Category: Economy

Nigerian Police Rescue 24-Year-Old Ghanaian Trafficked Under Fake Canada Travel Scheme In Ogun, Arrest Five

September 28, 2025 (updated September 28, 2025) Published by

According to the Force Headquarters, the rescue was carried out by operatives of INTERPOL Annex, FCID Alagbon, Lagos, in Ofada, Ogun State, following a formal request for assistance received from the National Central Bureau (NCB) Accra on September 15, 2025.

The Nigeria Police Force has rescued a 24-year-old Ghanaian national from a human trafficking syndicate and arrested five suspects, including both Ghanaian and Nigerian nationals, in a coordinated operation in Ogun State.

Police said preliminary investigations revealed that the victim and his father were trafficked into Nigeria in July 2025 by one Hassana Abban, a 25-year-old Ghanaian woman residing in Ofada, under the guise of facilitating their travel to Canada.

Abban allegedly obtained forty thousand (40,000) Cedis, approximately ₦4.96 million, for the supposed travel arrangements, a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, on Sunday, stated.

Upon their arrival in Nigeria, their Ghanaian international passports and mobile phones were seized, and they were coerced into activities suspected to be fraudulent online trading platforms,” the police said.

Following intelligence sharing with Interpol Accra, operatives tracked the victims’ location and rescued them on September 16, 2025.

The operation also led to the arrest of the principal suspect, Hassana Abban, and four accomplices: Odubuasi David, a Nigerian national; Yahaya Salifu, a Ghanaian national; Sherifa Haruna, a Ghanaian national; and Ebenezer Ofosu, a Ghanaian national.

All five suspects are currently in custody and further investigations are ongoing. The rescued victims have since been reunited with their family back in Ghana,” the police confirmed.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commended the operatives’ professionalism and stressed the importance of regional cooperation in tackling cross-border crimes.

He said the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to working with international partners to dismantle trafficking syndicates, adding that “no criminal syndicate operating across borders will escape the long arm of the law.”

PENGASSAN enforces Dangote Refinery shutdown

September 28, 2025 (updated September 28, 2025) Published by

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, implemented the shutdown of the Dangote Refinery plant on Sunday.

This was contained in an update on the striking union’s action against Dangote Refinery over mass sacking.

The union said its members have shut all oil installations nationwide.

It noted that the refinery plant is 100 per cent shut down; fertiliser plant train two is also 100 per cent shut, with train one running at 60 per cent capacity.

The union added that the diesel plant is still running at the moment. However, the development has not been confirmed by Dangote Refinery.

The implication is that crude and gas supply to the refinery have been disrupted.

Recall that in a statement on Saturday, Dangote Refinery described the PENGASSAN directive as economic sabotage.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission on Sunday urged Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN to engage in dialogue to resolve the rift.

The dispute between Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN started after the former sacked over 800 workers for belonging to the union.

BREAKING: Nigerian Authorities Planning to Assassinate Me – Sowore Reveals

September 27, 2025 (updated September 27, 2025) Published by

Human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, has accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of planning to kill him.

Taking to X, Sowore alleged that the Department of State Services (DSS), under the leadership of its Director-General, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, has declared a “full war” against him following his criticism of President Bola Tinubu, whom he labelled a “criminal” following the president’s claim during a visit to Brazil that corruption had “vanished” under his administration.

He explained that Sahara Reporters had published an investigation which exposed how a DSS promotion exam led to the death of eight officers, creating anger inside the service. According to him, the DSS is now arresting and questioning its own officers over the leaks.

Sowore said after the DSS wrote to social media companies like X and Facebook, asking them to act against him, the secret police also began trailing his friends and collecting information about those who leaked stories to Sahara Reporters.

These people have a plan to assassinate you, and the DSS is providing technical assistance,” he quoted from sources warning him

Sowore also described the DSS boss, Ajayi, as a longtime operator who started his career in 1990 by posing as a student at the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

He further claimed that this was not the first attempt on his life. According to Sowore, operatives of the DSS had previously tried to assassinate him inside a Federal High Court in Abuja during the Muhammadu Buhari administration. He alleged that one of the officers involved, identified as Marshal, had recently returned from Bulgaria, where he was trained in so-called “non-lethal” killing techniques.

Meanwhile, Sowore is also facing fresh legal battles. He revealed that Justice M. Umar of the Federal High Court has scheduled his arraignment on cybercrime charges for next Tuesday in a case instituted by the DSS. In addition, another case filed by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, is set to be heard on Monday before Justice M.S. Liman — the same judge who ordered the seizure of his international passport in January 2025.

Sowore argued that his passport was not seized for legal reasons but to trap him in Nigeria.

It was a calculated move to keep me tied down and unable to travel, so they could do their worst,” he said.

Nationwide Blackout Looms As Electricity Workers Begin Strike

September 26, 2025 (updated September 26, 2025) Published by

Nigerians may face fresh power outages as the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) commenced an indefinite strike on Wednesday over unresolved welfare demands, including the non-implementation of the national minimum wage and alleged casualisation of workers.

Obas empire reports that the industrial action was announced in a notice signed by NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, who said the strike followed the expiration of the union’s ultimatum to the management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

It is unfortunate that the TCN management has decided to handle these issues with kid gloves and a lack of regard for the hard-working staff of TCN. This, they have displayed without any defined roadmap to addressing them,” the union stated.

NUEE insisted that the strike was necessary to protect workers’ rights and salvage the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) from total collapse.

We cannot continue to fold our arms while we watch our rights being vehemently violated and the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) going down the drain. To this end, the union is compelled to withdraw its services,” Igwebike said.

The union directed all its members nationwide to stop work immediately until management is ready to address their grievances.

This is not the first time electricity workers have shut down operations over welfare concerns. In June 2024, NUEE embarked on a similar strike, which disrupted electricity supply across the country.

Full text of the NUEE strike notice:

A CALL TO ACTION

Following the expiration of the Union’s ultimatum to TCN Management over some staff welfare and operational issues, which include:

  1. 1. Non-implementation of National Minimum Wage
  1. 2. Casualisation of Workers
  2. 3. Non-provision of working tools and materials
  3. 4. Non-payment of staff salaries since April 2025
  4. 5. Lack of Operational Vehicles
  5. 6. Non-provision of PPEs since 2021
  6. 7. Issues arising from the unbundling of TCN
  7. “8. Non-payment of retirement benefits

“It is unfortunate that the TCN Management has decided to handle these issues with kid gloves and a lack of regard for the hard-working staff of TCN. This, they have displayed without any defined road map(s) to addressing them.

We cannot continue to fold our arms while we watch our rights being vehemently violated and the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) going down the drain. To this end, the Union is compelled to withdraw its services.

Members are hereby directed to withdraw services until such time that the management is ready to discharge its obligations towards the workforce.

This directive takes immediate effect and requires total compliance

Fubara Dissolves Rivers Pension Board

September 26, 2025 (updated September 26, 2025) Published by

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has dissolved the Rivers State Pensions Board with immediate effect.

ObasEmpire reports that this was communicated in a Government Special Announcement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday evening by the State Head of Service, Mrs Inyingi Brown.

According to the Special Announcement, the office of the State Accountant General will handle the functions of the Board until a new board is constituted.

While no reason was given for the dissolution of the board, the statement directed members of the former board to hand over all properties and assets of the board in their possession to the Director of Administration of the Board.

The statement reads, “The Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the immediate dissolution of the Rivers State Pensions Board.

Consequently, the Office of the Accountant General of Rivers State, henceforth, will handle the functions of the Board.

Members of the defunct board are by this notice advised to hand over all properties and assets of the board in their possession to the Director of Administration of the Board.

His Excellency, the Executive Governor, will in due course constitute a new board to manage the affairs of Pensions.”

ObasEmpire reports that Fubara was on September 18 reinstated as governor by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after he lifted the State of Emergency imposed on the South-South state.

Photos:Heavy Security as Lagos Govt demolishes Over 19 buildings at Tade fair plaza

September 25, 2025 (updated September 25, 2025) Published by

Over 19 buildings were on Thursday pulled down at the New Mandela Plaza, within the popular Trade Fair Complex in Lagos, as the state government moved in with a heavy security presence to carry out a massive demolition exercise

At the time of filing this report, selective buildings inside the plaza were already reduced to rubble, sparking outrage from shop owners who claimed they were not served prior notice.

A visibly agitated plaza owner, who arrived while his shop was being pulled down, screamed from his car that no notice was served before the bulldozers moved in. Some sales representatives lamented that their bosses’ goods, still locked up inside the shops, were destroyed alongside the buildings.

When contacted to clarify the role of the Task Force, its Chairman said the operation did not originate from his office. He explained: “Sometimes, security agencies in the state seek the backup of the Task Force to secure the environment. That does not mean they initiated the process. However, if such reports come to my table, I will let you know.”

As at press time, there was no official statement from the Lagos State Government on the demolition, but security operatives remained on ground to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

JUST IN: Dino Melaye issues warning to Gov Ododo over attacks on Kogi ADC offices

September 25, 2025 (updated September 25, 2025) Published by

Senator Dino Melaye has issued a stern warning to Kogi State governor Usman Ododo following reported attacks on offices and members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the state.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), @_dinomelaye wrote: “I CALL ON GOV. ODODO TO CALL HIS APPOINTEES TO ORDER. HENCEFORTH ANY ATTACK ON ADC OFFICES AND MEMBERS IN THE STATE WILL BE MATCHED WITH SUPERIOR RESPONSES. THE DAYS OF GOD DEY ARE OVER. LAST WARNING.”

His message came amid online reports and local chatter that ADC offices were vandalised, members intimidated, and party property destroyed.

Some socail media users posted videos and images showing broken windows, overturned furniture, scattered documents and charred walls at ADC secretariats, though verification is limited at this stage.

Supporters of the ADC claimed the attacks are politically motivated, suggesting they are aimed at weakening the party’s structure.

Thugs reportedly loyal to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) reportedly invaded the ADC secretariat in Abejukolo and destroyed chairs, documents and party flags.APC party

Melaye explicitly held Governor Ododo responsible for the actions of his appointees and pledged that any future assaults would not go unanswered.

We are no longer entertaining this lawlessness,” Melaye said.

Priscilla Ojo and Juma Jux Melt Hearts as Baby Rakeem Turns One Month

September 24, 2025 (updated September 24, 2025) Published by

Nigerian actress and lifestyle influencer Priscilla Ojo, daughter of Nollywood star Iyabo Ojo, and her husband, Tanzanian music sensation Juma Jux, have warmed hearts on social media with stunning new family portraits.

The couple joyfully marked the one-month milestone of their son, Rakeem, by sharing adorable photos that beautifully captured the essence of their new journey into parenthood.

One of the highlights of the shoot was Juma Jux proudly cradling his baby boy in his arms, beaming with fatherly pride. In another touching moment, the Tanzanian star was seen backing his baby Rakeem, holding him close in a protective and affectionate fatherly bond.

The images reflected not only his love and devotion but also the strength of the new bond forming between father and son.

Priscilla Ojo, glowing with elegance and joy, was pictured beside her husband and son, radiating happiness as she embraced motherhood. Known for her thriving career as a fashion entrepreneur and influencer, Priscilla continues to inspire many with her graceful balance of family life and career.

Fans across Nigeria, Tanzania, and beyond have flooded the couple’s pages with congratulatory messages and heart emojis, celebrating baby Rakeem’s one-month milestone. Many admired the couple’s unity, calling them one of Africa’s most beautiful celebrity families.

Juma Jux, celebrated for his soulful music, is now winning hearts in his new role as a doting father, while Priscilla Ojo shines as a proud mother. Together, they have quickly become a symbol of love and modern African celebrity parenting.

As Priscilla Ojo and Juma Jux share these precious family moments, their followers are excited to watch baby Rakeem grow and witness more milestones. Their story is not only about fame but also about love, commitment, and the joy of family.

Davido gifts wife Chioma 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon

September 24, 2025 (updated September 24, 2025) Published by

Nigerian Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has gifted his wife, Chioma Adeleke, a 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon.

The luxury SUV, recently released to the market, is valued at over $150,000 (N240 million), depending on specifications.

The 2025 model features a new design and electric options, representing a significant upgrade from previous versions.

In a video posted on his Instagram Story on Wednesday, Davido said he traded in an older model and added funds to purchase the new vehicle.

Presenting the G-Wagon to Chioma, he described the gesture as his way of giving her “only the best”.

Chioma, who appeared visibly delighted, received the car months after the couple’s high-profile white wedding in Miami on August 10, 2025.

The wedding, the last in a series of three ceremonies, reportedly cost about $3.7 million and drew notable figures from politics, business and entertainment.

Emefiele fights back in court over fraud trial, says EFCC has no role in the case

September 23, 2025 (updated September 23, 2025) Published by

Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, has asked a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court to foreclose the prosecution in his trial for alleged procurement fraud.

Emefiele is facing a 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, conferring corrupt advantage, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, and obtaining money by false pretence.

The charge, marked CR/577/2023, was filed by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and is before Justice Hamza Muazu.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Matthew Burkaa, counsel to Emefiele, noted that the prosecution was not represented in court.

Burkaa recalled that the matter had been adjourned till September 23 for continuation of the hearing but the lead prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, was absent and did not send a representative.

The defence lawyer said he was informed by the court’s registrar through a WhatsApp message that there was a letter before the court requesting an adjournment.

He added that upon arriving in court, he was shown a document sent by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which, he argued, was not the agency that filed the charge.

Burkaa said: “The charge before this court was brought by the officeof the Attorney-General of the Federation.

It is therefore surprising that the EFCC is the one asking for adjournment. My lord, the defendant and his lawyers came all the way from Lagos. There is no excuse for the prosecution’s absence.”

Burkaa prayed the court to foreclose the prosecution because there was no formal application from the AGF’s office for adjournment.

In his ruling, Justice Muazu said the court would grant the prosecution one last opportunity to present its case

The court will do the needful should the prosecution fail to appear on the next adjourned date,” he held.

The case was adjourned till October 22 and 23 for continuation of the hearing.

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