Bullion Records CEO Ajadi bags ‘Award of Excellence’ at NIJ as Eedris, GyC light up students’ week

CEO of Bullion Records, Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has been bestowed with the prestigious “Award of Excellence” by the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ).

The accolade was presented during the Grand Finale of the annual Students’ Week, themed “LOUD AM”, held at NIJ’s Ogba campus on Saturday, June 29, 2024.

The event, which spanned six days of cultural showcases and talent exhibitions, culminated with the celebration of Ajadi’s contributions to both journalism and philanthropy.

Addressing the audience during the Awards Night, Ajadi expressed his gratitude, reflecting on his formative years at NIJ:

“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from my alma mater. The journalistic education I received here has been instrumental in shaping my career across various fields, from journalism to entertainment; politics, and entrepreneurship. I remain committed to supporting the SRC and NIJ’s future endeavors,” Ajadi stated.

The President of the SRC, Awelewa Oluwatosin John, on his part, highlighted Ajadi’s longstanding support for the council, emphasizing that his supports are highly acknowledged.

Ambassador Ajadi has consistently supported our initiatives since his days as a student. His dedication to empowering young journalists and his philanthropic efforts are exemplary,” President Awelewa stated.

The evening was further enriched by performances from notable figures such as veteran musical icon Eedris AbdulKareem and rising star Kingsley Fortune, known as GyC, from Bullion Records.

GyC’s spirited performance of his latest single “Woman” captivated the audience, epitomizing the vibrant spirit of NIJ’s Students’ Week.

Among the distinguished guests in attendance were the Deputy Provost of NIJ, Dr. Boye Ola; Alhaji Ademola A.J. Otolowo, a prominent UK-based music promotion executive, and key figures from Bullion Records including the Managing Director, Mr. Elegbede Femi Ajibola; the Financial Director Comrade Kilamuwaye Badmus; the Marketing Head Mr. Gbenga Olaitan Awoeyo, and Hon. Kehinde Teluwo.

Other dignitaries that graced the event were the winners of the 2024 year’s beauty pageant which took place on the 27th of June,2024 at the school hall.
Mr. NIJ, Wisdom James Nkereumen; Miss NIJ, Comfort Udo Eder; Miss photogenic, Bankole Aminat; Mr photogenic, Benjamin Osemekhian; Miss Amity, Musa Joy Ali, and Mr Amity, Olooye Victor.

The “Award of Excellence” not only recognizes Ajadi’s achievements but also underscores NIJ’s commitment to honoring outstanding alumni who continue to make significant impacts in their respective fields.

Popular Bank’s Private Jet grounded

PRIVATE JET– The Federal Government through the Nigeria Customs Service has grounded a United States-registered Gulfstream G650ER jet belonging to a leading Nigerian bank, signalling the commencement of government clampdowns on private jet owners over unpaid import duty running into several billions of naira.

The development came barely two weeks after the NCS began a one-month verification exercise for private jet owners in the country. The exercise which began on June 19, 2024, is expected to end on July 19, 2024.

In a public notice by the Customs, the exercise aims to identify private jet operators that have illegally imported aircraft into the country without paying the necessary import duties.

The customs had recovered about N2bn into the government coffers when a similar exercise was carried out in 2019.

At least 80 private jet owners are expected to present their import documents and aircraft certificate of registration to the Customs in Abuja during the one-month exercise.

Although the grounding of private jets which fail to pay the necessary import duty is expected to begin after the one-month Customs verification exercise, findings showed that moves by some operators to export their aircraft might have forced the NCS to begin the clampdowns on some private jet operators.

The Nigeria Customs Service had last week said some operators of foreign registered private jets were temporarily flying their aircraft out of the country apparently in a bid to evade the exercise.

However, findings by The PUNCH on Sunday disclosed that a luxury Gulfstream G650ER plane belonging to a tier-1 bank had been grounded at Lagos airport over unpaid import duties reportedly estimated at N1.9bn.

It was learnt that the NCS had written the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency asking them to cancel the flight clearance approval given to the private aircraft.

Our correspondent gathered that the agencies had received the letters to distrain the US-registered Gulfstream G650ER with registration number N331AB and manufacturer’s serial number 6487.

The bank is reportedly owing about N1.9bn in unpaid import duties to the government on two formerly owned private jets (Gulfstream G450 and Gulfstream G550 aircraft), which according to sources have since been taken out of the country.

It was also understood that the assessment of N1.9bn was based on a verification exercise carried out by the NCS in 2021.

It was learnt that going by the current exchange rate, the N1.9bn might be raised to about N6bn. Aircraft import duties are computed based on prevailing exchange rate.

NCAA and NAMA officials said they had received the cancellation of the previously granted flight clearance approval for the Gulfstream G650ER aircraft.

According to the letter, the luxury aircraft which cost over $65m, was found to have contravened the Federal Government’s import duty regulations and as such denied the necessary Export Permit by the Customs Service Area Command at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

A copy of the letter written to the NCAA and NAMA, which was sighted by one of our correspondents, was titled “Re: cancellation of flight clearance approval for Gulfstream G650ER with registration N331AB and manufacturer’s serial number 6487.”

The letter read in part, “The above subject matter refers.  The Nigeria Customs in its drive for enhanced revenue collection decided to do a verification exercise on private airlines operating in Nigeria.

“The verification aims to identify privately owned aircraft that were inappropriately imported into the country. This will enable the Service to perfect these Imports and collect revenue accruable to the Federal Government.

“The above-cited aircraft has been found to have contravened the Federal Government’s import duty regulations and as such denied Export Permit by the Customs Service (MMIA Command).

“In furtherance to the above, we are soliciting your kind co-operation and assistance to deny flight clearance approval”

The Comptroller General, NCS, Adewale Adeniyi, had two weeks ago said a good number of private jets were leaving the country as the verification began.

Adeniyi, who disclosed this while speaking in an interview with Arise Television, stated that since the exercise started,  only a few owners have shown up.

“Very few of them (private jet operators) have showed up for verification and we gather intelligence that a good number of them are leaving Nigeria since the announcement was given because they would not want to be verified,” he said.

The CGC explained that the service introduced the private jet verification exercise because more private jets were operating outside the ambits of the law.

“We have seen so many of these aircraft flying and our record tends to show that only a few of them have shown up to pay duty and this is why we are bringing this verification up,” he said.

The CGC disclosed that data obtained from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority revealed that though many private jets were operating in the country, only a few had paid customs duties.

NDLEA Arrests 60 Suspects At Abuja Drug Party

NDLEA– No fewer than 60 persons have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency during a drug party organised in the Federal Capital Territory on Friday.

The suspects that were arrested at the party, which was said to have been organised by one Stanley Ikechukwu, comprised 25 males and 35 females.

A statement on Sunday by the NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, noted that at least six suspects were arrested at the venue with different drugs

The statement read in part, “In Abuja, NDLEA operatives on Friday night disrupted a drug party dubbed ‘Go hard or Go Home. Pick Your Poison,’ where 60 suspects comprising 25 males and 35 females were arrested at an apartment in Sun City estate in the Federal Capital Territory. The raid followed credible intelligence about the drug party organised by one Stanley Ikechukwu who was arrested at the venue.

“At least six of the suspects: Victoria Adoga, Hamza Yari, Joanne Joy, Socchima Valentine, Jago Imole and Charles Indobuibisi were arrested with different quantities of ecstasy and cannabis.”

Babafemi said the Chairman of the anti-narcotics agency, Brig. Gen Buba Marwa (retd.) directed that 20 of the suspects who tested negative for drugs be released unconditionally.

He stated that 33 others who tested positive for illicit drugs were to be released on bail and would report at the agency’s FCT command on Monday to begin treatment and counselling.

Babafemi also said operatives of the agency intercepted 6,125 cartons of codeine worth N7.3 billion.

The statement added, “NDLEA has intercepted 6,125 cartons of codeine syrup containing 1,050,000 bottles of the opioid worth over N7,350,000,000 in street value, at the Port Harcourt Ports complex, Onne, Rivers State.

“The seizure made from six containers on Saturday, June 29, 2024, was the third of such in the past four weeks following credible intelligence and diligent tracking of the consignments from their ports of departure by a special operations unit of the NDLEA, which worked in partnership with the Port Harcourt Ports Command of the agency and other security agencies including the Customs Service for a 100 per cent joint examination of the targeted containers.

“At the end of the joint examination of the six containers, a total of 6,125 cartons containing 1,050,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 157,500 kilogrammes were recovered on Saturday.”

The NDLEA spokesperson also stated that its officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos State arrested two passengers travelling to Doha on a Qatar Airways flight at the screening point of terminal 2 after they tested positive for ingestion of illicit substances on June 21, 2024.

“The suspects – Aikhomoun Daniel (alias Oladapo Olanrewaju) and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji were thereafter taken into observatory custody.

While Daniel excreted a total of 90 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.022kg in six excretions, Ayigoro discharged 60 wraps of the same Class A substance with a total weight of 662 grams in five egestion,” the statement added.

Babafemi said further investigation revealed that Daniel stole the identity of his late uncle who was once based in Germany, to get a Schengen visa to enable him free access to Europe, while his real name is Oladapo Olanrewaju.

He added, “No less than 40.32kg of Loud, an imported strong strain of cannabis was on Friday 28th June recovered in a black Toyota Tacoma truck along Lekki-Ikoyi road when the driver jumped off the vehicle after noticing that NDLEA operatives were on his trail.”

In Edo State, Babafemi said four suspects were arrested in a deep forest where they cultivated cannabis, saying, “No fewer than four suspects: Endurance Okon, 24; Joseph Michael, 23; Ovoco Bright, 43; and Goday Abanum, 23, were arrested in the deep forest of Ugun, Igueben LGA, Edo State on Saturday 29th June when NDLEA operatives raided and destroyed 18,632.22 kg of cannabis.”