The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has said that some third-party agents working for foreign missions are bypassing transaction regulation by invoicing in dollars.

EFCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, stated this during an interview on Channel TV’s Politics Today, monitored by DAILY POST.

DAILY POST recalls that EFCC on Saturday read the riot act to foreign missions based in Nigeria, banning them from transacting in foreign currencies, and mandating the use of the naira in their financial businesses.

During the interview with Channels on Monday, Uwujaren said that naira is the only legal tender in Nigeria, saying the commission had informed Foreign Affairs Ministry on the development.

He said, “Section 20 sub section 1 of the EFCC Act says that naira is the only legal tender in Nigeria; meaning that is the only currency that is acceptable for transactions anywhere across the country.

“We found situations that third-party working for missions circumvent that regulation by invoicing in dollars. A number of them go to the extreme of determining the exchange value of naira in their transactions.

“This is worrisome to us. So we have to bring this to the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The government has the responsibility to rule the protocol and channel of communication to bring this observation to the attention of the foreign mission to advise them to ensure that their activities do not go against our laws.”

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has decribed legandary heavyweight champion, Muhammad Ali as his hero in boxing.

Pastor Adeboye said Ali never let his guard down during his boxing days, adding that his foot work was next to none.

He spoke at the church monthly thanksgiving service and special service for athletes, youths, businessmen and woman and their families at the church national headquarters, The Throne of Grace Parish, Ebute-Metta in Lagos.

According to Adeboye: “In boxing, my coach taught me years ago, I told you I used to be a boxer, I know I don’t look like one now. My coach warned us, “don’t let down your guard that’s your shield but when you go to battle against the opponent make sure you are protecting your head. Keep your guards up.

“The only fellow that we know in boxing at least in those days who never bothered about the shield up there (his head) is because he had his own shield on his legs. It is the fellow known as Muhammad Ali because he has a footwork that is second to none.

“So when you are trying to get him, he doesn’t bother, he is not wasting his time shielding because he knows he can float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.

“If you know anything about boxing, he happens to be my hero. You will not find a scratch on his face, he doesn’t allow the enemy to get close to his face at all by using his legs. Now, if you are not a Muhammad Ali, keep on your shield. That’s for the sportsmen.”

The Defense Headquarters has said that groups of terrorists in the Northwest suffered heavy casualties when they laid ambush for troops of Operation ”Hadarin Daji” in Zamfara.

The Director of Defence, Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, who made this disclosure in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said the troops had on May 12, encountered two separate ambushes at Kuran Mota Village as well as along Road Alikere – Yarmalimai Village in Zamfara.

According to him, the troops fought fiercely to extricate themselves from the situation, leading to the loss of four soldiers while three were wounded in action in the first ambush.

He said five soldiers sustained minor injuries of gunshot wounds in the second ambush incident and the soldiers have been stabilized as they were evacuated to FOB Faskari for medication care.

“During the ambush, troops received support from the air component Operation Hadarin Daji as well as reinforcement from FOB Yarmalimai.

“The joint effort of both forces dealt a severe blow to the coalition of terrorists that gathered in numerical strength to execute both ambushes.

“Accordingly, several of the terrorists were neutralized as they suffered heavy casualties.

“Troops have unlocked the change in tactics of these terrorists and made necessary adjustments to maintain tactical superiority on the battlefield,” he said.

House of Representatives member for Kaduna North, Bello El-Rufai has disclosed that the state governor, Uba Sani taught him politics.

El-Rufai described Sani as his mentor because he made him contest for the House of Representatives seat.

The lawmaker disclosed this during an interview hosted by Yaya Abba, titled, ‘With Shuraim.’

Bello said two of his friends influenced his move to work under Sani while he was a serving Senator in the 9th Senate.

Bello also noted that his membership in the Green Chamber was not his father’s call because El-Rufai “never campaigned for me”.

He said, “I think working with Senator Uba Sani taught me the politics that fits this country.

“He’s still my mentor, we talk every day. After he (Sani) emerged as the APC candidate to replace my father, he told my father he wanted me to run for the Reps.

“But Senator Uba Sani was adamant that I had learnt a few things while working in the 9th Senate as a senior legislative aide. That was the step towards me running.

“For me, where I’m from, I feel I’m genuinely responsible for every individual that’s in Kaduna North.”

The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has formally reached out to the Inspector General of Police, IGP and filed a request for a legal order to prevent Speaker Abdulmalik Sarkindaji of the Niger State Assembly from overseeing the marriage of 100 orphaned girls.

The speaker had revealed his intention to provide marriage support for the orphaned girls who tragically lost their parents in bandit attacks in the Mariga local government area, as part of his constituency project, scheduled for May 24th.

During a press conference in Abuja, Kennedy-Ohanenye expressed her disapproval of the plans, highlighting that a thorough investigation has been initiated into the matter.

She said, “I want to let the honourable speaker of the house in Niger state know that this is totally unacceptable by the Federal Minister of Women Affairs and by the government.

“Because there is something called the Child’s Rights Act and I said it from the onset, that it is no more business as usual.

“These children must be considered, their future must be considered, the future of the children to come out of their marriage must be considered.

“So I have gone to court. I have written him a letter and written a petition to the IG of Police.

”And I have filed for an injunction to stop him from whatever he is planning to do on the 24th, until a thorough investigation is carried out on those girls, find out whether they gave their consent, their ages, find out the people marrying them,”

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has vowed to ensure that Russian troops have no single safe location on Ukrainian soil amid the ongoing war.

Zelenskyy said Ukrainian soldiers are improving in the war against Russia as soldiers are destroying their enemy’s infantry and armoured vehicles.

The president spoke in a statement he posted on his X page.

According to Zelenskyy: “Our forces continue to counter Russian attacks in the Kharkiv region. This direction has been reinforced, particularly in Vovchansk and border areas in general.

“Brigadier General Mykhailo Drapatyi is in charge of this direction and is currently on the ground. He is being provided with all of the necessary firepower and forces.

“Our results are improving. We are destroying the enemy’s infantry and armoured vehicles. I appreciate all of our warriors who strictly adhere to orders, hold their positions, and make every effort to stabilize the situation.

“At the same time, we can clearly see how the enemy acts and their intent to stretch our forces thin. Clearly, we do not divert the necessary assistance and provision from Donetsk directions, particularly Kramatorsk and Pokrovsk directions.

“We remain vigilant in the Kupyansk direction as well. We can also see enemy activity in the Sumy and Chernihiv regions, including subversion groups and shelling. We respond properly with fire.

“Our task is crystal clear: to thwart Russia’s attempt to expand the war. It is up to everyone in positions from Chernihiv to Vovchansk, Kharkiv to Donetsk, to fulfil it.

“The occupiers must not have a single safe location on Ukrainian soil. And in the Ukrainian skies.

“We must do everything possible to ensure that the occupier loses, not the Ukrainians.”

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State on Tuesday received Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

DAILY POST sighted a video of Otti arriving at the Rivers State government house in Port Harcourt.

Fubara and Nyesom Wike, Minister of the FCT, have been embroiled in a face-off that has polarised the state House of Assembly into two camps.

It is not clear yet if Otti’s visit to Fubara is connected with the ongoing political crisis in the state.

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The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Sam Amadi, on Tuesday, said it looks like a tragedy to be a citizen of Rivers State.

Amadi said it would be resurrection if sanity returned to Rivers State.

Posting on X, the public affairs analyst wrote: “It looks like a tragedy to be a citizen of Rivers State for at least the last 10 years. The clowning is heartbreaking. Everyday thanksgiving service, rally & press conference.

“The day sanity is restored in Rivers will be a resurrection day. Cry for the beleaguered state.”

This is coming amid the continued cold war between Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.

Since October 30, 2023, Rivers State has been embroiled in a political crisis. The crisis became public knowledge following an explosion that shook the hallowed chamber of the State Assembly complex on the night of October 29, 2023.

Following the fire incident, the state lawmakers initiated an impeachment process against Fubara and suspended four lawmakers.

This incident has left the state Assembly deeply divided, with 27 lawmakers aligning with Wike while three remained loyal to Governor Fubara, after the resignation of one, Edison Ehie, who now serves as the Chief-of-Staff to him.

In an attempt to quell the crisis, President Bola Tinubu had in December 2023, intervened in the crisis, leading to the formulation of an eight-point resolution signed by Fubara and Wike.

As the peace pact had failed to quell the unrest in the state, Fubara noted that there might be no end in sight over the continued face-off in the state.

On Monday, the governor hinted that the political disagreement in the state might not be resolved amicably because there was evidence of a deliberate attempt to sabotage his administration.

The Kogi State House of Assembly has urged Governor Usman Ododo to beef up security around all Tertiary Institutions in the state to avert the kidnap of students by gunmen.

The lawmakers gave the charge during plenary on Tuesday, in Lokoja.

A motion of urgent public importance by t

The member representing Adavi State constituency and the Chief whip of the House, Asema Baba Haruna, under motions of urgent public importance, condemned the kidnapping of scores of students at the Confluence University of Science and Technology, CUSTECH.

Osara also sympathized with the families of the kidnapped victims while noting that the abducted students were preparing for their first-semester examination before they were ambushed by the gunmen.

“It is high time we beefed up security around our schools to avert a repetition of what happened in Osara. The government should as a matter of urgency construct perimeter fencing in all our schools to stop these hoodlums from kidnapping our students. The Governor should also motivate our security agencies for their good work in combating insecurities in our dare state.” he stated.

Supporting the motion, the minority leader of the house and member representing Yagba East State Constituency, Idowu Ibikunle, decried the number of students who are still in captivity.

He hinted that a business tycoon was recently kidnapped in his constituency and had not regained his freedom as of the time of the plenary session.

His words, “We are appealing to the Kogi State Government to make stiffer laws against kidnapping. By doing this, whoever is caught in kidnapping will dance to the music”

On their parts, lawmakers representing Dekina/Biraidu, Ochidi Usman Shehu, Lokoja I, Bin-Ebaiya Shehu Sanni, Okene II, Yusuf Zakari Eneve, Ajaokuta, Abu Onoru-Oiza Jibrin, all argued that security agencies change their strategies in tackling insecurity in Kogi State.

They, however, revealed that seven more students aside from the 14 released on Monday have also been rescued from their abductors.

In his ruling, the Speaker and member representing Lokoja II Rt. Aliyu Yusuf urged the state government to support the creation of state police in a bid to address the spate of insecurities in the state.

“We want all the kidnappers to be apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law. Kogi State can never be a breeding place for these criminal elements who are enemies of the state” he added.

A former presidential candidate, Professor Pat Utomi, has said the proposed mega party would be a movement of values and not a typical political party.

Utomi made this statement while speaking in an interview with Arise Television on Tuesday, monitored by DAILY POST.

“My first point of call is to create this new tribe and the new tribe is not a political party. It is a movement focused on values that shape human progress. In this, we understand, look, this politician settles against one another by talking about ethnicity, religion, and all of that.

“Nobody has become richer because of the ethnic group he comes from or has had a better life because of the religion he comes from. So they use it, and in this age, it’s very easy to play propaganda politics and put people against one another. In the end, everybody loses.

“We play a zero-sum game. So let’s accept certain fundamental values: the dignity of the human, human solidarity, and work ethic—all of those things,” he said.

According to the Professor of Political Economy, “As people begin to walk their talk and live in this domain, you can say to these people that the only way that you can change the world is through a political party.

“So we have an initiative to then say, Here is a political platform in development that’s values-driven, that has to have an ideology and goals that people can be held accountable for. All of this must be in place and tested before the people.

“It can happen fairly quickly—more than people realize. Look at what happened in Senegal. It can become more challenging, depending on how the young people in Senegal manage it.”

Uromi noted that the people are so fed up with the political class in Nigeria, adding, “I mean, somebody gave me an analysis and said, ‘Nigeria will be in popular insurrection within the next four months,’ the way things are going. Somebody sent me this analysis from Nigeria just two weeks ago, and I’m saying to myself, “we have got to stop our country.”