The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Nwoko/Daniels: Gold digging vs cradle snatching

    Nwoko/Daniels: Gold digging vs cradle snatching

    • By Ray Ekpan

    In every household in the world, people launder their dirty linens in secret. They do so because they do not want anyone to know how dirty the clothes are, whether they are old or new, whether they are badly sewn or half torn or whether they are what we call “papa dash me”, – an oversized contraption given to a child by a father who has no money to buy him a new shirt.

    The laundering is done in several ways depending on the poverty or prosperity of the launderer. It can be done in a stream in the village. You can sit on a stool, pour water and detergent into a bucket or basin and do it; if your wallet permits you can pack your dirty clothes in a Ghana-must-go bag and deliver to a washerman to do the dirty job for you for a fee; if you are rich and sophisticated, you can do it on a washing machine and dryer and within hours you are done.

    Whatever method is used the important thing is that it is not done in the open, not in the full glare of a watching public because dirty linens are not for public exposure.

    But sadly, two persons who are well known by many Nigerians are breaking the code and washing their dirty linens in the market place. Senator Ned Nwoko, a 65-year old man, lawyer and billionaire and a wife that he married when she was a tantalisingly pretty teenage actress are on the social media throwing bombs at each other about their private lives. Their stories can make a salaciously tantalizing Nollywood movie and the public seems to be lapping it up. But some of their friends are angry that the people are inserting themselves in the drama. Why not? There are three reasons why their story is tickling the public. (a) They are the ones who have put their story in the public space. The public never asked them to do so. As it is often said, if you don’t like the smell of onions, don’t get into the kitchen.

    Whether they like the smell of onions or not they have put themselves in the kitchen. (b) The two of them can be regarded as role models. Nwoko is a lawyer and a senator in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His duty is to contribute to the good governance of Nigeria through legislation. He is paid by Nigeria’s taxpayers for that job. Regina is an actress in Nollywood and the viewing public pays money to watch her act. So she is, in a way, the property of the public. (c) Both money and beauty are important components in life. Many men do anything and everything to make money, big money. And many women do anything and everything to look beautiful, very beautiful.

    Many Nigerians would remember that Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, that iconic Afro beat czar, sang about “Fanta face and coca cola body,” the concoction by some women to change their complexion to attract men. All of these efforts by men to make money and women to get prettier are indications that both money and beauty matter to them very much. Many years ago, Dr Stanley Macebuh and Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi, two top executives of the Guardian newspaper, imported sugar into the country and that caused a problem with the publisher Mr Alex Ibru. Chief MKO Abiola, a well-known billionaire met the two men and jokingly said to them: “Sugar sweet ooo.” They responded: “Money is sweeter.” Even though Abiola had tons of money, the money did not save him. He died. Lesson? Money has its limits.

    While beauty is also very important to women it also has its limits. Elizabeth Taylor was a very pretty woman who had eight husbands in a row but her beauty did not give her marital stability. The bigger lesson in the two cases is that there is no advantage without a disadvantage whether it is money or beauty or anything else. So to those who are asking the public not to poke their long noses into the Nwoko/Daniels affair, I tell them of an adage in my village. It says that when a woman delivers a baby in the market place, it is fruitless asking her to hide her nakedness because her nakedness has already been exposed. There are no big leaves to use in covering her up. That is why the brouhaha between Nwoko and Daniels is raging.

    Read Also: Court grants EFCC’s request for interim forfeiture of N30.7m linked to alleged fraud in NNPC 

    Let’s look at the facts of the matter as stated by both parties on several social media platforms. Nwoko, a man who already has four or five wives says that he did not marry Daniels out of love but because his people asked him to marry someone from his place. That is a ridiculous reason for marriage because it is not where someone comes from that makes the person good or bad. And in any case, there are good and bad persons in every tribe or community. People are good or bad depending on their upbringing and who they interact with, their exposure and experience in life. Nwoko has been quoted as saying that he cannot marry any woman who is not a virgin. Wonderful! Virginity is good but it is not the ultimate virtue in marital terms. Someone can be a virgin but lousy, temperamental and reckless, so reckless that her marriage is endangered. And was Nwoko himself a virgin when he married the first wife or when he married Daniels? If he wasn’t, that is hypocrisy.

    Daniels admits to taking alcohol and hard drugs because according to her, that is the culture in the acting industry. There is no profession that prescribes recklessness as a way of life. Anyone in any profession that chooses to live recklessly is doing so on his or her own as a matter of choice and not in obedience to any professional code of conduct. The second reason she offers for her alleged drug addiction is that Nwoko encouraged her because taking the stuff helps her to perform magic on the mattress. That may be true; drug and alcohol may make it possible for people to have a volcanic eruption in bed but the negative consequences outweigh the benefits. There can be good sex without hard drugs or sumptuous alcohol as aphrodisiac. Do drugs and alcohol lead to a lasting relationship between men and women? They don’t because they introduce complications into the relationship. Ask Nwoko and Daniels.

    Daniels accused Nwoko of engaging in domestic violence. If he did that, then he is reckless. He is a much older man than Daniels and he is called a distinguished Senator so he should act the part of a senior citizen. Since he chose to acquire Daniels as a trophy wife even after having a sizeable collection of other women, he should treat her “like royalty, like a valuable trophy, like a jewel of inestimable value,” thanks to Obafemi Awolowo. She is young and young people make many mistakes because of their limited experience and exposure. Any man who marries a girl that is far below his age must be ready to make sometimes inexplicable concessions for the fluency of the relationship.

    It is not my business to ask Nwoko why he is a polygamist. Perhaps he wants to reduce the number of unmarried women since there are more women than men in the world. But his having a harem will not make a substantial reduction among the unmarried. He must have found out by now that polygamy is not a joke. Even a man who has only one wife knows that managing the differences between him and his wife is a herculean task. Both of them have to agree on whether they want to eat afang soup or ofe Owerri. And when the age difference between the couple is gargantuan as in the Nwoko/Daniels case, the matter gets more complex. Both of them obviously got involved with each other for reasons best known to them. It may have been a conference of convenience between gold digging and cradle snatching, between lust for money and lust for beauty.

    When General Ibrahim Babaangida was in power, his wife Maryam told Newswatch in an interview that she was angry, very angry, with a decision of the Federal Executive Council. So she raised hell. And what was the decision? The Federal Executive Council had decided that every woman in Nigeria should have not more than four children. But they did not put a ceiling on the number of children a man should have. It meant that men could have several wives and their wives could have a maximum of four children each. So while the woman could have just four children, the man could manufacture a battalion. Men’s injustice to and discrimination against women is intense. It goes on interminably in Nigeria. That is why polygamy thrives. Nwoko must strive to make it less revolting. He and his wife must make compromises so that the relationship can last, so that we can be saved from hearing what we do not want to hear.

    The bigger burden for achieving this belongs to Senator Ned Nwoko. 

  • How financial regulations fixed perennial year-end cash scarcity

    How financial regulations fixed perennial year-end cash scarcity

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is reinforcing operational discipline to ensure that the financial system serves all Nigerians reliably, particularly by guaranteeing the availability of cash at all times. A committee set up and chaired by the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, to take a holistic look at the country’s recurring cash scarcity challenge appears to have brought much-needed relief to millions of Nigerians who depend on cash for daily living and business operations, reports Assistant Editor COLLINS NWEZE

    Nigerians are expressing renewed optimism as, for the first time in recent years, the Christmas season was celebrated without widespread complaints of cash scarcity or difficulty accessing money from banks and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). For many years, the Christmas and New Year periods were routinely marred by perennial shortages of naira notes. During these festive seasons—and often long afterwards—bank customers struggled to withdraw cash from bank branches, ATMs, and, in some cases, Point of Sale (PoS) terminals.

    That pattern, however, appears to have changed following the intervention of a committee set up and chaired by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso. The committee reviewed the recurring cash scarcity challenge and introduced measures aimed at easing the burden on Nigerians.

    Across markets in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Calabar, and other major cities, traders and consumers alike commended the CBN for what they described as lasting solutions to a long-standing problem. Checks at several commercial bank branches showed that customers who required cash during the festive period were able to obtain it over the counter without difficulty. In addition, many bank ATMs were adequately loaded, allowing cardholders to make withdrawals seamlessly. In bank branches visited in Ibeju-Lekki, Victoria Island, and Ikoyi, the long queues traditionally associated with the season were largely absent.

    One bank customer, Mrs. Nkiru Onyema, said her experience marked a significant departure from previous years. “It took me 10 minutes to be paid by my bank. I am happy that the old practice of people queuing in banks and ATMs for cash withdrawals and deposits is over,” she said. According to her, the cash crunch has eased since banks began ensuring that their ATMs are sufficiently stocked, enabling customers who cannot access banking halls to withdraw cash conveniently from machines.

    Another customer, Stephen Abiodun, shared a similar experience after using his bank’s ATM. “After spending just 15 minutes, I was able to get cash from my bank’s ATM. The time people spent at the banking halls also reduced giving them more time to carry out other productive activities,” he said. Observations at bank branches in Garki, Abuja, Broad Street in Lagos, and the Ikeja axis also in Lagos revealed that ATMs were fully operational and dispensing cash.

    Reacting to the development, President of the Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN), Dr. Uju Ogubunka, said the improvement has brought significant relief to bank customers nationwide. Ogubunka, a former Registrar of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), stressed that banks must continue to request adequate cash supplies from the CBN to meet their obligations to customers.

    Explaining how the feat was achieved, the CBN Governor spoke during the last bankers’ dinner organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in Lagos. According to him, the achievement was the result of close collaboration between the apex bank and commercial banks. “Our starting point was a comprehensive, end to end review of the entire cash lifecycle: from production, to transportation, to distribution, and eventual access by consumers,” he said.

    He added: “This holistic assessment enabled us to address root causes rather than symptoms. As a result, we recalibrated our cash printing models, issued guidelines on the optimal ATM to card ratio, strengthened requirements for CBN approval before ATM or branch closures, enforced sanctions on banks whose ATMs fail to dispense cash, and intensified supervision of payment agents and POS operators nationwide.”

    Read Also: Bashiru to Wike: you lack locus to dabble into APC affairs

    Digital finance transformation

    Nigeria’s digital finance transformation accelerated in 2025, reflecting CBN’s twin priorities of fostering innovation while safeguarding stability across the payments ecosystem. Earlier this year, we extended our Payment System Vision roadmap to 2028, an ambitious commitment to modernise payments infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity.

    According to the CBN, more than 12 million contactless payment cards are now in circulation. Our regulatory sandbox has expanded to over 40 fintech innovators, enabling safe experimentation and responsible scaling of new digital finance solutions. “Revised agent banking guidelines have tightened anti money laundering controls, including geo fencing of high risk areas, while improving consumer protection at the last mile. Integration across switching companies has improved, bringing Nigeria closer to seamless domestic interoperability,” it said.

    Supported by these measures, Nigeria today stands among Africa’s most advanced digital payments markets, with a dynamic fintech ecosystem that has produced eight of the continent’s nine unicorns. By mid-2025, leading fintech apps had surpassed 10 million downloads each, with one surpassing 50 million downloads, reflecting deep consumer adoption.

    ATM, POS transactions for foreign cards

    CBN recently directed banks and other financial institutions to ensure uninterrupted use of foreign-issued payment cards across ATMs, point-of-sale (POS) terminals and online platforms nationwide. In a circular CBN’s Financial Policy and Regulation Department and signed by its Director, Rita Sike, is expected to improve access to funds, security and user experience for tourists and Nigerians returning from the diaspora.

    She said: “In furtherance of ongoing efforts to facilitate access to funds and convenience, security, and user experience in foreign card usage for diasporans and tourists visiting Nigeria, all banks and non-bank acquirers of value are hereby directed to ensure uninterrupted and efficient local currency withdrawal, payment, and transfer services for users of foreign-issued payment cards nationwide.”

    Under the circular, banks and fintechs were instructed to ensure that all ATMs, POS and virtual terminals were configured to accept international cards, complied with card-scheme standards and possessed the required certifications. They were also required to maintain system availability to avoid failed transactions. The central bank said institutions must “implement multi-factor authentication for all withdrawals and online transactions exceeding $200 per day, $500 per week, and $1,000 per month (or its equivalent),” while ensuring compliance with approved ATM cash withdrawal limits.

    The CBN further directed banks and acquirers to clearly disclose exchange rates and charges to customers before completing transactions, maintain sufficient liquidity to settle transactions, and ensure that merchants were paid in local currency. They are expected to “clearly communicate the applicable exchange rate, which shall be market-driven and based on the prevailing official rate, as well as other associated charges to users,” the CBN said, adding that transactions should only be completed after customers have accepted the terms.

    To curb fraud and abuse, the circular required institutions to strengthen know-your-customer and anti-money laundering controls, monitor unusual transaction patterns, recalibrate fraud-monitoring systems to reduce false declines on legitimate foreign card transactions, and ensure that card-acceptance devices supported contactless payments for low-value transactions. Banks were also directed to require signed receipts for card-present transactions and request valid identity documents where transactions appeared suspicious. Suspicious transactions must be reported to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit in line with existing regulations.

    For acquirers, the CBN mandated robust and auditable chargeback management processes, retention of transaction records for at least 12 months, and quarterly training for merchants and agent networks on dispute handling and chargebacks. The regulator warned that unresolved customer complaints escalated to the CBN would attract sanctions. Tourists and Nigerians returning from the diaspora who experienced difficulties using foreign cards were advised to report such incidents to the CBN’s Consumer Protection and Financial Inclusion Department. “The CBN will monitor compliance with this directive and will impose appropriate sanctions on any institution found in breach, in accordance with extant regulations,” it said. The move comes during the yuletide period, when a surge in visits by Nigerians living abroad and foreign tourists typically leads to increased reliance on foreign-issued cards for cash withdrawals and payments.

    Entrenching digital payments

    The apex bank has for years, looked beyond cash by entrenching digital payments among the populace. That explained why the CBN raised the innovation bar with the release of a new e-payment guidelines titled: “Migration to ISO 20022 Standard for Payment Messaging and Mandatory Geo-Tagging of Payment Terminals.”

    According to Cardoso, the Nigerian payments ecosystem has been ahead of many advanced economies, yet has not always received the recognition it deserves. “Many innovations that other countries are only now experiencing have been part of our system for years. We must celebrate these successes, as they contribute to building our global reputation. Nigeria’s dynamic fintech ecosystem has driven financial inclusion and positioned the country as a hub of innovation in Africa,” he said.

    Cardoso explained that despite a challenging external environment, Nigerian Fintechs continue to shine, attracting significant foreign investment and several have achieved global unicorn status this year. Their innovations, alongside other financial service providers, have fuelled growth in transactions and made financial services more affordable and accessible for many more Nigerians. “We must continue to leverage this channel to enhance access to finance and credit, particularly for under-served populations. However, I urge fintech companies and banks to ensure their platforms are not exploited for fraudulent activities. Strengthening the KYC onboarding process is essential to prevent malicious actors from exploiting our financial system.

    “Additionally, these institutions must prioritize improving transaction monitoring and bolstering consumer protection measures to ensure that digital channels remain safe, especially for the most vulnerable segments of our population.”

    Cardoso said that while the apex bank continues to lay the foundation for price stability and foster a conducive policy environment, the role of banks in this journey remains crucial. “At the Central Bank, we have intensified surveillance of market activities to ensure compliance. Together, we must build a market based on strong governance and transparency. As regulators, we will maintain a zero-tolerance approach to compliance violations,” he said.

    Sanctions for policy violations

    The CBN recently sanctioned Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) for failing to make naira notes available through automated teller machines (ATMs), during the yuletide season. Each bank was fined N150 million for non-compliance, in line with the CBN’s cash distribution guidelines, following spot checks on their branches. The enforcement action follows repeated warnings from the CBN to financial institutions to guarantee seamless cash availability, particularly during periods of high demand.

    Communication with the banks revealed that the fines were debited directly from their accounts with the apex bank. Hakama Sidi Ali, acting director of corporate communications at the CBN, confirmed the development, noting that “Ensuring seamless cash flow is paramount to maintaining public trust and economic stability. The CBN will not hesitate to impose further sanctions on any institution found violating its cash circulation guidelines,” she added.

    The CBN’s investigations and monitoring will continue to scrutinise cash hoarding and rationing, both at bank branches and by POS operators. The Central Bank is working with security agencies to crack down on illegal cash sales and operational violations, including enforcing POS operators’ daily cumulative withdrawal limit of N1.2 million. Cardoso had warned banks to strictly adhere to cash distribution policies or face severe penalties. He underscored the CBN’s commitment to maintaining a robust cash buffer to meet Nigerians’ needs. “Our focus remains on fostering trust, ensuring stability, and guaranteeing seamless cash circulation across the financial system,” Cardoso said.

  • PDP’s immoral war against tax reforms

    PDP’s immoral war against tax reforms

    The new tax law from onset was controversial. Early opposition came from northern political leaders and governors who had thought the north would be short-changed by the new tax laws. Of course, that was not unexpected in a multi-ethnic nation where ethnic nationalities are always in competition.  At a point, the National Economic Council advised the president who is never afraid of taking risks, to withdraw the Bills from the lawmakers to allow for wider consultation. He refused, urging those who had misgivings to wait for lawmakers’ public hearing. He was not prepared to give his political enemies an opportunity to sabotage his tax reforms initiative.

    While an observation by Abdulsamad Dasuki of the House of Representatives that the versions of the tax laws gazetted and made public contained provisions never debated or approved by lawmakers has only energized the president many enemies, he was not going to allow them to throw away the baby with the birth water.

    He clearly understands if his political foes including Atiku Abubkar and Peter Obi, who out of greed splintered their party into three during the 2023 election,  Kabiru Turaki PDP factional leader who unable to resolve his party’s intra party crisis, sought help from Donald Trump, the nemesis of democracy in America, the Nigerian Bar Association where some of its ignoble members have continued to play opposition politics in the name of the association, and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) that would rather blame Tinubu’s two years administration for insecurity arising from the eight million out of school children and the ‘almajiris’, they bred over the years, don’t agree on anything, they are united by their opposition to his presidency.

    The opposition to the tax law was therefore just another attempt at sabotaging his policies. That was why the strategy for opportunistic Peter Obi, who now says “Nigeria must rethink taxation if it is serious about economic growth, national unity and are prosperity”. And he was probably not expecting anything different from Peter Obi who is now counselling Nigerians saying “You cannot tax your way out of poverty, you must produce your way out of it” after being an importer of the labour of other societies since he left school, the reason Tinubu describes him as ‘container economist.

    President Tinubu, had while signing his four tax reforms bills which include the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Nigeria Revenue Service Act, and the Joint Revenue Board Act, into law on June 26, 2025 told Nigerians that   they were meant to “overhaul the Nigerian tax landscape to drive economic growth, increase revenue generation, improve the business environment, and enhance effective tax administration across the different levels of government”. Some of the laws took effect from the day it was signed while the remaining was programmed to become operational on January 1. This date, the president insisted, remained sacrosanct because according to him: “Absolute trust is built over time through making the right decisions, not through premature, reactive measures”.

    But despite support by professionals and institutions including the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and declaration by the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, that it was too late in the day to stop the law because two of the four tax laws were already operational, opposition leader continued to mobilise against the take-off date.

    Read Also: Bashiru to Wike: you lack locus to dabble into APC affairs

    But for President Tinubu who describes the new tax laws as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a fair, competitive and robust fiscal foundation for Nigeria”, relief came for the president with the dismissal of a suit filed by ‘the Incorporated Trustee of African Initiative for abuse of Public Trust’ calling for interim injunction to stop the laws’ take-off, by Justice Bello Kawu for lack of merit. The court had ruled that “once a law has been duly enacted and gazetted, disagreement or objections cannot, on their own, justify stopping its implementation; any alleged errors must be addressed through legislative amendment or a substantive court”.

    It is not as if the forces against the take-off date were unaware of the above provision; it is about the culture of ‘if we cannot have it, no one else must have it. The tragedy of our nation is that those who pillaged and plundered our land ‘materially and morally’, shared our common patrimony through fraudulent privatization and monetization policies, and those who introduced ‘political sharia ’after sending our kids to Osama Bin Laden in Sudan for indoctrination, unleashed Niger Delta militants and Boko Haram on Nigerians are today posing as our new messiahs. Unfortunately, our youths below 30, their targets are not aware of their baleful legacies.

    For instance, there can be no democracy without credible election. It is through it people participate in decision making in society. However, PDP that presided over the conduct of the most scandalous election in 2003 and 2007 became the greatest threat to democracy. Today, PDP and Labour Party sore losers, who have refused to congratulate a winner of an election after two years even as they run from one platform to the other at every election season in search of platform, cannot be said to be assets to democracy. With the exit of Obasanjo, the apostle or promoter of do or die election, Tony Anenih, PDP “Mr. Fixer” and Maurice Iwu, most Nigerians will admit an improvement in the quality of our elections since 2015. Unfortunately, those who only yesterday mounted an assault on the democratization process now want Nigerians to believe that President Tinubu, who remained faithful to his ideological orientation since 1999, built up a coalition that ended PDP 60 year’s dream of uninterrupted reign, has suddenly become a threat to democracy.

    Our youths who are below 30 years of age must be reminded that it was not only democracy that came under serious threat under PDP 16 years reign; the economy came under serious assault. A House of Representatives’ probe report of PDP subsidy regime in 2011 showed that N1.7t trillion was stolen through mindless importation by PDP leading lights while their siblings without importing a pint of fuel also stole several billions. VP Atiku Abubakar presided over the privatization fraud that led to Nigeria selling assets worth $100b for a paltry $1.5b. Obasanjo and his PDP children spent between $8-13billion on the energy sector which only produced darkness while Jonathan spent some more billions before selling the unbundled PHCN to prominent PDP leaders.

    About 40,000 barrels of crude oil was, according to Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, stolen daily. It is on record that she along with Chukwuma Soludo, Obasanjo’s CBN governor, predicted that anyone that inherited power from Jonathan will inherit an economy in ruins. Buhari might have contributed to Nigeria’s economic nightmare, the architect of poverty are today trying to exploit current hardship of Nigerians arising from government hard economic choices designed to change the narrative.

    The judiciary has also come under serious assault of PDP and its media since the 2023 election which they lost ‘round and square’. But if one may ask, how did the judiciary fare under PDP 16 years reign?  Joseph Jibueze in his “Legacies of the Judiciary between 1999 and 2014- How sabotage, blackmail, undue delays are killing the judiciary” provided some details on the legacies of the judiciary during the reign of PDP.

    The resourceful judicial reporter cited the case of Ayo Fayose’s allegation of financial misappropriation that dragged on for eight years before winning a controversial election in 2014 even while facing eligibility case in court. Fayose was to later invade the court trying his case with thugs. According to Justice Daramola,  Chief Judge of Ekiti State: “The thugs invaded my court, tore the record books, beat the court officials, descended on Hon. Justice J. Adeyeye, the presiding judge in court 3, beat and dragged him the ground”. After inauguration, Fayose chased out 19 elected members of opposition and ruled with seven PDP members. There was the Halliburton case where “American company officials involved in bribing Nigerian officials were jailed after conviction while their collaborators who received bribe in Nigeria walked away free.

    He also cited the case of James Ibori, accused of stealing US$250m from public purse. He was on April 17, 2012 jailed by Southwick Crown Court in London and sentenced to 13 years imprisonment. That was after 171-count charge of money laundering fraud and corruption filed against him in Federal High Court, Kaduna was discontinued in his favour and the appeal court was eventually discharged and acquitted when arraigned before Justice Marcel Awokulehin in Asaba.

    For PDP warring family members, whether in ADC or staying back to fight it out, ‘all is fair in love as in war’. For them, rules and laws are for others. The president understands he cannot put his faith in the hands of those who, in the process of sharing spoils of war, are prepared to pull down the edifice over their own heads.

  • Milking AJ’s misfortune

    Milking AJ’s misfortune

    Age-long cultural sensibility dictates that one does not feast on the misfortune of others. That is why a decent society would pull together in concerted support and consolation of any member befallen by tragedy, at least for the period it takes for that affected person to heal. It is the same underlying sentiment informing evil never being spoken of the dead. You might say it is more of an African taboo, but that is what defines our humanness. It detracts from the essence of humanity when people go on a spree to spice the misfortune of others, for whatever motive.

    Former world boxing champion with Nigerian roots, Anthony Joshua, has been treated to unsavory publicity over his recent experience of a car crash in which he lost two close buddies. Joshua had just won a fight against Jake Paul and was in Nigeria for the Yuletide when, on 29th December, a Lexus SUV conveying him and his friends rammed into a stationary truck on Lagos-Ibadan expressway. Joshua’s close associates — Kevin Latif Ayodele, his personal trainer, and Sina Ghami, his strength and conditioning coach — died in the accident, which left the boxer with injuries that landed him in hospital for a couple of days.

    Read Also: Court grants EFCC’s request for interim forfeiture of N30.7m linked to alleged fraud in NNPC 

    Freelance reportage of the crash left a big question on humanistic decency. In video clips circulated online, there was scant sensitivity to privacy – neither of the living nor the dead. Besides distressing sight of half-clad Joshua being pulled from the wreckage, pictures of mangled bodies of the dead victims were shared obviously with no thought for how it would impact on loved ones. It was a grim feast of unsightly ruin used to garner traffic.

    Joshua recovered enough to get discharged from hospital on 31st December. Only his condition left fans guessing whether he would remain active in his career. Joshua himself hasn’t spoken to the issue, but opportunists have latched on to misinform by way of an Artificial Intelligence-generated video showing the boxer announcing his retirement from professional boxing. In the clip that went viral on social media, a distraught Joshua appeared to wish he had died in the crash instead of his friends. “They have left this world because of me. Therefore, I have officially decided to step away from boxing,” he purportedly declared, adding: “Because the moment I step into the ring, their faces appear in my mind, and that grief completely crushes me.” The video shared on an online site has had over 220k views with at least 1.2k shares.

    A fact-checking platform, CableCheck, however, identified irregularities in the footage consistent with AI manipulation. It cited several features of the footage showing that independent clips of the boxer were cobbled together with AI-generated voiceover. Its verdict was that the viral video was fake news.

    It’s so sad that Joshua’s distress has become fodder for misinformation. Vultures!

  • Death toll in Niger market attack rises to 50

    Death toll in Niger market attack rises to 50

    • Yobe boat accident: Deaths hit 29    
    • Speaker Abbas, Akpoti-Uduaghan condemn attacks

    Death toll from the attack on Kasuwan Daji Market in Niger State, which claimed at least 42 persons and left several others abducted has hit 50.

    Also, the number of deaths from the Saturday’s boat accident in Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State, has risen from 25 earlier announced by the state government, to 29.

    Both the Speaker, House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan condemned the attack and mourned the dead.

    Executive Secretary, Yobe State’s Emergency Management Agency (YOSEMA), Dr Mohammad Goje, in a statement yesterday, said four more bodies were recovered from the river, adding that search and rescue would continue as between eight and 10 passengers were still missing.

    Goje said13 passengers who were injured had been treated and discharged from a local hospital.

    The executive secretary said preliminary reports indicated that overloading and structural defect were among the major causes of the accident.

    He said following the incident, Governor Mai Mala Buni directed YOSEMA to liaise with relevant Federal Government agencies on safety measures in water transportation.

    He said through such collaboration, policing of water transportation would become possible and the use of life jackets could be enforced.

    “Once this is achieved, you can ensure that those that will board a canoe must wear life jackets, and that should be institutionalised,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ill-fated boat, which took off from Adiyani in neighbouring Jigawa, capsized on Yobe River in Garbi town about 7:48 pm on Saturday.

    Over 50 passengers mainly farmers and traders were believed to be on board when the incident occurred in the area, which is over 230 km from Damaturu, the state capital.

    In a statement yesterday, the Speaker asked the security and intelligence agencies to carry out to the letter the order by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the manhunt of the perpetrators.

    Read Also: Bashiru to Wike: you lack locus to dabble into APC affairs

    While describing the attack as gruesome, Abbas urged the security forces to show results as they followed the presidential order.

    The Speaker, who commended President Tinubu for providing the needed leadership at critical times said the House is ever ready to provide legislative interventions where necessary.

    Abbas commiserated with the families of those killed by the attackers while praying to God to heal those who were injured. He sent condolences to the people and the government of Niger State over the attack, in a condolence message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi.

    “This unfortunate incident has left us all in deep mourning, robbing families of their loved ones and communities of their vibrant members.

    “I pray for the repose of the souls of the departed. May Allah also grant quick recovery to the injured and fortify the survivors with strength during this trying time,” the Speaker lamented.

    The Speaker further assured that the House stands in solidarity with Yobe and will continue to support measures aimed at preventing such avoidable tragedies anywhere in the country.

    Also, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has condemned the attack on Kasuwan Daji Market in Niger State.

    In a statement yesterday, Akpoti-Uduaghan described the attack as an incident that underscored the security challenge in communities.

    She mourned those killed in the assault and said the victims.

    The senator expressed sympathy with those affected by the loss of lives, abductions and destruction of property.

    She also expressed concern over the burning of the market and the impact of the violence on livelihoods.

    Akpoti-Uduaghan urged security agencies to intensify efforts to track down the perpetrators.

    She appealed to the Federal Government to strengthen security measures, particularly in rural and vulnerable communities, and adopt proactive strategies aimed at preventing similar incidents.

  • Troops kill 25 terrorists, rescue hostages across theatres says Army

    Troops kill 25 terrorists, rescue hostages across theatres says Army

    • Criminal kingpin John Ngata’s associate arrested in Taraba

    Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised at least 25 terrorists, rescuing kidnapped victims, and recovering arms and ammunition in the last 24 hours.

    This is contained in a summary of operations made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by a military source in Abuja yesterday.

    The source said the successes were recorded under the Joint Task Force Northeast, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Operation Fansan Yamma, Operation Whirl Stroke, and Operation Delta Safe.

    In the Northeast, he said the troops of 73 Battalion (Mechanised), supported by Hybrid Forces and the Civilian Joint Task Force, ambushed a known terrorist crossing point in Sojiri, Konduga Local Government Area of Borno, on January 4.

    According to him, the troops killed five of the terrorists, recovered one AK-47 rifle, and rescued three hostages.

    He confirmed an air strike on an ISWAP/JAS enclave at Garin Mallam Idrissa, east of Garin Abu Ayuba, in Nduva, Borno State.

    According to him, 18 terrorists were killed, including a high-value terrorist commander identified as Munzir, also known as Baa Yanziy.

    He added that nine terrorist motorcycles were destroyed during the strike, degrading the terrorists’ capability.

    The source said the troops of 27 Task Force Brigade, working with Hybrid Forces, ambushed terrorists on the Meleri–Ngirbua axis in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe about 5:30 a.m. on January 4.

    “During the encounter, troops neutralised two terrorists and recovered one AK-47 rifle, with exploitation of the area still in progress.

    “In the Northcentral, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) recorded a major breakthrough with the recovery of a large cache of arms in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba’’ and arrest of an associate of a criminal kingpin, John Ngata, in Takum, Taraba.

    Read Also: Court grants EFCC’s request for interim forfeiture of N30.7m linked to alleged fraud in NNPC 

     Acting Media Information Officer, the Headquarters of JTF OPWS, confirmed this in a statement in Makurdi.

    Zubairu stated that he (the associate) was arrested yesterday at a road block.

    He said the suspect later led the troops to John Ngata armoury, where they recovered 13 AK-47 rifles, 39 AK-47 magazines, 690 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, among others.

    He added: “Upon preliminary interrogation, the suspect led the troops to a concealed armoury belonging to the criminal network at Amadu Village in the local government area.

    “Subsequent exploration of the location resulted in the recovery of a significant cache of arms and ammunition, comprising 13 AK-47 rifles, 39 AK-47 magazines, 690 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and quantity four hand grenades.

    “Following the successful recovery, the armoury was professionally destroyed to prevent further use and the troops safely withdrew to base.”

    “In the Southsouth, troops of Operation Delta Safe destroyed three illegal refining sites at Uburum Community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers, recovering and destroying locally fabricated ovens, drums, jerrycans, and plastic tanks used for crude oil refining.

    “Also, troops arrested a suspected gunrunner at Panapena area, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta, recovering two mobile phones and ₦22,700 from the suspect,” he said.

  • Chris Okafor shuns police invitation

    Chris Okafor shuns police invitation

    Embattled preacher, Pastor Chris Okafor yesterday refused to honour police invitation that mandated him to attend an interview with the Lagos State Deputy Police Commissioner, Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba.

    Okafor was invited by the Police Command in a letter dated January 3, which directed that he should submit himself for interrogation on or before 10am yesterday.

    But as of 7pm yesterday, detectives at the SCID told The Nation that he was yet to honour the invitation, just as they said his presence was still being awaited till 12am since the police work round the clock.

    “We have not seen him yet but we are still waiting because the police work 24 hours daily. So, for now, we cannot say he dared the police. Let’s wait till the end of today, hopefully, he will come,” said a senior officer.

    Okafor’s issue with the law followed series of allegations of sexual impropriety, abuse of authority, conduct likely to cause breach of peace and alleged murder from multiple women including his daughter, ex-lovers and members of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracles Ministries he founded.

    It was gathered that the Commissioned of Police (CP) Olohundare Jimoh ordered a probe into the matter as more weighty allegations emerged online against the so-called pastor.

    Okafor’s disgrace started weeks ago after Nollywood actress, Doris Ogalla, with whom he had an unholy relationship called him out over alleged breach of marriage promise.

    The allegatioms with supporting audio-visual “evidences” startled the public, causing an outrage with Nigerians demanding criminal investigation against Okafor.

    Okafor who tied the knot with his new bride, Pearl, on December 16, initially dismissed the allegations as the handiwork of his enemies but later admitted to some and tendered a public apology to his congregants before stepping aside as the senior pastor of the church.

    Among his accusers are his daughter who alleged she was sexuallt assaulted, his Cameroonian ex-wife with whom he allegedly had four children and multiple women in his congestion including three siblings who claimed to have been hypnotised and impregnated by the randy preacher.

    The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed that Jimoh had ordered the SCID to invite the cleric for questioning and also summon the alleged victims.

    Read Also: Bashiru to Wike: you lack locus to dabble into APC affairs

    “The CP has directed the SCID to invite the pastor for investigation, despite the fact that no one has formally come forward to report,” she said.

    Adebisi said the command was probing the allegations of murder against the preacher following presumed evidences seen on social media. For the sexual assault cases, she appealed to victims to come forward and make formal complaints against Okafor, noting that the police cannot build a rape case when there are no victims, complainants.

    Ogalla, who has refused to back down from publicly shaming Okafor, alleged he shared her nude photographs and videos; made her leave her previous marriage, caused the death of her younger brother, along several other accusations.

    The actress shared bedroom photos and screenshots of conversations, as well as videos alleging the pastor sent her $10,000 to retract her claims and accuse a rival pastor of orchestrating the scandal.

    She later demanded N1 billion in damages through a legal notice filed by her lawyers, alleging threats and intimidation following her arrest and detention by the police.

    At the time of this report the police were yet to make an official comment on his refusal to honour lawful invitation.

  • AGF orders reversal of disputed CAC changes in Abuja firms

    AGF orders reversal of disputed CAC changes in Abuja firms

    The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has directed the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Hussaini Magaji, to reverse changes made to the corporate filings of two Abuja-based firms.

    The directive affects Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited and Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited. It followed a review by the Office of the AGF, which concluded that the alterations were made despite pending court proceedings and notices to the CAC.

    The decision was conveyed in a letter signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), M. B. Abubakar, on behalf of the AGF.

    In the same review, the AGF discontinued criminal proceedings earlier initiated by the Nigeria Police Force against several individuals linked to the firms. The AGF ruled that the investigation files submitted by the police did not establish a basis for criminal prosecution, leading to the withdrawal of the charges.

    Read Also: Court grants EFCC’s request for interim forfeiture of N30.7m linked to alleged fraud in NNPC 

    According to the DPPF, the decision was reached after examining reports from the IGP Monitoring Unit and an earlier Special Investigation Panel (SIP). The AGF affirmed the findings of the SIP, describing its report as thorough and impartial.

    The AGF noted that disputes arising from ownership and management of the estate linked to the firms were commercial and contractual and fell outside the scope of criminal prosecution. He cautioned law enforcement agencies against exceeding their statutory powers in civil matters.

    On the CAC filings, the AGF ordered that the ownership and shareholding structure of the affected companies be restored to their position before the disputed changes were made.

    The AGF further directed the Nigeria Police Force to investigate separate allegations of property damage and intimidation within the estate and submit a report. The police were also instructed to maintain peace and ensure residents are not subjected to harassment.

    The matter has attracted diplomatic and administrative attention, with separate reviews initiated by authorities in the Federal Capital Territory to address tensions within the estate.

  • Ex-Lagos director jailed 29 months for N48.9m bank theft

    Ex-Lagos director jailed 29 months for N48.9m bank theft

    An Ikeja Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court yesterday sentenced a former Lagos State Education Director, Olawale Faleti, to two years and five months’ imprisonment for stealing N48.9 million from Access Bank.

    Justice Rahman Oshodi convicted Faleti, 64, on five counts of stealing, after finding him guilty of charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Delivering judgment, Oshodi held that Faleti’s actions were calculated, noting he made repeated withdrawals in spite of knowing he lacked authorisation.

    The judge said the convict showed no genuine remorse and failed to fully accept responsibility for his criminal conduct.

    He said: “Financial institutions are the lifeblood of our economy and public confidence in them must be maintained.

    “Those who seek to defraud or steal from financial institutions must know they will face severe consequences.

    “Taking all circumstances into account, including aggravating and mitigating factors, a custodial sentence is necessary and appropriate.

    “I apply a 20 per cent discount from the three-year maximum sentence, recognising your status as a first-time offender and minimal restitution efforts.”

    The court sentenced Faleti to two years and five months’ imprisonment on each of the five counts.

    Oshodi ordered that the sentences should run concurrently.

    “You are, therefore, sentenced to two years and five months’ imprisonment,” the judge said.

    He added that Faleti’s biometric details would be registered in the Lagos State Judiciary offenders’ database.

    Read Also: Bashiru to Wike: you lack locus to dabble into APC affairs

    After deducting N3 million already restituted, the court ordered Faleti to pay an additional N45.9 million to Access Bank Plc.

    The judge directed Access Bank to notify the court upon full restitution by the convict.

    The court ordered that Faleti’s sentence begin on Jan. 5 and that his name be entered in the Lagos State Offenders’ Registry.

    Earlier, EFCC counsel, Mr Ahmed Dambuwa, told the court that Faleti dishonestly converted N48.9 million belonging to Access Bank.

    Dambuwa said Faleti had access to an Access Bank credit card permitting withdrawals of not less than N43,000 per transaction.

    He said Faleti exploited unauthorised access caused by a system glitch to withdraw about N48 million during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

    One charge stated that between July 2 and July 10, 2020, Faleti converted N12.6 million, property of Access Bank Plc, for personal use.

    Another charge said that between May 22 and July 1, 2020, Faleti converted N6.9 million belonging to Access Bank Plc.

    The EFCC said the offences contravened Section 287(1)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

  • Gunmen abduct four travellers in Kwara

    Gunmen abduct four travellers in Kwara

    No fewer than four travellers have been abducted in Kwara State.

    The incident happened in the early hours of yesterday on the Isanlu–Isin–Omu Aran Road in the state..

    Read Also: Court grants EFCC’s request for interim forfeiture of N30.7m linked to alleged fraud in NNPC 

    A source said the attackers who operated freely on the road, ambushed motorists on the highway. The route connects communities in Kwara South to Ilorin, the state capital.

    “Bandits are still present in the area and are targeting travellers heading towards Ilorin,” the source said.

    As of the time of filing this report, the state Police Command had not confirmed the attack.