🗞️ Kids, don't sell drugs
Happy public holiday to those who celebrate!
In this edition:
Some illicit website might have access to your NIN
The FG is still fighting with Binance
Reps accuse CBN, Banks of illegally sharing money
NFIU uncovered IPOB groups in 22 countries
Lagos shuts down KFC for violating anti-discrimination law
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⚠️Data breach
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has increased scrutiny on licensees of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) after a website called "expressverify" breached data protection protocols by accessing NINs and personal details from NIMC's database without authorisation.
The website was reported to have had unrestricted access to NINs and personal information of Nigerians registered in the national identity database managed by NIMC and was monetizing recovery of this data.
The NDPC is investigating to determine how expressverify obtained the credentials. They have so far found that a third-party entity authorised for verification services may have granted expressverify access to NIN verification credentials.
In response, NIMC temporarily suspended all access to its database, though limited access has been reinstated for essential public services.
NDPC says data processing by licensees will face increased scrutiny going forward, with only compliant entities allowed NIN verification access. NIMC will also train personnel on data protection regulations.
Financials
To unify exchange rates and reduce distortions, the CBN sold $10,000 to Bureau De Change operators across the country at an exchange rate of N1,251 per U.S. dollar - Premium Times
BDCs are instructed to sell the dollars to eligible customers at a rate not exceeding 1.5% above the purchase price from CBN (N1,251/$1).
Any BDC caught breaching this maximum 1.5% margin rule will face sanctions, including suspension from further dollar sales.
This move comes after the CBN in February announced resuming dollar sales to BDCs to address distortions affecting the naira exchange rate in the forex markets. This came after EFCC raided and arrested BDC operatives in various states - they accused the operatives of inflating the exchange rate.
So in summary, the CBN is supplying BDCs with dollars at N1,251/$1 which they can sell at a maximum 1.5% margin
Binance vs FG
Nigerian authorities are searching for a Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who “escaped” from the country on Friday with a new passport. - Punch
Anjarwalla was one of two Binance executives Nigerian authorities held in connection to the EFCC’s ongoing investigation into Binance's activities in the country. The FG seized their passports at the time of their detention last month.
The FG says they have contacted INTERPOL and issued an arrest warrant.
Reports state that Anjarwalla used a Kenyan passport to flee. The authorities want to know how he got this passport, as he only had a British passport when detained.
At the time of Anjarwalla’s arrest, the Nigerian authorities used soldiers to guard Anjarwalla since he was detained. His assigned soldiers have been apprehended for questioning about his escape.
What’s happening with the other exec?
The other detained Binance exec, Tigran Gambaryan has filed a lawsuit against the NSA and the EFCC for violating his fundamental human rights.
Gambaryan is seeking a court declaration that his detention and seizure of his travel document contravened sections of the Nigerian Constitution guaranteeing freedom of movement and personal liberty.
He wants the court to order his release from custody, the return of his passport, and prevent further detention related to the Binance investigation.
Gambaryan also wants a public apology from the NSA and EFCC.
At the court hearing, Gambaryan's counsel withdrew from representing the co-accused Anjarwalla, without providing reasons.
The trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, has adjourned the matter until April 8th.
Meanwhile, the federal government intends to charge Gambaryan and Anjarwalla with “tax evasion” allegations on April 4.
Government Spending
Nigeria's total public debt stock increased from N87.91 trillion ($114.35 billion) in Q3 2023 to N97.34 trillion ($108.23 billion) in Q4 2023, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Nigerian Domestic and Foreign Debt Report for Q4 2023. - Premium Times
This represents a 10.73% quarter-on-quarter increase in Nigeria's public debt.
The external debt was N38.22 trillion ($42.50 billion) in Q4 2023, while domestic debt was N59.12 trillion ($65.73 billion).
External debt accounted for 39.26% of total public debt, while domestic debt was 60.74% in Q4 2023.
Among states, Lagos had the highest domestic debt of N1.05 trillion, followed by Delta with N373.41 billion. Jigawa had the lowest at N42.76 billion.
For external debt, Lagos recorded the highest at $1.24 billion, followed by Kaduna at $587.07 million. Borno had the lowest at $20.49 million.
Abia State Stops Pension For Ex-Governors, Deputies
The Abia State Governor, Alex Otti signed the Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Repeal Law of 2024, which was recently passed by the Abia State House of Assembly - Premium Times, Culture Custodian
Background: The life pensions law was signed in 2001 by Senator Orji Kalu while he was governor of Abia.
The bill said former Abia governors and deputies are entitled to 100% of the annual basic salaries of the standing governor and deputy. It also allowed them to keep domestic staff, all of whom were to be paid by the state. The law also let the ex-governors and deputies keep three police officers and two Department of State Services (DSS) agents.
Until Otti implemented this law, former Abia State governors, Orji Uzor Kalu, Theodore Orji, Okezie Ikpeazu, and their deputies have been collecting salaries and other benefits.
Abia State is not the only state that passed the life pension law for former governors and their deputies in Nigeria. Ogun, Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers at least 12 other states in Nigeria have passed a version of this law.
Despite the ruling of Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo which stated that life pensions for governors and their deputies are illegal and unconstitutional, this law has continued to be observed
In a lawsuit instituted by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Justice Oguntoyinbo in a judgment dated 26 November 2019 indicated that double emoluments for former governors are unacceptable, unconstitutional, and illegal, and urged states to recover pensions paid in the past.
Meanwhile, about six months after President Bola Tinubu recalled all career and non-career ambassadors in diplomatic missions worldwide, their offices in embassies and consulates have remained vacant. - Punch
Reps accuse CBN and other banks of illegally sharing money
The committee accused the CBN and commercial banks of being complicit in sharing N15 billion remittance paid to Remita from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) between 2016-2018.
The committee chairman, Hon. Bamidele Salam, described the N15 billion payment to Remita as illegal, saying it lacked budgetary provision and a contract/agreement.
He alleged that the CBN also benefitted from sharing the N15 billion paid to Remita, alongside commercial banks and the Remita/SystemSpecs companies handling revenue collection.
The CBN representative said they worked with Remita in 2011 to provide an alternative revenue remittance platform, claiming the fees charged were in line with the banking structure.
The Remita representative confirmed that 10%, 20% and 50% shares were given to CBN, commercial banks and Remita respectively from TSA collections.
The committee warned the FIRS chairman, Zacch Adedeji, over his repeated failure to honour invitations, describing it as contempt of parliament that will have consequences.
In essence, the committee is alleging impropriety and lack of due process in the N15 billion paid to Remita by OAGF, which the CBN and banks also allegedly benefitted from illegally. The FIRS chief is also being cautioned for ignoring summons.
Drugs and things
Kids, don’t sell drugs
The NDLEA arrested a total of 24 suspected drug traffickers and dealers across 8 states in major interdiction operations.
In Borno state, a man was caught transporting thousands of concealed opioid pills to an insurgents' enclave in the Banki area. A six-month pregnant woman, a mother of three, and three other women were also arrested. Over 7,609kg of various illicit drugs were seized in the operations.
In Nasarawa state, 4,037kg of cannabis was intercepted in a truck coming from Ondo state. Three suspects were arrested.
In Abuja, 1,961.5kg of compressed cannabis was seized from a truck coming from Uzeba, with two suspects arrested.
Another suspect in Abuja was caught with 89kg of cannabis from Ondo heading to Gwagwalada.
696.5kg of cannabis from Ondo being transported to Gwagwalada/Dei-Dei in Abuja was intercepted, leading to the arrest of a mother of three linked to the consignment.
Other arrests and seizures were made in operations across several other states.
Update on Army deaths
Last week the FG ordered the military to find the people who killed 17 soldiers in Delta state while on a peace mission. So far, Clement Ikolo, a Monarch in Ewu Kingdom in Delta State, has been apprehended.
Ikolo surrendered himself to the police on Thursday after being declared wanted by the military authorities over the killings.
The Defence Headquarters had declared Ikolo and 7 others, including the Ewu President-General Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, wanted in connection with the killings.
Before surrendering, Ikolo claimed his innocence, stating he had no hand in the killings which he condemned as against his principles.
He said the state government was aware of the turbulence in his kingdom and had arranged for talks with opposing parties before the incident occurred.
Illegal refineries in Rivers forest
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Commandant General's Special Intelligence Squad uncovered a massive illegal oil refining site in Odagwa Community, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The site comprised over 10 illegal refineries with an estimated 500,000 litres of crude oil stored in about 50 illegally constructed reservoirs.
Five suspects engaging in the illicit act were arrested at the site during the operation.
The illegal refineries were tapping crude oil from the oil wellhead of Heirs Energies Limited and NNPC around the Imo River 2 Oil and Gas field in the area.
Large cooking pots, pumping machines, receiver tanks, hoses and pipes were found set up for the illegal refining operations.
The Commandant stated the site will be destroyed to stop the perpetrators from returning, and the arrested suspects will be prosecuted.
NFIU uncovered IPOB groups in 22 countries.
The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has uncovered 27 IPOB support groups operating in 22 countries globally, including the USA and UK. - Vanguard
The NFIU linked the running of IPOB to 54 individuals across the globe.
According to their investigation, IPOB has several bank accounts in different countries where funds are received from various contributors with narrations like "Monthly Dues" and "for ESN (Eastern Security Network)".
They also found that over $160,000 was disbursed by IPOB to media/broadcasting companies in Bulgaria, South Africa and the UK.
Ahmad Gumi is getting on the FG’s nerves
The Federal Government says Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, former Boko Haram civilian spokesperson, has been invited by the DSS for questioning for his comments he made where he was strongly advocating for terrorists - Channels
The Information Minister Mohammed Idris stated that the Government "will not hesitate" to hold Gumi accountable for his "provocative or reckless" statements.
Sheikh Gumi’s questioning is in relation to comments he made regarding the recent abduction of over 200 students in Kaduna State
Gumi encouraged the government to negotiate with kidnappers and pay a random.
Lagos anti-discrimination law
FAAN has shut down the KFC outlet at Lagos airport for disability discrimination.
The outlet refused entry to Gbenga Daniel, they blatantly told him it was because his wheelchair is “against their policy”
FAAN says this clearly violates Lagos State law, which prohibits discrimination based on disability.
They have instructed KFC’s management to tender an unreserved apology to Gbenga Daniel
They must also create a policy statement of non-discrimination written and paste it publicly.
Other news
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) proposes that the FAAC pay workers directly if states default on the new minimum wage. The current minimum wage is N30,000, but the union wants an increase to N447,000 or N794,000 per worker. They point to increased FAAC allocations for states as evidence that states can afford to pay more. - Channels
Another grid collapse- Channels
Ondo Governorship Poll: No Decision On Zoning Yet - Leadership
CBN gives banks 24 months to increase capital base - Arise
A yet-to-be-identified nurse in Oke-Owa in the Ijebu Ode area of Ogun State is currently on the run after allegedly carrying out a botched abortion - Punch
A man, Chike Ibezim, has been arraigned by the Federal Government for allegedly defaming a former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola - The Cable
Man swims across Third Mainland Bridge to promote mental health awareness - The Cable
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