Gunmen Release Ex Delta Gov Ibori’s Sister-In-Law, Nephew After Ransom Paid
https://osazuwaakonedo.news/gunmen-release-ex-delta-gov-iboris-sister-in-law-nephew-after-ransom-paid/
#Adojor #Agbakanya #Delta #Edafe #Oghara #Ogharefe #Onogba #Osadjere #OSG #Unugbrogodo #Ethiope #Ibori #Police #Ugolor #OsazuwaAkonedo
Gunmen Kidnap Ex Delta Gov Ibori Sister-In-Law, Nephew, Demand ₦150m
https://osazuwaakonedo.news/gunmen-kidnap-ex-delta-gov-ibori-sister-in-law-nephew-demand-e2-82-a6150m/
#Adojor #Agbakanya #Delta #Edafe #Oghara #Ogharefe #Onogba #OSG #Unugbrogodo #Ethiope #Ibori #Police #Ugolor
Diezani’s Acquittal Poses Uncertainty US, UK Ending Graft In Africa – ANEEJ
https://osazuwaakonedo.news/diezanis-acquittal-poses-uncertainty-us-uk-ending-graft-in-africa-aneej/
#ANEEJ #cbn #David #Southwark #EFCC #Jonathan #NFIU #OPEC #Sanusi #SCUML #Ugolor #US
https://osazuwaakonedo.news/gunmen-release-ex-delta-gov-iboris-sister-in-law-nephew-after-ransom-paid/
#Adojor #Agbakanya #Delta #Edafe #Oghara #Ogharefe #Onogba #Osadjere #OSG #Unugbrogodo #Ethiope #Ibori #Police #Ugolor #OsazuwaAkonedo
Gunmen Kidnap Ex Delta Gov Ibori Sister-In-Law, Nephew, Demand ₦150m
https://osazuwaakonedo.news/gunmen-kidnap-ex-delta-gov-ibori-sister-in-law-nephew-demand-e2-82-a6150m/
#Adojor #Agbakanya #Delta #Edafe #Oghara #Ogharefe #Onogba #OSG #Unugbrogodo #Ethiope #Ibori #Police #Ugolor
Diezani’s Acquittal Poses Uncertainty US, UK Ending Graft In Africa – ANEEJ
https://osazuwaakonedo.news/diezanis-acquittal-poses-uncertainty-us-uk-ending-graft-in-africa-aneej/
#ANEEJ #cbn #David #Southwark #EFCC #Jonathan #NFIU #OPEC #Sanusi #SCUML #Ugolor #US
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NewsTranscript
00:00Abducted 40-year-old Omotsiri Sirian Abori, née Ben, and her 7-year-old son, Williams Abori Jr., have safely
00:08broken free from their captors yesterday evening after a 5 million nairas ransom payment was delivered secretly to an anonymous
00:16drop-off location, completely shifting the narrative of a tragic daylight ambush by heavily armed gunmen that had originally plunged
00:24O'Gara.
00:24The ancestral home of former Delta State Governor, Chief James Onanafé Abori, inter-intense fear and tension, highlighting a terrifying
00:33surge in local insecurity, as this victim is the youngest widow of the respected Abori family patriarch, retired soldier, and
00:41former unobrogado of O'Harafe, High Chief William Boye Agbacanya Abori, who was born on February 2, 1942, and passed
00:50away from a heart attack at age 76 on July 11,
00:542018, leaving behind his wives, Mrs. Elizabeth and Omotsiri Sirian Abori, alongside nine children and 18 grandchildren, while her father,
01:04Chief Lucky Ben, recently confirmed exclusively to Osazu Wakonedo News Media that his daughter is currently 40 years old,
01:13which clarifies historical timelines and corrects past social media rumors by establishing that she was approximately 32 years old when
01:22her high-profile traditional wedding ceremony was celebrated in O'Harafe on Saturday, March 17, 2018,
01:29just four months before her husband's demise, meaning this high-profile abduction has severely worsened local anxiety by coming on
01:39the heels of another recent violent incident in O'Hara where local farmer Mr. Vincent Adogha was brutally murdered on
01:47his farm and his wife kidnapped for ransom,
01:49forcing Ethiopia West local government council chairman Honorable Chris Onigba to vow an aggressive security crackdown as terrified residents demand
01:59urgent, decisive tactical intervention from the police command to halt the growing criminal epidemic,
02:05though a wave of deep relief has swept through the family space after a close source confirmed the breakthrough directly
02:11via an urgent text message stating that they have gone to drop the ransom and she has been released to
02:17them,
02:17following aggressive backdoor negotiations that forcefully broke down the heavily armed gang's initial staggering 150 million naira's ransom demand.
02:27The victims regained their freedom yesterday night after the family successfully delivered a 5 million naira's ransom payment to the
02:35kidnappers.
02:36The breakthrough was confirmed through an urgent message sent by a close family source to Osazu Wakonedo, expressing immense relief
02:44as the ordeal came to an end.
02:45My wife just sent me this, they have gone to drop the ransom and she has been released to them.
02:52The family source stated, the armed gang had initially slammed a staggering 150 million naira's ransom demand on the family
03:01shortly after the violent ambush.
03:03However, tense negotiations over the last few days successfully brought the demand down to 5 million naira's,
03:10which was physically delivered to a designated drop-off point before the victims were handed back over to their relatives.
03:17Both victims are currently being reunited with their family members.
03:21This high-profile kidnapping occurs amidst apparent sharp decline in public safety within the Ethiopwest local government area.
03:29Speaking out against the escalating wave of banditry-induced violence,
03:34Rev. David Ugolla, co-convener of the civic advocacy group O'Gara Study Group, OSG,
03:41strongly condemned the worsening state of security in the community.
03:45Addressing the media, Rev. Ugolla lamented that what was once regarded as one of Delta's relatively peaceful regions
03:52has quickly transformed into an organized criminal flashpoint.
03:55The security situation in O'Gara and the environment has worsened in recent times,
04:01with the increasing wave of banditry, kidnappings, and killings in the locality, Ugolla stated.
04:08Victims are increasingly being murdered even after ransom payments while poor families are left helpless and devastated.
04:15The O'Gara Study Group highlighted that the unchecked activities of armed syndicates and cult groups
04:21are systematically disrupting local commerce, education, and farming.
04:25The body is demanding immediate state and federal interventions,
04:30including the heavy deployment of surveillance technology, tactical personnel,
04:34and enhanced community policing frameworks.
04:37We reject any narrative that blames the community for the criminality visited upon it, Ugolla added,
04:44while calling for the recognition of local traditional institutions as active partners in security delivery.
04:50Following the safe release of the victims, an emotional letter of appreciation from the affected family emerged,
04:57shedding more light on the traumatic 10-day ordeal.
05:00The message, penned by a member of the Osagere family whose wife is the immediate younger sister to the released
05:07victim,
05:07was addressed directly to Rev. David Ugolla to express deep gratitude for his massive tactical and emotional intervention.
05:14The family member revealed that Omotsiri Sirian Abori and her young son were targeted by the criminal elements
05:21while transit bound for medical treatment and a family visit,
05:25an event that left their household completely broken and paralyzed by trauma.
05:29The letter reads in full,
05:31Dear Sir,
05:32Dear Sir, I would like to sincerely express my heartfelt gratitude to you,
05:37Rev. David Ugolla,
05:38for your massive support during one of the most difficult periods in my family's life.
05:43About 10 days ago,
05:45my wife's eldest sister and her 7-year-old son were kidnapped
05:49while traveling from Benin to O'Gara for medical treatment and a family visit.
05:53The news was devastating,
05:56our home was filled with fear and uncertainty,
05:58and my wife, deeply traumatized, fell ill while still trying to care for our children through it all.
06:05From the moment I informed you, you stood firmly with us.
06:09You consistently reached out not only to me and my wife,
06:13but also to her father, the extended family,
06:16and even engaged the media through the OSG initiative.
06:20Your guidance, encouragement, and unwavering presence throughout this ordeal went far beyond any material support.
06:27You were there every step of the way,
06:30offering clarity, strength, and direction when we needed it most.
06:34Standing in the gap for me, supporting me wholeheartedly,
06:38and showing such deep concern is something I will never forget.
06:42As the Orobo saying goes,
06:44O'Hwo Yavwadua, and you have truly lived it.
06:48You have embodied the values of family and responsibility that define us in the OSGare family.
06:54In you, I have continued to see the fatherly role you so graciously took on after the passing of my
07:00late father,
07:01guiding and supporting me consistently.
07:04Despite your many responsibilities and busy schedules,
07:07you always make time for others, whether family or not, near or far.
07:12That level of selflessness is rare and deeply inspiring.
07:16You are truly a dependable father and mentor.
07:19On behalf of my wife and I, we say thank you deeply and sincerely.
07:24Thank you for standing by us, for your constant support,
07:28for your leadership through the O'Gara Study Group,
07:30and for amplifying the realities of insecurity in our community.
07:34I remain forever grateful and will continue to serve you.
07:38Your example has left a lasting impact on me,
07:41and I pray for the grace to uphold and reflect these same values to your children and our larger family.
07:48May God Almighty continue to bless you,
07:50grant you good health,
07:52and reward you abundantly for all the good you do.
07:55Thank you so much, sir.
07:57Migwa, hashtag, grateful heart.
08:00At the time of this report,
08:02security agencies are yet to release an official statement
08:05regarding the rescue or clarify weather active intelligence.
08:09Operations are underway to hunt down the fleeing syndicate.
08:18Tragic daylight abduction of 40-year-old Omociri Sirian Abori,
08:23Nay Ben, and her 7-year-old son,
08:26Williams Abori Jr.,
08:27by heavily armed gunman has plunged O'Gara,
08:30the ancestral home of former Delta State Governor,
08:33Chief James Onanife Abori,
08:35into intense fear and tension,
08:37highlighting a terrifying surge in local insecurity,
08:41as this victim is the youngest widow of the respected Abori family patriarch,
08:45retired soldier,
08:46and former Anuk Brogodo of Aharafe,
08:49High Chief William Boyi Agbacanya Abori,
08:52who was born on February 2, 1942,
08:55and passed away from a heart attack at age 76 on July 11, 2018,
09:00leaving behind his wives,
09:03Mrs. Elizabeth and Omociri Sirian Abori,
09:05alongside 9 children and 18 grandchildren,
09:08while her father,
09:10Chief Lucky Ben,
09:11recently confirmed exclusively to Osuizu Wakonedo News Media
09:15that his daughter is currently 40 years old,
09:18which clarifies historical timelines and corrects past social media rumors
09:23by establishing that she was approximately 32 years old,
09:27when her high-profile traditional wedding ceremony was celebrated in Aharafe on Saturday,
09:33March 17, 2018,
09:35just four months before her husband's demise,
09:39meaning this high-profile abduction has severely worsened local anxiety,
09:43by coming on the heels of another recent violent incident in Ogara
09:48where local farmer Mr. Vincent Adoja was brutally murdered on his farm
09:52and his wife kidnapped for ransom,
09:55forcing Ethiopia West Local Government Council Chairman Honorable Chris Onika
09:59to vow an aggressive security crackdown as terrified residents demand urgent,
10:04decisive tactical intervention from the police command
10:07to halt the growing criminal epidemic.
10:10Close family sources confirmed to our correspondent
10:12that the victims,
10:14the wife of the late High Chief Williams Boyi Agbakanya Abori
10:17and their 7-year-old son,
10:19Williams Abori Jr.,
10:21were intercepted last week Wednesday
10:23and bundled away by kidnappers on their way to Ogara.
10:26The victims have now spent 9 agonizing days in captivity.
10:31According to insider family sources,
10:33the criminal ring initially demanded
10:35a staggering 150 million nairas ransom for their release.
10:40However,
10:40following frantic negotiations,
10:43the kidnappers slashed the demands to 5 million nairas.
10:47Despairing relatives revealed that the family is still struggling
10:50to raise the 5 million nairas sum to secure the freedom of the mother and child.
10:55The late husband of the abducted woman,
10:58High Chief Williams Agbari,
10:59was the revered Anabrogodo,
11:02traditional spokesman,
11:03of Aharefe in the Ogara Kingdom.
11:06A retired soldier and a member of the Delta State Advisory and Peace Building Council,
11:11he passed away in 2018.
11:13This direct attack on his immediate family underscores a dangerous breakdown of security
11:18in the Ethiop West local government area,
11:22spare heading fear that no one is safe.
11:24Just days ago,
11:26on Monday June 29,
11:282026,
11:29a brutal attack occurred on a farm in Ogara.
11:32A local farmer,
11:33Mr. Vincent Adogia,
11:35was ambushed and brutally murdered by armed assailants
11:38between 3pm and 4pm
11:40while working on his land.
11:42The attackers butchered Mr. Adogia on the spot
11:45before forcefully carting away his wife into the forest.
11:48The community was thrown into panic,
11:51with the deceased's body deposited at a local morgue.
11:54After intense trauma and the emergency payment of an undisclosed ransom by desperate relatives,
12:00Mrs. Adogia was finally released by her captors.
12:03In response to the rapidly deteriorating security situation,
12:08the Executive Chairman of Ethiop West local government council,
12:12Honorable Chris Onipa,
12:13led a high-powered delegation on a condolence visit to the grieving Adogia family.
12:18Accompanying him with the council vice-chairman,
12:21Austin Atomre,
12:22and the leader of the legislative arm,
12:24Honorable Felix Ejimayoma.
12:27Vowing an aggressive crackdown on the kidnapping syndicates operating within the Axis.
12:32Honorable Onigba condemned the incidents as completely unacceptable.
12:36It is a painful loss that no family should have to endure,
12:40Onigba stated during the visit.
12:42We will deploy every lawful means within our authority
12:45to combat kidnapping and other criminal activities threatening the peace and security of our communities.
12:52Insecurity will not be allowed to thrive in any part of this local government.
12:57The chairman disclosed that all relevant security agencies have been explicitly ordered
13:02to intensify field investigations,
13:05fish out the perpetrators,
13:06and bring them to justice.
13:08He also appealed to tense residents to avoid taking the law into their hands,
13:13reassuring the public that the council is working around the clock to restore lasting law and order.
13:18As the nine-day countdown continues for the captive sister-in-law and young nephew of former Governor Abori,
13:25community leaders and residents are urgently calling on the Delta State Police Command
13:30to deploy tactical squads to flush out the criminal elements hiding in the border forests of O'Gara.
13:36Efforts to reach the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer,
13:40P.P.R.O., S.P. Bright Ederfay,
13:43for official comment on the incident proved abortive,
13:46as multiple phone calls went unanswered
13:49and a detailed inquiry message sent to his desk is yet to be replied to at the time of filing
13:54this report.
13:55In a swift reaction to the deteriorating safety situation in the region,
14:00a prominent socio-cultural advocacy group,
14:03the O'Gara Study Group, OSG,
14:05has expressed profound grief and outrage over what it termed an
14:09alarming deterioration of security across the kingdom.
14:13In an official press statement released on Wednesday, July 1, 2026,
14:18the group noted that the recent abduction of a local couple,
14:22which resulted in the brutal murder of the husband and the ransom-fueled release of his wife,
14:27has fully exposed the terrifying security vulnerability confronting local residents.
14:32The advocacy group emphasized that the violent ambush is not an isolated incident,
14:37warning that O'Gara Kingdom is rapidly transforming into a volatile hotspot for coordinated kidnappings,
14:44armed robberies, banditry, and senseless killings.
14:47According to the leadership,
14:49this continuous wave of criminality has severely paralyzed local socio-economic activities,
14:56instilling constant fear in residents,
14:58forcing farmers to abandon their farmlands completely,
15:01and crippling businesses operating under persistent existential threats.
15:05Condemning the heinous acts of violence,
15:08the group extended its condolences to the family of the deceased farmer
15:12and sympathized with his surviving wife over her captivity trauma.
15:16Signed by prominent leaders,
15:18Rev. David Ugolla and Prof. Oghenerona Egueri,
15:22the statement strongly asserted that criminality has no ethnic,
15:25religious, or political justification,
15:28demanding that no criminal gang should be permitted to convert O'Gara Kingdom into a safe haven for violent networks.
15:34To arrest the worsening crisis,
15:37the O'Gara study group explicitly petitioned the federal government of Nigeria,
15:42the Delta State Government,
15:43the Ethiopian West Local Government Council,
15:46and all joint security forces,
15:48including the Nigeria Police Force,
15:51the Nigerian Army,
15:52the Department of State Services,
15:54PSS,
15:55and the Civil Defense Corps,
15:56to urgently deploy reinforced personnel,
15:59tactical intelligence assets,
16:01and surveillance technology to restore absolute peace to the territory.
16:05Specifically,
16:06the group urged the joint security authorities to launch aggressive field operations to dismantle hidden forest camps,
16:14increase armed patrols along major transit highways,
16:17rural farmlands,
16:18and local waterways,
16:20and establish rapid response units.
16:22They further demanded a thorough,
16:24conclusive investigation into the recent abductions to ensure that every
16:29individual connected to the criminal network is identified and prosecuted under the law.
16:35The statement also called for the immediate strengthening of community policing frameworks,
16:40urging the O'Gara traditional institution,
16:43youth groups,
16:44market associations,
16:45and religious bodies to deepen their tactical cooperation with security agencies through lawful information sharing.
16:52While acknowledging the widespread anger and frustration boiling within the community,
16:57the group strictly cautioned local youth against resorting to mob justice,
17:01ethnic profiling,
17:03or lawless vigilante reprisals,
17:05maintaining that suspect tracking must rely purely on credible evidence and the rule of law.
17:10Concluding the briefing,
17:12the group declared this period a defining moment for the kingdom,
17:16stating that protection of life remains the primary responsibility of government
17:20and that enough is enough.
17:22The leadership reaffirmed its commitment to actively engaging state actors until absolute public safety is restored,
17:29insisting that the security of O'Gara must become an immediate, non-negotiable national priority.
17:42Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice,
17:46ANIJ has expressed deep concern over the acquittal of former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources,
17:52Mrs. Dizani Alison Maduweke,
17:54by a United Kingdom court,
17:56describing the verdict as a troubling moment for the global fight against corruption,
18:01illicit financial flows IFFs,
18:04and impunity,
18:05a statement that follows the June 17th,
18:082026,
18:09ruling at the Southwark Crown Court in London,
18:11where a jury cleared Alison Maduweke of all six bribery charges brought against her by the UK's National Crime Agency,
18:19NCA after a five-month trial and 46 hours of deliberation,
18:24while her co-defendants,
18:26oil executive,
18:27Ola Timboa Yinde and her brother,
18:30Doya Gamma,
18:30were also acquitted,
18:32bringing a dramatic end to a saga that began more than a decade ago,
18:36a development that prompted ANIJ to take immediate action today,
18:40June 23,
18:412026,
18:42by launching a critical two-day capacity building workshop in Abuja in collaboration with the Economic and
18:49Financial Crimes Commission,
18:51EFCC,
18:52Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit,
18:55NFIU,
18:56a body domiciled within the Central Bank of Nigeria,
19:00CBN and Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering,
19:04SKUML,
19:04an arm of the EFCC to aggressively equip civil society organizations,
19:10CSOs with the necessary tools to track,
19:12combat,
19:13and dismantle these very same illicit financial flows across Nigeria.
19:18Alison Madueke served as Nigeria's powerful oil minister from 2010 to 2015
19:24and was the first female president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries,
19:30OPEC.
19:30Her tenure was immediately hit by controversy when former Central Bank of Nigeria,
19:36CBN Governor,
19:37Sanusi Lamido Sanusi alleged that $20 billion in oil revenue had gone missing under her watch.
19:43In May 2015,
19:45just as the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan was handing over power to Mohamedou Buhari,
19:52Alison Madueke left Nigeria for London.
19:54By October 2015,
19:57the UK's NCA arrested her on suspicion of bribery and money laundering,
20:01seizing her passport and sparking a 13-year international investigation.
20:06For years,
20:08Alison Madueke's legal team fiercely resisted attempts by Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
20:14EFCC to extradite her back to Abuja to face separate corruption charges.
20:19Her prolonged stay in the UK was repeatedly defended on critical medical grounds.
20:25Her lawyers disclosed that she was diagnosed with triple negative cancer,
20:30describing it as the most aggressive form of breast cancer.
20:34Over the decade,
20:35her defense stated that she underwent multiple major surgeries and extensive chemotherapy treatments in London hospitals,
20:42leaving her at one point in a coma due to medical complications.
20:46These health battles,
20:48combined with the extreme complexity of cross-border financial tracking,
20:52left her on continuous UK bail for eight years before she was formally charged in 2023.
20:59Despite prosecutors presenting evidence that oil contractors funded a
21:03life of luxury
21:04for her in London,
21:06including spending £2 million of harrods,
21:09securing private jet flights,
21:11and occupying high-end properties,
21:13the case ultimately collapsed because the prosecution failed to meet the strict criminal standard of proof.
21:19The Southwark Crown Court acquitted Alison Madueke based on two central pillars.
21:24Failure to prove direct bribery,
21:26the jury found that the prosecution's evidence was largely circumstantial.
21:31Alison Madueke successfully argued that she maintained strict due process,
21:36had no direct authority over contract awards,
21:38and that any luxury spending cited by the prosecution was either personally reimbursed
21:43or fell under official state business expenses.
21:47The
21:47broken
21:48system and gross delays.
21:50Her defense team successfully argued that the extraordinary 13-year delay by British authorities
21:56ruined the fairness of the trial.
21:58They asserted that the
21:59passage of time,
22:01coupled with a
22:02broken criminal justice system,
22:04made it impossible for the defendants to access vital exculpatory documents and evidence
22:09remaining in Nigeria to prove their innocence.
22:12While acknowledging the independence of the British judicial system,
22:16the ANEJ leadership warned that the collapse of such a prominent international prosecution
22:20sends a dangerous signal to corrupt actors across the continent.
22:25While ANEJ respects the independence of the British judicial system and the verdict reached by the court,
22:31this outcome represents a major setback in efforts to hold politically exposed persons accountable
22:36and combat grand corruption.
22:39It risks emboldening kleptocratic governments,
22:42corrupt public officials and their enablers across Nigeria and Africa who continue to loot public resources with impunity,
22:49said Rev. David Ugola,
22:51Executive Director of ANEJ.
22:53The organization noted that the verdict deals a heavy blow to the UK's historical reputation as a leader in international
23:01asset recovery,
23:02transparency,
23:03and beneficial ownership reforms.
23:06ANEJ expressed worry over a growing retreat by major Western democracies from robust action against grand corruption.
23:14Ugola warned that if the UK and the US take a backseat,
23:17prospects for ending impunity in Africa will become increasingly uncertain.
23:22The collapse of one of the most prominent corruption prosecutions involving a former African public official
23:28may weaken confidence in these commitments and undermine broader international efforts to tackle illicit financial flows.
23:35At a time when corruption continues to fuel poverty, inequality, insecurity and democratic backsliding across Africa,
23:44diminished international resolve risks strengthening those who profit from state capture and weak governance,
23:49Rev. Ugola added.
23:51A key point of concern for the international human and environmental rights watchdog,
23:57ANEJ is the sharp contrast between the London acquittal and established legal realities in Nigeria.
24:03Over the years, Nigerian courts have successfully ordered the forfeiture of billions of naira worth of properties,
24:10cash, and luxury items linked directly to the former petroleum minister.
24:14ANEJ emphasized that these domestic recoveries, secured through lawful judicial processes,
24:21underscore the massive scale of illicit wealth accumulated.
24:24The UK acquittal, therefore, raises difficult questions about the effectiveness of cross-border enforcement
24:31and the capacity of international institutions to bring complex ground corruption cases to a successful conclusion.
24:38These recoveries, secured through established legal channels,
24:42underscore the scale of illicit wealth allegedly accumulated
24:46and the importance of sustained international cooperation in tracing,
24:50freezing, confiscating and repatriating stolen assets.
24:54The acquittal, therefore, raises difficult questions about the effectiveness of cross-border anti-corruption enforcement
25:00and the ability of national and international institutions to bring complex ground corruption cases to a successful conclusion,
25:08Eugola said.
25:09ANEJ warned that the judgment could demoralize citizens, anti-corruption agencies, whistleblowers,
25:15and investigative journalists who risked their lives to demand transparency.
25:20However, the organization stressed that the verdict must serve as a critical wake-up call rather than a deterrent.
25:27ANEJ called on African governments and international partners to redouble their efforts by strengthening local institutions,
25:34improving cross-border judicial cooperation, protecting whistleblowers,
25:39and closing the financial loopholes that facilitate illicit flows.
25:43The fight against corruption is ultimately about justice for citizens.
25:47It is about ensuring that public resources are used to improve lives rather than enrich.
25:52A privileged few, the struggle against corruption and illicit financial flows remains central to achieving democracy,
26:00sustainable development and social justice across Africa, Eugola said,
26:05reaffirming ANEJ's commitment to working with Nigerian and international institutions
26:10to ensure stolen public assets are recovered and used to improve public lives.
26:14In direct response to these ongoing transparency challenges and the staggering scale of national losses,
26:21ANEJ today, June 23, 2026, commenced a two-day capacity building workshop in Abuja
26:28focused on addressing illicit financial flows, IFFs in Nigeria.
26:33The training brings together key civil society organizations,
26:38CSOs alongside distinguished stakeholders,
26:40including SECFAN Africa representative, Professor Abdullahi Shehu,
26:46and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU,
26:50represented by Chief Governance, Risk and Compliance Officer,
26:54Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed on behalf of Hafsat Abu Bakr Bakri.
26:58Representatives from the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering,
27:03SKUML and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC are also participating.
27:08In his welcome remarks, ANEJ's Deputy Executive Director,
27:13Atakpulio, emphasized that the workshop is part of the project,
27:18strengthening CSOs and media capacity to contribute to the fight against illicit financial flows in Nigeria.
27:25He highlighted the critical role of CSOs in advancing public accountability,
27:30citizen mobilization, budget monitoring, procurement tracking, tax justice advocacy,
27:37anti-corruption campaigns, and policy engagement.
27:40According to Leo, the workshop aims to deepen participants' understanding of the nature,
27:46drivers, trends, and developmental impacts of IFFs,
27:50while strengthening their knowledge of relevant legal, policy, and institutional frameworks.
27:56It also equips CSOs with practical tools for evidence-based advocacy,
28:02procurement monitoring, freedom of information, FOI utilization, data access,
28:08coalition building, and strategic institutional engagement.
28:12Delivering a goodwill message,
28:14Professor Abdullahi Shehu noted Nigeria's strategic importance within Africa
28:19and commended ANEJ for its outstanding research on IFFs.
28:23He encouraged participants to actively engage in governance processes,
28:28hold elected officials accountable,
28:30and participate in democratic processes, including voter registration.
28:35Representing NFIU, Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed reiterated the importance of understanding IFFs beyond financial crimes,
28:44stressing Nigeria's significant role in combating illicit outflows.
28:48He underscored the need for collective action across sectors,
28:52noting that illicit flows can occur through multiple channels,
28:56including financial institutions and non-profit organizations.
29:00Similarly, Mr. Pascal Joseph Samu, who represented SKUML, an arm of the EFCC,
29:07highlighted the severe developmental impact of IFFs,
29:11revealing that Nigeria has lost over $77.7 billion in the last decade,
29:17with an estimated $18 billion lost annually.
29:20He emphasized SCUM's commitment to implementing beneficial ownership transparency
29:25as a key measure to curb IFFs and reaffirmed institutional support for the workshop's outcomes.
29:32The workshop continues with strong collaboration among stakeholders,
29:36reinforcing a collective commitment to combating illicit financial flows
29:40and strengthening transparency, accountability, and sustainable development across Nigeria.
29:47I'm just thankful to God.
29:49It's been a very, very arduous and long, almost 11 years.
29:53It's been traumatic for, not just for me, but for my family, for friends,
29:59for all those who have stayed and supported us,
30:02for my 93-year-old mother in Port Harcourt,
30:05for my son, and for all those who love us,
30:09friends and family.
30:10Look, we're surrounded by friends, yeah.
30:12So it has been a high theory, but I'll tell you this.
30:17God will always do as God wills,
30:19and God will be God.
30:22God is not a man.
30:23Amen.
30:23That's what you'd like.
30:25So when he promises you something,
30:27he will see it too.
30:29It has been almost 11 years I've been here.
30:32I did my job to the best of my ability.
30:35But like I said, God is not a man.
30:40Lord is God.
30:41And we thank you.
30:42Praise the Lord.
30:44Woo-hoo!
30:45Hostas who are come, Nebel,
30:46bringing youth the news in a more digital world.
30:50Hostas who are come, Nebel,
30:51bringing youth the news in a more digital world.
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