The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced that its Maiduguri Zonal Command has arraigned two Bureau-De-Change (BDC) operators, identified as Ahmadu Haruna and Kabir Iliyasu, for conducting business activities without the necessary license.

The defendants were arraigned on a one-count separate charge before Justice Fadimatu Aminu of the Federal High Court sitting in Damaturu .

The charge against Haruna read, "That you, Ahmadu Haruna, between the month of June 2023 and 2024 in Damaturu, Yobe State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did carry on other financial businesses, to wit, bureau de change business without a license issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria contrary to sections 57 and 59(5) of the Bank and other Financial Institutions Act, 2020."

However, the defendants pleaded "not guilty" to the charges raised against them by the EFCC when they were read to them.

The prosecution Counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmad, thereafter, prayed the court for a trial date and to remand the defendants in prison custody. While counsel for the defendants I. Abdulmalik prayed the court to admit his clients to bail pending the determination of the case.

Justice Aminu, in her decision admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N5,000,000 and two sureties in like sum.

The judge further ordered that one of the sureties must be a traditional ruler or religious leader while the other should be a respected elder and all must be residing in any Local Government Areas of Yobe State.

She adjourned the matter till April 16, 2024, for the commencement of trial and remanded the defendants in Potiskum Correctional Facility pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions.

The parents of the abducted schoolchildren at Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State, have turned to prayers in hopes of the safe return of their children.

Their resolve followed their inability to meet up with the sum of N1 billion demanded as ransom by the bandits responsible for the children’s abduction.

The parents said with the demand of N1 billion ransom made by the bandits and the threat to kill the children if they fail to pay the ransom within 20 days, the community has come to the conclusion that only God and government can rescue their children.

To this end, they said, they have decided to seize the opportunity provided by the Ramadan period to pray, fast and constantly recite the Qur’an as a way of seeking God’s face and securing His intervention for the safe return of the innocent children.

They also called on the state and federal governments not to renege on their promise to rescue the 287 children.

One of the parents, Nasiru Zakari Kuriga, who expressed confidence that the government would keep its promise to ensure safe return of their children, urged the government to focus on its promise.

Kuriga also called on government to shelve pronouncements that are capable of worsening the traumatic conditions of the affected parents.

He said: “The government has promised us to do whatever is possible to rescue our children.

“We believe in the government and we are confident that it is making efforts.

“However, the government should stop pronouncements that are capable of sending us, especially our women, to the hospital.

“Some women have four children in the bandits’ captivity.”

Kuriga also confirmed earlier reports that the bandits who abducted the schoolchildren had called to demand a billion naira as ransom.

“Truly, these people have called. But the government has promised us, particularly when Governor Uba Sani came here, that, it will bring back our children safely.

“We as a community believe in the promise made by the government and we don’t want to interfere in what the government is doing.

“We the parents of these children, especially women, have not been in stable conditions since this unfortunate incident happened.

“What we want is for the government to quickly follow all the necessary steps to secure the freedom of these children.

“We are not talking about four or five children here. We are talking of about 300 children.

“So, the government should concentrate on the rescue effort,” he said.

Reacting to the news of Federal Government’s resolve against payment of ransom, Kuriga said: “The government should please not come out clear to us on what it will do and what it will not do, because coming out to tell us that government will not pay ransom is like spoiling 10 things while attempting to repair five things.

“If government tells categorically that it will not pay ransom, it will cause more damage than the one on ground. This is because there is no one capable of securing the release of these children, other than the government.

“If government makes such pronouncements, parents that would be hospitalised will be more than the number of children in captivity.

“This is because some women have up to five children in the bandits’ captivity. So, it will be disastrous for government to tell such women that government is not ready to pay ransom.

“So, government should follow it step by step. We know government is trying and we believe in the efforts of the government to rescue the children.

“We are supporting the government in its efforts. Every day now, we recite complete Qur’an. We are praying that God will make the children come safe and sound,” he said.

Another parent, Abdullahi Umar, said even the bandits know that even the entire community cannot raise N1 billion, because they are poor farmers whose economic activities have been destroyed by the same bandits.

The Labour Party (LP) has accused the National President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, of desperately seeking to replace its National Chairman, Julius Abure.

The party’s spokesman, Obiorha Ifoh, made the accusation in a statement issued on Saturday in response to a letter written by the political wing of the NLC, the Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission (NLCPC).

In the letter on Friday jointly signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Titus Amba and Chris Uyot respectively, the Commission alleged that Abure and the NWC were proposing a ‘secret’ national convention in Umuahia, Abia State capital on March 27.

The NLCPC said the convention will be used to re-elect Abure as a ‘sole administrator’ and called for the immediate resignation of Abure as the party chairman and the constitution of a caretaker transition committee to organise a national convention.

However, according to Ifoh, the call for Abure’s resignation was being orchestrated by Ajaero over his alleged ambition to become the next national chairman of the party.

Ifoh said the leadership of the party will not take order from unionists who are not card-carrying members of their party.

Ifoh also stated that the said national convention planned to be held in Umuahia on March 27 will go on as planned.

He said, “The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to a press 4elease titled ‘A misadventure in political mischief, mismanagement and misdemeanour gone too far’ written by the NLC’s Political Commission as an agent of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

“The NLC letter did not come to us as a surprise or a shock. It was long expected before now, having known that the NLC was going to engage itself in this misadventure.

“Nigerians will recall that in 2014, NLC has been involved in a war of blackmail and attrition against the Labour Party and its leadership. It was only recently, following the civil and diplomatic approach adopted by Julius Abure when he assumed leadership that he was able to get the then President of the NLC, Ayuba Waba, and the then President of the Trade Union Congress, Olaleye Quadri, to a truce where the NLC, TUC and Labour Party agreed to work together in harmony.

“Unfortunately, the rascality of the current president of the NLC, Joe Ajero, has destroyed the successes already recorded. It must be noted that the NLC and its political commission have become a bundle of contradiction and paradox. The Nigeria Labour Congress has written several letters to the Independent National Electoral Commission and to the party on the need to conduct a national convention.”

Ifoh said the party leadership eventually yielded to the agitation for the national convention, which was fully backed by Article 14:4b of the party Constitution.

Ifoh added that if Ajaero and his loyalists are not contented with the provision, he should be advised to quit his position and officially join the race to wrest power from Abure.

He, however, urged the unionists to consider becoming members of the party at ward level as genuine politicking starts from the grassroots.

stated that the leadership of the party eventually yielded to the agitation for the national convention, which was fully backed by Article 14:4b of the party Constitution.

Ifoh added that if the NLC president and his loyalists are not contented with the provision, Ajaero should be advised to quit his position and officially join the race to wrest power from Abure.

He, however, urged the unionists to consider becoming members of the party at the ward level before aspiring to become the party’s chairman.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of ignoring transparency issues.

Naija News reports that the former Vice President made the assertion while reacting to the controversial unresolved $3.3 billion NNPCL loan repayment scandal.

In a post via X, Atiku noted that the silence on the NNPCL loan attests to the corrupt issues with Tinubu’s administration.

According to him, Tinubu’s government ignores due process issues in public administration.

Atiku wrote, “The current federal government has a disgraceful track record of ignoring issues of transparency and due process in public administration.

“The unresolved $3.3 billion NNPCL loan repayment scandal, with Nigeria now expected to repay $12 billion, remains a glaring example.

“The Tinubu administration must address these high-profile corruption cases transparently.

“The National Assembly, as the elected representatives of the people, are constitutionally obligated to legislate for the peace, order, and good governance of our nation, without colluding with corrupt elements.

“Failure to do so and persisting in denial will only confirm the government’s complicity in official malpractice.”

An elder statesman, Ayo Adebanjo, had said President Bola Tinubu and his colleagues who were South-West Governors in 1999 failed Nigerians.

The chieftain of the Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, said the former governors were scared to insist on a new constitution when they were in power and had the opportunity to do so.

He said Tinubu and his colleagues failed to demand a Sovereign National Conference after the then-military Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, decided to return the country to democracy after the death of ex-military dictator Sani Abacha.

Naija News reports that Adebanjo stated these during an appearance on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, which was aired on Channels Television on Friday.

The elder statesman said Tinubu now has the opportunity to rewrite the 1999 Constitution as President, having failed to insist on federalism as Lagos governor in 1999.

He said a brand-new people’s constitution will end some of the existential problems in the country, especially the menace of insecurity, as a people’s constitution will make room for state police.

Adebanjo said, “There was a clamour for a Sovereign National Conference at that time (in the buildup to the 1999 election). The military said they were going back to the barracks, and we said, ‘Well, go back to the barracks with your constitution; it’s your baggage and return us to where you met us. If you are not going to do that, schedule another conference, and we will agree on how to live together.

“He said the Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere refused to participate in any deliberations with the Abdulsalami Abubakar regime but later agreed to participate in the 1999 election after getting assurances that there would be a Sovereign National Conference thereafter. So, we contested that election on protest.

“This is why I disagreed with ex-Governors (Bisi) Akande and (Segun) Osoba. When we were campaigning for them to be governors, it was on the heels of federalism and the Sovereign National Conference.

“We insisted that the constitution must be changed. So, when we (Alliance for Democracy) came in, we got the people’s mandate; we won the election in the whole of the Western Region. We told all our governors, including Bola Tinubu, not to go to Abuja until the Federal Government changed the constitution, but they chickened out; they were involved in the paraphernalia of office. That is the beginning of Nigeria’s struggle.”

Grammy award-winning Nigerian singer, Ayodeji Balogun, better known as Wizkid, has clarified that he is not an Afrobeats singer.

The ‘Ojuelegba’ crooner made this known via his Instastories on his Instagram page on Friday night, ahead of his next album’s release.

Wizkid warned fans not to expect an Afrobeats version of him on the project, and those who do not want to download the song should delete him from their playlist.

He wrote, “Album done! See you soon b*tches!

“And abeg if you like Pakurumo Wizkid, don’t download this new album. In fact, delete me from your playlist and your life!

“If you like Afrobeats, don’t download my album. I’m not a f*cking Afrobeats artiste. I am not Afro anything.”

The overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, can’t end corruption in Nigeria.

Bakare spoke at the men’s symposium in honour of Pastor Chinedu Ezekwesili’s 70th birthday in Abuja on Friday.

He disclosed that the antidote to corruption in Nigeria is when the sons of God start manifesting righteousness.

According to Bakare: “There are many theories about how to end corruption in Nigeria, EFCC can’t do it; ICPC can’t fix it.

“The antidote to corruption is only one thing, the manifestation of the sons of God under righteous authority.

“Setting up committees to investigate corruption by corrupt individuals, who cannot execute it, is a waste of time.”

Bakare called for a return to God’s original purpose across various spheres of influence, including family, businesses, and national governance.

Afro-pop singer Ikuforiji Olaitan, popularly known as Oxlade, has revealed that he lost endorsement deals worth over N400 million after his sex tape got leaked.

DAILY POST recalls that Oxlade’s sex tape with an unidentified lady was leaked from Snapchat in February 2022.

Speaking in the latest episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast, Oxlade disclosed that he was been blackmailed with the video before it got leaked.

He explained that he felt relieved when the sex tape got leaked because he was tired of the blackmailer using it to extort money from him.

He, however, admitted that the scandal affected his family and his mental health as well as his brand.

Ahead of the April 2024 deadline by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the registration for Bank Verification Number, BVN, increased to 61.16 million on March 15, 2024.

The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) disclosed this in its latest BVN database.

The figure represents an increase from the 59.9 million recorded on January 26, 2024.

Accordingly, this shows that 674,280 new registrations for BVN were recorded between late January and mid-March this year.

Recall that in December last year, the apex bank also directed commercial, merchant, non-interest, payment service banks, other financial institutions, and mobile money operators through a circular that the BVN or National Identification Number, NIN, attached to all accounts/wallets must be electronically revalidated by January 31, 2024.

The apex had ordered banks to freeze Tier-1 accounts without a BVN or National Identification Number, NIN, from April 2024.

City FM is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Programme: CITY TALKS WITH REUBEN ABATI

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Guest: Omoyele Sowore
(Nigerian Human Rights Activist)

Topic: "Home, Diaspora and the Challenges of Activism"

Date: 16th March, 2024
                         
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