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EFCC raises charges, re-arraigns Fayose’s ally

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EFCC raises charges, re-arraigns Fayose’s ally

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has increased the charges against Abiodun Agbele,  an ally of the former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, from 11 to 24.

The EFCC had in 2016 arraigned Agbele,  alongside a former Minister of Defence for State, Musliu Obanikoro; Sylvan Mcnamara Limited; Lt. A.O Adewale; Tunde Oshinowo and Olalekan Ogunseye (all at large) on 11 charges of money laundering to the tune of N1. 219bn.

The EFCC said the money was part of N4.7bn allegedly transferred from the Office of the National Security Adviser in the Central Bank of Nigeria.

In the amended charges, Agbele,  Sylvan Mcnamara Limited,  De Privateer Ltd, and Spotless Investment Ltd were listed as the first to fourth defendants.

The EFCC accused Agbele of indirectly accepting N1.219bn cash from Obanikoro on behalf of Fayose in June 2014 without going through a financial institution.

The EFCC said he committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011(As Amended) and punishable under Section 1503) of the same Act.

The EFCC also accused Agbele of aiding De Privateer to commit an offence to take possession of N200m which formed part of N1.219bn,  “proceeds of money laundering on behalf of Ayo Fayose, contrary to section Section 18(A) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 18 of the same act.”

When the charges were read to him during the proceedings on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, Agbele pleaded not guilty.

At the resumed trial,  a former Central Bank of Nigeria’s official,

Aliyu  Mukadas, while being led in evidence by counsel for the EFCC, Wahab Shittu(SAN), told the court that a total sum of N4.15bn was paid to Sylvan Mcnamara Limited’s account.

Obanikoro had, during the proceedings in November 2023, told the court that  Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd’s account “was created to deal with the issue of Boko Haram in Lagos. The account was created by Taiwo Kareem and was used for the purpose of disbursing funds for election.”

On Tuesday, the ex-CBN official, Mukadas, stated that money was paid in trances to Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd’s account in Diamond Bank.

The retired CBN staff also confirmed that the National Security Adviser maintained an account with the apex bank meant to fund security operations and not elections.

He said, “I worked with CBN for 30 years at its Abuja branch and banking services department where I retired last year.

“We effected payments to all ministry or departments. The Office of the National Adviser is one of the agencies having an account with the CBN.

“The purpose of the NSA’s account is for security operations; not for election purposes.

“We paid N200m to Sylvan Mcnamara Limited through Diamond Bank.

We also paid N2bn, N700m, N1bn and N225m into Sylvan Mcnamara Limited.”

When asked if he knew what the money was used for, Mukadas replied that he was not aware.

During cross-examination by Agbele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), Mukadas confirmed to the court that the payment mandate was verified before the payments were made.

When asked if the payment mandate showed the purpose for which the funds were to be paid to the company, the retired CBN official said, “For services rendered.”

He, however, said he had no suspicion the money was for fraudulent purposes.

Another witness called by the EFCC,

a former Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank, Peter Amagbo, denied that the bank funded  Fayose’s re-election campaign.

He said, “We did not fund election for Ekiti State. We didn’t have any meetings with my chairman and Fayose. I have never seen Agbele before. I met Fayose once as MD/CEO. My second meeting with him was an ex-governor during a friend’s father’s funeral.”

Amagbo informed the court that the bank was with the state before the emergence of Fayose and sustained that during his tenure.

He said, “We had a relationship before Fayose and it was maintained during his time. “

When asked if he was privy to all conversations or interactions between Fayose and the bank, he said, “No. The governor deals with people in their location.”

When further asked if he was in the position to know if the bank had promised to assist Fayose, Amagbo said, “I am the head of the management of the bank. The chairman is a part-time member of the management.  He needs my approval to do that and he knows that we do not sponsor elections.”

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba adjourned the matter till May 2, 2024, for the continuation of trial.

FG begins talks with aircraft lessors

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FG begins talks with aircraft lessors

The Federal Government has said it is currently discussing with aircraft leasing and manufacturing companies in a move to stimulate local investments in the country’s aviation sector.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this information in a statement released on Tuesday evening via X (formerly Twitter).

Keyamo said the significance of aircraft leasing, especially dry leasing, was a key factor in enhancing the operations of local operators in the airline industry.

He mentioned that major airlines worldwide relied on dry leasing, as no airline or government could fully afford to purchase its entire fleet of aircraft.

The minister stated that the establishment of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities would propel the growth and efficiency of Nigeria’s aviation industry.

Keyamo mentioned ongoing efforts to attract investors for these facilities, acknowledging their importance in bolstering the aviation sector.

“We are determined to go far and wide to woo aircraft leasing companies and aircraft manufacturers to come to our aid. There is no shame in doing this now since we lack the capacity to produce our own aircraft or to purchase them,” said Keyamo.

Further, minister Keyamo urged the government to provide an enabling environment that will allow potentisl foreign investors to thrive.

He noted, “Should the government completely abandon local operators to fend for themselves? What can the government do to help in this regard? It is simple: The government should provide the enabling environment for these businesses to thrive by providing assurances to aircraft manufacturers and leasing companies around the world that their aircraft are safe within the country if they lease them to our businesses here; that includes assurances and guarantees that these creditors can secure their assets anytime there is a default.”

“This is in line with the Cape Town Convention, to which Nigeria is a signatory. It is our duty as the government to provide this comfort and assurance to the potential lessors. We are currently on top of that, and the package will be revealed soon. The lack of this is one big factor that has led to the high mortality rate of airlines in Nigeria in the last 40+ years. There are other factors, too,” the minister declared.

Nigeria’s agric exports facing rejections overseas – WTO DG

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Nigeria’s agric exports facing rejections overseas – WTO DG

The World Trade Organisation says Nigeria has lost its leading position in the agriculture export markets because its agricultural commodities do not meet the sanitary and phytosanitary requirements of the foreign markets.

According to WTO, despite the abundance of arable lands and increased investments, the nation has transitioned into a net importer of farm produce that was previously cultivated domestically, undermining efforts aimed at ensuring food sustainability.

The Director-General, WTO, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, disclosed this in Abuja at the launch of seven trade support programmes initiated by the WTO-ITC to boost the development of Nigeria’s trade and industry standards.

The initiatives namely the Standards Trade Development Facility, Digital Trade Initiative support, Women Exporters Entrepreneurship support, National Trade Portal and cotton development initiative aim to provide technical support to strengthen food safety, animal and plant health capacity in developing countries, address challenges of e-commerce digital trade divide and establish a world-class technology centre for all trade-related data and information in Nigeria.

She said, “We are launching today with STDF, ITC, and the NEPC, a project to help with international safety and quality certification for sesame and cowpeas or black-eyed peas. The agriculture sector in Nigeria has the potential to be a major driver of export diversification and job creation – but too much of this potential remains unrealized, due to a variety of barriers. In fact, Nigeria has not only lost out in agricultural export markets, it is a net food importer spending about billions a year on goods, many of which we can also produce here. Some of Nigeria’s unrealised potential has to do with trade-related problems on the supply side – and that is what this project is seeking to rectify.”

Specifically, the WTO DG said Nigerian cowpea and sesame exports were increasingly facing rejections in several destination markets due to non-compliance with international SPS requirements.

She said the failure to comply with regional, global and import country sanitary and phytosanitary standards has resulted in loss of sales, revenue, and hard currency due to export rejects.

Last week, the former finance minister charged Nigeria and other African countries to improve the quality of their shea exports to international standards.

She added, “Nigeria is the world’s largest producer and consumer of cowpeas. Sesame is primarily an export crop, and Nigeria is the world’s fourth leading producer, exporting to the EU, Türkiye, Japan, South Korea and other Asian markets. However, Nigerian cowpea and sesame exports have increasingly faced rejections in several destination markets due to non-compliance with international SPS requirements.”

She said for example, “Nigeria accounts for over a third of Japan’s sesame imports – but health and safety inspections during the past few years have found instances where pesticide residue levels were nearly double the maximum residue limits permissible from 2019 to 2021.

Hence to tackle the challenges, Okonjo-Iweala said the WTO was partnering with relevant stakeholders to build the capacities of stakeholders across the sesame and cowpeas value chains to better understand market access requirements and improve agricultural practices such as pesticide application, hygiene techniques, harvest and post-harvest methods, and food safety.

She said the project which would be implemented with $1.2mn funding would improve the country’s non-oil export.

On her part, the minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Aniete, said the ministry was putting in place policies and mechanisms that would facilitate and enhance trade, while also removing all the bottlenecks hampering trade and investment.

She further stated that the ministry had started rolling out the N50bn Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme through the Bank of Industry, targeting various economic players.

She added that a N150bn intervention through the FGN MSME and Manufacturing Sector Fund, providing low-interest loans that are pivotal for scaling businesses and spurring job creation would commence very soon.

“We are achieving this by facilitating a strong enabling environment for businesses to thrive, developing robust policies and reforms, increasing access to financing, widening access to global markets, driving investments, and creating job opportunities, all in line with the vision of Mr President.

“In 2024 we are focused on improving infrastructural capacity such as power and transport, as well as soft infrastructure such as transparent regulation, policy consistency, the rule of law, and a culture of efficient collaboration and synergy among various government agencies and offices. We believe this will facilitate an environment where business operations are not hindered by red tape but can continue to thrive.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Nonye Ayeni, explained that the project expected to last for three years would enhance the quality and standard of sesame and cowpea through the institution of good Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary conducts.

She disclosed that in 2022, the worldwide value of sesame exports and its value chain amounted to $7.35bn, projected to surge to $9.27bn by 2032. Similarly, cowpeas were valued at $7.2bn in 2023, with an anticipated rise to $9.43bn by 2028.

“This project, STDF 845, will therefore enhance the quality and standard of sesame and cowpea through the institution of good Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary conducts, Good Agricultural and Warehousing Practices, packaging/labelling and excellent storage systems. All these are expected to forestall frequent contract cancellations and loss of business opportunities while allowing a significant increase in global acceptance of the items and for better quality of these products consumed locally

“This project is designed to last for three years to enhance the integrity of the cowpea and Sesame value chain from Nigeria. Therefore, the focus lies on improved practices that will enable Nigerian stakeholders to comply with Maximum Residue Levels of selected pesticides used in Cowpeas and Sesame and Microbiological contamination with Salmonella (Sesame). Overall, it will improve the regulatory and control system as well as farming and processing practices applied for Cowpea and Sesame,” she concluded.

Shaibu denies evading impeachment notice, Catholic church wades in

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Shaibu denies evading impeachment notice, Catholic church wades in

he Office of the Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, on Tuesday, denied that an impeachment notice was served on the deputy governor by the state House of Assembly.

It denied the allegation made by the lawmakers on Monday that Shaibu was evading service, leading to the lawmakers’ decision to publish the impeachment notice in a daily newspaper.

The state Assembly last Wednesday commenced impeachment proceedings against Shaibu, accusing him of perjury and leaking the government’s secrets.

The impeachment move is believed to be the latest development in the rift between Shaibu and his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki.

There had been an uneasy calm between the deputy governor and his principal since last year when Shaibu declared his interest to join this year’s Edo governorship race.

The Assembly directed its Clerk to serve Shaibu with the impeachment notice, saying he had seven days to respond.

However, the Assembly, on Monday, alleged that the Deputy Governor was evading service and therefore decided to serve him by substituted means, through a newspaper publication.

However, the deputy governor’s office denied the claim by the Assembly.

In a letter, dated March 12, addressed to the House of Assembly, Shaibu’s Personal Assistant, Charles Olubayo, chided the Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, over the allegation of evading impeachment notice.

Olubayo said, “The Office of the Deputy Governor, Edo State wishes to draw your attention to the inaccuracies and misleading information that emanated from the plenary session of Monday, March 11, 2024, wherein Mr. Speaker directed that the impeachment notice be served on the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, through newspaper publications, The Nigeria Observer, and other national dailies, ‘sequel to the refusal of the Deputy Governor to acknowledge the impeachment notice’.

“Mr. Speaker was quoted to have also stated at the said plenary that ‘The action became necessary because the Deputy Governor refused to

acknowledge an earlier impeachment notice sent to him through the Clerk of the House’.

“We wish to state categorically that no impeachment notice was ever served on the Deputy Governor, let alone refusing to acknowledge the impeachment notice.

“The Deputy Governor has since March 3, 2024, travelled out of Benin to Abuja and has not returned to Benin since the said March 3, 2024.

“The Clerk never saw the Deputy Governor whether in the Office, at home or anywhere for that matter since the said date; hence, we are surprised that the House resolved to publish the impeachment notice in the Observer and other national dailies.

“One, therefore, wonders where the Clerk or his appointee served him the impeachment notice and he refused to acknowledge it.

“Neither the Clerk nor any person sent impeachment notice to the Deputy Governor which he refused to acknowledge.

“It is therefore our prayer that Mr. Speaker corrects the impression created in the public as the outcome of Monday’s plenary to avoid misrepresentation in this all-important matter.”

Meanwhile, the Catholic Lawyers and six other groups in the Catholic Church, on Tuesday, joined the call on the  Assembly to drop the impeachment proceedings against Shaibu.

The groups presented a joint letter to the House Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, describing the move to impeach Shaibu as “disrespect towards our Archbishop and the intervention of other respected religious and traditional leaders in the state.”

The seven groups are Catholic Action Nigeria; Catholic Lawyers; Catholic Men Organisation of Nigeria; Catholic Women Organisation of Nigeria; Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria; Catholic Girls Organisation of Nigeria and Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria.

Presenting the letter to the Speaker, Agbebaku, in the presence of some principal officers of the House, Steve Apologun, who is the Benin Provincial President of the CMO, said there was a need for peace in the state ahead of the September 21 governorship election.

In their letter, the groups urged the Edo lawmakers to take cognizance of how religious leaders, led by the Archbishop of Benin City, Most Rev. Augustine Akubeze, prevailed upon Shaibu last year to withdraw all court cases he filed to stop his anticipated impeachment.

They appealed for caution “to ensure that your legislative responsibilities are not perceived as a political witch-hunt against the deputy governor due to his political disagreement with the governor.”

“We call for a careful approach to this matter with a focus on dialogue and peace, rather than creating further tension in the state.

 “We would like to draw your attention to the fact that our Chief Shepherd, His Grace, Most Revd Dr Augustine Akubeze, Catholic Archbishop of Benin City, has tirelessly worked towards promoting peace and reconciliation between His Excellency, the Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and his Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

“As part of the reconciliation process initiated by our Archbishop, there was a mutual agreement for the deputy governor to withdraw the legal action that sought to halt the initial alleged impeachment process.

“As Catholic lay faithful and eligible voters, we are saddened by the current impeachment process, which is perceived by the public as a political witch-hunt. This perception reflects disrespect towards our Archbishop and the intervention of other respected religious and traditional leaders in the state.

“Therefore, we humbly request your intervention and alignment with the peace process initiated by our Archbishop and other respected leaders within and outside the state.

“As leaders, our commitment lies in promoting peaceful coexistence and good governance. Once again, we assure you and the well-meaning residents of Edo State that we will fulfil our responsibility in the upcoming gubernatorial election to educate, sensitise, and mobilise our lay faithful and other voters in Edo State on the importance of identifying desirable qualities in prospective candidates and the need to support anyone found with integrity and the ability to deliver on their promises, regardless of political, tribal, and religious affiliations.”

Responding, the Speaker said he was only a servant leader to the other 23 members of the House and he could not take any decision alone.

 “Yes I am the head of this parliament, we are 24 in number, I am a servant to them all. It is the decision they take that I will follow,” the Speaker said.

Sokoto votes N6.7bn for feeding, Jigawa slashes working hours

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Sokoto votes N6.7bn for feeding, Jigawa slashes working hours

The Sokoto State government has earmarked N6.7bn for the feeding of poor and underprivileged persons in the state during the 30-day Ramadan fast.

Governor Ahmed Aliyu disclosed this during the flag-off of the distribution of grains to 18,400 orphans and the destitute across the state at the state Government House on Monday.

He noted that the underprivileged persons would be fed at the 605 Ramadan feeding centres created by the state.

Giving the breakdown of the expenditure, the governor said  N1.2bn was allocated to 244 wards feeding centres while N797.9m was allocated to the existing 335 feeding centres across the state.

“Additionally, N288m would be spent on 26 special feeding centres for people with disabilities.

“Similarly, each of the 18,400 orphans and the destitute will receive bags of rice and millet with N5,000.”

The Sultan of Sokoko, Alhaji Sa’ad Muhammad, thanked the governor for sustaining the Ramadan feeding programme, which was initiated by former governor Aliyu Wamakko.

“It is important for us to be seen doing what is right as leaders. We pray for you because to whom much is given much is expected.

“I assure you, we are hundred per cent in support of your nine-point agenda aimed at transforming the state and helping humanity,” the Sultan said.

He called on the wealthy people to show compassion to the needy.

In a related development, the Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, approved the reduction of working hours for workers in the state by two hours in view of the Ramadan fast.

The decision was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by the state Head of the Service, Alhaji Muhammad Dagaceri.

Dagaceri said workers were expected to report to work at 9 am and close at 3 pm instead of 5 pm from Monday to Thursday.

“Furthermore, workers would report to work on Fridays by 9 am and close by 1 pm as usual,” he said.

He said the initiative was to enable workers to prepare for the break of fast and have time to observe spiritual activities in the holy month of Ramadan.

He expressed hope that the workers would use the Ramadan fast to pray for God’s guidance and blessings.

“It is also our hope that civil servants will use the fast period to pray for the peace and economic prosperity of the state and Nigeria at large,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Emir of Fika, Yobe State, Alhaji Muhammad Idrissa, has called for collective efforts to assist the underprivileged during the holy month of Ramadan.

The Emir, who is also the Chairman, Yobe  Council of Chiefs, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Potiskum.

He urged marketers who hoard and inflate the prices of goods in the state, to have the fear of God and refrain from the practice.

He urged well-meaning individuals and philanthropists to support the underprivileged in communities,  particularly during Ramadan to alleviate their hardship.

The traditional ruler commended the federal and state governments for the distribution of palliatives to Nigerians to ease the economic hardship in the land.

He called on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and other security agencies to intensify efforts to curb drug use and addiction within the state.

Osun alleges plot to attack schools, farm settlements

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Osun alleges plot to attack schools, farm settlements

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, says his administration has uncovered plans by criminals to attack schools and farm settlements in rural communities in the state.

The governor, who raised the alarm in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed on Tuesday, said those behind the plot plan to disrupt the implementation of the infrastructure plan of his administration and cause apprehension in the state.

Adeleke, however, said he had convened a meeting of the state security council to prevent security breaches in any part of the state.

The governor made reference to intelligence snippets of “deliberate mobilisation of criminal elements to the rural areas of the state,” stressing that such reports were alarming and posed serious concerns to the well-being of the Osun people.

He noted that his administration was worried about reports that “those behind the plot are targeting disruption of farming activities through kidnappings and attacks on rural farm settlements.

“It was further revealed that schools are being targeted with abductions and attacks as a way of distracting from the implementation of the safe school initiative and the multi-billion naira infrastructure plan.”

While a meeting of the state security council had been summoned, Adeleke said preliminary directives had been issued to school authorities to take precautions to enhance the safety of pupils and students.

The statement further read, “The Ministry of Education and all education agencies have been ordered to review safety measures in Osun schools in line with the Safe School Initiative.

“In specific terms, school principals and heads are expected to clear overgrown school environments and ensure close liaison with the Parents and Teachers Association to secure their school environments.

“The governor further directs the Food Security Committee to submit an interim report to allow for immediate actions to safeguard farm security and secure farmers as the rainy season knocks on the door.

“We expect the initial report to contain practical and implementable measures to safeguard our farming communities through closer integration and mobilisation of the local hunters and forest rangers.”

The governor, who also announced plans to embark on major reforms of the Amotekun security force, frowned on the internal rivalry and what he called opposition penetration and external intervention that had negatively affected the operation of the Amotekun Corps in the state.

According to him, the Amotekun would be reorganised to make it a truly efficient force to complement the efforts and operation of the police and other security agencies.

He assured the public that his administration had taken preemptive steps to secure schools and farming communities in the state, describing Osun as a peaceful state which would not succumb to attempts to destabilise the peace and harmony among its residents.

“I have summoned a meeting of the State Security Council to firm up all plans. I assure our people that I am on top of the situation. We are committed to securing our school, our farm, and our society.

“No stone will be left unturned to disrupt plans of enemies of progress to plunge the state into a crisis. I urge members of the public to inform security agencies of any unusual movement or activities across the state,” Adeleke said.

Customs release 15 grain trucks seized in Sokoto

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Customs release 15 grain trucks seized in Sokoto

The Nigeria Customs Service, on Tuesday, released to the owners 15 trucks loaded with grains intercepted last week at the Sokoto State border, en route to neighbouring countries.

The Customs said the trucks were intercepted along the Gwadabawa-Illela Road in Sokoto.

The spokesman for the Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command, NCS,  Abdullahi Abubakar, in a statement on Tuesday, said the trucks were released to the owners in compliance with the directive of President Bola Tinubu.

According to the statement, the Comptroller of the Command, Kamal Mohammed, handed over the 15 grain trucks to their owners at the command’s headquarters in Sokoto.

Mohammed charged the traders to reciprocate the President’s magnanimity by ensuring that the grains get to Nigerian markets.

He said, “The management of the Nigeria Customs Service under the leadership of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, in their resolve to fight smuggling in all ramifications has added to the patrol fleet of the command.

“This will go a long way in making the border an unsafe haven for smugglers  and unpatriotic merchants seeking to make money at the detriment of the country.”

In his response, the Secretary of the Grain Sellers Association of Sokoto, Alhaji  Dahiru Ladan, on behalf of the union thanked President Tinubu for tempering justice with mercy and assured that the union would ensure the grains were sold to Nigerian markets.

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Neveah raises workers’ salaries by 44%

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Neveah raises workers’ salaries by 44%

Indigenous commodities export company, Neveah Limited, has announced a 44 per cent increase in the salaries of its employees to ease the burden of economic hardship in the country.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Ibidapo Lawal, in a statement recently revealed that the salary increment would become effective in March.

Nigerians have been facing tough times due to macroeconomic headwinds such as rising inflation, increasing costs of living, and stagnant wages.

Lawal said, “We understand the challenges that our employees are facing, and we want to do everything we can to support them during these difficult times.

“We believe that investing in our employees is not only the right thing to do morally, but it also makes good business sense. Happy and financially stable employees are more productive, engaged, and committed to the company’s success.”

 He stated that while most Neveah employees would receive a salary bump of over 44 per cent on average, some would enjoy a 70 per cent upward review.

Neveah Limited deals in agro commodities, base metals and minor metals and the company exports to over 15 countries within Europe, Asia, and North America.

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FG probes 107 varsities over fake degrees

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FG probes 107 varsities over fake degrees

The Federal Government has invited memoranda from the public as it begins the probe of private universities established in the last 15 years.

The Federal Government initiated the probe following an investigative report by Daily Nigerian journalist, Umar Audu, uncovering certificate racketeering in neighbouring Benin Republic and Togo.

Checks by The According showed that no fewer than 107 private universities were established in the last 15 years.

The Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling set up by the Federal Government would be examining “whether or not private universities established in the last 15 years have in place prescribed facilities, appropriate management structure, adequate funding of programmes, requisite state, and nature of the staff – full-time, contract, adjunct, visiting and other types.”

The committee, in an advertorial published in The According of Tuesday, noted that the probe was “without prejudice to the periodic accreditation exercise of the National Universities Commission.”

“Memoranda from the general public are, therefore, solicited to provide information to the committee to help it make appropriate recommendations to address the menace in line with its terms of reference,” the committee said.

In his investigative report published late last year, Daily Nigerian journalist Audu had narrated how he obtained a degree within six weeks from Benin Republic and even proceeded to embark on the mandatory youth service under the National Youth Service Corps scheme in the country.

Reacting, the Federal Government, on January 9, 2024, said it would launch an investigation into private universities established in the last 15 years.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, made this known in Abuja while inaugurating the Inter-Ministerial Committee on fake degrees and activities of degree mills in the country.

The Committee Chairman, Jibrila Amin, noted that the inter-ministerial committee would “Review the role of any MDA or its officials (including identifying such officials) in the facilitation of the recognition and procurement of the fake certificate in question.”

The committee will also”examine the rules, procedures and processes for recognition and accreditation of foreign universities and programmes by the Federal Ministry of Education; Establish if unapproved foreign institutions (Degree Mills) exist or not in Nigeria in whatever form with their identities and locations if any.”

It is expected to “make appropriate recommendations for review of any rules, procedures, and processes to prevent re-occurrence and sanctions for identified erring officials.

“Make other recommendations that will strengthen the system of recognition, accreditations and quality assurance of degrees in Nigeria and examine the extant rules, procedures and processes for granting provisional licenses to new universities by the National Universities Commission.”

Police grill Primeboy over petition by Mohbad’s wife

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Police grill Primeboy over petition by Mohbad’s wife

The Lagos State Police Command has revealed that Ibrahim Owodunni, aka Primeboy, was interrogated at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, on Tuesday, owing to a petition filed by Wunmi, the wife of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.

According Metro learnt that Primeboy was arrested during a scheduled visit to the SCID alongside Ayobami Fisayo, aka Spending.

A source privy to the development told our correspondent that Primeboy and Spending had been asked to visit the SCID every week since the commencement of the investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.

Primeboy was, however, detained during Tuesday’s visit while Spending was released.

Reacting, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, told our correspondent that the afro singer was questioned over alleged defamation of character and other allegations cited in Wunmi’s petition.

He said, “One of the conditions under which he (Primeboy) was granted bail during Mohbad’s case was that he would come to the state CID every Tuesday to sign just to keep an eye on him so that he wouldn’t run away. So, he came in today and he took longer than usual. This is because Mohbad’s wife wrote a petition against him in which defamation of character was part of it. He was questioned on the allegation. After the questioning, I was told that the DC asked him to go. So, the SCID confirmed to me that he had left the place about five minutes ago (6.12pm).”

Meanwhile, the source disclosed that Primeboy had yet to leave the police facility when he spoke to our correspondent around 8pm.

“It is not true. A lawyer, Barrister Emmanuel, who went to bail him, is still there. The IPO has not released him.”

During its probe, the police declared Primeboy wanted on October 4, 2023, after which he turned himself in two days later.

Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, had filed an application in January at the coroner court sitting in the Ikorodu area of the state, seeking to call more witnesses in the bid to unravel the cause of his son’s death.

The witnesses requested to testify before the court include Primeboy, Spending, and Boluwatife Adeyemo, aka Darosha; all of whom were alleged to have been with the deceased at the material time.

Mohbad died on September 12 at the age of 27, with circumstances surrounding his death sparking controversies on social media.

Being a former record label signee of Marlian Music owned by Naira Marley, Mohbad left the label in February 2022.

The state Police Command had on September 18, 2023, inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe the death.

His death also led to the arrest of Naira Marley and controversial Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, aka Sam Larry, amongst others.

The body of Mohbad was on September 21, 2023, exhumed for autopsy to unravel the cause of his death.

Hundeyin had tweeted in September 2023 that an “autopsy has been concluded” and the police were “awaiting result.”

Meanwhile, Aloba, in November 2023, had stated that nobody should collect his son’s body for burial without his authorisation.

In an interview with According Metro in December 2023, Hundeyin reiterated that the command had not received the report of the autopsy conducted on Mohbad from the pathologists

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