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NSA confirms escape of Binance executive from custody 

Bankole ABE
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NSA confirms escape of Binance executive from custody 

THE Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has confirmed the escape of a Binance regional manager for Africa, Nadeem Anjarwalla, from custody.

In a statement signed by the head of strategic communication at the ONSA, Zakari Mijinyawa, the Office said a preliminary investigation showed that Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using “a smuggled passport”.

“The personnel responsible for the custody of the suspect have been arrested, and a thorough investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances that led to his escape from lawful detention,” the statement said.

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According to a Premium Times report published on Monday, the Binance executive fled a guest house where he and his colleague were kept in Abuja on March 22.

Anjarwalla allegedly escaped after being brought by the on-duty guards to a nearby mosque for prayers in observance of the current Ramadan fast.

He reportedly took a Middle East aircraft out of Abuja. However, it is unclear how he left on an international flight, given that the Nigerian government had seized his only passport – the British passport on him when he was arrested.

The ONSA stated that in response, The NSA office moved quickly to capture the suspect, working with ministries, departments and agencies, other pertinent security authorities, and the international community.

“Until his escape, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who holds British and Kenyan nationalities and serving as Binance’s Africa regional manager, was being tried by Nigerian courts,” the statement added.

The office added that the suspect escaped while under a 14-day remand order by a court in Nigeria and was scheduled to appear before the court again on April 4 2024.

The NSA urged the Nigerian public and the international community to provide whatever information they have that could assist law enforcement agencies in apprehending the suspect.

Recall that the Nigerian government arrested two of Binance’s top executives on February 28. 

Anjarwalla, a 37-year-old British Kenyan who serves as Binance’s regional manager for Africa, and Tigran Gambaryan, a 39-year-old US citizen who oversees Binance’s financial crime compliance, were both employed by Binance.

The ONSA seized their passports after they were arrested.

The ICIR reported on Monday, March 25, that the Federal Government, through the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), filed criminal charges against Binance at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The Special Adviser on Media to the Executive Chairman of the FIRS, Dare Adekambi, announced the lawsuit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/115/2024 on Monday, March 25.

The charges accused Binance of a four-count tax evasion.

FIRS stated that the action was intended to protect Nigeria’s economic integrity and maintain budgetary sustainability.

Anjarwalla, who has now escaped from custody and Gambaryan were joined in the suit as the second and third defendants.

Binance is facing charges related to not paying value-added tax (VAT) and company income tax, not filing tax filings, and assisting consumers in avoiding taxes by using its platform.

The ICIR reported on Monday, March 18, that a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered Binance to provide data on its Nigerian users to the EFCC.

The judge, Emeka Nwite, gave the interim order after ruling on the ex-parte motion moved by the EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho.

The application was filed on February 29.

An EFCC agent, Hamma Bello, stated in the affidavit supporting the motion that he was a member of the commission’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) based in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Bello argued that the information would help the panel complete its inquiry and that the issue was of public interest.

The ICIR reported on March 5 that Binance pulled its services out of Nigeria.

The platform asked Nigerians trading on it to remove all their naira assets, indicating that it was terminating its services in the country.

The Federal Government has been taking harsh measures against Binance management recently. 

In response to the severe actions taken against it by the Nigerian government, Binance, on Tuesday, March 5, deleted all assets linked to the naira.

 

British Council offers international collaboration grants for literature, others

Itoro ETUKUDO
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British Council offers international collaboration grants for literature, others

THE British Council is accepting applications for International Collaboration Grants from organisations worldwide with a focus on film, literature or visual arts.

The grant programme supports UK and international organisations in working together on digital, face-to-face, and/or hybrid artistic projects.

With the grant, media artists make and develop creative artwork with their international peers and encourage new international partnerships and innovative ways of collaborating.

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Applications must demonstrate genuine international collaboration and an explicit benefit to individual artists and international partners. Projects should address any theme, and applicants must share their approach to diversity, inclusion and environmental sustainability in the delivery of their projects.

The International Collaboration Grants encourage new bilateral and multilateral partnerships, providing funding to enable organisations to make and develop creative artwork with their international peers and help individual artists find innovative ways of collaborating.

Available grants range between £25,000 and £75,000.

The deadline for application is April 30,

Iinterested applicants can apply here.

Tax evasion: Nigerian Government files charges against Binance

Bankole ABE
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Tax evasion: Nigerian Government files charges against Binance

THE Federal Government, through the  Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), has filed criminal charges against a leading cryptocurrency exchange platform, Binance, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The Special Adviser on Media to the Executive Chairman of the FIRS, Dare Adekambi, announced the lawsuit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/115/2024 on Monday, March 25.

The charges accuse Binance of a four-count tax evasion.

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FIRS stated that the action was intended to protect Nigeria’s economic integrity and maintain budgetary sustainability.

Two senior officials of Binance who are now in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, were also joined in the suit as the second and third defendants.

Binance is facing charges related to not paying value-added tax (VAT) and company income tax, not filing tax filings, and assisting consumers in avoiding taxes by using its platform.

In the lawsuit, the Federal Government also charged Binance with breaking national tax laws and failing to register with FIRS for tax purposes.

The suit claims Binance failed to collate and remit different kinds of taxes to the federation, as required by Section 40 of the FIRS Establishment Act 2007 as modified.

The suit also lists specific instances in which Binance was alleged to have broken tax regulations, including neglecting to produce invoices for VAT reasons, which prevented subscribers from determining and paying their taxes.

Meanwhile, according to a media report, Nadeem Anjarwalla, one of the two Binance executives held in Nigeria on suspicion of tax evasion and other offences, has fled from detention.

The Federal Government took the two top Binance executives into custody in February.

A Premium Times report claims that Anjarwalla and his colleague were being held at a guest home in Abuja, where Anjarwalla managed to escape on Friday, March 22.

The ICIR reported on Monday, March 18, that a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered Binance to provide data on its Nigerian users to the EFCC.

The judge, Emeka Nwite, gave the interim order after ruling on the ex-parte motion moved by the EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho.

The application was filed on February 29.

An EFCC agent, Hamma Bello, stated in the affidavit supporting the motion that he was a member of the commission’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) based in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Bello said that the SIT was notified of the illicit activities (money laundering and financing of terrorism) of Binance after the ONSA established the Technical Committee on Currency Stability and Forex Manipulation.

Bello argued that the information would help the panel complete its inquiry and that the issue was of public interest.

The ICIR reported on March 5 that Binance pulled its services out of Nigeria.

The platform asked Nigerians trading on it to remove all their naira assets, indicating that it was terminating its services in the country.

The Federal Government has been taking harsh measures against Binance management recently. 

In response to the severe actions taken against it by the Nigerian government, Binance, on Tuesday, March 5, deleted all assets linked to the naira.

 

 

Nigeria hauls 121 medals at 13th African Games

Dotun OMISAKIN
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Nigeria hauls 121 medals at 13th African Games

TEAM Nigeria recorded 121 medals to finish second on the medals table at the 13th African Games held in Ghana.

Compared with the previous edition in 2019, the awards were short of nine, that is, 130 medals won in the previous edition held in Rabat, Morocco in 2019, The ICIR check shows.

The continental multi-sports showpiece, which began on Friday, March 8 and ended on Saturday, March 23, saw a high-level display of skills among 45 countries that participated in the Games.

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African Games: Tobi Amusan wins third consecutive gold medal in 100m hurdles 

African Games: Nigeria wins nine gold in weightlifting 

African Games: Nigeria U-20 suffer 1-2 defeat to Uganda

Results of the countries on the medals’ table showed Egypt’s continuous dominance of the Games as they won 102 gold, 47 silver and 42 bronze to top the table with 191 medals while Nigeria finished behind with 47 gold, 34 silver and 40 bronze to record 121 medals.

Team Nigeria participated in 23 sports at the edition, including arm-wrestling, badminton, athletics, basketball 3×3, beach volleyball, boxing and chess.

Others are cricket, cycling, football, handball, hockey, judo, karate, rugby, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.

The ICIR reports that Team Nigeria won medals in 18 out of the 23 sports it participated in.

Team Nigeria, with a total of 437 athletes won medals in arm wrestling (13), athletics (22), badminton (six), basketball (one), beach volley (one), boxing (10), chess (two), cricket (one), cycling (two), football (one), handball (one), hockey (one), Judo (one), swimming (one), table tennis (six), taekwondo (six), tennis (two), weightlifting (32), wrestling (11).

Meanwhile, Team Nigeria participated in 22 sports with 306 athletes to win 130 medals from 13 sports in 2019.

Finishing second has now become our target – Sports analyst

In an interview with The ICIR, a sports analyst, Lekan Okusan, described Team Nigeria’s performance in Ghana as below par, noting lack of adequate preparation as the reason for the country’s underperformance.

“In general, Nigeria did very well but we could have done better if our athletes had enough preparation coupled with motivation before the games. Finishing second has now become our target, whereas we should be aiming for the top spot considering our pedigree and our athletes’ quality.

“We are not improving but just accept our faith as second fiddle,” he said.

Enugu Ranger dislodge Lobi Star, move top of NPFL table

Dotun OMISAKIN
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0
Enugu Ranger dislodge Lobi Star, move top of NPFL table

ENUGU Ranger climbed to the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table on Sunday, March 24, after securing a 2-1 away win against Heartland FC in the league’s matchday 27 fixture played at the Enyimba International stadium, Aba.

The club’s victory in the match tagged ‘Oriental Derby’ ended Lobi Stars’ nine-week dominance at the top of the league’s table after forcing a draw against Kano Pillars in matchday 18 fixture.

The NPFL table shows that Enugu Rangers are on top with 48 points, while Lobi Stars, which held a 1-1 draw against Bayelsa United, are trailing with 47 points.

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Sporting Lagos 4-1 victory pushes Remo stars out of NPFL top 4 bracket 

NPFL’s top 4 race heats up with Lobi Stars, Plateau United, Enugu Rangers, Remo Stars’ wins

NPFL: Plateau Utd record 5-1 away win against Heartlands FC

Other results showed another dramatic away win as Sani Suleiman scored a late goal via a penalty after regulation time for visiting Akwa United against Plateau United.

The match ended 2-1 in favour of the visitors.

The matchday 27 fixtures saw four home wins as Remo Stars redeemed themselves after losing their last match against Shooting Stars to win Bendel Insurance 2-0 at the Remo Stars stadium.

Kwara United piped Enyimba International 2-1, thanks to a brace from Emmanuel Ogbole while Kastina displayed their doggedness as they pulled a comeback from a goal down to defeat Abia Warriors at the Young Katsina Star Stadium.

Kano Pillars returned to winning ways after recording three losses and two wins in the last five matches as they won against visiting Sporting Lagos at the General Sani Abacha Stadium.

The other league’s result showed two draws between Doma United versus Gombe United and Lobi Stars versus Bayelsa. They both played 1-1. 

The league matches will continue today, March 25, between Niger Tornadoes versus Shooting Stars.

 

Veteran actor Amaechi Muonagor dies of kidney disease

Itoro ETUKUDO
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Veteran actor Amaechi Muonagor dies of kidney disease

VETERAN Nollywood actor Amaechi Muonagor has died of kidney disease.

He was aged 61.

The news of his death was confirmed by a family source on the evening of Sunday, March 24.

This is coming a few days after a video circulated on social media showing him soliciting financial support from Nigerians to carry out a kidney transplant.

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Nollywood producer, Andy Best, passes away

Nollywood actor, Mr Ibu, dies at 62

Again, Nollywood mourns as Sisi Quadri passes on

In the video, he was seen in bed with a bandage on his chest, barely able to talk, while another actor, Kingsley Otho, was seated beside him.

“It has not been easy. He has been in this condition for months now. He wants to go for a kidney transplant.

“He just came back from the ICU 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 was not advisable. He barely talks well. Please, he needs your help,” Orji said in the video.

Muonagor has been in the movie industry as an actor and producer for over three decades and was well known for his comic roles in Nollywood films.

His death comes weeks after the passing of actor John Okafor, known as Mr Ibu. They both died as a result of severe health complications after soliciting financial support from the public.

Although the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) said it had gotten health insurance to cover the industry members, some actors still face the challenge of sorting medical bills when ill.

Hardship, insecurity: Tinubu cancels 72nd birthday celebration

Fatimah QUADRI
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Hardship, insecurity: Tinubu cancels 72nd birthday celebration

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has announced the cancellation of his 72nd birthday celebration, scheduled for Friday, March 29, due to the rising hardship and insecurity in the country.

This was disclosed in a statement by a media aide to the President, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday, March 24.

‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will turn 72 on Friday, March 29, 2024. The day will be another important milestone in his life as a leader and a statesman.

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“During an auspicious occasion as this, it is customary for family members, friends and associates to celebrate him in different ways.  As the leader of our country, President Tinubu, in deference to these challenging times, will not host any birthday event and does not want any of his associates and numerous well-wishers across the country to organise any celebratory event on his behalf or in his name.’ part of the statement read.

The statement noted that the recent killings of the officers in the Army and Police in Delta State and the recent spate of insecurity in different parts of the country did not call for any form of celebrations or placing of birthday goodwill messages in the media.

It further stated that friends and associates who might wish to place goodwill advertorials for the President should rather donate the money to charity organisations of their choice in the President’s name.

While appreciating the efforts of the Armed Forces in freeing the children kidnapped in Kuriga, Kaduna and Sokoto States, the statement stated that Tinubu would use the opportunity of his birthday to reflect and re-dedicate himself to the task of building a more stable and secure country.

 

 

DHQ confirms rescue of 137 abducted Kaduna schoolchildren in Zamfara

Mustapha USMAN
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DHQ confirms rescue of 137 abducted Kaduna schoolchildren in Zamfara

CONTRARY to the reported abduction of 287 schoolchildren from the LEA Primary School and its neighbouring Secondary School in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area (LEA) of Kaduna State, the Defence Headquarters has given the number of abducted children as 137.

This was as the military confirmed that all the abductees, comprising 76 females and 61 males, within eight and 15 years, had been rescued.

In a statement by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, a major general, said that the children were rescued in Zamfara State in the early hours of Sunday through the joint efforts of the military and local authorities.

The ICIR earlier reported how the state government disclosed that the abducted school children had been rescued but failed to give details of their release and did not clarify whether security operatives rescued the children or if a ransom was paid for their release.

The government also failed to state the number of children rescued.

The rescue came 16 days after they were abducted by bandits, who invaded their school on Thursday, March 7.

One of the schoolteachers, Sani Abdullahi, had claimed that 287 students and a principal, Abubakar Isah, were whisked away from the schools.

He said about 187 students were abducted from the secondary school section and 125 pupils from the primary school section, totalling 312.

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Abdullahi, who escaped the abduction along with others, said 25 of the pupils from the primary section had returned, leaving the number of abducted at 287.

The DHQ, however, said only 137 students were abducted. 

“It would be recalled that on 7 March 2024, troops received information that terrorists had invaded LEA School Kuriga in Chikun LG of Kaduna State. During the incident, an unconfirmed number of pupils were abducted. Following the incident, the military committed to leaving no stone unturned until all the hostages were rescued,” the statement read.

It added, “Accordingly, in the early hours of 24 March 2024, the military, working with local authorities and government agencies across the country, in a coordinated search and rescue operation, rescued the hostages. The hostages are the same persons who were abducted from the school at Kuriga in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State.

“The rescued hostages totalled 137 and comprised 76 females and 61 males. They were rescued in Zamfara State and would be conveyed and handed over to the Kaduna State Government for further action.”

Dollar can’t exchange for N400 – Moghalu

Fatimah QUADRI
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Dollar can’t exchange for N400 – Moghalu

A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Kingsley Moghalu, has rubbished the optimism in some quarters that the US dollar could still be exchanged for N400.

In a series of posts via his X account on Sunday, March 24, the former presidential candidate said, ‘Those who want the naira to be N400 to the $ (US dollar) are living in a dream world. Even discounting for the negative impact of speculative attacks on the value of the naira, the exchange rate will (and should) reflect its market value in reality, not the artificiality that the Emefiele era Central Bank sought to maintain to please economic illiterates in political power at the time.
“That artificiality created room for massive arbitrage by speculators, which bled the economy. Nigeria does not (yet) have a productive export economy. That’s the heart of the matter.’ The post read in part.

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He further stated that the country’s foreign reserve was not up to $100 billion, so the forex rate wouldn’t return to normalcy soon as it would take time to regain investors’ confidence in the forex market as in the past.

Moghalu argued that efforts should be made to build a manufacturing export economy that would generate genuine and substantial foreign exchange earnings apart from oil while noting that the stumbling block was the epileptic power supply in the country.

‘The sooner we focus on a painstaking creation of value-added manufacturing export economy that earns forex beyond oil in real and significant terms, the better. Key to this is the electricity conundrum in which we are at less than 4,000 megawatts of generation for a population of 200 million for decades now.
“Take power to even 20,000 megawatts, and you will see what the Nigerian entrepreneurial spirit is capable of. ‘Moghalu stated.
On Thursday, the naira gained N18 to close at 1,382/$ at the official market, continuing its consistent upward trend against the US dollar.
The local currency saw significant gains at the official and unofficial foreign exchange exchanges the day before the naira’s advance. On Wednesday, it closed at N1,400 per dollar on the black market.
Until recently, the naira’s continuous plunge since President Bola Tinubu took over power on May 29, 2023, had seen prices of commodities skyrocket and many citizens unable to afford basic needs of life, including foods.

SERAP urges Tinubu to emulate Otti, stop pensions to ex-govs

Mustapha USMAN
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0
SERAP urges Tinubu to emulate Otti, stop pensions to ex-govs

SOCIO-ECONOMIC Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to emulate Governor Alex Otti of Abia State by obeying the court judgment which ordered the Federal Government to recover pensions collected by former governors. 

It also asked the President to challenge the legality of states’ pension laws permitting former governors to collect outrageous pensions.

According to a statement signed by SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on Sunday, March 24, the court judgment, dated November 26, 2019, was delivered by Oluremi Oguntoyinbo, a judge, following a suit by SERAP.

Reacting to the bill signed into law to repeal Abia state governors and deputy governors pension law No 4 of 2001, which allows former governors and deputy governors in the state to receive lifetime salaries and get houses in the state and Abuja, SERAP asked Tinubu to immediately stop states from paying pension to ex-governors.

The SERAP warned that failure to promptly obey the judgment would allow former governors, their deputies, including those serving as ministers in Tinubu’s administration, and former governors at the National Assembly who receive pensions to escape accountability for their actions.

The letter read in part: “SERAP agrees with former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s conclusion that states’ pension laws are ‘acts of daylight robbery’, and his call for such laws to be abolished by other state governors.

“Immediately obeying the judgment would show the sovereignty of the rule of law in Nigeria and go a long way in protecting the integrity of the country’s legal system.

“Obeying the judgment would also show you as a defender of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended), the rule of law, and public interest within government.”

The organisation noted how former President Muhammadu Buhari turned a blind eye to the judgment, adding that governors failed to provide names of former governors and their deputies who have collected and continue to collect pensions from their states and the amount so far spent on these ex-officials.

SERAP further stated that over  N40 billion had reportedly been collected by former governors serving as ministers and members of the National Assembly.

The organisation said it was concerned that while state governors had not paid many Nigerian workers and pensioners for several months and struggled to discharge responsibility, former governors continue to collect double emoluments and enjoy opulent lifestyles.

“According to our information, those who are reportedly receiving double emoluments and large severance benefits from their states include Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano); Kabiru Gaya (Kano); Theodore Orji (Abia).

“Others are Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara), Joshua Dariye (Plateau); and Jonah Jang (Plateau).

“At least 22 states, starting from Lagos State, have reportedly passed life pensions laws for former governors and other ex-public officials. Other states include Akwa Ibom; Edo; Delta; Ekiti; Kano; Gombe; Yobe; Borno; Bauchi; Abia; Imo; Bayelsa; Oyo; Osun; Kwara; Ondo; Ebonyi; Rivers; Niger; Kogi; and Katsina,” the statement added.

Recall that Otti, on Thursday, March 21, signed the Abia State of Nigeria Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Repeal Bill of 2024 into law.

Otti, in his address after assenting to the law, described the new law as part of the efforts to promote good governance and stewardship in the state. 

However, at least two former governors in the state said they did not receive pensions despite the existence of the law.

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