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Programme: CITY TALKS WITH REUBEN ABATI

Time: 12:00pm

Guest: Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo (National Publicity Secretary of The Afẹ́nifẹ́re)

Topic: "Yoruba Nation Agitation"

Date: 20th April, 2024
                         
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The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) distributed a substantial sum of ₦1.123 trillion from the March 2024 Federation Account revenue to the federal, state, and local government tiers on Friday.
Naija News reports that the allocation, as reported by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, reflects an uptick in several major revenue streams, including import duty, value-added tax (VAT), gas royalty, and companies’ income tax (CIT).

According to a communique released after FAAC’s April meeting, the total distributable revenue consisted of ₦311.233 billion from distributable statutory revenue, ₦511.879 billion from distributable VAT revenue, ₦14.754 billion from Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), and ₦285.525 billion from exchange difference revenue.

The total available revenue for March was ₦1,867,808,000,000. Deductions for the cost of collection amounted to ₦69.537 billion, while transfers, interventions, and refunds totaled ₦674.880 billion.

March’s gross statutory revenue was ₦1.017 trillion, a decrease of ₦175.212 billion from February’s ₦1.192 trillion.

Conversely, the gross revenue available from VAT for the same period was ₦549.698 billion, marking an increase of ₦89.210 billion over the previous month.

The communique detailed that the Federal Government received ₦345.890 billion, state governments were allocated ₦398.689 billion, and local government councils received ₦288.688 billion. Additionally, mineral-producing states received ₦90.124 billion as a 13% derivation of mineral revenue.

From the ₦311.233 billion distributable statutory revenue, the Federal Government received ₦133.960 billion, state governments ₦67.946 billion, and local government councils ₦52.384 billion. A total of ₦56.943 billion was distributed as derivation revenue to the benefiting states.

For the distributable VAT revenue of ₦511.879 billion, the Federal Government received ₦76.782 billion, state governments ₦255.940 billion, and local government councils ₦179.158 billion.

The allocation of the ₦14.754 billion EMTL revenue saw the Federal Government receiving N2.213 billion, state governments ₦7.377 billion, and local government councils ₦5.164 billion.

Furthermore, from the ₦285.525 billion in exchange difference revenue, the Federal Government was allotted ₦132.935 billion, state governments ₦67.426 billion, and local government councils ₦51.983 billion, with an additional ₦33.181 billion shared as derivation revenue with the mineral-producing states.

Founder of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Babatunde Ayodele, speaks with AJIBADE OMAPE on the circumstances surrounding his prophecies and how he told then-Governor Bola Tinubu in 2001 that he would be elected president of Nigeria

How did you become a man of God and Founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church?

My name is Primate Ayodele, how I became a man of God; I have started this mission as God directed; I’ve been to celestial, Cherubim and Seraphim, I’ve joined SU, I’ve been in the gospel church before God sent me a message to start the mission in 1994; and I was picked with other disciples because I did not want to do it. I wanted to become a military personnel, I wanted to be a lawyer or a mass communicator, but all these did not come to reality, so we started in 1994 till date, and God said that this was going to be my church; and that it was going to be evangelical and ever since then we have been seeing the hands of God.

In September 2023, you made a prophecy about states being in debt, was there an inspiration behind the prophecy, or was it due to the economic crisis in the country?

Well, I need to set the record straight, all my prophecies occur years before they come to manifestation.

In 2001, I had a personal encounter with the sitting president who was then a governor at his office called Roundhouse; and I told him that he would still become the president of Nigeria. One of his commissioners took me to the Roundhouse in Alausa, Ikeja to go and pray for him; and I told him, “Sir, I don’t know when it would come to pass but you will rule Nigeria and you will not understand how you will get there”.

So you see, this is not speculations and predictions, I have passed that level.

See I started prophesying in 1988 and I have prophesied not just for individuals but also for nations. I’ve given prophesies all over the world; so I am not a noisemaker. I act as God directs.

I want to be very humble, and this economic crisis is not news to me because I have known that it would happen and I know what is going to happen from beginning to the end, so whatever I’m saying I’m not saying it to go against anybody, and I’m not saying it because of money. See, I have seen money; God has blessed me there is nothing I want again in life; I have cars, I have driven different cars, and I think the only thing I want is a helicopter or a plane. I feel for the needy but instead of me to use that money to buy a plane, I would rather use the money to take care of the widows, orphans, and vulnerable children.

I started taking care of widows in 2002, and people supporting me then are still supporting me. They include people like Jimoh Ibrahim.

So when I say any prophecy, people tag it to be as if I’m favouring people; if it favours labour, they will say I am a labour prophet and I have collected money from them if it favours APC they will say I am an APC prophet. So I have been given different names in the course of my prophecy. If I make a prophecy, I will ask God correctly, whether it favours you or it does not, it’s not my business. I do not make prophecies because of money or because I want to scare anybody. So anything I say is to the glory of God and if it does not come to pass now it will come to pass later.

For crying out loud, I pray against my prophecies, asking God not to let them come to fulfilment, yes, if it doesn’t come to fulfilment , it’s my joy I owe nobody any explanation because I am answerable to God alone. So there is nothing behind it. I just said it the way God revealed it.

Before the dollar went up I said it was going to go up to N1,200, N1,300. Go and check there are records. When I said that we would not see a bread of 200 naira again, it happened.

Tinubu has not seen what is coming ahead of him. What he is seeing is just a preamble of what is to come. Let me be quiet because people claim that I do not like this government, but it’s a lie. I am only acting as God directs and I’m not saying anybody should like me. If they want to kill me let them kill me, I will continue to tell the truth. So I’m not saying anything for anybody to love me and I’m not saying it to gather any momentum or for anybody to give me accolades for what I’m saying.

Before the death of Yar’adua, I was the first prophet to say that he would not finish his term. it was published in Global Excellence magazine in December 2006. I even said that he would spend 67 days in office.

Some people say you only look at trends to arrive at what you call prophecy, Is there a truth to it?

See, it is only those who hate God who will hate me. Those who don’t want to hear from God will not want to hear the truth. Before Ali Bongo was removed from office, I said that his time had come to an end and he would be taken out of office through a coup. Anything I’m saying here is not for you to defend me or write anything good about me. It happened in 2023; before the coup in Niger, I warned the president that a coup was coming. I have it on record.

Also, before the emergence of this government, I warned Nigerians that if they voted for this government, they would see what would happen. People were fighting me and saying that I had collected money from Atiku Abubakar. I had never met Atiku in my life. I’m one of those people who has been called names on the internet and I’m not bothered.

Before petrol went to #650, I told Nigerians that they would buy petrol for #400, people were bashing me, there is nothing they did not say about me. So, I’m not making prophecies around the trends of what is happening. I say my own ahead of time.

In 2023, I said that cement would increase in price, how much is cement now?

Before Joe Biden emerged in 2020, I was the first to say he was the best candidate to win the election. Before the emergence of Rotimi Akeredolu as governor in Ondo, I was one of the first people to say that he was the candidate that would win in Ondo state. And before Akeredolu fell sick, I warned him of his sickness, but he did not listen to me.

In 2005, before Fashola emerged, I was saying that a greenhorn would emerge in Lagos state and it happened.

Some people call me a political prophet, but by the time you give a prophecy about a nation you become a political prophet; this is not my perspective, it’s what the Lord says.

Before the emergence of Obaseki’s second term, I warned Oshiomole that Obaseki would emerge. So that is just it.

Your prophecies are not usually specific. Sometimes you say people should pray that traditional rulers won’t die and so forth. Why is it always like that? What stops you from mentioning names?

I can tell you this straight, that is not correct. There was an earthquake in America recently, I mentioned some countries that will witness that earthquake, but let them pray. Remember I said I pray against my prophecies. One of my saddest days is when a bad prophecy comes to pass.

I must tell you this, in 2020, I met Herbert Wigwe and I told him to pray against an accident that would happen to him that could claim his life. Since I had his contact then, why would I go and publish it? It’s not anybody’s business because I have discussed with him if he likes it or not he should pray. Wigwe was so scared of my prophecy that he stopped talking to me. He said my prophecy was too scary.

So when I say pray against the death of traditional rulers, is it not a good recommendation? When God says I should mention a name, I do, and when he doesn’t instruct me to mention a name I don’t because I’m not in charge of the prophecy. Sometimes when I mention names people still say I am fake, maybe because the person is old; so I am not saying anything to satisfy anybody.

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I love my critics because they make me more prepared; I started talking to journalists in 1994 and my first prophecy was published in Lagos Weekend Times when I said the Super Eagles would win the Tunis 1994 and it is on record. So, is it now that I will say I’m afraid to say specifically what would happen?

I’m the first to say that King Charles will have an ailment and I mentioned his name based on instructions, Sometimes God will instruct me to keep the prophecy but contact the person and tell him/her to pray.

I met Oba Isolo and told him ‘Kabiyesi pray for your health and long life’ but he did not listen to me, I even invited him, but am I supposed to publish that as well, I won’t. So, that is it. And more Obas and Emirs are still going to die mysterious deaths this year.

Before the assassination of two Obas in Ekiti state, I said it. I have documents on that and you can go online to verify. So when God says I should mention a name, I do and when he instructs me not to mention a name, I don’t and that’s the truth. So if I say something that is not favourable to some parties, they begin to hate me. All I say is as God says.

There are a lot of Tinubu ministers who won’t finish their terms. When Betty was removed, some people said I didn’t mention her name. Do I have to mention her name; the prophecy has already been laid. You go and do your own if you know better. Before Nigeria went to the Nations Cup, I warned the NFF president that Nigeria would see the cup but their hands wouldn’t touch it. But I won’t tell you about everybody I speak with. My words are for wise people.

If God sends me to you I will come, but it’s your decision if you will listen to me or not.

I warned Emefiele last year in February and I gave him a final warning in April but they said I was fake and they did not mind me. who is paying for it now? He is paying dearly for it; I said it specifically.

You likened the killing of sixteen Nigerian Army personnel in Delta State to a “civilian coup” against the military, what prompted that statement?

Let me say it this way; I don’t talk anyhow and I don’t talk when God does not ask me to. I salute the appointment of the service chiefs by the President. I salute him for picking the right people.

When it comes to security, on my page on Facebook and the rest, I do give warnings to states to be careful. Before that time God revealed to me that they would lay an ambush on military men and it would cost them their lives. I didn’t have a place to send the message, so I posted it on my page. If you go to my page you will still see that I warned military personnel. Now it has come to pass and what prompted that was a prophecy from the Lord. It was a warning from the Lord to the military personnel, but nobody yielded to it.

Another big king will die in Lagos state. There is more trouble for kings but I don’t want to mention anybody’s name. It will happen from the top. So back to the killing of military personnel, it was a warning from God; and it’s just what the Lord told me that it’s a coup.

See, some people are coming together to frustrate Tinubus’s government, to make his government unstable, and in less than a few months you will begin to see it. So Tinubu must watch out against a political coup towards 2027, quote my words. So this thing that happened in Delta is also a civilian coup against the military, and I still tell you that the military facilities will need to be careful because any attack can come again.

The following states also need to be watchful Yobe, Maiduguri, Borno, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Anambra, Ebonyi, Niger and Taraba. They need to be very watchful because they will be threatened.

So that is why I am saying this now because these service chiefs are wonderful and I want them to prepare and be ready for battle from late June/July. Also, we don’t want any military personnel to be killed or kidnapped, now I have said this beforehand.

You advised that the government shouldn’t give anyone money for palliative purposes because it will amount to corruption, how will you say the government agencies took the advice?

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You see the government did not get the palliative well. In December, we tested it in our church with about 10,000 people where I sold a bag of rice for 20,000 and it’s on record.

I will be in Ekiti state on the 26th and I will do the same thing there. A bag of rice will go for 20,000 and a half bag will go for 10,000. We are the first to do it and I’m sorry to say this before they say I am too proud but that’s what happens when God inspires you as the first person to do such a thing. The government failed in the palliatives. They failed because they were not supposed to give the money to politicians but to technocrats, religious leaders, and traditional rulers; they would have identified the people who needed it better. Even with the market they go for the items, it’s a simple thing because we don’t need dollars. What we need is to have mechanised farming. We can produce rice mills, there are a lot of rice mills in Nigeria that the government can build and support to reduce the price of rice. And for petrol, it’s only when we begin to process our crude in Nigeria that we will not have problems. Dangote refinery cannot help the Nigerian economy at all. I’m not saying this for anybody to like me, but time will tell.

So for the palliatives, instead of sending money to individuals, let them use the money to buy more food. Get a government market and reduce the price of food. If I can sell a bag of rice for N20,000 as an individual, the government should sell for seven thousand. If I can sell half a bag for N10,000, the government can sell for two thousand. You will see it online in Ekiti state, I will reduce the price of food. I may not be able to reach the 1,000 mark, but I will make sure I reach 200 to 250 people because that is my capacity. Nobody is sending me, it’s God that is sending me. So I am not doing it for anybody to hail me.

Like student loans, the government has not gotten it right because it will still cause corruption. It’s a good idea but it will not last, except if the government does it in a better way, there will be corruption.

There are insinuations that you are a member of the PDP that’s why you said people should not vote for the APC in 2023.

Please, I belong to who? Is it not what I saw that I said? Not even Peter Obi can do it better. I have never met Atiku Abubakar in my Life. If I’m in the midst of people putting on ordinary clothes, it is just my face that people may know. I have seven million followers online. It’s open to people anywhere in the world.

Let me say this, in Niger, Idris will win the coming election. Now check this out, before the fall of George Weah, I warned him about the elections. I had the opportunity to speak with his deputy, a woman who said that I couldn’t see the president but I could talk to her. She sent a plane to pick me but I told her God sent me to the president and not her so I didn’t go. I said voting for this man for president, Liberia will face a lot of challenges. I also sent a warning to the Liberian president to pray for his health. So I guess the people will say I have collected money from George Weah right?

Also, in the Benin Republic, you will see that the president wanted to take many steps politically and the opposition will deal with him by coalition.

In Cameroon, the coalition will send away Paul Biya in the next election. In South Africa, the president will lose the majority in the House. Ramaphosa will lose the majority in the house, so that seat is shaking; so when I say this, I’m talking outside the country. Now they have not done their elections.

I warned John Mahama that they were going to lose this election if they were not careful and he is my friend.

I have never voted because I don’t have anybody to vote for. So if I were Atiku’s person, I would have enjoyed it. I was building a church worth billions of naira, and Atiku did not give me any money. At least if I belonged to his party he would have supported me. No politician has ever supported me, it’s only God. People just hate the truth, and when I said so I did not deny it. I don’t belong to those prophets who will deny what they said. If any prophet heals and wakes up people from the dead, then it means that nobody must die in their family again.

Before the Israel and Gaza war, I was the first to say it. When I talk, I should now say they should go and delete it, no. You can use it against me if it is the wish of God.

Now I have warned Mali. They want to frustrate the democracy in Mali. In South Sudan, the election would change and if the president goes for election if he wins, he will not last; like in Equatorial Guinea now, the president’s life is shaking. I’m only telling you all of this now so that you will know that I am not talking about Nigeria and our politics alone and I’m not talking about who becomes what.

I talk about everything, climate, education, security name it. Before the earthquake in the US, God had spoken to me since last year concerning it. I’m not a public person or a social or flamboyant pastor; you can’t just see me anywhere except a place where God instructs me to go; that is why I did not join the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN because they are political and there’s no constructive ideology in CAN.

The allegation against me is just that maybe I have collected money from politicians. You can’t blackmail me. Go and quote me anywhere, I don’t go out. If at all you call me for a church programme, I will ask God about it and follow his instructions on whether to go or not. And if I don’t go I will send a representative.

I am very prominent in the newspapers because of my prophecies. If you mention five prophets today in Nigeria, not pastors now, I mean prophets, if you don’t mention me first, you will mention me second or third. God has given me fame on his own not by a human. I have taken my prophecy beyond Nigeria.

Before the coronavirus outbreak, I said that a disease was coming from China. The prophecy was publicised, but nobody took it seriously until it started spreading.

When Buhari was brought in, I said Nigeria would not gain anything from his administration. Did we gain anything?

The economy will not be better until 2026. So I tell you this, Nigerians must help the president with prayers because the people he believes in so much will not help but condemn him.

The hunger issue you talked about then is almost a worldwide issue. Why did you talk about it in Nigeria alone?

I have a video where I said there would be a global famine and drought. If we talk about hunger, not everywhere will see hunger o, but I’m most concerned about Nigeria; Nigeria will witness not just hunger but anger. We have not finished, another phase of hunger is still coming if the government refuses to listen and that phase of hunger will lead to economic protest.

Some banks are shaking and I’m sure you’re expecting me to mention names but I will just leave it that way.

I warned Emefiele but he didn’t take it seriously. Besides, IMF advice and policy will kill Nigeria’s economy, I don’t know anything about the economy, I’m a novice. So I’m sure people will say I’m satanic or call me a doom prophet. They can call me any name, and I’m not bothered. Coups is not yet over in Africa, another coup is coming.

Has God told you who will win the Ondo and Edo governorship elections?

In Ondo state, the pendulum is swinging towards the present governor to win the primaries. In the Edo state election that is coming now, in a free and fair election with no rigging, APC will win.

In the Ondo state election, the PDP, Labour, and NPP, are wasting their time, APC will win unless God changes it.

Since I’m an APC prophet, some people will not like me. When I warned Adams Oshiomole that time, I was supporting Godwin Obaseki but nobody saw that one; I was given day-to-day updates, but for now, except God changes it, that election is going for APC.

Does God actually speak with you?

I don’t want to be a pastor who says he sees God face to face, or he sees God driving a Range Rover. One pastor says he drank tea with God. That is blasphemy. I see some pastors are making miracle money, but all these are fake. I don’t know them, so it’s not like I am afraid. That being said; the Lord speaks to me through his angels or clairvoyance. I close my eyes and I see it. I’m a prophet. I don’t have anything to think about. I have time to talk to God 24/7, and I fast for 200 days in a year every year, so that is just it.

Have you spoken with the President on how to turn the economy around and also stop the killings in the country?

So, on how to stop killings in the country, I don’t think that is the work of the president, it is the work of the service chiefs. If I have the opportunity to speak with any of the service chiefs, I will tell them a way out because I don’t feel that is appropriate for public consumption. Then to turn the economy around isn’t the work of the president, but the work of the people in charge. In this case, the people may not want to listen. For instance, when God revealed himself to Pharaoh when he was going to have a crisis, seven years of famine, and seven years of abundance, the solution was shown to him and someone interpreted the solution and he listened. Still, in this case, they may not want to listen because they believe I’m fake.

Tell Nigerians, who will win the US presidential election?

I have been talking much about that if the Democrats don’t hold Donald Trump through legal means which I said earlier before he left office in 2019, he would win. Sincerely, Trump is not the best candidate, and some people prefer Trump to Biden. Joe Biden’s economy will kill the world. So like I said, if Trump is not held down by any legal means, He will win the election.

The Kaduna state government recently decried the state of the treasury, will you say your prophecy has been fulfilled or are there more states to follow?

More states will not be able to pay salaries, and they will cry out that one of Kaduna’s states is just the tip of the iceberg. When we are talking about salary restructuring, they have to sit down to get it right otherwise the salary restructuring will not help at all. It will take the government one and half years to put the salary restructuring in order; and for the governors, let them pray not to be ambushed, they should pray against attacks and accidents, all the governors need to pray about that.

As a result of your prophecy in 2023, have you received any forms of threats to your life?

Well, when it was even difficult during the time of Abacha, there was no threat to my life; my prophecies helped the government to stand on its feet. There have been no threats to my life. You can call me any name on the internet, but I have not received any threats to my life since 1994. To the glory of God almighty, there have not been any threats to my life.

Are there any new prophecies we should expect within the next few months?

The present Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC chairman will do a lot. The moment he is doing what is right we will see it. EFCC will bring out a lot of hidden people who are corrupt in the country. Nigeria is going to France, I mean the Super Falcons, but they won’t go far and these are wonderful players. Except they do something immediately to come up.

We are going to see flooding and this herdsmen matter, if the government doesn’t get it right, it will affect Nigeria a lot.

More so, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Hamas, and the M23, are coming up to attack African counties like Burkina Faso, Benin, Niger, Nigeria, and Chad. Let us pray not to see the death of a sitting president or the removal of a sitting president. Mali needs to be careful so another coup doesn’t happen. In Cameroon, only a coalition will defeat Paul Biya

In a time where the prophetic ministry has been constantly attacked and polluted by unbelievers and fake prophets, how have you managed to stay consistent over the years?

I am able to stay consistent because I follow God’s instructions. I do what he says I should do and I don’t do what he doesn’t ask me to do. If God sends me somewhere, I will make sure I find my way there. I will look for your contact and if I don’t get the contact I will use social media to share the message. If the person sees it, fine if he/she doesn’t, it’s still fine. I have done what God asked me to do; So that is it, I do what God asks me to do.

For invading the community, indicting them for killing 17 soldiers without police investigation, maiming, brutalizing, harassing, cordoning off community, demolishing homes, properties, and causing them to flee into forest

RESIDENTS of Okuama-Ewu, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, have instituted a N200 billion suit against the Nigerian Army at the Federal High Court, Warri, for cordoning off their community, destroying their homes, dehumanizing and accusing them of 17 military personnel without police investigations.

The 17 residents of the Okuama-Ewu community, whose lingering land disputes with the Okoloba community, Bomadi Local Government Area, escalated, leading to the intrusion of soldiers into the community, on March 14, are demanding N200 billion for general and exemplary damages from the Nigerian Army, which is the respondent.

The applicants, mainly farmers, traders, and businessmen, who applied for the enforcement of their fundamental human rights to a fair hearing, the dignity of the human person, private and family life, freedom of movement, choice of residency, private and family life, and the right to own property are Victor Akemor, Madam Omotiwori Olarehor, Victor Odi, Okrika Emmanuel, Austin Eferemua, and Evelyn Edjekola.
Others in suit no. FHC/WR/CS/41/2024 before Hon Justice I.M Sani are Pa James Ubredu, David Oghenewede, Lucky Orode, and Iwriogbo Best, Felix Orhiunu, Bernard Michael, Oghenekobiruo, Vero Joseph, Ebikawe Emmanuel, Francis Uphurie, and Hon Belvis Adogbo.
They are suing for themselves and for, on behalf of, members of, in the interest of and public interest of the residents of the Okuama community.

The applicants’ lawyers, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo, Akpokona Omafuaire Esq., Seprebofa Oyeghe Esq., O. L. Ofuasia Esq., and Ernest Ogbaga Esq. applied on Thursday.
The reliefs sought against the Nigerian Army are as follows:
“A declaration of this honorable court that the respondent’s accusation, media trial, and sentencing of the applicants, and the residents of the Okuama community for the murder of 17 soldiers, which they have no hands in, on March 14, without any police investigation, or any public inquiry indicting them for the crime without following due process of law, is a flagrant violation of the applicants’ rights. the residents of the Okuama community’s right to a fair hearing, which is, therefore, illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional.

”A declaration of this honourable court that the respondent’s deployment of troops for the invasion, and brutal reprisal attacks on the applicants and residents of Okuama community for the death of 17 soldiers, which they have no hands in, without any police investigation, or any public inquiry indicting them for the crime, and without following due process of law, dishing out collective punishment on them, killing, maiming, brutalizing, harassing, intimidating, coercing demolishing, destroying, razing, and burning down of their properties, leaving only the Anglican Church, the Okuama Secondary School, and the Aderha Primary School buildings standing, causing them to disperse and flee to various towns, villages, forests, bushes and creeks for safety, living the life of destitute under torturous, inhuman, degrading and excruciating condition without shelter, food, drinking water, medication, money or means of income, and clothes, exposed to weather, diseases, snake and mosquito bites, and other dangerous wild animals is a flagrant violation of the applicants, and the residents of the Okuama community have the right to the dignity of their human person, and, therefore, illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional.

”A declaration of this honourable court that the respondent’s troops invasion, and forceful eviction of the applicants, and the residents of the Okuama community from their homes in a manner that interfered, and robbed them of their privacy, family bond, and unity, causing them to disperse and live apart for the death of 17 soldiers, which they have no hands in, without any police investigation or any public inquiry indicting them for the crime, and without following due process of law is a violation of the applicants and residents of the Okuama community right to private and family life, and, therefore, illegal unlawful and unconstitutional.

”A declaration of this honourable court that the respondent’s cordon-off of the Okuama community, of the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, preventing, barring, prohibiting, and restraining the applicants, and residents of Okuama community from gaining access into their community, and homes to live their normal li, fe and carry on their normal business, and, thereby depriving them of their right to move freely in and out of their community and their right of choice to reside in Okuama community for the murder of 17 soldiers, which they have no hands in, without any police investigation or any public inquiry indicting them for the crime, and without following due process of law is a flagrant violation of their freedom of movement, and right of choice of place of residency, and, therefore, illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

”A declaration of this honourable court that the respondent’s troops razing and burning down of the properties of the applicants and residents of the Okuama community, leaving only the Anglian Church, the Okuama Secondary School and the Aderha Primary School buildings standing, forcefully and compulsorily seizing, and taking over possession of their land without any Delta State Government or Federal Government of Nigeria compulsory acquisition of the land and payment of compensation to the applicants and residents of the Okuama community, and without their input and the looting of the applicants, and the residents of the Okuama community’s moveable properties, the particulars which are contained in the affidavit in support of this application by the troops and neighboring villagers for the murder of 17 soldiers, which they have no hands in without any police investigation, or any public inquiry indicting them for the crime, without following due process of law, is a flagrant violation of the applicants’ and residents of the Okuama community right to own both moveable and immovable properties, and, therefore, illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

”A declaration of this honourable court that respondent’s troops entering into the Okuama community to perform the statutory and constitutional duties of the Nigerian Police Force on March 14, 2024, and the respondent’s troops invasion, brutal reprisal attack, killing, maiming brutalizing. harassment, intimidation, and coercion of the applicants and residents of the Okuama community for the death of 17 soldiers, which they have no hands in without any police investigation or any public inquiry indicting them for the crime, and without following due process of law through collective punishment on 15/3/2024 without due process, and the backing of law that led to the forceful eviction of the applicants, and the entire residents of the Okuama community from their homes, the demolition, destruction, razing and burning down of their buildings, properties leaving only the Anglian Church the Okuama Secondary School and the Aderha Primary School buildings standing, the looting of their movable properties causing them to disperse and flee to various villages, towns, bushes, forests and creeks for safety, where they now live as destitute under inhuman, degrading and excruciating conditions, the cordoning off of the Okuama Community land from the applicants and the residents, refusing them access into their community, and their rights to live there and the unlawful seizure and taking over possession of their land by the respondent’s troops, is an abuse of power.

”An order of this honourable court for the enforcement of the fundamental rights to the dignity of the human person, right to a fair hearing, right to private and family life, freedom of movement and right of choice of place of residence and right to own property of the Applicants and residents of the Okuama community, against the respondent, her servants, and agents and/or privies

”An order of this honourable court restraining the respondent, her servants, agents, and/or privies from further violating fundamental rights to the dignity of the human person, right to a fair hearing, right to privacy, and family life, freedom of movement and right of choice of place of residency and right to own property of the applicants and residents of the Okuama community.

”An order of this honourable court compelling the respondent to stop her troop’s continued invasion and occupation of the Okuama community, enabling the applicants and residents of the Okuama community to take back possession of their land that has been illegally and unlawfully seized and occupied by the respondent to rebuild their community.

”An order of this honourable court compelling the respondent to stop her troops of the cordon off of the Okuama community to allow the applicants and residents of the Okuama community to have access to move freely in and out of their community and have their right of choice to reside there as Nigerian citizens.

”An order of this honourable court compelling the respondent to allow the applicants and the residents of the Okuama community to go back home from the towns, villages, forests, and bushes, where they are presently living as destitute fugitives under torturous, inhuman, degrading and excruciating condition without shelter, food, drinking water, medication, money and cloth exposed to weather, diseases, snake and mosquito bites and other dangerous wild animals to help them regain their right to the dignity of their human person and to rebuild their community.

”A perpetual injunction of this honourable court restraining the respondent, her servants, agents, and/or privies from killing, embarrassing, coercing, bullying, harassing, intimidating, tormenting, torturing, dehumanizing, debasing and frustrating the Applicants and the residents of the Okuama community from enjoying their fundamental right to dignity of their human person, right to fair hearing, right to private and family life, freedom of movement, right of choice of place of residence, and right to own property.

” The sum of N100,000,000.00 (One hundred billion Naira) as general damages against the respondent in favor of the applicants and the residents of the Okuoma community for the respondent’s violation of their fundamental right to the dignity of their human person, right to a fair hearing, right to private and family life, freedom of movement, right of choice of place of residency and right to own property and the destruction, burning and razing down of the whole buildings in the Okuama community, leaving only the Anglian Church, the Okuama Secondary School and the Aderha Primary School buildings standing, and the looting of their moveable properties, the particulars, which contain in the applicants affidavit in support.

The sum of N100,000,000.00 (One hundred billion Naira) as exemplary damages against the respondent, in favour of the applicants and the residents of the Okuama community for the respondent’s abuse of power to oppress, repress, and subjugate the applicants and residents of the Okuama community.

”And for such further order or orders as this honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case.”

With the applicants applying, the respondent (the Army) has seven days to respond to the claim after proper service. The court will fix a date for the hearing of the application. Being a fundamental rights matter, they treat such applications with urgency, unlike civil cases.

What’s heartbreaking about Africa

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has explained why it advised Nigeria to remove fuel subsidies, adding that the subsidy regime was robbing the poor for the rich.

The Director of the African Department of the Fund, Mr. Abebe Selassie, provided insights into the organisation’s position, at the ongoing Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington DC. According to him, the Fund had provided robust content and how the poor could benefit from the policy in the provision of social safety nets.

His words: “Subsidies are about resource allocation internally within Nigeria. So Nigerians, the people of Nigeria pay for these subsidies.

“And what’s the reason why we counsel against such generalised subsidies is very simple. It tends to be highly regressive, meaning the benefits of such you know, fuel subsidies tend to accrue to the rich and segments to reach out to people and the poor people.

“So it’s people that are driving these large cars, with big houses are wanting to see subsidised fuel. They’re the ones benefiting relative to the poor and vulnerable in Nigeria.

“So you know, not only people paying for the subsidies Nigeria, it’s the poorest segments of society that actually are losing out and resources could instead, of course, be used to improve conditions for poorer people instead of accruing to rich people.

“That’s why subsidy reform is important. We applaud the government for the steps government took to reduce the extent of subsidies. I think as oil prices have become volatile, the level of subsidy has also moved up and down. “But I think you know, the direction of travel, I think, to remove the subsidies and use the resources to provide social protection for the most vulnerable households.”

Mr. Selassie revealed that the IMF has provided the sum of $58 billion to African countries since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and pledged it would do more.
The IMF chief cautioned African countries against commercial loans for the purposes of refinancing because of the current rate hike in most economies.

He advised that instead, countries South of the Sahara that have debt service challenges should look inward for domestic resource mobilization, which would be easier to deal with. The Director criticised the practice of discriminatory tax exemption to some companies and not extended to others.

These special favours to some companies, he observed reduce the effectiveness of governments to optimise tax revenue..

Positive developments in Africa

“Mr. Abebe said that after four challenging years and multiple shocks, Sub-Saharan Africa’s economy appears to be on the mend.

“We expect economic growth to rise to 3.8 per cent in 2024, from 3.4 per cent last year. After peaking at almost 10 per cent in late 2022, inflation has nearly halved to around 6 per cent in the early part of the year thanks to decisive action by central banks.

“This includes slower food price increases, a positive development for a region where the cost of crises has been acute in recent years. In addition, fiscal consolidation efforts are starting to pay off, with the median public debt stabilizing at around 60 per cent of GDP, halting a 10-year upward trend.

“And with global financial conditions easing, a few countries have been able to return to international markets, ending a two-year hiatus. These are encouraging signs.”
The Missing Chief said, however, “ the region is not out of the woods yet. Far too many countries still face a funding squeeze.

What’s heart breaking about Africa- IMF MD

Also, IMF Managing Director, Mr. Kristalina Georgieva, described as “heart-breaking”, the situation in which African countries spend large amounts of their revenue on debt servicing.

Her words, “African countries spend on average, 12 percent of their revenue on on debt servicing. This is more than double from the Las decade. They were at 5 percent a decade ago.

“What is heartbreaking is that in some countries, the debt payments is up to 20 per cent of revenues.

“What does that mean? It means that what could have gone to education, health, for investments in infrastructure and jobs is being sucked away by debt servicing. The ground for public capital to come in.

“We know that part of the reason is that interest rates are quite high. So what does it translate into for authorities in Sub-Sahara Africa?

“First, we see that those who have worked on public finances, to clean clean the ground for private capital to come in are doing better.

“When you have a tax/revenue of 26 per cent like Cote d-Ivoire, you can bear the debt burden. When you 12 per cent to GDP you cannot.”

The MD said that the IMF’ major peg of interaction with member countries in the region was focusing on the mobilisation of domestic resources, improving public spending and mobilising local savings with which to achieve growth prospects.

She added that African countries must keep their eyes on inflation because that problem remains unsolved.

Ms. Georgieva noted that Africa was blessed with huge potential, with huge a youth population that was earger to work and that its leaders should allow Africa’s resources to work for Africans.

Last Sunday, Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface made history with his German Bundesliga club, Bayer Leverkusen, when they defeated Werder Bremen 5 – 0 to be crowned the new champions of Germany. The win meant that Bayer Leverkusen won the Bundesliga for the first time with 5 games to spare.

More significantly, Coach Xabi Alonso’s side became the first German club to go 43 games unbeaten. Alonso’s team also displaced perennial champions, Bayern Munich from their Olympian heights in startling fashion.

In all this, Nigeria international, Victor Boniface has been key to coach Alonso’s plans. Despite the disruptive injury spells that have sometimes put him on the sidelines, the Nigerian forward has scored 18 goals and provided 11 assists in 25 games across all competitions.

Boniface who scored the opener before registering an assist in the same game has been a revelation in his debut season in Germany and has now celebrated Leverkusen’s remarkable triumph by getting himself custom-made Diamond chains.

As part of the celebrations that have followed the historic feat in Germany, the 23-year-old Super Eagles striker recruited the services of prominent jeweller, Buchi Obasi, the man behind Osimhen’s championship ring and chains after he led Napoli to the Scudetto last season. One of the large pendants features an encrusted Diamond inscription that reads “Dreams Are For Real” with a throwback picture of his late mother and his siblings.

The other one was created solely as tribute to his late mother, also featuring an encrusted Diamond inscription that reads “Keep Resting Mama.”

The value of both pieces have been estimated to be in the region of ¦ 10,000,000,

After his mother passed away last year, Boniface previously revealed that he grew up with his grand-parents and sometime last year, flew out his grandma to watch him play in the Bundesliga.

Still in celebratory mood, Boniface took a walk down memory lane, as he shared a photo from his early days playing football. In the post which he made on X, Boniface posted a picture captured from his childhood with the phrase “If you like give up”.

Boniface’s post gives fans a glimpse of his humble beginnings and how far he has come; from playing street soccer in Akure, to becoming a Bundesliga champion in his first year in Germany.

The 23-year-old’s post serves as an inspiration to others to keep pushing and not give up on their dreams.

In a brief interview granted after the title-deciding match, Boniface acknowledged his family and fans in Akure, and also hinted at a celebration saying “we go meet, we go shut down everywhere when I come”.

The Nigerian striker was also awarded with an honorary citizenship by the city of Leverkusen alongside his Bayer Leverkusen teammates, including fellow Nigerian football star Nathan Tella.

Bodø/Glimt

Victor Okoh Boniface who started with Lagos-based football academy, Real Saphphire began his journey to prominence when in 2019 he signed for a remote Norwegian side, Bodø/Glimt.

He suffered a ligament injury only two weeks after signing for Glimt, which was said to have kept him on the sidelines for the duration of the 2019 season. He was selected to the Nigeria U-20 squad to play the 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, but had to withdraw from the squad due to injury. In September 2019 he nonetheless made his league debut for the club.

Union SG

In 2022, Boniface signed a four-year contract with Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise. Union reached the quarter-finals of the 2022–23 Europa League. The Nigerian youngster scored six goals in the competition, including a brace against Union Berlin in the round of 16, finishing as the competition’s joint top scorer along with Marcus Rashford.

Bayer Leverkusen

In 2023, Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen snapped him up on a 5-year contract that will last until 2028. He made his Bundesliga debut on 19 August, in a 3–2 home victory over RB Leipzig. The following week, he scored his first Bundesliga goals by netting a brace at the Borussia Park in a 3–0 away derby win against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Hard work, high productivity and discipline attracted national team coach Jose Peseiro to the young Nigerian who was painting German Bundesliga red with goals. Boniface made his debut for the Nigeria senior team on 10 September 2023, coming on in the 64th minute for Taiwo Awoniyi. He provided an assist in that match to Samuel Chukwueze. He was named in the Nigerian squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast. However, he was forced to withdraw from the AFCON-bound national team when he sustained a muscle injury. He was replaced by Terem Moffi.

Style of play

Boniface is known for his distinctive style of play. His playing characteristics include strengths in dribbling, finishing, and headed attempts, while his weaknesses lie in offside awareness, holding onto the ball, and defensive contribution.

He is described as a player who likes to dribble, likes to do layoffs, and likes to play long balls. These attributes contribute to his effectiveness as a forward on the field.

His background, including learning to play football in a military barracks in Nigeria, adds an interesting dimension to his journey as a footballer.

Overall, Victor Boniface’s style of play is characterized by his technical abilities, goal-scoring prowess, and unique playing preferences, making him a player to watch in the world of football.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must choose its fights sensibly. An Ijele doesn’t go about dancing at babies’ birthday parties just to be noticed. The EFCC must leave some jobs for local Police DPOs. So, it can focus on serious financial crimes. This gbegboro attitude inhibits specialisation. More importantly, the EFCC must never forget that it wrestles against principalities and powers against whom it needs the confidence of the masses. Seeking to clean cobwebs while elephants freely defecate in the room is self-deceit.

The EFCC has recently set up a task force to prevent the abuse of the Nigerian currency, the naira. The focus of this task force has been on preventing celebrities and, perhaps, the public from spraying the naira at social events, as the EFCC sees this as a form of irreparable damage to the currency. Although the law is in place to preserve currency notes and save reprinting costs, the EFCC has taken it to be a serious financial crime. If lawmakers had trained their focus on stopping the display of exhibitionism or money worship in order to prevent the spread of lasciviousness and reset societal values rather than mere naira abuse, the people would have been happy. However, enforcing laws against harmless cultural practices portrays law enforcement as bereft of a critical sense of priorities.

In the United States, celebrities spray money on strippers. So, spraying cash on people isn’t such a universal crime as the EFCC’s preoccupation with it suggests. In Igbo land, if a grandma dances, she has to be sprayed cash. Putting the money in her bag or pocket drains the ritual of the ceremony. If that damages the naira, then the quality of the notes needs improvement to meet significant cultural uses. Money is more than a sterile medium of exchange. We used to have pseudo-plastic notes in the past. But this new meddlesome law also forbids the throwing of coins. So, the primary motivation for the prohibition can’t even be mutilation because it’s so non-discriminating. Now, the EFCC wastes its time and scarce resources pursuing young men and women spraying their hard-earned naira on their friends and relatives while indicted criminal suspects occupy ministerial positions at the nation’s capital

An institution with limited resources ought to define its priorities soberly. While the EFCC was running around Borisky, Yahaya Bello, who likes to call his narcissistic self White Lion, was still at large. If the EFCC was thinking of the Broken Windows Theory, then it should have focused on the obscene display of wealth, not the spraying of naira, which almost all poor and decent people in Nigeria do anyway. Now, Bobrisky is in prison after pleading guilty as a first offender, but Yahaya Bello can’t be arrested.

He wasn’t arrested a couple of days ago because after the EFCC laid a siege on the house where he refuged, the policemen protecting the man at large shut out the EFCC violently. That wasn’t the peak of the absurdity. While the EFCC agents were languishing in helplessness under the angry sun, a governor stormed the cordoned area with thugs and gained easy entrance into the house. The humiliated EFCC men watched like schoolboys. Such life-sucking impotence. All these happened a stone’s throw from the seat of power. The godson shoved the EFCC aside and whisked away his godfather from the trembling hands of the timid law. Sheer movie stuff. Blockbuster gangsterism.

After the EFCC chickened away in peace, it issued a press release. In that gutless release, it couldn’t dare to be specific let alone name names. In that statement that reeked of abject impotence, it found the verve to warn the public that in future, it would deal decisively with people who employed thugs to disrupt or obstruct its operations. A governor might have immunity, but does his immunity permit him to handcuff EFCC agents or commit criminal offences while law enforcement agents watch?

His immunity doesn’t confer anything on all the aides and security agents who may choose to assist him in committing the crime before newsmen.The next day was court sitting. Yahaya bello was still at large. The EFCC said they could be forced to invite the military to assist them. What more do they want to suffer? However, that statement was a naked indictment of the police and DSS. Granted, both can’t often handle bandits, but should a chicken-hearted white lion hiding in the Government House in Lokoja require military intervention too?

The helpless EFCC has declared the man wanted, begging the public to help track the man. The public is supposed to find the man the EFCC had in its claws and let a baby governor snatch away? The public should find a man being protected by the state. The world is watching. The Attorney General could have struck while it was hot in Abuja. But he dilly-dallied. A firm pronouncement from the Chief Law Officer to the police and DSS would have drained courage from the lawless governor.

When the Attorney General woke up from slumber the next day, he preached that citizens must always submit themselves to law enforcement agents when needed. He called no names. He issued no public orders. Tepidly, he said the world would have no respect for the country if governors started to act like wild animals. Such preposterous lukewarmness. Tomorrow, we will attend an African Union meeting and expect respect. He should remind the president that foreign investors are watching the spectacle of the travesty of the rule of law.

This atrocious precedent took place under the presidency’s nose. Many thought that naked disruption of EFCC operations by other law enforcement agents had ended with Buhari. If it had been some Bobrisky rather than the revered Bobkogi who mobilised thugs to evade that arrest, the security agencies would have remembered they had breached presidential security. Rightly, but belatedly, the policemen attached to Yahaya Bello have been withdrawn, but when will they be prosecuted? After all, we are only a generator republic and not yet a plantain republic.

The EFCC must choose its fights wisely. Some bemused young people are now planning to switch to spraying dollars at social events. That could mean more naira chasing the dollar. Some laws only exist to be part of the general legal architecture. And there are others, that must attract attention and venom. The EFCC’s greatest existential problem is corrupt politicians. However, it appears the agency has an exceptionally elastic capacity to absorb humiliation from powerful politicians.

Often, the public looks away with disinterest not just because the EFCC likes to make up by chasing small fries, but after the EFCC went through the roof to arrest Rochas and charge him, the then Federal Attorney General hijacked the case from the EFCC. That gradual and steady emasculation of the EFCC by big politicians has been quickened by Ododo. He knows he will suffer no consequences. Last year, an ex-governor publicly ridiculed the EFCC chairman who had fingered him for corruption. That ex-governor is now a minister. The EFCC lingers on his filthy files.

How does the EFCC feel when it goes against relatively innocuous offenders while those who have embezzled the state into penury swagger about in the corridors of power and thump their noses at it? Bobrisky went to prison at the speed of light. Bobkogi is still at large. When he is eventually arraigned, he might appear in a lion-skinned attire. His lawyers will secure his bail despite his having shown that he is a flight risk. Then he will return to Kogi to a hero’s welcome, drums beating, and women dancing under the sun, all arranged by his godson, Ododo. Most of the policemen withdrawn from him will return with him to Kogi for the triumphant homecoming. They might even receive awards from the state. We live right in a circus. Aristotle said, “At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice, he is the worst.”

The EFCC must reassess its priorities to prevent politicians from turn the eagle into a chicken, a scaveger for small things.

At the end of AFCON 2023 in February, Jose Paseiro, the Portuguese Manager that took the Super Eagles to Cote D’Ivoire became history. His contract was not renewed by the Nigeria Football Federation despite getting to the final of the championship and putting up a credible performance through most of the championship. The majority of Nigerian football fans insist that he is not good enough for Nigeria’s ambitions into the future.

Since then, some 6 weeks later, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, have been unable to announce a new gaffer for the senior national team. There appears to be a ‘go slow’ at the bottleneck of selecting the right manager for what would be a new national team.

Two friendly matches were played under a temporary arrangement with the Nigerian assistant coach to Paseiro, Finidi George, in charge. The team won the first friendly against Ghana, but lost the second. The loss to Mali may have sealed Finidi’s fate as the new coach. Despite the team’s unpreparedness for the insignificant friendly match, Finidi working alone on the bench without any other member of the technical crew, and several players not available or reluctant to play, those that don’t like the face of a Nigerian as head, have been unrelenting in condemning Finidi’s seemingly poor technical performance in that match.

Since then, with 6/7 weeks to the next very important World Cup qualifying match to play, the debates and controversy have dominated the media space over who should lead the team. Should it be another foreigner, or a Nigerian for a change? There have been 200 million opinions. Every Nigerian has become an expert. In the midst of these discordant voices, the NFF must make an announcement soon.

One thing is clear, except amongst some academic hard-line critics of Nigerian coaches, there appears to be little appetite for another half-baked foreign coach in Nigeria. The rackets attached to the hiring of foreign coaches may not find accommodation in a beleaguered government trying to reduce corruption in the system. The NFF does not have the funds, and the federal government will not accommodate the humongous fees of foreign coaches in the present dispensation.

So, it will be a Nigerian as next manager of the Super Eagles.

Why has the NFF not identified the most suitable amongst those that have indicated an interest, or that the body has identified and appointed a new national coach?

There is a lot of politicking ongoing. Nigerian coaches appear not to tick all the boxes of requirements, not eliciting the confidence of several officials of the NFF with vested interest in particular aspirants.

As things stand, however, a decision has to be taken now.

Most fingers point in the direction of a former international player.

He appears to be the preferred choice of most Nigerians in the media, particularly the social media.

I will not be surprised if Emmanuel Amuneke gets the final nod to lead the team. It will become a huge task to dispel the serious reservations about his choice by those familiar with his antecedents when he was in one of the junior teams.

PARIS 2024 Olympics – My Olympics story!

I have just made up my mind to attend the Paris Olympic Games this summer.

It will be my first time at the Olympics and not as an athlete.

In 1976, at the Montreal Olympics in Canada, I attended as an athlete but did not participate. Along with the rest of the world, I tasted the incursion of politics into sport and the first deployment of sports diplomacy in international affairs. the names of all the athletes from 30 countries that were involved in the boycott of the games were not recorded in the International Directory of Olympians at the International Olympic Committee, IOC.

In 1980, without officially qualifying for the Moscow Games, but benefitting from the crisis that followed Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan, leading to the boycott by several Western countries led by the USA, the Green Eagles were invited to the Moscow Olympics. I led the Nigerian national football team and doubled as co-captain (with Ahmeed Adio) of the overall contingent to become a registered member of the exclusive club of Olympians.

I would have attended the 1996 Games in Atlanta, USA, as manager of Chioma Ajunwa and Charity Opara. Unfortunately, when I applied for a visa to the Games from my base in the UK at the time, the interview date given at the American embassy was weeks after the Games would have ended. That’s how I sat at home in London, and missed the opportunity of attending the Olympics as a manager of athletes. My two wards won a Gold and a Silver medal.

At the 2010 Games in London. I was at ‘home’. I watched the Games as a tourist, attending a few events LIVE from the stands, but most from the giant screens at the Nigerian village set up for the huge Nigerian population in the UK.

During the last Olympic Games in Tokyo, I became inventive. I did the seemingly impossible. I became an invisible ‘fly on the wall’ reporting from Nigeria everything about the Nigerian contingent at the games with the deployment of technology and the collaboration of athletes and officials at the games.

Now, Paris 2024 Games are here.

I have a strong feeling Nigeria will come away with several medals. The feeling is strong. There are some obvious athletes in the winning zone already.

Having said that, the spirit of the Olympics is more in participating than in winning. That’s why as many athletes as have achieved the qualifying times and distances should be given the opportunity to experience the Olympics. I hope Nigeria will take all the athletes that attain the qualifying standards to Paris 2024.

Winning’ is not only about coming ‘first’.

From AFCON 2023, Nigeria gave a new and interesting definition to ‘winning’.

The country’s national team, the Super Eagles, for 4 weeks, provided the glue that united the country at a time when the country was going through difficult times in perennial economic, political and social challenges. As the Super Eagles, a team that was not given a chance to win by fanatical Nigerian football fans on the even of the championship, started to play well and to win matches in dramatic fashion, the spirit of nationalism took over the country. Temporarily, for a few weeks, Nigerians set aside their hardship, divisions and differences, and focused attention on the feel-good success of the Eagles on the football field. Even President Bola Tinubu became a part of the championship, following the Super Eagles on television all the way to the final match. With hopes sky-high, the entire country rallied around the team and supported their bid to win the most prestigious sports trophy in Africa, only for the hopes to be dashed at the last hurdle.

Despite the disappointment of that defeat, the country demonstrated uncommon appreciation of what the team had done for the psyche of the citizens during the period, a reminder of positive possibilities beyond AFCON, by spreading out the Red Carpet to welcome back the football heroes, compensating the team that came second with rewards unheard of in sports history. It was a beautiful confirmation of that Olympic truism that to be a ‘winner’ you do not have to come ‘first’.

God willing, I shall be at the Paris 2024 Olympics to report Nigeria’s success, first hand!

Nigerian chess master, Tunde Onakoya has reached a Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon when he reached the 57-hour mark, surpassing the previous record of 56 hours and 9 minutes.

Onakoya currently aims to reach the 58-hour target.

The previous record of 56 hours, 9 minutes, was held by Norwegian players Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad in 2018.

According to The Gift of Chess on X who posted at 12:34 am on Saturday, “56 Hours Straight. The Record Is SET TO BREAK.”

Recall Vanguard reported how Multiple award-winning Afrobeat singer, Davido and other Nigerian celebrities had turned up to cheer Onakoya while he attempted to set this record.

Details later …

The CEO of cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, Richard Teng, yesterday said that the company is working very closely with Nigerian authorities following the detention of the company’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance.

A Nigerian court has adjourned until May 2 a case against the executive, Tigran Gambaryan, and another Binance official, who are accused of laundering more than $35 million, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said on April 8.

“What I can say is we are working very closely with the Nigerian authorities to try to resolve the matter,” CEO Richard Teng said, while speaking about Gambaryan’s case at a crypto conference in Dubai.

The other executive Nadeem Anjarwalla, a British-Kenyan who is a regional manager for Africa, fled Nigeria last month.

Anjarwalla and Gambaryan flew to Nigeria following the country’s decision to ban several cryptocurrency trading websites and were detained on arrival on February 26 by EFCC.

In addition to the case brought by the anti-graft agency, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria’s tax agency, has charged Binance and the executives with tax evasion, a case that will be mentioned before a court today (Friday).

“This was a one-off. It’s never happened to us before,” Binance’s Head of Regional Markets, Vishal Sacheendran told Reuters on the sidelines of the Dubai conference when asked about the detentions.

Sacheendran declined to comment on the charges against the company.