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Crime Ambassadors Of Nigeria (CAN)

Published

7 years ago

August 26, 2019

In a country where many citizens are obsessed with titles to enhance their social standing, a new tag – the Crime Ambassador of Nigeria (CAN) is fast recommending itself for conferment on Nigerians who have drawn international attention and opprobrium to the country, with respect to their involvement in trans-border crimes. And it would seem that the time has come for the formal conferment of such a title starting with deserving Nigerians like those 79 recent suspects of cybercrime in the US currently facing charges in that country’s courts over charges of swindling individuals, companies, charities as well as even churches of millions of dollars, with which they come back to Nigeria to live big without as much as a whimper from their communities over how they suddenly became super rich. According to some posts currently trending on the social media, many of these profiled individuals are seemingly ordinary Nigerian good time folks and regular toasts of their kith and kin as well as social circles.
Interestingly, such miscreants have been with us for a long time since the days when electronic processes in banking commenced around the world in the early nineties. Until then, banking fraud was restricted to local institutions as operations were manual and hardly would any untoward development spread beyond the gates of the bank. With the growth of electronic banking in the nineties, banking operations between individual banks and branches were progressively being synchronized as exchange of banking information, which traditionally were locally subjected to strict confidentiality, became increasingly facilitated with greater ease. But this transition came with a dark side as the bad eggs in the banks found it easier to falsify the now machine readable information, and exploit the system in collaboration with outside scammers. Hence, as the ease of transactions grew, so the liberty to swindle the system also expanded.
Older Nigerians will easily recall the days of ‘419’ in the early nineties when the swindling of foreigners by Nigerian ‘smart alecs’ was rampant with not a few of the culprits, making huge fortunes from the illicit activity and built financial empires that survive till today. They were named ‘419ers’ after Section 419 of Nigeria’s Criminal Code which deals with the crime of obtaining favours through deceit. However, if compared with the earlier day ‘419ers’, the present day fraudsters are light years ahead. The similarities between the two generations of fraudsters if any, go beyond the ways and means of operation. While the older generation depended on the now archaic fax machines that transmitted only data across telephone networks, the new age operators use the much faster and more efficient computer and internet.
Although the focus may be on Nigerians today, participation in internet fraud activities is not confined to Nigerians. The scourge of internet fraud is already a pandemic in the advanced countries where the exercise accounts for global losses estimated at $3 billion annually. Some may therefore be even inclined to see the participation of Nigerians as a mere scratch on the surface.
However, for this country, the increasing involvement of Nigerians in cybercrime especially on the international scale is more than the diplomatic scenario of poor representation of the country abroad by the culprits. In a more profound context, it imposes a negative value system on the growing and impressionable youth as it reinforces the mindset that easy money from crime is the way to go. When the fraudsters succeed in coming home with stashes of cash and spread same in a poverty ridden environment, it becomes difficult to preach any other sermon that runs on the dignity of hard work. The impact of such a syndrome is already incalculable in the Nigerian society as it accounts for the current apocalyptic escalation in crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping and the ‘yahoo yahoo’ range of rituals-based, nefarious activities.
Today, the Nigerian society lies prostrate before the scourge of kidnapping for ransom, which has turned into a most lucrative business enterprise across the country. All categories of nationals are kidnapped daily for ransom with victims securing their release on the payment of various sums of money and occasionally with items in kind including food stuff and for ladies, sexual favours. The explosion in the crime of kidnapping in Nigeria has proved to outmatch the capacity of the security forces as even their personnel are not spared as victims.
Meanwhile, as the recent case of one Hamisu Wadume, the alleged kidnapper from Taraba State is revealing, the seemingly intractable nature of kidnapping and other heinous crimes in the country, enjoy in many cases the active collaboration of the very security operatives on whom the task of caging the culprits, rests. Wadume was reportedly earlier arrested in Ibi town in Taraba State, in the course of investigations into serial kidnapping cases by some crack police detectives. He was being conveyed to the Police base when soldiers – apparently acting in league with the suspect attacked the police officers, and killed some of them as well as injuring others.
Revelations from the ongoing investigations in the Wadume case clearly point to a wider malady of insider conspiracies between the wave of crimes and the criminals as well components of the security apparatus. It would therefore seem that the country’s fight against violent crimes needs to be targeted at discouraging the lure of easy money among the youths. And the earlier this is done, the better, as the lure to join the ranks of the CANs, is not growing.

Featured

Fubara Reads Riot Act To New SSG, CoS …Warns Against Unauthorized Meetings

Published

3 days ago

February 27, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chief of Staff (CoS) to carry out their duties with discipline, loyalty and a firm commitment to the success of the administration and the wellbeing of the people of Rivers State.

The governor warned that any involvement in unauthorised nocturnal meetings or any conduct capable of embarrassing the government will attract immediate dismissal.

Fubara gave the warning yesterday shortly after the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Dagogo S.A. Wokoma and the new Chief of Staff (CoS), Barrister Sunny Ewule, were sworn in at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House, Port Harcourt.

As part of the ceremony, the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, David Ihua-Maduenyi administered the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office on the duo before the governor gave his charge.

Addressing the appointees, Fubara reminded them that their elevation to the new positions was a call to service and not a platform for political grandstanding or the pursuit of personal ambition.

He stressed that their foremost responsibility should be to themselves and to the people of Rivers State, stressing that their conduct must always reflect integrity, restraint and dedication to public good.

Speaking directly to Dr. Wokoma, whom he described as an accomplished academic and mathematician, the governor expressed confidence in his intellectual depth and capacity to deliver on the new assignment.

The office of the Secretary to the State Government, Fubara stressed, demands thoroughness, discipline and a deep sense of responsibility. He charged the SSG to represent the State with honour at all times.

“Your duty includes representing the state government. You need to represent us in a way and manner that will bring honour to us.

“What is important to this administration is to see that the good works that we started and the ones that we met, are concluded in a way that will bring progress and development to our dear state,” he stated.

Turning to the new Chief of Staff, the governor explained that he is expected to ensure smooth administrative coordination, managing official engagements effectively and safeguarding the image of the Government House.

He underscored the sensitive and personal nature of the role and emphasised that the position operates strictly under the authority of the governor.

Fubara stressed that the role does not permit independent political engagements or private strategy meetings without his knowledge and consent.

“Let me sound it here very clearly. Your duty is to make sure that you handle the administrative duties and image making roles perfectly well, liaising with whoever is coming for any official assignment here.

“If you involve yourself in nocturnal meetings and all those things, I will sack you. I’m very serious. What is important to me today is peace, progress and prosperity of this state. I’m not going to compromise anything for it,” he said.

The governor cautioned that involvement of the new appointees in any action capable of bringing the government or his office to disrepute would attract appropriate sanctions.

While congratulating the new appointees, Fubara expressed optimism that they would justify the confidence reposed in them.

He called on all public officials to work together in unity, observing that collective success is stronger and more enduring than individual achievement.

The governor who also addressed the Permanent Secretaries present at the ceremony, directed those of them who have reached retirement age to start preparing their handover notes without delay.

The notice, he said, was not intended to scare anybody but to prepare their minds towards the inevitability of exiting the service one day and to pave way for an orderly transition.

He warned against any attempt to engage in financial misconduct or last-minute irregularities, stressing that he was closely monitoring the system to ensure strict enforcement of accountability rules.

Featured

Fubara Dissolves Rivers Executive Council

Published

2 weeks ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has dissolved the State Executive Council.

The governor announced the cabinet dissolution yesterday in a statement titled ‘Government Special Announcement’, signed by his new Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi.

Governor Fubara directed all Commissioners and Special Advisers to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries or the most Senior officers in their Ministries with immediate effect.

He thanked the outgoing members of the State Executive Council for their service and wished them the best in their future endeavours.

The three-paragraph special announcement read, “His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, Governor of Rivers State, has dissolved the State Executive Council.

“His Excellency, the Governor, has therefore directed all Commissioners and Special Advisers to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries or the most Senior officers in their Ministries with immediate effect.

“His Excellency further expresses his deepest appreciation to the outgoing members of the Executive Council wishing them the best in their future endeavours.”

Featured

INEC Proposes N873.78bn For 2027 Elections, N171bn For 2026 Operations

Published

2 weeks ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday told the National Assembly that it requires N873.78bn to conduct the 2027 general elections, even as it seeks N171bn to fund its operations in the 2026 fiscal year.

INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, made the disclosure while presenting the commission’s 2026 budget proposal and the projected cost for the 2027 general elections before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja.

According to Amupitan, the N873.78bn election budget covers the full conduct of national polls in 2027.

An additional N171bn is needed to support INEC’s routine activities in 2026, including bye-elections and off-season elections, the commission stated.

The INEC boss said the proposed election budget does not include a fresh request from the National Youth Service Corps seeking increased allowances for corps members engaged as ad-hoc staff during elections.

He explained that, although the details of specific line items were not exhaustively presented, the almost N1tn election budget is structured across five major components.

“N379.75bn is for operational costs, N92.32bn for administrative costs, N209.21bn for technological costs, N154.91bn for election capital costs and N42.61bn for miscellaneous expenses,” Amupitan said.

The INEC chief noted that the budget was prepared “in line with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the Commission to prepare its election budget at least one year before the general election.”

On the 2026 fiscal year, Amupitan disclosed that the Ministry of Finance provided an envelope of N140bn, stressing, however, that “INEC is proposing a total expenditure of N171bn.”

The breakdown includes N109bn for personnel costs, N18.7bn for overheads, N42.63bn for election-related activities and N1.4bn for capital expenditure.

He argued that the envelope budgeting system is not suitable for the Commission’s operations, noting that INEC’s activities often require urgent and flexible funding.

Amupitan also identified the lack of a dedicated communications network as a major operational challenge, adding that if the commission develops its own network infrastructure, Nigerians would be in a better position to hold it accountable for any technical glitches.

Speaking at the session, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) said external agencies should not dictate the budgeting framework for INEC, given the unique and sensitive nature of its mandate.

He advocated that the envelope budgeting model should be set aside.

He urged the National Assembly to work with INEC’s financial proposal to avoid future instances of possible underfunding.

In the same vein, a member of the House of Representatives from Edo State, Billy Osawaru, called for INEC’s budget to be placed on first-line charge as provided in the Constitution, with funds released in full and on time to enable the Commission to plan early enough for the 2027 general election.

The Joint Committee approved a motion recommending the one-time release of the Commission’s annual budget.

The committee also said it would consider the NYSC’s request for about N32bn to increase allowances for corps members to N125,000 each when engaged for election duties.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Simon Along, assured that the National Assembly would work closely with the Commission to ensure it receives the necessary support for the successful conduct of the 2027 general elections.

Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Bayo Balogun, also pledged legislative support, warning INEC to be careful about promises it might be unable to keep.

He recalled that during the 2023 general election, INEC made strong assurances about uploading results to the INEC Result Viewing portal, creating the impression that results could be monitored in real time.

“iREV was not even in the Electoral Act; it was only in INEC regulations. So, be careful how you make promises,” Balogun warned.

The N873.78bn proposed by INEC for next year’s general election is a significant increase from the N313.4bn released to the Commission by the Federal Government for the conduct of the 2023 general election.