Tag: Corruption

Hushpuppi Responsible for £2 million SS Lazio Scam- FBI
Corruption, Crime, Finance, Justice, News, Nigeria

Hushpuppi Responsible for £2 million SS Lazio Scam- FBI

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has accused scam kingpin Hushpuppi and his crew of perpetrating a £2 million scam of Italian Serie A team Lazio. Lazio was reported to have paid the last installment of defender Stefan de Vrij’s transfer fee to scammers instead of the Dutch club Feyenoord in 2018. Italian newspaper Il Tempo alleged that Lazio was defrauded after paying £1.75 million into an account in Holland operated by fraudsters who had knowledge of the transaction. The fraudulent transaction took place through mail after the Serie A side received a mail believed to be from Feyenoord requesting, they pay the balance into an account provided. United States Department of Justice equally revealed that Hushpuppi and his gang nearly scammed a premier league club prior to ...
Dubai Police Extradites Hushpuppi and Woodberry to the US
Corruption, Crime, Justice, News, Nigeria

Dubai Police Extradites Hushpuppi and Woodberry to the US

Fraud suspects Hushpuppi and Woodberry who were arrested in Dubai by Dubai police have been extradited to the United State (US) to answer for allegations of financial crimes. The Dubai police confirmed this in a tweet on Thursday, acknowledging the appreciation of the FBI for their good work. Ramon Igbalode popular known as Hushpuppi and Olalekan Jacon Ponle alias Woodberry will be facing charges of multiple money-laundering and cyber-crimes in the US. The Dubai police had earlier revealed details of their arrest in a documentary. The operation codenamed ‘Fox hunt’ led to the arrest of the duo and 10 other suspects. The 4 months planned raid resulted in the arrest of the suspects and recovery of over N150 billion in cash and 13 luxury cars worth around N3.7 billion. Du...
Hushpuppimania: The Tragedy of a Bad Influencer
Corruption, Crime, Life, Lifestyle, News, Nigeria

Hushpuppimania: The Tragedy of a Bad Influencer

Rarely do you meet a Nigerian youth who is active on social media who does not know and admire Raymond Igbalode Abbas popularly known as Hushpuppi. The socialite rose to limelight sometime in 2017 when he spent over 11 million naira in a single shopping spree. Hushpuppi is not one who is shy to flaunt his wealth and hush whoever he believes is less influential. However, news broke out on June 10, of how Hushpuppi and eleven members of his gang were arrested by what was believed to be Interpol in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). He was arrested alongside popular social media figure Olalekan Jacob Ponle, widely known as Woodberry. Hushpuppi and Woodberry are notorious personalities who pride in their luxurious and extravagant lifestyle for the camera. Their arrest did not come as ...
CBN’s Targeted Credit Facility for Covid-19 – Fraud or Incompetence?
Corruption, Covid-19, Economy, Features, Finance, News, Nigeria

CBN’s Targeted Credit Facility for Covid-19 – Fraud or Incompetence?

When the CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) announced that it was going to be making about N50 billion available as loans to businesses in what it called the "Targeted Credit Facility for Covid-19",  a lot of business owners saw it as a lifeline with which to revive their failed or failing businesses. It's no longer news that most businesses were hard hit by the lock down instituted by different governments as a result of the global pandemic. When the program was rolled out, it was introduced by Nirsal Micro Finance Bank, the bank that handles most of CBN's public loan programs, as "a stimulus package to support households and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the Covid-19 pandemic." Month's after this program supposedly kicked off, we are wondering how many Niger...
Zimbabwe Drags Health Minister to Court over COVID-19 Medical Supplies Corruption Allegation
Corruption, Covid-19, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Drags Health Minister to Court over COVID-19 Medical Supplies Corruption Allegation

The health minster of Zimbabwe has been charged to court on grounds of criminal abuse of power as a government officer, alleged to have awarded a COVID-19 medical supplies contract running into millions of dollars to an obscure company at bloated prices. The company had sold $28 face masks to government at bulging prices. Anti-craft agency on Friday arrested the health minister- Obadiah Moyo after a public outcry and the contract was annulled. President Mnangagwa’s son issued a statement debunking any involvement with the said firm after pictures of the Zimbabwean representative of the firm enjoying company of the president, his wife and sons at ceremonies surfaced in the media. Delish Nguwaya, the representative is charged with criminal dealings alongside some bigwigs of the nati...
1999 Nigeria Constitution – Bin it to Rescue Nigeria
News, Nigeria

1999 Nigeria Constitution – Bin it to Rescue Nigeria

16th June 2020   In the matter of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution the Nigerian way of doing things is unlikely to favour anybody. That is the way of BYPASSING problems, rather than facing them and dealing with them, once and for all.   The Constitution is the foundation of the country and so must be obtained in a proper way if citizens are to have confidence to honour it and abide by it. Disturbingly, the 1999 Constitution lacks validity. There are several things in it that are completely untrue and some that are contrary to what had been agreed pre-Independence for any Union of ethnic nationalities to ever be possible. Much has already been written about the inconsistencies in the 1999 Constitution but a key one is in the preamble that starts with, “We the people of t...
Trial of Lamin Diack for Doping Allegation Billed for Monday
Africa, Corruption, Sports

Trial of Lamin Diack for Doping Allegation Billed for Monday

Former chief of IAAF Lamin Diack is set to be tried in Paris on Monday for alleged crime of corruption and money laundering related to a Russian doping scandal. Diack faces trial on account of alleged 3.5 million euros bribe from athletes. The athletes are thought to have bribed their way towards participation at athletics competitions, especially 2012 London Olympics in England. The 87 years old has quashed involvement in the accusations. His counsels haver insisted the accusations are unfounded. The Senegalese headed the athletics federation- IAFF, now known as World Athletics, between 1999-2005 and bossed the sporting world during his reign. He now endures a house arrest in Paris could face up to 10 years incarceration. Fresh documents presented to the court from his son and...
Africa’s Corruption – A Case Of Warped Europhilia
Africa, Corruption, Features, News

Africa’s Corruption – A Case Of Warped Europhilia

26th January 2020 We need an answer to give African children and young people when they ask us, “Why is there so much stealing going on?” and “Why do our civil servants and politicians keep on looting public resources?” They deserve to be answered not only because they are going to have to suffer the consequences of living with the savagery of such high levels of corruption, but their generation could also be the one that will put up a good fight against it. So our children and young people need to know exactly what they are going to have to deal with.   To know the reason for the stealing, just “follow the money”. This is an expression that means that to expose illicit wealth or unjust enrichment, trail the money. So again then, why is Africa’s public money not being used fo...
The Idiot Class of Nigeria
Africa, Corruption, Features, Nigeria

The Idiot Class of Nigeria

10th October 2019 We can look around us at the type of society that different nations have created for themselves and come up with a general evaluation of the thinking of either the majority of the citizens there, or at least of the "critical mass", those whose thinking style has captured the nation. For example in a nation where government is sincerely concerned about citizen welfare and poverty reduction, where the weak are considered and catered for, where development is visible, and where things work pretty much as they should - you can call that an intelligent society.  These are nations whose citizens value their citizenship, who take active interest in maintaining their way of life, and whose national passport is held in global esteem. Then you have those other countries where...
Poor Procurement Processes, Corruption Causes Educational Deficit in Lagos, Says Banwo
Corruption, Education, Lagos News, News, Nigeria

Poor Procurement Processes, Corruption Causes Educational Deficit in Lagos, Says Banwo

A consultant, Mr Kolawole Banwo has said facilities in Lagos schools remained dilapidated as a result of poor procurement processes and corrupt contracting of educational projects. He made this known during two days stakeholders’ forum on Progressive Taxation in Lagos State organised by Human Development Initiatives (HDI) in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria and the support of NORAD. Banwo in his presentation centred on Progressive Taxation, Tax Justice and Linking Tax to Education Budget in Lagos State. Saying that Internal Generated Revenue of Lagos State has grown by about 400% since 1999 from N600 million in 1999 to N34 billion in 2018 driven largely by TAX especially Pay as you earn (PAYE) tax. According to him, more of the revenue should be devoted to providing free, qual...