Author: David Great

A Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Edike Mboutidem Akpan, is currently enmeshed in alleged N26.7 million fraud scandal. Akpan, who has already been charged to the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Kwali, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), used a private real estate company, Danemy Nig Ltd, to defraud land subscribers. In a statement, spokesperson of the anti-graft agency, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, said the deputy NSCDC commandant was arraigned on a 17-count charge before Justice V. S. Gaba. Ogugua said the charge sheet revealed that the deputy…

Ruja Ignatova, also known as the “missing Cryptoqueen”, has been placed on the FBI’s top 10 most wanted list. The Bulgarian woman, believed to be in her 40s, is wanted for her alleged role in running a cryptocurrency scam known as OneCoin. Federal investigators accuse the fugitive of using the scheme to defraud victims out of more than $4bn (£3.2bn). She has been missing since 2017 when US officials signed an arrest warrant and investigators began closing in on her. In 2014, OneCoin, a self-described cryptocurrency, began offering buyers commission if they sold the currency on to more people. But…

The $30,000 fund is powered by Heirs Insurance and Heirs Life Assurance Open to journalists, filmmakers, content producers, visual and performing artists Projects must amplify entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in Africa Africa No Filter, a donor collaborative working to transform stereotypical narratives of Africa, has launched the Tony Elumelu Storytellers Fund. Named after African business leader and philanthropist Tony O. Elumelu, the fund will award grants to emerging artists and storytellers, whose work shines a light on entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in Africa. The $30,000 Tony Elumelu Storytellers Fund is sponsored by Heirs Insurance and Heirs Life Assurance, the insurance subsidiaries of…

Juventus want Liverpool and Brazil forward Roberto Firmino, 30, in a swap deal for their France midfielder Adrien Rabiot, 27. (Calciomercato – in Italian) Barcelona are ready to make an offer worth up to £60m for Leeds United winger Raphinha, 25, in a bid to beat Chelsea to the Brazil international’s signature. (Times – subscription required) Chelsea are progressing in their talks to sign Matthijs de Ligt, 22, but Juventus want the Netherlands international’s £102m clause to be activated. (Telegraph – subscription required) Juventus are interested in Germany striker Timo Werner being used as a makeweight by Chelsea in a…

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says the cooperation and collaboration among people of different ethnic groups and faiths in Kuje, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is a model for the rest of the country. Prof. Osinbajo stated this Wednesday when he received a delegation from the Kuje Interfaith Community at the Presidential Villa led by the Senior Pastor of the Kings Palace Church International, Rev. Sam Ogbodo. During the meeting, Osinbajo received a presentation on the challenges facing people of the area, including issues of health, education, sanitation and infrastructure. Visibly impressed, Osinbajo said “one of the major…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed worries over the low rate of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) collection in Lagos State. The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Olusegun Agbaje, made this known at the Eighth Annual Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting held on Thursday in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting is organised by the Lagos State House of Assembly on the importance of PVC ahead of the 2023 general elections. The meeting holds simultaneously in the 40 constituencies of the state. Agbaje was represented by an INEC official, Emmanuel Adegboyega, during the meeting held at the…

As a sign of commitment to promptly honour its debts obligations always, Nigeria has redeemed its 300 million dollars diaspora bond which matured on June 27. This is according to a statement by the Debt Management Office (DMO) on its website on Tuesday. The DMO said that the diaspora bond was issued on June 27, 2017 for a tenor of five years in the International Capital Market. It added that the country had earlier redeemed 500 million dollars Eurobond bond in 2021. It said that proceeds of the diaspora bond were used, partly, to finance the deficit in the 2017…

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State asked the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Abubakar Atiku to reach out to the River State Governor. Ortom, who expressed worry that Atiku denied Wike the popular views of the PDP members, stated that he expected Atiku to have reached out to Wike on the grounds that he finished second in the PDP presidential primaries. He said, “I am waiting for him (Atiku) because there are more things he is expected to do. I expected him to reach out to Wike who came second and he denied him the popular view…

Arsenal have made a third offer to Ajax for Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez, 24, who is valued at £43m by the Dutch champions. (Sun) Tottenham are in talks to sign 27-year-old France defender Clement Lenglet on loan from Barcelona. (Sky Sports) Spurs are also hopeful of agreeing a fee with Everton for 25-year-old Brazil forward Richarlison by Thursday. The Toffees want any move to go through before a new accounting period starts in July, as they are facing financial fair play issues and a large fee for Richarlison could help them to balance the books. (Football.London) Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal will hold talks with…

Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court, Uyo has convicted and sentenced a notorious international fraudster, Scales Olatunji, to 235 years imprisonment for internet fraud and money laundering. Scales Olatunji was arraigned on July 2, 2019 on 45-count charges bordering on identity theft, money laundering and conspiracy. He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, thus setting the stage for his trial. One of the counts reads: “That you, Scales Olatunji Ishola “M”, Meraiyebu Charles “M”(at large), Gabriel Adeyemi Olugbenga “M”(at large), Ojomo Oluwatobi Ayodele “M”(at large) and Adekola Oluwatoyin “M”(at large), between January 2017 to October 2018, in Nigeria,…