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UN urges immediate action to prevent Israel-Gaza conflict spillover

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On Wednesday, UN secretary general António Guterres voiced grave concern over the escalating conflict in Israel and Gaza and stressed the need to prevent the violence from spreading into the wider region.

The UN chief raised the alarm over clashes along the Blue Line, the demarcation between Israel and Lebanon, and reported attacks from southern Lebanon.

Mr Guterres, who made the call at a news briefing at the UN Headquarters in New York, appealed to all the parties to avoid further spread of the conflict.

“I appeal to all parties – and those who have an influence over those parties – to avoid any further escalation and spillover,” he said.

The UN chief reiterated the need always to protect civilians, as guaranteed by international law.

“I call for the immediate release of all Israeli hostages held in Gaza,” he said.

The UN chief underscored that UN premises, hospitals, schools and clinics must never be targeted and stressed the urgency of humanitarian access to the enclave.

“Crucial life-saving supplies – including fuel, food and water – must be allowed into Gaza. We need rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access now,” he said.

According to the UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordination Office (OCHA), the death tolls in Israel from attacks by Palestinian armed groups and in Gaza due to Israeli bombardments have continued to rise, with mass displacement soaring across the enclave.

OCHA cited Israeli media, which reported that as of Tuesday evening, more than 1,000 Israelis, including foreign nationals, were killed, and at least 2,806 people were injured, according to the ministry of health.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza said at least 830 Palestinians have been killed and 4,250 injured.

Over a tenth of the population in Gaza, more than 260,000 people, have been displaced since the current conflict on October 7, and the numbers are rising fast.

Amidst the volatile situation, the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that eleven of its staff members had been killed since Saturday, while 30 students at its schools died and a further eight were injured.

Nigerian fraudsters Sangode, Adeyinka jailed 40 months in U.S. for fraud

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Nigerian nationals Quazeem Owolabi Adeyinka, 22, and Ayodeji Jonathan Sangode, 25, currently both residing in Maryland, were sentenced today to 26 months and 14 months in prison respectively for their roles a fraud conspiracy during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

Sangode pleaded guilty in October 2022 to access device fraud, and Adeyinka pleaded guilty in November 2022 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. A third co-conspirator, Olamide Yusuf Bakare, 26, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced in July 2023 to four years and nine months in prison.

According to court documents, between June 2020 and July 2021, Adeyinka, Sangode, Bakare, and others participated in a conspiracy to submit fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims to the State of California. More than 200 individual applications were filed with the California Employment Development Department (EDD) indicating that the claimants’ address was the Hyattsville, Maryland, apartment that the co-defendants shared.

During the conspiracy, the conspirators obtained the personally identifiable information (PII) of persons who were not eligible for UI or PUA benefits or who did not authorize the conspirators to act on their behalf with respect to seeking such benefits. Such PII included names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers. The conspirators then used the PII to submit dozens of fraudulent UI and PUA claims to EDD under the putative claimants’ identities and without their authorization.

The underlying benefit applications contained false representations, including, for example, that the claimants had worked for certain employers and supervisors; had specific annual incomes; worked during certain time periods; were self-employed in various occupations; were laid off and had no work; were newly unemployed due to a disaster including the COVID-19 pandemic; and were currently available to work. Most, if not all, of these claims were false because the claimants were not so previously working, employed, newly unemployed, or seeking new employment.

The conspirators knew that these representations were false or lacked the knowledge and authority to make such representations. These actions caused EDD to approve fraudulent UI and PUA claims.

For each approved claim, EDD deposited benefit funds into a debit card account administered by Bank of America and under the identity of the putative claimant. Bank of America then mailed unauthorized debit cards to addresses under the control of the defendants. Under the direction of Bakare and others, Adeyinka and Sangode then obtained these debit cards and their PINs and used these cards to withdraw cash at ATMs for the benefit of themselves and co-conspirators.

At least 15 debit cards that Adeyinka used during the conspiracy were linked to bank accounts that received approximately $237,911 in fraudulent UI and PUA benefits. Adeyinka was personally involved in $793,844 in attempted loss. And at least 53 debit cards that Sangode used during the conspiracy were linked to bank accounts that received approximately $752,142 in fraudulent UI and PUA benefits.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General – Covid Fraud Unit, and the California EDD – Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise N. Yasinow prosecuted the case.

This effort is part of a California COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force operation, one of five interagency COVID-19 fraud strike force teams established by the U.S. Department of Justice. The California Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources in the Eastern and Central Districts of California and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces use prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.

Tinubu names new chiefs for federal agencies

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President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of new and returning chief executives to fresh terms in office across multiple agencies under the federal ministry of communications, innovation, and digital economy. This was contained in a statement signed by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the President on media and publicity.

The new appointments are:

(1) EVC/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) — Aminu Maida

(2) MD/CEO, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) — Nkechi Egerton-Idehen

(3) DG/CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) — Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi

(4) National Commissioner/CEO, Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) — Dr. Vincent Olatunji

(5) Postmaster General /CEO, Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) — Tola Odeyemi

Furthermore, in line with Mr Tinubu’s determination to maximally leverage on Nigeria’s proven technological and digital economic prowess to reposition the nation’s economy toward greater financial inclusion, the President has approved the appointment of a new special adviser to the President.

Special adviser to the President on technology and digital economy — Idris Alubankudi

By this directive of the President, the above-mentioned appointments take immediate effect.

NLNG Chief Philip Mshelbila Seeks More Investment in Gas Production

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Dr Philip Mshelbila, Managing Director of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has called on the Federal Government to increase investments in gas production to achieve its energy transition plan.

Mshelbila stated this during the visit of Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), to the NLNG plant in Bonny, Rivers. This is contained in a statement issued by NLNG’s Acting Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

The managing director said the Federal Government must be deliberate in its adoption of gas as a transition fuel to overcome the challenges in the nation’s energy sector.

“So, as we embark on the journey to complete Train 7, we are on the precipice of achieving a remarkable milestone – a capacity of 30 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA).

“This accomplishment will not only reposition us as one of the largest single-site operations globally but potentially among the top three worldwide in terms of capacity at a single site.

“It is an achievement that elevates Nigeria’s standing, placing us among the top six nations in this crucial industry,” he said.

He said the world was evolving at an unprecedented pace, as recent events, such as the Russian/Ukraine war, had ushered in a wave of new developments in the gas sector.

According to him, the conflict and other dynamic changes in the global energy industry was likely to increase Nigeria’s rankings as more countries made substantial investments in LNG production.

“This is why we believe it is important for us to conclude Train 7 and begin to look beyond that for further expansion.

“Currently, the biggest challenge we have, one that poses a threat not only to our existing operations but also to our expansion plans, is feed gas supply.

“Trains 1 to 6 currently operate at half their capacity, a situation that has persisted for some time.

“Crude oil theft has affected the associated gas supply resulting in our plant being half-full. Not because we don’t have the capacity but because the feed gas is not there,” he added.

Mshelbila said the company had ambition for Train 8 but could not make progress with the project due to no clear sight of where the gas would be sourced from.

He said the gas could, however, be sourced from deep water but that the Federal Government needs to address the Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) that govern deep-water exploration in the country.

“At present, the PSCs that govern deep-water exploration do not offer commercially viable terms for producers.

“However, our commitment to harnessing the immense potential of natural gas will not only restore Nigeria’s reputation as a major energy powerhouse but also propel us to a cleaner/greener future,” he said. Speaking, Ekpo said the Federal Government was fully committed to restoring Nigeria’s energy plans to enable the country to compete favourably among its peers globally.

The minister gave the assurance that the government would continue to encourage engagements of stakeholders to resolve gas supply and security issues in the country.

“So, all hands must be on deck to stop the loss of revenue and missed opportunities, as we continue to engage with investors to tap into our huge gas reserves. NLNG stand as a leading light to Nigeria’s quest to become an energy-efficient country where clean energy, including gas is utilized is commendable.

“The present administration will do everything possible to address the issues for the good of this country and benefit for our future generations,” he stated.

Wike slams EU for 2023 elections ‘interference’, asks bloc to support Nigeria’s economy

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FCT minister Nyesom Wike has urged the European Union to support Nigeria’s efforts to grow her economy and not interfere with the country’s internal affairs.

Mr Wike stated this when the EU ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, visited him in his office in Abuja on Monday.

Speaking on the EU Election Observation Mission Report on the 2023 General Elections, the minister expressed his reservation on the position of the EU, which he described as “interference” with the internal affairs of Nigeria.

The minister said the EU mission’s position that the government stifled the opposition was inaccurate, considering it did not have adequate personnel to cover the whole country.

“Even though we have passed that era, I sincerely do not agree with the European Union on its stand on the past election in Nigeria. I do seriously take exception to its stand because we thought there was no need for you to interfere in Nigeria,” the ex-Rivers governor told the EU diplomat.

Mr Wike added, “Rather, you observe and make a recommendation, but your interference came when there were election petition tribunals going on. Take Rivers state, for example. I ask: How many of you were in Rivers state to visit the 6,886 – or thereabouts – polling units?

“If you saw some infractions in about 20 polling units, is that enough to make a general conclusion? I felt that as the sitting governor, you were trying to indict me for not allowing the state to have a free democratic process. And that is not the correct thing to do.”

The minister, however, stressed that the priority now should be how the EU can support Nigeria to grow her economy and create jobs to improve the lives of the citizens.

Ms Isopi explained that the report on the outcome of the elections was a product of the European Union Election Observation Mission. She added that the independent observer mission deployed by the EU was at the request of the Nigerian government.

“The purpose of the mission, and many other missions in other countries, is to assess the process of the elections in tandem with international agreements and treaties signed and ratified by Nigeria,” Ms Isopi stated. “The purpose was not to determine whether the elections were legitimate or not but to analyse the process and afterwards make recommendations. And the report offered 26 recommendations.”