News & Announcements

Dapo Abiodun, the governor of Ogun State, paid a visit to the central bank’s Abeokuta branch on Monday to discuss potential cooperative efforts to address the difficulty in distributing the amount of money citizens of the state might withdraw for transactions conducted in commercial banks.

The governor announced that members of his executive council would be watching the cash distribution to banks to make sure no commercial bank in the state hid the new naira notes.

Abiodun voiced dissatisfaction over the ongoing trend of long lines at the automated teller machines before customers could withdraw cash at a meeting with the CBN management presided over by the Branch Controller, Wahab Oseni.

The governor expressed his sadness at the fact that residents who were fortunate enough to receive cash could only receive N2,000 per transaction.

The governor’s stated, “I have met with the President and the CBN governor. It is within the rights of the CBN by law and as enshrined in the constitution.

“Our people went out in their numbers but our people who deposited money and felt they would have as much money as they had deposited or need for their daily needs and welfare and wellbeing.

“We’ve had to suspend our campaigns. I met with people over the weekend who said to me that they had not eaten for days, especially, those from the informal sector.

“As a governor, whose primary function is the welfare and security of our people, I need to find out how we can interact with you to see how we can improve on the current level of distribution of the currency in order to diffuse tension.”

Three Internet fraudsters, known as “yahoo boys,” were charged with fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Abuja Zonal Command and found guilty. They were sentenced to community service in Abuja.

A Federal High Court in the nation’s capital handed down the punishment on Monday, according to a statement released by the EFCC on Tuesday morning.

Victor Joseph, Mohammed Edogi Mohammed, and Johnson Nifemi, the three offenders, were each charged with one count of engaging in online fraud.

Joseph allegedly got N150,000 from a Chinese person named Xiao by pretending to be a marine engineer named Zhang Li.

The second suspect, Mohammed, similarly used the alias Bryan Alex on social networking applications to defraud Lekin Elli, Williana, and Flavio of N1,500,000.

While the final suspect Nifemi claimed to be an American engineer going by the name of John Alpha and robbed American citizen Jane Appado of $170

After finding the suspects guilty of the offence, Justice A.I. Akobi of the FCT High Court Gwagwalada handed down the sentence of community service.

A statement by the EFCC read, “Three Yahoo Boys Sentenced to Community Service in Abuja The EFCC, Abuja Zonal Command on Monday, February 6, 2023, arraigned three fraud suspects: Victor Joseph, Mohammed Edogi Mohammed and Johnson Nifemi, before Justice A.I. Akobi of the FCT High Court Gwagwalada Abuja on one count charge each, bordering on internet fraud.

“Joseph allegedly pretended to be a marine engineer named Zhang Li and obtained N150,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira Only) from one Xiao, a Chinese citizen, while Mohammed also posed as a Bryan Alex on various social media apps and obtained N1,500,000 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only) from LekinElli, Williana and Flavio.

“Nifemi impersonated one John Alpha, an American engineer and defrauded one Jane Appado, a United States of America citizen of $170 (One hundred and seventy US Dollars).”

Ibrahim Dauda, has allegedly killed his brother, Tunde, during a fight over N1,000 at their residence on Amusa Street, off Community Road, in the Obadore area of Igando, Lagos State.

According to reports, Ibrahim and Tunde got into a heated quarrel at home that cost them close to N1,000.

Ibrahim allegedly went into the house and reached for an iron rod while the brothers were allegedly engaged in fisticuffs as a result of the heated quarrel.

When he came back, Ibrahim allegedly used the rod to strike Tunde in the forehead, knocking the 27-year-old unconscious as he fell.

In an interview, a source claimed that in an effort to save Tunde, people had rushed him to the Igando General Hospital, where one of the attending physicians had verified his demise.

The source said, “The incident happened on Sunday, January 29, 2023. Both of them were fighting over N1, 000 and in the process, one of the brothers (Ibrahim) used an iron rod to hit his brother (Tunde) on his forehead.

“People quickly rushed him to the general hospital in Igando but he was confirmed dead. His corpse was evacuated and taken to the Mainland General Hospital, Yaba, for autopsy.”

On Monday, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Lagos State Government and the Federal Inland Revenue Service to establish a cooperative tax audit system.

The idea, according to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos State, is to eliminate duplication of efforts and make data sharing about the enforcement of current tax rules possible.

The MoU must be signed in order for both parties to be united, according to Sanwo-Olu.

“The MoU is in the best interest of the public, as it affirms the reason why we need to come together and strengthen the cordial working relationship between the two agencies,” he said.

Lagos state Government and the Federal Government couldn’t agree on how to collect value added tax in the state in 2021.

Sanwo-Olu signed a bill into law requiring Lagos to collect VAT in accordance with the Rivers state’s VAT statute.

The bill demanded that Lagos State be given the authority to collect VAT in place of FIRS, a representative of the federal government.

Speaking about the new development, the governor revealed the necessity of forging a united front in order to widen the tax base and increase the country’s tax share of GDP.

Sanwo-Olu claimed that despite the FIRS and Lagos Internal Revenue Service’s yearly impressive turnovers, the nation still has a subpar tax-to-GDP ratio of six to eight percent.

“Studies have shown that there would be better service delivery to the citizens and improvement in the efficiency of tax collection when the two agencies work together.

“The cost of tax collection would be reduced, we would see better customer satisfaction and more resources would be generated for the government to deliver more dividends of democracy.

“For us as a state, we are humbled by this collaborative effort and we believe our citizens will be the ultimate beneficiaries of this initiative,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The MoU, according to FIRS Chairman Muhammad Nami, will allow both parties to grow in their respective fields of expertise.

He pointed out that raising money for projects will benefit both Lagos State and the Federal Government.

A Republican councilwoman, Eunice Dwumfour, has been shot dead in front of her home in New Jersey, United States of America.

She was the wife of a popular Nigeria-based pastor, Eze Kings, according to the Foundation for Investigative Journalism.

New York Post gathered that Dwumfour, 30, was hit with about 12 gunshots by a yet-to-be-identified assailant while driving around her home on Wednesday evening. 

The white Nissan SUV she drove crashed into two parked cars before coming to a stop.

A male witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Dwumfour’s car was hit with about 12 shots while traveling down Check Avenue toward Samuel Circle around 7:15 p.m.

The vehicle eventually came to a stop after crashing into two parked cars, including the witness’s black Lexus GS350.

Chilling Snapchat footage of the aftermath of the incident showed Dwumfour’s body in the car while first responders surround the scene.

The witness said, “It took a second before I realized there was a dead body behind the wheel.

“She was slumped over the wheel with a black hoodie with brown fur covering her head, her hands were down by her side.

There was one bullet hole in the passenger door and a bunch of bullet holes in the driver’s door. Some other neighbors said they saw someone running away with a mask on.”

Some locals also told RLS Media that the gunman was spotted racing off to the Garden State Parkway, which edges the complex.

On Thursday afternoon, it was also gathered that 20 Sayreville police officers were spotted combing the sides of a Garden State Parkway exit ramp headed toward the Jon Bon Jovi Service Area.

Shortly after, investigators at the murder scene told reporters that Dwumfour was caught on video speaking to the shooter just moments before her death.

The Republican councilwoman — who preached for a Nigerian-based church group — appeared to be the intended target, authorities told the outlet, stressing that there was no obvious motive.

“I heard what sounded like a few shots going off,” dog groomer Kristen Glanforf, who lives on Check Avenue, told The Post of the scene.

“I dropped everything and started running for my apartment. There was a car rolled down to the end of the hill, lights on. The doors were open.”

Community organizer Charlie Kratovil posted a video of her SUV being towed away from the scene, and called it “a huge loss for the Sayreville community.”

“I personally knew her to be a very kind person and public servant. May she rest in peace.”

Dwumfour had served the Borough of Sayreville since November 2021, when she ousted the sitting Democrat in a shock election win. She was not up for reelection until 2024.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said he was “stunned” by the news of the councilwoman’s death.

“Her career of public service was just beginning, and by all accounts, she had already built a reputation as a committed member of the Borough Council who took her responsibility with the utmost diligence and seriousness,” Murphy said in a statement.

“I send my condolences to Councilwoman Dwumfour’s family and friends, her governing body colleagues, and the entire Sayreville community,” Murphy added.

Sayreville Mayor Victoria Kilpatrick said the whole community was also “shocked and saddened by the loss.”

“Eunice was a dedicated member of our borough council who was truly committed to serving our residents. The fact she was taken from us by this despicable criminal act makes this incident all the more horrifying,” she wrote.

Stella Maris, the wife to Mr. Ibu, the Nollywood actor, has called him out over alleged domestic violence. 

In a now-viral video, the pair were seen engaging in a heated face-off, with the actor yelling at Maris.

“Don’t let me get angry with you, do you hear me? Tell me what I want to hear right now. Stay there, are you mad?” the actor said.

Maris was heard in the video pleading with the film star. She also asked who is Chioma Jasmine to him.

“I get BP….who is Chioma now?” she had asked, further infuriating the actor.

In another clip, Maris claimed Mr. Ibu was dating Jasmine who she described as his “girlfriend”.

She also accused the actor, born John Okafor, of neglecting her and their children.

“My children dey here dey suffer. This man came to kill me. Don’t tell me it is okay, you don’t know what I am suffering.  He came prepared to beat and kill me,” she said in a mixture of pidgin and English.

“I ran away from him. He came from his girlfriend’s house to come and beat me. He removed his wristwatch and was about to beat me, I pushed him and ran away.

“Look at where I am living, there is crack everywhere…inside the house, there is water. Look at the car I am driving, nothing, my children do not eat, no school fees, and you are telling me to do what. Not today, your cup is full,” she said.

But reacting in an Instagram live session with Daddy Freeze, the actor denied the domestic violence allegations.

He said, “She’s my wife but there has been so much misunderstanding between us.

That’s because she doesn’t want to understand the kind of person I am and my way of life,” he said.

“One or two things happened and it became a quarrel so we went out to settle it. I didn’t know she has something to push out on social media.

“When we came back from the police station, she started saying all sorts of things about me. She insulted my daughter and said all hell of things about her.

“She also insulted me, saying different things on air. I didn’t do anything to her.”

The actor also dismissed the claim that Jasmine was his girlfriend and not his daughter.

Daniel Okafor, the second son of the actor, who also graced the live session, spoke on the matter.

“She (Jasmine) is 100 percent (my father’s) daughter, not biological but adopted right from childhood.

“Maris, who is my stepmother, is being brainwashed by her friends….my own mother is married to another man, but she is in Lagos,”  he said.

The embattled student of Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, Sharon Okoroafor, has said she is getting depressed over the controversy following her recent remark.

Okoroafor came under fire when she put out a video claiming she graduated with the help of God and her private parts.

The institution condemned the act while many others also berated her.

“This is to inform the general public that the Management of Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, has begun full investigations into the identity of the student who gloated on Tiktok about how she graduated with the help of God and her private organ,” the institution had said.

But addressing journalists in Owerri, the student said her remark was a “slip of the tongue”.

“I couldn’t have meant it when I said God and my p**sy. Who can have such the nerve to say that? It was a slip of tongue. I meant to say God and my Popsy, my father.

“You know when you are excited about overcoming school stress as a graduate. I was appreciating God and my father who is so fond of me and had supported me throughout my stay in Poly Nekede.

“The whole thing was blown out of proportion. You know what social media can do to someone. But I’m really getting depressed by this whole thing. I never knew it would get to this extent.

“It is you journalists that are blowing it beyond proportion. I am very proud of my school and it would be unfair for me to put the school which gave me the opportunity to become a graduate, in a bad light.

“Federal Polytechnic Nekede is one of the best schools in Nigeria in terms of academic excellence and strict adherence to moral standards. Our Rector is a priest of the Anglican Church and a Moralist. Our lecturers are intellectually and morally strict.

“I charge you as journalists to take your investigation to my department (Business Administration) and ask questions about me. I am a very serious student. I attend lectures and do my independent assignments. I also participate actively in group assignments. I am not a wayward girl,” she said.

Asked if she had been summoned by the school management, she said, “I appeared before the Disciplinary Panel earlier this week. The video was played to me ad I was asked to react. I told them it was a mistake and a slip of tongue. I pleaded for forgiveness. They saw how remorseful I was and believed it was a mistake.

“I pray not to resit my exams as a disciplinary measure because it’s going to be a big task for me. It is not easy to pass through this stress again. I have appealed to the management to forgive me and set me free.

“I am ready to undergo any corporal punishment to show them how remorseful I am. Even if it means sweeping the school compound for weeks. If I’m a wayward student, I wouldn’t have made a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.8 in my ND programme.

“I just pray that the school will forgive me. I know I messed up and everyone is free to condemn me but let it be known that I am genuinely remorseful.

“Seeking legal redress will worsen the whole thing. I won’t even think of that. It will imply that my apology is not genuine. I hope to be forgiven.

“I am from a responsible home in the Umueze Umuhu community in Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo state. My parents are alive but not too strong health-wise. My mother has issues with her knees that affected her walking. They are not yet aware of the situation because they stay in the village.

“I sincerely regret this whole drama. I didn’t know it would get to this extent. I am really going into depression. My name is flying around for the wrong reasons. So said I intentionally did the video just to be popular. This is not true. I wouldn’t want to be known for negative reasons. I just pray to get over this soon.”

Soldiers have reportedly shot a motorcyclist amidst the protest against fuel and naira notes scarcity at the Apata area in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The protests which happened across the major cities of the state grounded activities and had youths carrying placards expressing their grievances on the situation since Friday.

According to an eyewitness stated that the shooting incident happened in the early hours of Saturday after men of the Nigerian Army were deployed on the street to douse the tension in the state.

“We saw soldiers’ vehicles pass through Brent, and all we heard were gunshots.

“Everyone ran for their lives; some lay on the floor to prevent stray bullets,” the eyewitness was quoted to have said.

The eyewitness added that there was also a female casualty in the shootout who is currently receiving treatment at the Lafia Hospital in the NNPC area.

All efforts to reach the state command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Adewale Osifeso, for comments on the alleged shootout proved abortive as of the time of filing this report.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Jersey Police have embarked on a joint operation to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of a Republican Councilwoman, Eunice Dwumfour.

The New York Post reported that Dwumfour was shot dead in front of her home in New Jersey, United States of America, on Wednesday, February 1, 2023.

She was said to be the wife of a Nigeria-based pastor, Eze Kings.

Dwumfour, 30, was reportedly hit by a yet-to-be-identified assailant while driving around her home.

The white Nissan SUV she drove crashed into two parked cars before coming to a stop.

A male witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said her car was hit with about 12 shots while travelling down Check Avenue toward Samuel Circle around 7.15 pm.

The vehicle eventually came to a stop after crashing into two parked cars, including the witness’ black Lexus GS350.
Chilling Snapchat footage of the aftermath of the incident showed Dwumfour’s body in the car while first responders surrounded the scene.

The witness said, “It took a second before I realized there was a dead body behind the wheel.

“She was slumped over the wheel with a black hoodie with brown fur covering her head; her hands were down by her side.

There was one bullet hole in the passenger door and a bunch of bullet holes in the driver’s door. Some other neighbours said they saw someone running away with a mask on.”

Meanwhile, CBS News reported that the FBI on Friday joined the police in search of those responsible for Dwumfour’s death.
Investigators from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office reportedly combed the woods behind the La Mur complex for clues.

NY Post also reported that 20 Sayreville police officers were spotted combing the sides of a Garden State Parkway exit ramp headed toward the Jon Bon Jovi Service area on Thursday afternoon.

Shortly after, investigators at the murder scene told reporters that Dwumfour was caught on video speaking to the shooter just moments before her death.

 The Lagos Police command on Sunday arrested some suspected Yoruba Nation agitators in the Alausa area of the state. 

According to the command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, via his Twitter handle, the suspects were setting up camp when they were apprehended. 

He tweeted, “Earlier today, a number of Yoruba Nation agitators commenced setting up camp at Alausa, planned to be used as a base to launch a massive protest.

The camp was promptly dislodged while agitators were arrested. Investigation continues at SCID. Lawlessness WILL NOT be tolerated!”