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Tinubu makes new appointments

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President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointments of Rotimi Akinde and Ifeoma Uz’Okpala to the positions of Executive Director for Corporate Finance and Risk Management and Executive Director for the Large Enterprises Directorate, respectively, at the Bank of Industry (BOI).

The bank spokesperson, Theodora Amechi, announced in a statement made available to newsmen that these appointments are effective immediately.

Akinde brings over 20 years of experience in Investment and Corporate Banking, with a strong background in capital raising, including Debt, Equities, and Hybrids, as well as expertise in Corporate Finance, encompassing Mergers & Acquisitions, Privatization Advisory, and Project Finance.

Prior to his role at the Bank of Industry, he served as an Associate Partner in Project and Corporate Finance at Infrastructure Delivery International (IDI), where he contributed to the UKNIAF programme and advanced green finance initiatives and structured debt solutions for subnational entities.

His previous experience includes serving as the Corporate Finance Advisor at the Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (NIAF), where he focused on financing initiatives, modeling, and funding structures for infrastructure projects.

Additionally, he held the position of Group Head and Assistant General Manager for multinationals within Corporate Banking at UBA Plc and was formerly the Vice President of Corporate Finance and advisory at UBA Global Markets, now known as United Capital.

Akinde began his career as an Assistant Manager at Leadbank Plc, working in the Investment and Corporate Banking divisions.

Uz’Okpala has been with BOI since September 2014, initially serving as the Group Head of Large Enterprises Credit and later as the Bank’s Chief Risk Officer before her recent appointment.

In her capacity as the bank’s Chief Risk Officer, Uz’Okpala was instrumental in overseeing and alleviating risks linked to the bank’s operations while also offering support in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risk matters.

She provided essential ESG guidance during transactions and developed a strategic framework for attracting impact investments.

Uz’Okpala is an experienced professional in Credit and Risk Management, boasting a career that spans more than 30 years within the financial industry.

She began her professional journey at the International Merchant Bank and advanced through significant positions at MBC International, First Bank, Stanbic Bank, and UBA.

Her diverse skill set encompasses Internal Audit, Corporate Finance, Credit Evaluation and Origination, Foreign Operations, and Risk Management.

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Don’t allow non-members to influence removal of Speakers – Nigerian Conference of Speakers warns lawmakers

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The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures has advised members of Houses of Assembly across the country not to allow external bodies to influence the removal of their Speakers and other principal officers.

This resolution was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting held on Friday in Abuja, presided over by its chairman, who also serves as the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin.

In the communiqué, made available to Ekwutosblog on Saturday, the conference condemned what it described as external interference in the crises affecting the Rivers and Lagos State Houses of Assembly.

 

The conference further urged members of State Houses of Assembly to uphold legislative independence and resist undue external influence.

It called on lawmakers to adhere strictly to constitutional provisions and enabling laws when considering the removal of presiding officers, rather than allowing external forces to dictate such decisions.

Commenting on the ongoing crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly, the conference acknowledged the court judgments affirming the legitimacy of the Hon. Martin Amaewhule-led House and called for recognition and engagement with the duly constituted Assembly to foster stability and progress.

Regarding the crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly, the conference reiterated its condemnation of external interference in the Assembly’s affairs, stressing that such actions undermine legislative independence.

Furthermore, the conference reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening democracy and upholding legislative autonomy.

“The Conference notes the court judgments affirming the legitimacy of the Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly. We call on the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Dr Siminalayi Fubara, and other stakeholders to recognise and engage with the duly constituted Assembly to promote stability and progress. Respect for judicial decisions and institutional harmony is essential for effective governance.

“The Conference acknowledges the constitutional provisions for the removal of presiding officers but insists that such processes must strictly comply with the Constitution and enabling laws.

“We condemn external interference in the affairs of the Lagos State House of Assembly, as it undermines legislative independence. All stakeholders are urged to respect the Assembly’s autonomy and ensure internal matters are resolved without external coercion,” the communique stated.

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Nigerian lawmaker Onwusibe brands Binance’s bribery allegations false, malicious, defamatory

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The chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes and the lawmaker representing Isiala Ngwa North/Isiala Ngwa South Federal Constituency of Abia State, Hon. Ginger Obinna Onwusibe, has denied allegations that the committee demanded bribes from the cryptocurrency firm Binance and its officers, describing the allegations as malicious and defamatory.

Onwusibe also denied any coordination between the committee’s investigation and the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA.

Binance’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance, Tigran Gambaryan, was arrested and detained in Nigeria for several months over alleged corruption. He had accused three members of the House of Representatives of demanding a $150 million bribe to prevent security agencies from acting against him.

On Friday, Gambaryan took to his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle and named Philip Agbese, Ginger Onwusibe, and Peter Akpanke—all members of the House—as the lawmakers who allegedly demanded the sum from him.

Reacting to the allegation in a statement titled “Limited Reaction to False, Malicious and Defamatory Publications Against Me by Tigran Gambaryan of Binance”, Onwusibe insisted that no bribes were demanded from Binance by the committee, either on behalf of its members or any other individuals.

“I categorically deny any coordination between our congressional investigation and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), particularly the NSA, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu. No one in the ONSA, including Mr. Ribadu, directed us to demand bribes from Binance and its officers—neither on their behalf nor on ours—and no such bribes were ever demanded.

“Similarly, no coordination existed between me, my committee, and the Head of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as alleged by Mr. Tigran Gambaryan in his publication today on X, as well as in articles he planted in NPR and WIRED. No bribes were demanded by my committee on their behalf.

“As already stated, our committee never coordinated with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), over whom we have oversight powers,” he stated.

Beyond Gambaryan’s post on X, Onwusibe added that his attention was also drawn to an article published on the NPR website titled “The ‘Crypto Wizard’ vs. Nigeria”, written by Dina Temple-Raston, Nick Fountain, Jess Jiang, Emma Peaslee, and Sean Powers on 11 February 2025, as well as another article published on WIRED titled “The Untold Story of a Crypto Crime Fighter’s Descent into a Nigerian Prison”, written by Andy Greenberg on 10 February 2025. He described both articles as containing “very damaging, false, malicious, and defamatory accusations” against him.

The lawmaker stated that he was offering only a limited response because “the issues raised in the said publications are sub judice, as they are the subject of a court action I have initiated against Binance and its Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Richard Teng, currently pending before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”

He explained that in December 2023, his committee had received a petition from a civil society organisation and non-governmental organisation, the Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative, alleging multiple financial and economic crimes and irregularities perpetrated by Binance against the Nigerian economy and state.

“Upon receiving the petition, we wrote to Mr Richard Teng, the Managing Director/CEO of Binance, inviting him to appear before an investigative/public hearing set up by the committee to examine allegations of breaches and non-compliance by Binance with extant laws and regulations governing their operations in Nigeria.

“Binance and Mr. Teng, through their representatives, contacted the committee to agree on a convenient date for them to appear and testify at the investigative/public hearing. The date of 10 January 2024 was agreed upon for the hearing.

“Before the scheduled hearing, Binance reached out to the committee requesting a pre-hearing meeting to gain deeper insight into the allegations against them, to assist them in preparing for the investigative/public hearing.

“The committee granted Binance’s request and scheduled the pre-hearing meeting for 8 January 2024 at the National Assembly Complex,” the statement read in part.

Onwusibe emphasised that the meeting was requested by Binance, not by him or the committee. He added that there would have been no meeting on 8 January 2024, as he was “unavoidably absent from Abuja” due to commitments with another House committee of which he is a member.

The lawmaker further stated that on 7 May 2024, Richard Teng published an article on Binance’s website titled “Tigran Gambaryan Is Innocent and Must Be Released”, which he described as containing “false, malicious, and defamatory allegations against me.”

He added that Teng had also shared the article on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on the same day.

Onwusibe pointed out inconsistencies in the accusations, arguing that Binance’s initial claim was that demands for bribes were made by “unknown persons” after they had left the pre-hearing meeting. However, Gambaryan has now alleged that the bribe demands were made during the meeting, which he claims took place in a room equipped with “fake” cameras and microphones.

He further stated that until Teng’s publications on 7 May 2024, he was unaware that the executive arm of the Federal Government and its agencies were conducting their own separate investigations into Binance’s activities in Nigeria. He insisted that neither he nor the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes coordinated with any of these agencies.

The lawmaker reaffirmed his commitment to seeking “appropriate redress, remedies, and all lawful measures, including court action, to clear my good name.”

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‘His request, not mine’: Trump says Starmer demanded a meeting

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Donald Trump has said Keir Starmer demanded a meeting with the US president sometime in the coming weeks, adding that it was ‘his request, not mine.’

The Prime Minister teed up his ‘forthcoming’ visit to the US during an impromptu call with President Trump last night.

Answering questions on his call with the PM, Mr Trump said: ‘I just signed a letter to him. He asked for a meeting and I agreed to the meeting.

‘We’re going to have a friendly meeting – very good. We have a lot of good things going on but he has to come and see me and I just accepted his asking.’

Mr Trump said that Sir Keir plans on visiting ‘next week or the week after’ but seems unsure as to the specific topics of discussion.

When queried on the subject of conversation, Mr Trump responded: ‘I don’t know, it was his request not mine.

‘But you know, I’ve met him twice already. We get along very well – he’s a very nice guy.’

The PM was having dinner with Mark Burnett in Downing Street when the special envoy to the UK was called by the president.

Keir Starmer was having dinner with Mark Burnett (left) in Downing Street when the special envoy to the UK was called by the president

 

Sir Keir was passed the phone and chatted to Mr Trump for a few minutes – although they do not appear to have touched on points of tension such as Ukraine or trade tariffs

 

Despite the discussion, it is understood a date has yet to be finalised for Sir Keir’s trip to the White House – although it is expected to happen soon

 

Sir Keir was handed the phone and chatted to Trump for a few minutes – although they do not appear to have touched on points of tension such as Ukraine or trade tariffs.

A No10 spokeswoman said: ‘The Prime Minister was pleased to host President Trump’s special envoy to the United Kingdom, Mark Burnett, at Downing Street last night, during which he took a call from President Trump and discussed his forthcoming visit to the US.’

She added: ‘Mr Burnett and the Prime Minister agreed on the unique and special nature of the UK-US relationship, the strength of our alliance and the warmth of the connection between the two countries.’

Despite the discussion, it is understood a date has yet to be finalised for Sir Keir’s trip to the White House – but it is expected to happen soon.

Sir Keir aligned himself with European allies this morning after Mr Trump’s bombshell conversation with Vladimir Putin.

In a phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky, the PM spelled out his view that there can be ‘no talks about Ukraine without Ukraine’ and the process of Kyiv joining Nato is ‘irreversible’.

Mr Trump and the Russian dictator had ‘a lengthy and highly productive’ phone conversation earlier this week, during which they agreed that talks to end the conflict should start ‘immediately’.

But any peace deal is expected to see Russia keep territory it has annexed since 2014, including the Crimean peninsula – a huge blow to Kyiv after three years of fighting for freedom.

Mr Zelensky has been warning that the US does not appear to have a plan for a peace deal

 

Foreign Secretary David Lammy met US Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference this morning

There was also deep disquiet that Ukraine joining Nato – an official policy of the alliance – had been effectively ruled out.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump is demanding that European Nato powers commit to spending 5 per cent of GDP on defence – a level the US itself does not reach. The UK is one of the biggest spenders but has yet to set out a timetable to hit 2.5 per cent.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said Sir Keir and Mr Zelensky spoke this morning, ahead of an anticipated meeting between the Ukraine leader and US Vice President JD Vance in Munich later.

‘The Prime Minister began by reiterating the UK’s concrete support for Ukraine, for as long as it’s needed.

‘He was unequivocal that there could be no talks about Ukraine, without Ukraine.

‘Ukraine needed strong security guarantees, further lethal aid and a sovereign future, and it could count on the UK to step up, he added.

‘The Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s commitment to Ukraine being on an irreversible path to NATO, as agreed by Allies at the Washington Summit last year.

‘Discussing the upcoming third anniversary of Ukraine’s courageous defence of its sovereignty in the face of Russia’s barbaric full-scale invasion, the leaders agreed that it would be an important moment to demonstrate international unity and support for Ukraine.

‘The leaders also reflected on the Prime Minister’s visit to Kyiv last month, and the President updated on his plans at Munich Security Conference.

‘They agreed to stay in close contact.’

Meeting Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference this morning, Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the US-UK relationship as ‘more than just an alliance, it’s a covenant between two partners’.

He added: ‘We are committed to increasing defence and encourage our friends across Europe to do the same, and of course we have got important issues to discuss on Ukraine and how we support Ukraine at this difficult moment, and also broader issues of UK-US security.’

Mr Vance said: ‘Honestly, we have a lot in common, and the special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States will remain very strong.

‘We are going to talk about something that he and I spoke about a couple of years ago, which is our shared belief that Europe really should take a big role in its own security, and I’m glad the Foreign Secretary agrees with me on that.

‘I think there are other issues of common agreement, I’m sure we will talk about Russia-Ukraine.’

Politicians from across parties voiced alarm in the Commons yesterday after the US president’s call with Putin.

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