Crime Facts

Harassment Of Journalists Continue As Police Invite ICIR’s Nurudeen Akewushola

  The International Centre for Investigative Reporting, on Thursday, expressed concerns over an invitation letter addressed to one of its journalists, Nurudeen Akewushola, and the organisation’s “managing directors” by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre. The organisation said the letter from the police, which it received on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, was dated April 16, 2024, and the journalist was expected to report to the cybercrime centre on April 24, 2024, about three weeks before the organisation got the letter. According to the ICIR, the police said they were investigating a case of cyberstalking and defamation of character in which the journalist “featured prominently.” The organisation said the invitation lacked details, urging the police to rewrite its letter and provide adequate details. It also raised the alarm about “the growing trend of the crackdown on journalists by security operatives using the Cybercrimes Act, despite a recent amendment to the legislation following public outcry that it was being manipulated to stifle free speech and harass journalists.” According to ICIR, the police invitation to the journalist read: “You are requested to interview the Director of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) plot 625 Mission Road, Diplomatic Zone, Central Business District, Abuja through CSP Omaka Udodinma Chukwu on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Call 08067854241 on your arrival. Your cooperation in this regard will be highly appreciated, please.” When Punch contacted on Thursday evening, the Director of the Nigeria Police Force-National Cyber Crime Centre, Uche Ifeanyi, defended the invitation of the journalist, saying there was a petition against the media house. “There is a case against them that they have to come and answer,” Ifeanyi said. When asked why the invitation got to the organisation late, he said the ICIR was in the best position to answer that. “They should be able to answer that question,” he told The PUNCH in a telephone interview. “Since there is a police invitation, they should honour the invitation,” he added, noting that there was no law stating that journalists should not be invited. “There is no how they will know the details if they don’t come. If there is an invitation, it means it’s official,” he insisted without providing further details. Meanwhile, in its statement, the ICIR said there were no details of the petition that led to the investigations for cyberstalking and defamation of character, as this would have helped the reporter better prepare for the interview with the police. The organisation, however, said it suspected the invitation was related to an investigative report done by the journalist in question, Akewushola. “The report indicted two former Inspectors-General of Police of corruption. One of the two former IGPs threatened The ICIR with a lawsuit and was rebuffed. We believe that the same person is now using the police, which should be interested in holding him to account on the basis of our reporting, to harass our reporter,” the ICIR said. The media organisation, therefore, requested that a new letter be provided by the police addressing the concerns raised. “As a law-abiding organisation that holds power to account, we are always willing to submit to accountability and would honour lawful invitations from law enforcement agencies but we have written to the police to provide details of the petition against The ICIR and its reporter and write a new invitation letter before we honour the invitation,” the statement concluded. The latest development borders on the growing concerns of journalists’ intimidation and harassment by the police using the Cyber Crime Act. The PUNCH reports that on May 1, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, Daniel Ojukwu, was abducted by police officers in Lagos and detained by the NPF-NCCC for 10 days. According to FIJ, the petition is in relation to its coverage of alleged financial mismanagement in the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire. Ojukwu regained his freedom after sustained media pressure and protests by colleagues, activists and concerned Nigerians. Before Ojukwu’s abduction, a former editor of First News, Segun Olatunji, was also abducted in March and detained for two weeks by military officials before he was later released.   Source: Punch 

Atedo Peterside faults N90bn subsidy for hajj, says FG sending wrong signal

  Atedo Peterside, founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc and Anap Foundation, has faulted the payment of N90 billion to subsidise the cost of the 2024 hajj pilgrimage by the federal government. Speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, Peterside said he has no personal issue with pilgrimage, noting that the religious tradition is a “privilege”. On Wednesday, Vice-President Kashim Shettima announced that President Bola Tinubu had approved N90 billion to subsidise the cost of the 2024 hajj pilgrimage. Shettima spoke during the 2024 inaugural hajj airlift at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi capital. Reacting to the development, Peterside said the federal government continues to make the mistakes of past administrations in terms of spending public funds. He said the federal government keeps saying it inherited a “difficult economy,” while its expenditure does not show the seriousness required to rescue the economy. “I have nothing against pilgrimage. Our economy is in big trouble. The government is trying to convince people that it inherited a difficult economy, and that is trying to correct the mistakes of the past,” he said. “It gets very worrying when you say you are trying to correct the mistakes of the past, and every now and then, you repeat another mistake of the past, thereby sending a conflicting signal. “That perhaps you are not serious about trying to correct all past mistakes. As soon as investors and everybody is about to take them very seriously they do something else that causes everybody to worry. “This is not the first item. It is one in a series. You remember the luxury SUV cars, jamboree trip to New York and Dubai, and supplementary budget that came out with items nobody understood why they were priority. It is part of the trend. “It is not about religious pilgrimage; it is a setback for the economy by sending the wrong signal. It is an own goal.”

FAAC: FG, states, LGAs shared N1.2trn in April — up by N85bn

  The federation account allocation committee (FAAC) says the three tiers of government shared N1.2 trillion in April. This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the FAAC meeting for May 2024 by Bawa Mokwa, director of press and public relations in the office of the accountant-general of the federation (OAGF), on Thursday. The figure represents an increase of N85 billion compared to the N1.12 trillion shared in March. FAAC said the allocation comprises distributable statutory revenue of N284 billion, distributable value-added tax (VAT) revenue of N466 billion, electronic money transfer levy (ETML) revenue of N18 billion, and exchange difference revenue of N438 billion. The committee said the total revenue of N2.1 trillion was available in the month of April 2024, adding that the total deduction for the cost of collection was N80 billion; total transfers, interventions and refunds was N903 billion. A gross statutory revenue of N1.2 trillion was received for April, representing N216 billion higher than the sum of N1.01 billion received in March. For VAT, the gross revenue was put at N500 billion, compared to N549 billion available in March — a difference of N48 billion. The communiqué confirmed that from the N1.2 trillion total distributable revenue, the federal government received N390 billion, states got N403 billion and the local governments received N293 billion. A total sum of N120 billion was shared with the benefiting states as 13 percent derivation revenue. From the distributable statutory revenue of N284 billion, the communiqué stated that the federal government received N112 billion, states got N56 billion and the local governments received N43 billion., while N71 billion was given to the benefiting states as derivation revenue. FAAC further said from the N466 billion distributable VAT revenue, the federal government received N69 billion, states received N233 billion and local governments got N163 billion. A total sum of N2.704 billion was received by the federal government from the N18 billion EMTL, states received N9 billion and local governments received N6 billion. According to the committee, out of the exchange difference revenue of N438 billion, the federal government got N205 billion, states got N104 billion, and N80 billion was handed to local governments. The sum of N48 billion was shared with the benefiting states as 13 percent derivation revenue. In addition, FAAC said oil and gas royalties, companies’ income tax (CIT), excise duty, petroleum profit tax (PPT), EMTL and CET Levies increased significantly in April. However, import duty and VAT recorded considerable decreases. FAAC also said the balance in the excess crude account (ECA) for April was $473,754.

Mahamat Déby declared as winner of Chad presidential poll

  Chad’s constitutional council has announced Mahamat Déby as the winner of the May 6 presidential election. The announcement on Thursday, confirmed preliminary results from the country’s National Election Management Agency last week. The declaration of Déby as the winner came after the council dismissed challenges by two candidates — Succès Masra, prime minister, and Albert Padacké, former prime minister. Jean-Bernard Padare, constitutional council president, said Masra came second with 18.54 percent, while Padacké won 16.93 percent. Padare said Déby won the poll with 61 percent of the vote — cementing a victory that extends his family’s decades-long rule. Masara acknowledged the council’s ruling in a live address on Thursday evening. “With the decision of the constitutional council today, we have used all available legal means, and even if we do not accept this decision, there are no other legal means in our judicial architecture,” Masra said. Before the election results were announced, Masra had announced himself as the winner in a Facebook broadcast. The prime minister called on his supporters and security forces to oppose what he said was an attempt to steal victory from the people. His concession has put an end to fears of violence arising from a much-disputed election in a country adjusting to democracy. Padacké, the other candidate who challenged the preliminary results, congratulated Déby on his victory. Yaya Dillo, Déby’s relative and another opposition figure who had been expected to run, was shot and killed the day the election date was announced. Before his death, Dillo was considered to be Déry’s strongest rival. Opposition groups said the shooting was an assassination.

Court rules Banks can demand customers’ social media handles

  A federal high court in Lagos has struck out a case against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over its directive requiring banks to collect and verify social media handles as part of their know-your-customer (KYC) requirement. In June 2023, the apex bank issued the directive, saying the aim is to prevent financial crime, and terrorism, as well as boost the precision and thoroughness of customer identification. The applicant, Chris Eke, a customer, represented by Olubunmi Abayomi-Olukunle, a lawyer, had filed suit number FHC/L/CS/1281/2023 in July 2023, arguing the CBN’s directive infringed upon constitutional rights, particularly section 37 of the 1999 constitution. Nnamdi Dimgba, the presiding judge, struck out the suit filed by Eke, which sought a declaration that the regulation as contained in section 6(a)(iv) of the CBN (customer due diligence) Regulations, 2023, is “undemocratic, unconstitutional, null and void”. The CBN, in its response to the suit, filed a notice of preliminary objection, challenging the competence of the suit and disagreeing with the claim of interference with the applicant’s private life. In his judgment, Dimgba held that the notice of preliminary objection had merit, subsequently striking out the suit. The judge ruled that providing a social media handle is equivalent to providing email and phone numbers for potential customers, and therefore, it does not violate the right to privacy. “First, the applicant claims that the requirements on the CBN regulations for financial institutions to request and collect the social media handle of its customers as part of KYC infringes on his right to privacy,” the judge said. “This claim is very ambitious and amounts to a very far throw. The said regulations are directed to and apply to financial institutions. It does not apply to private individuals such as the applicant. “Even if, as appears to be argued, that the regulations itself would inevitably affect the applicant, this claim is speculative for the simple reason that in nowhere in the affidavit in support was it stated that the applicant operates an account with a financial institution and that the said institution had demanded his social media handle.” Consequently, the judge said the suggestion that he would be negatively affected by the regulation is very “speculative and at large”. He said there is a lack of evidence suggesting financial institutions have implemented the regulation, and it is causing disruptions and inconvenience. Furthermore, Dimgba said if the applicant is “irritated by the requirement of the regulation”, he has a choice to “refuse to do business with any bank insisting on the information as part of its social media handle, but to seek other alternatives”. PROVISION OF SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES TO BANKS DO NOT TRANSLATE TO BREACH’ Dimgba said banks asking customers or potential clients to provide their social media handles is not a breach of privacy. He said the essence of having a social media account was for one to be publicly visible communication-wise. According to the judge, a social media handle, being in the public space, can be accessed by everyone whether or not consent was obtained. As a result, he said it would be unreasonable to hold the respondent in breach of privacy. “The apprehension of the Applicant of his social interactions being monitored is manifestly speculative in itself and rather incredulous to believe that the financial institutions have the luxury of time to concern itself with such frivolities,” the judge said. Striking out the suit, the judge made no order regarding costs.

Student loan application portal opens May 24 – FG

  The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, has announced May 24, 2024, as the official date for the opening of the portal for student loan applications. It explained that through the portal, students can now access loans to pursue their academic aspirations without financial constraints.   The Fund announced this in a statement, Thursday night by its Media and Public Relations Lead, Nasir Ayitogo. “The statement read: “The management of Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) led by its Managing Director, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr is thrilled to announce the 24th of May, 2024 as the official date for the opening of the portal for student loan applications. “This marks a significant milestone in the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) to fostering accessible and inclusive education for all Nigerian students. “Through the portal, students can now access loans to pursue their academic aspirations without financial constraints. “The portal provides a user-friendly interface for students to submit their loan applications conveniently. “We encourage all eligible students to take advantage of this opportunity to invest in their future and contribute to the growth and development of our nation. “Students can access the portal on www.nelf.gov.ng to begin application. “For more information and assistance, please contact NELFUND via email at info@nelf.gov.ng or contact us via our social media handles. “

Dangote refinery to buy 24m barrels of crude oil from US

  Dangote refinery plans to buy 24 million barrels of crude from the United States over the next year as it increases processing rates. According to a report on Thursday by Bloomberg, the plant issued a “term tender” for the purchase of two million barrels of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Midland crude a month. The delivery, according to a document the report cited, is for 12 months (24 million barrels), commencing in July. The tender, the document revealed, would close on May 21. According to the report, the call for US oil shows how influential the plant will be in global crude and fuel trading. “It also reflects Nigeria’s struggle to lift its own crude production, which remains well below theoretical capacity, as well as Dangote’s willingness to tap cheaper supplies than it can find at home,” the publication said. Nigeria has been unable to meet its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota. In April, the country pumped about 1.45 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude and condensates — below its estimated production capacity of 2.6 million barrels a day. Crude theft, ageing oil pipelines, low investment, and divestments from oil majors operating in the nation are contributory factors to declining production, according to the report. The publication said the plant is “currently running at about half capacity” and “is taking advantage of cheaper US oil imports for as much as a third of its feedstock”. “Since the start of this year, it has received at least one supertanker carrying about 2 million barrels of WTI Midland each month,” Bloomberg said. The report said an official at Dangote declined to comment. On April 15, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) released new draft rules requiring oil producers to sell crude to domestic refineries before meeting foreign demands.

36 house of assembly speakers back creation of state police

  The speakers of Nigeria’s 36 state houses of assembly have supported the ongoing process by the national assembly to create state police. The speakers made their resolution known at the end of a meeting in Abuja on Thursday. The two chambers of the national assembly are working to amend some provisions of the 1999 constitution to include items such as state police. Last month, Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), said Nigeria is not “mature” for state police.   On February 15, the federal government set up a committee to explore the creation of state police in the country. Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, said President Bola Tinubu and governors have agreed on modalities for the concept. The minister added that a series of meetings would take place to determine the workability of a decentralised police force.

Olukoyede: Some youths trading crypto unaware they’re being used to fund terrorism

  Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says some youths who trade in cryptocurrencies do not know that they are being used to fund terrorism in Nigeria. Olukoyede spoke on Wednesday during a multi-stakeholders’ national dialogue on preventing terrorism financing and violent extremism. The EFCC chair said some of the people who receive money to trade in cryptocurrencies do not know that their financiers are sponsors of terrorism. He added that some of the 1,146 bank accounts recently frozen by the anti-graft agency were conduits for terrorism funding. Advertisement “Some of you are aware of our activities in the area of investigating virtual currency trading and the likes of cryptocurrencies,” he said. “They are potential platforms to fund terrorism. A lot of us don’t understand that. Some of our discoveries during investigation of some of these platforms were mind boggling. “We thought Binance was a major one. Yes, it was. We are prosecuting them. But there are other platforms we have discovered. “They used some of these young men. Some of them don’t know that the people who gave them money to trade are people who fund terrorism.” The EFCC boss said there is a need to adopt technology in tracking money used to fund terrorism in the country. Olukoyede narrated how he was informed by a friend in the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that dollar bills across the world can be tracked with technology. “It is important for us to adopt the use of technology,” he said. “I was comparing notes with an assistant director in the FBI — a friend of mine. He said: ‘My brother, from our systems in the US, we can track every printed dollar anywhere in the world’.” The EFCC boss added that Nigeria must get to that stage where technology can be deployed to track naira notes used for terrorism financing.

How Home Office told 74-year-old Ghanaian he’s not British after residing in UK for 42 years

  The United Kingdom Home Office has told a retired 74-year-old Ghanaian man, Nelson Shardey who has lived in the UK for 42 years that he is not British. According to BBC, the Home Office asked him to wait another 10 years before he could stay permanently. Shardey, from Wallasey in Wirral, had for many years assumed he was officially seen as British, until he discovered otherwise in 2019.   He said he had paid taxes all his adult life, now faces paying thousands of pounds to stay and use the National Health Service (NHS). The 74-year-old is a retired newsagent who first arrived in the UK in 1977 to study accountancy, on a student visa that also allowed him to work. He said after a coup in his native Ghana, his family could no longer send him money for the fees. He took on a series of jobs, making Mother’s Pride bread and Kipling’s Cakes near Southampton, and Bendick’s Chocolate in Winchester, and said no-one ever queried his right to live or work in the UK. Shardey married a British woman and moved to Wallasey to run his own business, a newsagent called Nelson’s News. When that marriage ended, he married another British woman and they had two sons Jacob and Aaron. “I tried my utmost to educate them the best way I could, so that neither of them would depend on social or anything,” Shardey said. He told his sons to “learn hard, get a good job, and work for themselves”, and both went on to university and then careers as a research scientist and a public relations executive. Shardey said he had never left the UK, as he saw no need to and regarded it as his home. “Nobody questioned me. I bought all my things on credit, even the house. I got a mortgage. And nobody questioned me about anything,” he said. Shardey has performed jury service, and in 2007 was given a police award for bravery after tackling a robber who was attacking a delivery man with a baseball bat. But in 2019, when he applied for a passport so he could go back to Ghana following the death of his mother, he was told he was not British.