Tag: Nigeria
-
Police launch manhunt for suspect who puts Viagra in church water tanks
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched a manhunt for a Bulawayo teen who mischievously sprinkled Viagra in a church water tank during a service.
The suspect has been identified as 18-year-old Tracy Sibanda, and he reportedly carried this out at the Church of International Disciples in Thorngrove, Bulawayo, during the easter celebration.
It was gathered that the wild idea came to her mind and she decided to follow through with it. Social media users have expressed mixed sentiments to the teenager suspected to have laced church water with Viagra.
-
Tinubu orders release of funds for procurement of vaccines
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday ordered the release of funds for procurement of vaccines for Nigerians.
The president, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, gave the directive when a delegation from GAVI Alliance led by the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Sania Nishtar, visited him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He directed the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, to work with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, on the release of necessary funds for the procurement of vaccines.
He assured the GAVI delegation of Nigeria’s commitment to fulfilling its outstanding counterpart contributions for routine vaccines for 2023.
President Tinubu urged the Geneva-based organisation to collaborate with potential Nigerian vaccine manufacturers to ensure equitable access to life-saving vaccines for children and adults in the country.
He said: “We have capable and talented people who can make the necessary contributions to the production of vaccines in Nigeria and the rest of Africa.”
On his part, Nishtar stressed that the partnership on local vaccine production has become necessary due to the challenges faced by developing countries, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious disease outbreaks.
He pledged a $250 million grant for local vaccine production in Nigeria.
-
EFCC Arrests 39 for Suspected Internet Fraud in Benin City
EFCC Arrests 39 for Suspected Internet Fraud in Benin City
Operatives of the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, April 4, 2024 arrested 39 suspected internet fraudsters at different locations in Benin City.
The suspects were arrested following actionable intelligence on their suspected involvement in computer -related fraud.Items recovered from them include eight exotic cars – three Mercedes-Benz GLK, one Mercedes Benz C300 4 Matic, two Lexus ES350, Toyota Venza and Toyota Camry cars. Others are laptops and phones
The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
Visit www.efcc.gov.ng for more stories
-
Nigeria’s Forex Reserves Lose $693.5m After CBN Resumption Of Dollars Sales To BDCs
Nigeria’s gross foreign exchange reserves have shed at least $693.5m since the Central Bank of Nigeria resumed the sale of dollars to approved Bureau de Change dealers, THE WHISTLER can report.
Data analysed by THE WHISTLER from the ‘movement in reserves’ published by the apex bank shows that gross reserves fell by 18.5 per cent from $34.2bn held on March 21, 2024, to $33.57bn on April 2, 2024.
As of March 21, when reserves were $34.2bn, the CBN was still making preparations to resume the sale of FX to BDCs.
The CBN announced in a circular referenced TED/DIR/CON/GOM/001/072 dated March 25, that it will resume the sale of $10,000 to qualified BDC operators at the rate of N1,251 per dollar,
The lender prohibited beneficiaries from selling the forex above 1.5 per cent spread above the purchase price.
“We write to inform you of the sale of $10,000 to each BDC at the rate of N1,251/$1. The BDCs are to sell to eligible end users at a spread of not more than 1.5 per cent above the purchase price,” the bank said.
Checks by THE WHISTLER shows that on March 26, which was a day after the announcement, forex reserves fell from $34.26bn held on March 21 to $33.57bn, representing a fall of $311.9m.
The Central Bank Governor, Olayemi Cardoso had vowed to crash the price of the dollar which had gained more than 100 per cent against the naira since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took over office last year.
In February 2024, the naira exchanged at N1,900 against the dollar, which the apex bank governor said was an unfair valuation of the currency.
Cardoso had, on several occasions, accused BDC operators and speculators of fixing the currency at the BDC segment of the FX market.
Since the resumption of sales to BDCs, the naira has recovered by 15.5 per cent from N1,480 per dollar on March 25, 2024, to N1,250 as of the close of trade on April 4, 2024.
Nigeria’s Forex Reserves Lose $693.5m After CBN Resumption Of Dollars Sales To BDCs is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
-
Kidnappers kill Edo bank manager after reportedly collecting N8m ransom
Kidnappers have killed the manager of the Union Bank, Igueben branch in Edo State, Mr. John Otobo, after they allegedly collected N8m ransom.
Details of the incident are still sketchy at the time of filing this report but it was gathered that his body was found in the bush after ransom payment.
According to one, the deceased was kidnapped a few days ago between Ugbegun and Uromi, while on his way home from work.
A member of the community, Odion Humphrey, confirmed the sad news in a Facebook post on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.
“The entire Udo community say goodbye to you, Mr. John Otobo, the Branch Manager Union Bank Igueben. You will forever remain in our heart. As for your killer, may they never know peace all the days of their lives. May Almighty God grant u eternal rest, and may ur soul and the souls of every other faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace, Amen,” he wrote.
-
BREAKING: Kano State Government Drags Ex-Governor Ganduje, Wife, Six Others To Court For Bribery, Diversion Of Funds
The Kano State Government has dragged former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat Umar, Umar Abdullahi Umar and five others to court on eight count charges relating to bribery allegations, misappropriation and diversion of funds among others running into billions of naira.
This was contained in a charge sheet dated 3rd April, 2024 with a 15 prosecution witnesses list attached, and obtained by SaharaReporters.
The listed defendants are: Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Hafsat Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.
One of the counts said that Abdullahi Umar Ganduje Sometimes between the period of January 10, 2016 or there about, at Kano in the Kano Judicial Division, while serving as the Governor of Kano State and being a public servant in the government of Kano State corruptly asked for and received the sum of $ 200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) being benefit for himself from one of the beneficiaries of contracts awarded by the Kano State Government on his instruction and approval as part of his function as the Governor of Kano State.
The document said such action amounted to official corruption contrary to and punishable under Section 22 of The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended), Law No2 of 2009, Laws of Kano State of Nigeria.
The count document reads further: “That you, Abdulahi Umar Ganduje Sometimes between the period of February 10, 2017 or there about, at Kano in the Kano Judicial Division, while serving as the Governor of Kano State and being a public servant ni the government of Kano State Respondents agreed to do or caused to be done an illegal act, to wit, dishonestly and/or corruptly to your own advantage collected a kick back of the sum of $ 213,000 (Two Hundred And Thirteen Thousand United State Dollars) being money generated from people and entities seeking or holding the execution of Kano State Government contact and or project for the remodeling of Kantin Kwari textile market as a bribe through one of the contractors (agent).
The document stated that the former governor thereby committed the offence of official corruption contrary to and punishable under Section 22 of The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended), Law No2 of 2009, Laws of Kano State of Nigeria.
-
Budget padding: I’m not behind Ningi’s suspension,’ Akpabio tells Falana
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said on Thursday he was not behind the suspension of the Senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi.
Ningi was suspended by the Senate on March 12 for claiming that the 2024 budget was padded with N3.7 trillion.
The lawmaker had through his lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), asked the leadership of the Red Chamber to lift the suspension.
However, Akpabio in a letter titled: “Re: Request to Lift the Suspension of Sen. Abdul Ningi,” signed by his lawyer, Umeh Kalu (SAN) and addressed to Falana, said the decision to suspend Ningi was made by the Senate.
The letter read: “We are solicitors to Sen. Godswill Akpabio and write you in respect of the above subject matter at his instance.
“Your letter of March 27, with the above caption has been referred to us with instructions to react thereto.
“We have carefully read through your analysis of the facts and circumstances leading to your client’s suspension from the Senate.
“We are unable to find reason in your verdict of our client’s sole culpability in the said suspension. We therefore plead non est factum for our client.
“In addition to the above and contrary to the contents of your letter under reference, our client was at no time your client’s accuser, prosecutor, and judge.
“Our client’s role at the session of the Senate that led to your client’s suspension was and remains the statutory role of a Legislative House Presiding Officer.
“Which role equally includes pronouncing the majority decision of the Legislative House at the end of debate and voting.
“Permit us to mention your attempt at drawing our client’s attention to legal authorities and pronouncements of our Courts of record on the unconstitutionality of suspending members of Legislative Houses.
“Which attempt we dare say was unhelpful, due to your failure or refusal to make available, the relevant particulars of the said Court decisions in your letter.
“You may wish to provide these legal authorities which you have alluded to, bearing in mind that every decision of a court emanates from its peculiar facts, circumstances, and extant laws.
“In as much as it may not be necessary to canvass herein all the remedies available to our client, in response to your threats of a court action and petition to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
“It is important we mention that legislative proceedings are guided by rules.
“We urge you to give due consideration to the legal issues raised in this letter and be guided accordingly in your further and future action in respect of this matter.”
-
Court Adjourns Arraignment of Binance Executive till April 8
Court Adjourns Arraignment of Binance Executive till April 8
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on Thursday, April 4, 2024 adjourned arraignment of Binance Holdings Limited to April 8, 2024 for a ruling on the service of charges on the company.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Binance alongside Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla on five –count charges bordering on tax evasion, currency speculation and money laundering to the tune of $34,400,000 (Thirty-four Million, Four Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).
At Thursday’s sitting, defence counsel Mark Mordi SAN raised an objection against the arraignment of the second defendant without the prosecution properly serving the charges on the first defendant. He, however, noted that his client was not an agent, director or representative of the company in the country, and as such could not be serve on behalf of the first defendant.
“My Lord, it is a joint charge, the prosecution is supposed to have served the first defendant the charge and having not accomplished service to the first defendant, I don’t see how the arraignment can go my Lord”.
“He’s not a Director, not a partner, and not even the Secretary. He does not reside in Nigeria to qualify as an agent within jurisdiction, he has no physical footprint here, so he’s not an agent here. There’s no proof of service in the court’s file, so the prosecution cannot assume that he has been served through my client”, he said.
But counsel to the EFCC, Ekele Iheanacho, disagreed with him, and noted that the second respondent is a representative of the first defendant in the country, adding that the charge was served on him on behalf of the company.“My Lord Section 123 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act states that on effecting service; ‘the person effecting service of a summons shall effect it by delivering it on: (a) an individual, to him personally; or (b) a firm or corporation; (i) to one of the partners, (ii) to a director, (iii) to the secretary, (iv) to the chief agent within the jurisdiction, (v) by leaving it at the principal place of business in Nigeria of the firm or corporation, or (vi) to anyone having, at the time of service, control of the business of the firm. So, my Lord, the law allows that the service can be effected to the chief agent within the jurisdiction, and in this case, the second defendant is the only physical agent within the jurisdiction”, he said.
Arguing further, he pointed out that “the law does not command an impossibility. A party who has no physical presence in Nigeria but has a physical agent in Nigeria can properly be served through that agent. He is the only physical agent we have, hence we served him on behalf of the first defendant though he refused the service, but it is in our proof of evidence that we served him”.
Iheanacho stressed “Section 124 of the ACJA refers to obtain service for an individual and not for a corporation, so my Lord the service of the first defendant which he refused to accept, is a proper service.
And again my Lord, the counsel to the second defendant cannot be speaking on behalf of the first defendant, so all the information from him is to be disregarded because they lack merit”.
Iheanacho thereafter said it was not the position of the counsel to the second defendant to argue for the first defendant, he therefore urged the court to enter a plea for the first defendant and continue with the proceedings.
After listening to all the submissions of the counsels, Justice Nwite adjourned ruling till April 8, 2024.
Visit www.efcc.gov.ng for more stories
