By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Oluyomi Omobolanle Bombata, also known by his alias Bobo Chicago, has been arrested by the FBI for allegedly masterminding a large-scale scam that defrauded numerous companies and individuals of a staggering $2.8 million.

Bombata was apprehended on November 20 in Illinois, Chicago, and is currently facing a range of serious charges, including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and engaging in unlawful monetary transactions. His alleged fraudulent activities primarily targeted Nigerians living in the Houston metropolitan area, but his reach extended further as he later fled to Chicago to evade authorities.

The FBI traced the illicit funds over a period of time, leading to the discovery that more than $300,000 of the stolen money had been funneled into a popular liquor store, which became one of the focal points of the investigation. This financial diversion was part of a larger effort to launder the stolen funds and cover up the scheme. Authorities believe that Bombata used this and other methods to hide the money’s true origins and move it through different accounts and businesses.

Bobo Chicago, as he was known in his lavish lifestyle, had been living under the alias “Bola Flexx,” frequently flaunting his wealth in an extravagant manner, which now appears to have been funded by his fraudulent activities. As investigations continue, federal agents have gathered evidence linking Bombata to a variety of illegal operations designed to deceive businesses and individuals out of large sums of money. His arrest has sent shockwaves through the community, as many had previously been unaware of his involvement in criminal activities despite his public persona.

In addition to Bombata, his co-conspirator has also been arrested and is currently being held in custody as law enforcement agencies continue their investigation into the broader network of individuals involved in this criminal enterprise. While the full extent of the operation remains under investigation, federal authorities are continuing to gather information that could lead to further arrests and charges.

Bombata’s arrest and the details surrounding his criminal activities are part of a troubling trend of Nigerians being implicated in high-profile financial crimes both domestically and internationally. His case joins a growing list of Nigerian nationals either serving time for criminal convictions or facing legal charges related to fraud, money laundering, and other illicit financial activities. This arrest not only sheds light on the scale of Bombata’s alleged fraud but also raises important questions about the broader implications for the Nigerian community in the diaspora, particularly in relation to organized financial crime.

As Bombata prepares for his transfer to Oklahoma to face additional charges, his case serves as a reminder of the increasing global reach of financial fraud and the efforts by law enforcement agencies to curb such criminal activity. The case also highlights the ongoing challenges in combating money laundering and wire fraud, which continue to affect both individuals and businesses worldwide

By Kayode Danny

President Tinubu is set to appoint Nigeria’s ambassadors and high commissioners to various countries and multilateral organisations.

There are indications that President Bola Tinubu is set to transmit names of ambassadors-designate to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

The list comprises nominees who will serve as Nigeria’s ambassadors and high commissioners to various countries and multilateral organisations.

Government officials with knowledge of the developments told our correspondent that names of nominees would be transmitted in early December

The development comes 14 months after 83 ambassadors were recalled in September 2023.

Nigeria has 109 missions, 76 embassies, 22 high commissions and 11 consulates globally.

Recall that on November 21, 2024, the Federal Government commenced the deployment of consular officers to diplomatic missions worldwide, before the anticipated release of the ambassadorial list.

On Wednesday, the President left Abuja for a three-day state visit to France at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron.

Afterwards, he is expected in South Africa for a state visit, his second appearance in the country after attending President Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration ceremony last June.

Upon assuming office in May 2023, Tinubu reassessed Nigeria’s foreign policy, leading to the recall of the 83 career and non-career ambassadors from their stations.

The envoys were instructed to return to Nigeria by October 31, 2023.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, said the ambassadors served at the President’s behest in their host nations and it was his “prerogative to send or recall them from any country.”

However, 14 months later, they were yet to be replaced, leaving a diplomatic void.

Section 171(2)(1c) and Subsection 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) stipulate that appointments to the office of ambassador, high commissioner or other principal representatives of Nigeria abroad be made by the President and shall not have effect unless the Senate confirms it.

On March 25, Tuggar confirmed that the ministry had compiled and forwarded the names of prospective career diplomats to the President for consideration.

“We have collated everything on our part and forwarded it to Mr President,” Tuggar told our correspondent.

Though it was unclear whether the nominees were political or career diplomats, indications suggested they primarily comprised the latter.

While career diplomats are determined by their progression through the Foreign Service, political diplomats are often appointees of the President.

The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, who earlier spoke on the issue, said such nominations must pass through a thorough process before a final list is transmitted to the National Assembly.

“Don’t forget that the ambassadorial list has two components. There are career ambassadors and political ambassadors. The foreign affairs list and the consolidated list will still go through certain processes before it is released,” he said.

In a recent interview, one official who asked to remain anonymous as he was not authorised to speak to the press confirmed that the appointment was imminent.

“Ambassadorial appointments require approval from the National Assembly. So, the list will be submitted to the Senate President, who will then announce it. But it has not been submitted yet. Yes, I can confirm that.

“Once submitted to the Senate President, they will publish it the following day. So, that means it would be until he (President Tinubu) comes back from France and South Africa because he is going to South Africa from France for a state visit. After that, he will release it,” said the official.

In April 2024, the government appointed 12 consuls-general and five chargés d’affaires to represent Nigeria in 14 countries, but these interim measures fell short of filling the leadership vacuum in key missions.

Consuls-general and chargés d’affaires can perform routine administrative duties and oversee the operations of an embassy. They, however, lack the diplomatic weight to engage at the highest levels, such as with heads of state or critical international negotiations.

On May 28, the foreign affairs minister cited lack of funds as the primary reason for the delay in the appointment of new ambassadors.

A few days later, former Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Eche Abu-Ode, said any new ambassadorial appointments would depend on budget allocations.

A senior official in the nation’s Foreign Service with knowledge of the developments said although the appointees would be named in early December, they would not begin their tour of duty until months later.

The official explained, “This is the last week of November. Within the first week of December, it should be out. It’s long overdue. What happens is that the Senate will screen those appointed.

“There’s usually an agreement; it’s like one president writing to another president informing them that ‘I am sending such and such a person as my principal representative to your country.’

“The other country will write back saying they have accepted such a person. That ambassador will now take a letter of credence to the host president.

“Once a foreign government receives an agreement, it does serious background checks on the persons nominated for ambassadorial roles to know the person’s standing and to ensure that they don’t have inimical intentions for the country. But we haven’t gotten to that stage yet.

“Those nominated have to be announced first. When they are announced, it will take a minimum of three months and a maximum of six months for them to begin their tour of duty.

“This depends on the country. For instance, if Nigeria wants to send an ambassador to the Niger Republic, given the current state of the relationship, Niger would understandably take its time to run this check.”

On the identities of the designates, The PUNCH gathered that a senior official in the President’s media team had been penned down for the appointment.

“The ambassador thing is coming up very soon. It’s coming soon and it’s going to be announced in about a week. Maybe not all the countries, it’s going to be African countries first. But it will soon be released.

“What I’m hearing is that one of the presidential media aides is likely going to be made an ambassador to one of those African countries. If there’s any announcement, his name will be mentioned,” said a senior State House official close to the President.

It was lrnt that a founder of a tier-one bank, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State and the Speaker of a House of Assembly in the North, were considered for ambassadorial roles.

Another official told The PUNCH that expectations were high due to the months-long lag, and concerns continued to grow as the country’s foreign missions were left without top ambassadors to fill the vacuum.

“It has been a long coming. Many decisions are on hold because our missions and embassies are still expecting new diplomats. Major meetings are happening around the world without us because we have no representation at such levels

The President cannot be everywhere at the same time. The minister of foreign affairs cannot do everything by himself,” the official said, preferring to stay anonymous as he was not authorised to speak to the press.

Meanwhile, ex-diplomats have raised concerns over the eight-month delay in posting ambassadors, saying the country would be disadvantaged due to non-representation.

They warned that Nigeria’s absence from the international stage could have long-term consequences for its reputation.

A former Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico and Singapore, Dr Ogbole Amedu-Ode, said, “In a situation of negotiations taking place at the highest level of the mission hierarchy, it means that those missions that do not have their principal envoys would be placed at a disadvantage of non-representation.

“However, it is not too much of an issue in the practice of diplomacy. This is because, in the absence of a principal envoy of ambassadorial rank, the Chargés d’affaires will hold watch until a substantive head of mission arrives. Government and governance, which extends to diplomacy and diplomatic practice, have continuity as one of their hallmarks.”

Similarly, a retired Consul to Cameroon and delegate to the World Expo and Economic Development Centre in Paris, Amb Rasheed Akinkuolie, was concerned that host governments might question why Nigeria had not replaced its recalled ambassadors, potentially seeing the prolonged absence as a sign of instability.

Akinkuolie argued, “It is not the best option not to have resident ambassadors at a post. Chargés d’affaires may not be able to relate with host governments at the highest level, which includes heads of state.

“A chargé d’affaires can generally only relate with foreign ministries and other officials.”

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

An American-based professor of Humanity and Comparative Literature at the University of Maryland, Josephine T. Abuba­kar, on Thursday took a swipe at the General Secretary and the President of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) for singing praises of the management of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over the rehabilitation of Port Harcourt Refinery.

Prof. Josephine who is also a rights activist decried the postures of the union leaders by accusing them of being subservient to NNPCL instead of playing their roles as trade Unionists. He said the General Secretary Afolabi Olawale and the President, Williams Akporeha should have interrogated NNPCL on the allegations of converting the Port Harcourt refinery into a blending plant and also that it was planning to sell imported, substandard petrol to Nigerians as locally refined fuel.

NUPENG had on Tuesday expressed excitement over the resumption of refining of petroleum products by Port Harcourt Refinery, saying “we are reminded of the essential role this progress plays in addressing Nigeria’s energy challenges, alleviating hardship for workers and citizens, and fostering economic stability.” The oil and gas union also extended its congratulatory message to the Group CEO, Mr. Mele Kyari and the entire management of NNPCL on the “monumental achievement of successfully re-streaming the Port Harcourt Refinery after several years.”

Prof. Josephine in her statement made available to newsmen on Thursday said the NNPCL’s announcement of the refinery’s commencement of operations was a ruse designed to deceive Nigerians and industry players.

She claimed that the corporation had been shifting deadlines for the completion of the refinery’s repairs, leaving Nigerians to suffer from petrol shortages and high prices.

She further alleged that NNPCL’s plan to sell blended products will have a negative impact on engine performance and lifespan especially car owners and those who are into transportation business while also noting that Petroleum Tanker Drivers PTD) under NUPENG will be the greatest victims of blended diesel which has the potential of damaging the engines of their Petroleum trucks.

The statement said: “It is a big shame that NUPENG cannot join other well meaning Nigerians to interrogate NNPCL on the allegations of blended petroleum products which will ultimately have a negative impact on engine performance and lifespan, especially car owners and those who are into transportation business. NUPENG has literally portrayed itself as beggars before NNPCL having failed Nigerians and Union members who are paying checkoff dues. It is also correct that the Petroleum Tanker Drivers under NUPENG will be largely affected by NNPCL blended diesel and this should be of great concern.

”The last time I checked, NUPENG is the one organizing PTD, therefore the protection and the interest of PTD should be its primary objective instead of being subservient to NNPCL, dining and winning with its leadership in hotels and engaging in foreign trips while also receiving estacode allowances in dollars. The leadership of NUPENG as presently constituted has outrightly given itself out as sycophants with no integrity. The re-streaming of Port Harcourt Refinery is good for the nation, but as a responsible union, you must do your due diligence before rushing to press to sing praises as if you are NNPCL propaganda machinery. This will never happen under Frank Kokori of blessed memory, when he was the General Secretary of that Union. Men of great honour are no longer in NUPENG today, this is ridiculous and sad.

”This is the same NUPENG who took the executives of PTD, a Branch under it, to Court on trump up charges. We read how NUPENG humiliated the National Chairman of PTD, Comrade Lucky Osesua and his executives, Comrade Dayyabu Yusuf Garga, Comrade (Chief) Peter Moudebelu (Onwa), Comrade Humble Obinna Power and others. Thankfully the judiciary and the Police are not biased on the matter. I am confident they will get justice and be allowed to serve the interest of their members in PTD who voted for them to run the affairs of the Branch at the National level.

“It was gathered from good and reliable authority that NNPCL has now made a bad situation worse by stage-managing a resumption of production since it has now been established that NNPCL is not trucking out Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), better known as petrol, from its Port Harcourt Refinery. Instead, some videos of NNPCL branded trucks that were used to announce that the refinery has resumed operations and started trucking out PMS were mere movie productions to mislead Nigerians.

“NLC needs to come in and put NUPENG to check. The NUPENG leaders are nothing but a disgrace, this is not trade unionism but gangs of capitalists who are desperately looking for money and power with greed and covetousness. Anybody can insult me. I dont care. I will continue to be on the side of truth. Insults mean nothing to me. They only fuel my resolve and strengthen my determination. They are like water off a duck’s back and neither can they deter me from speaking my mind on any pressing or burning issue in the interest of PTD no matter how unpopular my position may be to them. My prayer is that Nigeria will succeed,” Prof Josephine stated.