Obire Efe Blog

EFCC seeks INTERPOL's Cooperation over Edo Commissioner The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has watch-listed the Edo State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Mr Osaze Osemwingie-Ero, with the International Police (INTERPOL). He was said to have been intercepted in France with $2million cash, which contravenes money laundering standards. But, other sources said he was arrested by INTERPOL as part of an investigation of cult activities in Europe. EFCC detectives are profiling Osemwingie-Ero’s accounts and are probing how he left Nigeria with the huge cash, if indeed true. It was learnt that the EFCC may freeze his accounts. A top source, who spoke in confidence with  The Nation  said: “The EFCC has written INTERPOL to place Ero on watch-list, which will enable the agency to repatriate the commissioner back to Nigeria. “The essence of the watch-list with INTERPOL is also to indicate Nigeria’s interest in the case. “With this, ...

2020: Nigeria Set for robust peace and economic growth, says Lawan The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has said the year 2020 will usher in robust peace and economic growth for the benefit of all Nigerians. In his New Year message, Lawan congratulates Nigerians on witnessing the end of 2019 and the beginning of the year 2020. He hailed the resilience of Nigerians in their commitment to the unity and prosperity of the country and support for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. “I have no doubt in my mind that with the timely passage of the budget, restoration of the January to December financial year and other amendments recently made to our laws by the ninth National Assembly, the economy will enjoy significant growth in the new year,” Lawan said. The Senate President assured Nigerians that National Assembly will continue to do its best to make things better for the people through enactment of people-oriented legislations. Lawan said the National A...

New Year Message: We remain committed to stronger Delta, says Governor Okowa Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has expressed optimism that the New Year, 2020, will be characterised by sustainable development as the state government remains irrevocably committed to the Stronger Delta vision. The governor stated this in his New Year Message to the people of the state, and urged them to remain united and focused on the course of developing the state, irrespective of ethnic, religious or political differences. In the message contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba on Tuesday, Okowa felicitated with Deltans and all Nigerians as they stepped into 2020 and expressed gratitude to God for the grace granted Delta and its citizens in 2019. While praying for unity, peace and development in the state, which he noted, was the plank of his Stronger Delta vision, he urged the people to remain supportive of government, saying that peace remaine...

Kano NDLEA secures 107 convictions in 2019 The Kano State Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it had secured the conviction of 107 drug peddlers in 2019. The state NDLEA commander, Dr Ibrahim Abdul made the disclosure at a press briefing on Tuesday in Kano as part of activities to review the activities of the agency in the outgoing year (2019). He said that the command had during the year under review seized a total of 8,031,207 kilogrammes of exhibits. According to him, a total of 906 suspects were also arrested among which 103 were females, 803 were males while 107 of the number were prosecuted. He said that only one female was among the prosecuted suspects, while 76 cases were presently pending at a Federal High court in Kano. “The command had seized 4,525.473 kilogrammes of cannabis, 2,927,669 kilogrammes psychotropic and 3,455 kilogrammes of cocaine. “The command also seized 167 grams of heroin and 160,900 kilogrammes of oth...

Police uncover details of Abuja failed bank robbery The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has unveiled the identity of the Abuja First Bank staff, who acted as insider in the failed 28 December robbery in Mpape. Mr. Bala Ciroma, the commissioner of police named the bank staff as Larry Ehizo, a customer service officer, who had worked there for two years. Ciroma said Ehizo was the mastermind of the aborted robbery. At a news briefing today, Ciroma also announced that the police recovered four locally made pistols, one Peugeot 206 car and two daggers from the suspects arrested in connection with the attempted bank robbery. He said four suspects were arrested over the robbery. Larry Ehizo Ehizo, 30 years-old, claimed he was dragged into the robbery by one Ernest, who is now at large, because he threatened to kill him, his girlfriend and his family if he did not help the gang rob the bank. Ehizo, the 2014 graduate of Political Science from the...

COAS Buratai visits troops in Borno, assures improved welfare in 2020 Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has assured Nigerian Army troops of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) of improved welfare package in 2020. Buratai gave the assurance while addressing the troops during an operational visit to Pulka in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno on Tuesday. He said the government had assured the army of its commitment to the welfare of officers and men of the armed forces as well as those of their families. Buratai said: “I know the importance of this location and you have done your best in ensuring that the security here is maintained. “So let me commend you for the wonderful performance and the way you have conducted yourselves in OPLD. “I am here to see you, I have been to other places and I cease this opportunity to come and see you before the end of the year and wish you well in the coming year. “We appreciate you for being so gallant, for decimating the...

EFCC hands over forfeited property to NDE as Permanent office The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has handed over a forfeited property to the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to use as its office. Spokesman of the Commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement on Tuesday that the property was located on Plot 1076 Cadastral Zone, Sector B 18, Gudu District, Abuja. The asset, according to him, was recovered in a case between the Federal Government and Emmanuel Ozigi and two others; Home Vestors Concepts Ltd and Knight Consulting Ltd. “The EFCC secured the final forfeiture of the property to the Federal Government on February 15, 2018, at the conclusion of forfeiture processes in a Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu. “The hand over formalities were conducted by the Secretary to EFCC, Olanipekun Olukoyede, who conveyed the Commission’s excitement at handing the property over to an agency of the Federal...

U.S blacklisting: Huawei posts record profits Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies flagged record profits for 2019 on Tuesday, despite a tumultuous year that has seen the U.S. and its allies blacklist the firm. “Despite concerted efforts by the U.S. government to keep us down, we’ve made it out the other side and continue to create value for our customers,” said rotating chairman Eric Xu is a New Year message pushed across Huawei’s social media accounts. Xu boasts that Huawei sales revenue will top 850 billion yuan in 2019 (122 billion dollars), representing a year-on-year increase of roughly 18 per cent. “These figures are lower than our initial projections,” Xu admitted, adding that they “stand strong in the face of adversity.” In 2018, Huawei’s annual revenue grew 19.5 per cent. Huawei, the world’s largest maker of telecommunications network equipment and the second-biggest smartphone manufacturer, was placed on the U.S. “entity list” in May, b...

I have done more than any Imo governor over the years – Sen. Rochas Okorocha Senator Rochas Okorocha representing Imo West Senatorial district has stated that he has single-handedly accrued more achievements during his tenure as Imo state governor than any other governor. The former governor decried that ‘he Rochas is one one the most misunderstood individuals in the country’ while speaking on Channels TV’s ‘Newsnight’. Rochas hinged being misunderstood on the feedback he gets from people who define him from different angles. He also claimed that no past or present Governor of Imo State is yet to do one-tenth of the projects he embarked. He said; “I wish you can meet the governor of Imo state (Emeka Ihedioha) and ask that Rochas said what he has done is not up to one-tenth of what I have done, or other governors put together have done. “The first international cargo airport in Imo state, I built it and it was adjudged the best in the c...

Zamfara suspends eight top officials over discovery of thousands of ghost workers No fewer than five officials and three directors of Zamfara State ministry of finance have been suspended over an alleged appointment racketeering. The shocking discovery of 5,000 ghost workers receiving a salary amounting to N216 million by the state government led to the suspension of the officials. One of the suspended workers who allegedly aided the appointment racketeering, was reportedly receiving thrice the salary a medical doctor gets at the end of the month. While reacting to the development, the state’s commissioner for finance, Rabiu Garba confirmed the suspension and added that the culpable officials includes Director, Finance Hospital Management Board; Director Salary, State Ministry of Finance; and his deputy including five other officials in the ministry. He further revealed that the suspended government workers will be prosecuted if found guilty. He said; “This is ...

Controversy rocks Edo over Commissioner’s arrest in France Edo State Government on Monday said it could not confirm whether or not operatives of INTERPOL arrested the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Mr Osaze Osemwingie-Ero, for alleged money laundering. Ero was reportedly arrested in France since last month for having $2million. He was said to have been detained and queried by INTERPOL. Political opponents claimed the money was given to him by Governor Godwin Obaseki when he accompanied him on a foreign trip. Another source said the Commissioner was being questioned for an offence he committed seven years ago. A top government official, who pleaded anonymity, said the state government was aware of Osemwingie-Ero’s questioning by INTERPOL for an offence allegedly committed before his appointment. On the $2million found on the Commissioner, the source said it was yet to be confirmed. Edo State Government said Osemwingie-Ero’s arrest had nothing to...

Edo monarchs to pray for APC National Chairman Oshiomhole, Obaseki To resolve the lingering feud between Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, monarchs in the state will embark on a praying and fasting session. The Edo Council of Traditional Rulers said it will begin the exercise on January 2 to seek God’s intervention in the ongoing crisis. The two gladiators have refused to shift grounds despite efforts to settle their dispute. The governor rejected the party’s reconciliation committee, saying Oshiomhole remained suspended. One of the monarchs, the Otaru of Auchi, Aliru Momoh, in a statement by his spokesman Usman Abudah, urged the Muslim ummah in his kingdom to continue to pray for peace in the state. Abudah said the monarch announced the prayer plan while briefing members of Otaru-in-Council (OIC) on the outcome of a meeting of the state Traditional Rulers’ Council. The Council meeting wa...