Daily Watch – Binance accuses Nigeria of extortion, Togo President cancels future elections

Gunmen have killed one person and injured another during an attack on the Mai Dabino community in Danmusa Local Council of Katsina State. A woman and many domestic animals were abducted. The Guardian learnt that the terrorists had stormed the community on motorcycles, armed with automatic weapons. A source from the area said the terrorists shot sporadically while breaking into shops and homes, carting away valuables like phones, money and food items. In neighbouring Kaduna State, terrorists attacked the Ambe community in Sanga Local Council, killing six people and leaving eight others hospitalised due to injuries. In Imo, troops of the Nigerian Army in conjunction with personnel of other security agencies have eliminated a notorious Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network commander, known as Ojoto, and two others in an encounter at their camp at Ihiteukwa.

Richard Teng, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Binance, has claimed that some unknown persons sought a bribe of cryptocurrency from its executives, Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, before their detention on 28 February 2024. Teng claimed that the Binance executives tried to engage with Nigerian authorities before they were accused of criminal acts. He said a meeting was set up with the Nigerian government through a committee consisting of about “30 agencies.” However, it was discovered that the committee lacked the actual authority to issue arrest warrants. The CEO stated that on 8 January, some unknown persons approached their employees seeking bribes in cryptocurrency to “make the issues go away.” The CEO said their executives were then invited to meet with the Office of the National Security Adviser, a move Binance believed would help resolve the issues diplomatically.

Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) promises smoother operation from 8 May despite internet challenges on Day 1. The EC’s Director of Electoral Services, Dr Serebour Quaicoe, noted that the commission had equipped its personnel with necessary tools such as turbonets and data, but encountered difficulties as some of these devices failed to function properly in the morning; but by midday, most of the connectivity challenges had been addressed, leading to a significant improvement in the registration process. He, therefore, said: “So for now, everything is working smoothly, so going forward from tomorrow, I don’t think they would have that issue.”

Togolese President, Faure Gnassingbe has signed a controversial new constitution that eliminates presidential elections, a statement from his office has said. It is a move that opponents say will allow him to extend his family’s six-decade-long rule. Under the new constitution, parliament will have the power to choose the president, doing away with direct elections. The election commission last Saturday announced that Gnassingbe’s ruling party had won a majority of seats in the country’s parliament. The new constitution increases presidential terms from five to six years and introduces a single-term limit. However, the almost 20 years that Gnassingbe has already served in office would not count toward that tally. A group of about 20 civil society organisations in Togo have called for protests to defend and reinstate the country’s constitution.