By Francis Wilfred

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has re-arraigned a former Chairman, Board of Directors, defunct Skye Bank Plc ( now Polaris Bank Limited) Tunde Ayeni before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Apo, Abuja for an alleged N15.6 billion fraud.

According to a press statement signed by the Head, Media and publicity, Dele Oyewale, Ayeni was re-arraigned on an amended 18-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, and diversion of funds amounting to N15.6 billion following the EFCC`s submission of additional proof of evidence.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him.Ayeni was first arraigned on May 4, 2026 on a 17-count charge.Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter till July 6, 2026, for commencement of trial.

By Francis Wilfred

Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested one Chukwujindu Goodness Nchekwube, Chief Executive Officer, Goodben Global Travels and Tour Limited alongside Rogers Oluwaseyi Eruku (a.k.a Bakary Rogers Yanni), a suspected fraudster, for allegedly defrauding 24 victims the sum of N68, 020, 000. 00 under the pretence of assisting them to process work visas.

According to a press statement signed by the Head Media and publicity, Dele Oyewale, a petitioner, James Ikechukwu, alleged that Nchekwube approached him and introduced herself as a visa consultant capable of assisting people to procure work visas to their desired countries, through her company, Goodben Global Travels and Tour Limited.

He further alleged that between September, 2024 and December, 2025, he contracted Nchekwube’s company (Goodben Global Travels and Tour Limited) to process work visas to various countries for 20 (Twenty) of his clients and the sum of N57, 620, 000. 00 was transferred to her company’s accounts for processing the visas, with a promise to deliver them at a stipulated period of time.

“However, after receiving the money, Mrs Nchekwube blatantly refused to deliver the visas to my clients as agreed, rather, she converted the money to her personal use. After much persistence for her to deliver the work visas, she delivered some visas to some of my clients but to our greatest surprise, it was discovered that the visas/Offer Letters were forged to make my clients believe that they were genuine”, the petitioner alleged.

In the course of investigation, the suspect claimed that she gave the said money to Eruku who had presented himself to her as a reliable person capable of procuring visas for people to any part of the world. She claimed that the said fake visa/Offer Letters were procured by Eruku. In a curious twist, another petitioner, Oranezi David Chinedu alleged that Eruku, sometime in May 2024, offered to procure work visas for him and three of his friends to Ireland and some other countries.

He claimed that the total money fraudulently collected by Eruku for the visas was N10, 400, 000. 00 only for him to handover forged documents to them. “I was highly disappointed at the criminal act by Bakary Rogers Yanni to have collected money for visa processing purposes only to issue me and my friends fake documents”, he said.The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

By Francis Wilfred

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its unflinching commitment to the protection, welfare, and empowerment of refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, CON, made the disclosure in Abuja at the commemoration of World Refugee Day 2026, with the theme, “Until Everyone is Safe”. He highlighted the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to integrating humanitarian assistance with long-term development strategies.

SGF explained that government interventions are increasingly focused on creating sustainable pathways that will enable displaced persons to rebuild their lives and become self-reliant.” The Federal Government is deliberately shifting from palliatives to pathways by linking humanitarian response to development opportunities. We are committed to ensuring that displaced persons not only survive but thrive through access to livelihoods, agribusiness opportunities, education, and social protection programmes,” he stated.

Sen. Akume disclosed that Nigeria currently hosts over 100,000 refugees and asylum seekers, mainly from countries within the Lake Chad Basin region, while millions of Nigerians remain internally displaced due to various humanitarian crises. He noted that the Federal Government’s response is anchored on three key pillars: protection, livelihoods, and durable solutions, implemented through the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI).

The SGF emphasized that the growing challenges of climate-induced displacement, insecurity, and protracted conflicts across the globe underscore the continued relevance of the Convention and the need for stronger international cooperation. He stressed that refugees and internally displaced persons should be viewed not merely as victims of circumstance but as individuals with immense potential who deserve dignity, opportunity, and support.

The SGF further disclosed that efforts are underway to expand the National Social Register to capture more vulnerable persons, including displaced populations and host communities, in order to ensure data-driven, targeted, transparent, and dignified humanitarian assistance. He added that efforts are underway to expand the National Social Register to capture more vulnerable persons, including displaced populations and host communities, in order to ensure data-driven, targeted, transparent, and dignified humanitarian assistance.

In his keynote address, the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro commended the resilience and courage demonstrated by refugees around the world and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to upholding international humanitarian principles and supporting vulnerable populations in line with global best practices. He also stressed that refugees must be given due attention to alleviate their plight, calling on governments, development partners, humanitarian agencies, and host communities to strengthen efforts aimed at providing protection, durable solutions, and opportunities for self-reliance.

In his opening remarks, the Federal Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Hon. Aliyu Tijani Ahmed emphasized that solidarity must extend beyond expressions of sympathy to practical commitments that safeguard the rights and dignity of vulnerable populations. Protection, he noted, includes access to quality education, healthcare services, decent shelter, legal identity, social services and opportunities for meaningful participation in society.