Police Arrest Members Of International Criminal Network Over 14.7 Million Euros Deal

September 6, 2020

The Cybercrime Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, INTERPOL, National Central Bureau, Abuja has arrested two suspects alleged to be members of a sophisticated transnational criminal network. They were arrested for their complicity in a major multi-million Euro scam touching on procurement of COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

The suspects, according to a statement today, September 6 by the Force Headquarters’ spokesperson, Frank Mba, are 50 years old Babatunde Adesanya a.k.a Teddy, who is a Master degree holder in Cell Biology and 41 years old Akinpelu Hassan Abass, who is identified as Managing. Director of Musterpoint Investment Nigeria Limited.

They were said to have cloned the corporate website of ILBN Holdings BV, Holland to transact with and defraud one Freiherr Fredrick Von Hahn, a representative of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia of the sum of 14.7 Euros.

The statement said that the arrest of the suspects was sequel to a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) received by the Bureau from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice conveying a request from the German Government for investigations into a fraudulent transaction on the procurement of COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment linked to a Nigerian-based Bank Account.

The statement said that discrete investigations by INTERPOL Nigeria revealed that the suspects and their Holland-based cohorts, one Eduardus Boomstra and Geradius Maulder specialized in identity theft, cyber-stalking, cloning of corporate websites amongst other cyber mischiefs to defraud unsuspecting members of the public across the world.

“In this instance, the suspects fraudulently obtained from Mr Freiherr Fredrick Von Hahn the sum of 1.5m Euro and another 880,000 Euro as advanced payment for the supply of COVID-19 PPEs valued at 14.7million Euros.

“Disturbed by the non-arrival of the PPEs, Mr Freiherr Fredrick Von Hahn eventually visited the corporate office of ILBN Holdings BV in Holland to inquire reasons for the delay in supplying the items only to find out that the company never did business with him and that the transaction was a scam.

“The fraudsters merely cloned the company’s website and falsely presented themselves as representatives of the company before subsequently executing the fraudulent transaction. Consequently, he reported the case of fraud to the Police in Holland and this led to the arrest of Eduardus Boomstra and Geradius Maulder in Holland and investigations extended to Nigeria.

“Investigation by INTERPOL Nigeria further revealed that Babatunde Adesanya received 498,000 Euro from Eduardus Boomstra and Geradius Maulder through his Citibank London account and transferred same to an account number domiciled with a Lagos branch of a leading commercial bank in Nigeria belonging to Musterpoint Investment Nig. Ltd.

“While commending the Commissioner of Police, INTERPOL, CP Garba Baba Umar and operatives of INTERPOL Nigeria, Cybercrime Unit for a job well done, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni assures members of the public and the international community of the commitment of the Force to tackling cybercrimes and other transnational crimes. He reiterates that there will be no hiding place for internet fraudsters in the country.

“Meanwhile, the suspects will be arraigned before a competent court of law soon.”

Increases In Prices: Buhari Not Pandering To Wishes Of Media, Opposition – Presidency

Editorial staff

September 6, 2020

The Presidency has made it clear that “certain tough decisions” by President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to implement long-delayed reforms leading to the withdraw of subsidies on fuel and others by allowing the market to determine their prices were not targeted at creating hardships for the common people.

The Presidency stressed that Buhari’s moves to implement development goals were not politics and that history will judge him in favourable terms “rather than his critics in the new media and the Opposition.”

A statement by the senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said that even though the people’s as they voted the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Buhari 2015, against the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) incumbent Administration, Buhari’s administration had worked hard to meet many expectations.

“But still, there are certain tough decisions which had to be taken to put back the country on the path of sustainable development.

“To stop the mismanagement of taxpayer money, eliminate corruption associated with subsidies on petroleum products, power, fertilizer among others, the administration took the decision to implement long-delayed reforms, withdraw and allow the market to determine their prices.

“Subsidy removal in these sectors had long been foreseen by successive administrations as game changers in search of solutions to move forward with the nation’s development. These are reforms that are necessary and overdue. Blueprint upon blueprint, timeline upon timeline had come and gone but courage to take bold decisions was not there.

“Over the last few days, one claim acquiring a potent resonance with the online community, sections of the Labour movement and the opposition is that the actions are ill-timed and ill-advised.

“There is nothing new in the fact that the country is today fighting multiple challenges along with COVID-19, including low earnings, near-collapse of the oil market, floods, threats of terrorism and banditry but the challenges notwithstanding, a good government must take decisions for the people’s good.

“As President, Muhammadu Buhari takes these difficult decisions, both popular and unpopular and as a leader because he is demonstrating the right courage to take such decisions as they become necessary in view of present circumstances.

“History will be kind to President Buhari because in addition to his amazing ability to command votes, he will be remembered as the President who made real contributions to economic and overall national development by eliminating the evils of corruption embedded in subsidies.

“In any democracy, the most important certificate in governance is acceptance by the people and, with the support of ordinary Nigerians, President Buhari has shown a rare determination to carry out the bold initiatives as these ones driven by nothing other than the greatest good for the greatest number of people. In carrying out the reforms, the President needs the support and understanding of all citizens-inclusive of the opposition parties, the labour movement and civil society groups.

“In these challenging times, the President is pushing development goals not politics and history will judge him in favourable terms rather than his critics in the new media and the Opposition.”

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to depart Abuja tomorrow for Niamey, Niger Republic to participate in the Fifty-Seventh Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

A statement from the presidency said that the one-day summit will deliberate on the Special Report on COVID-19 to be presented by President Buhari who was appointed the ECOWAS Champion on the Fight against COVID-19 during the Extraordinary Virtual Summit of ECOWAS on April 23, 2020.

It said that the Nigerian leader is expected to coordinate the sub-regional response against the pandemic.

“In furtherance of that objective, under the supervision of the Champion, Nigerian Ministers of Health, Aviation and Finance were appointed Chairpersons of the Ministerial Coordination Committees on Health; Transport, Logistics and Trade; and Finance respectively.

“The Summit will also receive a Special Report on the ECOWAS Single Currency Programme to be presented by President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone and Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ), and President Alassane Ouattara, who is Chair of the West African Economic Monetary Union (WAEMU/UEMOA).

“The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean Claude Kassi Brou will present to the West African leaders, the 2020 Interim Report on activities of the sub-regional body including ECOWAS Vision 2050.

“The alarming rise in incidents of terrorism, insurgency, armed banditry and piracy will also come under focus, while the disruption of the democratic process by the military in Mali, will receive further attention.

“Similarly, in Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea and Niger where parliamentary and presidential elections are scheduled for this year, the imperative to strengthen democracy in the sub-region by respecting constitutional provisions, rule of law and outcomes of free and fair polls, will be emphasised.

“President Buhari, who will be accompanied to the Summit by ministers and other top government officials, will return to Abuja after the meeting.”

University Professor Dies Of Coronavirus While Teaching Her Students Online

Editorial staff

September 6, 2020

Paola De Simone, | Photo credit: Moises Lopez
@chapoisat

A 46-year-old university professor has died of coronavirus while teaching a virtual class in Argentina

Paola De Simone, who taught politics and international relations at the Universidad, Argentina de la Empresa in Buenos Aires, was speaking to her students when she suddenly started having severe respiratory problems.

An Argentinian college teacher, who said she struggled with coronavirus symptoms, collapsed during a Zoom call with her students, and died shortly afterward, according to the Mail Online.

The students asked De Simone to give her home address so they could call an ambulance, but she responded: “I can’t”.

She died afterward in a hospital, according to reports by local media outlets. A video, allegedly depicting the call, emerged online, but was later deleted from social media platforms.

“It is very complicated. I have been here [with the virus] for more than four weeks and the symptoms do not go away… My husband is exhausted from working so much at the moment”, Simone wrote back in June.

Source: Sputniknews

P & ID: Presidency Confidence In UK Court Saving Nigeria From International Crook

Editorial staff

September 4, 2020

The Presidency has expressed confidence in the ability of the UK Court in saving Nigeria from international crook, the Process & Process and Industrious Development Limited (P&ID) on the $10 billion arbitration case which the Court had just granted Nigeria’s application for an extension of time and relief from sanctions.

The presidency, in a statement today, September 4 by the senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu described the judgment as right, just and that it “provides a strong prima facie case that the fraudulent gas deal with P&ID and the subsequent judgment debt of $10 billion against Nigeria was a clear attempt to cheat the country of billions of dollars by a company that had not invested one Naira in our country.

“On the arbitration award, it is a source of huge satisfaction that the UK Court, among others, had ruled that:

‘‘Nigeria has established a strong prima facie case that the Gas Supply and Processing (GSPA) was procured by bribes paid to insiders as part of a larger scheme to defraud Nigeria.

‘‘There is also a strong prima facie case that that (P&ID) main witness in the arbitration, Mr Quinn, gave a perjured evidence to the Tribunal, and that contrary to that evidence, P&ID was not in the position to perform the contract.’’

The Presidency expressed delight with the processes that led to this outcome in the English Court, noting that it has given relief to the Nigerian government to further protect its national assets from criminally-minded organisations and individuals.

“The views of the UK court thus provide sufficient grounds for the Federal Government to go ahead and challenge the frauds perpetrated by the company and overturn the arbitration award.”

It quoted President Muhammadu Buhari as having commended the team of lawyers who represented Nigeria in the matter with P&ID, and reassured all well-meaning Nigerians and the international community of his unwavering commitment to fight corruption in all its forms and manifestation.

Kogi Gov Gets Hero’s Welcome In His Okene Country Home

Greenbarge Reporters

September 4, 2020

Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello of Kogi State, today, September 4, recieved a Hero’s welcome in his Okene Country Home over the Supreme Court victory in the battle to secure a second term of eight years in office.

A mammoth crowd of his supporters and party stalwarts lined up the street leading to the palace of the paramount ruler, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Dr. Ado Ibrahim, to cheer him, as he stepped into Ebiraland for the first time after the Supreme Court judgment.

The Governor and his entourage meandered through a thick jubilating crowd into the palace where he expressed gratitude to the Ohinoyi and the entire Ebira people, as well as his supporters across the State for the support.

He promised to justify such support by initiating and executing more people oriented projects and programs.

Hike In Petrol Price: Marketers Say Deregulation Will Force Down Price

Editorial staff

September 3, 2020

Petroleum Industry players and stakeholders have said the decision of the Federal Government to abolish the subsidy regime and enthrone a downstream deregulation era leading to the prevailing cost-reflective price of N160 per litre of petrol will lead to eventual crash of fuel price.

Most of the stakeholders who spoke on the issue were unanimous in their views that the decision to allow market forces determine the price of petrol was not only healthy for the Downstream Sector but good for the Nigerian economy which has sacrificed so much to shoulder the now defunct burdensome subsidy system

Chairman of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Adetunji Oyebanji, said the association welcomed government’s action in allowing the market to determine prices, noting that this would prevent the return of subsidies while allowing operators the opportunity to recover their costs.

He said that this will, in the long run, encourage investment and create jobs.

He explained that though prices at the pump would need to be adjusted to reflect realities of the increase of ex-depot prices by the Petroleum Product Marketing Company (PPMC), the magnitude of the increase, timing and location would be determined by each individual company.

“Consistent with global best practices, MOMAN does not dictate prices to its members as this would be anti-competition in a fully deregulated market.”

Oyebanji called on the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to intensify its public awareness drive to educate the populace on the current realities.

“The Ministry of Petroleum Resources should also be telling Nigerians that we can no longer afford subsidy.

“If we keep it, the investment in infrastructure, health, education, etc., will not be possible. We are borrowing so much to finance our budget. We spent over a trillion naira on subsidy last year. It is unsustainable.’’

MOMAN’s position was re-echoed by another stakeholder in the Downstream Sector, Alhaji Sani Yau, a Director at NIPCO Plc and Chairman of SY Petroleum Limited, who emphasized that the price increase was reflective of trending realities in the sector.

According to him, deregulation will foster an eventual price reduction in the nearest future when other market fundamentals would converge to create the desired competitive market space.

A stakeholder in the sector and an independent marketer, John Agidigan, explained that before this increase, market forces had forced the price per litre down to N121, then up to N131 and later N148.

He said that under a deregulated environment, prices are expected to rise and fall in response to the volatility of demand and supply.

According to him, the new deregulated regime would always ensure the availability of the product in the market at affordable price based on the supply, adding that this regime was better than what obtained in the past when Nigerians had to contend with extreme scarcity and its attendant challenges such as long queues at fuel stations.

Another stakeholder in the Downstream Sector, Aggrey Koleijo, said Nigerians must consider the benefits of the new pricing regime rather than just reacting to the price increase which could be reversed the moment market forces dictate otherwise.

He said that the same market forces that brought about price reduction not long ago were still responsible for the hike and can still ensure a reduction, depending on the demand and supply activities within the Industry.

Also, an oil analyst, Dr Mac Udiewe, said the price of fuel would surely go down in a few months’ time when supply of the product would increase geometrically with the entrance of products from private refineries such as the Dangote Refinery and other modular refineries.

Other stakeholders, who responded, were unanimous in their conclusion that deregulation would ultimately favour consumers as soon as the industry stabilizes and prices begin a downward trend.

What Many Nigerians Will Not Know About President Buhari – Ogun Governor

Editorial staff

September 3, 2020

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has narrated the leadership qualities of President Muhammadu Buhari which many Nigerians don’t know about because “he is a man of a few words.”

Answering reporters’ questions today, September 3, shortly after an audience with the President at the presidential villa, Abuja, Governor Dapo said: “let me first say to you that Mr President is so meticulous. He is so methodical. He is extremely organised.

“And at any point in time any governor wants to see the President, all you have to do is to ask him. And the President will give you audience. He will give audience and he will take note.

“For those of us that know the President, he is someone who believes in constituted authority. When a governor says these are my problems, the President takes it to heart and he follows through the details. One cannot ask for a better captain of our ship.

“That is what I have seen in Mr President and that is what I probably think most people will not know because Mr President is not a man of many words.”

The Governor said that he was in the presidential villa to ask the President to allow his government repair and maintain the dilapidated federal government road around Agbara Industrial Estate, one of the nation’s biggest industrial hub.

“So I came with a letter, requesting Mr President to note that because our people do not know the difference between a federal and a state road. This road has continued to be an embarrassment, not just to us in Ogun State, but to the entire country.

“This place is important to us for the economic survival of our state and the country at large. We have decided to intervene in the road, ourselves as a state and wanted Mr President to know that we are going to have construct that road at our expense and wanted him to inform the Federal Ministry of Works that we’ll be doing so and we’ll also be making demands on them for a full refund of the construction of that road.”

President Buhari Celebrates SGF, Boss Mustapha, At 64

Editorial staff

September 3, 2020

File photo: President Muhammadu Buhari and SGF Boss Mustapha | NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has joined family, friends and political associates of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Gidahyelda Mustapha in celebrating his 64th birthday, coming up tomorrow, September 4.

In a statement today, September 3, by a presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, the President described Boss Mustapha as a legal luminary and stalwart of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who graciously accepted to lead the Presidential Task Force to fight coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria.

Buhari said that the visionary and inclusive leadership style of the celebrant had helped to strengthen the governing party and the administration, with remarkable results.

He acknowledged Boss Mustapha’s sacrifices and selfless service to the nation for close to four decades, “taking a stand for democracy and good governance at an early age, and working assiduously to raise structures and support causes that project the ideals of a liberal and accommodating nation, like serving in the Constituent Assembly in 1989, working on many committees and heading several government agencies.”

The President stressed that Boss Mustapha has provided strong and commendable leadership as rallying point for the Federal Executive Council (FEC)

President Buhari prayed that God will continue to strengthen the SGF for greater service to the nation and humanity.

NNPC Boss, Mele, Disowns Facebook Account

Greenbarge Reporters

September 3, 2020

Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari has disowned all Facebook accounts created in his name.

In a tweet today, September 3, Mele Kyari called on members of the public not to fall for fraudsters, adding that he had operated no Facebook account since 2015.

“Beware of anyone posing as Mele Kyari on Facebook. A simple google search reveals over 25 Facebook account bearing Mele Kyari,” said Kyari.

“I do not have an active Facebook account since 2015 and communicate with the public only on this verified twitter account. Beware of fraudsters.”

BREAKING: 90 Armed Bandits On 30 Motorcycles Storm Bank In Niger

Greenbarge Reporters

September 3, 2020

No fewer than 90 armed bandits, riding on 30 motorcycles stormed a bank in Kagara town, headquarters of Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, carting away huge sum of money.
An eyewitness, told newsmen that, armed men with sophisticated weapons, launched the attack at about 6.00 pm yesterday, September 2.
It was gathered that as at 7.30pm yesterday, the armed men were still inside Kagara town battling with volunteers who were trying to chase them with Dane guns.
Report said that many people who were injured in the struggle with the armed bandits have been admitted at Kagara General Hospital.
Source: Prestige Radio.

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