 33kv feeder) in Omuaran Business Unit enjoys 125KW/h

Ogun

1. Ijebu (Industrial Folagbade) in Ijebu Business Unit enjoys 116KW/h

2. Ijebu (Ijebu Industrial 11kv feeder) in Ijebu Business Unit enjoys 152KW/h

3. Ijebu (Ijebu Industrial 11kv feeder Folagbade) in Ijebu Business Unit enjoys 249KW/h

4. Ijebu (Ijebu Industrial 11kv feeder Industrial) in Ijebu Business Unit enjoys 249KW/h

5. Ijebu (Ijebu Ode 33kv feeder) in Ijebu Business Unit enjoys 236KW/h

6. Ijeun (Abiola Way 11kv feeder) in Ijeun Business Unit enjoys 127KW/h

7. Ijeun (Eleweran 33kv feeder) in Ijeun Business Unit enjoys 232KW/h

8. Ijeun (FUNAAB 33kv feeder) in Ijeun Business Unit enjoys 145KW/h

9. Ijeun (Owode line 1 33kv feeder) in Ijeun Business Unit enjoys 232KW/h

10. Ijeun (Eleweran 33kv feeder) in Ijeun Business Unit enjoys 232KW/h

11. Olumo (Akinolugbade 11kv feeder premium) in Olumo Business Unit enjoys 236KW/h

12. Olumo (FUNAAB 33kv feeder) in Olumo Business Unit enjoys 159KW/h

13. Ota (Ijagba 33kv feeder) in Ota Business Unit enjoys 177KW/h

14. Ota (Odigbo/Estate 33kv feeder) in Ota Business Unit enjoys 213KW/h

15. Ota (Sango 33kv feeder) in Ota Business Unit enjoys 415KW/h

16. Ota (Toll Gate 33kv feeder) in Ota Business Unit enjoys 179KW/h

17. Sagamu (McPherson 33kv feeder) in Sagamu Business Unit enjoys 327KW/h

18. Sagamu (Ogunmakin/Ajebo 33kv feeder) in Sagamu Business Unit enjoys 131KW/h

19. Sagamu (Sagamu 33kv feeder Main Line) in Sagamu Business Unit enjoys 131KW/h

20. Sango (Ijoko 33kv feeder) in Sango Business Unit enjoys 332KW/h

21. Sango (Ijoko 33kv feeder Gasline) in Sango Business Unit enjoys 156KW/h

22. Sango (Sango 33kv feeder Gasline) in Sango Business Unit enjoys 194KW/h

23. Sango (Toll Gate 33kv feeder Gasline) in Sango Business Unit enjoys 209KW/h

Osun

1. Ikirun (Offa 33kv feeder) in Ikirun Business Unit enjoys 100KW/h

2. Ikirun (Prism 33kv feeder) in Ikirun Business Unit enjoys 201KW/h

3. Ikirun (Osogbo/Ikirun 33kv feeder) in Ikirun Business Unit enjoys 186KW/h

4. Ile-Ife (Iron&Steel 33kv feeder) in Ile-Ife Business Unit enjoys 140KW/h

5. Ile-Ife (Ife Township 33kv feeder) in Ile-Ife Business Unit enjoys 168KW/h

6. Ile-Ife (Ife Township 33kv feeder) in Ile-Ife Business Unit enjoys 168KW/h

7. Ile-Ife (Ikire/Wasinmi 33kv feeder Back Damico) in Ile-Ife Business Unit enjoys 207KW/h

8. Ile-Ife (Ikire/Wasinmi 33kv feeder Damico) in Ile-Ife Business Unit enjoys 227KW/h

9. Ile-Ife (OAU 33kv feeder) in Ile-Ife Business Unit enjoys 325KW/h

10. Ilesha (Ilaje 33kv feeder) in Ilesha Business Unit enjoys 272KW/h

11. Ilesha (Ilesha Road/Prime 11kv feeder) in Ilesha Business Unit enjoys 162KW/h

12. Osogbo (SRM 33kv feeder) in Osogbo Business Unit enjoys 120KW/h

13. Osogbo (GRA 11kv feeder) in Osogbo Business Unit enjoys 356KW/h

14. Osogbo (Obelawo 11kv feeder) in Osogbo Business Unit enjoys 282KW/h

15. Osogbo (Osogbo Township 33kv feeder) in Osogbo Business Unit enjoys 244KW/h

16. Osogbo (Powerline 33kv feeder) in Osogbo Business Unit enjoys 256KW/h.

The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested one Usman Akogun, an alleged fraudster who has been posing as an officer of the commission and defrauding victims under the pretext that he could help them procure a soft landing regarding their cases with the Commission.

A statement by the Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Dele Oyewale, made available to the media in Ilorin on Thursday, said that Akogun, who hails from Babanla in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, was arrested in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on March 27, 2024.

“The bubble burst for the scammer when the Ilorin command of the commission received intelligence regarding his criminal activities. The intel was to the effect that a certain Akogun Rasheed Usman, who claimed to be an officer of the EFCC, obtained money to the tune of N.5m (five hundred thousand naira) from one Mrs Khadizah Abdullahi, a parent of two suspects held in custody by the commission over offences bordering on internet fraud.

“The intel, which was found to be credible, led to the arrest of the suspect, who claimed to be a staff member at the Library Department of the Kwara State College of Education, Oro, on Thursday, March 27, 2024, at the General Hospital, Taiwo-Oke area, Ilorin.

“Mrs Abdullahi said she became agitated when the suspect failed to have her two sons, held in custody by the EFCC released on bail to her as promised.

“Firstly, she said Akogun and her went through the same security screening while at the EFCC office, a situation that made her wonder why it should be so if truly he was an officer of the commission as he claimed! She also noticed that while in the EFCC office to perfect the ‘phony bail’, the self-styled EFCC staff neither received nor gave salutes or compliments to fellow officers, as compliments are a tradition in all security and law enforcement agencies.

“She added that rather than having her sons released to her, the suspects took her to a location outside the office to receive the said sum of N.5m and demanded more money to perfect the bail.

“It was in the process of collecting an additional N200,000 that the long arm of the law caught up with him,” the statement said.

“The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of the ongoing investigations,” the EFCC added.

Kidnappers have killed the manager of the Union Bank, Igueben branch in Edo State, Mr. John Otobo, after they allegedly collected N8m ransom.

Details of the incident are still sketchy at the time of filing this report but it was gathered that his body was found in the bush after ransom payment.

According to one, the deceased was kidnapped a few days ago between Ugbegun and Uromi, while on his way home from work. 

A member of the community, Odion Humphrey, confirmed the sad news in a Facebook post on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.

 

“The entire Udo community say goodbye to you, Mr. John Otobo, the Branch Manager Union Bank Igueben. You will forever remain in our heart. As for your killer, may they never know peace all the days of their lives. May Almighty God grant u eternal rest, and may ur soul and the souls of every other faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace, Amen," he wrote. 

 

The United Kingdom government has increased the general salary threshold for those arriving in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa from £26,200 to £38,700.

According to the Home Secretary, James Cleverly, the minimum wage increased by 48 per cent to cut migration and put British workers first in force.

Changes that are now in force will slash migration and prevent the undercutting of British workers by employers looking to recruit cheap labour from overseas.

In the statement issued on its website on Thursday, the UK businesses are now required to pay overseas workers coming to the UK on a Skilled Worker visa significantly more,.

It said the government is to clamp down on the price of foreign labour and continues to deliver on its commitment to drive down net migration.

The UK government said this increase will help ensure the UK’s immigration system focuses on recruiting high-skilled workers, helping to grow the UK economy while bringing overall numbers down.

The government is clear that no sector should be permanently reliant on immigration, so today, the shortage occupation list has also been abolished, with employers no longer able to pay migrants less than UK workers in shortage occupations.

A new immigration salary list (ISL) has been created, following advice from the expert and independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).

Roles on the list will only be included where they are skilled and in shortage, and if it is sensible to include them considering the efforts being made by sectors to invest in the resident workforce.

Inclusion on the list must not serve to reduce pay and undermine the recruitment of British workers. Employers are encouraged to invest in training, upskilling, and hiring domestic workers first.

It comes as the government takes decisive action to support British people into work, in one of the biggest employment interventions in a generation, through its £2.5 billion Back to Work plan.

This will help break down barriers to work for over a million people who are long-term unemployed, long-term sick, or disabled.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “It’s time to turn off the taps and end the flow of cheap workers from abroad.

“Mass migration is unsustainable and it’s simply not fair. It undercuts the wages of hard-working people who are just trying to make ends meet.

“We are refocusing our immigration system to prioritise the brightest and best who have the skills our economy needs, while reducing overall numbers.

“I promised the British people an immigration system that serves their interests, and to bring numbers down – these tough measures deliver on that commitment. Employers must also play their part and put British workers first.”

While recounting the previous reforms to reduce migration, the UK said, “In January, the government ended the ability of nearly all postgraduate students to bring dependants to the UK.

“A drastic fall in student dependant applications is expected this year, with early indications already of this downward trend.”

The Kano State Government has filed criminal charges against the immediate past governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, over alleged $413,000, N1.38bn bribery.

The state said it had assembled 15 witnesses to testify against Ganduje.

Joined as co-defendants in the charge sheet dated April 3, 2024, sighted by our correspondent on Thursday, were Ganduje’s wife Hafsat, and his son, Umar.

Also listed as defendants were Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd and Lesage General Enterprises.

Governor Abba Yusuf had on assumption of office accused Ganduje of misappropriating public funds and allocating plots of land to some members of his immediate family.

One of the charges read: “That you, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, sometime between the period of January 10, 2016 or thereabouts, at Kano in the Kano Judicial Division, while serving as the Governor of Kano State and being a public servant in the government of Kano State corruptly asked for and received the sum of $200,000 being benefit for yourself from one of the beneficiaries of contracts awarded by the Kano State Government on your instruction and approval as part of your function as the Governor of Kano State, thereby committed the offence of official corruption, contrary to and punishable under Section 22 of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended), Law No 2 of 2009, Laws of Kano State of Nigeria.”

In the second count, the state government said, Ganduje, on February 10, 2017 “dishonestly and/or corruptly to your own advantage collected a kick-back of the sum of $ 213,000 being money generated from people and entities seeking or holding the execution of Kano State Government contact and or project for the remodeling of Kantin Kwari textile market as a bribe through one of the contractors (agent).”

In another count, state alleged that Ganduje, between September 2020 and march 2021, “together with one Hafsat Umar (your spouse) and Abubakar Bawuro, a businessman, Safari Textile Ltd, a limited liability company, wholly owned and maintained by the 3rd defendant, agreed to do an illegal act to wit: dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of N1,376,000,000 through account No. 7085982019 belonging to the 3rd defendant being money earmarked and approved for the purchase and supply of face masks and other hospital equipment for the health sector, thereby causing wrongful loss to the people and the government of Kano State and thereby jointly committed the offence of criminal conspiracy contrary to Section 96 and punishable under section 97 of The penal code (as amended) CAP,105, Vol.2. The Laws of Kano State of Nigeria, 1991.”

The Kano State’s Attorney General, Muhuyi Magaji, said he was empowered by Section 211 of the 1999 Constitution and Sections 121(1), 126(b) and 377 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2019, “to apply to prefer the charge attached herewith against the defendants.”

Meanwhile, the Governor Yusuf also set up two committees to probe the government of Ganduje, over alleged misappropriation of public property, political violence and missing persons in the state.

While inaugurating members of the committees, the governor vowed to bring to book anyone found wanting on conclusion of the probe.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Sanusi Tofa.

It will be recalled that Governor Yusuf had vowed to recover all public property allegedly stolen by the administration of his predecessor.

The panels, according to the statement, are to unravel those behind or involved in the misappropriation of public properties and political violence between 2015 and 2023.

Tofa quoted the governor as recalling his inaugural promises of investigating the misappropriation of public assets, unravelling and prosecuting the culprits.

He said, “Political violence is a major setback to democracy worldwide. It leads to loss of lives and properties as well as mistrust on the part of the people and those in power.

“The disturbing cases of political killings especially in 2023 must not be swept under the carpet, this is to ensure we prevent future occurrences”.

While Justice Zuwaira Yusuf was pronounced chairperson of the commission with the responsibility of unraveling players and causes of political violence as well as missing persons, Justice Faruk Lawan sits on the commission saddled with the responsibility of probing misappropriation of public properties and assets during the years under review.

The governor, who noted that the move was neither political nor a witch-hunt, charged the commissions not to compromise but to remain faithful to their oath and the people of Kano by ensuring justice for the state.

He added, “We went through your records and we couldn’t find any of you wanting. We believe in you and we expect your full reports in 3 months time.”

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has convicted and sentenced a TiKTok user, Nwakaego Okoye for defaming a Nollywood, Eniola Badmus.

Nwakaego Okoye was convicted on Wednesday, April 3, after she pleaded guilty to the charge brought against her.

She confessed to have defamed actress Eníola Badmus because a friend, Fortune Ibe, promised to pay her N200,000 to do so.

However, for being remorseful, Justice Oweibo gave her the option to pay the fine of N150,000 in lieu of jail time, saying that her action contravened Sections 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(c) and 27 of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015.

It was learnt that Nwakaego and one Chimabia who is now at large were jointly charged for the offence.

Meanwhile, in 2023, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) said that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court had declared Section 24 of Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act vague, arbitrary and unlawful.

SERAP said the ECOWAS Court gave the ruling in a suit it filed before the court, saying that Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act was contrary to the rule of law; therefore, "the Nigeria Police cannot charge anyone with cyberstalking based on the provision of Section 24."

“The ECOWAS Court has ruled (in the suit brought by SERAP) that Section 24 of Nigeria's Cybercrime Act is vague, arbitrary, and unlawful.

“So, it is contrary to the rule of law for the police to charge anyone with supposed "cyberstalking." Section 24 is INVALID," SERAP stated on its Twitter page.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, will today (Friday) arraign controversial cross-dresser, Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye popularly known as Bobrisky, before the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged money laundering.

EFCC, on Thursday, filed six counts while counts bordering on money laundering and abuse of the naira on Bobrisky.

Bobrisky will be arraigned before the vacation judge, Justice Abimbola Awogboro.

In the charge sheet filed by EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), alongside seven other lawyers, Bobrisky in the first count was alleged to have tampered with the sum of N400,000 by spraying the same while dancing at a social event at the IMAX Circle Mall, Lekki, Lagos.

Brutality: Nigerian Man Demands Court-Granted Compensation From Togolese Navy | Punch0:13 / 1:01

The commission said the offence was committed on March 24, 2024.

Bobrisky was also alleged to have between July and August 2023 at Aja Junction, Ikorodu tampered with another sum of N50,000 by spraying same at a social event while dancing.

The anti-graft agency said in December 2023 at White Steve Event Hall, Ikeja, Bobrisky also sprayed and tampered with another sum of N20,000 while dancing.

He was further accused of spraying and tampering with another sum of N20,000 while dancing at another event in Oniru, Victoria Island.

The EFCC said that Bobrisky, while trading under the name and style of Bob Express between September 1, 2021 and April 4, 2024 in Lagos, failed to submit to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, a declaration of the activities of the said company, (Bob Express) within which period the total sum of N127. 7m was paid into the company account domiciled with Ecobank.

Bobrisky was also accused of failing to submit a declaration of the activities of the company within the same period when another N53m was paid into the company’s account.

Aacording to EFCC, the offences committed contravened Sections 6 (1)(a), and 19(1) (f) of the Money Laundering (Prevention And Prohibition) Act and were punishable under Section 19 (2) (b) of the same Act.

Bobrisky, who had been in the EFCC detention since Wednesday, night, failed to meet the administrative bail offered him on Thursday.

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the report of his bail and failure to meet the conditions, in a telephone interview with our correspondent Thursday evening.

Oyewale said, “He has been granted administrative bail but yet to meet bail conditions.”

Earlier, Oyewale had noted that, “Bobrisky is with us. He was arrested last night in Lagos, and he is at our Lagos command. We arrested him for alleged abuse of naira notes, spraying of nara notes, and currency mutilation, among others.

“We are very serious about restoring the dignity of the naira. Though our investigation is still ongoing, but he will definitely be charged to court soon.”

In a statement titled “EFCC Grills Bobrisky for Naira Abuse ” posted on its social media handle later, the EFCC wrote, “Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have commenced investigation of Idris Okuneye, a.k.a Bobrisky, for allegedly spraying Naira notes.

“The EFCC had invited the 31-year old following a video report of spraying and flaunting wads of new Naira notes at the premiere of a movie, Ajakaju, produced by Eniola Ajao, a Nollywood actress and producer, at Film One Circle Mall, Lekki, Lagos on March 24, 2024.

“Investigation also revealed that he had also committed the alleged offence at some other event centres and parties at different times.

“Following the invitation by the commission, he arrived at the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC in the morning of Wednesday, April 4, 2024, for interrogation and volunteered his statements.

“He will soon be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.”

Impeccable sources in the EFCC said the cross-dresser was detained in a lone cell.

“Bobrisky has been grilled by interrogators, and he has given his statement wherein he identified as ‘Idris Okuneye’. He’s being detained in a lone cell. He has no cellmates, he’s neither in a male nor female cell, he’s the only one in his cell,” a source said.