Author: Lawal AbdulSalam Olawale

Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Binance Holdings Limited to provide the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with comprehensive information on all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform.

 

The court handed down the order in an ex-parte motion filed by the EFCC demanding information about Nigerians trading on Binance.

 

The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/259/2024 and dated February 29 according to the anti-graft agency was brought pursuant to Sections 6(b), (h), (I), 7(1), (a)(2), and 38 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Establishment Act, 2004 and Section 15 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 (as amended).

 

In the affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by an operative of the EFCC, Hamma Bello, he stated that the Special Investigation Team of the commission domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser received intelligence that money laundering and terrorism financing was carried out on Binance.

 

He said, “The Special Investigation Team of the commission domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser received an intelligence stating the nefarious activities (money laundering and terrorism financing) on Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange platform.

 

“That on receipt of the intelligence, the team began an investigation by conducting surveillance of the activities of the platform.

 

“The team uncovered users who have been using the platform for price discovery, confirmation, and market manipulation, which has caused tremendous distortions in the market, resulting in the Naira losing its value against other currencies”.

Bello also said the team uncovered some users whose activities on Binance resulted in the country’s currency losing its value against other currencies.

 

He said, “That the team uncovered users who have been using the platform for price discovery, confirmation and market manipulation which has caused tremendous distortions in the market, resulting in the Naira losing its values against other currencies.

 

“That the damage the platform has caused was clearly explained to the operators of the platform, and they were requested to delist the Naira and avail the ONSA on the activities of the Nigerians on their platform.

 

That from the information afforded to the team by Binance shows trading volume from Nigeria in 2023 alone stood at $21.6bn.

 

“Attached and marked as Exhibit EFCC 1 is a copy of the document from Binance to the ONSA stating this fact amongst others.

“That the commission will ensure that investigation is conducted within such reasonable time,”

Bello stated that the requested data would help the commission complete its investigation.

 

According to a certified true copy of the ruling, which was delivered on February 29 but sighted by journalists on Monday, Justice Emeka Nwite granted the interim order.

 

Nwite said, “The applicant’s application dated and filed 29th February 2024 is hereby granted as prayed.

 

an order of this honourable court is hereby made directing the operators of Binance to provide the commission with comprehensive data/information relating to all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform.”

 

Binance is an online exchange where users can trade cryptocurrencies.

 

The Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, at a press briefing after the 293rd meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee in Abuja on February, disclosed that more than $26bn was channelled through Binance without traces in the last one year.

 

Financial Times had on February 28 reported that two executives of the company were arrested and detained after they flew into the country as a result of a ban on their website.

 

On March 12, 2024, the FT reported that the EFCC asked Binance to share data on its 100 top users in Nigeria as well as all transaction history for the past six months.

According to the report, the request is at the centre of negotiations between Binance and Nigeria.

 

Four days after the killings of military officers and civilians in the Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, on Monday, visited the troubled community to assess the extent of the destruction.

 

The military Joint Task Force, however, barred journalists from covering the governor’s assessment tour of the troubled community.

 

The JTF operatives barricaded the major entries to Okuama with an armoured personnel carrier tank, thus preventing vehicular and human traffic, including media men, from gaining access to the community.

 

But Oborevwori, who was received by the leader of the military JTF, General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigeria Army, Major General Jamaal Abdulsalam.

 

They went for a closed-door meeting that lasted for about one hour.

 

Details later…

Terrorists abducted no fewer than 87 women, children, and others in a fresh attack on the Kajuru Station community in Kaduna State on Sunday night.

The community has been thrown into confusion and fear. Some residents were seen today, Monday, relocating due to fear of further attacks.

By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

 

Terrorists abducted no fewer than 87 women, children, and others in a fresh attack on the Kajuru Station community in Kaduna State on Sunday night.

 

 

The community has been thrown into confusion and fear. Some residents were seen today, Monday, relocating due to fear of further attacks.

 

 

 

Kajuru has suffered several attacks in recent times, and some locals are still in captivity.

 

Speaking to journalists, an official of the Kaduna Kajuru-Station Youths, Harisu Dari, said the terrorists attacked at about 10 p.m. on Sunday.

 

He said they broke into some shops to steal food and other provisions.

 

According to Dari, “Two days ago, 15 women and a man were abducted in the Dogon-Noma community of Kajuru.

 

“For now, there is no contact yet with the 87 persons abducted on Sunday night.

 

“As of the time I visited the community this morning, security operatives have not been drafted to help restore the confidence of the villagers.

 

“The villagers are traumatised by the sad development. The government needs to re-strategise in tackling these terrorists,” Dari said.

 

Kaduna attacks

Kaduna has become a huge scene of kidnappings of recent.

 

On Thursday, March 7, the bandits invaded LEA Primary School, Kuriga, in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

 

The terrorists shot one of the pupils and escaped into the bush with over 200 others. Among the victims were some secondary school students, and staff members.

 

Kidnappers of the Kaduna schoolchildren later contacted a spokesman for the families of the hostages. The Kaduna terrorists demanded N1 billion for the students’ release.

 

Meanwhile, last Friday, Kaduna Police Command claimed it arrested a 35-year-old man (name withheld), over alleged kidnapping in the state.

The Police also said they recovered arms and ammunition in a raid conducted at the suspects’ residence.

 

What they recovered, Police said, were a fabricated cartridge revolver rifle, a fabricated pistol, two Dane guns, six live cartridges, one discharge GPRG ammunition, seven discharge cartridges, and a blood-stained cutlass.

 

Gumi…

Earlier, last Thursday, while reacting to the kidnappings, controversial Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, faulted the Federal Government on the continued use of force to secure the release of victims.

 

He especially mentioned the case of the over 200 pupils and teachers recently abducted from LEA Primary School.

 

Also, Gumi said the government ought to go closer to the bandits, study them, and provide them with better living conditions.

 

Gumi’s words: “You need a programme just like the Niger Delta (amnesty programme)… which will bring them out of their forests.

 

“Educate them, give them healthcare, give them a peaceful life. This is how you entice people to abandon violence and militancy.

 

“But when you continue dropping bombs, they will find no sympathy and empathy for our children. This is it. An eye for an eye.

 

“This is what is happening. So, we have to change our tactics, we have to change our styles.”

Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union have begun a nationwide strike today (Monday) over alleged unfair treatment and disparity in the payment of salaries by the Federal Government.

 

Last Monday, the unions threatened to shut down hostels and power supply in universities across the country if the Federal Government fails to meet its demands before today, March 18, 2024.

 

National President of SSANU, Muhammed Ibrahim, said his members, including Vice Chancellors, registrars, and bursars, have not been paid 2022 arrears.

 

On Sunday, Ibrahim informed The PUNCH that the two unions were set for their nationwide strike.

 

Meanwhile, the Minister for Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, stated that he was unaware of SSANU/NASU’s planned strike.

 

However, during the Channels Television’s Morning Show programme, Ibrahim declared that the strike had started.

 

“Definitely, it (the strike) has already started.

 

of today (Monday), all our workers in registry, bursary, works and maintenance, security, and students’ affairs have withdrawn their services and nothing moves within the administration of any public university in Nigeria and that will be the case for the next seven days until and unless the needful is done,” he stated.

 

The SSANU president stressed that no government representative has reached out to the non-academic unions, noting that though some have reached out unofficially, their assurances cannot be taken to the bank.

 

He wondered why some government officials would not fully comply with President Bola Tinubu’s instruction to pay 2022 arrears.

 

He added that the Minister of Labour , Nkiruka Onyejeocha, has not reached out to the aggrieved unions despite issuing a seven-day notice last Monday.

 

This, he said was a departure from the responsiveness of the ex-Labour Minister Chris Ngige.

 

He stressed that the unions would go back to their toolbox and decide the next line of action should the government fail to heed the unions’ demands after the seven-day warning strike, which commenced today.

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, has begun its 7-day warning strike in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

 

Members of the SSANU at the University of Abuja blocked the entrance to the gate of the university on Monday, in compliance with the 7-day warning strike.

 

Recall that the Joint Action Committee, JAC, of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU and the SSANU directed members to commence a seven-day warning strike on Monday (today).

 

directive indicates that there will be a complete blackout in all the universities, water treatment plants and clinics will be shut down, while those involved in the proposed matriculations in some universities are to stay away from any activities.

 

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu had recently directed that university workers that were on prolonged strike in 2022 and had their salaries stopped by Muhammadu Buhari’s administration after the invocation of “No work, no pay” policy, should be paid four months of the withheld salaries.

 

While the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, members have since been paid, the non teaching staff comprising SSANU, NASU and the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, are yet to receive any payment.

 

To express their dismay, SSANU and NASU through JAC, issued an ultimatum to the government, but the ultimatum expired without any action from government.

 

The two unions thereafter, gave a seven day warning strike notice to commence on March 18 if the government failed to attend to their demand.

 

In a statement on Friday March 15, JAC of the two unions lamented that the government had remained adamant to the strike notice and therefore directed that the warning strike should commence today.

 

A statement signed by Prince Peters Adeyemi, General Secretary of NASU and Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, SSANU President, explained that all the notices to the relevant government officials have produced no positive results.

 

The statement titled, “Commencement of a 7-day warning strike,” read, “The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU has inundated the Federal Government with the need to pay the withheld 4 months’ salaries of our members in the Federal Universities and Inter-University Centres as done for our Academic counterpart to no avail.”

*SENEGALESE PRAY FOR PEACEFUL, TRANSPARENT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION*

 

Ahead of the 24th March crucial presidential election, Senegalese Christians on Sunday prayed for peaceful and transparent electoral process in their country.

Similar prayers were also held at various Mosques in the Muslim dominated country on Friday.

 

Abbe Jean Joe, who officiated the Mass at Our Lady of Victory, Diourbel, east of Dakar, the Senegalese capital, reflected on the Gospel of *John 12: 20-23,* especially the looming Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His resurrection, hence the admonition that a grain of wheat has to die in order to bear much fruit.

 

Abbe Joe, Dean of Diourbel Parishes and Parish Priests was joined in the Mass celebration by the Our Lady of Victory, Diourbel Parish Priest Abbe Pierre Claver Ndione and Fr. Marcel Mbengue.

 

The service was part of activities marking the Feast of the Legion of Mary, which brought together members of the group from various Parishes in Diourbel.

 

Senegal’s 7.03 million registered voters go to poll on the 24th of March to elect a new president from among 19 candidates, including one woman contender in the country of more than 18 million people.

 

Incumbent President Marcky Sall is not seeking re-election with his second term mandate ending on the 2nd of April 2024.

 

The run-up to the election had been characterised by uncertainty and political tensions over the rescheduling of the presidential vote, originally fixed for 25 February 2024.

 

The tensions have eased after the Constitutional Council’s recent intervention resulting in the election being rescheduled to the 24th of March, coupled with the general amnesty announced by President Sall leading to the release of some detainees, including opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the man he has anointed for the presidential vote, since he himself has been ruled out of the race. ##