IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

.... Flown to Abuja 

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested a popular Lagos socialite, Emeka Okonkwo Daniel (a.k.a. E-Money), for allegedly abusing the Naira note.

Our correspondent gathered that he was arrested on Monday night at his residence in the Omole area of Lagos.

Sources within the commission on Tuesday said E-Money was arrested for allegedly spraying United States dollars, an act said to be in violation of the Foreign Exchange Act.

One of the sources said, “On Monday night, we arrested E-Money for Naira abuse and defacing foreign currencies. Specifically, he was alleged to have sprayed U.S. dollars, which is against the Foreign Exchange Act.C0:12 / 1:0

“He was arrested at his Omole, Lagos residence. Preliminary investigations are ongoing, and he will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”

Another source who confirmed his arrest to our correspondent stated that E-Money is currently being flown to Abuja for questioning.

The source, who is not authorised to speak to the press, said, “Yes, he has been arrested and is being flown to Abuja as I speak, to face investigators on the issue.”

The Director of the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, Aremu Kehinde, has called on 2025 Batch A Stream 1 corps members to become job creators and wealth builders.

Represented by the Benue State Coordinator, Veronica Garba, at the SAED training opening on Monday, Kehinde urged corps members to seize the initiative’s opportunities, designed to equip graduates with skills for self-reliance.

He highlighted the programme’s two phases — a 10-day in-camp training and post-camp sessions — stressing the motto, "One Corps Member, Two Skills," with options including agro-allied, ICT, creative arts, and logistics.

Kehinde noted that funding support is available from institutions like the CBN, Access Bank, and Ecobank for outstanding participants.

Garba and SAED Directorate Monitoring Officer, Owuna Sunday, also emphasized focus, post-camp training, and business development, encouraging corps members to turn skills into sustainable ventures. 

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has suspended the Executive Secretary of the Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Caulson Oahimire, over alleged serious financial and administrative misconduct.

The suspension was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday in Benin by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor.

Pending the outcome of a probe by a soon-to-be-constituted special committee, the most senior official in the agency has been directed to assume leadership in an acting capacity. 

Concerns have emerged among the children of juju icon King Sunny Ade (KSA) over his safety and accessibility, with his daughter Damilola Esther accusing her stepbrother, Dayo, of holding their father hostage and mismanaging his affairs.

Damilola, in a series of social media posts, alleged that Dayo—who she described as KSA’s manager—was booking shows without honoring them and keeping the music legend out of reach.

In response, Dayo denied the allegations, stating KSA is healthy and actively performing, with a show scheduled in Akure on May 1. He clarified that he is not KSA’s official manager but only assisting temporarily.

Another son, David, also dismissed Damilola’s claims, affirming their father is fine. However, journalist Olawale Olaleye noted KSA has become difficult to reach, adding to the ongoing family tension. 

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is under fire after revelations that the $897.6 million Warri refinery has remained shut since January 25, barely a month after it was declared operational. A regulatory document cites safety issues with the Crude Distillation Unit Main Heater as the reason for the closure.

Industry experts have slammed the situation as a major failure, questioning the transparency and efficiency of the NNPCL. The development also casts doubt on the performance of the Port Harcourt refinery, which has operated below 40% capacity since its November 2024 restart, despite public claims of 70% performance.

The latest data contradicts NNPCL's earlier declarations and shows inconsistent output levels across all refined products. Stakeholders, including IPMAN and energy analysts, have demanded accountability and a state of emergency declaration for the ailing refineries.

Calls for reform grow louder amid criticism that billions spent on revamping state-owned refineries have yielded little impact on fuel availability or prices. 

A Swedish court on Monday sentenced four teenagers to up to five years in prison for orchestrating a 2024 shooting targeting Israeli defense company Elbit Systems in Gothenburg. 

A 13-year-old carried out the attack but was not charged due to his age. No injuries were reported. Authorities say the mastermind remains unidentified. The incident is among several recent threats to Israeli interests in Sweden amid the Gaza conflict.