FG Releases List Of Those Responsible For Terrorism Financing In Nigeria

The Federal Government has released a list of 15 entities, including nine individuals and six Bureau De Change operators and firms, involved in terrorism financing. The details of the development were revealed by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and made available on Tuesday night. The document, entitled “Designation of Individuals and Entities for March 18, 2024,” disclosed that the Nigeria Sanctions Committee met on March 18, 2024, where specific individuals and entities were recommended for sanction following their involvement in terrorism financing. “The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, with the approval of the President, has thereupon designated the following individuals and entities to be listed on the Nigeria Sanctions List,” the document read in part. Among the individuals named on the document is a Kaduna-based publisher, Tukur Mamu, who is currently being tried by the Federal Government for allegedly aiding the terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train in March 2022. According to the document, Mamu “participated in the financing of terrorism by receiving and delivering ransome payments over the sum of $200,000 US in support of ISWAP terrorists for the release of hostages of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.” The document also said one of the individuals is “the suspected attacker of the St. Francis Catholic Church Owo, Ondo State on June 5, 2022 and the Kuje Correctional Center, Abuja on July 5, 2022.” Another was described as “a member of the terrorist group Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladissudam, the group is associated with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. “The subject was trained and served under Muktar Belmokhtar, aka One Eyed Out, led Al-Murabtoun Katibat of AQIM in Algeria and Mali.” The NFIU said the individual “specialises in designing terrorist clandestine communication code and he is also Improvised Explosive Device expert. “The subject was also a gate keeper to ANSARU leader, Mohammed Usman aka Khalid Al-Bamawi. Equally, he was a courier and travel guide to AQIM Katibat in the desert of Algeria and Mali. He is into carpentry. Subject fled Kuje correctional centre on July 5, 2022. He is currently at large.” Another was identified as “a senior commander of the Islamic State of West Africa Province Okene.” The agency said the individual “came into limelight in 2012 as North Central wing of Boko Haram. “The group is suspected of the attacks carried out around Federal Capital Territory and the South West Geographical Zone, including the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.” Another was described as “a financial courier to ISWAP Okene. She is responsible for the disbursement of funds to the widows/wives of the terrorist fighters of the group.” According to the document, another of the individuals “in 2015, transferred N60m to terrorism convicts.” He was also said to have “received a sum of N189m between 2016 and 2018.” The same person is said to “own entities and business reported in the UAE court judgment as facilitating the transfer of terrorist funds from Dubai to Nigeria.” Another individual was said to have “received a total of N57m from between 2014 and 2017.” Another was said to have “had a total inflow of N61.4 bn and a total outflow of N51.7bn from his accounts.”

Church loses bid to stop conduct of elections, examinations on Saturdays

A Member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Nigeria, Ugochukwu Uchenwa, Wednesday, loses bid seeking the prohibition of the conduct of elections and examinations on Saturdays in Nigeria. Justice James Kolawole Omotoso of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit instituted against the Federal Government for being frivolous, vexatious, irritating and baseless. According to the plaintiff, Saturday is its Sabbath day of worship and that fundamental rights of its members are being brutally breached by the conduct of elections and examinations on Saturdays. Specifically the plaintiff, through his counsel, Benjamin Amaefina, sought order of the Court to prohibit the FG from further conducting elections and examinations on the Sabbath day so as to stop disruption of their rights to worship. Consequently, he prayed the court to declare the fixing of elections and examinations on Saturdays as unconstitutional. In the alternative, the plaintiff asked the court to order the defendants to allow him and other members of his church to vote or take examinations on any other day of the week including Sundays. Listed as defendants in the suit are President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Minister of Internal Affairs, Joint Admission and Matriculation Examinations (JAMB), National Examination Council (NECO), West African Examination Council, (WAEC) and the National Business and Technical Examination Board. Delivering his judgement, Justice Omotoso held that the fundamental rights being claimed by the church were not at large and cannot be curtailed by government policy. Besides, the Judge held that the Seventh Day Adventist Church is in the minority in Nigeria and cannot impose its doctrine on the majority of other religious denominations in the country.

Sowore Apologizes To Nigerian Army, Gives Reason 

Activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has apologised to the Nigerian Army (NA) for posting a video purportedly showing Okuama community in Ughelli South local government area of Delta State under military attack following the killing of 16 Army personnel of the 181 Amphibious Battalion in the State last Thursday. The viral videos show some houses on fire and was allegedly blamed on the Army as a reprisal attack on the community where the Commanding Officer of the Army Battalion, three other senior officers and 12 soldiers were ambushed and killed by suspected youths of the community. But, Sowore, who just returned to his family in the United States of America last week after about five years of being on trial in Nigeria for alleged terrorism, said he had discovered that the video was false as it depicts a different event that happened in the neighbouring Bayelsa State and not Delta State. Taking to his X handle (formerly Twitter) on Monday night, Sowore, who said he had since deleted the misleading videos, however, insisted that the Nigerian Army desist from further reprisal attacks against innocent civilians in Okuama and any other settlement in the Niger Delta region even as he called for impartial investigation into the killing of the Army personnel said to be on a mediatory and peace mission in the Okuama community. Sowore wrote: “I deleted my earlier videos that showed a burning village in the Niger Delta region that was purportedly from reprisal attacks against Okuama community by the Nigerian Army @HQNigeriaArmy upon new evidence that this was from an old different incident in Nembe, Bayelsa state. “I apologise for the wrong video. However, I insist that the Nigerian Army @HQNigeriaArmy desist from further reprisal attacks against innocent civilians in Okuama and any other settlement in the Niger Delta region, I call for an impartial investigation to unravel the real culprits involved in killing of Nigerian soldiers in Okuama. The Nigerian Armed forces must refrain from further reprisal attacks againt villages in the area. #RevolutionNow.”

Students Loan Repayment: NANS Proposes Five Years plan

Nigeria student’s body, the National Association of Nigerian Students, has urged the federal government to extend the repayment plan for the proposed students loan to five years after post-NYSC instead of the initial two years post-NYSC plan. The body maintained that less than 10 per cent of graduates get absorbed into the labour market within two years post-NYSC, adding that it becomes unrealistic to expect beneficiaries of the loan scheme to begin repayment two years after the completion of the National Youth Service Corps. NANS President Lucky Emonele, made the proposal on Monday at a public hearing on the repeal and re-enactment of 2024 Students Loans Access to Higher Education Bill 2024 in Abuja.  Whioe commending President Bola Tinubu for responding to the request of NANS, by including its leadership as representatives of the students on the loan board, Emonele also commended the decision to repeal the Act to address grey areas that could hinder the success of the student loan scheme. According to him, the proposed repayment period of two years post-NYSC for the loan was not realistic, saying that less than 10 per cent of Nigerian graduates get absorbed into the labour force upon completion of their NYSC. The NANS President, therefore, proposed a minimum of five years repayment duration, given the challenges of unemployment after graduation. While calling for the provision of study grants for Nigerian students in the Act seeking to establish the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, Emonele also appealed that the provision of a loan scheme should not be a further reason for an arbitrary increment of school fees by the management of tertiary institutions. He, therefore, urged the National Assembly to pass a resolution that prohibits public tertiary institutions from increasing school fees in the next 10 years, saying it was the only way to sustain the act when enacted. According to him, there is also a need to make provision for grants for students to enable them to complete or further their studies. This, he said, would encourage more students to enroll in school and alleviate the burden that may be placed on the loans. “If the Federal Government, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, could earmark N683bn for public tertiary institutions in 2024, without requesting for payback from beneficiary institutions, Nigerian students should not be treated any differently.” The public hearing was organised by the Senate Committee on Education and TETFUND and the House of Representatives Committee on Student Loan, Scholarship, and Higher Education Financing. In his words, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, commended President Bola Tinubu for his passion and commitment to the education sector, stating that the President does not want any child of school age to be out of school, given his passion for education. The minister said the public hearing would provide an opportunity to make further input to improve the bill for the good of Nigerian students.

Veteran actor, Amaechi Muonagor Seeks financial support for kidney transplant 

Veteran Nollywood actor, Amaechi Muonagor has called on Nigerians to assist him financially to carry out a kidney transplant in India. In a video circulating on social media, the popular actor was seen laying on a bed, pleading for help. His Nollywood colleague Kingsley Orji, who was seated next to him, made an appeal on his behalf. Orji revealed that Amaechi Muonagor left the teaching hospital some days ago due to financial constraints. He stated that the illness had affected his speech and urged fans and well-wishers to contribute for a transplant surgery. “It has not been easy. He has been in this condition for months now. He wants to go for a kidney transplant. What we want is for you to help us for him to travel to India,” Orji said. “He just came back from the ICU in Nnewi teaching hospital a couple of days ago. He was responding to treatment but not very well. “We decided to bring him home because there was no money but it is not advisable. He barely talks well. Please, he needs your help.” Recall in November 2023, Amaechi Muonagor had cried out for help after revealing that he was battling paralysis which has affected half of his first leg.

Kwankwaso pays solidarity visit to suspended Bauchi senator, Abdul Ningi

Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, the New Nigeria Peoples Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, has paid a solidarity visit to suspended Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi. Senator Ningi, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial district, was suspended by the Senate following his interview with the BBC Hausa Service, in which he alleged budget padding against the Senate leadership. The former majority leader of the Senate was suspended for three months after Senator Jimoh Ibrahim moved the motion. Senator Ningi’s suspension has since sparked debate and raised concerns about freedom of expression within the Senate. His allegations of budget padding have drawn attention to issues of transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s legislative processes.

FG To Create 5000 New Jobs For Nigerians

President Bola Tinubu’s government is set to create at least 500,000 new jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the country. This is sequel to a new partnership with the U.S. Cybersecurity Institute, Lab Four, to generate 50,000 business process outsourcing (BPO) jobs over the next three years. Doris Anite, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, said this during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday in Abuja. The MoU was signed between Lab Four and the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), the executor of the programme. According to the minister, the jobs generated through this partnership have the potential to annually attract up to $1.2 billion into the Nigerian economy. She identified the job categories as “telesales, customer service, virtual administrative assistant, marketing/social media assistant, and tech/cybersecurity.” “The jobs generated through this partnership have the potential to annually attract up to $1.2 billion into the Nigerian economy through remuneration for the employed. “In addition to about $60 million that it will provide to develop the BPO ecosystem through direct support to the individual BPOs,” Ms Anite said. The minister said the four-pronged objectives of the NATEP initiative were to deliver one million service-export jobs over the next five years and increase foreign exchange earnings and revenue for Nigeria. She noted that to successfully implement the mandate of NATEP, there was a need for strategic partnerships, both with institutions within Nigeria and those overseas. “As such, our partnership with Lab Four will be one of the many partnerships we will have to ensure that Nigeria becomes a global hub for thriving micro, mini, and mega BPOs,” she said. In his remarks, Femi Adeluyi, the national coordinator of NATEP, said the initiative would target the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector and that the selection process would be transparent.

Federal Government Seeks fresh World Bank loan

The federal government of Nigeria is seeking to obtain a fresh $1 billion loan from the world bank. According to reports, the loan will be used address the challenges facing Internally Displaced Persons and their host communities, as well as bolster rural access and agricultural marketing in the country. This was contained in a recent World Bank document titled, ‘Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project’ and ‘Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project – Scale Up.’ According to the loan breakdown, while the IDPs’ loan is put at $500m, the rural access and agricultural marketing project loan is estimated at $550m. The fund is expected to provide help to communities in Nigeria badly affected by insecurity. “The proposed project will utilise a three-pronged approach to develop sustainable solutions for IDPs and host communities in Northern Nigeria. “First, the proposed project aims to provide tailored solutions for each of the targeted states and communities, recognizing that each internal displacement situation is specific and localised, with conflict, violence and/or climate challenges presenting a different level and set of vulnerabilities for host communities. “Gender, age, and special needs of individuals also play a role, as well as the length of displacement, number of times displaced and other factors. “Thus, responses will be adapted to address the specific needs of vulnerable populations within displacement-affected states and communities. Second, the proposed project will follow a ‘People-in-Place’ approach, integrating the needs of the people and the impacts on the place where they settle,” the document stated. According to a review by a World Bank team, Northern Nigeria, especially Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, has experienced the highest numbers of internally displaced persons. This is primarily due to the ongoing conflict involving Boko Haram, as well as other factors such as banditry and conflicts between farmers and herders, leading to the displacement of over 3.5 million people. Since 2009, Boko Haram has continued to carry out heinous crimes on Nigerians, This is primarily due to the ongoing conflict involving Boko Haram, as well as other factors such as banditry and conflicts between farmers and herders, leading to the displacement of over 3.5 million people. Since 2009, Boko Haram has continued to carry out heinous crimes on Nigerians, while banditry has been described as a variant of Boko Haram.

Terrorists Launch Fresh Attack On Kaduna Community

Terrorists, on Saturday, launched a fresh attack on the Dogon-noma community in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The attack is coming barely three days after one person was killed, and eight women were kidnapped in the Banono Angwaku community of the same local government. A former chairman of the local government, Cafra Caino, confirmed the fresh attack to our correspondent on Saturday. According to him, the attackers invaded the village around 5.45am on Saturday in large numbers, shooting indiscriminately. Caino said, “We are yet to get the number of casualties because the locals ran for their lives at the time the assailants invaded the community. “The community had, some time in 2019, come under heavy attack where 74 people were killed and the community recently has been experiencing attacks.”

Akpabio Gets 14 Days Ultimatum to Reverse Ningi’s Suspension

Constituents of the Bauchi Central Senatorial district in the state have given Senate president Godswill Akpabio a 2-week ultimatum to reverse the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi. Ningi, a former majority leader in the upper chambers, was suspended for three months for expressing sincere concern about irregularities in the 2024 national budget. The constituents, under the umbrella of the Youth Coalition of Bauchi Central Senatorial district, said the Senate should instead investigate the irregularities with a view to addressing them in the best interest of the country. The coalition at a press conference addressed by its Chairman, Nazeef Abdullahi Rio in Bauchi, said, “We demand that the Senate should immediately reverse its decision of suspending our Senator. Recall him back to his seat so that he will continue representing our dear Constituency and the Country at large. “To our total dismay, instead of the Senate to commend Senator Ningi for his patriotic discovery investigate the irregularities with a view to addressing them for the best interest of the Country, it ended up unjustifiably suspending him thereby denying his rights as Senator and a Nigerian. “This is the highest level of injustice meted on any Senator and any Senatorial district in the history of our dear country. “As people of Bauchi Central, we declare our total support and solidarity to Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi. We equally strongly commend him for standing firm to represent our views and fight for our rights and that of the entire Nigerians. “We also demand that the Senate should fully investigate all the alleged irregularities in the 2024 budget so that nobody will take Nigerians for granted and so that the image of the Senate will not be painted black in the eyes of Nigerians. “If the Senate fails to meet our demands within two weeks, as constituents of Bauchi Central Senatorial District, we will be left with no option than to take legal action so that our constitutional rights would be upheld.”j