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The prices of refined petroleum products may rise in the coming days following the increase in the cost of Brent, the global benchmark for crude.
Crude oil is a major commodity that determines the prices of refined petroleum products. On Sunday, the price of Brent reached $79.76 per barrel.
The rise in the cost of the commodity from the $72.88 recorded in December 2024 that fuel prices across Nigerian depots may be impacted.
The increase in Brent price is attributed to geopolitical tensions, particularly sanctions imposed on Russian oil exports. Supply concerns and seasonal demand fluctuations in colder regions have also contributed to the upward trend.
Sources informed our correspondent that several fuel depots began reporting price increases for diesel on Friday, marking the start of a noticeable rise in fuel costs across various regions.
Analysts also suggested that the Brent crude price surge is a major driver, as many Nigerian depot owners rely on imports to meet diesel demand.
The correlation between crude oil prices and refined products is well-established, as Brent serves as a benchmark for global petroleum product pricing.
With the increase in crude oil costs, importers are likely to adjust their prices to cover higher procurement and shipping costs.
Recall that the Federal Government’s oil price benchmark in the 2025 budget estimates is $75 per barrel.
Price data obtained by our correspondent analysing diesel price movements at the loading depot showed that the Nipco depot in Lagos saw an increase of N70 from N1,050 to N1,120 per litre on Friday.
Prudent depot recorded an increase, closing the week at N1,045, compared to an earlier N1,025 per litre.
Commenting on the development, an oil and gas expert, Olatide Jeremiah, said depots are poised to increase the loading price of refined petroleum products on Monday.
Jeremiah, who is the Chief Executive Officer of petroleumprice.ng, said, “It implies that there is a possibility of increased fuel prices, particularly diesel prices.
“As of Friday, when Brent crude neared $80, prices selectively increased in some depots in Lagos, and on Monday, prices might be jacked up by importers because a large chunk of oil marketers import petroleum products and Brent crude is a major determining factor in the refining process.”
Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero has rejected the judgement of the Appeal Court which nullified a Federal High Court order that removed Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.
Bayero on Sunday said he is heading to Supreme Court to challenge the appeal court verdict.
Speaking to newsmen at the Nasarawa Palace of the 15th Emir Of Kano, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba, Aminu Babba DanAgundi, who filed the suit that was struck out by the Appeal Court, said, “Sanusi did not even understand that he has completely lost out in the whole of the cases at hand.
“That is why I expressed regrets over remarks by the 16th Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II, using the Mosque pillar to propagate something that was not true and did not happen at the Appeal Court.
“We initially went to Federal High Court seeking the nullification of the repeal law by the State Assembly, which we felt was done haphazardly.”
DanAgundi further warned Sanusi to stop parading himself as the Emir of Kano.
“The position of Muhammadu Sanusi II that he emerged victorious was wrong, the court said that the Federal High Court has no legal right to hear issues with regards to chieftaincy affairs. But what we went to court for was different.
“We were not arguing on the powers of State Assembly to enact of repeal laws, what we were asking was lack of fair hearing on the 15th Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, that he was removed without given him chance to protect himself.
“The State Assembly didn’t follow the right procedures in repealing the laws,” he added.
He asked the Police and the DSS to stop Sanusi from allegedly moving around with thugs, accusing the Emir of plotting to disrupt peace in Kano.
According to him, Sanusi will not claim victory until the Supreme Court judgement has been given.
“The Attorney General and Speaker of the Kano State Assembly went to court seeking to stop Bayero from parading himself as Emir, but the Appeal Court rejected that position and said that Bayero was not given fair hearing.
“By this it clearly shows that Bayero is still the Emir of Kano.”
Dolapo Bright, a former Special Adviser on Agriculture to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has said that President Bola Tinubu was misled by his advisers that the suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes on the importation of food staples through land and sea borders would reduce inflation.
Bright was a guest on Sunday’s edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television. He said the rise in the cost of diesel and petrol which are essential to the transportation of food items have grossly affected the prices of commodities.
He said, “I don’t think it happened. The person who advised the government to do that, the person is clueless, if you understand what is happening, you won’t give such advice. The person is misleading the president. Do you know why? Let’s assume that you are going to import. Importation is going to be into Lagos. Are you not going to transport the thing to other states? It doesn’t make sense because that is going to make our agriculture stagnant.”
Food and commodity inflation have skyrocketed as Nigerians battle what can pass for the worst cost of living crisis since the country’s independence over six decades ago.
When Tinubu was sworn in as president in May 2023, Nigeria’s inflation rate was 22.41%, according to official numbers by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The inflation rate rose astronomically to 34.6% in November 2024, more than 12% higher, a development that economic wizards have attributed to Tinubu’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of the forex rates.
Significantly, the food inflation rate in November 2024 was 39.93% on a year-on-year basis, from 32.84% recorded in November 2023. The rise in food inflation is attributed to the rate of increase in the average prices of fish, rice, yam flour, millet whole grain, corn flour, egg, milk, milk, frozen chicken, among others.
To stem food inflation, the Tinubu administration in July 2024 announced the suspension of customs duties on imported food items but the policy has reportedly not seen the light of the day due to bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Bright, who was Buhari’s aide on agriculture from 2015 to 2023, said the government has been partly responsible for inflation because the administration is trying to sit on the driver’s side of agriculture instead of allowing the private sector to do so.
He said farmers won’t necessarily need the government’s intervention if the right environment is set for them to make a decent profit.
“A lot of farmers are not producing the capacity they were producing before because of high input costs,” he said, blaming the cost of diesel and petrol which he said significantly affect harvests.
‘Tractors Can’t Solve Output Shortages’
On December 23, 2024, during his maiden chat, Tinubu said he has “over 2,000 tractors coming into this country for mechanised farming” to make farming sexier.
However, Bright said tractors only won’t solve the food shortage problem in Nigeria. He argued that using local labour is job creation for locals and that over 80% of farmers in Nigeria are into subsistence farming.
The former presidential aide said, “When I heard about tractors and all those things, I laughed. The government is not getting it. Tractors won’t solve our problem. Mechanised farming to do what?
“We are having low harvest in terms of poor input, poor seed; we don’t have sovereignty of seeds — all the seeds we use in Nigeria are almost imported. All of these problems are there and we are going to use tractors.
“At the end of the day, what are we going to get? We are going to get peanuts. It is going to be very far from the potential. It is going to give us more problems because no one will be responsible for the maintenance. Corporate farmers can afford to get bank loans but smallholder farmers can’t afford to get bank loans to afford the use of tractors for mechanised farming.”
The former presidential aide said Nigeria can’t afford to be a mass producer of food as the country indirectly feeds neighbouring countries like Niger Republic, Benin, Burkina Faso, and others.
“Agriculture is supposed to be a serious priority of government because it is connected to security. The rural areas, if they are suffering, we are not secure. That is part of the reasons we have banditry, Boko Haram and all. If the people are satisfied, will they follow Boko Haram?” he queried.
A former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo has paid tribute to the late American President Jimmy Carter, recalling how the former US leader visited Nigeria to plead for his release during the reign of military junta leader Sani Abacha.
Obasanjo spoke on Sunday at a memorial service in honour of Carter who died at 100.
“President Carter was one of my foreign friends who stuck their necks out to save my life and to seek my release from prison. On President Carter’s visit to Nigeria, he got Abacha to agree to take me from detention to house arrest on my farm,” Obasanjo said during the event held at the Chapel of Christ the Glorious King within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
“But that did not last for too long. Many other friends and leaders intervened, but President Carter was the only non-African leader, according to my information, that paid a visit to Abacha solely to plead for my release.”
‘I was moved to tears’
The Abacha regime arrested Obasanjo in 1995 owing to an alleged coup plot. However, the former president was released after Abacha’s demise in 1998.
The following year, Obasanjo became Nigeria’s president, elected under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“In the U.S., I called on President Carter, who told me all the efforts he made with other leaders and Abacha remaining unyielding for my release. But the most surprising thing Carter said to me was, ‘Please, see Ted Turner and thank him for his generosity. He came to me and asked me to get his friend, Obasanjo, released from prison.
I will take care of him and his family here or wherever he chooses to live.’ I was touched and moved to tears,” the former president told the gathering, describing the late Carter as his friend whom he will miss.
“For me, I would miss a great and true friend, but I know we shall meet again in Paradise. May his soul rest in peace,” the 87-year-old said.
Obasanjo extolled Carter’s virtues and said the former US president lived an exemplary life of service to humanity.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have nabbed a traditional chief priest of the Igunuko Shrine, Bariu Aliu, in the Alpha Beach area of Ajah, Lagos State.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying Aliu’s arrest followed a three-month manhunt.
Also known as “Malo,” the suspect was arrested after 2,760 kilograms of skunk were recovered from his shrine on October 25, 2024.
Babafemi noted that though two of Bariu’s accomplices had been arrested, charged, and convicted last year, the chief priest was identified as the leader of the drug syndicate operating from the shrine.
“In Lagos, the traditional chief priest of the Igunuko shrine at Alpha Beach, Ajah Lekki, where 2,760 kg of skunk was recovered on October 25, 2024, Bariu Aliu (alias Malo), has been arrested by NDLEA operatives after a three-month manhunt,” the statement read.
“Though two of his accomplices were arrested at the shrine last year and subsequently charged and convicted in court, Bariu was identified as the syndicate leader.”
He also disclosed that operatives intercepted a 40-foot trailer loaded with 2,217.6 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, during an intelligence-led operation in the Kagini area of Kubwa, Abuja.
The agency’s spokesman stated that the drugs were meant for onward distribution to some northern states.
“The intelligence-led operation, which took place at 1:20 a.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2025, led to the seizure of the large illicit consignment, the trailer, six vehicles—comprising a Toyota Van, Toyota Camry, Toyota Sienna, a JAC 4-wheel-drive Hilux, a Toyota Corolla, and a Vento Passat—and the arrest of a suspect, 42-year-old Isaac Monday Desmond.
“The consignment was loaded onto the trailer at Uzebba in the Owan Local Council Area of Edo State,” he stated.
He explained that 20 wraps of cocaine, weighing 330 grams, were intercepted from a cargo shipment bound for Australia at a logistics firm in Lagos. The cocaine was concealed in face cream containers.
Ghana President John Mahama has reduced the country’s ministries from 30 to 23 in a bid to cut government spending.
Mahama’s decision – an executive order – to trim the number of government ministries was contained in a gazette dated January 9 – two days after he took office.
The West African country would no longer have the ministries of information, sanitation and water resources, national security, railway development, parliamentary affairs, public enterprises, and chieftaincy and religious affairs.
The scrapped ministries were in place under Nana Akufo-Addo, immediate-past president of Ghana.
The order established the ministries of finance, health, interior, defence, education, energy and green transition, roads and highways, transport, sports and recreation, justice, lands and natural resources, and local government and chieftaincy and affairs.
Others are foreign affairs, communication, digital technology, environment, science and technology, youth development and empowerment, works, housing and water resources, gender, children and social protection, tourism, culture and creative arts, labour, jobs and employment, food and agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, and trade, agribusiness and industry.
Mahama, who was first in Ghana’s Jubilee House between 2012 and 2017, returned to power after defeating former Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia.
The president polled 6,328,397 votes, representing 56.55 percent of the vote cast, while Bawumia gathered 4,657,304 votes with 41.6 percent.
Bawumia conceded defeat before the official results were announced.
Mahama’s cost-cutting move is in contrast to that of President Bola Tinubu, his Nigerian counterpart, who increased ministries to 48 in 2023 from 44 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Tinubu’s decision has faced widespread criticism as Nigeria struggles with a deepening cost-of-living crisis.
Monday Elela, the father of a 14-year-old boy, Tope Elela, who was allegedly killed and buried has confessed that he killed and buried his son for always engaging in housebreaking, stealing, and other criminal activities.
Elela who lives in Ajowa Akoko in Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State descibed the deceased son as the black sheep of the family among his seven children.
The father and his wife were alleged to have killed the Tope Elela following which they were arrested by police.
Speaking with journalists when being paraded by the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Afolabi at the police headquarters in Akure, Elela disclosed that he buried the boy in a shallow grave under a banana tree behind his house after he gave up the ghost.
“I did not know that the boy would die when I beat him in the night after he escaped from the custody of the State Security Network codename Amotekun,” Elela said.
He added that he usually hand over the late son to Amotekun or vigilante groups whenever he was arrested for stealing or other criminal activities for punishment.
Elela, however noted that his wife took to her heels alongside other children when he got to know about his arrest.
“The deceased had escaped from Amotekun’s detention and was embarrassing the family as a result of criminal activities he engaged in. When he came back, we beat him and went to sleep. The following morning, his siblings discovered that he was dead and I decided to bury him under a banana tree,” he narrated.
Elela was paraded alongside 24 other suspects by the Commissioner of Police for various crimes including murder, cultism, house breaking and stealing.
The CP also paraded those who allegedly took part in the recent cult clashes that left five persons dead in Owo, Owo local government area of the state.
Among those paraded include one Olamide Ogunseyila, a 28 years old man who confessed to being a member of a cult group.
Also, Gbenga Bisi, a 25 years old wife of Steven Dada, also known as “Ogodo,” who is currently on the run was apprehended alongside Gbenga Esther, ‘F’, age 20 years at a hideout where the Police found a double-barrel, cut-to-size gun, two expended cartridges, and additional ammunition.
The CP named others as 61-year-old man, Ijarotimi Taye who was discovered with physical injuries around his body and could not give a satisfactory account of how he got the injuries, raising suspicions about his involvement in criminal activities.
CP Afolabi added that the duo of 30-year-old Bero Adeola, and Olabode Ojo (a.k.a Paw paw), who claimed that his brother’s wife and child were killed in the melee were arrested in their hideout in Akure.
“They both confessed to being cultists belonging to the Aye group and claimed it was the Eiye and Aiye groups that were fighting.
“The suspects claimed they left Owo because of the fight because they did not want to be part of it,” the police CP said.
He further added that Ijalade Olorunfemi, ‘m’, aged 42 years, and Ayodele Olayemi, ’m’, aged 20 years have also been implicated as cultists through ongoing investigations.
“The remaining suspects are currently undergoing thorough interrogation to ascertain their roles in the crisis while the Command is intensifying efforts to apprehend Steven Dada (alias “Ogodo”) and any other individual connected to these criminal activities,” the police commissioner said.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has charged troops to make a difference in the operations against insecurity in 2025.
The CDS charged them to intensify their efforts in combating criminals and to pursue and neutralise threats wherever they may hide.
Gen. Musa gave the directive during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration and award evening for soldiers, ratings, and airmen in Abuja on Sunday.
The CDS stated that there was a need for a more proactive approach in addressing security challenges across the country.
He said, “We are not where we want to be, but we’re heading there, and I can assure you that by working together, we shall overcome all acts of evil.
“Our task is to look for the bad guys and take them down. Is that clear? I’ve encouraged all our commanders, this year, we must make a great difference in all our operations. We must step out of the temple, look for the criminals wherever they enter, and go after them.”
General Musa said military work was no longer all about court martial but to also appreciate excelling officers.
“I choose to say thank you for the job you are doing. We appreciate every one of you. For us, anyone who has signed to put his life on the line for his nation deserves commendation, so we commend all of you.
“I want to tell you that we appreciate everything you are doing, all the sacrifice, leaving your families behind, staying in the trenches, doing so many wonderful things. Most times, we don’t tell you thank you enough, but this is one way of saying thank you and we appreciate you. And to whom much is given, and to tell you that we will do everything possible to ensure that we take care of you, we look after your welfare, that will make you work better.
“So, for those of you here, let me start from this end. So I say congratulations to all of you. We appreciate you. You know in our system, the more you do, the more we want. So this is just the beginning. This is the first time we’re doing this.
“We’re going to maintain this and ensure that every year we commend all those who have done. It is not only to punish people, anything little, to charge him 252 gold for Court Martial. But that if you equally do well, we should also commend you, just like we are commending them,” he stated.
For his part, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, reinforced the importance of the military’s role in ensuring peace and stability.
He reminded troops of their oath to serve the nation with loyalty and resolve.
“We must not lose sight of the oath we took to be dutiful, faithful, and loyal servicemen and women,” Lagbaja said. “We must go wherever lawfully sent—by land, sea, or air. Therefore, we must remain resolute in our fight against terrorism, insurgency, secessionism, and other threats to our collective peace as Nigerians,” Oluyede said.
He also urged personnel to support the government’s efforts to improve the lives of Nigerians, noting that their commitment was crucial to achieving national aspirations.
In his remarks, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, assured personnel of the Navy’s commitment to their welfare and operational efficiency.
“We will continue to prioritise your welfare and provide the necessary equipment to tackle the challenges ahead,” Ogalla stated.
“The Nigerian Navy will also continue to rejig our operations by introducing new assets and improving surveillance capabilities. This will boost the morale of our gallant troops and make it easier for us to overcome the enemy,” he stated.
Ogalla added that the measures would enhance the military’s ability to neutralise threats and turn the tide against criminal elements.
Ibadan Stampede: Oyo Government Files 18-Count Manslaughter Charge Against Naomi, Oriyomi Hamzat and school principal
AFOLABI
The Oyo State Government has filed an 18-count charge, including manslaughter, against Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife; Oriyomi Hamzat, CEO of Agidigbo FM; and Fasasi Abdullahi, Principal of Islamic High School, following the tragic stampede at a Christmas Funfair in Ibadan that claimed the lives of 35 children.
According to a source within the government, the charges were filed in connection with the deadly incident.
“The court will most likely grant bail on Monday, but the state government has filed an 18-count charge of manslaughter and similar offences against the defendants,” the source said.
At the Oyo State High Court on January 7, the defence team argued passionately for the release of the defendants on bail. They cited their cooperation with investigations and the fact that they posed no flight risk.
The defence lawyers also questioned the constitutionality of the defendants’ detention, describing it as a procedural irregularity.
They challenged the “holding charge” under which the accused were remanded, stating that it lacked recognition under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
The Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, led the prosecution team, opposing the bail applications.
Aikomo insisted that the accused had not provided sufficient justification for their release and dismissed claims of persecution by the state government as baseless.
“The gravity of the charges and the need for justice for the victims and their families necessitate the continued detention of the accused persons,” Aikomo argued.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice K.B. Olawoyin reserved his ruling on the bail applications until Monday, January 13, 2025.
The case centers on three defendants:
Naomi Silekunola: Former wife of the Ooni of Ife.
Oriyomi Hamzat: CEO of Agidigbo FM.
Fasasi Abdullahi: Principal of Islamic High School.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has claimed there is no credible evidence to support reports that 16 civilians were killed during an airstrike targeting insurgents in Tungar Kara, Maradun LGA of Zamfara state.
On Sunday, the NAF said the air strikes, conducted under Operation Fansan Yamma on January 10 was a “devastatingly well-coordinated air-ground assault” targeting banditry in the state.
However, reports had emerged from the community alleging that 16 residents, including members of the Zamfara Community Protection Guard (ZCPG) and vigilantes, were mistakenly killed during the operation.
In a report, Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region quoted intelligence sources as saying the vigilantes were misidentified as bandits after gunmen fled the area.
“So far, 16 dead bodies have been retrieved, but the total number of casualties is not yet clear,” the report noted.
NAF: OUR OPERATIONS BASED ON CREDIBLE INTEL
Following an enquiry by TheCable on Sunday, Olusola Akinboyewa, NAF’s director of public relations and information, denied the allegations, stating that the air force employs “every possible measure to prevent, minimise and mitigate harm to civilians in the conduct of operations”.
He added that the reports might be “emanating from terrorists and their sympathisers as a way of discrediting the military with propaganda, seeing they are now increasingly on the receiving end”.
Akinboyewa said there was no credible report of civilian casualties and that the airstrikes were based on reliable intelligence.
“Nevertheless, please remain assured that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) operations against bandits, terrorists and other similar threats are conducted based on credible, reliable intel drawn form multiple verifiable sources and subject to further confirmatory analysis,” he said.
“The air component of Operation Fansan Yamma carried out the airstrikes in question to repel ongoing bandit attacks on villages in the area.
“As of date, we have not received any credible reports of civilian casualties being involved in this instance. As events unfold, members of the public would be kept informed as might become necessary.”
HISTORY OF CONTROVERSY
The incident is not the first time military air strikes have been accused of claiming civilian casualties.
On December 25, 2024, media reports indicated that air strikes targeting the Lakurawa terrorist group in Sokoto state mistakenly killed civilians in the Silame LGA of the state.
The military denied the allegations, with Abubakar Abdullahi, joint media coordinator for Operation Hadarin Daji, saying the strikes were based on thorough intelligence to ensure precision.
However, the Sokoto state government countered the military’s claims, stating that no fewer than 10 civilians were killed when fighter jets “mistakenly” bombed the village.
Muhammad Sifawa, secretary to the state government, announced N20 million and food relief for the victims’ families while assuring coverage of medical bills for the injured.
Two days later, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said the deaths were caused by secondary explosions at a terrorist logistics base.
Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, said, “When munitions hit a logistics base, secondary explosions can occur, causing unintended casualties.”
Vice-President Kashim Shettima later apologised to the affected families, describing the incident as “one of the rare but unfortunate consequences of counter-terrorism operations.”
Over the past decade, at least 19 military airstrikes in Nigeria have “mistakenly” hit civilians instead of the intended terrorist targets.
These incidents have claimed more than 400 lives, injured hundreds, and raised concerns over violations of humanitarian laws which requires minimal harm to civilians during armed conflict.
More...
Armed bandits operating under the leadership of a notorious kingpin, Danisuhu, have reportedly imposed N172.7 million levy on 25 villages in Tsafe West LGA of Zamfara State.
The bandits also demanded for contributions like bags of soybeans while also threatening the residents with violence.
Giving a breakdown of the levy “per village,” security analyst, Zagazola Makama, said: ‘The targeted villages and their respective levies include:Gijinzama: ₦8.5M, Dakolo: ₦5M + 20 bags of soybeans, Gunja: ₦7M, Kauyen Kane: ₦5M, Kurar Mota: ₦6M, Sabon Garin Bakin Gulbi: ₦2.5M, Kibari: ₦3M.
“Karda: ₦5M, Daga Ciki: ₦3M, Biya: ₦5M, Barebari: ₦6M, Kauyen Magaji: ₦7M, Kwaren Maisaje: ₦10M, Magazawa: ₦10M, Maciya: ₦5M, Unguwar Danhalima: ₦5M, Unguwar Rogo: ₦5M, Katanga: ₦5M, Magazu: ₦5M, Sungawa: ₦15M, Rakyabu: ₦15M, Yalwa: ₦2.7M, Tsageru: ₦5M, Gidan Anne: ₦7M, Kunchin Kalgo: ₦20M.”
Makama also reported that several residents of these villages have abandoned their homes, farmlands and livelihoods over the fear of violent reprisals for failing to meet the demands.
“The situation is dire.
“The inability to pay these levies often results in brutal attacks by the bandits, leaving the residents with no option but to flee,” Makama added.
Controversial Nigerian crossdresser, Okuneye Idris, widely recognized as Bobrisky, has made a heartfelt appeal to Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy, urging him to pardon fellow entertainer Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington.
Recalls that Speed Darlington was taken into custody in October 2024 on charges of defamation and cyberstalking involving Burna Boy.
The artist was first apprehended in Lagos and subsequently moved to Abuja, where the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team held him in the Guzape district.
Following his release from police detention, he was re-arrested in November during a performance in Owerri, Imo State, shortly after his return to the country.
However, Bobrisky has appealed to Burna Boy to facilitate Speed Darlington’s release from prison.
In a series of posts shared on his Instagram story on Sunday, Bobrisky voiced his concerns regarding Speed Darlington’s well-being, imploring Burna Boy to extend forgiveness and suggesting that a 45-day prison sentence should be deemed sufficient punishment.
Bobrisky noted that none of those he is advocating for today supported him during his own difficulties.
Nevertheless, he stated that his compassionate nature compelled him to speak out regarding Speed Darlington’s situation.
Additionally, he encouraged fans to consistently provide honest feedback to their favourite celebrities whenever they overstep boundaries.
Bobrisky wrote, “I just want to mind my business this year and stay away from anything involving Nigerian celebrities, but my soft heart won’t stop me from thinking about many things.
“Please, Burna Boy, forgive Speed. Prison is not a nice place. I don’t think he has the money for the VIP section because it’s expensive.
“None of these people I’m using my platform to stand for did the same for me when it was my time. But you know what? Our hearts are different. I can’t stand seeing human beings hurt. I pray, Burna, please release him. Forty-five days in prison is enough punishment.”
He added, “Fans, learn how to tell your favourites the truth when they are crossing the line. You all were applauding Speed when he was saying unpleasant things. Now, none of you is in prison with him.”
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has been accused of financial irregularities by the Auditor-General of the Federation, who claims that the company diverted ₦2.68 trillion and $9.77 million over the past four years.
These allegations come amid widespread criticism of the company’s financial practices, which have negatively impacted Nigeria’s financial standing.
An analysis of the Auditor-General’s annual reports from 2017 to 2021, as reviewed by Sunday PUNCH, revealed significant financial infractions.
In 2017, ₦1.33 trillion was reportedly diverted, followed by ₦681.02 billion in 2019, ₦151.12 billion (and $19.77 million) in 2020, and ₦514 billion in 2021. These infractions reportedly violated provisions of Nigeria’s Constitution and the 2009 Act of Financial Regulations.
The reports, submitted to the National Assembly, accuse the NNPCL of disregarding good corporate governance by failing to provide justification or responses to the Auditor-General’s findings within the review period.
Financial Infractions Highlighted
The NNPCL has faced criticism from organizations like the World Bank, which described it as lacking transparency in financial dealings.
The bank’s Nigeria Development Update for December 2023 noted that the company’s opaqueness extends to subsidy arrears and the impact of subsidy removal on national revenues.
Former Central Bank Governor Sanusi Lamido also criticized the NNPCL, calling it “the most opaque oil company in the world.”
The audit uncovered 14 financial infractions, including unauthorized deductions of ₦1.33 trillion from the federation account, discrepancies in transfers worth ₦663 billion, incomplete information on crude oil allocations, and failure to report crude oil losses. A breakdown of these issues year by year follows:
2017
The NNPCL deducted ₦1.33 trillion from a revenue of ₦2.41 trillion without authorization, leaving only ₦1.07 trillion in the federation account.
This violated Section 162 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates that all federal revenue be paid into a special Federation Account.
2019
In 2019, the Auditor-General identified seven major financial irregularities totaling ₦681.02 billion. The NNPCL reportedly remitted ₦519.92 billion out of ₦1.27 trillion accrued through the National Petroleum Investment Management Services.
Other issues included discrepancies in crude oil allocation data and deductions of $1.278 billion from joint venture royalties without justification.
2020
The Auditor-General flagged ₦151.12 billion in unauthorized deductions during the 2020 financial year. The deductions, allegedly for priority projects and handling costs, lacked evidence of approval or project details.
2021
A review of NNPCL’s SAP payment records revealed that ₦343.64 billion was deducted as operational costs from crude oil sales, with no breakdown provided.
Additionally, ₦50 billion meant for the federation account was reportedly unremitted. Deductions of ₦82.95 billion for refinery rehabilitation were also made without authorization.
Other anomalies included the misreporting of ₦3.75 billion from petrol sales and the diversion of ₦83.66 billion in miscellaneous income into a sinking fund account instead of the federation account, forcing the government to resort to borrowing.
The Auditor-General’s findings highlight significant internal control weaknesses within the NNPCL, raising concerns over the company’s financial management and its implications for the Nigerian economy.
The youth wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has named the son of President Bola Tinubu, Mr Seyi Tinubu, as the Young Person of the Year 2024, saying his contributions to improving the welfare of others and making life meaningful to the less privileged are remarkable.
In a statement by its national youth leader, Dr Dayo Israel, the APC youth wing stated that the philanthropic gestures of Seyi stand him out and qualified him for the award.
According to Israel, when disaster struck Borno State last year, it drew widespread attention and support from Nigeria’s top philanthropists and leaders from captains of industries to political figures, and the city of Maiduguri became a rallying point for collective action.
He said among those that responded, one name stood out for his quiet determination and thoughtful approach and that was Seyi Tinubu.
“Mobilising his network, Seyi brought tangible relief to displaced families, offering both financial assistance and essential supplies. His efforts went beyond charity, embodying a sense of duty and empathy. This was not an isolated act but part of a larger pattern of contributions that began long before his father assumed the presidency.
“I have seen firsthand, Seyi’s consistent and impactful contributions to humanity over the years. Even before his father ascended to the lofty position of Commander-in-Chief, he demonstrated a deep commitment to social good.
“One example is his endless support for monthly food interventions in Lagos communities through FoodClique, which operated in my neighbourhood in Ebute Metta under the leadership of the late Bolajoko. His quiet but effective support has always been a source of inspiration to many,” he said.
Israel noted that Seyi Tinubu has consistently shown a commitment to addressing pressing social needs, often preferring action over docility.