The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says Joy Enwa, accountant-general of Delta state, was detained over alleged N1.3 trillion fraud linked to Ifeanyi Okowa, former governor of the state.
Confirming the development on Thursday, Dele
Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, said Enwa was released after her interrogation.
“Mrs. Enwa was detained for questioning over the ongoing
investigation into the mismanagement of state funds under the former (Okowa)
administration. Some other government officials have also been interrogated,”
Oyewale said.
The anti-graft agency has also questioned other officials,
including a former director of finance and administration and a senior
government house official.
A statement by Hamisu Gumel, the governor’s spokesperson,
said Abdulwahab died in a road accident along Dutse-Kafin-Hausa road on
Thursday.
His death comes barely 24 hours after the governor’s mother
died on Wednesday.
Gumel added that the late Abdulwahab was buried on Thursday evening in Kafin Hausa town according to Islamic rites.
Recall that the Niger Republic Government had alleged the
establishment of a so-called Lakurawa terrorist headquarters in Sokoto State,
purportedly orchestrated by the Nigerian in collaboration with France, to
destroy their country
It also alleged that that the Nigeria government sought to
sabotage Niger’s pipelines and agriculture among other allegations
In a statement signed by Mohammed Idris, Minister of
Information and National Orientation, the Federal Republic of Nigeria on
Thursday, noted that the claims existed solely in the realm of the imagination
of the Niger ruler.
In a statement released on Thursday, Adeleke gave the
prerogative of mercy to 53 convicts, including Olowookere.
Olowookere’s co-defendant, Sunday Morakinyo, was also
granted a pardon by the governor.
Olowookere’s story went viral recently, and it sparked
public outcry after an interview granted by his parents.
Africa’s richest man disclosed this during an interview in
an Arise TV documentary posted on YouTube and obtained by our correspondent on
Wednesday.
According to him, the move was to protect the interests of
the company and that of its investments.
“The price reduction is a response to the markets. Just put it that way. It is a refinery where we invested over $20 billion, and I think we have to try and protect our interests and also our investments.”
Deji Adeyanju, the human rights lawyer, has accused the Nigerian police of refusing to release Speed Darlington, the rapper, despite an order from a federal high court order.
The rapper was arrested on November 27 while performing at a
show in Owerri, Imo state. He was accused of cyberstalking Burna Boy, the
Grammy-winning artiste.
His lawyers Adeyanju and Stan Alieke have described his
continued detention as “unjustifiable”.
On December 23, Alieke announced on Instagram that the court
had granted Darlington bail.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in
Lagos, Okupe argued that geopolitical considerations make it unfair for the
North to reclaim the presidency after President Bola Tinubu’s tenure.
Okupe acknowledged that the 2023 presidential candidate of
the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is eminently qualified to
run in 2027.
However, he contended that Atiku’s candidacy would face the
same challenges as in 2023 when his bid was perceived as disrupting the
North-South power rotation.
The Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has dismissed claims by former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, that he would significantly reduce the APC’s votes in the state during the 2027 elections.
In a statement on Thursday, the state APC Chairman,
Abdullahi Abbas, described Kwankwaso’s assertion as laughable and called on him
to focus on reclaiming his membership in the New Nigeria Peoples Party, from
which he was reportedly ousted.
Abbas branded Kwankwaso a “political refugee,” accusing him
of latching onto the state governor, Abba Yusuf, in a desperate bid to remain
relevant in Nigerian politics.
“We urge Kwankwaso to stop daydreaming and face reality. His misplaced confidence in reducing the APC’s votes in Kano State is nothing but wishful thinking. Our party remains the people’s choice,” Abbas said.
An erstwhile presidential spokesman, Doyin Okupe says opponents of the proposed tax reform bills are enemies of the country.
According to him, the bills are pro-poor and
pro-development.
Okupe, who stated this in Lagos on Thursday, said that no
right thinking person would stand against the reforms meant to protect the poor
and tackle corruption.
“Any right-thinking human being who has had the opportunity
in these last two months or so to listen and to read what the tax reforms are
all about and goes against it, is an enemy of the country.
The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, has earmarked N35 million in its 2025 budget proposal following a cyber attack that compromised its website on December 18, 2024.
Recall that the website of the agency was hacked shortly after it published its crime experience and security perception survey.
The bureau claimed that Nigerians paid N2.23 trillion as ransom in one year between May 2023 and April 2024.
In addition to cybersecurity, the NBS has outlined several initiatives in its N9.85 billion budget which include N500 million for the Labour Force Survey, N80 million for the Consumer Price Index production, and N60 million for quarterly GDP compilations.
Russia has said it would only accept a legally binding ceasefire deal for a lasting peace that would ensure the security of both Russia and its neighbours.
Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, said that a weak ceasefire to freeze the war in Ukraine would be futile and counterproductive.
Lavrov suspects that a weak truce would be used by the US and its allies to re-arm Ukraine.
The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, says it will launch a holistic investigation into airstrikes on two villages in Sokoto.
Recall that a fighter jet mistakenly bombed two communities in the Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Wednesday morning.
Locals said the incident, which occurred around 7:00 am at Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities in Silame LGA claimed the lives of 10 civilians and left many other people injured.
Animals were also reportedly killed, with residents saying some of their houses were destroyed by the impact of the airstrikes.
A Nigerian Air Force airstrike,
intended to neutralise Lakurawa terrorists, mistakenly hit Gidan Sama and
Rumtuwa communities in the Silame Local Government Area of the state, killing
at least 10 villagers and leaving several others wounded.
Reacting to the incident in a post via his X handle on
Thursday, Atiku described the airstrike as devastating, outrageous and
condemnable.
The former Vice President stated that the indiscriminate
killing of innocent citizens can never be justified, adding that it is a
failure and a gross violation of humanity itself.
About 150 people have been killed in three months of protests since the elections in Mozambique.
Of the number, Plataforma Decide, a civil society
organisation (CSO), said at least 121 people have died since Monday.
The unrest began after the Constitutional Council confirmed
on Monday that Daniel Chapo, candidate of the Mozambique Liberation Front
(FRELIMO), which has been in power for 49 years, won the presidency with 65
percent of the votes.
Venâncio Mondlane, opposition leader, who reportedly received 24 percent of the votes, rejected the result, saying it was manipulated.
Agbebaku disclosed this in Benin City.
Recall that the state governor, Monday Okpebholo on December
10, 2024, presented a budget proposal of N605 billion to the House for
consideration and approval.
The House however raised the budget to N676 billion, an increase of over N71 billion.