Just In: Former President Muhammadu Buhari passes away in London President Muhammdu Buhari is dead.  His former aide, Bashir Ahmad, announced the passing of the former president on X. He wrote: “The family of the former president has announced the passing on of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a clinic in London. May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus. Amin.” President Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s civilian president from 2015 to 2023 after previously leading the country as a military head of state between 1983 and 1985, was known for his stance on anti-corruption and efforts to stabilise the economy. Further details regarding burial arrangements are expected to be released by the family in accordance with Islamic rites. #latestnews #TrendingNews #fobaminews

FBI Arrests Nigerian ‘Tech Queen’ Sapphire Egemasi in Multi-Million Dollar U.S. Fraud Case Bronx, New York — April 2025 Nigerian programmer and tech enthusiast Sapphire Egemasi, popularly known online as the “Tech Queen,” has been arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over her alleged role in a sophisticated multi-million dollar fraud scheme targeting U.S. government agencies. Egemasi, who previously resided in Cambridge, UK, and Ghana, was taken into custody in Bronx, New York, around April 10, 2025, alongside co-conspirators, including Samuel Kwadwo Osei, believed to be the leader of the syndicate. Details of the Allegations According to a federal grand jury indictment filed in 2024, the group is accused of orchestrating cyber fraud and money laundering activities from September 2021 to February 2023. Investigators say the syndicate defrauded the state of Kentucky out of millions by spoofing government websites to harvest credentials and redirect funds. Egemasi allegedly served as the tech lead, creating the fake websites and supervising the redirection of stolen funds to accounts controlled by the group. Notable transactions include: $965,000 funneled into a PNC Bank account $330,000 transferred to a Bank of America account False Employment Claims & Lavish Lifestyle To obscure the origins of her wealth, Egemasi reportedly misrepresented her professional background, claiming to have held internships at high-profile firms like British Petroleum, H&M, and Zara. Her LinkedIn and other social media accounts portrayed a glamorous lifestyle, featuring vacations in Greece and Portugal, which prosecutors allege were funded by illicit gains. Legal Consequences Egemasi and her co-defendants are currently in federal custody in Lexington, Kentucky, awaiting trial. If convicted, each could face: Up to 20 years in prison Substantial financial penalties Deportation upon completion of their sentence #fobaminews #Nigerianews #fraud #busted

🚨JUST IN Wizkid’s “Morayo” is now No 1️⃣ on Apple Music Ng Top Albums Chart. #musicchart #nigeriamusic #afrobeat #fobaminews

UK Net Migration Falls by Nearly 50% in 2024 Amid Drop in Work and Study Visas The United Kingdom has seen a dramatic decline in #netmigration in 2024, with official figures revealing a nearly 50% drop compared to the previous year. The sharp fall is primarily attributed to a significant reduction in the number of #workvisas and #studyvisas issued to #nonEU nationals. According to data released by the Office for National Statistics (#ONS), net migration fell from 745,000 in 2023 to approximately 380,000 in 2024. This marks one of the most substantial decreases in recent years and reflects the government's tightening of #immigrationpolicies. The fall in migration comes amid the implementation of stricter rules for foreign workers and international students. In particular, new restrictions on student dependents and minimum salary thresholds for skilled workers have contributed to the overall decline. Home Secretary James Cleverly stated that the figures "demonstrate real progress" toward the government’s pledge to reduce immigration and ensure the system is "fair and sustainable." However, critics warn that the sharp decrease may have unintended consequences for sectors heavily reliant on migrant labor, such as #healthcare, #hospitality, and #highereducation. The data continues to fuel ongoing debates about the balance between economic needs and immigration control as the UK shapes its post-Brexit identity. #fobaminews #fobami #viralnews #uknews #immigration #ukvisa

Banks Face 12-Month Deadline as CBN Unveils AI-Driven Anti-Money Laundering Standards In a significant move to strengthen Nigeria’s financial integrity, the Central Bank of Nigeria (#CBN) has introduced a set of #AI-driven Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards, giving all banks a 12-month deadline to fully comply. The new standards, announced this week, mandate financial institutions to integrate #ArtificialIntelligence technologies into their AML frameworks. This marks a pivotal shift from traditional methods, with AI expected to boost the detection of suspicious transactions, reduce false positives, and enhance overall regulatory compliance. According to the CBN, the policy will ensure Nigerian banks align with #global best practices, particularly in combating terrorism financing and illicit financial flows. The initiative is also in line with recommendations from the Financial Action Task Force (#FATF), the global watchdog on money laundering and terrorist financing. “The use of advanced analytics and machine learning will significantly improve the #risk-based approach to monitoring customer activities,” the CBN said in a circular issued to financial institutions. Banks are required to conduct a complete review of their existing AML systems, retrain compliance personnel, and deploy real-time AI monitoring tools by May 2026. Failure to meet the deadline may attract #regulatory sanctions. Industry stakeholders have welcomed the move, though some have raised concerns about the cost and technical expertise required for implementation. However, the CBN has assured banks of technical support and guidance throughout the transition period. This development signals a new era in Nigeria’s financial ecosystem, where #technology and regulation work hand-in-hand to safeguard the system against illicit activities. #fobaminews #fobami #nigeria #nigerianews

85% of Nigerian Foreign Scholarship Students Don’t Return, Minister Laments ABUJA — The Minister of Education has expressed deep concern over the growing trend of Nigerian students who fail to return to the country after benefiting from government-sponsored #foreignScholarships. According to the minister, an alarming 85% of beneficiaries of Nigeria’s overseas scholarship programs choose to remain abroad after completing their studies, rather than coming back to contribute to national development. “It is disheartening that after investing heavily in their #education, many of our scholars refuse to return,” the minister said during a policy dialogue on educational development. “This undermines the purpose of these #scholarship schemes, which is to build capacity for national growth.” The government, he said, is reviewing its scholarship policies to include stricter post-study return clauses and monitoring mechanisms. Discussions are also underway to introduce agreements that would mandate beneficiaries to serve in Nigeria for a specified period after completing their programs. The revelation has sparked debate among education stakeholders and policymakers, with calls for improved local opportunities to encourage #brainGain rather than #brainDrain. Some analysts argue that the lack of adequate infrastructure, employment opportunities, and research funding at home makes it difficult for returning scholars to thrive. The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reversing the trend, noting that building a strong and sustainable educational system requires the contributions of well-trained professionals who understand the country’s unique challenges. #fobaminews #gallerynigeria #nigeriamews

Nigeria's inflation rate eased to 23.71% Nigeria #inflation in April 2025, down from 24.23% in March, according to the #National #Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This marks a continued decline from the 34.80% peak recorded in December 2024, following a rebasing of the Consumer Price #Index (CPI) that updated the base year and adjusted the inflation basket. The #moderation in #inflation is largely attributed to a decrease in food prices, with food inflation dropping to 21.26% in April from 21.79% in March. This decline is linked to reduced prices of staple food items such as #maize flour, wheat grain, dried okro, yam flour, soya beans, rice, bambara beans, and brown beans. Core inflation, which excludes volatile #agricultural produce and energy, also declined to 23.39% year-on-year in April, down from 26.84% in April 2024. On a month-on-month basis, core inflation stood at 1.34%, a decrease from 3.73% in March. #Urban inflation was reported at 24.29% year-on-year in April, a significant drop from 36.00% in April 2024. Month-on-month, urban inflation decreased to 1.18% in April from 3.96% in March. #Rural inflation also saw a decline, standing at 22.83% year-on-year in April compared to 31.64% in April 2024. On a month-on-month basis, rural inflation was 3.56% in April, down from 3.73% in March. The easing of inflation rates is seen as a positive #development for Nigeria's #economy, suggesting that recent #policy measures and favorable base effects are contributing to stabilizing prices. However, sustained efforts are required to maintain this trend and address underlying economic challenges. #fobaminews #nigerianews #

Breaking: Chris Brown Got Arrested The 36-year-old American R\&B singer, was arrested in #Manchester, England, on May 15, 2025, in connection with an alleged #assault that took place in February 2023 at Tape #nightclub in London's Mayfair district. The incident involved music producer Abe Diaw, who claims that Brown struck him multiple times on the head with a Don Julio 1942 tequila bottle, followed by punching and kicking, rendering him unconscious and causing lasting injuries. The Metropolitan #Police confirmed that a 36-year-old man was arrested at a hotel in Manchester shortly after 2:00 a.m. on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm. Brown remains in custody as the #investigation continues. In October 2023, Diaw filed a lawsuit against Brown, alleging severe injury and assault, and seeking $16 million (£12 million) in damages. This arrest comes just weeks before Brown was scheduled to begin his Breezy Bowl XX Tour, celebrating 20 years in the #music #industry, with performances planned in Manchester and other UK cities. Brown has a history of #legal issues, including a 2009 felony assault conviction involving then-girlfriend #Rihanna and a 2017 restraining order obtained by ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran. As of now, Brown's representatives have not publicly commented on the arrest. #globalnews #chrisbrown #fobaminews

Nigeria to Phase Out Electricity Subsidies, Signals Tariff Hike Amid N4 Trillion Debt Crisis Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has announced that the country’s economy can no longer sustain #electricitysubsidies, urging citizens to brace for #costreflectivetariffs. Speaking at a meeting with chairmen of #GeneratingCompanies (GenCos) in Abuja, Adelabu emphasized the need for consumers to pay the true cost of electricity to ensure the sustainability of the #powersector. The Federal Government currently owes GenCos over #N4trillion in unpaid subsidies, a debt that has crippled the sector and threatened nationwide blackouts. “We have to understand that our economy cannot sustain subsidies indefinitely,” Adelabu stated, highlighting the urgency of addressing the liquidity crisis. The debt, comprising N2 trillion in legacy arrears and N1.9 trillion for 2024, has left GenCos struggling to maintain infrastructure and secure loans. According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the real tariff for February 2025 was N116.18 per kilowatt-hour, while consumers paid N88.2 per kilowatt-hour, resulting in a subsidy gap of N27.97 per kilowatt-hour. All customers, except the 15% classified as #BandA, currently benefit from subsidies. Adelabu assured that the government remains committed to providing #targetedsubsidies for economically disadvantaged Nigerians but stressed that “citizens must pay the appropriate price for the energy consumed.” To address the N4 trillion debt, the government plans to pay a substantial portion in cash immediately, with the balance settled through financial instruments like #promissorynotes within six months. “We recognize the urgency of this matter,” Adelabu said, noting that a meeting with President Bola Tinubu and GenCos’ leadership is planned to finalize the payment strategy. The minister also called for #powersectorliberalization and collaboration with GenCos to educate Nigerians on efficient electricity use and tariff realities. However, the proposed tariff hike has sparked concerns among consumers, especially following recent grid collapses, with many questioning the reliability of supply amidst rising costs. This move follows a 35% reduction in electricity subsidies in 2024 after a tariff increase for high-usage consumers, which reduced the government’s tariff shortfall from N3 trillion to N1.9 trillion. As Nigeria grapples with economic challenges, the shift to cost-reflective tariffs aims to stabilize the power sector but may place additional financial strain on households. #Nigeria #ElectricityTariffs #PowerSector #N4TrillionDebt #GenCos #EnergyCrisis #nigerianews #fobaminews

JUST IN: Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has said that the country's #economy can no longer afford to maintain electricity subsidies. He advised #Nigerians to prepare for the introduction of tariffs that reflect the true costs of electricity. #nigerianews #fobaminews

⚡️BREAKING #Iran unveiled the Qassem Basir ballistic #missile with pinpoint accuracy The missile is specifically designed to bypass the US #Thaad defence system ▪️Range: 1,300 km ▪️No use of GPS and immune to electronic warfare ▪️Carbon composite body ▪️Maneuverable warhead ▪️Equipped with optical seeker to sink #warships #globalnews #fobaminews #fobami #viralnews

🚨🏆 OFFICIAL: Harry Kane wins his first major trophy! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #sport #footballnews #fobaminews