The Kano State Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old ex-convict, Mohammed Usman of Kofar Wambai Quarters, for allegedly deceiving and stealing mobile phones from women across the state under the guise of offering government assistance.
Usman was apprehended on July 14, 2025, after a woman from Ahmadiyya Brigade Quarters reported that he tricked her into handing over her phone by pretending to offer help through a fake government intervention scheme.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the command’s spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, the police said at least 17 more women have come forward with similar complaints.
Investigations also led to the arrest of three suspected receivers and the recovery of eight stolen phones.
“The suspect called unsuspecting women, claimed to be offering support from a government programme, gained their trust, then made away with their phones,” Kiyawa said.
The state Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Bakori, urged residents to be cautious of suspicious offers and reassured the public of continued efforts to tackle fraud and theft in the state.
A Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Mrs Funmi Ogun, has expressed confidence that new developments in the party will compel those who have left to return.
Ogun, a former Works Commissioner in the state, said that all hands were on deck to reposition the party for victory in the 2026 governorship election.
She stated that resolution of the internal wrangling in the PDP at the national level would positively impact the party in the state.
The former PDP State Secretary spoke in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on Saturday during a chat with journalists after a meeting with supporters across the three senatorial districts at her campaign office.
The governorship hopeful, who said that Ekiti PDP had the support and ability to wrestle power from the governing All Progressives Congress, expressed confidence that she would clinch the party ticket and win the election.
She said, “PDP members joining other parties will soon return. Our National Working Committee members are united and all working together now.
“So, I think they are channeling the path towards resolving the issues and that will also affect us in Ekiti State because of the lingering problems that affected the conclusion of the congresses and things like that.
“But now that the issues have been resolved, they are working towards the national convention.
“So very soon, I believe the congresses in Ekiti State will be concluded and that has nothing to do with the timetable for primaries released by INEC.
“I want to assure our people that the PDP will soon bounce back in Ekiti. PDP is not dead in Ekiti, the party is alive and I am happy that today, we still have dedicated members. “These people here are the ones working in their wards, they are the grassroots people.
“I am going forward and I’m going to push it to the end. I will win that ticket and I will win the election come 2026. I have been on my mission of consultation, reconciliation and mobilisation for the past two years. I remain focused that PDP will win Ekiti State. I am hopeful of clinching PDP governorship ticket and by this time in 2026, I will be the governor in the Government House.”
She dismissed insinuation in some quarters that the coalition platform, African Democratic Coalition, is a threat to the PDP in the June 20 Ekiti governorship election.
Ogun said, “There’s no new party or coalition that can come and make any meaningful move. We have just a few months to primaries and we are a few months into the election, then you see people coming with a new party to the state, it won’t work, I’m not really bothered about that.”
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, on Friday, paid tribute to late former President Muhammadu Buhari and personally conveyed the UN’s solidarity with the government and people of Nigeria.
Guterres, during his visit to Nigeria House in New York, described Buhari as a leader whose unwavering dedication to Nigeria, Africa and global cooperation will stand as his enduring legacy.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Guterres signed the condolence register during his visit.
“On behalf of the United Nations, I extend my heartfelt condolences on the passing of His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari.
“President Buhari will be remembered for his steadfast commitment to selfless service, his leadership in advancing peace and stability across the African region and his dedication to strengthening institutions in Nigeria.
“President Buhari was also a great supporter of the United Nations and a strong voice for multilateralism, solidarity and sustainable development around the world,” Guterres wrote in the register.
The UN chief concluded his condolence message, “In this moment of loss, our thoughts are with his family, the Government and the people of Nigeria.”
Speaking afterwards with NAN, the UN Chief reflected on his working relationship with Buhari and praised his lifetime of service.
“I had the privilege to work with President Buhari, and I will say, I am a great admirer of his extraordinary work.
“Not only in defence of the interest of his own country, Nigeria but in his commitment to the African continent, to sustainable development and very particularly to the United Nations and multilateralism,” he said
Speaking about Buhari’s contributions to West Africa’s peace and security, Guterres described the late Nigerian leader as a crucial stabilising figure for the region.
“I think President Buhari has been a leading personality in defending the interests of West Africa and in a very difficult context, in affirming Nigeria’s leadership,” he said.
The UN chief affirmed that Buhari’s contributions to West Africa’s peace and security “was of course very much appreciated,”.
Guterres extended the UN’s sympathy to Buhari’s family, the Nigerian government and people, assuring that the world remembers him as a true servant-leader whose legacy will inspire generations to come.
The Chargé d’Affaires, Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the UN, Mr Syndoph Endoni, thanked Guterres for the condolence visit.
Endoni said the condolence visit highlighted Buhari’s standing as a statesman whose voice carried weight far beyond Nigeria’s borders.
Bola Asaju and the Head of Chancery of the Mission, Mr Razak Lawal, were among the officers who received the UN chief during his condolence visit.
Buhari ruled Nigeria as a military leader from 1983 to 1985 and returned as a democratically elected President from 2015 to 2023.
Buhari died on Sunday at a London hospital at the age of 82 and was buried in his hometown in Daura, Nigeria on Tuesday.
The Kano State Fire Service has confirmed the death of four people who drowned in a blocked waterway at Zangon Kaya in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of the state.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, on Friday in Kano.
He said the incident occurred on Friday afternoon.
He said, “We received an emergency call at about 13:48 hrs from one Rabiu Yusif that four people had fallen into a waterway blocked that had accumulated due to the railway line construction.
“We immediately sent our rescue team to the scene.
“Two of the victims entered the waterway to swim when they got trapped.”
Abdullahi said that another person entered the blocked drain to rescue them, but also got stuck, while the fourth person went in to help and also got trapped.
He further explained that with the arrival of the rescue team, the residents were able to pull out two of the victims, while the team recovered the other two.
Abdullahi said that the names of the victims were: Bashir Sani, 28, Nasirudden Tasi’u, 25, Usman Ubale, 26 and Yakubu Muhammed, 22.
“All the victims were rescued unconscious and were later confirmed dead.
“Their corpses were handed over to SP Abdulkadir Albasu of Dawanau Police Division,” he said.
Abdullahi said that the cause of the incident was as a ‘result of local swimming in a blocked sewer’.
Cuba had scrapped the maximum age limit of 60 for its presidential candidates as part of a constitutional reform approved on Friday by parliament.
The communist-ruled island’s restriction of two five-year presidential terms and minimum age of 35 for candidates were left unchanged.
The measure, approved by the Council of State, imposes no age limits on people “in the full exercise of their physical and mental faculties, with… loyalty and revolutionary trajectory,” national assembly president Esteban Lazo said.
Former president Raul Castro, who at age 94 still holds a seat in the assembly, was the first to vote for the reform that will be on the books for the 2028 presidential elections.
Cuba’s current president, 65-year-old Miguel Diaz-Canel, was elected in 2018 and then re-elected in 2023. No favoured successor has been publicly designated.
The inclusion of term and age limits in the 2019 constitution marked a radical shift after six decades in which Fidel Castro and his brother Raul were in power.
In 2016, Fidel had to hand over the reins to his brother due to health problems. He died later that year, after nearly half a century leading Cuba.
Raúl Castro officially became president in 2008, at the age of 76. In 2021, he retired as Communist Party first secretary, handing over power to Diaz-Canel.
The nation of nearly 10 million people is suffering its worst economic crisis in three decades, with shortages of all kinds of supplies, power outages, and unprecedented emigration.
A legal practitioner, Funmi Adedoyin, has decried the “delayed trial” of some former domestic workers of ex-First Lady Patience Jonathan, who remain in detention at the Okaka Custodial Centre in Bayelsa State over stolen jewellery.
She said the case was recently adjourned twice—on 25 and 26 June—due to the abduction of Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro of the Bayelsa State High Court on 21 June in front of an eatery in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Saturday PUNCH reported in April that the case had been adjourned 40 times.
The defendants were arraigned before the court, sitting in Yenagoa, in 2019.
They were accused of stealing seven gold bangles and other pieces of jewellery, five Samsung air conditioners, two sets of upholstered chairs, and six Samsung flat-screen televisions, all valued at N200m.
They were also accused of conspiracy to commit murder, felony, armed robbery, burglary, and stealing, among other charges.
Those affected are Williams Alami, Vincent Olabiyi, Ebuka Cosmos, John Dashe, Tamunokuro Abaku, Emmanuel Aginwa, Erema Deborah, Precious Kingsley, Tamunosiki Achese, Sunday Reginald, Vivian Golden, Emeka Benson, Boma Oba, Salomi Wareboka, and Sahabi Lima.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, Adedoyin lamented that the defendants had been languishing in prison for six years.
The lawyer expressed disappointment over the ongoing delays in the trial, emphasising the impact on the defendants’ pursuit of justice.
She noted, “We are not happy about these delays, and that is why we have been doing our best to carry on with the legal advocacy to ensure justice is upheld in the matter.
“We want them to get justice on time, as we have had over 40 adjournments already in the matter. We will continue to support them.”
Adedoyin assured that the group would not back down until justice was served.
She said, “We hope with these advocacies, the case will go on and the people will get justice.”
Speaking about the recent adjournments, Adedoyin stated, “The case has not been going on. The last time it was supposed to come up was 26 and 27 June. The court did not sit because of the matter in Bayelsa State where a judge was kidnapped. It is an act of solidarity. Till now, we have not been able to get a date. In the last two adjournments, the matter did not go on.”
The sister of one of the detainees, Gladys Achese, decried the imprisonment of her sister and the prolonged trial of the defendants.
She said, “We are sad. The case is just dragging. They didn’t go to court throughout last month. Hopefully, if they go this month, they will not go at all in August because there will be a break.
“So, we do not know when the next court session will open. Time is not waiting. We do not know the next approach to take. It is frustrating.”
The digital age has brought incredible opportunities and new forms of danger.
One such threat is sextortion, a form of blackmail where someone threatens to release another person’s nude or explicit photos unless their demands are met, often involving money or more images.
In Nigeria, where laws on privacy and cybercrime continue to evolve, victims often face not only fear and shame but also a lack of clear recourse.
Experts, however, are unanimous: never give in to the blackmail. Here are five expert-backed steps to take immediately if someone threatens to leak your nude photos:
Do not panic or pay the blackmailer
The instinct to panic or comply is common, but counterproductive. Experts warn that giving in rarely stops the cycle.
“Once a blackmailer knows you’re willing to give in, they keep coming back,” says Selena Onuoha, human rights lawyer. “Paying won’t protect your dignity; it often makes things worse.”
She urged victims to stay calm, gather their thoughts, and focus on documenting the threat instead of reacting impulsively.
Secure all evidence immediately
Take screenshots of all communication, from chats, emails, DMs, and back them up, advised Onuoha.
She also advised the victim to note the time, date, platform, and, if possible, the username or contact information of the blackmailer.
“Digital evidence is key,” explains Mr Olumide Akpata, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association. “Without it, law enforcement will have difficulty tracing the source and establishing a case.”
Also, save links, file metadata, or anything that shows the blackmail attempt.
Report to law enforcement or cybercrime authorities.
In Nigeria, THE Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015 criminalises threats, extortion, and invasion of privacy. Victims can report to the Nigeria Police Force Cybercrime Unit, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and the Cybercrime Reporting Portal on https://report.ncc.gov.ng.
“We’ve seen a rise in digital blackmail, especially among young people,” says ASP Olufemi Ajisafe (retd.). “Victims should not keep silent. The earlier we are informed, the easier it is to intervene.”
Get legal, mental health support
Onuoha advised victims to involve a lawyer to help draft a cease-and-desist letter or advise them on court options if necessary.
She said, “Many legal aid groups also offer free support. Equally important is mental well-being.”
“Victims of sextortion suffer intense shame, depression, and suicidal thoughts,” warns Dr Usen Essien, renowned psychologist and researcher based in Akwa Ibom.
He added, “Talking to a therapist can help restore control and reduce emotional harm.”
Local NGOs, such as Stand to End Rape and Mirabel Centre, provide counselling and victim support services.
Educate yourself and take preventive steps
While victims are never to blame, awareness is critical. Never send nudes under pressure. Use platforms that allow content to vanish or encrypt messages, but even then, be cautious.
Also, check if your photos have been leaked using tools like Google Reverse Image Search, PhotoDNA (used by platforms like Facebook to block explicit content). Also, enable two-factor authentication on all social media accounts and report impersonators or suspicious activity immediately.
Essien noted that shame and silence are what predators count on. But he stressed that victims were not alone, and help was available.
“The most powerful thing a victim can do is speak up,” he added. “Let the law and the system work for you.”
If you or someone you know is a victim of sextortion, call the National Human Rights Commission Hotline or visit your nearest police station’s cybercrime desk.
Wema Bank’s Digital Bank, ALAT, Emerges Nigeria’s Best Digital Bank at Euromoney Awards 202
In recognition of its position as a digital pioneer in the African banking landscape, Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, a trailblazing digital platform pioneered by Nigeria’s oldest indigenous and most innovative bank, Wema Bank, has been awarded Nigeria’s Best Digital Bank at the Euromoney Awards 2025.
Euromoney is a leading provider of competitive intelligence and benchmarking insight for the global banking and finance industry, trusted for over 50 years to deliver data-led analysis that informs strategy, validates performance, and supports decision-making at the executive level. The Euromoney Awards, pioneered by Euromoney, are regarded as the ultimate accolade in banking; the industry-leading stamp of approval that banks across the globe work yearlong to achieve. Recognised as Nigeria’s leading financial institution in digital innovation, Wema Bank’s revolutionary digital bank, ALAT, was awarded Nigeria’s Best Digital Bank at the Euromoney Awards 2025 held at The Peninsula London Hotel in London on Thursday, 17th July, 2025.
Since its launch on May 2nd 2017, ALAT has bridged the gaps in delivery of financial services to Nigerians within Nigeria and globally, evolving remarkably into a holistic hub of lifestyle and financial solutions for Nigerian adults of all ages and from all walks of life. From simply being the first fully digital bank in Africa, ALAT has evolved remarkably into a digital platform with an ecosystem of dynamic financial solutions tailored to provide seamless, reliable, and convenient service for all. With ALAT, basic financial services like transfers, airtime & data purchases, bill payments and loans are placed at the fingertips of users, in addition to a wide range of advanced financial services and solutions that merge banking with lifestyle.
From in-app local and international flight bookings to tailored personal and group savings options, investments and stocks, movie and event tickets, deals and discounts on a limitless pool of products and services, 24/7 health consultation, and a suite of customised loan options for salary earners and non-salary earners; ALAT changed the game, redefining banking and financial services in a world where digital has become the future. In view of ALAT’s groundbreaking role in blazing the trail for FinTechs in Africa and its intentionally-curated wealth of features and offerings designed to meet the needs of Nigerians in Nigeria and the diaspora, it is evident that the Bank is undeniably deserving of the recognition and accolade.
Underscoring Wema Bank’s commitment in shaping the future of banking through impactful innovations like ALAT, Wema Bank’s MD/CEO, Moruf Oseni, expressed appreciation to the Euromoney Awards for recognising the Bank’s impact on the proliferation of digital innovation in Africa, reiterating the Bank’s commitment to its sustainability vision of developing digital solutions for societal impact. Receiving the award, Oseni commented, “The world is moving fast and so is the permeation of ‘digital’ into the most critical aspects of our lives. 80 years ago when Wema Bank was established, typewriters were the extent of banking technology. Today, we have pioneered a fully digital bank, and possess technology advanced enough to power over 150 FinTechs. In ten years, one can only imagine what this fast-paced digital economy will bring. One thing is clear, any business, venture or institution that will remain relevant by the end of the next decade, must leverage digital technology today. This is why Wema Bank is so driven when it comes to digital. Innovation and empowerment”.
“As a Bank, our stance is clear. Wema Bank will never relent in empowering lives through innovation and developing digital solutions for societal impact. We will continue to pioneer innovation, empower innovators and bridge the gap between traditional and digital, leveraging the opportunities of the digital world to generate meaningful impact on lives and businesses in Nigeria, Africa and across the world. We have remained resilient in this commitment since 1945 and this award tells us that the world is feeling our impact. We are honoured by this recognition, and I take this opportunity to extend our sincerest gratitude to the Euromoney Awards. We take this as a challenge to keep up the good work, go harder, and continue going above and beyond in shaping the future of banking through digital innovation. Here’s to 80 years of impact and a future of limitless possibilities with Wema Bank”. Oseni concluded.
Wema Bank continues to raise the bar in financial services, placing Nigeria on the global map for banking and digital innovation. Since 1945, the Bank has spearheaded a positive transformation in Africa’s banking and financial landscape, proving that Nigerian-owned businesses have the capacity to last and stand the test of time. As the Bank celebrated its 80th anniversary on May 2nd 2025, its futuristic digital platform, ALAT simultaneously clocked 8, marking 8 years of digital transformation.
The world continues to watch in anticipation as Wema Bank leads the movement in digital innovation, shaping the future of banking in Africa.
ABOUT WEMA BANK
Established on May 2nd, 1945, Wema Bank is Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank, most innovative, and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT. Commemorating a remarkable 80 years of impact and a future of possibilities, Wema Bank celebrated its 80th anniversary on May 2nd 2025 alongside the 8th anniversary of ALAT by Wema.
The publicly quoted Nigerian company has successfully built a legacy of trust, resilience and banking excellence that has won it the loyalty of its customers for 8 decades and counting. The Bank has remained innovative in delivering value to its stakeholders, constantly introducing products and services tailored to the needs of its customers at every stage of their lives.
Wema Bank is a proud partner to more than one million individuals, families, and businesses across Nigeria, helping them achieve their personal and financial goals.
Since its establishment in 1945, Wema Bank has built a legacy of pioneering innovation and empowering innovation to thrive, connecting traditional with digital and introducing several digital gamechangers and industry-firsts that have redefined standards across various industries and verticals.
From launching Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, in 2017, Wema Bank went on to launch the ALAT For Business App, a business-focused version of ALAT; CoopHub App, a-first-of-its-kind digital solution designed to empower cooperatives for optimal productivity; Wema Phygital, a self-service implementation adding a digital touch to the physical experience in Wema Bank’s branches; ALATPay, an end-to-end payment gateway that provides instant settlement for business transactions; and the ALAT Xplore App, Nigeria’s first fully licensed banking app for teenagers, among others.
The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced the arrival of its new Consul General in Lagos, Rick Swart.
Swart, who arrived on Wednesday, will represent the US government across 17 states in southern Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday by the Public Diplomacy Section, US Consulate General Lagos.
Swart is expected to oversee efforts aimed at deepening trade, strengthening ties with Nigerians, and advancing key U.S.-Nigeria priorities in the region.
“I am honoured to serve in Nigeria. I am excited about the opportunity to travel across the region, meet the people, experience the culture, while advancing the shared goals of making our two countries safer, stronger, and more prosperous,” Swart was quoted as saying.
He succeeds JoEllen Gorg who had served in an interim capacity since November 2024, following the departure of Will Stevens.
Swart praised Gorg’s efforts, saying, “I thank JoEllen for her remarkable leadership and for the outstanding work she has done to promote our close partnership with the Nigerian people in the region.
“I look forward to working closely with Ambassador Mills and the team at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, to further advance the shared objectives between Nigeria and the United States.”
A career diplomat, Swart was previously Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Chad.
His past assignments have taken him to Congo, Burundi, Iraq, Geneva, London, Manila, and Dubai, among others.
He also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali before joining the State Department in 2002.
