Category: News
Stay updated with trendbrio.com as we bring you the latest news headlines of today. Our dedicated section covers all aspects of politics news in Nigeria today, ensuring you never miss important updates. From politics today in Nigeria to Naija news updates, we provide comprehensive coverage of the latest events and developments. Explore our Naija news today and breaking stories to stay informed about the most pressing issues. Whether you’re looking for political news in Nigeria or the hot news in Nigeria, we’ve got you covered with timely and accurate information.
UK to deport Nigerian flambouyant Pastor
A Nigerian pastor, Tobi Adegboyega, has lost his legal battle against deportation from the UK following allegations of fraud and financial misconduct linked to his controversial church, SPAC Nation. Despite claiming deportation would breach his human rights, an immigration tribunal ruled that he should be deported to Nigeria. Adegboyega, 44, who is a cousin of Star Wars actor John Boyega, had argued that removing him from the UK would violate his right to family life under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). He cited his marriage to a British woman and his community work with SPAC Nation as reasons for remaining in the UK. Describing him as a “charismatic” leader, his legal team highlighted his efforts to mentor hundreds of young people, particularly from London’s Black communities, to steer them away from crime. They claimed his work had been praised by prominent figures, including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior Metropolitan Police officials, although no testimony from these figures was submitted. However, the tribunal noted that the Home Office presented a different narrative. According to the judgment, “Various manifestations of [Mr Adegboyega’s] church have been closed down, by either the Charity Commission or the High Court, because of concerns over its finances and lack of transparency.” SPAC Nation was shut down after failing to account for more than £1.87 million in expenditures, with allegations that the church encouraged members to take drastic measures to donate money. Former members accused the organization of being a cult, claiming impoverished individuals were urged to take out loans, commit benefit fraud, and even sell their own blood to fund the church. “It is alleged that the church leadership lead lavish lifestyles and there have, it is said, been instances of abuse,” the judgment stated. “The [Home Office’s] case before us was that all of this needs to be taken into account when evaluating whether [Mr Adegboyega] is in fact of real value to the UK.”
EFCC makes single largest asset recovery till date
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, on Monday, December 2, 2024 gave a ruling on a final forfeiture of an estate in Abuja measuring 150,500 square metres and containing 753 Units of duplexes and other apartments. This is the single largest asset recovery by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, since its inception in 2003. The Estate rests on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja. The forfeiture of the property to the federal government by a former top brass of the government was pursuant to EFCC’s mandate and policy directive of ensuring that the corrupt and fraudulent do not enjoy the proceeds of their unlawful activities. In this instance, the Commission relied on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud And Other Fraud Related Offences Act No 14, 2006 and Section 44 (2) B of the Constitution of the 199 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to push its case. Ruling on the Commission’s application for the final forfeiture of the property, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that the respondent have not shown cause as to why he should not lose the property, “which has been reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities, the property is hereby finally forfeited to the federal government.” The road to the final forfeiture of the property was paved by an interim forfeiture order, secured before the same Judge on November 1, 2024. The government official which fraudulently built the estate is being investigated by the EFCC. The forfeiture of the asset is an important modality of depriving the suspect of the proceeds of the crime. The justification for the forfeiture is derived from Part 2, Section 7 of the EFCC Establishment Act, which stipulates that the EFCC “has power to cause investigations to be conducted as to whether any person, corporate body or organization has committed any offence under this Act or other law relating to economic and financial crimes and cause investigations to be conducted into the properties of any person if it appears to the Commission that the person’s lifestyle and extent of the properties are not justified by his source of income.” The Commission’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has repeatedly described asset recovery as pivotal in the fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes and a major disincentive against the corrupt and the fraudulent. Addressing members of the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-corruption recently, he said, “If you understand the intricacies involved in financial crimes investigation and prosecution you will discover that to recover one billion naira is war. So, I told my people that the moment we start investigation we must also start asset tracing because asset recovery is pivotal in the anti-corruption fight; and one of the potent instruments that you can deploy as an anti-corruption agency for an effective fight is asset tracing and recovery. If you allow the corrupt or those that you are investigating to have access to the proceeds of their crime, they will fight you with it. So one of the ways to weaken them is to deprive them of the proceeds of their crime. So, our modus operandi has changed simultaneously. The moment we begin investigation, we begin asset tracing. That was what helped us to make our recoveries.”
Tinubu departs France for South Africa
President Bola Tinubu will leave France on Monday for Cape Town, South Africa, to co-chair the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission alongside President Cyril Ramaphosa. The presidential BNC, scheduled for Tuesday, December 3, will be preceded by a ministerial meeting on December 2, 2024, at the South African Parliament Building in Cape Town. President Tinubu and President Ramaphosa will engage in substantive talks on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including bilateral, regional and international matters. Building on the commitments from their June 20, 2024, meeting in Johannesburg shortly after President Ramaphosa’s inauguration for a second term in office, the two leaders will review the progress achieved since the 10th session of the BNC held in Abuja from November 29 to December 1, 2021. The 11th session of the BNC will feature deliberations across eight working groups, each focusing on a specific area of mutual interest. These include political consultations, consular and migration, banking and finance, defence and security, manufacturing, social sector, mines and energy, and trade and investments. At the high-level meeting, officials of both countries will sign several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements. The Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission was established in 1999 to further strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two nations. The first session at the Heads of State level was held in October 2019 in Pretoria. The BNC provides a platform for sustaining high-level dialogue and promoting cooperation in critical areas such as diplomacy, economy, trade, security and other areas of mutual interest. This year’s meeting is particularly significant as it coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Commission, a testament to the enduring friendship and cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa. President Tinubu will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising state governors, ministers, and senior government officials, He will return to the country after the BNC meeting.
EFCC arrests suspected internet fraudster in Abuja
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, 27 November 2024, arrested one suspected internet fraudster. The suspect was arrested at No.25 Aliyu Modibbo Street, Guzape Hills, Abuja following credible intelligence on his alleged involvement in internet fraud. Items recovered from him include a Range Rover Velar 2019 model, $4100 (Four Thousand One Hundred United States Dollars), N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira) cash, One AP silver wrist watch, two mobile phones and one laptop. He will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
EFCC arraigns REA Director for alleged N223.4m fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned the Director of Human Resources Management of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, Mr. Sulieman Garba Bulkwang before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja for fraud. He is being prosecuted on a five-count charge, bordering on criminal diversion of funds and money laundering to the tune of N223,412,909 (Two Hundred and Twenty-three Million, Four Hundred and Twelve Thousand Nine Hundred and Nine Kobo). Count one of his charge reads “That you SULEIMAN GARBA BULKWANG, while being the Director of Human Resources Management of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did counsel one Umaefulem Donatus Chibueze, the Managing Director of Cees Assist Resources and Brainstask Value Resources (consultants to REA) to transfer the sum of N138,123,969 (One Hundred and Thirty eight Million, One Hundred Hundred and Twenty Three Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty Nine Naira) out of the sum of N279,330,000.00 (Two Hundred and Seventy Nine Million, Three Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira) paid to the consultants by REA, when you knew that the said sun of N138,123,969.000000 constituted proceed of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 (a) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.” Count two reads “That you SULEIMAN GARBA BULKWANG while being the Director of Human Resources Management of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) sometime in July, 2023 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly converted the sum of N45,000,000.00 (Forty Five Milion Naira) being part of the money cumulatively paid to the bank accounts of Dammy Gold Programme Ltd, World Class Business, Green Haven Company And De-Sam Rose – Base Ltd by consultants to REA when you know that the said sum of N45,000.000 .00 constituted proceed of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(b) (b) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.” He pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges after they were read to him and in the absence of defence counsel, prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in a correctional center. Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter till February 3, 2024 for the defendant’s bail application and ordered that he be remanded in Kuje Correctional Center.
Edo Governor, Okpebholo suspends recruitment into cicvil service
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has approved the suspension of recruitment into the State’s civil service until further notice. The Governor has also ordered for a comprehensive review of all recruitment exercises carried out by the Godwin Obaseki-led administration between May-November 2024. In a communication notice signed by the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Musa Umar Ikhilor on Friday, the Governor accused heads of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of carrying out clandestine recruitment exercises into the State’s civil service. The notice read: “The Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo is in receipt of report of the clandestine activities being perpetuated by some Commissions, Boards, Parastatals and Agencies of Government in the State. “Preliminary investigation reveals that these bodies have continued to issue back dated letters of employment to their cronies without due process. “For the avoidance of doubt, this Administration believes in the principle of fairness and equity which expects that all employment exercise should be merit based, competitive and accessible to all Edo indigenes. “In light of the foregoing and in order to arrest this ugly trend, the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo has directed the immediate suspension of all employment processes as well as the review of all appointments carried out since May, 2024 by Commissions, Boards, Parastatals and Agencies of Government. “Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies are to note and comply with the above directive.”
Finnish Police arrests Simon Ekpa
Simon Ekpa, a self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has reportedly been arrested on Thursday, by Finnish authorities on . The district court of Päijät-Häme subsequently ordered his imprisonment for allegedly spreading terrorist propaganda on social media. According to reports, the alleged offence was committed in 2021 in Lahti municipality, Finland. The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed the arrest, adding that four other men were also detained in connection with suspected terrorist offences.
Army brutality: COAS orders probe into viral video
The Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has ordered an immediate investigation of a video showing the brutality of civilians. In a statement signed by Director Army Public Relations, Major General, Onyema Nwachukwu on Tuesday, the COAS craved to unravel the true circumstances surrounding the altercation. “The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to a viral audio-visual recording circulating on social media platforms, purportedly showing a senior Army officer and 2 other soldiers in an altercation with a man and woman within the Abuja metropolis. “The circumstances leading to this incident are not clear at the moment. “The NA remains committed to serving and protecting all law-abiding Nigerians as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “Therefore, we urge the public to be rest assured that due diligence will be applied to reach a logical conclusion on this matter,” the statement read.