Metro
There Is No Hiding Place for Crooked Officials in this Digital Age
By Joel Popoola
Uganda’s Zoom scandal has proved that there is no hiding place for crooked and corrupt officials in this digital age.
As a digital democracy campaigner I believe African governments must use digital technology to be more open about their activities. Transparency through technology is the most effective way of tackling corruption and building public confidence in our political institutions.
But having government officials film themselves plotting to pocket coronavirus relief funds and then putting the recordings on the internet is taking things too far, even for me.
But that’s what Ugandan government officials appear to have done this week.
Uganda this week recalled its ambassador to Denmark after she and her deputy appeared to be filmed plotting to carve up government cash meant to help with the COVID-19 crisis.
Catching crooks with secret cameras is nothing new – but these recordings were made by the alleged conspirators themselves, who due to COVID-19 social distancing and travel restrictions had to meet using Zoom video conferencing.
Ambassador Nimisha Madhvani and her staff are allegedly heard plotting to share out money meant to help Ugandan citizens stranded overseas, including bribing any auditors uncovering “jumbled funds” at the mission.
“Give yourselves $4000” (1.5m Naira) one official seems to instruct staff.
Clips from the meeting are now being shared widely on social media. The head of Uganda’s foreign ministry has pledged a full investigation and stated “the ministry wishes to express grave concern about the allegations … and takes this matter seriously”.
There is an important lesson for governments here. There is no hiding place for crooked officials in the digital age – so embrace the benefits of being transparent.
Stories like this will be familiar to many Nigerians. Just this week more than one newspaper reported that the case files of 15 high profile individuals facing graft and other criminal charges have “disappeared”. In the same vein, a former petroleum minister is under investigation of corruption offences in the UK. Though over the years, much of her trial has been media based.
In fact, Nigeria, has remained a beehive of recurrent issues of corruption and corrupt practices, and involving high profile officers. While most people were celebrating the clampdown of most supposedly corrupt officers such as former Abia state governor, Orji Uzo Kalu, who was however, released from jail after seven months, on technical grounds, the hunter suddenly became the hunted. In a twist of fate, the boss of the anti-graft outfit, Ibrahim Magu, was cut in his own web. Massive allegations bordering on fraud, theft and money laundering were leveled against. His position was instantly taken away, and he is still a presidential panel of enquiry.
In like manner, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Victor Akpabio, and his co-travellers in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), have remained in the eye of the storm over stealing of the commission’s funds running into billions of naira. That he is still in government says a lot the fight against corruption mantra.
I often think back to a report from the Global Integrity Index which reported that when it comes to aid, many African governments are “adept at engineering laws and institutions to meet foreign donor requirements despite their failure to deliver for ordinary citizens”.
This is what the international community thinks of us. But our own communities have even worse opinions of our democratic institutions. One study reported 72% of Nigerians believe the statement “most politicians are corrupt” describes our country well – and six-in-ten said it described Nigeria “very well.”
Another survey reported that almost half of Nigerians believe corruption cannot be defeated.
This needs to change. Which is why the digital democracy campaign I lead are creating technology to increase political transparency and accountability and making it freely available to all Nigerians.
Our free Rate Your Leader app lets confirmed voters ask direct questions to their local elected leaders and allows them to rate the answers they receive for their neighbours to see.
The app also helps politicians engage directly with the people who elected them building relationships of trust with the electorate.
But it should not be left to enlightened politicians and organisations such as Rate Your Leader to take such actions. We need a co-ordinated national response
People often talk of not wanting to air their dirty laundry in public, but my solution to that is not to dirty your laundry in the first place!
If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear – and everything to gain. And even if governments make mistakes – and everyone makes mistakes! – not only is sunlight is always the best disinfectant, voters respect leader who take responsibility when things do not go to plan.
The good news is Nigeria – whilst still estimated to have lost $400 billion to corruption since independence – has been at the forefront of digitalizing its coronavirus relief payments. Not only do digital payments get the money to the people who need it faster, the payments also leave a secure electronic paper trail proving that the money ended up in the right hands.
There has also been increasing publication of government borrowing, spending and procurement decisions on the Treasury website.
It is important that Nigeria continues with this direction of travel.
This week President Buhari listed building “a system to fight corruption (and) improve governance” as one of his administration’s priorities for the next three years.
The digital publication of government records, made easily accessible and comprehensible to all Nigerians using smartphones, will be key to delivering on that priority.
Joel Popoola is a Nigerian tech entrepreneur and digital democracy campaigner and is creator of the Rate Your Leader app. You can reach Joel on Twitter @JOPopoola
The Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) has opened the year with a strong message of appreciation and renewed partnership, commending its donors and corporate partners for their extraordinary commitment to the security and stability of Lagos State throughout 2025, National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) can report.
In a New Year statement he personally signed and issued on behalf of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the Board of Trustees, Management, and staff of the Fund, the Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, praised donors for going beyond financial contributions to demonstrate trust, shared responsibility, and a deep belief in collective security.
Your contributions, Ogunsan observed, ‘over the past year represented far more than financial support. They reflected trust, shared responsibility, and a collective commitment to safeguarding lives, property, and the economic vitality of Lagos State. With your partnership, the Fund was able to strengthen the capacity of security agencies, enhance operational effectiveness, and respond meaningfully to evolving security needs across the State.’
The Governor deeply values the enduring partnership between the public and private sectors as a model of how collaborative security funding can deliver measurable impact, not only for Lagos which is Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre and West Africa’s economic hub, but for the nation as a whole.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Fund expressed optimism about consolidating gains recorded in the past year, deepening strategic partnerships, and welcoming new donors who share its vision of a secure, resilient, and investor-friendly Lagos State. ‘As we step into 2026, we look forward with optimism – building on the progress achieved, deepening existing partnerships, and welcoming new donors and
partners who share our vision for a secure and resilient Lagos State.’
With emerging security realities demanding innovation and sustained support, LSSTF said continued collaboration will be key to staying ahead of threats. ‘We are confident that, together, we can sustain the gains recorded and respond effectively to emerging security challenges in the year ahead,’ Ogunsan concluded.
Following the fatal crash on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State involving world-renowned boxer, Anthony Joshua and his team, the Zonal Commanding Officer (ZCO) of the FRSC RS2 Lagos Zone, Assistant Corps Marshal, ACM Ann O. Oladayo, on Tuesday conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the accident scene, even as the incident has generated widespread public interest and conflicting reports, the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), can report
Speaking with pressmen during the assessment visit, ACM Oladayo said the inspection was necessary to establish the true facts, noting that some FRSC operatives were already present at the corridor when the crash occurred yesterday. “A lot of reports are out there, but we decided to come for an eyewitness account because some of our operatives were here when it happened. We needed to ascertain what actually occurred,” she said.
According to the FRSC, preliminary findings from eyewitnesses revealed that a trailer conveying soya beans was properly parked off the road, waiting to be offloaded, when a speeding vehicle conveying popular international boxing champion, Anthony Joshua and his friends ran into it. “From what we gathered, the truck was not on the road. It was waiting to be offloaded and was well off the carriageway when the vehicle ran into it,” Oladayo explained.
She dismissed claims that the FRSC failed to respond promptly, stressing that the Corps arrived at the scene within minutes. “Immediately we heard of the incident, we were here in under three minutes. Our priority was rescue. Unfortunately, we lost two lives, but the injured were rescued and taken for medical attention,” she said.
The Zonal Commander added that suspected over-speeding and possible wrongful overtaking were being investigated as likely causes of the crash, noting that the impact force which pulled out the trailer’s tyres suggested excessive speed. “On this highway, the speed limit is 100km/h. From the impact, it is likely that the vehicle exceeded that limit. Investigation is still ongoing,” she stated.
An eyewitness, Yusuf Ajala Oluwaseun, who was at the scene when the crash occurred, blamed persistent speeding along the highway. “We just heard a loud boom. At first, we thought it was a tyre burst. People overspeed a lot on this road. Just last week, an 18-seater bus speeding here hit a man and overturned. FRSC came and rescued the victims,” he said.
Another eyewitness, Sodiq Ayo, confirmed the swift arrival of emergency responders of FRSC and described the moments after the crash. “I heard a sound and came out. People were shouting that someone was still inside the Jeep. When we realised it was Anthony Joshua, everyone gathered, a lot of people were doing video of Anthony Joshua. But before people arrived fully, FRSC came and rescued them,” he recounted.
The FRSC Zonal Commander, Oladayo noted that the damaged trailer has been moved to its facility using a heavy-duty tow truck, while the SUV involved in the crash is currently in the custody of the Ogun State Police Command, as investigations continue. She used the opportunity to caution motorists to plan their journeys properly, avoid over-speeding and reckless overtaking, and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy before travelling.
The Corps reaffirmed its commitment to rapid emergency response and road safety enforcement.
The operatives of Ondo State Security Network Agency aka Amotekun Corps, have arrested 39 suspected terrorists who allegedly fled Sokoto State following the “powerful and deadly” United States airstrikes targeting militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) group in North-western Nigeria.
The Commander of Amotekun Corps in Ondo State, Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this on Tuesday in Akure while parading a total of 61 suspects apprehended across various parts of the State during the Yuletide period.
According to Adeleye, the 39 suspects claimed during interrogation that they escaped from Sokoto State and moved towards the South-West in the aftermath of the airstrikes.
“These 39 suspects themselves claimed they fled from the Sokoto area,” he told journalists.
He said the suspects, aged between 18 and 45 years, are currently undergoing profiling, adding that those found in possession of incriminating materials would be prosecuted according to the law.
Mr Adeleye further revealed that the Amotekun corps has intensified patrols and strengthened collaboration with sister security agencies, particularly along border communities linking Ondo State with Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Edo, and Kwara states.
Giving a breakdown of the arrests, the Amotekun commander said that out of the 61 suspects paraded, 50 were arrested for various breaches of law and order, two for offences related to anti-open grazing laws, six for kidnapping-related crimes, while three were arrested for gender-based violence and rape.
He explained that the ember months patrol would officially end on Tuesday, but assured residents that security operations would not be relaxed, as Operation Le Jade Phase Two is scheduled to commence on January 1.
Adeleye added that the Amotekun Corps has also increased its 24-hour surveillance across the state, with the deployment of Amotekun Rangers to forest reserves.
He attributed the numerous arrests to sustained and coordinated efforts by officers and men of the Amotekun Corps to rid the state of criminal elements.
While commending Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for providing an enabling environment for effective security operations, Adeleye said the state government has continued to support security agencies without hesitation.
He also lauded the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), vigilante groups, and members of the public for their cooperation.
Providing details of some arrests, Adeleye said two suspects – Mustafa (34) and Philip (45) – were apprehended for kidnapping around the Ofosio area of Odigbo Local Government Area.
“In the Isua-Akoko axis, three suspects identified as Idris (18), Ibrahim Abdullahi (20), and Lawal Idris (23) were also arrested for alleged criminal activities.
On rape and assault cases, he disclosed that Daniel Ojo (19), Usman (33), and Bejide (41) were arrested in Isinkan for rape and for assaulting Amotekun officers.
“The corps also arrested suspected armed robbers identified as Ola Tunbosun (30), Ibrahim, and Shahidu in Akure North, Oba-Akoko, and Oba-Ile.
“The suspects were allegedly part of a robbery gang that recently stole a vehicle in Akure, with plans to transport it to Abuja for sale. The stolen vehicle, as well as a taxi reportedly used to rob unsuspecting passengers, were recovered and displayed during the parade,” he said.
Adeleye explained that the gang’s modus operandi involved operating in densely populated areas, picking up passengers, introducing another gang member as an extra passenger, and then using a firearm to dispossess victims of their belongings before pushing them out of the vehicle.
He advised members of the public to remain vigilant, particularly when boarding taxis without proper markings or readable registration numbers.
