Illicit Funds Draining Nigeria’s Revenue, Foreign Reserves – ICPC Bos The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, has said Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) remain a drain on Nigeria’s potential revenue accretion and foreign exchange reserves. He said this in Abuja at the one-day hybrid sensitisation workshop on the published “Guidelines for Private Sector Response to Illicit Financial Flow (IFF) Vulnerabilities in Nigeria” organised by the ICPC. This, according to him, has resulted in exchange rate depreciation, inflation and increase in cost of servicing external debts in addition to negatively impacting on…
Author: meridianspy
Wave of terror has struck Katsina State as terrorists have reportedly abducted 25 individuals, including women and children, and caused injuries to others during separate operations in four local councils. The incidents have left communities in distress and anxiety. In the Batsari Local Council, it was reported that during the evening of Sunday, a group of marauders abducted 20 individuals in the Madogara community, mainly consisting of peasant farmers. However, sources revealed that one of the abductees managed to escape after a courageous struggle with one of the captors. Regrettably, the escapee sustained injuries from the machetes used by…
Former “Togolese” professional football player Emmanuel Adebayor has clarified his ethnic background by claiming to be a pure Yoruba from Nigeria. He spoke with reporters as Nigerian football legend Augustine Azuka Okocha, also known as Jay-Jay Okocha, celebrated his birthday. Over the weekend, the former Super Eagles captain turned 50, and it was widely observed. To mark his Golden Jubilee birth anniversary, African football legends came together in Lagos to rejoice with former midfielder Among the guests were ‘Togo’s’ Emmanuel Adebayor, Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan, and Khalilou Fadiga from Senegal. Nigerian legends also turned up for the party including Peter…
The World Health Organisation (WHO) opened its maiden summit on traditional medicine on Thursday, with the group saying it was seeking to collect evidence and data to allow for the safe use of such treatments. Traditional medicines are a “first port of call for millions of people worldwide”, the UN health agency said, with the talks in India bringing together policymakers and academics aiming to “mobilise political commitment and evidence-based action” towards them. “WHO is working to build the evidence and data to inform policies, standards and regulations for the safe, cost-effective and equitable use of traditional medicine”, WHO Chief…
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says three officers and 21 soldiers were killed during the ambush and helicopter crash that occurred in Wushishi and Shiroro LGA of Niger state. Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, made this known when he gave a breakdown of casualties in the ambush of troops in Niger State and an evacuation helicopter that crashed on August 14, 2023. The breakdown was given at the biweekly briefing of the Defence Media Operations. When asked about the cause of the helicopter crash, he restated that an investigation is still underway to determine the cause and…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday declared that his administration would leverage digital technology to create Nigeria’s desired socio-economic progress that is necessary to transform society. Receiving in audience a delegation from Google (West Africa) led by its Director, Olumide Balogun, the President noted that his administration is determined to use education and technology to improve the lives of its citizens, affirming that education is central to the upliftment of Nigerians. “We are here to shape our tomorrow, today, and I’m going to do it. Our youths represent over 65% of the yearning development age in Nigeria. We…
Troops of the Economic Community of West African States have said they are ready to participate in a standby force that could intervene in the Republic of Niger. Recall that after the coupists seized power from President Mohamed Bazoum, ECOWAS issued a 7-day ultimatum to the military to restore the president or risk sanctions, including possible military action. At a meeting in Ghana’s capital, Accra, on Thursday, the defence chiefs said they prepared to reinstate the democratic order in Niger. Details Later….
Reactions have poured in since Senator John Enoh’s selection as the minister of sports development, as many sports-loving Nigerians have expressed shock at the appointment. The Special Advisor to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed the list of ministers and their respective ministries to journalists on Wednesday. As the 36th sports minister, Enoh, a philanthropist and farmer from Cross River State, was appointed to the position of minister of sports development. Enoh, a philanthropist and farmer from Cross River State, was assigned the minister of sports development, succeeding Sunday Dare as the 36th sports minister. He…
The Department of the State Services, DSS, has in a leaked memo to the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, warned against bandits attack along Abuja-Kaduna Train. The secret service in memo titled: Security Alert: ‘Impending Threat By A Coalition Of Banditry Syndicate To Attack Abuja-Kaduna Train Service Along AKTS Corridor’, advised other security agents to deploy troops in the stated area, to stop this from happening. The Meridian Spy had reported how gunmen on the 28 March 2022, attacked an Abuja–Kaduna train in Katari, Kaduna State, and kidnaped many passengers. However, i n a leaked letter signed by DSS Director FCT…
Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun On Wednesday, issued an order directing the detention of five individuals in police custody until the availability of legal counsel from the Directorate of Public Prosecution. The men had been charged with carrying Indian hemp and two bags of counterfeit foreign currency. The accused, identified as Francis Omwukei, 26, Kingsley Ude, 33, Umar Idris, 37, Eyo, 27, and Bright Ahamefula, 26, were hauled before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court on a two-count charge of possession of Indian hemp and bogus foreign money, including pounds sterling and dollars. The prosecutor, Rita Momoh, told the court that the defendants were…
By Yushau A. Shuaib The hurriedly declared resolution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to deploy troops to restore democracy and reinstate the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic, after the military takeover of power on the 26th of July, might have been influenced by the need to avoid foreign interventions that could lead to the kinds of destruction and agony evident in Syria, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, and elsewhere. In its keen and swift desire for a resolution to the crisis, President Bola Tinubu, on behalf of ECOWAS, raised special envoys, comprising former Nigerian leader,…
Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, has ordered troops to “defeat the adversaries of our people and take back every inch of space where they are occupying in our land.” He delivered the speech after the Nigerian Army’s valiant soldiers paid the ultimate price to defend the nation during an encounter with terrorists in the Zungeru general area of Niger state. The General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Maj Gen Bamidele Alabi, briefed the COAS on Wednesday about the current security situation at Forward Operating Base Erena in Shiroro LGA of Niger state, according to a statement…