Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested four Chinese nationals and 101 Nigerians in a business apartment in the Gudu area of Abuja over suspected internet fraud.

The commission announced the arrests on Thursday, 9 January 2025, via a tweet on its X handle on Friday.

“The suspects, comprising 67 males (including four Chinese nationals) and 38 females, were allegedly involved in a hotel review job scam targeting victims and hotels in Europe and other parts of the world.

“The suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigations,” the tweet partly read.

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The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to receive $52.88 million in recovered Galactica assets tied to former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, from the United States.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, announced this recovery during the formal signing ceremony of the asset agreement between Nigeria and the U.S. in Abuja on Friday.

Fagbemi revealed that $50 million of the funds will be directed through the World Bank to support rural electrification projects, while the remaining $2 million will go to the International Institute of Justice to enhance the justice system and strengthen anti-corruption efforts.

“This marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between Nigeria and the United States to combat corruption and uphold the rule of law, Fagbemi said, highlighting it as part of President Bola Tinubu’s strategy to address corruption.

Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, urged the Ministry of Justice to ensure proper monitoring and effective utilization of the recovered funds to maximize their impact on Nigerians.

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Sean Dyche has been sacked as manager of Everton, the club confirmed on Thursday.

Dyche took over from Frank Lampard in 2023 and, while he steered Everton from relegation in back-to-back seasons amid financial strife, a combination of poor form and an uninspiring style of football has seen the Merseyside outfit act.

Everton lie 16th in the Premier League having scored just 15 goals in 19 games. Only bottom-placed Southampton have managed fewer.

A club statement was released just hours before the visit of Peterborough in the FA Cup third round, with club captain Seamus Coleman and former captain Leighton Baines to take over on an interim basis.

The statement read: “Everton Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as Senior Men’s First Team Manager with immediate effect.

“Ian Woan, Steve Stone, Mark Howard and Billy Mercer have also left the Club.

“The process to appoint a new Manager is underway and an update will be provided in due course.

“Under-18s Head Coach Leighton Baines and Club Captain Seamus Coleman will take charge of first-team affairs on an interim basis.”

Skysports

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Stella Nwadigbo, a female teacher at Christ Mitot School, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.

Lagos State Police Command arraigned her on Thursday after she was caught on camera assaulting a three-year-old pupil.

Nwadigbo resides at Isawo in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.

The prosecutor, ASP Raji Akeem, told the court that the alleged offence was committed on January 7 at Christ Mitot School, Ikorodu, Lagos.

Akeem said that the woman was caught on camera giving a boy slaps and blows while teaching him to write the numerals.

The alleged offences, the prosecutor said, contravened Sections 135 and 172 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Chief Magistrate O. Kushanu granted the defendant N200,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

Kushanu adjourned the case until February 18 for mention.

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Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, signed the 2025 appropriation bill into law.

The State House of Assembly had on Monday approved a total sum of N3,366,815,224,144 as the state’s budget for 2025.

The approval followed the presentation of a report on the budget by the chairman of the joint committee on appropriation and finance, Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh, and the subsequent voice vote by lawmakers during a sitting presided over by the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.

The signed budget is divided into N1,295,630,197,452 for recurrent expenditure, while N2,071,185,026,692 is allocated to capital expenditure for the year ending 31 December 2025.

Governor Sanwo-Olu had on 21 November presented a proposal of N3.005 trillion to the House for approval.

During the presentation, the governor noted that the budget had a deficit financing of N408.902 billion, adding that the deficit would be financed through external and internal loans and bonds.

“We are confident that with strategic financing, this budget will allow us to continue advancing the state’s developmental goals,” Governor Sanwo-Olu stated at the time.

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Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, has expressed that if Nigeria is unable to function as a united country, the different ethnic groups should be permitted to go their separate ways.

In a video shared on Thursday, Igboho, seen at a UK airport, blamed corruption and insecurity for why many Nigerians no longer take pride in their citizenship.

He added that Yoruba youths, enriched by global exposure, are eager to transform the Yoruba nation into a modern, prosperous society like those in Europe.

His words: “Even inside the airport, there is no security. They can steal your belongings inside your bag (in Nigerian airports). All these are the things dissuading people from being proud of the country, Nigeria.

“Things like that make us sad to identify ourselves as Nigerians. This is why we advocate for separation. If Nigeria is not working as a country, it is better we go our separate ways.

“Our (Yoruba) youths will transform Yoruba nation. Most of them have travelled across the world and they have learned a lot. If they come back to Yoruba land, the knowledge will help them build it and transform the nation like those in Europe.”

This is not the first time Igboho has called for the breakaway of Yoruba people from Nigeria.

In April 2024, Igboho, alongside Pro Banji Akintoye and Ola Ademola from the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, wrote a letter to President Tinubu, urging him to establish a negotiation team to discuss the Yoruba people’s exit from Nigeria.

The letter reads in part: “We are acting for and on behalf of our 60 million Yoruba people of the Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo States, respectively, plus the Yoruba Local Government Areas of Kogi and Kwara State, and plus the Itshekiri homeland of Delta State, all together constituting the Yorubaland in Nigeria, hereby most humbly place our crowning request before Your Excellency as follows:

“That the Nigerian Federal Government shall, within the next two months, but not later than June 15, 2024, inform us Yoruba Self-determination Movement that the Nigerian Federal Government has graciously agreed to our proposal for negotiation and that they have set up a negotiation team that will meet and have a dialogue with our Yoruba Nation’s negotiation team.

“That the Nigerian Federal Government shall invite the United Nations, African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, to send observers to the negotiation meetings.”

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Christ Mitots School located in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, on Thursday, announced the indefinite suspension of a teacher, Stella Nwadigo, caught on video assaulting a three-year-old pupil, Abayomi Michael, during a numeracy lesson.

The disturbing footage, which surfaced on social media, shows the female teacher violently smacking the young child for struggling with the lesson. The video sparked widespread outrage, leading to the teacher’s subsequent arrest on Wednesday.

In a statement, the school management condemned the teacher’s actions, describing them as unacceptable.

The institution assured the public that the teacher would remain suspended until the ongoing investigation is concluded.

“We are aware of a deeply troubling incident involving one of our teachers and a student, which has been circulating on social media,” the statement reads.

“The video shows a teacher engaging in the physical discipline of a student in a manner that is completely unacceptable and contrary to the values and principles of our school.

“As an institution deeply committed to fostering a culture of respect, care, and dignity, we are horrified by this incident and wish to make unequivocally clear that such actions will not be tolerated.

“In response, the teacher involved has been suspended indefinitely while a thorough investigation is conducted.

“This immediate and decisive action reflects our zero-tolerance policy toward misconduct and our obligation to safeguard the safety and well-being of every child under our care.

“We extend our sincerest apologies to the student and their family. We have reached out to them personally to express our regret, after cur support, and ensure that their needs are fully addressed during this time.

“In light of this incident, we are taking firm steps to ensure that such behaviour is never repeated. As such, we will be organizing mandatory training sessions for teachers to reinforce child protection protocols, emphasize positive disciplinary practices, and cultivate greater sensitivity in interactions with students.”

The management further said it has introduced a “confidential whistle-blowing system” to encourage the prompt reporting of inappropriate behaviour.

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The U.S. mission in Nigeria says it will close its operation on Thursday, January 9, 2025 to honour former President Jimmy Carter.

The U.S. mission stated this in a post on its official handle, X, on Thursday.

“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 9 in honor of former President Carter’s passing.

“We remember former President Jimmy Carter, a tireless advocate for peace, democracy, and human rights. As the first U.S. President,” the mission stated.

Carter, who died on December 29 at the age of 100, served a single term from 1977 to 1981 and was widely praised for his post-presidential humanitarian efforts, for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

His body will lie in state at the Capitol until Thursday for members of the public to pay their respects to a man who was panned for his political instincts while in office, but redefined what a post-presidency could look like.

A state funeral service is to be held Thursday at the National Cathedral, an Episcopal church in Washington that also hosted funerals for former presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, and George H.W. Bush.

Biden is to deliver the eulogy for his fellow Democrat, while Trump, along with the other three living former presidents — Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama — are expected to attend.

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The newly appointed special adviser to Kano State Governor, Engr. Abba Yusuf, on Works, Engr. Ahmad Ishaq Bunkure passed away barely 48 hours after he was sworn in.

Engr. Bunkure died on Wednesday in Egypt.

Governor Yusuf’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature, in a statement, quoted the governor to have expressed deep sorrow over his sudden death, describing his death as a tragic and irreplaceable loss to the state, his family, and the broader political community.

He prayed for Allah’s mercy on the deceased and strength for his family to bear the painful loss.

“This is a heartbreaking moment for us as a government. Engr. Bunkure was a dedicated professional whose expertise and contributions were expected to drive our administration’s vision for development. His loss is deeply felt,” the governor said.

Engr. Ahmad Ishaq Bunkure had only been appointed as special adviser on Works, making his death a shock to many.

Condolences have continued to pour in from the people of Kano State, including former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and members of the Kano State government.

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English Premier League club, West Ham, has confirmed the appointment of former Chelsea boss, Graham Potter as its new head coach.

“West Ham United is delighted to welcome Graham Potter as the club’s new head coach. The 49-year-old joins the Hammers on a two-and-a-half-year contract and will take charge of his new team for the first time when the Irons travel to Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round on Friday evening.

“A highly-respected and sought-after coach, Potter has been awaiting the right opportunity after leaving his last role at Chelsea in April 2023 and was the Board’s unanimous choice to take the club forward in line with its objectives and ambitions.

“Potter, whose progressive style and flexible tactical approach previously impressed at Swedish club Östersund, Swansea City and Brighton & Hove Albion, has a passion for a return to Premier League management and is relishing the opportunity to work with West Ham United’s talented squad of international players,” the club statement read on Thursday.

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