News

UPDATED: EFCC Declares Emefiele’s Wife, Three Others Wanted

Published

2 years ago

February 10, 2024

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared Margaret Emefiele, wife of a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, and three others, wanted for money laundering.

Mrs Emefiele, Mr Eric Odoh, Anita Omoile and her husband, Jonathan Omoile, were declared wanted Friday night for allegedly conspiring with the former CBN Governor “to convert huge sums of money belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria and committed felony to wit: obtaining money by false pretences, and stealing, contrary to and punishable under Sections 411, 287, and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.”

Details of their alleged money laundering offences were revealed by the EFCC in a mugshot portrait of the four suspects late Friday night.

The document reads, “Emefiele, Odoh, Mr and Mrs Omoile, wanted by the EFCC. The quartet of Eric Odoh, Margaret Emefiele, Anita Omoile and Jonathan Omoile, are wanted by the EFCC for offences bothering on economic and financial crimes. Any information on their whereabout? Please contact the nearest EFCC Command or the nearest police Station,.”

An EFCC document entitled “Arrests and Recoveries,” which was earlier obtained by The PUNCH, revealed that the former CBN Governor, Emefiele, is being prosecuted by the EFCC for ₦ 1.8bn and $6.2m fraud.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has for the third time amended the criminal charges it filed against Emefiele.

In the latest amended charge taken before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Thursday, the EFCC accused Emefiele of impersonating the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to illegally obtain $6.2m.

According to the amended charge marked CR/577/2023, Emefiele, on February 8, 2023, connived with one Odoh Ocheme, who is now on the run, to obtain $6.2m from the CBN, claiming that it was requested by the SGF “vide a letter dated 26th January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.”

According to the EFCC, Emefiele allegedly claimed that the SGF requested the CBN to release “a contingent logistic advance in the sum of $6,230,000.00 in line with Mr. President’s directive.”

The EFCC said Emefiele made the claim despite knowing that it was false, “and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

Still in the amended charge, the anti-graft agency alleged that Emefiele, in January 2023, forged a document titled: “Re: Presidential.directive on foreign election observers mission”dated January 26, 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.

Kogi attacks EFCC over N80bn case against Yahaya Bello
He said to have allegedly connived with the fleeing Ocheme to commit the “illegal act to wit: forgery.”

Furthermore, Emefiele was accused of conferring corrupt advantage on his wife, Omoile Margret, and brother In-law, Omoile Macombo, by allegedly awarding a contract for the renovation of a portion of the CBN Governor’s residence in Lagos to the tune of N99.8m.

The anti-graft agency alleged that the contract for the renovation of the CBN Governor’s lodge, located at No. 2 Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, was awarded to a company named Messrs. Architekon Nigeria Limited, “wherein the duo are directors and majority shareholders.”

The EFCC said Emefiele’s alleged action was a violation of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

The amended charge sheet contains a total of 20 counts against Emefiele.

The judge adjourned till Friday for Emefiele to take his plea on the amended charges.

In the original charge filed against him in August 2023, Emefiele was accused of perpetrating procurement fraud to the tune of N6.5bn.

He was then charged alongside a female CBN employee, Sa’adatu Yaro, and her company, April 1616 Investment.

The EFCC later amended the charge by reducing the counts to six, removing the names of Yaro and April 1616 Investment, and reducing the quantum of the alleged procurement fraud to N1.2bn.

Emefiele was arraigned on the second charge on November 29, 2023, and he pleaded not guilty.

The EFCC subsequently opened its trial and had so far called three witnesses before the latest amendment.

News

Minister Suspends Aide Over 2027 Governorship Election Write-up

Published

2 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Editor

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has formally distanced himself from a political article titled “Malagi 2027,” which speculated on potential scenarios ahead of the 2027 Niger State governorship election.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the minister’s office clarified that the article was published without authorization by one of his aides, Sa’idu Enagi, emphasizing that the opinions expressed do not represent Idris’ views or intentions.

“The write-up and all its contents are hereby vehemently disclaimed,” the statement affirmed, urging the public to disregard the publication.

The statement noted that the minister remains fully dedicated to his duties at the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and has no interest in, nor tolerance for political distractions or premature electioneering.

It further stressed that he neither approved nor directed the publication of the write-up.

Following the incident, the minister has ordered an immediate investigation, and the aide responsible has been suspended with immediate effect.

The statement also underscored the cordial and mutually beneficial relationship between the minister and Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, highlighting their joint commitment to the development and stability of the state.

“Speculations about the 2027 elections would be inimical to these noble objectives,” the statement added.

The disclaimer was signed by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant (Media) to the minister.

News

How To Calculate Your Taxable Income

Published

10 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Editor

Contents

Current Personal Income Tax Brackets (2026 Onward)

Personal income tax applies to:

*Residents: on worldwide income

*Non-residents: on Nigeria-sourced income

For employees, tax is usually deducted at source under the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) system.

Current Personal Income Tax Brackets (2026 Onward)

Nigeria operates a progressive tax system, meaning income is taxed in layers. Only the portion of income within each band is taxed at the applicable rate.

Annual Taxable Income (₦)	Tax Rate
First ₦800,000	0%
Next ₦1,400,000 (₦800,001 – ₦3,000,000)	15%
Next ₦9,000,000 (₦3,000,001 – ₦12,000,000)	18%
Next ₦13,000,000 (₦12,000,001 – ₦25,000,000)	21%
Next ₦25,000,000 (₦25,000,001 – ₦50,000,000)	23%
Above ₦50,000,000	25%

Your tax bracket refers to the highest (marginal) rate that applies to any portion of your income.
For example:

₦10 million → 18% bracket

₦60 million → 25% bracket

Steps to Calculate Your Taxable Income

1. Determine Your Gross Income

Add all annual earnings, including:

Salary and wages
Bonuses and allowances
Business or professional income
Rental income and other earnings

2. Subtract Allowable Deductions and Reliefs

These include:

Pension contribution: 8% of salary (employee portion)
National Housing Fund (NHF) (where applicable)
Rent relief: higher of ₦500,000 or 20% of annual rent paid
Other approved deductions (e.g. life insurance premiums, eligible mortgage interest)

Note: The former Consolidated Relief Allowance (CRA) has been abolished.

3. Arrive at Taxable Income

Taxable income = Gross income – deductions and reliefs

4. Apply the Progressive Tax Rates

Tax each portion of income according to the applicable band.

Worked Example

Annual gross salary: ₦15,000,000

Pension (8%): ₦1,200,000
Rent relief: ₦600,000

Taxable income:
₦15,000,000 − ₦1,200,000 − ₦600,000 = ₦13,200,000

Tax Breakdown:

First ₦800,000 @ 0% = ₦0
Next ₦2,200,000 @ 15% = ₦330,000
Next ₦9,000,000 @ 18% = ₦1,620,000
Remaining ₦1,200,000 @ 21% = ₦252,000

Total tax payable: ₦2,202,000
Marginal tax rate: 21%
Effective tax rate: ~16.7%

Important Notes

Low-income earners, including those below the minimum wage threshold, may be fully exempt.
PAYE administration may vary slightly by state.
For exact figures, taxpayers should consult their state internal revenue service or a licensed tax professional.

Source: Tribune

News

Foundation Offers Free Medical Serves To Edo Community

Published

23 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Editor

As part of its campaign against extractive activities and promotion of healthy living in the Niger Delta region, an environmental think-tank organisation — The Ecological Action Advocacy Foundation (TEAAF) on Monday offered free medical services to the people of Gelegele community in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State.

The free medical services which included eye screening, sugar level and BP tests, general medical examination and counseling, etc, saw over 150 people benefitting from the free medical outreach.

The beneficiaries were also offered the appropriate reading eyeglasses and medications as the outcome of their tests required.

In her speech, Project Director, TEAAF, Ann Ajirioghene Offi, said though it was not the first time her organisation is taking free medical services to the community, the need to offer the current free medical services to Gelegele people arise during a dialogue with them where they narrated different health challenges to the representatives of the organisation.

A cross section of beneficiaries of the outreach

Offi, who described Gelegele as a Community of Particular Concern to her organisation, said the health challenges keep increasing by the day as a result of extractive activities, gas flares and negligence.

She said: “We have seen that there are a lot of health challenges in this community, and this is as a result of the location of the community, and the ongoing extractive activities in the community, most especially the gas flares in the heart of the community. The gas flare has resulted in a lot of health challenges in the community, according to our research.

“We felt it’s very vital for us to bring free medical services here going by the health challenges facing the people.

“The challenges keep increasing by the day as a result of negligence. Negligence in the sense that the health centre in the community is not functional as it ought to be, and from my observation, no medical equipment in the clinic to take care of people.”

Eyeglasses display displayed during the medical outreach for distribution.

One of the beneficiaries, Clement Eyenmi, expressed joy and appreciated TEAAF for the free medical services, saying “our people need an organisation as this to come to their aid.”

He lamented that despite his age, he’s already having eye challenges as a result of the gas flares in the heart of the community.

“In this our environment, and personally for me, I have an eye challenge as a result of this gas flaring in the heart of our community. But today, I was attended to; I was given a reading glasses.

“The oil company flares the gas but does not bother about the welfare of the people, or show concern about the environment. This is a major problem we have here.

Medical personnel attending to a beneficiary.

“What this organisation is doing today is what we expect the government and the oil company to do, but they will never do such,” he added.

Also speaking, another beneficiary, Bobby Ikinbor, also appreciated TEAAF for the free medical services, saying “we do not have a standard hospital here, so, today, as this organisation brings this free medical services, it is a relief to us. We appreciate the organisation.”

He added: “You see, at times when we have an emergency health challenge and we try to rush the person to the city, we have to pray because of the bad condition of the road. At times the emergency patient dies before we get to the city.”