News
Senate, IGP Agree On Modalities For Amotekun, Others
The Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) codenamed ‘Operation Amotekun’ got a major boost, yesterday, as the Senate and the Inspector General of Police agreed to work out the implementation modalities of community policing nationwide.
The Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, who spoke after over five hours of closed- door meeting with the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, said the Upper Chamber resolved to support the police “through legislative interventions.”
Adamu had been invited by the Senate to brief it on the police’s “Concept and implementation modalities of Community Policing Policy” as part of efforts to curb the deteriorating security situation in the country.
Lawan also insisted that the police must be more “operationally proactive to protect the lives of the citizens.”
The Senate president said: “The IG answered questions bordering on National security challenges, banditry, assaults on our major roads across the country, illegal circulation of fire arms and efforts on encouraging synergy between the federal and state governments from Distinguished Senators.
“The Senate thereafter resolved to support the Nigerian Police through legislative interventions.
“The Police Force must find a way to be more operationally proactive to protect the life’s of the citizens.”
Adamu, while answering questions from reporters after the session, urged governors and local government chairmen across the country to take responsibility towards addressing insecurity in their domains instead of leaving everything to security agencies.
He said that tackling insecurity should not be left for the police alone, as it is the responsibility of all.
He insisted that other arms of government, especially governors and local governments chairmen, should always be responsive in addressing issues that could potentially lead to insecurity in their domain.
Adamu said: “Security issues are fluid or dynamic. At a stage where you have a rise in crimes we re-strategize and deal with them and everywhere will be stabilized.
“And for a period of time you will see stability in crime situation. But at another stage you will see the criminals re-strategizing and coming out to commit crime.
“What we are saying, especially with the concept of community policing, is that fighting crime should not left to law enforcement agencies alone.
“It should not be left to security personnel alone. Everybody should be involved.
“What are the things that lead to the commission of crime? Are all issues to be dealt with by security agencies alone? No.
“There are other arms of government that needs to deal with issues of security. State governors, local government chairmen should take up their responsibilities.
“People that are committing these crimes there are reasons that make them to commit these crimes.
“If it is lack of employment, if it is lack of education or those issues that will require intervention by the government, the state governor should take responsibility.
“Local government chairmen should take responsibility. Not that everything will be left to
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has indicted a new generation bank, six Fintechs and some microfinance banks in major financial scams by allowing fraudsters to launder huge sums of money.
Director of public Affairs of the Commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, made this known at a press briefing at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, yesterday.
According to him, the compromised institutions allegedly allowed cryptocurrency transactions worth N162 billion to pass through without proper due diligence within the 2024/2025 financial year.
He said that the financial institutions clearly compromised banking procedures and allowed the fraudsters to safely change their ill-gotten gains into digital assets and move them to safe destinations.
“A total sum of N18.1 billion was moved through the financial system without due diligence of customers by the banks.
“It is worrisome that investigations by the commission showed that cryptocurrency transactions to the tune of N162 billion passed through a new generation bank without any due diligence.
“Investigations showed that a single customer maintained 960 accounts in another new bank and all the accounts were used for fraudulent purposes.
“That is bad news but the good news is that following our intervention the commission has been able to recover N33.62 million, which has been returned to some of the victims.”
He explained that the scams were in two categories, adding that the first was a syndicate of fraudsters that employed an airline discount scheme to lure their victims.
He said that they advertised a discount system for the purchase of flight tickets of a particular foreign carrier.
“The payment module is designed in such a way that the victims’ payment is actually made into the account of the airline.
“After payment is made the passenger’s entire funds in his bank account are emptied.
“Investigations showed that more than 700 victims have been scammed so far, with a loss of N651 million,” he said.
According to him, investigations show that the scheme is being masterminded by a foreign national; the commission has so far recovered and released N33 million to victims of the fraud.
He said that another scheme involved a company named Fred and Farid Investment Limited, simply called FF investment, which lured Nigerians into a bogus investment arrangement.
“More than 200, 000 victims have been defrauded in this regard. A total sum of N18 billion was raked in through nine companies offering diverse investment packages.
“The companies are: Credio Banco Limited; Deliberty Rock Limited; Liam Chumeks Global Service; Ngwuoke Daniels Technology; and Icons Autos and Import Merchant.
“Others are : Newpace Technology Services Limited, Primepath Ways Ventures Limited, Kaka Synergy Network Limited and Sunlight Tech Hub Services Limited.”
He said that foreign nationals were behind the schemes, while there are three Nigerian accomplices who have been arrested and charged to court.
He said that the masterminds were on the run and efforts are being made to bring them to book.
“The Commission is calling on regulatory bodies to bring financial institutions to compulsory compliance with regulations in the areas of Know Your Customers (KYC), Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) and others.
“Deposit Money Banks, Fintechs, Micro Finance Banks found to be aiding and abetting fraudsters should be suspended and referred to the EFCC for thorough investigation and possible prosecution.
“Negligence and failure to monitor suspicious and structured transactions by banks should no longer be allowed,” he said.
While cautioning members of the public to be wary of these actors, he said that the EFCC would continue its works against money laundering by fraudulent actors.
Uwujaren urged financial institutions to firm up their operational dynamics and save the nation leakages and compromises bleeding the economy.
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