The Federal Government says it has uncovered the identity of 15 entities, including nine individuals and six Bureau De Change operators and firms, allegedly involved in terrorism financing. Details of the development were revealed by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, in an email sent to our correspondent on Tuesday night, entitled “Designation of Individuals and Entities for March 18, 2024.” The document revealed that the Nigeria Sanctions Committee met on March 18, 2024, where specific individuals and entities were recommended for sanction following their involvement in terrorism financing. “The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, with the approval of the President, has thereupon designated the following individuals and entities to be listed on the Nigeria Sanctions List,” the document read in part. Among the individuals named in the document was a Kaduna-based publisher, Tukur Mamu, who is currently being tried by the Federal Government for allegedly aiding the terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train in March 2022. According to the document, Mamu “participated in the financing of terrorism by receiving and delivering ransome payments over the sum of $200,000 US in support of ISWAP terrorists for the release of hostages of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.” The document said one of the individuals is “the suspected attacker of the St. Francis Catholic Church Owo, Ondo State on June 5, 2022 and the Kuje Correctional Center, Abuja on July 5, 2022.” Another was described as “a member of the terrorist group Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladissudam, the group is associated with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. “The subject was trained and served under Muktar Belmokhtar, aka One Eyed Out, led Al-Murabtoun Katibat of AQIM in Algeria and Mali.” The NFIU said the individual “specialises in designing terrorist clandestine communication code and he is also Improvised Explosive Device expert. “The subject was also a gate keeper to ANSARU leader, Mohammed Usman aka Khalid Al-Bamawi. Equally, he was a courier and travel guide to AQIM Katibat in the desert of Algeria and Mali. He is into carpentry. Subject fled Kuje correctional centre on July 5, 2022. He is currently at large.” Another was identified as “a senior commander of the Islamic State of West Africa Province Okene.” The agency said, the individual “came into limelight in 2012 as North Central wing of Boko Haram. “The group is suspected of the attacks carried out around Federal Capital Territory and the South West Geographical Zone, including the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.” Another was described as “a financial courier to ISWAP Okene. She is responsible for the disbursement of funds to the widows/wives of the terrorist fighters of the group.” According to the document, another of the individuals “in 2015, transferred N60m to terrorism convicts.” He was also said to have “received a sum of N189m between 2016 and 2018.” The same person is said to “own entities and business reported in the UAE court judgment as facilitating the transfer of terrorist funds from Dubai to Nigeria.” Another individual was said to have “received a total of N57m from between 2014 and 2017.” Another was said to have “had a total inflow of N61.4 bn and a total outflow of N51.7bn from his accounts.” The document further revealed that, in accordance with Section 54 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, institutions and individuals are required to: “(a) immediately, identify and freeze, without prior notice, all funds, assets, and any other economic resources belonging to the designated persons and entities in your possession and report same to the Sanctions Committee; “(b) report to the Sanctions Committee any assets frozen or actions taken in compliance with the prohibition requirements. “(c) immediately file a Suspicious Transactions Report to the NFIU for further analysis on the financial activities of such an individual or entity; and “(d) report as a Suspicious Transactions Report to the NFIU, all cases of name matching in financial transactions prior to or after receipt of this List. ” It said the “The freezing obligation required above shall extend to “(a) all funds or other assets that are owned or controlled by the designated persons and entities, and not only those that are tied to a particular act, plot, or threat of terrorism or terrorism financing; “(b) those funds or other assets that are wholly or jointly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by designated persons or entities; “(c) the funds or other assets derived or generated from funds or other assets owned or controlled directly or indirectly by designated persons or entities; and “(d) funds or other assets of persons and entities acting on behalf of, or at the direction of designated persons or entities.”

  The Senate Ad-hoc Committee probing how the N30tn Ways and Means loans were obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria and spent by the former President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration says it has uncovered some infractions in the in the process of obtaining the overdraft. As such, the committee said it had concluded plans to summon the current CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, to explain certain details regarding the infraction. This came to the fore when Chairman of the Senate committee, Senator Isah Jibrin (Kogi East), and other members of the panel met with officials of the CBN at the National Assembly on Tuesday. The team of CBN officials was led by one of the deputy governors of the apex bank, Bala Bello.   The ad-hoc committee is probing the disbursement and usage of the N30tn Ways and Means loans obtained during the Buhari administration. Jibrin alleged that the immediate past former governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, unilaterally signed billions of naira in the approval of different tranches of the loans without following due process. The Kogi lawmaker also accused Emefiele of illegally signing billions of naira in 13 documents. According to the committee chairman, Emefiele ought to have approved the loans in conjunction with the CBN Board of Directors, stressing that he unilaterally signed the loans contrary to the requirements of the CBN Act. Jibrin said, “The committee of governors ought to be the signatories to the Ways and Means account but in the document we have here, the governor signed billions of naira in about 13 places. “We want to know the total figure of the Ways and Means. We want to know the summation of the figure.” The committee chairman further noted that documents available to him on the Anchors Borrowers Programme implemented by the Buhari’s administration indicated that about 70 per cent of the programme had been executed, leaving the remaining 30 per cent. He said, “On the Anchor Borrowers Programme, you have done well. You did about 70 per cent but we must ensure the completion of the remaining 30 per cent.” Jibrin, however, informed that the committee would summon the current CBN governor, Cardoso, to give a detailed account of what he knew about the Ways and Means facility. The senator said, “Your governor who took over from Emefiele should be able to stand for Emefiele because he took over from him, including his assets. “Emefiele should provide an explanation to the existing governor. We will invite the governor and in case he does not have a response, he will contact Emefiele.”

  Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and some areas in Kogi State are currently experiencing power outages due to technical glitches. The two areas are under the coverage of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company. On Tuesday, the AEDC informed its customers in Zamani Estate, Abacha Road Mararaba, Ruga Juli and other parts of Abuja that a technical fault on 33kv feeder k6 from AT9 Karu Transmission Station was responsible for the power outage. “The management of Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc wishes to notify its esteemed customers that there is currently a technical fault on 33kv feeder k6 from AT9 Karu Transmission Station, managed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria.   “The areas affected in Abuja are: Zamani Estate, Abacha Road Mararaba, Ruga Juli, Old Karu Road, Glory Estate and environs,” the Disco said in a statement. The AEDC disclosed that the TCN maintenance crew was working to ensure the supply of electricity to these areas was restored soon, regretting any inconvenience caused. Earlier, the TCN had announced its maintenance crew would carry out planned maintenance on its TR3 45MVA and TR2 60MVA power transformers in its 132/33kV Okene Transmission Substation. The maintenance was scheduled to run from Tuesday to Wednesday, from 10 am to 03pm on each day. Consequently, Abuja DisCo will not be able to off-take power from the substation to its customers in Okene, Kabba, Ososo and Ikare during the period of the maintenance. “Kindly note that bulk power supply will be restored to Abuja DisCo immediately after maintenance work is completed,” the TCN spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, said. Meanwhile, Mbah said the TCN had commissioned a 100MVA 132/33kV power transformer at its Port Harcourt Main Transmission Substation to the bulk transmission capability of the substation by 80MW. This initiative, which she said was is in collaboration with World Bank, also includes the complete rehabilitation and expansion of the 132/33kV transmission substation and the addition of three feeders and associated accessories. “With the installation of the 100MVA power transformer, the substation’s installed capacity increased from 180MVA to 280MVA. Notably, industries in the Trans Amadi industrial environment and communities beyond Port Harcourt city will benefit significantly from this capacity expansion,” she added. The PUNCH reports that the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, recently summoned the management of the AEDC over worsening power supply in its franchise. Adelabu also summoned the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Sule Abdulazeez, over the deteriorating power situation across the country since January this year. But, the Discos and the TCN have repeatedly blamed the low power supply on gas shortage, vandalism, energy theft and other factors.

  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested the House of Representatives’ approval for the newly proposed salaries and allowances for judicial officers across the country. Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, who read the President’s communication, explained that the proposed bill seeks to prescribe salaries and allowances as well as other fringe benefits for judicial officers. According to him, the proposed upward review of the remuneration was aimed at ending the prolonged stagnation in their remuneration and to reflect contemporary socio-economic realities. The Executive bill forwarded by the President is titled: ‘A Bill for an Act to prescribe the salaries, allowances and fringe benefits of judicial office holders in Nigeria and for related matters’. The President in the letter dated 19th March, 2024 addressed to the Speaker, solicited for accelerated consideration and passage of the bill. He said: “In accordance with the provisions of Section 58(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended), I forward, herewith, the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, Etc) Bill, 2024 for the kind consideration of the House of Representatives. ALSO READ: Financial inclusion rate in Nigeria rises to 74% —CBN “The Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, Etc) Bill, 2024 seeks to prescribe salaries, allowances and fringe benefits for Judicial Officers, to end the prolonged stagnation in their remuneration and to reflect contemporary socio- economic realities. “The Bill, which establishes a new legal framework for the remuneration of Judicial Officers, will also ensure significant improvement in the welfare, capacity and independence of the Judiciary. “Whilst I hope that the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, Etc) Bill, 2024 will be carefully yet expeditiously considered and passed by the House of Representatives, please accept, Rt. Hon. Speaker, the assurances of my highest esteem.”

  Five days after the tragic murder of Nigerian Army personnel in Delta State, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, says the culprits may be mercenaries, rather than people from the Niger Delta region. Seventeen military personnel were murdered in Okuama, a community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State last week. Days after the incident, Akpabio, who presided over a plenary session on Tuesday in Abuja, stated those responsible may be mercenaries. He said this during a debate on two merged motions by senators Abdulaziz Yar’Adua and Edeh Dafinone. Dafinone who represents Delta Central, had raised a motion calling for relief and assistance to victims of the attack. But Akpabio interjected, telling the lawmaker not to conclude yet. “I don’t want you to conclude. I don’t believe these people are from the Niger Delta – those who did the killings. With respect to men and women in uniform, that I why I am saying that your additional prayers should actually be ‘to carry out a thorough investigation to know whether these people were mercenaries from outside Niger Delta who came to commit,” he said. “I don’t think these people are Niger Deltans. We are not at war. Even in a period of war [you do not] lose such number of personnel. No community will go to the extent of doing this kind of thing. I don’t think they are from Niger Delta.” Delta Gov Meets Tinubu Worried by possible fear of reprisal by the military, coupled with the mounting tension since the gruesome killing, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, had on the same day met President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Oborevwori says military authorities have assured him of the safety of residents of the community. I decided to come here to brief Mr President of all the things we have been doing to maintain peace. Mr President has assured me that he is in support of peace and we both condemn the killing of the officers and the soldiers because they were there on a peace mission,” he said after the meeting. “What is happening now is something that we did not bargain for. But we want to assure everybody that there will be no more attacks on the villages. “If there’s anyone that will that has happened in the past, there will be no attack. But we know that those who are culpable will be brought a book but innocent citizens will not be will not be attacked.” Tinubu Pledges Punishment President Tinubu who earlier condemned the killing, said the perpetrators, whom he described as “cowardly” must not go unpunished. Tinubu in a message he released Sunday evening, said the killing is “unprovoked” and “dreadful”. “As the Commander-in-Chief, I join all well-meaning Nigerians and the men and women of our armed forces to mourn and express my profound grief over the needless death of our gallant soldiers,” Tinubu said. “I extend my profound condolences to the families of these fallen soldiers, their colleagues, and their loved ones. The military high command is already responding to this incident. The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished.” DHQ Releases Victims’ List On Monday, the Defence Headquarters released the list of 17 military personnel killed in an attack in Delta State. In its post on X, it gave their names as AH Ali, a lieutenant colonel. The two majors are SD Shafa and DE Obi while the army captain is U Zakari. The army also named the other 13 slain soldiers

  Embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, says some government officials are profiting from the insecurity ubiquitous in the South-East geopolitical zone. Kanu made this known on Tuesday after he was denied bail by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja. The IPOB leader, who spoke after the court proceedings, said peace will be restored in the South-East if he is released from custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). “I suspect that some people in government are complicit. They are making money with this insecurity. They know if Nnamdi Kanu is outside, in two minutes, this nonsense will stop,” Kanu told reporters. “Anybody involved in any form of violence in the South-East in the name of IPOB, let me come out of this nonsense, this mess, only two minutes, I guarantee you, and there will be peace in the South-East.” Earlier, the IPOB leader, who has been in the custody of the DSS since his extradition in June 2021, and is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony, told the court that he is being treated poorly by the secret police, and that there is a conspiracy for him to die in the custody. In the last three years, the South-East, one of the six geopolitical zones in the country, has suffered unprecedented dastard attacks by so-called “unknown gunmen”, who revel in the desecration of the area, killing hundreds of security operativesm burning down police stations and military facilities. The economies of Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Imo and Enugu have suffered a dip in the last three years since the menacing phenomenon known as Monday sit-at-home declared by secessionist agitators. While leaders in the zone continue their quest for a political solution to the escalating situation, travellers and residents tread with fear as bloodthirsty non-state actors wreak havoc in the states.