Metro
FG okays allowance for senior staff, Labour may suspend strike
The Federal Government on Sunday said the provisional wage increase announced by President Bola Tinubu for all low-income workers for six months would cut across all treasury-paid workers.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, revealed this to State House correspondents at the end of a four-hour marathon emergency meeting with the leaders of Organised Labour.
The compromise was reached to avert the proposed indefinite nationwide strike declared by the organised labour.
Following the development, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress were expected to suspend their planned strike slated to commence on Tuesday after discussing the resolutions with their state chapters and affiliates on Monday (Today).
The meeting came hours after the President in his Independence Day broadcast announced the approval of a N25,000 provisional wage increase for certain category of federal workers for the next six months.
Briefing journalists on the meeting outcome, Gbajabiamila said, “There was a lot of chatter on Twitter about the issue of low-income workers only falling into the category of the provisional wage increase. And we did communicate with the President and he quickly did say and agreed that all categories of workers will be given the wage bill. There is nothing like low income, median income or high income.”
He expressed optimism that the labour unions would backtrack on their planned strike.
“Hopefully, we expect that Labour will call a meeting of their various branches and executive tomorrow to present the agreements that have been reached, and we pray and we believe and we hope that the strike will be called off on Tuesday,’’ he noted.
However, labour leaders rejected Tinubu’s N25,000 provisional wage increment for low-grade workers.
They also rejected the government’s proposed six-month period the provisional increase covers and insisted that it should run until a new minimum wage is approved.
Unconfirmed sources at the meeting also said the unions insisted that the wage increase should be reviewed upwards to N35,000.
As a result, the Federal Government raised the wage award to N35,000.
But the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris, in a statement disclosed that the parties resolved that the issues in dispute could only be resolved when workers were at work and not when they were on strike.
The statement read, ‘’Labour unions argued for higher wage award and the Federal Government team promised to present Labour’s request to President Bola Tinubu for further consideration.
“A sub-committee (is) to be constituted to work out the details of implementation of all items for consideration regarding government interventions to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.
“The lingering matter of the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria and National Union of Road Transport Workers in Lagos State needs to be addressed urgently and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who participated virtually, pledged to resolve the matter.
‘’NLC and TUC will consider the offers by the Federal Government with a view to suspending the planned strike to allow for further consultations on the implementation of the resolutions above.’’
He added, “The Federal Government is committed to fast-tracking the provision of Compressed Natural Gas buses to ease public transportation difficulties associated with the removal of PMS subsidy.
“The Federal Government commits to the provision of funds for micro and small-scale enterprises. VAT on diesel will be waived for the next six months.
“The Federal Government will commence payment of N75,000 to 15 million households at N25,000 per month, for a three-month period from October-December 2023.”
Speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC President Joe Ajaero said the union would table the FG’s offer before its organs reach a resolution.
“We’ve looked at almost all the issues, all the promissory notes from the government and we’ll look at how to translate them into reality and workable.
“Then we’re going to take those promises to our organs. We’re hopeful that our organs will have a look at them and give us a fresh mandate on what next to do. So it’s a simple one,” Ajaero said.
Turning to his comrades, he added, “Of course, you know these people here cannot just wake up and review and call off the (strike) action.”
Echoing Ajaero’s comments, Tommy Etim Okon, who spoke on behalf of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, said, “We’ve had series of conversations surrounding the issues raised and we do hope that by tomorrow (Monday), we are going to get across to our organs so that we can also look at it and cross-fertilise ideas and see the way forward. I’m sure we’re coming back again tomorrow for that.”
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Governor Abdulrazak Abdulrahman of Kwara State, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, participated virtually in the meeting chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Also in attendance were the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris; the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong; the Minister of State, Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite; the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan; and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The labour delegation was led by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, Deputy President, TUC, Dr Tommy Etim, NLC General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, TUC General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, and others.
The Sunday parley, which kicked off around 3pm was convened two days after a similar meeting failed to hold due to the refusal of the Labour leaders to show up for the parley.
The two main umbrella bodies for workers in the country-the NLC and TUC had announced an indefinite strike with effect from Tuesday to protest the alleged failure of the Federal Government to provide post-subsidy palliatives for workers and implement policies that could alleviate the sufferings of the masses after the removal of the fuel subsidy.
The unions had also directed their state chapters and affiliates to mobilise for the shutdown of critical facilities and infrastructure, including airports, seaports, electricity grids and fuel supply across the country.
However, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef fagbemi, SAN, in a letter addressed to the counsel to the NLC and TUC, Femi Falana, SAN, reminded them about a subsisting injunction from the National Industrial Court restraining them from declaring a strike action.
Fagbemi said irrespective of their disposition on the matter, the court order must be obeyed unless it is vacated and advised Falana to advise the labour leaders to abide by the court judgment to protect its integrity.
But the unions waved off the FG’s objection as it continued mobilising its various affiliates and branches for the strike which was expected to cripple economic and commercial activities across the country.
But in a bid to woo the labour unions, the President in his Sunday morning broadcast explained that the wage increase would be paid to low-grade workers for the next six months just as he acknowledged the sufferings of Nigerians since the scrapping of petrol subsidy on May 29.
He said it gave him no joy to watch citizens shoulder burdens that would have been shed a long time ago.
According to him, the decision followed negotiations with the labour unions and other stakeholders in the business community to increase the federal minimum wage without triggering undue inflation.
“For the next six months, the average low-grade worker shall receive an additional N25,000 per month,” Tinubu announced during his maiden Independence Day address to Nigerians.
He said the reforms were necessary to rid the system of the grip of those he called “a select and greedy few.”
“I am attuned to the hardships that have come. I have a heart that feels and eyes that see. I wish to explain to you why we must endure this trying moment.
“Reform may be painful, but it is what greatness and the future require. We now carry the costs of reaching a future Nigeria where the abundance and fruits of the nation are fairly shared among all, not hoarded by a select and greedy few. A Nigeria where hunger, poverty and hardship are pushed into the shadows of an ever-fading past.
“There is no joy in seeing the people of this nation shoulder burdens that should have been shed years ago. I wish today’s difficulties did not exist. But we must endure if we are to reach the good side of our future,” he explained.
The President affirmed that his government is doing all that it can to ease the load.
He then outlined the path his administration was taking to relieve the stress on families and households, saying, “We have embarked on several public sector reforms to stabilise the economy, direct fiscal and monetary policy to fight inflation, encourage production, ensure the security of lives and property and lend more support to the poor and the vulnerable.”
He added that “Based on our talks with labour, business and other stakeholders, we are introducing a provisional wage increment to enhance the federal minimum wage without causing undue inflation.”
Affiliates ready
Meanwhile, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities has said it will join the proposed strike declared by the NLC and TUC.
SSANU in a communique issued at the end of the 45th regular National Executive Council held at the University of Maiduguri, Borno State and made available to The PUNCH on Sunday, read, “NEC-in-session after due deliberations agreed that SSANU as an affiliate of the NLC will join the strike to protest the insensitivity of Government in providing palliatives to cushion the effect of removal of fuel subsidy.
‘’NEC, therefore, mandated all branches to mobilise her members to join the strike as declared as the demands before the Government also includes the release of withheld salaries of university workers.”
The communique, signed by SSANU national president, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, complained that it felt seriously agitated by the report of the Ad hoc Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities, which among other things recommended that State universities should not participate in nationwide industrial actions.
SSANU also called for the payment of its withheld four months’ salaries during a nationwide strike and the implementation of 23 per cent and 35 per cent salary review approved by a committee headed formerly by late Professor Nimi Briggs.
Also, the National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, in an interview with one of our correspondents, explained that ASUU being an affiliate of NLC would always support and participate in any decision taken by the congress.
He said, “We are waiting for the NLC to give us feedback from the ongoing meeting. We have earlier written to our members to participate in the strike and as you know, we are an affiliate of NLC, so we always participate in everything they do.”
Also, the Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said there was huge expectation from manufacturers and the organised private sector with regard to fruitful deliberations between the Federal Government and the labour unions.
According to him, the planned industrial action by labour unions will significantly hurt the economy and exacerbate the hardship faced by many businesses.
Ajayi-Kadir said, “I think it is evident to everyone that we are looking forward to a productive outcome. I’m not certain that all the issues will be resolved realistically anytime soon, but they can do that through continuous conversation.
“What one expects is that government should be able to give reasonable assurances to labour. Labour should also understand the situation the government finds itself. Grounding the economy and virtually putting a stop to daily business activities is not in the best interest of the economy and the country at this time.”
Meanwhile, in compliance with the directive of their leaders, the state branches of the NLC and TUC have mobilised their members to down tools on Tuesday as part of strategies to put the FG under pressure to meet workers’ demands.
The Sokoto State chapter of the NLC said its members were ready to embark on strike as directed by the national headquarters of the union.
The state secretary of the labour union, Hamisu Hussaini, said the workers in the state had been mobilized for the action.
“We have informed all our affiliates across the state to get set for the action in addition to the monitoring team set up by the union to go round and monitor events in all the offices across the state,” he stated.
Also, the unions in Zamfara State disclosed that they were ready to ensure the success of the strike in the state.
Speaking after a joint State Executive Council meeting of the NLC and TUC in Gusau, the state capital, the NLC chairman, Sani Haliru said a committee had been set up to ensure compliance with the strike directive.
He said both the private and public schools will not operate, including hospitals, markets, filling stations, courts, motor parks and others.
Haliru said, “We urge members of affiliate unions and the general public to support us as we move to salvage the country and they should be ready as it may turn to a protest.’’
On his part, the state chairman of the TUC, Saidu Mudi emphasized on the unity of the two labour centres, saying they were united to fight for workers’ rights and ensure reduction in the hardships facing Nigerians.
“I am optimistic that there is going to be total compliance as we have mobilized our people from the grassroots level and they agreed to join the strike,” the TUC chairman added.
LG workers set
Speaking in Akure, Ondo State, on Friday, after the election of a new executive of the Ondo State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, the National President of the NULGE, Ambali Olatunji, declared that the union would join the strike.
He said, “The only way to avert the NLC strike by President Bola Tinubu is to offer leadership. All these dancing round the corner would not be the solution. Mr President brought this hardship to Nigeria by his proclamation on May 29 without due diligence to study the economy indices.
‘’We know that the outgone government misled him; any policy that is bringing hardship to the people must be mitigated. We are not contradicting withdrawal of subsidy but there must be structure to mitigate the effect of that subsidy removal.
“Because of our corruption and inefficiency, we cannot maintain our refineries. Nigeria is the only nation in the world that is oil producing that cannot refine crude oil. Must we suffer that? Why should we bear that burden, why can’t we bring those modular refineries operators in the Niger Delta together, sharpen their skills, licence them and also collect tax from them, so that this would be internal?
‘’We don’t have to use hard currency to refine our crude oil; it would bring more jobs and it would enhance local communities. Why are we going after them to destroy their refineries when we don’t have capacity to refine it?’’
Stressing the importance of subsidies, the National Treasurer of the NLC argued that the governments’ world over subsidised goods and services to reduce economic hardships.
As anxiety mounts over the planned strike, the Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, has appealed to the leadership of the unions to show understanding and exercise patience as the government works towards meeting their demands.
Alia made the appeal in his independence broadcast to the people of the state on Sunday.
The governor said that his administration would not deploy propaganda and political blackmail in governance, but would rather allow its achievements to speak.
Alia said that his administration did not consider regular payment of pensions, gratuity, and public workers’ salaries as an achievement, but promised to sustain the practice and stabilize the welfare package of the states’ workforce.
He said, “In view of the looming industrial action by organised labour across the country, I passionately appeal to the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress to reconsider their plans by exercising a little more patience as Government is working round the clock to meet their demands, despite the harsh economic realities.’’
He urged Benue youths trekking to Abuja and other cities to honour certain Nigerians to desist from the act and enjoined them to avail themselves of the ICT training organized by his administration to enable them to become self-reliant.
He said the government under his watch, has left the door opened for innovative ideas and constructive criticisms, adding that corruption and nepotism were being relegated, especially as the administration was ‘’poised to foist the flags of merit, equity, equality, justice and fairness in all its dealings.’’
Alia’s counterpart in Ekiti State, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, has also appealed to the organised Labour to exercise patience and have a rethink over its proposed nationwide industrial action in order not to compound the already tense situation in the country.
Oyebanji, in a broadcast address to mark the 27 years of creation of the state and the 63rd independence anniversary said, “We cannot afford to compound the already tense situation by shutting down this extremely fragile economy. It will be like cutting one’s nose to spite one’s own face.
“Whatever may be gained thereafter will be nothing but a temporary victory which would have done incalculable damage to the economy and which may be difficult to reverse in the immediate.
“Therefore, I want to appeal to the organized labour movement to exercise absolute patience and dialogue in resolving the current economic challenges.’’
The governor further cautioned that “Hot pap must be sipped gently so as not to cause more damage to an already precarious situation. Accordingly, government and labour have been in constant engagements for some time. I am pleased to note that the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is confronting these challenges frontally and the country will be better for it in the long run.’’
“On our part, we (Ekiti) have undertaken some interventions to cushion the impact of the subsidy removal on our people. Apart from the direct food distribution and cash transfer to the most vulnerable, the government has also made buses available to staff and students, especially in the state capital to ameliorate the cost of transportation.
“We, therefore, appeal to our local governments to replicate this in their respective local government areas. Beyond this however, is that the Federal Government has promised that there will be a wage review across board soon,’’ he reiterated.
Speaking with The PUNCH, the Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria said there is huge expectation from manufacturers and the organised private sector with regard to fruitful deliberations between the Federal Government and the labour unions.
He said the planned industrial action by labour unions would significantly hurt the economy and exacerbate the hardship faced by many businesses.
Ajayi-Kadir said, “I think it is evident to everyone that we are looking forward to a productive outcome. I’m not certain that all the issues will be resolved realistically anytime soon, but they can do that through continuous conversation.
“What one expects is that the government should be able to give reasonable assurances to labour. Labour should also understand the situation the government finds itself in. Grounding the economy and virtually putting a stop to daily business activities is not in the best interest of the economy and the country at this time.”
In a related development, the National Union of Road Transport Workers has said its members would not participate in the Tuesday strike.
The Chairman of NURTW in Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Ariwoola, disclosed that the union’s leadership had directed commercial drivers not to join the labour action.
But the state NLC said it held a meeting with bank managers in the state to demand total compliance during the strike.
“We visited some of the banks yesterday including Polaris Bank where we told the manager that the strike will be monitored by a special monitoring team and he assured us that once a memo is received by the bank, they will have no choice but to join us.” an NLC official disclosed.
Meanwhile, the NLC has admonished Nigerians to hold their leaders accountable while lamenting the rising cost of living owing to the removal of fuel subsidy.
The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in a statement on the 63rd Independence anniversary, said Nigerians “must demand accountability from our leaders. The days of impunity and unbridled corruption must come to an end.’’
He added, ‘’We call on all Nigerians to actively participate in the democratic process, holding our elected officials to the highest standards of integrity and performance. It is inexplicable why this persistent contradiction of; the harder we work, the less we earn which has kept Nigerian workers totally emasculated and unable to meet their basic needs.’’
punch.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has announced the arrest of a music artist, Godspower George Osahenrumwen, popularly known as Steady Boy, for allegedly attempting to receive a consignment of smuggled illicit drugs from the United States of America for his manager in the Lekki area of Lagos State.
This is just as the agency said it discovered an illicit drug laboratory in the Ajao Estate area of Lagos State.
The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
According to the statement, Steady Boy was arrested following the seizure of a large consignment of Loud concealed inside three cartons of bathtubs and intercepted at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, from the US aboard a DHL flight on Tuesday.
“The 20-year-old music artiste was nabbed at Bougain Villa, Primewater Gardens 2, Freedom Way, Lekki, Lagos, when he showed up as the consignee to take delivery of the 140 bags of Loud with a gross weight of 77.20kg on behalf of a syndicate, which includes his manager, Zion Osazee Omigie (a.k.a. Zee Money), who is currently at large,” the statement added.
Babafemi noted that following months of intelligence gathering after a freshly cooked Colos was intercepted, a clandestine laboratory where Colorado was being produced in large quantities was uncovered, while the suspected owner of the laboratory was arrested.
Following the discovery, “freshly cooked Colos weighing 16.2 kilograms, 1.7kg of ADB-CHMNACA Cannabinol, 4.5kg of Potassium Carbonate, and 91 litres of Dibromobutane” were recovered from the apartment.
The statement continued, “In another operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, November 1, raided the enclave of a 28-year-old drug dealer, Afeez Salisu (alias Malu), in Mushin, where 16 compressed blocks of Ghana Loud, a strain of cannabis, as well as designer sachets and bottles of Colorado weighing 16.4kg were recovered from him.
“In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Abuja–Jos highway on Sunday intercepted a consignment of 84,710 capsules of tramadol coming from Onitsha, Anambra State, and heading to Bauchi. A follow-up operation in Bauchi led to the arrest of the recipient, Musa Abdulkarim, 27.
“Two days later, on Tuesday, operatives at the tollgate along the Abuja-Kaduna highway arrested Hamza Musa, 47, conveying 32,946 bottles of Akuskura, a new psychoactive substance, from Lagos, while Saidu Nafiu, 30, was nabbed with 131.5kg of skunk at Kamfanin Zangon Aya, Igabi LGA, Kaduna.
“Three suspects, Seun Olaniyi, 24; Rauf Asogba, 28; and Ayinla Adeniyi, 50, were on Saturday, November 1, arrested at Abeokuta, Ogun State, after a team of NDLEA officers tracked their movement from Benin Republic and eventually intercepted their bus along Abiola Way, Abeokuta, with a total of 1,779kg of skunk recovered from them.”
Babafemi added that one Jamilu Mustapha was arrested in Nasaru town, Ningi LGA of Bauchi State, while 532,600 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 were recovered from the trio of Halilu Amiru, Rabiu Maikudi, and Ibrahim Mati in a truck marked KTG-791 ZZ at Oko-Olowo, Ilorin, Kwara State, on Wednesday.
He continued, “In Edo State, the NDLEA officers on patrol along Okhokho–Isi community in Uhunmwode LGA on Wednesday intercepted two Toyota Sienna buses marked EPE 545 EV and ABC 142 CD, conveying a total of 1,455kg of skunk following credible intelligence.
“In like manner, operatives in Ondo State on Tuesday, October 28, recovered a total of 2,829kg of skunk linked to a 32-year-old female suspect, Mrs Ige Olarewaju, from two locations at Ayede, Ogbese, while another suspect, Samuel Adebayo, was nabbed with 737kg of the same psychoactive substance at Adegbola Junction, Akure.”
The agency said it recovered 76.5 litres of skuchies from a suspect, Ige Oluwale, at Ibereko, Badagry, Lagos, on Friday, October 31.
Babafemi noted that a total of 30,370 pills of tramadol and 177 grammes of methamphetamine were recovered from the duo of Musbahu Abdullahi and Saleiman Ahmed at Wukari, Taraba State, on Thursday, while they were conveying the drugs from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Yola, Adamawa State.
“While commending the officers across the country for their resilience, professionalism, and balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the country, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, vowed that the agency will continue to target and dismantle every identified drug syndicate in any part of Nigeria,” the statement concluded.
The NDLEA has continued to clamp down on illicit drug peddlers and syndicates, which has led to a series of arrests and convictions.
PUNCH Metro reported on Thursday that the NDLEA secured the conviction of 9,263 drug offenders out of the 45,853 suspects arrested across the country within the last 30 months.
The agency also said it seized over 8.5 million kilograms of various illicit drugs in multiple operations carried out by its personnel within the same period.
PUNCH
A pastor, whose identity has not yet been revealed, has vacated a property in an upscale estate after failing to pay rent for seven years.
The situation has gained attention online, with various details surfacing about the circumstances surrounding the eviction.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the pastor’s belongings being packed up and removed from the premises, sparking conversations about the implications of such a prolonged period without payment.
As the story unfolds, many are left wondering about the reasons behind this unusual situation and the pastor’s next steps.
Details of the incident were shared by @Kingleviconsult on the popular video-sharing platform, TikTok.
According to @Kingleviconsult, he was handed over the house to manage.
However, upon reviewing records, it was discovered that the tenant hadn’t paid rent for 7 years.
Sharing details about the incident, @Kingleviconsult revealed the landlady, based outside Nigeria, doesn’t keep thorough records of rent payments.
He further revealed that the tenant doesn’t respond to the landlady’s calls or messages.
In an update on the incident, the landlady is currently in Nigeria with her elder brother, who resides in China, while the tenant has vacated the premises.
According to him, he tried to avoid going to court and instead had a meeting with the tenant, who promised to pay the rent by August 2025.
”We had a meeting together and he said that by August this year 2025, he’s going to pay the outstanding rent and he’s going to settle the matter and he will pack out,” he stated in the now-viral TikTok video.
Meanwhile, details of the estate weren’t disclosed, with netizens sharing their thoughts and opinions.
Watch Video Below:
@kingleviconsult So I was handed a house to manage, and when I checked the records, I found out the tenant hadn’t paid rent for seven years… but wait till you hear how he left! #S#StorytimeR#RealEstateTikTokP#PropertyManagerLifeL#LandlordProblemsT#TenantDramaU#UnbelievableStoriesH#HouseStoryC#CrazyTenantsP#PropertyTokTrueStory
Gistreel
A Kano State High Court, presided over by Justice Musa Dahiru, has ordered the remand of one Idris Kurma for allegedly killing his wife, Aisha Idris, following a disagreement over her refusal to grind groundnuts to make kuli-kuli.
Kuli-kuli is a popular delicacy made from roasted groundnuts that are spiced and then deep-fried into a flat, crunchy snack and enjoyed across Northern Nigeria.
The tragic incident reportedly occurred in Goda village, located in the Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State.
According to court proceedings, the suspect was arraigned on a one-count charge of culpable homicide, contrary to Section 221 of the Penal Code.
The prosecution counsel, Barrister Lamido Abba Soron Dinki, read the charge to the defendant during the hearing, but the defendant pleaded not guilty to the allegation.
Subsequently, Barrister Soron Dinki requested an adjournment to allow the prosecution to present its witnesses in the case.
Justice Dahiru granted the application and ordered the remand of the defendant in a correctional facility pending further hearing.
While the case was adjourned to December 12, 2025, for continuation.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured a five-year conviction of a former Managing Director of Bonghe Micro Finance Bank, Grace Karka, for her role in a N32m fraud, with an option of fine.
According to PUNCH Metro, in a statement by the EFCC on Thursday that the agency received a petition from the bank alleging that the defendant transferred N32m while she was the bank’s MD to an unknown account.
The statement noted that the petitioner said the fraudulent act was discovered during an audit of the bank’s account domiciled with a commercial bank.
She was subsequently arraigned before Justice Benjamin Lawan Manji of the Adamawa State High Court on counts of criminal conspiracy and cheating.
One of the charges read: “That you, Grace Andreas Karka and Prince Moses Batalu, between August 2020 and March 2021 in Yola, Adamawa State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did agree amongst yourselves to do an illegal act, to wit theft of N66,792,960.00 from Bonghe Micro Finance Bank Nigeria Limited (account number 2013668857 domiciled with First Bank Nigeria Limited) by dishonestly moving the said sum without necessary approval, contrary to Section 61(2) of the Adamawa State Penal Code Law 2018.”
According to the statement, the defendant was arraigned in November 2024, but she pleaded not guilty, which led to a full trial.
The EFCC said during the trial, the prosecutor presented witnesses and tendered several documents, while the defendant presented three witnesses.
Following the trial, the judge found the defendant guilty and sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment.
“Justice Manji, on October 17, 2025, while delivering judgment, said the prosecution proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted the defendant accordingly on counts one and two.
“The judge also sentenced Karka to five years’ imprisonment with an option of N3m each on counts one and two. The sentence is to run concurrently.
“In addition, the court ordered the convict to restitute the balance of N29,877,040 to the petitioner,” the statement added.
This is not the first time a former bank MD has been jailed for fraud.
In 2024, PUNCH Metro reported that a five-member panel of the Supreme Court upheld the conviction and six-year jail term slammed on a former MD of the now defunct Bank PHB, Francis Atuche, by the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division.
Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of a four-bedroom duplex with two sitting rooms and boys’ quarters in Lekki to the Federal Government after finding that it was used for illegal drug activities.
The judge, on Tuesday, ordered that the property located at Block 11, House 2, Mobolaji Johnson Estate, Lekki Phase 1, be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government following an application filed by counsel for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mr. Buhari Abdulahi.
Abdulahi told the court that the property belonged to a suspected drug baron currently resides in Canada, and was used as an operational base for trafficking Canadian Loud — a high-grade strain of cannabis sativa — into Nigeria.
“The property served as the operational base for Adebanjo’s illicit drug activities,” the NDLEA counsel said. “He purchased the house and used it to coordinate the storage, distribution, and sale of hard drugs smuggled into Nigeria from Canada.”
He informed the court that an interim forfeiture order had earlier been granted on March 20, 2024, and that, in compliance with the court’s directive, details of the property were published in the Daily Sun of May 20, 2024, and in the Vanguard of August 1, 2025, inviting any interested parties to contest the forfeiture.
“Despite the publications and adequate notice, no person or entity came forward to lay claim to the property or provide any explanation,” Abdulahi said, urging the court to grant a final forfeiture order.
He added that the application was brought under the NDLEA Act, which empowers the court to confiscate assets used in committing drug-related offences.
After reviewing the submissions and supporting documents, Justice Owoeye granted the final forfeiture order, describing the property and items within it as “instruments used in committing drug offences.”
“Having carefully examined the affidavit evidence and the unchallenged application by the NDLEA, this court hereby orders the final forfeiture of the property to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the judge ruled.
According to an affidavit filed by Deputy Commander of Narcotics, Nasir Garba Bungudu, attached to the NDLEA’s Lagos Strategic Command, the agency had received intelligence in 2023 about a drug trafficking network smuggling Canadian Loud from Canada into Nigeria.
He said investigations traced the syndicate’s base to the Lekki property, which served as a warehouse and coordination centre for storage, financing, and distribution of the illicit drugs.
He said following weeks of surveillance, NDLEA operatives conducted a raid on February 5, 2023, during which they recovered 1.088 kilograms of Canadian Loud and arrested five suspects: Tijani Hakeem, Eric Makuo, Adaobi Fortune, Ahmed Jubril, and Ekwejunor Oritsematosan.
“Our investigation confirmed that the property was purchased and maintained with proceeds of drug trafficking,” Bungudu stated. “It was the central hub for the syndicate’s criminal operations.”
Four of the suspects were later convicted in Charge No. FHC/L/122C/2023 — FRN v. Tijani Oladapo Hakeem & 3 Ors after pleading guilty to drug trafficking charges.
The fifth suspect, Ekwejunor Oritsematosan, is still facing trial alongside Femaffix Global Services Limited in Charge No. FHC/L/501C/2023 for offences linked to the same cartel.
NDLEA investigators also established that Adebanjo, identified as the ringleader, purchased the Lekki property to house his associates and manage the syndicate’s operations, allegedly using a firm to launder proceeds from the illicit trade.
“Since the property was sealed, neither Adebanjo — who remains at large — nor any representative has come forward to claim ownership or offer any explanation,” Bungudu added.
Justice Owoeye consequently ruled that the property and all items within it be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government as assets derived from, or used in, the commission of drug offences.
“The court is satisfied that due process has been followed,” Justice Owoeye declared. “Accordingly, the property and its contents are hereby forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
The Enugu State Government has confirmed the arrest of one Ozioma Okonkwo for allegedly defiling his two biological daughters, aged two and five.
Okonkwo, who is a native of Imo State residing in Enugu, was arrested on the night of Saturday, October 25, 2025, after a concerned citizen alerted authorities about the disturbing incident.
This was contained in a statement issued by the state Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development on Sunday.
According to the statement, the suspect is in police custody and will be charged in court once investigations are concluded.
The ministry also revealed that the two children have been admitted into a government-approved shelter, where they are receiving medical care and psychosocial support.
Their mother, described as deeply traumatised, will also undergo therapy under the supervision of the ministry’s social welfare and counselling team.
“The Enugu State Government commends the Nigeria Police Force for their swift and professional response, which led to the prompt arrest of the suspect,” the statement read.
Reaffirming its zero-tolerance policy on sexual and gender-based violence, the ministry warned that all offenders would face the full weight of the law.
The ministry also condemned the act, calling it “a heart-wrenching and unacceptable crime against innocence.”
The statement reads, “The Enugu State Government under the leadership of Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, remains unwavering in its commitment to protect every child and ensure that perpetrators of such evil acts are brought to justice.
“No child should ever have to endure such trauma, especially from those meant to provide care and protection.”
The government also thanked citizens for their vigilance and cooperation, urging continued support in efforts to safeguard the rights and dignity of women and children across the state.
In 2022, a father, Michake Ogbar, was sentenced to triple life imprisonment for defiling and raping his three daughters of age 10, 20, and 24 years.
Ogbar faced three counts bordering on defilement and rape, offences which violate Sections 137 and 258(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
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