The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said its collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation has led to the arrest of a suspected female cyber fraudster in Edo State. It said the ‘Yahoo girl’ (names withheld) worked in collaboration with a foreign counterpart. Muhktar Bello, the Head of Benin Zonal Office, who spoke on behalf of the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, said the female suspect was involved in obtaining and stealing people’s identification information, which she forwarded to her American collaborators. He stated that the suspect received her CT through Bitcoin and about 185 Bitcoin currently…
Author: Emmanuel Anthony
Kano State Government under Governor Umar Ganduje has vowed to deal with Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike by instituting a legal action against him over the demolition of Rainbow Town Central Mosque located at the Trans-Amadi Area of Port Harcourt. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Ganduje, Abba Anwar, described the “sad story of Mosque demolition in Rivers state as shocking and promised that necessary lawful action must be taken over the happening.” According to the statement, Ganduje would institute “legal action against this demolition of the Mosque as well contest it with appropriate authorities for redress” Anwar quoted his…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ilorin zone, has arrested one of the most wanted suspects by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Oyediran Joseph over alleged internet fraud. The Zonal Head, Mr Isyaku Sharu, who spoke at the second edition of a press briefing tagged, ‘EFCC/FBI collaboration in the fight against internet fraud and cybercrime in Ilorin, disclosed that the arrest followed a letter of assistance from the United States authorities written to the commission two weeks ago to track, and possibly arrest and prosecute two most wanted FBI suspects in Nigeria. He explained that the anti-graft agency acceded…
The former governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, on Friday paid a surprise visit to the Ekiti State House of Assembly less than 24 hours after the lawmakers summoned him to appear over alleged fraud. Fayose said that he came to Ekiti House of Assembly to tell them that “I am here and if they need any clarification I can answer because clear conscience fears no foe.” The Assembly had at its Thursday plenary session summoned Fayose to appear before its committee on Public Account over alleged misappropriation of local government funds while in office. Also summoned alongside the…
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has disclosed that his monthly salary as the state governor is N650,000. He, therefore, declared his readiness to tackle poor remuneration in the state’s civil service. Makinde made this declaration while addressing the newly sworn-in Commissioners in the state as he reiterated his commitment towards finding a lasting solution to the issue of poor remuneration in the civil service. He maintained that poor remuneration packages could be counterproductive to anti-corruption initiatives. The Governor stated that under his leadership, it would not be business as usual, as he would do everything possible to ensure that…
A Lagos Federal High Court on Thursday discharged and acquitted former President Goodluck Jonathan’s ex-aide, Dr Waripamo Owei-Dudafa of an alleged involvement in an alleged N1.6bn fraud. Justice Mohammed Idris in his judgment held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, failed to prove any of the 22-count charges levelled against Owei-Dudafa beyond reasonable doubt. In the 190-page judgment, Justice Mohammed said EFCC’s case was “based on suspicions” and suspicions “cannot take the place of legal evidence”. The judge also observed that the anti-graft agency failed to call vital witnesses, including Jonathan and former NSA Sambo Dasuki, who could…
Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has dared members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra to attack him anywhere outside the shores of the country. Amaechi, in a video that has gone viral, vowed to apply self-defence in the face of any such attack. It would be recalled that former Deputy Senate President, Dr Ike Ekweremadu was recently attacked by members of the Nnamdi Kanu-led organization. The attack really generated a lot of controversies in Nigeria with politicians coming out to strongly condemn the action of the pro-Biafra group. The group and its leader have also threatened to vent their…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has shifted the date for the Bayelsa governorship primary from Thursday, August 29 to Saturday, August 31, 2019. This was contained in a terse statement on Wednesday by the National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu. This may not be unconnected to political intrigues and hot fights among aspirants for the governorship seat in the state. Hence, the shift in date may be to put the house in order. “The party has also adopted the Direct mode of primary in line with the written request of the Bayelsa State chapter and majority of the stakeholders”, it said.…
The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, refused to grant the motion filed by Mr Omoyele Sowore, Convener, #RevolutionNow protests, challenging his detention for 45 days by the Department of State Security. Justice Nkeonye Maya, who declined all applications by Counsel to Sowore, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, sent the case back to Justice Taiwo for further hearing. Falana, who had asked the court to set aside the ex parte order granted by Justice Taiwo, also applied for oral bail when Justice Maha rejected the earlier application. Sowore, who is presently in detention had, on August 9, approached the court, seeking…
Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sylva Ogwemoh SAN, in the Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has said that the commission did not find it necessary to call witnesses. He said this was because the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Nsima Ekere had not given them any reason to have done that. Speaking to reporters shortly after adjournment on Tuesday, Ogwemoh said the burden to prove allegations in the petition rests on the petitioners, a duty they have failed to perform. Earlier at the Tribunal, Ugwuemoh had announced that having considered the petition…
The Lagos State House of Assembly has set up a committee to probe the purchase of 820 buses for public transportation in the state by the administration of immediate past Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode The committee is chaired by Hon. Fatai Mojeed. The House said it was important to investigate the purchase of the 820 buses out of the 5,000 buses proposed by Ambode for mass transit because the lawmakers objected to the idea originally. In a motion titled, ‘Lagos State House of Assembly Motion Number 2, member representing Eti Osa 2, Gbolahan Yishawu, stated that the executive proposed to spend N17bn…
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday approved the immediate termination of the appointment of the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Tor Ujah. This was contained in a statement by the Director (Information) at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey on Tuesday. The statement which was made available to newsmen in Abuja, said the termination was in line with the provision of Section 4, Sub-Section 3 of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission Act. It added that, “Ujah has been directed to hand over to Mrs. Esther Kwaghe, Director of Administration…
The immediate past lawmaker representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe, has disagreed with the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, over the alleged move to conduct the congresses of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State. Abe said in a statement on Monday that the announcement by Amaechi that the congresses would be conducted in Rivers was unacceptable. Amaechi was said to have announced to his supporters shortly after his inauguration in Abuja by President Muhammadu Buhari that there would be congress in the state. Abe made this known when members of the APC Visionary Media Team paid…
The Chairman of the Ogun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to former Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, Chief Derin Adebiyi, has taken a swipe at the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, saying he will not leave his office an honourable man but in disgrace. Adebiyi was speaking in reaction to an alleged forceful invasion of the party’s Secretariat in Ogun State by the caretaker committee set up by Oshiomhole, after dissolving all elected executive following the crises that engulfed the party after the controversial APC primary elections in Ogun. The caretaker committee and other members of…
A former lawmaker who represented Kaduna Central at the Senate, Shehu Sani has reacted to the threat by the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to attack and disgrace President Muhammadu Buhari in Japan. Buhari will depart Abuja Sunday for Japan to participate in the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) holding in the City of Yokohama, August 28-30, 2019. Following the disclosure of Buhari’s trip, IPOB directed its members to ensure that the President was arrested and handed over to security agents because he’s an alleged impostor. Sani condemned the move, adding that attacking the President in Japan…
The Kogi State National Assembly/State Assembly Election Tribunal has sacked Dino Melaye as the Senator representing Kogi West District. In a judgement delivered on Friday, the tribunal led by A.O. Chijioke ordered a fresh election in the district. Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 26 election, Smart Adeyemi, had challenged the election on the grounds that there were cases of irregularities including over-voting and non-compliance with the electoral act. “We’ve decided to fight the results of the elections in the tribunal court because constitutional injustices must not be allowed to stand,” Adeyemi who was the Kogi west…
The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, at the weekend declared that the Nigerian Government will extradite about eighty Nigerians who have been accused of perpetrating fraud in some parts of United States of America (USA). Dabiri-Erewa made this declaration in a statement she personally signed and made available to to newsmen. The USA authorities had recently released about 80 names of some Nigerians, accused of perpetrating fraud in the country. But, Dabiri-Erewa while reacting, urged the accused persons to voluntarily turn themselves into the USA authorities in order to clear their names. Dabiri-Erewa in the statement, however, maintained…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is being pressurized to redeploy the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor James Apam. The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) called on Prof. Mamood Yakubu to immediately redeploy the current resident Electoral Commissioner in the state,. The registered political parties accused the INEC boss of shielding the nefarious activities of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in the State. They made their position known on Friday during a joint press conference held in Lokoja. Hon. Frank Kato who spoke on behalf of others said a new…
The Presidential Election Tribunal on Thursday dismissed the petition filed by the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 23 election. The HDP prayed the tribunal to set aside the presidential election of Feb. 23 on the grounds that INEC did not follow conditions in the Electoral Act before postponing the poll earlier scheduled for February 16. Adopting the HDP’s final address, its lead counsel Mr Chukwunoyerem Njoku, informed the Tribunal that because INEC did not follow the conditions before postponing the election unconstitutionally, a referendum was conducted in line with the law…
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called on political office holders of Igbo extraction to repent in order to avert the kind of attacks which its members meted out to Senator Ike Ekweremadu, last week in Nuremberg, Germany. Mr Chika Edoziem, the organisation’s Head of Directorate of State, stated this in a press statement he made available to newsmen in Awka, Anambra State. It said that political leaders from the South-East can still make amends by turning a new leaf, but stated that if they refused, members of the organization will continually attack them overseas. IPOB added that it…
Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Wednesday pointedly told the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal that President Muhammadu Buhari used fundamental falsehood to secure clearance from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to participate in the poll. Atiku, in his final address, insisted that Buhari, as candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), lied on oath in his form CF001 presented to INEC before standing for the presidential election. In the final address presented on his behalf by his lead counsel, Dr Levy Uzuokwu SAN, Atiku drew the attention of the Tribunal to a portion of…
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the February 23 election, Atiku Abubakar has said there is no cause for any alarm on the verdict of the Supreme Court to strike out his appeal to inspect the central server of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The apex court had in a judgment held that Atiku’s request could not be granted because it was brought after parties have joined issues on the existence or otherwise of the server. In the unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Chima Nweze, it said the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal was in order…
The two-day retreat hosted by President Muhammadu Buhari came to an end on Tuesday, with a charge from the President to the Ministers-designate to rise to the challenging responsibilities of Ministerial office. The second and final day kicked off with a presentation on Cabinet Processes and Procedures, by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha. This was followed by a presentation by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, on aligning government policies with the ideology, manifesto and campaign promises of the ruling party. Subsequent presentations touched on Budgeting, Civil Service…
Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has come under heavy criticism on social media after he supported the assault on a former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu in Germany. Ekweremadu who was attending a cultural event by the Ndi-igbo Germany community as a speaker/special guest of honour was on Saturday beaten up and egged publicly by members of IPOB. Mr Kanu, in a broadcast to members on Sunday, pledged N1 million reward for information on the foreign travel plans of all the governors in the South East region and the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai.…
The Presidency, on Monday reacted to reports that the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, has forwarded her letter of retirement to President Muhammadu Buhari. Reports had on Monday morning emerged that Oyo-Ita sent in her retirement letter following pressure from her immediate family to retire over alleged N3 billion contract scam. The report had said Oyo-Ita bowed to family pressures and sent in a letter on Sunday, offering to proceed on retirement despite her consistent denial of involvement in any scam. But, reacting, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said that…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State has suspended three of its members for “mortgaging the overall interest of the party and its teeming supporters.” The members, who are also officials of the party, are Alhaji Aliyu Bakari (Adamawa Central Zonal Vice-Chairman), Alhaji Saidu Naira (State Financial Secretary) and Alhaji Babangida Talase (Party Chairman for Mayo-Belwa Local Government Area). In a press statement issued in Yola by the state Publicity Secretary, Hon Mohammed Abdullahi, the APC said the three sabotaged the interest of the party by approaching the state governorship election tribunal to withdraw the party’s petition against the…
Northern youths under the auspices of United Northern Youth and Students (UNYS) have endorsed former Lagos State governor and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for Presidency in 2023. The group also condemned the call by Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai for the abolition of power rotation in the country. Coordinator of the youth group, Comrade Jabir Maiturare, who addressed a press conference in Kaduna on Friday, said Tinubu has contributed immensely to the North politically, particularly his coordination of the South West for an overwhelming support that brought about the victory of President Muhammadu…
World football governing body, FIFA has banned former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, for life. Siasia was banned from all football-related activities by FIFA after being found guilty over bribery and attempt to manipulate matches at the international level. A statement from FIFA reads: “The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has found Mr. Samson Siasia, a former official of the Nigeria Football Federation, guilty of having accepted that he would receive bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics. “The formal ethics proceedings against Mr. Siasia were initiated on 11…
The Federal Government on Friday raised the alarm over alleged plans by the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, to seek asylum. The government specifically said his actions in India demonstrated malicious intents that were capable of embarrassing the governments of Nigeria and India. A statement issued in Abuja by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Grace Isu Gekpe, entitled: “The repatriation of Ibraheem El-Zakzaky from India”, said the wife of the IMN leader also antagonised the Indian and Nigerian security agencies and accused them of killing her children to win international sympathy as…
President Muhammadu Buhari has commended Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State for progress in the state. He gave the commendation in Daura on Thursday. “Thank you, Governor Masari, for taking care of the people of my constituency,’’ he said, while commissioning the re-designed and re-constructed Fago-Katsayal-Kwasarawa-Jirdede-Koza Road during his visit to the state. The road, covering about 38 kilometres and linking four local government areas, was first constructed by the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund, which was then headed by President Buhari, and it was extended to Dangwara, Jirdede and Koza towns. The road has the benefit of increasing mobility…
