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EFCC nabs 19 suspected internet fraudsters in Edo

Published

2 days ago

April 15, 2025

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested 19 individuals for allegedly engaging in internet fraud in Benin City, Edo State, on Saturday.

As indicated in a statement posted on the agency’s X handle on Monday, the arrests were carried out by operatives of the EFCC’s Benin Zonal Directorate, who acted on reliable intelligence that pinpointed the suspects’ involvement in fraudulent online activities.

The intelligence reportedly linked the group to schemes designed to deceive victims through illicit internet operations.

Details of the alleged crimes have yet to be disclosed.

During the operation, authorities seized significant items from the suspects, including five exotic cars and multiple smartphones.

The statement read, “Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Saturday, April 12, 2025, arrested 19 suspected internet fraudsters at different locations within Benin City, Edo State.

“The suspects were arrested based on credible intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities.

“Items recovered from them included five exotic cars and smartphones.”

The EFCC has also assured the public that the suspects will face legal consequences as soon as investigations are complete.

“They would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” EFCC assured.

This latest crackdown follows a series of similar operations by the EFCC in Edo State and beyond, reflecting the agency’s intensified focus on tackling internet fraud, commonly referred to as “yahoo-yahoo” in Nigeria.

PUNCH

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Reps summons Rivers Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas

Published

3 hours ago

April 16, 2025

Seyi Babalola

The Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State oversight, has invited the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.) to appear before it on Thursday for an interactive session.

The interactive session will take place at 4 pm, in Room 414, House of Representatives New Building, National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Spokesman of the House, Akin Rotimi, on Wednesday.

This is coming after a 21-member committee chaired by the House Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, was inaugurated by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen on Tuesday.

The committee was constituted by the House of Representatives following the resolution of the National Assembly approving the Presidential Proclamation of a State of Emergency in Rivers.

According to Ihonvbere, “This engagement is necessary to ascertain the true state of affairs in Rivers State and ensure that the House remains properly guided in the discharge of its oversight responsibilities in the public interest.”

Recall that President Bola Tinubu had a few weeks ago declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following the prolonged political crisis in the south-south state.

Tinubu also suspended Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the members of the state assembly.

The president later nominated Ibas as the administrator of Rivers State.

Uncategorized

FG, States, LGs share N1.578trn March 2025 revenue

Published

12 hours ago

April 16, 2025

Seyi Babalola

A total sum of N1.578 trillion, being March 2025 Federation Account Revenue, has been shared to the Federal Government, States and the Local Government Councils.

The revenue was shared at the April 2025 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting held in Abuja.

The total distributable revenue of N1.578 trillion comprised distributable statutory revenue of N931.325 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N 593.750 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N24.971 billion and Exchange Difference revenue of N28.711 billion.

According to a communiqué issued by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), total gross revenue of N2.411 trillion was available in the month of March 2025. Total deduction for cost of collection was N85.376 billion while total transfers, interventions and refunds was N747.180 billion.

The communiqué stated that gross statutory revenue of N1.718 trillion was received for the month of March 2025. This was higher than the sum of N1.653 trillion received in the month of February 2025 by N65.422 billion.

Gross revenue of N637.618 billion was available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) in March 2025. This was lower than the N654.456 billion available in the month of February 2025 by N16.838 billion.

The communiqué stated that from the total distributable revenue of N1.578 trillion, the Federal Government received total sum of N528.696 billion and the State Governments received total sum of N530.448 billion.

The Local Government Councils received total sum of N387.002 billion and a total sum of N132.611 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

On the N931.325 billion distributable statutory revenue, the communiqué stated that the Federal Government received N422.485 billion and the State Governments received N214.290 billion.

The Local Government Councils received N165.209 billion and the sum of N129.341 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

From the N593.750 billion distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, the Federal Government received N89.063 billion, the State Governments received N296.875 billion and the Local Government Councils received N207.813 billion.

A total sum of N3.746 billion was received by the Federal Government from the N24.971 billion Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL). The State Governments received N12.485 billion and the Local Government Councils received N8.740 billion.

From the N28.711 billion Exchange Difference revenue, the Federal Government received N13.402 billion and the State Governments received N6.798 billion.

The Local Government Councils received N5.241 billion and a total sum of N3.270 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

In March 2025, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) and Companies Income Tax (CIT) increased considerably while Oil and Gas Royalty, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), Value Added Tax (VAT), Excise Duty, Import Duty and CET Levies recorded decreases.

News

Nigerian policemen under fire over N5,000 cash gift

Published

14 hours ago

April 16, 2025

Seyi Babalola

A viral video showing many Nigerian police officers allegedly accepting N5,000 each from a Chinese man and his family has aroused widespread indignation and raised new questions about corruption and ethics in the Nigerian police force.

The video, which has appeared online, shows uniformed officers lining up while a Chinese man presents them cash gifts.

The incident has elicited vehement condemnation from the public and human rights defenders, who characterised it as shameful and detrimental to the police’s reputation.

The Lagos State Police Command distanced itself from the footage. Its spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, clarified that the incident did not occur in Lagos, contrary to claims circulating online.

Public figures have also weighed in. Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), described the video as “shameful” and called for the removal of the IGP.

“This is why I keep saying illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun must leave the police force… It is the shame of the nation,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

Popular social commentator and human rights activist Martins Victor Otse, also known as VeryDarkBlackMan, called the act “disgraceful, disrespectful, and degrading,” urging the police leadership to address the matter transparently.