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General News

Securex Develops Security Approaches -Tori

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Tori Abiola, MD, Montgomery West Africa
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Tori Abiola, is the managing director, Montgomery West Africa. She joined Montgomery in 2012 and has over 16 years experience working in a variety of marketing, sales and management roles for organisations such as Euromoney Training, Terrapin, IQPC, WBR, First Conferences, Pfizer and the Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales. In August 2013 Forbes Africa listed Tori as one of 5 Women to know when doing business in West Africa.
 Tori is a volunteer for Youth Technology Foundation, an NGO dedicated to bridging the digital divide for young people in developing countries and marginalised communities in developed countries.
 In this interview with peter ugwu, she shared Montgomery’s vision to educate the government and the public in approaches to tackle security threats through Security Exhibition and conference (Securex).

Montgomery West Africa
Montgomery West Africa was registered in Nigeria in 2009, but is part of a 100 year old plus British Events company, which has operations globally, and runs the some of the world’s foremost exhibitions, expos, events in sectors such as Mining, Packaging, Printing, Oil & Gas, Hospitality, Food, Art, Building and Construction.
The company has been operating in Africa since 1968 and the South African operation is the leading organiser of events and exhibitions in South Africa, and is a regular award recipient as the Event Organiser of the year.
Montgomery is an independent exhibition and events company at the forefront of trade and consumer shows in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
We run over fifty events in over fifteen countries , and our events span the fields of art, photography and design, food, drink and hospitality, homes and building, technology, security, mining and industrial as well as automotive. These events cover both trade and consumer shows as well as specialist events.
Montgomery has its own specialist consultancy firm, 15 wholly owned and joint venture companies all over the world, and owns the largest exhibition venue in Africa.
We love special and innovative projects, and are always on the lookout to expand and forge new alliances and partnerships.Our shows are exciting and varied, and we pride ourselves on our integrity, our family heritage, our inventiveness, our global experience, and our ability to deliver market-leading results, every time.

Organization Of Securex
The need for a platform for all key players in Security to meet, network, learn and showcase the latest technology, training and development in this area.
So, Securex is the only show in the region that brings together the entire security supply chain by incorporating Cyber Security, Commercial & Homeland Security, Fire & Safety Security all under one roof.

 Results/Significance
Securex has really helped to shape and define best practice in Security in the region – the event is one which key players in the Industry see as the main platform to engage with their customers once a year.
Securex West Africa 2014 provides a unique platform for all in the security supply chain to engage, educate and showcase the latest trends and solutions.
The shifting security landscape and newly emerging threats requires West African countries to formulate national security strategies and frameworks that share common approaches and address security concerns.
 Packed to the brim with products, services, networking opportunities and educational content, it is such event that both the government and corporate organizations cannot afford to miss.
The 2013 show attracted over 1700 visitors from the government, trade and end-user market, all eager to seek innovative products and meet new suppliers.

 Managing and Tackling Security
I think the key steps around tackling this issue is to look at education, training, advocacy and keeping the public, security professionals in public and private sector aware of the latest trends, technologies and advancements in security. Security is everybody’s concern.
 However, in Securex we are looking at experts, critically, interrogating current security challenges and then designing appropriate national, sub-national and private sector responses to them; and, more particularly, in driving specialization across the broad spectrum of possible responses both human and technological.
Now, Nigeria as a leading African economy and there are key indicators to that. At the same time, security challenges cannot be eliminated totally.
If other advanced economies still face security challenges, what we need to do is to continue to educate our people on security tips.

Appeal of Securex
Securex primarily appeals to security experts, so our visitors are typically security professionals in Public and private sector organizations.
The trend in security breaches has become enormous in the industrial arena.
Therefore, the conference will appeal to group head of security in different organizations, group security directors, head of global security, principal security advisors, chief safety advisers, global security managers, global threat analysts, head of security in different organizations, crisis and security managers, director of energy security, among others.

 Government Buy In
The Government has been very supportive of Securex and we have always had representation from the key security agencies in Nigeria in endorsing, attending and supporting the event.
The time we are in now demands that all hands must be on deck to tackle issues concerning insecurity.
During the event, we shall be looking at terrorism: how do we develop security systems that are proactive and creative in combating security breaches; mobilizing national power to secure a new national security paradigm and introducing the use of surveillance cameras in public and government offices to tackle threats.
We cannot be talking about national security without surveillance development through integrated security collaboration.
It is high time our people get informed that fighting insecurity is everybody’s concern.
We may have all the gadgets, but how about the nooks and crannies yet to be covered with surveillance equipment? We need to collaborate.
The beauty of this conference is that we are looking at security from the wholistic point of view. For instance, border, port and airport security are paramount, especially in the contemporary society where theaters cross borders to perpetuate one crime or the other.

Issues on Cyber Threats
Obviously, you cannot discuss security matters today without looking at the computers, mobile and the internet.
To this end, Engineer Lanre Ajayi, president, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) will present a paper on cyber security skill improvement and information security investment.
Under that area, he will be address challenges presented with modern technology introduction into African market and developing sustainable innovative techniques and skills for advancement and resilience.
Additionally, he will dwell on critical infrastructure adoption and overcoming the lack of clear communication technology and future developments of information system security standards.
And we shall be looking at telecommunication operators’ services and what security initiatives they have to protect the subscribers and their own end of the network.
The essence is to identify the best approaches to enhance consumers’ trust, even in the world of mobile devices.

 

 


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General News

African Parliamentarians Seek Answers from Telcos on Quality of Service

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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.

 


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TD Africa, HP Strengthen Partnership to Advance Africa’s Tech Ecosystem

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TD Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa’s foremost technology distributor, took a bold step toward strengthening almost three decades of collaboration by hosting a high-level strategic meeting with HP Inc. at an exclusive gathering in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The meeting brought together top executives from both organisations to reaffirm their commitment to advancing digital transformation and deepening technology penetration across Nigeria and Africa.

Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of Zinox Group (parent company of TD Africa), traced the long-standing partnership between HP and TD Africa and emphasised the need for a more intentional synergy going forward.

“The relationship between TD Africa and HP goes beyond business; it’s a shared vision to use technology as the catalyst for a smarter, more prosperous Nigeria. Technology is the new oil, and together, we must build the infrastructure to power a 21st-century Africa,” said Dr. Ekeh.

Also, Mrs. Chioma Chimere, Coordinating Managing Director of TD Africa, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to digital inclusion and local empowerment. “At TD Africa, we are passionate about pushing technology to every part of the country and the continent. Our vision is to see an Africa where every individual, business, and institution is IT-ready and globally competitive,” she stated.

On behalf of HP, Kingsley Osuala, Distribution Business Manager, Central Africa, expressed appreciation for the enduring relationship with TD Africa and stressed the importance of local tech adoption.

“We are grateful to TD Africa for staying true to their mission of empowering Africa through technology. As the digital age accelerates, Nigerians must stay ahead by embracing innovation and high-performance tech solutions. That is how we stay globally relevant,” Osuala remarked.

The meeting concluded with renewed resolve from both parties to explore deeper collaboration and build on their shared legacy, one that prioritizes access, innovation, and the digital empowerment of Africa.


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Court Orders Lawyer to Produce “Bail-Jumping” Client in MTN Cyber Fraud Case

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Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered Mr Nnamdi Kalu, a legal practitioner, to appear before the court on July 9, 2025, to provide explanations regarding the whereabouts of Richard Ironbar Edemadem, his client,  who is accused of cyber-related fraud and has allegedly jumped bail.

Court Orders Lawyer to Produce “Bail-Jumping” Client in MTN Cyber Fraud Case

The judge issued the directive during the ongoing trial of Edemadem and four others, namely: Samuel Okpapi, Nelson Ojovbo, Bamigbade Olushola, and ISD Technology Limited, who are standing trial on charges of tampering with the critical mobile telecommunications infrastructure of MTN Nigeria and illegally profiting from unsolicited messages sent to subscribers.

The prosecution, led by Mr Nnemeka Omewa of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), informed the court that Edemadem, the first defendant, had jumped bail and ceased communication with both his counsel and the court.

He further revealed that Mr Kalu, who represented the defendant at the early stage of the trial, had stopped appearing in court and was unreachable.

During the trial proceedings, Justice Alagoa queried the continued absence of the first defendant, especially as his name had come up repeatedly during the testimony of the EFCC’s witness.

Upon receiving the explanation from the prosecutor, the judge expressed concern that no attempt had been made to bring the sureties to account, as required when a defendant absconds.

Responding to the judge’s query, Omewa said the prosecution had made efforts to trace the sureties and review the bail bond documents.

However, they discovered that no valid documentation about the sureties or their contact addresses could be found in the court file.

Disturbed by the absence of such critical records, Justice Alagoa directed the absentee defendant’s counsel, Mr Kalu, to appear before the court on the next adjourned date to provide clarity on his client’s disappearance and explain his failure to participate further in the trial.

In the meantime, the trial resumed with the testimony of Mr Olamide Sadiq, the fourth prosecution witness and an investigating officer with the EFCC.

Sadiq detailed how the defendants fraudulently manipulated MTN’s telecom systems to send unsolicited messages to thousands of unsuspecting subscribers.

According to his testimony, the defendants, who were employed as IT professionals for various telecom value-added service providers, compromised MTN’s Critical Mobile Telecommunications Network System between 2017 and 2018, adding that by exploiting the system’s vulnerabilities, they deployed mass unsolicited messages that led to unauthorised deductions from subscribers’ airtime balances.

Sadiq explained that these illegal deductions were routed into multiple accounts linked to the defendants and their affiliated entities, notably ISD Technology Limited.

The stolen proceeds, totalling N36,837,438.20, were subsequently distributed among the conspirators, he said.

Following the witness’s testimony, the court adjourned the matter to July 9, 2025, for the continuation of the trial and to enable Mr Kalu to appear and address the court on the issue of his absconding client.

The EFCC had filed a three-count charge against the defendants, detailing their alleged roles in the multimillion-naira fraud.

On count one of the charges, the defendants, Richard Ironbar Edemadem, Samuel Okpapi, Nelson Ojovbo, Bamigbade Olushola, ISD Technology Limited, and a fugitive known only as “Sola”, were accused of conspiring to tamper with a critical mobile telecommunications network system.

This, the EFCC said, is contrary to Sections 27(6)(b) and 10 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and punishable under the same law.

The second charge stated that the defendants were charged with unauthorised tampering with MTN’s network infrastructure, an offence also contrary to Section 10 of the Cybercrimes Act, punishable under the same provision.

Counts three of the charges posited that the defendants allegedly took possession of N36,837,438.20, which they reasonably ought to have known were proceeds of an unlawful act, namely, stealing, contrary to Sections 15(2)(d) and (6) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and punishable under the same.

 

Source: Tribune

 


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