General
Police Parade First Bank Staff Involved in Foiled Abuja Robbery
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A member of staff of First Bank Nigeria, Mr Larry Ehizo, has been paraded by police over his alleged involvement in the botched robbery at the Mpape, Abuja branch of the financial institution last Saturday.
Until the incident, which was foiled by the combined efforts of security agents comprising the police, military and the secret police fondly called the DSS, Mr Ehizo worked at the bank as a Customer Service Officer.
Speaking when he was paraded by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, Mr Ehizo claimed one of the masterminds of the robbery, one Ernest, who is at large, had threatened to kill him, his girlfriend and his family if he did not help them rob the bank.
According to the 30-year-old 2014 graduate of Political Science from the University of Abuja, he drove the five robbers into the bank premises in his vehicle under duress.
“I met a friend (Ernest) in November and we had a discussion where we used to hang out. We almost had a serious argument after he complained about our services at First Bank. I tried to calm him down, but he was very furious, threatening not to bank with us again.
“He, thereafter, said he was going to hurt someone, but I told him not to do that, saying the worst he could do was not to do business with our bank again and possibly rob the bank. I never knew he took the second suggestion seriously. He used that to threaten me that I must allow his guys easy access into the banking hall for robbery.
“He went as far as threatening my family, myself and even the people around me, including my girlfriend. I was afraid to report this matter to the police because he warned me not to try such, threatening to kill me and others with the help of his friends, who he said were cultists.
“During the planning, he said he was going to give his friends N7 million and then promised to give me 20 percent of whatever we make from the deal, but I told him I wanted nothing from him. He insisted that I must collect it.
“I am a Customer Service Officer. I have been with the bank for over two years. If I had gone to the police, I would not have been here talking now. Members of my family also would not be. He knows my family house and knows where I stay personally at Mpape.
“When he brought his friends to me, I still begged him, but he insisted on robbing the bank. On the day of the attack, he said I should put them in my car for easy access into the bank. He even followed me to the premises. He waited to see when we entered inside and he immediately called me and I did everything out of fear of not dying and not having anyone dying because of me.
“Ernest is a customer at the bank. He comes around. There is a place I go to hang out in Mpape. He is a barman there. He sells drinks,” Mr Ehizo narrated.
One of the robbery suspects, Mr Princewill Obinna, said they did not expect to encounter any difficulty as they were assured by Ernest and Ehizo that the operation was going to be smooth.
“I was among those people that robbed the bank. It happened that Mr Larry invited us. Mr Ernest met us and told us there was a job we wanted us to do, but that he would connect us to the person with the operation.
“I asked him who the person was and called and introduced us to Mr Larry, who told us that there was an event that he wanted us to carry out because Ernest had been troubling him about it.
“He said he and Ernest have the background and survey of the job and that they would guide us on how to go about it, promising that it would be without stress and be completed within some minutes.
“I asked what the deal was about and he said it was a bank. I was shocked and said I have never done such job before. He said we should not worry that there was a tinted vehicle that would take us in without people noticing us. He asked if I knew some persons that could help us and I introduced them to other members of the gang.
“They also never wanted to do it, but we all agreed at the end of the day. That was how we came to find ourselves there.
“The message came to me on Tuesday that the operation was on Saturday. They promised to give us N7 million to share. I coordinated the other boys.
“The ammunition we took there was a local pistol that our late friend (robber who was shot) brought. He said he would be the one to stand at the gate and that I should hold this one and threaten the Mobile policeman,” he said.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
For the second consecutive month, Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has become the largest supplier of jet fuel to Europe, outpacing the United States of America (USA).
Data from Kpler showed that in July 2026, the Lagos-based oil facility, which has the capacity to refine 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day, produced more than 400,000 tonnes of jet fuel.
In June 2026, the private refinery, owned by Mr Aliko Dangote, exported 466,000 tonnes to Europe, underscoring its growing influence on international fuel markets and highlighting Nigeria’s emergence as a strategic player in global refined petroleum trade.
The latest data indicated that Dangote Refinery accounts for approximately 20 per cent of Europe’s total jet fuel imports last month.
The sustained export performance marks a significant milestone for the refinery, demonstrating its ability to consistently supply one of the world’s most demanding fuel markets with aviation fuel that meets stringent international quality specifications. Europe imported approximately 2.06 million tonnes of jet fuel in July, with Dangote accounting for the single largest share of those imports, ahead of traditional suppliers from the United States and the Middle East.
Industry observers say the refinery is rapidly reshaping established Atlantic Basin fuel trade flows by offering a competitive alternative to long-standing suppliers. While European buyers have traditionally relied on refiners in the United States, the Middle East and Asia, Dangote’s strategic location on Nigeria’s Atlantic coast, combined with its scale, modern technology and export capability, has enabled it to become an increasingly important source of aviation fuel for European markets.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to vacate the court ordering the freezing of the bank account of the Osun Srate government.
In a statement today by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President said he’s “deeply embarrassed not by the EFCC’s exercise of its mandate backed by a court order” because of its timing, which is just a few days to the governorship election in the state next Saturday.
According to him, actions of an institution of State, especially at the Federal level, is always credited to me, as the President, even when I may not have had any prior knowledge of the action.
“Since assuming office, I have consistently maintained that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies must be allowed to discharge their statutory responsibilities independently, professionally, without fear or favour, or political interference. I have therefore deliberately refrained from directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC or any other investigative or prosecutorial agency because I firmly believe that strong democratic institutions, operating within the confines of the law, are indispensable to democratic good governance and the rule of law.
“As President, I am committed to allowing institutions of State to function and take any action they consider necessary in the interest of proper governance without the need for any prior approval. Indeed, that is why institutions are set up by law with clearly defined powers. While I am yet to be fully apprised of the facts which informed the action of EFCC in approaching the court to obtain the said order freezing the Osun State Government account, I am not in the slightest doubt that the timing of the action of EFCC is inauspicious, and therefore I feel compelled to intervene.
“Osun State is only a few days away from its gubernatorial election. Therefore, nothing ought to be done to give an impression that the EFCC or indeed any other agency of the federal government is being used to interfere with the election.
“Based on the foregoing premise, I am duty-bound to issue a directive on this issue in consonance with the overriding public interest in preserving public confidence and the integrity, credibility, and fairness of our democratic process.
“Accordingly, I have directed the EFCC to immediately proceed to the court to vacate the order and discontinue whatever action it has instituted against the Osun State Government in this regard,” the statement stated.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has explained why it initiated a move to freeze the bank account of the Osun State government.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Governor of Osun State, Mr Ademola Adeleke, claimed that the anti-money laundering agency asked one of its bankers, First Bank, not to release funds to the state government.
According to the Governor, this was part of the strategies to frustrate his administration ahead of the August 15, 2026, governorship election in the state.
Reacting to the issue on Wednesday night, the EFCC, in a statement, said it has been investigating the state government since March 2026 over an alleged “fraudulent handling of Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) account to the tune of N11.0 billion.
The organisation noted that some officials of the state government, especially the Accountant General of the State, have had interview sessions with investigators of the EFCC.
“These ongoing investigations of the state government would not have warranted any placement of Post No Debit order on its account but for the precipitate and unwarranted movement of funds from the accounts to different suspicious accounts since August 2, 2026.
“The commission noticed huge transfers of funds into different corporate entities and had to swiftly halt the trend by freezing the accounts from which such heavy funds are being moved,” parts of the statement said.
In the disclosure, the agency noted that its preventive mandate is a public-inclined framework of safeguarding public funds, assets and resources, stressing that it cannot “watch idly while a state government’s account is being pillaged.”
“While the commission is fully aware of the impending governorship election in Osun State, it has a responsibility to act in defence of the sanctity of the funds of the state. It will be uncharitable for the commission to allow an excuse of an upcoming election to fold its arms to perform its legally-assigned functions,” it pointed out.
The EFCC disclosed that it is “keeping watch over the finances of other states like Osun State. Many of these states are on the investigative radar of the commission to ensure accountability and probity. The commission has always pointed out that it is non-partisan and non-sectarian but always working in the overall interests of Nigerians. The Osun State government account was frozen to save public funds from being looted.”
The organisation urged the public “to ignore false narratives and deliberate demonisation of the works of the EFCC. The interests of all Nigerians are greater and will always be protected by the commission.”
