Oba Ghandi Appoints New Imam, Identifies His Roles 

Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, has on Friday appointed new Imam,Habib Ahmed Adekunle.

This is coming amidst rift with the Ogbomoso Chief Imam, Sheikh Tolihat Yunus Ayilara.

The conferement of the new Imam was done immediately after a special prayer organized by Ogbomoso Muslim community to celebrate Oba Ghandi’s 63rd birthday anniversary.

Identifying roles of the new Imam after issueing letter of appointment, Oba Ghandi, said he will assume the position of “The Imam of Soun’s Palace”.

The monarch further explained that the Imam of Soun’s Palace will not only lead prayers within the palace but also represent him in religious matters concerning the Muslim community both within the town and beyond.

“I firmly believe that the peaceful coexistence of all religious bodies is essential to fostering growth and progress in Ogbomoso. I remain committed to supporting and promoting this unity for the benefit of everyone in our community.

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate and pray with me.” Oba Ghandi’s statement reads in part.

 

Al Ahli Signs Victor Osimhen for €80 Million: A Game-Changing Move in Middle Eastern Football

In a groundbreaking transfer that has sent shockwaves through the global football community, Al Ahli Football Club has officially announced the signing of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen from Napoli for a reported fee of €80 million.

This deal not only solidifies Al Ahli’s ambition to elevate their status in the footballing world but also highlights the growing competitiveness of leagues outside of Europe.

A New Chapter for Victor Osimhen

Victor Osimhen’s transfer to Al Ahli comes on the heels of an impressive stint at Napoli, where he emerged as one of Europe’s most prolific strikers. His contributions were pivotal in Napoli’s Serie A title triumph, as he finished as the league’s top scorer, showcasing his remarkable speed, aerial ability, and clinical finishing.

The 24-year-old forward has quickly established himself as a key player for both club and country. With over 50 caps for Nigeria and a stellar track record in European competitions, Osimhen has caught the attention of top clubs across the continent. However, his decision to join Al Ahli is a testament to the club’s ambitions and the growing allure of the Saudi Pro League.

Al Ahli’s Ambitious Vision

Al Ahli, one of the most historic football clubs in Saudi Arabia, has made significant efforts in recent years to attract top talent and increase its competitiveness. With this signing, the club aims to bolster its squad ahead of the upcoming season, and Osimhen’s addition is expected to play a crucial role in their pursuit of domestic and continental glory.

The substantial investment of €80 million represents more than just a transfer fee; it is a strategic move aimed at placing Al Ahli on the global football map. Osimhen’s experience in high-pressure situations will be vital as the club looks to challenge for titles in the Saudi Professional League and make a mark in the AFC Champions League

Victor Osimhen’s arrival is likely to have a ripple effect throughout the Saudi Pro League. His transfer signifies the league’s growing capacity to attract elite talent, which will elevate the standard of football in the region. As teams across the league invest heavily in their squads, the competition for both domestic and international supremacy will intensify.

Additionally, Osimhen’s presence will surely excite fans, not just in Jeddah, but throughout the kingdom and beyond. His marketability and playing style will attract attention, prompting increased viewership and attendance at matches, thereby enhancing the overall profile of the league.

The signing of Victor Osimhen for €80 million marks a pivotal moment in Al Ahli’s history and the broader trajectory of Middle Eastern football. As the landscape evolves, clubs in the region are positioning themselves as serious players on the world stage. With Osimhen leading the charge, Al Ahli is poised to make significant strides in domestic competitions and beyond. Football fans around the globe will undoubtedly be watching closely as this exciting chapter unfolds.

What’s Next?

As the transfer window continues, all eyes will be on Al Ahli to see how they integrate Osimhen into their squad and what further moves they might make to solidify their championship ambitions. The world of football is ever-changing, and with such dynamic shifts in player movement, the excitement is palpable. Stay tuned for more updates on Osimhen’s journey in the Saudi Pro League, and what this means for the future of the game in the region.

 

How Dealers Frustrated Our N3,500/ Bag Policy – BUA 

The Chairman of  BUA Cement, Alh. Abdul Samad Rabiu, yesterday recounted how cement dealers frustrated his company’s N3, 500/bag policy, last year. 

He spoke at the 8th Annual General Meeting of the company in Abuja.

He said that while his company sold over a million tones of cement to dealers at N3, 500, per bag, with the intention that they would pass the benefits to end-users, the dealers sold a bag of cement to consumers at as high as N7000 and N8,000.

A ton is equal to 20 bags of 50 kg weight.

He said the company had to discontinue the policy as its intervention was not to subsidise dealers.

According to him,  BUA Cement could not stop the dealers whom he said made huge profits from the high margin because the company had no control over prices in the open market.

He added that the Naira devaluation last year and the fuel subsidy removal also played roles in making the policy unsustainable. 

Alh Rabiu said, “We were selling cement at N3,500 with the expectation that the dealers and the retailers would pass the benefits of the low price to the end-user customers. 

“It’s such that whatever price you sell cement at, you pay. It doesn’t matter what happens if the price doubles or triples if it’s less than that. So, we didn’t actually have that price.

“So, a lot of the dealers took advantage of that policy.  Rather than pass the low prices to the customers,  they were selling at even double the price we sold to them.

“Some were selling at N7, 000 and 8 000 per bag. They made a lot of money from.the very high margin.  I think we had sold  more than a million tons, yes at N3,500 before we realised what the dealers were doing.”

“And then, because of the issues that Nigeria faced at the time about devaluation of the.Naira last year and the removal of fuel subsidy, we could not continue that policy.

“We wanted that price to stay at that level but dealers refused. So, we could not sustain that simply because we did not want to be in a situation where we are subsidizing dealers. We are subsidizing the dealers.

“So, I’m referring to the point where the FX rates, the exchange rates, from when we decided to sell it at N3,500, the rate was about N600 to maybe N1,800, N1,900 to the US Dollar. So, it became even more challenging and more difficult for us to actually sustain that price.”

 DSS Secures Court Order To Freeze 20 Bank Accounts Linked To Alleged Female Terrorist

The Department of State Services (DSS) has obtained a Federal High Court order in Abuja to freeze 20 bank accounts connected to a suspected female terrorist, Aisha Abdulkarim.

 Reports indicate that these accounts, spread across eight different banks, will remain frozen for 60 days, allowing the DSS to conduct forensic investigations into the alleged terrorist activities associated with the account holder.

Justice Peter Lifu issued the freezing order following an ex-parte application presented by the DSS.

The secret police argued that the freezing order was essential to facilitate their investigation without hindrance.

In addition to Aisha Abdulkarim, the DSS has also detained Yehusa Idris and Abdullahi Babayo Umar in connection with the same alleged terrorist activities. They were apprehended at different locations by the security agency.

The DSS’s legal representative, Yunus Ishaku Umar, emphasized to Justice Lifu that access to the bank accounts was crucial for the ongoing investigation. The ex-parte application, identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/1036/2024, was reviewed by the court during the proceedings.

The accounts are held at various financial institutions, including Opay Digital Services Limited, Access Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Union Bank of Nigeria, Moniepoint Microfinance Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, and First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

The account distribution is as follows: five accounts each at Access Bank and Moniepoint, four at Opay, two at UBA, and one each at GTB, First Bank, Union Bank, and FCMB.

Although the DSS initially sought a 90-day freeze on the accounts, Justice Lifu granted a 60-day period, urging the agency to expedite its investigation.

The judge also noted that, according to the law, the suspected terrorists are presumed innocent until proven guilty and should not face undue hardship due to the account freeze during the investigation.

 Court Freezes N178.7 million After Banker Allegedly Diverts Customers’ Money Meant For Dollar Purchase

The Federal High Court in Abuja has frozen approximately N178,750,000 held in eight Nigerian banks, due to alleged fraudulent practices by a suspect resulting in a failed USDT transaction.

The order was made against Teehbiz Logistics, Ibisi Anthony Emeka, Ibisi Anthony, Stephixx Nigeria Limited, and Teehbiz Global Services Limited, following a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, as seen exclusively in its motion ex parte (filed on August 19, 2024), marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1204/2024.

The motion ex parte (filed by Barrister Stanley O. Obila) is an application where a party seeks a court order against others without notifying the latter in advance.

EFCC’s Allegations Against the Suspect

According to the EFCC’s affidavit in support, deposed by Halima Bello, an investigator attached to the Procurement Fraud Section of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the commission received a petition on January 17, 2024, submitted by Patloma Partners on behalf of Mr. Anikwe Ifeanyi against one Anthony Emeka Ibisi, alleging fraud involving N178,750,000.00.

The petition alleges that in September 2023, the suspect, Ibisi, approached the petitioner and presented himself as an employee of Guaranty Trust Bank PLC with the ability to help process foreign currency amounting to N178,750,000.00 through the official window of the bank for the petitioner’s partners outside Nigeria.

Mr. Anikwe Ifeanyi, a businessman working with Phlex Solutions Ltd, was said to have paid N178,750,000.00 in various tranches to the suspect’s company accounts in the identified banks.

“Upon receiving the money, the suspect failed to transfer the USDT equivalent to the petitioner’s partners outside Nigeria as agreed, which negatively impacted the petitioner’s business.

“All efforts to contact the suspect to either make refunds or deliver the agreed dollar equivalent failed, as the suspect became evasive,” the EFCC investigator added.

USDT is a symbol for Tether, a cryptocurrency pegged to the U.S. dollar.

The EFCC further noted that upon preliminary investigation into the suspect’s statement of account, it was found that the suspect transferred various amounts of money into certain bank accounts allegedly linked to him.

The official stated that the preliminary investigation is ongoing, and there is a need to preserve the funds in the accounts listed to prevent their dissipation.

The Commission argued that if the funds are dissipated, it would render any subsequent court order useless if the suspect is eventually found guilty and convicted after prosecution.

“It is in the interest of justice to grant the freezing order to preserve the said money, stem the trend of fraudulent practices in our society, and deny the suspect the opportunity to enjoy proceeds suspected to be from unlawful activity,” the motion added.

What Transpired in Court 

At the resumed hearing on Monday, August 26, 2024, EFCC counsel Barrister Muazu B. Bayara urged the court to authorize the EFCC or an authorized officer of the Commission to direct the Managing Directors of the identified banks to freeze the accounts as per the affidavit.

He stressed that the court action is part of an investigation into criminal breach of trust and obtaining by false pretenses, and should remain in effect until the investigation is complete.

Ruling on the motion, Justice Emeka Nwite granted the EFCC application, finding it meritorious. However, he added that the order shall elapse after a period of 90 days.

The court subsequently adjourned the case to November 26, 2024, for a report on the EFCC’s conclusion of the investigation.

What This Means 

Tether USDT is a popular payment method among Nigerian remote workers and freelancers working for foreign firms.

The court has temporarily frozen some bank accounts due to EFCC allegations of fraud related to failed USDT transactions.

It is expected that those involved may file their respective processes for or against the freezing order.