Business
FG Commissions Senator George Akume Auditorium in Jos, Strengthens North Central’s Trade Infrastructure
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Dr. George Akume, has been honoured with the naming of a newly constructed international conference hall after him in Jos, Plateau State.
The state-of-the-art facility, known as the Senator George Akume Auditorium, is located within the North Central Zonal Coordinating Office of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council. It was commissioned by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Goshen Yilwada, who was represented by the party’s Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Emma Eneukwu.
Speaking at the event, Professor Yilwada described the project as a visible outcome of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which continues to deliver federal presence and development across all regions of the country.
He commended President Tinubu for his inclusive leadership, noting that both Senator Akume’s appointment as SGF and his own emergence as APC National Chairman underscore the North Central region’s growing strategic importance to Nigeria’s unity and economic growth.
“This auditorium named in honour of Senator George Akume is a fitting tribute to his lifelong dedication to public service and regional empowerment,” Yilwada said. “It stands as a symbol of partnership between government, industry, and the people — showing how purposeful leadership can deliver projects that outlive administrations.”
Yilwada also lauded the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, for expanding the frontiers of the blue economy, and the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, for his visionary leadership.
In his remarks, Senator Akume expressed gratitude for the recognition, describing it as an unexpected honour for his years of service to Nigeria.
“When I was Governor of Benue State for eight years, I never named anything after myself. This came as a surprise, and I receive it with gratitude and humility,” he said.
The SGF emphasized that infrastructure remains a crucial driver of national growth, adding that the Tinubu administration is committed to improving trade and logistics systems to promote economic diversification.
“Infrastructure development is a national priority, not a choice,” Akume stated. “We must continue to build systems that promote ease of doing business, reduce logistics costs, and open new frontiers for trade and investment.”
Delivering the goodwill message of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Permanent Secretary Oloruntola Olufemi praised Senator Akume’s integrity and the Shippers’ Council’s dedication to national development, noting that the project aligns with the president’s vision for inclusive economic growth.
Other dignitaries at the event included Senator Sani Musa, Hon. Abdulsamad Dasuki, and Elder Yahaya Kwande, who all described the project as a major boost to the North Central’s logistics and commerce landscape.
Representing the Plateau State Governor, Deputy Governor Ngo Josephine Piyo congratulated the Shippers’ Council for the achievement and assured of the state government’s partnership to ensure the facility supports local trade and employment.
Earlier, Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to President Tinubu’s blue economy agenda, thanking stakeholders for their collaboration and calling for sustained partnerships to strengthen Nigeria’s export systems.
Traditional leaders and community representatives, including envoys from the Gbong Gwom Jos, also sent goodwill messages applauding the federal government’s focus on inland shipping and commerce in Plateau State.
The commissioning of the Senator George Akume Auditorium marks a key milestone in Nigeria’s drive for inclusive infrastructure development, regional trade integration, and the advancement of the blue economy under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has endorsed a United States dollar 75 million participation by the Federal Government in fintech company Flutterwave, in a move seen as a boost for Nigeria’s digital economy space.
The funding will be channelled via the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) and forms part of Flutterwave’s plan to secure about $250 million through a public share sale.
The African payments company, currently estimated to be worth over $3 billion, reportedly approached the Federal Government in 2025 to take part in the capital-raising exercise as part of efforts to build investor trust and attract state-level confidence.
Prior to approval, authorities commissioned two of the globally recognised “Big Four” audit and advisory firms to scrutinise the company’s books and operations, ensuring full compliance and transparency in the proposed arrangement.
Officials familiar with the development said the decision is aimed at highlighting Nigeria’s tech innovation capacity internationally while opening additional funding channels into the digital sector.
They also noted that the share offering is expected to widen participation, allowing Nigerian investors greater access to ownership in one of Africa’s prominent financial technology firms.
Interest in the deal is already reported to be high, with current shareholders seeking to expand their holdings while new institutional investors position themselves for entry. Market observers believe the offer could attract demand far above expectations, given the company’s expansion trajectory.
The post Tinubu Endorses $75m Flutterwave Deal to Boost Digital Economy appeared first on Business Today NG.
A Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja and presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on Monday, April 20, 2026 admitted nine exhibits against a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami.
The exhibits were presented before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in its ongoing trial of the former Minister and some family members.
The EFCC is prosecuting the defendants on an amended 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities to the tune of N8,713,923,759.49 (Eight Billion, Seven Hundred and Thirteen Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Nine Naira, Forty-Nine Kobo), contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The exhibits, which are documentary in nature, were tendered through the fourth prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, J. S. Okutepa, SAN, the witness told the court that, in the course of his official duties, he received correspondence from the EFCC requesting documents relating to several accounts linked to the defendants and associated entities.
“I work as a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, Maitama branch. My duty includes receiving correspondence from law enforcement agencies and responding accordingly,” he said.
Bata further disclosed that the bank complied with EFCC’s requests by providing both soft and hard copies of documents relating to accounts belonging to the defendants and companies such as Rayhaan Hotels Limited, Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited, Nashab Limited, Golden Age Global Ventures, and Rahamaniyya Properties Limited.
“My lord, the documents are nine,” he stated, confirming his ability to identify them when presented in court.
Upon application by Okutepa, the court admitted the documents, dated between July 19, 2024 and March 12, 2026, as Exhibits D1 to D9, despite an initial objection by defence counsel, J. B. Daudu, SAN, who noted that “the dates are almost all in March.”
Continuing his testimony under further examination by prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, the witness provided details of transactions contained in the exhibits.
He identified Exhibit D1 as containing account opening documents and statements for accounts belonging to Abubakar Malami and A.A. Malami & Co, including a naira account and a dollar account.
According to him, the statement of account for one of the accounts covered the period from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2023.
The witness confirmed that the accounts were active between 2015 and 2023, noting that “there were transfers within that period.”
He further revealed that total credits into one of the accounts stood at N383,637,21.55 between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2023, while total credits from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2015 amounted to N560,506,465.12.
On debits, he stated that N384,322,120.85 was recorded between 2016 and 2023, while N571,891,174.08 was debited between 2012 and 2015.
Giving further breakdown of transactions, the witness told the court that on November 11, 2020, the account received N194,791,608.00 from New Horizons Limited, and on June 24, 2022, it received N622,500,000.00 from Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited.
He added that on July 1 and July 7, 2022, the account received N250 million each from Rayhaan Hotels Limited, while on December 22, 2022, there was an inflow of N500 million linked to Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited.
Continuing in that format, the witness identified so many transactions running into billions.
The post Court Admits Nine Exhibits Against Malami and Family appeared first on Business Today NG.
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