I have seen fraud happen in minutes, often at a time when most people believe nothing is happening. Anyone who has worked within compliance, anti-money laundering, or financial crime prevention understands this pattern. Fraud does not wait for business hours. In many cases, it deliberately avoids them. Some of the most successful fraud incidents occur late at night or in the early hours of the morning. These are periods when attention is lower, escalation is slower, and operational coverage is limited. In practical terms, this is what it looks like: Dormant accounts suddenly become active around 2 am Funds are…
Author: Editor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Sokoto State Chapter, on Monday held a praise and prayer service for peace in the state and across the nation. The interdenominational event, themed “Jesus Is Alive,” took place at Deeper Life Bible Church, Sokoto, drawing respected clerics and thousands of worshipers who prayed for God’s intervention in Nigeria’s challenges. Addressing the gathering, Sokoto State CAN chairman, Dr. Kayode James Moses, said, “We have come together this Easter to lift our voices in praise and to intercede for peace in our land.” He emphasized that Easter confirms that neither death nor the grave could…
The question of who can rescue Ondo North from its recurring political disappointments has become a familiar refrain in the politics of Ondo State. Election after election, the district appears trapped in a cycle that has delivered little in terms of responsive representation and sustainable development. It is time to break that cycle. The people of Ondo North must begin to think differently about leadership—moving beyond routine choices and entrenched interests to demand a candidate who truly reflects their aspirations at the Senate, often referred to as the Red Chamber. Progress cannot come from repeating the same decisions while expecting…
Nigeria’s external reserves have declined by $850 million within three weeks, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Market participants link the dip to sustained foreign exchange (FX) pressures and increased fiscal activity tied to the election cycle. The reserves dropped from $50.03 billion on March 11, 2026, to $49.18 billion as of April 1, 2026—halting a nine-month growth streak that began in July 2025. Forex traders say the CBN’s continued intervention in the FX market to stabilise the naira is a key driver, as dollar injections typically draw down reserves. Capital flow volatility has also weighed…
Saddiq Mustapha and Mustapha Saddiq, often mistaken for the same person because of their similar names, are, in fact, two bosom friends. Both were classmates in secondary school but later pursued different tertiary-level programs, Mustapha Saddiq in health sciences and Saddiq Mustapha in agricultural sciences. Twelve years ago, they reunited, driven by shared passion, to establish “Katsina Post”—an indefatigable e-newspaper focused on Katsina state in particular and Nigeria in general. Their initiative is inspired by legendary media figures from Katsina, including the late Alhaji Abidina Coomassie (Today Newspaper), the late Alhaji Ismaila Isa Funtua (Democrat Newspaper), the late Major General…
There is something deeply troubling about a lie that refuses to go away—especially when that lie is carefully crafted to divide people along religious lines. The now-viral video claiming that the residence of Matthew Hassan Kukah, along with the Sokoto Catholic Cathedral and a ₦1 billion pastoral centre, was set ablaze by “Islamists” is one such lie. It is false. It has always been false. And yet, it keeps resurfacing—repackaged, reposted, and weaponised. ASHENEWS is pleased that the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto has once again set the record straight. In clear and measured language, the Diocese confirmed that there was…
A 14-year-old female student has reportedly been killed by a stray bullet in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, sparking renewed concerns over public safety and calls for accountability. The tragic incident occurred on Saturday within the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital quarters, where the victim was said to be carrying out routine household activities when she was struck by a bullet. As of the time of filing this report, the source of the gunfire remains unclear. There were no reports of insurgent attacks in the area, and security agencies have yet to provide an official account of what transpired. However,…
The Federal Government has significantly increased its 2026 borrowing plan to ₦29.20 trillion—an ₦11.31 trillion jump from the earlier ₦17.89 trillion projection contained in the 2026 Abridged Budget Call Circular issued in December 2025. The revised figure is captured in the 2026 Appropriation Bill approved by the National Assembly and detailed in the House of Representatives’ Order Paper dated March 31, 2026, as well as the accompanying budget schedules reviewed by Channels Television. Reflecting mounting fiscal pressure, the country’s deficit is now projected at ₦31.46 trillion, up from the earlier estimate of ₦20.12 trillion. Total revenue for 2026 is expected…
INTRODUCTION: The Central Bank of Nigeria began 2026 with measured optimism, delivering a 50-basis-point rate cut in February that reduced the Monetary Policy Rate to 26.5 per cent, the first move to stimulate growth in the economy. That decision according to CBN reflected eleven consecutive months of disinflation, with headline inflation easing to 15.06 per cent in February, food inflation falling sharply, and external reserves climbing to 13-year high of $50.45 billion. However, just as the monetary easing was poised to support domestic demand and consolidate the recovery momentum, renewed geopolitical tensions introduced fresh external risks. The escalation of hostilities…
Justus Olugbenga Daniel has enjoyed the best of two worlds. He started as a consummate businessman, conquering the corporate world, and through this became a major contributor to the technological and economic development of the country via Kresta Laurel, the country’s leading brand in elevators, escalators, and associated engineering configurations, founded by him when he was 34. He thereafter veered into the slippery world of politics. In politics, he has also made his mark, becoming, in the process, a two-term governor of Ogun State between 2003 and 2011, and he was voted into office in 2023 as the Senator representing…