The Senate has raised an ad hoc committee to investigate claims that Cameroon has illegally annexed Nigeria’s mangrove islands and maritime territories.

The committee is tasked with submitting a report within two months, outlining recommendations on how to resolve the issue.

The Senate also called on President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial waters and secure the country’s oil assets—more than 2,560 oil wells—located within the disputed mangrove islands in Akwa Ibom State.

Additionally, Senate leaders have pledged to engage the President in discussions to explore diplomatic solutions to the ongoing crisis.

The motion for the committee’s formation was presented by Senator Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North-East) under Senate Orders 41 and 51.

In his address, Senator Bassey highlighted the economic and territorial risks posed by the alleged encroachment, noting that the islands in question, located in Efiat, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, were not part of the areas ceded to Cameroon under the 1913 Anglo-German treaties or the International Court of Justice ruling of October 2002.

Bassey expressed his concern, stating, “It is a serious national embarrassment that foreign laws are being imposed by Cameroonian forces on Nigerians living in the 16 ancestral villages in these areas. This illegal annexation has led to significant economic losses, especially in oil and gas revenues.”

He said, “The Mangrove Islands and waters at Effiat in Mbo Local Government Area, marking the terminal end of the Gulf of Guinea leading to the Atlantic Ocean, are currently under the illegal control of Cameroon. This violation contradicts the 1913 Anglo-German Treaties, the ICJ’s judgment of October 2002, and the Nigerian Constitution (Section 12).

“These islands are of immense economic importance, containing over 2,560 oil wells and significant gas reserves that should belong to Nigeria but are currently exploited by Cameroon due to this illegal annexation.”

Senator Bassey also referred to a 2016 discussion between then-President Muhammadu Buhari and Cameroonian President Paul Biya, where Biya questioned Nigeria’s stance on the Bakassi Peninsula and its hydrocarbon joint ventures with Cameroon.

Buhari clarified that while Nigeria accepted the ICJ ruling, the exact delineation of international waters, particularly around the mangrove islands, remained unresolved.

He further emphasised the encroachment as part of Cameroon’s expansionist agenda, violating international laws, undermining Nigeria’s territorial integrity, and unlawfully exploiting Nigeria’s resources.

The Senate motion reiterated that the annexation violates several international agreements, including the 1964 Resolution of the Organisation of African Unity, which called for respect for the territorial borders of African nations following independence.

 It also pointed to the 1913 Anglo-German treaties that clearly define the mangrove islands as Nigerian territory.

Lawmakers called for a review of the ICJ judgment and urged the Federal Government to bring the issue before the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South) stressed that Nigeria must escalate the matter at the international level, stating, “The Senate cannot remain silent when our sovereignty is under threat. The annexation is a violation of our territorial rights and could result in environmental disasters and loss of national revenue.”

Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) recalled the controversy over the ceding of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure, expressing concern that a similar situation was unfolding.

“We continue to neglect the rights of communities in Akwa Ibom and Cross River,” Ningi said. “This issue should be raised to President Tinubu, and experts and diplomats must be involved in resolving the matter.”

Other lawmakers, including Senators Agom Jarigbe (Cross River North), Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), and Etem Williams (Cross River Central), echoed similar sentiments, describing the situation as an ongoing crisis that leaves Nigerians in the affected areas vulnerable to harassment by Cameroonian forces.

Senator Gbenga Daniel (Ogun East) also pointed to other territorial disputes, such as the Republic of Benin’s claims to Tungeji Island in Ogun State.

 Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North) called for a reassessment of the ICJ judgment and its implementation, referencing the rushed cession of Nigerian territories under former President Obasanjo.

Senator Amos Yohanna (Taraba North) added that boundary issues also affect several local government areas in his state, urging more attention to the role of the National Boundary Commission in resolving such disputes.

The newly formed Senate ad-hoc committee will be chaired by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim and includes Senators Adeniyi Adegbonmire (Ondo Central), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West), Kaka Lawan (Borno Central), Banigo Ipalibo (Rivers West), Agom Jarigbe (Cross River North), Ekong Sampson (Akwa Ibom South), and Aniekan Bassey.

The number of dormant bank accounts in Nigeria is over 19.69 million, according to the industry customer account database released by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System.

The data, which tracks monthly account statuses throughout 2024, indicates a steady rise in inactive accounts, coinciding with new regulatory measures by the Central Bank of Nigeria requiring commercial banks to publish details of dormant accounts.

The CBN directive, issued to enhance transparency and return unclaimed funds to rightful owners, comes amid concerns that a significant number of accounts have remained idle for extended periods.

According to the NIBSS data, dormant accounts remained above 19 million every month since February 2024, with December closing at 19,697,125 inactive accounts.

This represents an increase of 1,205,000 from January’s figure of 18,492,169, marking a 6.51 per cent rise over the year.

The peak was recorded in May and June when the number reached 20.57 million before dropping slightly in the second half of the year.

The data further shows that there was an increase of 2.08 million dormant accounts between the first six months of 2024 before the CBN’s July directive on such accounts.

Following the directive, the TheNigerian reported that many bank customers affected by the new CBN guidelines on dormant accounts rushed to their various banks on Tuesday to reactivate the accounts.

The CBN directive led to a 1.59 million decrease in the number of dormant accounts, according to the NIBSS data. After the decline, there was a fluctuating increase for the remaining months of the year.

Closed accounts also showed a consistent upward trend, reaching 25.48 million in December, up from 21.71 million in January. For the entire year, 3.78 million accounts were closed in 2024, according to the NIBSS data.

Active accounts also grew significantly over the same period, rising from 209.31 million in January to 311.65 million in December. This increase of 102.3 million accounts represents a 48.9 per cent growth, indicating a continued expansion in banking activity and financial inclusion.

The CBN earlier reaffirmed its directive to all banks and financial institutions to publicly disclose details of dormant accounts, unclaimed balances, and other financial assets on their official websites.

A dormant account refers to a bank account that has remained inactive for at least one year.

The directive was outlined in a circular issued on Monday and signed by Michael Akuka on behalf of the Director of CBN’s Financial Policy and Regulation Department.

The circular, titled “Guidelines on Management of Dormant Accounts, Unclaimed Balances, and Other Financial Assets in Banks and Other Financial Institutions in Nigeria”, specifies that financial institutions must display key details such as the names of individuals authorised to operate the accounts, the type of account, and the branch where it is domiciled.

This information must be made available on their official websites. For other financial institutions that do not have dedicated websites, the CBN has mandated that the information be published on the websites of their respective industry associations.

The circular states, “In furtherance thereof, and in response to enquiries from stakeholders regarding the possible breach of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 (NDPA), banks and other financial institutions are required to note the following.

“1. Section 25 (b) of the NDPA permits justifiable deviations from the general principles of the Act. Also, Section 72. (ii) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act mandates the Central Bank of Nigeria to issue Guidelines on the administration of unclaimed funds in banks and other financial institutions.

“2. Information to be published on banks’ websites, as well as the association’s website (where applicable), shall include the name of the account, the type of account, the name of the bank, and the branch where the account is domiciled ONLY.

“Information to be published annually in at least two national daily newspapers or the premises of State and Unit microfinance banks shall also convey the details as listed in (2) above.”

This directive follows an earlier order issued by CBN on July 19, 2024, requiring banks and financial institutions to transfer unclaimed balances and dormant account funds to the apex bank’s designated accounts.

According to the CBN, all dormant accounts and unclaimed balances with banks for at least 10 years will be warehoused in a dedicated account known as the Unclaimed Balances Trust Fund Pool Account.

The apex bank added that the funds from dormant accounts, and unclaimed balances may be invested in Nigerian Treasury Bills and other government securities.

The CBN, however, said the new guidelines, which is a review of the guidelines issued in October 2015, exempted dormant accounts and unclaimed balances under litigation and investigation.

The guideline reads, “CBN shall treat unclaimed balances (dormant accounts and financial assets) as follows:

“Open and maintain the ‘UBTF Pool Account’, maintain records of the beneficiaries of the unclaimed balances warehoused in the UBTF Pool Account.

“Invest the funds in Nigerian treasury bills (NTBs) and other securities as may be approved by the ‘Unclaimed Balances Management Committee.

“Refund the principal and interest (if any) on the invested funds to the beneficiaries not later than 10 working days from the date of receipt of the request and where it is imperative to extend the timeline, a notice of extension shall be communicated to the requesting FI stating reasons for the extension.”

Justifying this move, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, said that monies in dormant accounts in banks are susceptible to fraud.

At the end of the 296th meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee in Abuja, Cardoso said, “With respect to dormant accounts, what I found personally is if you leave accounts dormant in banks, sometimes more than when you don’t leave them dormant in banks. In fact, most times, they are more susceptible to fraudsters copying your identity and trying to gain hold of the system to grab your money. So, that is a problem I think most money banks face.”

“The policy and the directive are meant to ensure that all those monies come to the central bank for safekeeping and it is at zero cost to the beneficiaries. All that will happen is that the central bank will manage the money within our possession and when the rightful owner surfaces, the money is returned plus whatever income is accrued to you.”

The increasing number of dormant accounts raises concerns about financial inclusion and banking engagement strategies

 While the rise in active accounts suggests strong banking adoption, the persistently high dormant and closed account numbers indicate that financial institutions need to re-evaluate their customer retention approaches.

While there is no latest figure on the total value of unclaimed funds in dormant accounts, the former minister of finance, budget and national planning, Zainab Ahmed, earlier said that the Federal Government would have access to as much as N850bn from the special trust fund of unclaimed dividends and dormant account balances.

She said, “On the issue of unclaimed dividends and government’s accounts and projections, there would be as much as N850 billion to be realised into the special trust fund of unclaimed dividends.

“The government is keeping the money in trust for the beneficiaries. At any time, a registrar or a bank confirms that this is the true and bonafide beneficiary of this fund, then the government will release from that trust fund to the investor who has it.

“They have nothing to lose as they would be paid their entitlements from the special trust fund to be set up by the federal government once they are properly identified.”

The management of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, has launched an investigation into the release of a mysterious substance that led to the hospitalisation of about 10 students on Tuesday.

Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday, the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Soladoye Adewole, said the incident occurred in a classroom near the sewage area on campus.

“Nothing is wrong with the area.

“It is likely to be a sabotage by a yet-to-be-identified student, students or people.

“It is a classroom that has nothing to do with chemicals, but the students are fine now,” Adewole said.

The acting Registrar, Adewumi Ogunjimi, confirmed that the school’s management had written to the state’s Commissioner for Health, requesting an emergency medical response.

The letter read in part, “The institution hereby informs the Honourable Commissioner for Health of an emergency situation within the Middle Belt Campus of the institution.

“Some students receiving lectures were found to have inhaled some indeterminable substance, making them weak and dazed.

“The institution has taken immediate and proactive steps by evacuating the entire area.

“Some of the affected students are equally being attended to by medical doctors and other paramedic staff at the institution’s health centre.

“We therefore call on the ministry to immediately come into the institution for an on-the-spot assessment and other necessary actions.”

Some of the affected students received medical attention at the Ring Road State Hospital.

NAN

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The National Assembly through the House of Representatives has mandated the Joint Committee on Communications and Interior to investigate the unsolicited and illegal linkage of National Identification Numbers (NIN) by telecom service providers.

This decision followed the adoption of a motion jointly sponsored by Patrick Umoh (APC, Akwa Ibom) and Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo).

The House also requested that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) investigate the reports and take action against any telecom service provider found to be culpable.

Additionally, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has been asked to confirm whether the linking of NINs by telecom service providers was authorised and compliant with relevant laws and regulations.

Umoh expressed concern over recent reports indicating that telecom service providers have linked NINs to subscribers’ lines without their consent, thereby exposing them to criminal activities and putting legitimate NIN holders at significant risk.

He stated, “The House recognises that this action is a clear violation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019, which guarantee the right to privacy and the protection of personal data for every Nigerian.

“We are aware that the NIN was established to streamline the verification and identification of individuals and enhance security in Nigeria.

“We are also aware that the potential risks and consequences of this unauthorised data linking include identity theft, financial fraud, and other forms of cybercrime that have become increasingly prevalent in Nigeria recently.

“Furthermore, we are aware that innocent citizens have been wrongly implicated in crimes, suffering reputational damage, harassment, and legal challenges for offences they know nothing about.”

The motion was unanimously endorsed, and the probe committee was given four weeks to conclude its assignment.

 Issues stern warning against misconduct

 

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed an immediate and thorough investigation into allegations of criminal activities at the Okere Correctional Centre in Warri, Delta State.

This comes after media reports highlighted serious misconduct at the facility.

Tunji-Ojo, in a statement by his special assistant on media and publicity, Babatunde Alao, condemned the misconduct reported in the facility, asserting that any officer found guilty would face the full consequences of the law.

The Minister emphasised that such behaviour will not be tolerated under his leadership, reaffirming his commitment to maintaining the highest standards of discipline, transparency, and accountability within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

The directive followed a similar strong stance taken by the Minister in 2024, when allegations emerged from a popular social media activitist, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM) claiming then, that social media personality and cross-dresser, Bobrisky, was never imprisoned despite earlier reports suggesting otherwise.

The statement partly reads; “This warning and my subsequent actions will reflect the my unwavering stance on ensuring that public institutions remain transparent, accountable, and free of corruption or mismanagement.

“I take these allegations seriously and I will not allow indiscipline to fester under my nose. Any officer found wanting will face the full weight of the law. The leadership of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) must provide explanations,” Tunji-Ojo stated.

The Minister reiterated his commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the administration of justice within correctional service system.

The Minister, according to his special assistant, also called on the public to share any relevant information that could assist in the ongoing investigation into the Okere Correctional Centre.

LEADERSHIP reports that this recent action underscored the Minister’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that the Nigerian correctional system is free from corruption and operates with the utmost integrity.

Kano State Government has initiated an investigation into the violent clash that occurred during a demolition exercise in Rimin Zakara, Ungogo local government area of the State, which resulted in four deaths.

LEADERSHIP reports the deadly clash happened on Sunday night when officials from the State’s Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning, accompanied by security personnel, arrived at the site around 10pm to demolish over 40 properties. The action was met with fierce resistance from residents, leading to a violent clash.

In the ensuing chaos, security operatives allegedly discharged weapons, resulting in deaths.

The State’s Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Abdullahi Wayya, disclosed that investigation into the clash has begun during an interview with journalists on Monday. He, however, affirmed that the disputed land belongs to Bayero University Kano (BUK) but noted that the land had been occupied by settlers for over 40 years.

“Previous administrations have tried to resolve the dispute to no avail. However, during the last council meeting, Governor Yusuf affirmed that the land belongs to BUK and directed relevant authorities to assist the university in reclaiming it,” Wayya explained.

The commissioner stated that the settlers had been served with a notice to vacate the property before the demolition, but they refused to comply.

“They didn’t adhere to the notice, and some of them attacked the officers that were part of the demolition team, leading to the deadly altercation,” he said.

Wayya added that while the state was yet to determine the full sequence of events, it has been confirmed that weapons were discharged during the incident, and several Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officers sustained severe injuries and are currently receiving treatment.

He emphasised that a committee has been established to thoroughly investigate the incident before further actions were taken.

“We want to ensure justice and transparency in this matter. The committee will investigate the circumstances surrounding the demolition, the resistance from the community, and the conduct of the security operatives involved,” he stated.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a 50-year-old Nigerian man, Jeremiah Okoye, while in police custody in Limpopo, South Africa.

The commission’s spokesperson, Abdulrahman Balogun, revealed this to TheNigerian Metro on Saturday, following reports of Okoye’s death on Friday.

Okoye, who lived at 71 Magazyn Street, Polokwane, Limpopo Province, had been residing in South Africa for 22 years before his death.

The victim, a native of Eziniffite Nnewi in Anambra, reportedly died while in police custody in Limpopo Province on January 13.

The President of the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa, Frank Onyekwelu, confirmed the incident in a statement provided to The TheNigerian on Friday.

Onyekwelu expressed concern over the police brutality faced by Nigerians in South Africa, calling for strict adherence to the rule of law. He added, “Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of his untimely death.

“We implore all our citizens to be law-abiding and allow the authorities to utilise all their resources to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of Okoye,” he said.

Onyekwelu, as reported by The TheNigerian, added, “We hope that his death will not become a statistic like others before it. The deaths of Nigerians in South Africa, particularly under police custody, have become a recurring issue that needs to be stopped.

“We fear that these recurring deaths of Nigerians in police custody, if unchecked, will become a dangerous pattern.”

In a separate report by the News Agency of Nigeria, the NICASA president stated that he had officially notified the Nigerian High Commission and Consulate in South Africa and had also reached out to Okoye’s family and friends in Limpopo following the tragic incident.

“Nigerian citizens in South Africa say no to police brutality and killings and demand justice for the late Okoye.

 “Our lives matter; nationality is not criminality,” he maintained.

In response to our correspondent’s enquiries about the actions being taken by NiDCOM regarding police brutality against Nigerians in South Africa, Balogun confirmed that the commission was aware of the situation and that an investigation had already begun.

 “True. It is under investigation,” Balogun simply stated.

A similar incident occurred when four suspected South African men allegedly killed a 37-year-old Nigerian, Mr. Julius Chukwunta.

Chukwunta, a native of Aninri Local Government Area in Enugu State, was reportedly attacked on December 7, 2024, while driving to his home in the Midrand Protea Estate in South Africa.

According to reports, Chukwunta was blocked by the four men as he approached his residence.

The four men allegedly inflicted a severe head injury on him, which was reportedly the cause of his death on December 13, 2024.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it dismissed 27 of its officers last year for misconduct and fraudulent activities.

The anti-graft agency also said it was investigating “a trending $400,000 claim of a yet-to-be-identified supposed staff of the EFCC against a Sectional Head.”

The EFCC spokesman,  Dele Oyewale, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

He said the dismissals followed recommendations from the EFCC Staff Disciplinary Committee, which were ratified by the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.

“In its quest to enforce integrity and rid its fold of fraudulent elements, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission dismissed 27 officers from its workforce in 2024,” Oyewale said. “Their dismissal, following the recommendation of the Staff Disciplinary Committee of the EFCC, was ratified by the Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.”

The statement quoted the EFCC Chairman as reaffirming the commission’s zero-tolerance policy toward corruption, emphasising that no officer is immune to disciplinary action.

He also assured the public that all allegations against EFCC staff would be thoroughly investigated, including a trending claim involving $400,000 against a Sectional Head by a supposed EFCC staff member.

“The core values of the commission remain sacrosanct and will always be upheld,” Olukoyede said, reiterating the commission’s commitment to combating corruption and ensuring accountability at all levels.

In addition, the EFCC issued a warning to the public about impersonators and blackmailers exploiting the name of its chairman to extort money from high-profile suspects under investigation.

“The commission also wishes to alert the public to the sinister activities of impersonators and blackmailers using the name of its Executive Chairman to extort money from high-profile suspects being investigated by the EFCC,” the statement read.

The EFCC revealed that two members of an alleged syndicate, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, were recently arraigned before Justice Jude Onwuebuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

The pair allegedly contacted a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko, and demanded $1m to secure a “soft landing” in a non-existent investigation.

The commission noted that similar criminal elements are still at large and urged the public to report such individuals.

Oyewale further emphasised that EFCC Chairman is a man of integrity who cannot be influenced by monetary offers.

“Olukoyede remains a man of integrity who cannot be swayed by monetary influences. The public is enjoined to report such disreputable elements to the commission.”

The EFCC is also aware of attempts to blackmail its officers through unscrupulous means.

 “Suspects under investigation for economic and financial crimes, who have failed to compromise their investigators, often resort to blackmail. These blackmailers should not be given any attention,” Oyewale added.