The unpreparedness of the prosecution counsel in the matter against a female official of a new generation bank charged with the alleged theft of N197 million from a customer led to the adjournment of the matter to March 22, 2021 for arraignment.news
N197m fraud: Prosecution delays arraignment Of Formal Branch Manager Of New generation bank
The unpreparedness of the prosecution counsel in the matter against a female official of a new generation bank charged with the alleged theft of N197 million from a customer led to the adjournment of the matter to March 22, 2021 for arraignment.When the matter came up on Monday, the prosecution counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Halidu Mohammed, appealed for the matter to be adjourned by one month to enable them amend their charges.
Lawyer to the branch manager, Olawunmi D. Audu, did not object to the appeal.
Justice A. O. Ebong conceded to the appeal and adjourned the matter to March 22, 2021 for arraignment.
Audu was on Monday docked at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Zuba for allegedly abetting the theft the sum of N197, 200, 000 belonging to a customer and private company, De Chimex Aluminum and Steel Company Ltd.
Audu was the first defendant while the new generation bank was the second defendant in the matter brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a suit with number CR/1068/2020.
The company, De Chimex Aluminum and Steel Company Ltd, also the nominal complainant in the matter had, had a lawyer, Wisdom Elum, in court.
The company’s lawyer, Wisdom Elum, said his client had approached the EFCC to investigate the matter during which it was allegedly revealed that a forged counter cheque was used to withdraw the said fund.
He alleged that the total amount illegally withdrawn from the account was to the tune of N354 million of which N80 million had been refunded.
He said the N197 million which they were being charged for was the amount for which forensic analysis has been carried out by the EFCC.
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Breaking : US cuts Nigerian non-immigrant visas to three months, single entry, With immediate effect
The United States Department of State has announced an update to its non-immigrant visa policy for Nigerians.
According to a press release issued by the US Embassy in Abuja on Tuesday, “most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to citizens of Nigeria will be single-entry visas with a three-month validity period.”
The new visa restrictions take immediate effect.
However, the embassy clarified that, “those US non-immigrant visas issued before July 8, 2025, will retain their status and validity.”
The statement emphasised that this move is part of the Department’s global visa reciprocity process, which the embassy described as “a continuous process and is subject to review and change at any time, such as increasing or decreasing permitted entries and duration of validity.”
The US explained the rationale behind the policy update, noting that “US visa criteria and standards are designed to protect the integrity of US immigration systems.”
The embassy added that “these standards are based on global technical and security benchmarks.”
According to the embassy, the US Mission is working with Nigerian authorities to meet these benchmarks.
“The US Mission is working with the Government of Nigeria to ensure that Nigeria can meet the criteria,” the statement said.
Examples of these standard criteria include “Secure Travel Documents: Ensuring countries issue secure travel documents with verified traveler identities.
“Visa Overstay Management: Implementing measures to limit overstays by travelers on US visas, and Information Sharing: Sharing relevant security and/or criminal record information to protect public safety.”
Despite the new restrictions, the embassy reaffirmed its diplomatic relationship with Nigeria.
“The United States values its longstanding relationship with Nigeria and remains committed to expanding our partnership based on mutual respect, shared security priorities, and economic opportunity, keeping both our countries safer and stronger,” the statement read.
The embassy also expressed support for ongoing Nigerian reforms, stating, “We commend the ongoing efforts by the Government of Nigeria’s immigration and security agencies to meet standards of international best practices.”
Nigerian travelers were advised to comply with visa regulations.
“Nigerian travelers are encouraged to respect and adhere to the terms of their visas, and ensure travel documents are authentic, accurate, and up to date,” it added.
The embassy concluded with a reaffirmation of its engagement with the Nigerian people and government.
“The United States remains a committed partner in deepening people-to-people ties with Nigeria via business, educational, and cultural exchanges.
“We look forward to continued cooperation at all levels with the Nigerian public and government officials to ensure safe and lawful travel between the United States and all countries,” it said
The FCT wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers has announced the suspension of its over three-month-old strike by primary school teachers, with a directive for members to return to classrooms starting Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
The decision follows the intervention of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who convened a stakeholders’ meeting on Thursday, July 3rd, to address the lingering impasse.
This was contained in a communique dated July 4th, 2025, made available to our correspondent on Tuesday.
Recall that Primary school teachers in the FCT had embarked on industrial action on March 24, 2025, over the non-payment of arrears and failure to implement the new national minimum wage.
The Minister had, however, last Thursday, resolved to use 10 per cent of internally generated revenue for the Area Councils to offset the salaries of the primary school teachers. https://punchng.com/fct-councils-forfeit-six-month-igr-to-end-teachers-strike/
According to the Communique signed by the NUT Chairman, Abdullahi Shafas, State Secretary, Margaret Jethro, and Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye, the Union said the latest offer from the FCT Minister provided a workable pathway to temporarily halt the action.
The SWEC, after reviewing the Minister’s offer, noted the “positive disposition of the Honourable Minister for taking over the payment of the Primary School Teachers emoluments by the FCTA”, and resolved to suspend the strike upon the release and disbursement of the N16 billion.
“Having deliberated exhaustively on the aforementioned offers, including the positive disposition of the Honourable Minister for taking over the payment of the Primary School Teachers emoluments by the FCTA, the SWEC-In-Session resolved to suspend the Strike action on the release of the N16 billion and its payment to the Teachers accounts.
“Consequent upon the implementation of the New Minimum Wage and payment of five months Arrears into the Teachers accounts today, 8th July 2025; the SWEC, hereby suspends the ongoing Strike action and
appeals to all Primary School Teachers in FCT to, with effect from Wednesday, 9th July 2025 return to the classrooms and continue with the Union intensifies more efforts to
their legitimate duties while ensure the settlement of the remaining entitlements.,”the communique read.
The union also extended its appreciation to stakeholders and supporters who stood by them during the industrial action.
“The SWEC – In Session wishes to use this medium to appreciate all members especially the Primary School Teachers for their unwavering support, solidarity, cooperation and prayers while the strike lasted.
“Our special thanks go to the FCT Royal fathers, Civil Society Organizations, and other well-meaning individuals who, in one way or the other intervened and stood by us during the strike.
“We equally wish to thank the National Head Office of our Union-NUT, the National and the FCT Council of the NLC for the support and guidance,” the communique added
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Breaking: Universities adopt 150 as cut-off mark for 2025/2026 admission and sets admission age at 16, Says Alausa
Vice Chancellors of Universities in the country have adopted 150 as the minimum cut-off mark for 2025/2026 admission.
The decision was reached in a voice vote supervised by the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, on Tuesday at the ongoing policy meeting on admission in Abuja.
At the meeting, the minimum cut-off point for admission into polytechnics was pegged at 100, while the colleges of education and agriculture adopted 100 as the entry point.
Colleges of nursing adopted 140 as the entry point for admission
The Federal Government has formally set 16 years as the minimum age for admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced this on Tuesday during the 2025 Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board held in Abuja.
Alausa, while declaring the meeting open, emphasised that the age benchmark is now official and non-negotiable. He warned that any admission carried out outside the Central Admissions Processing System would be considered illegal.
The minister further stated that heads of institutions found culpable of admission fraud or circumventing CAPS would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The annual policy meeting sets guidelines for the conduct of admissions into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education for the coming academic session
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