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Meet Nigeria’s Nationalist, Obafemi Awolowo

Rufus Okoro Chief Obafemi Awolowo (1909 – 1987) was a Nigerian nationalist, lawyer, statesman, and one of the country’s most influential political leaders. Born Obafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo on March 6, 1909, in Ikenné, present-day Ogun State, Nigeria. He studied law at the University of London and qualified as a barrister. Awolowo founded the Action Group (AG) political party in 1951. He served as the Premier of the Western Region from 1954 to 1960, later emerged the Leader of the Opposition in Nigeria’s federal parliament. ALSO READ >>> Meet Nigeria’s First President, Nnamdi Azikiwe He served as the Vice-Chairman of the Federal Executive Council and Minister of Finance, during the Nigerian Civil War, 1967–1971. Awolowo introduced free primary education and free healthcare for children in the Western Region, which became a model in Nigeria. He advocated federalism as the best system for Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups. He was widely know...

EFCC Arraigns Two Bankers for Selling New Naira Notes

By Frank Musa
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two bank staff, Ekpe Anayaoha Okoronkwo (M), and Onyinye Umeonuoha (F), for allegedly selling newly minted Naira notes worth N500,000.

The arraignment took place on December 12, 2024, before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State.

According to the Commission's Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Dele Oyewale, the duo was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on currency racketeering. The charge reads: "That you, Ekpe Anayaoha Okoronkwo and Umeonuoha Onyinye, sometime in October 2024 at Enugu, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did sell a total sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) mints in Two Hundred Naira Notes (N200) denominations, issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria to one Husseini Ibrahim and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 21 of the same Act."

Consequently, Okoronkwo pleaded guilty to the charge, while Umeonuoha pleaded not guilty.

Counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Ajobiewe prayed the court for a short date to review the facts of the case regarding Okoronkwo. For Umeonuoha, Ajobiewe requested a trial date to enable the prosecution to prove its case. The Counsel to Umeonuoha, Mr. C. N. Agama prayed the court to remand his client at the EFCC custody pending the hearing of the bail application.

Justice Umar adjourned the matter to January 15, 2025, for the hearing of Umeonuoha's bail application and the conviction and sentencing of Okoronkwo. The defendants were remanded at the Enugu State Correctional facility.

It's noteworthy that the EFCC arrested the defendants on November 15, 2024 at their workplace located at 18 Okpara Avenue, Enugu, in Enugu State, following actionable intelligence linking them to the sale of Naira mints in Enugu State metropolis.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the defendants allegedly sold a total sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) mints in Two Hundred Naira Notes (N200) denominations to one Husseini Ibrahim.