Abdulrasheed Bawa, who previously chaired the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has announced the release of a new book that examines fraudulent activities within Nigeria’s petrol subsidy system.

The book, ‘The Shadow of Loot & Losses: Uncovering Nigeria’s Petroleum Subsidy Fraud’, is being published by Cable Books and will become available on June 5.

Cable Books operates under Cable Media and Publishing Ltd. The nationwide distribution of the book will be handled by Roving Heights Bookstore.

Bawa held the position of EFCC chairman from February 2021 until June 2023.

In his book, he shares insights into how the petrol subsidy program was exploited to divert public funds. These accounts are based on his role as a lead investigator on the EFCC task force that looked into the 2012 subsidy scandal.

He explains that the commission was able to recover billions of naira and bring numerous offenders to justice.

He further describes how widespread corruption made it possible for the fraud to persist over time.

Bawa outlines various fraudulent tactics used, such as ghost imports, inflated invoicing, tampering with bills of lading, circular trading, duplicate claims, and illegal diversion and smuggling.

He states that these actions were made possible by falsified documents, inadequate regulation, and coordinated misconduct between corrupt officials and private companies.

According to Bawa, the book goes beyond documenting fraud; it is also a push for reform and greater accountability in how Nigeria manages public finances.

President Bola Tinubu ended the petrol subsidy scheme on May 29, 2023, during his inauguration speech.

Following the removal, petrol prices surged from N190 to N500 and have since continued rising, now costing over N850.

An unidentified man reportedly fell from one of the upper floors of the 26-storey Cocoa House in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The incident, which caused panic among members of the business community, was said to have taken place early Monday morning.

According to The Punch, witness who spoke under anonymity, said, “When the incident happened, I initially thought it was a large bird falling from the sky.

“It was only when the person landed that I realised it was a human being.

“I had my phone with me but I couldn’t even record anything because I was completely shocked.”

Another witness stated, “The victim first hit a roof beside the security post of the building before landing on the ground. It was a terrifying sight.”

At the time of reporting, details surrounding the tragic event remained unclear as investigations were still ongoing.

Meanwhile, Odu’a Investment Company Limited, the managers of Cocoa House, issued a statement on Tuesday in Ibadan confirming the incident.

Victor Ayetoro, Head of Branding and Communication for the company, who signed the statement, said, “The individual involved was swiftly attended to by the emergency response team and taken to the University College Hospital, Ibadan, for urgent medical attention.

“The company expressed deep concerns over the development and assured the public of its full cooperation with authorities investigating the cause of the fall,” he added.

President Bola Tinubu has awarded Bill Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation, the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).

The presentation took place on Tuesday in Lagos, during an event attended by key government figures including Ali Pate, the coordinating minister of health and social welfare, and Aliko Dangote, president of the Dangote Group, among others.

This honour highlights Gates’ contributions to global health, education, and the fight against poverty, as well as his long-standing collaborations with Nigeria.

Gates is currently visiting Nigeria to hold discussions with President Tinubu and other top officials on reforming the country’s primary healthcare system.

During his stay, he will also attend a Goalkeepers Nigeria event focused on Africa’s innovation prospects, and meet with scientists and partners involved in Nigeria’s national AI strategy and health initiatives.

His trip follows the Gates Foundation’s recent pledge to invest $200 billion over the next two decades to support life-saving and life-improving efforts, particularly throughout Africa.

Over the years, the Gates Foundation has collaborated with African institutions to develop vaccines, enhance health systems, and save lives. Through initiatives like Gavi and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, the foundation has helped save more than 80 million lives.