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Petitions to EFCC, SSS accuse Chinese expatriates of colluding with bank manager to steal N17 billion from two Nigerian ceramic companies

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Zenith Bank Plc and its Lokoja Branch Manager, Salawu Nasiru, together with two Chinese citizens, Liu Yangxi and Ma Zhuang, have conspired to defraud two Nigerian ceramic companies and their directors.

Messrs Salawu, Liu and Ma were accused of fraudulently obtaining about N17 billion in credits on behalf of BN Ceramic Industry Limited and NB Ceramic Limited, and Zhang Qide, a director and shareholder in the ceramic firms.

The loans, secretly obtained without the knowledge of the Nigerian companies, were disbursed to Liu between November 4, 2021, and August 31, 2023.

Documents also indicated that Mr Salawu, the Zenith Bank branch manager in Lokoja, received over N100,000,000 as kickbacks for ‘facilitating’ the N17bn loan dubiously obtained by Mr Liu and his accomplices.

Mr Liu, like Zhang Qide, holds positions as a shareholder and director at the ceramic firm, and Messrs Ma and Liu have family ties.

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The predicament of the Nigerian ceramic company and its director, Mr Qide, began with Mr Liu, without proper consultation or approval from the management, directors, and shareholders of BN Ceramic Ltd orchestrated, with the assistance of Messrs Ma and Salawu, the acquisition of a N3 billion loan from Zenith Bank, findings showed.

“Liu, in collaboration with Ma and Salawu, falsified Zhang Qide’s signature on the loan documents, including the offer of credit facility and the approving board resolution. Additionally, Mr Liu engaged in criminal conduct by falsely presenting himself as the managing director of both BN Ceramic Industry Limited and NB Ceramic Limited.

He proceeded to pledge/charge all fixed and floating assets of the BN Ceramic Industry Limited and NB Ceramics Limited, including its machinery and equipment, as collateral for the loan, without proper authorisation from the respective boards and shareholders of both companies.

Upon the approval and disbursement of the N3 billion loan into NB Ceramic Limited’s account, Liu paid N69,900,000 as kickbacks to Mr Salawu and also cleared the bank fees. Thereafter, without obtaining necessary consent or adhering to the company’s approved procedures, Mr Liu immediately transferred the remaining N2.68 billion balance to the companies he controlled. One of the companies, Wetech Industry Ltd got N300 million. The second company, Pure Biotech Company Limited, got N701 million, while the third company, CBC Oil & Gas Services Ltd, received N1.67 billion. After the accounts of the three companies were credited, Liu quickly laundered the funds into Chinese Yuan and transferred them to his personal account in China, all without informing or gaining approval from the board,” a staff of NB Ceramic Limited, who craved anonymity, said.

The staff further noted that “Mr Liu collaborated with a member of his criminal group to establish a shell company named Wetech Industry Limited. In this arrangement, Liu and Lu Hao, represented by Bello Musa as a front, held 45% and 55% of the shell company’s shares, respectively. “Custom Clearance and Inland Transportation for the Second Lot of AKK Project” with BRENTEX CPP Ltd.

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APC Leaders in Kano South Urge Senator Sumaila to Rejoin Party

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Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila

 

The Chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their Secretaries from Kano South Senatorial District have called on Senator Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila to return to APC.

Speaking on behalf of the 16 APC Chairmen, their secretaries and ward leaders, the APC Chairman of Albasu Local Government, Alhaji Iliya Jibrin Hungu, said the call became necessary considering the value Sen. Sumaila would add to the party if returned.

Hungu added that “if Sen. Sumaila succumbs to our plea and returns to APC, no any other party will shine in Kano south, just as the man will unite the party members in the district.

“We knew the capacity and value of Sen. Sumaila in Kano politics. Though he is not a card carrying member of the APC, yet the man extends his hands of fellowship to all irrespective of their party affiliation.

“This is the kind of politician we need in APC. We are therefore, appealing to our serving and former APC state lawmakers from Kano south, APC caucus, APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Senator Barau Jibrin and the APC state chairman Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas to help us in pacifying Sen. Sumaila to consider our plea.

“We have confidence that Sen. Sumaila will play a greater role in promoting APC in Kano. We really missed the man when he left the party and we are calling on him to return and join us to promote the party together, Hungu said.

The chairman explained that APC needs committed politicians like Sen. Sumaila who always devote their energy and resources for the well-being of their constituents.

He attested that “Sen. Sumaila has no match in Kano south. We really need the man back into the APC. We will be happy if the Senator accept to return to the party.”

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Federal Government Warns Expatriates Against Visa Overstay

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The Federal Government has warned expatriates against overstaying their visas in Nigeria, announcing a $15 daily fine for defaulters starting August 1, 2025.

Minister of Interior, Mr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, revealed that expatriates who overstay their visas by more than six months will face a five-year entry ban, while those exceeding one year will be banned for 10 years.

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This is part of the new Expatriate Administration System, set to launch on May 1, 2025. The system aims to improve immigration compliance and data accuracy on foreign residents. Expatriates will have a three-month grace period to regularize their status before penalties are enforced. Additionally, the new e-visa system will replace the visa-on-arrival process, allowing travelers to get their visas within 48 hours.

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Prof. Sule Yau Sule, Dr. Ruqayyah Yusuf Aliyu Named to Lead Key IPI Nigeria Committees

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Professor Ruqayya Yusuf Aliyu

 

Muhammad Sani Uba

The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria has appointed Professor Sule Yau Sule of Bayero University, Kano, and Dr. Ruqayyah Yusuf Aliyu, also of Bayero University, Kano, to head two of its strategic committees as part of efforts to bolster press freedom and professionalism in the media space.

Professor Sule, a renowned communications scholar and respected academic, will serve on the Advocacy Committee as member, while Dr. Ruqayyah chairs the Membership Committee, highlighting IPI Nigeria’s commitment to intellectual depth and diversity in its leadership structure.

The appointments were announced by IPI Nigeria President, Musikilu Mojeed, in a statement issued by the institute’s Secretary, Ahmed Shekarau, on Sunday in Abuja. In total, 30 seasoned media professionals were named to serve across four standing committees – Fundraising, Programming, Advocacy, and Membership.

Mojeed said the reconstitution of the committees would “accelerate efforts to safeguard press freedom and promote ethical journalism practices in Nigeria.”

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The Fundraising Committee is led by Ms Funke Egbemode, former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), with Alhaji Yusuf Alli as secretary. Members include Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information, Garba Shehu, Juliet Bumah, and Ken Ugbechie, publisher of Political Economist.

Other members are Victoria Ibanga, Olufunke Fadugba, and Gbemiga Ogunleye, a former Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.

Prof Sule Yau Sule

Prof Sule Yau Sule

Mr Oladotun Oladipo, Managing Editor of Premium Eagle Ltd, chairs the Programming Committee, with Hajia Sani of Voice of Nigeria as secretary. Members include Zainab Okino, Dayo Aiyetan of ICIR, Catherine Agbo of 21st Century Chronicle, Emma Agu, and Ahmed Shekarau.

Tobi Soniyi, Media Adviser to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, chairs the Advocacy Committee, assisted by Ochiaka Ugwu of Peoples Daily. Other members include Danlami Nmodu, Laide Abbas of NTA, David Ajikobi, and Fred Ohwahwa.

On the Membership Committee, Linda Kpum of IPI Nigeria will serve as secretary, with members including IPI Nigeria Deputy President Fidelis Mbah, Naziru Abubakar, and Dr Bolanle Ismail of Crescent University.

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