Category: PM News

Fourteen residents of Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State were on Friday sentenced to 14 days imprisonment for indiscriminate dumping of refuse on public roads and in drainages.

They were sentenced by Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court in sitting in Isabo.

The convicts are: Mr Soji Oloyede, Mrs Dayo Fasola, Mrs Maria Ogundimu, Mrs Ajoke Omotoke, Mrs Mustapha Kehinde, Mrs Bolanle Akingbola, Mrs Simbiat Idowu.

Others are Mrs Adeola Mustapha, Mrs Anu Adesanya, Mrs Ajoke Akinola, Mrs Chidinms Innocent, Mr Ismail Ali, Mrs Adetola Meshioye and Mrs Rasidat Taiwo.

The convicts had pleaded guilty to the two-count charge of unlawful refuse dumping and accumulation of waste on public roads and drains levelled against them.

Delivering judgment, Magistrate O.O. Sam-Obaleye sentenced each of the defendants to 14 days in the correctional centre.

The magistrate, however, gave the convicts an option of N10,000 fine each after they pleaded guilty to the charges.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Evelyn Motim, told the court that the convicts committed the offences on Aug. 6, between 6:30 a.m. and 8:05 a.m., in different parts of Abeokuta.

Motim, said the convicts were arrested by public health officials during a routine early morning inspection/patrol.

She said that the defendants dumped refuse on public roads which emitted offensive odour and attracted flies capable of spreading diseases, including cholera.

She added that they also accumulated and disposed refuse on public roads and drains, thereby exposing the areas to flooding and endangering lives and property.

The prosecutor said the offences were committed at Idi-Aba, Ago-Oko, Abiola Way, Sapon, Isale-Igbein, Oke-Ijeun, Olokuta, Imo, Oke-Itokun, Ijaiye, Obafemi, Garage, Elite and Grammar School areas of Abeokuta.

According to her, the offences contravened Section 34(1) of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority Law, 2020, and relevant provisions of the Ogun State Public Health Law, 2020.

The Kogi Government has ordered arrest of a leader of a vigilante group and others after death of a herder led to reprisal killings in Abugi, Kuchinda and Mikugi communities of Kupa Kingdom, Lokoja Local Government Area of the state.

This was revealed in a statement issued to commiserate with families of victims of reprisal killings by the state government on Thursday.

Kogi Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Kingsley Fanwo who signed the statement vowed that all perpetrators of the reprisal killings would be apprehended and prosecuted.

He described the incident as tragic, senseless and unacceptable, stressing that no misunderstanding should result in the loss of innocent lives.

Fanwo said Gov. Ahmed Ododo extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and the entire Kupa Kingdom, praying for the peaceful repose of the deceased and comfort for those left behind.

According to him, preliminary reports showed that the crisis began after an unarmed herder was allegedly shot and killed by a member of the local vigilante on suspicion of cattle rustling.

The commissioner said the killing was followed by a reprisal attack allegedly carried out by armed persons, who targeted innocent residents of Abugi, Kuchinda and Mikugi, resulting in multiple deaths and heightened tension in the area.

‘The Kogi government condemns in the strongest terms, both the killing of the unarmed herder and subsequent reprisal attack.

‘These are criminal acts that have no place in our society.

‘Anyone found to have participated in either incident, regardless of status or ethnic affiliation, will face the full wrath of the law,’ Fanwo stated.

The commissioner disclosed that the governor has directed security agencies to take control of the affected communities, restore peace and prevent further breakdown of law and order.

‘The governor has ordered the immediate arrest of the vigilante member, alleged to have killed the herder, as well as those behind the reprisal attack, including the leader of the Hybrid Vigilante Group suspected to have coordinated the assault.’

He appealed to residents to remain calm and resist reprisals, and urged members of the public to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information to aid investigations and arrests.

He said the state government is working closely with security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to restore lasting peace across Kupa Kingdom and rebuild confidence among affected communities.

The commissioner reiterated the Ododo administration’s commitment to protecting every resident of Kogi

He stressed that government will continue to uphold justice, strengthen peaceful coexistence and ensure that criminals have no hiding place in the state.

Nigerian troops have neutralised nine terrorists in a precision airstrike in Borno and apprehended six suspected kidnappers and terrorist logistics suppliers receiving treatment for gunshot wounds in Plateau.

The piece of information is in a Military Operational Report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.

The report stated that the successes were recorded during ongoing operations across the North-East, North-Central and other theatres.

It noted that an Air Interdiction Mission, codenamed GUARDIAN, tracked three motorcycles conveying nine terrorists around Mai Hisari Arege in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno.

It added that the aircraft conducted a precision strike, destroying the motorcycles and neutralising all nine terrorists.

The report also revealed that troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN arrested six suspected kidnappers and terrorist logistics suppliers at a hospital in Jos South Local Government Area.

It said the suspects, who were receiving treatment for gunshot and machete wounds, are in military custody for further investigation.

‘Troops also arrested a Fulani youth leader in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna over alleged links to a recent terrorist attack on Naridon Community.

‘In Benue, troops conducting offensive operations in Ukum Local Government Area made contact with suspected terrorists, killing one while others fled.

‘The troops recovered a locally fabricated pistol, a motorcycle and other items during the operation.

‘Meanwhile, troops responding to an attack on herders in Guma Local Government Area of Benue arrested a suspect accused of macheting a herder, while the injured victim was evacuated for medical treatment,’ it said.

The Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) said reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu have helped boosted market capitalisation of listed companies from N30 trillion in May 2023 to over N150 trillion.

‘In May 2023, when Mr President came into office, the market capitalisation was just shy of N30 trillion. Today, that figure is over N150 trillion,’ NGX Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Temi Popoola, disclosed on Thursday.

He spoke after NGX and Securities and Exchange Commission officials met President Bola Tinubu at the presidential villa, Abuja.

The delegation briefed the President on capital market performance, growth prospects and measures required to deepen participation and attract more investors.

He cited fuel subsidy removal, foreign exchange reforms and the Investment and Securities Act signed into law in 2025.

Popoola also highlighted banking sector recapitalisation and digital transformation initiatives aimed at broadening access to capital market opportunities.

‘The banks have raised over N4 trillion and before the end of this year maybe over N5 trillion, mostly from domestic investors,’ he said.

Popoola said market capitalisation could reach about N230 trillion by the end of 2026, driven by anticipated major listings.

He identified the proposed listing of the Dangote Refinery among developments expected to further boost market value and investor confidence.

According to him, the growth has created substantial wealth for investors and businesses across the country.

Popoola estimated that between 500,000 and 900,000 new millionaires had emerged through gains recorded in the capital market.

He added that earnings of many listed companies had risen sharply, with some firms recording up to five-fold growth since 2023.

The NGX chief attributed the market expansion to key reforms introduced under the Tinubu administration.

He said the delegation presented a vision of a capital market capable of financing infrastructure and supporting Nigeria’s one-trillion-dollar economy ambition.

Popoola noted that Nigeria could become a major financing hub for Africa if current reforms and policies were sustained.

He said NGX urged the Federal Government to accelerate privatisation and list stakes in major national assets.

The assets proposed for listing include Nigeria LNG, Indorama and selected Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. assets.

‘We pressed Mr President to consider support for government stakes in these companies to come to the market,’ he said.

Popoola said the exchange also requested incentives to encourage more private firms to list locally rather than seek foreign listings exclusively.

He disclosed that Tinubu assured the delegation of his support and commitment to policies that would deepen market development.

Earlier, NGX Group Chairman, Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, said the Nigerian market was recently ranked among the world’s best-performing exchanges.

He attributed the achievement to the administration’s economic reforms and increased investor confidence in the Nigerian economy.

‘We are coming from less than N50 trillion to today over N150 trillion and we are still growing.

‘These are all part of the success stories of what Mr President has done,’ he said.

Kwairanga said the President also expressed support for listing additional national assets to broaden wealth creation opportunities.

Also speaking, SEC Director-General, Dr Emomotimi Agama, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to market stability and sustained growth.

‘We will do our best as regulators to provide an enabling environment for participants in the Nigerian capital market,’ Agama said.

He thanked investors for their confidence and expressed optimism that the market would continue contributing significantly to economic growth.

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Friday formally received 163 kidnap victims rescued by a combined team of security agencies, describing the operation as a major milestone in the fight against kidnapping and terrorism in Nigeria.

The victims, who were abducted during the February 3, 2026 terrorist attack on Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area, were handed over to the state government by the Nigerian Army in Ilorin after spending 48 hours receiving medical treatment and trauma care at various health facilities on the governor’s directive.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, AbdulRazaq congratulated President Bola Tinubu on what has been described as Nigeria’s largest single-day hostage rescue operation, praising the intelligence-led mission and the renewed synergy among the military and other security agencies.

The governor also commended the Nigerian Army and other participating security agencies for their professionalism, courage and sacrifice, saying their coordinated efforts had restored hope to families who had endured months of uncertainty.

He assured the victims of the state government’s continued support, pledging comprehensive medical care, psychosocial counselling and rehabilitation to aid their recovery and reintegration into society.

The rescue formed part of a broader operation in which 308 abductees were freed from forest hideouts across Kwara and neighbouring Niger State, including 145 victims rescued from Niger, in an operation President Tinubu hailed as the country’s biggest same-day recovery of kidnap victims.

The victims from Kwara had spent about six months in captivity after gunmen attacked Woro community, killing scores of residents and abducting hundreds during one of the deadliest attacks recorded in the state this year.

However, community leaders disclosed that 13 persons remain unaccounted for, urging security agencies to sustain search-and-rescue operations until every abductee is brought home.

They also revealed that some women gave birth while in captivity, underscoring the prolonged ordeal endured by many of the victims.

AbdulRazaq reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting security operations and strengthening collaboration with federal authorities to eliminate criminal groups threatening communities across the state.

President Bola Tinubu has praised Nigeria’s Economic Management Team and the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), saying their efforts have helped restore confidence in the economy and triggered remarkable growth in the nation’s capital market.

Receiving the NGX board and management at the State House in Abuja on Thursday, the President said recent improvements in key economic indicators and favourable assessments from experts showed that the country’s economic outlook was improving.

An NGX delegation led by Chairman, Dr Umaru Kwairanga, and Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Temi Popoola, informed the President that the value of the exchange had grown from about N30 trillion in 2023 to N160 trillion.

Tinubu said the gains reflected the impact of reforms introduced by his administration, which he noted were designed in line with global best practices to lay the foundation for long-term economic growth.

He singled out members of the Economic Management Team, including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo; Oyedele, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; Central Bank Governor, Yemi Cardoso; and Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Dr Zacch Adedeji, for commendation.

Reflecting on the early days of his administration, the President said the economy he inherited posed serious challenges.

‘When we took over, it was very challenging. I had to talk to myself and define my background to accept the assets and liabilities of my predecessor. I asked for the job, and I have to do it,’ Tinubu said.

He also applauded Cardoso’s role in implementing monetary reforms and reiterated his support for the government’s economic team.

‘If the stock market is doing well, then we are doing well. Nigeria can build a nation of prosperity by itself,’ he said.

Tinubu stressed that greater private sector investment would create jobs and drive development, maintaining that his administration’s ambition of building a one trillion dollar economy remained achievable. He also disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited would eventually be listed on the Nigerian capital market.

A Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced four persons for their involvement in a money laundering scheme involving $5,296,691 million.

The convicts; Bamidele Ayodele Emmanuel, Abdullah Oriyomi Yusuf, Garuba Fathiat Funmilayo, and Gbenro Victor Ademola were separately arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Dele Oyewale, EFCC head of media and publicity in a statement on Friday said the suspects were convicted and sentenced on Wednesday, 5 July.

One of the charges against Bamidele Ayodele Emmanuel reads: ‘That you, BAMIDELE AYODELE EMMANUEL, between January 1 and January 31, 2025, in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, directly retained the sum of $826,691 (Eight Hundred and Twenty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Ninety-One United States Dollars) in your account, No. 0126008755, domiciled with Wema Bank, which you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.’

The defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them.

Following their guilty pleas, the prosecution counsel, Bilkisu Buhari, reviewed the facts of the cases before the court.

She told the court that investigations revealed the defendants sold their personal information to one Afeez Animashaun, who approached them at Mushin Market in Lagos, where they conduct their businesses.

Buhari further disclosed that investigations established that the defendants’ identities were used to incorporate College Compass Eduguide Nigeria Limited, Hortifresh Solutions Nigeria Limited, Eduboost Innovation Nigeria Limited, and Fixit Hardware and Tools Nigeria Limited, and to open corporate bank accounts, which were subsequently used by those companies to receive millions of dollars in January 2025.

She urged the court to convict the defendants as charged and impose appropriate sentences.

Delivering judgment, Justice F.N. Ogazi of found all four defendants guilty on the second count only out of the two counts preferred against them and sentenced them accordingly.

Bamidele Ayodele Emmanuel was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, followed by three months of community service.

He was also ordered to forfeit ?1 million to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Garuba Fathiat Funmilayo received a four-month prison sentence, 15 months of community service, and was ordered to forfeit ?1 million to the Federal Government within 72 hours.

Abdullah Oriyomi Yusuf was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, three months of community service, and ordered to forfeit ?800,000 to the Federal Government.

Gbenro Victor Ademola was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, three months of community service, and ordered to forfeit ?700,000 to the Federal Government within 72 hours.

The court also ordered the convicts to partner with the EFCC in creating public awareness and advocacy on the dangers of selling and giving out personal data to other persons indiscriminately.

A 47 year-old man, Ugochukwu Eze was on Thursday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly hacking into the server of SunTrust Bank to steal a total of N800m.

Ugochukwu also known as Amazon, was arraigned before the court by the operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS).

DSS accused Ugochukwu of fraudulently hacking into the server of SunTrust Bank to remove and divert the sum of N800 million into several accounts in other financial institutions.

The DSS Prosecuting counsel, M. Bajela in the charges filed before the court alleged that the defendant and others now at large, between 2023 and 2026, conspired among themselves and unlawfully and seriously hindered the function of Suntrust Bank Plc’s computer system server and in the process fraudulently diverted over N800 million belonging to the bank.

Ugochukwu was also accused of concealing and transferring various sums of money traced to the unlawful cyber-attacks to some account in some financial institutions.

The offences alleged to have been committed by the defendant according to the prosecutor contravened sections 5; 6(1) and 8 of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2024. And Sections 10, 20 and 18(2)(D) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

Based on his plea of not guilty, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date, and prayed the court to remand the defendant in the facility of the correctional services pending the time trial will commence.

However, the defendant’s lawyer, E. Afrogha, told the court that she has filed her client’s bail application. adding that her client has been in the DSS custody for over a month.

But the prosecution counsel told the court that he has not been served with the bail application, not withstanding that his witnesses are available.

Based on the counsels’ submissions, the presiding judge, Justice Friday Ogazi, adjourned the matter to August 24,2026 for hearing of the bail application.

The judge also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services pending the hearing of the bail application.

One of the counts against the defendant reads: ‘That you UGOCHUKWU EZE (AKA AMAZON) (M) (47 YEARS) sometime between 2023 and 2026 in Lagos, and other places within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, unlawfully seriously hindered the function of SunTrust Bank Plc’s computer system, and in the process fraudulently diverted over N800, 000,000.00 (Eight Hundred Million Naira) belonging to the said SunTrust Bank thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 8 of the cybercrime (prohibition, prevention etc.) Act, 2024.’

Osun State Government has rejected the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) explanation for freezing its bank accounts, alleging that the N11 billion diversion claim was an attempt to justify a politically motivated action against the administration.

Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, in a statement on Thursday, accused the EFCC of using the allegation as a cover for what he described as an unlawful move aimed at stopping the state’s planned payment of palliatives to workers.

The EFCC had on Wednesday said it froze the state government’s accounts over alleged fraudulent handling of N11 billion ecological and intervention funds, adding that it had been investigating the matter since March.

The commission also said some officials of the state government, including the accountant-general, had appeared before its investigators, while huge transfers were allegedly traced from the accounts to different corporate entities during the probe.

However, Alimi dismissed the EFCC’s explanation, insisting that the account freeze was connected to the N20,000 palliative payment announced by the state government for workers amid economic hardship.

‘The real reason the commission froze the state account on the order of Gboyega Oyetola was to stop the payment of palliatives which the state government promised the workers some months ago,’ he said.

The commissioner said the government had already paid the palliatives to workers across the state following negotiations with labour representatives.

Alimi accused the EFCC of ‘pursuing a hatchet job for Osun APC’ through the account freeze, alleging that the investigation was aimed at distracting the administration from delivering on its programmes.

‘We don’t loot public funds in Osun State; we deliver on public goods and services,’ he said.

He maintained that the state’s resources were being committed to workers’ welfare, infrastructure projects and other areas of development, while rejecting what he described as attempts to tarnish Governor Ademola Adeleke’s image.

Alimi further alleged that the EFCC had been conducting a ‘witch-hunting investigation’ since March without producing evidence against senior government officials.

The commissioner argued that if the anti-graft agency had evidence of financial misconduct, it should follow established legal procedures rather than freezing government accounts.

The development comes amid heightened political tension in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with Adeleke seeking re-election under the Accord Party platform.

The governor’s camp has previously accused federal agencies of intimidation ahead of the election, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed such claims as political excuses.

Elder statesman and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Bode George, has responded to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s description of him as the ‘father of corruption’, accusing the minister of crossing the line and saying he needs urgent medical attention.

George, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, made the statement while reacting to Wike’s allegation that his Abuja residence was acquired with funds belonging to Rivers State.

The PDP chieftain dismissed the claim as false, insisting that he bought the property from a private owner through an agent.

‘My house in Abuja was bought with funds from Rivers? How? The house was built by someone else. I bought it, and it is still there,’ George said.

He said he would institute legal action against Wike over the allegation, describing the claim as unacceptable.

George said it was beneath his dignity to engage the FCT minister in a public exchange, describing Wike as immature compared with his age and political experience.

He also accused Wike of making reckless statements and alleged that the minister spends millions of naira weekly on media coverage, though the claim could not be independently verified.

The elder statesman urged President Bola Tinubu to distance himself from what he described as ‘attack dogs’, saying the President did not need individuals who insult political opponents and senior citizens.

On the crisis within the PDP, George said the party’s internal problems remained unresolved despite the emergence of a presidential candidate by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), noting that the matter was still before the courts.