Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Researchers have advocated a peacebuilding approach to rebuild the fractured peace in farmer-herder conflict through solutions journalism and sustained intervention to help the victims.

A media and conflict researcher, Dr Ridwan Kolawole of the Department of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan and Dr Yikwab Yikwabs of Sociology Department, Federal University, Lokoja, spoke at the 2026 Africa University Seminar Series Nigeria (AUSS-NG) of the Social Science Research Council’s African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APDD) in Lagos.

While Kolawole presented a paper titled, ‘It Is Not All About the Negative Slant: Exploring Solutions Perspectives to Nigerian Media Reportage of Farmer-Herder Conflict,’ Yikwabs spoke on Coping Strategies Employed by Orphans and Widows as a Result of Farmer-Herder Conflict in North Central, Nigeria

The conference hosted by the Institute for African and Diaspora Studies, University of Lagos and held at the Arthur Mbanefo Digital Research Centre, was attended by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Muyiwa Falaye and the Director of the Institute, Professor Ayo Yusuff, who was represented by Professor Kayode Esuola.

Both Kolawole and Yikwabs are alumni of the SSRC’s APDD doctoral fellowship (formerly Next Generation Social Science in Africa).

Kolawole won the doctoral fellowship in 2019, 2020 and 2022, while Yikwabs received the fellowship in 2021 and 2022.

Dr Kolawole’s presentation titled, ‘It is Not All About the Negative Slant’: Exploring Solutions Perspectives to Nigerian Media Reportage of Farmer-Herder Conflict, is part of his doctoral thesis findings on how Nigerian newspapers reported the conflict.

The media and conflict researcher revealed that with respect to reporting farmer-herder conflict by Nigerian newspapers, the ‘predominant slant of reporting is that of doom and hopelessness’

He argued that while reporting the realities of conflicts remains essential, journalism should also examine responses to social problems with the aim of addressing them.

He said, ‘While many journalists hide under the guise of ‘If we don’t report the story, how will the concerned authorities respond and proffer solutions?’ Kolawole contends that as much as this is good, it must be done with caution and within a context that promotes peace.

Dr Kolawole, who interrogated the media reportage through two objectives, ‘the overall construction of people and events in the Nigerian media reportage of farmer-herder conflict’ and ‘Nigerian newspapers’ deployment of alternative means of reporting as a way of changing the narrative’, said the selected newspapers’ reportage of the conflict was predominantly conflict-escalatory.

‘The media’s preoccupation was centred on blameworthy labelling, ethnic profiling, and derogatory appellations such as criminal herder, murderous herder, killer, among others, which did not help in solving the problem’

He, however, noted that despite negative and escalatory perspectives, ‘it is not all about the negative slant’.

‘Some of the reportage explored solutions journalism, although not as comprehensive as expected and not deliberate.

‘Some of the reports featured reconciliation, peacebuilding and conflict resolution’

‘Peace Reporting is non-negotiable; we are all members of society’

Kolawole enjoined journalists to remain committed to factual and truthful reporting, stressing that reporting conflicts should not be interpreted as an attempt to worsen the situation when the reports are professionally produced.

While advocating the application of solutions journalism as a way of broadening the media’s approach to reporting social problems, the Solutions Journalism Network (SJN, USA) certified trainer enjoined journalists to give people hope instead of pervasive problem-escalatory reporting.

Cautioning the media to be wary of escalatory tones and frames in their reportage, Kolawole noted that the media and their personnel are part of the society, who can also become victims if the conflict escalates.

‘The role of the media goes beyond its traditional functions of informing, educating and entertaining, as journalists can also contribute to peace through responsible reporting; they also help de-escalate the problems and participate in peacebuilding’, Kolawole declared.

Kolawole’s presentation also highlighted the need for journalists to be conscious of the language and descriptions used when reporting conflicts, particularly in creating villains and actors and in shaping identity.

Victimisation, Victimhood and the coping strategies in farmer-herder conflict highlighted

Speaking on the Coping Strategies Employed by Orphans and Widows as a Result of Farmer-Herder Conflict in North Central, Nigeria, Dr Yikwab Yikwabs of the Federal University Lokoja reported that children and women who became orphans and widows as a result of farmer-herder conflict in Benue and Plateau states are often reflected.

The sociologist noted that institutional responses to this challenge have offered only immediate aid, without addressing long-term needs such as education for orphans and livelihood restoration for widows.

While advocating sustained intervention by the Federal and state governments to rebuild livelihoods and safe return of those displaced, Yikwabs highlighted coping strategies employed by orphans and Widows as a Result of Farmer-Herder Conflict in North Central Nigeria

The AUSS-NG 2026 Conference, with the theme Citizenship, Belonging and Geographies of Conflict in Contemporary Nigeria, brought together discussions on identity, politics, historicisation of conflict, religionisation of politics and politicisation of religion as drivers of conflict in Nigeria.

Tyson Fury will face Anthony Joshua in an all-British heavyweight showdown in Cardiff on December 11.

The long-awaited clash had initially been linked with venues in New York and London before promoters settled on the Principality Stadium in the Welsh capital.

After months of negotiations that threatened to scupper the fight as Fury called for a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, Saudi Arabian boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh announced the venue and date for the bout on Thursday.

‘For 15 years no one has been able to make this fight,’ he wrote on social media. ‘Back in April, I said that any announcement would come from me. I can now confirm that Fury vs. Joshua will be coming to the UK, as I promised British boxing fans. The time for talking is over…’

Choosing the 80,000-capacity stadium in Cardiff, which has hosted the Champions League and FA Cup finals, as well as Wales national team matches in football and rugby, allows both fighters to finally start their preparations for the eagerly-anticipated clash.

The fight, one of the biggest in British boxing history, will be broadcast on streaming service Netflix.

Fury, 38, defeated 46-year-old Mariusz Wach in Thailand in his most recent bout in July.

Joshua, 36, survived a pair of first-round knockdowns to beat the unheralded Kristian Prenga in his last fight two months ago.

The former two-time world champions had already signed contracts for the bout earlier this year, but the date and venue had yet to be confirmed.

Wembley in London and New York’s Madison Square Garden had been the leading contenders to stage the fight before the Cardiff decision.

‘Forever indebted to the UK public for their support of Anthony Joshua. We couldn’t have got this over the line without you,’ his promoter Eddie Hearn said.

More than a decade in the making, the bout between the former two-time world champions is the culmination of numerous false starts and spats before Thursday’s confirmation.

The federal government has directed contractors handling road projects in Niger State to accelerate construction and remedial works to improve connectivity, mobility and economic activity.

The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, gave the directive on Thursday during an inspection of the Bida-Lapai-Lambata and Maje-Dikko road corridors in the state.

Goronyo directed the contractors to step up remedial, palliative and permanent works, while assuring that the Federal Government would continue to monitor the two corridors.

He said the contractors must sustain the pace of work until affected sections were made safely and effectively motorable.

The inspection formed part of the Federal Ministry of Works’ monitoring of critical road projects across the country, particularly inherited projects requiring intervention to improve road safety and traffic movement.

In a statement on Friday by the minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Abdullahi Mohammed, Goronyo expressed concern over the pace of work on the 71.9-kilometre Maje-Jazu Section II project being handled by CCECC Nigeria Limited.

He disclosed that more than N10 billion had been released to the contractor as mobilisation from the project’s estimated value of about N90 billion.

Goronyo, however, said physical progress on the project stood at about one per cent.

The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to sustaining interventions on inherited road projects and expanding infrastructure delivery across the country.

‘The amount so far released to you as mobilisation is over ?10 billion. Yet, the progress of work on site is not commensurate with the amount that has been advanced to you.

‘The percentage of work completed is not even up to one per cent, whereas, according to the project schedule, you are expected to have achieved almost 16 percent at this stage. Honestly, we are not satisfied with the progress of work,’ Goronyo said.

He said the project, which involves the construction of about 11 culverts and 11 bridges, required urgent acceleration, noting that almost six months of its 36-month completion period had elapsed without appreciable progress.

‘The Minister is not satisfied with what you are doing, and that is also the position of all of us here. We are not satisfied with the progress recorded so far. Nigerians deserve better roads. Mr. President has already provided the necessary support and mobilisation for this project, and you have no excuse whatsoever not to deliver,’ he said.

The contractor attributed the slow pace partly to prolonged traffic congestion caused by articulated vehicles between June and August, saying the blockage had hindered the movement of equipment and materials.

It, however, said it had deployed additional machinery, manpower and technical personnel following the clearance of the traffic and committed to accelerating construction.

The contractor said it expected to complete about nine to 10 kilometres of the road by March next year, but Goronyo said that would not constitute sufficient progress given the overall length of the project.

‘You have told us that the gridlock caused by articulated vehicles between June and August affected your operations. But this contract was awarded in February. What were you doing from February to June? That explanation is not acceptable,’ he said.

Goronyo subsequently directed the contractor to deploy additional machines, equipment, materials and manpower, insisting that the project be delivered within the stipulated timeframe.

Meanwhile, the Director of Construction and Rehabilitation, David Yiltong Dechi, said the contractor handling permanent rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Lambata-Lapai corridor had indicated its readiness to mobilise.

He recommended immediate palliative measures, including the deployment of boulders, stone-base materials, graders and bulldozers at critical locations to maintain motorability during the rainy season until conditions became favourable for full-scale permanent works.

Speaking on the approximately 123.4-kilometre Bida-Lapai-Lambata corridor, Goronyo said the project was inherited by the present administration and was being executed under the Presidential/NNPC Tax Credit financing arrangement.

He said the heavy movement of articulated vehicles along the corridor informed the use of continuously reinforced concrete pavement in the project to enhance durability and service life.

Goronyo, who sympathised with motorists over the prolonged delays and difficult travelling conditions, said the government would combine immediate palliative intervention with permanent reconstruction.

‘We deeply sympathise with the drivers and other road users. This is a very important economic corridor, and we cannot allow it to fail completely. We are going to push the contractor to mobilise early and undertake palliative works to provide relief to motorists while we await the full reconstruction of the road,’ he said.

The Minister stressed that the administration had inherited several road projects but had continued to address them rather than abandon ongoing works, describing road infrastructure as critical to economic growth, trade, mobility and national development.

At the Maje-Dikko section, Goronyo expressed satisfaction with improvements recorded after the ministry issued a 48-hour directive to restore passability but directed the contractor to increase its mobilisation and sustain round-the-clock operations at critical sections.

‘The progress of the work so far is impressive, and we are satisfied with what you have been doing over the last few days. But you need to double your efforts, mobilise more materials and equipment, and concentrate on the difficult sections. Nigerians deserve better roads, and we have no excuse,’ he said.

The Managing Director of Trunkroad Consortium Nigeria Limited, Isaac Abeka, said the contractor had responded to the directive by deploying additional personnel, materials and equipment, resulting in a significant easing of the gridlock.

He said failed sections had been backfilled with stones, rocks and boulders, followed by the application and grading of stone-base materials, while drainage channels were opened to improve water flow away from the road.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Transportation, Prince Adetokunbo Ademola, described the road as an inherited project and said efforts were underway to provide both immediate palliative relief and long-term reconstruction.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has built a pound 162 million investment portfolio in Nigeria across six projects, with pound 65 million already disbursed or issued as guarantees, as the development finance institution accelerates its expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The figures, published in the EBRD’s current Nigeria country profile, show that the Bank has six active portfolio operations in the country, with the private sector accounting for 47 per cent of its portfolio. Nigeria joined the EBRD as a recipient country in 2025, and the Bank said it had invested pound 620 million across its five Sub-Saharan African countries of operation in less than a year.

The regional figure represents a substantial increase from the pound 350 million the EBRD reported earlier in the year, underscoring the rapid build-up of its African operations.

The Bank’s Strategy Implementation Plan 2026-28 had projected a gradual expansion into Sub-Saharan Africa, with the longer-term objective of investing more than pound 1 billion annually in the region from 2027.

One of the largest EBRD-backed projects in Nigeria is the Nigeria Sovereign Fibre Project, under which the Bank is providing a sovereign loan of up to $100 million to support Nigeria’s participation in a special-purpose vehicle for the nationwide rollout of approximately 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic broadband infrastructure.

The project is intended to expand affordable high-speed connectivity, particularly in underserved areas, while supporting digital public services, productivity and economic diversification. The EBRD says the loan is supported by up to pound 22 million in European Union grants for technical assistance, including detailed designs and capacity building.

A General Procurement Notice published by the EBRD on September 23 further confirmed that the $100 million loan to the special-purpose vehicle is being complemented by a pound 22 million EU grant and pound 500,000 from EBRD shareholder funds. The procurement notice relates to consultancy services for the project.

The Bank’s $100 million loan is one component of the financing structure and should not be presented as the total cost of the nationwide project.

Another major transaction with a Nigerian component is the proposed Mota-Engil Africa facility.

The EBRD approved a corporate loan of up to pound 162 million to Mota-Engil Africa, but the financing covers activities in several African countries. Of the facility, pound 63 million is allocated to railway construction equipment in Nigeria, while pound 99 million is linked to mining-services activities in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal.

The EBRD’s project documents identify the Nigerian component specifically as pound 63 million. The financing will support construction works associated with the Kano-Maradi railway and related railway infrastructure in Nigeria.

The Bank is also expanding its technology-financing activities through Ventures Platform Pan-African Fund II.

In May, the EBRD approved an equity investment of up to $8 million in the fund, which invests in early-stage technology companies in Nigeria and other African markets. The investment forms part of the EBRD’s pound 200 million Early-Stage Innovation Facility II.

However, the Ventures Platform investment is classified by the EBRD as a regional investment rather than a direct addition to its pound 162 million Nigeria country portfolio. The fund is designed to invest across Africa, with a focus that includes Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Morocco and Senegal.

Portfolio data as of August 31 showed pound 256 million in telecommunications, media and technology; pound 148 million in food and agribusiness; and pound 96 million in financial institutions. Together, the three sectors accounted for pound 500 million of the pound 615 million sector portfolio, or about 81 per cent.

Energy and municipal infrastructure each accounted for pound 36 million, while natural resources accounted for pound 26 million and equity funds pound 17 million.

The sector figures sum to pound 615 million and provide a snapshot of the EBRD’s regional portfolio at August 31 rather than its cumulative investment since entering Sub-Saharan Africa.

Nigeria’s growing importance to the Bank’s African strategy comes against an economy that the EBRD expects to expand by 4.1 per cent in 2026, following 4.1 per cent growth in 2024 and 4.0 per cent in 2025. Growth is forecast to moderate slightly to 3.9 per cent in 2027.

The EBRD said services, industry and agriculture would continue to support growth, while identifying inflation, higher energy prices, possible investment delays ahead of the 2027 elections and adverse weather conditions affecting agricultural output among the downside risks.

The EBRD’s country profile showed that Nigeria’s membership became effective in February 2025, when the country formally joined the Bank.

Since then, the institution has established a six-project portfolio, with pound 65 million classified as operating assets through disbursements and issued guarantees.

The expansion forms part of the EBRD’s broader strategy to establish a significant investment presence in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its 2026-28 implementation plan said the Bank intends to scale up its activities in the region and aims to reach more than pound 1 billion in annual investment by 2027.

The first batch of 100 Nigerians stranded in South Africa arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 8:30 p.m. yesterday, as the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) launched a humanitarian airlift to bring 500 Nigerians home.

The flight from Johannesburg marked the first phase of the church-sponsored repatriation programme, with four additional batches expected to bring back the remaining 400 registered Nigerians.

Speaking at the airport reception, the Special Adviser to the General Overseer on Special Duties and Chairman of the RCCG Task Force on Repatriation, Pastor Belemina Obunge, said the intervention was authorised by the church’s General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.

Obunge said the initiative was driven by the church’s concern for Nigerians required to return home from South Africa.

‘Moved by compassion for Nigerians who were required to return home from South Africa, the General Overseer approved the funding of air transportation for 500 Nigerians from Johannesburg to Lagos.

‘This first batch marks the commencement of that humanitarian intervention, with additional batches expected to follow,’ he said.

He commended the Nigerian diplomatic mission in South Africa for coordinating the repatriation process, particularly the Consul-General, Ambassador Ninikanwa O. Okey-Uche, and the Acting High Commissioner, Ambassador Temitope Ajayi.

Other government agencies involved in the operation were the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

While RCCG fully funded the charter flights, its representatives also offered spiritual support and helped to ensure the orderly handover of the returnees to the relevant government authorities.

After prayers and counselling, the returnees were handed over to the appropriate agencies for documentation, logistics and onward transportation to their respective home states.

Obunge said the returnees’ arrival marked the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.

‘Their return indeed is not the end of their journey, but it is the beginning of a new chapter, a chapter we believe will be glorious and will bring glory and honour to God,’ he said.

Also at the airport was the Chairman of the RCCG Central Mission Board, Pastor Amos Emoron, who, alongside Obunge, led the church task force that received the returnees.

Emoron said the beneficiaries were selected without discrimination based on religion, ethnicity or affiliation.

The church said subsequent phases of the airlift would be announced as the Nigerian diplomatic mission in South Africa completes documentation for the remaining 400 registered Nigerians.

Senator Ayo Akinyelure has highlighted the facilitation of more than 750 Federal Government employment opportunities for graduates from Ondo Central, alongside skills acquisition and empowerment initiatives for women, youths and other constituents, as part of his record of representation.

Akinyelure, who represented Ondo Central in the 7th and 9th Senate, said the employment opportunities cut across Federal Government ministries, departments, agencies, parastatals and other institutions with beneficiaries drawn from the six local governments.

He cited the distribution of deep freezers, motorcycles, tricycles, sewing and weaving machines, grinding machines, generators and hair dryers, as well as vehicles, as part of his constituency interventions.

The former lawmaker, who is the African Democratic Congress (ADC) senatorial candidate for Ondo Central, said the interventions were aimed at creating employment opportunities, developing skills and supporting constituents to improve their livelihoods.

Akinyelure said he was presenting the record for public scrutiny ahead of the 2027 general election, urging other candidates to also present their records, programmes and plans for Ondo Central.

Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, Director of Abuja Leadership Centre, Prof. Abdulhamid Suleiman, Southwest Zonal Coordinator, Youth Leadership Clinic, Morufat Aniso and others have urged youths on how to become good leaders for the betterment of their future.

Speaking in Ibadan at the 2026 Southwest Zonal edition of the Youth Leaders Clinic (YLC), with the theme: ‘Empowering the Next Generation, Raising Responsible, Ethical and Transformative Young Leaders’, Suleiman said leadership was one of the most essential pillars of national transformation.

He said the event marked another milestone in the commitment of University of Abuja, through the Abuja Leadership Centre, to develop leaders, who have character, competence, courage and clear vision for positive change.

He said if youths understood self-discipline, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, responsibility, communication, teamwork and national values ”at this stage of life, they will grow into leaders who will resist corruption, avoid negative influence and embrace service to humanity.”

Aniso, who says leadership begins with responsibility, vision and the courage to make a difference, advised youth leaders to see themselves as leaders, and not mere students, but part of the glory and future of Nigeria.

In her presentation titled: ‘Understanding Leadership, Ethical Leadership and Public Governance’, Jokotade Odebunmi urged youths to participate in governance and not leave it to the government alone, saying the task of making Nigeria better is a responsibility of all.

Olugbenro Esther, who spoke about ‘Leading in the Digital Age: ‘Artificial Intelligence, Emotional Intelligence and Digital Leadership’, advised youths to be responsible with the use of AI, ”because the future belongs to those who use AI responsibly.”

Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Segun Olayiwola, represented by Olajide T. A., hailed the organiser of the event for the initiative, saying the programme would prepare young ones to be better leaders in future.

Oba Ladoja, represented by Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, advised youths to be good citizens.

Police Commissioner Olugbenga Abimbola said the event would assist young leaders to become better in future.

He urged them to be security cautious, avoid hard drugs, and not join cultism, which, according to him, could destroy their lives.

Gaming agents and customers in the Southeast and Southsouth are to undergo capacity building on responsible gaming and player protection at a two-day programme in Owerri, Imo State, next month.

The programme, scheduled for October 14 and 15 at Imo Digital City Limited, is being organised by the Imo State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (ISLGA), in collaboration with Gamble Alert, an organisation focused on responsible gaming, gambling-harm prevention, research, counselling and stakeholder capacity development.

The Southeast and Southsouth Responsible Gaming Capacity Building Programme (SESSRG) is expected to bring together gaming agents, affiliates and other industry professionals who interact directly with players, as well as relevant regulatory stakeholders.

The organisers said the training would focus on strengthening participants’ understanding of responsible gaming, player protection and the identification and management of gambling-related risks.

Particular attention will be paid to retail gaming agents because of their direct and frequent interaction with players, they added.

According to Gamble Alert, agents occupy an important position in the responsible gaming chain because their conduct can influence how gaming products are accessed, marketed and experienced by consumers.

The organisation said the programme would equip participants with practical knowledge and tools to identify potential gambling-related risks and respond appropriately during their interactions with consumers.

It added that player protection should extend beyond encouraging individuals to gamble responsibly, stressing that professionals who operate at points of contact with players also need the knowledge and skills to support safer gaming practices.

Gamble Alert said responsible gaming should not be viewed solely as an awareness campaign or a regulatory requirement but as a practice that should be integrated across the gaming value chain.

The Owerri programme is also expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss challenges affecting responsible gaming, exchange knowledge and strengthen cooperation among operators, agents and regulators in the two regions.

The initiative comes amid growing emphasis on consumer protection and harm prevention in Nigeria’s gaming sector, particularly among stakeholders who have direct contact with players.

The Federal Character Commissioner representing Oyo State, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, has felicitated with the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, on the occasion of his 82nd birthday and first anniversary on the throne.

In a congratulatory message issued through his Media Aide, Oladiipo Adegoke, Prince Aleshinloye described the monarch as an accomplished politician, administrator, elder statesman and revered traditional ruler, whose wealth of experience has continued to contribute positively to the development of Ibadanland.

According to him, since ascending the throne, Oba Ladoja has demonstrated exemplary leadership by deploying his vast experience, wisdom and connections to advance the interests of Ibadanland and its people.

He commended the Olubadan for promoting peace and unity, discouraging the excesses associated with the ‘Omo onile’ phenomenon, and redefining the role of traditional institutions by transforming royalty into a platform for meaningful development.

The APC Chieftain further noted that the monarch’s tenure has been characterised by visionary leadership, unity, peace and development, adding that his contributions have strengthened the bond between the traditional institution and the socio-economic aspirations of the people.

The former Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Oyo State, prayed for the Olubadan to be blessed with long life, sound health, peace and a long, successful and impactful reign.

He expressed confidence that Ibadanland would continue to witness greater development and progress under the leadership of the revered monarch.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned three men before an Ikeja Special Offences Court for obtaining N84.8m under false pretences.

The defendants, Yahuza Sulaman, Rasaq Garba and Ashiru Tsoho, are facing a three-count charge bordering on stealing, obtaining money under false pretences and conspiracy before Justice Rahman Oshodi.

The first to third defendants were represented at the trial by A.H. Maude, Pascal Ugwu and Michael Ona.

Led in evidence by EFCC prosecuting counsel, U.S. Kyari, the complainant, Auwanu Ibrahim, an oil and gas businessman, told the court that in March 2023, he was informed about the availability of 225,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), contained in five trucks.

Ibrahim said he expressed interest in purchasing the product and negotiated with the parties involved, eventually agreeing on N42,952,500.

According to him, the product was not delivered on the agreed date.

Instead, he said he was given excuses, while the removal of the fuel subsidy led to a significant increase in the price of petrol.

Ibrahim told the court that he later contacted Ashiru Tsoho on the development and asked how the product would be delivered at the new price.

He said Ashiru initially informed him that they would obtain the product at the former price, but he became suspicious because, based on his experience in the oil and gas business, such an arrangement was unrealistic.

The complainant further stated that Ashiru later informed him that they had reached an agreement with their boss in Abuja and that he would need to pay ?84,870,000 for the five trucks.

Ibrahim said he made the payment into an account belonging to OVH.

The witness said the earlier payment was made into an account bearing the name Luxury Comfort Enterprise but which later allegedly resulted in repeated excuses while no refund was made.

He told the court that he specifically requested an account bearing a company name that could be traced.

He said Ashiru allegedly instructed him to use ‘Rasaq’ as the payment remark, which is the name of the second defendant.

However, after the expected delivery date passed without the product being supplied, Ibrahim said he reported the matter to the Police Area Command.

He added that several attempts to reach Ashiru were unsuccessful, after which his account was reportedly blocked.

According to the complainant, the development prompted Ashiru to appear at the police station.

Following questioning by the police, he allegedly transferred ?42,952,500 to Ibrahim, promising to provide two trucks of PMS.

Ibrahim, however, alleged that the two trucks were never supplied.

He subsequently reported the matter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation, which eventually led to the apprehension of the defendants.

The matter has been adjourned until October 29, this year, for ruling on the bail application of the third defendant and continuation of trial.