News
Sambo, Ex-VP, Received N20m Stipends Monthly from Dasuki
Ibrahim Idris Wambai, the former Accounts Officer II, has revealed that that the Office of Nigeria’s former Vice President Namadi Sambo was on a monthly stipend of N20million from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) led by former NSA, Sambo Dasuki.
He pointed out that some presidential aides also benefitted from slush funds from the ONSA, singling out five firms which were used as platforms by some people to receive funds from the office.
According to PM News, many prominent Nigerians and leaders similarly drew huge funds from the office.
Records of all cash payments to such individuals and organisations are still intact, he said in a Statement of Witness/Accused Person which was filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory and obtained by The Nations newspaper.
The certified statement on oath is part of the Proof of Evidence for the trial of nine suspects next week.
He said: “In December 2014, I took cash of N4million to Col. Madaki(rtd) in his residence in Wuse II Abuja. I had made many cash payments to Doyin Okupe, Ahmad Idris (PA to ex-NSA), ADC to former First Lady Patience Jonathan as payments for monthly operation allowances.
“The documents showing evidence of the payments are in the office of Yazidu Ibrahim in cash payment files. The exact amounts paid and date of payments I cannot remember but are available in the files.
“The venue for the collection of the money was my office and the money was given to me from the cash in the strong room.
“So many cash payments were made on a monthly basis to the following beneficiaries: Office of the former Vice President, Arc. Namadi Sambo (N20,000,000). The money was being collected by former Deputy Chief of Staff; ADC to former President (amount not known but in cash payment files; Chief Personal physician to former President Goodluck Jonathan; former coordinator on anti-terrorism, Gen. Sarkin Yaki; former Director PC4, Gen. Terba Waya (rtd); Personal Assistant, Domestic Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
“The amounts and frequency of payments to the beneficiaries as well as the list of other beneficiaries are in the cash payment files
“I also witnessed several payments in cash to various people. Prominent was about payment of N300million to former Chairman on Security and Intelligence, Dr. Bello Matawalle from the cash in the strong room.
“To get details of cash payments in Naira and individuals and organizations summary and vouchers from January 2011 to July 2015, the documents are kept in Yazidu Ibrahim’s former office. These should be collected from the Director of Finance and Administration, Col. Jafaru Mohammed. I and Yazidu Ibrahim can supply the files and the summary.”
He named five firms allegedly used for curious transfers from the ONSA.
His words: “The amounts of the five companies are ACACIA Holdings Limited (N600,000,000) via account no. 1017330319 with UBA and N650million via account no. 0122012650 with ECOBANK Nigeria Limited; Reliance Referral Hospital Limited (N750m) via account no.2022394057 with First Bank Nigeria Plc; Jabbama Global Nigeria Limited(N400m) via account no. 1013898095 with Zenith Bank; Continental Development etc.”
Meanwhile, ex-Minister of State for Finance, ex-Governor Attahiru Bafarawa and his son, Sagir Attahiru and Dalhatu Investment Limited may have to account for over N18.09billion when their trial begins next week.
Part of the cash was for PDP’s ‘Operation Capture North West’.
The cumulative cash does not include the $9.809m allegedly collected by ex-Minister of State Yuguda from ONSA between December 23, 2014 and February 10, 2015.
According to the charge sheet filed by EFCC, the suspects benefited from the said funds between April 14, 2014 and May 7, 2015.
Some of the charges are : “That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser between 14th April and 7th May 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: an aggregate sum of N3.350billion being part of the funds in the account of the National Security Adviser with the CBN, committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said properties when you transferred same to the account of Dalhatu Investment Limited with United Bank for Africa Plc purporting same to be payment for the supply of security equipment and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.
“That you Dalhatu Investment Limited, Sagir Attahiru and Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa between 14th April 2014 and 7th May 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly received stolen property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N3.350billion with UBA Plc from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA) with the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), which belonged to the Federal Government of Nigeria and knowing the said sum to be stolen property but purporting same to be payment for the supply of security equipment and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 317 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.
“That you Dalhatu Investment Limited, Sagir Attahiru and Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa between 14th April 2014 and 7th May 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knew that an aggregate sum of N3.350billion directly represented the proceeds of criminal conducts of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki and Shuaibu Salisu who were National Security Adviser and the Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser respectively ( to wit: criminal breach of trust in respect of the said amount) had possession of the said property and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 317 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.
“That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser on or about 20th December 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: N500million being part of the funds in the account of the National Security Adviser with Skye Bank Plc, committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you transferred same to the account of Dalhatu Investment Limited with United Bank for Africa Plc purporting same to be payment for the supply of security equipment and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.
“That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Bashir Yuguda whilst being the Minister of State for Finance between 5th February and 16th April 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: an aggregate sum of N1.1billion being part of the funds in the account of the National Security Adviser with CBN committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you transferred same to the account of Jabbama Ada Global Services Nigeria Limited for the purpose of financing the campaign of PDP in the 2015 general election and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.
“That you, Bashir Yuguda whilst being Minister of State for Finance between 23rd December 2014 and 10th February, 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly misappropriated certain property to wit: an aggregate sum of $9,809,619 which was an equivalent of the aggregate sum of N1,950,000 belonging to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which sum was transferred to Jabbama Ada Global Services to be converted into the said dollars and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.
“That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser, between August 2013 and February 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly misappropriated certain property to wit: an aggregate sum of N1.675billion belonging to the Federal Republic of Nigeria which sum was transferred to the account of Vibrant Resources Limited controlled by Abubakar Dasuki, the younger brother of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, the then National Security Adviser and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.
“That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Bashir Yuguda whilst being the Minister of State for Finance between 14th April 2014 and 7th May, 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court agreed to do an illegal act to wit: criminal breach of trust by public officers in respect of an aggregate sum of N5,050b being part of the funds in the account of the National Security Adviser with CBN and that the same act was done in pursuance of the agreement among you and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.
“That you Bashir Yuguda, Dalhatu Investment Limited, Sagir Attahiru and Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa between 2013 and 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court agreed to do an illegal act to wit: dishonestly receiving stolen property to wit: an aggregate sum of N4.633b being part of the funds in the accounts of the ONSA and that the same act was done in pursuance of the agreement among you and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.
African technology start-ups will receive a $46 million (€40 million) commitment from EIB Global, the development arm of the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The funds will be deployed through the first Africa-focused investment vehicle from European venture capital (VC) firm Speedinvest.
The Speedinvest Africa Fund, which has a total target size of €200 million, targets companies across innovation hubs in Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.
It also invests in high-potential markets, including Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tunisia, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The investment strengthens EU–Africa ties, supports digital transformation, and promotes inclusive economic growth, says the EIB.
The strategy is designed to improve digital and financial inclusion while enabling start-ups to scale across borders by strengthening linkages between African and European ecosystems. Technology has the power to turn good ideas into real impact, says Karl Nehammer, vice-president of the EIB.
By backing this vehicle, it is enabling African innovators to scale, access new markets, and build sustainable businesses, says Nehammer.
The fund focuses on technology-enabled and mobile-based services across payments, healthcare, mobility, and education.
This aligns with the EU’s Global Gateway priorities and is expected to deliver social benefits, including job creation for youth and expanded access to digital banking for underserved communities.
At least 30% of the vehicle’s capital will support companies advancing gender equality, including those with women as founders, employees, or consumers.
With EIB Global support, the firm is deepening its long-term commitment to backing founders across Africa while strengthening enduring bridges between Africa and Europe, says Oliver Holle, CEO and managing partner of Speedinvest.
Speedinvest has previously backed African growth-stage companies, including mobility fintech Moove and digital bank FairMoney.
By combining a local presence with a European network of operators, sector expertise, and follow-on capital, the firm aims to help founders scale regionally and internationally, says Holle.
The fund will be managed by partners Deepali Nangia and Rana Abdel Latif, with a new African office planned to support its local operations.
Three individuals connected to a US tech firm have been indicted by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) for their alleged role in a massive scheme to smuggle billions of dollars worth of restricted Nvidia AI chips to China, bypassing strict export controls.
Nvidia Chip
Prosecutors accuse the suspects of using fake documents, dummy equipment, and even hair dryers to tamper with labels in a bid to dodge compliance checks.
The plot centred on high-performance semiconductors from Nvidia, which are tightly regulated by the US due to fears they could boost China’s military and AI capabilities.
Yih-Shyan “Wally” Liaw, a US citizen and co-founder of California-based Super Micro Computer (a server maker), has been charged alongside two Taiwanese nationals: Ting-Wei “Willy” Sun and Ruei-Tsang “Steven” Chang (who remains at large).
The group reportedly partnered with a Southeast Asian firm to order servers packed with banned chips. They falsified records claiming the gear would stay in Asia, but repackaged and shipped it covertly to China.
Tactics included deploying thousands of fake “dummy” servers for audits, while real restricted tech was diverted. Sun allegedly used household hair dryers to swap serial numbers and labels.
Super Micro Computer confirmed the suspects’ links but stressed it faces no charges and is aiding the probe.
The DOJ estimates the intermediary bought $2.5 billion in equipment, illegally funneling vast amounts of controlled AI tech to China without licences.
This case underscores escalating US-China tech rivalry, where advanced chips are viewed as vital for national security and economic edge.
In a parallel probe, two Chinese nationals were earlier charged for rerouting chips via Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and mainland China. US authorities warn of tough penalties for evasion.
This development signals intensified global scrutiny on tech supply chains amid superpower tensions.
United Kingdom and Nigeria have agreed on a three-year strategic plan to tackle organised immigration crime and strengthen border security cooperation.
The initiative was announced in a joint statement by the UK Home Office following the state visit of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the UK.
The agreement was signed by UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
According to the statement, the framework focuses on combating visa fraud, improving border management systems, and enhancing legal cooperation between both countries.
Under the plan, Nigeria is expected to review its legal framework to impose stricter penalties on immigration-related offences, particularly those involving forged or fraudulent travel documents.
Both countries also pledged to strengthen laws and enforcement mechanisms governing visa processing and travel documentation.
A key component of the agreement is the expansion of the UK–Nigeria Organised Immigration Crime Unit, with new memoranda of understanding centred on intelligence sharing and joint operations.
The UK government will further support Nigerian border agencies through training programmes and capacity-building initiatives.
The partnership also places emphasis on the protection of vulnerable migrants, particularly women and children, while enhancing research, document verification systems, and migration monitoring processes through the UK–Nigeria Migration, Justice and Home Affairs Dialogue.
Both governments described the agreement as a reflection of their shared commitment to tackling transnational crime and improving migration management through closer collaboration.
The deal forms part of broader engagements during Tinubu’s visit, which focused on strengthening bilateral relations across security, migration, and economic development.
Court Jails ‘Colonel’, ‘Major’ of Global Money-Laundering Ring
Court Bans Kenyan Telcos from Recycling SIM Cards
Providus Bank Fully Meets CBN Capital Requirement, Sets Record Straight
African Tech Start-ups to Receive $46m of Speedinvest Africa Fund
U.S. Charges Three in $2.5 Billion Plot to Smuggle Nvidia AI Chips to China
Kaspersky Discovers New Phishing Campaign Exploiting Google Tasks Notifications to Steal Corporate Credentials
esentry 2025 Report Shows Healthcare, Financial Services and Telecoms as Staging Grounds for Increased Cyberattacks in Africa
AfDB, UNDP Launch $10Bn AI Initiative for Africa
Mutual Benefits Assurance Settles ₦5.9bn Claims in January 2026
MultiChoice Suspends Yearly DStv Price Hike as Canal+ Pushes Growth
E-Financial3 days agoKuda MFB Increases Kuda for Her Business Grants to ₦10 Million
Telecom3 days agoVitel Wireless Lures Subscribers with “Data that Never Expires” Campaign
News3 days agoNSIA Sign MoU with UK’s Asset Green Ltd to Develop $496M Integrated Dairy Livestock Production Platform in Nigeria
News3 days agoBoI, MTN Foundation Launch N1Bn Fund for Women Entrepreneurs
E-Financial2 days agoCBN Introduces Stricter BVN Rules to Curb Fraudulent Transactions
E-Financial2 days agoBinance is Missing from Ghana’s Crypto Sandbox
General News3 days agoOne SA Bank Equals Nigeria’s Entire Banking Sector – Why Recapitalisation Is Critical for Global Competitiveness
Broadcasting3 days agoNigeria tops global rankings for USDT, USDC ownership