The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has voiced its frustration over the challenges it faces in securing convictions in corruption cases, including high-profile ones. The EFCC’s spokesman, Wilson Uwajaren, addressed these concerns during an interview with journalists in Kaduna State, shedding light on the obstacles hindering the swift prosecution of corruption cases and the subsequent failure to secure convictions. Uwajaren cited several factors contributing to these setbacks, including what he referred to as frivolous court judgments based on technicalities rather than factual evidence and national interest. He also mentioned the arbitrary adjournment of corruption cases as another significant hindrance.…
Author: Chima Onyido
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An economist, Prof. Akpan Ekpo, has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to take seriously the currency swap agreement with Peoples Bank of China (PBoC) to reduce reliance on dollars for trade. Ekpo, a former Director-General of West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), gave the advice while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos. “This is the time to implement the Nigeria-China currency swap so that we don’t put all our eggs in one basket. “So Nigerians who are dealing with China should deal with Chinese currency or with naira not…
The Enugu Capital Territory Development Agency (ECTDA) has confirmed four children of the same family killed in a building collapse in the Agric Quarters in the Mgbemena axis of Coal Camp in Enugu. The Chairman of ECTDA, Mr Uche Anya, made the confirmation to journalists on Saturday after inspecting the site of the collapsed building. Anya noted that the bungalow building located at the Agric Quarters in Coal Camp area collapsed on Friday night around 8pm after a downpour. He said the structure was approved for animal husbandry but was converted for residential. While lamenting that the collapsed building was…
Late arrival of materials on Saturday characterised the Local Government Election in parts of Edo. Voters were kept waiting for long in queues at many polling units in Benin as electoral materials failed to arrive at 8:00 a.m. as scheduled by the electoral umpires. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondents who monitored the poll in Egor Local Government area, one of the municipal councils within the Benin metropolis, reported that materials started arriving at the units few minutes before 10:00 a.m. Some political parties’ agents had defied the heavy downpour to arrive the polling units as early as 8:…
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, has inaugurated a committee to explore more revenue potentialities in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Keyamo disclosed this in a statement issued by Mr Abdulahi Yakubu-Funtua, FAAN Director, Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, in Lagos on Friday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the directive is sequel to the minister’s tour of facilities on Thursday at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos. Keyamo said in the course of receiving briefing from the FAAN management that he observed that there were many potential opportunities for ramping up the…
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has unveiled some agenda which the President Bola Tinubu-led government hopes to use in transforming the challenging economic environment. He statre this on Friday in Abuja during his maiden press briefing where he outlined Tinubu’s visions, agenda and strategy for the economy. Edun said that the administration had pointed out some priority areas including food security; economic growth; utilizing human resources by focusing on inclusivity, women and youths; focusing on rule of law and anti-corruption, among others. He said that there would be periodic performance evaluations for the…
Nigerian artist Burna Boy, born Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, has made history by becoming the first international Afrobeats artist to attain a number one album in the United Kingdom with his latest release, “I Told Them…,” according to the UK’s Official Charts Company. This achievement comes after Burna Boy’s near-miss with his previous album, “Love, Damini,” which reached second place in the UK album rankings. While British talents who create Afrobeats music, like J Hus, have enjoyed chart-topping success in the UK, Burna Boy’s feat signifies the first time a foreign artist has achieved this milestone. The success of Afrobeats in…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced a two-day warning strike in response to the removal of petrol subsidies and its impact on Nigerians. This strike is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, as stated in a communique released after the National Executive Council meeting of the congress held on Friday. President Bola Tinubu, on his Inauguration day, abolished the subsidy on petrol shortly after taking office, causing the price of petrol to surge from N197 per litre to N617. The NLC had strongly opposed the removal of the subsidy and organized a nationwide protest to urge the…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on the United Nations (UN) to provide more practical support to Nigeria in its fight against terrorism, considering the far-reaching consequences on global peace, displacement of people, and the rise in poverty levels. The President made this appeal during a meeting with Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, the Under-Secretary General of the United Nations Office on Counter-Terrorism, at the State House. He noted that terrorism has consistently undermined development progress and increased instability within families and communities, and that the UN’s cooperation in addressing terrorism has often been inconsistent and sporadic, especially in the context of…
UN agencies and non-governmental organisations have been barred from working in military “operation zones,” Niger’s Interior Ministry said. This is “due to the current security situation and the ongoing operational engagement of the Nigerien Armed Forces,” the ministry said in a statement. Niger had been, in some of its border areas, suffering atrocities of terrorist organisations including armed groups and criminals who have controlled the southern region of Libya since the overthrow of the Muammar Gaddafi regime in 2011. READ ALSO: Actor Bolanle Ninalowo announces separation from wife There were also terrorist groups based in northern Mali. In recent years,…
Nigerian actor and film producer, Bolanle Ninalowo, on Friday announced separation from his wife. The actor announced the separation on his Instagram page, @iamnino_b, with the caption “Finally, I accept the reality of the end to a road”. Ninalowo in a long post wrote; “A sad reality that gives room & hope for a brighter and more fulfilling future. A reality that is SAD for my loving and adorable children but necessary for a peaceful and loveable future. “A sad reality I prayed, nutured and worked tirelessly hard never to experience for the sake of all. A sad reality I…
The Lagos State government has revealed that between August 2022 and July 2023, a total of 2,588 children experienced sexual and emotional abuse within the context of various domestic violence incidents in the state. Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey, the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General, made this disclosure during a media briefing marking the commencement of the 2023 Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month, with the theme ‘Not in my Lagos.’ Shitta-Bey, represented by the Executive Secretary, of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, explained that 40 percent of the affected children have undergone counseling programs to help…
The House of Representatives Ad hoc committee investigating alleged job racketeering by MDAs has written to ICPC, urging it to investigate allegations of bribery and extortion made against the lawmakers. Rep Yusuf Gagdi, Chairman of the committee, disclosed this when Federal Polytechnic Rectors, under the aegis of Committee of Federal Polytechnics’ Rectors, appeared before the committee in Abuja. According to him, the committee has written to ICPC to investigate the account number allegedly released to heads of tertiary institutions for payment of the bribe. Gagdi said, “I have already written to the ICPC to investigate the account number that was…
The Defence Headquarters says troops of Operation Delta Safe have in the last two weeks, discovered and destroyed 34 illegal refining sites and apprehended 16 suspected oil thieves in the Niger Delta region. The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, said this at a bi-weekly news briefing on military operations across the country, on Thursday in Abuja. Buba said the troops also denied oil thieves of the sum of N765.8 million and recovered 55 assorted weapons and 96 assorted ammunition during the period. According to him, the troops discovered and destroyed 71 dugout pits, 36 boats, 83 storage tanks,…
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has ordered all international airlines to vacate the old terminal of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, latest October 1, 2023. He said this during a tour of the international airports in Lagos, where he was accompanied by the Managing Director, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Mr. Kabir Yusuf Mohammed. The minister said, the vacation is necessary to give room for total maintenance work at the airport. He therefore directed foreign airlines to relocate to the new terminal latest by October 1 when the old terminal would be shut down for total rehabilitation.…
African leaders are working out on Thursday how to respond to officers in Gabon who ousted President Ali Bongo and installed their own head of state. The latest in a wave of coups in West and Central Africa that regional powers have failed to reverse. The takeover ends the Bongo family dynasty’s almost six decades in power and creates a new conundrum for regional powers who have struggled to find an effective response to eight coups in the area since 2020. Central Africa’s political bloc, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), condemned the coup in a statement, saying…
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has dismissed reports that clubs from Saudi Arabia would be allowed to play in the Champions League in the future. “Only European clubs can participate in the Champions League, the Europa League or the Conference league,” the president of the European football ruling body told the L’Equipe newspaper. This is coming ahead of the Champions League group stage draw on Thursday. In spite the strong financial growth of the Saudi league, which attracted the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Sadio Mane recently, Ceferin doesn’t see the country as a threat to European football. READ ALSO:…
An Ikorodu Chief Magistrates’ Court Lagos State, on Thursday, remanded a 23-year-old unemployed man, Chibeze Amechi, for allegedly abducting and defiling a 16-year-old girl. The defendant, whose address was not provided, is facing a two-count charge of abduction and defilement. The prosecutor, Mrs Olawunmi Osibanjo, told the court that Amechi committed the offences on July 24 at about 6:00 p.m. at Evergreen road, Araromi area of Imota, Ikorodu, Lagos. Osibanjo said that Amechi abducted the 16-year-old from the custody of her parents to his house for one month. READ ALSO: Internet fraud: EFCC returns $26,000 to Briton The prosecutor also…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has facilitated the return of $26,000 to Christine Brown, a British national and a victim of internet fraud. The EFCC Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said this in a statement in Abuja, added that the Benin Zonal Command handed over the money to the victim on Monday. According to him, Brown expressed gratitude to the Commission for its efforts which she said, has brought some succour to her after losing her life’s savings to the fraudsters. He said that the 70-year-old had petitioned the Commission after being defrauded by an internet fraudster through a romance…
In a latest update to social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), owner Elon Musk has unveiled plans to introduce video and audio call features to the app in the near future. This announcement comes shortly after X initiated a reward system for creators who are subscribers to Twitter Blue. Musk shared the development on X, stating that the new features will be compatible with iOS, Mac, Android, and PC devices. According to him, using these new features will not require the use of a mobile number, adding that the new features will be unique in the future. READ…