Connect with us

Crime

3 Serving Governors Under Our Scrutiny-EFCC Chairman

Published

on

Three serving state governors are under monitoring over moves to launder cash through table payment of salaries to workers, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, said on Thursday.

Bawa, who did not give the identities of these governors, said two of them were from the North, while the third one was from the southern part of the country.

Fidel Info reports that he said intelligence at the agency’s disposal disclosed that the three governors had finalized plans to infiltrate the money into the system through table payment of their state workers’ salaries.

“Let me tell you something; the Intel that I have yesterday and I would want you to take this thing very seriously. Already, some state governors have some of this cash stowed in various houses and the rest are now trying to pay salaries in cash in their state,” he told Daily Trust.

When queried on whether the commission would summon the said governors, Bawa said they were closely scrutinizing them

“I don’t know how they want to accomplish that but we have to stop them from doing that. Well, we are working, they have not paid the salaries in cash yet but it is a very serious thing,” he said, noting that the act was against section 2 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.

“The law is very clear regarding cash transactions. Anybody that is to consummate any cash transaction as an individual, if it is not through a financial institution, must not be above N5m and if it is above that it is criminal for you to engage in such transaction. And for corporate entities, it is N10m.

Yes, I agree the salaries are not up to that but why are you all of a sudden, and all along you have been paying people salaries through their bank accounts and now you want to pay them in cash, what are you trying to do? They will come under a lot of guises, they are trying to do verification of officers, that is what we have gotten,” Bawa added.

The development is coming amid moves by the Central Bank of Nigeria to redesign the naira notes, particularly the N200, N500, and N1000 bank notes.

The CBN had on October 26 announced that the country’s currency would be redesigned to address many issues that had negative effects on Nigeria’s economy. The development has since generated mixed reactions among Nigerians

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Crime

2023 Election: What Happened To Dr Chinyere Igwe?

Published

on

Dr. Chinyere Igwe, a member of the House of Representatives, was detained early on Friday morning along Ana Road in Port Harcourt, just a few days after gunmen allegedly attacked his radio and television stations.

Fidel Info reports that when verifying Igwe’s arrest, the police provided the entire amount he was arrested with as 498,100 USD and a list of the recipients of the funds.

Several properties were destroyed in a dynamite attack on the Atlantic Television Network and Wish FM 99.5, which were housed in the same building in Ozuoba, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Igwe was apprehended by operatives sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission office on Aba Road in Port Harcourt, according to the State Police Command’s Grace Iringe-Koko.

Iringe-Koko reported that the lawmaker will be promptly questioned and charged after being arrested by AIG Abutu Yaro, the assistant inspector general of police sent to the state for the elections.

Igwe, who sits in the green chamber of the National Assembly as Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 2’s representative, is an ardent supporter of the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

The police statement read, “Police Officers from Rivers State Command deployed to INEC Headquarters Aba Road today 24/2/2023 at about 0245hrs, while on stop and search, arrested one Hon Chinyere Igwe, member House of Representatives representing Port Harcourt II Federal Constituency with a cash sum of $498,100 USD inside a bag in his car.

“Also recovered was a list for distribution of the money. The Assistant Inspector General of Police (Election) AIG Abutu Yaro, has ordered swift interrogation and arraignment in court.

“The Command urges all contestants and political parties to comply strictly with provisions of the Electoral Act and other relevant laws.”

Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, urged residents of the state and members to take advantage of the hotlines made available by the police to report suspicious movements and situations capable of causing security breaches.

She stated, “Members of the public are encouraged to avail themselves of the available hotlines to report any observation they believe have potential to lead to crime or break down of law and order.”

Continue Reading

Crime

Gunmen Attack Imo Community, Houses Of APC, LP Chairmen

Published

on

The wife of Ugoeze Umugborogu, the traditional head of Amuro autonomous community in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, was abducted by gunmen on Wednesday.

Fidel Info reports that along with abducting the monarch’s wife, the raging gunmen also set fire to the Amuro ward country mansions of the APC and Labour Party chairs.

Residents abandoned their homes in fear as a result of the development.

An eyewitness revealed that the attackers set the houses ablaze as soon as they arrived at the compounds.

The eyewitness said ” Ugoeze Umugborogu, the wife of the late king of Amuro autonomous community, has been kidnapped.

“After kidnapping the woman, they went to the house of the Labour Party chairman in Amuro ward, Ifediora Umugborogu and razed it. The man and his family were away when they struck.

“They equally razed the house of the APC chairman in the ward. This is going out of hand. The government should come to our rescue.”

Okigwe LGA has in the last few months become a hotbed for criminal activities.

Just on Tuesday, some gunmen razed five houses in Amagu Ihube community in Okigwe LGA which included the houses of the state commissioner for youths and sports, Emeka Okoronkwo, a former Dean of the Law Faculty of the Imo State University, Nnamdi Obiaraeri, a retired Director of State Security Service, Nnaemeka Ngwu and two others.

Gunmen had last week razed the country homes of the Labour Party House of Assembly candidate for Okigwe LGA, Nnaemeka Obiaraeri and that of the Director General of the candidate of the Labour Party Okigwe North House of Representatives election, Okey Unam.

Continue Reading

Crime

Hoodlums Kill Three In Anambra Police Station Attack

Published

on

Three individuals were killed instantaneously when thugs stormed the Anambra State Police Command in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area.

Fidel Info reports that the thugs broke into the police station early on Saturday morning.

The hoodlums, who arrived in huge numbers, reportedly started firing randomly as they approached the police station, according to sources in the vicinity.

The sources also stated that they set fire to a portion of the police headquarters before entering by throwing explosives and gasoline bombs inside.

This attack on police installations in Anambra will be around the sixth in just February.

While confirming the occurrence, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga of the state police stated that the situation had been brought under control and that the Command was steadfast in its commitment to enhancing the safety of people and property in the state.

Ikenga grieved the murder of the police officers and urged restraint, noting that the police had increased security in the region to improve the protection of people and property in the state.

He said, “The Anambra State Police Command has reinforced security in the Idemili North area of the state, following the attack on the Ogidi area command in the early hours of Saturday, February 18, 2023, where three policemen paid the supreme price.”

“The hoodlums started shooting sporadically on approaching the area command and threw IEDs and petrol bombs, gaining entrance. Unfortunately, the buildings in the police facility were affected.”

“However, the command observes with grave concern the loss of lives and valuables as a result of this attack and calls for calm. The police are resolute in depriving these criminal elements of the space which they desire to perpetrate their evil acts.”

“Meanwhile, the incident is being assessed and police operations are still ongoing.”

Continue Reading

Trending