The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Friday said they will collaborate to tackle cybercrime and other emerging criminal threats.

EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, and FBI Director, Christopher Wray, met in Abuja on Friday to strengthen their partnership. Wray led a team of top FBI officials, while Olukoyede was accompanied by senior EFCC officials.

Disclosing this in a statement, EFCC spokesman, Dayo Oyewale, said the two agencies have had a long-standing relationship, and this meeting aimed to take their partnership to the next level.

“We have had a relationship over the years and this is a reflection of how stronger than ever we are looking forward to taking our partnership to higher and higher levels in tackling threats that affect the people of Nigeria and the people of the United States,” the FBI director was quoted as saying.

“We have had close partnerships in shared values and focus and I want to say thank you for the wonderful partnership. Thank you for your hospitality and in particular for the partnership that exists between the FBI and the EFCC across a wide range of threats that we face together.”

On his part, the EFCC chairman highlighted the commission’s new direction, focusing on prevention, public enlightenment, and e-procurement to tackle contract and procurement fraud.

Olukoyede stated, “We value the partnership between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI. Over the years, this partnership has existed and it is for mutual benefit.

“We have to acknowledge that we have benefitted from your manpower and capacity development programmes, which have added value to the capacity of our operatives and our Academy.

“We also want to thank you for the technical support that you have provided over the years for the EFCC and by extension, Nigeria.”

The Zamfara State Government has commenced the payment of N30,000 minimum wage to workers in the North-Western state.

This followed a meeting the state governor, Dauda Lawal, held with the leadership of labour unions where he pledged to commence the payment of the minimum wage in June.

Disclosing this in a statement on Friday, the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said Zamfara civil servants started receiving their June salary on the 12th, ahead of the Eid-ul-Adha celebration. He said before now, civil servants were being paid a paltry N7,000 monthly, adding that the current administration is determined to see to the welfare of workers.

“The Zamfara state government, led by Governor Dauda Lawal, has disbursed the June salary to support workers in preparing for the upcoming Eid celebration,” the statement read.

“This is in line with the fulfilment of the promise made by the governor last month to implement the N30,000 minimum wage.

“Before now, civil servants in Zamfara received a minimum wage as low as seven thousand naira.

“The government has been worker-friendly since its inception, ensuring the payment of three months withheld salaries, leave grants, owed gratuities, and timely payment of salaries.

“The government will continue to make further efforts to reform and rejuvenate the Zamfara civil service.”

President Bola Tinubu has approved the reconstitution of Governing Councils and Boards of federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

This was contained in a statement on Friday by the Permanent Secretary, General Services, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Nnamdi Mbaeri.

He noted that approval was given for the effective management of Nigerian tertiary institutions across the country.

Recall that the president had ordered the review of the governing councils and boards after public outcry that their nominations did not reflect the Federal Character principle.

The President had assured that the review would take into consideration national spread and ensure every part of the country is adequately represented.

Among those appointed is the former governor of Osun State and pioneer chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, who is appointed to chair the Governing Council of the University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State.

A renowned lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wole Olanipekun, was appointed to lead University of Lagos (UNILAG); a former Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, also will chair the governing council of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN); and a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU).

Joy Emordi, a former senator, was also appointed to chair the council of the Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Imo State.

The list comprises five names each for 51 universities, 35 polytechnics, and 22 colleges of education.

The Flamingos have qualified for the 2024 U-17 Women’s World Cup after beating Liberia 6-1 on aggregate. 

Harmony Chidi’s strikes, one goal in each half, ensured Nigeria won the second leg of the encounter 2-0 at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Friday.

The first leg of the encounter had ended 4-1 in Nigeria’s favour, meaning Friday’s victory gave the Flamingos a 6-1 aggregate win to seal their ticket for the competition later in the year. 

En route to booking a ticket for the tournament, Coach Bankole Olowookere’s girls scored 25 goals.

They smashed the Central African Republic 12-0 on aggregate in the second round of the qualification series.

The team followed that up with a 7-1 aggregate win over Burkina Faso in the next round.

This year’s U-17 Women’s World Cup will run from October 16 to November 3, 2024, in the Dominican Republic.

Led by Coach Bankole, Nigeria finished third in the last edition held in India in 2022, the second African side to earn that feat after Ghana did so in 2012.

Germany thrashed 10-man Scotland 5-1 as the Euro 2024 hosts kicked off the tournament in style in Munich on Friday, the start of a journey they hope culminates in a record fourth continental title.

Florian Wirtz struck the opening goal 10 minutes in and Jamal Musiala soon doubled Germany’s lead with an emphatic finish.

A greatly awaited night for Scotland went from bad to worse before half-time when Ryan Porteous was sent off for a two-footed challenge on Ilkay Gundogan, with Kai Havertz tucking away the resulting penalty.

Niclas Fuellkrug powered in a fourth midway through the second half after coming on as a substitute and not even a late own goal from Antonio Ruediger could spoil an otherwise perfect start to the campaign for Germany.

There was even time for Emre Can to add a fifth goal with the final kick of the game.

Disastrous Scottish Start

Scotland could surely not have envisioned such a disastrous beginning, but they must regroup quickly with games to come in Group A against Switzerland and Hungary.

After three successive failures at major tournaments, including back-to-back group stage exits at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, this was a strong statement of intent from an experienced Germany side.

It is Germany’s first men’s major tournament as hosts since the 2006 World Cup, and they are looking to recreate the magic that helped rekindle the passion for the national team after a spell in the international doldrums.

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann had spoken of his players’ hunger to atone for the failures of recent times, with the outlook improving and optimism gradually increasing since his appointment in September.

His counterpart Steve Clarke on the other hand urged Scotland to “fear no one” going into the country’s second straight Euros after more than two decades in the international wilderness.

Almost right away Germany took the game to a Scotland side who arrived in Munich with only one win from their past nine matches — an unimpressive 2-0 victory over lowly Gibraltar last week.

Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn alertly blocked from an offside Wirtz, but Germany did not wait long in grasping the match by the scruff of the neck.

Toni Kroos, coaxed out of his Germany retirement earlier this year, pinged a ball out to Joshua Kimmich, who teed up Wirtz to sweep in from the edge of the area as Gunn could only help the shot in via the post.

Kroos will hang up his boots for good after the tournament, but with him and Gundogan running the Germany midfield they bring a level of knowledge and maturity few can match.

Gundogan threaded a pass through the Scotland defence to Havertz, who worked it back towards Musiala, the Bayern Munich attacker created himself space to crash a strike into the roof of the net.

Germany were initially awarded a penalty as Musiala went down in a heap after getting caught between Ryan Christie and Kieran Tierney, but referee Clement Turpin deemed the foul occurred outside the area after consulting the touchline monitor.

That merely delayed Germany’s third goal, which did eventually come from the spot following another VAR review that led to Porteous being sent off for a crude challenge on Gundogan, who was chopped down attempting to convert the rebound from his own header.

Havertz calmly sent Gunn the wrong way and drained any remaining optimism from Scotland’s once boisterous and sizeable travelling contingent of supporters.

Scotland tried to limit the damage in the second half, but there was no stopping Fuellkrug’s thumping drive into the top corner within a few minutes of his introduction as a replacement for Havertz.

Fuellkrug had the ball in the net a second time, but fortunately for Scotland they were spared further misery when he was ruled offside.

The only bright spot for Scotland came three minutes from time as Ruediger inadvertently diverted Scott McKenna’s header past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

But there was still more punishment to come as substitute Can curled home from 20 yards right at the death to cap a glorious night for the Germans.

The Federal Government has declared Monday 17th, and Tuesday 18th June 2024 as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-ul-Adha celebration.

Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Aishetu Gogo Ndayako who disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja said the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government.

She said the minister congratulated thr Muslim Ummah both at home and in the Diaspora on this occasion.

Tunji-Ojo called on the Ummah to continue to imbibe the spirit of peace, kindness and sacrifice, as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon Him) and to also use the period to pray for unity, prosperity and the stability of our country.

“The Minister assured that the Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR is committed to safeguarding the  lives and property of all Nigerians.

“While wishing the Muslim Ummah a happy Eid-ul- Adha celebration, the Minister advised all Nigerians to take responsibility in the resolve to hand over a prosperous Nigeria to our children”, the statement added.

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has formally confirmed the eventual qualification of Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna and Algeria’s Lynda Loghraibi from Africa, for the singles event of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France.

The confirmation was made in a statement issued on Friday by the ITTF with representation from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe.

“As the countdown to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games intensifies, ITTF is thrilled to announce significant progress in the qualification process for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.”

With less than 50 days to the games, this week’s world ranking update saw eight athletes secure their participation based on the selection of continental quotas allocated by World Ranking.

According to the statement, the Men’s Singles draw welcomes African powerhouse, Quadri Aruna from Nigeria, alongside the Americas’ rising talent Nicolas Burgos from Chile.

The list also had Asia’s Kirill Gerassimenko of Kazakhstan and Europe’s Alvaro Robles of Spain, who previously qualified in Mixed Doubles.

The ITTF also said that the Women’s Singles competition would showcase a similar level of global talent with the qualification of Lynda Loghraibi from Algeria (Africa), Adriana Diaz of Puerto Rico (Americas) and Singapore’s Zhou Jingyi (Asia).

Also Yang Xiaoxin of Monaco (Europe) can now officially begin their preparations for their Olympic dreams in Paris.”

ITTF stated that the qualification process would reach its penultimate stage with only one more world ranking update scheduled before the final roster for Paris is confirmed.

“Next week’s world rankings will be crucial in determining the final competitors for the highly anticipated Paris 2024 Games, 86 men and 86 women are expected to compete in the singles events of the Olympic Games,” ITTF added in the statement.

Meanwhile, ITTF has named three Africans – Akram Ben Attia (Tunisia), Es-Sayed Elrawdy (Egypt) and Ronald Mugwanya (Uganda) among the umpires for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has ordered the Kano State Government to pay the sum of N10 million as damages to deposed Emir, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, for violating his fundamental rights.

The court, which assumed jurisdiction to hear Bayero’s rights violation suit, also ordered the Kano State Government to guarantee the deposed emir’s right to movement and personal liberty.

In a ruling on Friday, the presiding judge of the Federal High Court 3, Justice Simon Amobeda, noted that he was duty bound to resolve the issue of jurisdiction of the court to determine the case before delving into the main matter of the case.

According to him, without jurisdiction, any proceeding is nullity.

Justice Amobeda while declaring the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case, insisted that the issue  fell under abuse of fundamental human rights of the applicant, adding that the Constitution had granted the Federal High Court the powers to preside over the matter.

He noted that Bayero was seeking, among others reliefs, payment of N5 billion as damages from the Kano State Government for breaching his fundamental human rights.

The judge also noted that the applicant also asked for the enforcement of his rights to movement and personal liberty.

In his ruling, the judge said, “It is the duty of the court to protect the rights of every citizen but that protection cannot be done in vacuum, a person crying over violation of his fundamental human rights must provide cogent and vital evidence to that effect to which the applicant has successfully provided.”

He noted that in 2019, the then government of Kano State used the Kingmakers to select a new Emir, but surprisingly, on Friday, May 23, 2024, the Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, used the social media to propagate that he had deposed the applicant (Bayero) and ordered the Police to arrest him after giving him 48 hours to vacate the palace.

“To this end, I so hold that without any lawful justification, the applicant was threatened, and his fundamental rights to liberty as guaranteed in Section 35(1) of the 1999 Constitution, was breached.
“Similarly, the action of the government which had forced the applicant into a house arrest, preventing him from going about his lawful business, constitutes a flagrant violation of his fundamental rights to freedom of movement as guaranteed under Section 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution,” the judge added.

The court also ordered that the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Respondents – including the Police and the DSS – are either by themselves, their agents, servants, privies or any other persons or authority forthwith restrained from arresting, detaining or harassing Bayero.

Justice Amobeda further ordered that the Government of Kano State should pay the sum of N10 million for breach and likely breach of Bayero’s fundamental right to personal liberty and freedom of movement, as guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution.

The Nigerian federal government is seeking a $500 million loan from the World Bank to fix rural roads, improve access to agricultural products nationwide, and tackle food price hikes.

The Washington-based lender stated that the funds will address the needs of 92 million people in rural areas lacking good road networks.

The Nigerian government made the funding request in the final draft of the Resettlement Policy Framework for the Nigeria Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project Scale-Up, implemented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The RAAMP-SU project will finance three key components: Improvement of Resilient Rural Access ($387 million), Climate-Resilient Asset Management ($158 million), and Institutional Strengthening and Project Management ($55 million).

The total cost of the project is estimated at $600 million, with the World Bank expected to provide 83.33% of the required funding. This commitment amount is 79% higher than the initial World Bank commitment of $280 million for the parent project.

According to the policy document, participating states will be required to have a fully functional Roads Fund and Roads Agency with appointed boards and staff, and provisions for administrative costs in the state budget.

“Rural access is particularly restricted in areas densely populated by the economically disadvantaged. These factors underscore the imperative to expand and enhance the rural road network, as well as conserve rural road and transport assets.

“While eligibility for state participation under RAAMP required the drafting and placement of Road Fund and Roads Agency bills in the State Houses of Assembly, the new project would require the States to have a fully functional Roads Fund and Roads Agency with appointed boards and staff, and provision for administrative costs made in the state budget. Additionally, RARAs offer an opportunity to foster women’s representation in the transport sector,” the document noted.

The development comes as food inflation continues to rise in Nigeria. In April 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics reported Nigeria’s food inflation rose to 40.53%.

Experts have blamed insecurity, energy costs, and the high cost of transportation for food price hikes in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the total debt stock of Nigeria at the end of 2023 stood at N97.341 trillion, according to the Debt Management Office.

Nigeria’s debt figure included foreign debt, which stood at N38.22 trillion, accounting for 39% of the total debt stocks as of the end of 2023.

The Federal Government has dropped tax evasion charges against two executives of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

Tigran Gambaryan, a US citizen and Binance’s head of financial crimes compliance, and Nadeem Anjarwalla, a British-Kenyan national and regional manager for Africa, were both released from the charges after Binance appointed a local representative to face court proceedings on its behalf.

The charges were filed in February, with Gambaryan being taken into custody and Anjarwalla escaping Nigeria in March.

The Nigerian Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) had accused Binance and its executives of evading taxes on cryptocurrency transactions worth millions of dollars.

FIRS on May 17 amended the charges, alleging that the cryptocurrency exchange company failed to collect and remit various categories of taxes, particularly the Value Added Tax (VAT) and Company Income tax (CIT), to the Nigeria’s federation account as provided by Section 40 of the FIRS Establishment Act, 2007.

Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed, had claimed that Binance made a turnover of over $20 billion in Nigeria in 2023 alone.

However, Binance maintained that it had done nothing wrong and that the charges were unfounded.

According to a Binance spokesperson, the court’s decision to drop the charges against Gambaryan and Anjarwalla is a vindication of the company’s stance.

“We are pleased that the court has recognized that Tigran Gambaryan is not a decision-maker at Binance and does not need to be held in order for Binance to resolve issues with the Nigerian government,” the spokesperson said. “We await the court’s ruling on this, discharging Tigran from this matter completely.”

Despite the dropped charges, Binance and its executives still face separate money laundering charges in Nigeria.

The company has denied these allegations as well, stating that it has robust anti-money laundering measures in place.

The fedeal government has been critical of Binance, blaming it for exacerbating the country’s currency woes by allowing Nigerians to trade the naira on its platform.

The government claims that this has contributed to chronic dollar shortages and a record low for the naira.