News
Land grabbing: Delta monarch debunks allegations, vows to unite kingdom
The Obi-in-Council of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, Aniocha South LGA, Delta state, has rejected claims by a group, United and Concerned Indigenes of Utulu, alleging that Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo 11, Obi of Ogwashi-Uku is involved in land grabbing.
Obi of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, HRM Ifechukwude Okonjo 11 is a younger sibling of former Nigerian Finance Minister and current Director General, World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The Obi-in-Council, in a signed statement, its scribe, Prince Ifeakanachukwu Emordi, stressed: “the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku cannot and will not confiscate land that lawfully belongs to Ogwashi-Uku community under his stewardship.”
It accused the group of planning “to plunge Utulu back into the dark days of criminality and unrest.”
It said the group was connected to persons recently granted bail from Federal Correctional Centre, Ogwashi-Uku for “inciting security disturbances in Utulu, Ogwashi-Uku”, adding that it has used the names of prominent government figures to bolster their false claims.”
It said the leaders of the group are not indigenes of Utulu Ogwashi-Uku, a recognised part of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, and as such lacks legitimacy.
Reacting, Mr. Chukwuma Nkwuka, leader of the group in a statement, said residents of Utulu community were being attacked by terror groups. He added that they would resort to taking up arms in self defence.
In the statement which reads in part, Nkwuka said, “We, the law abiding citizens of Otulu Community have been pushed to the wall by the terror groups and their sponsors leaving us with the only option of taking up arms in defence of ourselves.
“Recently, the Delta State government through His Excellency, Sir Monday Onyeme, Deputy Governor of Delta State in a meeting with some traditional rulers from Ogwashi-Uku, Okpanam, Ibusa, Issele-Azagba, Ubulu-Okiti etc following complaints of land grabbing directed that the sale of land in disputed boundary areas should be stopped forthwith pending the outcome of an Investigation Panel set up by the government to look into the matter.”
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police Force has directed his men to resume the issuance of tinted glass permits across the country.
This development was announced in a statement released on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
According to the Force spokesperson, the move comes in response to rising concerns and complaints from the public over the harassment of vehicle owners by law enforcement agents for using factory-fitted tinted windows.
“The Nigeria Police Force, under the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has reactivated the issuance of Tinted Glass Permits (TGP) nationwide through a secure and user-friendly digital platform.
“This initiative comes in response to widespread public complaints about the harassment of motorists over the use of tinted windows and reflects the need for a clear, transparent, and accountable process for regularising factory-fitted tinted glass on vehicles”, the statement partly read.
Highlighting the prevalence of modern vehicles designed with tinted windows for comfort and aesthetics, the police emphasised the importance of having a formal system to regulate usage.
“With modern automobiles increasingly manufactured with tinted windows, it has become essential to provide a standardised system that accommodates legitimate use while ensuring public safety.
“Tinted vehicles have often been exploited for criminal purposes, including kidnapping, armed robbery, ‘one-chance’ scams, and other forms of banditry”, Adejobi explained.
According to the statement, the abuse of tinted windows by criminals creates operational challenges for law enforcement and compromises national security.
In addition, he explained that law enforcement will begin active implementation after the grace period, and the police warn that officers who misuse the enforcement process will be sanctioned.
“Enforcement will commence at the end of this period. Officers found engaging in unprofessional conduct, such as extortion or harassment, in the course of enforcement will be decisively dealt with in accordance with extant disciplinary procedures”, he said.
By Gloria Ikibah
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a revised documentation requirement for transactions conducted through the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) in Nigeria.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the apex bank’s acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali
The CBN said the new initiative is part of its ongoing commitment to foster seamless intra-African trade, financial inclusion, and operational efficiency for Nigerians engaging in cross-border payments within Africa.
Launched by Afreximbank in partnership with the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat in January 2022, PAPSS serves as a centralized payment and settlement platform that enables instant, secure, and efficient cross-border transactions throughout Africa.
By facilitating payments in local currencies, PAPSS minimizes reliance on third-party currencies, reduces transaction costs, and supports the rapid expansion of trade under the AfCFTA.
In a recent circular referenced TED/FEM/PUB/FPC/001/006 issued on April 28, 2025, CBN outlined the key changes to the documentation requirements associated with PAPSS transactions.
The key changes it added take effect immediately and include simplified documentation for low-value transactions, which allows customers to now use basic KYC and AML documents provided to their authorized dealer banks for low-value transactions of up to $2,000 and $5,000 equivalent in naira for individuals and corporate bodies, respectively.
“For transactions above the thresholds, all documentation as stipulated in the CBN foreign exchange manual and related circulars remains mandatory,” the bank said.
Also, the CBN added that applicants are responsible for ensuring all regulatory documents are available to facilitate the clearance of goods, as required by relevant government agencies.
“Authorized dealer banks may now source foreign exchange for PAPSS settlements through the Nigerian foreign exchange market, without recourse to the CBN.
“All export proceeds repatriated via PAPSS shall be certified by the relevant processing banks.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria urges all banks to adopt PAPSS and commence originating transactions in line with this new policy.
“In addition, CBN encourages exporters, importers, and individuals to familiarize themselves with the new requirements and leverage PAPSS for cross-border transactions within Africa,” the statement said.
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