One week after he was taken from his Lagos residence by armed men who turned out to be policemen, Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with an online news platform, the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), has remained in police custody despite strong calls for his release. Ojukwu’s lawyer, Abimbola Ojenike, told Channels Television on Tuesday that Ojukwu was taken from his Lagos residence on Wednesday, May 1, hours to this year’s Press Freedom Day. “We observed that Daniel Ojukwu was missing and his numbers were deactivated. A subsequent private investigation revealed that he was, based on the phone signals, found at somewhere around Isheri Olofin. Nobody knew his whereabouts from then,” he said. “Subsequent information revealed that he was at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Lagos, and his mother found him there. No explanation was given as to the details of his arrest and he was not granted bail.” Ojenike said the order based on which Ojukwu was “abducted” came from the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun. The lawyer said the reporter was denied access to his counsel and relocated to the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja subsequently. “He has not been charged, he has not been charged before any court of competent jurisdiction but he was later presented with a petition regarding a certain story that he wrote about a certain deputy governor of Lagos State who is currently a special adviser to the President on Millennium Development Goals, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire,” he said. The lawyer said his client has written a statement based on the petition filed against him and “we believe that the normal thing is for him to be granted bail”. “He (Ojukwu) is not a flight risk in any way and if he had been invited, he would have honoured the police invitation. So, there is no point taking people in a way that gets everyone agitated,” Ojenike said. He Has A Case To Answer – Police On Sunday, some four days after the journalist was taken and the attendant outrage, Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, said Ojukwu has a case to answer. “It has been confirmed that the journalist, Daniel Ojukwu, was arrested by the Nigeria Police National Cybercrime Centre, Abuja, based on a petition filed against him. “It’s a case of violation of the Cybercrime Prohibition Act 2015 and other extant laws of the land. He has a case to answer. This was confirmed to me on Sunday by the CP and head of the centre. The FHQ will address this matter ASAP to clear the grey areas,” Adejobi told journalists in a WhatsApp group for crime reporters. The detention of Ojukwu comes weeks after another journalist, Segun Olatunji, spent 14 days in the custody of state sponsored security agents, a development that professional bodies Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) have described as an ugly trend.   NUJ Demands Release The detention of Ojukwu has been criticised by many civil society organisations and pro-democracy activists who expressed strong resentment over the detention of journalists. They expressed concerns over the Gestapo-styled arrest of journalists by state security agents, saying it is an echo from the past, and a prominent feature of the dark years of military rule. They said the ugly development impugned press freedom 25 years after Nigeria’s transition from dictatorial rule to democratic governance.   Daniel Ojukwu has spent 6 days in arbitrary detention by @PoliceNG simply for doing his job as a reporter. This brazen abuse of the Cyber Crimes Act 2015 to silence journalists and undermine free press is unacceptable.#FreeDanielOjukwu pic.twitter.com/0842iatnDX — EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) May 6, 2024   The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo, expressed shock that Ojukwu has not been released despite assurances by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Saturday night at the NUJ Press Freedom and Good Governance Awards in Abuja. “I’m shocked that up till now, nothing had been done,” Isiguzo told Channels Television on Tuesday afternoon. “We want to add our voices to other voices that the detained journalist should be released. Keeping him in detention for this length of time, I don’t think it serves the essence of press freedom. We just celebrated that last week and to think that whilst the celebration was going on, a journalist is kept in captivity is not a good one. “Whatever is the situation, those holding him should charge him to court. In the absence of that, he should be released immediately,” the NUJ president said.   The detention of @Mazi_OJD of @fijnigeria highlights the recent surge in media intimidation by security agencies.”@WSoyinkaCentre joins other civil society organisations to call for his unconditional release as journalism is not a crime.#FreeDanielOjukwu@PremiumTimesng pic.twitter.com/alqfoSn2Sn — Wole Soyinka Centre (@WSoyinkaCentre) May 5, 2024   Also, global rights group Amnesty International, demanded Ojukwu’s release, stating that arrests and sponsored smear campaigns against journalists investigating corruption must end.   In Nigeria, threats to the right to freedom of expression and the media continue to take dangerous turns, with arrests and sponsored smear campaigns against journalists investigating corruption. The clampdown must end. #FreeDanielOjukwu — Amnesty International Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) May 6, 2024   ‘Repression Of Press Freedom’ The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) condemned Ojukwu’s prolonged detention and asked the IGP to order the immediate release of the embattled journalist. “IPI Nigeria strongly condemns the abduction and calls on the Inspector General of Police to, with immediate effect, order the release of Mr Ojukwu. “Coming at about the period the world is celebrating the freedom of the press, the action of the Nigeria Police Force speaks volumes of the attitude and commitment of law enforcement agencies in Nigeria to the freedom of the press,” the IPI said in a statement. “Some weeks ago, the Nigerian military abducted a journalist, Mr Segun Olatunji, in a Gestapo manner in Lagos and flew him to Abuja under humiliating conditions

  The Central Bank of Nigeria has directed banks to stop charges on cash deposits until September 30, 2024. The apex bank disclosed this in a circular dated May 6, 2024, signed by its Director of Banking Supervision, Adetona Adedeji. Customers of some of the Deposit Money Banks raised concerns that the banks have begun collection of processing fees for cash deposits as of May 1. Our correspondent sighted this in an email shared by one of the customers of the banks. Based on the bank’s move, two per cent was to be charged on deposits above N500,000 for individuals, while corporate account holders were to be charged two per cent on deposits above N3m. ‘This is extortion,’ Netizens lament CBN’s new cybersecurity levy According to the latest circular to financial institutions and non-financial institutions, CBN said the processing fees have been suspended. The circular read, “Please refer to our letter dated December 11, 2023, referenced BSD/DIR/PUB/LAB/016/023 on the above subject, suspending processing charges imposed on cash deposits above N500,000 for Individuals and N3,000,000 for Corporates as contained in the ‘Guide to Charges by Banks, Other Financial Institutions and Non-Bank Financial Institutions’ issued on December 20, 2019,” CBN said. “The Central Bank of Nigeria hereby extends the suspension of the processing fees of 2% and 3% previously charged on all cash deposits above these thresholds until September 30, 2024.” The apex bank directed financial institutions to continue to accept all cash deposits from the public without any charges till the end of the third quarter.

  Bolt Nigeria, a technology-driven ride-hailing platform, on Tuesday said its restructuring efforts affected 22 employees that were laid off. The firm’s Communications Manager, Femi Adeyemo, confirmed this to our correspondent on the telephone on Tuesday. Adeyemo emphasised that Bolt Nigeria is not facing financial difficulties but is instead undergoing a restructuring process. “22 people out of 45 from a department were relieved of their jobs, not nearly half as claimed by some reports. “The department where it happened has 45 workers, not the whole Bolt. That number is not half of the workforce of Bolt,” he said. “The affected employees will receive comprehensive severance packages to support their transition to new career opportunities,” Adeyemo added. Subsequently, the e-hailing firm shared a statement that read, “Bolt has never done and is not doing any layoffs, which implies massively downsizing the team because the company is struggling financially. We have made the difficult decision to discontinue collaboration with 22 employees in Nigeria. “This decision comes as we have been going through the process of restructuring a considerable number of customer support and operational processes in the country. We have offered the people who will be leaving us severance packages that will support their transition to new career opportunities. “This decision does not affect the quality of our products for riders and drivers. We see great potential in Nigeria, and we will stand by our investment commitments in all our African markets.” Bolt (formerly known as Taxify) entered the Nigerian market in 2016 and surpassed 150 million customers in over 45 countries and 500 cities. It noted that it now has over 3.5 million partners (drivers and couriers) using the app to earn a living, including over one million in Africa alone.

  The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress appears to be unending, as another group of party members have asked a court in Abuja, to sack the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, for allegedly holding the position unlawfully. The APC North-Central Forum filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, insisting that the National Chairmanship position, is meant for the North-Central Geo-political zone, and that Ganduje who is from the North-West, should be removed for the rightful person from Nasarawa State, or any part of North-Central. This group of APC stakeholders based in Plateau State, maintained that the party is bound to comply with its constitutional provisions on the replacement of an officer in the event of a vacancy. Listed as respondents in the suit are; Abdullahi Ganduje, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

  The Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a July 7, 2024 deadline for Point of Sales (PoS) operators to complete registration with the Corporate Affairs Corporation (CAC). This was revealed during a meeting between Fintechs and the Registrar-General/Chief Executive Officer (CAC) Hussaini Magaji (SAN) in Abuja on Tuesday. Speaking at the event, the CAC boss said the two-month timeline to register their agents, merchants, and individuals with the commission, was “in line with legal requirements and the directives of the Central Bank of Nigeria”. “The measure aims at safeguarding the businesses of Fintech’s customers and strengthening the economy,” a statement titled ‘CAC, PoS OPERATORS AGREE TO TWO-MONTH DEADLINE TO REGISTER THEIR AGENTS AND MERCHANTS TO STRENGTHEN THE FINTECH INDUSTRY‘ issued by the CAC added. He stressed that the action was equally backed by Section 863, Subsection 1 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, CAMA 2020, and the 2013 CBN guidelines on agent banking. Magaji explained that the timeline for the registration which will expire on July 7, 2024, was not targeted at any groups or individuals but aimed at protecting businesses. Several speakers from the Fintech industry pledged to collaborate with the commission to ensure hitch-free implementation of the directive. Some of them, however, stressed the need for adequate and collective sensitisation, to ensure that the exercise achieved the desired results. The Special Adviser to the President on ICT Development and Innovation, Tokoni Peter, in his remarks, pledged to ensure smooth facilitation of the process in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative of the present administration. The representatives of Opay, Momba, Palmpay Ltd, Pay Stack, Fair Money MFB, Monie Point, and Teasy Pay present at the event, later signed up for a document to support the project.

  The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has issued a warning to the Federal Government to reverse the 0.5 per cent cybersecurity levy imposed by the Central Bank of Nigeria. SERAP also threatened to deal in legal action against the government if it failed to reverse the levy within a 48-hour timeframe. The non-governmental organisation stated this Tuesday via its Twitter handle, calling for the immediate reversal of what it regarded as levy ‘imposition’. SERAP tweep @SERAPNigeria stated, “The Tinubu administration must immediately withdraw the grossly unlawful CBN directive to implement section 44 of the Cybercrime Act 2024, which imposes a 0.5% ‘cybersecurity levy’ on Nigerians. “We’ll see in court if the directive is not withdrawn within 48 hours.” The Central Bank of Nigeria has ordered banks operating in the country to start charging a cybersecurity levy on transactions. A circular from the apex bank seen by Punch Online on Monday disclosed that the implementation of the levy would start two weeks from then. The circular was directed to all commercial, merchant, non-interest and payment service banks, among others. The circular revealed that it was a follow-up on an earlier letter dated June 25, 2018 (Ref: BPS/DIR/GEN/CIR/05/008) and October 5, 2018 (Ref: BSD/DIR/GEN/LAB/11/023), respectively, on compliance with the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015

  Tuesday 07 May 2024 Dollar speculation: FG to ban naira from crypto trading platforms EFCC grills six senior NSCDC officers over N6bn fraud Evacuation: Lagos taskforce threatened to kill us in Osun forest, victims allege FG eyes $750m W’Bank loan, mulls telecom tax LASU law students win national competition, defeat 52 other varsities CBN Directs Banks To Charge 0.5% Cybersecurity Levy Faulty Aircraft Stops Shettima From US-Africa Summit, Tuggar To Represent Tinubu Seyi Tinubu Has Right To Pursue Legitimate Business Interest, Presidency Replies Atiku FG Not Considering Any Foreign Military Base In Nigeria — Minister ‘You Do Not Exist’, Fubara Slams Rivers Assembly Members Again, Rivers Assembly Vetoes Fubara, Passes Procurement Amendment Bill Edo Assembly Suspends Three Lawmakers Over Impeachment Plot Sylvester Oromoni’s Father Challenges Coroner’s Findings, Alleges Cover-Up NDLEA Smashes International Drug Syndicate, Arrests Five Police Confirm Killing Of Ebonyi Traditional Ruler S. Africa Building Collapse Kills Four, Traps Dozens: Police Petrol scarcity: Why pump price is high in our station — IPMAN NLC, TUC give NERC Sunday deadline to reverse hike in electricity tariff Rainstorm injures three, damages 200 houses in Plateau Villagers Flee As Bandits Terrorise 10 Communities In Kaduna 6 Killed, 8 Injured In Southern Kaduna Attack We’ll Deal Ruthlessly With Criminals Who Steal Public Funds – EFCC Three to die by hanging for armed robbery in Ekiti Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…