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Car Crushes Arepo Motorcyclists, Kills Three, Driver Flees

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No fewer than three persons have lost their lives and four injured in a fatal accident at Arepo, Ogun State end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The accident, which occurred on Thursday around 12pm, involved a silver Toyota Corolla car with number plate FKJ848FH.

It was gathered that the car driver rammed into some motorcycle riders waiting for passengers at the Arepo Junction.

The motorist, who was travelling from Lagos to Ibadan, Oyo State, was said to have lost control after a tyre burst.

He was also said to have knocked down some commuters attempting to cross the expressway.

It was also gathered that the bodies of the deceased were carried away by police officers and men of the state fire service.

Eyewitnesses said that the driver was unhurt and fled the scene to avoid being lynched.

An eyewitness, who identified herself only as Debbie, said she narrowly escaped death as the vehicle zoomed past her.

She said, “It happened in front of me. I was about to cross the road at that time too. A lady that was beside me even hit her elbow on the side mirror of the car. The next thing I knew was that a man was hit and some bike men were also crushed. The car just cleared everyone in its path. One bike went underneath the car. It was a terrible accident and I am still shaken.”

Another eyewitness, Oluwaseun Emmanuel, stated that three motorcycle riders died.

He said, “The three okada riders died on the spot; their bikes were also crushed. Two of them were Hausas and one was a Yoruba man. Others were rushed to a hospital. I narrowly missed the accident. I just thank God for my life.”

Another eyewitness, Seye, said the casualties could have been reduced if the motorcycle riders heeded advice to stop waiting at the junction.

“They have been warned to stop carrying passengers on the expressway, but they refused,” he stated.

The Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Florence Okpe, in a statement, confirmed that three persons died in the accident.

The statement read, “A fatal crash occurred around 12.30pm on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway around Arepo Bus-Stop.

“A total of eight persons were involved, which comprised seven male adults and one female adult.

“Four persons were injured, one female adult and three male adults. One person was unhurt.

“A total of three persons were killed, all male adults.

“The suspected causes of the multiple crashes were excessive speed which led to the loss of control on the part of the Toyota Corolla car, which ran into the motorcycles at the bus-stop while picking passengers.

“The injured victims were taken to Beachland Hospital, Arepo, for medical attention and ROA Hospital, Arepo.

“Two of the dead bodies were taken by the Hausa community at Arepo for burial and the remaining dead person was taken to Divine Touch Hospital morgue.

“The MTD Police, Warewa, Ogun State, took custody of the crashed car and motorcycles and obstruction cleared off.

“The Sector Commander, FRSC, Ogun State, advised motorists to always obey traffic rules and regulations.”

Credit: The Punch

BIG STORY

JUST IN: CBN Increases Banks Capital Base To N500bn, N200bn For National Commercial Banks

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The capital basis for commercial banks with international permission has been raised to N500 billion by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The policy change was confirmed by Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, CBN’s acting director of corporate communications. in a declaration.

She added that commercial banks with regional authorization are expected to reach a capital floor of N50 billion, while those with national authority must meet a ceiling of N200 billion.

Announced on Thursday, March 28, 2024, this comprehensive financial reform requires significant increases in banks’ minimum capital bases, which vary depending on the size of the bank.

The latest policy directive specifies that commercial banks with international authorization are now required to shore up their capital base to N500 billion.

In a bid to tighten the financial fabric, the CBN has not overlooked merchant banks, which are now subject to a N50 billion minimum capital requirement.

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Detained Binance Executive Gambaryan Drags EFCC, NSA To Court

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Tigran Gambaryan, the CEO of Binance who is currently in detention, has claimed that he has been violated in his fundamental human rights by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission and Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser.

Gambaryan, in an originating motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/356/24 sought a declaration that his detention and seizure of his international travel passport, contravened Section 35 (1) and (4) of 1999 Constitution.

He urged the court to order the NSA and the EFCC to release him from their custody and return his international travel passport with immediate effect.

Gambaryan also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from further detaining him in relation to any investigation into or demands from Binance.

He also urged the court to order the respondents to issue a public apology to him.

Gambaryan averred that he was in Nigeria alongside fleeing Nadeem Anjarwalla to honour the invitation of the ONSA and EFCC to discuss issues relating to Binance in Nigeria.

Anjarwalla escaped from the guest house where he and Gambaryan were being held

He argued that he had not committed any offence during the meeting, and neither was he informed in writing of any offence he personally committed in Nigeria at any other time.

“The only reason for his detention is because the government is requesting information from Binance and making demands on the company,” he added.

The fleeing Anjarwalla also filed a similar suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/355/24.

At the proceedings on Thursday, T.J. Krukrubo (SAN) appeared for the plaintiffs, while the respondents had no representation.

Krukrubo informed the court that the respondents were served two days ago.

Shortly after that, he announced to the court that he was withdrawing from the matter as counsel for the fleeing Anjarwalla.

He did not give reasons for his withdrawal.

The trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, adjourned the matter till April 8.

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Federal Government To Arraign Binance Executives Over ‘Tax Evasion’ On April 4

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On April 4, the federal authorities will file charges against senior executives of the cryptocurrency company Binance, Tigran Gambaryan, and Nadeem Anjarwalla, for allegedly engaging in “tax evasion.”

Anjarwalla is Binance’s regional manager for Africa, while Gambaryan oversees the company’s compliance with financial crimes.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) charged Binance with a crime on March 25th for “tax evasion.”

The service claims that the action is intended to maintain national economic integrity and fiscal discipline.

The lawsuit, designated as suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/115/2024, is said to “implicate Binance with a four-count tax evasion accusation”.

However, on Thursday, NAN reported the federal government will charge the three defendants before Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, at the federal high court (FHC) in Abuja on a four-count charge.

Despite not being a vacation judge, according to the report, the chief judge granted the fiat for the judge to oversee the case during vacation because it is a matter of critical national interest.

The lawsuit comes a month after Anjarwalla and Gambaryan were detained by the Nigerian authorities.

Anjarwalla and Gambaryan had flown into Nigeria but had their passports seized by ONSA.

On March 12, Anjarwalla was transferred to a local hospital after he fell ill while in detention in Nigeria.

However, on March 25, Anjarwalla escaped from custody and fled Nigeria with a smuggled passport.

Meanwhile, Gambaryan, on March 28, sued Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA) and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging violation of his fundamental rights.

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