Author: Farouk Abbas

IN a significant setback to Nigeria’s burgeoning tech industry, reports suggest that Microsoft is considering the closure of its African Development Centre based in Lagos. This move, if confirmed, would have profound implications for the country’s technological landscape, potentially impacting job opportunities and innovation in the sector. According to industry insiders who spoke to The Guardian newspaper on Tuesday, Microsoft notified over 200 staff on Monday of the closure plans. According to reports from the newspaper, affected employees are slated to receive salary payments up until June and will continue to be covered by health insurance. However, an unnamed source…

– Insist Anti-Graft Agency’s Handling Of Allegations Connotes Politicization  Of Mandate FRONTLINE Anti-Corruption Civil Society Organisations have again advised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to toe the path of the rule of law and not continue to give credence to the impression that its anti-corruption mandate is being politicized by some interests whose intentions are neither patriotic nor altruistic. According to them, what is happening currently, in the ongoing controversy surrounding the Commission’s handling of its allegations against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, “connotes nothing but that.” They also noted that, with the way the…

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has distanced itself from a purported list of ex-governors under investigation for alleged corruption in circulation. On Saturday, several reports emerged in the media (not News Point Nigeria) that 58 former governors were under the radar of the anti-graft agency. They were accused of misappropriating N2.187 trillion over 25 years. According to reports, the 58 former governors – drawn from the six regions of the country – were being probed, while others have been investigated, and prosecuted. But in a statement on Sunday, the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, described the reports as false…

THE founder and President of MAAUN Group of Universities Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo has stressed the need for universities to collaborate with their counterparts across the globe to promote internationalization. Prof. Gwarzo made the remark when he visited Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu University (KHAIRUN) on Friday, He said there was a need for KHAIRUN to establish collaboration with a view to exposing the university to other universities across the globe. “KHAIRUN needs to liaise with some international to see what is obtainable there with a view to tapping there for the development of the university. “It’s very important to internationalize because…

THE Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) has again raised the alarm over the safety of journalists in the country. This follows the report of the abduction of Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ). According to reports, Ojukwu was abducted by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector General of Police and is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti in Lagos. IPI NIGERIA in a statement by its President, Musikilu Mojeed strongly condemns the abduction and calls on the Inspector General of Police to, with…

THE Court of Appeal has granted an exparte motion for stay of proceedings filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against the contempt proceeding commenced by the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, against the Chairman of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Hon. Justice Joseph O.K. Oyewole, consequently granted the EFCC’s application to serve the processes in the Appeal by substituted means on the former Governor. The Court consequently adjourned the hearing of the motion on notice to May 20, 2024. The EFCC boss who was summoned to appear before the Kogi…

DOZENS of protesters from Zamfara State have occupied the entrance to the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), calling on the commission to reopen investigations on the former governor of the state, Bello Matawalle. The protesters under the auspices of APC Loyalists Forum is asking the EFCC to investigate all petitions against the former governor, including the alleged contract diversion up to the tune of N70 billion during his tenure as governor of the state. The EFCC Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, who received the protest letter on behalf of the chairman, assured the protesters that…

JUSTICE Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned further hearing in the alleged money laundering charges against Ali Bello and three others to May 27, 2024. The Judge, on Thursday, adjourned the trial following the conclusion of evidence in chief by the second witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Olomotane Egoro. The adjournment was to allow counsel to Ali Bello, Abubakar Aliu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, to cross examine the witness in his testimony against the defendants. At Thursday’s proceedings, in the suit marked: ABJ/CR/573/2022 (FRN Vs. Ali Bello and 3…

POLICE authorities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have arrested two suspected traffickers with five children. The suspects were attempting to evade arrest by police operatives in Sokoto, according to the FCT Police Command spokesperson Josephine Adeh. “The operatives of the FCT police command, on April 27, 2024, at about 8:00 p.m., arrested two female suspects, Kulu Dogonyaro and Elizabeth Ojah, in connection to the trafficking of five children,” she said in a Thursday statement. “The suspects who attempted to escape arrest from Sokoto police operatives were intercepted and arrested by FCT police operatives at Kagini junction, Abuja, while suspiciously…

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), said it has tracked a total of N219.84bn projects that were poorly executed across 176 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, MDAs. The Chairman of the Commission, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, said it achieved the feat through the Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Initiative (CEPTI) set up in 2019, as a powerful tool against corruption in government projects as well as to track funds released for constituency projects by public officials. At a press conference held in Lagos, Aliyu noted that the initiative is to ensure government funds…

SCORES of youths from Kogi State trooped out in Abuja, on Wednesday, in a May Day solidarity walk for Nigerian children to press home their disappointment with the handling of the much-publicised allegations of corruption against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The youths decried what they called the systemic violation of the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the former Governor’s children, “who have nothing whatsoever to do with whatever the Commission is investigating their parents for.” President, Kogi Independent Youths Association, Comrade Mohammed Abdulrazak, said, “Let it be on record…

THE Presidents of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, while presenting a joint address at the May Day celebration in Abuja, on Wednesday, urged the Federal Government to also enthrone service reflective tariff and stoppage of segregation of customers. In the 18-item demands presented by the labour leaders, they said electricity privatisation exercise in the country should be reviewed with the view to a reversal. In addition, they want the government to immediately roll out the CNG buses nationwide as agreed. They also call for a one-year moratorium on all forms of taxes,…

THE Nigerian passport has been ranked among the worst on the globe highlighting significant challenges for Nigerian travelers seeking international mobility. The latest assessment by VisaGuide’s World Passport Index ranked the Nigerian passport at 191 out of 199 countries above countries like North Korea (192), Iraq (193), Libya (194), Sudan (195), Pakistan (196), Afghanistan (197), Syria (198) and Somalia (199). The ranking will raise concerns about the West African country’s recent efforts to improve mobility, including e-visa initiatives. Meanwhile, the Singaporean passport came first on the chart as the strongest in the world, followed by the Italian, Spaniard, French, and…

FRONTLINE Youth Groups in Nigeria staged a combined peaceful protest in Abuja on Tuesday, against what they termed a political colouration to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s allegations against former Governor Yahaya Bello. The youth groups, including the Yoruba Youth Council, Northern Youth Assembly of Nigeria, North Central Youth Council, All Progressives Congress Youth Ambassadors and APC National Students Forum, all called on the National Assembly and Attorney General of the Federation to call the EFCC to order and ensure due process is followed in the matter. According to them, many Nigerians were not aware of the legal bottlenecks…

THE Senate has resumed plenary after six weeks of recess in the newly renovated hallowed chamber opened over two years after the reconstruction began. Shortly after the regular announcements by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, a heated argument ensued between some ranking members over sitting arrangement. Three Senators engaged in heated argument. Senator Danjuma Goje, who is a four-time ranking Senator representing Gombe Central; and Sahabi Yau, Senator representing Zamfara North; expressed displeasure over the back seats assigned to them, and complained to the Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele. According to the standing rules of the upper legislative…

THE Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has threatened to cripple the supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, over non-payment of N200bn bridging claims. The threat comes following current nationwide scarcity which has seen prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, surge to between N610 and N800 at the pump, and between N1000 and N1200 at black market. The association’s Unit Chairman and Spokesperson, Aba Depot, Mazi Oliver Okolo who made the threat, said it was with the backing of the IPMAN’s national leadership. He claimed that the debt is being owed…

VETERAN journalist, award-winning columnist and public commentator, Azu Ishiekwene has written a book on monetising writings for the media, which is set to hit bookshops across the country soon. The 280-page book, titled, ‘Writing for Media and Monetising It,’ comprises 15 chapters and informative epilogues. It serves as innovative material and a guide for students, professionals, and scholars of the media who increasingly want roadmaps for navigating the maelstrom that media practice has become. ‘Writing for Media and Monetising It’ reveals how Ishiekwene’s close to four decades of media work and public intellection have earned him a prized bird’ s-eye…

A CIVIL Society organisation, Peoples Right Agenda (PRA)has condemned the incessant sponsored attacks on the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu and his effort to make a difference in the Nigeria power sector. It described the media assaults as sponsored. In a statement made available to newsmen at the weekend, PRA said the attacks were sponsored by different stakeholders who desire the status quo to continue and political detractors who see nothing good in what the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing to make Nigeria a country that we would be proud of. These sponsored media campaigns have…

KOGI youths who were at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday to protest the alleged political persecution of the immediate past Governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, were allegedly attacked by operatives of the Commission There were two protests at the EFCC headquarters on Monday. While the other protest, organised by members of the opposition party in the state, in support of the EFCC was allowed to go peacefully, the other, which demanded that rule of law be respected, was attacked, according to the Pro-Yahaya Bello group. Videos of the protesters struggling to make their…

BANDITS have shot dead a driver, simply identified as Danladi Jobe, and abducted two others along the Abuja-Kaduna highway. A resident of Jere, Yahuza Alhassan, told our correspondent on the phone on Monday, that the incident happened around 9:33 pm at Dogon-Fili, a few kilometers away from Jere town. He said the deceased was returning from a neighbouring village market where when the bandits suddenly emerged from the bush and opened on the car, killing the driver instantly. Alhassan identified one of the victims whisked away as Shuaibu, a farmer, adding that the bandits took away about N1 million cash…