Sakiru Ambali, a 45-year-old Nigerian man, has been arraigned before a US district court over allegations of wire fraud. Ambali was arrested in Frankfurt, Germany, as he travelled to Canada from Nigeria, while another Nigerian, Fatiu Lawal, was arrested in Toronto, Canada, where he resides. They were both arrested in February 2023. Lawal and Ambali were alleged to have used the stolen personal information of thousands of US taxpayers and residents to file over 1,700 fraudulent claims for COVID-19 pandemic unemployment benefits. Although the total claims sought was approximately $25 million, the accused persons allegedly obtained approximately $2.4 million, primarily from pandemic unemployment benefits. According to the US attorney’s office, Western District of Washington, “the co-conspirators allegedly submitted claims for pandemic unemployment benefits to more than 25 states including New York, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, California, and Washington”. “Using 13 Google accounts they filed some 900 claims. The co-conspirators also allegedly established four internet domain names that they then used for fraud – creating some 800 different email addresses that were used for fraud,” the statement reads. “Lawal and Ambali allegedly filed over 2,300 fraudulent income tax returns seeking over $7.1 million in tax refunds. The IRS caught most of the fraud and paid only about $30,000 in fraudulent refunds. Advertisement “The co-conspirators also attempted to use the stolen American identities for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to defraud the small business administration.” Lawal and Ambali were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 10 counts of wire fraud and six counts of aggravated identity theft. Lawal remains in Canada, pending extradition while Ambali made his first court appearance on Friday. The conspiracy and wire fraud counts are punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory minimum of two years in prison.

  Former presidential aide Doyin Okupe has suggested several economic interventions to President Bola Tinubu, including that Nigeria must quit the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Okupe offered the advice Thursday in a series of tweets titled ‘For President Bola Tinubu: Still Many Rivers to Cross’. Reviewing Tinubu’s performance since assuming office on May 29, he said the President had “hit the ground sprinting.” “Nigeria must quit OPEC. In about two decades from now, oil reserves may become meaningless,” the former Labour Party presidential campaign director said. “The present allocation of less than 2 million barrels per day for Nigeria with a population of over 200 million people and it’s prevailing strangulating economic conditions, given volumes of export to our main foreign exchange earner (90%) is inimical to our growth as a nation and to the wellbeing of the citizens.” Outside OPEC, Okupe argued that Nigeria could reduce its selling price of crude but also increase exports to three million barells and above per day. “This will increase accruable revenue from forex by up to 200% or more, which will allow the CBN have more supply of forex to the banks. In the face of surplus liquidity in forex supply, Naira will gain tremendous value over the Dollar,” he said.

  Niger’s new prime minister, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, on Friday, told The New York Times that the generals who overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum during a July 26 coup will do him no harm.   “Nothing will happen to him, because we don’t have a tradition of violence in Niger,” Zeine, the most senior civilian appointed by the military leaders, told the newspaper in an interview from Dakar on the fate of overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum. Zeine also insisted the Niger coup leaders had no intention of collaborating with Russia, or with the Kremlin-backed mercenaries of the Wagner group. The New York Times reported that the coup leaders had cut off water and electricity to Bazoum’s house, where he has been confined since being ousted, and threatened to kill him if other African countries make good on a proposal to restore him to power through a military intervention.   Earlier Friday, President Bola Tinubu warned there will be “grave consequences” if Niger’s military regime allows Bazoum’s health to worsen under house arrest, a European Union official said. At the UN headquarters in New York, a spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was questioned by reporters on the state of Bazoum’s health and if he was even still alive. “I’ve spoken to someone who speaks to him regularly. And, yes, as far as we know and we have no indication to say that he’s not alive. So as far as I know, he’s alive,” said Stephane Dujarric.   Zeine, who was appointed Niger’s prime minister on August 7, was also questioned by the Times on the presence of 1,100 American soldiers and 1,500 French soldiers fighting against jihadists in anti-terrorist operations with the local army. Zeine, a French-trained economist who had served as finance minister in a previous administration, said “the moment will come to review” such military partnerships, while praising the “extremely reasonable position” of the White House in trying to resolve the crisis through diplomacy rather than force. AFP

  The Central Bank of Nigeria has announced operational mechanism for the Bureau De Change segment of the market to trade foreign currencies at similar rates obtainable on the Investor & Exporter forex window. It gave the directive to all BDCs and the general public in a circular number TED/FEM/PUB/FBC/001/007 dated August 17, 2023, titled, ‘Operational mechanism for Bureau De Change operations in Nigeria’, released on Friday. The apex bank said in the circular signed by the Director, Trade & Exchange Department, Dr. O.S. Naji, that its implementation should be with immediate effect. It said this was in support of the drive to improve the efficiency of the Nigerian foreign exchange market. The circular stated, “The spread on buying and selling by BDC operators shall be within an allowable limit of -2.5 per cent to +2.5 per cent of the Nigerian exchange market window weighted average rate of the previous day. “Mandatory rendition by BDC operators of the statutory periodic reports (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly), on the financial institution forex rendition system which has been upgraded to meet operators’ requirements. “Operators are to note that with effect from the date of this circular, non-rendition of returns would attract sanctions which may include withdrawal of operating licence. Where operators do not have any transaction within the period, they are expected to render nil returns. “Please, be guided accordingly and ensure compliance.” However findings by Saturday PUNCH, revealed that the order which was to commence immediately was being snubbed by most BDCs who had access to the scarce forex. Figures from the FMDQ showed that the naira commenced trading on the I&E window at 761.82/$ before closing at 739.52/$ on Friday. Total turnover on the window was $130.92m as of the close of Friday. However, some BDCs who would not want to be named because they were not complying with the new directive said the naira was sold at 865/$ on Friday. A BDC who spoke to The PUNCH said, “We bought and sold dollar for 840/$ and 865/$ today. CBN is not giving us the dollar, and I did not get it cheap at the official rate so I cannot sell at that rate. “How many people have access to that official rate; the dollar is still scarce and expensive.” Another BDC who would not want to be quoted also said, “The rate we sold today is 865/$. The implication of the new guideline is that if it pays to sell at the black market, I will not sell as a licensed operator.” Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria, Aminu Gwadabe, said the new directive was in line with the financial reform for the industry with reference to the lisensed BDCs operating the guideline. Gwadabe said, “It is an anchor rate for them, if a customer comes, then you look at what is the closing rate for the I&E window and you buy at the -2.5 per cent to +2.5 per cent; the same thing if a customer comes to you, you use the same I&E window.” He noted that the CBN, through its intelligence report, had seen that there were BDCs that, even though they were not accessing CBN window, they were also accessing the independent window and transacting. Meanwhile, he said, other transactions showed that there were BDCs that were buying and selling through their accounts. He said the CBN was also ensuring return on rendition to for BDCs to report they did the transactions.

  The Nigerian Bar Association has set up an adhoc committee to investigate the allegations of sexual assault against the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Prof. Cyril Ndifon. Members of the committee are the NBA 1st Vice President, Linda Rose Bala, Assistant General Secretary, Daniel Kip, Chairperson of NBA Women’s Forum and the Chairman of the NBA Calabar Branch. The NBA also filed petitions against the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari and a young lawyer of Aba Branch wildly known as “the Baddest lawyer” on social media, Ifunanya Excel Grant. While Yunusa-Ari was petitioned over his role in illegally declaring the result of the supplementary 2023 governorship election in Adamawa State as votes were still being counted, the complaints against Miss Ifunanya centred on her social media notoriety of posting pictures and videos of herself unclad and smoking marijuana. A statement issued on Saturday by the National Publicity Secretary of NBA, Akorede Habeeb Lawal, said the decision was reached by the National Executive Committee of the body at her recent monthly meeting presided over by its President, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau and attended by all national officers. The statement said, “The NBA NEC subsequently empanelled an ad-hoc committee comprising the 1st Vice President of the NBA, Mrs Linda Rose Bala, the Assistant General Secretary of the NBA, Mr Daniel Kip, Chairperson of NBA Women’s Forum and the Chairman of the NBA Calabar Branch, to investigate the allegations against the university lecturer. “You may also be aware of the recent media report of the attempted bribe of Justice Flora Azinge of the National Assembly and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kano. The NBA has, by a letter dated August 16, 2023, formally requested His Lordship to avail the NBA of further details in this regard to enable investigation into this allegation. “In a similar vein, the national officers also deliberated at their earlier monthly meeting over the unbecoming conduct of some members of the legal profession. Following the resolutions of the national officers, the NBA has filed petitions at the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee against Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the suspended Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission and Ifunanya Excel Grant, a young lawyer of Aba Branch widely known as “the Baddest lawyer” on social media. “Yunusa-Ari was petitioned over his role in illegally declaring the result of the supplementary 2023 gubernatorial election in Adamawa State while votes were still being counted. While the complaints against Miss Ifunanya centred on her social media notoriety of posting pictures and videos of herself unclad and smoking marijuana. “While it is important to underscore the fact that none of the lawyers petitioned or being investigated is deemed guilty of professional misconduct until the LPDC hands down its decisions after fair trial, the NBA President has emphasised the need for lawyers to continue to be of best conduct wherever they find themselves, and he reiterated that the present NBA leadership will not relent in ridding the profession of the very few bad eggs that may be found

  Saturday 19 August 2023 CBN Unveils Fresh Guidelines For Forex Sale By BDCs Two Years After Ban Subsidy Removal: FG To Monitor Deployment Of Palliatives, Says Presidency FG’s N5bn To States Won’t Translate To N1,500 Per Person – NLC UNILAG Denies Another Increment In School Fees Tinubu Approves CNG Initiative, Targets Nationwide Adoption ‘All Eyes On The Judiciary’ Should Not Offend A Right-Thinking Person – Atedo Peterside Tinubu Warns of ‘Grave Consequences’ If Niger President’s Health Suffers NEMA Distributes Relief Items To Flood Victims, Others In Katsina Nigeria Will No Longer Be Known As World’s ‘419’ Capital, FG Vows Wizkid loses mum British nurse found guilty of murdering seven babies Teenager set ablaze in Niger over missing children Oil theft: Navy returns stolen crude-laden vessels to owners in Bayelsa X will remove blocking feature, says Elon Musk Doyin Okupe to Tinubu: Take more bold steps — Nigeria must quit OPEC Group alleges plot to portray Akpabio as incompetent over ‘credit alert’ comment PANDEF advises Tinubu against scrapping Niger Delta ministry Emefiele: DSS Arrests NIRSAL Boss Floating Of Naira Illegal, Falana Knocks CBN Lobbyists storm APC secretariat, beg Ganduje for appointments Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province have called on President Bola Tinubu to avoid involving Nigerians in the armed conflict in Niger Republic. This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the two-day meeting of the Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province held in Ado-Ekiti and signed by the President, Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin and Secretary, Most Rev. John Oyejola. The Catholic Bishops, comprising Ibadan Archdiocese, Ilorin, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti and Osogbo Dioceses said Nigeria have more than enough challenges to tackle than involving in any kind of war. According to them, government must show greater seriousness in tackling the challenges of insecurity and also ensure there is sustainable programmes for food production to alleviate the crisis of food security. They urged Nigerians to remain hopeful despite the daunting challenges while calling on government at all levels to restore the hope of its citizens. “Governments that fail to represent the interest of their people in democracy, compromise their legitimacy. “If the public reaction to Nigeria’s involvement in restoring democracy in Niger is anything to go by, one can say that military intervention in Niger being proposed by the leaders of the Economic Community of West Africa ECOWAS is very unpopular. “Nigerians favour negotiation and other non-military means and President Bola Tinubu, who is president first and foremost of Nigeria, needs to listen to Nigerians before anyone else. “We call on the President and the National Assembly therefore to avoid involving Nigeria in armed conflict in Niger as we have more than enough challenges domestically. “No Nigerian life should be sacrificed for the crisis in Niger or anywhere else because war of any kind is a failure of humanity. “Government must show greater seriousness in tackling these challenges head on. Recent news of the ambush and killing of 21 Nigerian soldiers by suspected bandits in Kundu, Wushishi local government of Niger State does not inspire confidence that the security agencies are able to confront the prevailing situation. “The tragic death of Dr. Vwaere Diaso in an elevator crash at General Hospital, Odan, Lagos, a mere two weeks before completing her program is a metaphor for the needless loss of lives occurring often in Nigeria and the lethargy with which such tragedies are treated. “Nigeria currently is at risk on many fronts. Of these, food security is a major concern. Any country unable to feed its citizens, will be a perpetual victim of manipulation and does not deserve its sovereignty. “Current threats of scarcity of food and unaffordable cost of living in the country require not only release of resources from the national reserves but an aggressive agricultural campaign aimed at returning Nigerians to the land. “Government must have sustainable programmes for food production, preservation and processing and provide facilities for Nigerians to engage in it. “This commitment over some years will unlock the potential capacity of the country to feed its citizens and other countries as well. “Government at all levels must seriously work to restore the hope of Nigerians through concrete result-oriented policies and programmes. “We strongly urge Nigerians too never to give up hope even in the face of the most daunting challenges, for hope is not a disposable ingredient but a God-given gift for the sustenance of life and humanity.”

  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says its operatives in Enugu have arrested 28 suspected internet fraudsters in the state. In a statement, Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesperson, said the suspects were arrested on Wednesday in a sting operation in the state, following credible intelligence on their alleged criminal activities. According to Uwujaren, the suspects are Godwin Ogbonna; Bright Chidozie; Chukwuebuka Ugwu; Ifesi Isaac; Collins Nnachi; Micheal Nnamdi; Ikechukwu Anya; Nneji Onyebuchi; Nwali Chukwudi and Godwin Okwuchi Promise. Others are Chijioke Henry; Chinwetalu Harrison; Somadina James; Ejike Ezeoha; Seth Onodika; Akuh Stanley; Emmanuel Opara; Nonso Martin; Ugochukwu Ibeh and Ikenna Okonkwo; Kenechukwu Barry; Ibe Chisom; Felix Nwaeze; Daniel John; Somtochukwu Zadok; Ugochukwu Amoke and Chukwudi Charles. The EFCC spokesperson said nine exotic cars, 44 mobile phones, seven personal computers and one international passport were recovered from the suspects. Uwujaren said the suspects will be charged in court as soon as the investigations are concluded. In recent months, EFCC has intensified its clampdown on internet fraudsters. In July, the commission prosecuted Peter Ayigi Againpriye, a student of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), for internet fraud and the suspect was sentenced to three years imprisonment. In June, EFCC also arrested Ifechukwu Tom Makwe for allegedly posing as a senator to defraud a Spaniard of the sum of €5.7 million.

  The acting Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has ordered States Commissioners of Police to establish Complaint Response Units in their respective command, noting that the new development was due to his zeal to sanitize and standardise the police system for accountability and transparency in line with his commitment to fortify the complaints response mechanisms of the Force. Egbetokun also approved the appointment of CSP El-Mustapha Sani as the Head, CRU, following the posting of DCP Markus Basiran, as DC Homicide, Force Criminal Investigations Department Annex, Alagbon, Lagos. This is coming on the heels of the recent visit of the Chief Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, Abimbola Ayo-Yusuf and his team to the Force Headquarters, where the IG and the delegation discussed extensively issues of mutual interest and areas of collaboration. The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi made the development known in a Friday night correspondence obtained by our correspondent. Adejobi said, “El-Mustapha Sani, a seasoned officer with an exemplary record of service, brings a wealth of experience to this crucial role. His extensive background in complaint resolution in the Public Complaint Bureau of the Force Public Relations Department, coupled with his dedication to justice and fairness, makes him a fitting choice to lead the Complaint Response Unit. “In the same vein, the IG reiterates his order that all Commissioners of Police in charge of State Commands should establish Complaint Response Unit Offices in their respective State Commands Headquarters to boost the IG’s unwavering zeal to fight corruption and unprofessionalism. “The IG encourages all stakeholders, the public, civil society organisations, and other law enforcement agencies, to collaborate closely with Police Complaint Response Units and aid the smooth execution of their responsibilities of curbing misconducts, excesses, and unprofessionalism among police officers nationwide. “He similarly stressed that the Force remains resolute in its pursuit of transparency, accountability, and the protection of citizens’ rights toward building public trust and fostering a harmonious relationship between the police and the people