EFCC Links Akwa Ibom Gov. Udom With Lawyer's N1.4bn Alleged Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed a N1.4 billion fraud charge against the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Paul Usoro (SAN), at the the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Justice Muslim Hassan fixed December 10, 2018 for the EFCC to arraign Usoro.

The anti-graft agency, in a charge marked FHC/418c/18, alleged that Usoro, from Akwa Ibom, converted and laundered the money in connivance with the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel.

The charge sheet, signed by EFCC Counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, did not list Emmanuel as a defendant.

The EFCC indicated that he is “currently constitutionally immuned against criminal prosecution”.

It did, however, mention four other defendants.

They are: Nsikan Nkan, described as Commissioner for Finance, Akwa Ibom State; Mfon Udomah, described as the Accountant-General of Akwa Ibom State; Uwemedimo Nwoko, described as the Akwa Ibom State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; and Margaret Ukpe, all of whom are said to be at large.

The commission alleged that Usoro, in connivance with the others mentioned, conspired to commit the offence “sometime in 2015 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court”.

The anti-graft agency claimed that the N1.4bn belonged to the Akwa Ibom State Government.

According to Oyedepo, the offences were contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

GUN CRIME: Lagos Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, Behind Small Doctor's Freedom

It is not news anymore that famed Dancehall singer, Small Doctor, has been released from police custody today Dec 4th following his arraignment for unlawful possession of firearms and threatening violence against an officer.

The side news is that Agege-born politician, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, secured the young crooner's bail. An inside source told The Status that Obasa who is the sitting speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, was spotted at the court premises with some of his aides while the bail process was on.

Before he was arraigned in court, the source said that Obasa had tried to secure Small Doctor's release from the police custody but was prevailed upon to wait for the court process since the case involved threatening the life of security agents with gun, more so when it was yet established if the singer had license for the gun in his possession.

Small Doctor is from Obasa's constituency, Agege.

The singer was arraigned earlier on Tuesday at the Ebute Metta Magistrate court along with the other occupants in his car.

-Abiodun Ishola

Gifting With Convenience This Christmas Season

December is here and a good number of people love the last month of the year regardless of their religious beliefs. This is because there will be quite a handful of holidays, a lot of giving, gifting and sharing not only by individuals but also by corporate organisations and the ambience will be celebratory.

Interestingly, gifting has become a trend for the yuletide to show appreciation to clients, loyal customers as well as groom or nurture relationships for the upcoming year. And corporate organisations and individuals are constantly searching for affordable and convenient ways to gift without breaking the bank. eCommerce is the solution. 

Convenient Christmas Gifting
eCommerce has already disrupted the way Nigerians make their purchases. Across the country, you will find not only millennials but also digital immigrants ordering items on Jumia, Nigeria's no 1 shopping destination.

Corporate gifting is not an exception here as organisations can outsource their gifting plans to an eCommerce company like Jumia. Jumia, in turn, takes the responsibility of delivering the best gifts notwithstanding if it is modern or traditional, at the most affordable price. Beyond this, Jumia assists you with the choice of product, discount requests, ensure availability and delivery. This will enable organisations to focus on offering sterling services to client and customers during the whole yuletide.

Alternatively, organisations can sign up to Jumia Corporate in which they will get the highest level of support/dedicated account manager, fast shipping nationwide, electronic invoicing, exclusive offers (employee incentive solutions, rewards solutions), effective return policy, access to express delivery options and largest assortment of products in Nigeria with over 2,000,000 products.

Gifts for Christmas
Christmas gifts can either be traditional or modern depending on who you are giving. However, in Nigeria, the most shared Christmas gifts include rice, oil, hampers and promotional/customised gifts which you can buy on Jumia. Whatever the gifts you are giving, the most important things is for you to personalise it.

Tips For Giving The Best Christmas Gifts
Choosing effective and impactful corporate gifts for your clients and customers is not as difficult as many believe. Just follow these few tips and get the best gifts.

(a) Don't buy gifts that will end up in the trash: most companies have the basics handled. The world has gone digital, and your clients don't need a calendar to put on the wall near their desk. Unless they are a car enthusiast and you gave them images of their favourite automobiles, it's not likely that they'll hang your company calendar next to their desktop.

(b) Personalise it: you should try to include your business name on your corporate gift. There are no problems with a branded gift so long as it is tactful and provides value at home or in the office.

(c) Do think of something your client will appreciate: be thoughtful. Developing a rapport with your clients is important throughout the year. Use the holidays as an opportunity to let them know you were listening.

Amosun's Candidate Gets A Boost, As 26 Ogun Lawmakers Dump APC For APM

The crises rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State took a turn for the worse as 26 lawmakers on the platform of the party yesterday formally dumped the party for the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

The lawmakers defected following the defection of Adekunle Akinlade, Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s favoured candidate in the APC’s primaries which result was allegedly upturned in another candidate said to be the choice of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

Though the Governor has repeatedly insisted that he would not defect from the party, he has however not dissuaded his favoured candidate and his supporters from dumping the party.

Following the defection of the lawmakers, the APC subsequently lost its status as the majority party while the APM, which was recently registered is now in the driving seat.

Spokesperson of the lawmakers, Lamidi Olatunji, said they “have come to inevitable conclusion to actualize their ambitions in APM”.

Addressing newsmen on their defection, Olatunji said: “We also wish to acknowledge the fatherly role of President Muhammadu Buhari in seeking to sustain the tenets of democracy, fairness and equity in the resolution of the crisis in Ogun APC.

“We regret that Mr President’s efforts were frustrated by the forces that are hell bent on taking the South-West back to the dark age of slavery, where 

unelected kingpins direct the affairs of the people.”

Tinubu Attacks Atiku, Says Saraki Used And Dumped APC

A national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has challenged the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, on the Halliburton bribery scandal.

Over the years, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been investigating Halliburton, an American multi-national corporation over $182m bribery scandal.

Speaking during the National Consultative Forum themed: “Nigeria on the right track” organised by the National Committee of Buhari Support Groups, he said Nigerians have crossed the red ocean and they cannot be taken back to Egypt.

“They said we should not talk about the past. We must look at what you have done before. We have to look at the Halliburton issue. Why do they leave Nigeria?  $16billion on NEPA for darkness…When they see that we are kicking them out, they rush to privatise the company, what I call personalisation of the wealth of Nigerians,” he said

While commenting on the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Tinubu said after using the APC to win election in 2015, “Saraki used our mandate to give lifeline to the opposition. Leadership is about character. He left PDP, joined us, got elected and sold our mandate for a pot of porridge. God is honest, Saraki is not.

"We Won't Sell UTME Forms Till January 2019" ...JAMB

The sale of registration forms for the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will no longer start this December but January 2019, an official has said.

Dr Fabian Benjamin, the Head, Media and Information of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, organisers of the UTME, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.

Benjamin said that the board had thought of starting the sale in December but dropped the idea following Federal Government’s reduction in the registration fee with effect from January 2019.

“The attention of the board has been drawn to information going round in some social media that JAMB has already begun the sale of forms for UTME.

“We are not commencing sale of the forms until January 2019, and the window period will be for six weeks.

“Prospective candidates should note this period in order not to fall prey to fraudsters,’’ he said.

Benjamin gave the assurance that the board would make adequate publicity toward the sale of the UTME.

According to him, the board would comply with the directive on reduction of the registration cost.

NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari last Wednesday approved reduction of the fee from N5,000 to N3,500, ahead of the 2019 UTME.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, announced reduction after the Federal Executive Council meeting.

According to him, the cost registration for Senior Secondary Certificate Examination charged by the National Examination Council will also reduce – from N11,350 to N9,850 – while that of Basic Education Certificate Examination, also charged by NECO, will reduce from N5,500 to N4,000.

The minister said that the reduction would become effective from January 2019.

-NAN

GTBank Wins Bank of the Year, Nigeria, Sierra Leone

Foremost African financial institution, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc has won the award for "Bank of the Year Nigeria” for the second year in a row at The Banker's Bank of the Year Awards, regarded as the industry standard for excellence within the global banking sector. Guaranty Trust Bank Sierra Leone Ltd, a subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, was also recognized as the “Bank of the Year Sierra Leone” at the event, which held on November 29, 2018 at the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane, London, United Kingdom.


The Banker, a publication of the Financial Times, is the world’s leading monthly journal of records for the banking Industry, with over 90 years expertise in publishing developments in the banking industry in Africa and on the global scale. The Magazine’s Bank of the Year Awards celebrates leading financial institutions within the global banking sector who are setting new industry standards and driving innovation in financial services and customer experience.


Receiving the award on behalf of the Bank, Segun Agbaje, Managing Director/CEO of GTBank said; “We are honoured to be recognized as the 2018 Bank of the Year in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. These awards serve as further motivation for us as we continue to go beyond traditional banking services by creating innovative digital services that are less about us as bank and more about our customers and how we empower them with everything that they need to better their lives.”


He further stated that “Our vision has always been to create an oasis in the financial services industry that leads, not only in earnings and returns on equity, but also in maintaining world class corporate governance standards and pushing the bounds in service delivery and customer experience. These awards reflect our sustained commitment towards this vision, which we will continue to pursue, driven by our passion for excellence and guided by our founding values of hard work, discipline and integrity.”


Alongside its record for consistent year-on-year growth, GTBank is widely regarded by industry watchers as a trailblazer in the banking industry due to its many innovations in digital and financial services.

Recently, the Bank launched Habari, Nigeria’s largest platform for music, shopping and lifestyle content and the first mobile platform created by a financial institution in the country that focuses on enabling people’s needs and lifestyle rather than providing regular banking products.