Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), LOGO
By Ahmad Umar
Gombe (Nigeria) — Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Gombe Zonal office says it has recovered the sum of over 110 million naira from suspects in four states.
The Head of Operations in the Commission, Aminu Ado Aliyu disclosed this while speaking with Journalists in Gombe on Tuesday.
He said that 191 suspect have been arrested in Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Adamawa states and the sum of 79,074,743.53 in draft, 31,745,280 cash were recovered from the cases under investigation.
“Agency secured seven convictions, while more convictions are still being awaited, as we have fifty-four cases under prosecution
“Let me also state that we are not only concerned with sending criminals to jail, we also forestall crime by alerting and sensitizing the public on the modus operandi of these fraudsters, who keep changing tactics by going on advocacy and enlightenment campaigns via media” he said.
Borno state Governor, Kashim Shettima, has confirmed the killings of at least 31 fishermen by Boko Haram terrorists in two separate attacks on islands in Lake Chad, northeastern Nigeria.
The governor made the confirmation while presenting relief materials donated to the state by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to the Internally Displaced Persons in Maiduguri on Tuesday.
While noting that the military and other security agencies were yet to verify the report, he said the attack indicated that the Boko Haram insurgents were still unleashing terror, killing and maiming people in the Lake Chad Basin.
Armed terrorists stormed the fishing islands of Duguri and Dabar Wanzam in the lake on Saturday, shooting and hacking some of the fishermen.
A member of a local vigilante said Boko Haram killed 14 in Duguri and another 17 in Dabar Wanzam.
One fisherman was spared in Duguri and 12 bodies of the men killed were loaded in a canoe, with a warning for them not to fish in the lake, TVC reported.
Communication in the area has been difficult as Boko Haram has destroyed telecom masts in the region.
The attacks happened a week after military authorities lifted a two-year ban on fishing in the Lake Chad region.
National Youth Council of Nigeria, has observed that until the youths in the country begin to see themselves as future leaders of the country, they will continue to be used as agents of destruction.
Speaking in Kaduna to mark the Internationa Youth Day, Abel Abaji, the representative of Northwest, enjoined the youths to brace up and face challenges of the country, stressing, “As future leaders of the country, you must see yourselves as partners that must share ideas on the best way Nigeria will be in the future.
“You must not allow yourselves to be used as agents of destruction by greedy politicians who are working for their selfish interest by using religion, tribal differences and other weapons to ensure we continue to be at loggerheads with each others.”
On theme of the International Youth Day, ‘Youth building peace’ he enjoined the youth to borrow a leaf from the likes of Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Nnamdi Akiziwe, Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo and others, who in their late and early 20s and 30s fought for the independence of Nigeria.
“We should be creative and think of what to do for the future rather than living idle lives only to be used to kill and destroy lives and property. We should begin to think positively what we can do to be remembered for in years to come.
“Prosperity will never forgive us if we do not change this mentality and start rejecting evildoers who use all such of methods to get us do their dirty deals while trying to make us believe they are fighting for our interests.
“We should see ourselves as brothers and sisters irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliations so that together we can build our society devoid of any problem.”
Earlier, the chairman, Youth Council of Nigeria, Kaduna South local government area, Mr Bernard Musa Ghat, said the essence of gathering the youths of the local government was to unite themselves and tell each others the truth of the need of living in peace with one another and never to be used by anybody for any evil that would be detrimental to the peace, unity and development of the local government, Kaduna State and the country as a whole.
He expressed gratitude to the youths for coming out in large number to celebrate the International Youth Day that is a week long celebration, adding, “We see ourselves, appreciate ourselves and see the need for us to work together as a formidable unit irrespective of our differences of tribe and religion. We should embrace the slogan that says united we stand, divided we fall.”
Community leaders present at the meeting enjoined the youths to always work together, discuss issues that border them together and share ideas for the overall peace and unity of the country.
They noted that it was only when the youths start working together that they would appreciate themselves and have better understanding of themselves.
Malam Mohammed Adamu, a youth from Tudun Wada, Kaduna, expressed gratitude with the coming together of the youths to observe this year’s International Youth Day, pointing out that it would go a long way to disabuse the wrong impression the youths have against one another.
The meeting had in attendance youths from most of the various ethnic groups residing in Kaduna South local government area of Kaduna State
Gombe (Nigeria) — Director-General of National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Zakari Sulaiman Kazaure has warned Corps members to resist the temptation to engage in sharp practices.
Kazaure gave the advice Monday, while addressing 2017 Batch ‘A’ stream II Corps members at the NYSC temporary Orientation Camp at Government Technical College Amada, in Gombe state, northeast Nigeria.
He called on them to be in the vanguard for the eradication of corruption, noting that it had remained the bane of development and to make honesty their watchword, while also ensuring diligence in the discharge of their assignments.
Kazaure also urged them to avail themselves of opportunity for self-employment through NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme.
“You should acquire extra business skills in this camp in order to have a guaranteed future because the days of white collar jobs are over and the only way for survival currently is skills acquisition.”
“Pay attention to the skill acquisition programmes going on in the camp the programmes you go through in the camp are arranged to guide you through the challenges you will encounter during the service years.
“After the orientation programme, you will be posted to different communities for your primary assignment, I urged you to respect the culture of your host communities, avoid unnecessary journeys and night parties and be security conscious”
The Director General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, says the migration from analogue to digital broadcasting in Nigeria has enhanced quality broadcasting in the nation.
Kawu stated this Monday in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria while inspecting facilities by the signal distributor ahead of the switch over in northwest region of the country.
He emphasized that though the switch over was an expensive process, it represents one of the best options in the sector.
Mr. Kawu explained that digital switch over was part of the process for kick starting the national digital economy at a time the country was gradually moving out of recession.
The MD said the equipment were top class transmission and monitoring system that would facilitate the switch over, adding that, what remained was getting the local channels into the system for the process to be completed.
“There are areas in Kaduna that we have to do signal assessment and then take a decision about how to fill the gaps. But the challenge and most important thing is that we need to reach the people of Kaduna State.
“As a matter of fact, you know Nigerians are very intrepid in business sense. A couple of weeks ago, we discovered that some people are bringing boxes from Abuja to Kaduna in anticipation of the fact that we are coming to establish signal, we told the people that we will let them know when the boxes are going to be activated, but those buying the boxes discovered that there was no signal in the city and that gives us problem because we need to establish signal here before the boxes could be working,” he stated.
The DG urged journalists to be part of agent of change in the transition to digital system, by helping to educate and inform Nigerians that the choice for a switch over is the right thing to do.
The NBC, he said, plans to install the digital system in Gombe, Kwara, Osun, Enugu and Delta States in addition to the ones on ground.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU), had given Nigeria a deadline of June 2017 to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting.
Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed had flagged the digital migration on April 30, 2016 in Jos, central Nigeria, kick-starting the phase by phase roll-over process in the country.
A northern Nigeria-based online news platform, Gobroadsheet on Monday donated a signboard to the State Secretariat of Nigeria Union of Secretariat (NUJ) in Kaduna.
Acting Editor of Gobroadsheet, Ojo Shola Creates said the donation was part of the platform’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) to the union, explaining that, union members find it hard to describe location of the secretariat to their first time visitors.
While encouraging other online platforms to give back to the union, he said his organisation will in coming days undertake bigger plans for the union.
“We don’t really have to wait for the council to do little things like this. It is our own way of giving back to the centre as well as encouraging others to be responsible in their places of work no matter how little.
“You will agree with me that before now, you have to use different things to tell your first timer visitors the location of this all important centre. But with this notice board now, that stress has become history at least for now.
“Remember, you cannot feature in a future you don’t picture. So we have come to realise that little thing counts as long as it will be beneficial to mankind because history they say live longer than man.
“And of course, we have a bigger plan for the centre even the national Secretariat at Abuja but we have decided to start gradually because a journey of a thousand mile begins with a step”, he added.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), LOGO
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stepped up investigation to determine how a suspect, Yasir Salihu Abdullahi came by a total of 849 Automated Teller Machine cards(ATMs) of various Nigerian banks and the reason the cards were being shipped out of the country.
Abdullahi was arrested at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport on Friday August 3, as he prepared to board an Egypt Air heading for Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
EFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said Abdullahi was intercepted after a scan of his luggage by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service where the suspicious items were revealed.
“The officers then alerted the EFCC’s office in Kano. On arrival, operatives of the Commission discovered that he had: 490 Guaranty Trust Bank ATM cards, 287 ATM cards of Access Bank, 49 ATM cards of Eco Bank, 10 ATM cards of UBA, six ATM cards of Stanbic IBTC Bank, four ATM cards of Zenith Bank, one ATM card each of Sterling Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and First City Monument Bank,” he explained.
Uwujaren further added that another suspected fraudster, Ma Yongbin alias Suleiman Yunusa, a 46-year- old Chinese National was also arrested on August 3 by Aviation Security at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport as he tried to board Egypt Air to China.
According to him, the Chinese National was arrested at the Baggage checking point where he was found to have in his possession the sum of N305, 000 (Three Hundred and Five Thousand Naira) in N5 denomination, adding that, he was eventually handed over to the commission for further investigation.
“The two suspects have made useful statements. They have also been granted administrative bail while investigations continue,” Uwujaren said in a statement.
President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, has appealed to the federal government through the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to address the issue of proliferation of arms and ammunitions in order to curb insecurity in the country.
He commiserates with the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, the Governor of Anambra State, Willie Maduabuchukwu Obiano and the families of the victims of the killings that took place at St. Philip’s Catholic Church on Sunday.
A statement by Ayokunle on Sunday, said that the police in Anambra had confirmed that a gunman killed eight worshippers and injured 18 others in an early morning attack on St. Philip Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo local government area.
“What are these silly gunmen here and there turning our nation to be? Whatever may be the reason or reasons for this dastardly act cannot justify this criminal jungle justice. Without doubt, the act is a madness the all of us must condemn in strong terms.
“The perpetrators of this ungodly act must be brought to book without delay. I call on the Police to fish out those responsible and there must not be any cover up. Enough of these killings in the country.
“If the places of worship are no longer safe again, what has become the security of lives and property?
We pray to God to console and comfort all the bereaved and heal those who are recuperating in the hospitals,” he cautioned.
Gombe (Nigeria) — Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Gombe Zonal office says it has recovered the sum of over 110 million naira from suspects in four states.
