Nigerian Traviation

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA has disclosed that it had arrested 584 persons for drug-related offences, in Lagos State alone, with a seizure of 14,196.800kg of hard drugs.

The agency’s Lagos State Commander, Barr. Ralph Igwenagu, made this disclosure on the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

The arrest, according to him, was made within one year, adding that the command also secured the conviction of 144 defendants, who were consequently sentenced with various terms of imprisonment, while 160 drug users were counseled and rehabilitated.

He explained that June 26th was set aside annually to highlight to the global community the dangers associated with drug trafficking and abuse, as well as a day nations of the world were required to assess their performances in drug control, with a view to re-invigorate their efforts at curtailing the drug menace.

The theme of this year’s event ‘Better Knowledge for Better Care’ #FactsForSolidarity, according to him, was apt and timely, noting that “ it underscores the current response to the current world drug challenge which requires better and informed knowledge of drug use disorders which are the result of a complex interplay of factors that are beyond the control of an individual”.

He lamented that drug trafficking and abuse had reached an epidemic level all over the world, and had become an embarrassing scourge afflicting both individuals and the society at large.

“ It has destabilized families, truncated the promising future of youths and has remained a negative force driving anti-social behavior and the increasing deterioration of societal values and norms.

“The escalating wave of crime and criminality such as banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, militancy, terrorism and other forms of societal decay which are challenges confronting us today are rooted in the pervasive consumption of drugs.

“The challenge is further compounded by the ever-increasing number of psychoactive substances of abuse and use of prescription drugs such as tramadol, cough syrup with codeine, rohypnol and the locally blended skushi drink by youths between 18 and 35 years.

This has become worrisome indeed”, Igwenagu stated.
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By Investigation Media team of Oluwasegun Abifarin and Olawale Abideen

Heritage Bank prides itself as a leading Nigerian “bank with an excellent service culture hinged on working with each customer to create a name and heritage.”

The bank, which berthed in 2012, also adds that “its long standing practice shall be to hold itself to the highest standards of integrity…and shall seek to promote high ethical standards, integrity, and good business practices.”

But recent development is threatening the bank’s virtue and reputation which has produced N483.4 billion total asset as at December 2015.

According to the document received Investigation Media (Publishers of Newsroom Nigeria and Security Monitor), on the 29th December, 2016, Ori Adeyemo and Co, a Forensic Accounting Consultancy firm based in Lagos was engaged by the Niger State Board of Internal Revenue to assist in the improvement of Internally-Generated-Revenue (IGR) base of excess bank charges, high network individuals, withholding tax on dividends and interest and deposits against banks operating in the State from 29/05/1999 and for an initial period of 4 years based on the firm’s proposal.

His first appointment as Consultants was to investigate unremitted 10% Withholding Tax on Credit Interest by His Excellency, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello was dated 23/07/2015 from the office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Malam Zakari Abubakar for only First Bank of Nig. Ltd.

But at a meeting with the governor in his office sometimes in early 2016 with then Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance in attendance, the Governor mandated said Permanent Secretary to issue another letter allowing us to cover all the banks in Niger State.  We are still awaiting said letter till date.

In his petition to the EFCC, obtained by the team, Adeyemo maintained that at the end the forensic investigation, he was able to establish total final and conclusive liability of N363,544,906.82 (Three hundred and sixty three million, five hundred and forty four thousand, nine hundred naira, eighty two kobo) against Heritage Bank out of a total of N4.648 billion against 12 banks operating in the state.

“From the total figure, a sum of N732, 143,601.532 representing 20% agreed commission (including 5% Value-Added-Tax) is due and payable to us within 7 days upon the receipt of said 16/09/2019 earlier demand letter served on the State Governor,” he said.

According to him, before commencement of work, the firm was introduced to the Nasarawa State Government by the duo of Mr. Charles Osuji (aka Kenneth Zuofa) and Mr. Edmond Ogbonna

The deal however went sour after completion of works as Adeyemo alleged that the state officials and their middlemen have entered a new deal with some of the banks to shortchange the whole exercise.

Adeyemo further alleged he was reliably informed that the Board had given “clean bill of health and letters of non-indebtedness by ridiculously negotiating lower sums in fraudulent compromise, which we are not a party thereto to the said compromised concerned banks.”

The petitioner also included a compact disk (CD) detailing all completed jobs in intellectual properties as so far executed by the consultant for the Niger State Government enabling it to demand for an additional but unpaid N732,143,601.52 commission sum.

 “We humbly request that this matter be expeditiously investigated and if the said suspects are found culpable, be charged to a Court of competent jurisdiction in order to serve as a deterrent to others that may want to emulate their nefarious and despicable acts of impunity and reckless abandon,” Adeyemo told EFCC.

When contacted, Blaise Udunze, Heritage bank’s head of corporate communication admitted he’s aware of the allegation but promised to get back to us after he might have perused information in his office. But he never did till date.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has said that only Saudi pilgrims and those from other countries already inside the kingdom would be allowed for 2020 hajj.

It stated that such is imperative in a bid to contain the spread of Coronavirus.

The Ministry made this known in a statement issued to newsmen. 

It is the state-run Saudi Press Agency which oversees the pilgrimage

Meanwhile, The ministry did not specify the target attendance, but the limitations will surely make this year’s pilgrimage much smaller than those in recent years, which have been vast.

Union Bank, one of Nigeria’s foremost financial institutions, has announced the release of its 2019 Citizenship, Sustainability, and Innovation (CSI) report – an annual report outlining the Bank’s social and environmental investments during the year in view.

The report gives a detailed, year-long account of responsible business practices, innovation, and community impact.
The 2019 report was prepared in line with the Nigerian Sustainability Business Principles (NSBPs) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards, highlighting Union Bank’s commitment to transparent reporting of its CSI efforts.
The report also provides insight into the Bank’s commitment to making lives better for Nigerians by enabling success and championing development in Nigeria, in line with 14 out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to the report, in 2019, Union Bank achieved its plan to deepen its sense of shared ownership and accountability, leveraging the unique three-pillar model: Citizenship, Sustainability and Innovation.
This model informed the Institution’s choice of partnerships, as the Bank continues to explore ways and opportunities to deepen engagement and ensure sustainable and scalable impact.Speaking on the release of the report, the Chief Executive Officer, EmekaEmuwa, expressed his satisfaction at the contributions of the Bank as a leading financial institution committed to making lives better for Nigerians. He said: “We have continued to make progress in embedding Citizenship, Sustainability, and Innovation into our operations as a Bank.
Last year when I presented our scorecard, I highlighted that our focus for 2019 would be to deepen our sense of shared ownership and accountability. We have achieved this and more by making significant, and strategically aligned contributions aimed at enabling youth empowerment, social innovation, arts, and culture, and fostering a globally competitive economy.”
After more than a century in business, Union Bank has solidified its position as Nigeria’s most trusted financial partner, innovating in response to evolving customer needs and championing growth and development for all, especially those at the bottom of the pyramid.
Underscoring this commitment, last year, Union Bank won three awards at the 2019 Sustainability, Enterprise and Responsibility (SERAs) Africa CSR Awards – ‘Best Company in Environmental Excellence’, SERAS Innovation Prize Award and the Second Runner Up award in the Most Responsible Company category.

The Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, has urged Judiciary Correspondents to avoid fake news and hate speech in the course of discharging their duties.

The AGF made the statement at the swearing-in ceremony for the the newly elected executives of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondent, NAJUC, in Abuja.

Mr. Malami advised Media practitioners to respect the ethics of the profession while disseminating credible, true, accurate and reliable information devoid of mischief.

“Avoid fake news, hate speech and other practices inimical to the concepts of fairness and objective reporting”.

While describing the election as historic, Mr. Malami further commended the members of the association for their contributions in the development of journalism and enhancement of the coverage of Ministry of Justice activities and the judicial sector.

He further assured the association of the ministry’s support in making reportage an easy one.

Meanwhile, NAJUC Electoral committee declared Kayode Lawal of the Herald Newspapers as the winner for the chairmanship position, having defeated his rival, Kunle Olasanmi of the Leadership Newspaper having polled 23 and 16 Respectively.

Other elected officials were Paschal Njoku as Secretary, Femi Kuku as Financial Secretary, Peter Bahago for Welfare, Vivian Okejeme for Treasurer while Basil Okafor emerged as the Provost.

However, the Vice chairmanship position which was contested between Mrs. Ifeoma Nwovu of Radio Nigeria and Miss Celestina Iria of Television Continental, could not produce a winner as there was a tie.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Lawal urged all members to support his administration, reiterating that his administration would be for all.

The Police in Anambra have arrested one Ifeanyi Apusiobi (34) for allegedly killing 2 of his children namely Chinecherem (7) and Obinna (5) with a wooden pestle while they were asleep.

Ifeanyi also used the weapon on his 72-yr old father, Dominic Apusiobi.

The Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS has warned migrants to desist from breaking the immigration laws of countries of transit or destination to avoid sanctions.

The helmsman of the service, Muhammad Babandede gave the warning following the arrest of two India nationals (names withheld) who are also awaiting prosecution for violating the Nigeria immigration law to serve as a deterrence to others.

He said this may result into stopping the migrants from coming to Nigeria or payment of fees chargeable depending on the gravity of the offence committed and what the law stipulated.

A statement on Sunday by the Deputy Comptroller of the NIS and the National Public Relations Officer of the agency, James Sunday, said the duo were apprehended at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, while screening Indian nationals due for evacuation from Nigeria as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He revealed that the NIS command at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos intercepted the two Indian nationals for illegally entering the country without proper documentation.

The statement further explained that“the Lagos Airport Comptroller of the NIS, Abdullahi Usman in his briefing remarked that the Indians both male were arrested during the screening of Indian nationals that were being evacuated from Nigeria through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos.

“CIS Usman disclosed that while profiling the men, it was discovered that they entered Nigeria through the land border and had visa on arrival application approval which they failed to present to Immigration at the border.

Shedding more light, Usman unveiled that the men had been in Cotonu, Benin Republic for a month as they had the stamp of that country dated February 9 2020 when they left and entered Nigeria illegally as they did not present themselves for immigration checks at the border.”

446 Indians were evacuated from Nigeria on Saturday, June 20, 2020

Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo exchanging pleasantries with a Philanthropist, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi Telu De 1st and the other.

Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission has expressed shock at the sudden death of Senator Bayo Osinowo, who had served in the Assembly for sixteen years before moving to the National Assembly.

Describing Late Sen. Osinowo as “The Big Iroko” the Chairman of the Commission, Chief Wale Mogaji stated that his demise was a big blow to the Commission, the entire Nigeria’s Legislatures, particularly the National Assembly and the Lagos State House of Assembly.

According to the Chief Mogaji, late Osinowo was a quintessential political leader, a philanthropist, a businessman and a devout Muslim, who gave 16 years of unparalleled legislative service to Lagos State.

“Death, we know, is inevitable but it hit the wrong chord and left a huge vacuum in our hearts. It took away a man with positive impact, a man whose idea, wisdom, wealth of knowledge and exemplary leadership remain our source of guidance and political sustenance.

The LAHASCOM Chairman sressed that the House of Assembly would forever be evergreen as he championed and sponsored many bills that are today laws that have brought socio-economic developments to Lagos State.

Commiserating with the National Assembly, Lagos State House of Assembly, APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the entire family and well wishers of the late Osinowo, the Commission prayed that Almighty Allah forgives his sins and grant his loved ones the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable monumental loss.

The Speaker of Lagos House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, and members of the Assembly paid a condolence visit to the immediate family of late Bayo Osinowo at their Molipa, Ijebu-Ode residence, today, Sunday, June 21, 2020.

Late Bayo Osinowo, who died on Monday, June 15, 2020, after a brief illness, was a member of Lagos House of Assembly for 16 consecutive years before moving to the senate.

Speaking with the family, Obasa extolled the sterling qualities and contributions of late Osinowo to the growth of the Lagos House of Assembly in his 16 years as a member.

He prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive him all his sins and grant him aljannah firdaus.

The Speaker said the family should take solace in the fact that the late senator was loved by many because his benevolence and sacrifice.

He also informed the family that the House of Assembly will be holding a special parliamentary session in honour of Senator Osinowo on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.

He urged the family to choose a representative that would speak on behalf of the family at the session.

Dr. Tunde Osinowo, the first son of the deceased, who spoke on behalf of the family, thanked Obasa and the members for the visit to the family.

Dr. Osinowo said their father had prepared them for his demise through his talks and deeds while he was alive but that it was hard for them to cope with the reality of his sudden death.

The Speaker and the members thereafter prayed for the deceased, who until his death, was the Senator representing Lagos East.