The Police in Ogun State have arrested a woman, Blessing Ebuneku Agoro (35) for allegedly selling her two biological daughters who are aged four and two.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP, Abimbola Oyeyemi, the suspect was arrested following a report lodged at the Redeemed Camp divisional headquarters by her husband, Oluwaseyi Agoro.
She was said to have sold the two children to a couple in Port Harcourt at the rate of ?300,000.
The husband of the suspect reported that he traveled for some time, and when he returned on June 8, he couldn’t find his two daughters.
He stated further that all efforts to make his wife tell him the whereabouts of the children proved abortive, hence his report.
The command’s PPRO said upon the report, the Divisional Police Officer, Redeemed Camp division Chief Superintendent of Police, Alabi Akinjide detailed his detectives to apprehend the suspect, who had already been with the camp’s Code Of Conduct Department.
“On interrogation, the suspect explained to the police that, her husband left home for the past two years, and while he was away, she found it difficult to cater for the two children and two other children she had with another man.
“She stated further that while she was contemplating on what to do, one Kolawole Imoleayo introduced her to a couple in Port Harcourt who are in dire need of children, and she sold the two daughters to the couple at the rate of ?300,000.
“Her confession led to the arrest of the said intermediary, Kolawole Imoleayo. They are now both assisting the police in their investigation” the PPRO said.
The Commissioner of Police in the state CP Edward Ajogun has ordered the transfer of the suspects to the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour Unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation.
He has equally directed that the children must be rescued and brought back to their parents as soon as possible.
Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle on Saturday said the state of insecurity in the state is worsening at an alarming rate.
He made the remark after confirming the bandit attack on Kadawa village, Zurmi Local Government Area in a special broadcast on Democracy Day.
According to the Governor, the bandits killed “many innocent people.” As at Saturday, death toll had risen as high as 70 .
“I feel saddened by this unfortunate and barbaric act of cowardice,” he said. “With a heavy heart, I convey my condolences on behalf of my family and the entire people of the State over this massacre.
“In recent weeks, the act of banditry has reverted to the ugly dimensions it had prior to the coming of my administration. The marauders kill without regard for any rules of sanity. Women, the elderly, and children are not spared. As a result, a large number of people have been displaced in nearly every town in the State.
“My dear people of Zamfara people, you are witnesses to what we have accomplished from the beginning of our administration, particularly the peace and reconciliation efforts that we initiated and achieved. As a result, we have been able to shift our violent narratives to ones of optimism and peaceful coexistence.
“Unfortunately, things suddenly took a dramatic turn, and things are getting worse by the day. It is clear that some invincible hands are plotting evil against our people with the goal of making our State as terrifying as it were in the years gone by. My constant prayer is for Allah to reveal those who are perpetrating these cruel atrocities against our people.”
The Governor urged communities to defend themselves against the bandits while pledging his administration’s commitment to securing the state.
“I assure you that we will remain steadfast in our efforts to eradicate banditry and all types of criminality from the State,” he said. “In this battle, no sacred cow. Whosoever is involved in these dastardly acts, no matter how highly placed, would be dealt with according to the law.
“We have demonstrated this commitment based on the actions we have taken in respect of Emir of Maru, Emir of Dansadau and, following yesterday’s incident, the Emir of Zurmi.
“My administration has resolved to begin implementing the recommendations of the MD Abubakar-led Committee on Finding Solutions to Banditry in Zamfara State as a next step in addressing this vexing problem. We would not spare anyone indicted by the committee’s report, no matter how high up they are.”
“Hi brother” Kelechi – often referred to by his stage name, says as he anxiously adjusted his seat so his head could perfectly fit into the frame of his webcam. He is dressed in a grey sweatshirt and his braids stood just as fine as they were in many photos splashed all over the internet.
I looked down at the lower right of my laptop screen, it is 3 minutes past 9 pm in Lagos, Nigeria; about 3 minutes past 4pm in the Atlanta studio, where Kelechief is. I smiled and was grateful for tech wizards who made moments like this possible.
On the other end of my screen, Kelechi had assumed a perfect position and burst into an apology for missing the interview we originally scheduled a day earlier. “I was really sorry about missing yesterday’s interview. I had to join an emergency studio session,” he says with a sorry look that explained his helpless situation.
It was easy to understand. Kelechi has been in his elements and he has been doing a series of recordings, productions, performing, networking and doing other things necessary for his next album – Going home.
Soon we dashed into the interview and for the over 50 minutes of our chat, he revealed how this particular moment in his life and career had been one he had wished for.
For years, Kelechi, had sacrificed a lot in his quest for purpose. He changed his college major three times before he gave up and left school. He stayed years without a full-time job to pursue this music thing.
Now the pieces are forming, the ingenuity of remaking popular Nigerian songs are paying off and now Kelechief is no longer that Atlanta rapper that won $50,000 on his first project, but a budding international artist. A Nigerian-American digital artist.
Now his purpose is simple – unify the global Black experience through his digital creations. Be it music, drawings or videos.
“I know people say, Afrobeats to the world, Africa to the world, I agree with that but the world owes Africa a lot. It can be Africa to the world but also the World to Africa. So we make sure it comes full circle, that’s the point of this album, the world to Africa.“
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
How has life been?
It’s been so good right now. Right now we are kind of putting a wrap on some projects that are going home. I just released like a short virtual concerts, I am tying loose ends before I quickly get into my next project.
So yeah things are good right now, things are great. Look at my manager, my elder brother, he has got a baby on the way. So life is beautiful right now.
Obinna, star artiste manager has been playing a key role in your career so far
Obinna and I have gotten closer over the last 2-3 months. But he’s been a fan for a while and we’ve been in this kind of communication, just talking maybe, like 5-6 months. You know I’m making an intentional move. I’m being intentional about reaching back home and the music industry but especially the Nigerian music industry, you got the place really good. Just trying to get past online and you got to make sure you have someone on the ground. You got to make sure you have someone who can speak on your behalf for certain things. So that was someone we were looking for and Obinna and I were talking at the time you know he was like hey I want to help you know as far as it’s management, agency, everything, he just wants to help.
You know we had met some of my family back home, we linked up, clicked up.
And he is very resourceful in terms of Nigerian music. I mean..
He’s got a lot of likes, a lot of people know him and everyone speaks well of him. He’s got a good reputation meaning he does good business.
So let’s do some unmasking, who is Kelechief?
You know Kelechief is just I always say it’s hard to say I’m a rapper or a just singer. I always tell people I’m just like a multidisciplinary digital artist. Because as much as I rap, as much as I sing, I also edit videos, I direct videos, I do graphical stuff, graphics designs.
I got what it takes to be an artist in 2021.
I guess that everyone does, people are in a kind of blessed situation but I’m just an artiste that does a lot of things to make sure I can make music
You grew up in Atlanta
Yes, I grew up in Mayweather which is like 20 minutes to Mayweather super close and me and my family spread out through all the cities.
Were you born there and have you ever been to Nigeria?
I was born in America and no, I have not been to Nigeria yet
You really don’t have a choice than to be here at this point
I really do especially now, there’s a big dimension, a big pull, people pulling me to come but I’m going to make sure I come very soon
So what was growing up in the U.S like for you?
Growing up in the US was interesting because being a Nigerian-American is like you growing up twice or you growing up in two places. I tell people it’s like I grew up in a small Nigeria, a tiny Nigeria in our community. You navigate America as a Blackman; you know and you navigate like you are home. I grew up thinking it was half and half but what I’m realising now is it’s both, it’s 200%. You can’t really be half of anything. That’s what I’ve grown to figure out.
What part of Nigerian culture were you exposed to while growing up?
Well, simple things like food or traditional customs like not taking or giving things left-handed. And then the big things like the ceremonies, the parties, the wedding, the wake (wake-keeping), the prayers, the church, it’s a lot.
And it’s those things that you don’t even know that just help spell you differently than all your friends outside. In so many things. You know, you don’t even put it together in the moment until you look back and realise okay we didn’t really grow up with the same upbringing. It’s funny that even now as an adult people ask me like have you seen this movie or that movie , might be an American classic movie and you start to realise a lot of the media you consumed was from your parents, so there are a lot American classics that I don’t know, I totally missed . I didn’t grow up American in that sense.
Nice I guess you must have consumed a lot of Nigerian music content while growing up?
Yes, I consumed a lot of Nigerian and African music growing up subconsciously. My dad was the one playing all the music, so he was playing the Sunny and the Felas and all that in the house. But that early on, I was a kid, so I wasn’t really forming my own music taste. And what you hear in parties is whatever was really popping back home would get over to the State. When D’banj had a huge moment there, he was a huge moment over here, P-Square huge moment over here, David, so those are the huge moments here.
But then, for me personally when I was growing up, I almost associated it with even though that is my culture, that’s my parent’s culture. So when I grew up, I moved on to my own, I started following my own music taste. It really wasn’t until early 2019 when a DJ from Dallas, She’s Kenyan, hit me up and said she was putting up a personal project, she was hitting up different artists from all around the world and she sent me a pack of beats and that was when I made a track, it was the easiest song I have ever made and we all played the song over and over. I was like Wow and it’s not that I never experiment, I had done like a few like Afrobeats and Afropop songs before that I hadn’t released because I wasn’t really happy with them, but that record, I was particularly happy with it because it did something, it really did something.
So afterwards I was like let me keep trying because I’m not the kind of person who boxes himself into making this kind of music. It was really like It felt good to make such so I kept on doing it and that way for probably like 5 or 6 records. That was probably like June/ July 2019.
And how’s the Nigerian Market received you so far?
Mehn, It’s been so positive. I think that there’s a degree of some questioning, which is valid. Like you said, music is a universal language and people hold music very sacred so there’s been some kind of like, who is this guy? For the most part, I can say it’s good, it’s good as long as people like it. I think my music sounds good and some lots of Nigerians would agree and I appreciate it.
I see you do a topnotch Storytelling, how did that style get into your music?
Maybe because I’ve been doing music since I was like an adolescent and you know, all adolescents feel misunderstood and I got into music through poetry and I think that your attempt to tell your own story is an attempt at being understood. So that’s really it. Being misunderstood just trying to make me understood.
And what I’ve realised through trying to make people understand me is that I’ve gotten a greater understanding of other people because like we are all human, we are all going through mostly the same things, you know.
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Do people comment on your pengame and how you connected with them through your track?
Oh all the time, all the time. Like just recently somebody said, you know, I woke up having a terrible day and then they came across my Blessed freestyle. I believe she is Nigerian girl. I said ‘I’m too blessed to be stressed’ and she was like yeah, I felt that. I moved on from having a bad day.
I don’t really say anything, people don’t know, I’m not a super super smart guy. I tell people what they already know or need to hear. So you know, sometimes it just takes something in the right voice and in the right melody and with the right tempo to make someone just, you know, feel what you’re saying. So yeah, people let me know. They let me know.
What kind of artist and who do you sing for?
Man, I’m an artist and I just want to make something that’s true and resonates with me. Because again, if it resonates with me, I do business with someone. But it’s like, who I sing for, I mean just Black people all around this planet. Not just Black people who are in the states, not just Black people who are in the U.K. not just Black people who are on the continent. If your skin is dark, I’m speaking to you if I can,. that’s the reason I make music, so that it makes Black people feel better.
When people say stuff like I’m doing this for Black people or support Black-owned businesses, there is that element of struggle in that conversation. Are you singing for people who are struggling to get by in life?
I mean not even, not even necessary, I don’t even see it as necessarily like a struggle. Even in Nigeria, I see there’s a degree of disorganisation to the country but there is still joy, people are still happy cos they’re still trying. That’s a part of the black experience globally. Just as much as struggle, just as much as there is pain, happiness and levity, and joy and triumph are just as important.
So I think that the global black experience varies. We focus too much on the hardship my brother but there is more to life than hardship. And as much as struggle, unfortunately, has been a part of our history I really look forward to a future that has more joy, has more triumph and has more positives because we deserve that, you know. Yeah.
You left College for Music, what made you make that decision?
I was at a certain age where I really had the choice to either do what other people wanted me to do correctly or I could do what I wanted to do incredibly well.
What course were you studying then?
I was studying English education but I changed my major like three times. It was English education and then it was something else and then radiography which was like x-ray stuff. And then I kept changing it because I really wasn’t honest with myself. I wasn’t supposed to be there. So I’m like maybe this one and I’m like no, maybe that one and then you know.
And then after changing my major three times, I realised I’m probably not supposed to be here. There was one day where I think some of my financial aid to pay for school didn’t go through and they were giving me an extension. I called my mom, and I said there’s no need for this extension because I’m not going back. I remember this clearly because my mum wanted me to go back to school as school is what we knew, it’s what she came here to do. But then I think as my music career progressed, she went from being scared to being my biggest fan.
Leaving school now makes you feel sort of pressured to make this music work, right?
Yes, 100 percent and I still feel this pressure now. I don’t feel like oh I’ve made it, I’m still figuring it out, you know a little more attention now.
What’s the projection for you? Where do you see yourself in the next 5, 10 years?
I mean, you know, before the end of this year, my projection is to make sure I’m on the ground in Nigeria, I don’t want anyone to be like oh that Kelechief, he’s an American. He’s an Atlanta rapper or anything like that.
My projection within the next one year is definitely a show in Nigeria. We have a confirmed date but I don’t want to say it. And then just making sure I can expand my network, you know that’s the most important thing. I can’t put this on a 5-year but I know that we are going to be on the ground in Nigeria and that’s the most important thing.
I put out a tweet that you are a Grammy material. I saw some of your projects and I was impressed with them.
I appreciate
Is a Grammy win something you are looking towards at some point?
Like, It would be amazing to be gracious and appreciative but a Grammy list is not on my list of objectives. My objectives are to tell my story, to connect with people and make music that people enjoy. That’s number one; number two is to create some sort of unified black experience because I have cousins who I talk to. There are things about the States that they don’t understand, they have missed, and I know that there are misconceptions about Nigeria that people here have.
And I feel like I’m in the perfect position to be able to help both sides, understand each other, you know. So that’s what I want to do. So those are two most important things and if I get a Grammy along the way, then I can grab it and appreciate; but I don’t want to put myself in a position where I’m a failure if I don’t get a Grammy. I have other things I’m trying to do, oh.
Which artists do you look up to?
I look up to so many African artists. I look up to WizKid, I look up to Burna Boy, I look up to Dave, I look up to Blaqbonez, I look up to Buju, I look up to Ladipoe, I look up to all these guys, they are killing it. They are all doing so great. I look up to Amaarae, she is so great. You know, there are so many amazing artists there that I respect and look up to. I’m inspired by everybody.
What does music mean to you?
I’m passionate about music because this is the thing, music is keeping these (studio) lights on right now. When I dropped out of school and was confused, music helped me beat that confusion. When I need to say something in a conversation, I can say it on a mic, I can figure it out on music. So music is everything. I’m extremely passionate about it.
What pain do you go through in the background to make music?
I’ve been in this box all day, I was editing a video, recording, and at the end of this interview we are going to be having recording sessions and it’s 4pm, ask me if I have eaten today..
Have you eaten today?
I’ve not eaten today, the answer is no.
It’s almost 10 pm here in Nigeria and I’m working too . This creative work is crazy I mean
Yeah. It’s funny, even my younger sister jokes and says if you do an album you’re going to die, If you don’t do an album you going to die. It’s like 14 songs on it. I recorded all 14; I produced 6 and mixed all of them. So I recorded and mixed all the 14. That means there needs to be artwork for each song, guess who made the artwork? Me.
And there are videos, the small videos you put on social media for each. I was the one who made them. I got to save money so I put a lot on myself. My brother is my manager, he is trying to make me do nothing, he’s trying to take things off me. So it’s really really fun, it’s a lot of fun but it’s also a lot of hard work.
You have more than twice mentioned your mum, brother and sister, how instrumental has your family been in this journey?
Well, I literally would be nothing without my family. If you listen to my old albums of maybe 2015, 2016, my mum is all there, she’s saying a prayer on my first project. My mum’s voice is on all project than it’s not. We always talk you know and I’ll just take little pieces and create skits from our talks. My family means everything.
There is another thing that people don’t realise. When a family leaves Nigeria and comes to the States. Let’s say one out of many children leaves and goes to the States, I didn’t really grow up with first cousins because all my first cousins were back in Nigeria so it really made my nuclear family very tight.
You remake a lot of Nigerian music, is this pure marketing?
It’s a marketing strategy, but it’s also what I’m on right now. Like I’ve been making music for like 11, 12 years now and this is the first time that I’ve ever been, like okay, let me intentionally put my bees out there. I think I’ve been like that a little maybe not shy but looks like there’s a degree of, I’ve always wanted my marketing to look mysterious maybe not mysterious, but I was like trying to be too much of an artist to be like, that was it but now, especially knowing what I’m trying to do and who I’m trying to reach, it’s a bit easier to authentically, figure out ways to market and be fun but also show people like Hey like this my pen is very serious I do this and I know that I do this very well, you know, come check out what we got going on.
The good thing about it is, you know, I get to kind of be a part of whatever moment that’s happening right now, when I dropped Blessed, it was what everyone is talking about on Twitter, then I dropped Kilometre freestyle a week or two after.
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Yes, I saw the Kilometre freestyle, and I liked it
It’s a marketing strategy, but it’s also like it’s a way to just be having fun. And I don’t have to drop a new song every time I’m working. Let Me Ride this way other people are doing, I’ll ride their wave and my project is coming out before the end of this summer.
What should we expect from your new album?
What can I say without saying too much? Um, there would be vibes on it like vibes you’ve never heard of, I will be in African regions you’ve never heard me in. And again the point of it is that unification and I know I keep bringing that up.
The real point at the core of this is the unification and I’ll say this – I know people a lot of time say, Afrobeats to the world, Africa to the world, I agree with that but the world owes Africa a lot. It can be Africa to the world but also the World to Africa. So we make sure it comes to a full circle, that’s the point of this album, the world to Africa.
Should we expect any of Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy on the project?
You know I gave Wizkid a call, we’ll see if he returns it. Laughs.
Well, Amaarae is on the album, Blaqbonez and I talked, it could happen, you know he’s releasing his album right now, if he has time to reach the studio, that will happen for sure. And then I’m trying to think there’s a Nigerian-American artist, his name is Tunji Ige. He’s American but he’s Nigerian and he is really good, he’s on the album. There is a Zambian artist, he is really really cool, he is on the album.
I’m trying to touch some continent and I’m trying to touch the world. Like I’m trying to get enough of the regions in Africa, and some Africans in the state and Africans in the UK. This would be my most collaborative project..
What do we call your fans?
Chiefs, all my songs, all my freestyle, for my Chiefs you know.
What message do you have for the Chiefs?
My message for the Chiefs is first of all thank you. And every time I sign off on most of my videos, even though I send our those letters like yesterday, I just say I love you if you give a fuck, I love you if you care. That’s number one, thank you.
But number two is you people need to be ready because we are about to be real and we need to be on the hands for real and we are about to bring them to the village with all the Chiefs. That’s the message. I got for them
You said you’re coming to Nigeria but you don’t want to leak out when? Can you give a clue to when to expect you, this is June already
You know if people are listening, I’ve already told them when.
This December, I’ll be in Nigeria. But honestly, I will be in Nigeria in late November. Probably I’ll be in the village and I got to see a lot of family. And I’ll probably be in Lagos in December, Whenever the exact date of the show.
When did your parents get to the US ?
My parents came to the US in the 80s. They came separately then they met here. They met in Alabama. They went to college in Alabama. They had my older sister in Alabama then they moved to Atlanta and then had the rest of us, my older brother, me and my younger sister.
While protesters in Calabar, the Cross River state capital were being arrested for ‘disobeying’ an order by Governor Ben Ayade to ban all “public gatherings and processions in the state”, top politicians held rallies, uninterrupted in various locations across the state with huge crowds in attendance.
The Governor had in an announcement on 11th June 2021, many considered was targeted at the June 12th Protest, and signed by Christian Ita, Special Adviser, Media, and Publicity to the Governor reiterated that “the ban on public procession and gathering in the state is still very much in force.”
The Governor held that the ban was “due to the prevailing security situation in the country” and that they “will not permit any procession or gathering under any guise.”
June 12: Tear gas, arrest for protesters
On the morning of the Democracy Day celebration, there was palpable fear amongst residents in Calabar, as sirens and the shouting voices of heavily armed security operatives filled the air.
The Calabar office of activist and journalist, Agba Jalingo, one of the organizers of the June 12 protest, was already flooded with uniformed policemen and DSS operatives.
Jalingo who had spent hours the day before detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for alleged gun and bomb running, an accusation he insisted was manufactured to shut him up, said he showed up to his office only to see that the place had been taken over by security operatives.
The protesters numbering less than 20 decided to hold their protest in front of CrossRiverWatch’s office when according to Jalingo, officers attached to the Governor arrived on a convoy and started harassing them.
“The special forces in Governor Ayade’s convoy planted two rounds of ammunition in a pack of Benson cigarette and alleged that they recovered them from our office.
“They blindfolded all four of us; Agba Jalingo, James Ibor Esq., Akwagiobe Undie, and Jonathan Ugbal. Stripped us of our clothes and tied Jonathan’s hands to his back, kept hitting us with all manner of cudgels, repeatedly sprayed a choking gaseous substance into our noses and necks, (we still don’t know what the peppery gas substance was), they cut off all my hand beads, then took us to Operation Puff Adder, at the SCID were we were handed over.” Jalingo wrote in a Whatsapp message to our correspondent.
The protesters have all been released with Jalingo saying he was asked to leave town by the police.
One rule for protesters, another for politicians
As Christian Ita sent out his press release reiterating the ban on public gatherings and procession in the state, 126 KM away at Mkpani-Agoi in Yakurr Local Government Area, stood a huge crowd of APC supporters, with security operatives on the ground to offer protection as Mr. Eteng Jones Williams, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly officially defected to the All Progressive Congress, APC.
Local blogs reported that thousands were at the rally, while hundreds were confirmed seen in pictures shared by the speaker’s media team.
On June 12, while protesters in Calabar were cooling their heels in police cells, Dr. Betta Edu, the State Commissioner of Health, in direct violation of the Governor’s ban on public gathering, held a rally in her village of Adadama, in Abi Local Government Area.
The Sun reported over 5000 persons were in attendance at the rally including Okoi Obono Obla, a former presidential aide, once declared wanted by the ICPC.
Mr. Richard Onoyo, Country Director of Citizens Solution Network, who was part of the protest said he felt “terrible” that a peaceful protest could attract such angst from the government on a day meant for the celebration of the country’s democracy.
On Sunday, March 28, 2021, Nigerians on social media expressed their dissatisfaction on Racksterli, a ponzi scheme disguised as an investment platform. This was after its CEO, Micheal Chidiebere Oti, a.k.a Blackgold, spoke to the over 300 thousand subscribers on his Instagram live.
Racksterli celebrated reaching 350 thousand subscribers. Blackgold said that the company was trying to restructure and will refund investor capital without the promised monthly 58.8% Return on Investments (ROI).
This is despite Blackgold publicly assuring investors in a video that the company had enough to pay their subscribers in three-folds. His victims reel in his promise.
Tobi Bolujoko, a postgraduate student at the University of Ibadan, had been running this investment for four months. Tobi said he did not want his money diminishing in the bank because of charges, so he made a resolve to take some financial risks since it is “exactly what my bank will use my money for.”
Tobi wanted his investment to run for six months before getting a new phone, paying his school fees, starting his gas business, and keeping the remaining money in the scheme to keep multiplying. He was two months away from achieving his goals when the crash was announced.
Opeyemi Adebayo, a make-up artist, had a better run. Adebayo profited from the Voltac Group of Companies (VGC) scheme with operations in Lagos, Enugu, Ibadan, and most recently, Abuja. She invested with this company in May, 2020 and only withdrew her RoI twice.
Adebayo’s final withdrawal happened in February before the company revealed it was facing some challenges. On March 5, 2021, the company, which hitherto paid a 20% RoI monthly, announced a delay in the payment of its subscribers because of some “internal audit.” Unlike Raksterli, VGC gives its investors a Memorandum of Understanding.
Adebayo collected her money because she was privy to an internal information that the company was facing a hard time, so she withdrew every kobo she had with them. But that’s only a fraction of the population.
Poverty, inflation and unemployment have roles to play Nigeria’s unemployment rate is currently at 33.3%, the second highest on the global list.
Despite the overwhelming unemployment rate, the inflation rate in the country is at 16.5%. There is little money in the country and the price of commodities keeps increasing.
Dimeji Akintayo, an economist, told NewsWireNGR that “austerity exposes people to bad economic planning because they are focused on getting the next meal and this clouds financial judgement.”
Additionally, with Nigeria’s cemented status as the poverty capital of the world, Nigerians are more vulnerable to get-rich-quick schemes to escape poverty, or a semblance of hope.
Akintayo, speaking further, told NewsWireNGR that “you can’t convince someone who does not know where their next meal is coming from, or when they will pay salary… that is if they even have a job… to not look for easy ways out.”
Greed, financial illiteracy, or prudence
People who take part in these Ponzi schemes have been tagged greedy for falling victim continuously to these schemes. When NewsWireNGR spoke to Adebayo, she mentioned that nothing in Nigeria is guaranteed, “everything is a risk and you can either lose or win in this country.”
She said “you know what people say about making your money work for you, that is what I do. I have fallen victim quite a number of times but I have also gained and that is Life for you. Even the one with small profit is not sure so why not the one with bigger profit?” Opeyemi asked rather rhetorically.
Ponzi Investment analysts, Louis De Koker explained in his blog for CGAP, “A Ponzi scheme is an investment scheme that pays returns to early investors out of money invested by new investors rather than from genuine business profit. This fact is not disclosed to the investors, who believe their funds are used to finance a very profitable business”.
Koker added, that the schemes often offer abnormally high returns to attract investors. “Ponzi schemes collapse when they are unable to secure sufficient new investments to service returns promised to the earlier investors or if they are detected and shut down by regulatory agencies or law enforcement”.
Another victim, ShukrohDauda, was not as cheerful as Ope when she spoke to NewsWireNGR. Dauda’s first trial in ponzi investment was her last.
Initially cautious, she was convinced to try a ponzi masking as investment, only after her brother profited from the scheme. Shukroh, who is a fashion designer and student, told NewsWireNGR that she “does not trust any investment. I wanted to use the money for my business but because I was busy with something else, that prompted me to invest the money until I was ready.”
Shukroh claimed she did not know she was investing in a ponzi and she never expected them to elope with her money. She clarified: “I did not know that they were ponzi, when my brother did it and they paid him, I thought they were real so I decided to also put my money there. I even saw a video of the CEO telling us our money is safe with them. I felt since they were also investing and doing business with the money, then they are also gaining.”
The CEOs of these companies display luxurious lifestyles on the internet to bait unsuspecting investors that they are financially equipped even in crisis. However, the opinion among victims of these schemes is divided.
When asked if he believes the Racksterli will come back, Mubarak, an unpaid “investor” said “the money of the investors is a small amount of money. The owner has over forty thousand bitcoins [USD2,352,716,000], our money cannot shake him.” Mubarak did not get his figure out of thin air, he was making reference to a video the CEO of Racksterli once posted on social media to assure investors that he was incapable of fraud.
Law and legality
Nigerian laws frown against any form of Ponzi or pyramid scheme. The Security Exchange Commision had warned Nigerians to steer clear of Ponzi schemes.
Section 58 and 59 of the revised Bank and Other Financial Acts (BOFIA), 2020, and some sections of the Investment and Security Act(ISA), 2007 criminalise setting up financial and investment companies without getting licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
In a paper written by O.G. Chukkol, a capital market analyst, he notes that “the combined effect of section 67(1) of ISA and sections 1(5)(a), 58, and 59 of BOFIA is that the ponzi scheme is not only prohibited by law, it is in fact a criminal offense. It is a financial business that is exclusively meant for banks or statutory bodies established for that purpose. Anyone who wishes to carry out such business must seek and obtain a license from CBN before performing the business. Under ISA, punishment for engaging in a ponzi scheme is a fine of N100, 000 and if it is a company that engages in the ponzi scheme, the company shall be liable to pay N500, 000. But under BOFIA, the punishment is 5 years imprisonment or a fine of N1 Million or both.
A student who simply identified herself as Dee was shocked to learn that she can be jailed for partaking in a ponzi scheme. She said “I never knew it was a crime. I don’t even know what a ponzi scheme is. After explaining how Racksterli is a ponzi scheme, she concluded ‘’they should pay me my money and I will not go near them again.”
Will Nigerians stop participating in Ponzi?
The Central Bank of Nigeria and other financial regulatory bodies must go beyond press releases and social media announcements. The proliferation of these schemes under different guises and operations means that operators see a thriving sector and an environment that enables them.
Owners of these companies are often Nigerian citizens with visible presence on social media. The government must evoke fear in these individuals and groups that impoverishing already poor Nigerians is a crime and perpetrators will be dealt with decisively.
Although the continuous downward approach of the Nigerian economy is a trap for many Nigerians, the availability of other factors like the boldness of Ponzi needs to be nipped in the bud.
“If Nigeria does not solve its economic problems, ponzi won’t go away,” Akintayo says.
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Saturday said it was time to stop crying over the unabated attacks unleashed on people of the state by marauding herdsmen.
Ortom stated this at the Banquet Hall of the Government House during a media parley to mark his second year in office in his second tenure.
Hundreds of people have been killed in Benue State by suspected herdsmen in recent times.
Ortom said it was now time for action to protect the people of the state.
He said this propelled the activation of vigilante groups across the state, saying they should be allowed to carry arms to protect their communities.
Ortom said, “A few weeks ago, Benue stakeholders met and gave this administration the mandate to activate and implement the Community Volunteer Guards Law enacted in 2000.
“We have already commenced the process of recruiting responsible people of 50 years and below into the Volunteer Guards. Their duty is to support the conventional security agencies in defending their communities. We have cried enough. We will cry no more. Now is time for action.”
Ortom said that the incessant herdsmen attacks on the state would not in any way force his administration to repeal the anti-open grazing law but would rather strengthen the law to stiffen the penalties.
He said, “Let me remind those who think that sustained attacks on the Benue people will force us to repeal the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law that they are making a mistake.
“This law has come to stay and no amount of intimidation can make us repeal it. Instead, we will soon amend the law in order to increase the penalties against offenders.”
The governor, who highlighted his achievements in the past six years, promised to continue to meet the yearnings of the people of the state as resources permit.
Israel Adesanya successfully defended his middleweight Ultimate Fighting Championship title on Sunday morning, beating Italian Marvin Vettori in the main event of UFC 263 at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
Adesanya put up a dominant display over Vettori, winning 50-45 on all of the judges cards.
Adesanya and Vettori first did battle in 2018, with the Nigerian winning via a split decision in just his second trip to the Octagon.
The win is Adesanya’s third title defence after losing to Jan Blachowicz in a bid to add the light heavyweight title to his laurels.
Vettori believed he won his 2018 clash with Adesanya and never stopped calling for a rematch with the man who would go on to become UFC middleweight champion.
He got his rematch on Sunday in the main event of UFC 263 and came up empty, with Adesanya taking a clear decision victory in Arizona.
Adesanya showed improvements on his ground work as he expertly untangled himself from all of Vettori’s takedowns.
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said the President Muhammadu Buahri, and governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress are living up to the dreams of Nigeria’s founding fathers.
AbdulRazaq, who spoke when he received defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party and other parties, said the economy was growing stronger “amid unprecedented infrastructural development.”
He also said “increasing attention” was being given to the security of lives.
“Evidently, President Muhammadu Buhari, governors, lawmakers and all officials elected on the platform of APC are clearly living up to the dreams of the founding fathers of our country. The economy is growing stronger amid unprecedented infrastructural development while increasing attention is being paid to the security of lives and property.
“Back home in Kwara State, we have remained committed to good governance. We are indeed proud of the impacts that our investments in human capital and infrastructural development are having on the people,” the governor said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye.
He further said the state government’s social security programmes targeting the poor and vulnerable were glaring.
He said the party had been made stronger with its policies that guarantee equal opportunity for all members, adding that about 400,000 new APC members had been registered in the state.
AbdulRazaq added, “Security of lives and property remains a top priority while we are putting Kwara on a sound footing to lead the North once again.
We have also prioritised youths and women empowerment and inclusion, widening employment opportunities and paying attention to all that can guarantee the brightest future for our younger generation,”
“This mass defection to APC today under our leadership is a tonic for all of us in trusted positions to continue to give our best for the collective good of our people.”
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, on Saturday said he sacked his Secretary to the State Government, Sabi’u Baba; Chief of Staff, Dr Ladan Salihu; 21 commissioners and special advisers to bring the state out of a quagmire.
Mohammed, who disclosed this while marking Democracy Day in Zaki town, explained that he could not work with the sacked members of his cabinet because he needed ‘real politicians’ he could work with to move the state forward.
The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory had on June 9, 2021, relieved Baba, Salihu, and over 20 commissioners and SAs of their appointments.
He, however, retained his special advisers on security, national and state assembly liaison, social investment, and media and publicity.
But the governor said in Zaki that he dissolved the State Executive Council to allow others to serve, adding that the sacked aides did not know how to play politics.
Mohammed said, “Those that I stopped, they don’t know how to play politics and I cannot work with those types of people. I just have to get others, real politicians that can do the job together with me and bring Bauchi out of a quagmire.”
The Nigerian police on Saturday justified its use of tear gas on protesters who took to the streets to mark Democracy Day by voicing their grievances against the government of the day.
According to police spokesman, Mr Frank Mba, the actions of officers were in line with international best practices of dispersing violent protests.
Mr Mba made the claim in an exclusive interview with Channels Television in Abuja. The police shot teargas at protesters in Lagos and Abuja.
Reporters who covered the protest in Abuja did not observe any sign of violence from the protesters before the police disrupted their parade.
According to Mr Mba, the use of teargas was an isolated case in Abuja where protesters turned violent.
“We had an isolated case in Abuja where some of the protesters became unruly and in line with international best practices, police fired teargas at them,” he said. “And that is an acceptable mode of engaging violent protesters anywhere in the world, whether it is in Abuja, Lagos, Paris, London, or New York or California. That is internationally accepted.
“We would have problems if we had fired live bullets at them, but when you fire teargas at protesters to disperse them, you are not in breach of any known code, either nationally or internationally.
“I also want to use this opportunity to state clearly that no citizen, either in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano or anywhere, is currently in detention as a result of this isolated incident.
“As long as protesters conduct themselves within the confines of the law; they do not constitute themselves into nuisance, they do not breach the rights of other citizens, they do not obstruct traffic, they do not compel other citizens to join their protests, the police will largely work with them.
“When you protest in contravention of these set of conditions I have given, clearly you are coming in direct conflict with the laws of the land, and the police will never stand by idly and watch you create problems for the entire polity.”
Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State said he will retire from active politics in 2023 after his tenure as Governor ends.
Masari stated this while briefing newsmen as part of activities to mark the nation’s Democracy Day in Katsina on Saturday.
He explained that he would retire to his farm after his tenure as Governor of the state.
I have held various positions from Commissioner in Katsina State to the National Assembly where I served as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“I am still serving my people as the Governor of Katsina State. Therefore, what else am I looking for, again?
“My people from Katsina, like the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua, contested for President and won, Muhammadu Buhari the same thing, he even served as military Head of State.
“I think it is better we leave the stage for other people from other places,” he said.
According to him, his main concern now is how to fulfill his Restoration Agenda, which is to rehabilitate all the decayed infrastructure and bring back the past glories of the state.
“After I have satisfactorily succeeded in doing that, I will retire to my farm,” the governor said
At least 53 persons were killed in an attack by bandits on some villagers in Zamfara State leading to the cancellation of activities lined up for the Democracy Day celebration in the state.
Scores of motorcycle-riding gunmen called bandits earlier on Thursday through Friday, invaded the villages of Kadawa, Kwata, Maduba, Ganda Samu, Saulawa and Askawa in the Zurmi district, shooting residents.
The gang attacked farmers in their fields and pursued others who fled to escape the assaults.
Zamfara police spokesman Mohammed Shehu said 14 bodies had been taken to the state capital Gusau on Friday, and added that “policemen deployed in the area following the attacks.”
Local residents said 39 more bodies had been recovered and buried in the neighbouring town of Dauran.
“We recovered 28 bodies yesterday and 11 more this morning from the villages and buried them here,” said Dauran resident Haruna Abdulkarim.
“It was dangerous to conduct the funeral there because the bandits are harbouring in the Zurmi forest and could return to attack the funeral,” said another resident, Musa Arzika who reported the same death toll.
Villages in the Zurmi district have been repeatedly raided by bandits, and local residents blocked a major highway last week, calling on the authorities to end the attacks.
In reaction to this, Governor Bello Matawalle suspended the Emir of Zurmi, Atiku Abubakar Muhammad.
The governor also cancelled all activities line up for the Democracy Day celebration and condemned the attack.
“People should remain calm and gentle, as well as go about their normal businesses. Security agents have been mobilised to the affected communities and directed to deal ruthlessly with anyone found disrupting the peace being enjoyed by our people.
“The government deemed it necessary to suspend all the activities lined up for the democracy day for now, until further notice,” the statement read in part.
The governor asked residents to use Democracy Day to reflect and continue to pray for the intervention of God Almighty, to restore lasting peace in our state, region, and the country in general.
