This is contained in a statement signed by Dr Ejike Ndiulo, head of Corporate Communications, Air Peace, on Wednesday in Lagos.
According to Ndiulo, the decision is necessary because NiMet is the agency responsible for issuing CNH (Current Nowcast of Hazardous Weather) reports, critical for safe landings, especially during this season of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.
He said without these reports from the control tower, flight safety could not be guaranteed.
“As a safety-first airline, we have chosen to act responsibly by suspending operations until NiMet resumes full service.
“We understand this may cause inconvenience, and we sincerely apologise. Passengers will be contacted with updates and options for rescheduling,” he said.
The staff of NiMET on Tuesday commenced an indefinite strike over the condition of service and other demands.
News
Firm Petitions SFU as Bankers’ Panel Withdraws from N1Bn Fraud Probe
The Sub-committee on Ethics and Professionalism of the Bankers’ Committee has withdrawn from investigating a fraud case to the tune of about N1bn involving Star Orient Nigeria Limited, an aviation fuelling company, and Access Bank Plc.
Seye Awojobi, secretary of the committee, said in a report dated April 23, 2021, that the panel struck out the case following PUNCH Metro’s report on the investigation conducted into the case by the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos State.
The report of the investigation had indicted some members of staff of Access Bank for allegedly colluding with the erstwhile Managing Director of Star Orient, Dare Osamo, and others to launder N1bn.
The police report read in part, “Strong prima facie cases of conspiracy, forgery, obtaining money by false pretences and stealing were established against Dare Osamo and others, including Access Bank.”
Responding to the company’s petition to the committee over the alleged N1bn fraud, Awojobi said, “The bank informed the sub-committee that the case was published in PUNCH Newspaper of March 11, 2021.
“The sub-committee, after due consideration, decided that the case should be struck out since the case was reported to the media, and also that the matter was under investigation by the Nigeria Police Force prior to the case being brought before the Sub-committee on Ethics and Professionalism.”
However, Ogbonnaya Agbafo, counsel for Star Orient, said his client waited on the Bankers’ Committee for eight months, adding that despite the firm and Access Bank finishing their submissions and waiting on the sub-committee to pass its verdict, no verdict was given.
He said, “If the sub-committee had adjudicated within a reasonable time after the parties had exhausted their submissions, it would have reached a decision long before March 11, 2021. Was the sub-committee patiently waiting for something – some slip or breach?
“There was no evidence that it was our client that took the matter to the press. The bank that made the allegation did not provide proof that it was our client and not the bank itself that leaked the matter to the press.
“The golden rule of adversarial proceedings is that he who asserts must prove. The sub-committee was content to act on the ipse dixit of our client’s adversary, on whose interest it was based, perhaps, upon its own induced press leak and the committee would appear to have waited for just that leak to happen – to cry off the case!”
Agbafo explained that the committee was avoiding engaging the truth, adding that its stance as presented by Awojobi was a “sad reflection that the ideals of social and economic justice will always suffer peril in any conflict between bent financial power and honest business.”
He added, “But on further reflection, one understands that self-interest is a universal law of life: why should a committee of bankers act in judgment against one of their own?
“Those who designed the concept of the sub-committee must have been diehard idealists to have overlooked this foible of man: what the wise Yoruba would call the ‘awa rawa’ principle!”
Star Orient added that the sub-committee threw out its petition during a 15-minute hearing and was insensitive about ethical standards in the banking sector.
It stated, “To set the records straight, ShibahWells Energy, our joint venture partner, petitioned the AIG, Zone 2 Command, against the directors of Star Orient on allegations of theft and money laundering
“Star Orient petitioned the Bankers’ Committee and the CBN to cause investigation into compliance with ethics and regulations governing banking in Nigeria vis-à-vis the opening and operations of the company’s bank accounts, including that of Access Bank.
“While we lack the power and resources to contend with the intimidation and overreaching powers of the bank, justice by all means must be served.
“We, therefore, petitioned the Inspector-General of Police through the Special Fraud Unit to unravel and prove wrong our allegation of fraud and connivance in money laundering against Access Bank and other financial institutions.”
When contacted, Eyitayo Johnson, Public Relations Officer, SFU, said, “I can confirm to you that the SFU has an active petition we are investigating in respect to the petition by Star Orient and it involves some deposit money banks and microfinance banks.
“The case is still very much ongoing and before the week runs out, we should be able to cover major milestones and be able to brief the press accordingly.”
A federal high court in Abuja has granted permission to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and detain six Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) promoters over allegations of investment fraud to the tune of over one billion dollars.
Emeka Nwite, presiding judge, gave the order following an ex parte application moved by Fadila Yusuf, counsel to the EFCC.
In the application by the EFCC, the six suspects are Adefowora Olanipekun, Adefowora Oluwanisola, Emmanuel Uko, Seyi Oloyede, Avwerosuo Otorudo and Chukwuebuka Ehirim.
The commission sought an order of the court for a warrant of arrest of the defendants.
They also prayed the court for “an order remanding the defendants in the custody of the complainant/applicant pending the conclusion of investigation of the alleged offences and possible prosecution”.
Yusuf said that the defendants are at large and a warrant of arrest is required to arrest the defendants for proper investigation and prosecution of this case.
In the affidavit in support of the motion, the EFCC said preliminary investigation into the intel revealed that the defendants “using their company ST Technologies International Limited, promoted another company Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) by making adverts and lured unsuspecting members of the public to invest crypto cryptocurrencies on the CBEX investment platform”.
The EFCC said the defendants promised an unrealistic return on investment of up to 100 percent.
“The victims were made to convert their digital assets into a stablecoin of USDT for onward deposit into the suspects’ crypto wallet,” Yusuf said.
“The victims were initially given full access to the platform to monitor their investment.
“Following the deposits valued at over $1 billion by the victims, the CBEX investment platform became inaccessible to them, and they could no longer withdraw from the investment made.
“The victims later discovered that the said scheme is a scam.
“During the course of investigation, it was discovered that the said ST Technologies International Limited, though registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), it was not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for investment purposes.
“It was also discovered during the investigation that the defendants had moved out of their last known address in Lagos and Ogun states.”
The anti-graft agency said obtaining a warrant of arrest was necessary in order to place the defendants on a watch list, enabling authorities to trace and apprehend the suspects to face the charges brought against them.
Nwite granted the request for a warrant of arrest and remand, adding that the order was necessary to enable the commission to apprehend the defendants and conclude its investigation.
“I have listened to the submission of the learned counsel for the applicant,” Nwite said.
“I have also gone through the affidavit evidence with exhibits thereto, along with the written address.
“I am of the view and I so hold that the application is meritorious.
“Consequently, the application is granted as prayed.”
Earlier in April, reports emerged that CBEX users could no longer withdraw their funds.
On Monday, angry investors stormed and looted the office of Smart Treasure (ST Team), an affiliate of CBEX, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The EFCC recently confirmed receiving multiple complaints about the platform.
Dele Oyewale, the commission spokesperson, assured affected investors that efforts were underway to recover their funds.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is pleased to announce the inaugural meeting of the Startup Consultative Forum, scheduled for Monday April 28, 2025 This milestone event marks a significant step in deepening stakeholder engagement within Nigeria’s growing startup ecosystem.
The Forum will serve as an interactive platform for startup founders, innovators, ecosystem enablers, and intermediaries to actively shape national policies that foster growth, attract investment, and drive digital innovation.
Convened under the framework of the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA), this initiative reflects the government’s commitment to making startups not just stakeholders but key contributors in building an enabling environment for innovation.
The meeting will emphasize collaborative dialogue, with a primary focus on nominating and selecting representatives for the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Startup Council)—Nigeria’s highest advisory body for the startup ecosystem. Decisions from this Forum will lay the foundation for inclusive policy development, amplifying the voices of Nigeria’s tech and innovation community.
NITDA invites all Labelled Startups, Verified Entrepreneurial and Innovation Support Organisations, Angel Investors, Venture Capitalists, and other relevant stakeholders to join the Forum and actively participate in the nomination and voting process.
Join us in shaping the future of digital innovation in Nigeria. Together, we can build a thriving ecosystem that supports and celebrates the pioneering spirit of Nigerian startups.
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