Friends and acquaintances of the late 26-year-old Lagos-based guitarist, Lekan, have raised new concerns regarding the circumstances of his tragic death, claiming that it was the severe beating he endured, rather than suicide, that ultimately led to his passing.

Lekan was found lifeless inside his room after allegedly consuming an insecticide liquid, sniper, following accusations of stealing money from his band leader, Sam Omo-Oba.

While initial reports suggested that Lekan took his own life in the wake of the allegations, his friends believe the brutal torture he faced at the hands of his boss is to blame for his untimely death.

According to a close friend of the deceased, who spoke in a video by a social media personality “Dr. Oyinlomo Diamond”, the beating began late at night and continued throughout the following morning.

A friend of the late guitarist also mentioned that there was no Snipper in the room where Lekan was found dead.

Recall that in a video that circulated on social media, Lekan is seen denying the theft allegations while being repeatedly slapped and punched by Sam Omo-Oba and other members of the band.

Despite the physical assault, Lekan maintained his innocence, but it appeared that the torture only intensified after his refusal to confess.

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The federal executive council (FEC) has approved a $2.2 billion external borrowing plan to strengthen the country’s finances and support economic reforms.

Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, spoke to journalists at the end of the FEC meeting on Thursday, presided over by President Bola Tinubu.

The minister said the financing package will be raised through a combination of eurobonds and sukuk.

He said approximately $1.7 billion is expected from the eurobond offer and $500 million from the sukuk financing.

The minister disclosed that the borrowing would happen this fiscal year, stressing that the ultimate funding arrangement would be decided by market conditions and the transaction adviser’s counsel.

“The first objective is to complete the federal government’s external borrowing programme with the approval of the $2.2 billion financing package, which will include access to the international capital market through a combination of Eurobonds and Sukuk bonds —approximately $1.7 billion from the Eurobond offer and $500 million from Sukuk financing,” Edun said.

“The actual composition of the financing will be finalised once the national assembly has considered and approved the borrowing plan.

“After the external borrowing approval is granted, the funds will be raised as soon as possible within the year.

“The exact combination of instruments will depend on the advice of transaction advisers and market conditions when we decide to enter the market.

“Earlier in the year, we demonstrated the resilience of the Nigerian financial markets and their capacity to handle more complex and sophisticated offerings, such as the domestic issuance of dollar bonds that attracted investors from both Nigeria and abroad.”

Edun said the success of the domestic dollar bond demonstrates the Nigerian financial market’s tenacity.

He said the most recent overseas borrowing was “made possible by the government’s economic agenda, which includes market-based pricing for important economic variables like foreign exchange and petroleum goods.”

The minister said the council also approved the establishment of a N250 billion real estate investment fund with the goal of addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit.

“Approval has been granted for the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) real estate investment fund,” he said.

“This fund will serve as the basis for the revival of long-term mortgage financing in the Nigerian economy.

“The MOFI real estate investment fund will initially amount to N250 billion and will provide low-cost, long-term mortgages to Nigerians who wish to acquire homes. It will help address part of the 22 million-unit housing deficit.

“Of course, it will create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and pave the way for other private sector investors to participate in the housing construction industry, with significant benefits for the broader economy.

“The concept is long-term. Investors will have the opportunity to earn market rates of interest and returns on investment, blended with seed funding of N150 billion.”

Edun said the initiative will provide Nigerians with the opportunity to secure mortgages at interest rates significantly lower than the current market rates, which can exceed 30 percent, with tenures that could extend up to 20 years or more.

The Federal Government on Thursday approved the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework for 2025 – 2027 and Fiscal Strategy Paper.

According to the MTEF, the proposed 2025 budget size is N47.9tn, with new borrowings of N9.22tn, the Minister of the Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, told State House Correspondents after this week’s Federal Executive Council meeting at Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

Bagudu announced, “The Federal Executive Council approved a memorandum by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, which was presented by the Director-General of the Budget Office [Mr Tanimu Yakubu] on the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper for 2025 – 2027.”

The disclosure comes after weeks of delay as President Bola Tinubu prepares to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly, his second since assuming office in May 2023.

The MTEF, a critical tool the FG uses to outline its fiscal strategy over three years, establishes macroeconomic assumptions and targets that guide national budgeting. It also includes projections of key economic variables such as oil prices, exchange rates, inflation, and growth rates.

For the 2025-2027 period, the MTEF sets out parameters, including an oil price benchmark of $75 per barrel, an oil production target of 2.06 million barrels per day, an exchange rate of N1,400 to the US dollar, and a GDP growth rate of 4.6 percent.

The FG’s projected aggregate expenditure for 2025 is N47.9tn, with planned borrowing of N13.8tn, equating to 3.87 percent of GDP.

The minister explained, “For the 2025-2027 period, the MTEF sets out parameters including an oil price benchmark of $75 per barrel for 2025, oil production of 2.06 million barrels a day, as well as an exchange rate of N1400 to the dollar and GDP growth of 4.6 percent.”

“It is expected that for 2025, the Federal Government’s budget estimate, the aggregate expenditure is estimated at N47tn, and this includes a borrowing of N13.8tn, which is 3.87 percent of the estimated GDP.

“The budget size that was approved for presentation to the National Assembly in the MTEF is N47.9tn with new borrowings of N9.22tn to finance the budget deficit in 2025 as well as noting that we need to sustain the commendable market deregulation of petroleum prices and exchange rate, and to compel the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited to lower its oil and gas production cost significantly, and even to consider the need to amend the relevant sections of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 to address the significant risk to Federation.”

“The figures were only for 2025, even though there are projections for 2026 and 2027 in the document, which have different figures for the oil price benchmark for the two years,” he added.

Bagudu said Thursday’s memorandum sought the council’s endorsement of the MTEF for submission to the National Assembly, a requirement under the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.

The MTEF begins with a macroeconomic overview. It notes that despite global economic challenges, the Nigerian economy is on a positive trajectory, showing two consecutive quarters of growth, with a 3.19 percent increase in real terms in the second quarter of 2024, the budget minister explained.

However, he acknowledged the need to combat inflation, strengthen economic resilience, support vulnerable populations, bolster high-employment sectors, improve the business climate, and effectively implement youth and social investment programs.

He revealed that the framework, alongside the FSP, also includes a review of the 2024 budget implementation, highlighting progress in revenue collection and expenditure management, though some targets have fallen short. The report also shows that non-oil revenue streams outperform expectations, Bagudu said.

On the 2024 budget performance, he said, “Actual spending as of August 2024 ending was N16.98tn as against the prorated spending target of N23.37tn at the end.

“Of this amount, N7.41tn was for debt service, and N3.7tn for personnel costs including pension. Further, N3.65tn has been released for capital projects. Most of the delays for capital project release have been earlier legacy issues, in the sense that the new procedure for upload requires a lot of capacity building and delayed uploads.”

N28.75tn was earmarked for the 2024 budget. However, it grew to N35.6tn after amendments by the National Assembly added N6.2tn to the pile.

Responding to queries from journalists, the budget minister said the MTEF would reach the National Assembly on Monday, November 18.

“We are submitting it, I believe, tomorrow [Friday] or, at the latest, on Monday. The office of Mr President will forward the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper to the National Assembly,” he stated.

The minister also argued that despite the late approval for the MTEF, the FG will maintain the January-December budget implementation cycle.

He affirmed, “We are confident because we have built a respectable relationship with the National Assembly. We have narrowed the areas of misunderstanding. And because of that mutual respect, Mr President is very transparent with the National Assembly leadership. And the National Assembly appreciates that openness.

“He [President] has instructed all his teams to ensure we cooperate with the National Assembly. For instance, the team led by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy has been mandated not only to wait but also to engage the National Assembly and answer all questions at the committee hearings.

“So, I’m confident because of this combination of factors. With this cooperation, I believe we’ll see an expeditious consideration, and immediately we are aware of the approval, we will finalize the budget because the MTEF precedes the budget preparation.”