Featured post

The Sectors Where Engineers are Found

by Fred Nwaozor > This classification captures the major ecosystems or sectors where professional engineers operate. What matters is how their roles shift in focus across these sectors, even though the core engineering principles remain the same. 1. Government (Policy formulation & implementation) In government, engineers function less as hands-on designers and more as technical decision-makers. They contribute to national development by shaping policies, regulations, and standards that guide engineering practice. For example, a civil or telecom engineer in a regulatory agency may help draft infrastructure policies, evaluate national projects, or enforce compliance with safety and quality standards. Their authority ensures that engineering decisions align with public interest; balancing cost, safety, sustainability, and long-term impact. Here, engineering judgment influences what gets built, how it is built, and whether it should be built at all. 2. Academia (Teach...

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.

Fred Nwaozor, popularly known as TheMediaAmbassador, is a Nigerian tech expert, author, creative & content writer, media strategist, policy analyst, blogger, public speaker and rights activist. The renowned columnist regularly writes for the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), and is the Founder & Convener of Right Thinkers Movement (RITMO), Nigeria. He's a chartered industrial physicist, engineer and IT personnel. As a media guru, he enjoys an active presence in all media segments - including electronic, print & digital - since two decades ago till date. As a full-time researcher and educator, he's a regular contributor and peer reviewer for various internationally-noted engineering journals. As Telecommunications and Automation engineer, his research interest mainly lies in System Modelling, Internet of Things (IoT), Smart city, Cybersecurity, Wireless networks, and Machine Learning (ML).