THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it has made its largest recovery in the history of the agency. In a statement on Monday, the agency said it recovered 753 Units of duplexes and other apartments in Abuja. “Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, on Monday, December 2, 2024, gave a ruling on a final forfeiture of an estate in Abuja measuring 150,500 square metres and containing 753 Units of duplexes and other apartments. This is the single largest asset recovery by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, since its inception in 2003. The Estate rests on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone…
Author: Farouk Abbas
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THE Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN) says 70 per cent of Nigerians approached for a bribe in 2023 rejected it, at least on one occasion. This is just as the commission seeks partnership in fighting corruption, noting that no single agency can fight graft alone without the support and collaboration of others. The Anti-corruption boss made this known in Kano during a conference with State Attorneys-General in the North-west on strengthening ICPC’s capacity for corruption prevention. Themed “Establishing a community of practice for Attorneys General,” the meeting was aimed at…
THE Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has ordered an investigation into allegation of the Nigerian Police Force’s culpability in the deaths and arrests of protesters during the August End Bad Governance nationwide protest. Amnesty had in a briefing published a few days ago, accused NPF of “using excessive force against protesters during the nationwide #Endbadgovernance demonstrations between 1-10 August, killing at least 24 people in the states of: Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and Niger.” In the briefing titled “Bloody August: Nigerian Government’s Violent Crackdown on #Endbadgovernance Protests”, Amnesty said those killed included 20 young people, an older person…
THE Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has launched a major inquiry into widespread consumer complaints against leading players in the banking, telecommunications, and aviation sectors. FCCPC Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. According to Ijagwu, the inquisitions, which will begin on December 3rd, 4th, and 5th respectively, are intended to address issues of poor service delivery, exploitative practices, and potential consumer rights violations. In the banking sector, the FCCPC said it will engage Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) over reports of network failures that hinder customers from accessing their funds or using…
– Seeks Patriotism In The Discharge Of Duties THE Minister of Works, Senator (Engr.) Nweze David Umahi, CON. FNSE, FNATE has officially introduced and handed over to the Honourable Minister of State, Muhammad Bello Goronyo, Esq. the supervisory authority of the two (2) Agencies under the Ministry namely; the Federal Road Management Agency (FERMA) and the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGoF). This took place during a meeting with the Management of the two Agencies and the Honourable Ministers on 20th November, 2024 in Abuja. Also in attendance were the Members of the Board of FERMA. Engr. Umahi…
A FORMER Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Chidoka, who was also the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), disclosed this during his appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday monitored by News Point Nigeria. He said he is leaving politics to focus on his non-profitable organisation, Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, a nonpartisan research institute to join hands with other Nigerians who are interested in reforming the political system in Nigeria. “Earlier today, I sent a letter to my ward in Anambra State resigning officially…
A RETIRED colonel of the Nigerian Army, Babatunde Bello-Fadile, said the late General Sani Abacha won’t have wrested power from the interim government of late businessman Ernest Shonekan if he was allowed to resume as the aide-de-camp (ADC) of the interim president. “I was posted ADC to Shonekan. I don’t know why I was not allowed to resume. Still, if I had been ADC, it (the takeover) probably wouldn’t have happened,” Bello-Fadile said on the Friday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande monitored by News Point Nigeria, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television. “Why didn’t I resume? The…
JUSTICE James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has discharged and acquitted no fewer than 50 persons alleged to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of allegations bordering on terrorism. Delivering judgment, Omotosho held that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) failed, in its entirety, to establish a case against the 50 defendants, including four women. Justice Omotosho, who upheld the no-case submission of the defendants, said that the prosecution failed to adduce any credible evidence, linking the defendants with the allegations they were charged. The judge consequently struck out the three-count charge preferred against the…
THE Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, adjourned sitting on the alleged N80bn fraud charge against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to December 13, 2024 for the Motion for abridgment and possible arraignment. Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the sitting in the interest of fair hearing, noting that the matter had been originally adjourned to January 21, 2025. When the matter was called on Friday, the former Governor was asked why his lawyers were not in court. He said he was only informed of the sitting late Thursday night and so could not contact his lawyers to…
THE remaining states yet to implement the N70,000 minimum wage for workers are making last-minute moves to ensure the Nigeria Labour Congress does not embark on strike on Monday, December 1, this newspaper gathered. The states yet to approve the monthly wage are Katsina, Cross River and Zamfara, after the Imo State Government sanctioned the implementation of the N70,000 wage on Tuesday. It means 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory have now complied with the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act. Many states agreed to pay above the N70,000 starting point with Lagos and Rivers offering the highest pay with…
IN a significant development for the Tijjaniyyah Islamic order, Khalifa Sheikh Mahy Sheikh Ibrahim Niasse has announced several landmark resolutions aimed at fostering unity and strengthening the movement globally. This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Khalifa, following extensive consultations with key stakeholders and senior scholars (Sheikhs). The resolutions come on the heels of the recently concluded Mawlid celebrations, which witnessed global participation by Tijjaniyyah adherents. The Khalifa congratulates all Muslims for the celebrations and urged continued unity amongst Muslims and renewed dedication to the teachings of Islam. The Key Resolutions Announced are: 1. The Discontinuation of the…
OPERATIVES of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested a prominent Kano-based activist, Zubair Zubair. Zubair, who has been vocal in his criticisms of the Tinubu-led administration, was reportedly arrested in Kano and transported to Abuja. Speaking on the development, Barrister Harun Magashi, Zubair’s lawyer, revealed that the DSS had transferred his client to the Nigerian Police Headquarters in Abuja. “Zubair was arrested yesterday by the DSS in Kano. Initially, he was held by the DSS, but they handed him over to the police in Abuja,” Magashi explained. When asked about the reason for the arrest, Magashi stated, “We…
THE House of Representatives on Wednesday asked its Committees on Finance, Petroleum (Upstream and Downstream) to investigate reports from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Responsibility Commission “alleging that the NNPC (now Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited) withheld N8.48tn as claimed subsidies for petrol.” The House further stated that “the investigation will address the NEITI report stating that NNPC (now NNPCL) failed to remit $2bn (N3.6tn) in taxes to the Federal Government.” The committees were further directed to verify the total cumulative amount of unremitted revenue (under-recovery) from the sale of petrol by the NNPC between 2020 and 2023. This…
THE Kogi Central Journalists Guild (KOCJG) has expressed deep concern over the latest detention of former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). While acknowledging the agency’s mandate to investigate and prosecute financial crimes, the Guild in press statement jointly signed by its national president, Mallam Muhammad Tijani Abdulsalam, and secretary, Ozumi Abdul urged the EFCC to adhere to the principles of justice, fairness, and respect for fundamental human rights. The Guild noted that Alhaji Yahaya Bello willingly submitted himself to the EFCC yesterday, demonstrating his cooperation with the investigative process,…
JuSTICE Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has fixed December 10, 2024 for rulings on the bail applications by the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, and two others. The Judge fixed the date after taking arguments for and against the bail request by Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Bodunde Dauda, SAN and the Prosecution’s Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN. Ex-Gov Bello and two others had, on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Bello, who is the 1st defendant, vehemently denied the allegations before Justice Maryann…
FORMER Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, billed to be arraigned at the FCT High Court on Wednesday, took over crowd control of the court when Justice Maryann Anenih left the court room out of anger. Justice Maryann Anenih, billed to take the plea of the former governor and two others, rose abruptly and announced not to come back until there was sanity in the court room. Shortly after the Judge left the court room, Yahaya Bello who sat in front of the court room got up and moved to the surging crowd. He immediately directed his followers and sympathisers to…
FEDERAL pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme have written to the coordinating Minister of Finance and National Economy, Wale Edun, on the need for the government to release the accrued gratuities owed pensioners from March 2023 to November 2024. The pensioners, who had earlier staged a peaceful rally at the Ministry of Finance on November 12, 2024, expressed appreciation for the minister’s “mature and civilised“ handling of their grievances. However, they lamented that despite promises, their pensions remained unpaid. The pensioners are demanding the immediate release of the outstanding 21 months of accrued rights to retired public workers from March…
THERE are strong indications that former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has honoured the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission again over alleged misappropriation of funds. Our reporter reliably gathered from sources close to the EFCC that he went to the office with his lawyers on Tuesday morning and not with the current Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo. This follows the Supreme Court judgment which dismissed states’ case on the constitutionality of the anti-graft agency. It was also reliably gathered that the former Governor drove himself in a black hilux to the EFCC office with his…
PERSONNEL of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps deployed for the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State have complained over the alleged refusal of the authorities to pay their allowances, despite the election being held more than 10 days ago. Six thousand NSCDC officers, including those from neighbouring states like Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Lagos, Edo, and Delta, were part of the security deployment for the election. The aggrieved officers, some of whom spoke anonymously to this newspaper on Monday, expressed frustration over the delay in receiving their allowances, especially since other security agencies, like the police, had…
THE lawmaker representing Abia South Senatorial District, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has said that nobody approached the National Assembly with a request for a new presidential jet before the purchase was eventually made. The Presidency had in August unveiled a new Airbus A330 purchased for President Bola Tinubu. Following the new jet purchase, the Presidency faced so many criticisms from Nigerians who felt the President prioritized his luxury while neglecting the economic hardship faced by the masses. Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga had in one of his explanations, said that what was purchased was not a new jet as was reported but…