IPI Nigeria re-elects Musikilu Mojeed as President, Shekarau Secretary

The Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times, Musikilu Mojeed and the CEO of the Media Trust Group, Ahmed I. Shekarau, have been re-elected President and Secretary of the Nigerian chapter of International Press Institute (IPI) respectively.

Mojeed, Shekarau and four other officials, elected unopposed and sworn in on Thursday, will direct the affairs of the Nigerian affiliate of the global media body for the next three years.

A statement issued by a member of the global executive board of the IPI, Raheem Adedoyin, disclosed that other members elected into the executive committee of IPI Nigeria include Fidelis Mbah of Al Jazeera Television (deputy president), Rafatu Salami of Voice of Nigeria (treasurer), Yomi Adeboye of Herald Newspaper (assistant secretary) and Tobi Soniyi of Arise News (legal adviser).

Speaking during the inauguration of the new leaders, Mojeed, who promised inclusive administration, solicited the support and commitment of members to enable his team achieve the organisation’s set objectives of enhancing the Nigerian media operating environment.

The election of new leaders was preceded by the organisation’s annual general meeting (AGM) where the Mojeed-led executives rendered account of their three-year stewardship and updated members on the financial state of the body. Some sections of the organisation’s constitution were also amended during the AGM.

A major highpoint of the event was the arrival of ex-Governor Segun Osoba, a renowned journalist and prominent, longtime member of the IPI. He praised IPI Nigeria members for their commitment to press freedom, journalists’ rights and independent journalism.

Mr. Osoba, who recently returned from an overseas trip, further commended the organisation’s leadership for ensuring a successful conference.

Apart from ex-Governor Osoba, some other prominent journalists who attended the AGM included a former Editor-In-Chief of Tribune Newspapers (who chaired the forum), Folu Olamiti; former presidential spokesperson and ex-President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Garba Shehu; chairman of the Editorial Board of the Herald and member of the global board of the IPI, Mr. Adedoyin; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Oluwafisan Bankale and the Executive Director of the organisation, Dayo Aiyetan.

Some of the other dignitaries at the congress were Professor Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika of the University of Lagos; Kunle Babs, the Nigerian Bureau Chief of Feature Story News; Danlami Nmodu, publisher of Newsdiary Online; Fabian Benjamin, editor-in-chief of JAMB Bulletin; Sule Yau Sule of Bayero University, Kano; Dotun Oladipo, publisher of The Eagle Online; Funke Egbemode, former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors; Ochiaka Ugwu, an editor with Peoples Daily; Ken Ugbechie, publisher of Political Economist; Lawal Sabo Ibrahim, former managing director of The Triumph newspapers; Mohammed Danjuma, publisher of Katsina Times; Christopher Isiguzo, former president of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ); Lanre Arogundade, executive director of the International Press Centre; Zainab Suleiman Okino, chair of the editorial board of Blueprint Newspapers; and Hameed Bello, chief operating officer of Peoples Daily newspapers.

Earlier on Wednesday, IPI Nigeria hosted a well attended conference with the theme: “Democracy, Media Freedom and the Imperative of Protecting the Nigerian Civic Space.”

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who chaired the conference’s opening day session said press freedom exists in Nigeria. The keynote address was delivered by Professor Tony Iredia. He disagreed with the minister, arguing fiercely that press freedom does not exist in Nigeria.

The Director-General of the Department of State Services, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, gave a presentation on “Dissecting the Frosty Relationship Between the Nigerian Media and Security Agencies” while the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, spoke on “How the Media and Journalists can Partner Anti-corruption Agencies in the Fight Against Corruption.”

In the same vein, a former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, addressed participants on the topic “Government Vs Media: How to Reduce Tension, Enhance Mutual Understanding, and Avoid Censorship”.

The three-part event concluded on the night of 12th December with a dinner for the organisation’s members, partners, and supporters.

The International Press Institute (IPI), with headquarters in Vienna, Austria, is a global network of media executives, editors, and leading journalists. Since its establishment in 1950, it has consistently advocated for journalists’ rights and media freedom worldwide.

IPI Nigeria is the Nigerian branch of IPI Global and is totally committed to credible and independent journalism, media freedom, freedom of speech and the free flow of news and information in Africa’s most populous country and the continent’s biggest economy.

Raheem Adedoyin
Member, Executive Board, IPI Global.

FBI Extradites Most-Wanted Fraudster in $6 Million Business Email Scam

Omaha, Nebraska – The FBI has extradited 37-year-old Abiola Kayode, one of its most-wanted cybercriminals, from Ghana to the United States to face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Kayode was indicted in August 2019 in Omaha, Nebraska, for his alleged role in a business email compromise (BEC) scheme that defrauded businesses of over $6 million.

Kayode was arrested in Ghana in April 2023 after a U.S. extradition request. Ghanaian authorities approved the request, and FBI agents escorted him to Nebraska, where he appeared in court on December 11, 2024. Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson ordered Kayode to remain in custody until trial.

The indictment accuses Kayode of participating in a sophisticated cyber scam between January 2015 and September 2016. The scheme involved his co-conspirators impersonating company executives via spoofed email accounts to deceive employees into authorizing fraudulent wire transfers. Victims, believing the emails were legitimate, unwittingly transferred millions of dollars to accounts controlled by the fraudsters.

Several members of the conspiracy have already been convicted and sentenced:

• Adewale Aniyeloye, sentenced in February 2019 to eight years in prison and ordered to pay $1.57 million in restitution.
• Pelumi Fawehinimi, sentenced in March 2019 to six years in prison and restitution of $1.01 million.
• Onome Ijomone, extradited from Poland, sentenced in January 2020 to five years in prison and restitution of $508,934.
• Alex Ogunshakin, extradited from Nigeria, sentenced in October 2024 to 45 months in prison.

Despite these successes, other co-conspirators remain at large.

“Four years ago, we identified six Nigerian nationals suspected of defrauding businesses and individuals across Nebraska and other states,” said FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel. “Today, Abiola Kayode is the second co-conspirator extradited to Nebraska. To the remaining four, know this: we are coming for you.”

Special Agent Kowel commended the collaboration between U.S. and Ghanaian law enforcement, highlighting the contributions of the Ghana Police Service, INTERPOL, and Ghana Immigration Service.

The case, investigated by the FBI and supported by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, underscores the U.S. government’s commitment to dismantling international cybercrime rings.

Kayode remains innocent until proven guilty in court.

Thomas Abolarin from ErukuCity bids a final farewell to his mother with love and gratitude

… Tribute to her profound influence and enduring spirit

~By Fabiyi Oluwaseun

In Yorubaland, there is a common prayer saying that signifies our desire to have good children who will provide us with a dignified burial after we pass on

The assertion above epitomizes the collective efforts of the children of the late Madam Mary Oyinlola Abolarin Akerekoro of ErukuCity in Kwara State, led by Canadian-based Thomas Abolarin, who organized a week-long funeral ceremony befitting their beloved mother who passed away on the 23rd of February 2024 at the age of 102 years.

This tribute honors the extraordinary life of Madam Mary Oyinlola Abolarin Akerekoro, a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose life was marked by fulfillment and outstanding achievements, serving as a testament to the special favor and kindness of the Almighty God in her life and that of her children

Mama Elopo Iye Rere, fondly called, was a good mother endowed by God with many laudable virtues, a good life, good breeding, firmness of purpose, and unfailing graciousness at all times. Children and families, including her associates, can attest that she was a woman of exemplary moral fibre

Mama Akerekoro was indeed a great and renowned daughter of Erukucity, whose life was not obscure, while her achievements remain outstanding, and her substantial and immense contributions to the growth of the community persist

Madam Mary Oyinlola Abolarin Akerekoro, also known as Iya elepo, iya rere, was a prominent figure within the Gaa Akanbi axis of Ilorin, the state capital of Kwara State. Her exemplary Christian lifestyle left a lasting legacy at Holy Family Catholic Church, situated at Gaa Akanbi, Ilorin, where she was honored and invested as “Iya Rere” (Good Mother), a title she held until her death. Although she lived to the ripe age of 102, her departure was deeply felt by the church priest and members, who greatly miss her. Her legacy is indeed worthy of emulation

In addition, this led the entire children and family of the late Madam Mary Oyinlola Abolarin Akerekoro to eulogize her using the word of God in paying tribute to a remarkable mother, great-grandmother, abiyamo toto, a woman of vision who served God and humanity wholeheartedly and throughout her life without blemish

Thomas Abolarin Akerekoro provided further testimony that Mama served her generation with merit. She completed the race with integrity and a crown of righteousness is laid up for her. Rest in peace, my beloved mummy, great-grandmother, Veronica iye elepo iya rere

To recap: A one-week burial ceremony will commence on Saturday, 14th December 2024, with a remarkable thanksgiving service at Holy Family Catholic Church, Gaa Akanbi Ilorin at 10 O’clock sharp, followed by entertainment of guests at Atlantic Events Place, Ilorin

However, other burial activities befitting her are ongoing at Eruku City, her hometown in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State within the community, and will run through week-long events

The Grand Finale is scheduled for Sunday, 21st December 2024, commencing with a special family thanksgiving service at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Eruku, Kwara State, at 10:00 a.m. sharp. This will be followed by a reception and entertainment of guests at St. Cyprian’s football field, featuring the renowned juju highlife musician, IfeBright, who will thrill the audience at both Atlantic Events Center, Ilorin

Lastly, BethNews Media publisher Oluwaseun Fabiyi observed that robust security measures were fully implemented to ensure the safety of guests, friends, and family at the event

Watch for exclusive images of the event from BethNews Media.