Naomi Campbell, the British supermodel, has been banned from serving as a charity trustee in England and Wales for five years.

The UK Charity Commission found that her charity, Fashion for Relief, was “poorly governed and managed financially” by its trustees.

The investigation, conducted from April 2016 to July 2022, revealed that only 8.5% of the funds raised were spent on charitable grants.

Additionally, charity funds were reportedly used for Campbell’s stays in luxurious hotels, spa treatments, and cigarettes.

Campbell responded to the findings in an interview, expressing her concern and claiming she was not aware of these expenses, as she had entrusted the charity’s management to a legal employer. She said, “I was not in control of my charity.”

Veronica Chou and Bianca Hellmich, other trustees, were also sanctioned.

Hellmich was banned for nine years for receiving unauthorized funds, while Chou was banned for four years.

Tim Hopkins, part of the investigation team, stated that Campbell and the other trustees had failed in their legal duties.

Approximately £344,000 has been recovered, and an additional £98,000 of charitable funds has been protected.

The recovered funds were used to make donations to other charities and settle liabilities.

Campbell founded Fashion for Relief in 2005 with the aim of relieving poverty.

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announced that the Federal Government will begin tolling all major roads in the country upon the completion of construction and renovation projects.

During an Inter-Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja, part of activities marking Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary, Umahi mentioned that roads such as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano Road, and Makurdi-9th Mile would be tolled.

Umahi emphasized that tolling would generate significant revenue for the government, adding that private sector involvement is being sought to fund the construction and tolling of these roads.

He said that the Keffi-Makurdi Road would be the first to be tolled, and the Ministry of Works is working with the Ministry of Finance to implement a paperless payment system for tolls.

He assured that enhanced security, solar lighting, and reduced travel times on these roads would increase public confidence and encourage payment of tolls.

Umahi further stated that the current administration, under President Bola Tinubu, has taken a more professional approach to road development, treating it as an investment.

The administration inherited 300 damaged roads and bridges, and new construction projects will begin across the six geopolitical zones starting October 1, 2024.

Jamilu Abdullahi, a bureau de change (BDC) operator in Abuja, has testified in the ongoing trial of Ali Bello, a nephew of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state.

Ali Bello, alongside Abba Daudu, Yakubu Adabenege, and Iyada Sadat, are facing trial on an 18-count charge of money laundering and misappropriation involving over N3 billion.

Abdullahi appeared before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the federal high court in Abuja to provide evidence. According to Dele Oyewale, spokesperson of the EFCC, Abdullahi received “$300,000” in cash from Daudu for the payment of school fees for the former Kogi governor’s children.

The BDC operator stated that the money was transferred to his companies’ accounts—Kunfayakun and E-Traders International Limited—on multiple occasions for school fees payments. Abdullahi said the funds were eventually paid into the account of the “American International School (AIS).”

Abdullahi described how he received the “$300,000” in cash, which was delivered to his office in a black leather bag by a friend of Abba Daudu. Due to a power outage, he was unable to count the money at that moment, but later confirmed the sum and forwarded receipts of “$75,000,” four times, to Daudu.

The payments, according to Abdullahi, were for the school fees of one of Yahaya Bello’s daughters, “Naima Ohunene Bello.”

Abdullahi also testified that he received money in installments from the former Kogi governor, including sums of “N100 million,” “N400 million,” “N35 million,” and “N90 million” on various dates in December 2021 and February 2022.

After the witness’ testimony, A.M Aliyu, counsel for Ali Bello, requested an adjournment to review the figures presented. The court, presided over by Justice Egwuatu, adjourned the trial to “October 25, 2024,” as well as “November 5 and 6, 2024,” for continuation.