A 35-year-old security guard of Rubber Estate in Ose River, Ovia South West local government area of Edo State, Akpooh Edet, has been arrested for staging his own kidnapping and demanding a ransom of N50 million from his employer.

Edet was apprehended at his hideout by operatives of the Ondo Amotekun corps in Igbotako, Okitipupa local government area of Ondo State.

The arrest was successful following assistance from the Edo Command of the Department of State Security (DSS).

Edet was among 22 suspects paraded at the headquarters of the Ondo Amotekun Corps.

The Amotekun commander Akogun Adetunji Adeleye stated that Edet was found at the residence of Libon James, who might have been unaware of Edet’s staged kidnapping.

The two suspects will be handed over to the DSS for further investigation. Senior Security Manager Oluwole Adesonlu disclosed that Edet has worked for the firm for about 10 years. He added that Edet and his gang initially demanded N50 million, later reducing it to N35 million before settling for N15 million.

He said: “We discovered that one of my guards was missing. We began the search for him and contacted the DSS.

“It was during investigation that I contacted Amotekun in Igbotako and Edet was tracked to where he was hiding. Two accomplices were arrested in Edo State and we discovered that it was a self-kidnap to extort money from the company.”

Italy will host the Davis Cup Final 8 from 2025 to 2027, the International Tennis Federation has announced.

The eight-team men’s event was won this year by Jannik Sinner’s Italy, who triumphed in Spain last month.

Malaga has hosted the event since 2022.

“We are delighted to partner with the FITP (Italian tennis federation) for the Davis Cup Final 8,” said ITF president David Haggerty. “Italy has a rich history in tennis and a proven ability to host world-class sporting events.”

The 2025 tournament will be staged in Bologna.

Angelo Binaghi, president of the FITP, said: “We are thrilled to have been selected as hosts and look forward to welcoming the best teams in the world to our country next November and for the next three years.”

The ITF also announced the draw for the first round of the 2025 Davis Cup qualifiers on Monday.

Italy receive a wild card to the Final 8, while 2024 runners-up the Netherlands will not be involved until the second round.

The first round will feature 26 teams competing in 13 ties on either Friday, January 31, 2025 to Saturday February 1, or February 1 to February 2.

Each tie consists of two singles matches on day one, and a doubles match followed by two singles matches on day two.

The 13 winners will advance to the second round of qualifying in September.

Among notable ties, Sweden meet Australia, France go head to head with Brazil and Britain take on Japan.

Daniel Dubois will take on Joseph Parker in the next defence of his IBF heavyweight world title on February 22, according to Sky Sports.

In June this year, Dubois became the IBF’s Interim titlist, when he defeated Filip Hrgovic in June.

He was then upgraded to full world champion after Oleksandr Usyk’s rematch with Tyson Fury was set for December 21.

This meant Fury had to vacate that belt.

Dubois then knocked Anthony Joshua out inside five rounds at Wembley Stadium in September.

Parker is a former world champion himself and has been pressing for another title shot with a sequence of eye-catching victories, notably upsetting hard-punching former WBC champion Deontay Wilder last year and then outpointing Zhilei Zhang to win the WBO Interim title.

China has fully lifted trade suspensions targeting Australian red meat, Canberra said Tuesday, dismantling one of the final barriers in a four-year trade row that hammered US$13 billion of exports.

Starting in 2020, a slew of Australia’s most lucrative export commodities were effectively banned from China.

But as relations have improved in the past two years, Beijing has dropped tariffs on Australian barley and wine, halted an import ban on timber and resumed shipments of coal.

Barriers targeting red meat and lobster were the last to remain.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tuesday that China had paved the way for “full resumption of red meat exports”.

Full lobster trade is expected to resume by the end of the year, the Australian government announced in October.

“We are close to the point where China’s trade impediments — which impacted Aus$20 billion (US$13 billion) worth of Australian exports — have all been removed,” trade minister Don Farrell said on Tuesday.

A Vietnamese court upheld the death penalty Tuesday for a property tycoon, Truong My Lan, in a multi-billion dollar fraud case — but said her life could still be spared if she paid back three-quarters of the assets she embezzled.

Property developer Lan, 68, was convicted earlier this year of swindling money from Saigon Commercial Bank — which prosecutors said she controlled — and condemned to die for fraud totalling $27 billion.

She appealed the verdict in a month-long trial, but on Tuesday the court in Ho Chi Minh City determined that there was “no basis” to reduce the death sentence for Lan.

However, there is still a chance for her to escape the death penalty.

The court said Tuesday that if she returns three-quarters of the stolen assets, her sentence could be reduced to life imprisonment.

Tens of thousands of people who invested their savings in SCB lost money, shocking the communist nation and prompting rare protests from the victims.

Lan, who founded the real estate development group Van Thinh Phat, earlier told the court in Ho Chi Minh City that “the quickest way” to repay the stolen funds would be “to liquidate SCB, and sell our assets to repay SBV (State Bank of Vietnam) and the people”.

“I feel pained due to the waste of national resources,” Lan said last week, adding she felt “very embarrassed to be charged with this crime”.

Lan owned just five per cent of shares in SCB on paper, but at her trial, the court concluded that she effectively controlled more than 90 per cent through family, friends and staff.

The State Bank said in April that it pumped funds into SCB to stabilise it, without revealing how much.

Among the assets that Lan and Van Thinh Phat own are a shopping mall, a harbour and luxurious housing complexes in the business hub of Ho Chi Minh City.

During her first trial in April, Lan was found guilty of embezzling $12.5 billion, but prosecutors said the total damages caused by the scam amounted to $27 billion — equivalent to around six per cent of the country’s 2023 GDP.

Lan and dozens of defendants, including senior central bank officials, were arrested as part of a national corruption crackdown dubbed the “burning furnace” that has swept up numerous officials and members of Vietnam’s business elite.

A total of 47 other defendants have requested reduced sentences at the appeal.

Last month, Lan was convicted of money laundering and jailed for life in a separate case.

The FBI has arrested Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade for allegedly plotting a racist attack on himself to win the election.

The latest development has also led the FBI to refer Mr Mobolade for prosecution for making false statements related to a hate crime hoax intended to boost his candidacy, The Daily Wire reports.

On November 12, the acting U.S. attorney for the District of Colorado announced that three supporters of Mr Mobolade had been charged with writing the n-word on one of his campaign signs and erecting a burning cross in front of it.

The individuals charged are Derrick Bernard Jr., Ashley Blackcloud, and Deanna West.

These supporters were reportedly sending videos of the spectacle to the media to rally Black voter turnout for Mr Mobolade, an African immigrant.

Their actions were allegedly intended to galvanise support for Mr Mobolade during the mayoral runoff election against Wayne Williams.

Mr Mobolade, a left-wing candidate, went on to defeat a white Republican in a closely fought election in the conservative-leaning city.

According to The Daily Wire, FBI investigators obtained communications showing that the now-mayor was in close contact with the lead suspect, Mr Bernard, before, during, and after the incident.

Mr Mobolade was interviewed twice to determine his knowledge of the hoax, during which he strenuously denied having contact with Mr Bernard.

Following his conduct during the interviews, the FBI referred the now-mayor to the Department of Justice for charges related to making false statements to federal investigators.

FBI officials also claimed there were dozens of messages exchanged between Mr Bernard and the now-mayor.

Mr Bernard is a career criminal who was sentenced to 32 months in prison in 2018. He allegedly attempted to kill two police officers and has since been convicted of an unrelated murder of a rapper who disrespected him.

During the interviews, officials noted that Mr Mobolade scrolled through his phone as a memory aide. However, they stated that “he was literally skipping over text messages,” apparently unaware that the bureau had already obtained them from other sources.

An official reportedly said, “The initial response from the Department of Justice was, ‘We can’t indict the first Black mayor of Colorado Springs.’ In my experience, if anyone else had been in that position, they would have been charged with lying to a federal agent.”

The alleged hate crime occurred in 2023, between an April 4 general election and a May runoff election that was scheduled because the general election results were so close.

On Monday, the Enugu government and Austrian firm WANDE NEXUS signed a $100 million deal to implement the Sustainable Last Mile Connectivity and Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project in Enugu.

With the signing, which took place at the Government House, Enugu, in the presence of the Austrian ambassador to Nigeria, Thomas Schlesinger, the firm will inject the fund as foreign direct investment to modernise water infrastructure.

In a speech, Governor Peter Mbah described the signing as an example of the relationship that could exist between a sub-sovereign and a sovereign, as well as a major step to getting water to the last mile in Enugu City.

“We now have an investment of $100 million to deal decisively with the last mile connection, the downstream part of our water system.

“This huge sum shows that the economic reforms of the federal government and our effort to position Enugu as the premier destination for investment are yielding results because this is a major FDI, not just for us as a state but even as a country.

“For the record, this is not a case where we are just signing an agreement that is exploratory. This is an agreement for funds to begin to flow,” Mr Mbah said.

He further said that his administration had increased water production from an occasional two million litres to 120 million litres daily.

According to him, the biggest challenge is expanding the network and connecting the tertiary pipelines to the various homes.

“But with the signing of the FDI agreement, the problem will become a thing of the past as this is purely an investment of $100 million being injected in our downstream water sector,” the governor said.

In an address, Mr Schlesinger said the investment had the strong backing of the Austrian government. He commended Mr Mbah for building the necessary international relationships and showing a strong commitment to improving his people’s lives.

“This investment in the amount of $100 million is, therefore, a testimony of his excellent work and his vision for Enugu state,” he said.

The Dein of Agbor kingdom in Delta, Benjamin Ikenchukwu, has emphasised the importance of unity in building a strong and developed Nigeria.

Mr Ikenchukwu gave the advice on Monday in Abuja at the public presentation of a book titled ‘Bold Leap’ by Chris Anyanwu, a journalist and politician.

He advised Nigerians to remember that they are first Nigerians before any tribe or religion.

Mr Ikenchukwu urged Nigerians to work with the government to address the country’s challenges. He noted that Nigeria’s ability to survive adversity was a testament to its strength.

“If Mr President fails, we all fail. If he succeeds, we all succeed,” he said.

The traditional ruler also advocated for women’s empowerment, stating that any nation that did not respect its women invites the wrath of God. He encouraged Nigerians to respect women and provide them with the necessary support to achieve their dreams.

King Jaja of Okpobo, Dandeson Jaja, congratulated Ms Anyanwu on her book and commended her resilience in adversity.

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, expressed confidence that readers would learn valuable lessons from the book.

A panel discussion titled ‘How do we fix Nigeria: System, Structure, Institutions or Leadership?’ was moderated by Udenta Udenta.

Former Senate minority leader Enyinnaya Abaribe stressed the need for effective leadership. The former chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi, emphasised the importance of restructuring Nigeria to address the needs of its young people.

An environmentalist and human rights activist, Annkio Briggs, also advocated for restructuring Nigeria’s political system, particularly regarding representation.

Former Miss Heritage Africa (2016) and Miss Heritage Nigeria (2015), Benedicta Akpana, yesterday visited Suleja Custodian Centre where she cleared the fines of five inmates.

Akpana said her visit was to spread hope to the inmates, noting she intervened as they were in custody over inability to pay their fine.

The beauty queen, who gave items worth millions of naira to them and two infants, said it was to mark her birthday.

She said she was celebrating her birthday with the inmates, noting that those in custody deserve to be shown love.

The actress and movie producer said: “Speaking with these people and seeing the women here got me emotional. For a moment, I imagined what they would have been if they were not here. That someone is in prison doesn’t mean all hope is lost for them.

“So, we decided to come here today to spread hope. To tell our brothers and sisters here that if life gives them a second chance, they must make use of it and live it in full. We want them to understand it is not over for them just because they’re in prison. Our God is a God of second chance, and we know some of them would come out even stronger to fulfil their mandates in life. “

She called on well meaning Nigerians to take out time to visit and support the privileged in the society.

“We came here with the little we could afford; we’ve donated toiletries, provisions, food items and have cleared fines of five inmates that are here because of their inability to pay. We wanted to do more, but five were available, and from this experience, I want to be doing this more often and not just on my birthday’’, she said.

Deputy Controller of Prisons, Ibrahim Ya’u, thanked her for her generosity, assuring those whose fines have been paid that they would be taken to court the next day to finalise their release “

A tragic fire incident claimed the lives of six family members, including a Customs officer, Tijani Kabiru, attached to the Oyo/Osun Command, his wife, and four children in the early hours of Monday in Ede, Osun State.

The fire reportedly started around 2 a.m. at the family’s residence in the Olowopoku area of Ede.

Sources revealed that Kabiru, who was in his late 40s, was asleep alongside his wife and five children when the fire, believed to have originated from the solar panel installed on the roof of the house, engulfed the building.

The devastating incident has left the community in shock and mourning.

A source in the area disclosed: “The fire started around 2:09 am from the roof of the house. An electric spark from the solar panel attached to the roof caused the fire.

“One of the children, a 13-year-old was reading when the fire started, he ran to the father’s room he realised that his father and other family members were weak due to the emission of smoke. He ran out of the house to call for help. It was difficult for residents of the house to access the house due to the security of the house like electric barbed wires and strong doors among others.

“We informed the Fire Service men around 3:10 am. But before they arrived at the scene, Tijani, his wife, and four children were burnt to death.”

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of Osun State Fire Service, dekunle Ibraheem confirmed the incident to The Nation.

He said: “It is true that one Tijani, a Customs officer, his wife and four children were burnt to death. Only one of them escaped the scene. Their bodies were handed over to the men of A’ Division of the Nigeria Police Force.”

The federal government has called for collaboration with the South African government to ensure the certification of geologists and other professionals in Nigeria.

This appeal was made by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, during her opening remarks as co-chair of the 11th Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) Ministerial Meeting, held Monday in Cape Town, South Africa.

Ojukwu highlighted the long-standing relationship between the two nations since the BNC’s inception in 1999.

She encouraged participants to approach discussions with enthusiasm and mutual trust to strengthen bilateral ties.

Addressing the need for collaboration, Ojukwu stated: “We are seeking collaboration with South Africa in capacity development in the area of certification of geologists and other professionals.”

She disclosed that Nigeria had prepared Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for South Africa’s consideration, aimed at enhancing the global competitiveness of Nigerian mining professionals.

“This project holds a lot of promises for the future of Nigeria-South Africa relations,” she added.

The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to fostering stronger partnerships with South Africa for mutual benefits.

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has expressed deep concern over the sharp decline in moral values globally.

Adeboye made this known during the church’s monthly thanksgiving service at the RCCG’s Throne of Grace, the national headquarters in Ebute-Metta, Lagos, on Sunday.

He said the pastor was arrested for addressing those in attendance at a programme “Ladies and gentlemen.”

Speaking on the topic “My Father’s House” Adeboye highlighted the increasing moral decadence in the world.

He urged Christians to remain steadfast in their faith, emphasizing that the end times are near.

“The end is nearer than you think,” he warned. “Things are getting worse, and this is a wake-up call. One of my pastors abroad was arrested, and his offence was simply addressing a gathering as ‘ladies and gentlemen.’ Some people reported him for discrimination, asking, ‘What about those who are neither ladies nor gentlemen?’”

Pastor Adeboye also recounted another troubling anecdote about a woman who referred to her dog as her husband during a discussion.

“She was asked about her husband, and she replied, ‘I took him to the vet before coming. He doesn’t talk.’ When asked who her husband was, she described a very handsome dog. Brethren, we are closer to the end than ever before,” he said.

He admonished Christians to take their faith seriously, urging them not to be swayed by the world’s moral decline.

“Those of you already in Christ, take this matter seriously. Do not let anyone weaken your stand. God is holy. Those still playing church—singing, clapping, and enjoying things without genuine commitment—remember, Jesus is coming back. The devil wants to harvest you, but you must not give him the opportunity. I want to see you in my Father’s house,” he emphasized.

Pastor Adeboye also reflected on the moral uprightness of earlier generations, noting their reverence for God and commitment to His commandments.

“In the olden days, people feared God, lived morally upright lives, and followed His commandments. Let us strive to return to that path,” he urged.

Nollywood actress Princess Chineke has made a surprising career shift, trading her script for a soldier’s uniform.

The former beauty queen who represented her state in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant and modeled for several television commercials, billboards and runways, has joined the U.S. Army.

Princess Chineke’s decision to enlist has shocked many of her fans, who remember her for her captivating performances on screen.

Some of her works include; Battleground, Forever in Me, Last Flight to Abuja, Super Story, Papa Ajasco, Tales of Eve, Ada Mbano, To Love a Sister, Amaonyebuoneye, Give it Up, Masters at War, Give it Up, 2broken, Airline Bases, Mmeso, Royal Maid, Professor Johnbull, Ay show Skit etc.

However, the actress who was also former Miss UNIBEN has expressed her passion for serving her adopted country.

“I love the prestige that comes with the American military,” Princess Chineke said. “As a citizen of this great country that has done so much for me, I feel it’s my turn to give back. God bless America.”

This makes her the first Nollywood actress to join the U.S. Army.

Tension gripped residents early Monday morning as a fire broke out at a market in the popular Trademore Estate, located along Umar Musa Yar’Adua/Airport Road in Abuja.

The cause of the fire remains unknown at the time of this report.

An eyewitness, Tosin Adeleke, told our correspondent that chaos erupted around 4 a.m. when the blaze engulfed the shops.

According to Adeleke, shop owners rushed to salvage what they could from the inferno.

Efforts to determine the extent of the damage and the source of the fire are ongoing.

He said: “It is sad. We are not certain about the cause of the fire, but an electrical fault cannot be ruled out.

“Efforts were made to contact both the Federal Fire Service and the Federal Capital Territory Fire Service, but the situation was intense”.

Adeleke added that residents eventually reached out to the fire service team at Dunamis Church, who arrived at the scene around 5 a.m.

He said after two hours of battling the blaze, personnel from the Federal Fire Service stations at the EFCC and Sauka successfully extinguished the fire”.

Disquiet over the weekend gripped the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters after details emerged of how Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun has been victimising officers to shield members of a cartel notorious for hauling suspicious new banknotes from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The interstate syndicate’s operation was disrupted after four inspectors identified a suspicious consignment at Abuja airport on August 26, 2023, Peoples Gazette heard from security sources briefed on the matter.

Five suspects were subsequently taken into custody, The Gazette learnt, leading to a weeks-long financial crimes investigation.

The suspects, who described themselves only as ‘contractors’ without elaborating, provided statements to the police detailing how long they have been in the tawdry business but without providing the identities of the CBN staff they worked with to move out the cash from the apex bank’s vault.

They told the police that they had been operating for years —even before the naira redesign in 2022— transporting cash notes from the CBN in Abuja to Lagos. The suspects, however, failed to state the purpose of the stacks of mint notes in their possession.

They had bundles of N500 and N200 notes going up to tens of millions of naira and were trying to load the money into a Lagos-bound aircraft at the domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja in a way that further aroused the suspicion of security agents.

Just as the suspects were about to be charged, the IGP monitoring unit showed up to take over the case. The five suspects, including their ringleader Andrew Ejah, were extracted from AIG Zone 7 and subsequently released.

However, suspects refused to take back the money, claiming it had been depleted from N75 million to N32 million and that more than half of the money was gone. Their claims led the IG to arrest and detain the four police inspectors who carried out their arrest.

The first orderly room trial was conducted in December 2023, and the inspectors —Ekende Edwin, Esther Okafor, Patrick Nwande and Talabi Kayode — were exonerated given that the activities of the suspects were not only suspicious but their statements were also contradictory.

The first trial found the officers not guilty of the allegations of exhibit tampering, meaning there was no evidence the officers stole from the cash the suspects were transporting.

The trial also determined that there was no receipt documenting how much the suspects were transporting.

So, it was hard to rely solely on the suspects’ statements regarding the purported total sum and how much of it was claimed to be missing. The first trial outcome was on December 13 with reference number 7370/SPM/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.15/98.

The suspects provided a statement to the police stating that they got the money from the CBN vault but won’t be able to mention the person who handed over the cash to them from the CBN. Their statements, which no official of the apex bank could corroborate, led to the inspectors’ exoneration.

A spokeswoman for the CBN did not return a request seeking clarification as to whether or not the bank was aware of the operation of Mr Ejah’s gang.

Dissatisfied with the first trial’s outcome, Mr Egbetokun ordered a second trial, but the verdict remained the same. There was no sufficient evidence to link the alleged stolen funds to the inspectors.

The outcome of the second trial, released on February 20, 2024, was referenced 6350/SPM/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.11/105.

Still, the police chief appeared obstinate. Mr Egbetokun ordered a third orderly room trial, fuelling disquiet from the police hierarchy to the rank-and-file who wondered why the IGP was unwilling to accept the trial’s verdict, given they were his own men.

It was unclear why Mr Egbetokun did not back off the low-level police officers, particularly after two trials had cleared them of any wrongdoing.

His conduct has fuelled speculations about whether he has a stake in the matter and was ready to sacrifice his own junior colleagues to appease a cabal ruffled about the syndicate’s operations being busted.

That Mr Ejah, the suspects’ ringleader, admitted that their currency hauling activities have gone undetected for years even during the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari, indicates that there were powerful men of influence pulling the strings behind the scene.

Mr Ejah did not return a request seeking comments. It was unclear if he had a legal representative in the matter.

It would not be the first time the police chief had been accused of pandering to high-profile citizens. HEDA, an anti-corruption group, in April, rebuked Mr Egbetokun for withdrawing police officers attached to the Kano Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission.

The commission was investigating fraud allegations against APC national chair, Abdullahi Ganduje when the police officers providing security to the facility and officials were recalled.

“It is deeply troubling that law enforcement resources are being redirected away from combating corruption and instead appear to be utilised to obstruct investigations into high-profile individuals and undermine accountability,” the statement signed by HEDA and two other civil rights groups stated.

The groups advised the IGP to operate an independent security force void of interference from men of influence.

Still, Mr Egbetokun’s conduct and order of a third trial angered the police’s hierarchy, who could not fathom why the police chief seemed determined to throw the inspectors under the bus over the unsubstantiated claims of multimillion-naira cash transporters.

“The IG should have backed down, but he kept chasing the officers because he was offended they did their job,” a senior police officer told The Gazette under anonymity from Force Headquarters over the weekend. “We have reported him to the PSC because we cannot sit down watching an IG that is so blatantly corrupt to the point of punishing officers who should have been rewarded for doing the job they were tasked to do.”

“The IG was the one who exposed himself,” the top officer added. “He should blame only himself for this scandal.”

Mr Egbetokun did not immediately return comments on the matter. The police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, has yet to respond to The Gazette’s enquiries as well.

It is unclear how the president will handle the situation because the IGP is his loyalist, whom he has known for years. Mr Egbetokun served as Mr Tinubu’s orderly during his time as governor of Lagos.

US President Joe Biden on Sunday issued an official pardon for his son Hunter, who was facing sentencing for two criminal cases, despite assurances that he would not intervene in his legal troubles.

“No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son — and that is wrong,” the president said in a statement.

The move is sure to bring about fresh scrutiny over the independence of the US judicial system — especially at a time when incoming president Donald Trump has moved to appoint loyalists to the FBI and Justice Department himself.

The younger Biden was convicted earlier this year of lying about his drug use when he bought a gun — a felony — and has also pleaded guilty in a separate tax evasion trial, but had not faced sentencing.

Joe Biden, who is in the final weeks of his presidency before Trump takes office on January 20, had repeatedly said he wouldn’t pardon his son.

“I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,” President Biden said in Sunday’s statement.

“The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election,” he added.

“I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice.”

The pardon comes as criminal cases against President-elect Trump have stalled after a sweeping ruling on presidential immunity by the Supreme Court — all but ensuring Biden’s Republican rival will likely never see a jail cell, even after his landmark conviction for falsifying business records in May.

Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in conjunction with other security agencies, have announced a breakthrough in their ongoing war against economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.

The troops destroyed over 56 illegal oil bunkering sanctuaries, 88 cooking drums, 20 boats and recovered 1.2million litres of stolen crude in their various operations in the region.

The Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division, Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, confirmed the arrest of 17 suspected oil thieves, interception of seven vehicles, discovery of six illegal connection points and destruction of five motorcycles used for perpetrating economic sabotage across the region.

Danjuma said in Bayelsa State, at an abandoned Oando wellhead situated in Okordia Forest, Yenagoa Local Government Area (LGA), 15 illegal refining sites were deactivated with over 755,000 litres of stolen crude as well as over 53,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) recovered.

He said around Biseni Forest in Yenagoa LGA, 12 illegal refining sites with over 34,000 litres of stolen crude as well 5,500 litres of illegally refined AGO were confiscated.

He said in Rivers State, around Kula I, general area in Akuku-Toru LGA, troops discovered one illegal connection on 36 inches Government pipeline, with three inches hose connected on it, used as a loading point by oil thieves.

He said: “This was in addition to a ground reservoir of 80 by 80 tarpaulin stocked with over 100,000 litres of stolen products recovered during the operations.

“The operation was also extended to Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, where an abandoned truck ladened with 35,000 litres of stolen crude stocked in a fabricated tank and concealed with bags of sawdust was uncovered.

“Relatedly, around Bakana and Buguma general area in Degema LGA, eight illegal refining sites with over 27,000 litres of stolen crude were confiscated.“

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a Brazil-based businessman, Ezeokoli Sylva, with 700 grams of cocaine in his stomach, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, said the discovery was made by their operatives at the airport when the suspect who has lived in Brazil for 35 years returned home.

According to the statement, the 59-year-old Ezeokoli was arrested last Friday at the E-Arrival hall of the Lagos airport upon his return from Sao Paulo, Brazil on Ethiopia Airlines flight via Addis Ababa.

When he was taken for a body scan, the result confirmed that the suspect had foreign objects concealed in his stomach.

Babafemi said as a result, he was placed under excretion observation during which he expelled 29 wraps of substances that tested positive to cocaine weighing 700grams.

The NDLEA spokesman said, according to the suspect’s statement, he claimed he operates an African store in Brazil where he sells provisions, shoes and clothes.

He said the suspect claimed he bought the illicit consignment in Sao Paulo to resell in Nigeria to raise substantial capital to boost his business.

He also said NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Investigation and General Investigation (DOGI), on November 26 intercepted two consignments containing cocaine and pentazocine injection going to the United Kingdom via a courier company in Lagos.

He said while the cocaine weighing 200grams was concealed in local fabrics, 40 ampoules of pentazocine injection weighing 110grams were hidden in cartons.

The statement reads: “In Kano, NDLEA operatives on Thursday, 28th November arrested three suspects: Jamilu Adamu, 38; Umar Musa, 32; and Bunu Ali, 27, with 2,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 3,135,000 pills exol-5 at Gadar Tamburawa, Zaria road.

“No fewer than 2, 120 kilogrammes of Ghanaian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis produced in Ghana were intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the Ilesan beach, Lagos on Thursday 28th November.

“A suspect, Onibogi Muftau was arrested in connection with the seizure while four vehicles that were to convey the shipments from the water front were also recovered.’’

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the launch of its newly redesigned website that will start working today. The redesign, which promises enhanced features and functionality, was developed entirely in-house by the bank’s technology team.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, the apex bank expressed its excitement about the innovation.

The statement said: “We are pleased to announce that the front-end design and back-end technology were created in-house.

“The new website operates on a contemporary Web API built on Microsoft.NET Core 8, the latest stable release. This upgrade is expected to improve user experience significantly by enabling faster and more seamless navigation.”

The revamped platform also introduces a variety of new content aimed at providing a more comprehensive understanding of the bank’s mandate

It boasts mobile responsiveness, ensuring compatibility with various web browsers and devices for ease of access.

The statement explained that public feedback played a critical role in shaping the redesign. “The bank is grateful for the feedback provided by the public, which served as a valuable guide for our redesign endeavours.”

We are committed to developing and enhancing the website to facilitate communication,” it said.

The CBN also urged the public to stay informed by following its official social media channels, which are now conveniently linked on the website’s homepage.

The launch of the redesigned website aligns with the CBN’s goal of improving transparency and fostering effective communication with stakeholders.

Users can explore the new features starting today at www.cbn.gov.ng.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged governments across African countries to deepen ties among their militaries to solve emerging security threats on the continent.

He said African leaders and the military owe the continent a sense of duty to ensure peace, security and stability.

President Tinubu spoke at the closing ceremony of the second edition of the Africa Military Games (AMGA) on Saturday night in Abuja.

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu reiterated his unwavering commitment, as the Chairman of the Economic Community of African States (ECOWAS), to the security and stability of the region.

The Nigerian President noted that African militaries have, over the years, demonstrated the essence of unity and camaraderie that transcended borders and strengthened the ties that have made Africa one great family.

He said: “This grand event has more than just a display of athletic prowess. It has been a celebration of the enduring spirit of collaboration, the pursuit of excellence, and the unwavering resolve of our militaries to stand together.

“This final act of your grace surely invites each of us to reaffirm our commitment to pursue our shared interests beyond the fields of competition. The games we have witnessed are a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we unite, not just as soldiers but as guardians of a shared destiny.

“Indeed, I am elated to witness not only to showcase the possibilities we can achieve when we stand together but also the strength that comes with our unity. This platform has provided an extraordinary opportunity for me to participate, exchange ideas, and explore innovative solutions to our shared challenges.

“Sporting activities, such as these, are not just recreational. They are a road to achieving optimal physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Quality is essential to navigating the complex and volatile environments in which we operate today. Let me take this moment to reaffirm the resolve of this administration to rid our nation of security threats and violent crimes.

“As Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, I reiterate my unwavering commitment to stabilising solutions and extending their efforts across the continent. This is a duty we owe our people. But to succeed, we must deepen ties across our nations and foster a robust sense of camaraderie among our troops.”

The President hailed the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, and the local organising committee for the remarkable event.

“Through your professionalism and discipline, you have shown that you are not only military personnel but also extraordinary sportsmen and women. The smooth and hitch-free conduct of these games is a testament to your collective excellence, a shared achievement for all Africans to celebrate.

“To our esteemed delegates, I thank you, on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for making the sacrifices to leave your comfort zones and travel to Nigeria for this significant event. Please, convey our warm regards to your commanders-in-chief, service chiefs, and families,” President Tinubu said.

Musa had said the AMGA, with the theme: Enhancing Military Cooperation in Africa through Sports, was a “powerful demonstration of how sports can bridge boundaries, foster friendship and strengthen bonds among the Armed Forces of Africa”.

He added: “This year’s edition, featuring participants from 20 nations, is a testament to the increasing solidarity and collaboration among African military forces.

“The athletes have showcased not just their physical prowess but also their dedication, discipline and determination, qualities that define the military ethos. Importantly, I am delighted to note that no casualties were recorded during this event, a testament to the fitness, preparedness and professionalism of our athletes.

“This remarkable outcome underscores the discipline and training that are hallmarks of our military institutions again across Africa.

“I commend every participant for their commitment to excellence, whether on the field, track or court. Each of you, by donning the colours of your nation, has upheld the values of honor, resilience and unity.”