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Emefiele: EFCC hands over 753 duplexes to Housing Ministry

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially transferred ownership of 753 duplexes linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede handed over the forfeited property to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, during a brief ceremony held on Tuesday.

The massive estate, comprising uncompleted duplexes, is situated in the Lokogoma district of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. According to the EFCC, the properties were recovered as part of ongoing investigations into financial misconduct linked to Emefiele’s tenure at the apex bank.

A statement by Dangiwa said President Bola Tinubu had directed that the recovered estate be completed and made available to the Nigerian public through a “transparent and accountable” process.

Dangiwa said the ministry will ensure that all pending structures are completed to make the estate functional and suitable for habitation.

“As a next step, we will conduct a comprehensive integrity and structural assessment of all buildings and associated infrastructure to ensure safety and suitability for habitation,” the statement reads.

“We will also complete all outstanding infrastructure, including roads, drainage systems, and other essential amenities, to make the estate fully functional.

“Additionally, a standardized housing design framework will be developed to ensure architectural uniformity and provide guidance to prospective allottees.

“Finally, the housing units will be offered for sale through a transparent and competitive process, which will be widely advertised and managed via the Renewed Hope Portal.”

In December 2024, the anti-graft agency secured the final forfeiture of the estate following a ruling by Jude Onwegbuzie, a judge at the FCT high court.

The EFCC had said that the forfeiture of the estate is the “largest single asset recovery” of the agency since it was set up in 2003.

The agency did not mention the name of the individual who forfeited the property but mentioned that it belonged to a “former top brass of the government”.

However, in April 2025, Emefiele approached the FCT high court with an application seeking to reclaim the estate forfeited by the federal government.

The former CBN governor had sought an extension of time to apply to set aside the interim and final forfeiture orders made by the court in December 2024.

Emefiele had contended that the entire forfeiture process was conducted without his knowledge and alleged that the EFCC published the interim forfeiture notice in an “obscure” section of a newspaper, making it difficult for him to respond timely.

Onwegbuzie dismissed the application filed by Emefiele and held that the section 17(2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 stipulates the notice requirements for forfeiture proceedings.

He rejected Emefiele’s claim that the publication was obscure, adding that the half-page notice in a national newspaper was sufficient and could not reasonably be described as “hidden”.

 

ICPC uncovers foreign scam account targeting Nigerians with fake 6-week degree offers

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In a disturbing revelation, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, has disclosed the discovery of a bank account operated by a foreign national to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians through fake six-week degree programs abroad.

Dr. Aliyu made the announcement in Abuja on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ advocacy event focused on asset tracing, recovery, and management. The event was organized by the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFTPI) with support from the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).

According to the ICPC boss, the account was set up specifically to receive payments from Nigerian victims who believed they were enrolling in accelerated international degree programs.

Aliyu noted: “Within some weeks, we were able to discover that a foreigner opened an account in Nigeria while Nigerian students are paying money into the account in order to obtain that six-week degree. And we were able to track the account.

“We obtained a civil forfeiture order. We have been trying to put in much effort to ensure that the culprits are brought to book, most especially those that are beyond our shores.”

He stressed the need for all corruption agencies and other agencies in the country to work together in synergy to ensure that those who engage in corruption do not benefit from their own crime.

“We have been making efforts to see how we can come together in order to ensure that we recover assets beyond the African region. Because, as we know, Africa has been a victim of this issue of illicit financial loss.

“And also, if you could recall, we remember that since the time of slavery, Africa has been losing a lot of resources. We know where these properties are going, but they keep on telling us that you have a challenge of corruption.

“But the issue is the victim is being blamed. We are victims of corruption, but they keep on blaming us. That is why at the regional level, we are now trying to see how we can work together to ensure that we recover, trace, recover and repatriate the property back to our own continent.”

In his opening remarks, CeFTPI Executive Director, Umar Yakubu, disclosed that the event brought together key stakeholders from anti-corruption institutions, law enforcement, the judiciary, civil society, and international development partners to explore collaborative pathways in asset recovery, strengthen accountability, and launch innovative mechanisms that support transparency and citizen engagement.

INSPECTORS’ PROMOTION INTERVIEW TAKES OFF WITHOUT HITCHES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, PSC CHAIR SAYS this is the time to get it right

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By Ebinum Samuel

 

The Departmental Selection Board (DSB) for the promotion interview of Inspectors who are qualified for the next rank, took off successfully yesterday, Monday, May 19th 2025 in many Police Zonal Command Headquarters across the country.

 

Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu rtd mni who led a powerful Commission delegation to the Zone 7 Headquarters in Abuja to supervise the exercise hailed the smooth take off of the exercise and declared that “this is the time to get it right”.

 

The Commission’s spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani disclosed that DIG Argungu said the transition from the Inspectors cadre to that of the Superintendents is something the Commission will not want to handle without care because it is a transition that must come with proper scrutiny and induction to prepare the Officers for the demands and expectations of a Superintendent. He said the ongoing promotion interview has not recorded any ugly incidents from the reports reaching him from the Zones.

 

The Chairman said the Commission is desirous of building a credible , efficient and effective Police Force that will be the pride of the nation. He noted that to achieve that “it must start with the basics such as defined recruitment, promotion and disciplinary processes”

The PSC Chairman, who is the National Coordinator of the exercise, is supported by Justice Paul Adamu Galumje, retired Justice of the Supreme Court and Honourable Commissioner representing the Judiciary in the Commission. Justice Galumje, who is presently in Yola, is supervising the exercise in the Northern Zone.

DIG Taiwo Lakanu, fdc, representing the Police in the Commission is also currently in Lagos and supervising the South West and South South while Chief Onyemuche Nnamani, Secretary to the Commission is supervising the exercise in the South East.

 

Meanwhile, some zones could not commence the exercise on Monday due to some other pressing and important competing national events. Zone 12 Bauchi is expected to commence today,

thesame, with Zone 11, Osogbo, that had to shift the date to accommodate already scheduled border crisis Meeting between Osun and Oyo states. Zone 13, in Ukpo, Anambra State, will commence the promotion interview tomorrow Wednesday due to some other scheduled important national engagements.

 

Successful candidates from the Board Interview will be promoted to the next rank of unconfirmed Assistant Superintendents of Police.

Who Is Ayo Oyoze Baje?

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Ayo Oyoze Baje is a distinguished Nigerian media professional, writer, and public commentator known for his insightful analyses on national development, governance, and social issues. With a career spanning decades, he has contributed significantly to Nigerian journalism and literature.

Career and Contributions

Baje has worked with several prominent Nigerian media outlets, including The Guardian, The Punch, and The Nation. His writings often delve into topics such as education, agriculture, and national unity. He is also recognized for his literary works, including novels, plays, and poems that explore the complexities of the human condition. His book, Drumbeats of Democracy, a collection of opinion essays spanning over four decades, is a testament to his unwavering commitment to truth, justice, and the power of the written word. His achievements have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Vanguard Poetry Award and the Golden Pen First Prize Award from Friesland WAMCO/Campina .

Advocacy and Public Engagement

Beyond his journalistic endeavors, Baje is an advocate for various causes. He has written extensively on the importance of education, emphasizing the need for quality learning opportunities for Nigerian children. In his piece, The Future of Nigerian Children, he highlights the contributions of unsung nationalists like the late Professor Eyo Ita, who played a pivotal role in the educational development of Nigeria’s youth .

He has also been

Nigerian teenager’s corpse recovered from Ireland river

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A search and rescue operation by emergency workers in Ireland has led to the recovery of the corpse of a 16-year-old Nigerian, Emmanuel Familola, who drowned while swimming in a river in the Buncrana Community.

PUNCH Metro gathered on Monday from a report by local media, Raidió Teilifís Éireann, that the incident happened on Saturday, May 10, after the teenager, alongside two others, encountered difficulties while swimming.

The report noted that a search and rescue party was deployed to the area following an alarm raised by witnesses.

“The body of a teenager has been recovered from waters off the coast of Co Donegal after three teenagers got into difficulty while swimming in Lough Swilly yesterday afternoon.

“The body was discovered last night between Ned’s Point and Fahan, close to the town of Buncrana, and was removed to Letterkenny University Hospital. It followed an extensive air and sea rescue operation to find the teenager who was missing.

“The alarm was raised after the teenagers, aged between 16 and 19, encountered difficulty while swimming around 4 p.m. One of the teenagers managed to swim ashore. A third was taken from the sea and was brought to Letterkenny General Hospital, where his condition is said to be very serious.”

Meanwhile, a member of the Irish Parliament representing the Donegal Constituency, Padraig Mac Lochlainn, has set up a GoFundMe to raise funds for the burial of the deceased teenagers.

He confirmed that two of the teenagers, including Familola and 18-year-old Matt Sibanda, lost their lives in the incident.

In a message shared on his Facebook page, Lochlainn described the death of the teenagers as sad, stating that, “There has been widespread shock and sadness following the deaths of 16-year-old Emmanuel Familola and 18-year-old Matt Sibanda in the drowning tragedy.”

“Please, join us in supporting them in their darkest hour. As a registered charity, Insight Inishowen will ensure that every penny raised will be divided equally between the two grieving families,” the message read.

PUNCH Metro reported on May 9 that the corpse of a United Kingdom-based Nigerian teenager, Valentine Ikechukwu, was similarly recovered after drowning in a lake at Colwick Country Park on April 30.

The Nottinghamshire Police disclosed that the 16-year-old had got into trouble while swimming in the lake.

Nigerian loses viral English test to Briton after immigration debate sparks challenge

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A Nigerian based in the United Kingdom, Ifedayo Johnson, has lost in a viral English skills showdown to an English X user who goes by the name Angantýr, with the handle @BasedNorthmathr, on social media.

Johnson, who hails from Oyo State, scored 79, losing by just four marks in the EFSET quiz competition with Angantyr, the Britain who scored 83.

The competition took place in separate X Spaces on Sunday, and was followed live by over 5,000 netizens.

PUNCH Online had reported that a heated immigration debate on X has turned into a linguistic showdown after the British user claimed the UK care sector had become “critically dependent on Nigerians who barely speak English.”

Angantýr said, “Why did we make our care sector critically dependent on Nigerians who barely speak English and each bring with them three dependents?”

Johnson with the X username @Ifedayo_Jimcruz, who faulted what he called the disrespect on Nigerians challenged Angantýr to a full English language proficiency test, including writing, listening, reading, and speaking.

Johnson tweeted, “I’m openly challenging you to an English Language skills test. This would entail writing, listening, speaking and listening tests.

If your overall score is higher than mine, I’ll quietly pack my bags and leave this country within 24 hours.

“But if I score higher than you, you’ll keep your mouth shut and never again question or disrespect the English Language skills of any Nigerian.

“Let me know when you’re ready, so we fix the date and other modalities. About time y’all are put where you belong.”

After the competition results were announced on social media on Sunday, mixed reactions had followed the Nigerian-born contestant’s loss, with both criticism and praise pouring in.

In response, Johnson took to his social media handle to challenge the stereotype that Nigerians hardly speak English, asserting that this misconception has long been disproven.

“I hate to explain as I like how everyone is running their narratives. I enjoy it so much and it’s expected.

“The challenge was to have the test done in the four Basic Language Skills but we couldn’t come to terms on that and only did two.

“Meanwhile, those were the strong forte of native speaker of any language.

“Let me repeat, Nigerians speak English and they do so very well.

“Yes, I boasted and I’m still boasting. If you have a problem at boasting about what you know you’re good at, that’s your problem.”

For Angantyr, he took to his X account immediately to announce the results, declaring that he had made England proud in the linguistic showdown.

He wrote, ”Honour defended. England conquered.”

Recall, the controversy started when Rachel Clarke tweeting as #doctor_oxford wrote on Monday, “1 in 5 of the UK’s care workforce have a non-British passport. Starmer would have us believe these carers are the ‘squalid’ result of a ‘failed experiment.’

“I say they do vital, necessary, humane, skilled work and they are worth their weight in gold.”

Pope Leo XIV receives US VP Vance, Rubio

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Pope Leo XIV received US Vice President JD Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican Monday, a day after the new US pontiff’s inauguration mass.

The Vatican released photographs of Vance and Rubio smiling as they met with the Chicago-born pope, who was elected as head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics on May 8.

Vance then met with the Holy See’s secretary for relations with states, Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican said.

“During the cordial talks held at the Secretariat of State, satisfaction at the good bilateral relations was reiterated, and the collaboration between Church and State was discussed, as well as some matters of special relevance to ecclesial life and religious freedom,” the Vatican said in a statement.

“Finally, there was an exchange of views on some current international issues, calling for respect for humanitarian law and international law in areas of conflict and for a negotiated solution between the parties involved”, it said.

Vance and Rubio were among the 200,000 dignitaries, royals and faithful gathered Sunday to mark the official start of Leo’s papacy in St Peter’s Square.

Before becoming pope, Leo reposted on his personal X account criticism of US President Donald Trump’s administration over its approach to migration and also pilloried Vance.

But Vance insisted Sunday that the United States was “very proud of him”.

“Certainly our prayers go with him as he starts this very important work,” Vance said at a meeting with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

AFP

Air strike killed top Bello Turji’s aide, fighters in Sokoto – Army

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Shaudo Alku, a close associate of the notorious terrorist kingpin, Bello Turji, has been confirmed killed in a targeted airstrike.

The operation, carried out by the Air Component of Operation Fasan Yama, struck a terrorist hideout near Tunfa Primary School in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Sunday.

The Nigerian Armed Forces confirmed that Alku, a key link in cross-border terrorist logistics, was killed alongside several fighters and suspected high-ranking commanders.

According to intelligence reports, Alku had crossed into Nigeria from Niger Republic to attend a clandestine strategy meeting convened by Turji’s network.

A source from the military who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “Surveillance and actionable intelligence enabled the Nigerian military to pinpoint the gathering, prompting a swift and decisive air assault that neutralised multiple targets.

“This operation marks a significant step in dismantling the command structure of terrorist groups operating across the North West.

“Alku was not just a foot soldier. He was deeply involved in arms procurement and coordination of cross-border insurgent activity.”

The Nigerian Army, via its official communication channels, described the success as a demonstration of its resolve to rid the country of terrorism and restore peace to the embattled communities of Sokoto, Zamfara, and Katsina States.

The statement added that mop-up operations were ongoing, and efforts are being intensified to apprehend fleeing terrorists.

Bello Turji, long considered one of the most dangerous and elusive bandit leaders in the region, has maintained a brutal reign marked by mass abductions, killings, and attacks on civilian settlements.

His network stretches across state and international borders, complicating military operations.

The elimination of Alku, according to a security expert in Sokoto, is expected to disrupt the logistical and operational capabilities of Turji’s faction, though analysts caution that the battle is far from over.

“This is a big win, no doubt.

“But dismantling terrorist networks requires sustained pressure and coordination with neighbouring countries, especially Niger and Chad,” said a conflict and security analyst, Dr. Yusuf Anka.

Residents in Isa LG have expressed relief over the development.

“We heard the explosions and later saw helicopters. It gave us hope that the government has not forgotten us,” said a resident who requested anonymity for security reasons.

This strike is the latest in a series of intensified aerial offensives launched under Operation Fagge Yama, a renewed military campaign aimed at rooting out terrorists and bandits in Nigeria’s troubled North West.

Lagos Police SCID Wears A New Look

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By Ebinum Samuel

 

Good public servants are wont to continue, improve on where their predecessors stopped. They often moot ideas that begets reformation and productivity. They are quick to learn lessons, borrow a leaf from their predecessors. Where former office holders failed, the current occupier of that office would as a matter of great urgency, rectifies and look critically into the nucleus of that failure. This, with time, will stand them out as being proactive about reformation, efficiency , reconstruction and rehabilitation.

In recent times, the State Criminal Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, on old Panti street ( now Musuliu Smith street) has been endowed with resilient and uncommon officers with keen interests not only on the welfare and welbeing of their surbordinates, but foster collaborations with stakeholders and sister’s agencies, made their working environment clean and tidy.

Today, a visit to SCID shows an ambience with pristine and exhilirating atmosphere.Green lush has become order of the day. Thanks to the construction, designs, reshaping aestethically the infrastructure by DCP Dayo Akinbisehin,the officer in charge of SCID.


The lawns and flowers are mowed, tendered to meet up to eco system standards. Painting of the buildings are at advanced stage, fitted marbles and tiles adorned both the floors of offices and corridors.The place now wears a new looks to visitors’ delight.

The importance of operating in a clean environment is not only been stressed by Akinbisehin to his detectives, but the perception of the public about the policeman and woman and his or her working environment, has taken a paradigm shift with the beautification, landscaping and new design of the SCID headquarters by DCP Akinbisehin.

To add colour and glamour to this new look, the Visitors’ Waiting Space is been reconstructed to accommodate more visitors. Not left out, the cells for inmates has been given facelift.

Working in a conducive and clean environment as being emphasized by Akinbisehin, does not only help the productivity and effeciency of staff, but enhances the good health of the staff for optimal performance.

Police arrest dethroned Edo community leader, 4 others, recover arms, human skull

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The Edo State Police Command has arrested the recently dethroned Ohen of Okhoromi, Ovbokhan Kelvin, and four others during a sting operation carried out on Saturday.

 

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Moses Yamu, the operation was executed by officers from the Command Intelligence and Rapid Response Squad in collaboration with the Anti-Kidnapping Squad.

 

The suspects were identified as “dethroned Ohen of Okhoromi one Ovbokhan Igbinovia Kelvin 43yrs, Osarodion Omoregie 41yrs, Charles Otasowei 55yrs, Edwin Igbinovia 45yrs and Osagie Igbinovia 44yrs.”

 

Yamu further disclosed that several dangerous items were recovered during the raid.

The following exhibits; two (2) AK 47 rifles with breach numbers TH4782 and 6683 respectively, two (2) single barrel locally made shotguns, Three (3) empty AK47 magazines, one (1) OFM magazine, eleven (11) rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and a suspected human skull were recovered when search was conducted.

 

“The investigation is ongoing to recover other arms and ammunition in his possession and arrest his fleeing gang members,” the statement said.

Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, reassured residents of the Command’s commitment to fighting crime across the state.

“CP Monday Agbonika, fdc assures the general public that the Command would not be deterred or distracted in its resolve to rid the state of all forms of crimes and criminality,” the statement added.