The police command in Kebbi says three suspects offered N1.06 million bribe to one of its operatives to obstruct an investigation into alleged banditry by the Lakurawa terror group operating in the region.

In a statement on Tuesday, Nafiu Abubakar, the police spokesperson in Kebbi, said the command’s lead investigator rejected the bribe on Monday.

He noted that the suspects conspired to offer the bribe at the premises of the state criminal investigation department in Gwadangaji, Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.

“On January 13, 2025, at about 1800 hrs, one Umaru Garba ‘m’, aged 53, of Dangandu village, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji Mamman ‘m’, aged 51, of Maimaichi village, both in Arewa LGA, and Usman Muhammadu ‘m’, aged 50, of Bakaramba village in Argungu LGA, conspired and offered the sum of One Million and Sixty Thousand Naira (#1,060,000) to the Command’s lead investigator…,” the statement reads.

“The bribe was intended to compromise the investigation and prosecution of a case of banditry allegedly perpetrated by suspected Lakurawa terrorists operating in the northern part of the state.

“The suspects were immediately arrested, and an investigation is ongoing, after which they will be charged in court for prosecution.”

Abubakar added that Bello Sani, the state’s commissioner of police, commended the detectives for their professionalism and urged other officers to emulate their dedication.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has sanctioned nine deposit money banks (DMB) with fines totalling N1.35 billion for failing to ensure cash availability via automated teller machines (ATM) during the festive season.

The banks include Fidelity Bank, First Bank, Keystone Bank, Union Bank, and Globus Bank.

Others are Providus Bank, Zenith Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), and Sterling Bank.

In a statement on Tuesday, Hakama Sidi Ali, acting director of corporate communications at the CBN, said each bank was fined N150 million following spot checks that revealed noncompliance with the apex bank’s cash distribution guidelines.

Sidi-Ali said the fines will be directly debited from the banks’ accounts with the CBN.

“In a clear message of zero tolerance for cash flow disruptions, the Central Bank of Nigeria has sanctioned Deposit Money Banks for failing to make Naira notes available through automated teller machines, during the yuletide season,” the statement reads.

“Each bank was fined N150m for non-compliance, in line with the CBN’s cash distribution guidelines, following spot checks on their branches.

“The enforcement action follows repeated warnings from the CBN to financial institutions to guarantee seamless cash availability, particularly during periods of high demand.”

She added that the CBN will not hesitate to impose further sanctions on any institution violating its cash circulation guidelines.

The CBN had pledged to intensify monitoring of cash hoarding and rationing at bank branches and point-of-sale terminals.

The regulator said it would collaborate with security agencies to address illegal cash sales and ensure compliance with the daily withdrawal limit of N1.2 million for POS operators.

On November 29, Olayemi Cardoso, governor of CBN, urged bank customers to report any withdrawal challenges via designated phone numbers.

Prior to the directive, the financial regulator had asked banks to prioritise cash disbursement through ATMs or face penalties.

Fire has gutted Focus Holiday Inn, an upmarket hotel in the Garki area of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.

Eyewitnesses said the fire, which began around 3am, started from a section of the building before engulfing the three-storey structure.

Personnel of the fire service are currently trying to put out the fire.

There are no reports of casualties at the time of filing this story.

Fire incidents have become commonplace in the federal capital territory (FCT) lately. On September 25, 2023, a section of the supreme court building went up in flames.

On November 2, 2024, fire razed a telecommunications facility in the Maitama area of the city.

On November 13, a popular fitness centre in Gwarinpa was gutted by fire.

There have also been one too many building collapse incidents in the city.