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.

The Osun State Police Command apprehended four suspects who purportedly conspired and murdered a 45-year-old woman for money ritual in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The spokesperson of the command, SP Yemisi Opalola, made this known during the parade of the suspects in Osogbo on Friday, April 19, 2024.

Opalola said that the suspects’ arrest followed a report of a missing person lodged by the son of the woman at the Apomu Police Division in Osun.

“On March 18, at 5:10p.m., a complainant reported at Apomu Division that on March 13, at about 10:00am, his mother, Usman Aminat, 45, left home for lyana Ajia-lbadan, Oyo State to pay a visit to Onifade Oyekanmi,” the PPRO said.

"He stated that since his mother left home, her cell phones were switched off and her whereabout was unknown and that he strongly suspected that the said Oyekanmi, who is an herbalist, knew about his mother’s disappearance.

“The said Onifade was subsequently arrested and the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Osogbo, Osun, for further and discreet investigation.”

Opalola said the suspect’s confession led to the arrest of the three other suspects.

She said all the arrested suspects confessed to the individual roles they played, revealing that they all conspired to use the victim for money making rituals.

"Thereafter, search warrants were executed on the houses and premises of the suspects where three bottles containing black substance suspected to be burnt human parts, two cutlasses, a big black clay pot and some black soaps were recovered,”

Opalola said that a female, a neighbour to one of the suspects, who helped him conceal his own share of the powder substance, was also arrested

She said that the lady was later granted administrative bail because she is nursing a four-month old baby

The police spokesperson said the suspects narrated how they conspired and strangled the victim to death in the house of Oyekanmi and dismembered her body.

"They confessed to have mixed the intestine of their victim with that of the dog, pig, goat and other herbs in a black clay pot and burnt everything to black powder which they shared among themselves.

"Onifade equally added that he burnt the two cell phones belonging to the deceased after killing her to evade being traced,” Opalola added.

Opalola said the suspects would be charged to court after the completion of investigation.

She admonished residents to always give prompt and credible information/reports to the police and also report every strange movement and strange people around them.

Jonathan Marcus, a mechanic, has been apprehended in connection with the brutal murder of an elderly couple at their home in Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja.

Marcus, who often worked as chauffeur to the deceased identified as Adebola Ezekiel, 80; and his wife, Abiodun Ezekiel, 79, was among several suspects paraded by the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory Command, Benneth Igweh, during a press conference on Friday.

Igweh revealed that the police began an investigation immediately after the incident occurred on March 31, 2024, and were able to arrest the suspect, a former driver to the deceased couple.

He noted that policemen trailed the suspect and arrested him in his hideout in Obajana, Kogi State.

Igwe claimed that the suspect had freely confessed to having gained access to the house on the same date, slit the throats of the couples and made away with their phones and automated teller machine cards.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police also revealed that the command, on April 11, 2024, arrested another two suspects, for alleged culpable homicide in the Mabushi area of Abuja.

Igweh said the suspects were arrested by policemen from the Mabushi division following a tip-off that the corpse of one Bilkisu Mohammed was being discreetly conveyed.

He said, “The deceased had earlier visited the house of her supposed boyfriend, who eventually travelled to Kano and left her in the care of the female suspect. The deceased allegedly fell ill and was given non-prescribed drugs that led to her death by the male suspect who came into the house on the invitation of the female suspect.”

He said the suspects were currently in police custody, undergoing interrogation.

Igweh further disclosed that the Utako division, in a well-coordinated operation on April 6, 2024, arrested nine suspected armed robbers.

The CP said the suspects, during interrogation, freely confessed to being part of an armed robbery gang responsible for a series of robberies and other heinous crimes in the FCT.

He said four locally fabricated AK 47 rifles, three locally fabricated cartridge rifles, one English pistol, and one Dane gun were recovered from the suspects.

Other items recovered from the suspects were three live rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one live round of 5.56mm ammunition, and an empty cartridge.

The CP said all the suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.

Some musicians have applauded the recent move by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to enforce the ban on abuse of the Naira.

Last Friday, a controversial cross dresser, Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, was sentenced to six months imprisonment without the option of fine for abusing the Naira; and, on Wednesday, a socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, aka Cubana Chief Priest, a N10m bail after he pleaded ‘not guilty’ to a charge of abusing the Naira.

Though many believe that the ban on spraying money at parties will affect musicians, especially indigenous ones, some of them have said it is a good development.

In separate interviews with our correspondent, popular musicians— Wasiu Alabi, aka Pasuma; Saheed Osupa, and Adewale Ayuba— maintained that the country’s currency had to be respected.

On his part, Pasuma said, ““I want to believe that there is a difference between spraying a musician money, and mutilating naira notes.

“Spraying a musician money is an inseparable part of our African culture during celebrations. Meanwhile, abuse or mutilation of currencies has to do with throwing money around and stepping on them, thus reducing their lifespan.

“Right from the onset, I have never been a fan of naira abuse. I don’t like it when people throw money around on my stage. It is a sign of disrespect to the artiste and the currency itself.

“If you watch my stage performances, you will see that I have a box where people put money when they want to appreciate my work. And, that was even before this naira abuse campaign started. I think that is the right and respectful manner to treat the artiste and the naira.

“So, the war against naira spraying has not affected my performances and earnings as a law-abiding citizen that I am.”

Pasuma also enjoined fans to be orderly in the course of appreciating their favourite artistes and loved ones with money at events. He said, “There is usually a box in front of me. All fans need to do is put the money there. I know them, and I will praise them to appreciate their gesture. They should not ‘disrespect’ my office, and I will reciprocate through my craft.”

Osupa also stated that the new development had not affected his business. He said, “People no longer spray money at my shows. They just drop money in a box that is provided on stage. So, I cannot say it has affected me badly. We still make money the way we made it before. The only difference is that people don’t spray the money again.”

The singer asserted that when fans were mandated to put money in a box instead of spraying it, they actually made more money. He said, “Most people just use spraying money to show off. Many of them don’t really want to spray that money, they just want to spite some people. Also, there are times that those who spray money don’t really spend much, they just make it look as if they are spraying a lot. However, it is when they put money in the box that we actuually make more money. Some people also make bank transfers.”

He added that the ban would even relieve the pressure on some people. He said, “Squandering of money has never made sense to me. But, it (spraying of money) is part of our culture, and it has been with us for long. However with that practice, someone that did not have money might start thinking of different things whenever they saw the way some people were spraying money. And, that could eventually Iead them into dabbling into what they shouldn’t do. On that account, the enforcement against the abuse of the naira is good, but the government has taken it too seriously. They should have created more sensitisation.”

Echoing the thoughts of his colleagues, Ayuba said, “The problem with spraying money is the way some people handle the currency by flinging it, throwing it to a crowd, stepping on it, and treating it like trash. That is ridiculous, and I don’t support it. The new enforcement drive by the government won’t affect me, because whenever I am performing, I have a box where people can put the money they want to spray me.

“What the government is say is that people should not abuse our currency; they are not saying that people should not spend money on artistes. Government is only telling citizens to respect our currency, because it is part of our identity as a nation.”

The singer, fondly known as Mr Johnson, also enjoined fellow musicians and citizens in general to be more respectful of the country. He noted that just as citizens of other countries revere their nations is how Nigerians should behave. He said, “In the United States of America, they often say, ‘God bless America’. We should be saying things like that too. The power of life and death is in the tongue. And, we need to speak positive things about our country.”

On if he felt that the EFCC should have carried out more sensitisation, particularly by engaging musicians like him, Ayuba said, “Yes, I believe it would have been better if they had done that. Anyway, they haven’t come to me. It is better to talk to some of the artistes to sentise people, because spraying money is part of our culture, and it will take time to reorientate people.”

Pastor Enoch Mark, whose daughter, Monica, and others were abducted in the Chibok community of Borno State on April 14, 2014, speaks on the sad impacts of his child’s abduction.

I have six children. Monica Mark is my second child. When she was kidnapped on April 14, 2014, she was 18 years old. I was in Chibok then. I was a pastor in the Church of the Brethren in the area. I was transferred from Michika, Adamawa State to Chibok in Borno State. I had been there for just some months so I didn’t even know the town too well. My daughter attended the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok. On 14 April 2014, there was a gun attack all over the town. There were shootings everywhere and we were all running for our dear lives that night. While we ran, I didn’t go far. I just stood somewhere behind the town. Early in the morning, I came out to see the church because it looked like they set fire to my church, so I was not able to stay for a long time. I was moved to go and see what was burning. But fortunately enough, it was not the church. It was a place that was very close to my church. We also discovered that girls from the community had been taken captive by Boko Haram. I saw the car carrying some girls and I pursued it. While pursuing, I saw that one of the cars had broken down on the way, and some men were guiding it while it was being fixed. They said that if anybody came close, they would ‘finish’ the person. I was forced to come back. On the way back, I met one of the daughters of my watchmen who was among the girls that were kidnapped. She jumped from the car and escaped. As I met her on the way, I brought her back to the town.

How have you been dealing with the fact that your child is still in captivity ten years after the incident?

I cannot explain how it had been because it was very terrible. I lost her mother, Martha, because of the trauma she went through. She died on July 10, 2020. Even because of too much thinking, I came down with a stroke. Presently, I’m suffering from stroke. When I lost my wife and I remembered that my daughter Monica was in captivity, I couldn’t hold myself. I just didn’t know when I collapsed on the ground. As I’m talking to you now, I cannot walk for a long distance.

How certain are you that your wife died from the trauma of the incident?

Since my daughter was kidnapped, my wife has been going up and down praying in so many places. They often call her from Lagos for newspaper and radio interviews, and she always goes. There are even pictures of her in the newspapers when she was crying. She cried while she was being interviewed. She wasn’t able to eat. Whenever we remembered to pray for Monica, she would shed tears. She died while calling the name of Monica.

How did your other children react to Monica’s kidnap?

I cannot explain it, because when we discovered that our daughter was kidnapped, the children, the mother, and the relatives were not at ease. We all felt the pain, and we can’t explain how badly we feel.

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.

Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner Josephina Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, has rejected N13 million offered her by one of the sponsors of the reality show, Quidax.

Phyna, who won the reality show in 2022, has been calling out the organisers and their sponsors over incomplete prizes.

Quidax had pledged to give Phyna 1 BTC as part of her prizes, but is yet to fulfil its promise two years after.

Following Phyna’s recent outburst, the organisers met with the reality star and offered her N13m, which they claimed was the value of 1 BTC in 2022 when they made the pledge.

However, speaking in a video message shared via her Instagram account on Friday, April 19, Phyna said she rejected the offer and insisted that they gave her the 1 BTC, which she said is now worth over N90 million.

She also insisted that the organisers of the reality show and their sponsors must give her tickets for a trip for two to Maldives, which was also part of her prizes.

A statement titled ‘Negotiations and agreements update – MultiChoice meeting and exchange rate discussion’ by the acting president of Practitioners of Content Creation Skitmakers and Influencers Guild of Nigeria, Micheal Obinna Nwabufo, on Friday, April 19, reads: “Today, the acting president of PCCSIGN, Micheal Obinna Nwabufo, along with legal representatives from Phyna, Olawale Amousa Legal, visited the offices of MultiChoice Nigeria. The recent agreement between Pepsi and Unik soap is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow, Friday, April 19, 2024. While Travelbeta is offering a trip for 2 to Morocco or Kenya which we declined the destination options because Phyna was initially offered the destination options of Maldives or Jamaica.

“Regarding the matter of the 1 BTC, it was stated that the exchange rate would reflect the 2022 Naira equivalent, amounting to N13million. However, PCCSIGN and Phyna’s legal representatives declined the offer due to concerns about potential repercussions resulting from MultiChoice’s negligence.

The acting president of PCCSIGN insisted that the agreed-upon 1 BTC should be based on the current exchange rate. MultiChoice has agreed to further discuss this matter with Quidax Global and provide a response to PCCSIGN and Phyna.

The former Minister of Defence General Theophilus Danjuma has expressed his revulsion at the parlous state of the nation.

Danjuma bemoaned the deepening security crisis across the country, saying Nigeria is experiencing a fatricidal war as citizens kill their fellow countrymen.

Danjuma spoke on Friday in Nwonyo village in Ibi Local government area of Taraba State during his speech as the Chairman of annual Nwonyo Fishing and Cultural festival.

The elder statesman described Nigeria as a total disgrace and laughing stock to the rest of the world.

He maintained that it is important for Nigerians and Nigeria as a country to address the prevailing socio-economic and political challenges that beset it and put a check on the glaring insecurity and other vices that are bedeviling the country.

He explained that the festival should be an avenue to sell Nigeria’s rich culture and colorful traditions to the world but the precarious state of things would leave a sour taste in the mouth sane people.

According to Danjuma, “the festival stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Taraba State that we cherish and celebrate with great pride. It showcases our cultural values and serves as symbol of our unity. Let us take a moment to reflect on the significance of the occasion. It is a symbol of resilience a d determination of our people in the face of daunting challenges.

“Let us renew our commitment to promoting peace, harmony and celebrate the bonds that unite us as one family. May this occasion be a reminder of who we are and the strength that lies in our unity.

“We must put our own house in order and have peace in our state and throughout the country if we want this to be truly an international festival. There is no sane foreigner who will come to celebrate with us if we continue to disgrace ourselves as we do.

“As we are today in Nigeria, we are a disgrace to the whole world. The whole country is a war front of our people killing our people. We are a laughing stock to the rear of the whole world. We must put our house in order. We must make our roads safe and stop kidnapping people. We must learn to live together as a country and as a people”.

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.