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Why C’River Assembly will enact severe anti-kidnap law

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Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem has disclosed that the House will soon enact a state law that will mete out severe punishment to kidnappers.

He spoke to the leadership of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, when they called on him to seek the Assembly’s support to rescue their colleague, Prof Ekanem Ephraim of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital who was kidnapped a week ago.

The armed abductors had pretended to be patients.

Expressing sadness over incessant cases of kidnappings in parts of the state, the Speaker said when the law comes into effect, whosoever is caught in the act of kidnapping in the state will pay heavily for it.

“I really feel very sad by the frequency of abductions. The recent case of Professor (Mrs) Ekanem Philip Ephraim of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital is very worrisome.

“I understand your pain and want to assure you that we will do everything possible to secure her immediate release from the kidnappers’ den. The State governor and the security operatives are working round the clock to bring her back safely,” he said.

The Speaker appealed to the NMA not to carry out their threat of withdrawing their professional services.

He assured of the safe release of the doctor of Neurology.

Speaking earlier, chairman of NMA, Dr Felix Archibong who led the NMA delegation on the visit, said the trauma the victim is going through was unspeakable.

He said there have been incessant kidnapping of their members and called on government and security agencies to end it.

He pleaded that Prof Ephraim should be released unhurt soon enough.

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TUC Criticizes Government Over Tariff Increases and Highway Tolls

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Trade Union Congress (TUC) has joined forces with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in opposing recent government policies, including increases in electricity and telecom tariffs, as well as the reintroduction of tolls on selected highways.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja following a National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting on Thursday, TUC President Festus Osifo urged the government to address the economic challenges stemming from the volatile exchange rate, which has led to the continued depreciation of the Naira.

Osifo emphasized the need for authorities to take labor concerns seriously to prevent industrial unrest.

Earlier this week, the Federal Government and NLC reached an agreement that temporarily halted a planned nationwide protest over a proposed 50% increase in telecom tariffs.

Under this plan, call rates would rise from N12 to N18 per minute, SMS charges from N4 to N6, and data costs from N300 to N400 per gigabyte. The government is also considering a 66% hike in electricity tariffs.

A statement issued at the end of the NAC meeting expressed strong opposition to the highway tolls, stating:

“NAC deliberated on the proposed introduction of toll gates on selected federal roads and strongly condemned it in its entirety. While we acknowledge that tolling is a globally recognized method of generating revenue for road maintenance, it is unacceptable to impose tolls on roads that are unpaved, dilapidated, and riddled with potholes.

“The NAC views this as an insult to Nigerians, who are being asked to pay tolls on roads that are in total disrepair. Our highways are death traps—unsafe, abandoned, and filled with potholes. Rather than fulfilling its responsibility to fix and maintain these roads, the government is resorting to shameless extortion.

“The Congress, therefore, demands that all roads earmarked for tolling must first be fixed, properly tarred, and repaired to international standards before any discussion on tolling can be entertained.”

Although the Federal Government recently denied plans to increase electricity tariffs by 65%, TUC expressed concern that such an idea was even under consideration. Osifo noted that past tariff hikes had already caused significant hardship for citizens.

He stated:

“This proposed increase is not only ill-timed but also a deliberate act of economic oppression against Nigerians, who are already struggling under unbearable economic conditions.

“The improved service quality promised during the last tariff hike, particularly for consumers under the so-called ‘Band A’ category, has not been realized. Most consumers, regardless of their tariff band, continue to live in perpetual darkness.”

TUC pointed to the devaluation of the Naira as the main driver of inflation and rising prices.

Reflecting on past warnings, Osifo recalled that in February 2024, the TUC had held a world press conference highlighting how excessive Naira devaluation was fueling inflation and eroding workers’ purchasing power.

A year later, he said, the congress’s predictions had materialized, with economic conditions worsening. He warned that if current policies were not revised to support citizens, the TUC might be forced to call for mass protests.

“The NAC, on behalf of the Congress, strongly advises the government to refrain from introducing policies that would further exacerbate the current economic hardship faced by hardworking Nigerians.

“If the administration insists on implementing these policies, the TUC will have no choice but to mobilize the working class, civil society, and the oppressed masses for a nationwide action. This level of exploitation is unacceptable. A stitch in time saves nine.”

 

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Police Dismantle $4M Oil Scam Network, Arrest Key Figures

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Authorities have dismantled a sophisticated criminal network responsible for defrauding international oil traders of over $4 million.

Key members of the syndicate, which allegedly operated under the names Marine Gold Oil Refineries Limited, Eagle Capital Management, and Richrice International Corporation, were arrested in a sweeping operation spanning Nigeria, China, and the United States.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, the Nigeria Police Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed that the arrests took place between January 4 and January 31, 2025.

One of the prime suspects, David Udensik, also known as Dr. Jacob Bello, was taken into custody for allegedly fabricating documents from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and using them to defraud oil traders of $610,000.

Adejobi stated, “The NPF-NCCC has successfully apprehended key members of an organized crime syndicate involved in a $4 million fraud targeting international oil trading firms.

The syndicate, allegedly led by Marine Gold Oil Refineries Limited, Eagle Capital Management, and Richrice International Corporation, operates across Nigeria, China, and the United States, specializing in high-level fraud schemes within the global oil and gas industry.”

He further explained that detectives arrested Udensik, a Nigerian national from Akwa Ibom State, for creating fraudulent intelligence reports and falsifying NNPCL documents to manipulate unsuspecting traders.

Following an extensive investigation, authorities also apprehended Engr. Isaac Jerome Oyakhilome, CEO of Marine Gold Oil Refineries Limited and a director at Richrice International Corporation.

Adejobi revealed, “Oyakhilome was responsible for preparing and signing fraudulent sales agreements for crude oil with NNPCL, facilitating a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme that netted $1,151,495 for his company, which has no known physical address.”

During the crackdown, police recovered significant evidence, including ₦55 million (approximately $33,428.57), assets worth ₦370 million, electronic devices, and a Toyota Camry. Investigators reported that the suspects confessed to their involvement in the operation.

In a separate operation, police arrested Solomon Chidiebere Akunyalam, a 24-year-old involved in a high-tech cryptocurrency scam.

Adejobi detailed how Akunyalam used a foreign phone number in April 2024 to contact a victim via Binance before persuading him to switch their conversation to WhatsApp.

Posing as a trading mentor, he convinced the victim to activate third-party authentication on his device.

“The suspect then instructed the complainant to enable third-party authentication on his mobile device, having sent a phishing link disguised as further activation for subscription of a particular application.

The unsuspecting victim clicked and activated the phishing link on his device and his wallet was immediately drained of $86,000,” Adejobi explained.

On January 31, 2025, police raided a cybercrime base in Ipent 2 Estate, Lokogoma, Abuja, leading to the arrest of two individuals: Irhene Efe Wealth (25) and Irhene Godstime (21).

The duo specialized in hacking and selling the Facebook accounts of foreign nationals to other cybercriminals.

Meanwhile, in Lagos, authorities arrested Instagram user Idowu Emmanuel, known online as @lilsmart, for making false accusations against musician Naira Marley (Abdulazeez Adeshina Fashola).

Adejobi explained, “Investigations revealed that the suspect, using his Instagram handle @lilsmart, falsely alleged that he was abducted, assaulted, and robbed of $300, further claiming that Naira Marley had bribed all police officers in Lagos and was involved in credit card fraud.”

Following an investigation, Emmanuel admitted in writing that his allegations were fabricated and baseless.

He was taken into custody on January 28, 2025, at his residence in Megamound Estate, Ajah, Lagos, with evidence of the crime recovered.

The police have assured that all suspects will face legal proceedings as authorities continue efforts to dismantle fraudulent networks across the country.

 

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