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‘False, Malicious’ – Banire Threatens Legal Action Over $40m Bribery Claim.
Former AMCON Governing Board Chairman, Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN), has demanded an immediate retraction of a report by online platform PointBlank News that alleged he and other lawyers received millions of dollars in bribes to influence court judgments.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Banire warned that failure to retract the publication would leave him no choice but to initiate a defamation lawsuit against the platform’s publisher and editors.
In a pre-action demand letter sent through his lawyer, Adeyinka Patrick Olumide-Fusika, SAN, Banire described the article titled “$2 Billion Bank Debt: Nestoil, Neconde Demand $40 Million Refund from Lawyers After Supreme Court Defeat” as false, malicious, and highly defamatory. The letter, obtained by Naija News, was addressed to PointBlank News publisher Jackson Ude, Senior Editor (Africa) Ben Young, and Nigeria Editor Uduma Mba.
The report had alleged that Banire received part of an alleged $40 million paid to lawyers to secure a favourable Supreme Court judgment in a debt dispute between Nestoil Limited and Neconde Energy Limited. It also claimed his involvement in a separate Federal High Court case, suggesting $5 million was paid to influence an order lifting asset-freezing directives linked to a $1 billion debt.
According to Banire’s letter, the publication conveyed serious imputations of conspiracy, bribery, fraud, and attempts to pervert the course of justice—offences punishable under Nigerian law.
Olumide-Fusika said Banire, known for his anti-corruption advocacy and efforts to strengthen public confidence in the judiciary, was deeply distressed to be associated with what he described as “serious crimes and nefarious activities.”
He criticised the report for relying solely on unnamed sources, including a purported “reporter” and “insider,” without providing evidence to substantiate the claims. Banire challenged PointBlank News to produce verifiable proof of the alleged $40 million and $5 million payments, insisting that without such evidence, he would proceed with legal action.
Banire also clarified the actual events at the Supreme Court in Neconde Energy Limited v. FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited & 4 Others (SC/CV/1130/2025). He stated that his only involvement was on January 12, 2026, during proceedings limited strictly to the issue of legal representation for some parties. The Supreme Court did not hear or determine any substantive matter relating to the alleged debt.
A Certified True Copy of the ruling, attached to the letter, showed that the court merely adjourned the applications pending the outcome of a related appeal at the Court of Appeal. Banire noted that the ruling directly contradicted the report’s claim that the Supreme Court issued a substantive judgment or that any lawyer collected money to influence the outcome.
He added that the publication’s reliance on unnamed sources suggested the platform may have been misled, whether intentionally or inadvertently.
Banire has demanded the immediate retraction of the article and reserved all his legal rights.
Bamidele Kehinde, Director of Dynamic Ambassadors for Social Orientation Initiatives and the City Transformation Project, has expressed appreciation to the Federal Government of Nigeria for its efforts in securing the release of Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, who was reportedly held in detention in the Republic of Benin for over two years under difficult conditions.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Pastor Egbaji, a Nigerian cleric, was said to have endured harsh treatment during his detention, including prolonged confinement. His release followed a presidential pardon granted by the authorities in Benin Republic under President Patrice Talon.
Speaking on News Central TV, Dr. Kehinde praised the diplomatic efforts that led to the cleric’s freedom, describing the process as lengthy and challenging. He noted that significant progress was achieved after Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
He stated that although there was no personal connection or financial influence involved, the minister actively engaged Benin Republic authorities through diplomatic channels. According to him, her visit and negotiations played a key role in securing Pastor Egbaji’s release.
Dr. Kehinde also commended all individuals and institutions that contributed to the advocacy efforts, including Moses Eyo, Dickson Umu Unung, the Cross River State Government, CP Alobi Lawrence (rtd), Joseph Bisong Ayi, Blessing Harrison, Eze Sampson, and Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo.
He said their combined efforts were instrumental in achieving the cleric’s freedom.
He added that while Egbaji’s release is a major relief, the cleric now faces the task of recovering and rebuilding his life after years of hardship. He called for continued support to help him reintegrate into society.
Dr. Kehinde also urged stronger government commitment to protecting Nigerian citizens abroad and enhancing diplomatic engagement across West Africa to prevent similar cases in the future.
The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has provided an update on its ongoing nationwide recruitment exercise.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The board stated that 1,120,491 applications were successfully completed and processed, allowing candidates to proceed to the computer-based test (CBT) stage.
It also disclosed that 432,935 applications were left incomplete, while 360,923 applicants were disqualified during screening and shortlisting for failing to meet the required criteria.
In total, the recruitment exercise recorded over 1.8 million applications across the country.
The exercise covers agencies under the board, including the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Fire Service, and the Nigeria Correctional Service.
CDCFIB also released a breakdown of CBT performance, showing that 221,996 candidates scored between 0–40, 229,155 scored between 41–60, 278,543 scored between 61–80, while 142,697 scored between 81–100.
The recruitment process is now expected to move to the next stage, which includes physical screening and document verification. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted with details of their screening venues, dates, and required documents.
The board reiterated that the entire process is free of charge and advised applicants to rely only on official communication channels for updates, warning against misinformation and unauthorized messages circulating online.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that its Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted precise airstrikes in the Yuwe axis of the Sambisa Forest, resulting in the elimination of several terrorist elements on Monday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, who noted that military operations in the North-East continue to maintain strong pressure on insurgent groups.
He explained that the operation was based on credible intelligence, supported by Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) activities, which identified active terrorist presence within fortified positions and underground hideouts.
According to him, NAF air platforms successfully engaged the targets using precision-guided munitions, destroying the structures, neutralising multiple terrorists, and dismantling key logistics facilities. This was later confirmed through battle damage assessments.
The statement added that sustained air operations have continued to weaken terrorist networks, disrupting their activities and forcing them into more defensive and unstable responses.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, also reiterated the Air Force’s commitment to maintaining continuous, intelligence-driven operations aimed at completely neutralising terrorist threats.
He further assured that the NAF remains focused on protecting its personnel, safeguarding national security, and ensuring the safety of citizens, while continuing precision operations in line with strict rules of engagement to minimise civilian impact.
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