Category Nigeria News

The Nigerian Navy says it has intercepted over 1300 bags of foreign parboiled rice at Majidun Community in Ikorodu West Local Government Area of Lagos State.

This was contained in a statement by the Base Information Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft, Lieutenant Hussaini Ibrahim.

The Commander Nigerian Navy ship BEECROFT and Maritime Component Commander of Operation AWATSE, Commodore Paul Ponfa Nimmyel, reportedly disclosed this to journalists.

READ ALSO: Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today 16th April 2025

He said the seizure was made on Saturday, April 12 by Operation Awatse Team while conducting routine security and anti-smuggling operations within their Area of Operations.

“Some vehicles suspected to be involved in smuggling activities attempted to evade security at its check point, which necessitated a swift pursuit by the Operation AWATSE Quick Response Team (QRT) in accordance with the Joint Task Force’s Standard Operating Procedures”, the statement read.

” The operation by the Maritime Component of the Operation AWATSE was conducted with commendable professionalism and restraint as no casualties were recorded. The timely response of the QRT and successful interception of the consignment have demonstrated the continued commitment of Maritime Component of Operation AWATSE to assist statutory agencies in curbing smuggling activities within its Area of Operations.

” The arrested 1, 306 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice were handed over to the Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, Apapa, today Wednesday 16 April 2025, in line with the Harmonized Standard Procedures on Arrest, Detention and Prosecution. “

See the full statement below:

OPERATION AWATSE: MARITIME COMPONENT INTERCEPTS 1, 306 BAGS OF FOREIGN PARBOILED RICE

The Maritime Component of Operation AWATSE under the leadership of the Commander Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, who doubles as the Maritime Component Commander, South-West Operation AWATSE, Commodore Paul Ponfa Nimmyel intercepted 1, 306 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice at Majidun Community in Ikorodu West Local Government Area of Lagos state.

Commodore Paul Nimmyel while briefing the newsmen disclosed that the seizure was made on Saturday 12 April 2025, by Operation AWATSE Team while conducting routine security and anti-smuggling operations within their Area of Operations. He stated that some vehicles suspected to be involved in smuggling activities attempted to evade security at its check point, which necessitated a swift pursuit by the Operation AWATSE Quick Response Team (QRT) in accordance with the Joint Task Force’s Standard Operating Procedures.

The operation by the Maritime Component of the Operation AWATSE was conducted with commendable professionalism and restraint as no casualties were recorded. The timely response of the QRT and successful interception of the consignment have demonstrated the continued commitment of Maritime Component of Operation AWATSE to assist statutory agencies in curbing smuggling activities within its Area of Operations.

The arrested 1, 306 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice were handed over to the Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, Apapa, today Wednesday 16 April 2025, in line with the Harmonized Standard Procedures on Arrest, Detention and Prosecution.

Lieutenant Hussaini Ibrahim

Base Information Officer

The Nigerian Navy says it has intercepted over 1300 bags of foreign parboiled rice at Majidun Community in Ikorodu West Local Government Area of Lagos State.

This was contained in a statement by the Base Information Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft, Lieutenant Hussaini Ibrahim.

The Commander Nigerian Navy ship BEECROFT and Maritime Component Commander of Operation AWATSE, Commodore Paul Ponfa Nimmyel, reportedly disclosed this to journalists.

READ ALSO: Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today 16th April 2025

He said the seizure was made on Saturday, April 12 by Operation Awatse Team while conducting routine security and anti-smuggling operations within their Area of Operations.

“Some vehicles suspected to be involved in smuggling activities attempted to evade security at its check point, which necessitated a swift pursuit by the Operation AWATSE Quick Response Team (QRT) in accordance with the Joint Task Force’s Standard Operating Procedures”, the statement read.

” The operation by the Maritime Component of the Operation AWATSE was conducted with commendable professionalism and restraint as no casualties were recorded. The timely response of the QRT and successful interception of the consignment have demonstrated the continued commitment of Maritime Component of Operation AWATSE to assist statutory agencies in curbing smuggling activities within its Area of Operations.

” The arrested 1, 306 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice were handed over to the Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, Apapa, today Wednesday 16 April 2025, in line with the Harmonized Standard Procedures on Arrest, Detention and Prosecution. “

See the full statement below:

OPERATION AWATSE: MARITIME COMPONENT INTERCEPTS 1, 306 BAGS OF FOREIGN PARBOILED RICE

The Maritime Component of Operation AWATSE under the leadership of the Commander Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, who doubles as the Maritime Component Commander, South-West Operation AWATSE, Commodore Paul Ponfa Nimmyel intercepted 1, 306 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice at Majidun Community in Ikorodu West Local Government Area of Lagos state.

Commodore Paul Nimmyel while briefing the newsmen disclosed that the seizure was made on Saturday 12 April 2025, by Operation AWATSE Team while conducting routine security and anti-smuggling operations within their Area of Operations. He stated that some vehicles suspected to be involved in smuggling activities attempted to evade security at its check point, which necessitated a swift pursuit by the Operation AWATSE Quick Response Team (QRT) in accordance with the Joint Task Force’s Standard Operating Procedures.

The operation by the Maritime Component of the Operation AWATSE was conducted with commendable professionalism and restraint as no casualties were recorded. The timely response of the QRT and successful interception of the consignment have demonstrated the continued commitment of Maritime Component of Operation AWATSE to assist statutory agencies in curbing smuggling activities within its Area of Operations.

The arrested 1, 306 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice were handed over to the Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, Apapa, today Wednesday 16 April 2025, in line with the Harmonized Standard Procedures on Arrest, Detention and Prosecution.

Lieutenant Hussaini Ibrahim

Base Information Officer

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has launched an investigation, in collaboration with the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) and other international partners, into the alleged fraud perpetrated by a digital investment platform, CryptoBank Exchange (CBEX).

CBEX, which crashed on Monday, reportedly led to the loss of ₦1.3 trillion belonging to Nigerian investors, even as several videos online showed some Nigerians raising the alarm over the loss of their funds to the scheme.

Making an appearance on Wednesday’s edition of Channels Television’s breakfast programme, The Morning Brief, the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said the agency had received calls from different quarters over the incident and was already tracking the digital trading platform.

“Concerning this CBEX thing, we’re on it; it’s not that we didn’t know, and you know we’ve been alerting Nigerians about ways and means to separate themselves from this type of shenanigans. So, before the calls came, we were working; while the calls were coming, we were working, and even after the calls, we’re still working.

“I can assure you that all of the profiling we need to do, contacts that we need to make, and some collaborative engagement that we need to make, we’re already doing that. We’re in contact with Interpol. We’re in contact with our development partners.”

READ ALSO: N1.3trn CBEX Probe: We Warned Nigerians Against Ponzi Schemes – EFCC

‘Not Beaten’

Oyewale stated that the anti-graft agency was not caught off guard by the scheme.

“Expectedly, we’re receiving quite a number of calls from Nigerians from all walks of life, from the media, from some of the victims, and from those who are not yet victims and who would want to be properly educated about what can be done to avert this kind of thing.

“Of course, we have been working; we’re not beaten by what happened. Our dragnet is wide; our intelligence is very effective. We’re tracking that digital trading platform. We profiled quite a number of things concerning the platform.”

Investment and Security Act 

He explained further that the Investment and Security Act (ISA) 2025 was a very important, well-conceived and responsive Act of the government aimed at checking illegal investment schemes.

READ ALSO: Court Jails Businessman For Rejecting Naira As Legal Tender

He said that according to the Act, it is criminal to engage in any digital trading activity without being licensed and complying with all the extant laws, as any form of exchange or business engagement must conform to the provisions of the Act.

“And that has empowered us as a commission because we know that with the ISA 2025, it’s so easy for us if you’re involved in some kind of engagement and you’re not licensed and you’re not compliant with extant laws; I mean, it’s a straight thing. We will act accordingly, and we’ll bring such people to justice.

“Be it as it may, I think Nigerians also need to know that yes, we’re gaining strength with the ISA, but there is also a need for public vigilance because there are a lot of things that go with this Ponzi scheme thing, so Nigerians also need to be very vigilant.

“There is a need to critically look at some basic indices before going into any investment or any business engagement. For example, the returns on investment that all of these Ponzi schemes are parading are not only unrealistic, but they are also at variance with our laws, with the existing system in Nigeria,” he said.

‘100% ROI Not Possible’

Speaking further, Oyewale said, “We know that for every business concern, you declare your profit either quarterly, annually or bi-annually, but if somebody says, ‘Bring your money; I’m going to give you a return in 30 days,’ you know that is not realistic; it’s just not pragmatic.

“Or if somebody says, ‘If you bring your money, we’re going to give you a 100% return on investment,’ that is not possible; even we know that the prevailing interest rate in Nigeria is 27.5.”

He, therefore, advised Nigerians against investing in a business without considering the legal framework that regulates it.

“But the essential thing is that it is not too good for Nigerians to be falling victim to this kind of arrangement when we have a lot of enlightenment programmes that we’ve been doing.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has launched an investigation, in collaboration with the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) and other international partners, into the alleged fraud perpetrated by a digital investment platform, CryptoBank Exchange (CBEX).

CBEX, which crashed on Monday, reportedly led to the loss of ₦1.3 trillion belonging to Nigerian investors, even as several videos online showed some Nigerians raising the alarm over the loss of their funds to the scheme.

Making an appearance on Wednesday’s edition of Channels Television’s breakfast programme, The Morning Brief, the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said the agency had received calls from different quarters over the incident and was already tracking the digital trading platform.

“Concerning this CBEX thing, we’re on it, it’s not that we didn’t know, and you know we’ve been alerting Nigerians about ways and means to separate themselves from this type of shenanigans. So, before the calls came, we were working, while the calls were coming, we were working, and even after the calls, we’re still working.

” I can assure you that all of the profiling we need to do, contacts that we need to make, and some collaborative engagement that we need to make, we’re already doing that. We’re in contact with Interpol. We’re in contact with our development partners. “

READ ALSO: N1.3trn CBEX Probe: We Warned Nigerians Against Ponzi Schemes – EFCC

‘ Not Beaten ‘

Oyewale stated that the anti-graft agency was not caught off guard by the scheme.

” Expectedly, we’re receiving quite a number of calls from Nigerians from all walks of life, from the media, from some of the victims, and from those who are not yet victims and who would want to be properly educated about what can be done to avert this kind of thing.

“Of course, we have been working, we’re not beaten by what happened. Our dragnet is wide, our intelligence is very effective. We’re tracking that digital trading platform. We profiled quite a number of things concerning the platform”.

Investment and Security Act&nbsp,

He explained further that the Investment and Security Act (ISA) 2025 was a very important, well-conceived and responsive Act of the government aimed at checking illegal investment schemes.

READ ALSO: Court Jails Businessman For Rejecting Naira As Legal Tender

He claimed that any form of exchange or business activity that does not comply with the provisions of the Act constitute criminal activity if it is not licensed and authorized to do so.

Because we are aware that if you engage in some kind of engagement and you are not licensed or in compliance with existing laws, we are able to work as a commission because we know that with ISA 2025. We’ll take appropriate action and prosecute those responsible.

As may be expected, I believe Nigerians also need to be very vigilant because there are many facets to this Ponzi scheme issue, and that we are strengthening it through the ISA.

Before making any investment or business engagement, it is necessary to critically examine some fundamental indices. For instance, he argued that the returns on investment that all of these Ponzi schemes are parading are “unrealistic” and incompatible with our laws and the country’s current system.

‘ 100% ROI Not Possible ‘

Oyewale continued, “We know that every business concern requires you to report your profit either quarterly, annually, or bi-annually, but if someone says, “Bring your money, I’m going to give you a return in 30 days,” that is not realistic, because it’s just not pragmatic.

Or, “We’re going to give you a 100% return on investment,” as some people claim, “Or that’s not possible, even we know that Nigeria’s current interest rate is 27.5. “

Therefore, he cautioned Nigerians against investing in a company without considering the laws that apply to it.

The key is that Nigerians shouldn’t be falling victim to this kind of arrangement when we have a lot of enlightenment programs going on, but that is what matters.

The Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has declared the removal of the re-instated Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, as illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, the court also nullified the proceedings and resolutions of the House held on January 13, 2025, during which Obasa was ousted.

READ ALSO: Count Us Out Of Merger, Coalition — PDP Govs

Trial judge, Justice Yetunde Pinheiro also awarded N500,000 as damages for the unlawful and illegal removal of Hon. Obasa and for the psychological embarrassment he suffered as a result of the illegal removal.

Obasa had filed a suit against the House of Assembly and the newly appointed Speaker at the time, Mojisola Meranda, to challenge the legality of his removal.

In the suit, filed on February 12, 2025, by his counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afolabi Fashanu, Obasa argued that his removal by 36 lawmakers occurred while the Assembly was on recess and while he was out of the country.

He urged the court to declare the process unlawful, arguing that the sitting was invalid as it was held without the Speaker’s authority or any formal delegation of power.

In a judgment which lasted about three hours, Justice Pinheiro first dismissed the preliminary objections challenging the competence of the suit. The court held that non-compliance with pre-action notices does not make the suit inactive.

On the objection that the court does not have the jurisdiction to review the proceedings of the State House of Assembly, the judge held that, “ a court of law can intervene where the provisions of the constitution have not been met during any proceedings of the house of assembly”.

Citing the cases of Usman v Kaduna State House of Assembly, Agbaso Vs Imo State, and Rivers State House of Assembly Vs Government of Rivers State, the judge further held that in cases where there is a lacuna in the provisions of the constitution, the court can intervene.

The court noted that in deserving instances it has  also intervened when the house rules have not been properly followed and where fair hearing has not been ensured.

In the present case, the court agreed with the claimant, Hon. Obasa, that the facts of the case are questions that the court can adjudicate upon.

The judge noted that the issues in question has to do with the constitutionality of the procedure of the Lagos House of Assembly on the day the claimant was removed, and especially if due process was  followed.

Relying on the rules of the House of Assembly, the court took view that no person other than the leaders of the House have the capacity to write to the Speaker to convene a Meeting of the assembly, and the chief whip is not a leader.

The court also stated that by the rules of the Lagos State House of Assembly, there exists a hierarchy under Order 7.

Rule 30 of the Rules which relates to the authority of the chief whip also does not confer on him such authority.

The court held that every step taken towards reconvening the meeting of the house after it had adjourned indefinitely cannot stand and it is inconsequential that majority of members voted for the meeting.