*DSS urges maximum punishment for terrorism

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday reserved judgment in the trial of five men accused of masterminding the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.

This followed the conclusion of final arguments by the prosecution and defence.

Justice Emeka Nwite fixed judgment for a date to be communicated to all parties, stating that notices would be issued once the court was ready, possibly within 24 hours.

The trial, widely seen as a major test of Nigeria’s resolve against terrorism and mass violence, has been vigorously prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS), which urged the court to impose the maximum penalty prescribed by law.
Lead prosecuting counsel, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), in a forceful final address, urged the court to convict the defendants and sentence them to death, stressing that the gravity and brutality of the attack demanded nothing less than the full weight of the law.

Adedipe argued that the prosecution had painstakingly established its case against the defendants through compelling evidence and detailed investigations, which he stressed reflected the determination of security agencies to ensure accountability for one of the deadliest attacks on innocent worshippers in Nigerian history.

Counsel to the defendants, Abdullahi Mohammad, however, urged the court to discharge and acquit his clients, claiming that the prosecution failed to sufficiently prove its charges.

Standing trial for the church attack are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.

The June 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo shocked the nation and drew local and international condemnation.

World leaders, including Pope Francis, United Nations Secretary general, António Guterres, the European Union, as well as the United Kingdom, condemned the attacks. The UN scribe and the Archbishop of Canterbury described the attack as “heinous”

A large section of Nigerians, including then-President Muhammadu Buhari, then- Ondo Governor Rotimi Akerodolu, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, condemmed the attack, demanded justice for the victims and tougher stance against terrorism.
Then- President Buhari declared that “the country shall never give in to evil and wicked people”.

Chairman of NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike on Monday reiterated the Council’s commitment towards empowering Media Practitioners in the Nations Capital through continuous learning, innovation, and exposure to global best practices.

Comrade Ike made the commitment while declaring open one-day capacity training organized by the Council in collaboration with Lifestyle Hues and Adobe Team which was attended by Abuja-based 100 Journalists drawn across public and private media Organisations.

She said: “I believe this training is one of many steps we are taking to ensure that our members remain competitive, relevant, and impactful have evolved and the way we present information must also adapt. This is why trainings like these are not just necessary but essential.

“The ability to design compelling visuals, edit multimedia content, and present stories in engaging formats is now a core part of our profession. Tools like Adobe Express, they are critical instruments for effective communication in digital age.

“The NUJ FCT will remain committed to building the capacity of our members through continuous learning, innovation, and exposure to global best practices. I believe this training is one of many steps we are taking to ensure that our members remain competitive, relevant, and impactful,” she noted.

While thanking managements of Lifestyle Hues and Adobe Express Team for the partnership and willingness to share their expertise, she urged all the Participants to take full advantage of this opportunity by being attentive, ask questions and most importantly, be ready to apply the knowledge gained here in our respective newsrooms and platforms.

In her presentation, the Training Facilitator, Mrs. Ayodotun Akinfenwa of Lifestyle Hues explained that the training was part of the support for her contemporaries in the media community.

She said: “Journalists as much as everybody else, need to understand how to create designs, announcements, how to create presentations and content in the line of their work. And tools like this help them to be independent, enhance their productivity as journalists and news people.

“So for me, doing sessions like this, I love to empower people. I love to give back to my community. So in conjunction with the Adobe Team, I came out here to do this. They were very happy that I’m doing this for my country. Just talking to the Team, they were very supportive. And I’m happy to be here to do this, to support my esteemed Journalists.”

Mrs. Akinfenwa, a seasoned Brand Marketing Consultant and an Adobe Partner and Ambassador explained that the Adobe Express tools when put to use will be boost productivity level of Journalists, content creators who always creating on social media, business owners, among others .

“Journalists need them. And there’s a few, you’ll see some news-related things here today. And some of them should be useful for your own personal endeavors as well, because if you are not online, if you are not showing up online, it’s almost as if you are not doing anything.

“One thing I noticed is that people that are not putting out their content, they are not showing up online, they would not get as much opportunity. Sometimes they have more experience, and they have more knowledge, but because they are not showing up, a lot of times, they don’t get the opportunities that they need,” Mrs. Akinfenwa noted.

While highlighting the importance of the training to practicing Journalists, Mrs. Akinfenwa said: “There’s so much information that needs to be passed out, you know, in order to, so that people can be better citizens. They can go about their business well.

“So things like this will facilitate communication. They will make it very easy for the news people, the Journalists, the writers, to churn out content quickly so that people can easily digest easily. And then things can go, the economy, society, things can go on smoothly because information dissemination is way faster and more effective.

To this end, she urged management of both Public and Private Sectors of Media Owners in Nigeria on the need to “invest in their journalists. The Journalists are huge influencers, culturally, societally, economically, they are huge influencers and so they must be at the cutting edge of tools, communication tools, AI tools. And dissemination tools for publishing, creation and publishing.

“They need to be at the cutting edge. Because at the end of the day, even their media outlets will enjoy and will be set apart because of the way their journalists are, you know, going about it. So they need to re-train and expose their Journalists, their Presenters, their Reporters, their Crew to tools like this.

“I think it’s very key for the publishers of, you know, at media outlets to invest, not only in free or paid trainings, to keep their people at the cutting edge of dissemination,” she stressed.

Participants described the exercise as a welcome development and pray for more training and retraining of members

BY AARON MIKE ODEH

At a time when social media speculation, couple with Artificial Intelligence work and unverified claims are increasingly shaping public perception, one Nigerian fintech institution that has recently become the subject of widespread rumours is OPay. Yet, beyond the sensational narratives being circulated online, verifiable facts, statistics, and institutional realities clearly indicate that OPay remains one of the strongest and fastest-growing digital financial service providers in Nigeria and Africa.

Ironically, despite its enormous economic contributions, many analysts believe OPay remains one of the most under-publicized corporate success stories in Nigeria’s financial technology sector. While the company’s POS network, financial inclusion drive, scholarship programmes, and employment opportunities continue impacting millions of lives daily, public conversations around the brand are often overshadowed by misinformation, controversy, or deliberate false narratives rather than its measurable developmental contributions to society.

More importantly, industry observers believe the company’s growing public confidence and institutional stability have been significantly strengthened through the strategic public engagement efforts of Dr. Maxwell Patrick Uloko, the Vice President, Public and Government Affairs at OPay Nigeria. Since assuming leadership responsibilities in public and government affairs, Dr. Uloko has consistently projected OPay as a responsible, regulation-compliant, and socially responsive financial institution committed to grassroots financial inclusion and national economic development.

Since its official launch in Nigeria in 2018 following Opera’s acquisition of PayCom Nigeria, OPay has evolved from a mobile payment platform into a major financial ecosystem serving millions of Nigerians through money transfers, POS operations, merchant payments, airtime purchases, debit card services, and digital banking solutions. The company was established with the mission of making financial services more inclusive through technology.

Today, OPay’s influence cuts across urban centres and rural communities alike. Reports indicate that the fintech giant supports millions of users nationwide through a vast network of over 500,000 POS agents and merchants operating across Nigeria. These agents have become critical to local economies, especially in underserved rural areas where access to conventional banking infrastructure remains limited. Through this extensive POS ecosystem, countless Nigerians now conduct daily transactions without travelling long distances to commercial bank branches.

A practical example of OPay’s growing grassroots importance can be seen in Otukpa, headquarters of Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, where local traders and residents increasingly depend on digital financial platforms for their daily survival and business activities.

At the popular Edeh Market in Otukpa, Mrs. Ene Oche, a local garri trader, represents thousands of rural market women whose businesses have gradually been transformed through easy-to-use digital transfer services provided by fintech platforms like OPay. According to observations within the market environment, many customers no longer move around with large volumes of cash due to insecurity concerns and the convenience associated with instant digital payments.

For traders like Mrs. Ene Oche, OPay has become more than just a mobile banking application; it now serves as an informal economic lifeline simplifying commercial transactions within the local market. Buyers purchasing garri, beans, vegetables, yam flour, and other food items can now transfer money instantly through nearby POS agents or directly through mobile transfers without delays traditionally associated with cash shortages or banking difficulties.

Residents within Otukpa also increasingly depend on OPay services for school fees payments, hospital bills, contribution levies, transport fares, and emergency family support transfers. In communities where commercial banking infrastructure remains inadequate, digital finance platforms have become practical alternatives helping ordinary citizens participate more effectively within the modern economy.

Market observers note that before the widespread penetration of fintech services, many traders often lost customers or sold goods on credit whenever buyers lacked physical cash. Today, the availability of OPay agents and digital payment channels has significantly improved transaction confidence, reduced financial stress, and strengthened commercial activities even within rural settlements.

Analysts believe this growing grassroots acceptance is partly connected to OPay’s deliberate financial inclusion policies and aggressive community engagement strategy championed by Dr. Maxwell Patrick Uloko. Under his public affairs leadership, the company has increasingly projected itself not merely as an urban fintech institution, but as a people-oriented financial platform accessible to ordinary Nigerians across villages, semi-urban settlements, and local markets nationwide.

The economic impact of this expansion cannot be ignored. OPay’s operations have directly and indirectly created thousands of employment opportunities for Nigerians, including POS operators, customer support personnel, logistics providers, technology professionals, field marketers, and merchant partners. During one of the company’s regulatory engagements, reports indicated that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission acknowledged OPay’s strong Nigerian workforce participation, making it one of the leading employment-driven fintech institutions in the country.

Beyond financial transactions, OPay’s expanding Corporate Social Responsibility programmes have also contributed significantly to its positive public image. The company has invested heavily in education, youth empowerment, digital literacy, and community development initiatives across Nigeria.

One of its most ambitious interventions is the ₦1.2 billion 10-year scholarship programme designed to support Nigerian students in tertiary institutions nationwide. Reports indicate that over ₦126 million has already been disbursed to hundreds of students across several institutions under the programme.

The company’s CSR footprint extends even further. Available reports show that over 11,000 children have benefited from various intervention programmes, more than 40 schools have received educational support, while several communities across Nigeria have benefited from empowerment and digital inclusion projects. OPay also recently introduced the CyberLabs initiative aimed at equipping Nigerian students with practical cybersecurity and digital innovation skills necessary for the evolving global digital economy.

Significantly, OPay’s improving institutional reputation became more visible when the company received the Fintech Company of the Year Award for the second consecutive time at the Leadership Annual Conference and Awards in Abuja. Receiving the award on behalf of the company, Dr. Maxwell Patrick Uloko reaffirmed OPay’s commitment to secure financial services, innovation, customer protection, and economic empowerment.

Critically examining the rumours surrounding OPay, there remains no credible evidence suggesting that the company is preparing to shut down operations in Nigeria. On the contrary, the fintech giant has continued expanding offices, deepening community investments, strengthening customer engagement, and increasing support for educational and empowerment initiatives nationwide.

The danger associated with spreading false and unverified information against major financial institutions cannot be overstated. Rumours capable of triggering public panic could negatively affect rural businesses, weaken investor confidence, disrupt POS operations, and destabilize Nigeria’s broader financial inclusion agenda.

If a company with such extensive grassroots economic impact were unfairly undermined through misinformation campaigns, thousands of Nigerians dependent on its services for daily survival could face serious hardship. Rural traders, students, transport operators, artisans, SMEs, and local market women like Mrs. Ene Oche who rely on OPay’s digital infrastructure would likely be among the hardest affected.

In a developing economy where digital finance is becoming central to national growth, institutions like OPay remain critical economic assets. Constructive criticism, public scrutiny, and regulatory accountability are legitimate necessities. However, deliberate falsehoods and panic-driven narratives against legally operating institutions ultimately damage national economic interests and discourage investment confidence.

Ultimately, facts remain superior to rumours. And the facts available today clearly show that OPay is not collapsing; rather, it is expanding, employing, investing, empowering communities, and strengthening financial inclusion across Nigeria under a leadership structure that continues to prioritize innovation, trust, accessibility, and social impact.

At a time when social media speculation and unverified claims are increasingly shaping public perception, one Nigerian fintech institution that has recently become the subject of widespread rumours is OPay. Yet, beyond the sensational narratives being circulated online, verifiable facts, statistics, and institutional realities clearly indicate that OPay remains one of the strongest and fastest-growing digital financial service providers in Nigeria and Africa.

Ironically, despite its enormous economic contributions, many analysts believe OPay remains one of the most underpublicized corporate success stories in Nigeria’s financial technology sector. While the company’s POS network, financial inclusion drive, scholarship programmes, and employment opportunities continue impacting millions of lives daily, public conversations around the brand are often overshadowed by misinformation, controversy, or deliberate false narratives rather than its measurable developmental contributions to society.

More importantly, industry observers believe the company’s growing public confidence and institutional stability have been significantly strengthened through the strategic public engagement efforts of Dr. Maxwell Patrick Uloko, the Vice President, Public and Government Affairs at OPay Nigeria. Since assuming leadership responsibilities in public and government affairs, Dr. Uloko has consistently projected OPay as a responsible, regulation-compliant, and socially responsive financial institution committed to grassroots financial inclusion and national economic development.

Since its official launch in Nigeria in 2018 following Opera’s acquisition of PayCom Nigeria, OPay has evolved from a mobile payment platform into a major financial ecosystem serving millions of Nigerians through money transfers, POS operations, merchant payments, airtime purchases, debit card services, and digital banking solutions. The company was established with the mission of making financial services more inclusive through technology.

Today, OPay’s influence cuts across urban centres and rural communities alike. Reports indicate that the fintech giant supports millions of users nationwide through a vast network of over 500,000 POS agents and merchants operating across Nigeria. These agents have become critical to local economies, especially in underserved rural areas where access to conventional banking infrastructure remains limited. Through this extensive POS ecosystem, countless Nigerians now conduct daily transactions without travelling long distances to commercial bank branches.

A practical example of OPay’s growing grassroots importance can be seen in Otukpa, headquarters of Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, where local traders and residents increasingly depend on digital financial platforms for their daily survival and business activities.

At the popular Edeh Market in Otukpa, Mrs. Ene Oche, a local garri trader, represents thousands of rural market women whose businesses have gradually been transformed through easy-to-use digital transfer services provided by fintech platforms like OPay. According to observations within the market environment, many customers no longer move around with large volumes of cash due to insecurity concerns and the convenience associated with instant digital payments.

For traders like Mrs. Ene Oche, OPay has become more than just a mobile banking application; it now serves as an informal economic lifeline simplifying commercial transactions within the local market. Buyers purchasing garri, beans, vegetables, yam flour, and other food items can now transfer money instantly through nearby POS agents or directly through mobile transfers without delays traditionally associated with cash shortages or banking difficulties.

Residents within Otukpa also increasingly depend on OPay services for school fees payments, hospital bills, contribution levies, transport fares, and emergency family support transfers. In communities where commercial banking infrastructure remains inadequate, digital finance platforms have become practical alternatives helping ordinary citizens participate more effectively within the modern economy.

Market observers note that before the widespread penetration of fintech services, many traders often lost customers or sold goods on credit whenever buyers lacked physical cash. Today, the availability of OPay agents and digital payment channels has significantly improved transaction confidence, reduced financial stress, and strengthened commercial activities even within rural settlements.

Analysts believe this growing grassroots acceptance is partly connected to OPay’s deliberate financial inclusion policies and aggressive community engagement strategy championed by Dr. Maxwell Patrick Uloko. Under his public affairs leadership, the company has increasingly projected itself not merely as an urban fintech institution, but as a people-oriented financial platform accessible to ordinary Nigerians across villages, semi-urban settlements, and local markets nationwide.

The economic impact of this expansion cannot be ignored. OPay’s operations have directly and indirectly created thousands of employment opportunities for Nigerians, including POS operators, customer support personnel, logistics providers, technology professionals, field marketers, and merchant partners. During one of the company’s regulatory engagements, reports indicated that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission acknowledged OPay’s strong Nigerian workforce participation, making it one of the leading employment-driven fintech institutions in the country.

Beyond financial transactions, OPay’s expanding Corporate Social Responsibility programmes have also contributed significantly to its positive public image. The company has invested heavily in education, youth empowerment, digital literacy, and community development initiatives across Nigeria.

One of its most ambitious interventions is the ₦1.2 billion 10-year scholarship programme designed to support Nigerian students in tertiary institutions nationwide. Reports indicate that over ₦126 million has already been disbursed to hundreds of students across several institutions under the programme.

The company’s CSR footprint extends even further. Available reports show that over 11,000 children have benefited from various intervention programmes, more than 40 schools have received educational support, while several communities across Nigeria have benefited from empowerment and digital inclusion projects. OPay also recently introduced the CyberLabs initiative aimed at equipping Nigerian students with practical cybersecurity and digital innovation skills necessary for the evolving global digital economy.

Significantly, OPay’s improving institutional reputation became more visible when the company received the Fintech Company of the Year Award for the second consecutive time at the Leadership Annual Conference and Awards in Abuja. Receiving the award on behalf of the company, Dr. Maxwell Patrick Uloko reaffirmed OPay’s commitment to secure financial services, innovation, customer protection, and economic empowerment.

Critically examining the rumours surrounding OPay, there remains no credible evidence suggesting that the company is preparing to shut down operations in Nigeria. On the contrary, the fintech giant has continued expanding offices, deepening community investments, strengthening customer engagement, and increasing support for educational and empowerment initiatives nationwide.

The danger associated with spreading false and unverified information against major financial institutions cannot be overstated. Rumours capable of triggering public panic could negatively affect rural businesses, weaken investor confidence, disrupt POS operations, and destabilize Nigeria’s broader financial inclusion agenda.

If a company with such extensive grassroots economic impact were unfairly undermined through misinformation campaigns, thousands of Nigerians dependent on its services for daily survival could face serious hardship. Rural traders, students, transport operators, artisans, SMEs, and local market women like Mrs. Ene Oche who rely on OPay’s digital infrastructure would likely be among the hardest affected.

In a developing economy where digital finance is becoming central to national growth, institutions like OPay remain critical economic assets. Constructive criticism, public scrutiny, and regulatory accountability are legitimate necessities. However, deliberate falsehoods and panic-driven narratives against legally operating institutions ultimately damage national economic interests and discourage investment confidence.

Ultimately, facts remain superior to rumours. And the facts available today clearly show that OPay is not collapsing; rather, it is expanding, employing, investing, empowering communities, and strengthening financial inclusion across Nigeria under a leadership structure that continues to prioritize innovation, trust, accessibility, and social impact.

Aaron Mike Odeh, A Public Affairs Analyst, Capacity Development Expert, Media Consultant and Community Development Advocate wrote from Post Army Housing Estate Kurudu Abuja