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EFCC Join Forces With AANISS Against Vote Buying
EFCC Join Forces With AANISS Against Vote Buying
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies, AANISS have agreed to work towards credible elections by tackling vote buying and other acts of electoral fraud.
This fresh move was made on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 when the President of AANISS, Mike Ejiofor, led other executives of his Association on a courtesy visit to the EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the Commission’s Corporate Headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.
In his remarks, Ejiofor unfolded the topic of the 2026 AANISS Annual Lecture, “Credible Elections in Nigeria and National Security,” stressing that the focus of the Lecture drew the Association to the EFCC in recognition of the Commission’s efforts against vote buying, noting that credible elections are fundamental to good governance and national security.
“I must commend the EFCC, because I see the arrests you made over vote buying, which is the greatest challenge we are facing right now in the electoral process. I must commend you,” he said.
He urged the Commission to intensify its efforts and improve its modalities against vote buying as the 2027 election year draws closer. “As the general election is coming up in 2027, you should intensify and work out more modalities to ensure that vote buying is curtailed. We’re also available to cooperate with you. We will collaborate with the EFCC in terms of consultancy and advice. If you need resource persons, we are available to assist,” he said.
Olukoyede, in his response, acknowledged that battling vote buying falls within EFCC’s mandate, and that the Commission had been playing a critical role in that respect with an impressive number of convictions to show for it.
With regards to the 2027 general election, he assured that the Commission was not going to wait until election day to go into action. According to him, contingent planning and intelligence gathering are crucial to tackle fraudulent actors in any electoral process.
The EFCC boss urged AANISS’ members to brace up to be champions of national security. He pointed out that a strong nexus existed between national security, financial crimes and corruption, which he said made collaboration between the EFCC and AANISS compelling.
“There’s this strong link between national security and financial crimes and that is where we need our collaboration. We need to collaborate and synergize. We need you to support the agencies to ensure that we fulfil our mandate,” he said.
He restated his focus on using the anti-corruption war to support security agencies, guarantee stability in the economy as well as reduce the propensity of fraudulent actors towards corruption and financial crimes. In doing this, prevention, he said, continued to be fundamental.
“One of the critical things we did was to ensure that we don’t always wait for money to be stolen before we start rolling up our sleeves. So, I set up a Directorate called Fraud Risk Assessment and Control. Now, they are working with MDAs, tracking releases on a monthly basis. We are looking at where the money is going because it costs more to recover than to prevent,” he said.
EFCC
He also noted the prime place of asset recovery, describing it as key in the Commission’s anti-corruption fight. “As a matter of fact, from day one, we made asset recovery key, because depriving those who perpetrate crime the proceeds of their crimes is a sure way to discourage them.
If you allow them to have access to those assets, they will get the best of lawyers and continue to fight you with matters going on for 10 to 15 years in court.”
He urged AANISS to utilise the opportunity of its lectures to admonish Nigerians and give talks on the issue of financial crimes. “If we don’t take the issue of the fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes as a national policy, there is no way we can find security.
They are like twins. They are tied together. So, we need your cooperation. Even more, we need your support,” he said.
Akpabio Commends Eno’s Humility, Dedication To Project Completion Eno’s Humility, Dedication To Project Completion
The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has commended the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, for incorporating youths into the state’s security architecture.
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…Assures Gov. Eno of Overwhelming Electoral Victory in Akwa Ibom.
Speaking Sunday evening during a stopover visit by Governor Eno, Senator Akpabio also lauded him for completing the Ibom International Airport project.
He expressed appreciation for the Governor’s humility and respect for elders in the state, noting that he was highly honoured by the visit.
Citing the re-election victory of his colleague, Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress , APC, who secured a second term with 319,224 votes, Senator Godswill Akpabio assured Governor Umo Eno of an even more resounding electoral mandate from the people of Akwa Ibom State.
He further prayed for God to grant the Governor greater wisdom and understanding in the leadership of the state.
In his remarks, Governor Umo Eno, who fondly described the Senate President as his grandfather, extended 2026 Father’s Day felicitations to Senator Akpabio and briefed him on the ongoing developmental strides of his administration.
Akpabio Commends Eno
Describing Senator Godswill Akpabio as a distinguished leader, the Governor said he remains a mentor and respected elder statesman, praying for continued wisdom for him to make laws that serve the common good of the nation and the state, reaffirming his total support to President Bola Tinubu, and the Senate President till 2031.
The Governor visited the Senate President accompanied by his entourage and technical team.
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Saud Commences 2026 Food Aid Distribution
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Abuja, through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) and in partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has flagged off the 2026 Food Aid Project aimed at supporting populations affected by displacement, insecurity and other humanitarian challenges across Nigeria.
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The project will distribute 24,302 food baskets, each weighing approximately 60 kilograms and containing essential food items, including rice, cooking oil, white beans, salt, and other staple commodities.
Valued at over US$1.5 million, the intervention is expected to benefit 145,812 people in communities across the country, providing much-needed relief to vulnerable households facing food insecurity.
Speaking during the flag-off in Damaturu, the Director-General of NEMA, reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the transparent and efficient distribution of the food items to identified beneficiaries, in line with its mandate to coordinate disaster response and humanitarian assistance in Nigeria. The food baskets will be distributed across the five intervention states, which are Yobe, Benue, Anambra, Kebbi and Taraba States.
The food aid initiative underscores the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s continued commitment to humanitarian assistance and support for vulnerable populations in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region. Through KSrelief, Saudi Arabia has continued to provide critical relief interventions to improve food security and alleviate the suffering of people affected by crises.
Foid Distribution
The partnership between NEMA and KSrelief reflects the importance of international collaboration in addressing humanitarian challenges and supporting communities in need.
Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation
Monday, 22 June, 2026
Eereporter.com
Alleged N15.6bn Fraud: EFCC Re-arraigns Ex-Skye Bank MD
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, June 22, 2026, re-arraigned a former Chairman, Board of Directors, defunct Skye Bank Plc ( now Polaris Bank Limited) Tunde Ayeni before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Apo, Abuja for an alleged N15.6 billion fraud.
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Ayeni was re-arraigned on an amended 18-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, and diversion of funds amounting to N15.6 billion following the EFCC`s submission of additional proof of evidence.
At Monday`s proceedings, prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed SAN, informed the court of an amended charge and additional proof of evidence filed on June 22, 2026.
In response, defence counsel, Abdul Mohammed SAN confirmed that he was duly served with the charge.
Count three of the charge reads “That you Tunde Ayeni, whilst being the Chairman, Board of Directors of the defunct Skye Bank Plc (now Polaris Bank Limited) on or about the 18th of September, 2014 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and having dominion over depositors’ funds domiciled in the defunct Skye Bank Plc’s Suspense Account, committed criminal breach of trust when you dishonestly misappropriated the sum of Five Hundred and Ten Million Naira (510,000,000) by transferring same to Capital Field Investment Group Limited’s account No:1770125552 domiciled with Skye Bank in violation of the defunct Skye Bank Plc Operational Policy Manual and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 312 of Same Act.”
EFCC
Count five also reads, “That you Tunde Ayeni, whilst being the Chairman, Board of Directors of the defunct Skye Bank Plc (now Polaris Bank Limited) on or about the 23rd September, 2014 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and having dominion over depositors’ funds domiciled in the defunct Skye Bank Plc’s Suspense Account, committed criminal breach of trust when you dishonestly misappropriated the sum of Six Hundred Million Naira (N600,000,000) by transferring same to Harigold Ventures Limited’s account No:0000834983 domiciled with Sterling Bank in violation of the defunct Skye Bank Plc Operational Policy Manual and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 312 of Same Act.”
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him.
Ayeni was first arraigned on May 4, 2026 on a 17-count charge.
Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter till July 6, 2026, for commencement of trial.
Eereporter.com
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