Armed bandits have abducted some students and staff of Apostolic Faith School in Emure, Ekiti State.
According to reports, the bandits abducted the students, their head teacher, and a driver conveying them home after school hours.
The incident comes on the heels of the recent killings of two traditional rulers in the same state, further intensifying apprehensions about the safety and well-being of residents.
At least 1,500 members of staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria will on Friday resume at its Lagos office following their redeployment from the headquarters, The PUNCH has learned.
A source at the apex bank told our correspondent exclusively that the plan, though heavily criticised, was still in motion, and affected staffers would be resuming on Friday.
“Yes, the plan is still on and they will resume work by February 2, which is the first week of next month,” an official said.
The latest development comes on the backdrop of the decision of the new management to relocate some of CBN’s departments to the country’s economic hub for staff safety, increased productivity, and to decongest its head office.
CBN said the action was necessitated by several factors, including the need to align the bank’s structure with its functions and objectives and redistribute skills to ensure a more even geographical spread of talent.
It added that it was also in compliance with building regulations, as indicated by repeated warnings from the facility manager, and the findings and recommendations of the Committee on Decongestion of the CBN Head Office.
A memo issued to staff read, “This is to notify all staff members at the CBN Head Office that we have initiated a decongestion action plan designed to optimise the operational environment of the Bank.
“This initiative aims to ensure compliance with building safety standards and enhance the efficient utilisation of our office space.”
According to reports, the departments penciled down for relocation by the CBN governor Yemi Cardoso include Banking Supervision, Other Financial Institutions Supervision, Consumer Protection Department, Payment System Management Department, and Financial Policy Regulations Department.
The Peoples Democratic Party House of Representatives candidate for Dekina/Bassa Fender Constituency in the 2023 elections, Austin Okai, on Monday, alleged that the newly-inaugurated Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, has approved the establishment of the “Office of Immediate-Past Governor” in the state.
Okai made the claim in a post on his verified X handle on Monday.
He further claimed that the office, which would be allegedly occupied by the immediate-past governor, Yahaya Bello, would be domiciled in the state Government House.
“Kogi State Governor approves the establishment of the ‘Office of Immediate Past Governor’ to be domiciled in the Government House. Kogi State, congratulations,” Okai wrote.
Efforts to get Ododo’s reaction were unsuccessful as calls placed to the mobile line of his media aide, John Nihi, were unanswered. He also did not respond to messages sent to him via WhatsApp.
The PUNCH reports that Ododo was sworn in as governor of the state on Saturday, succeeding Bello who just completed his second term in office.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has picked Nigerian international, Victor Osimhen, for a random drug test after his sterling performance against Cameroon in the Round of 16 match on Saturday, January 27, of the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.
Osimhen was the driving force in the Super Eagles’ 2-0 victory over Cameroon in the round of 16.
In one of such instance, Osimhen dispossessed a Cameroon defender of the ball and made a low pass to Adebayo Lookman for the opening goal. He chased down every ball and remained a constant threat to the Cameroon defense squad throughout his time on the pitch.
His tireless display and energetic pace have attracted the attention of CAF, leading to his being picked for a random test, Vanguard reported. Usually, players are picked by drawing of lot for all the players in a matchday squad. However, a player can also be picked randomly if they notice any unusual behaviour.
Meanwhile reports circulating on social media platforms indicate that Osimhen has undergone a random dope test conducted by the anti-doping department.
However, initial information had been deemed partially accurate, but it has been confirmed that the Nigerian international underwent the test following the match against Guinea-Bissau, not Cameroon as earlier speculated.
Armed men have reportedly invaded a community called Gbauzokoyako located after Ketti in the Kuje Area Council of Abuja where father and son were said to have been killed.
The deceased were identified as Adams Makada, 60 and Bitrus, 25.
The assailants reportedly invaded the community early Monday morning, also killing another, Elisha Auta, 34 and abducted five residents.
The Coordinator of the Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja (OIDA), Pastor Danladi Jeji, said the incident “happened this morning between 12 am and 2 am, describing Auta as a victim of circumstances.
“The late Elisha Auta is from Galadimawa who went down to Gbaupezokoyako for condolences and burial of his relation but was shot in the village by wicked terrorist,” Jeji disclosed.
He decried the situation and called on the FCT security authorities to come to their rescue, noting that “It was a very bad day.”
Police operatives, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Peggyi Station, Usman Abini are said to have visited the scene of the incident.
Also speaking, Mr Samuel Elisha, an OIDA strong pillar and acting Coordinator in Kuje Chiefdom expressed his grievances over the rise of insecurity in the council area and prayed for immediate intervention in the community.
When contacted, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, Josephine Adeh said she was unavailable to speak at the moment and would comment on the situation soon.
The recent incident occurred despite recent security measures set up by the Nigeria Police Force and the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike to identify and block kidnapping routes, especially in the suburban areas of Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu has announced a shake-up in the oil sector to ensure transparency amid concerns about declining oil revenue and opaque practices within the NNPC.
The President has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to take over responsibility for crude oil sales from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Previously, the NNPC solely controlled crude oil sales, only submitting accounts to the federal government. Critics have long argued that this arrangement lacked transparency, allowing the NNPC to underreport earnings.
The new directive requires the NNPC to submit all receipts for crude oil sales to the CBN for vetting and documentation. This aims to close any potential gaps in reporting and ensure accurate records of oil revenue.
CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, had last week said the collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and the NNPCL is to ensure that all foreign inflows are returned to the Central Bank.
“This coordinated effort will greatly enhance the Bank’s foreign exchange flows and contribute to the accretion of reserves,” he said.
Cardoso, who was delivering a keynote address at the launch of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) “2024 Macroeconomic Outlook Report”, said, “The expected stability in the foreign exchange market for 2024 can be attributed to the reduction in petroleum product imports and the recent implementation of a market-determined exchange rate policy by the CBN.
“This reform is designed to streamline and unify multiple exchange rates, fostering transparency and reducing opportunities for arbitrage.
“The resulting consistent and stable exchange rate will not only boost investor confidence but also attract foreign investment, elevating Nigeria’s appeal to global investors.”
“We are implementing a comprehensive strategy to improve liquidity in our FX markets in the short, medium, and long term. Our focus is on addressing fundamental issues that have hindered the effective operation of our markets over the years.
“Upholding the integrity of financial markets is crucial for building confidence. With the completion of an independent forensic review, we are addressing the backlog of valid FX transactions and we remain steadfast in our commitment to decisively address any infractions and abuses,” he added.
Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria under the auspices of the Civil Society Joint Action Group, Community of Practice Against Mass Atrocities, and, Nigeria Mourns, are deeply concerned by the deteriorating state of security across Nigeria and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The CSOs in a press release on Monday explained that over the past decade and a half, insecurity in Nigeria has spiraled due to a variety of violent phenomena, including but not limited to terrorist activities in the entire northern region of the country, terror pillages otherwise known as ‘banditry’ in the North.
Adding that West, farmer-herder violence in the Middle Belt including the Benue Valley, secessionist struggles in the South East, piracy in the southern coast of the Country, inter-communal attacks, political violence, cult-gang violence and kidnapping.
They noted that these forms of insecurity have jeopardized the security and wellbeing of Nigerians, and have progressively deteriorated over the years.
“Endemic insecurity has persisted over the last three administrations, including that of President Buhari, who as a former military general, had gained public trust to run as president by promising to curb the then fledgling insecurity.
“Mass atrocities fatality tracking across the country by Nigeria Mourns reveals that in President Buhari’s second term alone (2019 to 2023), at least 24,816 Nigerians lost their lives, and at least 15,597 persons were abducted.”
This alarming trend has continued in spite of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assurance at the beginning of his presidency in May 2023 to tackle insecurity.
It has now been 8 months since President Tinubu took his oath of office and yet, things have failed to improve. Our tracking shows at least 2,423 people have been killed in mass atrocities-related incidents and at least 1,872 persons were abducted since the beginning of President Tinubu’s administration till January 26, 2024.
We are particularly concerned about the upsurge in abductions, noting that at least 230 incidents, in most of which multiple victims were involved, occurred within the first 2 weeks of January 2024 alone.
They however call on the Nigerian government to take actionable steps to end the endemic insecurity, mitigate further attacks by kidnap syndicates and terrorist groups, and, account persons missing in these attacks.
They further charged President Tinubu to Fulfill its constitutional imperative of safeguarding the lives of all citizens, declare a state of emergency on kidnapping and other forms of terrorism.
The President should also enhance the country’s security infrastructure by conducting an audit of the responsibility matrix within security agencies and departments of government, bolster their capabilities and deployment of technology to effectively address the evolving challenges of insecurity.
Other demands include:
Promptly prosecute the 400 sponsors of terrorism arrested under the Buhari regime, Uncover and prosecute those responsible for the misappropriation of the $460 million earmarked for the provision of CCTV cameras in the Federal Capital Territory.
Implement more decisive measures to promptly secure the release of all abducted victims, Create a register of victims of abductions and other forms of mass atrocities
Recognize and address the floundering economy, corruption and human rights violations as exacerbating factors of Nigeria’s insecurity and engage citizens on best practices for ending insecurity, including disincentivizing the payment of ransoms.
Provide holistic psychosocial support for abduction survivors and their families and Promptly investigate and decisively prosecute all individuals implicated in fueling insecurity.
The chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, Philip Aivoji, has been released.
Aivoji, along with other party chieftains, was abducted on Thursday, January 25th, while returning from a PDP stakeholders’ meeting in Ibadan. They were seized by unknown gunmen along the notorious Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a frequent target for kidnappings.
His release was disclosed by the State Publicity Secretary, Hakeem Amode, in a short statement issued around 1.15 am on Monday.
Amode said, “Lagos State PDP Chairman released by the kidnappers.
“Hon Philip Olabode Aivoji the Lagos State PDP Chairman is free at last after 4days in the kidnappers’ den.
“We use this opportunity to appreciate your prayers most importantly because God’s mercies was visible all the way.
“Thank you all for your concerns and prayers.”
The proprietress of Excel Group of Schools, a nursery and primary institution in Ogun state, Mrs Helen Odunubi, has been abducted by some suspected kidnappers.
Punch reports that the incident occurred inside the school premises in the Ogunsua Crescent, Oserw Baba Odun Matogbun area of Agbado in Ogun State, at about 1 pm on Tuesday.
A source in the area sais trouble started when two women and two men drove an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Sienna into the school premises and went straight to the school proprietress’ office.
The son of the proprietress, Ayodeji Odunubi, was said to have also told the police on Wednesday that the four people had never been seen in the area before Tuesday’s incident.
He said the suspects appeared a few minutes later with his mother and dragged her inside the said Toyota Sienna they drove into the premises with.
The son said before anyone could challenge them, they had hurriedly driven away.
As of the time of this report, it was learnt that the 56-year-old had neither been found nor had her abductor reached out to the family for any ransom.
Speaking about the incident, the Ogun state police command’s spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, said the policemen in the Agbado Division were immediately mobilised and stormed the school premises when they received the information.
She noted that the police and other local security outfits were working hand-in-glove to find out the whereabouts of the proprietress and rescue her from her abductors.
“Upon the receipt of the incident, our men in the division immediately swung into action along with other security outfits to rescue the lady.
“There is already a synergy between the police, the community leaders, and other security outfits in the community. I can assure you that efforts are in top gear to know the location of the victim and arrest the suspects,” she stated.
As the tenure of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello ended on January 27, 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is reportedly preparing to invite him for questioning.
With Bello no longer protected by the immunity afforded to governors, the EFCC and other security agencies are expected to launch an investigation into his eight-year administration.
Daily Times reports that the move comes after an earlier suit seeking the forfeiture of properties and funds linked to Bello was struck out, citing his immunity from prosecution.
Recall that the EFCC filed an appeal, challenging the Wednesday, April 26, 2023 ruling of Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, that struck out its suit seeking the forfeiture of 14 properties as well as the sum of N400m linked to the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, citing his immunity from prosecution under the 1999 constitution.
In the notice of appeal filed by the commission, it averred that Justice Oweibo erred in law when he struck out the suit as the immunity conferred on the Respondent against any civil or criminal proceedings during his incumbency as a governor of Kogi State does not extend to properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime traced to him.
Also, it stated that the court erred and occasioned a miscarriage of justice when it refused to bind itself with the decision of the Court of Appeal in EFCC V Fayose (2018) LPELR 44131 CA and the decision of the Supreme Court in Fawehinmi V IGP (2002)7 NWLR (PT767)606, on the proper interpretation of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.
The EFCC also stated that the learned trial court erred in law when it struck out a preservation order of properties reasonably suspected to have been derived from proceeds of unlawful activities, notwithstanding its findings that the Respondent failed to show the genuine origin of funds used to acquire the properties under the preservation order.
