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EFCC Partners With Korean National Police To Tackle Financial Crimes

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Office of Investigation of the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) to combat economic and financial crimes while enhancing institutional capacity.

The signing of the MoU took place on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, in Seoul, South Korea, at the 3rd International Counter-Fraud Conference, themed “Global Fraud Shield: Coordinated Defence against Evolving Threats,” hosted by the Korean National Police Agency.

The MoU signed by the EFCC boss, Ola Olukoyede, and the Deputy Commissioner General of KNPA, Park Seong-Ju, focuses on information exchange, best practices sharing, capacity building, institutional strengthening, research collaboration, asset recovery coordination, public education, mutual support platform, training exchange, international cooperation and flexible expansion.

The pact formalises a bilateral commitment to enhanced cooperation in combating economic and financial crimes between the two agencies.

According to Olukoyede, the partnership aligned with his strategic agenda of economic development focus, transparency, accountability and international image boosting of Nigeria as contained in his three-pronged agenda on his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023

He stressed, “This partnership represents more than just institutional cooperation, it embodies our shared commitment to creating a safer, more transparent global financial ecosystem. We are creating a model for how nations can collaborate effectively against crimes that know no boundaries”

On his part, Seong-Ju appreciated Olukoyede’s visionary leadership in driving the MoU, stressing that the agreement was proof of EFCC’s successful collaborations with law enforcement organisations worldwide.

While acknowledging Nigeria’s reputation as a reliable partner in international crime-fighting efforts, Seong-Ju expressed commitment that the MoU would provide an enhanced platform for information sharing, capacity building, and joint operations.

Seong-Ju also recalled the longstanding Nigeria-Korea partnership, particularly noting that KNPA experts had previously visited Nigeria in 2019 to deliver capacity-building initiatives in digital forensics. Already, the MoU has begun to yield dividends with an ongoing KNPA investigation with Nigerian connections on some fraudulent dealings.

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Shettima Jets Out To New York For 80th UN General Assembly

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has left Abuja, Nigeria, to participate in the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media and Communications (Office of The Vice President), on Sunday in Abuja.

The session will hold between Monday, September 22 and Sunday, September 28.

Nkwocha said Shettima, who is representing President Bola Tinubu, at the global event, would deliver Nigeria’s national statement and join other dignitaries at the UN high-level general debates, among other side events.

He revealed that the vice-president would announce Nigeria’s new Nationally Determined Contributions, NDCs, under the Paris Agreement at this year’s UN special event on climate.

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Vote Out Any Leader Who Fails To Perform – Goodluck Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has stated that leaders who fail to deliver on their responsibilities should be removed from office through credible and transparent elections.

This is as former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, called for the reform of democracy and its protection in Africa.

Jonathan stated that electoral manipulation is one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa.

According to him, unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.

Jonathan stated this at the 2025 edition of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, GJF, Democracy Dialogue, held in Accra, Ghana.

The former Nigerian leader, in a statement issued on Saturday by Communications Officer at Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, Wealth Dickson Ominabo, said where democracy fails to meet expectations, desperation can open the door to authoritarianism.

He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children, where their voices matter.

“Democracy in the African continent is going through a period of strain and risk of collapse unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.

“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.

“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them,” he said.

Also speaking, the President of Ghana, Mahama, said democracy would not survive unless Africans actively worked to protect and strengthen it.

He warned that weak institutions, elite capture, exclusion, leadership deficits, and external interference erode citizens’ trust in democracy.

On his part, former President Obasanjo, who was the chairman of the event, warned that democracy risks collapse if it continued to be practised in its current form without urgent reforms.

He said Africa’s current democratic practice is unsustainable and must be urgently reformed.

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2027: Ex-CPC Chairmen Deny Endorsing Atiku

The Forum of State Chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) on Saturday dissociated itself from the recent visit by some members to the Abuja residence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

It described the visit as the personal decision of a few individuals, stressing that it did not represent the position of the group.

The Forum also urged the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress to address what it called the continued marginalisation of the CPC bloc within the APC.

Atiku who has since renounced his membership of the PDP, is reportedly wooing many opposition figures to rally round him in a bid to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the. 2027 presidential election.

Although, he is yet to declare for any of the existing political parties, there are indications that the ex-Vice President will formally join the African Democratic Congress ahead of the polls.

Already, CPC chieftains including former governors of Kaduna and Rivers States, Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi respectively as well as ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal have teamed up with Atiku to work against Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Earlier in the week, the Atili took to his social media handles to announce the visit of some ex-CPC State Chairmen, stressing that he advised them to encourage their supporters to participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration.

However, in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by Kasim Mabo (National Chairman); Sulaiman Oyaremi (National Secretary); Olalekan Obolo (South West Coordinator); Enyinnaya Nnachi (South East Coordinator) and Ahmad Dawayo (North East and North West Coordinator), the Forum clarified that out of its 37 members, only 16 have pledged their support to Atiku while 20 are in the same boat with President Tinubu.

The statement claimed that allies of the opposition have been pressuring the forum with offer of financial incentives to dump the APC in preparation for 2027.

The statement read in part, “We wish to categorically state that 20 members of the group remain committed to the All Progressives Congress. We wish to state clearly that for some time now our Forum has been put under intense pressure which includes financial gratification by opposition leaders which accounts for why nine of our members succumbed to their pressure a few months ago and seven others joined them only last week as it appears they could no longer resist the pressure.

“As we speak however, 20 of us remain unwaivering as we have lost one of our members from Borno State. This moment however calls for reflection, especially by the presidency and the APC leadership to urgently address the continued neglect of the CPC bloc, particularly the Forum of State Chairmen who are feeling increasingly alienated.

“Without the fear of sounding immodest, we remain the direct link to the grassroots structures that gave the CPC its national relevance and we were the Chairmen that worked with President Muhammadu Buhari of blessed memory to achieve the much touted 12.5m votes.”

The group noted that the gathering of the CPC elements at Atiku’s residence was nothing short of a move to give the former Vice President a misleading impression of “Widespread support.”

Reaffirming its loyalty, the Forum expressed support for the leadership of the defunct CPC bloc, led by Senator Tanko Al-Makura, Aminu Masari, and Tajudeen Abbas.

“We remain loyal, patient, but firm in our resolve to demand for better patronage just as we pray that the Almighty God shall continue to guide Mr President and indeed all our leaders,” the statement added.

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Two Die, Four Injured As Explosion Rocks Military Factory In Kaduna

Two people have died following an explosion at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) factory in the Kakuri Industrial area of Kaduna South Local Government, Kaduna State, on September 20.

The incident, which reportedly occurred at about 10 am on Saturday, September 20, leaving two de@d and four injured.

The sound of the explosion shook communities located within Kaduna South and Chikun local government areas.

The injured were initially rushed to St. Gerard’s Catholic Hospital, Kakuri, before being evacuated by a military ambulance to 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna.

DICON management is yet to react to the ufortunate incident.

Established in 1964, DICON is Nigeria’s premier arms manufacturing outfit responsible for producing weapons and ammunition for the Nigerian Armed Forces.

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Begin Handover Note, Nigerians Won’t Renew Mandate In 2027 – PDP Tells Tinubu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to begin preparing his handover note, asserting that Nigerians will not grant him a second term in the 2027 elections.

Speaking at the PDP state secretariat in Yola on Friday, the party’s Organising Secretary in Adamawa State, Hamza Madagali, said citizens have lost patience with Tinubu’s administration.

Madagali accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of lacking direction and failing the country.

He added that the PDP’s recent ward congresses in Adamawa showed the party was united and ready to return to power.

Madagali said the composition of the National Convention committees showed that the APC’s time in power at the presidency was coming to an end.

According to him, Nigerians have learned from past mistakes and will not gamble with the future of their children.

“Nigerians are wiser now; they now know the difference between original and fake. The only way out is to return the PDP back to power.”

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Why I Refused To Challenge Emergency Rule – Fubara Opens Up

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has revealed that he chose not to yield to pressure from his supporters to oppose President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in the state, stressing that his decision was driven by the need to safeguard peace, stability, and progress for the people.

Fubara stated this on Friday during a statewide broadcast after his return to the state following the expiration of the emergency rule.

The governor and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and the Chief of Staff, Rivers State Government House, Edison Ehie, arrived at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, two days after President Bola Tinubu lifted the state of emergency imposed on the state and ordered his reinstatement.

Their aircraft with number 5N-BTX touched down at 12:15 pm and they were received to a heroic welcome.

On the ground to receive Governor Fubara were several of his supporters, including a former Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah; former Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh; former Nigerian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Orji Ngofa; former Commissioner for Environment, Sydney Gbara; and former factional Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo.

Others present were former Commissioner for Youths, Chisom Gbali; former Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Evans Bipi; former President of NUPENG, Igwe Achese; former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja; as well as former council chairmen of Port Harcourt City, Ezebunwo Ichemati, among others.

President Tinubu, on Wednesday, announced an end to the emergency rule, which ended the six-month tenure of ex-naval chief, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), as Rivers State sole administrator.

Rivers State has faced one of Nigeria’s fiercest political crises, pitting Fubara against his predecessor and FCT minister, Nyesom Wike.

Once allies, their fallout over control of state structures and resources split the House of Assembly, sparking impeachment moves, protests, and violence, including the burning of the Assembly complex.

President Tinubu intervened with a peace deal, which failed to calm frayed nerves, before the declaration of emergency rule.

In a statement on the cessation of the emergency rule on Wednesday, made available by the Presidency, the President said, “The Governor, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, the Deputy Governor, Her Excellency Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the speaker, Martins Amaewhule, will resume work in their offices from September 18, 2025.

“It, therefore, gives me great pleasure to declare that the emergency in Rivers State of Nigeria shall end with effect from midnight today (Wednesday).”

Fubara was expected to resume on Thursday as many of his supporters thronged the gate of the Government House along Azikiwe Street, Port Harcourt, as early as 6am on Thursday, but the governor failed to resume.

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US President, Donald Trump To Add $100k Fee To H-1B Visa Application In Latest Crackdown On Foreign Workers

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Friday, September 19, imposing a $100,000 fee on all H1-B visa applications, according to a White House official.

The move marks the latest crackdown by the administration on migrants coming into the US for job opportunities, and is likely intended to limit visa applicants to those from higher financial brackets.

The new order restricts entry under the H-1B visa program unless the application fee is paid, the official said.

The administration views the current H1-B visa program — which admits hundreds of thousands of workers into the US each year — as a way for companies to exploit lower-wage employees, ultimately impacting US salaries.

The new application fee potentially deals a big blow to the technology sector that relies heavily on skilled workers from India and China.

Adding new fees “creates disincentive to attract the world’s smartest talent to the U.S.,” said Deedy Das, partner at venture capital firm Menlo Ventures, on X. “If the U.S. ceases to attract the best talent, it drastically reduces its ability to innovate and grow the economy.” 

The $100,000 fee could significantly push up costs for companies. While the new fees may not deter Big Tech, which routinely spends heavily to secure top talent, it could squeeze smaller tech firms and start-ups.

Roughly two-thirds of jobs secured through the program are computer-related, government figures show, but employers also use the visa to bring in engineers, educators and healthcare workers.

India was the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas last year, accounting for 71% of approved beneficiaries, while China was a distant second at 11.7%, according to government data.

In the first half of 2025, Amazon.com (AMZN.O), opens new tab had more than 10,000 H-1B visas approved, while Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab and Meta Platforms (META.O), opens new tab had over 5,000 H-1B visa approvals each.

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Early Morning Inferno Razes Tailoring Factory In Ibadan

A four-bedroom apartment serving as a tailoring workshop in Ibadan has been destroyed by fire.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday at Benjamin Alabama junction in the Eleyele area of Ibadan.

It was learnt that equipment and properties worth millions of naira were affected.

No casualty was recorded in the incident, Daily Post reports.

Chairman, Oyo State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, confirmed that incident on Saturday.

In a statement made available to Daily Post, Akinwande noted that the officers of the agency were immediately mobilised to the scene when they were contacted.

He advised residents to report fire incident to the agency on time, while also urging them to provide the correct address in cases of emergency.

“The fire emergency was received through telephoning at exactly 04:15 on Saturday 20th September, 2025. Immediately the address was taken, the fire personnel led by ACFS Bamidele Samsudeen promptly mobilized and responded to the distressed call.

“On getting to the scene of incident, it was the ground floor of a storey residential building of four bedroom flat use as tailoring factory on fire. Our officers swiftly swung into action, the fire was completely curtailed and restricted from affecting the building”.

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Naira Appreciates To N1,530/$ In Parallel Market

The Naira strengthened in the parallel market yesterday, rising to N1,530 per dollar from Wednesday’s rate of N1,537 per dollar.

Likewise the Naira appreciated to N1,490 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM).

Data published by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, showed that the exchange rate for the naira fell to N1,490 per dollar from N1,498 per dollar on Wednesday, indicating N8 appreciation for the naira.

Consequently, the margin between the parallel market and NFEM rate widened to N40 per dollar from N39 per dollar on Wednesday.

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