Spotlights
Nigerians to Tinubu: Palliatives not solution to food shortage
NIGERIANS have said the distribution of palliatives by the Federal Government was not the solution to the food shortage facing the country.
They urged President Bola Tinubu to declare an emergency in food security, introduce a national food policy, and tackle insecurity caused by herders, which had forced farmers in different states of the country, especially in southern Nigeria, to abandon farming.
Misplaced priority– Adima, political activist
A political activist, Mr Blessing Adima, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard in Delta State, said “Buying grains and rice for distribution to Nigerians is a misplaced priority. It goes to show that the federal government itself does not care about food production and doesn’t know how to tackle the problems that we are facing in Nigeria today.
Herdsmen have chased farmers from their farmlands and now, we import the rice that Benue State alone could have produced for Nigeria, and we also import the rice that southern Kaduna, Zamfara, Ebonyi and Taraba could have made for Nigeria.
The federal government does not know what to do. The money they are spending to import rice could have been used to tackle insecurity, banditry, terrorism and herdsmen menace and the problem would be solved.
You are talking about the Ministry of Livestock; Nigeria is not one of the greatest exporters of cow meat and milk and the top 10 countries do not practice this kind of archaic open grazing system; it is ranching that they resort to. Let us come to the South, if they are importing rice, will they import garri from China too? Agricultural produce is scarce. When Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s administration introduced its agriculture revolution, we saw how he addressed it.
Today, fertilizer is not what the peasant farmer can afford and the government is not thinking in that direction. We want to see insecurity tackled in the rural areas, and let farmers go to their farms. We want to see tractors, fertilizers and farm implements distributed to the farmers.
That is what will solve the food crisis, palliatives will not cure hunger, rather they will increase hunger because the people who should have gone to farms are in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. How will food be produced when 30 percent, if not 40 percent are in IDP camps? The government should tackle the problem of insecurity.”
Encourage farmers to return to the farm – Akene, development consultant
A development consultant, Furoebi Akene, stated, “All efforts should be made for the farmers to return to their farms. Beyond that, how honest and patriotic are the people entrusted with the distribution of the rice to ensure they get to the targeted beneficiaries? The same dubious and fraudulent characters will play out.”
Palliatives offer temporal relief- Idi, Ndokwa youth leader
The Secretary of the Ndokwa National Youth Movement, NNYM, Comrade Presley Idi, said: “For us, we believe that the pathway to solving the food crisis bedeviling Nigeria right now is to ensure a secured environment for our farmers. Without providing the needed security for farmers to return to their farms, we will continue to experience food shortages. Not only are palliatives like the
distribution of rice and other food items temporary solutions, but it will always be difficult for the items to get to those who truly need them because of the high level of corruption amongst the political elite.
We reiterate the only way to solve the current food crisis is to provide better security, once this is done and our farmers are back to their farms, the prices of food items will come crashing down.”
Govt not addressing the problem – Wills, legal practitioner
A legal practitioner in Bayelsa State, Iniruo Wills, said, “Extravaganza is not governance, and public spectacle is no strategy. Whenever the government decides to start rational governance, food and other crises will start to subside. That is if it is not too late by then.”
Palliatives not sustainable – Ekerefe, ex-IYC spokesperson
Ex-spokesman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Ebilade Ekerefe, asserted, “Sharing billions of trailer loads of rice and distributing money as palliatives is not the solution to our food security crisis in the country. Even if it is a temporary stopgap, it must be noted that the items and monies do not even get to the end users in most cases. Corrupt government officials at the federal, state, and local government levels divert and resell the items to market vendors and make huge profits. This is the reality and it is not good. Instead of distributing food items and money as palliatives, which corrupt government officials usually divert, the federal government should urgently declare an emergency in food security.
“The government should introduce a holistic national policy to address this challenge before it gets out of control. We know the problems that led to the high cost of living in the country.
Inflation and fuel hikes are some of the major causes. Insecurity, bad roads and lack of incentives provided by the government to farmers to become more productive and efficient is another.
Therefore, it is a whole gamut of issues and the government must be sincere enough to address the challenges holistically rather than just providing palliatives that are not sustainable and efficient. They should act now. The country is currently nose-diving and it affects all sectors of the economy. Hunger and starvation are pervasive and Nigerians are dying daily. It has not been this bad in our country.”
No clear policy direction – Rukevwe, educationist
A Warri, Delta state-based educationist, Mrs. Edna Rukevwe, said, “It has become clear that President Tinubu did not prepare for economic reactions to his removal of subsidy on petroleum. So no clear policy direction. Throwing money and food at the problem of hunger in the country is not a solution.
The government should work out modalities to redress insecurity so that farmers can return to the farms. Also provide fertilizers and allow tax-free importation of farm tools into the country. The government should also acquire farming tractors for the local government areas. The tractors should cultivate farmlands for farmers across the country and be monitored by the local government councils.
“The government should drop propaganda and focus on real governance. The condition that Nigeria is now, is not the time for propaganda. The All Progressives Congress (APC) is a party that thrives in propaganda, but sadly, this is not the time for such. The people are wary of the government’s lies.
Tackle farmers’ insecurity, distribution of palliatives alone can’t stop hunger—AFAN
Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, representing South East in the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, Chief Israel Amanze, also argued that “distribution of palliatives and trucks of food items to Nigerians is only a temporary measure and not a permanent one to address food insecurity in the country. The government missed it a long time ago. The way it’s going is not how to take Nigeria out of hunger. They promised to support farmers with inputs and the rainy season farming for Southern Nigeria is almost over.
Distribution of palliatives can only bring down the cost of food for a few months but it is not a lasting solution. They should first address the insecurity that drove away farmers from the farm. The government should subsidize fertilizer and farm inputs. In this way, they will encourage farmers to go back to farm.”
Saviour Akpan, Executive Director, of COMPPART Foundation for Justice and Peacebuilding, said: “Instead of donating trucks of food to the citizens, the government subsidize and make available to the citizens organic seedlings and fertilizers. This will encourage self-reliance as production will be based on two folds namely Subsistence and Commercial production. The citizens should also be educated on the danger of living a wasteful life which includes purchasing commodities not based on their needs but according to their want which contributes to inflation and scarcity.
Furthermore, the Land Use Act of 1978 should be amended to make land more and readily available for all agricultural purposes without hindrances.”
Ogunbiyi Olajunwo is a rights lawyers based in Uyo said: ”The Federal Government doesn’t have its priorities right. The first thing the current administration should have done immediately it came to power was to open the borders. Nothing was hindering us from importing food. We are not self sufficient in food production. We are not even at war with our neighbours, so why are we closing the borders to food coming in? It’s common sense that the government opens the borders for food to come in. And they need to reduce tariffs on essential goods, not just rice and wheat.
They need to reduce it so that food can come and reduce the burden on Nigerians. The hardship Nigerians are facing is not natural, it is man made. Then government needs a clear plan to tackle insecurity that has not allowed the farmers to go to the farms. And they need to stop giving those stupid subsidies and palliatives. Even with fertilizers, the federal government needs to stop it, those are not solutions. There is need for purposeful investment into food chains. Same way they look for investors to come and farm our oil and gas, that’s how we need investors to develop agriculture.
Ten mega farms can feed this nation. It is about capacity, not the number of people struggling to farm. We need to move away from this crude, subsistence farming and move into real mechanised farming. That is how we can feed ourselves, not by sharing food or giving fertilisers that can’t reach even the common man. Some of the farmers they give fertiliser sell it. It goes back to those who are rich and they commit it to some other personal purpose.
In Jos, Plateau state, an Executive of Small-Scale Women Farmers Organization in Nigeria, SWOFON, Mrs. Mary Afan said, “Women should be encouraged to continue to put food on the table of every household. When we talk about food security, people look at big farms but what you find in the markets are what the small-holder farmers produce. The big farms target exports or industrial use.
Smallholder farmers produce vegetables, grains, tubers, and others. But when the government wants to support, you hardly see the smallholder farmers benefit. It is either the political farmers that will get it and resell it because they don’t have farms or it is the big farmers that would benefit. That is why we are facing food insecurity; small farms are neglected, the real farmers don’t get the needed support. Insecurity is also stopping women from going to the farms because some of them are raped and killed in the farms, so people are afraid.”
Another resident, Jamila Benzies-Buyengum said, “People should be encouraged to go back to the farms, and implements should be subsidized and made available. When the government at all levels do these, food will be available. Farming has evolved, the capacity of citizens should be built to engage in farming dynamically at homes using sacks and these will improve the availability of food.”
On his part, Adamu Musa noted that, “More youths should be trained and modern farming tools deployed to enable them to go to the farms. This will reduce insecurity, and promote food production and food availability.
To Daniel Dazang, “The grassroots dwellers should be actively involved and supported to produce food. When they have enough to eat, the leftovers will be taken to the market and others will buy them. The government giving out palliative measures is not sustainable and by the way, how many people have access to the palliatives? The best thing is to engage the people in farming and this will be possible when insecurity is curbed and farm inputs are provided by the governments at all levels.”
Source: The Punch
In Kwara, the once powerful Saraki political organization has encountered many challenges, emerging battered yet still resilient.
With a calm determination, he is rallying his supporters and systematically reinforcing his authority. This effort is setting the stage for what could be a crucial moment in the highly competitive electoral landscape of 2027.
The race for the 2027 elections in Nigeria is a big deal for many politicians, whether directly or indirectly through their actions or inactions. Since Dr. Bukola Saraki left public office, the political landscape has changed significantly. The former Senate President and ex-Governor of Kwara is also seeking to regain relevance in politics and plans to make a bold move in the upcoming 2027 elections. To turn his vision and plans into reality, he needs to realign his strategies.
According to a reliable source, about two of Saraki’s close aides have disclosed his plans on how he intends to make a strong comeback in 2027. One of the aides stated, “Dr. Bukola knows that the current administration in the center will not be easily dislodged. Instead of positioning himself as an opposition figure, he wants to align with them to fulfill his next political ambition.”
Additionally, it’s important to note that Saraki was uncertain about the success of the coalition against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, even before some major members of the PDP officially defected to the ADC. It was rumored that Saraki intended to follow Governor Wike’s strategy of remaining in the PDP while collaborating with the ruling government to stay influential at the center.
Many governors from both the APC and PDP have pledged their loyalty to the president in hopes of securing their political futures. This situation implies that opposition governors are unlikely to fund a new coalition, which has made Saraki reluctant to publicly align with any such movement. He remarked a few months ago, “Given the current situation, the possibility of me leaving the party is zero. No current APC governors are ready to defect to the PDP or SDP; in fact, I can name about five PDP governors who are leaning towards the APC. The remaining PDP governors are not willing to support the party financially.”
Currently, there are reports that the former Senate President is working toward regaining a Senate seat in 2027 and aims to install a governor in his home state of Kwara. These two objectives are at the top of his agenda.
So how does he plan to achieve this? It appears he is not looking to confront the APC government directly. One of his media aides stated, “For 2027, he wants to contest for a political office because his constituents have been urging him to run. He feels compelled to run, as people gather at his home daily seeking assistance. For almost a decade, without holding any political office, he has been using his personal funds to support his initiatives, helping the people of his state and many Nigerians in need.” The aide added, “He would not mind working with or aligning himself with the President to realize his ambitions for a second term if it can also help him achieve his goals.”
Several people have suggested that he was interested in a return to the APC, but that has been flatly denied. Insiders say Saraki is not keen on making a spectacle. Instead, he may be charting a Wike-style course: remaining in the PDP, hedging his bets, and leveraging quiet influence rather than seeking visible rebellion. This approach is shrewd in a fragmented opposition where funding is scarce and loyalty is transactional.
Back in Kwara, the Saraki political machine is bruised but not broken. Party leaders insist that the dynasty remains intact, and Saraki appears committed to restoring its strength. He’s not pursuing presidential ambitions—not at least for now. Instead, he is quietly consolidating influence that could prove decisive in the tightly contested 2027 elections.
However, it has been repeatedly stated that the immediate concerns for Dr. Bukola Saraki are to unite the party members and to find solutions for better management of the party.
The Saraki Support Group (SSG) has been diligently working behind the scenes to ensure that the vision for 2027 is achievable. This group is one of Dr. Bukola Saraki’s major political organizations in Kwara State, and its past contributions have been significant.
Reports suggest that the group is prepared to further solidify Dr. Saraki’s relevance in Kwara politics. In Kwara State, particularly in Ilorin, many of the former governor’s loyal supporters remain hopeful, believing that 2027 will bring better prospects.
Currently, there is little love lost between the state’s governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and Dr. Saraki, but the latter is known for his approach to politics, rarely engaging in open confrontations. It’s possible that the two may collaborate in the future for federal interests, especially if it could garner significant support for the President in the state.
Another crucial point is that Dr. Saraki, beyond his personal ambitions, aims to strengthen the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to compete effectively with other major political parties in the future. During our last conversation with Lawal Akanbi Sharafadeen, the media aide to Dr. Saraki, we learned that he is not seeking immediate gains for the PDP. Instead, his primary focus is on repositioning the party and restoring it to its former stature.
Several media analysts have suggested that Dr. Saraki is aware that the presidency may return to the North in 2031. They note that the PDP is currently weakened and unprepared to compete with the All Progressives Congress (APC), prompting him to build a formidable party in anticipation of 2031 when the presidency will likely be zoned to the North.
Dr. Saraki has repeatedly been mentioned as a potential presidential candidate from the North. Being from the North Central region, he is more than qualified to vie for the top position. Even if he does not secure the ticket, he would likely be compensated with a significant role within the party, having been appointed as the head of the committee to resolve internal issues.
Since the inception of this committee, Dr. Saraki has engaged with various stakeholders, including governors and the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to gain an impartial understanding of the challenges faced by the party. Progress has been made in resolving several issues within the PDP, leading to the reinstatement of key figures, such as the party’s secretary and the acting national chairman. Gradually, a sense of peace is returning to the PDP, and with this peace and unity, the party can regain its strength.
However, some individuals may choose to leave the party regardless of these developments due to their personal agendas. Many of these individuals are either trying to maintain relevance or have been rejected at the grassroots level. While some see themselves as the only viable candidates for the party, true democracy should ensure a level playing field for all members. It is essential for the PDP to return to its original guiding principles in order to provide credible opposition to the current governing party. The focus should be on creating an effective alternative so that citizens can find hope in the opposition when they lose faith in the ruling party, as disclosed by his aide.
Additionally, while working at the federal level, Dr. Saraki is seeking clarification from the federal government on how state matters will be managed. Remember that he was a senator representing the Kwara Central Senatorial District, a seat he lost in the 2019 election to the APC’s Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe. Currently, the Kwara Central senatorial district is represented by Saliu Mustapha of the APC, and Dr. Saraki is already working on plans to unseat the current senator.
The Saraki Support Group is actively mobilizing and sensitizing Kwarans, especially those disillusioned with the current governor’s performance, to return to Dr. Saraki’s political camp. In fact, many people who had previously left the PDP for the APC are now returning to the PDP. Dr. Bukola Saraki has remained quiet but is diligently strategizing on how to approach these developments.
Again, a few weeks ago, close media aides mentioned that many people are still uncertain about how Dr. Bukola will align with Wike in the PDP. “While this concern is valid, I would like to provide an insider perspective as someone with a liberal mindset. Rather than focusing solely on Wike’s perspective, let’s analyze the entire situation more comprehensively and recognize Saraki’s unique abilities one of Saraki’s aides offered. “Over the years, he has proven to be a power broker, a team player, and a skilled leader.
“At the onset of the current crisis, the party was in disarray until Dr. Bukola was appointed as the Chairman of the Reconciliation and Strategy Committee. In just a week or two, he achieved what many pundits deemed impossible. Issues that had long troubled the party, where factions claimed they could never work together, were resolved under his leadership.
In a matter of weeks, he managed to bring everyone back to the negotiation table, even in situations where communication had previously been nonexistent. Despite the long-standing tensions since the last election, Bukola took charge and made significant progress in a very short time”.
CityPeople
Real Reason Governor Siminalayi Fubara Has Not Decamped To APC
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has denied reports circulating on social media that he has defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), as reported by Politics Nigeria.
The governor’s reaction followed claims by some online platforms suggesting that Otti had abandoned the Labour Party — the platform that brought him to power — to join the ruling party.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Abia State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, described the defection story as completely false and the work of political mischief-makers trying to distract the government.
Kanu said those behind the rumours are uncomfortable with the governor’s steady performance and growing popularity across the political landscape.
He said, “Governor Alex Otti remains a committed and proud member of the Labour Party, the platform under which the good people of Abia overwhelmingly elected him to serve.”
According to him, Otti’s focus has not changed: it remains on rebuilding Abia, promoting transparency, and ensuring that every part of the state feels the impact of good governance.
The commissioner further reminded the public that during the October edition of “Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians,” the governor had clearly stated that his interest was not in political defections or power play, but in genuine service and the transformation of Abia State.
However, the statement reaffirmed Otti’s loyalty to the Labour Party, describing his administration as one guided by the principles of accountability, fiscal discipline, infrastructure renewal, youth empowerment, and inclusive development.
Kanu urged Abians to ignore the rumour, insisting that it was another attempt to divert attention from the progress the state is witnessing under Otti’s leadership.
He added, “We wish to assure Abians that Governor Alex Otti remains resolute in his mission to continue to build a new Abia where truth, justice, and equity prevail under the banner of the Labour Party.”
The Supreme Court on Tuesday, reserved judgment in a suit challenging the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, according to Naija News.
A seven-man panel of Supreme Court judges led by Justice Inyang Okoro, took the decision after parties in the suit made their final presentations.
The date of ruling on the matter will be communicated to the parties involved by the apex court.
Naija News understands that the plaintiffs in the matter are the Attorneys General of 10 states, while the defendants are the Federal Government and the National Assembly.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the fifth plaintiff, Delta State, decided to withdraw from the lawsuit. This decision was not contested by the counsel representing the federal government, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
Fagbemi argued that the declaration by President Tinubu followed constitutional provisions and was done to curb the political crisis which had engulfed Rivers State.
He added that the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy, Ngozi Odu; and members of the State House of Assembly were not removed but suspended, as part of extraordinary measures required to bring decorum in the state.
He, therefore, urged the apex court to dismiss the suit in its entirety.
In his submisison, the legal representative for the plaintiffs, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) emphasized that their case does not dispute the President’s authority to declare a state of emergency.
He told the court that instead, the suit questions the scope of this declaration, particularly concerning its impact on the positions of the governor, deputy governor, and the State House of Assembly.
It would be recalled that President Tinubu had in March 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following the political crisis which enveloped the state as a result of the disagreement between Governor Fubara and his predecessor in office, Nyesom Wike.
The declaration expired in September, leading to the restoration of full democratic processes in the oil-rich state.
!['I'm optimistic' - Tinubu sends 2025 New Year message to enduring Nigerians [FULL TEXT]](https://thepapers.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Bola-Ahmed-Tinubu-e1653653706419.jpg)
A striking new prophecy has emerged, directly linked to credible reports of a conspiracy involving certain military personnel plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Residents are aware of the gravity of the situation, and the atmosphere is charged with caution and resolve as discussions about the future of the government intensify.
Although the Defence Headquarters has dismissed the reports, saying there was no coup-related detention or plan within the military. But according to Prophet Julius Okonkwo, a well-known cleric and the presiding pastor of Kingdom Seeker Ministries based in the United States, he issued a scary message to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in what he described as a fresh warning.
Prophet Okonkwo said: “What saved Tinubu over coup rumour was his past Goodwill. This man is a special human being. God put him there; nobody can unseat him. I want the opposition to know this and everyone behind this coup, if it is true, Tinubu is coming back by 2027, mark it down. A coup cannot work in this country. God is angry with those who are behind it.
The prophet also issued a message for retired generals in the country to desist from any evil behaviour over Tinubu’s government. He said: ‘God will put some people to shame, some retired Generals need to seek forgiveness as soon as possible. Nigeria is on the path of peace and sanity; whoever wants to put this country in flames will sleep and never wake up.”
READ ALSO
REVEALED: Former Governor Under Watch Over Alleged Coup Plot Against Tinubu As Investigations Deepen; Details Emerge
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, told Sunday PUNCH that the Armed Forces were unaware of any coup plot.
He also claimed that no new update had been issued since the earlier statement on the arrest of some officers.
The US-based cleric also issued a stern warning to the organisers of the Free Nnamdi Kanu protest, claiming that it is not the right approach to seek freedom for the IPOB leader.
“I am appealing to President Tinubu to consider the release of Nnamdi Kanu, for God’s sake. Those planning to stage a protest won’t succeed in their mission but rather cause a serious problem for the man in detention. This is a warning.”
READ ALSO
Full List of Military Coups in Nigeria and Names of Persons Who Were Behind Them
Spotlights
VIDEO: Popular Prophet Mentions 3 Tinubu’s Ministers Working With Coalition Ahead 2027 Polls
Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has issued a compelling prophetic warning regarding three current ministers in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He confidently asserts that these ministers are poised to collaborate with the ADC coalition, a move he believes will substantially undermine the president’s political future.
In a recent prophetic broadcast on Facebook, Primate Ayodele stated that this betrayal within Tinubu’s cabinet would take many by surprise.
2027 Election: Goodluck Jonathan Told What To Do Ahead Of Poll As Plots To Unseat Tinubu Deepens
According to him, the ministers are actively aligning themselves with an emerging opposition coalition, and their eventual actions will shake the foundation of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Three of Tinubu’s ministers will be playing along with the coalition, and that will hit Tinubu,” Ayodele declared. He warned that the alignment was not mere speculation but a spiritual certainty, urging the presidency to tighten its internal political controls and assess the loyalty of those in top government positions.
Ayodele criticized the rising insecurity and political manipulation within the country, urging Nigerians to pray and political leaders to refocus on good governance, not selfish ambitions. He stressed that internal betrayal from trusted allies is often more dangerous than external attacks.
2027 Election: Goodluck Jonathan Told What To Do Ahead Of Poll As Plots To Unseat Tinubu Deepens
Spotlights
Alleged Money Laundering: How I Paid $3 Million Into Aisha Achimugu’s Company’s Account – Witness
Trinity Usman, an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) witness, on Friday, told the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, that he received and transferred three million dollars into Aisha Achimugu’s company account.
Mr Usman, the 2nd prosecution witness (PW-2), told Justice Emeka Nwite while being led in evidence by the EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN.
The PW-2, a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, spoke in the ongoing trial of Halima Buba, managing director of SunTrust Bank, and her co-defendant, Innocent Mbagwu, the executive director/chief compliance officer of the bank.
The duo are being prosecuted on money laundering offences to the tune of $12 million.
In a six-count charge, they were alleged to have aided high-value cash transactions without routing them through a financial institution.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 21(a), 2(1), and 9(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.
The defendants were, on June 13, arraigned by the anti-graft agency.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts, and admitted to a N100 million bail with one surety, each in like sum.
At the resumed trial, the witness said he was in court to tell what he knew about the transactions he did with Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd, owned by Mrs Achimugu.
Mr Usman, who said he was a businessman and general contractor, said he was also into agro allied and oil business.
He said he carried out the businesses with companies or registered names.
He said his companies include Triple A and Tee Service Venture, T.M. Agro Allied Farm, Triple A and D Oil and Gas Ltd, Triple A and Tee BDC Ltd, among others.
“Sometimes in April 2025, one Suleiman Ciroma contacted me that he had a transaction that he needed 3 million US dollars to (be transferred to) Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd.
“In that particular time, I have the money being in my Triple A and Tee Oil and Gas Nig Ltd account.
“After we agreed with him, Suleiman Ciroma gave me the dollar payment in cash.
“I paid him the dollars into Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Ltd account,” he said.
He said the payment was made in April 2025
“Can you remember the exact date you made the payment?” Iheanacho asked.
“I made the transfer in four tranches but I cannot remember the exact day,” the witness responded.
However, when the lawyer asked the witness if he knew Messrs Buba and Mbagwu, he said he did not know them.
“Take a look at the dock and tell the court if you know the defendants,” Mr Iheanacho asked and the witness simply said, “No.”
Mr Usman told the court that he did the transactions with Triple A and Tee Oil Nig Ltd.
“It was from there I transferred the dollars into Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Ltd,” he said.
But when Mr Iheanacho asked the PW-2 if his BDC company, Triple A and Tee BDC Ltd, featured in the transaction, counsel for the 1st defendant (Buba), Johnson Usman, SAN, raised an objection.
The senior lawyer argued that Iheanacho’s question was a ploy to give the witness tips on what to say and the judge directed him to rephrase the question.
The witness said that the licence of Triple A and Tee BDC Ltd, as at the time of the transactions, had been suspended.
He said the cash transactions from Mt Ciroma were made through his staff.
He mentioned the names of the staff as Abdulkadir Mohammed and Kabir Haruna.
The BDC operator also said that he equally did a naira to dollar transaction with Ciroma.
“The naira was transferred into a Triple A and Tee Service Venture Ltd Bank account.
“The naira also was converted into dollars and I sent the equivalent into an Oceangate account,” he said.
However, during cross-examination by Mr Buba’s counsel, Mr Usman SAN, the witness was asked to confirm to court that Triple A and Tee BDC Ltd had been in operations till date and he responded in affirmative.
“After they suspended our licence, we proposed Triple A and Tee BDC Ltd to CBN last year and we have an approval in principle with CBN,” the witness responded.
“Ciroma Suleiman contacted you in these transactions because he knows you as BDC operator?” the lawyer asked and the PW-2 responded in affirmative.
When Mr Usman asked the witness that it was on the basis of that knowledge that the PW-2 sent his staff to collect the dollars from Mr Ciroma, Mr Iheanacho too objected to the question.
The witness admitted that he did not tell the defendants before the transactions that his BDC license was suspended at any time.
He said his oil company account was used for the transactions because it was the account he had available dollars.
‘The choice of using your oil and gas company account to transfer the dollars to Oceangate was your own decision,” the lawyer asked and the witness responded in affirmative.
Counsel to the 2nd defendant (Mbagwu), M.S. Ibrahim, SAN, asked the witness if he made any profit from the transactions and he responded in affirmative.
“Did you tell the defendants whom you have never seeing or know before that you were going to make inflow payment from your oil and gas company’s account?” Ibrahim asked and the PW-2 said, “No.”
After the cross-examination, the witness was discharged and Ms Nwite adjourned the matter until Dec. 10 and Dec. 11 for continuation of trial.
Earlier on Thursday during the cross-examination of Suleiman Ciroma, the owner of Funnacle BDC Ltd and the PW-I by Mr Usman, SAN, the witness said the reason Mrs Achimugu requested for the transfer of the money was that if she had deposited the money in cash in the bank, she would not be able to transfer same.
Mr Ciroma said Trimizi Usman and Hassan Dantani, upon their representatives collecting the money, in turn, transferred the dollars equivalent “less their charges into a designated account provided by Aisha Achimugu.”
He agreed with Mr Usman’s question that in forex transaction, a transfer can only be made from an account where the money came by way of inflow and not by cash deposit.
When the lawyer asked Mr Ciroma that Mrs Achimugu needed the dollar transfer to purchase her two oil blocks, the PW-1 responded in affirmative.
The witness told the court that he is a member of BDC Traders Association Wuse Zone 4 in Abuja.
He said that was why when he made his statements to EFCC on April 14, April 11 and May 7, the executive members of the association were with him at the time.
Mr Ciroma, who agreed that he was duly cautioned before writing the extra-judicial statements, admitted that there was no part he informed the defendants, particularly Mr Buba, that his BDC licence had expired.
Also while being cross-examined by Mr Ibrahim, who appeared for the 2nd defendant, Mr Ciroma agreed that he had never seen Mr Mbagwu physically before.
He also admitted that he had never produced any text or Whatsapp message between him and Mbagwu before the court before.
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BREAKING: Aliko Dangote Puts Refinery On Sale, Details Emerge
Just In: Kashim Shettima Hands Over, Details Emerge
(VIDEO): Sowore In Fresh Trouble As Igbos Told What To Do If Anything Happens To Kanu
REVEALED: How Saraki Plots Two Key Positions Ahead 2027 Election
BREAKING: South-East Politicians Behind Nnamdi Kanu’s Detention, Reasons Emerge
FRESH ALERT: Tension As DSS Mentions 2 States That Terrorists Plot To Invade
(FULL LIST): 10 Most Expensive Schools Where Pupil Pays ₦7.5 Million Per Term
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Supreme Court Takes Fresh Decision On State Of Emergency In Rivers
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!['I'm optimistic' - Tinubu sends 2025 New Year message to enduring Nigerians [FULL TEXT]](https://thepapers.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Bola-Ahmed-Tinubu-e1653653706419-400x240.jpg)
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