Author: David Great

Let us look at a few figures. Nigeria’s population is put at a little over 200 million people while the United Kingdom population is about 68 million. This means that the Nigerian population is about three (3) times that of the UK. As at June 2023, the UK banking system had about 49,421 Automatic Teller Machines and almost 2.3 million Point of Sales Terminals. By contrast, the Nigerian banking system had a little over 22,600 ATMS according to TechCabal and is projected to reach 29,000 by 2029 according to Statista. Conversely, Nigeria boasted 1,665,664 POS terminals as at December 2022.…

Six months ago, a friend I go on daily runs with took ill on a Monday evening. It was sudden and by the time I saw him hours later at the hospital, he was lying there very sick, very frail and hooked up to machines. The diagnosis was sepsis, and we were all surprised. The morning before he took ill, we had gone on a 6km run. That was 2km more than our usual but there was a reason. We had gone to a party on Saturday and some “damage” had been done. So that Monday morning we had agreed…

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), on Monday proffered a possible solution to resolve contradictory rulings handed down by judges in courts. Justice Kekere-Ekun pushed for judges to hold conferences, referring specifically to the Court of Appeal, where panels had issued conflicting judgements on the same matter. She expressed her opinion at the 2024 Justices of the Court of Appeal’s annual conference in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. “The issue of conflicting decisions is one of great concern in our community at present time. And, one of the reasons that we have conflicting decisions is because many panels do not…

Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on Thursday, November 28, 2024 convicted and sentenced Aisha Alkali Wakil and two others to five years imprisonment each. Wakil who is the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Complete Care and Aid Foundation (NGO) alongside Programme Manager Tahiru Saidu Daura and Country Director , Prince Lawal Shoyode were re-arraigned on Monday, September 1, 2020 on four- count amended charges bordering on cheating, conspiracy and giving false information to the tune of N6m. Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Aisha Alkali Wakil, Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyade whilst…

Former Chelsea and Everton manager Frank Lampard has returned to management with his appointment as coach of Coventry City in the English Championship. The 46-year-old signed a two-and-half year contract with the West Midlands. Lampard returned to football punditry after leaving his interim role as Chelsea manager in June 2023. Lampard who began his managerial career in the Championship with Derby County is expected to change the fortunes of the club currently placed 17th on the league standings. Coventry City take on Cardiff City in his first game in charge on Saturday. Speaking on Lampard’s appointment, Coventry owner Doug King…

Prof Helen Paul, an acclaimed entertainer and educator, has climbed another rung of the success ladder by receiving the renowned Honorary Georgia Citizen Award in the United States of America. The award certificate issued by Brad Raffensperger, Secretary of State of the State of Georgia, reads: “May this outstanding citizen be offered every courtesy as a Goodwill Ambassador from Georgia in her travels to other states, to nations beyond the borders of the United States of America, or wherever she may hereafter travel or reside. Thank you for your service to our state.” A female Senator from Georgia, who presented the award, praised Helen Paul, who had recently completed training as Substitute Teacher, ‘as an asset to the people of Georgia’. She stated, “Everybody is touched by a professor or someone who creates an atmosphere for learning. Thank you so much for being a public servant to a point that you pour out so much to educate people.” Prof Helen, an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ambassador, earned the award shortly after joining a Nigerian delegation to observe the US presidential election won by former president Donald Trump. Prince Ero, the CEO of Waterlight Initiative, was also part of the team.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned two members of an alleged syndicate, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, for impersonating and attempting to blackmail the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede. They were arraigned on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, before Justice Jude Onwuebuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja. The suspects allegedly contacted Mohammed Bello-Koko, former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, claiming to have access to a phoney investigation involving him by the EFCC. They demanded $1 million, promising that Olukoyede would ensure a “soft landing” for them. They…

The Port Harcourt directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday arrested 11 suspected currency racketeers and internet fraudsters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. They were arrested around Apara Street, New Government Reservation Area, GRA, Port Harcourt based on credible intelligence on their suspected involvement in naira abuse and internet fraud. The suspects are: Rafael Obi, John Daniel, Dominion Sambo, Solomon Nwoke, Solomon Daniel, Stanley Uche, Micheal Markson, Chima Fred Onwra, Arinze Damian, Vizor Richard and Chidera Orji. EFCC secures jail term for 23 illegal BDC operators, 170 naira racketeers Items recovered from them include, cash totaling…

Dawit Isaak, a journalist imprisoned in Eritrea without trial for 23 years, has received a Swedish human rights award for his dedication to freedom of expression. Dawit, who holds dual Eritrean-Swedish citizenship, received the Edelstam Prize “for his… exceptional courage,” according to a statement from the award’s organisers. He was one of the founders of Setit, Eritrea’s first independent newspaper and was detained in 2001 after his newspaper published letters calling for political reforms. Dawit Isaak was one of almost two dozen people detained in a government crackdown, including senior cabinet officials, members of parliament, and independent media. Over the…

The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested two Chinese siblings, Wang Jiang and Wang Richard, for allegedly making efforts to export some solid minerals without the requisite permit. While Jiang was arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, the rest, including two Nigerians, Donatus Agupusi and Michael Benneth Agu, were arrested at the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the EFCC. Their arrest followed intelligence received by the Commission through the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, on November 3, 2024, involving Jiang, who was intercepted at the hold baggage screening point, where unidentified…