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Kogi Gov's Nephew Docked for N3bn Fraud, Remanded in Prison The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, arraigned one Ali Bello, a nephew of Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court Abuja. Bello was docked alongside Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat, Rashida Bello (at large) on 18 count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation and money laundering to the tune of N3,081,804,654.00 (Three Billion, Eighty One Million, Eight Hundred and Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Four Naira. Bello, Adaudu, Adabenege, Sadat and Rashida (at large) sometime in June, 2020 in Abuja procured E- Traders International Limited to retain the aggregate sum of N3,081,804,654.00 (Three Billion, Eighty One Million, Eight Hundred and Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Four Naira) which sum they reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity.  Similarly, the defendants som...

EFCC Re-arraigns “Adeherself” for Alleged Fraud In Lagos Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, re-arraigned a self-acclaimed social media influencer, Adedamola Rukayat (a.k.a.Adeherself), before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence. The defendant was arrested in June 2020, following intelligence report received by the Commission on the activities of some suspected internet fraudsters in the Lekki axis of Lagos State. She had initially been arraigned on July 6, 2020 before Justice Sherifat Solebo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos. However, the trial could not be concluded before the retirement of the trial judge, thereby prompting the re-assignment of the case to Justice Dada. One of the counts against reads: "Adewale Adedamola Rukayat, Lasisi Wasiu Adeleke (still at large) a...

OCHA Brigade Parade, Charge 20 Suspects To Court For Touting, Illegal Revenue Collection Operation Clean And Healthy Anambra, OCHA Brigade has Paraded and charged over 20 suspects to court for touting and illegal revenue collection in Awka and Onitsha environs. The suspects, aged between 20 and 45, were paraded at the agency's headquarters in Awka where some confessed to have been involved in different touting activities.  Speaking, one of the suspects, Mr. Lukman Paul from Kogi State pleaded for mercy as he resorted to the business after he couldn't find any other means of livelihood.  Mr Paul confessed to have been arrested for the same offence before and was granted bail by a  magistrate who made him promise he was going to be of good behavior and responsible citizen of the state.  Another suspect, Mr. Emmanuel Omah said he is an apprentice sent to pick up goods but was  apprehended by a team of the OCHA Brigade on his way back despite his explanation with ev...

SCARCITY OF NEW NAIRA NOTES: ANAMBRA STATE POLICE COMMAND UNCOVERS PLAN OF PROTEST _Warns mischief makers to desist from it, as police ensure the optimal deployment of human and operational resources towards guaranteeing safety and security in the state_ Anambra State Police Command today 8/2/2023 has uncovered plans by some groups of persons to take advantage of the new Naira notes scarcity to unleash violence in some parts of the State. The Command has described the scarcity as not peculiar to Anambra State alone and noted that the Federal Government is doing everything possible to address the situation.  The Command hereby warns these groups/persons to shelve their planned violence or have the full weight of the law to contend with. The Police, in conjunction with other security agencies, have embarked on confidence-building patrols and ensure the optimal deployment of human and operational resources towards guaranteeing safety and security in the State.  The Command, there...

CASH SHORTAGE: SANWO-OLU APPROVES 50% REDUCTION ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT, CREATES FOOD PALLIATIVE FOR VULNERABLE LAGOSIANS • BRT, LAGRIDE, FMLM, LAGFERRY passengers to enjoy weeklong relief with Cowry Cards • Governor permits fuel stations to operate 24hrs • Governor hails Supreme Court ruling on currency swap I have found it necessary to address the good people of Lagos, following some events in our dear country. The currency exchange and the fuel situation have, no doubt, raised the tension in the land. I commend our dear citizens for your patience and understanding in the face of hardship that you have experienced in recent days. Your resilience has been remarkable. You stood firm in the demonstration of your confidence in our ability to protect your interest in these difficult days. The current situation has had telling effects on States, and we have taken some steps to cushion the effects on your wellbeing. To support you in weathering these stormy days, I hereby announce a 50% cut in ...

 $1.6b Money Laundering Trial:  Former Top  NNPC Officials  Jailed Two Years Justice Nnamdi Digmba of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Wednesday,  February 8, 2023 sentenced the duo of Victor Briggs and Abiye Membere, both former top officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC to two years imprisonment after he found them guilty for “Unethically collecting car gifts as public officials,” an offense which contravenes Section 98 of the Criminal Code Act, They were convicted on Tuesday, February 7 but the court reserved sentencing till today, February 8, 2023.  When the matter resumed today, the convicts through their counsel, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, while O.A Atolagbe who held the brief of lead  prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN,  urged the court to impose custodial sentence on the defendants.  Justice Dimgba sentenced the convicts to two years imprisonment with an option of Two Million Naira fine...

Cartels have been dealt a 'major financial blow' after a cocaine shipment big enough to supply Australia for a year.  The 3.2tonne bust was found in 81 bales of cocaine floating in the Pacific Ocean and has an estimated street value of $500million. The cocaine packaging was bizarrely wrapped with Batman and four-leaf clover logos. It was intercepted by Operation Hydros - a joint mission between New Zealand's police, customs and defence force - who described the haul as their largest ever find by 'some margin'. Australian authorities are 'exceptionally pleased that we have taken this step,' said Greg Williams, head of the NZ Police National Organised Crime Unit. The shipment was taken to New Zealand aboard the Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui and will be destroyed. NZ Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said given the enormous size of the shipment it was probably meant for the Australian market. 'A haul of that magnitude would fill the New Zeal...

 📮The Royal Mail have revealed their new ‘every day’ stamp featuring The King.  The image is the same as the effigy which will feature on coins: a tradition started in 1840 with the world’s first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, which featured a portrait of Queen Victoria based on a design by William Wyon, Chief Engraver at the Royal Mint. The stamp will be available from 4 April.

 In a historic moment this afternoon, King Charles III held an audience with President Zelensky of Ukraine at Buckingham Palace. It was the first time the monarch had met Zelensky, whose people have been battling a brutal Russian invasion for nearly a year. Zelensky’s visit to the UK was a well-planned surprise. The king and the president then met for 45 minutes.     Zelensky’s audience with the king followed a dramatic address he gave to MPs and Peers in Westminster Hall. He thanked Britain for standing with Kyiv “since day one” and for helping repeatedly with arms and training. He was greeted in the packed hall with thunderous applause, and received a standing ovation at the end. He had earlier met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.     In his remarks, Zelensky praised “the spirit of these great islands” led by Winston Churchill under Nazi bombardment. King Charles’s grandfather, King George VI, was Churchill’s essential partner during those dark years.  ...

 President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine made a surprise visit to Britain, welcomed with a hug by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Britain's government announced plans to expand military support for Ukraine to include training its pilots in NATO fighter jets. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet at Number 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, Feb. 8, 2023.   Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Britain Wednesday to meet with officials there as he made his second confirmed trip outside of Ukraine since Russia launched an invasion of the country nearly one year ago.  Zelenskyy’s schedule included addressing Britain’s parliament and visiting Ukrainian troops who are training with British forces. Buckingham Palace said Zelenskyy will visit King Charles at his royal residence in London.  British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also announced that Britain would train Ukrainian pilots on “NATO-standard fighter jets.” He n...

San Mateo County, Calif., has agreed to pay $4.5 million to the family of a Black man who died in 2018 after a sheriff’s deputy repeatedly used a Taser on him during a struggle that began when law enforcement officers saw the man jaywalking on a busy street, the county confirmed on Tuesday. The man, Chinedu Valentine Okobi, 36, died on Oct. 3, 2018, after the struggle that day with deputies from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Department, who had seen him walking in and out of traffic on a busy street in Millbrae, about 15 miles south of downtown San Francisco, officials said at the time. Video made public in 2019 showed one of the deputies using his Taser several times against Mr. Okobi, before he was restrained and became unresponsive. Officials said Mr.Okobi died of cardiac arrest. In 2019, the family of Mr. Okobi, a father and college graduate, filed two federal lawsuits, one on behalf of his mother, and one on behalf of his daughter, alleging that the county and the law enforcement...

This morning, we paid a visit to yesterday's protest victim, who is currently being treated at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta. We sympathised with him and his loved ones over the unfortunate incident and also made a pledge to foot all his medical bills.  Once more, we're appealing to our young ones to go about their daily activities without recourse to social unrest, as we keep doing our best over the lingering situation. We are hopeful that all of this will be a thing of the past as earlier promised. - Governor Dapo Abiodun  EARLIER REPORT: Naira scarcity protest:  Abiodun sues for peace, meets traditional rulers ...says civil disobedience will worsen situation  Following the protests that rocked Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, over cash crunch, on Tuesday, the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, has called on the protesters to stop their protests and allow the outcome  of his engagement with the Bankers Forum and the Central Bank to yield fruit...

 Reactions As Shehu Sani Names Adopted Baby Jordan Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has generated reactions among Twitter users after he revealed the name of his adopted child to be Jordan. On Tuesday, he announced he recently adopted a baby boy who was abandoned by the roadside. He explained the baby who was later rescued by the police was handed over to the Social Welfare Department whose personnel finally handed him over to an orphanage. Sani shared a photo holding his adopted son, Jordan, and the orphanage’s proprietor sitting beside him. He wrote: “This Little Baby Boy was abandoned by the roadside. The Police picked him and handed him over to the Social Welfare Department and the department handed him over to an Orphanage. “I’m now the father and named him Jordan. Mrs Grace by my side is the proprietor of the Orphanage.” But some Muslims argued with each other over the politician’s choice of name for his son while others hailed him and prayed for the young one. @Maxaj...

 NSUK: Fire Engulfs Some Rooms At Old Boys Hostel  ***  A fire incident has consumed seven rooms located on the first floor of the old boys hostel at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK).  According to the Hall Administrator of the hostel Mr. Ibrahim Bala Mohammed, the fire which started around 2:30 am on Tuesday 7th February 2023 was quickly contained with the swift response of the University security and the University Fire Service.  “Sadly, the inferno consumed rooms 65, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 73 and their adjoining conveniences. “Luckily no life was lost in the incident as all the students resident in the hostel were requested to vacate their rooms immediately after the second-semester examination”, Bala added.  Management of the University has already commenced investigations to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the incident to forestall such an occurrence in the future.

N805m Scam: Finally, Senator Nwaoboshi Lands in Prison The Senator representing Delta North in the National Assembly, Peter Nwaoboshi, who has been on the run months after the Court of Appeal Lagos Division convicted and sentenced him to 7 years imprisonment for money laundering, is finally in prison custody.  The lawmaker who was intercepted by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at a Hospital in Lagos on Monday, February 6, was finally remanded in Ikoyi Custodial Centre today, February 8, 2023, to commence his prison term. The Court of Appeal had in a judgement it delivered on July 1, 2022, sentenced him to prison after it convicted him on a two-count charge of money laundering and also ordered the winding up of his two companies, Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd and Suiming Electrical Ltd, in line with the provision of Section 22 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2021, and their properties forfeited to the Federal Government. But the lawm...

SANWO-OLU COMMISERATES WITH FUNKE AKINDELE OVER MOTHER'S DEATH   Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has sympathized with the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Lagos, Ms Funke Akindele over the death of her beloved mother, Dr. RB Adebanjo-Akindele.   Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile on Tuesday said it is often hard to find the right words at a time like this for someone who has lost a beloved person, noting that losing mothers is one of the deepest sorrows for man.   The Governor prayed for peace, comfort, courage and love for Funke, her immediate siblings, the Adebanjo and Akindele families as they go through a most difficult period of mourning of the dead.   He said: “My heart goes out to Funke, friends of the Adebanjo and Akindele families on the demise of their daughter, mother and grandmother, Dr. RB Adebanjo-Akindele who answered the ultimate call today, Tues...