The Maiduguri Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, January 7, 2021 secured the conviction of one Mustapha Kyari before Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on one count charge which bordered on dishonesty and stealing .
The defendant allegedly misappropriated the sum of N900, 000.00 (Nine Hundred Thousand Naira) given to him by one Mohammad Alhaji Modu, to buy a house for one Yakura Zara (a widow) and her three children. The offence is contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Act Cap. 102 Laws of the Borno State of Nigeria and punishable under Section 312 of the same law.
The convict pleaded ‘guilty’ to the one count charge when it was read to him.
Based on his plea, the prosecution counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed sought leave of the court to review the facts of the case. He called the prosecution witness, Abubakar Hassan, a detective in the Intelligence Special Operation Section (ISOS) of the EFCC, who told the court that the sum of N900, 000.00 was entrusted in the custody of the convict with a directive from the complainant to send the said sum to one Abdullahi Yahaya
He further said that, “the accused refused to send the money as instructed by the complainant which prompted the complainant to write a petition against the accused.
“After receiving the petition, we invited the petitioner and he reported to the office and he adopted his petition and gave a written statement.
“In the course of investigation, we invited the accused person and he reported to the office and we had an interview with him and he wrote three different statements through his lawyer, where he admitted collecting the sum of N900,000.00 from the complainant”.
The PW further told the court that the convict only sent N345,000.00(Three Hundred and Forty-Five Thousand Naira) to the intended recipient and squandered the rest of the money.
“However, the sum of N505,000.00(Five Hundred Thousand and Five Thousand Naira) was recovered from the accused during investigation”, the prosecution witness said.
The statements of the convict and the petition against him were tendered and admitted in evidence.
Justice Fadawu, after listening to the review of the case, pronounced the defendant guilty of the offence levelled against him by the EFCC and convicted him accordingly.
He, however, adjourned the matter until January 11, 2021 for sentencing.
Unclaimed dividends and bank account balances unattended to for at least six years will available as special credit to the federal government through the Unclaimed Funds Trust Fund.
According to the Finance Act 2020 recently signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, the trust fund will be a sub-fund of the Crisis Intervention Fund.
“Any unclaimed dividend of a public limited liability company quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and any unutilised amounts in a dormant bank account maintained in or by a deposit money bank which has remained unclaimed or unutilised for a period of not less than six years from the date of declaring the dividend or domiciling the funds in a bank account shall be transferred immediately to the trust fund,” the act read.
The act exempts official bank accounts owned by the federal government, state government or local governments or any of their ministries, departments or agencies.
According to the act, the monies transferred to the trust fund will be a “special debt owed by the federal government to shareholders and dormant bank account holders”.
It also states that the original owners of the money can claim it at any time
The operation of the trust fund will be supervised by the Debt Management Office (DMO) and governed by a governing council chaired by the finance minister and a co-chairperson from the private sector appointed by the president.
This move will make needed funds available to the federal government without foreign exchange worries or conditions attached to loans from multilateral lenders.
Other members of the governing council shall include the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), managing director of the National Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), a representative of the registrars of companies, two representatives of the shareholders’ association, a representative of the Bankers’ Committee and the director-general of the Debt Management Office as the secretary of the trust fund.
Niger State Government is set to organize a ‘Road Show’ that will bring together all investors and stakeholders interested in the development of the multi million dollar Bobi Grazing Reserve to present a position paper on the progress level and take off of the project among others.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, who disclosed this in his recent visit to the Reserve alongside the State executive council members, explained that the state government is inviting its partners on the Ruga Settlement Programme to sit and discuss statistics and other economic parameters that would ensure or guarantee a win-win situation for all.
He stated that substantial amount of resources have been invested by the state government in the development of the reserve and that it can even begin to generate money from the over 300 hectares of Pastures already available for sale.
“The Grazing Reserve has taken off. We can start making money from the Pastures. As you can see, we have more than enough pasture and part of the scheme is that excess Pastures can be sold to other parts of the country”, he said.
The Governor disclosed that the crossbreeding programme has commenced and that strict veterinary practice and traceability is being observed to ensure that any Cattle that doesn’t pass the minimum health standard is isolated and taken away from the rest.
Governor Sani Bello said, when the project becomes fully operational, a Tax system will be introduced, not only to raise the revenue profile of the state but for security purposes as well.
“Through the Tax System, you are able to know who’s who within the Ruga Settlement and I think we are already in agreement with the Fulani Herders, they are ready and willing to participate in the potentially promising scheme”, the Governor stated.
According to the Governor, the state government is making the Bobi Grazing Reserve a model in the country hence the need to place it on international trajectory by strictly following global best practices in its development and actualization.
Governor Samuel Ortom says the Benue State Security Council will meet next week to review the situation in Katsina-Ala and Ukum, following the ban on motorcycles in the area.
The Governor’s attention has been drawn to reports of the destruction of impounded motorcycles in Ukum and Katsina-Ala, and he gives assurance that the Security Council will review the ongoing operation in the affected areas.
He reaffirms the resolve of his administration to sustain the support given to security agencies for the protection of lives and property in all parts of the State.
Nigeria’s National Identity Management Commission has said correction of details in the National Identity Number (NIN) will attract varying charges.
The charge, according to NIMC regional coordinator in Alausa, Lagos, Funmi Opensanwo, varies from correction of details like name, address, card renewal or replacement and date of birth.
“For the date of birth correction, the processing fee is N15,000. For card renewal or card replacement, there is a processing fee of N5,000. For a modification of your name and address, there is a fee of N5,000.” She noted that the fees “are for services and (things) to be corrected. They are payable to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and not anybody.”
NIMC regional coordinator’s explanations was in response to allegations that officials of the commission have been demanding illegal fees from Nigerians to link their NIN to their sim cards.
When you see corporate organisations taking harsh decisions against its senior officers on ethical issues its because they understand how these things works.
As a teenager in the Uni, it was those time that you will go to cyber cafe to check your mails, there were smart phones actually but was only owned by the big boys/girls, I was searching for where to go for IT placement, so I occasionally go to cyber cafes to apply for positions online, in one of those days, there was a reply to one of my applications but the date to come for the interview has passed, so I reply the email ans mentioned that if I could still come and I got a reply immediately.
I went for the interview and I passed, it was one of those night I slept like a baby, smiling all through my dreams.
On the resumption day, I was ushered into HR office where my pay package was given to me, a form for pension and tax (Lagos State Govt, have been paying tax since i was 17 😒😒) I choose Stanbic IBTC for pension, I still use it till today, after pension and other deductions the take home was 17k and mine the joy was real cos that money some graduates were not earning it then.
I was PA to Chief Technology Officer, in a company that is one of the early players in the ecommerce space, the company also deals on inverters with shops all over malls like Ikeja City mall etc.
The job was super interesting and I am thankful cos they laid my path to becoming an IT expert.
My 1st experience was when I started using the backend of the website (CMS), I’ll upload products from the backend, it will show up on the front page of the site, wow. 😘😘 I started asking curious questions like, how did this come about, that was how my journey into website design and web d toevelopment started but that’s a story for another day.
Not long after I had started this job, my boss started behaving funny, he will call me to learn something from his desk and will be robbing my hand, or pulling me unnecessarily close to him, initially I thought he just wanted me to see the screen well, until it became obvious.
I lived in Ojota then and my office was at Obanikoro, so I will come out of our street to Ikorodu Road to join any bus heading to Ketu-Ojota, In one of those days my boss pulled over as I was trekking to the bustop and asked where I was headed, then offered to drop me off, I was not comfortable so I rejected the offer but he insisted, so I entered the front seat.
2 minutes after I had seated, he started touching my hand, so I shifted till I was so close to the window, almost like I was jumping out, he started saying I shouldn’t be afraid that he likes me and other nonsense, the only time I could summoned courage I reminded him that he was married.
He said oh forget that, then he started saying all sort of rubbish about his wife, how he doesn’t love her, that she forced herself on him, got pregnant for him on his graduation night, put to birth while he was gone for NYSC and his parent mandated him to marry her and all those nonsense a man who wants to get into your pant will say.
I knew i was in for a long thing, then started the God why me and all sort of prayers to desuads this man from disturbing me, work became hectic as he will take turns to call me to his desk to teach me what I need to know while using that opportunity to rob my hand and touch any part of my body he could while we both look at the screen, it still shocks me that there was a time I was this timid, foolish and gentle, some of us that have become highly aggressive towards this gender are suffering from past experiences.
The job was good, I was sponsoring myself through school with menial jobs, I have already plan how this 17k will go, schools fees, extra trainings for IT alot, it wasn’t a time for me to take harsh decisions, so I continue to bear this man abuse and he kept disturbing me to give a response to his advances and I said I will think about it, thinking that I will pray enough and one day he will lose interest in me, poor me and prayers that year 😢😥😭
One day, a woman came to our office, alot of people in the office knew her, she worked with the Nigerian Immigration service and she wore the uniform, so as people were greeting her, she came upstairs where our office use to be and asked who I was, she was told I was her husbands PA, she looked me up and down, up and down then shaked her head, she didn’t also respond to my greetings.
This man continued in his advances and touching me while on his desk, I still haven’t given him any response and couldn’t ask him to stop, I just made sure whenever I was going home, instead of going forward to wait for a bus, I’ll go backward because he couldn’t drive backward as it was 1 way, people have always wondered why I’ll go backward to wait for abus instead of forward which will be cheaper.
So one day, I was on my desk working when I heard some noise downstairs, I didn’t know what it was, the woman was screaming, I will kill her today, how can she, that little thing blablabla until she came upstairs with some of our colleagues who knew her, behold it was my boss’s wife, she had come to beat and harassed me, that I was dating her husband.
She came close to hurt me and other colleagues who were in same floor with us stopped her, and she made all the noise and left.
Apart from seeing this woman the first time she came to our office, never seen her before, never dated the man or followed him anywhere aside his abuse in the office so I was shocked that she came to harrrassed me.
Something died in me that day, I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t leave my seat, couldn’t go for lunch or even go downstairs, I was mentally death, was just existing.
Shame!!! Covered my face, couldn’t look at anyone anymore, you could have asked me for A and I’ll reply B, this world isn’t fair.
So few days after his wife drama, my boss would call me to his desk and tried to touch me again, I summoned courage, didn’t know where it came from, tried to stab him with a ruler, then I started raining curses on him, I rained curses on him to my satisfaction then pack my bags and left.
A week later after my outbursts, I was fired 😭😭😢😥😥
I didn’t ask him why, and I didn’t know what led to my sack cos I couldn’t concentrate and couldn’t even face my colleagues after all the series of drama, I was too young to withstand it.
Last year, the bastard called me, to beg for my forgiveness, that he is now born again and he wishes to restitute to me 😒😒😒
New offering extends Blue Prism’s intelligent automation leadership in the cloud and brings increased benefits to Microsoft Azure users
Blue Prism (AIM: PRSM) (http://investors.BluePrism.com) today announced a new offering of Blue Prism intelligent automation software on Microsoft’s AppSource and Azure Marketplaces. The move enhances access for both Blue Prism and Microsoft customers, and underwrites Blue Prism’s position as the intelligent automation and robotic process automation (RPA) leader in the cloud.
Blue Prism customers already have access to a scalable, enterprise-ready platform that combines robotic automation and smart workflows with technologies like machine learning, advanced analytics, natural language processing, process mining, and cognitive capabilities and this offering allows Blue Prism robots greater access to Microsoft Azure Apps too, with access to over 175 accelerators for Microsoft products within Blue Prism’s Digital Exchange.
The new Bring Your Own License (BYOL) offering for Azure Marketplace and AppSource is pre-loaded with select Azure Cognitive Services – including Azure Text Analytics, Azure Form Recognizer and Azure Computer Vision – all of which customers can license directly through Microsoft. This combines with Blue Prism Digital Exchange (bit.ly/3hPpe1r) where users can access more than 175 accelerators for Microsoft products to further enhance their enterprise automations.
“This combination of Blue Prism and Azure Cognitive Services gives our customers a greater choice with AI-enabled, self-service experience that is provisioned via Microsoft Azure,” says Chief Partner Strategy Officer at Blue Prism, Linda Dotts. “Advanced intelligent automation in the cloud provides multiple advantages for our customers, most notably the ability to instantly scale to meet enterprise demands.”
Blue Prism accelerators now exists for Microsoft Power Platform (bit.ly/3rYSHe1), Microsoft’s Power Automate gallery, Microsoft’s Healthcare Cloud; with Form Recognizer (bit.ly/2KZ96Pj), Text Analytics and Azure Computer Vision.
It also adds to the company’s growing portfolio of cloud offerings (bit.ly/2Lq0ocu), which include its Blue Prism Cloud SaaS platform (bit.ly/3nkfTjp), and expands a cloud strategy (bit.ly/3hPuVN5) that not only centres on making intelligent automation more accessible, but that also aligns with customer desires for interoperability, expanded automation solutions, consumable and extensible artificial intelligence, and a seamless intelligent automation journey.
“Customers can embrace the transformative potential of intelligent automation and drive impactful change within their organisations, and this is now fully supported by Microsoft,” says CEO and Executive Chairman of Blue Prism, Jason Kingdon, “We are offering customers more flexible cloud deployment options delivering on Blue Prism’s vision of giving customers end-to-end automation solutions that cover the broadest range of IT environments, including on-premises, hybrid, public cloud, and SaaS.
FOCUS POINT: SECURITY UNDER GOVERNOR HOPE UZODIMMA
Security of lives and properties of citizens remains a bedrock of governance. Apart from it’s primary attributes of peace and love, it offers an enabling environment for government programs and policies to thrive.
This informed the decision by the Shared Prosperity administration of His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma in the formation of Operation Search and Flush upon resumption of office. This was done in conjunction with the security agencies to fish out criminals within our communities.
Recall that prior to the on boarding of Shared Prosperity administration, Imo was littered with petty criminals, so glaring that it became the talk of town. Daylight petty robbers advancing their territorial coverage against the state and the citizens. The communities were faced with one criminal activity or another. These were as a result of longterm negligence on security by the previous administrations.
Shortly after the commencement of Operation Search and Flush, the process for the institution of Community Policing commenced and to date, the peaceful atmospheric status of the state is a product of this giant stride by the Shared Prosperity administration of His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma.
Not withstanding the gains garnered so far, the Shared Prosperity administration of His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma pushed further for continued peaceful coexistence amongst Imolites and non-Imolites resident in the state by organizing the Imo State Security summit which had the Inspector General of Police and other Service Chiefs in attendance. This summit sort to synergize more the existing relationship between Imolites, residents and security agencies.
The recent peaceful protest across the nation against police brutality got the Governor’s solidarity which promoted to constitution of a Judicial Panel of Enquiry. The panel was constituted by His Excellency to, amongst other things, restore peoples confidence in the security agencies. Unfortunately, the peaceful protest was hijacked by hoodlums and casualties recorded. His Excellency has since resolved emanating issues from the violence and commiserated with the security agencies that lost officers.
For over a year now, the issue of farmers / herders conflicts has recorded little or no occurrence within Imo State, many thanks to the bilateral relationship cemented by the visit of His Excellency, the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma to the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) for the deployment of more Agro Rangers across the state.
In retrospect, Imo has been peaceful, secured and accommodating ever since the inception of the Shared Prosperity administration of His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma. His Excellency’s commitment towards peace and unity has continued to restore confidence amongst Imolites, residents and investors.
On 3rd January 2021, Ezza people of Benue state under the association of Ezza Ezekuna Benue Development Association (EEBDA), organized an event in order to create an awareness of their existence in Benue state. They equally used the opportunity to ask for inclusion in the scheme of things in Benue state government.
How Creation of Ezza Ezekuna Benue Development Association (EEBDA) was championed majorly by Esomchi Jacob Ukoro, Igwe Cletus Ebonyi and Nweke Cedric Ifeanyichukwu , three indigenous Igbo sons from Benue state.
The major vision and mission of this Association is: To promote peaceful coexistence between Ezza people and their neighbours in Ado and Oju LGAs where they are indigenous to. And to organize the sons and daughters of Ezza land towards achieving a greater Developmental stride in Benue state.
Important personalities like Senator Abba Moro the Senator representing Benue South, Hon Dr Francis Ottah Agbo the Honourable member representing Ado/Oju/Ogbadibo federal constituency, Hon James Oche Ado local government chairman, Hon Clement Onaa the the chairman of Oju LGA, HRH Igwe Igboke Ewa, Chief Emeka Ugama (Nwata Kwocha Aka 1 Ezza Ezekuna Benue state), Chief Izekwe Ukoro and Mrs Okafor Nkechi Nwali (Agu Nwanyi 1 of Ezza Ezekuna Benue state) the PG of Ezza Ezekuna Benue Development Association were all present at the event.
The following non Igbos were given Igbo titles:
Senator Abba Moro as “Akpo Azaa 1 of Ezza Ezekuna Benue state
Hon Dr Francis Ottah Agbo as Oshile “Nwata Buru Eze” 1 of Ezza Ezekuna Benue state
James Oche as “Obata Obua” 1 of Ezza Ezekuna Benue state
Hon Clement Onaa as “Enyi Ezza” Ezekuna .
Hon Agnes Uloko Benue state House of Assembly member, representing Ado LGA state consistency as “Nneoma Ezaa” Ezekuna 1.
Prince Edwin Ochai, the president Idoma Carnival International as Ochudo 1 of Ezza Ezekuna Benue state.
The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been drawn to numerous publications in both print and electronic media regarding the unfounded fears of mass disconnection of telephone subscribers as a result of the ongoing linkage of SIM Registration Records with the National Identity Number (NIN).
It is therefore necessary for the Commission to issue this clarification in order to allay the fears of subscribers and the general public.
Most of these publications are based on the erroneous assumption that for every network or SIM connection, there is one unique human subscriber.
However, with the advent of social media and App-driven digital environment, network subscription went beyond human subscribers to include machines like PoS, Routers, Wi-Fi devices, electricity meters, CCTV, tracking devices etc.
A recent survey conducted in Nigeria has shown that on average, there are now approximately 4 to 5 SIMs to every human subscriber. This explains the basis of allowing the linkage of up to 7 SIMs to 1 unique NIN in the recently launched Federal Government Portal.
Thus, if there are 43 million Nigerians with NINs, this could account for about 172 million SIMs already linked to NINs. It is very important to emphasize that the current exercise of linking NIN to SIM(s) is for the common good of all Nigerians, as it has far reaching benefits.
Apart from enhancing our general safety, this will help in such vital exercises like National Budgeting, Policy Planning, Social Intervention programs and many more.
The Honourable Minister of Communication and Digital Economy has assured that the Government will continue to review the exercise in the light of experiences to ensure its smooth implementation.
We call on all our media partners, publishers and reporters to always endeavour to seek clarification from the Commission before going to the press, especially on sensitive issues.
