First Bank

Monday, December 28, 2020

Have Denies Having An 'Ambassadors' - EFCC


The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC says it dose not have special elements projected as “EFCC Ambassadors” and asked the public not to accord anyone who claims such appellation any recognition whatsoever.

The scribe to the government agency says:

The activities of some individuals who have been visiting prominent personalities across the nation, parading themselves as 'EFCC Ambassadors' have come to the notice of the Commission.

Friday, December 25, 2020

Chico Ejiro Dies of heart complications

 


A popular Nigerian filmmaker, Chico Ejiro, is dead.

The filmmaker dies on Friday – Christmas Day – about 2am.

Ejiro was popular for his blockbuster movies in the 90s.

He produced movies like Silent Night, Blood Money, Deadly Affair, among several other notable movies.

The President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Rollas, confirmed his death.

“I just learnt of his death. The news of his death is so devastating. I do not know the cause of his death; I am still calling around to get the proper information and I am waiting for his association ― The Association of Movie Producers ― to make a statement.”

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

CEO Abdul Samad Rabiu Reveals Why BUA Embarked On Record Construction Of 3 New Cement Plants Worthy $1.05Billion


Africa’s leading cement giant, BUA Cement has signed an agreement with Sinoma CBMI of China for the construction of three new

Ex-NNPC Depot Manager Vandalises Estranged Wife’s Residence Over Divorce

 


A mother of three, Mrs Chinyere Uzowulu, has cried for help over the alleged vandalism of the family house by her husband, Chief Afam Uzowulu, who is a retired depot manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, for challenging the divorce from him and refusing to vacate the house with her children.

FG To Shutdown Third Mainland Bridge for 72 hours

 


The Federal Controller of Works Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola on Tuesday announced a 72-hour total closure of the Third Mainland Bridge to cast concrete on the expansion joints.⁣


Popoola told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the shutdown will take effect from midnight on Saturday to midnight on Tuesday.⁣

He added that construction works had reached the stage for casting concrete on additional three expansion joints.⁣

“There is going to be a total closure of Third Mainland Bridge in order to allow for the casting of three number expansion joints on the Island Bound lane⁣

” The effective date of the closure will be from 12:00 midnight on the 25th of December. So people will be allowed to use the Third Mainland Bridge to celebrate Christmas.⁣

“By the time the Christmas is winding down which is 12:00 midnight, we are going to close it so that we will be able to cast the concrete on Saturday the 26th and 27th we cast again.⁣

” And we need about 72 hours for this concrete to set. Therefore, the opening will be on the 28th December midnight that is 72-hour closure.⁣

Saturday, December 19, 2020

The Untold Story...Why Tinubu Does Not Identify With Campaigns Trumpeting His Presidential Ambition


Despite the increasing campaigns all over town proclaiming his presidential ambition by increasing numbers of those with unwavering faith in him, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Central Bank Gov, Godwin Emeiele Risks 2yrs Imprisonment Over Failure To Pay N182Billion Judgement Debt

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, risks a two-year jail term over refusal to pay N182 billion judgement debt.



A contempt charge of two years imprisonment was filed against Emefiele to order payment

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Zenith Bank GMD, Onyeagwu Emerges “CEO of the Year” as Zenith Bank Wins Big at SERAS Awards 2020


Zenith Bank’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu has emerged CEO of the Year at the Sustainability, Enterprise and Responsibility (SERAS) Awards held at the weekend in Lagos. According to the judges, he was selected for a plethora of reasons key among these practices include a robust Environmental and Social Management System for screening credit facilities and continued investment in social initiatives in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and for joining 131 other banks from across the globe as a founding signatory to the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Principles for Responsible Banking.

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Nasarawa Governor jet's off to the US for medical treatment


Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has travelled to the United States for medical check-up, leaving the administration of the state in the hands of his deputy, Emmanuel Akabe.⁣


He notified the House of Assembly that he would be away from December 13 to 29, 2020.⁣

Speaker of the House, Ibrahim Abdullahi, made this known while reading the governor’s letter to members.⁣

“In my absence, the deputy governor would oversee the affairs of the state pending my return,” the letter read in part. Sule is handing over to his deputy for the first time since he took over the mantle last year.

Saturday, December 12, 2020

Governor Sanwo-Olu tests positive for Covid-19


Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has tested positive for the coronavirus after he was exposed to a confirmed case.


“A PCR test performed yesterday the 11th of December has confirmed that he has indeed been infected with the virus,” Lagos State commissioner for information Gbenga Omotoso said.


The commissioner said the governor is showing mild symptoms and fatigue typical of a mild case of COVID and that he has started receiving treatment.

Untold Story Of Saddening Death Of Toyin Saraki's Brother Dapo Ojora


Other deaths only speak, but, suicide shrieks out. Yet, each man kills the thing he loves.

Some do it with poison; the brave man with a sword; Adedapo Adelanke  Ojora did it with a blazing gun. He shot himself in

Friday, December 11, 2020

Joshua prepared to go to final bell against Pulev


World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua said he is prepared to go to the final bell when he puts his WBA, IBF and WBO belts on the line against Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev on Saturday (December 12).

Britain's Joshua will start as clear favourite in front of 1,000 fans at Wembley Arena for the fight that was postponed in June because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I'm prepared to go to the final bell. I'm a 15-round fighter, not a 12-round fighter," Joshua, who reclaimed his titles by beating Andy Ruiz in a re-match in Saudi Arabia 12 months ago, said at an amiable news conference on Thursday.

Trouble, Drama As Popular Prophet Dele “Genesis” Ogundipe’s Prison Pictures Get Leaked

The drama over the imprisonment of popular prophet Oladele Ogundipe popularly known as Genesis is far from over – judging from the latest twist.

The pictures of the prophet currently serving time at Kirikiri Medium Security Correctional centre located in Apapa, Lagos state, sneakily taken, have been leaked.

How Gtbank Staff, CBN Official Burnt Bullion Van, ‘stole N70m’ In Kano


Two brothers, Yusuf Mukhtar and Bashir Mukhtar, who are staffers of CBN and GTBank respectively, have allegedly conspired to steal over N70m by burning down a bullion van to cover up their tracks.


DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the duo conspired with the driver of the van to pour petrol on the vehicle and set it on fire on November 13 in an isolated track on the new campus of Bayero University, Kano.


Mahama accuses Ghana's election commission of manipulating results


Ghana's former president John Mahama on Thursday (December 10) accused the country's election commission of manipulating results in favour of his opponent and said his party had won both the presidential and parliamentary elections.

Incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo was awarded a second four-year term in office in Monday's (December 7) election, following a tightly contested vote that was tainted by violence in which five people died.

Akufo-Addo's New Patriotic Party (NPP) lost dozens of seats but retained 137, while that of Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), secured 136, according to the commission. Mahama said his party won the undeclared seat. Another was won by an independent.

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine Data Stolen In Europe


U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech said on Wednesday that documents related to development of their COVID-19 vaccine had been “unlawfully accessed” in a cyberattack on Europe’s medicines regulator.


The European Medicines Agency (EMA), which assesses medicines and vaccines for the European Union, said hours earlier it had been targeted in a cyberattack . It gave no further details.

How The CBN and First Bank Plc Ex-employee Indicted in CBN Mutilated Currency Scam Lied About Bribe Demand from EFCC


The claims that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC investigators pressured former bankers, standing trial for allegedly defrauding the Central Bank of Nigeria in the mutilated currency scam, for a bribe of N96 million for their release on bail, the EFCC says is untrue.


Three former bankers, Ayodele Adeyemi, Ishaq Akano and Ajiwe Adegoke had in separate affidavit deposed to at the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State and published in an online platform, alleged that one Hammadama Bello, an operative of the EFCC asked them to raise N96 million to be set free. The trio who are among ex-bankers, indicted in a mutilated currency scam which investigation commenced in November 2014, alleged that for their inability to meet the bribe demand, the said Bello orchestrated their detention in a ‘German Cell’ in Abuja and forcefully seized their properties, claiming he had been collecting rent on the properties.

Maina slumps in court


Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), has collapsed before a federal high court in Abuja where he is being tried on charges of money laundering.


Maina slumped few minutes into the trial on Thursday while sitting beside the defendant’s dock.

The former pension chief on Wednesday told the court that he had no case to answer shortly after the EFCC, through its counsel, Farouk Abdullah, closed its case with the ninth prosecution witness.


Anayo Adibe, Maina’s new counsel, told Okon Abang, the judge, that he would file a formal application to argue his client’s no-case submission.

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

How Ghanaian Appeal Court Returned Ownership Of Winners Chapel Ghana To Bishop Oyedepo

 


After 16 Years, Ghanaian Appeal Court Returns Headquarter to Oyedepo’s Winners’ Chapel as Bishop Adjeman Ordered to Render Account to his Former Employers.

After over 16 years of the rebellion in Ghana by Bishop George Adjeman formerly of the Living Faith Church Worldwide aka Winners’ Chapel International, judgement has been delivered by the Ghana Court of Appeal in favour of the Winners’ Chapel founded and led by Bishop David Oyedepo.


Monday, December 7, 2020

Nigerians at war - Soyinka


Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has lamented the high level of insecurity in the country saying Nigerians are not only at war but are in a war zone.


Soyinka, who decried the seemingly intractable killings and kidnappings in the country, spoke yesterday in Lagos at the public presentation of his latest novel, Chronicles of the Happiest People on Earth.

Why the US added Nigeria to blacklist on religious freedom


The United States on Monday placed Nigeria for the first time on a religious freedom blacklist, pressing an ally as Christian groups voice growing insecurity.


Secretary of State Mike Pompeo designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious freedom, the rare inclusion of a fellow democracy in the US effort to shame nations into action.


“These annual designations show that when religious freedom is attacked, we will act,” Pompeo, an evangelical Christian, wrote on Twitter.

Details : BUA Group Gifts Bauchi Govt 3 Ambulances & 50,000 Facemasks As Part Of N8Billion Spending In Fight Against Covid-19

 


As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Nigeria, BUA Group, one of Africa’s leading foods and infrastructure companies has donated three ambulances and 50,000 facemasks to Bauchi State in line with its

The Talk Of The Town As Winners Of Lagos Bye-Elections Tokunbo Abiru & Femi Saheed Pay “Thank-You” Visit To Tinubu


Winners of the Saturday, December 5, 2020 bye-elections in Lagos state Tokunbo Abiru (senator-elect) and Femi Saheed (State House of Assembly member-elect) have paid a

"Any Act Of Hooliganism Hiding Behind Lawful And Peaceful Protests Will Be Dealt With Decisively" - President Warns


President Muhammadu Buhari Monday in Abuja warned that any act of hooliganism hiding behind lawful and peaceful protests will be

Fayemi Says No To Zoning Ahead 2023 Presidential Election

 


Governorof Ekiti State Dr. Kayode Fayemi has said that he is not an advocate of zoning.


Fayemi’s comment

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Why It Is Wrong To Say Igbos Hate Tinubu


 There is a popular notion that the Igbo people, collectively, hold some sort of grudge against Tinubu. This conception is almost

Saturday, December 5, 2020

Alleged N1.6bn Oil Fraud: Court Adjourns Trial of Omokore, Others till Feb 2020


Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Thursday, December 3, 2020, adjourned till February 22, 2021 for continued trial of Jide Omokore, two of his companies, Atlantic Energy Brass Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, as well as Victor Briggs, former managing director, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC and Membere Abiye for alleged oil fraud involving Omokore’s companies in respect of a Strategic Alliance Agreement on OML 26, 30, 34 & 42.

How Maina Bought a $2m Property in Abuja, Others in Dubai, USA... Witness Tells Court


The trial of Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman, Pension Reform Task Team, (PRTT) continued on Thursday, December 3, 2020, with the prosecution witness nine (PW9), Rouqayyah Ibrahim, telling the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Okong Abang how Maina acquired properties in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, United States of America, and a $2million (Two Million USA Dollars), property in Jabi, Abuja.


The witness, who is an EFCC detective revealed that a prosecution witness, Adamu Modibbo, who testified to the EFCC regarding the said Jabi, Abuja property, allegedly died of Covid-19 after his statement to the Commission.

Billionaire Harry Akande dies at 77

 


Billionaire businessman, Harry Akande is dead and his son has confirmed this development.

Here is how Olumide announced the death of wealthy Nigerian

“Chief Harry Ayoade Akande, Agba Oye of Ibadanland (March 3, 1943-December 5, 2020)
In the early hours of Saturday December 5, 2020, our patriarch Chief Harry Ayodele Akande passed away following a brief illness.

Friday, December 4, 2020

Arik Air management declares 300 staff redundant


The management of Arik Air has relieved 300 members of staff of their appointments.

The company explained that a redundancy package would be provided for the affected workers with the help of the aviation unions.

In a statement that read in part, the company says:

Alleged $25,000 Bribe: Court adjourns suit against Shehu Sani untill Jan. 27

 


The Federal High Court Abuja on Friday, adjourned the alleged bribery case filed against Shehu Sani until Jan. 27 over the prosecution’s unpreparedness to play an audio recording it tendered in evidence.

Ex Pension Task Force Boss, Maina To Stay In Prison Until Trial Ends


The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, ordered that former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Force Team, Abulrasheed Maina, be remanded in prison until

Most Senior Civil Servant To Take Over As Court Suspends Pondei Led NDDC Board, Orders Investigation Into N3Billion Fraud With Akpabio Roped In

 


A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Interim Management Commitee of the Niger Delta Development Commission,( NDDC) led by Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei, from performing the functions of

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Invictus Obi Okeke Forfeit's N235 Million to FG



Justice A. M. Liman of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the final forfeiture of N235,451,969 traced to the account of a convicted fraudster, Obinwanne Okeke, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.


Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wilson Uwujaren, announced this in a statement on Thursday.

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

N570 million Fraud: Court Defers Ruling on Freezing of Oyo-Ita's Account till Dec 3

 The trial of former Head of Service of the Federation (HoS), Winifred Oyo-Ita continued on Tuesday, December 1, 2020, with the trial judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo of Federal High Court Abuja, adjourning ruling till December 3, 2020 on the propriety or otherwise of the order freezing, the accounts belonging to the fourth, fifth and sixth defendants, secured by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) in a different court.


The freeze order obtained by the Commission from Justice Mojisola Giwa-Ogubanjo of a Federal High Court, Abuja became contentious issue following objections to it by the defence team, which felt it constituted abuse of court process.


A.C Ananukwa and Chitoo Veronica Nbanor, who are counsel to the fourth, fifth and sixth defendants further told the court that their clients could not make an appearance in court today because their accounts had been frozen, leaving them and their families high and dry.


They therefore requested the court to mandate the EFCC to unfreeze the accounts.


Though Justice Taiwo was piqued by the freeze order from another court, which he felt undermined his court, the prosecution took time to explain the wisdom in its action.


Addressing the judge and the defence counsel, prosecution counsel M.S. Abubakar stated that the freeze order would not impact the trial of the defendants, disclosing that the EFCC secured the freeze order based on other cases involving the defendants in both Justices Ogubanjo and I.E. Ekwo’s court.


“At this point, it is worthy to explain that the criminal matter between your lordships is a one of a whole. The first defendant in this matter has been availed with some of the counts in charge number 60 and 61 before Justice Ogunbanjo and, I.E Ekwo charge number FAC/ABJ/CR/61/2020 between FG and Kabir Turaki SAN and five others.


“The bank accounts of the respondents in the application to Ogunbanjo contain some bank accounts before you and the other charge that I mentioned earlier (Kabir Turaki) as the two case emanated from Ekwo and yours emanated from the same case file, but because of the multiplicity of the members of the case, the prosecution decided to split the two charges for ease of prosecution.


“In light of this, it is my humble submission, that we did not engage in abuse of court processes. We also did not file this application as lack of confidence in the court. We only did it in exercise of our statutory duty and with utmost transparency.


“However we sincerely apologize in the event that our action displeased this honourable court. We have confidence in your lordship’s ability to do justice in this matter and all other matters,” Abubakar stated.



Though Abubakar opposed the defence’s application for adjournment, saying that it ran against Section 3 and 6 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and contrary to Section 19, 2c of EFCC Act 2004 and Section 20 (3) of the Money Laundering Act of 2011 as amended, upon which this case was filed, the judge adjourned further proceedings in the case, saying he needed time to study the arguments of the prosecution on the frozen accounts to make his ruling.


Qatar 2022 will be a special experience for football fans - Eto’o

 


Samuel Eto’o believes the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ will offer many unique and memorable experiences for fans when the next edition of football’s showpiece event heads to the Middle East and Arab world in two years’ time.


In an interview with qatar2022.qa, the former Cameroon international – who serves as a Global Ambassador for the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) – highlighted some of his favourite places to visit in the country.

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

ICPC Uncovers Hidden $919,000 in one of Rivers State's Federal High Court Account


Acting on a petition instituted against some officials of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt for alleged corrupt practices, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has obtained an Interim Forfeiture Order on the sum of USD919,202.07 (approximately N450 million) fraudulently hidden in a bank account.