The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu rtd, mni, has been installed the Grand patron of the PSC Sports Club.
The ceremony held at the Chairman’s office in Jabi, Abuja was conducted by the President of the Club, Mike Aji and assisted by the Members of his executive.
Aji briefed the Chairman on the success story of the team and presented to him medals won at the last games. He requested for Commission’s support to motivate the team for greater achievement in this year’s games holding in Portharcourt Rivers State.
DIG Argungu who this morning, Thursday, October 24th 2024, flagged off the training programme for the PSC team pledged to lift their spirit so that they will storm the games with greater determination to excel.
He charged them to go and conquere, stressing that the Commission will stand solidly with them and provide the necessary assistance required.
The Chairman was represented at the flag off ceremony by Mr. Ikechukwu Ani, Spokesman of the Commission, one time Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria Edo state Chapter and later Deputy National Chairman of the Association.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors, NPF Microfinance Bank, Otunba Samuel Damilola Adegbuyi, stated that the bank’s commitment to financial inclusion has helped bridge gaps, foster economic growth, and create a more inclusive financial ecosystem.
Otunba Adegbuyi disclosed this during a stakeholders’ interactive forum organized by NPF Microfinance Bank, held at the Officers’ Mess, Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday.
Speaking at the interactive forum, Otunba Adegbuyi said: “In 2023, NPF Microfinance Bank Plc made significant strides in promoting financial inclusion. We expanded our reach to underserved communities, providing essential financial services to over 680,730 new customers. Through innovative solutions and strategic partnerships, we were able to offer affordable and accessible financial products, empowering individuals and small businesses to achieve their financial goals. Our commitment to financial inclusion has helped bridge gaps, foster economic growth, and create a more inclusive financial ecosystem. We are proud of our achievements and remain dedicated to continuing this important work.”
Explaining further, Adegbuyi added, “In spite of the challenging economic environment in which the bank operated, our performance improved remarkably over 2022. NPF Microfinance Bank is committed to delivering returns to our shareholders as the bank believes in balancing returns on investment with support for future growth and survival.”
The Managing Director of NPF Microfinance Bank, Habeeb Yusuf, stated: “Our continuous adherence to financial reporting standards has ensured transparency and accuracy in our financial disclosures, reinforcing stakeholder trust. We shall continue to uphold these standards. We have made significant strides in enhancing business operations through process improvements on loans with technologies, leading to better service delivery and operational excellence. Our digital banking platforms have become more stable and efficient.”
Appreciating shareholders and stakeholders for their support and patronage, Yusuf stated: “Your firm support and trust are the foundation of our success. We will continue to pursue technological advancements and digital capabilities while staying true to our values of integrity. This will guide our transformation into a platform that enables economic growth and creates value for our customers and shareholders.”
Speaking on diversity and inclusion, the company secretary/legal adviser, Osaro Idemudia, said: “At NPF Microfinance Bank, we understand that for us to thrive and achieve our vision to be the clear leader in the provision of microfinance services, we must build a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the totality of our customer base. The bank operates a non-discriminatory policy in the consideration of applications for employment. The bank seeks to achieve an appropriate mixture of female representation at the top management level. Though this is yet to be achieved on the board as indicated below, we are currently working to ensure more female representation on the board.”
Renews MoU with NDLEA as Marwa asks for more support
By Ebinum Samuel
The United Kingdom Home Office International Operations, HOIO, has said its collaboration with Nigeria on the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking is yielding positive results as evident by the streak of successes being recorded by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in recent times. Head of UK Home Office International Operations, Victoria Pullen stated this when she led her colleague, Kristoffer Hawksfield on a courtesy visit to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) to sign a renewed Memorandum of Understanding between HOIO and NDLEA in Abuja on Monday 21st October 2024. While thanking Marwa for an “excellent cooperation”, Pullen said “the issue of drug trafficking is a huge global issue, and like many big challenges such as drug trafficking, it takes a huge global effort to try and counter that. I think it’s evident by some of the recent successes and the volume of some of the illicit commodities that your teams are finding that that cooperation is working exceptionally well currently, and we are currently really enjoying working with your team on those successes.”
According to her, “the willingness of your teams to work with us and do things differently and try things differently, which fortunately is leading to those successes, and we like the way that you’ve worked with the UK and the levels of engagement that we’ve enjoyed with the teams.” She said the commissioning of the NDLEA Marine Command Headquarters built and donated by the UK government in Lagos last week was a significant marker in the cooperation between the Agency and HOIO. “We look forward to seeing the results of that level of investment that will bring significant benefits to you in Nigeria by being able to stop those drugs from permeating your own society, and also in the global space because the more that we help you to interdict and take out of the system here, the less that’s going into countries around the world and into society. “Our team has got nothing but very, very positive things to say about the relationship that we have with you and your teams, and we very much look forward to the future and building on those and making them a lot better”, she added. In his response, Marwa expressed appreciation to the UK government for supporting Nigeria’s efforts to curb the scourge of illicit drug trafficking especially with the building and donation of Marine Headquarters facility to the Agency last week and a similar operational facility at the MMIA Command in Ikeja Lagos last year. “I am most delighted to meet Ms. Victoria Pullen in person, as it gives me the opportunity to express profound gratitude on behalf of myself, the agency and the country for the tremendous assistance, both tangible and intangible, that we have received from the Home Office International Operations (HOIO), in particular, and the British Government in general.
“Just last week, we commissioned the Marine Command Headquarters of NDLEA, built from scratch and donated by the Home Office International Operations. We have also received in the past a new CITF facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, also from the Home Office International Operations. These are in addition to others like training and intelligence that are vital to our counter-narcotics operations. “Since we kicked off the reform of NDLEA three years ago, we have enjoyed an increasing partnership with the Home Office International Operations. Among our international partners the Home Office International Operations is one of our major partners whose contributions immeasurably enhance the capacity of NDLEA and invariably impact our performance positively”, he stated. Marwa asked for more support from the UK government. “We continue to seek more of your assistance in our quest to combat illicit drug trafficking on our shores and also to contribute to our common goal in fighting the activities of transnational criminal organizations. The new refreshed MOU, which we are about to sign after the remarks, is a testament to our strong partnership, and we are looking forward to boosting our existing relationship to help us achieve our common and shared responsibility of tackling the drug problem. Now, the NDLEA in the last three years or so has made tremendous impacts, and I must say that instrumental to that is the support from the UK.
“We have made, in three years, over 52,000 arrests. We have made seizures of over 8,000 tons of illicit substances, and convictions in excess of 9,000. That’s a very significant success in court. Given the volume of traffic of travellers between the UK and Nigeria, there is a need for sharing of intelligence and actionable data further collaboration in that respect will further strengthen our relationship. So, I excited that we’re signing a new MoU here today.”
Shareholders with the Nigeria Police Force Microfinance Bank have heaped encomiums on the management and board members of the bank on their working assiduously to ensure the accounts of bankers and others were never hacked.
According to one of the shareholders, bank customers’ accounts being hacked especially via the Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) cards have been a daily routine amongst most financial institutions, but zero occurrences have been the lot at the NPF Microfinance bank.
This was part of the praises heaped on the management and board members on Monday 21st of October 2024, during a family interactive meeting held at the Police Officers Mess, Ikeja, Lagos State.
The bank management said that the family meeting was not just to get to know how shareholders were faring but to also explain why the AGM had been delayed, stressing that the shareholders deserved to be informed.
The Bank’s Executive Director, of Operations, Mr John Kwabr Tizhe, responding to the accolades, explained that recording such a feat was due to intentional steps taken by the management team.
He said: “We have different online channels, but none have been hacked! We’ve never been hacked because we deliberately hired specialists around cyber security to work for us.”
The Managing Director, Habeeb Yusuf, who described the Microfinance bank as a forward-thinking institution, responded that the management continually enhances their information posture in response to emerging cyber threats.
He added: “We have adopted new technological platforms and global best practices to ensure resilience and adherence to various cyber security and data protection standards and regulatory requirements.
“We emphasize the continuous improvement of our security posture while strengthening our cybersecurity measures as we digitalise operations to ensure efficient and secure business processes.”
The Chairman of, Board of Directors, Otunba Samuel Damilola Adegbuyi, a retired Commissioner of Police, who was also at the interactive parley, said that the bank was committed to delivering returns to shareholders because it strongly believes in balancing returns on investment for shareholders with the support for the bank’s future growth and survival.
Yusuf further said: “I also want to thank our esteemed shareholders that are here. We invited you and you honoured our invitation. May the good Lord continue to honour and teach every one of you.
“Our being here this afternoon is not new or special, it is an interactive session. For we to meet you and you also meet us. We need to explain to you why we’ve not had our AGM, and why it has been delayed.”
He explained that the bank initially had a challenge in tackling technology following its introduction. He stressed that since the adoption of this technology, NPF microfinance banks have not been finding it easy.
He added: “It has been from one challenge to the other. The climax is what we experienced this year. We find ourselves in a situation where our external auditors cannot access the data to work with. Extracting data for them became an issue. And then we find ourselves going forth and back.
“To that extent, at a point in time, the external auditor has to carry out a data integrity test to reaffirm the integrity of the data that has been made available to them. All this going and coming culminated in the delay that we have. But I also want to let you know that because the central bank was the one that imposed this on us, they are not unmindful of what we are going through.
“To that extent, they also came to our rescue by giving us a comfort letter to all the regulatory agencies so that the bank would not be penalized either for its delay in rendition of rate returns as well as AGM.
“I’m pleased to inform you that in all, the regulators accepted the comfort letter that was given to us by the central bank and we did not incur any form of penalty. Going forward, we hope that we will not go to experience what we had this year.
“To also let you know that a measure has been put in place by the board and management to forestall the reoccurrence of what we had in the 2023 accounts.
“As we speak, the external auditors are currently in our office to commence the nine-month audit for this year as a kind of measure. Once that audit is completed, we will only be left with the last three months of the year.”
Pastors who task members on sowing seeds have come under the criticism of General Superintendent, Deeper Life Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi .He has challenged them to stop sucking poor members with the preaching.Kumuyi made the declaration while reaching out to the Christian folks during a special Programme broadcast.The broadcast Ministerial Renewal was broadcast for church ministers and workers across the global via satellite.
Kumuyi known for his message of holiness and sanctification, advised his audience against anything that could portray the faith in bad light.Rather than pastors milking their congregation through the message of sowing seed, they ought to be extending help to such members.The charge is coming at an auspicious economic and political life of the country with many Nigerians battling economic depression.
Using Prophet Elijah in the Bible, who blessed the widow of Zarephat, Pastor Kumuyi charged preachers to emulate thus, adding value to the lives of those in a position not to pay back“You add value to people; to those who are down raise them up, those who are poor.“There are preachers, they take the little that the widows have. In our nation here, they say if you sow this seed the Lord will multiply it a hundredfold.
“Let us be sincere, and if you are a preacher like that and you are here let’s talk; those widows have next to nothing, then we preachers we brainwash them and we tell them…and those poor widows what can they do?“They just believe every word we speak and all they have, inheritance from their late husbands they put at the apostles’ feet, and after they have done that ‘God bless you, God bless you’ everybody can say that, and they (widows) go back home.
“Examine yourself, all those people that have given everything as their prophet told them in our land, where are they today, how are they feeling, how are their children doing, how are they sending their children to school?Advertisement“Instead of the prophet that has millions already; instead of him looking for the widows who their children are not in school and sponsor them just for God’s glory, we don’t have that“We only have those that take from the widows and render them poorer and they are getting richer and richer”, Pastor Kumuyi said.
As NDLEA intercepts over N7billion worth of opioids at Apapa, Onne seaports
By Ebinum Samuel
Two businessmen: Ihejirika Okechukwu Emmanuel and Iwuagwu Ikedi Victory as well as a Canada-based nurse Usman Grace Khadijat Olami have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos for attempting to import and export cocaine pellets and parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis through the airport. Ihejirika who frequents Thailand from where he claims to be importing fish into Nigeria was arrested on Tuesday 15th October 2024 while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Thailand via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. When he was taken for body scan, the result showed he ingested illicit drug which proved to be cocaine.
As a result, he was placed under excretion observation during which he expelled five big egg size wraps of cocaine weighing 400grams. In his statement, the 51-year-old suspect confessed that he was to be paid upon successful delivery of the drug consignment in Thailand. He said he needed the money to boost his fish importation business. In the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport on Thursday 17th October intercepted a 26-year-old businessman Iwuagwu Ikedi Victory coming from Brazil via Addis Ababa during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight. His body scan revealed ingestion of illicit drug. When he was put under observation, he excreted a pellet of cocaine weighing 22 grams. He however confessed that he ingested 30 wraps of the illicit drug in Brazil but excreted 29 pellets in Addis Ababa, where he handed them over to another person.
The suspect revealed that he was to be paid N2.5 million for trafficking the drug. Meanwhile, a Nigerian Canadian nurse Usman Grace Khadijat Olami was on 4th October arrested by NDLEA officers at the Lagos airport during the inward clearance of Air France passengers from Toronto, Canada via Paris. During a search of her luggage, a total of 70 parcels of Canadian Loud, weighing 35.70kg were recovered from her. During her interview, she claimed she was in Nigeria to meet her boyfriend who instructed her to come with the large consignment of the highly sought-after synthetic cannabis.
At the seaports, while a total of 162,351 bottles of codeine based syrup were intercepted from two containers at the Apapa seaport in Lagos by NDLEA operatives during a joint examination of two containers with men of the Customs Service and other security agencies on Tuesday 15th October, not less than Seven Million Two Hundred Thousand (7,200,000) pills of Royal 225mg Tapentadol and Carisoprodol worth Three Billion Six Hundred Million Naira (N3,600,000,000) in street value were seized from a watch-listed container from India at Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers state on Tuesday 15th October.
In the same container, 780 cartons of chlorphenamine containing Fifteen Million Six Hundred Thousand (15,600,000) pills of the opioid, were also recovered. From two other watch-listed containers equally searched at the port in Onne, a total of 337,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth Two Billion Three Hundred and Fifty-Nine Million Naira (N2,359,000,000) were recovered from them on Tuesday 15th and Thursday 17th October. This brings the total value of the seized Tapentadol, Carisoprodol and Codeine consignments at the two seaports to Seven Billion Ninety-Five Million Four Hundred and Fifty-Seven Thousand Naira (N7,095,457,000).
In Bauchi state, a suspect Sunday Jonathan Ogenyi, 33, was arrested along Bauchi-Jos road with 76,600 pills of tramadol concealed in false compartments of his Toyota Sienna vehicle marked Enugu JRV 341 ZY, while NDLEA operatives in Ondo state on Tuesday 15th October arrested three suspects: Goddey Obizuo; Samuel Aniete; and Kuffrey Aniete at Afo village where 672kg cannabis sativa was seized from them. A raid at Illushi forest in Esan South East LGA, Edo state led to the destruction of 10,590.36kg cannabis spread on 4.236144 hectares of farmland. Suspects arrested during the operation include: Benson Upuoni, 65; and Sunday Nwaeboyi, 35. In Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday 15th October arrested Andrew Joseph Anoriode with 3kg methamphetamine and 1.90kg cannabis along Lagos – Ibadan expressway while 241kg of same substance was recovered at Gbaji, Badagry area of the state. A suspected meth cook, Agbeiboh Oscar, was nabbed same Tuesday at Abule Osun with 265grams of methamphetamine and different quantities of precursor chemicals for the manufacture of methamphetamine and others.
With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Ansarudeen Senior High School, Saki, Oyo state; Government Secondary School, Hayin Gwarmai, Bebeji LGA, kano; Margaret Ekpo Secondary School, Calabar,Cross River; Agbaju Unuhu Community Secondary School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi; and WADA advocacy visit to the Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Muhammad Kawu Kudu, Kwara state, among others.
While commending the officers and men of MMIA, PHPC, Apapa, Lagos, Bauchi, Ondo, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.
Staff working under DIG Taiwo Lakanu rtd, fdc Honourable Commissioner in the Police Service Commission staged a surprise birthday party as he added one more fruitful year to his meritorious and productive life of quality service to his fatherland. He was a Police man and rose to the enviable rank of Deputy Inspector General and currently a Board Member of the Police Service Commission.
An unsuspecting boss met his office in a mood that was inviting and with an allure of merry and love, and had to quickly invite his wife Wunmi and later the Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu rtd, mni.The PSC Chairman while eulogizing the celebrant said he was glad to have Lakanu as a co-pilot in the journey of sustaining and improving the tempo of work in the Commission. He noted that he has enjoyed his support, loyalty and confidence since he assumed duty in the Commission.
The PSC Chairman said Lakanu has since become a dependable ally and a confidant and has brought calm and peace some of the times when he(Chairman) gets overwhelmed, stressing that he cannot thank him enough for the moderating influence he has brought to the management of the Commission.
He thanked God for the life of the Commissioner and commended his wife Wunmi for the great support she has provided for him.The Celebrant confessed that he never thought of the birthday arrangement as it was an ‘ambush’ and a surprise to him. He thanked his immediate staff for the birthday package and commended them for the support they have given him since he assumed office. He pledged to give his best to the growth and progress of the Commission and assured the Commission Chairman of his unalloyed loyalty and support.He did not fail to identify the love of his life, the wife, as the source of his success story in life and also the source of his happiness.
DIG Lakanu also thanked God for His grace in his life and promised to sustain his reverence and worship of the Almighty and also work steadfastly and in partnership with his boss the Chairman to grow the fortunes of the Commission.
The FCT Police Command has become aware of misleading rumors circulating on social media about the alleged arrest and unlawful detention of a minor by officers from the Kubwa Police Division.We would like to clarify that on 16th October 2024, the Senior Magistrate Court in Dutse Alhaji issued a court order for delivery to the residence of Ann Fornchor, located on Henry Nweke Street, Gberango Layout in Kubwa. During this process, court staff were confronted and assaulted by Deborah Fornchor.As a result of this incident, the Court authorized a warrant for the arrest of Deborah Fornchor for assaulting court personnel. The FCT Police acted in accordance with this court order, apprehending her and subsequently handing her over to the court authorities. She is currently in custody at the court’s directive, pending further proceedings.
The FCT Police Command emphasizes that all actions taken were in strict compliance with legal procedures and court directives. According to SP Josephine Adeh, the spokesperson, “in our ongoing commitment to maintaining public safety and reducing crime in the FCT, Commissioner of Police CP Olatunji Disu, Psc encourages the community to report any suspicious activities to the following emergency numbers: 08032003913, 08028940883, 08061581938, and 07057337653” “For concerns regarding police conduct, please reach out to the Police Complaint Bureau (PCB) at 09022222352 or the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) at 08107314192” she concluded
The Chairman of the Police Service Commission and retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Hashimu Argungu mni, has called for improved intelligence gathering in the nation’s security architecture.
DIG Argungu also demands respect for jurisdictions by the nation’s several security organisations, insisting that intelligence sharing and tactical cooperation rather than rivalry amongst the different security Agencies would advance the prospects of national security in Nigeria.
He spoke in Abuja when he received in audience a delegation from the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies led by its National President, Barr. Mike Ejiofor, fsi.
The PSC Chairman told his visitors that the nation expects much from them since they hold critical position as it relates to the security of our nation. He reminded them of the importance of security, especially intelligence gathering in national development.
DIG Argungu noted that every security organisation is established by law and should strictly function within the boundaries of their jurisdiction to avoid friction. What the nation expects from them, he said ” is intelligence sharing and cooperation” adding that any conflict relating to jurisdiction “will bring failure of intelligence “
He also made a case for the improvement of the quality of training in the Institute and charged the Members to pay close attention to our security agencies and ” tell them what they are doing that is wrong”.
Barr. Ejiofor, the President of the Alumni Association, said they were in the Commission to associate with the Chairman and to congratulate him on his deserved appointment.
Barr. Ejiofor said the Association was formed for the sole purpose of bringing together graduates of the National Institute to further foster synergy among them and also among security agencies and other strategic agencies of Government towards ensuring national security and unity.
To achieve this, he said the Association plans to deliberately harness the training, experience and professionalism of Members who are drawn from various agencies towards offering services to government and her Institutions.
The President of the Association disclosed that they intend to hold their annual lecture in November, this year and ” your presence and support will be highly appreciated “
A Delegation of retired senior Police Officers in Nigeria led by DIG Maigari Dikko were in the Police Service Commission on Wednesday, October 16th 2024 to plead for quick intervention of the Commission in rescuing them from abandonment and poor retirement benefits.
The delegation, were Members of the Police College Ikeja 1986 CADET ASP Course 14 and had come to felicitate with their own, DIG Taiwo Lakanu, fdc who was recently appointed by Mr. President as Honourable Commissioner in the Commission.
The visitors also complained that the Police they served with all their might have continued to degenerate with “our Policemen now more in private homes than in the streets”
They lamented that retired Commissioners of Police till date receive about N73,000 as monthly pensions while their counterparts in the Military are paid upwards of N300,000 stressing that in other countries “pension entitlements are always the same for the Military and Police Officers”. They feared that this situation if not quickly reversed will constitute serious security threat.
The Delegation said the Federal Government should also quickly withdraw the several Police Officers in private homes and free them to help secure the nation and effectively occupy the public space.
“The PSC should Intervene quickly; there are many Policemen in private homes and land grabbers have continued to use them to molest and intimidate opponents”.
The Commission spokesman, Ikechukwuu Ani disclosed that the Chairman, DIG Hashimu Argungu rtd mni, who joined DIG Lakanu to receive the team, pledged the Commitment of the Commission to restore the glory of the Nigeria Police Force both serving or retired.
DIG Argungu noted that some of the retired Officers will be engaged by the Commission to serve in its Quality Assurance Unit so that they bring their experience to bear on how the Commission manages the personnel of the Police. He also assured them that they would also be encouraged to enjoy the benefits of having their children recruited into the Police either through the Police Academy Wudil Kano or through direct recruitment.
DIG Argungu said the retired Officers are veritable assets needed for nation building.
The host, DIG Lakanu told his course mates that they have gotten another home with his assumption of duty in the Commission.
” we are course mates, we will remain close friends, we will bring some of you here and together we will make this place better”
He said the Commission will see how it can Intervene to help change the poor retirement benefits of Members.
Some other Members of the delegation were DIG Abdulmajid Ali, AIG U.U. Shehu Ambursa and AIG Alapini.
