Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on Wednesday attended the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) State-by-State Roundtable Engagement with Delta State, held at Fraser Suites Hotel, Abuja.

The high-level forum brought together policymakers, investors, and stakeholders to explore opportunities in the power sector, with emphasis on expanding electricity access across the state.

Governor Oborevwori will deliver a special address at the event with the theme, “Unlocking Distributed Energy Investments for Industrial Growth and Inclusive Access in Delta State.”

Details later…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, issued a statement on Tuesday addressing his critics, emphasizing his commitment to fulfilling his responsibilities without external influence.

During the inauguration of the rehabilitated Phase 2 Water Treatment Plant at Lower Usuma Dam in Ushafa, Bwari Area Council, Minister Wike underscored that neither prayers nor complaints would dissuade him from executing what he believes to be correct actions.

He recounted an experience from his first day in office, following his appointment by President Bola Tinubu. According to Wike, he received advice to engage pastors for prayers over the ministry due to previous challenges faced by the administration.

He remarked, “Upon my arrival as Minister, I was advised to enlist pastors for prayer sessions due to numerous issues that had arisen in the past. I complied, yet there was no tangible outcome.

“I am committed to performing my duties, and no one can sway my decisions. Regardless of continuous prayers, if the actions are aligned with self-serving agendas and hinder governmental progress, they will not succeed.

“I will act in accordance with what is morally right, regardless of any protests or objections.”

The federal high court sitting in Lagos has convicted four more internet fraudsters arrested during a sting operation by officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at a hotel within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) complex in Abeokuta, Ogun state, according TheCable.

Last week, EFCC operatives arrested 93 people suspected to be involved in internet fraud at a hotel within the precincts of the library.

Following the arrest, seven of the suspects were convicted separately for cybercrime-related offences.

In two separate judgements on Tuesday, Dehinde Dipeolu, the presiding judge, convicted and sentenced Olugbodi Adefolarin Pamilerin, Adenuga Ezekiel Oluwaseyi, Yusuf Ramon and Ganiyu Ibrahim for internet fraud.

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In the first ruling, Pamilerin and Oluwaseyi pleaded guilty to charges of impersonation, identity fraud, and retention of proceeds of crime.

Pamilerin admitted to fraudulently posing as “Emily Eddins” on Telegram and was found to have retained $160 obtained through deceit.

Franklin Ofoma, the EFCC prosecutor, presented evidence, including Pamilerin’s iPhone 14 and a N150,000 bank draft as restitution.

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The judge sentenced him to one month’s imprisonment or an option of a N500,000 fine and ordered the forfeiture of the iPhone to the federal government.

“That you, Olugbodi Adefolarin Pamilerin (Male) sometime in 2025, within the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with intent to defraud, retained in your control the total sum of $160USD which were proceeds of criminal conduct, deceitfully obtained from unsuspecting members of the public, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment etc) Act No: 4 of 2004,” the charge against Pamilerin reads.

Oluwaseyi also pleaded guilty to impersonating a woman on Gmail accounts and retaining $1,000 from fraudulent activities.

Evidence tendered against him includes two iPhones (iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 6S), a N1 million bank draft, and forensic investigation reports.

Oluwaseyi was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment or an option of a N2 million fine, with the confiscation of his devices and the bank draft.

“That you, Adenuga Ezekiel Oluwaseyi (Male), sometime in 2025, within the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, fraudulently held out yourself as a lady in your gmail accounts, [email protected] and [email protected] to unsuspecting members of the public, with intent to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition etc.) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2015,” the charge against him reads.

“That you, Adenuga Ezekiel Oluwaseyi (Male), sometime in 2025, within the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with intent to defraud, retained in your control the total sum of $1000USD which were proceeds of criminal conduct, deceitfully obtained from unsuspecting members of the public, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment etc) Act No. 4 of 2004.”

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In the other judgement, Dipeolu convicted and sentenced Ramon and Ibrahim for impersonation, identity and internet fraud.

TheCable

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced on Tuesday that it has arraigned an information and communication technology consultant, Umar Abdullahi, on charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to N131.8 million and $200,000.

The arraignment was conducted on Monday in the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, before Justice Emeka Nwite.

Abdullahi has been charged with four counts pertaining to his alleged financial improprieties. These charges include obtaining money under false pretenses, advance fee fraud, and money laundering, with the alleged offenses occurring between June and August 2024.

One of the charges states: “That you, Umar Abdullahi, during the period between July 2024 and August 2024, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did accept and transact cash payment of $200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Dollars) for the allotment of shares in Multi Access Controls Limited, exceeding the Ten Million Naira threshold, without the transaction being conducted through a financial institution.”

Another charge asserts: “That you, Umar Abdullahi, in June 2024, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with the intent to defraud, did receive the sum of N104,980,000.00 (One Hundred and Four Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira) into Account Number: 2266267081, held with Zenith Bank Plc, from Aura Integrated Energy Resources Limited under the false pretenses that the funds were designated for the procurement of telecommunication equipment and logistics for Nigerian Communications Commission personnel, a claim you knew to be false.”

The EFCC indicates that these offenses violate Section 2 (1) (a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as Section 1 (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act.

Mr. Abdullahi entered a plea of “not guilty” to all charges.

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This case originates from a petition filed by Alhaji Shehu Badamosi with the EFCC’s Ilorin Zonal Directorate. Badamosi alleged that Abdullahi approached him claiming to have secured a contract with the Nigerian Communications Commission and requested financing of N131.8 million and $200,000 for its execution. Following the provision of these funds, Abdullahi reportedly ceased communication, rendering Badamosi’s attempts to recover the funds unsuccessful.

Prosecution counsel Cosmas Ugwu requested that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility pending trial, citing a prior breach of administrative bail granted by the EFCC. In contrast, the defense counsel, Agbonlahor, requested that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody.

After considering the arguments presented by both counsels, Justice Nwite ordered that Abdullahi be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, and adjourned the case until September 8, 2025, for the commencement of the trial.

Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has convicted and sentenced a businessman, Duru Ikechukwu Damian, to three months’ imprisonment for failing to declare the sum of $49,000 to the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja.

Damian’s conviction followed his guilty plea to a one-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

During the review of facts, EFCC counsel Deborah Adamu-Eteh led the commission’s investigating officer, Muhammad Adamu Timta, who narrated how the defendant was intercepted by customs officials and subsequently handed over to the EFCC.

“We discovered that the sum of $49,000 was found on the defendant without declaration at MMIA, Ikeja, on August 11, 2025, during inwards clearance to the United States of America,” Timta told the court.

The prosecution tendered the recovered cash, which was admitted in evidence without objection.

In his judgment, Justice Dipeolu sentenced Damian to three months’ imprisonment and ordered the forfeiture of the entire $49,000 to the Federal Government.

The charge against him reads: “That you, Duru Ikechukwu Damian, on the 11th day of August, 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to make a declaration of the sum of $49,000 (Forty-Nine Thousand United States Dollars) to the Nigerian Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

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Guardian

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reiterated its dedication to the principles of transparency, consumer empowerment, and innovation, as the telecommunications sector undergoes significant transformation.

Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, gave the assurance in Abuja on Monday at a stakeholder engagement forum, where he highlighted major strides made by the sector in the last two decades as well as fresh regulatory efforts to protect subscribers and promote industry growth.

According to him, Nigeria currently has 171 million active telecom subscribers, 141 million internet users — representing 81.9 per cent penetration — and 105 million broadband subscriptions.

“These figures reflect our steady progress and the growing integration of digital services in every aspect of our daily lives,” Dr Maida stated.

He explained that the commission’s regulatory stance has evolved from traditional rule-making and enforcement to one centred on promoting healthy competition, encouraging corporate governance and enhancing transparency through information disclosure.

“Our priority now is to ensure that consumers have access to accurate information that will enable them make informed choices, while also holding operators accountable for service quality,” he said.

To boost transparency, Maida said the commission has introduced new initiatives such as public release of operator performance scorecards, a major incident reporting portal, a real-time public map of network quality, and quarterly quality-of-service reports based on independent data.

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He further noted that the NCC remains committed to addressing ongoing Quality of Service concerns, assuring stakeholders that operators are already installing newly delivered equipment to improve service delivery, despite logistics challenges.

Beyond network performance, Maida revealed that the commission has teamed up with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to tackle the frequent issue of failed recharge and airtime top-up transactions. He disclosed that a joint task force has drawn up a standardized operational framework — currently undergoing legal review — to strengthen dispute resolution and enhance customer experience.

On the widely held perception of fast-depleting data bundles, the EVC said independent audits by PwC and KPMG have exposed no systemic data theft by telecom operators. Rather, confusing tariff structures were identified as key culprits. Consequently, the NCC has released a tariff simplification guideline to ensure greater transparency for consumers.

Director of the NCC Consumer Affairs Bureau, Mrs Freda Bruce-Bennett, also shared tips to help Nigerians manage their data more efficiently. These include disabling automatic video play on social media apps, shutting down background data for inactive apps, and blocking intrusive ads.

Earlier in her remarks, Director of Public Affairs, Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, emphasized the important role of the media in keeping Nigerians informed about the NCC’s policies and programmes.

She reiterated the commission’s openness to collaboration with all stakeholders — including journalists, consumers and operators — to create a more inclusive, transparent and digitally empowered Nigeria.

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