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Nigerian woman on Italy wanted list extradited from Abuja to Rome

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

 

A Nigerian woman by name, Joy Jeff who has been wanted in Italy since 2010, flown from Abuja to Rome where  she had been sentenced in absentia to 13 years in prison for crimes including running a prostitution ring, Italian police has announced.

The 48-year-old Joy Jeff was one of the few women on Italy’s most-wanted list of 100 dangerous fugitives, police said in a statement on Wednesday, describing her as a prominent figure in the Nigerian mafia in Italy that is reputed for trafficking women and girls from Nigeria to Italy, where they force their victims to prostitution.

The extradition was facilitated by a treaty signed by Nigeria and Italy in 2020. She was arrested in Nigeria on 4 June 2022, on an international warrant issued by Italy, the statement said.

Joy Jeff was arrested in Nigeria by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the end of an intense search operation in which the Nigerian police and Italian embassy officials in Abuja were actively involved. “The location of Joy Jeff is the result of the excellent cooperation ensured by the Italian immigration expert in Nigeria, who supported the action of the local police force to locate the place where the woman lived, testifying to the operational potential offered by the Italian network of security experts operating in 84 countries around the world,” a press statement by the Italian police said.

Italian investigators in the city of Ancona said Jeff played a leading role in trafficking women to Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, where they were forced into prostitution by violence and threats. According to the investigations carried out from 2006 to 2007, Jeff brought the girls from Nigeria to Europe and they were then initiated into the business of prostitution with the use of violence and threats of all kinds, extended also to their family members in Nigeria.

Video released by the Italian police showed the woman being flown from Abuja to Ciampino airport in Rome where she was taken away in a wheelchair by the police.

“Africa today is a strategic location when looking for fugitives and fighting organised crime,” said Vittorio Rizzi, an Italian police chief responsible for international coordination, the news agency Reuters reports.

The Italian police through the extradition action wants to send a strong message that their home country is also not safe for Nigerian criminals in Italy and that if they run back home, they will be caught and returned to Italy to face punishment for their crimes.

Patoma Admin by — March 11, 2023 in Metro 0
AfDB, Coalition for Dialogue on Africa, launch $5.9m project to stem illicit financial flows from

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

 

The African Development Bank and the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa (CoDA) have officially launched a three-year support project to improve regional coherent and coordinated response to illicit financial flows.

The project will help African stakeholders actively engaged in stemming such flows to improve domestic revenue mobilization in African countries.

The launch of the African Financial Integrity and Accountability Support Project (AFIAP) took place at the African Union headquarters on 7 March. The project aims to improve regional coordination of combating illicit financial flows and the oversight and accountability of public finances, for optimal revenue mobilization and management in African countries. It will support the coordinated implementation of recommendations of the High-Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows(link is external) and the implementation of joint strategies and initiatives related to international taxation.

The grant will support CoDA in its role as the secretariat of both the AU High-Level Panel on IFFs, the Joint Secretariat of the Consortium to Stem IFFs from Africa, and the annual African Fiscal Policy Forum. The support will foster a coherent African response to illicit flows, in line with the AU Assembly Special Declaration on IFFs(link is external) passed in January, 2015, and will advance Africa’s continent-wide asset recovery agenda encapsulated in the Common African Position on Asset Recovery (CAPAR)(link is external) adopted in February 2020. This will be carried out by CoDA, the African Union Commission Departments of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals and Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department, in collaboration with other national, regional and global actors.

The project targets selected African Development Bank member countries, with a particular emphasis on public sector capacities in low-income countries, to reinforce resilience via training, policy research and advocacy activities.

The Bank’s support is in line with the objectives of its Strategy for Economic Governance in Africa (2021 – 2025), its policy and strategic framework and action plan to prevent Illicit Financial Flows in Africa (2017 – 2021, extended to 2023), and “High Five objective that aims to “Improve the quality of life” for the people of Africa. It is consistent with ongoing similar support to regional organisations to stem illicit flows from the African continent..

The ceremony was witnessed by the Bank’s Deputy Director-General for Eastern Africa Regional and Business Delivery Office, Abdul Kamara, and the Executive Director of CoDA / HLP Secretariat, Souad Aden-Osman. Several other officials from the Secretariat, the African Union Commission and the Bank also attended the event.

Abdul expressed satisfaction with the project, noting that it is in line with the High-Level Panel’s mandate to promote a coordinated response of the Bank’s regional member countries in ensuring that policies and practices are mobilized in addressing financial crime, tax avoidance, money laundering. “In addition to combating illicit financial flows, this project will contribute to promoting greater efficiency in public financial management in order to boost revenue mobilization and management,” Kamara said.

“CoDA welcomes this financial support of the AfDB. We are eager to work with the Bank in ensuring Phase II of the implementation of the Panel’s recommendations is well underway. This collaboration with the AfDB is highly useful in this regard and on behalf of its Board of Directors and the High-Level Panel on IFFs from Africa, CoDA is thankful to the President, Management and Board of the AfDB for their continued support”, Aden-Osman said.

Patoma Admin by — March 11, 2023 in Banking & Finance 0
Nigeria’s foreign trade rises 41% to N52.3 trn in 2022

Nigeria’s foreign trade rises 41% to N52.3 trn in 2022

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

Nigeria’s foreign trade rose year-on-year (YoY) by 41 percent to N52.3 trillion in 2022 from N36.9 trillion in 2021.

The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, disclosed this today in its Fourth quarter 2023 (Q4’23) Foreign Trade in Goods report.

According to the NBS, total foreign trade in 2022 comprised of N25.6 trillion imports and N26.79 trillion exports.

However, foreign trade fell quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) by 4.9 percent to N11.9 trillion in Q4’22 from N12.2 trillion in Q3’22 due to a decline in import .

This resulted in a 143 percent rise in trade balance to N907.8 billion in Q4’22 from N409.3 billion in Q3’22.

NBS said:”In Q4’22, Nigeria’s total trade stood at ₦11.7 trillion of which total exports stood at ₦6.35 trillion and total imports amounted to ₦5.36 trillion.

“On an annual basis, total
trade was ₦52.38 trillion, total imports amounted to ₦25.59 trillion,and total exports were recorded at ₦26.79 trillion.

“Total exports increased in the fourth quarter by 7.2 percent and 10.3 percent when compared to the amount
recorded in Q3’22 (₦5.9 trillion) and the corresponding quarter in 2021
(₦5.76 trillion) respectively.

“Conversely, total imports declined by 15.5 percent in Q4’22 compared to the value recorded in Q3’22 (₦6.34 trillion) and fell by 9.7 percent when compared to the value recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2021 (₦5.94 trillion).

“The commodity with the largest export values in the period under review was Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude’ with ₦4.9 trillion representing 77 percent, followed by ‘Natural gas, liquefied’ with ₦704.88 billion accounting for 11.08 percent, and ‘Urea, whether or not in aqueous solution’ with ₦160.56 billion or 2.52 percent of total exports.
“The commodities with the largest values of imported products were ‘Motor
Spirit Ordinary’(₦1.55 trillion), ‘Gas Oil’ (₦220.47 billion), and ‘Durum Wheat (Not in seeds)’ (₦187.96 billion). “

Patoma Admin by — March 10, 2023 in Foreign 0
Tomisin Ogunubi clears 49,000 to win $1 bn

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

 

Meet Tomisin Ogunnubi, the 16-year-old Nigerian who beat 49,000 competitors to win $1 billion with her app.

Sixteen-year-old Nigerian tech kid, Tomisin Ogunnubi, shocked the world when she beat 49,000 contestants from 170 countries to emerge as one of the winners of the $1 billion Rise Initiative competition. She presented an app that could help track the precise location of lost children. “My Locator,” the app she developed, leverages the power of Google maps to track the minute-by-minute location of users.

As one of the 100 winners of the $1 billion cash prize, Tomisin received a scholarship to study abroad, mentorship, and career-shaping opportunities, as well as funding. It wasn’t surprising that her app emerged as one of the top picks of the competition, it attracted over one thousand downloads within a short period of time when it became public.

The app functions when users enter the contact details of their family and friends in the emergency checkbox. There is an inbuilt alert and saved location buttons that signal security agencies and families of users when there is a crisis. The user needs to tap on the button when they are lost. Within a minute, their location will be sent to the security agencies and emergency contacts for immediate action.

Tomisin is proudly one of the youngest Nigerian programmers, and despite her age, she has cemented her authority within the tech space. A year after rising to prominence, she was awarded a scholarship to study at Oxford University. She later furthered her education at the Imperial College, London, and was part of her school’s team which won the robotics competition organized by the US Embassy in Nigeria, according to authorpedia.

Tomisin started exhibiting her love for coding at the age of 12, and always aspired to use her skill to impact society positively. But she knew she could not achieve her dream without deepening her knowledge in diverse areas, and therefore made extra efforts to study web and mobile development, and apps that broadened her scope in several languages as well as frameworks such as JavaScript, Java, and Python. As curious as she is, she has also extensively researched machine learning, animation, and design. She currently works as a software engineer at Cascade, United Kingdom.

Tomisin is not only passionate about tech but makes time to explore other talents, including her intense interest in sports and music. She once ran a track for her school and won medals as a member of the school relay team. She also sang in her school choir and loves to play the piano. In 2018, she co-authored a book with her mother, Yewanda, titled “A Walk In Her Shoes”.
#mufasaandsons #OperaNews

Patoma Admin by — February 24, 2023 in Metro 0
FG orders verification of academic ,NYSC certificates of NSITF staff

By Favour Nnabugwu 

 

 

 

The Federal Government  has directed the verification of the academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates of staff of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, gave the directive to the reconstituted board of the Fund, shortly after their inauguration, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Ngige also charged the new board to ensure the full implementation of the NSITF Restructuring Report and conclusion of Electronic NSITF (E-NSITF) Phases I and II, to enable maximum collection of contributions from public and private sectors, as well as move into the informal sector of the economy.

The Minister called for the intensification of operational drive in the public sector, which is within the dimension of the formal economy, to ensure that national and sub-national governments (states) move towards universal coverage to all the workers in Nigeria.

He mandated the new board to do their best to build a new NSITF, noted for accountability, transparency and other principles characteristic of good governance.

The Minister expressed optimism that with the new board, the era of the media feasting on NSITF activities was over.

According to him, “Within the next eight weeks, you have to screen NYSC and certificates of all staff of the Fund. I have cause to say so. When I see letters written by staff, including people in management positions, I start wondering if they obtained General Certificate of Education (GCE).

“You should screen out impostors with fake educational and NYSC certificates.”

On the restructuring of NSITF, Ngige recalled that the President approved the implementation of the Restructuring Report, which the previous board could not conclude.

He directed the new board to ensure the full implementation of the report.

Stressing the importance of the E-NSITF, he noted that the platform would enable employers to make payments from the comfort of their offices while NSITF monitors from its own offices, hence, promoting transparency and accountability in the Fund.

He urged the new board to ensure that employers in the public and private sector key into the provisions of Employee Compensation Act 2010.

He also appealed to employers of labour in the nation to eschew subjectivity and key into the ECA 2010 and all its benefits to the workplace occupational safety and health.

Senator Ngige explained that the Act is a national law which drew from the provisions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 102, and replaced the old Workmen Compensation Act.

He urged employers to consistently make their statutory contributions to the fund for the security of their workers and aid nationally in the promotion of the decent work agenda.

He said apart from the implementation and enforcement of the ECA, the job of the fund would be expanded in the future to include other critical and thematic areas of thr ILO Convention no. 102, which the government of Nigeria in tripartite consultation with social partners, intends to ratify in parts owing to it’s expansiveness.

Responding, the new Chairman of the Board, Mr. Emmanuel Nwosu thanked Buhari for giving them the opportunity to contribute to the growth of the country.

Nwosu said he recognised the essence of NSITF to cater for various aspects of social security including protection of the world of work.

Also speaking, the new Managing Director, Mrs. Maureen Allagoa said she realises the burden placed on her, being the first woman appointed to administer the affairs of the fund.

Patoma Admin by — February 22, 2023 in Metro 0
The Publisher, THE WILL, loses Mother, Roseline Obiajulu Oganah at 83

By Favour Nnabugwu
The Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, THEWILL Newspaper and Downtown Magazine, Prince Austyn Ogannahhas lost the Mother, Roseline Obiajulu Oganah at the age of 83years
The death of his mother who passed on on February 20, 2023 was announced in a release patomabusinessonline.com got a copy from.
 
The Oganah family of Ogbe-Obi, Onicha-Ugbo Kingdom in Delta State announces the passing on to glory of our matriarch, Ezinne Princess Roseline Obiajulu Oganah (née Uzomah).
Princess Oganah transited peacefully at her Agbara residence on February 20, 2023 at the age of 83. Before her death, she served as a Vice Principal in the Delta State Civil Service.
She is also survived by Mr. Uche Maidoh, Prince Tony Oganah, Dr. Beatrice Oganah-Ikunjeyo, Dr. Pamela Irabor and Prince Alfred Oganah
Funeral plans will be announced later.
Patoma Admin by — February 22, 2023 in Metro 0
Attack On PDP Chieftains in CRS…Group makes a case for Victims 

By admin
Several reactions have continued to trail the recent attack on some PDP Chieftains in Akpabuyo Local Government of Cross River State who recorded losses of several millions of naira following a mayhem unleashed on them by Political thugs allegedly sponsored by the APC .
A Political group under the aegis of the PDP Rescue Mission Support Group (RMSP),condemned the attack on the Chieftains which  left some persons hospitalized calling on the Party Hierachy to see the need to come to the aid of the victims through some sort of compensations
The convener of the group, Hon. Dennis Abang made the call in a press statement made available to newsmen in Calabar on Tuesday.
The group bemoaned the indifference of the national which has kept mum over the mayhem unleashed on members including a serving state executive member.
While calling on the Party at the national level to reach out to members who suffered various degree of losses, it noted that many of them were still stranded with their families weeks after the mayhem.
While noting that the aim of the attack was to scare prospective voters and supporters of PDP,  Abang said reaching out to those attacked would serve as motivation for them in the task ahead.
“I am making reference to the Akpabuyo mayhem because I am aware that all those whose houses were destroyed have not been reached by the leadership of the party, especially at the national level.
“The need to empathise with them is necessary because it was as a result of their involvement with the PDP that they suffered such damage,” he stated.
Recall that weeks ago about 10 Chieftains of the PDP including the state Organizing Secretary of the Party, Hon Francis Ekeng were attacked and their houses , cars including household items carted away by their attackers suspected to be thugs loyal to the APC in the area.
On the unity of the party at all level which he said was sacrosanct to the Party’s victory, the group bemoaned the inability of the party to manage the crisis with the G5, urged the leadership of the party to avoid any slip at the 11th hour.
He said the ability of the party executives at all levels to manage  issues at this critical time would help the party achieve victory in the general elections.
He particularly called on the PDP to urgently initiate move to assuage the feelings of any aggrieved member no matter the status of such a member or members.
According to him, “We are at critical hour now before the elections and we must do all, including reaching out to any perceived aggrieved members of the party for the ultimate victory to be achieved.
The group concluded with the promise to deliver over 5 million votes from all the South South states for the party Presidential candidates, former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar.
Patoma Admin by — February 22, 2023 in Metro 0
NYSC deploys 200,000 corps members for 2023 elections

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

 

 

No fewer than 200,000 corps member has been earmarked to take part in the 2023 election by the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC,

NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Yushau Dogara Ahmed, who briefed journalists at the Scheme’s headquarters in Abuja, said the deployment was for the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for February 25.

Ahmed disclosed that the Scheme was working alongside other security agencies to ensure the safety of all corps members during the polls.

Nevertheless, he warned corps members against collecting any form of gratification, including food from politicians before, during and after the elections.

In the pre-election, the NYSC Director-General said: “We are deploying 200,000 corps members for the elections. What is fundamental for me to also mention is the security of these Corps members.

“Since I took over, I have met with the IG of Police, the DSS, I have met with the NSCDC, I have equally met with the INEC and every hand is on deck to ensure that the Corps members are secured

“We were assured by INEC that they will carry these Corps members to their respective places of assignment and bring them back safely from wherever they are picking them from.

“As for the welfare of these corps members, INEC has promised to provide them with sleeping kits and whatever they need for the elections.

“What I want to warn corps members about is that they should be careful in whatever environment they find themselves in. They should not accept any gift from any politician. They must not accept any food from anybody.

“As they go, they should carry at least their service support. Any form of gratification or gifts, we don’t expect any corps member to accept,” he added.

Ahmed also stated that those to participate at the elections had been provided with requisite skills for the conduct of the elections by officials of INEC.

“Those who are participating in this election have already been given proper training. Guidelines have been given to them. They have been well informed and they are ready to give their best.

“Some of them were trained outside the camps while those who just passed out (of the orientation exercise) were trained by INEC officials in the camp,” he added.

Patoma Admin by — February 21, 2023 in Education 0
Climate change; CAPI cleans up Nyanya Park, calls for safe, healthy environment.

By Favour Nnabugwu
A Non governmental Organisation advocating for a clean and healthy environment, Compassionate Advocacy for the Poor Initiative(CAPI) has began  to mitigate the effects of global change in Nigeria in Nyanya as the rainy season moves closer
Speaking at a clean up exercise in Nyanya motor park in FCT Abuja on Monday,. Amb Rukaiya M Dambuwa. , Director, Climate Change. CAPI said it is important to keep the environment safe and clean hence it’s the basis for avoiding natural disaster like flooding within an environment.
Dambuwa recalled that the effects of last year’s flooding is still taking its tool on the people adding that, the reason CAPI is in Nyanya was to collaborate with the people and see to the safety and clean environment within the area of operation.
 According to her’ “Global change is real and has come to stay, what we can do now is to mange the negative effects of climate change and see how the environment can improve through cleaning and maintaining the environment.
“We are at Nyanya today because this is a gate way out of Abuja city, many people travel from this motor Park to other parts of the country, if they notice that the park is clean and the environment healthy, they will copy and want to replicate same in their place” she said.
Also speaking,  the Director climate change called on residents of Nyanya to stop indiscriminate dumping of  refuse, especially by the road side hence the reason for blockage of drinage resulting to floods.
The best way to tackle flooding is to keep the environment clean. We were in Jabi, now we are in Nyanya motor park, our next point if call will be the school, the reason is that we want the students to know that a clean environment will enhance their learning,” Mohammad said.
Earlier, Mr. Solomon Oga, Director Accounts at CAPI said, the essence of the clean up exercise was not for any personal gain, but a show of commitment to a clean and healthy environment which is the core mandate fo the NGO.
“We are not cleaning the Park because of the forthcoming elections, maintaining a healthy environment and advocating for such is the reason for CAPI. he said.
 Mr. Oga called on all who are interested in environmental matters to join hands with CAPI or carry out the same advocacy within their area of operation adding that the Nyanya motor park management have demonstrated a strong will to maintain their environment by joining them in the cleaning of the Park.
For Amina Sani, she noted that the management of Nyanya Park has become partners because of the receptive and collaborative nature in which they allowed the clean up.
The Director of operations and partnership noted that the advocacy continue with the park management maintaining the Park and talking to their staffs and passengers on the need for a clean and safe environment. ‘We are glad you gave us opportunity to clean this environment. She said.
The park management thanked CAPI and pledged to continue to maintain the clean up exercise.
Patoma Admin by — February 21, 2023 in Metro 0
800 Nigerians detained in Saudi Arabia over irregular documentation

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

 

 

No fewer than 800 Nigerians are destained in Saudi Arabia for different offences as the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM warned Nigerians against traveling that country without proper documentation

In a statement released by NIDCOM revealed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has about Eight Hundred (800) Nigerians arrested and detained for various offenses particularly Consular issues since the clamp down began in October, 2022.

The statement further stated that its attention has been drawn to a communication from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Saudi Arabian authorities intensifying crackdown on undocumented foreigners in their country.

Going forward, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between October and December, 2022, intensified joint operations across the country targeted at ridding the Kingdom of undocumented irregular migrants.

In the letter to the Federal Government, the Saudi Arabian government noted that about Forty Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifty Eight (45,458) foreigners are in the country with offenses ranging from violation of residency rules, illegal border crossing attempts and irregular migrants for labor-related offenses.

NiDCOM says though the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi is intervening in this matter, it urges Nigerians to resist breaking the laws of other countries.

The commission however appealed to Nigerian citizens that if they must travel, they should travel with proper documentation.

Patoma Admin by — February 20, 2023 in Foreign 0