The Federal Government, on Monday, said six new companies have received approval to import petroleum products into Nigeria.

The Managing Director of Nigeria Mainstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDRA), Farouk Ahmed made this disclosure to state correspondents at the Presidential Villa.

Farouk stated that apart from the approved six, several companies applied for permit to import petroleum in due course.

Ahmed also debunked insinuation that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had given approval to Dangote Group to import petroleum, saying that the company has no powers to give such approval.

The managing director further noted that there are several companies that applied for fuel importation permit and anyone can apply for importation to get access to the port as the authority is open to all those interested in importing.

Ahmed said, “There are six companies who said they want to import fuel in July. Of course, all the others may import in December in November, or anytime but those who expressed interest to bring in fuel in July there were six of them as of this morning.

“The beauty of it is that there are interests which means that they have been able to have access to foreign exchange in order to import.

“Now, as we go along, of course, we’ll be briefing you on the progress or the achievements so far, but the important thing is that NNPC has 30 days fuel sufficiency, so we do not anticipate any gap in supply or in distribution.”

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has taken steps to stop ship owners from withdrawing their vessels over what they see as excessive back charges.

The Special Adviser to the President on Revenue, Zacchaeus Adedeji, who led government officials in an interactive session with shipping stakeholders at the State House, warned that Nigeria cannot afford not to have vessels move in and out of the country.

Reports had suggested that at least two ship owners said they were keeping their vessels away from Nigeria after a series of multimillion dollar tax bills were sent out, seeking to recover back unpaid duties from 2010 to 2019.

Briefing State House correspondents after a meeting today with stakeholders, Adedeji allayed fears within the oil and gas sector, spelling out the agreement reached to avert vessel withdrawal so as not to disrupt the flow of products.

The presidential aide assured that a technical committee has been set up to resolve the issues in contention.

Former Presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has reacted after President Bola Tinubu approved the immediate retirement of all service chiefs and the inspector-general of police.

Naija News earlier reported that the president also approved the replacement of the comptroller-general of customs.

According to a statement signed by George Akume, secretary-general of the federation, their retirement is with immediate effect.

Reacting to the latest development, Reno Omokri in a post via his social media page, said Tinbu has exhibited the type of courage that has been missing in Aso Rock.

According to him, such action will prompt the military and security services to sit up in their responsibilities.

While applauding the former governor of Lagos State, Reno said he has consigned the 8 years of the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, to the dustbin.

He, however, urged Tinubu to include the southeast in his appointment, irrespective of not getting their votes during the election.

He wrote: “Hurricane Tinubu strikes again. In one fell swoop, he has demonstrated that he is the Commander-in-Chief. This is the type of courage that has been missing in Aso Rock. Now our military and security services will sit up. What a man! Talk about hitting the ground running. No ambiguity about who is in charge.

“In three weeks, he has consigned Buhari’s eight years into the dustbin of history. Well done! Bravo. No matter your shortcomings (and you do have them), no objective observer can deny that you have exceeded everybody’s expectations.

“The only thing I will appeal to the President to do is to find a way to reflect the Southeast commensurately to their population, and not according to the votes they gave him, in his security architecture and government. Inclusion will reduce agitation. That aside, let me add that this is the leadership that Awolowo would have given if Nigeria had given him the chance. I doff my heart to the President.

“Funny enough, President Tinubu is acting the way we expected a former General to act. Unfortunately, the former General we had acted even below what we expected from an inexperienced civilian.”

Former Aviation Minister and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Femi Fani-Kayode, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing new security chiefs.

Naija News reports that Tinubu, through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, announced new Service Chiefs and Inspector-General of Police.

Reacting in a post on Twitter, Fani-Kayode described the security chiefs appointment as the greatest and boldest move by Tinubu.

He noted that with the appointments Nigeria now has security heads that will fight terror and restore sanity.

He wrote: “Greatest & boldest move so far! We now have Service Chiefs, military commanders and an NSA that will fight terror and restore sanity to our land.

“Congrats to all those appointed including the new IGP. Kudos to our President for putting together a formidable security team.”

The newly appointed Officers are: Mallam Nuhu Ribadu National Security Adviser.

Maj. Gen. C.G Musa Chief of Defence Staff.

Maj. Gen. T. A Lagbaja Chief of Army Staff.

Rear Admirral E. A Ogalla Chief of Naval Staff.

AVM H.B Abubakar Chief of Air Staff.

DIG Kayode Egbetokun Acting Inspector-General of Police.

Maj. Gen. EPA Undiandeye Chief of Defense Intelligence.

Tinubu also approved the appointment of Adeniyi Bashir Adewale as the Ag. Comptroller General of Customs.

It is to be noted that the appointed Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and the Comptroller General of Customs are to act in their positions, pending their confirmation in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Kayode Egbetokun as the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP).

The appointment followed the sacking of former IGP Usman Baba on Monday evening, alongside other Service Chiefs.

Egbetokun was Tinubu’s ADC when he was the governor of Lagos State.

We earlier report on the likely successor to Usman Baba, predicted that Egbetokun’s history with the president may give him the edge above other seven DIGs who were potential contenders.

The report published on May 8, predicted the emergence of Egbetokun as the next IGP, even though he is due for retirement in September 2024.

The acting IGP who hails from Egbado South in Ogun State, was born on September 4, 1964.

He was enlisted into the Nigeria Police on March 3, 1990.

The graduate of Mathematics until his appointment as Acting IGP, headed the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID Abuja.

Ibadan Magistrate court has remanded seven Yoruba agitators who invaded Amuludun station of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Moniya in Akinyele local government area at Abolongo Correction Centre, Oyo.

The suspects who are arraigned on a 4 count charge of Conspiracy, treason and two count charge of armed robbery are, Noah Atoyebi, Adeleke Gbenga AbdulGaniyu Mustaoha and Ifagbola Elijah.

Others are; Oladapo Ajala and Rasheed Jimoh.

The suspects were arraigned on a 4-count at Ibadan Magistrate court on Monday but there plea was not taken

Magistrate P.O. Adetuyi ordered them to be remanded to be remanded at Abolongo Correction Centre, Oyo while the case is adjourned to 13th September 2023.

Magistrate Adetuyi stated that the case file would be duplicated and sent to the Director of Public Prosecution for advice

It would be recalled that the suspects had on Sunday, May 28, 2023 hijacked the airwaves of the Amuludun station of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, (FRCN).

They allegedly collected all the valuables including the mobile handsets of the broadcast staff on duty thereby making it impossible for them to communicate with the outside world.

The alleged agitators took over the station and broadcasted live.

The leader of the team, as reliably gathered, headed straight to the broadcast studio and was on air for almost one hour.

The broadcast; “We are being sent to inform the people that Yoruba people have been freed. Henceforth, no more to Police and Army harassment. We are hereby calling for the release of our brothers and sisters that are serving jail term.

“We are neither here to harass nor injure anybody. We are here for peace.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Thursday, June 22, join world leaders in Paris, France, to review and sign a New Global Financial Pact that places vulnerable countries on priority list for support and investment.

The Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Dele Alake, announced this in a statement released on Monday on the first official trip.

The President will be accompanied by members of the Presidential Policy Advisory Council and senior government officials to the summit, following devastating impact of climate change, energy crisis, and after effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The summit, which will be hosted by President Emmanuel Macron of France, will be held at Palais Brongniart.
President Tinubu will participate in the two-day Summit, June 22 and 23, that looks at opportunities to restore fiscal space to countries that face difficult short-term financial challenges, especially the most indebted; mobilize innovative financing for countries vulnerable to climate change; foster development in low-income countries, and encourage investment in “green” infrastructure for the energy transition in emerging and developing economies.

The President and the other global leaders, multilateral institutions, financial experts and economists will take a more holistic look at the recovery of economies from the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, and rising cases of poverty, with a view to providing access to finance and investment that will leverage inclusive growth.

Tinubu will return to Abuja on Saturday.

The Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government and organized Labour reconvened at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.

Naija News reports that they met to look into ways of cushioning the effects of the removal of subsidy on the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake said that steering and technical committees have been set up to help achieve the planned interventions for Nigerians.

He said: “As we promised the last time we met; when labour called off their planned strike, we held a meeting today. We went through all the demands that labour had tabled, that is government and the labour unions last time.

“They said they were going to go back to their executives and make consultations so that we reconvene today. That is exactly what we did.

“At today’s meeting, both parties went through the list and we ticked off the viable ones which are now broken into three categories; those can be given immediate attention, and those that can be achieved in the medium term and long term.”

According to Tinubu’s aide, the newly set up committees would help actualize the dream of providing the interventions to cushion the effects of removal of subsidy.

Alake said: “Work groups have been constituted at today’s meeting. There is a steering committee that will serve as a clearing house and there are other committees comprising both parties; government and labour.

“They will work together very harmoniously and efficiently to arrive at the final resolution of all the demands of labour and what we (government) call interventions.”

The setting up of the steering and technical committees was confirmed by the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajero and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Festus Osifo.

They disclosed that the committees would commence work immediately and complete the assessments within eight weeks.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State has pointed fingers at former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, alleging that he was instrumental in getting the suspended Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, involved in the APC presidential primary.

The party believes this move was designed to disrupt President Bola Tinubu’s ambition.

According to Punch, the allegations were disclosed in a letter to the president titled, “Attempts by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege to scuttle presidential ambition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through recruitment of Mr Godwin Emefiele, anti-Tinubu campaign stance and anti-party activities.”

Key officials of the State APC, including Secretary Michael Inana and Chairmen Tom Onah, Nelson Ogharama, and Michael Orunefe, signed this letter.

The letter stated, “Omo-Agege had plans to issue a party membership card to the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and we objected to his plans. We told him it was not morally right for Emefiele to contest and that it would affect your chances to secure the presidential ticket.”

According to the letter, Omo-Agege insisted on his plan, assuring Emefiele that the Party National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, would assist in getting him the ticket.

However, the Delta delegates were instructed by Omo-Agege to vote against Tinubu at the APC Convention, who he claimed stood no chance against their ‘anointed’.

Despite this, the former Lagos State Governor won the primary. The signatories to the letter suggested that Omo-Agege is yet to forgive those who opposed him.

The letter also accused Omo-Agege of sidelining party faithful and critical stakeholders, especially those not in his camp, during the run-up to the 2023 general elections.

They even claimed that Omo-Agege single-handedly nominated all the candidates in Delta State, and members of his staff were made party officials.

The signatories also alleged that Omo-Agege was involved in a series of anti-party activities, as evidenced by tweets, campaign posters, and video clips.

These activities allegedly resulted in many party chieftains leaving the APC to pursue their political ambitions elsewhere.

Finally, the letter called on the president to investigate the claims raised and to liberate the State APC from Omo-Agege’s alleged control.

When approached for comments, representatives of Omo-Agege declined to comment, and Felix Morka dismissed the allegations as baseless.

INEC Still Withholding Vital Documents - Obi Tells Court

Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate in the February 25 general elections, Peter Obi on Monday, accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of refusing to give them the documents they need to prove their joint petition challenging the declaration of Bola Tinubu as winner of the said election.

At the resumed hearing of the petition, counsel to the petitioners, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) informed the court of their inability to get documents they required in their case from the electoral body in spite of the several letters written to that effect.

“This segment is to formally bring to the notice of the court, the excruciating experience we are having from INEC”, Okutepa said and added that the electoral body released only a few documents to the petitioners on Monday afternoon.

“We have done everything humanly possible, including persuasion and letter writing. We decide to seek the help of the court”, he said and further informed that the petitioners received a few copies of I-ReV reports from a few Local Government Areas of Lagos that were certified on May 29 by INEC which refused to make them available to the petitioners.

“We have consistently written letters to INEC, including the one I wrote personally on May 20 detailing all the documents we wanted”, Okutepa said and told the court that INEC refused service of subpoena from the bailiff of the court.

“This proceeding is time-bound. We have paid for the documents and INEC is supposed to give us the documents that we need. We are crying to your Lordship as we have nowhere to run to. It appears that INEC is deliberately frustrating the proceedings,” Okutepa told the court.

Counsel to INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) disagreed with the submissions of the counsel to the petitioners, adding that petitioners’ counsel did not discuss any issue with him before the commencement of the Monday proceedings.

He said, there is no reason to deny Labour Party any document, saying, there are procedures for obtaining documents from INEC.

“They didn’t want to follow the procedures. Am taken aback with the submissions of Okutepa. We can’t sit here and be hearing lamentation that is unfounded”, he said and noted that he had replied to the letter written to him by the lead counsel to the petitioners, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu (SAN).

Earlier, the petitioners called their 7th witness, Mpeh Clarita Ogar, a cloud engineer and architect, currently working with Amazon Web Services Incorporated.

Led in evidence by Counsel to the petitioners, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), the witness adopted her witness statement on oath deposed to on June 19 at the registry of the court.

A copy of resume of the witness, an appointment letter to the witness by Amazon Web Services Incorporated and six volumes reports of the 33 regions where Amazon Web Services hosts their servers.

According to Ikwueto, the report of the health status of the AWS cloud services in the region showed that there was no technical glitches on February 25, 2023.

The court however admitted the documents as exhibits, despite objections to their admissibility by INEC. Tinubu and APC, who are respondents in the petition marked, CA/PEPC/03/2023.

Justice Haruna Tsammani led five-member panel of Justices of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) sitting in Abuja adjourned till Tuesday, June 20 for cross-examination of the 7th petitioners’ witness and continuation of hearing.

The Ogun State governorship election petition tribunal has struck out an allegation of vote buying levelled against Governor Dapo Abiodun and the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu.

Mr Adebutu is challenging the return of Governor Abiodun as the winner of the 18 March governorship election.

But in their response to the petition, the governor’s lawyers, led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), cited a police report indicting Mr Adebutu and the PDP of vote buying during the elections.

However, in their response, Mr Adebutu and the PDP accused the APC of buying votes in the elections.

But the governor’s lawyers, represented by Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), filed an application asking the tribunal to strike out the petitioner’s reply, saying the petitioner had introduced vote-buying as a new issue and fact while responding to the second respondent’s reply.

According to him, the introduction of new issues/facts in the reply contravenes paragraph 16(1) (a & b) of the Electoral Act and the rules of court pleadings.

Mr Osipitan also argued that some paragraphs in the petitioner’s reply were offensive and prayed the tribunal strike it out for being incompetent.

But the counsel to Mr Adebutu, Goddy Uche (SAN), asked the tribunal to reject the second respondent’s application for lacking in merit, saying it was used as a delay tactic on the petition.

Mr Uche added that Mr Abiodun made the allegation of financial inducement of voters against the petitioner, an issue which he said was not in the petition before the tribunal.

Mr Uche further said the petitioner had merely responded to the opponent’s accusations as contained in reply to the original petition.

He emphasised that the second respondent’s counsel raised the issue out of a ‘blue moon’.

In its unanimous ruling read by its chairman, Hamidu Kunaza, the panel struck out the petitioner’s reply.

The tribunal held that if the petitioner’s reply were allowed would constitute injustice as the second respondent would not have the opportunity to respond to the petitioner’s reply.

“The petitioner’s reply dated May 22, 2023, is hereby struck out,” the tribunal held.

It then adjourned the sitting to Thursday for another ruling.

Speaking to journalists after the ruling, a member of Mr Adebutu’s legal team, Olumuyiwa Obanewa, said the team would study the ruling and decide whether or not to file an appeal.

Mr Obanewa said, “The position of the tribunal is that the reply that we filed to the reply of the second respondent, who is the governor of Ogun State, that the reply raises issues that the second respondent would have no opportunity to respond to, and therefore those issues would not be allowed. The petition is still competent, and the reply filed by respondents is still competent.

“In the reply of the second respondent, they raised the issue of vote-buying, and in our own attempt to respond to those issues, because we believed those issues were new issues that were not contained in our own petition originally, so, if you are now raising the issue of vote-buying and we have the opportunity of also saying that you were also involved in vote-buying, we should be free to bring out those issues.

“But in the ruling, the court didn’t agree with us totally. We will look at the ruling; if there is a need for us to appeal against that ruling, we will do that.”

Also, a lawyer in Mr Abiodun’s legal team, Deji Enisehin, said, “The petitioner tried to bring in some new facts which ordinarily should have been part of the petition while responding to the second respondent’s reply. We objected to that, and the court agreed with us in line with the principle.”