Alumni urged to close ranks for sake of alma maters

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Alumni of institutions in the country have been urged to close ranks so as to form a formidable team for the growth of the former institutions, known in Italo as ‘alma mater’ and society at large.

Giving this charge at the weekend during the 2025 ThanksGiving Get Together of Times Journalism Alumni Association (TJAA Class99) held at the Ladi Lawal House, Lagos Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalist in Alausa Ikeja, the Governor-General of TJAA Class99, Ogbuefi Chinenyeze Remmy Nweke, commended members for their continued commitment towards positioning Times Journalism Alumni Association in the journalism industry.

He encouraged members to embrace online courses in their various chosen careers so as to stay ahead of their games.

Nweke, who also is the Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS Media group, said that the essence of the ThanksGiving GetTogether was to assist members of the Class99 and TJAA at large to close ranks and network for a better future, whilst relaxing..

He described professional networking as one of the benefits of alumni groups.

Commending members of TJAA Class99 for always being there when it matters, especially for alumni, Ogbuefi Nweke, who doubles as chair, Board of Trustees of TJAA, declared Class99 as “pacesetters.”

In her remarks, the Deputy-Governor, Secretariat for TJAA Class99, Mrs Funmi Omoboriowo, aka FunmiFly on Ekofm/Radio Lagos, applauded members of the class for always being their brothers and sisters keeper and enjoined them to keep it up.

She pointed out that there are lots of positive energies to draw from one another.

In his address, chairman of the occasion, the Managing Editor, JournalNG, Malam Ismail Aniemu, appreciated the opportunity to preside over the 2025 edition of the TJAA Class99 Thanksgiving GetTogether.

Aniemu also applauded TJAA Class99 for keeping the flag of the class flying as well as that of its parent body, Times Journalism Alumni Association (TJAA).

“… I wish everyone a blessed 2025. May God be with us all,” Aniemu said.

The special guest at the occasion and former President, Students Union Government (SUG 2002), Lolo Nkem Nweke gave kudos to TJAA Class99 for remaining together thus far.
She equally called on other classes at TJAA to emulate them, stressing that there are things to learn and relearn when people of like minds come together, especially having shared the four-walls of an institution like Times Journalism Institute (TJI) together.

In her remarks, the chairperson of 2025 TJAA Class99 Thanksgiving GetTogether, Chief Mrs Folashade Azeez, expressed thanks to all members of Class99 for their commitment and love.

She equally singled out the 2025 Local Organising Committee (LOC) members for commendation, while pledging more improvement in the organisation and execution of their future activities.

Members were later feted as they danced to unwind and network.

Loan controversy:  Onasanya’s lawyer condemns media trial, demands summons in court as Judge adjourns case to February 13

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

In line with his resolve to defend himself and clear his name, Dr. Bisi Onasanya through his lawyer, Olumide Fusika, SAN, at a session at the Federal High Court Lagos on Monday, January 20, 2025, demanded the service of proof of evidence and summons.

Onasanya, a chartered accountant and a former Group Managing Director of First Bank is defending himself against a controversial loan that allegedly occurred at First Bank 12 years ago. The retired banker is refuting the allegations alongside three others namely former Chairman of the bank, Chief Oba Otudeko, a former board member of Honeywell, Soji Akintayo, and a firm, Anchorage Leisure Ltd.

At a hearing at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday, Fusika condemned the media trial his client had been subjected to, saying he was not formally invited by the EFCC or served a notice of the charge.

He expressed surprise at seeing news stories in major newspapers linking Dr Onasanya to a trial on loan controversy during his time as First Bank Group Managing Director without prior notification. 

“My Lord, it is concerning that my client has been unduly exposed to media trial without being formally served. This is a procedural anomaly that undermines his right to a fair hearing and personal dignity,” Fusika said. 

The prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, denied any involvement by the EFCC in the media coverage of the case.

 He stated that the commission had not issued a press statement and suggested that journalists may have obtained information through other means. 

“My Lord, we disassociate ourselves from any media reports,” Oyedepo said. 

The EFCC also applied for an ex parte motion to issue a bench warrant for the defenders’ arrest and sought permission to serve them through substituted means, alleging they had evaded service.

Fusika opposed the motion, arguing that his client had always been available and had not evaded service. Demonstrating his determination to clear his name, the senior lawyer prayed to the court to have the EFCC serve the charge and the proof of evidence in the open court.

“This application is unwarranted and speculative. My client has neither avoided service nor absented himself from this matter. The claims of the prosecution are baseless. Since I am here and my client is ready to go ahead with this case, I ask to be served the charge and the proof of evidence here in the court,” Fusika argued. 

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, who presided over the case, dismissed the EFCC’s motion for substituted service on Onasanya since he has accepted to be served in the open court. 

The judge consequently ordered that the EFCC serve Fusika the charge and proof of evidence in open court.

The EFCC complied with the directive, and Fusika who confirmed the receipt of the document extracted a confirmation from the prosecution counsel that the proof of evidence submitted is exhaustive and there wouldn’t be an addendum. The defence counsel said EFCC’s confirmation should be on record, insisting that his client was ready to defend himself and clear his name. 

Justice Aneke adjourned the case to February 13, 2025.

It will be recalled that Onasanya, through his Communication Advisor, Mr Michael Osunuyi, had earlier dismissed allegations, describing the claims as baseless and an attempt to tarnish Onasanya’s stellar reputation for professionalism, integrity and humaneness.

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The Nigerian government, through the efforts of the National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, (NFIU) have kick-started an initiative that would ensure the exclusion of the country from the Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List by May 2025.

 This initiative was a directive of the President to the request of the NFIU to develop and implement an Anti-Money Laundering/Counter Financial Terrorism/Counter Proliferation of Firearms Data Management Framework and Platform in collaboration with NITDA.  At the inaugural technical session to kick start the process at the NITDA Headquarters in Abuja yesterday, the NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE disclosed that the technical session meeting would mark a “remarkable mile in the country’s journey to exit from the From the Financial Action Task Force Grey List the nation has been enlisted into since February 2013.  

He said the enlistment of the country into the Grey List was occasioned by seven issues among which are the rising capital inflows into the country, the shortcomings in combating money laundering, the shortcomings in combating arms financing and the shortcomings in combating terrorism financing. 

According to him other factors include “the nation’s deficiencies in anti-money laundering regime, counter-terrorism financing regime and counter arms proliferation financing regime.”

 He noted that the desire of the President to combat corruption and financial crime through innovation and technology necessitated his directive to NITDA to work with NIFU to build a system that would help NFIU to better manage financial data and compliance in the country.  He said, “Today we are kick starting a meeting to start that project that will take us out of the Grey List and build that robust system. The main objective of the system is to help us with global compliance; to help Nigeria position itself as a key player in the global effort to combat financial terrorism and other crimes.

This will help us to create visibility in Nigeria as well as improve our global reputation and relationship in the financial market.” While maintaining that the initiative will help in improving national security because of its capability to see any financial transaction inflow into the country, NITDA boss maintained that it will also help to “track any illicit flow as well as empower us to highlight or identify criminal network in our financial sector.”

Inuwa averred that the system will strengthen the nation’s law enforcement and the economy because it will tame crime in the economy which will encourage investment into the country.  

In her remarks, the NFIU Chief Executive Officer, Barrister Hafsat Abubakar Bakari described the project as a “game changer” because it will not only help the country to exit the grey list as directed by the president but improve the Data Integration Management System for Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism, (AMLCFT.) While acknowledging the introduction of technology in the way things are now being done at the NFIU, she called on Nigerians to support the initiative of not only the exiting of the grey list but to sustain the gains that the country has made from it.  She said, “The Grey List is not just a one-off project, it is a continuous project. The next cycle of evaluation will be done in the year 2027 and we do not want a situation where we exit from the Grey List and another evaluation is conducted by the FITF, and we find ourselves back on the grey list again.” 

Barrister Bakari added that “this is why we have decided that the use of technology will give credibility to every statistic that we have, not just to our domestic stakeholders, but also to our international partners. Everything should be done in real time and accessible, credible, and factual, and that is the project that we are doing today.” While expressing her gratitude to NITDA and the Director General for their contributions to the project and other national service, she noted that she believes in local content initiative and that was why the NFIU made submission to Mr. President that NITDA should drive the process which he “graciously approved.”  “So, congratulations, NITDA, for the confidence that the NFIU has in you, and for the confidence that Mr. President has in you to drive this project,” she noted.

 The Chairman, House Committee on Information and Communication technology and Cyber Security, Honourable Adedeji Olajide who also graced the event assured both NITDA and NFIU of legislative support in their quest to secure the country against illicit financial flow and other vices.

 While acknowledging that it was a welcome development to see the executive and the legislator working together to achieve common goals in our country Honourable Olajide said “You can be sure of it that you have all of the legislative support to get whatever you need done, and we will make sure there are no stumbling blocks in your way.” He said it has become imperative to “change the narrative” and position Nigeria to its rightful place among the comity of nation, adding that he understood all the benefits and values the introduction of technology will bring to NFIU operations.  

He said, “Nigeria is going to take its rightful place as the giant of Africa. We are going to lead the way in cutting-edge technologies to make sure that Nigeria has all of the right people, the right processes, and the right technology to move the country to the next level which is also in line with the agenda of Mr. President Ahmed Bola, who is also a technology person.”  

The objective of the AML/CFT/CPF Data Management Framework/Platform are; to achieve FATF compliance, to enable Nigeria’s removal from the Grey List and restore international confidence, to enhance NFIU’s operational capacity through automation, intelligence integration, and scalability, establish a robust and sustainable framework to ensure long-term operational and financial independence and to position Nigeria as a global leader in financial intelligence and AML/CFT practices, setting benchmarks for other nations The development and implementation of this platform are imperative to addressing the identified gaps, strengthening Nigeria’s financial integrity, and securing its place as a trusted partner in the global financial ecosystem.