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EFCC arrests bank manager for hoarding new naira notes

Bankole ABE
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EFCC arrests bank manager for hoarding new naira notes

OPERATIVES of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested an Operations Manager of a leading commercial bank in Abuja for hoarding new naira notes.

The unnamed bank manager, whose branch is in the Central Area of Abuja, was arrested on Monday, February 6.

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According to the EFCC, the manager was arrested for refusing to load the bank’s Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) despite having N29 million of the redesigned naira notes in the branch’s vaults.

EFCC, in a statement signed by its Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said before the manager was whisked away for further questioning, its operatives ordered the loading of all the ATMs and the payment of the stipulated amount across the counter to customers who had spent hours in queues without getting the new notes.

“This discovery, which indicates sabotage of the government’s monetary policy by some banks, was made by the EFCC in continuation of the ongoing surveillance and visit to banks across the country to access their vaults and verify whether they were deliberately refusing to dispense the redesigned naira notes.

“More than five bank branches were covered today by the operatives in Abuja. Similar exercises were ongoing in Zonal Commands across the country.

“The operation will continue until normalcy is restored to the banking system,” the EFCC said.

The anti-graft agency, in the statement, urged Nigerians finding it difficult to access their funds at any bank to contact it for immediate intervention.

Court stops CBN, Buhari from suspending cash limit policy

Bankole ABE
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Court stops CBN, Buhari from suspending cash limit policy

A FEDERAL Capital Territory (FCT) High Court presided by Justice Eneojo Eneche has stopped the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), President Muhammadu Buhari and 27 commercial banks from suspending or meddling with the currency redesign terminal date of February 10.

The court also barred them from issuing any directive contrary to the said date.

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The court was responding to a motion by some political parties, which include Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and National Rescue Movement (NRM), to bar the CBN, Buhari and others from extending or stopping the new naira redesign policy.

The ICIR reported that three All Progressives Congress (APC) governors had earlier dragged the Federal Government before the Supreme Court on Monday, February 6, in a bid to halt the full implementation of the naira redesign policy introduced by the CBN.

The governors of Kaduna, Nasir El Rufai; Kogi, Yahaya Bello; and Zamfara, Bello Matawalle, who filed the suit, expressed concern about the impact of the CBN policy on citizens of their states.

Three APC govs sue FG over naira redesign, asks Supreme Court to halt policy

Bankole ABE
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Three APC govs sue FG over naira redesign, asks Supreme Court to halt policy

THREE All Progressives Congress (APC) governors have dragged the Federal Government before the Supreme Court in a bid to halt the full implementation of the naira redesign policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The governors of Kaduna, Nasir El Rufai; Kogi, Yahaya Bello; and Zamfara, Bello Matawalle, who filed the suit, expressed concern about the impact of the CBN policy on citizens of their states.

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The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is the only defendant in the lawsuit, which was filed by the three Attorneys General and Commissioners of Justice of the three states.

In an ex-parte motion filed by their lawyer AbdulHakeem Mustapha, the three northern states ask the court to grant them an interim injunction halting the policy.

They also asked the Supreme Court to order the Federal Government to, directly or indirectly, through the CBN, the commercial banks, or its agents, from carrying out its proposal to enforce the February 10 deadline for the N200, N500, and N1000 notes to lose their legal tender status.

They also asked the apex court to determine whether Section 20(3) of the CBN Act, which mandates that reasonable notice must be given, is being gravely violated by the three months notice provided by the Federal Government through the CBN.

Additionally, they asked the court to rule that Section 20(3) of the CBN Act expressly prohibits the Federal Government from using the CBN to set a deadline for accepting and redeeming banknotes that the bank has issued, with the exception of the circumstances outlined in Section 22. (1).

As a result, the three states asked the court to suspend the policy immediately until the applicable legal requirements are met.

Again, Court sends EFCC chair Bawa to Kuje Prison for contempt

Bankole ABE
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Again, Court sends EFCC chair Bawa to Kuje Prison for contempt

THE Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has again been sent to prison for contempt.

A Kogi State High Court presided by Justice R.O. Ayoola, on Monday, February 6, granted an application for Bawa’s committal to prison for disobeying a court ruling.

The judge instructed the Inspector General of Police Alkali Baba to detain Bawa for the next 14 days at Kuje Prison in the Federal Capital Territory until he cleansed himself of the contempt.

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The judge gave the order to arrest Bawa for disobeying a court ruling delivered on November 30, 2022, wherein the EFCC chairman was directed to produce an applicant in the case, Ali Bello.

Bello had asked the court to stop the EFCC from arresting and detaining him illegally.

The court ruled in his favour, only for the EFCC to arraign him for alleged money laundering three days after the verdict.

The court ordered that the EFCC and Bawa be served the motion of notice together with Form 49 by substituted means.

Bawa and the Commission were also ordered to tender an apology to Bello in a national newspaper. The court awarded N10 million compensation to the applicant.

On November 8, a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama also sentenced Bawa to jail over contempt.

The judge, Justice Chizoba Oji, convicted Bawa and ordered the Inspector of General of Police to remand him in Kuje Prison for disobeying an earlier order of the court.

Bawa is the fourth Executive Chairman of the EFCC. President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him on February 16, 2021.

Naira redesign: Political parties threaten to pull out of elections

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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Naira redesign: Political parties threaten to pull out of elections

THIRTEEN of the 18 registered political parties in Nigeria have threatened to withdraw from the 2023 general elections over the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The political parties said they will withdraw from the election if the CBN extends the February 10 deadline for use of old naira notes as legal tender.

They commended President Muhammadu Buhari on the redesign of the N200, N500 and N1,000 banknotes and insisted that the policy must stand.

Speaking at a press briefing organised by a coalition of chairmen of political parties on Monday, February 6, the national chairman of the Action Alliance (AA), Kenneth Udeze, said the deadline fixed by the CBN must not be shifted.

“We hereby announce that at least 13 out of the 18 political parties in Nigeria will not be interested in the 2023 general elections and indeed we shall withdraw our participation from the electoral process if this currency policy are suspended or cancelled or if the deadline is further shifted,” he said.

The ICIR had earlier reported that the policy had generated reactions from different presidential candidates, with the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic  Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar urging Nigerians to channel frustrations over the scarcity of naira and fuel in the country to vote out the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The presidential candidate of the Accord Party, Christopher Imumolen described the naira redesign as a good policy which is wrongly implemented.

The CBN on October 26, 2022, announced the plan to redesign the three banknotes. The President unveiled the redesigned N200, N500 and N1,000 notes on November 23, 2022 and the apex bank initially fixed January 31 as deadline for the validity of the old notes.

The CBN also pegged weekly cash withdrawal limits at N500,000 for individuals and N5 million for corporate firms.

Following outcry by Nigerians, the CBN was forced to extend the deadline from January 31 to February 10.

The ICIR also reported that Buhari on Friday, after a meeting with some APC governors, begged Nigerians for seven days to resolve issues surrounding the naira redesign policy.

Atlantic Council Digital Forensic Research Lab offers 360/Digital Sherlocks program

Blessing OTOIBHI
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Atlantic Council Digital Forensic Research Lab offers 360/Digital Sherlocks program

THE Atlantic Council Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) is accepting applications for the 360/Digital Sherlocks program.

The program will engage participants in practical trainings on open-source investigative methodologies, interactive conversations on digital governance and tech policy with DFRLab’s fellows, and informal networking events.

All selected digital Sherlocks will be able to register for as many workshops as they wish, based on their interest and availability.

The Spring 2023 program will take place between March to May.

Journalists can participate in a series of free online trainings and investigative workshops.

The program is also open to students, members of the civil society, and academics.

The deadline for the submission of applications is February 15, 2023. Interested applicants can apply here.

Intn’l Women’s Media Foundation offers emergency fund

Blessing OTOIBHI
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Intn’l Women’s Media Foundation offers emergency fund

THE International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) and Black Journalists Therapy Relief Fund (BJTRF) are providing two emergency funding opportunities.

The Black Journalists Therapy Relief Fund is designed to provide financial assistance for Black journalists globally who are unable to pay for mental health support.

BJTRF will consider supporting black journalists globally who, are employed full-time, part-time, freelance, or as an intern, were laid off/furloughed due to COVID-19 or who quit due to harmful workplace practices, or are former journalists suffering from lasting emotional or physical trauma from their time in the field.

The IWMF’s Journalism Emergency Fund will also provide women journalists with small grants for psychological and medical care for incidents directly related to threats and crises caused by one’s work as a journalist. In the same vein, it will provide legal aid to counter threats of imprisonment or censorship, and more.

Black journalists in need can apply for these grants.

Requests will be reviewed as they are received. Interested applicants can apply here.

Three killed as gunmen attack Plateau community

Bankole ABE
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Three killed as gunmen attack Plateau community

GUNMEN reportedly killed three persons during an attack on Maiyanga community in Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State on Sunday, Febraury 5.

According to Punch Newspaper, two other persons were injured in the attack.

Bulus Sule, a resident of the Maiyanga neighbourhood, confirmed the attack to The PUNCH and stated that those hurt had been transported to a hospital where they are currently receiving medical attention.

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Ilya, another resident, spoke out against the killings.

He said that the attack was reported to the security personnel who, he claimed, had arrived in the neighbourhood many hours after the gunmen have departed.

To prevent such assaults on the residents, he urged the government to step up security post in the area.

Attempts to get the comment of the spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, were unsuccessful as he did not take his calls when reached. Also, he did not respond to a text message sent to his phone.

Supreme Court declares Lawan APC candidate for Yobe North

Bankole ABE
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Supreme Court declares Lawan APC candidate for Yobe North

THE Supreme Court has declared Senate President Ahmed Lawan as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District in the 2023 general elections.

The apex court made the declaration in a judgment delivered on Monday, February 6.

In the lead judgment, Justice Centus Nweze criticised Lawan’s opponent, Bashir Machina, for starting the lawsuit at the Federal High Court, Damaturu, through an originating summons without providing oral evidence to support fraud accusations.

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Also, three out of five members of the Supreme Court panel agreed with the APC’s position that the trial court suit ought not to have commenced via an originating summons since it contained allegations of fraud.

“The bedrock of the suit shows that there were allegations of fraudulent practices against the appellants,” the judge said.

The ICIR reported in November 2023 that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal dismissed the suit filed by Lawan against Machina.

The court dismissed the appeal in a judgment delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, on Monday, November 28.

It held that a primary election conducted by the APC on June 9 – won by Lawan – was invalid as it breached the Constitution.

The APC had approached the Supreme Court to challenge Lawan’s disqualification from contesting the 2023 election as the APC candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District.

Machina had won in the party’s Senate primary held in May 2022.

Lawan did not participate in the primary as he was involved in the race for the APC presidential ticket. However, after he failed to secure the APC presidential ticket, Lawan decided to return to the Senate.

Machina was urged to step aside for Lawan, but he refused, insisting that he was the legitimate candidate.

The APC conducted another primary for the Yobe North senatorial seat, which was won by Lawan.

But Machina insisted that he remained the rightful candidate and proceeded to filed a lawsuit asking the court to recognise him as the legitimate flagbearer for the senatorial election.

Naira, fuel scarcity: Use your anger to vote out APC, Atiku tells Nigerians

Beloved JOHN
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Naira, fuel scarcity: Use your anger to vote out APC, Atiku tells Nigerians

THE presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has urged Nigerians to channel frustrations over the scarcity of naira and fuel in the country to vote out the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Atiku, in a statement, said Nigerians must not allow the results of the 2023 presidential election to be determined by ‘bullion vans’.

“The other side of the bargain is for us as Nigerians to use the power of our PVC to channel our frustration to vote out the APC in the forthcoming general election,” he said.

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The former Vice President commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on efforts to curb the hoarding of the naira notes.

“A few days ago, I had cause to make a statement on the currency conversion policy of the Federal Government. In the report, I aligned my position with an upsurge of demands for a slight extension of the January 31 deadline.

“The frustration that we all go through at the moment can be corrected if the CBN continues to do its part and operatives of the EFCC and ICPC, too, ensure that people do not keep stacks of money out of reach of the public,” he added.

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