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EFCC plans clampdown on schools charging foreign currencies in Nigeria
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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has placed international schools charging tuition in dollars and other foreign currencies under surveillance.
EFCC believes such schools are contributing to the pressure on the Nigerian currency, the naira.
EFCC’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the development to newsmen on Thursday, saying the agency would clamp down on schools and other organisations charging foreign currencies.
He reiterated that it was illegal for schools, hotels and firms operating in the country to charge for services in foreign currencies.
He explained that the 7,000-man special task force on dollar racketeers operating across the EFCC zonal commands was monitoring the schools and other organisations that might be involved in the illegality.
In a move to curb the free fall of the naira against the greenback, the anti-graft agency in February summoned the proprietors of private universities and other schools charging tuition in dollars.
The task force also conducted several raids in Abuja, arresting currency traders suspected to be speculating against the naira.
Worried by the depreciation of the national currency, the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, had met with the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Yemi Cardoso and the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, to proffer solutions to the naira crisis.
Oyewale said it was illegal for any business operating in the country to charge for its services in foreign denominations apart from the naira, vowing sanctions for any breach of the law.
He stated, “The task force is not just to monitor naira abuse alone but for the whole economy. So, the EFCC is working to ensure that those breaking the rules find their way back to the right path so that the wrath of the law will not be on them.
“Yes, everyone knows that it is illegal to charge in other denominations apart from the naira. Whether in Chinese or American currency, any transaction that is not denominated in naira in Nigeria, the EFCC is against it.
“So, the task force is in place to check that and Nigerians should be happy about that. It is not just schools, hotels but other entities across the country that are doing this must come back to the naira as our legal tender.’’
He added, “Naira is the symbol of our economy and everything that has to do with the economy in Nigeria must be done in naira.’’
Asked if the schools, hotels and other businesses under watch would be punished if caught violating the law, Oyewale responded, ‘’Certainly, they are aware that we are watching them.’’
NUT supports EFCC
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has declared its support for the EFCC over the move to sanction erring international schools charging in dollars.
The NUT president, Titus Amba, said, “Though I am not meant to speak on this because these schools are private schools. However, it is necessary to note that this is Nigeria and if you are going to charge for services, it should be in the national currency which is naira.
“So, we support the EFCC on its mission. Acts like these are sabotaging the economy so we support the EFCC and the Federal Government wholeheartedly.”
CISLAC hails move
The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre, Auwal Rafsanjani, urged the government to review its memorandum of understanding with foreign schools and other businesses demanding payment in foreign currencies, noting that the economy was suffering on account of this.
“This cannot happen in the UK, it cannot happen in America, it cannot happen in any serious country. And that is why the economy is suffering because they have destroyed the value of the naira.
“So, we commend EFCC for rising to at least bring this issue to the public, because in the Memorandum of Understanding that they signed with the Nigerian government, there is nowhere the government permitted them to be charging in dollars. If there is anything like that, then we will need to seek reversal of that,” he said.
The group further asked the government to monitor the operations of all businesses demanding payment in foreign currencies.
Rafsanjani noted, ‘’Not only the foreign schools but even hospitals and real estate. Let the government review all those things, and if there were any fraudulent insertion of payment in dollars, the government should stop that as part of measures to revitalise the economy and our currency.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially restored three more constituencies in Delta and one more in Kogi State.
INEC has fixed 21st–25th August 2026 for the conduct of party primaries for the restored constituencies.
This was contained in a statement signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, on 14th August 2026.
According to the statement, “INEC wishes to notify the public that it has restored four more previously suppressed State House of Assembly constituencies, three more in Delta and one more in Kogi State, pursuant to the judgment of the courts directing the restoration of the additional constituencies in the two states.
“The restored constituencies are: Delta State – Abraka, Isoko North II and Ughelli South II State Constituencies; and Kogi State – Yagba West II State Constituency.
“The Commission has fixed 21st–25th August 2026 for the conduct of party primaries for the restored constituencies.
“This coincides with the period for the conduct of primaries for bye-elections to fill recent vacancies into Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State, Disina and Sakwa State Constituencies of Bauchi State, Udu State Constituency of Delta State, and Dawakin Kudu State Constituency of Kano State. Elections into these constituencies have been fixed for 19th September 2026.
“For the avoidance of doubt, all other timelines and activities contained in the already published revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election shall apply to the restored constituencies.
“Political parties are requested to submit notices of their various primaries to the Commission before their scheduled dates.
“The Commission remains committed to ensuring credible, inclusive and transparent electoral processes,” it added.
Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has reacted to a social media user who questioned whether he would return to Osun State to participate in the forthcoming governorship election.
The exchange began after a user identified as Dejiii questioned Davido’s involvement in the election, while also referencing his position as chairman of the Osun Sports Trust Fund.
Davido subsequently responded to the comment, addressing the question over his plans to return to the state for the election.
“Wetin we get pass beef, na him be Osun Sports Trust Fund chairman and he barely says anything or does anything about the role. Didn’t step a foot in Osun since he got appointed, he only starts tweeting and shouting like a retard when his uncle’s election is on the line,” Dejiii wrote.
Responding to the comment, Davido said he would arrive in Osun ahead of the election despite being abroad.
“From the stage to the jet … I’ll be in OSUN before 7am but your broke ass can’t understand how that can be possible,” Davido replied.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered that a former Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, Shendam branch, Plateau State, Gabriel Nkup Tsenyen, be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services pending a decision on the propriety of his fresh arraignment.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik fixed August 20 to determine whether Tsenyen, who is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Plateau State, can be tried afresh over allegations of cyberstalking and incitement of public disturbances.
The development followed an attempt by the DSS to arraign the lawyer on a fresh two-count charge bordering on cyberstalking and incitement to breach public peace.
But shortly after Tsenyen was called into the dock to take his plea, his lead counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Emmanuel Esene, objected to the arraignment.
Esene told the court that his client had already been arraigned before the same court on the same allegations and that the earlier case had been adjourned until September 28 for trial.
He consequently urged the court not to allow the fresh arraignment, arguing that doing so could expose his client to double jeopardy.
However, counsel for the DSS, Muinat Oladunjoye, who appeared for the prosecution from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, said she was unaware of any previous charge against Tsenyen.
Following the conflicting positions, Justice Abdulmalik requested a copy of the earlier charge from the defence.
Esene produced the document before the court.
The judge subsequently requested the record of proceedings in the earlier case to enable her determine whether Tsenyen had indeed been arraigned on the same allegations.
The defence, however, said it could not produce the record immediately because the fresh charge had come as a surprise to them on Thursday, August 13.
Justice Abdulmalik then ordered that the record of proceedings in the earlier trial be produced on August 20.
Pending the production and examination of the record, the judge ordered that Tsenyen be remanded at the DSS detention facility.
The fresh charge was filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Iseoluwa Oyedepo.
In the first count, the prosecution alleged that Tsenyen, sometime in May 2026, sent a malicious publication on the Ngootuguut local community WhatsApp platform alleging that the entire community was involved in a plot to eliminate him.
The prosecution alleged that he knew the publication to be false and sent it “for the purpose of causing annoyance, insult, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will and needless anxiety” in the community.
The alleged offence was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prevention, Prohibition, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.
In count two, the prosecution alleged that the lawyer sent the same publication “with intent to incite or cause breach to public peace.”
The alleged offence was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 114 of the Penal Code Act, 2004.
The court will on August 20 determine, among other things, whether the fresh charges relate to allegations for which Tsenyen had previously been arraigned and whether the proposed fresh trial is legally permissible.
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