JUST-IN: Nigerian Man, Bashir Hadeja Nabbed for Treason, Gun-Running, and Transnational Crimes [Video]

Security operatives have Arrested Mr Bashir Hadeija, over treason, subversive activities, gun-running and transnational crimes.

A Nigerian who specialises in money laundering and other transnational crimes was over the weekend arrested for treason, subversive activities against the Nigerian government, Trans-border gun-running, heist, and other Transnational crimes.

The man whose name was given as one Bashir Hadeja was arrested by the Nigerian police following intelligence reports on smuggling large catches of weapons along with bars of gold believed to have been stolen from the Central Bank of Libya.

Bashir Hadeja, who traded dangerous weapons along with gold as cover-up, was also accused of being involved in aiding terrorism and other forms of criminality in the northern states of Nigeria along with his sponsors, including a serving PDP Governor in one of the North Western States, among other politicians of both Northern and Southern extractions.

Responding to sustained interrogations by security, the suspect also confessed to sponsoring a large number of youths who participated in the just concluded #EndBadGovernance Protests in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa and Abuja.

The suspect also confessed to being involved in schemes that involved the blackmailing of politicians and government officials.

He also confessed to sponsoring the attack on Jigawa state APC headquarters.

The suspect was also found with increminating documents of impersonation, including tracking documents of high profile personalities and an international passport of the Republic of Vanuatu, which will expire on the 14th of September, 2030.

During the investigation, a video showing the suspect displaying bars of gold carrying Gaddafi’s statue worth one tone believed to have been stolen from the Libyan Central Bank was also seen.

The suspect is currently cooperating on the investigation, opening up to name his sponsors and other allies, including a former director of the Department of State Security Service, DSS.

SEC Grants Extension for Access Holdings’ ₦351bn Rights Issue Amid Nationwide Protests

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved an extension of Access Holdings Plc’s ongoing ₦351 billion rights issue to August 23, 2024. Originally scheduled to close earlier, the extension was granted in response to the widespread hunger protests across Nigeria, which have disrupted business operations and limited shareholder participation.

Access Holdings had offered 17.772 billion ordinary shares at ₦19.75 each, on the basis of one new share for every two held as of June 7, 2024. The company’s statement, signed by Group Company Secretary Sunday Ekwochi, emphasized that the extension aims to give shareholders ample opportunity to subscribe to their rights despite the challenges posed by the protests.

During this extended period, dealings by company insiders will remain restricted to participation in the rights issue, in accordance with regulations governing the non-dealing period related to the company’s audited interim financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2024.

Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Bolaji Agbede, noted that the rights issue is a crucial part of the group’s strategy to bolster its financial strength and pursue its growth ambitions. Agbede expressed confidence that this capital raise would help propel Access Holdings toward its goal of becoming one of Africa’s top five financial institutions by 2027.

Federal Government Acquires 70 Locally Manufactured CNG Buses to Boost Transportation

The Federal Government has procured 70 hybrid Jet Mover buses from Nigerian automobile manufacturer Jet Motor Company as part of its efforts to enhance the nation’s transportation sector. These buses, which operate on both compressed natural gas (CNG) and premium motor spirit, are expected to provide more affordable and comfortable transportation options for Nigerians.

The handover ceremony, held at Jet Motor Company’s plant in Ajah, Lagos State, was attended by officials from the Ministry of Finance and representatives of the Presidential Initiative for Compressed Natural Gas. Dimas Hamidu, Technical Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, praised the quality of the vehicles and commended the company for its commitment to the project.

Hamidu emphasized that the acquisition of these hybrid buses is a testament to President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s dedication to easing the impact of fuel subsidy removal on citizens. He noted that these vehicles would significantly contribute to addressing the country’s transportation needs and mitigating the economic strain caused by rising costs.

The Managing Director of Jet Motor Company, Derek Ewelukwa, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the nation’s transportation infrastructure. He highlighted the advanced features of the hybrid vehicles, including their 220-liter gas capacity and 80-liter petrol tank, allowing them to travel up to 300 kilometers. Ewelukwa also mentioned that the CNG tanks have a lifespan of 15 years, with seamless switching between gas and petrol modes.

The Federal Government’s acquisition of these buses marks a significant step in its ongoing efforts to improve public transportation and support the country’s transition to more sustainable energy sources.

Tinubu Arrives in Equatorial Guinea for Three-Day Official Visit

President Bola Tinubu has landed in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, for a three-day official visit at the invitation of President Teodoro Mbasogo. The Gulfstream aircraft carrying Tinubu and his key aides touched down at Saint Isabel Airport, Malabo, at 2:07 pm local time, where they were greeted by Equatorial Guinean Prime Minister, Mrs. Manuela Roka Botey.

During his visit, President Tinubu is scheduled to meet with President Mbasogo at the Presidential Villa to discuss key issues and witness the signing of agreements, particularly focusing on oil, gas, and security.

This trip marks Tinubu’s first official visit to Equatorial Guinea and his seventh visit to an African country since taking office 15 months ago. In total, it is his 22nd international trip, including visits to countries such as France, the United Kingdom, South Africa, the United States, and India.

Accompanying Tinubu are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and other cabinet members who will be involved in the signing of agreements and exploring opportunities to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.

62-Year-Old Man Arrested in Bauchi for Producing Counterfeit Naira Notes

The Bauchi Police Command has arrested a 62-year-old man, Tahir Ahmed, for allegedly producing counterfeit naira notes. The arrest was announced by the Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, on Tuesday.

The incident began on August 6, 2024, when a concerned citizen from Jos North LGA, Plateau State, boarded a commercial Vectra vehicle from Sabon Garin Narabi in Toro LGA, Bauchi State, heading to Bauchi. During the journey, Ahmed boarded the vehicle at Tilden Fulani Market in Toro Local Government Area.

According to Wakil, while in transit, Ahmed allegedly performed ritualistic chants that transformed ordinary papers into what appeared to be new one-thousand-naira notes, raising suspicion among the passengers that the notes were counterfeit.

Upon investigation, Ahmed confessed to the crime, and the police recovered counterfeit notes totaling ₦238,000 from him. Wakil added that further investigations are ongoing, and the police commissioner, Auwal Muhammad, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department to seek a forensic analysis from the Central Bank of Nigeria to confirm the authenticity of the seized notes.

Shehu Sani Responds to RMAFC Over Senatorial Earnings Dispute

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has responded to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) after it challenged his claims about the earnings of Nigerian senators. Sani had previously stated that senators receive a monthly running cost of ₦13.5 million in addition to a ₦750,000 salary.

RMAFC, however, refuted this, insisting that senators receive only ₦1 million in monthly salary, with some allowances being regular and others non-regular. The commission’s clarification came in response to Sani’s public disclosure of what he claimed to be the actual earnings of senators.

In a post on his X handle on Wednesday, Sani pointed out that while RMAFC acknowledged the ₦1 million monthly salary, it did not address the total sum of the monthly running costs for each senator. He suggested that the commission was attempting to downplay the full extent of the earnings.

Sani further stated that he understands RMAFC

Conor Gallagher Returns to Chelsea as Atletico Madrid Transfer Stalls

Conor Gallagher, the 24-year-old England international, is set to resume training at Chelsea’s Cobham facility on Wednesday after returning from Madrid, where his proposed transfer to Atletico Madrid has hit complications. Gallagher spent five days in Madrid, aiming to finalize a £33 million move, but the deal is now in jeopardy.

The transfer encountered difficulties after Chelsea’s £34.5 million deal to sign Spanish striker Samu Omorodion fell through due to personal terms issues. This setback has put Gallagher’s move to Atletico Madrid under threat, especially since Atletico now needs to make a major sale to fund the transfer after their £81.5 million acquisition of Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez.

Although Atletico had shared a photo of Gallagher at their stadium, suggesting the transfer was close to completion, the deal remains uncertain. There is speculation that Chelsea could still salvage the situation by signing Portugal forward Joao Felix from Atletico, who is willing to return to Chelsea after a loan spell in 2023. However, the move depends on the clubs agreeing on a fee.

With only 11 months left on Gallagher’s contract, Chelsea is eager to finalize the transfer to avoid losing him on a free transfer. Gallagher, who captained Chelsea for much of last season and represented England at Euro 2024, faces an uncertain future as negotiations continue.

Calls for for Sack of NNPCL, NUPRC, NMDPRA Bosses Thickens as APC Stakeholders Write Tinubu

Major stakeholders within the All Progressives Congress (APC) have called on President Bola Tinubu to sack the heads of the nation’s oil and gas regulatory agencies, citing their failure to effectively manage the sector and address the myriad of challenges facing the industry.

Specifically, the Tinubu Legacy Coalition (TLC) in a private letter to President Tinubu demanded the removal of Mele Kyari, Gbenga Komolafe and Farouk Ahmaed as heads of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) respectively.

According to the letter signed by Hon. Bala Abu, Convener/ National President, Dr. Jeremmiah Okino, Co-Convener, Comrade Gabriel Gbana, Secretary, Princess Ajibola, Dr Thomas Terna and 95 others Progressives, the stakeholders said their continuous stay in office has done more harm than good to the image of the President.

They lamented that the sector has been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement with fuel scarcity, pipeline vandalism, and oil theft rampant the day’s order.

The stakeholders further said that the country’s reputation has been tarnished due to lack of transparency and accountability, with billions of dollars lost to fraudulent activities.

“We are compelled to express our deep concern over the state of the nation’s oil and gas industry. Despite the sector’s potential to drive economic growth, it has been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement. The continuous stay in office of Mele Kyari, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe and Farouk Ahmed have done more harm than good to the image of President Tinubu,” the letter said.

“The oil and gas sector is in shambles, with fuel scarcity, pipeline vandalism, and oil theft rampant. The sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP has dwindled, and the country’s reputation has been tarnished. The lack of transparency and accountability in the sector has led to widespread corruption, with billions of dollars lost to fraudulent activities.

“Furthermore, the industry is plagued by vested interests, with concerns over the importation of adulterated petroleum products, non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and energy security concerns. The recent accusations by Dangote Refinery against International Oil Companies (IOCs) of colluding to frustrate the local refining industry through underhand tactics are particularly alarming.

“The indiscriminate granting of import licenses by NMDPRA has led to the importation of ‘dirty’ high-sulphur diesel, posing grave health risks to Nigerians. The regulator and oil marketers have denied this, but the evidence speaks for itself.

“The reoccurring queues at filling stations, with fuel being sold for as much as 1,000 naira per liter, are a testament to the sector’s mismanagement. Greed continues to define the industry, and Nigerians bear the brunt of the mismanagement, inefficiencies, capacity deficit, insecurity, governance, and regulatory gaps.

“Mele Kyari’s leadership of NNPCL has been marked by incompetence and ineptitude, failing to address the fuel scarcity and pipeline vandalism that have become endemic under his watch.

“Engr. Gbenga Komolafe has similarly failed to increase transparency and accountability in the sector, allowing corruption and oil theft to flourish. Farouk Ahmed’s tenure as NMDPRA head has been characterized by a lack of vision and failure to develop a comprehensive plan to grow the sector’s contribution to the GDP.

“We indict these individuals for their gross failure to perform their duties and their complicity in the sector’s downfall. Their continued stay in office is a disservice to President Tinubu’s administration and a betrayal of the trust reposed in them.”

The stakeholders, therefore, said their sack is necessary to restore confidence in the sector.

Gowon, Abdulsalami, Jonathan, Buhari, Akpabio Endorse Tinubu’s Reforms Amid National Council of State Meeting

The National Council of State has expressed strong support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration, commending Nigerians for resisting attempts at unconstitutional regime change disguised as protests.

Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, announced this on Tuesday while addressing the press after a four-hour meeting at the State House in Abuja. The session was attended in person by former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, and virtually by former Heads of State Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Alake noted that seven cabinet members, including himself, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and other key ministers, presented their roadmaps, achievements, and challenges to the Council. These presentations highlighted priorities such as economic diversification.

“The Council of State meeting was attended by former heads of state and governors, and they all showed strong support for President Tinubu,” Alake stated. “The discussions were comprehensive and covered various issues, including the impact of recent protests, which we view as attempts to forcefully change the government.”

Alake further praised Nigerians for their resilience against these attempts and reiterated that changes in government must occur through elections, not violence or insurrection.

The meeting also included reports from the National Security Adviser, who addressed security concerns and reassured that no unconstitutional attempts to disrupt democracy would be tolerated.

Regarding the ministers’ presentations, Alake summarized that they focused on economic progress and diversification under the Renewed Hope Agenda. The emphasis was on sectors such as agriculture and infrastructure, with the goal of economic transformation.

Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman, Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Kwara State Governor, confirmed that all 36 state governors unanimously endorsed President Tinubu’s administration. He described the discussions as productive and affirmed the governors’ confidence in the administration’s direction.

Finance Minister Wale Edun highlighted encouraging economic progress, citing improvements in the balance of payments, trade balance, and current account balance. He reported that the economy is growing, with a stabilizing exchange rate and a slowing, though still high, inflation rate. Edun also noted increased foreign and domestic investment in infrastructure and emphasized opportunities for growth in the service sector.

“Our reports indicated positive progress, with promising prospects for continued economic growth and stability,” Edun said. “The administration’s focus on economic diversification is yielding results, and we remain optimistic about the future of Nigeria’s economy.”

Rivers: Coalition Urges FG to Address Alleged Crimes Against Humanity Committed by Pro-Wike Group

The Coalition for Human Rights Advocacy in Africa (CHRADA) has urged the Federal Government to immediately look into what it termed alleged crimes against humanity committed by a Pro-Nyesom Wike group in Rivers state.

The group in particular condemned the recent attack on the office of the Action People’s Party (APP) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, allegedly perpetrated In a statement signed by Dr. Joyce Anderson Idakwo, CHRADA, an international organisation based in the United Kingdom, described it as a clear attempt to disrupt the local government election process and undermine democracy.

The Centre expressed outrage over the use of explosives and bombs against opponents, which it said demonstrates a blatant disregard for human life and a callous willingness to use violence to achieve political goals.

CHRADA noted that this is not an isolated incident, as the same group of politicians has previously used explosives to bomb public buildings and persons during a supposed political event in Port Harcourt.

“These actions demonstrate a blatant disregard for human life and a callous willingness to use violence to achieve political goals,” the statement said.

“The use of explosives and bombs against opponents is a serious violation of human rights and international law.

“CHRADA believes that the Pro-Wike Group is liable for prosecution at the International Criminal Court in Hague for these atrocities. We will not stand idly by while innocent lives are lost and democratic processes are undermined.

“The centre is deeply concerned about the escalating violence in Rivers State and its impact on the civilian population.

“Women and children are disproportionately affected by these attacks, and it is our duty to protect them.

“We urge the Nigerian government to take immediate action to protect its citizens and hold perpetrators accountable.”

CHRADA, therefore, calls on the international community to take notice of these crimes against humanity and support efforts to bring those responsible to justice.

It warned that the recent resort to use of non-state actors to perpetuate violent crimes, only possible in a war situation, will spell doom for the oil-rich Niger Delta region if not tamed by the authorities.

Quoting from Common Article 3 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, the Centre said the law prohibits “violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment, and torture”.

The statement added: “We will continue to advocate for the rights of victims and push for accountability, no matter how long it takes.

“The Pro-Wike Group must be held accountable for their actions. We demand that they cease their violent behavior immediately and engage in peaceful political discourse. Failure to do so will result in CHRADA advocating for their prosecution at the ICC.

“Furthermore, we warn that the recent resort to use of non-state actors to perpetuate violent crimes, only possible in a war situation, will spell doom for the oil-rich Niger Delta region if not tamed by the authorities.

“The lack of prosecution of the culprits is another dangerous low for the Tinubu administration’s efforts to tame terrorism in the North East, North West, and part of the South.

“If left unchecked, this trend will not only undermine the legitimacy of the government but also embolden other groups to adopt similar tactics, leading to a breakdown of law and order and a potential descent into chaos.

“We urge the government to take immediate and decisive action to address this situation, bring perpetrators to justice, and restore peace and stability to the region.

“The international community must also take notice of this disturbing trend and offer support to the Nigerian government in its efforts to combat terrorism and protect human rights.”