EFCC to monitor govt disbursement of funds through IPPIS – Newstrends
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EFCC to monitor govt disbursement of funds through IPPIS

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EFCC to monitor govt disbursement of funds through IPPIS

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that the commission has been granted access to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to track government disbursements and ensure funds are properly utilised.

Speaking during a visit from the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes to the EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday, Olukoyede emphasised that the EFCC will also monitor constituency projects funded by the government.

“We now have a relationship with the Accountant General’s Office. We have been given access to IPPIS. We want to monitor the releases and track where the money goes,” Olukoyede said. He sought the cooperation of the senators, stating, “We will monitor your constituency projects. I hope you will cooperate with us.”

The EFCC chairman also announced plans to acquire specialised software to track and investigate cryptocurrency trading in Nigeria, an area where the country is reportedly losing billions of dollars due to unregulated activities. Olukoyede said, “We are losing several billions of dollars through unlicensed cryptocurrency trading in Nigeria. The lowest bid we received for the software needed to monitor this activity is 3.4 billion naira.”

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Olukoyede further highlighted the potential revenue from regulating and taxing cryptocurrency trading, noting that Nigeria could generate at least $5 billion annually if the industry were properly monitored.

Reflecting on previous corruption investigations, including the arms procurement scandal, Olukoyede linked the country’s ongoing insecurity challenges to misappropriated funds. He also defended the EFCC’s focus on tackling cybercrime, noting that Nigeria loses approximately $500 million annually to internet fraud.

“People should not criticise us for prosecuting cybercrime. We lose $500 million every year to internet fraud, and it’s a crime that has stained Nigeria’s reputation internationally,” he said.

Olukoyede urged Nigerians to support the EFCC’s efforts to combat corruption and cybercrime, warning that unchecked corruption continues to threaten the country’s stability.

 

EFCC to monitor govt disbursement of funds through IPPIS

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Court strikes out Bobrisky’s fundamental rights suit against EFCC

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Popular Nigerian cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky

Court strikes out Bobrisky’s fundamental rights suit against EFCC

Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has dismissed a fundamental rights suit instituted against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju (a.k.a Bobrisky) alleging breach of his rights by the Commission and seeking  N200million damages.

 In a judgment delivered on Thursday, November 28, 2024, Justice Owoeye held that Bobrisky’s claims of encroachment of his rights lacked merit with no credible evidence to justify the reliefs he sought from the court.

One of the reliefs sought was an “ an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Respondents” from harassing, declaring him wanted,  arresting or detaining him “whether by themselves, their officers, servants, agents…”.

In another relief, Bobrisky prayed the court to award the sum of N200million against the EFCC as damages he allegedly suffered from the activities of the Commission regarding his arrest and trial.

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After evaluating all the reliefs he sought,   Justice Owoeye ruled that   “having evaluated the evidence placed before this Court by the Applicant, it is evident that the Applicant has failed to provide credible evidence to justify the award of the declaratory and injunctive reliefs sought by him”.

The judge further stated that,  “in the final analysis,  I hold the claims of violation of fundamental rights against the 1st and 2nd Respondents were not made out of the affidavit evidence placed before this Court.  The claim of the Applicant against the 1st to the 2nd Respondents hereby lacks merit and is liable to be dismissed. It is accordingly dismissed”.  The judge also refused to award any damage against the EFCC.

Bobrisky had dragged both the EFCC and the National Assembly before the court and all the reliefs he sought were thrown out.  He was originally arrested by the EFCC on April 4, 2024 by the Commission for Naira abuse. His arrest eventually led to his six months  conviction  by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on April 12, 2024.

 

Court strikes out Bobrisky’s fundamental rights suit against EFCC

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Police arrest 5 suspected trans-border arms dealers, recover 5 Israeli rifles, others

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Police arrest 5 suspected trans-border arms dealers, recover 5 Israeli rifles, others

Operatives of the Nigerian Police have arrested 5 suspected trans-border arms dealers during a major operation in Zamfara State.

A statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the suspects were arrested on 18th November, 2024, with several arms recovered from them.

The statement reads : “The Nigeria Police Force in its unyielding resolution and unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens, continues to work tirelessly to prevent and combat all forms of crime and criminality.

These relentless efforts are paying off, as the Force has successfully made the arrest of five (5) suspects involved in trans-border gun running. The suspects identified as Adamu Noma ‘m’, Matthew Audu ‘m’, Andrew Poyi ‘m’, Aminu Sani ‘m’, and Aminu Talha ‘m’ were apprehended by the operatives of the FID-IRT on the 18th of November, 2024 in Zamfara State.

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Upon arrest and conducted search, 10 locally fabricated Ak-47 rifles, 5 Isreali Ak-47 rifles, 1 revolver pistol, 1 pump action rifle, 20 rounds of Ak-47 ammunition, and 1 welding machine for fabrication of rifles were recovered from the suspect.

These feats, and several more recorded by police operatives across the country are indications of the steadfastness and commitment of the current police leadership to decimate and subdue criminal activities and insecurity in general in the country.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD., NPM., has re-echoed his directive to operatives of the Force, particularly, tactical units, to mop up every illegal arms and ammunition, and see to the total dismantling of local manufacturers of illicit arms and ammunition and dangerous weapons by all means. ”

 

Police arrest 5 suspected trans-border arms dealers, recover 5 Israeli rifles, others

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Army releases investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo

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Fisayo Soyombo

Army releases investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo

The Nigerian Army has released investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo.

According to the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), this development followed an intense media campaign advocating for his release.

In a social media post on Friday, FIJ revealed that the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, had detained its founder, Fisayo Soyombo, for three days.

“The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt has been detaining our founder, Fisayo Soyombo, for three days. Journalism is not a crime,” FIJ wrote.

In its response, the Nigerian Army, through the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Danjuma, stated that Soyombo was arrested at an illegal bunkering site.

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Confirming Soyombo’s release on Friday evening, FIJ in a post via X said: “We can confirm that our founder @fisayosoyombo has now been released by @HQNigerianArmy, following the intense media campaign you all mounted.

“FIJ acknowledges the Nigerian Army’s deliberate mischaracterisation to suggest an involvement in “illegal oil bunkering”. FIJ will also address this statement appropriately.

“Our immediate concern is regarding the safety of ‘Fisayo Soyombo in view of extensive information sharing with the Army on his fieldwork during the period of his detention. We are assessing the situation and hoping that his safety will not be jeopardised after release.”

 

Army releases investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo

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