Business
EFCC arrests 200 BDC operators for alleged forex fraud
EFCC arrests 200 BDC operators for alleged forex fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested over 200 suspects in connection with foreign exchange scams and manipulation of the financial markets.
Sources privy to the development but were not authorised to speak to The PUNCH on Wednesday that over 200 suspected Bureau De Change operators were in EFCC custody across the country.
One of the sources revealed, “Over 200 suspects have been arrested by the EFCC for forex scam and currency speculation. Not all the arrested suspects are in Abuja or at our headquarters because they were arrested in various states across the country.”
Another source noted, “I can confirm that we have arrested over 200 people for foreign exchange scam and manipulation of the financial markets; they are all being interrogated by our investigators to determine the degrees of their involvements. Most of them were arrested in Abuja, Lagos, Rivers, and Kano States.”
Also, a third source stated, “The clampdown on the forex scammers would yield positive results. Many of them have been arrested, and they will face the consequences of their actions.”
The PUNCH reported last week that the EFCC expanded its clampdown exercise on BDC operators, arresting traders in Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt.
The raid of the BDC operators is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to tame the free fall of the local currency.
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The government blamed the actions of speculators in the forex market and digital marketing sphere for the significant depreciation of the naira.
On Friday, May 17, operatives of the Uyo Zonal command of the EFCC arrested five suspected forex speculators at the Ama-Hausa mosque, along Hospital Road, Aba in Abia State.
The arrested suspects are: Hassan Umaru; Haruna Umar, Badamasi Abdullahi, Auwal Muhammed and Kasimu Muhammed.
The spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, in a statement, revealed that the suspects had different currencies in varied sums at the point of arrest.
Oyewale said, “The recovered currencies are: 23,000 Won (Korean currency), 52 (Yuan Chinese currency), $6, 500 Nippon Ginko, 40 notes of Dalawampung Piso (Philippines currency), 20 Gambian Dalasis, 20 Swaziland currency and N382,000.
“Other recovered items from them are seven mobile phones, one power bank, one air pod, and one ATM card.
“They were arrested by operatives of the command, following weeks of surveillance and credible intelligence. The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”
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In another development, Oyewale revealed that the Enugu Zonal Command of the EFCC arraigned Daniel Chukwuka Koussou, a forex broker, before Justice C. O. Ajah of the State High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State.
He was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on criminal conversion and stealing of N112.8m.
The lone count charge reads: “That you, Daniel Chuwuka Koussou sometime in July 2022, in Enugu, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your use the sum of N112, 800, 800.00 (one hundred and twelve million, eight hundred thousand, eight hundred naira), property of Chinedu Igbokwe and thereby committed an offence.”
The offence is contrary to Section 342 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 30 of the Laws of Enugu State and punishable under Section 353 (1) of the same Law.
The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him and was thereafter remanded at the Enugu State Correctional facility pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.
Oyewale disclosed, “Koussou was arrested following claims of a petitioner, who alleged that he sent $276,000 to the defendant, a supposed agent for Providus Bank, to convert into naira and return same.
“According to the petitioner, on July 6, 2022, Providus Bank paid Koussou the full money in naira but the defendant sent part-payment of N21,759,771 to him (the petitioner) and diverted the rest for his personal use. All efforts made to get him to pay up proved abortive.”
EFCC arrests 200 BDC operators for alleged forex fraud
Auto
CFAO Mobility Open Day to offer special deals on new vehicles, parts, diagnostics
CFAO Mobility Open Day to offer special deals on new vehicles, parts, diagnostics

CFAO Mobility has announced plans to host the 2026 edition of its flagship CFAO Mobility Open Day, aimed at showcasing a wide range of innovative mobility solutions.
In a statement, the company said the event would take place on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos, from 9am to 6pm.
The Open Day is expected to bring together leading global automotive and equipment brands in a dynamic exhibition tailored to meet diverse mobility needs.
Participating brands are Toyota, BYD, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Fuso, JCB, Howo, Sino Equipment, King Long, TechKing Tyres, Yamaha, Winpart and Auto Fast.
According to CFAO Mobility, attendees will experience an extensive display of products and services, ranging from brand-new vehicles and motorcycles to outboard engines, fleet management solutions, spare parts and aftermarket services.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will also feature test drives, professional vehicle diagnostics and exclusive spare-parts deals, offering participants a hands-on and engaging experience.
The company urged car enthusiasts, business owners and prospective buyers to take advantage of the Open Day to explore mobility solutions tailored to their personal and business needs.
With over 120 years of presence in Nigeria, CFAO Mobility remains a key player in the mobility and healthcare sectors.
It added that the Open Day reflects its continued commitment to delivering innovative, customer-focused mobility solutions.
Business
Naira Strengthens to ₦1,359.31/$ as CBN Data Shows Further Gain in Official Market
Naira Strengthens to ₦1,359.31/$ as CBN Data Shows Further Gain in Official Market
The Naira continued its positive performance on Thursday, appreciating further in the official foreign exchange market to close at ₦1,359.31 per US dollar, according to data published by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The latest figure represents an improvement of ₦12.50 compared to the previous trading day, reflecting a 0.9 percent gain from Wednesday’s closing rate of ₦1,371.82/$.
The appreciation highlights continued stability in the official foreign exchange window, where recent policy measures have helped improve liquidity and reduce pressure on the local currency.
Market analysts attribute the naira’s relative strength to ongoing foreign exchange reforms by the CBN, increased dollar supply in official channels, and tighter regulation aimed at narrowing the gap between official and parallel market rates.
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The CBN has in recent months intensified efforts to stabilise the currency through measures such as improved FX market transparency, better coordination with market participants, and steps to attract foreign portfolio inflows.
Despite the gains in the official market, traders note that the parallel market remains more volatile, with rates still influenced by strong demand for foreign currency from importers, travellers, and businesses outside official allocation channels.
Economists say the recent appreciation could help ease short-term inflationary pressure, particularly on imported goods, fuel pricing, and manufacturing inputs, although they caution that sustained stability will depend on broader macroeconomic fundamentals.
These include stronger foreign reserves, improved export earnings—especially from crude oil—and continued investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic policy direction.
The naira’s performance also comes amid renewed attention on Nigeria’s broader economic outlook, with stakeholders closely monitoring the impact of monetary tightening and ongoing fiscal reforms.
As of the latest trading sessions, market participants expect the CBN to maintain its current policy stance in the near term as it works to consolidate recent gains in the foreign exchange market in Nigeria.
Naira Strengthens to ₦1,359.31/$ as CBN Data Shows Further Gain in Official Market
Business
Nigeria May Face ₦2,000 Petrol Price Without Intervention, TUC Warns FG
TUC Warns Petrol May Hit ₦2,000/Litre, Proposes Crude Revenue Subsidy Plan to FG
DETAILS:
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has warned that petrol prices in Nigeria could rise to as high as ₦2,000 per litre if urgent economic measures are not introduced to stabilise the country’s energy and currency markets.
TUC President, Festus Osifo, issued the warning during a press briefing in Abuja, citing the combined impact of rising global crude oil prices and continued depreciation of the naira as major drivers of worsening fuel costs.
Osifo said Nigerian workers are already under severe economic pressure, noting that in some parts of the country, fuel pump prices are already approaching the ₦2,000 threshold due to market volatility and transportation differentials.
He explained that the 2026 national budget benchmarked crude oil at about $64.85 per barrel, while current international prices hover around $100 per barrel, creating what he described as significant “excess revenue” for the government.
The TUC is proposing that the Federal Government allocate about 60% of this excess crude revenue to support local production by subsidising crude supply to domestic refineries, including the Dangote Refinery and other modular refineries.
According to Osifo, this approach would be more transparent and harder to manipulate than the previous fuel subsidy regime, while also helping to reduce the cost of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel within a short period.
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He argued that targeted support at the refinery level could reduce pump prices within two weeks if implemented, stressing that the current cost structure is unsustainable for households and businesses.
The TUC president also criticised the slow expansion of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) infrastructure, noting that although CNG adoption is being promoted as an alternative to petrol, the absence of refuelling stations along major highways limits its practicality for long-distance transport.
Beyond economic issues, Osifo also raised concerns over worsening insecurity in parts of the country, particularly recent killings in Plateau State, urging the government to strengthen military response capabilities with modern technology and intelligence tools.
He warned that failure to address rising fuel costs could reverse recent gains in inflation control, arguing that high petrol prices directly impact inflation, transport fares, and food costs across Nigeria.
Osifo further suggested that the naira’s fair value should ideally be within the ₦800–₦900 per dollar range to ease pressure on fuel pricing and broader economic stability.
The TUC stated that it will formally present its proposal to the Federal Government ahead of upcoming federation revenue distributions, insisting that urgent intervention is necessary to prevent further economic hardship.
As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Government has not issued an official response to the proposal or the ₦2,000-per-litre warning.
Nigeria May Face ₦2,000 Petrol Price Without Intervention, TUC Warns FG
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