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NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine In Children Duvets, Seizes Drugged Milo Beverage

No less than 101 parcels of Cocaine concealed in eight children duvets have been intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos.
According to a signed statement by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director, Media & Advocacy and made available to the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, the illicit drug was brought into the country by a 52-year-old Brazilian returnee, Akudirinwa Hilary Uchenna who hails from Oru East Local Government area of Imo state.

He was arrested on Saturday 9th April at the D-Arrival Hall of the Lagos airport upon his return from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Doha aboard Qatar Airline flight, while the 101 parcels of the class A drug with a gross weight of 13.2 kilogram were recovered from his only check-in bag.

During preliminary interview, Uchenna who claimed to be a carpenter confessed that he was to be paid N5million for trafficking the drug after successfully delivering the consignment in Lagos.

In a related development, big pellets of skunk concealed in detergent containers have been intercepted at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, AIIA, Enugu. A 37-year-old South African returnee, Ezekwesili Afamefune brought in the consignment weighing 730grams aboard Ethiopian Airline flight from Johannesburg, South Africa via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ezekwesili is from Awka south local government area of Anambra state.

In Edo state, a 24-year-old drug dealer Christian John was arrested by NDLEA operatives in Egbeta, Ovia North East LGA for selling assorted illicit drugs which include sachets of drugged Milo beverage, cannabis sativa, swinol and tramadol tablets, while in Zamfara state, one Chibuzor Uba, 30, was arrested on Friday 8th April with 1,955 ampules of pentazocine at Kaura Namoda area of Zamfara state.

A cross-border drug trafficker, Stanley Chibuzor, 21, was on Friday 8th April arrested by officers of the Marine Unit of NDLEA stationed at Oron beach, Oron, Akwa Ibom state. The suspect who hails from Ihiala, Anambra state was nabbed with 11,190 tablets of Tramadol during the outward clearance of passengers traveling to Cameroon.

In Ondo state, a drug dealer who produces and sells skuchies, Oluwaseun Agboola, 25, was arrested on Thursday 7th April, at his Igoba, Second Gate, Akure residence where 73 bottles of skuchies weighing 77kg stocked in his kitchen were recovered. Skuchies are usually a mixture of Tramadol, Cannabis sativa, Codeine, Black Currant (popularly called Zobo) and water.

In Lagos, an early morning raid in the notorious Akala, Mushin area of the state on Saturday 9th April led to the seizure of 746.25 kilograms of cannabis.

While commending officers and men of the MMIA, AIIA, Edo, Zamfara, Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Ondo state Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their colleagues across the country to remain focussed and abstain from acts capable of compromising or jeopardising the collective goal of ridding Nigeria of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

UBA’s 60th AGM, Elumelu Upholds Commitment to Exceed Growth Trajectory, Create Value for Shareholders

+ Shareholders Laud UBA’s Dividend Yield, Subsidiary Performance

Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has assured shareholders and investors of its unwavering commitment to sustain its current growth trajectory even as its efforts at business diversification across Africa and beyond continues to yield increasing returns.

The Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, who made this declaration at UBA’s 60th Annual General Meeting, which was held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Thursday April 7, 2022, noted that the bank’s strategic investment decisions over the past few years have indeed translated to huge returns for its investors, despite the challenging business environment witnessed in the last two years.

“I am proud of how as a Group, we have been able to further consolidate on the new capabilities we have built, novel customer solutions we have deployed, efficiency gains recorded and the growth prospects we have leveraged from a recovering world,” Elumelu stated, adding “These were the building blocks for the very strong financial performance and the growth delivered by your Group in 2021, further confirming the wisdom of the investments we made and the strategy we have pursued, to ensure the diversification and sustainability of our business model.”

Whilst expressing his delight to shareholders and customers who have stood with UBA for almost eight decades, Elumelu remained confident of the bank’s capacity to sustain this momentum especially as economic activities recover from the impact of the Covid -19 pandemic.

l-r: Executive Directors, United Bank for Africa(UBA) Plc, Mr. Chiugo Ndubisi, Ibrahim Puri; Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa(UBA) Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka; Group Chairman, Mr Tony Elumelu, CON; Deputy Managing Director, Mr Oliver Alawuba; Executive Directors – Mr Chukwuma Nweke and Mr Ike Uche, at the 60th Annual General Meeting of the Bank held in Abuja on Thursday.

“Our goal is to continue to build strong brand loyalty with our customers and create additional value for our shareholders, whose underlying support has positioned UBA for continued growth,” the Chairman noted.

UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Kennedy Uzoka, who went into details about the improved performance of the bank’s subsidiaries in the financial year under consideration, said, “We are happy that the global community recognises the role our Group is playing in the transformation of the African economic landscape through innovative and customer focused banking services.”

He pointed out that the bank’s business in the United Kingdom had specifically witnessed remarkable expansion, adding “As from July 2021, UBA UK started making profit, and even to date, they are still doing well, and the same can be said for many of our African subsidiaries. The truth is that we are driven by the opportunities and potential in each of the geographies that we invested in, and we are happy with what we have achieved so far’.

Shareholders who spoke at the meeting including Sir Sunny Nwosu, Alhaji Farouk Umar, Mr. Nonah Awoh, Mr. Patrick Ajuda, Mrs. Bisi Bakare and Chief Timothy Adesiyan, were unanimous in their commendation of the board and management of UBA, for the impressive financials which have translated to higher dividends for shareholders.

“Despite the economic situation UBA has been able to grow profitability and increase its customer base. If you compare the dividend with the share price of UBA, you will see that our dividend yield is very high. No bank in Nigeria has been able to achieve this, and I therefore commend the UBA board,” Umar noted in his remarks.

At the end of the 2021 financial year, UBA’s Profit Before Tax was impressive with a 20.3 percent growth to N153.1 billion, compared to N127.3 billion at the end of the 2020 financial year; while Profit After Tax rose grew by 8.7 percent to N118.7 billion in 2021, compared to N109.2 billion recorded the previous year. As a result, the Bank proposed a final dividend of 80 kobo for every ordinary share of 50 kobo for the financial year ended December 31, 2021, bringing the total dividend for the year to N1.00 as the Bank had earlier paid an interim dividend of 20kobo.

United Bank for Africa Plc is Africa’s global bank, offering banking services to more than twenty seven million customers, across over 1,000 business offices and customer touch points in 20 African countries. With a presence in the United States of America, the United Kingdom and France and its more recent operating license in the United Arab Emirates, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail; commercial and corporate banking; innovative cross-border payments and remittances; trade finance and ancillary banking services.

l-r: Deputy Managing Director, United Bank for Africa(UBA) Plc. Mr. Oliver Alawuba; Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka; Group Chairman, Mr Tony Elumelu, CON; Company Secretary, Mr. Bili Odum; and Vice Chairman, Ambassador Joe Keshi at the 60th Annual General Meeting of the Bank held in Abuja on Thursday.

l-r: Non-Executive Directors – Erelu Angela Adebayo, Ms Angela Aneke, Mrs Owanari Duke; Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka; Group Chairman, Mr Tony Elumelu, CON; Non-Executive Directors –Hajia Aisha Hassan Baba and Mrs Caroline Anyanwu, at the 60th Annual General Meeting of the Bank held in Abuja on Thursday.

‘Backstabbing is a habit’ – Omokri blast Osinbajo for contesting against Tinubu

Former Presidential Media aide, Reno Omokri has reacted to Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo’s declaration to run for President in 2023.

Omokri, in a tweet on Monday, shortly after Osinbajo’s live declaration broadcast on Channels TV, expressed surprise at the VP’s move adding that he has ‘backstabbed’ his benefactor and now fellow 2023 Presidential aspirant, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

It’s common knowledge that Osinbajo was brought into power by the former Lagos Governor and APC national leader. Omokri tweeted that if Osinbajo could do that to Tinubu, who is his former boss, he would do same to President Buhari.

“Wow! So, Osinbajo is declaring? If Osinbajo can stab Tinubu, who God used to make him what he is, in the back, then Buhari better hope he never becomes President.”

“Backstabbing is a habit. If Osinbajo can backstab Tinubu, he can definitely backstab Buhari after 2023!”

Osinbajo called on Nigerians to support his ambition adding that he will build on President Buhari’s legacy.

NCC Reveals Steps For Unblocking Barred SIM Cards

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that subscribers whose SIM cards have been barred from making outgoing calls will not be unblocked by telcos if such cards are not linked with the National Identification Numbers (NINs).

The regulator revealed the condition in a statement where it said network service providers have been directed to strictly comply.

The NCC said, “This information has become necessary in view of a viral web link (https://bit.ly/NCC-Sim-Unbar-Gov-Ng) being circulated on social media and on some websites.

“The link and accompanying narrative represent patent misinformation and disinformation certainly designed to mislead the general public about the SIM cards that are barred from making calls, due to non-linkage with NIN at the set deadline.”

Networks service providers on March 4, 2022 barred over 73 million SIM cards that were not linked to a NIN from making outgoing calls following the Federal Government directive.

The FG had directed subscribers to link their SIMs to their NIN back in December 2020 with several deadlines. The final deadline was March 31, 2021.

But subscribers whose lines have been blocked are seeking solution from several sources, both unapproved.

“The misleading, viral message mischievously displays NCC logo and ostensibly promises members of the public that, by clicking the web link and following further instructions in that regard, subscribers with barred SIM cards can unbar such SIMs across mobile networks without a valid NIN.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the NCC wishes to state categorically that it never issued such statement, directing subscribers or indicating that subscribers can unbar their SIM without a NIN. As such, the originators and peddlers of the spurious message were out to mischievously mislead unsuspecting members of public. Therefore, their message should be disregarded.

“The NCC is the national regulatory authority for telecommunications in Nigeria, and it is co-driving the process of the NIN-SIM linkage with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) as directed by the Federal Government.

“The Commission will not, under any circumstance, act contrary to Federal Government’s directive to MNOs to bar SIMs cards not linked to NINs at the expiration of the last deadline given for the NIN-SIM linkage exercise.

“Having disclaimed the false viral message, the Commission wishes to officially inform affected telecom subscribers on how they can get their SIMs actively connected to make calls.

“First, for subscribers that have not registered for their NIN, what to do is to get their SIM registered at accredited centres across the country and then link the NIN with their SIM cards through channels provided by their service providers.

“Secondly, for subscribers with registered NINs, what to do is to simply go and link the NIN with their SIMs through channels provided by their service providers.

“The NCC, therefore, uses this opportunity to reiterate its commitment to the Federal Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM Linkage to among others, strengthen security situation in the country, assist in other socio-economic planning activities of the government, as well as to always advance the course of consumer protection from falling victim to the antics of cyber fraudsters.”

Meanwhile, the commision also denied conducting any form of recruitment .

It said the advertisement indicating there is ongoing recruitment at NCC, circulating on Twitter and through polymediation, may have been diffused to other social media networks, is a scam and should be disregarded.

” NCC wishes to also inform the general public that it is not recruiting at the moment.”

2023 Presidency: Yemi Osinbajo’s Declaration Speech [FULL TRANSCRIPT]

President Yemi Osinbajo has declared his intention to run for President in 2023.

“In the past seven years, I have served as Vice President under a true Nigerian patriot, a servant of the nation in war and peace, and a man of integrity, President Muhammadu Buhari. We have, together, worked through some of the most difficult times in the history of our Nation, but we have remained focused on securing the country, providing infrastructure and growing our economy. As stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution, our tenure will end next year.”

“In this period of seven years, I have served the government in several capacities, and have, at the direction of Mr. President, represented our country in sensitive high level international engagements. I have been to practically all local governments in Nigeria. I have been in markets, factories, schools, and farms. I have
been in agricultural, mining and oil producing communities; in the Delta, in Kebbi, Enugu, Borno; Rivers, Plateau and Ondo; & in all other States of the federation, listening to the diverse experiences and yearnings of our people.”

“I have visited our gallant troops in the North East and our brothers and sisters in the IDP camps. I have felt the pain and anguish of victims in violent conflicts, terrorist attacks, flooding, fire and other disasters. I have been in the homes of many ordinary Nigerians in various parts of the country. I have sat with our techprenuers in Lagos Edo, and Kaduna, with our Nollywood and Kannywood actors; with our musicians, from Lagos, Onitsha, and Kano. And I have spoken to small and large businesses.”

“I stood where they stood and sat where they sat. I know their hopes, aspirations and fears; and I believe that in those hopes and aspirations are the seeds for the great Nigeria that we all desire.”

“I believe that the very reason why the Almighty God gave me these experiences, these insights, and these opportunities, is that they must be put to the use of our country and it’s great peoples.”

“Which is why I am today, with utmost humility, formally declaring my intention to run for the office of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress. If by the grace of God and the will of the people, I am given the opportunity, then I believe that first, we must complete what we have started, radically transforming our security and intelligence architecture;

“Completing the reform of our justice system focusing on adequate remuneration and welfare of judicial personnel, ensuring justice for all and the observance of rule of law, rapidly advancing our infrastructure development, especially power, roads, railways and broadband connectivity;

*providing an excellent environment for businesses to thrive;/

*Taking the agriculture revolution to the next level especially mechanization and developing the farm to table value chain

*making sure that the government, its agencies and regulators serve the business community;

*creating a tech economy that will provide jobs for millions;

*enhancing our Social Investment Programme to a full scale social welfare scheme;

*completing the promise of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within this decade;

*completing the task of ensuring that all Nigerians, male and female, attend school;

*reforming our educational system for relevance to the challenges of this century;

*completing the task of universal health coverage for all ; and

*strengthening the capacity of States and Local Governments to deliver on their respective mandates.

Above all, front and Centre of our efforts will be the provision of jobs and opportunities for our young people
I now most solemnly and respectfully seek the support of fellow Nigerians everywhere in this land, and the diaspora, young and old, male and female, in the great and exciting journey that we have ahead of us.
We will, working together, establish by the grace of God, the Nigeria of our dreams in a few short years. We will build on the foundation laid by our predecessors.

“We will need to move, with much speed, intentionality, and perseverance, towards the vision of a prosperous, stable, and secure nation. I am convinced beyond doubt that we have the creativity, the courage, the talent, and the resources to be the foremost black nation on earth. Let us now birth the expectations of greatness conceived generations before us.

“Let us build a Nigeria where the man from Nnewi sees the man in Gusau as his brother, where the woman in Warri sees the woman in Jalingo as her sister, where the love of our nation burns alike in the hearts of boys and girls from Gboko to Yenogoa. Where everywhere in this land is home for everyone , where our diversities, tribes and faiths unite, rather than divide us.”

“Let our tribes become one tribe; the Nigerian tribe, where all are treated fairly, justly and with respect. Where all are given equal access to the abundant opportunities that God has bestowed on this nation.”

“May God bless and keep our republic.”

Tunde Bakare joins 2023 presidential race

Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC) formerly Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has joined the list of aspirants vying for the presidency in 2023.

Bakare declared this at a virtual meeting on Saturday.

“I have a vision of a New Nigeria that was birthed in me from childhood and an honest aspiration to serve as the 16th president of my beloved nation, Nigeria,” he said.

The declaration is coming about six months after President Muhammadu Buhari received Bakare at the villa where his former running mate confided in him on his next political move.

NIN: Network operators told to unbar phone lines immediately

The Coalition of Southern and Middle Belt Youth Leaders Assembly, COSMBYLA, has asked the Federal Government to immediately direct the network providers to unbar Nigerians who are blocked for failing to link their lines with National Identification Number, NIN.

DAILY POST recalls that about 72 million Nigerians have been barred from making calls following a directive by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Dr. Isa Ali Pantami.

Reacting, COSMBYLA condemned the development, saying several Nigerians have been denied access to their businesses.

A statement by the President General of the coalition, Goodluck Ibem alleged that some officials of the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC responsible for generating NIN are extorting some network subscribers who want to reinstate their line

The groups also demanded the immediate resignation of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, Aliyu Azeez Abubakar over the alleged plan to cut some Nigerians off from their various livelihood.

The statement reads in part, “Nigerians who depended on phone calls to feed their families can no longer do so because their lines have been barred from making outgoing calls.

The long queue in NIN registration centres makes it very difficult for Nigerians to get registered, resorting to demands of a bribe by the NIMC officials.

Now that the telecommunication companies have barred outgoing calls of all unlinked lines, these NIMC officials will use it as an ample opportunity to increase the extortion rate.

It is so unfortunate that such a high-level fraud will be going on and the FG will look the other way as if nothing is happening, this tells of complicity on the part of the Federal government.

“We demand that the phone lines of Nigerians be unbarred immediately, NIMC Officials should stop extorting Nigerians”.

2023 Presidency: Even In Rivers State, You’ll Lose – Omokri Mocks Amaechi

A former presidential media aide during the tenure of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri has mocked the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi for declaring interest in the 2023 Presidency.
It will be recalled that Amaechi on Saturday, officially joined the 2023 presidential race after declaring interest to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

Reacting to the declaration, Omokri via his Twitter handle said Amaechi would not even win in Rivers State.

He charged the Minister to rather channel his energy towards the rescue of the kidnap victims from the recent Abuja-Kaduna train attack by terrorists.

He tweeted: “See the man who is suppose to be in charge of rescuing the over 100 Nigerians abducted by terrorists during last week’s Abuja-Kaduna train bombing!

“Even in Rivers, Amaechi will lose, because when you sell your brother to outsiders, even your buyer won’t trust you.”

Meanwhile, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has expressed confidence that he would emerge as the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 presidential election.

Speaking on Saturday, Bello said he is sure of defeating the likes of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other aspirants seeking to clinch the APC presidential ticket for 2023.

Naija News reports Governor Bello who is also a presidential aspirant expressed the confidence while answering questions at the second GYB annual seminar for political and crime correspondents and editors.

Specifically, he stated that he is not afraid of Tinubu or any other aspirant, boasting that he would defeat them all at the APC presidential primaries and go ahead to win the 2023 presidential election.

The Governor added that he has not less than 16 million ready votes from Nigerians and he is sure of becoming a champion.

Rotimi Amaechi Declares Interest In Succeeding Buhari In 2023

Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has declared intention to contest in the 2023 presidential election.
Naija News reports that Amaechi declared his ambition during the Rivers All Progressives Congress (APC) held in Port Harcourt today, Saturday.

Amaechi said, “I stand before you today to declare my intention and submit my application to serve as your next President.

“I did not come to this decision lightly. I have served as Minister of Transportation, Governor for eight years and another eight years as Speaker.

“I have served as Director General of President Muhammadu Buhari campaing twice.

“I am well equiped for the presidency and have compassion for Nigeria.”

“I am compelled to place my experience and proven capacity for the service of the nation at the highest level,” Amaechi added.

He stated that Buhari government had planted trees for the growth of Nigerians future.

Rotimi Amaechi and his wife

Those present at Amaechi’s declaration include Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State; former APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomole; Senator Ali Ndume; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Ahmed Idris Wase; Minister of State for Transportation, Gbemisola Saraki; former Jigawa State Governor, Jibrilla Bindow.

Amaechi

With Amaechi’s declaration, he would be contesting for the ticket of the ruling party against APC national leader Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State amongst others.

Popular gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu is dead

Popular Gospel artiste, Sister Osinachi Nwachukwu has passed away, multiple reports indicated.

The angelic-voiced lady died early today after a protracted illness.

The cause of death was said to be throat cancer.

Osinachi, who sang in Igbo, was famous for the hit song Ekwueme by Prospa Ochimana, released in 2017.

She featured in songs like “Nara Ekele” by Pastor Paul Enenche (Dunamis, Abuja), “You no dey use me play” by Emma

She was also a minister of God and producer of Christian worship music.

Her last release was in September last year, when she released Ikem, God of Power.

Her family was yet to issue a statement on her death.

She is survived by her husband Peter and four children.

She was the twin sister of “Amarachi Grace Eze, who is also a powerful singer