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ICPC arrests bank officials over ‘N258m new notes stashed in vault’

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says its operatives arrested the officials of the Abuja head office of Sterling Bank over “N258 million” new notes “stashed” in the bank’s vault.

In a statement on Tuesday, the commission said the regional and service managers of the bank were arrested on Friday.

The ICPC, however, said the two managers have been granted administrative bail while the investigation continues.

“When the ICPC monitoring team visited the bank and discovered the stashed new Naira notes in the bank’s vault, it was informed that the cash was the remnant of what the CBN had given the bank for onward distribution to its branches,” the statement reads.

“The team however found out that only the sum of Five Million Naira (N5m) each was distributed to their various branches.”

The commission also said several arrests were made in separate operations linked to the naira scarcity across the country.

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In Nasarawa, the head of operations of Keystone Bank in Mararaba was arrested “for frustrating its customers at getting the new Naira notes”.

“The ICPC team, while on its routine operation, found out that the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) at the branch were not dispensing to its customers, while other bank customers were accessing only One Thousand Naira,” the statement reads.

“It was only after the arrest was made and clarification received from CBN that the position of the officers of the Bank was not correct, that the ATMs started dispensing Five Thousand Naira to non-customers and Ten Thousand Naira to its customers.”

In another development, the commission said its operatives arrested one Abdulkareem Shaibu, a security guard with the Zenith Bank branch located at the third avenue in Gwarimpa, Abuja, for possessing five ATM cards.

Shaibu was said to have used the ATM cards to withdraw cash for persons who were not within the bank premises at that time.

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Two other suspects, identified as Adam and Umar, were also reportedly arrested in front of the Zenith Bank branch at the first avenue area of Gwarimpa for selling the new naira notes.

“In another development, two officials of FCMB Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo have been taken into custody for assault of officers of ICPC and CBN Cash Swap Monitoring Team,” the ICPC added.

“Recall that it was reported last week that the said branch was caught twice for loading wrapped bank notes inside its ATMs.

“The team, on a follow-up visit to ascertain the bank’s compliance level, was assaulted right inside the Branch Manager’s office by the bank officials who vehemently refused to allow ICPC carry out its lawful duty, and then held hostage for about two hours.

“By the time the reinforcement of Police and NSCDC officers arrived at the scene of the incident, the masterminds of the assaults had gone into hiding, leading to the arrest of two bank officers who were also complicit.”

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‘Notorious Boko Haram member surrenders’ to army

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One alleged notorious member of Boko Haram, simply identified as Alhaji Wosai, has surrendered to the Nigerian troops of Operation Hadin Kai.

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, said Wosai surrendered to the army on Saturday.

 

Wosai was said to have escaped from an enclave of insurgents in Garno village in Borno state.

 

“It was gathered that the terrorist surrendered on May 11, 2024, to the troops of 21 Armored Brigade after escaping from the enclave of the insurgents in Garno village in Borno State,” the publication said.

“Intelligence sources informed Zagazola Makama that he surrendered with 1ak 47 rifle and 1 Magazine filled with 7.63MM 39 MM Special ammunition.

 

“The militant is in the military custody for profiling.”

In April, a Boko Haram fighter identified as Sajeh Yaga reportedly surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Borno state.

 

He was said to have surrendered to the soldiers after he “sneaked out” from the terrorists’ camp in Sambisa forest.

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He also reportedly relinquished weapons, including an Ak47 rifle, four Ak47 magazines, six 7.62 MM special ammunition, and three mobile phones to the troops.

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Good morning! Here Are Some Major News Headlines In The Newspapers Today: Nigeria is complex but not difficult to govern, says Obasanjo

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1. Former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo has said despite the fact that Nigeria is a complex country, it is not too difficult to govern. Obasanjo while commissioning presidential lodge inside Osun State Government House, Oke-Fia, Osogbo, alongside Governor Ademola Adeleke and former governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola on Sunday, May 12, noted that governance is easy when leaders are honest with their conscience.

 

2. Rivers State factional House of Assembly led by speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, has invited a commissioner-nominee, Danagogo Iboroma, for screening and confirmation as a member of the state executive council. In a letter signed by the factional Clerk, Dr. G.M. Gillis-West, he asked Iboroma to appear before the House on Monday by 10 am.

 

3. Hoodlums at the weekend attacked a Police Station at Umabor, Eha-Alumona, in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, leaving two policemen dead. The hoodlums had earlier on Saturday evening attacked Police and Road Safety teams at nearby Orba community in Udenu Local Government Area of the state and reportedly left a policeman and one officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) dead.

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4. Members of the organised labour, on Sunday night, announced that they would shut down offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Distribution Companies nationwide. They said the offices would be under lock and key until the Federal Government accedes to their request on total reversal of electricity tariff hike.

 

5. The Coalition of Fulani groups in Plateau State has claimed that the recent attack on their members in Bassa Local Government Area of the state is a confirmation of the Department of State Services’ (DSS) alert of threat against their members. The group said this at a press conference in Jos, capital of Plateau.

 

6. Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has said the country’s “lopsided” federalism practice has hindered the development of states, calling for a review of revenue derivation formula in line with the practice of fiscal federalism. According to him, Bayelsa cannot continue to use its money to develop another state.

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7. Prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State on Sunday, carried out a solidarity protest to the House of Assembly quarters in Port Harcourt. The protesters were received by Hon. Martins Amaehwule, Speaker of the Assembly faction loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

 

8. A landlord, Bola Abiodun, and her husband, identified simply as Sunday, have flown their Temidire community home in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State after allegedly disposing of their tenant’s body in a canal. It was learnt that the incident, which occurred on May 8, 2024, led the state police command to launch a manhunt for the couple after their disappearance following the alleged crime.

 

9. The International Monetary Fund has warned the Nigerian government to remove what it called implicit fuel and electricity subsidies. In a report published recently by the IMF, the organisation told Nigeria that the subsidies would guzzle three per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product in 2024 as against one per cent in the year before.

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10. Residents of the ancient city of Zaria in Kaduna State were on Sunday thrown into mourning following the arrest of one AbdulAzeez Idris, who allegedly abducted and killed his six-year-old cousin, Aisha Dahiru. The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, while confirming the case, said Dahiru was kidnapped while on her way to Islamiya school (Qur’anic school).

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Some varsity students kidnapped by gunmen have been rescued, says Kogi government

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The Kogi state government says some students abducted from the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTEC) Osara have been rescued.

 

The government said the kidnappers “succumbed to superior firepower and escaped with gun wounds”. 

 

On May 9, gunmen invaded the university and abducted students who were preparing for their examinations.

 

The state government had said nine students were missing after the attack.

 

Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, had visited the institution and assured parents of his commitment to rescue the students.

 

Ododo had also said closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed in the school were switched off on the night of the attack.

 

In a statement issued on Sunday, Kingsley Fanwo, information commissioner, said some of the students have been rescued by a joint team of security operatives and hunters.

 

Fanwo did not release the specific number of students rescued.

 

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William Aya, police spokesperson in Kogi, told TheCable on Sunday morning that 14 students have been rescued.

 

“This is to inform the general public that some of the students abducted by gunmen at the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara have been rescued safely by local hunters and other security agents,” the statement reads.

 

“Local vigilante men and security agents engaged the kidnappers in a fierce shootout and the kidnappers succumbed to superior firepower and escaped with gun wounds, leaving the kidnapped students who also ran in different directions to avoid being caught up in the fire exchange.

 

“Many of the students kidnapped and even other people in captivity have been rescued and taken to medical facilities for proper attention, while many others were also rescued in the early hours of today.”

 

He said a hunter and DSS operative sustained injuries during the firefight with the kidnappers, adding that they are receiving medical attention.

 

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Fanwo said security agents are “currently combing the forests” to rescue the remaining students in captivity.

 

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