The EFCC has warned Nigerians after Stephen Akintayo offered a mentorship programme for $18,000. The agency says the fee may violate Nigerian financial laws.

EFCC Blasts Motivational Speaker for Charging $18,000 Mentorship Fee

EFCC Fumes Over $18,000 Mentorship Fee by Motivational Speaker The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised serious concerns after a motivational speaker, Dr. Stephen Akintayo, advertised a mentorship programme with a fee of $18,000 — approximately ₦30 million.

The controversial offer, shared on Facebook on April 23, 2025, promised 10 exclusive slots for a one-on-one mentorship and access programme. Akintayo stated that participants could pay ₦2.5 million upfront and complete the balance over 12 months. Perks of the programme included access to a “billionaire coaching community” and 45 of his authored books.

The programme flyer contained no bank account details. Interested participants were told to make inquiries via private message.

EFCC Reacts

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale cautioned Nigerians against such offers, describing them as suspicious and potentially exploitative.

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“There is a trace of a Ponzi scheme in that arrangement,” Oyewale said. “People need to be careful about where they put their money.”

He also criticised the dollar pricing. “It is not proper to charge in dollars. One of the campaigns we are doing is against the dollarisation of our economy. For anyone to offer a mentorship programme in dollars is a violation of the laws of the land.”

Mixed Reactions from Nigerians

The announcement sparked heated reactions online.

One Facebook user, Okey Mbah, questioned the logic: “Anyone who can afford that amount doesn’t need mentorship. That money can buy plots of land or yield significant returns in Treasury Bonds.”

Another critic, Francis Njemanze, wrote, “The monetisation is excessive. He once offered me a ‘sponsored’ conference ticket for ₦300k. Now, it’s $18k for mentorship?”

Human rights activist Charles Ogbu was also skeptical: “There’s no proof that anyone became a billionaire just by going through your mentorship.”

Still, some supporters defended Akintayo. Bukat Grills called the fee “affordable compared to the value and network” provided. Another user, Udeme Udeme, said, “No amount is too much for knowledge and access.”

A resource person for the programme, Victoria, defended the initiative, saying, “Dr. Stephen has free and paid mentorships. Sometimes, people only pay attention when they pay.”

A six-month investigation reveals that 578 people were killed by bandits and herdsmen across North Central Nigeria, with Benue and Plateau states accounting for the majority of casualties.

Banditry Crisis: 578 Killed in Six Months Across North Central Nigeria

Banditry Crisis: 578 Killed in Six Months Across North Central Nigeria No fewer than 578 people have been killed by armed bandits, suspected herdsmen, and other criminal groups across Nigeria’s North Central region between November 2024 and April 2025, a Saturday Sun investigation has revealed.

The figure, based on an analysis of media reports from the period, underscores the deepening insecurity in the zone, where mass killings, village raids, and coordinated attacks have become tragically routine.

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Benue State emerged as the worst hit, accounting for 244 deaths — roughly 42 percent of the total fatalities recorded. Plateau State followed with 137 deaths (24 percent), while Nasarawa State recorded 104 fatalities (18 percent).

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Other affected states include Kogi (57 deaths, 10 percent), Niger (29 deaths, five percent), and Kwara (seven deaths, one percent).

While security agencies and state governments have yet to release official casualty figures for the period under review, it is widely believed that several incidents remain unreported, suggesting the actual death toll could be even higher.

Benue: Epicenter of Attacks

Benue State bore the brunt of the violence, suffering over 27 reported attacks between November 2024 and April 24, 2025. The hardest-hit local government areas included Ukum, Logo, Katsina-Ala, Kwande, Otukpo, Guma, and Makurdi.

In November 2024 alone, four major attacks left at least 44 people dead. Christmas Day turned bloody in Kwande, as over 30 residents were killed and thousands displaced.

Although only one fatal attack was recorded in January 2025, February witnessed four attacks with 33 deaths. March saw five violent incidents, including the murder of three hunters in Otukpo and the killing of 16 farmers whose bodies were dumped in River Katsina-Ala.

April 2025 proved especially brutal, with more than 10 separate attacks leaving at least 103 people dead across multiple communities.

Plateau: Rising Casualties Amid Renewed Hostilities

In Plateau State, no major incidents were reported in November 2024. However, violence flared in December, when 15 people were killed in Ganawuri, Riyom Local Government Area.

Three attacks were recorded in March 2025, including the killings of two police officers, a Miyetti Allah leader, and 11 mourners in Bokkos.

The violence escalated sharply in April, with 52 people slaughtered in Bokkos on April 2, and 53 more killed less than two weeks later in Zike Kimakpa, Bassa Local Government Area.

Nasarawa: April Bloodbath

Nasarawa State experienced relatively fewer attacks earlier in the review period. A November 2024 attack left three dead, while February 2025 saw three soldiers ambushed and killed in Katakpa, Toto LGA.

However, the state witnessed a devastating escalation in April 2025, when coordinated attacks across four local government areas — Obi, Awe, Doma, and Keana left 78 people dead.

Kogi: Gradual Rise in Attacks

Kogi State recorded seven deaths in November 2024 and 12 in December. Six people were killed in January 2025, followed by five in February. In March, 15 deaths were reported, and 12 more fatalities occurred in April.

Niger: Isolated but Deadly Incidents

In Niger State, sporadic but deadly attacks were documented. Seven people were killed on November 5, 2024, and a student was murdered on November 11. An improvised explosive device (IED) blast claimed another life in December.

In February 2025, 19 farmers were killed in a single attack on Karaga village, Shiroro LGA, marking the deadliest incident in the state within the period.

Kwara: Minimal but Tragic Losses

Kwara State recorded only one significant attack during the six months under review. On April 21, 2025, bandits attacked communities in Ilesha Baruba and Kemanji, killing seven people and injuring many others.

Despite multiple government interventions, insecurity in Nigeria’s North Central zone continues to escalate, leaving thousands displaced and communities devastated.

Observers warn that unless proactive measures are urgently implemented, the humanitarian and security crisis may worsen ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of 73 properties, including laptops and phones, linked to a Chinese cyber-terrorism syndicate arrested by the EFCC in a major crackdown on internet fraud.

EFCC Secures Forfeiture of 73 Properties from Chinese Cybercrime Syndicate in Lagos

Cyber-Terrorism: Court Orders Interim Forfeiture of 73 Properties Linked to Chinese Suspects in Lagos

Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has granted an interim forfeiture order on 73 properties and items, including 1,596 laptop computers, linked to a group of Chinese nationals allegedly involved in cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

The suspects are said to be part of a syndicate of 792 individuals arrested during a coordinated sting operation known as “Eagle Flush Operation” carried out by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 10, 2024, in Lagos. The group is alleged to have been engaged in cryptocurrency investment scams and online romance fraud.

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The order, granted on Wednesday, April 23, followed an ex parte motion filed by the EFCC on April 17, 2025, through its counsel, B.M. Isah, targeting Genting International Co. as a party in the case.

Items Seized Include:

1,596 laptops/computers

4,091 mobile phones

3,399 Nigerian SIM cards (1,122 MTN, 1,277 Airtel, 684 Glo, 316 9mobile)

350 foreign SIM cards

194 routers

205 sofas

501 bunk beds

754 mattresses

40 refrigerators, 10 microwaves, 13 electric kettles, 21 UPS units, two whiteboards, and six gas cylinders

43 CPUs/monitors, a ring light, two fuel tanks, a transformer

Seven vehicles

411 deep freezers, a network server, a toaster, an air fryer, a blender, and a spiral dough mixer

558 office desks, two television sets, two double-burner stoves, and a dining set

16 inverter batteries and 14 inverters

Three weight scales

The EFCC argued that these items were reasonably suspected to have been used for computer-related fraud and money laundering.

In his ruling, Justice Dipeolu stated, “I have read the motion and the accompanying documents, and I find sufficient merit in the application. Consequently, the motion succeeds and is hereby granted.”

The court further directed that a public notice of the interim forfeiture order be published in a national newspaper. This allows any interested party 14 days to come forward and show cause why the forfeited assets should not be permanently handed over to the Federal Government of Nigeria.