Nigeria in Review: Brief happenings during the week

The country was engaged in various discourses ranging from the upcoming 2023 elections to the feud between Senator Rochas Okorocha and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; here is a review of happenings in Nigeria during the past week.

FG uncovers 96 financiers of Boko Haram, ISWAP

The Federal Government through the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit has announced the existence of 96 secret financiers of terrorism across the country especially those backing Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP). The discovery by the government agency also includes 424 associates and supporters of the financiers of these terrorist activities.

This was made known by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, during a press conference on President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s fight against corruption on Thursday, February 3, in Abuja, Nigeria.

Mohammed in his statement said that the government also uncovered 123 companies and 33 bureau de change operators linked with terrorism in the country, in addition to 26 suspected bandits/kidnappers and 7 co-conspirators who have now been identified.

FG grants security agencies access to database

Isa Pantami, the Nigerian Minister of Communications and Digital Economy has said that some security agencies have gotten approval from President Muhammadu Buhari to access the database of the National Identity Management Commission in the course of going about their duties.

The minister said this in Saudi Arabia to Nigerian journalists on the sidelines of LEAP 22, a technology event.

Mr Pantami, who did not list the names of the security agencies, said some of them are permitted to gain access based on the cybercrime law without the permission of the ministry because the database allows lawful interception

Sanwo-Olu doesn’t need your ticket, APC slams PDP

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has described as “Greek gift”, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship ticket offer to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, should APC deny him in 2023.

The APC Publicity Secretary, Mr Seye Oladejo, said this in a statement on Friday in Lagos, Nigeria.

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“Our attention has been drawn to the offer of the opposition PDP’s gubernatorial ticket to the governor of Lagos State in the next national elections.

“While the thought of desperately offering its worthless electoral tickets to every passerby is laughable, the extent of the level of degradation, degeneration and comatose state of Lagos state PDP shouldn’t be lost on all and sundry.”

Okorocha seeks Buhari’s intervention in battle with EFCC

A former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has dragged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before President Muhammadu Buhari, where he had gone to seek his intervention in his battle with the agency.

EFCC had on Monday filed a 17-count charge against Okorocha and others, over an alleged N2.9 billion fraud case before a Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria, hours after he officially declared his interest in running for the office of the president in 2023.

Okorocha was however at the State House, Abuja, Thursday, to inform the President of his travails with the EFCC, insisting that the anti-graft agency was being used to harass him.

Speaking to newsmen after his meeting with Buhari, Okorocha said there was an existing court order restraining the EFCC from prosecuting him, hence, the president should caution the anti-graft agency against holding the court in contempt.

Lamido against zoning of political offices

Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has said he is against the idea of zoning political offices ahead of the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.

Lamido, speaking on BBC Hausa on Saturday, stated that the zoning of political offices in Nigeria has been counter-productive.

According to him, the idea of zoning should be discarded for the welfare and unity of Nigerians to take the centre stage.

“When it comes to zoning in Nigeria, I would say I don’t agree. The world should look at it as it is, everywhere it goes; everywhere we talk about human development,” Lamido said.