General News
EFCC Swoops on Ex-Govs over Allegations of Fraud

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), may have decided to swoop on some immediate past governors in the country, with their constitutional immunity stripped, according to National Mirror.
Some of the state chief executives could not be touched while in office because they enjoyed constitutional immunity from prosecution despite the myriads of allegations levelled against them.
Already, the commission has commenced investigation against the administration of Ibrahim Shema in Kaduna State, Martin Elechi, Ebonyi State and Sule Lamido of Jigawa State.
In Katsina State, the EFCC has invited four top officials who served under the Shema-led administration for questioning over some financial transactions.
Those invited include the state’s accountant general; permanent secretary, Ministry of Agriculture; his Works counterpart, and the general manager of the State Road Maintenance Agency, KASROMA.
Their invitation by the commission was contained in a two-page letter signed by one Aminudeen Muhammad on behalf of its chairman, and addressed to the Secretary to the Katsina State government.
The letter, which was obtained by National Mirror yesterday, indicated that the four officials would appear before the commission today (Wednesday) and tomorrow (Thursday).
According to the letter, the officials were directed to appear before the anti-graft agency with documents detailing financial transactions in their respective ministries and departments.
The state’s accountant general, who is billed to appear today, was directed to appear with statutory budgets of the state from 2011-2015 and details of all allocations made to the state from the federation account from 2011 to May 2015.
When appearing, he is also to present details of all allocations made to the 34 local government areas of the state from the federation account from 2011 to May 2015 as well as fund releases made to KASROMA, Ministries of Works, Agriculture and Sports from 2011 to May 2015.
The KASROMA boss, permanent secretaries of the Agriculture and Works ministries are scheduled to appear on Thursday and, were directed to appear with records of all contracts awarded, yearly budget, actual fund released and actual expenditure from 2011-2015.
According to the letter, the commission is investigating a case in which there is need to obtain certain clarification from the officials.
It was gathered that the commission’s invite may not be unconnected with investigations carried out by the present administration in the state at the committee level, on financial dealings by the past government.
Our correspondent reports that the last time the EFCC quizzed state government officials was some three years ago, when it reportedly questioned officials under the Shema-led government on financial dealings worth billions belonging to the local government areas.
EFCC also, yesterday, quizzed Elechi over an alleged financial mismanagement.
A reliable source told National Mirror that the ex-governor, who came to honour the invitation, arrived the commission’s head office in Abuja at about 10:a.m.
According to him, no sooner had Elechi arrived than a team of EFCC operatives commenced his investigation.
He said he was being drilled to give account of his stewardship as two-term governor of the state christened the ‘Salt of the Nation.’
It could not be confirmed whether the ex-governor would be granted administrative bail or be remanded by the commission.
However, as at the time of filing this report, Elechi was still being investigated.
When contacted, EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the arrest of the ex-governor, saying that he was being questioned over pending issue pertaining to an alleged financial recklessness.
He however declined to confirm whether the erstwhile governor would be remanded at the commission’s custody.
Wilson said: “I can confirm to you that the ex-governor is with us. He is being investigated to give account of his stewardship during his reign.
“He arrived our commission’s office at about 10:a.m and as I speak investigation is still ongoing.”
On January 29, the EFCC also invited the former governor’s son, Nnanna Elechi, for interrogation.
The agency has also turned its searchlight on Lamido, who on returning to Nigeria from abroad last week, said he would honour an invitation today over an ongoing investigation which allegedly implicated him.
He stated that because the EFCC is government’s anti-graft agency commissioned by law, there was no reason he would decline the invitation. Lamido is willing to honour the invitation and claims he would have also done so if he was still a governor with immunity.
Another former governor that may get an invite from the commission is Babangida Aliyu of Niger State.
The state’s current Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, last week accused top functionaries of the Aliyu’s government of pocketing N2.9bn on the eve of their departure.
Governor Bello said his predecessor took a loan on the eve of his departure and did nothing with the money.
And, since his assumption of office, Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State has been at loggerhead with his predecessor, Isa Yuguda, over the state’s finances.
Abubakar had accused Yuguda of leaving empty treasury, while the state allegedly received N837bn as allocation from the Federal Government in eight years.
He has threatened to invite the EFCC to investigate the administration over what he called financial recklessness.
General News
PalmPay’s Bold Move For Social Impact in Northern Nigeria

In the busy Fagge Market in Kano, Zahra Bello, a middle-aged entrepreneur who runs a fabric store, speaks about her experience with mobile banking and how this has simplified business transactions and improved her small business.
Behind the growth of these resilient women entrepreneurs lies a story of transformation powered by technology.
“My name is Zahra Bello, I’m from Dambatta in Kano State, and I’m a fabric trader. I first heard about PalmPay from my elder brother in March 2024. He told me how he used the PalmPay Target Savings feature to buy new machinery for his farm and even earned interest. That inspired me to try it too.”
Zahra downloaded the PalmPay app that very day. By December, she’d used the Target Savings plan to restock her shop with new fabrics, an achievement she never thought possible within such a short period. “I was so happy,” she smiles. “The interest I earned on my savings motivated me to save more. PalmPay has become my savings box. I use it for all my transactions now.”
Her story, like many others, is the inspiration for PalmPay’s evolving vision of inclusive banking in Nigeria’s underserved communities.
Women, SMEs, and Technology
Financial exclusion remains a critical challenge in Northern Nigeria. According to EFInA’s 2023 Access to Financial Services survey, an estimated 28.8 million adults in the North are excluded from the formal financial system, with exclusion rates as high as 47% in the Northwest.
Among women, especially those in rural areas, the figures are even more concerning, as these numbers represent the daily reality of millions of women who run informal businesses and contribute to household income without access to banking, credit, or digital tools.
PalmPay’s initiative addresses this gap directly. 5,000 female entrepreneurs in Kano and Kaduna will receive hands-on financial literacy training on mobile payments and their shops are rebranded with signages, aprons, and other kits that will enhance visibility for their businesses.
“I used to write down every sale in a notebook. Now I track everything with my PalmPay account,” says Rabi Abdullahi, a trader in Kano. “Customers trust me more now that I have a business name and branded store.”
PalmPay has done its due diligence to understand the challenges and has offered a tailored approach to solving these issues which includes this social impact initiative.
Social Impact and Strategic Growth
With over 35 million users in Nigeria, the company is keen to expand in regions where smartphone adoption is rising but digital finance penetration remains low.
Femi Hanson, Head of Marketing and Communications, explains: “We see this as long-term ecosystem building. When you give small business owners the tools to grow, you don’t just gain users, you build loyalty, trust, and sustainable impact.” This also aligns with Nigeria’s Financial Inclusion Strategy goal to reach 95% inclusion by 2025, a benchmark that can’t be reached without focused efforts in the North.
The project has earned the support of traditional leaders, most notably His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano, Dr. Muhammadu Sanusi II, who praised the initiative and called for greater collaboration between the private sector and community stakeholders.
With the success of this initiative, PalmPay has continued to expand its solutions in these regions offering support to even more women.
In Northern Nigeria, where the need is great and the gap wide, PalmPay is proving that true impact goes beyond offering products to providing support and meeting the needs of its users at the grassroots.
General News
Moniepoint Demonstrates Commitment to Nurturing Africa’s Future Leaders

Moniepoint Inc, one of Africa’s leading financial institutions partnered with the Mega Impact Foundation to support the 5th edition of the NextGen Connect Interschool Oratory Competition in Asaba, Delta state. This collaboration showcases Moniepoint’s unwavering commitment to youth empowerment and human capital development across the African continent.
The competition, which was held commemoratively to celebrate this year’s International Day of the Boy Child, brought together SS2 students from across Delta State to address the critical theme: “The Role of Financial Inclusion and Technology in Shaping a Brighter Future for Young People in Africa.” Moniepont has received critical acclaim over its core mission of advancing financial inclusion through innovative digital financial technology solutions and payment services..
The oratory competition showcased exceptional talent among Nigeria’s youth, with Otovo Praise of Crystalloid International School emerging as the champion.
His outstanding performance earned him a full-year scholarship through the Tosin Eniolorunda STEM Foundation, reflecting Moniepoint’s philosophy of investing in educational excellence. Second-place winner Audi Innocent of St Patrick’s College received ₦300,000, while third-place winner, Asher David of Glorious Kids Academy was awarded ₦200,000.
“At Moniepoint, we believe that driving sustainable innovation begins with future-proofing and expanding the talent pool by empowering the next generation with the tools that they need to succeed especially basic literacy skills which remain fundamental pillars in socio-economic development,” said Tosin Eniolorunda, CEO Moniepoint Inc.
“These young voices represent the future of African leadership, and their insights into financial inclusion and technology demonstrate the remarkable potential that exists within our communities. Through our various educational and developmental initiatives such as the CAD/CAM lab we donated to OAU last year or the Moniepoint DreamDevs programme, we are betting big on an investment in Africa’s future.”
The initiative extends beyond monetary rewards, creating meaningful platforms for young people to express their ideas on a global stage. Through its support of the NextGen Connect Conference and Tech-In-School conversations, Moniepoint is fostering an environment where youth can develop critical thinking skills, build confidence, and engage with pressing societal issues.
In her remarks, Founder, Mega Impact Foundation, Florence Ogonegbu said that “we reaffirm our commitment to building an Africa where every young person has simplified access to sustainable education, capacity building, and empowerment.
By leveraging technology and local initiatives, we are creating platforms that enable our youth to thrive and transform their communities. Together with partners like Moniepoint, we are not just shaping futures—we are driving a movement for social development that will resonate globally. Every boy, every young person, deserves the opportunity to unlock their full potential and drive lasting impact across our continent.”
The competition received additional support from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Delta State, highlighting the collaborative approach required to nurture young talent effectively.
General News
African Parliamentarians Seek Answers from Telcos on Quality of Service

African legislators across the continent are increasingly demanding answers from mobile network operators for chronic poor service. Parliamentarians in Cameroon, South Africa and Zambia are demanding answers on data pricing, network connectivity needs in rural regions, contributions to job creation, data security and privacy, and adherence to universal service obligations.
Zambia is the latest country to question telcos over quality of service, and National Assembly speaker Nelly Mutti has ordered minister of technology and science Felix Mutati to deliver a ministerial statement on the Airtel network’s repeat outages and the steps being taken to resolve them.
Lawmakers have expressed concerns about the impact of inconsistent connectivity, particularly in rural areas where mobile communication is important for emergencies and essential services.
This come after telecoms regulator, Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) read the riot act to Airtel, after its most recent outage last week.
This was not the first time the telco had experienced service interruption, which prompted ZICTA to threaten the telco with a fine.
Meanwhile, the speaker of parliament declared that the nation has to be informed about the causes for the network provider’s bad service and the steps being taken to address the issue.
Mutti said: “This matter is affecting everyone. We need to know why the services are poor and what is being done to ensure service providers comply with stipulated guidelines.”
The move by the Zambian parliament comes a few days after South African parliament also summoned mobile network operators to respond to a range of concerns that lawmakers felt impacted consumers.
The following issues were considered by parliamentarians: network connectivity standards in rural areas, contributions to job creation, transformation, and economic inclusion and empowerment for blacks in general, women, youth, and people with disabilities, data security and privacy, adherence to universal service obligations, and spectrum conditions for universal connectivity.
- Telecom2 days ago
ALTON Clarifies on Migration to End-User Billing for USSD Services
- Telecom3 days ago
GSMA, Mobile Industry Call for Strengthened Action to Advance Child Online Protection in Africa
- News2 days ago
Digital Africa Global Consult, NDPC Partner on Ground-Breaking “Nigeria Data Challenge” Initiative
- General News3 days ago
TD Africa, HP Strengthen Partnership to Advance Africa’s Tech Ecosystem
- E-Financial2 days ago
Nigerian Stock Market Suffers ₦183 Billion Loss Amid Profit-Taking
- News2 days ago
DStv Rewards Loyal Customers with Free Package Upgrades
- Telecom2 days ago
Lagos Future Conference 2025: Stakeholders Call for Digital Responsibility and Grassroots Innovation
- General News2 days ago
African Parliamentarians Seek Answers from Telcos on Quality of Service