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Police charge BDC operator with N157 million fraud

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Police charge BDC operator with N157 million fraud

A Bureau De Change operator named Atoyebi Bamidele, commonly known as Bam-Bam, was charged by the police on Tuesday before the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly defrauding traders in Alaba Market of N157 million.

Three counts of conspiracy, acquiring, and stealing have been filed against Bamidele, who conducts business as Prosocial International Limited.

By the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, he was brought before the court on charges.

The traders’ plea to the police, sent through their attorney Henry Mejulu, resulted in the defendant’s arrest and arraignment.

The defendant collaborated to perpetrate the crime with other people who are still at large, according to S. O. Ayodele, the police prosecuting attorney, who testified in court during the defendant’s arraignment.

He claimed Bamidele committed the conduct between December 2022 and January 2023, obtaining a total of N157,206,000 through deception while pretending to assist the traders in obtaining the equivalent in US dollars.

According to Ayodele, who testified in court, the defendant obtained the funds from Mrs. Priscilla Oyiowo, a representative of the merchant, via one Obinna Ozuah.

The defendant, according to the prosecutor, allegedly stole his pocketbook and utilized the money for his own use.

The prosecution claims that the offense violated Sections 8(a) and 1(1)(c) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offenses Act, CAP A8 Vol. 1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, and was punishable under Section 1(3),383 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C 38, and Section 390(9) of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

In the meantime, the defendant denied the accusations made against him.

The prosecutor sought the court to detain the defendant to the Nigerian Correctional Service Center until the outcome of the accusations in light of the defendant’s plea of not guilty.

E. A. Alafin, the defendant’s attorney, however, informed the court that he had submitted his client’s bail application and had served notice of it to the prosecution.

He begged the judge to grant his client the most lenient bail conditions possible.

However, the prosecutor argued against the application, saying that he needed to read it first before filing a response.

In order to hear the defendant’s bail motion, Justice Akintayo Aluko postponed the case to October 5, 2023.

The defendant was also mandated to remain in the Nigerian Correctional Service’s custody until the next date, per the judge’s ruling.

100 days: Tinubu has proven to be a capable leader, says Adeyeye

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100 days: Tinubu has proven to be a capable leader, says Adeyeye

 

In his first 100 days in office, Bola Tinubu, the president, has shown that he is capable of leading, according to former minister of state for works Senator Dayo Adeyeye.

In order to mitigate the effects of the removal of fuel subsidies, Adeyeye, the national coordinator of SWAGA, a political organization that campaigned for Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, gave a speech on Tuesday at the distribution of bags of rice to residents in Osogbo, Osun State.

He claimed that the organisation had advised Nigerians to vote for Tinubu in the presidential election because he had the qualities that Nigeria required in a leader to turn around its fortunes.

However, he said that there was no cause for remorse after 100 days in office and that Tinubu’s leadership would continue to advance the nation’s fortunes.

 

“Tinubu has demonstrated tremendous leadership ability over the past 100 days,” he remarked. In India, he (Tinubu) claimed that while Nigeria has people resources, we are lacking in leadership. Now he has returned to offer his services.

“In the past 100 days, he entered the scene and declared the cessation of fuel subsidy payments, which was a massive state-run fraud that had the worst possible effects on Nigeria’s economy. Then he stopped. The results of that are now being seen. We can see that we have contributed to the wealth of other nations. Foreign investors are being drawn in by this choice.

“I think we will see more benefits from the reforms Asiwaju has implemented in the coming months.”

Ayo Omidiran, a state leader of the All Progressives Congress, said SWAGA chose to make food items available for the people in order to make them happy when commenting on the group’s choice to provide food for the citizens of Osun.

Omidiran added that recipients of the kindness were not limited to APC or SWAGA members, but individuals who were not even party members were also given food.

Bandits destroy 200 churches, kill 23 pastors in Kaduna says CAN

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Bandits destroy 200 churches, kill 23 pastors in Kaduna says CAN

In Kaduna, bandits have destroyed 200 churches over the course of the last four years, killing no less than 23 pastors in the process.

This was revealed by Rev. John Hayab, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria’s branch in Kaduna State, on Tuesday during an emergency meeting at the Albraka Baptist Church in the state capital with Musa Garba, the state commissioner of police, and pastors from all around the state.

The PUNCH learned that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss ways to work with the church to address the recent wave of insecurity in the state.

“A Pastor who was abducted on August 8, 2023, informed the CAN leadership that there are over 215 Christians missing in the Birnin Gwani forest, according to the pastor. They are still there, and the pastor informed us that when he was in the bandits’ cave, they asked him to lead prayers for the 215 Christians.

 

“We are requesting that the CP conduct a comprehensive investigation into this matter in addition to many others in order to restore public confidence.

In Kaduna during the past five years, we have lost approximately 23 pastors to bandits. The most recent one involved the murder of Pastor Reverend Jeremiah Wayo in Kujama, a local government area in Chikun, when he was on his way to his farm. He was from Kano State, and the bandits killed him when he was worshipping God in Kaduna. On Monday, he was laid to rest.

The terrible event at Fadan Kamantan then contributed to the total number of God’s servants slaughtered by bandits in Kaduna State.

“Let me tell you this, Commissioner: bandits have burned down almost 200 churches. Over a hundred Baptist congregations have likely closed their doors. The churches are gone from Birnin Gwari to Chikun and Kajuru.

He said: “If you go to many churches, you’ll see pastors who came from churches that closed because they couldn’t keep going.”

Fadan Kamatan’s attack on the St. Rachael Parish was denounced by the commissioner in his response, who also urged the Christian clergy to “watch and pray” for the state’s ability to establish enduring peace.

Bandit attacks, according to Garba, are not unique to the Christian faith alone; over time, the hoodlums have also targeted people of other faiths.

He said that anyone who committed any crime should be treated as a criminal, without regard to whether they were a Christian, a Muslim, or a member of a certain tribe or ethnic group.

I want to send my sincere condolences to the family of the Catholic seminarian who was killed by bandits at Kamantan last week in the Zango Kataf local government region, the man stated. I was deeply moved by that experience. You can see the cavalier nature of our populace. persons capable of murder at random.

It is regrettable that the CAN chairman brought up the 23 clergymen who were killed at various periods in Kaduna State by bandits. It is regrettable.

“However, because crimes know no tribe or faith, they have been occurring not just among Christian clergy but practically everywhere. Criminals are wicked and without sympathy.

“They don’t consider who you are if they want to do what they want to do,” The Imam and his deputy were shot and killed at a mosque while they were praying by bandits in a village in the Ikara local government region just one week prior to the Kamantan event.

“This time around, you know, there is insecurity everywhere in the nation and the entire world. Because of this, Matthew 26:41 warns, “Watch and pray that you may not be enticed; for the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Therefore, all that is left for us to do this time is to pray.

“The security agencies and I are doing everything we can to prevent crimes. That is why I stated that we are acting differently. I took a seat in my office and assessed the situation there.

“Press representatives approached me on the day I took over my position and inquired about my immediate plans. I stated that my goal is to make sure Kaduna citizens can close their eyes as they sleep.

“I called a meeting of all the Divisional Police Officers and asked them if they had heard me when I told the Kaduna people that I wanted them to go to bed with their two eyes closed. Yes, they replied. And I informed them that they would be responsible for carrying it out.

The Commissioner also emphasized the command’s dedication to eliminating crimes in the state and tasked the clergy with constantly providing helpful information to the command in order to safeguard people’s lives and property in the state.

“Don’t be reluctant to provide the police or me with information that will aid in the capture of criminals. However, be careful to only provide accurate information; it would be illegal to provide me with fake information. You have my wrath for that.

“Don’t offer me information that is bad for your enemy because you’re having problems with them and you’re now lying to me about it. Every piece of information needs to be checked and true. I want to reassure you that one of the main goals and objectives of the Police in Kaduna is to protect lives and property.

Regardless of tribe or faith, we are dedicated to that. Police officers are impartial. As a leader, I cannot see being political and declaring that this issue is mine while this one is not,” he continued.

Police areest NDLEA, NSCDC officers for alleged extortion in Imo

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Police areest NDLEA, NSCDC officers for alleged extortion in Imo

NDLEA and NSCDC officers are arrested by the police in Imo for alleged extortion

For allegedly harassing and extorting residents of the state, the Imo State Police Command has detained three officers from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and two from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

This was revealed to reporters on Tuesday in Owerri by the command’s spokesman, ASP Henry Okoye.

A 37-year-old police inspector was detained for the same offense along with the others.

He claimed that the accused had a history of utilizing point-of-sale devices to extort innocent bystanders, particularly the young people of Owerri.

These are security agents operating in secret in Imo under the guise of Operation Search and Flush, harassing and extorting the populace, especially the youth, for sums of money totaling thousands of naira.

He continued, “They use POS, seize, and search the victims’ phones, causing them immense pain.

Okoye gave the public the assurance that steps will be taken quickly to wrap up the investigation and bring the suspects to justice.

Passports should be issued to Nigerians in two weeks, says Minister

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Passports should be issued to Nigerians in two weeks, says Minister

On Tuesday, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, the interior minister, announced that 55,000 of the 200,000 passport backlog had been cleared.

He added that more backlogs would be removed before the end of the two weeks the immigration chief had been granted, and that once the backlogs were eliminated, Nigerians should be able to get their passports in two weeks.

During Dr. Betta Edu’s visit to his office in Abuja, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, he spoke.

This was said in a statement by Afonja Ajibola, the press director for the interior ministry.

 

By refusing them a passport, Nigerians “must not be demoted from being citizens of Nigeria,” he argued.

He reaffirmed his conviction that we must act immediately and said that he receives reports every morning. This morning, he was informed that around 55,000 of the 200,000 passports on hold that he had commanded to be cleared in two weeks had been cleared.

He continued by promising that once the backlogs are cleared, Nigerians will begin to benefit from the effective service of having their passports issued within two weeks of applying.

In his speech, Edu guaranteed access to low-interest loans for the widows of killed members of the Federal Fire Service, Immigration Service, Nigerian Correctional Service, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Additionally, she pledged that skill-building initiatives at the correctional facilities will empower offenders.

“The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Beta Edu, said her Ministry’s Mandate has been expanded to cover more Nigerians, who number roughly 16 million and are vulnerable to insecurity that could force their displacement and result in humanitarian crises,” she said.

Read also: Guber elections: Court to hear suit seeking INEC chairman’s imprisonment Thursday

She added that her government is prepared to step in and offer subsidized loans to the NSCDC, prison officials, men and officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service, and fire service workers’ widows. She claims that a skills acquisition program will allow inmates of correctional facilities to begin receiving similar interventions.

But she added that as the Federal Fire Service is a ministry-supervised organization that also handles disaster response, she will also put her attention there. As part of the collaborative cooperation, the NSCDC’s role in security intelligence will also be active.

Guber elections: Court to hear suit seeking INEC chairman’s imprisonment Thursday

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Guber elections: Court to hear suit seeking INEC chairman’s imprisonment Thursday

A motion to commit Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, to prison for allegedly disobeying a court order, will have a formal hearing on Thursday, September 14, at the FCT High Court in Bwari.

Justice Mohammed Madugu set the date after receiving a committal charge related to a lawsuit filed by plaintiffs’ attorney Michael Ajara with the case number FCT/HC/CV/4068/2023.

Otunba Camaru Lateef Ogidan and Mustapha Rabiu are the lawsuit’s plaintiffs; however, Chief Victor Oye and Prof. Yakubu are its first and second respondents.
Under the direction of Chief Edozie Njoku, the party’s national chairman, Messrs. Ogidan and Rabiu won the positions of National Vice Chairman, South West Geopolitical Zone of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and National Welfare Officer, respectively, at the Owerri Convention on May 31, 2019.

Oye and Mahmood were accused in the application of disobeying and disregarding the court’s interim injunction issued on May 10 that required the parties to the suit to maintain the status quo ante bellum until the September 28 deadline for the substantive matter’s resolution.

In order to promote governorship candidates for APGA in the Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa elections on November 11 that did not originate from Chief Njoku, Mr. Yakubu allegedly refused to acknowledge Chief Njoku as the legitimate national chairman of the party.

According to the report, despite a court injunction, INEC’s director continued to identify Oye as the national chairman of the APGA.

According to the motion, Oye also convened a meeting of the party’s National Executive Council, or NEC, in violation of a court order that forbade him from organising any gatherings or holding conventions or campaigns in the party’s name.

As part of the injunction, Chief Victor Oye was also told to stop posing as the APGA’s national chairman, according to the statement.

When the case was called on Monday, Ajara, the plaintiffs’ attorney, informed the court that the motion had been ripe for hearing and had been served on the INEC chairman on July 13. The court confirmed this information from its records.

Even though Ajara had certified true copies, or CTCs, of the documents for the two respondents, it was almost unable to locate a copy of the certification of service of the contempt proceedings on Oye in the court file.

The Chief Registrar, Joseph Igboyi, was called to the judge’s attention in an effort to clear up the confusion to confirm if he was the one who signed the CTC, and he acknowledged that he was.

The bailiff, Musa Abdulwahab, admitted removing the original copy of the proof of service from the judge’s file when he was asked to show it. The proof of service was supposed to be in the judge’s file.

Mr. Musa never explained why he took the proof of service out of the court file, and this development led to a contentious exchange in court.

In light of this, Justice Madugu postponed Oye’s case until a hearing on September 28.

Nasarawa Assembly probes alleged diversion of palliatives

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Nasarawa Assembly probes alleged diversion of palliatives

Tuesday saw the creation of a seven-person committee by the Nasarawa State House of Assembly to look into allegations of palliative drug diversion by state stakeholders and elected officials.

The House mandated that the committee see to it that everyone guilty of stealing medications intended for the needy is brought to justice in accordance with the law.

The committee was established by the House Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Abdullahi, in response to issues of public interest raised by the Hon. Musa Ibrahim Abubakar (NNPP- Doma South) during the Lafia session of the House.

He claims that there are seven members of the committee: Hon. Abel Bala, the Deputy Speaker of the House, who serves as Chairman; Hon. Musa Ibrahim; Hon. Barr Esson Mairiga; Hon. Hajara Danyaro; Hon. Luka Zhekaba, the Minority Leader of the House; Hon. Daniel Ogazi; and Hon. Danladi Jatau. Barr. Safiya Balarabe serves as the committee secretary.
The committee was given three weeks by the Speaker to conduct a comprehensive investigation and provide a report of its findings to the House for appropriate action.

In his words, “I will allow you three weeks to complete your work and report back to the House, and all those involved must be invited at the committee level.

“It is regrettable and extremely disappointing that some individuals are undermining the noble goals of Mr. President and Governor Abdullahi Sule in easing the suffering of the underprivileged.

Read Also: Fashola Describes His Covert Role in Tinubu’s Government

To lessen the consequences of the subsidy removal, palliatives are used. I don’t understand why certain people diverted the majority of the palliatives for their own and their families’ use.

The Speaker demanded that the committee conduct a comprehensive investigation in order to hold those responsible for the item’s diversion accountable. She claimed that most of the palliatives, particularly rice, were sold to vendors in markets throughout the state.

The notion of forming the committee to investigate the alleged diverting of the palliatives intended for the state’s needy citizens was backed by Hon. Danladi Jatau, Hon. Solomon Akwashiki, Hon. Hajara Danyaro, and Hon. Musa Saidu in their individual comments.

When the problem was first brought up, the representative for Doma South Constituency, Hon. Musa Ibrahim Abubakar, bemoaned the fact that individuals in charge of distribution were stealing the medicines intended for the underprivileged residents of Doma LGA.

He requested cooperation from the Speaker and other House members by forming a committee to look into the alleged diversion of the painkillers.

FG releases unique initiatives to support 1.3m MSMEs in 17 states, FCT grow their businesses

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FG releases unique initiatives to support 1.3m MSMEs in 17 states, FCT grow their businesses

The federal government plans to carry out a number of MSME-focused interventions, with 1.3 million beneficiaries spread throughout 17 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This initiative is intended to supplement the federal government’s efforts to boost the economy and create more jobs. The intervention will be coordinated by the Vice President’s Office’s MSME and Job Creation Unit. A glimmer of hope for MSMEs The interventions, according to a release from the Statehouse Abuja, will feature shared centers for MSMEs offering four markets with 300KVA solar panels and mini-grids to give eight hours of electricity each day to six fashion hubs and two furniture clusters.
Other modifications include automobile painting and drying hubs, as well as cool rooms for seafood storage. Vice President Kashim Shettima has directed that the projects be completed as soon as possible. By December 2023, five of the interventions will be completed and delivered. In addition, 12 further interventions are anticipated to be completed by December 2024. Abia, Rivers, Jigawa, Benue, Borno, Lagos, Ekiti, Niger, Sokoto, Enugu, Gombe, Akwa Ibom, Yobe, Ondo, Osun, Bayelsa, and Imo, as well as the FCT, will gain from the intervention.

Who are the collaborators? The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), and the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) are among the MSME partners working with the Vice President’s Office to carry out these interventions. Other organizations include the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), the Bank of Industry (BOI), the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), the Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). Meet Seun Sangoleye, a young Nigerian woman who is changing the face of infant food in Africa. Meanwhile, here is the story of Seun Sangoleye, the founder and CEO of Baby Grubz, an infant food company founded in 2013. Her journey from computer science degree to entrepreneur nutritionist began in 2012, when she became a mother for the first time and her son refused to eat retail baby foods. In 2013, she decided to launch Baby Grubz, which has grown into a million-naira business with recognition from respectable organizations such as the African Development Bank Group.

Fashola Describes His Covert Role in Tinubu’s Government

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Fashola Describes His Covert Role in Tinubu’s Government

Nigeria’s Ojo The former works and housing minister, Babatunde Fashola, has acknowledged that he holds important positions in the new administration led by President Bola Tinubu. The previous administration claimed that President Tinubu’s administration was producing a new generation of leaders and that he was capable of carrying out his duties as a Nigerian citizen without the need for a title. Under Tinubu’s leadership, Fashola’s advertisements reflect a new position. Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola are the photographers.

APC USA warns protesters against disrupting Tinubu’s visit to UN Assembly

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APC USA warns protesters against disrupting Tinubu’s visit to UN Assembly

Before President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the UN General Assembly on September 20, the US chapter of the All Progressives Congress has warned some Nigerians against holding a rally.

At the UN’s New York headquarters, Tinubu is scheduled to speak during the 78th session of the important UNGA General Debate.

According to the list of speakers provided by the Office of the General Assembly President, he will speak on the first day of the gathering as the fifth African head of state.

The President’s anticipated visit has, however, sparked conflicting reactions, with some Nigerians in the Diaspora declaring they will oppose it.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Chairman of the APC’s US chapter, Prof. Tai Balofin, responded by alleging that the rally’s organiser, suspended party member Adesegun Labinjo, is behind it.

Read Also: Court orders election rerun in Banky W’s federal constituency

Balofin urged restraint and cautioned against harming the nation’s reputation abroad while saying that the issue had been reported to the appropriate authorities.
“It has recently come to our attention that certain individuals are planning to stage a rally during President Tinubu’s visit to the United Nations,” the statement said in part. This planned event is in direct response to a gathering scheduled by Mr. Labinjo, a suspended person claiming to be the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, for September 20, 2023.Concerns about probable disruption and mayhem from the Obidients, who intend to damage the president’s name, have arisen as a result of Mr. Labinjo’s protest. We want to let the public and everyone else who is concerned know that we have taken prompt measures to alert the relevant authorities on this unneeded and potentially disruptive scheme.

“Prof. Tai Balofin, the chairman of the APC in the United States, has warned those who could consider interfering with President Tinubu’s visit or any side events to think twice. He makes clear that anyone breaking the law will be detained and prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law.

“We completely acknowledge and support the freedom of expression and association ideals, which are essential to a democratic society. However, we implore all citizens to utilise these rights sensibly and in a way that does not damage our President’s reputation.

“It is crucial to keep in mind that the conclusion of the election and the legal proceedings has been resolved, and it is now time to accept the decision graciously. People are urged to join in politics through legal channels because the future elections in 2027 will present another opportunity.

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