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UBA fined N8m for violation of customer’s data privacy

Ehime ALEX
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UBA fined N8m for violation of customer’s data privacy

THE United Bank of Africa (UBA) Plc has received a fine of N8 million for grossly violating a customer’s right to data privacy.

The matter was funded by Paradigm Initiative (PIN) through its digital rights reporting platform, Ripoti.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 11, by the social rights advocacy group, UBA was found liable for unilaterally opening a domiciliary account for one Folashade Molehin without her consent, breaching her right to data privacy.

According to PIN, the Lagos Judicial Division judge, A. O. Faji said the bank failed to comply with the requirements of the tier one domiciliary account which to all intents and purposes, is a limited account that for its continued operation requires know-your-customer (KYC) compliance, and which has not been done.

“Indeed the customer does not want to continue operating the account and has asked for it to be closed but the bank is still holding onto it. These facts show an unfortunate and unexplainable insistence by this bank to prolong the applicant’s agony and to continue to ride roughshod on the applicant’s rights even in the face of a decision by the applicant to close the account…I cannot imagine what the bank hopes to gain from this,” PIN quoted the Judge to have observed.

The PIN said further that Molehin had sought a court declaration that the UBA’s unilateral opening of the domiciliary account without her consent or prior knowledge was a gross violation of her right to data privacy as enshrined in Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It is also a gross breach of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, 2019, it noted.

The PIN narrated that Molehin had told the court she submitted her bank details to her employer for purposes of payment of her monthly salary.

It said her employer transferred her salary to her Savings Account and she waited in vain for the bank to confirm that $300 had been lodged in her savings account.

Molehin later received a text message from UBA informing her a domiciliary account had been created for her without her consent and the said amount deposited into the account.

On visiting the bank’s Ojodu branch she was informed the account had indeed been opened in her name, and the amount was deposited in the said new account.

The PIN noted that the bank pleaded that the case be struck out for lack of jurisdiction which the court ruled otherwise.

The PIN also noted that UBA contended there was no processing of the customer’s data in opening the account, but the Judge, while referring to the expression processing in the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) clause 1.3 (xxi) ruled that the data was adapted to create the tier-one domiciliary account for the customer.

“Paradigm Initiative remains dedicated to ensuring digital rights are respected all over the continent and that is why we will not relent in taking up issues of rights violations through our Ripoti platform in a bid to provide a wide array of support to those who need it. We are also pleased to join efforts to create legal precedent around digital issues,” it stated.

Phone calls to the head of corporate communications at UBA, Ramon Nasir, to get the bank’s reaction did not connect, but he has yet to respond to the text and WhatsApp messages sent to him.

The judgement of the case with suit number:FHC/L/CS/2625/2023 was delivered in May 5, 2024 at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in the Lagos Judicial Division Holden at Lagos.

A check by The ICIR shows that in 2023 UBA reported 1,649 court cases in its ordinary course of business from 1,422 cases in 2022.

The cases amounted to N986.25 billion claims against the bank in 2023 from N666.12 billion in 2022.

NOTE: The report was updated to include the case suit number and judgement date. 

Radcliffe Institute offers fellowship

Blessing OTOIBHI
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Radcliffe Institute offers fellowship

THE Radcliffe Institute Fellowship Program at Harvard is inviting applications to create a scholarly community where individuals can pursue advanced work across a wide range of academic disciplines, professions, and creative arts, including journalism.

The institute provides stipends of up to US$78,000 for eight months with additional funds for project expenses. Fellows receive office or studio space and access to libraries and other resources of Harvard University during the fellowship, which extends from September 2025 through May 2026.

Journalists, film, video, sound, and new media artists can apply for this fellowship in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Applications are judged on the quality and significance of the proposed project and the applicant’s record of achievement and promise.

Visual, film, video, sound, and new media artists may apply for either one or two semesters.

Journalism applicants must have worked professionally in the field for at least five years.

The application deadline for submission is September 12, 2024. interested applicants can apply here.

Victor Osimhen lashes out at Finidi over report of avoiding Eagles games

Bankole ABE
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Victor Osimhen lashes out at Finidi over report of avoiding Eagles games

SUPER EAGLES and Napoli of Italy striker Victor Oshimhen has lashed out at the former coach of the Super Eagles-Finidi George over allegations that he was avoiding playing some football matches for the senior national team.

Osimhen, the current African footballer of the year, criticised the coach for his comments of poor commitment to the national team despite being privy to his current injury.

He disclosed this in a live session on his Instagram account on Saturday, June 15.

His response was against the backdrop of coach Finidi’s comment in the media which accused him of faking injury and missing out in Nigeria’s recent World Cup qualifying games. 

Osimhen was first included in the Eagles World Cup qualifying roster for their matchup with the Benin Republic and South Africa.

He, however, was forced to withdraw due to an injury, and a  left-back player-Kenneth Igboke of Enugu Rangers got a call-up as his replacement.

However, the Super Eagles’ poor performance against South Africa and the Benin Republic informed the narrative surrounding Osimhen’s absence changed with recent Finidi’s comment.

Finidi had accused Osihmen of a poor show of commitment to the national team during a recent meeting with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and Minister of Sports Development John Enoh.

Osihmen in his response dislcosed that he had spoken with Finidi following a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examination conducted by his medical team in Europe over an injury he sustained while plying his trade in Europe.

The current African Footballer of the year said he pleaded with the coach to allow him to stay with the players in the camp despite the injury, but the coach told him to stay with his “family”.

“I did the MRI scan, and the next day, I was called by the doctor to his office. Immediately, I called Finidi and I told one of my guys to do the video of my conversation with Finidi.

‘I will not address anything, and I will let anyone believe whatever they want. Everybody knows that whether I am playing for Eagles or Napoli, I play with my heart out,”

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“But I will not allow disrespect from anybody. I will not allow that nonsense. I will not allow rubbish on my name. I do not care if what Finidi said is false or whatever. I will post the video and screenshots of my conversation with Finidi. I have lost the respect I have for that man,” Osimhen said.

The Super Eagles drew 1-1 against South Africa and lost 2-1 to the Benin Republic in the World Cup qualifier.

The result and the poor run of results by the coach football analysts said informed his decision to resign from the much coveted Super Eagles job.

 

Finidi confirms his resignation as Super Eagles head coach

Bankole ABE
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Finidi confirms his resignation as Super Eagles head coach

LESS than two months after his appointment, Finidi George has resigned as Super Eagles Head Coach following a poor run of games in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Finidi confirmed his resignation to  Channels Television when contacted by the media outfit.

“Yes, it is true. I have resigned,” he wrote in response to inquiries.

Amid concerns over his resignation, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is yet to react to this development with Nigeria in a difficult situation for the 2026 World Cup qualification.

Though Finidi did not give reasons for his resignation, a notable Sports Journalist Adepoju Tobi Samuel said in his official X account-@OgaNlaMedia that the resignation hinged on the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)  to appoint a foreign coach to head him due to his poor run of results.

Also confirming George’s resignation, ex-Super Eagles media officer, Toyin Ibitoye in a post on X.com on Saturday.

“News just in. Finidi George #FinidiGeorge_FG has resigned from his #NGSuperEagles manager position,” Ibitoye wrote.

George, 53, a former player for the Super Eagles, took over as head coach following Jose Peseiro’s 20-month contract expiration in February. But his relegation was the result of the team’s underwhelming performance in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin.

Under George as Head coach, Nigeria played two matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifier.

The team lost 2-1 against Benin Republic and drew 1 -1 against South Africa.

The Eagles are currently 5th on the table with 3 points after playing 4 matches.

At a meeting with Sports Minister John Enoh to evaluate his performance, George bemoaned the lack of assistance from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and questioned the dedication of Nigeria’s best players to the vital World Cup qualifiers

The NFF appointed George as the new head coach of the Super Eagles in April.

According to a statement released on Monday, April 29, the 52-year-old former Real Betis and Ajax Amsterdam forward was given the reins of the nation’s senior men’s team after the NFF Board approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee.

Following the Super Eagles’ remarkable run to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, the Super Eagles gaffer at the tournament, José Santos Peseiro, a Portuguese, stepped down, and Finidi George, who had worked as his assistant for 20 months, took over as temporary coach.

The former Super Eagles player, George, oversaw two friendly matches in Morocco in March as interim manager. 

The team won 2-1 against Ghana to snap an 18-year winless drought but then lost 0-2 to Mali.

“George, a member of the so-styled ‘Golden Generation’ that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia and emerged as the second most entertaining team in Nigeria’s debut at the FIFA World Cup finals in USA the same year, won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals,” the NFF said in the statement.

According to the statement, one of his most unforgettable experiences was assisting the late Rashidi Yekini in scoring Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria in Dallas, USA, on June 19, 1994.

George’s primary responsibility was to lead the side to victory in two key 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and the Benin Republic.

Inflation increased every month under Tinubu with 33.95% record in May

Kehinde OGUNYALE  and  Harrison EDEH
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Inflation increased every month under Tinubu with 33.95% record in May

THE latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigeria’s headline inflation rate increased to 33.95 per cent as of May 2024. 

With this new rate, The ICIR findings, according to data available from 2003, showed President Bola Tinubu became the first president to increase the inflation rate consistently, every month, in his first year as president of the country. 

Tinubu assumed office in May 2023 when the inflation rate was at 22.41 per cent. In one year, the president increased the inflation rate by 11.54 per cent.

The inflationary spike, analysts said could be connected to several policies enacted by the president within his first year in office. Some of these include the removal of subsidies, naira devaluation in the currency market, and increment of tax and levies among others.  

“With his announcement of “no more subsidy” on May 29, 2023, the rollout of so-called palliatives was bungled, discontent and inflation accelerated and the government panicked and reversed subsidies in secret. Today reports indicate the fuel subsidies are back. Good policy bad implementation. While not implement subsidy removal in phases, not to suffocate Nigerians with high energy prices which is the major driver of inflation,” a development economist, Kalu Aja said.

Not long ago, the World Bank told the  Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that a continuous interest rate hike poses a risk to Nigeria’s economic growth and is not enough to curb rising inflation.

The global bank stressed that the CBN increasing rate measures might not address the inflation issue which has significantly challenged the country’s economy.

While giving further insight, NBS said that the headline inflation rate for May 2024 increased by 0.26 per cent against the 33.69 per cent reported in April 2024. The report stated that the inflation rate was driven majorly by Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and other Fuel. 

In May 2024, the All-Items inflation rate on a Year-on-Year basis was highest in Bauchi (42.30 per cent), Kogi (39.38 per cent), and Oyo (37.73 per cent), while Borno (25.97 per cent), Benue (27.74 per cent) and Delta (28.67 per cent) recorded the slowest rise in headline inflation on a year-on-year basis. 

Index May 2023 May 2024
Inflation rate 22.41% 33.95%
Urban inflation 23.74% 36.34%
Rural inflation 21.19% 31.82%
Food inflation 24.82% 40.66%
Core inflation 19.83% 27.04%

Table showing inflation figures within a year under President Tinubu 

Food Inflation 

The Food inflation rate in May 2024 was 40.66 per cent which is 15.84 per cent higher compared to the rate recorded in May 2023 (24.82 per cent). 

The rise in Food inflation on a year-on-year basis was caused by increases in prices of the following items: Semovita, Oatflake, Yam flour prepackage, Garri, Bean, etc (which are under Bread and Cereals Class), Irish Potatoes, Yam, Water Yam, etc (under Potatoes, Yam and other Tubers Class), Palm Oil, Vegetable Oil, etc (under Oil and fat), Stockfish, Mudfish, Crayfish, etc (under Fish class), Beef Head, Chicken-live, Pork Head, Bush Meat, etc (under Meat class). 

In May 2024, food inflation on a year-on-year basis was highest in Kogi (46.32 per cent), Ekiti (44.94 per cent), Kwara (44.66 per cent), while Adamawa (31.72 per cent), Bauchi (34.35 per cent) and Borno (34.74 per cent), recorded the slowest rise in food inflation on a year-on-year basis. 

Eid: SSS, Police urge Nigerians to be security conscious

Bankole ABE
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Eid: SSS, Police urge Nigerians to be security conscious

THE State Security Service (SSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have urged Nigerians to be security conscious and observe security protocols as they engage in religious and social activities during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

Both security outfits gave the directive in separate statements issued and obtained by The ICIR.

The Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications Department of the service, Peter Afunanya in a statement on Saturday, June 15 titled, ‘Eid-el-Kabir: DSS cautions celebrants to be vigilant’ encouraged owners and users of shopping centres, parks, and train stations, among others, to make sure that all physical and other security measures necessary for public safety are strictly adhered to.

The Service urged citizens to promptly report suspected movements or breaches to appropriate law enforcement authorities.

Afunanya said the SSS would work with other law enforcement organizations to safeguard people and property throughout the festivities.

The SSS added that the website, dss.gov.ng; email address – dsspr@dss.gov.ng and Telephone lines +2349153391309;+2349088373514 will remain available to the members of the public who may wish to contact the Service during and after the holidays.

In a related development, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command in anticipation of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration by the Muslim faithful, has deployed material and human resources at the Command’s disposal across the nooks and crannies of the Nation’s Capital.

This was disclosed by the Spokesperson of the Command Josephine Adeh, in a statement on Friday, June 14

Adeh said the deployment was to ensure that residents of the FCT enjoy a peaceful atmosphere before, during, and after the Eid celebration.

She added that the deployment includes police visibility and the presence of explosive ordinance device (EOD) experts and personnel at various prayer grounds, recreational centres, and event venues.

It also involves raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings, and shanties, as well as stop-and-search operations.

The Command informed residents about diversion points in the territory, including a diversion around the Eid ground by the airport interchange to Games Village and Jabi by the airport road into the main city.

The ICIR reported on Friday that the Federal Government declared Monday and Tuesday as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

Tinubu approves appointment for board members of tertiary institutions

Kehinde OGUNYALE
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Tinubu approves appointment for board members of tertiary institutions

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of members into the governing councils and boards of federal government-owned tertiary institutions.

The appointment was disclosed in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, General Services office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Nnamdi Mbaeri on Friday, June 14.

The appointment is coming a month after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) threatened to embark on a nationwide strike over the federal government’s failure to meet its demands, one of which includes the reconstitution of the governing council and board for tertiary institutions. 

Following this threat, The ICIR reported that the federal government appointed 555 people to serve as pro-chancellors, chairmen, and members of governing boards of 111 federal universities, polytechnics, and Colleges of Education. 

Conversely, these appointments came under heavy criticism, which prompted President Tinubu to later order a review of the list, as he cited concerns about the lack of federal character in the nominations.

Commenting on the latest approval, Mbaeri, said that the approval was given for effective management of  Nigerian tertiary institutions across the country.

In the fresh list, Tinubu appointed Bisi Akande, former interim national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to chair the University of Ibadan’s governing council, and Wole Olanipekun, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as the chairman of the University of Lagos council.

Others are Isa Yuguda, a former governor of Bauchi, who will chair the National Open University’s governing council; Siyan Oyeweso as chairman of the Obafemi Awolowo University’s council; Adebayo Shittu for David Umahi University of Medicine in Ebonyi State; and Muiz Banire and Florence Ita Giwa, who have been appointed to lead the councils of the Federal University of Transportation in Katsina state and the Federal Polytechnic in Ugep, Cross River state, respectively.

Police rejects PSC constable recruitment list over alleged corruption

Bankole ABE
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Police rejects PSC constable recruitment list over alleged corruption

THE Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has rejected the list of Constables submitted by the Police Service Commission (PSC) over alleged corruption and irregularities in the ongoing 2022/23 Police Constables Recruitment Exercise.

This development was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday, June 15, and signed by the force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi.

The PSC recently released a list of 10,000 successful applicants for constable and specialist cadre roles in the NPF.

The Force dissociated itself from the recent list of successful candidates published by the PSC and called for a review.

According to the Police, the announcement became necessary upon being inundated with a series of complaints and allegations of corruption raised by unsuspecting candidates and stakeholders on the irregularities that marred the exercise especially the disappearance of the names of screened candidates who were successful in the last stage.

The NPF said upon scrutiny of the list released on the PSC portal, it discovered the following:

  • Several names of persons purported to be names of successful candidates are those who did not even apply and therefore did not take part in the recruitment exercise.
  • The published list contains several names of candidates who failed either the Computer Based Test (CBT) the physical screening exercise or both.
  • Some made it to the last stage of the exercise but were disqualified having been found medically unfit through the standardised medical test but they also made the list of successful candidates as published by the PSC.
  • Most worrisome is the allegation of financial dealings and corrupt practices leading to the outcome where unqualified and untrainable individuals have been shortlisted.

Adejobi added that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) had on June 10, 2024, written a letter of objection to the list addressed to the Chairman of the Commission, citing the discoveries listed above.

According to the Police, the reaction of the IGP was without prejudice to the power of the Commission to recruit for the police as ruled by the Supreme Court but this power does not include the power to recruit unqualified and untrained individuals for the police.

Adejobi noted that it is the Police that bears the brunt of the recruitment of unqualified individuals and not the PSC.

“The same people who recruited anyhow for the Police today will turn around to accuse the police tomorrow of inefficiency when their recruits start messing up.

“The Police therefore has since dissociated itself from the published list and called for a review that will be transparent and credible,” the NPF stated.

According to the Police, the PSC after the pronouncement of the Supreme Court ruling on the powers of the Commission to recruit on behalf of the Police, constituted a Joint Recruitment Board, to be headed by one of the Commissioners of the PSC, with the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Training and Development in the Police Force as its Secretary.

“But surprisingly, the Board was crippled and never allowed to carry out its mandate, insomuch that even the final list was not consented to by the Board,” the statement added.

The NPF said it takes exception to the development and calls for a total review of the process to recruit qualified, competent, trainable, and productive hands into the Force.

House of Reps, NAFDAC agree to reverse ban on sachet alcohol

Kehinde OGUNYALE
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House of Reps, NAFDAC agree to reverse ban on sachet alcohol

THE House of Representatives and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have jointly agreed to repeal the ban on the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets. 

The deputy spokesman for the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, who made this disclosure yesterday, June 14, said the ban would be reintroduced when the country recovers from its current economic strain.

Agbese stated that the resolution to temporarily lift the ban was arrived at after a meeting between the House Committee and NAFDAC officials.

“We all agreed at the meeting that at a certain stage in history, we must move on with our counterparts across the globe. Nevertheless, at the moment, we agreed with NAFDAC that there would be a temporary lifting of the ban until the economy regains its strength.

“We had engagements with stakeholders, including NAFDAC and the organised private sector involved. Resolutions were reached at that meeting based on the submissions made by the stakeholders, civil society organisations, and other interested parties,” he added.

He disclosed that part of the recommendations before the parliament was the untimeliness of the ban given the current economic realities.

He further stressed that the five-year moratorium granted by NAFDAC to the private sector was hindered by the advent of COVID-19 and other economic realities which did not permit the operators in the industry to comply with agreed terms.

In February, The ICIR reported that NAFDAC had begun the implementation of its 2022 restrictions on manufacturing, distributing, and selling alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET, and glass bottles of 200ml and below.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, also stated that the agency stopped the registration of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small-volume PET and glass bottles below 200ml in 2022. 

Latest World Bank loan pushes Nigeria’s debt to over N162trn

Ehime ALEX
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Latest World Bank loan pushes Nigeria’s debt to over N162trn

NIGERIA’s public debt profile has further worsened to $110.48 billion, approximately N162.81 ‬trillion, following the approval of new sets of loans for the country by the World Bank.

In a statement on Thursday, June 13, the  World Bank disclosed that it has approved two significant financial operations aimed at bolstering Nigeria’s economic stability and supporting its vulnerable populations.

“The World Bank has today approved two operations: $1.5 billion for the Nigeria Reforms for Economic Stabilisation to Enable Transformation Development Policy Financing Program and $750 million for the Nigeria Accelerating Resource Mobilisation Reforms Programme-for-Results.

“This combined $2.25 billion package provides immediate financial and technical support to Nigeria’s urgent efforts to stabilise the economy and scale up support to the poor and most economically at risk. It further supports Nigeria’s ambitious, multi-year effort to raise non-oil revenues and safeguard oil revenues to promote fiscal sustainability and provide sufficient resources to deliver quality public services,” the international fund stated.

The new loans would help Nigeria stabilise its economy and scale up support to the poor.

It also aims to enhance the country’s non-oil revenue generation and safeguard oil revenues, thereby promoting fiscal sustainability and enabling the delivery of quality public services.

According to the latest report by the Debt Management Office (DMO), Nigeria’s public debt profile stood at $108.23 billion or N97.34 trillion as of December 31, 2023.

The debt office highlighted that $42.495 billion or N38.22 trillion represents external debt and put $65.73 billion or N59.12 trillion as internal debt.

Of the external debt, the federal government owes $37.89 billion or N34.07 trillion, and the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) $4.61 billion or N4.15 trillion.

Also, the federal government owes a large chunk of $59.22 billion or N53.26 trillion of the internal debt while the states and FCT $6.52 billion or N5.86 trillion.

The ICIR can report that the DMO computed the figures using an exchange rate of about N899.39 to one dollar which was the prevailing market rate at the time.

Putting the $110.48 billion figure in context in the current reality using the Central Bank’s Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) rate of N 1,473.65 as of June 11, it then means that Nigeria’s debt stock has worsened to N162.81 ‬trillion.

It also means that with Nigeria’s population at 216.78 million people, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), each Nigerian could be owing $509.64 or N751,037 of the country’s total debt stock.

The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun had at the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank held in May hinted that the federal government was set to receive fresh loan funding from the World Bank, totaling $2.25bn

The loans approved by the board of directors of the World Bank, offer a 40-year term with a 10-year moratorium and a nominal one per cent interest rate.

There have been concerns about reckless spending and mismanagement of public funds as the government continues to mortgage the future of the country by borrowing more from local and international institutions.
In a recent analysis, The ICIR shows that Nigeria was losing over N16 billion in revenue daily from crude oil production amid government worries that its 2024 budgeted revenue is at risk should oil production remain below its budgetary provisions.
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