Nigeria Police Force has arrested two suspects over a N713.9 million fraud linked to a breach involving a third-party banking platform.

The police in a statement signed by Anthony Okon Placid, Force Public Relations Officer Force Headquarters, Abuja said the case followed a complaint by a financial institution which reported unauthorised debits on customers’ accounts, leading to an investigation by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU).

Acting on the complaint, operatives of the PSFU deployed advanced investigative and digital forensic techniques, revealing that fifteen customers’ accounts had been compromised.

The funds were subsequently channelled through a network of accounts in a coordinated laundering scheme.

The operation led to the arrest of two suspects, Oguntoyinbo Olawale and Kazeem Omokayode.

Further investigations established that the suspects conspired with one Linda, a Chinese national currently at large, to use personal identification details, including Bank Verification Number (BVN), National Identification Number (NIN), and other credentials, to open multiple bank accounts across various financial institutions. These accounts were then used to receive, conceal, and launder illicit proceeds.

The suspects in custody are to be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate still at large.

Olatunji Disu, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), commended officers of the Police Special Fraud Unit for their efforts and reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to combating financial and cyber-enabled crimes.

Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI) has highlighted potential benefits for Nigeria such as increased production flexibility, expanded market share, and improved revenue prospects following the United Arab Emirates’ decision to exit the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

However, the Institute cautioned that these opportunities come with significant risks, including exposure to price volatility, reduced protection from coordinated supply management, intensified competition, and mounting fiscal pressures.

In a statement signed by Victor Olannye, registrar/chief executive officer, described the development as a major shift in global oil governance, with far-reaching implications for market stability and international energy dynamics.

Olannye noted that the move could trigger increased oil price volatility, heightened geopolitical tensions, and disruptions across global energy supply chains.

He urged corporate organisations, public institutions, financial bodies, and risk professionals to reassess their risk frameworks and strengthen resilience in response to evolving global realities.

He identified key risks to include a potential weakening of OPEC cohesion, oil price instability, geopolitical uncertainty, supply chain disruptions, macroeconomic volatility, and the possibility of further exits by member states.

In line with its mandate to promote sound risk management and support national development, the Institute advised corporate organisations to implement robust risk management frameworks, adopt dynamic hedging strategies, and diversify their business portfolios.

Financial institutions and investors were also urged to reassess energy-related risks, strengthen portfolio diversification, and enhance risk disclosure practices.

CRMI further called on government and policymakers to reinforce fiscal buffers, accelerate economic diversification, and promote the transition to renewable energy.

Individual risk professionals were encouraged to upskill in geopolitical risk analysis and energy economics while developing expertise in scenario planning and predictive analytics.

The Institute emphasised the need for stakeholders to reposition proactively to navigate the evolving geo-economic landscape. It also projected possible scenarios, including fragmentation of global oil governance structures, increased reliance on market-driven pricing mechanisms, and an acceleration of global energy transition efforts.

House of Representatives on Wednesday claimed that Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC)  weak regulatory oversight, was responsible for the country’s ongoing poor telecom service quality.

The lawmakers accused the NCC of failing to enforce standards that would compel operators to provide reliable connectivity.

They warned that persistent issues like dropped calls, slow data speeds, and network failures pose serious risks to lives and property, particularly during emergencies.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Ahmadu Jaha, representing Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency in Borno State.

Speaking on the motion, Jaha emphasised the critical role of telecommunications in Nigeria’s economy and daily life, while lamenting the widening gap between subscriber expectations and actual service delivery.

“Telecommunication has become a vital part of everyday life in Nigeria. It connects families, supports businesses, enhances education, and drives economic growth. However, despite its importance, the quality of service provided by many telecom companies remains unsatisfactory,” he said.

Jaha highlighted recurring problems such as dropped calls, poor internet speeds, and failed message deliveries as signs of deeper systemic failures in the sector.“The House is concerned that poor network connectivity is a major issue.

Subscribers frequently experience dropped calls, slow internet speeds, and difficulty sending messages. This affects both personal communication and business operations, leading to frustration and financial losses,” he added.

Lawmakers also expressed dissatisfaction with the high cost of services relative to the quality received.

Jaha noted that Nigerians pay substantial amounts for data bundles that are quickly depleted due to unstable connections and frequent interruptions.

He further pointed to inadequate customer service, where complaints often go unresolved for long periods, hindering emergency communications during fire outbreaks, medical emergencies, or accidents.

The lawmaker attributed part of the problem to insufficient infrastructure expansion, especially in growing urban centres and underserved rural areas.

“Network congestion during peak hours and in densely populated areas shows that infrastructure development has not kept pace with the growing number of users,” he said.

Supporting the motion, George Ozodinobi, deputy minority whip, accused telecom operators of prioritising profits over service quality while faulting the NCC for regulatory complacency.

“It is like these companies have made enough profits in billions, and so, they don’t care about improving the network anymore. The NCC, the regulator, has become complacent,” Ozodinobi stated.

Despite the sector’s rapid growth from under one million lines in the early 2000s to over 200 million active subscriptions today challenges such as insufficient base stations, unreliable power supply, multiple taxation, and infrastructure vandalism continue to hamper service quality.

In its resolution, the House urged telecom companies to invest in modern infrastructure, expand coverage especially in rural communities, improve customer service, and adopt fairer pricing that reflects actual service quality.

The lawmakers also directed the NCC to enforce stricter quality-of-service standards and hold operators accountable.

They further resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the root causes of poor service delivery and recommend appropriate legislative measures.