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EFCC Arraigns Woman for N240.5m Forex Fraud in Abuja

One Ene Queen Bamaiyi has been arraigned before Justice A.A. Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Apo, Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, October 2, 2025, arraigned Bamaiyi on a one-count charge of criminal breach of trust to the tune of N240,500,000 (Two Hundred and Forty Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira).
Bamaiyi was alleged to have dishonestly converted to personal use, the sum of N124,000,000 (One Hundred and Twenty-Four Million Naira) out of the sum of N240,500,000, entrusted to her by one Bright Okubo for foreign exchange conversion.
The charge reads: “That you, Ene Queen Bamayi (female), sometime in May 2024 in Abuja within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court, while being entrusted with the sum of N240,500,000.00 (Two Hundred and Forty Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) by one Bright Okubo for conversion at dollar equivalent, did dishonestly convert N124,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Twenty-Four Million Naira) out of the said sum to your personal use in violation of the purpose for which the money was entrusted with you, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 312 of the same Code.”
She pleaded “not guilty” to the charge, following which the prosecution counsel, Joshua Saidi requested a trial date and informed the court of his intention to invite five witnesses to prove the case, while the defence counsel, M.A. Attah, SAN, prayed the court to grant his client bail on self-recognition and on liberal terms, citing her status as a single mother of a two-year-old child.
Justice Halilu, after considering the submissions, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N30,000,000 (Thirty Million Naira) with two reliable sureties in like sum, who are not below Grade Level 14 in the civil service. He further ordered that the defendant deposited her passport with the EFCC and be remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre, pending the fulfilment of her bail conditions.
The case was adjourned till December 2 and 3, 2025 for trial.
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Put Me In Charge Of Security And See If I Won’t Crush Fulani Terrorists – Sunday Igboho To FG

Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday Igboho has sent a message to the federal government.
He asked the Nigerian government to hand him control of a security agency to lead operations against Fulani terrorists.
The activist made this demand while addressing his followers in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Igboho vowed to storm forests and communities where the groups are believed to be hiding, seize their weapons, and end their activities.
He declared that he was ready to pay with his life if he failed in the mission.
He said: “The government should hand over a security agency to me and see if I won’t eradicate the Fulani terrorist s. If I don’t kpai all them, tell the government to kpai me”
His statement comes at a time when herder-farmer clashes continue to claim lives across the country.
The conflict, which has been ongoing since the 2010s, has resulted in thousands of deaths, including more than 200 people killed in Benue State’s Yelwata community in June 2025.
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2027: Atiku Denies Plan To Step Down For Anyone

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has denied reports claiming he plans to step aside for another presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku described such claims as a misrepresentation of his recent interview with the BBC Hausa Service.

Ibe explained that a careful review of both the video and transcripts of the interview showed that Atiku never said, suggested, or implied that he intends to step down for anyone.

The statement reads, “After a thorough review of both the video and transcripts of the interview – in the original Hausa and the English translation – it is evident that at no point did the former Vice President expressly state, suggest, or even imply that he intends to step down for anyone.

“What Atiku Abubakar clearly and unambiguously said was that young people, as well as other prospective presidential aspirants, are free to enter the contest. He further stressed that if a young candidate were to emerge through a competitive primary, he would readily support such a candidate without any hesitation.

“While interpretative journalism is a legitimate aspect of reporting, stretching interpretation to the point of mischief is unacceptable and must not be encouraged.

“For the record, therefore, the insinuations attributed to Waziri Adamawa from his BBC Hausa interview are inaccurate and do not reflect what he actually said.”

It had earlier been reported that Atiku, in an interview with BBC Hausa, said he will withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if a younger aspirant defeats him to clinch the African Democratic Congress presidential ticket.

The former vice president also noted that he would support and mentor such a candidate.

“If I run for office, and a young man defeats me, I will accept that. The party we have joined now prioritises youth and women,” he had said.

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Why I Accepted Renaming Of National Theatre After Me – Wole Soyinka Speaks

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has revealed that he received the renaming of the National Theatre in Lagos in his honour with mixed feelings.

Speaking at the reopening and re-dedication of the refurbished building, Soyinka reflected on his longstanding opposition to the appropriation of public monuments in Nigeria.

The National Theatre, located in Iganmu, Lagos, has been renamed the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts by President Bola Tinubu.

Soyinka, who has often spoken against naming public buildings and roads after individuals or past leaders, said.

“I have been guilty of saying other people do not merit this kind of monumental dedication, and then I had to stand up in public and watch my name being put up as yet another appropriator. It just didn’t seem well with me.”

“I accepted this honour with mixed feelings. First of all, I’m notorious for having criticised any appropriations. Personal appropriations of public monuments by some of our past leaders, which would end up that everything is named after them.

“I’ll be modest, given the general estimate, to say that about 25 percent of monuments, whether they are buildings or roads in particular in this country, are well and truly deserved.”

Reflecting on the history of Nigerian theatre and pioneers such as Hubert Ogunde and opera composer Adam Fiberesima, Soyinka said he ultimately concluded that “somebody has to carry the can.”

The playwright shared a nostalgic connection to the National Theatre, recalling its original construction during the military era and its significance during FESTAC ’77.

He lamented the building’s decline over the years, at one point describing it as “irredeemable” and “like a slum.”

“I have another reason, which is nostalgia. I remember this building was first erected during the military regime. We had FESTAC ‘77 in this very hall. It’s a different hall completely, it’s nothing like what that building became over the years,” he said.

“Degraded to such an extent that when Lagos was celebrating its 50 years anniversary and we looked for a hub, a centre of activities which would take place elsewhere, one of the places we visited was here, which is now transformed.

“I took one look at it and when the governor and his team wanted to come back to take a second look, I said you go without me. I said I would advise you, get somebody secretly, plant a bomb, and blow it up.

“It was irredeemable. I said ‘it’s not just a desert, it was a slum’.”

Soyinka praised the transformation of the building, noting, “If eating one’s word produces a morsel like this, then it’s a very tasty set of words.”

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Elon Musk Becomes First Person to Become Half a Trillionaire

Elon Musk has made history by becoming the first ever person in the world to reach a net worth of more than $500 billion.
This happened after the value of his businesses increased to £370.9 billion yesterday afternoon, October 1, the Forbes’ billionaires index reported.
Elon is the owner of Tesla, X, SpaceX and other companies.
This further cements his status as the world’s richest person, with most of his wealth tied closely to his 12% stake in Tesla.
The value of the car company shares has risen by more than 20% over the last year.
Musk is also in sight of becoming the world’s first trillionaire, as he will receive a huge payout if Tesla reached its list of ambitious targets.
These include selling a million AI robots, another 12 million Tesla cars and boosting the company’s value eight-fold.
Investors have welcomed Musk focusing more time on his businesses, which also includes artificial intelligence startup xAI and rocket company spaceX, rather than politics.
He came under fire this year after working with Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which was tasked with cutting jobs and spending.
But he is back “front and centre” of Tesla according to the company chair Robyn Denholm.
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2027: I’m Ready To Abandon My Presidential Ambition, Support Younger Candidate – Atiku

Atiku Abubakar, a leading figure in the opposition coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC), has indicated that he may step aside for a younger presidential candidate in 2027, provided certain conditions are met.

Atiku expressed willingness to abandon his presidential ambition for a younger, vibrant and acceptable candidate under the ADC.

The former Vice President disclosed this in an interview with BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday.

Atiku noted that his interest in the 2027 race is not about personal ambition, but about providing a credible alternative to rescue Nigerians.

The former VP charged younger Nigerians to actively participate in politics, stressing that he would fully back them if picked to contest for the presidency.

Atiku denied claims that he was desperate for the seat of the president declaring that he was only interested in rescuing Nigeria from the people that have held it hostage.

“My being in the 2027 race does not prevent anyone from contesting. If a vibrant and widely accepted younger candidate emerges, I am willing to step aside,” Atiku said.

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Independence Day: The Worst Is Over, Nigeria Has Turned The Corner – Tinubu Assures

President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the worst is over.
According to him, Nigeria is better than it was ten years ago.
Speaking at the commissioning of projects during his one-day working visit to Imo State, President Tinubu said Nigeria has achieved a great milestone as it celebrates its 65th independence anniversary on October 1.
He also commended the nation’s founding fathers for making sacrifices that strengthened the unity of the country.
The President assured Nigerians that they would soon start enjoying the full benefits of various reforms implemented by the government and urged those speaking ill of the country to refrain from doing so.
“Nigeria has just turned the corner. You will see prosperity; you will have it. Those who are talking ill of this country should stop doing so. Sixty-five years of independence is not a joke.
 
“We are proud of our forefathers—we are proud of what they believed: that Nigeria should be one, that it should be an all-inclusive government, that we must take care of the elderly, care for the vulnerable, educate our children, and build a welfare system that will strengthen our healthcare.”
 
“Nigeria is no longer where it was 10 years ago, we have passed that. We promised change, and today I can confidently tell you that the worst is over,” Tinubu declared.
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Google Celebrates Nigeria’s 65th Independence With Doodle

Google has celebrated Nigeria on its 65th independence.
Google featured a special doodle on its homepage, adopting the green-white-green colours of the national flag and an eagle motif to commemorate the day.
A click on the doodle directs users to key historical facts and milestones about Nigeria’s journey to nationhood.
Meanwhile, in his Independence Day address, President Bola Tinubu expressed confidence that the nation is turning a corner, insisting that the “worst is over” after the pains of economic reforms.
Tinubu pointed to Nigeria’s second-quarter GDP growth of 4.23%, the strongest in four years, inflation easing to 20.12%, rising foreign reserves, and increased oil output as proof of recovery.
He also announced that the government has distributed N330 billion to eight million vulnerable households under its social investment programme and affirmed its commitment to accelerated infrastructure development.
Tinubu urged citizens to embrace peace, tolerance, and cooperation across all divides, stressing that differences are natural but must not hinder collective progress.
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Runs Girls, Influencers to Pay Tax – FG

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele has revealed that runs girls will pay tax in the new tax reform laws.
According to him, this is because the new tax reform laws make no distinction between legitimate and illegitimate sources of income.
The reforms, signed into law in June, consolidate four major legislations: the Nigerian Tax Act (NTA), the Nigerian Tax Administration Act (NTAA), the Nigerian Revenue Service (Establishment) Act (NRSEA), and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act (JRBEA)
The NRSEA and JRBEA will take effect on 26 June 2025, while the NTA and NTAA will commence on 1 January 2026.
Speaking during a “Tax Compliance and Planning” session hosted by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and streamed live on YouTube on 26 September, Oyedele stressed that anyone earning income from providing services would be required to pay tax.
 
“If someone is rendering a service, such a person will pay tax. There’s this extreme example that you probably should not even say in a church, but just to bring it home, if somebody is doing runs with girls. They go and look for men to sleep with. You know, that’s a service. They will pay tax on it. One thing about the tax law is that it does not separate whether what you are doing is legitimate. It doesn’t even ask you. It just asks you whether you have an income. Did you get it from renting a service or providing a good, you pay tax? So if you give upkeep to anyone, they’re free. They won’t pay tax.”
 
He added that the reforms also extend to social media influencers and Nigerians working remotely for foreign companies, especially those paid in foreign currency.
Oyedele, however, emphasized that the new laws are designed to ease the tax burden on 90 per cent of Nigerian workers, reflecting the government’s broader efforts to generate revenue amid dwindling oil income and growing fiscal pressures.
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Federal Government Cancels 65th Independence Day Parade

The customary Independence Day parade earlier scheduled to hold on Wednesday, October 1 has been cancelled.
The parade had been organised in celebration of Nigeria’s 65th anniversary.
In a statement signed by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations, the government explained that the decision does not reduce the significance of the milestone, adding that other programmes lined up for the anniversary will still take place.
The statement also urged Nigerians to continue supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms, while expressing regret for any inconvenience the cancellation may cause.
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