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 EFCC Arrests 'Pilot' for N1bn Fraud in Kaduna Operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested one Captain Nuhu Haruna  for an alleged criminal breach of trust to the tune of  N1,020,000.000 (One Billion, Twenty Million Naira) only.   The suspect was arrested when a petitioner alleged that sometime in December 2023, he was introduced to the suspect for the purpose of a foreign exchange transaction involving N1,020,000.00. He allegedly paid the money into the suspect's account  to offer him its dollar equivalent. He explained that the suspect furnished him with evidence of payments made which turned out to be false as he never received the dollar equivalent.   Preliminary investigation showed that Haruna, who claimed to be an airline captain, allegedly diverted the money for his personal use by buying properties and vehicles which he intended to use for the start up of his alleged airline company, A...

 PRESS RELEASE DROPPING IGP’S NAME FOR CORRUPT PRACTICES, EXTORTION IN INVESTIGATION UNFAIR, CRIMINAL – FPRO As IGP Issues Strong Warning Against Name Dropping, Extortion by Officers In an effort to maintain the highest standards of integrity within the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has sternly condemned any form of extortion and issued a clear warning to all officers against using or dropping his name for such nefarious activities. The IGP expressed deep concern, emphasizing that such actions tarnish the reputation of his person and the Police Force, thereby eroding public trust. The IGP emphasized that any officer found guilty of leveraging his name for fraudulent activities or extortion will face severe disciplinary measures. He then urged officers to uphold transparency and professionalism, reiterating that the integrity of the Nigeria Police Force is at stake if such is not checked. Furthermore, IGP Kayode Egbet...

 GOV SOLUDO CONFIRMS TOCHI OBI AS  MD/CEO, ANAMBRA HYDRAFORM AND CONCRETE AGENCY  Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Charles  Soludo CFR  has confirmed the appointment of Tochi Assumpta Obi as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Anambra State Hydraform and Concrete Agency. Anambra State Hydraform and Concrete Agency is an agency saddled with the responsibility of producing concrete works such as bricks, interlocking stones, pavements for project, etc. The agency also converts wastes to wealth, using plastics and nylons to produce bricks and blocks, among others. The appointment takes effect from 18th March, 2022.  *SIR PAUL NWOSU* Commissioner for Information, Anambra State. February 20, 2024

 *Police-Led Joint Security Force Burst Insurgents Camp in Achalla, Awka North LGA, Anambra State.* Anambra State Joint Security Force has bursted an insurgents' Camp in Achalla, Headquarters of Awka North LGA of Anambra State. The Operation ordered by the Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye took the insurgents by surprise as they fled with gunshot wounds leaving trails of blood. The hoodlums had disrupted trading at Achalla Market the previous Monday ordering traders to sit at home. This drew the attention of the Security  Apparatus in the State which made the State Police Command to decide on giving them a taste of their own medicine in the early hours of Monday 19th February 2024. The hugely successful operation led to the recovery of five exotic vehicles previously snatched at gunpoint. Also recovered were over 300 rounds of Machine Gun Ammunition and 34 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition for the Ak-47 Rifle. All operatives from various services have returned safely to thei...

 EFCC Arrests Six Suspected Currency Racketeers in Lagos Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested six persons for their alleged involvement in currency racketeering and the sale of new naira notes for commercial purposes. The suspects are: Adebayo Amupitan, Alimat Oyebode, Isiaka Yusuf, Adeoti Folake, Kafayat Yakub, and Bose Lateef. They were arrested at various locations in Lagos, between February 16 and 17, 2024. A total sum of N2,597,000 (Two Million Five Hundred and Ninety-Seven Thousand Naira) was recovered from them. Investigations showed that the suspects specialised in selling new naira notes of different denominations for commercial purposes and financial gain.   They will soon be arraigned in court. More photos below. 

German football legend Andreas Brehme is dead German football legend, Andreas Brehme has sadly passed away aged 63 due to cardiac arrest  Brehme who was the one that scored from the penalty spot to seal victory for West Germany against Argentina in the 1990 World Cup final, died overnight into Tuesday. His partner, Susanne Schaefer said he died suddenly and unexpectedly in the night from a cardiac arrest. His former club, Bayern Munich tweeted : “FC Bayern are extremely saddened by the sudden passing of Andreas Brehme. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends. Andreas Brehme will for ever be in our hearts, as a World Cup winner and, more importantly, as a very special person. He will forever be part of the FC Bayern family. Rest in peace, Andi!”

 ‘Everything’ll be all right — Tinubu’s daughter asks Nigerians to be patient with her father Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, daughter of President Bola Tinubu, says the current economic hardship is not peculiar to Nigeria alone. Speaking with journalists at the 2024 Mawlid Nabiyy of the Lagos state chapter of Aljamahatul Qadiriyyah Islamic Movement, Tinubu-Ojo, said the world is experiencing an economic downturn. However, the president’s daughter, who is also the Iyaloja General of Lagos, urged Nigerians to have patience and keep hope alive. “My message to all Nigerians is to please exercise a little more patience. Everything will be alright; it’s just a matter of time,” she said. “We need to keep our hope alive. There is an economic downturn all over the world, and not in Nigeria alone. But we pray Allah will see us through.” Earlier, her brother, Seyi, provoked a chorus of condemnation on Monday after he urged Nigerians to be patient with the current administration.  In an Instagram ...

 Following the directives of the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, operatives of LAGESC/KAI in a joint enforcement operation with officials of MOE&WR, on Tuesday, mopped up banned Styrofoams plastic containers weighing 90.5kg from stores and markets in Agege, Oshodi, Mushin, Fatai Atere and Ilupeju areas of Lagos State. All the seized items have been evacuated and deposited at the Transfer Loading Station, Marini, Charity Bus stop  Oshodi. More photos below. 

 The Federal Government says it has uncovered 32 routes through which food items are smuggled out of Nigeria.  Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this while addressing a conference on Public Wealth Management held in Abuja on Tuesday, February 20. He said on the midnight of Sunday, February 18, 45 trucks loaded with maize were intercepted while making their way to neighboring countries. “Just three nights ago, 45 trucks of maize were caught being transported to neighboring countries. Just in that Ilela axis, there are 32 illegal smuggling routes. And the moment those food stuff were intercepted, the price of maize came down by N10,000. It came down from N60,000 to N50,000. So, there are forces that are hell-bent on undermining our nation but this is the time for us to coalesce into a singular entity,” he said   Shettima, who acknowledged that Nigeria is passing through turbulent time, assured the people of the country that the pain will not last forever.  He, h...

  The Federal Government has cautioned civil servants who have formed the habit of sharing classified documents to the public to desist or face the law. The warning comes few days after a memo about a huge amount of money to be allocated as subsidy for Hajj which emanated from the office of the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun was seen on the internet. According to Folasede Yemi-Esan, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, her office has commenced moves to ensure that official government documents classified as sensitive are not leaked to the public. in a memo uploaded on the website of the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation which was dated February 19, 2024, Yemi Esan noted that the leakage of such documents have become embarrassing to the government. The memo tagged HCSF/3065/VI/189 reads, “It has been observed with dismay, the increase in the cases of leakage of sensitive official documents in Ministries, Departments and Agencies. This is very embarrassing...

 Ribadu orders clamp down on forex speculators as naira hits N1,800 to dollar Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, has instructed operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), to clamp down on forex market speculators. Ribadu noted that this is part of effort to safeguard Nigeria’s foreign exchange market and combat the activities of speculators, both domestic and international, operating through various channels. Ribadu spoke through Zakari Mijinyawa, the head of strategic communications in the Office of the National Security Adviser, in Abuja, on Tuesday. He maintained that the NSA had to wade in at this time as some individuals and organisations had continued to undermine proactive measures of the CBN to stabilise the foreign exchange market and stimulate economic activities. “In a concerted effort to safeguard Nigeria’s foreign exchange market an...

 ASSEMBLY SACKED AND REPLACED THREE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CARETAKER CHAIRMEN IN BENUE 20th February, 2024       The Benue State House of Assembly today Sacked the Caretaker Chairman of Ukum, Katsina-Ala, and Gboko local government for  gross misconduct, embezzlement of local government revenue funds and indulging in unwholesome activities unbefitting of the office the Chairman of a Local Government. Reading the letter on the floor of the Assembly, the speaker, Honorable Aondona Dajoh put the question before the house seeking their approval which they gave expressly that the chairmen should be sacked and handover to their deputies immediately. The house has gone ahead to confirm the names sent to them by the executive Governor, His Excellency,  Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, PhD in this manner, 1. Hon. Tervershima Abraham Agber is sacked as Caretaker Chairman and replaced by Hon. Verlumun Avar, for Gboko local government.  2. Rev. Pastor Gideon Haanongo...

 Erosion Control: Idemili South Chairman seals Burrow Pits In Oba  By Uzo Ugwunze The Idemili South Local Government Area (ISLGA) Chairman, Mrs Amaka Obi, has ordered the closure of the burrow pits at Oba community which are in danger of causing erosion disaster in the vicinity.  Mrs Obi who paid unsheduled visit to the borrow pits at Oba in the company of the councilors, the President General Oba Patriotic Union (OPU), Engr. Uzor Ejiofor and the Oba Youth President, Ebuka Chibueze warned against illegal excavation of sand from any part of Idemili South. She expressed surprise that despite previous warnings and arrests made at such burrow pits to discontinue their illegal activities and as a measure toward safeguarding a secure environment, the people continued to excavate sand from the erosion prone areas for personal gain. Mrs Obi said that most of the environmental hazards and degradation suffered in the state were direct impact of excavation activities ongoing at borr...

Putin Gifts Kim Jong Un, Car as a Sign of ‘Special personal Relations' Russian President, Vladimir Putin has gifted a car to his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong Un, North Korean state media said Tuesday, February 20.   The Russian-made car for Kim’s personal use was delivered Sunday by a Russian delegation, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong thanked Putin on her brother’s behalf and said, “the gift serves as a clear demonstration of the special personal relations between the top leaders of the (North Korea) and Russia,” according to KCNA.   The US government is increasingly concerned about the long-term implications of a new level of strategic partnership between North Korea and Russia, according to reports. Russia has repeatedly used North Korean-supplied short-range ballistic missiles at Ukrainian targets in recent weeks. In January, high-ranking North Korean and Russian diplomats met in Moscow in advance of what North Korea...

 Customs intercepts four trucks of food items in Kano The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kano Area Command has intercepted four trucks of food items as part of efforts to tackle smuggling.  The spokesman of the Service, Saidu Nuradeen, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, in Kano. He said that personnel of the Service intercepted the vehicles transporting a significant quantity of food items intended for illegal export along Hadejia – Taura – Ringim axis in Jigawa.  Nuradeen listed the items to include 1,505 cartons of big and small sized dried fish, 17 bags of local variety rice and two bags of beans. According to him, the seizure underscores the relentless effort of the Service to enforce the border closure policy aimed at safeguarding the nation’s economy and ensuring food security. “Smuggling undermines legitimate trade channels, poses risks to public health and deprives the government of much needed revenue,” he said “The NCS reiterates its un...

NAF TROOPS APPREHEND NOTORIOUS KIDNAPPER ISAH ABDUL IN TAKAI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KANO STATE Troops of the Nigerian Air Force deployed at Durbunde in Takai Local Government Area (LGA) of Kano State have apprehended a 35-year-old high-profile kidnapper known as Isah Abdul. The arrest was carried out on 19 February 2024 at about 6.30pm in a well-coordinated operation following credible intelligence on the hideout of the notorious kidnapper and his boys who were responsible for several kidnapping incidences in the area.  Preliminary investigation has since revealed that Isah Abdul and his gang were responsible for the abduction of one Yakubu Ibrahim Tagaho, popularly known as "Sarkin Noman Gaya," on 6 April 2023, from his residence in Tagaho Village in Takai Local Government Area. The victim was, however, released a month later after a ransom of N30,000,000=00 was collected. In December 2023, the same criminal abducted 2 sisters and 3 others in the same village and released ...

 Following his visit to Obalende Under-Bridge along with the Commissioners and Special Advisers for Environment and Water Resources and Transport, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu issued a directive to demolish illegal structures and evict occupants at Obalende Under-Bridge, identified as a source of environmental and health nuisances.  Subsequent to the demolition exercise by Lagos State Building Control Agency(LABSCA), the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) Operations Unit has started the cleanup, using mechanical shovels and tipper trucks. This action, part of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu Administration’s THEMES+ Agenda, aims to reclaim and transform the area for the broader community’s benefit, moving beyond its past as a haven for a few illegal occupants. This initiative is a significant step towards achieving a greater and cleaner Lagos. More photos below.