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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday handed over a total of $180,300 and 53 vehicles, fraudulently taken by some Nigerians from Canadian citizens to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Speaking at the signing ceremony for the return of the recovered vehicles and funds, the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede, stated that the Canadians were victims of cybercrimes. He stressed that recovering and returning the assets reinforced the commission’s commitment to fighting financial crimes. The EFCC Chairman said the event also emphasised the need for countries to collaborate to tackle financial and other forms of crime.He said, “This is an occasion we are using to demonstrate our commitment to fighting financial crimes and to also collaborate with other countries and agencies around the world. It’s common knowledge that financial crimes have taken a new turn all across the globe. “It has become a global problem. The people who perpetrate these crimes do so in a way that shows their activities are borderless and barbaric. “They employ various means to ensure they move across jurisdictions. That’s why it has become very necessary and imperative for us to collaborate with our friends across the world. “Most countries are collaborating with us in the fight against financial crimes. What you are witnessing today is a demonstration of that reinforced commitment. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has been collaborating with us. This collaboration has resulted in many recoveries and the impact of joint operations.” Olukoyede noted that although the operations spanned several years, they ultimately led to significant recoveries. He said, “We are here today to witness the handover of assets recovered on behalf of Canadian victims of cybercrime. The operations have taken a couple of years and have resulted in a substantial recovery.” Olukoyede stated that Nigeria should not be seen as a hub of financial and other crimes, adding that the country does not tolerate criminal activities. He said, “It is important for us to let our colleagues and friends from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police know that as an agency, the EFCC, and as a country, Nigeria is always ready to fight financial crimes. Nigeria should not necessarily be seen as a hub of financial crimes. It is a transit town, as are Canada and most countries across the world because people move from one jurisdiction to another. “This is also a demonstration that the Nigerian government will never tolerate any act of financial crime.” The EFCC Chairman pledged to investigate, prosecute, and recover assets for victims of financial crimes.He said, “The Nigerian government does not tolerate financial crimes. Not only that, we will pursue, investigate, recover, prosecute, and ensure that victims are restituted. That is what we are doing today.”Speaking on the recoveries, he said $164,000 was taken from Bogomas Elena, while one Sandra Butler was defrauded of $16,300. He said, “In total, 53 vehicles were recovered on behalf of the victims. In one instance, $164,000 was taken from Elena, and $16,300 was also recovered. These will be handed over to the Canadian police to return to the victims.” Providing background on the recovery process, Zonal Director of the Lagos Directorate, Micheal Wetkas, said the Canadian police approached the commission in 2012 regarding stolen vehicles that had gone missing en route from Canada. He said, “All they provided us with were the vehicle registration numbers. From there, our team quickly traced the vehicles. At one point, we realised the scale of the operation, which was quite large, and it became known as Operation Hot Wheels. “It was a joint operation between us and Canadian police officers. This collaboration led to the recovery of the 53 vehicles handed over today. Among them, nine were tracked from a vessel transporting them abroad back to Nigeria. That is the brief story behind the operation.” He said Bogomas’ case was a romance scam reported to the commission. “An intelligence-led investigation was painstakingly conducted, and investigators discovered that the fraudster had used the proceeds to purchase real estate in Lagos. This property was traced, confiscated, and the assets returned. “Today, we are celebrating the recovery of $164,000 on behalf of Bogomas. The fraudster has been convicted, and another suspect is still on trial,” he added. Speaking on behalf of the Canadian Police, Premier Secretary and Deputy High Commissioner of Canada, Robert Acoumetry, commended the EFCC for their efforts. He said, “This is a testament to your professionalism and commitment to combating crime. I also cannot conclude my remarks without thanking the Government of Nigeria. If I may, Mr Executive Chairman, I’d like to add that we cover multiple countries, and many of them would be envious of the work you are doing here. “This shows that you are one of the key partners in West Africa in the fight against crime. Thank you very much. We highly value this partnership and would like to elevate it to the highest level possible.”

President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians of his commitment to replicate China’s infrastructure success in Nigeria. The Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale in a statement on Friday stated that one key takeaway from President Tinubu’s visit to China is the commitment to replicate China’s infrastructure back home. “We want our children to be in good schools, not tattered huts and dilapidated buildings. We must make our teaching innovative and allow businesses of all kinds and sizes to flourish. “One economic action leads to another, and it is in your hands to build our nation. Mine is to provide the leadership, and I am committed to doing just that,” the President stated.The statement also added that President Tinubu rounded off his official engagements in China by meeting with Nigerians living in the country, describing his visit as “very good and successful.” Addressing members of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation in China (NIDO China) and the Nigerian community at the China World Hotel, the President emphasised his efforts to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, trade, finance, energy, green economy and mining during his discussions with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and his participation at the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). “What is uppermost in my mind is for you to continue representing Nigeria as good citizens, and I urge you all to be good ambassadors of our nation in China. “We will always celebrate our diversity. We cherish it, but this diversity is our commitment to serve. If it is about service, we must be good citizens,” the President stated. Tinubu also emphasised the importance of discipline and commitment to national service, citing China’s disciplined society as an example for Nigerians to follow. “I cannot tell you more, except from the embassy, that China is a very disciplined society and we have to be disciplined too. Without discipline and commitment, we cannot build a nation that is respected everywhere in the world. “We must exploit our diversity and be ready to do everything required of us within the laws of the communities that we live in and reflect a good image of our country,” the President said. Highlighting the impact of investments in China’s economy, President Tinubu assured Nigerians in Diaspora that Nigeria’s Bank of Industry is prepared to collaborate with them to leverage opportunities back home. “Nigeria is going through reforms, and we are taking very bold and unprecedented decisions. For example, you might have been hearing from home in the last few days about fuel prices. “But, can we help it? Can we develop good roads like you have here? You see electricity being constant in quantity and quality. You see water supply, constant and running, and you see their good schools. And we say we want to hand over a banner without staining our children?“What is the critical part to get us there if we cannot take hard decisions to pave the way for a country that is blessed and so talented? “So many of you are so talented, speaking very fluent Mandarin. It is what you contribute and tell them at home that will reflect in the attitude of our people. The more you want everything free, it will become more expensive and long-delayed to achieve meaningful development,’’ Tinubu said. He noted that while it is not always easy for a leader to have a national consensus on issues, he is ready to take the hard decisions to move the nation forward. “We are focused, and I have a very good team,” President Tinubu added. In his remarks, the President of NIDO China, Dr. Oche Barnabas, commended President Tinubu, for his commitment to strengthening Nigeria-China relations, particularly in trade, investment, and people-to-people collaboration. He expressed NIDO China’s support for Nigeria’s 4Ds initiative, launched by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, earlier in the year. He pledged that the organisation is eager to drive the initiative forward within the diaspora community. Barnabas requested President Tinubu’s assistance in advocating for Nigeria to be officially recognised as a native English-speaking nation, which would open up job and educational opportunities for Nigerians in China. ”Your Excellency, I wish to indulge your kind attention and use this rare opportunity to share a key challenge on behalf of the Nigerian community in China. Due to the peculiar nature of this country, the Nigerian community is mainly composed of students, expatriates, and businessmen. ”Our desire is that Nigeria is officially recognized as a native English-speaking nation in China. We believe your esteemed engagements with the high-level authorities can assist us in establishing this status. ”Presently, over 70 per cent of available international jobs in China are reserved for native English speakers. In 2016, the local authorities listed South Africa as a native English-speaking nation. ”We believe Nigeria has a chance to receive similar recognition due to the fact that the English language is our official language and we are also blessed with Professor Wole Soyinka who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986,” Barnabas averred. He expressed optimism that the enhancement of Nigeria’s status will open more opportunities to allow more Nigerians to study and work in China, thereby increasing diaspora remittance to Nigeria. The Chairman of NIDO China pledged that the organisation would continue to contribute their expertise and resources to support President Tinubu’s administration and efforts to elevate Nigeria’s global standing.

The recent decision by the Federal Government to peg the minimum age for candidates sitting for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination may have come to stay, the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education has said. The Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, had in July stated that with effect from 2025, any candidate below the age of 18 will not be allowed to sit the SSSCE and without which such students cannot secure admission to higher institutions of learning. The announcement has generated heated debate among parents and education stakeholders. In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Thursday, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education, Mark Useni,  gave reasons the Federal Government might not likely reverse the decision. He said, “The Committees on Basic Education and Examination Boards took this matter to the leadership of the House of Representatives. The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, promptly appointed the House Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvere, to moderate a meeting between the two committees and the Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman. “The meeting was held on Wednesday, September 4, and the minister attended together with the Minister of State for Education, Dr Tanko Sununu, as well as the heads of basic education examination bodies. “The minister explained that the policy that relates to the 18 years age requirement for entry into the university is a policy that was developed before the adoption of the 6-3-3-4 system. He explained that the policy also has a root in the Universal Basic Education Act. “Prof Tahir said the policy is not peculiar to Nigeria, while also making reference to military and paramilitary institutions which place the entry age at 18 years. He also said that the voting age in Nigeria is pegged at 18 years.” Useni, a member of the All Progressives Congress representing Takum/Donga/Ussa Federal Constituency, Taraba State, frowned on the situation where children not older than 12 “are being made to seek admission into universities.” “While the policy is meant to ensure that children pursue their education alongside their cognitive and physical development and maturity, the Ministry of Education should develop a framework for proper transition into a full policy implementation. The Ministry of Education must ensure that students who are already progressing in the senior classes in secondary schools are not left stranded after completion of that level of education. “We mandated the minister and his team to work out ways of handling the policy based on data available to the ministry and ensure that the policy does not jeopardise public interest,” he added.

The Federal Government has concluded plans to sell a 50kg bag of rice at N40,000 to public servants with a view to alleviating the food crisis in the nation and its effects on Nigerians. This was disclosed in a letter from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, which was signed by the Director of Human Resources of the Ministry, Jaiyesimi Abimbola. The letter said all interested staff members were to complete a Google form on the OHCSF website and submit it to the director of human resources for endorsement. It noted that payment for and the distribution of the rice would be coordinated by designated offices while the chairman, Joint Union Council of the ministry, would serve as an observer for transparency reasons in the course of the exercise. “As part of the Federal Government’s efforts to alleviate the current food crisis in the country and its effects on the general population, I am directed to inform you that 50kg bags of rice will be sold at a subsidised rate of N40,000 only per bag to interested public servants in Abuja. “For effective implementation, all interested staff are required to complete a Google form on the OHCSF website, https://www.ohcsf.gov.ng, print, and submit same to the Director, HR, for endorsement. “Payment for and distribution of the rice will be coordinated by designated officials while the chairman, Joint Union Council of the Ministry is required to serve as an observer during the period of the exercise for the purpose of transparency. “I am to add that each staff is only entitled to purchase one bag. Two or more staff may also jointly pay for a bag for sharing among themselves. “Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of staff in your respective Departments/Units for information and guidance.” The Federal Government had recently said it had created centres across the country where Nigerians could purchase 50kg bags of rice for N40,000. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, said the initiative was one of several initiatives by the Tinubu administration to ease living conditions for citizens.