Crime
NDPC: Nigeria Sets To Join Global Cross-Border Forum For Data Protection
NDPC: Nigeria Sets To Join Global Cross-Border Forum For Data Protection
NDPC: Nigeria sets to join global cross-border forum for data protection. Vincent Olatunji, national commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), says Nigeria will join the global cross-border privacy rules (CBPR) forum as an associate member to strengthen accountability in data transfers.
The Global CBPR Forum enables trusted data flows globally through international data protection and privacy certifications.
Speaking during a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, ahead of the Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA-RAPDP) conference, Olatunji said the CBPR framework would give indigenous data protection compliance organisations “more options for cross-border data transfer”.
Olatunji also said the framework will ensure that protections enshrined under the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) are strictly enforced.
“Joining the CBPR Forum will allow Nigeria to observe the procedure for ensuring accountability during international data transfers, giving our organisations the opportunity to align with global standards,” he said.
The data protection chief also said the country is setting up a strategic task team of stakeholders to strengthen safe cross-border data transfer and maximise data’s beneficial use for national development.
‘NADPA-RAPDP CONFERENCE A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN NIGERIA’S DATA’
Olatunji added that Nigeria’s hosting of the NADPA-RAPDP conference is a vote of confidence in its growing data governance ecosystem—a status bolstered by President Bola Tinubu’s enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act in June 2023.
The conference, ‘Balancing Innovation in Africa, Data Protection and Privacy in Emerging Technologies,’ will be held from May 6 to 8.
According to Olatunji, the event will attract participants from over 30 African countries and representatives from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America.
“The progressive nature of this enabling Act endeared Nigeria to the international community, opened new vistas of growth for our digital economy, and has helped Nigeria secure crucial funding for strategic developmental initiatives,” he said.
“The conference will feature 15 strategic events, including a white paper launch on Nigeria’s data management ecosystem and exhibitions by public and private sector players. Global tech giants, including Google, Amazon, Huawei, Meta and Microsoft, support the event alongside local financial institutions like Access Bank, GTBank and Zenith Bank.
“Sessions will focus on topics such as artificial intelligence, data protection in fintech, privacy and regulation, and preparing the next generation of privacy professionals in Africa.”
Olatunji expressed gratitude to the federal government, partners like the European Union and World Bank, and the Association of Licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisations of Nigeria for their support.
“The opportunity for international cooperation created by the NADPA-RAPDP event is one in a continuum of measures we are taking to foster trust and confidence in Nigeria’s economy,” he said.
Christine Harbaugh, the United States (US) Embassy’s acting deputy chief of mission in Nigeria, said Nigeria’s decision to join the GBPR Forum was a significant milestone.

Data Protection
“By joining the CBPR Forum as an associate member, Nigeria is sending a clear message to the world: it is open for digital business,” Harbaugh said.
“The immense potential that the digital economy holds for Nigeria is undeniable. This move underscores an important step in creating an enabling environment that fosters innovation, growth, and collaboration.
“By beginning the process of aligning with the CBPR Forum, Nigeria is further solidifying its position as a global hub for digital business and innovation.
“This move tells the U.S. and global tech companies and investors that the Nigerian market presents tangible global opportunities.”
Harbaugh also said the decision to join the CBPR Forum will open new avenues for commercial opportunities between U.S. and Nigerian companies.
Crime
EFCC Arrests Serial Fraudster Over Alleged N20m Visa Fraud In Enugu
EFCC Arrests Serial Fraudster Over Alleged N20m Visa Fraud In Enugu
EFCC arrests serial fraudster over alleged N20m visa fraud in Enugu. He said the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.
Its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
Mr Oyewale said the suspect was facing interrogation for allegedly obtaining N19.9 million from three victims under the pretence of assisting them to process visas.
He listed the three petitioners as Osmond Ugwu, Ugwu Chidubem, and Amadiani Chinedu, who alleged that they were defrauded by the suspect.
According to him, Mr Ugwu claimed that he met the suspect in 2018 when he was planning to travel abroad.
“The suspect reportedly presented himself as a visa agent, and lured him with an offer of a Red-cross sponsored visa to the United States of America at the cost of N1.8 million, excluding his flight ticket.
“Ugwu allegedly paid N4 million for the arrangement as well as other payments, which brought the total sum the suspect collected from him to N11.8 million.”
Mr Oyewale also said that the second petitioner, Mr Chidubem, claimed that the suspect conspired with his friend to defraud him of the sum of N5.9 million.
“The suspect assured Chidubem that he will procure genuine documents for him to further pursue his football career abroad.
“The third victim, Chinedu, in his own petition alleged that the suspect defrauded him to the tune of N2.2 million to procure a work permit and an accompanying visa to enable him to migrate to Australia.

EFCC
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the 44-year-old suspect, who is an electrical engineer, was parading himself as a visa processing agent who helps people to migrate abroad easily.
“It was also discovered that he is not a licensed travel agent,” Mr Oyewale said.
He added that the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.
Crime
Court Sentences Former Accountant-General Nwabuoku To 72 Years In Prison Over N868m Fraud
Court Sentences Former Accountant-General Nwabuoku To 72 Years In Prison Over N868m Fraud
Former accountant-general Nwabuoku to 72 years in prison. Delivering judgment on Monday, James Omotosho, presiding judge, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had proved its case against Nwabuoku.
Nwabuoku was arraigned on a nine-count amended charge bordering on money laundering and fraud to the tune of N868.4 million.
He was granted bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024, the anti-graft agency accused Nwabuoku of conspiring with several companies, including Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited, and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited, to convert funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The alleged offence, according to the EFCC, contravenes section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012), and is punishable under section 15(3) of the Act.
The commission said Nwabuoku committed the offences while serving as the director of finance and accounts in the ministry of defence between 2019 and 2021.
The former acting accountant general had filed a no-case submission which was dismissed by the court in November 2025.

Court
Nwabuoku was appointed acting accountant-general of the federation on May 20, 2022, by then President Muhammadu Buhari, following the suspension of Ahmed Idris over alleged N80 billion fraud.
But Nwabuoku was removed from the position in July 2022, barely weeks after assuming office, following reports that he was under EFCC investigation.
Crime
Contractor Julius Ejiogu Bags Two Years Imprisonment For Forgery
Contractor Julius Ejiogu Bags Two Years Imprisonment For Forgery
Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State has convicted and sentenced Julius Ejiogu, a contractor to two years imprisonment for forgery.
The convict was arraigned on a three -count charge of conspiracy, forgery and uttering of false document on March 23, 2021 by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Upon arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to the charge setting the stage for trial.
The charge reads: “That you Julius Eljiogu and one Engr. E. Expert (at large) on or about the 2nd of August 2013, at Delta State within the jurisdiction of this honourable did conspires amongst yourselves to committed felony to wit: make a document titled Award of Contract for the Construction of Obudu-operation Road in Udu L.G.A. Delta State dated 2nd August 2013 on a letterhead paper on the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, purported to have been issued or emanated from NDDC for the award of Contract which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act Cap M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act 2007 and punishable under Section 3 (1)(C) of the same Act.”
In the course of the trial, prosecution counsel, K.Y. Bello called four witnesses and tendered several documents which were admitted by the court while the defendant testified as sole witness for his case.

Jail
Justice Olubanjo in his judgment (on Thursday January 15, 2026) found the defendant guilty on count one of the charge but discharged and acquitted him on count two and three . The judge consequently sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment with an option of N1 million fine.
The convict’s road to jail began when he purportedly got a letter for the award of Contract for the Construction of Obudu-Oleri Road in Udu Local Government Area, Delta State from one Engr. Eshitt of the Niger Delta Development Commission. He went ahead to sell the contract to the petitioner for N2 million only for him to discover that the said contract award was fake.
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