*OGUN APC FULLY PREPARED TO WIN THE NOVEMBER 16TH LG ELECTIONS – OLADUNJOYE

…”Thank you very much for that question. For the November 16th local government elections coming up in Ogun State, I want to assure you that Ogun State APC is fully prepared for that election not only to participate but also to win.

We are not only a political party, we are also the ruling party in Ogun State. We thank God and thank the people of Ogun State, for the privilege given to our Party to serve the people of Ogun State at the state level and at the local government level. As at today, among the parties vying for the local government position; it is only APC that has projects and programmes with which we can campaign, which we have been campaigning, when we talk of primary health care, we talk of renovation and construction of primary schools, roads, and what have you.

APC is the only party that can point to what it has achieved apart from that, we are about the only party that is even campaigning for the local government election, we are going round all the 236 wards, all our polling units, We can hardly see any opposition party; what they plan to do or the magic they plan to achieve, we don’t know, We as a party, APC Is not taking anything for granted.
We have achievements to point to, we are campaigning, we are mobilizing our members, and we are getting assurance from people of Ogun State, that their support remains unshaken and is for All Progressives Congress (APC).

On the part of the OGSIEC, we pray that, they will continue uphold the credibility of the agency, the impartiality of the agency. As at today, even the PDP has attested to the fact that OGSIEC is credible and impartial. It is in the press they issued this morning (Sunday); it is a big kudos for the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, that has allowed the agency to run without meddlesomeness on the part of the government.

For the November 16th election, we are very sure that APC will not only win but will also win overwhelmingly.
Thank You”

EFCC’s Olukoyede has done a yeoman’s job
-Akinnola

Popular human rights activists and media laws expert, Mr Richard Akinnola, has described the achievements of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, within one year in office as a “yeoman’s job”.

Addressing some journalist while assessing the first year in office of the chairman of the Commission, the prolific author and publisher remarked that “I am not someone that panders to adulating public officials but I must say without any equivocation, that I have been greatly impressed by the accomplishments of the EFCC Chairman in the past one year.”

Speaking further, Akinnola who is the publisher of CORRUPTION CASES DIGEST said: “If you knew the humongous task it is to fight corruption in this system, with limited staff and resources, you would praise the gentleman at the helm of affairs. Fighting corruption is not a tea party because the corrupt political class would fight back as it’s currently happening. In June this year, the EFCC Chairman said the Commission received 14, 000 petitions within a year. With limited staff and resources, how do you start sifting through this plethora of petitions and investigating the same?”

“The EFCC Chairman once recalled that a few minutes to midnight on December 31 last year, he received intelligence on his phone how multiple billions of Naira were being moved from some ministries and MDAs to certain banks and that he immediately called the bank MDs to warn them not to allow any withdrawal of such humongous amounts. You know that usually such unspent money ought to be returned to the treasury but these people decided to fleece them.”

“These are accomplishments you don’t hear in the public space and it takes a proactive and diligent anti-corruption helmsman to detect and nip this in the bud. So, it’s not an accident that the current media onslaught against the current leadership of the Commission is suspected to be sponsored and financed by a former governor and his surrogate successor. You see the whole media place with heavy media and legal advocacy, including sponsored editorials and press conferences, protests by all manner of groups and the rest. All these are to change narratives in the public space because they are feeling the heat of one man called Olukoyede,” Akinnola added.

According to Akinnola, “Many people are not even aware that the liberalization of financial transactions through the use of MasterCard and Visa, was the handiwork of the EFCC, after the global financial anti-corruption institutions had to delist Nigeria among those barred from such transactions. So, there are more positives one can point to regarding the activities of the EFCC.”

On the case filed at the Supreme Court by Kogi State Government and 15 other states challenging the constitutionality of the EFCC, the veteran journalist declined to go into the details of the case saying “it is left for the Supreme Court”. He however noted that: “The same people who were against financial autonomy for the local governments and state judiciary, are the same people who want the EFCC to be scrapped. Otherwise, if their intention were pure and altruistic, they would have approached the apex court to give effect to justifiability of chapter two of the constitution regarding free education and other welfare packages for the citizens but because they are afraid of what would befall them after leaving office, they want the Commission scrapped. We all wait for the Supreme Court judgment.”

EFCC summons foreigner, guests over Naira-spraying at Kano wedding

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has summoned a Nigerien national, Ibrahim Mohammad, his family, and other guests, over alleged naira abuse at his wedding to Amina Babagana Zannah, in Kano.

The invitation follows a viral video depicting individuals spraying naira notes at the event, drawing public attention and backlash as part of the agency’s ongoing campaign against currency abuse.

A statement issued by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity for the EFCC, confirmed the commission’s response to the incident.

Initial reports mistakenly attributed the naira-spraying incident to the wedding of Fauziya Danjuma Goje, daughter of Senator Danjuma Goje, leading to widespread public concern and editorial coverage from a major national newspaper.

However, Oyewale explained that EFCC’s investigation clarified that the naira abuse actually occurred at the wedding dinner of Zannah, daughter of Hajara Seidu Haruna, also known as Hafsat Gold Nigeria, the CEO of Hafsat Jewellery Enterprise with offices in Abuja, Kano, and Dubai.

He stated that Haruna acknowledged the incident, explaining that the groom’s family, hailing from Niger Republic, sprayed naira and dollar bills as part of the celebrations.

EFCC, emphasizing its dedication to upholding currency regulations, stated that it will act against anyone who violates these rules, regardless of status or nationality, while ensuring that no one is wrongfully accused.

The commission noted the importance of public vigilance and the impact of its currency-protection campaign across the country.

The statement read, “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to a viral video where the nation’s currency, Naira, was freely sprayed at a wedding ceremony in Kano, Kano State on Friday, October 24, 2024.

“Allegations of the abuse of the Naira were imputed to Mrs Fauziya Danjuma Goje, daughter of Senator Danjuma Goje, by Nigerians from all walks of life, including an Editorial by a leading and respected National Newspaper.

“As a responsible and accountable anti-corruption agency campaigning against currency mutilation and dollarization of the economy, the EFCC swung into action by analysing the video and findings showed that the alleged naira abuse actually happened but not at the wedding of Goje’s daughter but at the wedding dinner of Amina Babagana Zannah held on the afore-mentioned date.

“Zannah is the daughter of Hajara Seidu Haruna(a.ka. Hafsat Gold Nigeria) who is the Chief Executive Officer of Hafsat Jewellery Enterprise with offices in Abuja, Kano and Dubai (United Arab Emirate).

“Haruna confirmed the viral video. She admitted that the alleged naira abuse took place at the wedding dinner of her daughter. The bridegroom, Ibrahim Mohammad hails from Niger Republic and those that allegedly sprayed naira notes and dollar bills were from the groom’s family in Niger Republic.

“The Commission has invited the Nigerien groom, Mohammad, to report at its national headquarters in Abuja, with everyone that sprayed naira notes at his wedding with Zannah

While the EFCC appreciates the consciousness its campaigns against naira abuse is building across the country, it will not move against anyone wrongly accused of an alleged crime. The Commission remains steadfast in this crusade and would spare no offender, no matter how highly placed.”