News
Insecurity: FCTA displaces over 1000 criminals in Abuja
By Francesca Hangeior
The Abuja Metropolita Management Council (AMMC) under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has dislodged over 1000 miscreants on the corridor of the inner Northern Parkway, off Abidjan Street in Wuse Zone 3, Abuja.
The AMMC coordinator, Felix Obuah, told reporters after the exercise in Abuja on Wednesday, May 8, that the move was part of efforts to clear all shanties in the city.
The shanties were built over 27 years ago.
They have been demolished several times but are rebuilt by the occupants.
Obuah said the location was preserved for a road corridor but was illegally occupied by unknown people, posing a security threat, and defacing the beauty of the city.
He said: “Also disturbing is that criminals and miscreants have made this location a haven.
“So, we decided to come and clear all the shanties and remove the criminals that have taken over the road corridor to give Abuja its desired beauty.
“We can’t allow this again. Our aim is to beautify the city and make Abuja a city we will all be proud of”.
He added that a task force would be set up to make sure that none of the illegal occupants and rebuild any shanty in the area again.
Obuah also announced plans to relocate the occupants to a permanent location to ensure that no one returns.
He further said: “We are going to write a memo to the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, to seek his approval and see how far we can go about the relocation plan.
“From what we can see, there are a huge number of people illegally residing here. So, if we can relocate them within a very short possible time, they will come back here again.
“We are also going to make provisions to make sure that they do not suffer undue hardship.
“You see, some of the occupants are very young; some with children, and out of my pocket, I have donated a small amount of money to enable them to relocate immediately.
“If we don’t take this measure now, they will go to another place and create a nuisance.”
Responding to the development, Malam Mohammed Musa, the chairman of the community, also said the area was occupied by about 1000 people, including women and children.
Musa said that the occupants, predominantly dry-season farmers, have been there for about 27 years, with some made up of 15 family members.
He acknowledged receiving notice of the demolition and thanked the government for allowing them to stay there for over 27 years, making a living in dry-season farming.
He, however, called on the FCT Administration to come to their aid, adding that some of them were displaced from their home by bandits and other forms of insecurity.
News
Court Remands P-Square’s Brother, Ex-Manager Jude Okoye IOver Alleged N1.3B, $1M, £34,000 Fraud
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken Jude Okoye, the elder brother and former manager of the defunct music duo P-Square, to court over alleged money laundering involving ₦1.38 billion, $1 million, and £34,537.59.
Jude Okoye, along with his company Northside Music Ltd, was arraigned before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday, facing a seven-count charge related to financial crimes.
One of the charges states: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd, sometime in 2022 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly acquire a landed property known as No 5, Tony Eromosele Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos worth ₦850,000,000.00 (Eight hundred and fifty million naira) only, which money you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful acts, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 18 (2)(d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Another charge alleges that Jude Okoye and his company used a Bureau de Change operator to convert $1,019,762.87 (One million nineteen thousand, seven hundred and sixty-two dollars, eighty-seven cents) domiciled in Access Bank Plc into naira and remitted the funds into various accounts with the intent to conceal the source of the money, in violation of the Money Laundering Act.
Jude Okoye pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
Following his plea, EFCC counsel Larry Peters Aso applied for a trial date and requested that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility pending trial.
However, defence counsel Inibehe Effiong informed the court of a pending bail application and urged the court to keep Okoye in EFCC custody until the application is heard.
The prosecution opposed the request, citing congestion in EFCC facilities and urging the court to remand him to a correctional centre instead.
Justice Owoeye subsequently adjourned the case to February 28 for a bail hearing and fixed April 14 for trial commencement.
The judge also ordered that Jude Okoye be remanded at the Ikoyi correctional facility pending the determination of his bail application.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Prince Funso Ayeni, an Ikole born philanthropist and politician has donated the sum of N1,000,000 for the support of one Esther Fisayo Aluko Medical needs.
Fisayo Aluko, an Indigene of Ikole LGA part of Ekiti State is currently in need of fund running to millions of Naira to carry out a kidney transplant.
Prince Funso Ayeni made his support known via a Whatsapp platform created for the Indigenes of the LG.
“Good afternoon great citizens,
I am Prince Funso Ayeni (PhD)
I am deeply touched by the condition of Esther Fisayo Aluko, a young lady from Ikole Ekiti, battling kidney issue.
On behalf of myself, my family, and the entire Funso Ayeni Foundation (FAF), I have donated ₦1,000,000 (one million naira) towards her medical treatment ( receipt attached).
“I also appeal to our brothers and sisters from Ikole Local Government, both in and out of government, to rally their contacts and resources to support this urgent cause.
“Together, we can give Esther a chance to live a healthy life again.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The naira is exchanging for ₦1,498 to 1 US Dollar at the parallel market (black market) in Nigeria.
This means that for every one dollar, you can get the equivalent in naira of ₦1,498 on February 26, 2025.
The black market rate signifies the value at which individuals can trade their dollars for naira outside the official or regulated exchange channels.
Note that the Black Market Exchange rate is typically higher than the official exchange rate because it is not regulated by the government
Today’s February 26 exchange shows that the naira has improved against the dollar, as it strengthened compared to what it traded on Tuesday, February 25, when the naira exchanged ₦1,499.
The value of any nation’s currency is determined by aggregate supply and demand.
The forces of supply and demand are themselves influenced by a number of factors, including interest rates, inflation, capital flow, and money supply.
The most common method to value currency is through exchange rates. The two main exchange rate systems are fixed rate and floating rate systems.
Investors and participants closely monitor these parallel market rates for a more immediate reflection of currency dynamics
Court Remands P-Square’s Brother, Ex-Manager Jude Okoye IOver Alleged N1.3B, $1M, £34,000 Fraud
Funso Ayeni donates N1m, appeals to citizens to support Fisayo Aluko medical needs
Naira again falls against Dollar – February 26
Just in: Terrorists ambush military truck, kill all soldiers on board
Nigerian Dancer, Korra Obidi Attacked with acid, stabbed on stage In UK
Meet Rare Gem 16 Years Old Chiaza, CEO of ‘RUN MARKET PLACE’
-
Metro24 hours agoSHOCKING! Auto crash claims lives of groom, bride’s sister
-
News18 hours agoCitizenship for sale as Trump announces “Gold Card” Immigration Plan, $5M
-
News24 hours agoSenate votes to send Natasha to face Ethics committee over seat reallocation palaver
-
News14 hours agoAmaewhule, 26 Other Lawmakers Never Defected To APC, Rivers Chair Confirms
-
News18 hours agoSAD! Lady Loses 3-Year-Old Son Hours After Allowing Father Take Him for Weekend Visit
-
Economy23 hours agoNigeria’s economy experiencing growth as GDP grows 3.84% in Q4
-
News23 hours agoUK court orders NLNG to pay $380m over undelivered products
-
Foreign22 hours agoDenmark to ban mobile phones in schools