Justice Jude Dagat of the Federal High Court in Maiduguri on Monday, November 18, 2024 convicted and sentenced one Mpada Ishaku Dzarma to nine years imprisonment.

Dzarma was first arraigned on May 4, 2024 by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering and cybercrime to the tune of N9 million.

Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Mpada Ishaku Dzarma between 2023 and 2024 at Maiduguri, Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did directly take possession of aggregate sum of N9,000,000.00 (Nine Million naira) only into your Access Bank with Account No. 1233383458, Mpada Ishaku Dzarma being the naira equivalent value of the Cash App, Pampay, and Gift Cards denominated in United States of America Dollars which sum you knew or reasonably ought to have known is proceeds of your fraud or form part of an unlawful act to wit: falsely representing yourself to unsuspecting foreign nationals amongst who are; Nils Kaptur with social media account @nilf­_kpt, Grace Wamalwa, @ejstorm53 e.t.c as a software engineer based in Holly wood, Texas and could unblock and activate blocked tiktok account and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty, which set the stage for the commencement of trial.

Similarly, at the resumed hearing of the case, the defendant through his counsel H. M Dauda prayed the court to change his plea.

Thereafter, the charge was read to him and he pleaded “guilty” to all the count charges preferred against him by the EFCC.

Justice Dagat thereafter, convicted and sentenced Dzarma on count one to four years imprisonment with an option of fine of N200,000 and on count two, he was sentenced to five years imprisonment with an option of fine of N200,000.

The Judge further ordered the forfeiture of iPhone 14 pro max, Android phone Redmi 4C model, used Toyota Corolla 2008, five pieces of blink necklace and one blink penchant to the Federal Government of Nigeria that were recovered from him in the course of investigation.

The convict’s journey to the Correctional Centre began when he was arrested by operatives of Maiduguri’s Zonal Directorate of the EFCC for internet-related offences. He was charged to court and convicted.

In another development, one Amuda Ayuba was arraigned on Monday, November 18, 2024, before Justice Jude Dagat of the Federal High Court, on a one-count charge for the offence of Money Laundering to the tune of N401,006.98 (Four Hundred and One Thousand, Six Naira, Ninety-eight kobo).

The lone count reads: “That you Amuda Ayuba sometime in 2021, in Maiduguri, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst being a POS Operator did accept the transfer of a total sum of N401,006.98 (Four Hundred and One Thousand, Six Naira, Ninety-eight kobo) into your first and second POS account No. 1040660023 and 1040906053, account name Amuda Ayuba domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc from a customer whose identity you fail to verify and undertake due diligence of the customer before carrying on transaction of electronic money transfer and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4(1)&(2) and Section 19(1)(F) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.”

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against him.

Counsel to the prosecution Faruk Muhammad prayed the court for a trial and date and to remand the defendant in prison custody.

The Federal Government (FG) has expressed its readiness to diversify Nigeria’s economy through the development of the creative industry.

Vice President, Kashim Shettima made this known in a statement he shared on his official X account on Sunday morning.

“President Bola Tinubu yesterday (Saturday) identified the creative economy as a cornerstone of his administration’s economic diversification agenda,” Shettima said.

“Tinubu has also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to positioning Nigeria’s creative sector as a key driver of the country’s global influence.”

The president who was represented by his vice stated this during the launch of the 2024 Abuja International Carnival at the Eagle Square, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

“We are not here just to celebrate a carnival but to reaffirm the essence of who we are as Nigerians, a people of culture, a people of art, a people of colour and a people of shared values,” Shettima said on behalf of Tinubu.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has revealed it has tracked over 5,000 uncompleted projects since 2019 valued at N74 billion.

The ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu made the disclosure at the weekend after the commission and BudgIT Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Aliyu said the ICPC and BudgIT Foundation have decided to sign the MoU to further enshrine integrity in the execution of publicly funded projects.

He added that the commission has directed the contractors involved to return to the site and ensure the completion of the uncompleted projects.

The MoU was signed at the commission’s headquarters on Friday when the BudgIT delegation, led by its Country Representative, Mr. Gabriel Okeowo paid a courtesy visit to the ICPC.

The ICPC Chairman expressed his satisfaction with the terms of the agreement, adding that it is a testament to a shared vision between the commission and BudgIT Nigeria.

Aliyu explained that the two organisations have continued to ensure that the country’s scarce resources are deployed appropriately.

“The Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Group (CEPTG) has tracked over 5,000 projects since 2019 and successfully directed contractors to return to uncompleted projects valued at N74 billion,” he noted.

He said that ICPC would continue to hold defaulters accountable, just as it had arraigned others in the past, maintaining that the commission and other relevant authorities would deal with any issues that Nigerians report regarding their constituency projects.

Aliyu said: “The MoU will stabilise our core working relationship with BudgIT to ensure that we help Nigerians.

“I call on Nigerians to follow the work of CEPTG and also get a copy of the Nigerian budget, track and monitor their constituency projects in order to hold the government accountable.”

Earlier, in a brief address, the Country Representative of BudgIT, Gabriel Okeowo stated that the MoU demonstrated the two bodies’ mutual commitment, as certain clauses within the agreement were already being implemented even before it was officially signed.

Okeowo acknowledged the Commission’s project tracking activities, ongoing simultaneously across the country, and shared that the MoU would add credence to the collaboration of both parties.

The collaboration is coordinated through BudgIT’s investigative arm, TRACKA, which will be useful in sharing relevant information, data, and intelligence concerning fraud in publicly funded project execution.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun Area Command, Idiroko has handed over illicit drugs worth N117.5 million to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The NCS made the announcement in a press statement it shared on its official Facebook account on Sunday morning.

According to the statement, Comptroller James Ojo of the Ogun Customs Area Command, Idiroko has reaffirmed his commitment to disrupting the supply chain of illicit drugs and safeguarding youths, families and communities.

Ojo said this on Friday, November 22, 2024 while handing over 6,504 parcels of Cannabis Sativa (weighing 7,217.7 kg) and 362 packs of Tramaking tablets (225mg Tramadol) to the NDLEA in Abeokuta.

Addressing journalists, Comptroller Ojo disclosed that the interception of the items, valued at N117,587,405 in Duty Paid Value (DPV) was made possible through effective collaboration with intelligence units, local informants and sister agencies.

He described the scale of illicit drug smuggling as “alarming and worrisome,” adding: “These landmark operations reflect the Nigeria Customs Service’s unwavering commitment to protecting public health, ensuring community safety and upholding the rule of law.”

He assured the public that the command would continue to enhance intelligence gathering and strengthen cooperation with relevant agencies to combat smuggling and related criminal activities.

The seized items were officially handed over to NDLEA representatives as part of inter-agency collaboration.

The Commander of the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command, Olusegun Adeyeye commended the synergy between the two agencies.

“This collaboration underscores the collective effort to fight drug abuse. We will continue to intensify our campaign against illicit drugs,” Adeyeye said.

Ngozi Orabueze, a staunch loyalist of separatist leader Simon Ekpa, has declared that the sit-at-home observed on Mondays in the Southeast should continue, despite Ekpa’s recent arrest by Finnish authorities.

Orabueze, who identifies herself as the Chief of Staff in the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), reaffirmed her support for the controversial protest action. Ekpa, the self-proclaimed Prime Minister of BRGIE, was arrested on charges related to terrorism and violence.

Ekpa has been a vocal advocate for enforcing the sit-at-home protest, purportedly in solidarity with the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. His social media platforms have frequently featured posts supporting the violent implementation of the action.

Reports indicate that the Nigerian government is seeking Ekpa’s extradition, despite his Finnish citizenship.

In a recent post on X, Orabueze expressed gratitude to the Finnish government for what she described as protecting “our Able Prime Minister, H.E. Simon Ekpa, from the terrorist Nigeria state headed by President Tinubu, Christopher Musa, and Godswill Akpabio.”

She further stated, “As Biafrans all over the world converge in Finland next week for the Biafra Independence Re-Declaration on December 2nd, we wish to inform Biafrans that the Monday Sit-at-home in all Biafraland, voluntarily agreed upon by all Biafrans, must be maintained.”

Orabueze also praised the Biafra Defence Forces for their efforts to “eliminate terrorists wearing Nigeria army and police uniforms in our land.”

She commended Biafrans for raising awareness globally about alleged atrocities committed by the Nigerian government, including what she described as “gross human rights violations, terrorism, forced disappearances of innocent citizens, and the killing of peaceful protesters in Nigeria and Biafraland.”

According to her, Finland had received evidence supporting these claims, which, she said, highlighted violations of international human rights laws by the Nigerian government.

Gov. Monday Okpebholo of Edo has constituted a 14-man state Assets Verification Committee to probe the administration of former governor Godwin Obaseki.

A statement by the chief press secretary to the governor, Fred Itua on Sunday in Benin, said the committee members would be inaugurated on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

Itua listed the members to include: Dr Ernest Umakhihe, Chairman, Anslem Ojezua- Deputy Chairman, Frank Edebor, Secretary, while Prince Kassim Afegbua, Patrick Ikhariale and Taiwo Akerele, are members.

Others members are, Patrick Idiake, Rasaq Bello-Osagie, Fredrick Unopah, Mrs. Abdallah Eugenia, Patrick Obahiagbon, Kenny Okojie, Mrs Lyndsey Tes-Sorae and Abass Braimoh.

The statement noted that the committee became imperative to set the state on the path of development and accountable leadership.

“Despite repeated calls for a more holistic database of the Assets and Liabilities of the previous administration, the Godwin Obaseki-led government came up with very scanty and limited assets and liabilities of the state.

“In line with the governor’s campaign promise to ensure probity, accountability and transparency in government, and to deepen the governance process, committee made up of respected sons and daughters from Edo State has to be constituted,” the statement said.