metro

Stashed funds: EFCC places many governors on watched list

Published

3 years ago

November 18, 2022

Chairman,Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa

Chairman,Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, on Thursday in Abuja updated President Muhammadu Buhari on the activities of the commission.

Bawa, who briefed State House correspondents after his meeting with the president, said the number of governors being monitored by the Commission for suspected cases of money laundering has increased beyond the three earlier mentioned.

The EFCC boss, however, did not give the actual number of the affected governors under the EFCC radar or surveillance operations.

Some governors, including that of Zamfara, Bello Matawalle, had challenged the EFCC to search his property over allegation that a “humongous amount of money for laundering through cash payment of salaries,” had been discovered in one of his residences.

Matawalle made the offer in a statement issued by Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara, commissioner for information.

READ ALSO:

However, Bawa urged the citizens to partner with the commission in exposing corrupt politicians hiding huge amounts of cash for selfish motive.

”We are monitoring everything, Nigerians are helping. Well, I don’t want to give you the figures so that you will not go and speculate whether they are in the north or in the south, but it’s important that Nigerians key into it.”

He said also praised the new naira redesigning project, describing it as a significant process in the country’s fight against financial crimes and other forms of corruption.

According to him, the huge amount of the country’s currency that has left the hold of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) makes trailing financial crimes difficult.

He noted that naira redesign would be an opportunity for the government to regain control over flow of cash in the country.

“You know that there is an obligation of money laundering law that we have, in which an individual is expected to carry out a transaction that is above N5 million naira, through the financial institution.

”There is also the threshold in which a corporate entity is expected to carry out transactions that is above N10 million in the financial sector and why is it so?

READ ALSO:

”It is so because financial institutions are expected to be making currency transaction reports, and suspicious transaction reports to relevant agencies. With that, institutions like us will be able to monitor which funds are legitimate and which ones are not.

“Here we are now, in which 85% of our currency is out in circulation and people are carrying out transactions above the thresholds as provided for by this provision over and above that we will not be able to monitor, we don’t know what they’re doing,” he said.

According to Bawa, these are the transactions that are creating and giving avenue to other forms of crime, including payment of ransom, banditry, bribery and other illicit financial flows.

“So, we are happy with this naira redesign in the sense that it will give the Central Bank an opportunity of going back to square one, by the time they collect all these monies back to their system, then they are going to control the money that they are going to release to the system.

“Then, of course, once the monies are back within the financial institution, it will help to further boost economic activities in the sense that there will be more money for people to borrow.

SUN

Up Next

Updated: Tinubu associate, Mueez Akande, not dead

Don't Miss

Military destroys 44 illegal refineries, arrests 29 suspects, rescues 41 in 2 weeks

metro

Driver in Anthony Joshua Crash Faces Possible Reckless Driving Charges

Published

8 minutes ago

December 31, 2025

Trends Admin

Driver in Anthony Joshua Crash Faces Possible Reckless Driving Charges

Emerging investigations into the fatal road crash involving former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua indicate that the driver of the vehicle may soon face criminal prosecution for reckless driving, according to a source familiar with the probe.

The highly placed source disclosed that findings by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) revealed that the vehicle was travelling at excessive speed and engaged in wrongful overtaking, both classified as serious violations of Nigeria’s traffic regulations. Such offences, the source noted, attract criminal liability when they result in loss of life.

READ ALSO:

Investigators are said to be concluding documentation to be forwarded to the Nigeria Police Motor Traffic Division, which is currently working with prosecutors to determine the appropriate charges. Prosecution for dangerous or reckless driving causing death is reportedly under consideration.

The source further confirmed that Anthony Joshua sustained a leg fracture in the accident and is receiving medical care.

Although no official statement has yet been issued by authorities, the incident has reignited public discourse on road safety, speed violations, and driver accountability on Nigerian highways.

The tragic accident occurred on Monday, December 29, 2025, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, claiming the lives of two of Joshua’s close friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.

Driver in Anthony Joshua Crash Faces Possible Reckless Driving Charges

metro

One Feared Dead, Five Trapped as Rice Mill Collapses in Kebbi Capital

Published

31 minutes ago

December 31, 2025

Trends Admin

One Feared Dead, Five Trapped as Rice Mill Collapses in Kebbi Capital

A partial collapse of a private rice mill in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, has claimed the life of one worker while five others remain trapped beneath twisted metal wreckage.

The incident occurred on Tuesday at a section of the NIA-AGRI rice mill facility, prompting swift intervention by the Kebbi State Government. Upon receiving distress reports, Deputy Governor Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida led a high-level government delegation to the scene to assess the situation and oversee ongoing rescue operations.

During the on-the-spot assessment, the Deputy Governor expressed the government’s condolences to the management and staff of NIA-AGRI over the tragic incident. He explained that the visit was aimed at evaluating the extent of damage and ensuring that emergency responders were adequately supported.

READ ALSO:

The project engineer at the site confirmed to the delegation that one employee died as a result of the collapse, while five others were still buried under the rubble at the time of the visit.

Rescue efforts are being coordinated by the Kebbi State Fire Service in collaboration with Government Emergency Response agencies, who have been working tirelessly to locate and free the trapped workers.

The cause of the rice mill collapse has not yet been established. Senator Tafida stated that a full investigation would be launched once rescue operations are concluded.

The Kebbi State Government reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the rescue mission until all affected individuals are accounted for. As of the time of filing this report, the fate of the five trapped workers remains unknown.

One Feared Dead, Five Trapped as Rice Mill Collapses in Kebbi Capital

metro

Police Arrest 22-Year-Old Over Alleged Rape of Minor in Oyo State

Published

6 hours ago

December 31, 2025

Trends Admin

Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka

Police Arrest 22-Year-Old Over Alleged Rape of Minor in Oyo State

The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a 22-year-old man over the alleged rape of a 17-year-old girl, describing the action as part of its sustained efforts to protect residents and uphold the law.

In a press statement released on Tuesday, the Command disclosed that the case was reported on December 25 at about 7:00 p.m. at the Alakia Adelubi Police Division.

The statement, signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, said officers received a complaint involving an alleged sexual assault on a minor.

According to preliminary investigations, the suspect, identified as Daniel Ajibola, allegedly committed the act after administering an intoxicating drink to the victim. Police authorities stated that the suspect admitted to the offence during interrogation.

READ ALSO:

“The victim was promptly taken to a hospital for medical examination, while the scene of the incident was visited, and the suspect was arrested and taken into custody,” the statement said.

Given the seriousness of the allegation, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet and thorough investigation.

The Commissioner warned that the Command would not tolerate violence against women or crimes against any member of society, adding that the suspect would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

He also expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police for his leadership and continued support, which he said has strengthened the Command’s resolve to maintain law and order.

Reiterating its commitment to the protection of lives and property in Oyo State, the Police urged residents to provide credible information to aid crime prevention and detection. The Command also released emergency contact lines, including the Oyo State Call Response Center (615) and Control Room numbers 08081768614 and 07055495413.