The Kebbi High Court 7, sitting in Birnin Kebbi and presided over by Justice Shamsudeen Jafar, has sentenced three people to life imprisonment for raping an 18-year-old married deaf woman. The convicts are Amiru Sani, Aliyu Umar, and Bashar Dan-Inno of Wararin Zaromawa village.
The Prosecution Counsel, Faridah Muhammad, in her submission, said the convicts, who were facing two counts of criminal conspiracy and rape, perpetrated the acts at Wararin Zaromawa village in Gwandu Local Government Area of the state.
“The defendants broke into the victim’s house while she was asleep and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her. They choked her with a thick piece of cloth and tied her hands with a rope before having carnal knowledge of her one by one,” she said.
The counsel prayed the court to convict the defendants as charged because the law imposed a mandatory sentence. She said criminal conspiracy and rape were offenses punishable under sections 259 and 60 of the Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021.
The prosecution had earlier called three witnesses and tendered six exhibits, including both English and Hausa statements of the three prosecution witnesses, in support of her case.
The Defense Counsel, Ahmed Abubakar-Filgila, called the three convicts to give evidence and testify in their defense without tendering any documents or exhibits. The defense counsel prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.
In his judgment, Justice Jafar said the prosecution had established all the elements of carnal knowledge of the victim (name withheld). He said this was done through the corroborated statement of the victim and the first defendant, and found all their evidence uncontroverted by the defense.
“I am of the firm view that all the defendants conspired in perpetrating the act. Meanwhile, the convicts conspired and raped the victim, who is an 18-year-old deaf woman, at her husband’s residence. All ingredients needed to establish criminal conspiracy to commit rape were established beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution. The court has no option but to act upon the evidence before it,” he said.
The judge stated that the court holds the view that it has found the first, second, and third defendants guilty as charged.
“Having found you guilty of the charge, you Amiru Sani, Aliyu Umar, and Bashar Dan-Inno, are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment for finding all of you guilty under sections 259 and 60 of Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021,” he declared.
Cristiano Ronaldo could join Lionel Messi in the Major League Soccer, MLS, if Peterborough owner Darragh MacAnthony follows through with his plans to buy an American team.
Ronaldo’s current contract at Al-Nassr runs out in the summer of 2025.
And there are speculations over whether the 39-year-old plans to retire or if there is another move left for him.
MacAnthony has now revealed his plans to buy a side in the the United Soccer League, which is below the MLS, with players like Inter Miami’s Messi making the sport in North America more attractive to investors.
“I believe valuations are taking off in the next ten years with the Apple deal with the Messi effect and Cristiano Ronaldo will probably go out there when he’s finished in Saudi Arabia,” MacAnthony told talkSPORT.
“Football will be on the map in America in a big way and I believe if I get a USL club right now for £8-10million, even though it’s not in MLS, that could be worth double or triple in the next five years.”
Embattled American music mogul, Sean Combs, aka Diddy, has been implicated in the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur.
The Bad Boys Records boss is accused of paying $1 million for Shakur’s assassination by suspect Duane “Keefe D” Davis, who was arrested for the murder last year, in new court documents, according to the U.S. Sun.
In the papers filed on Thursday (July 18), Diddy is named 77 times by his various pseudonyms: Puffy, Puff Daddy, Puff and his government name, Sean Combs.
“Defendant [Keefe] has asserted publicly that he only told on himself and wasn’t trying to provide evidence against anyone else in his conversations with police. However, this statement belies this claim, as he suggested that Sean Combs paid Eric Von Martin a million dollars for the killings,” the documents read in part.
In one of the transcripts, Davis reportedly testified to Diddy’s involvement in 2Pac’s murder.
Police asked Davis, “Puffy Combs….Does he play a role in this thing?…” and Davis replied, “Yeah, I think he did.” Davis said Diddy told him and a group of about 45 people how he “would give anything” for Knight’s “head” because he was “scared” of him and also had a problem with Shakur after he had released a diss track about him.
Prosecutors filed the documents in a bid to oppose Davis’ latest bail request. His $112,500 bail bond was rejected last month over concerns about the source of the money.
However, it’s still unknown if Diddy will be subpoenaed or indicted as part of the case.
Popular singer and activist, Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa, better known as Charly Boy, has urged Nigerian youths not to back down on the planned nationwide protests against bad governance.
Charly Boy said those in power should embrace scrutiny and protest, not suppress it, if they are confident in their integrity.
He made this known in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, while dismissing a report asking Lagos residents to ignore the protest as the Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s government is already doing enough for them.
However, Charly Boy countered the advice, saying they resort to silencing dissenting voices and avoiding accountability because they have secrets to hide.
He said: “A Season of Lies, Wayo, Deceit, Propaganda and the more you Look………..
“If those in power are confident in their integrity, they should embrace scrutiny and protest, not suppress it. But when they resort to silencing dissenting voices and avoiding accountability, it’s clear they have secrets to hide. The ‘skeletons/cemeteries in their cupboard’ are a testament to their corruption and abuse of power.
“In a true democracy, governments must be transparent and answerable to the people. They should welcome criticism and engage in open dialogue, even when it’s uncomfortable. By doing so, they can earn trust and demonstrate their commitment to serving the public interest. But when they try to hide behind secrecy and intimidation, it’s a clear sign of guilt and a betrayal of the people’s trust.
“Nigerian youths don’t ever back down. If dem no fear us, dey can never respect us.
Nonsense. Dia fathers.”
European Champions Real Madrid have emerged the first football club in history to surpass €1billion ($1.085bn) in revenue a season, according to the club’s annual account for the 2023-24 season.
The club’s revenue, excluding player transfers, reached €1.073bn ($1.16bn), representing a 27 per cent increase from the previous year despite ongoing stadium renovations.
Madrid also reported a profit of €16million ($17.3m) for the fiscal year, with a net worth of €574m ($623m) and net debt of just €8m ($8.6m) as of June 30, 2024.
The team claimed to be the first football club to exceed €1bn in revenue.
In the previous campaign, Madrid enjoyed substantial success on the field, securing the Champions League title, their sixth in a decade, along with La Liga and the Super Cup.
The basketball team also excelled, capturing the Spanish league title, King’s Cup, and Spanish Super Cup while also reaching the Euro-league finals.
Nytimes com reports that the club’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) surged to €144m ($156m), marking a 71 per cent increase from the previous year.
This represents 13 per cent of total revenues, up from 10 per cent previously. When including player disposals, the EBITDA for the 2023-24 year is €156m ($169m), comparable to the €158m ($171m) reported for the 2022-23 financial year.
The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium renovation continues to advance, with a total investment of €1.163bn ($1.262bn) to date as the final phase of the project, including the completion of the VIP area, events spaces, and other commercial ventures, is anticipated to be completed in the 2024-25 financial year and this is expected to drive further revenue growth.
Madrid say they are planning to build on their commercial success.
The upcoming season will see the introduction of Kylian Mbappe to the squad, who joined on a free transfer after his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expired earlier this year.
[Leadership]
One Dasu Kassa, a Police Inspector, has committed suicide in Adamawa State.
Kassa was found dead at his residence in Anguwan Yungur, Girei Local Government Area, on Monday.
It is gathered that Kassa had reportedly come back from a hospital in Yola earlier that evening.
Family sources attributed his decision to take his own life to financial difficulties and medical expenses.
The Police are investigating the matter with a view to finding out the circumstances that led to Kassa’s demise, according to reports.
His death underscored the crippling hardship and suffering the majority of Nigerians are grappling with as it becomes extremely hard to afford basic needs.
To express their dissatisfaction with the state of the nation and prevailing economic realities, a nation protest has been fixed for August 1.
Leading opposition parties, some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other prominent Nigerians have rejected the Senate’s bill to repeal the National Identity Management Commission Act, 2017, to make provision for registration of not just Nigerians but all other persons resident in Nigeria.
The Senate passed the bill for a second reading on July 2, 2024, without a serious debate even though it seeks to broaden the eligibility criteria for registration to include those who are not citizens of Nigeria.
Daily Trust reports that the bill titled, ‘National Identity Management Commission (Repeal and enactment) Bill 2024 (SB. 472),” is sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau I. Jibrin (Kano North).
The bill seeks to give persons resident in Nigeria the right to obtain and use National Identification Number (NIN) and utilise it as a recognised form of identification.
It also seeks to replace criminal penalties with administrative enforcement measures to encourage compliance with NIN usage requirements without imposing “undue legal consequences” on individuals.
A copy of the bill obtained by Daily Trust showed that apart from the controversial clause of inclusivity, universal coverage and broadening the eligibility criteria for registration, it also seeks the registration of registrable persons within Nigeria and at licensed centres outside Nigeria.
Part 1 (2) of the bill which is titled, ‘Application’, in subsection (1) says, “This Act shall apply to registration of registrable persons within Nigeria and at licensed centres outside Nigeria, and the management and operation of the National Identity Database and related matters.”
Subsection (2) says, “Without prejudice to (1), this Act shall apply whether or not an act qualifying as an offence or contravention of this Act is committed in Nigeria by any person, irrespective of nationality.”
Similarly, Part V1 (17) of the bill titled, ‘Registrable Persons’, says, “Every citizen and resident of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be entitled to obtain a National Identification Number by undergoing the process of enrolment in accordance with the provisions of this Act.”
Part V1 (18) titled, ‘Registration of Registrable Persons’ among other things provides that “The Commission shall take special measures to enrol, and issue National Identity Numbers to such persons who do not have any permanent place of residence and such other categories of individuals as may be specified by regulations.”
It also aims at establishing a National Identity Database and the National Identity Management Commission charged with the responsibilities of maintenance of the National Database, the registration of individuals, and the issuance of identity credentials, among others.
How it scaled second reading
Supporting the bill, Senator Cyril Fasuyi (Ekiti North) said it is aimed at enhancing the NIMC’s regulatory capacity for more effective oversight and regulation of the Nigeria ID System.
The lawmaker said, “The objectives of the bill are as follows: Expanding the scope of registrable persons by broadening the eligibility criteria for registration under the Nigeria ID System to ensure inclusivity and universal coverage.
“This allows all persons resident in Nigeria to obtain a National Identification Number (NIN) and utilise it as a recognised form of identification.
“Streamlining the sharing of personal data by incorporating robust data protection measures to not only safeguard the privacy and confidentiality of individuals’ data but also to foster trust among citizens in the landing of their information.
“Enhancing administrative enforcement powers. The efficiency and effectiveness of the NIMC’s enforcement powers will ensure timely and accurate compliance with ID registration requirements.’’
But opposition parties, CSOs and others who reacted in separate interviews told Daily Trust that the bill sponsored by a senator who is a member of the ruling party (APC) is suspicious, alleging it has a political undertone.
Move suspicious – PDP
The leading opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the bill saying it is suspicious and of no economic value, especially at a time Nigerians are going through economic hardship.
The PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Abdullahi Ibrahim, told Daily Trust that there are more important things the National Assembly can do to assuage the economic impasse facing the people than the issue of NIN.
“The Senate cannot think of people-oriented policies that will alleviate the suffering of the people, instead they are talking about things that are irrelevant at this point in time.
“Getting everyone including non-Nigerians to get NIN is suspicious. What is the motive? Why are they more concerned about this type of policy and giving it expeditious attention that it will even emanate from the Deputy Senate President? It leaves much to be desired.
“So as a party and people who are with the ordinary citizens and the voice of opposition, we are not in support; we do not see any sincerity in it,’’ he said.
It’s a wrong move – LP
Similarly, the Labour Party (LP) said the move by the Senate to amend the NIMC Act to ensure that all persons residing in Nigeria obtain a National Identification Number (NIN) should not be allowed to see the light of the day.
The Chief Spokesman of the Labour Party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation in the 2023 general election, Dr Yunusa Tanko, told Daily Trust in a telephone interview that the bill must be thrashed.
“You cannot register those who are not Nigerians as if they are citizens of Nigeria; that will be wrong. This is an issue of serious concern. That is where it will create controversies.
“It will be wrong if they are trying to adulterate our database with the identities of non-Nigerians. Are all persons resident in Nigeria, Nigerian citizens? No.”
It has a political undertone – Hon. Mikko
A former member of the House of Representatives and ex-governorship aspirant in Rivers State, Bernard Mikko, told Daily Trust in a telephone chat that the bill has a political undertone.
Hon. Mikko said, “It is wrong. It should be a resident permit which is temporary; not NIN which is permanent. There should be a clear distinction between a resident and a citizen of Nigeria.
“A citizen has an obligation and duty of taxation, cultural identity and all that, while residents do not. A citizen can vote and be voted for. Is the bill trying to say that aliens can vote in our country? These are the issues.
“The issue of universal coverage in the bill, universal being global, which means everybody irrespective of whether you are from Togo, Niger, Cameroon, should be de-emphasised.
“Let them not put any political undertone to rig elections. We have to define who is a Nigerian citizen so that we don’t bring people through our porous borders into Nigeria to come and compromise our already dwindling, collapsing infrastructure for planning.”
It’s a threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty – CSOs
Similarly, some CSOs have rejected the bill. The Executive Director, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said the move is a threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty, adding that the bill is a very sensitive issue that should be handled with utmost caution.
He warned the National Assembly not to hurriedly pass the bill without considering its larger implications.
“Taking a cue from what is obtainable in advanced countries of the world, Nigerians need to ask the proponents of the bill some critical questions before buying-in into the idea.
“First, does allowing foreigners the right to obtain the National Identification Number automatically confer on them full Nigerian citizenship, according to the proposed bill? If the answer is yes, then, we strongly believe that it is a step in the wrong direction.
“Because, no serious nation affords foreigners the privilege of just picking up its citizenship without going through some rigorous processes of due diligence.
“Second, the government needs to clearly spell out the procedures and requirements for obtaining the NIN by foreigners, and the limits of the rights and benefits accruing to foreigners who hold Nigeria’s National Identification Number.
“Third, before jumping into hasty passage of the law and its implementation, there is need for the government to tidy up its immigration policies, ensure that its land, air and sea borders are adequately policed and ensure that officers of the Nigerian immigration service and other relevant security agencies are fully alive to their responsibilities,” Zikirullahi said.
He said failure to put these measures in place before contemplating such a law will not only constitute a threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty, but is a recipe for aggravating the already precarious level of insecurity in the country.
A Senior Communications Officer at Yiaga Africa, Mr Mark Amaza, said, “We don’t believe it necessarily means that it will enable them to vote considering the fact that the constitution is clear on who is qualified to vote in Nigeria.
“We have the opinion that the law should also be amended to allow other forms of identity to be used to access the polls, not necessarily the voter card, considering how that has been problematic in the election.
“Many citizens have been disenfranchised from voting for lack of having a voter’s card for no fault of theirs. So, it’s also good that as this law is being debated, that this is also kept or put into consideration.”
However, speaking on the development, Mr Tunde Salman, the Team Lead/Convener of Good Governance Team (GGT) Nigeria, said, “I don’t see any problem in it, especially as INEC voters register is not linked to it.
“Now, with many ongoing initiatives by the President Bola Tinubu administration, such as student loans, consumer credits, and grants that will require background checks, I think there’s a need to think through the proposal to address whatever gaps identified in the existing NIMC legislation.”
[DailyTrust]
The Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives, Bismarck Rewane has said the adjustment of the Asymmetric corridor around interest rate by the Central Bank of Nigeria Monetary Policy Committee will reduce the pressure on Nigeria’s Foreign Exchange.
The renowned economist disclosed this on Tuesday on Channels Television while reacting to CBN’s hike in interest rate by 50 basis points to 26.75 percent.
He explained that the real deal is the MPC’s adjustment of the Asymmetric corridor around the Interest rate to +500/-100 from +100/-300 basis points.
He noted that this move would increase the cost of banks’ borrowing and deter borrowing from CBN to buy foreign exchange.
He added that the decision will boost Foreign Portfolio inflows in Nigeria.
“The interest rate increase is 50 basis points. The real deal is the Asymmetric corridor adjustment. What this means is that banks have been borrowing from the Central Bank to buy foreign exchange from the Central Bank. Before they were borrowing at 26 percent.
“As of today, they will be borrowing at almost 32 percent. That difference is almost 5-6 percent. It means the cost of borrowing has gone up astronomically, this means a deterrent to borrowing from the CBN to buy FX.
“That should reduce pressure on the foreign exchange rate. It is a subtle way of telling banks to stop robbing Peter to pay Paul”, he said.
Recall that the CBN raised interest for the fourth time in 2024 to 26.75 percent amid efforts to tackle core and food inflation which stood at 34.19 percent and 40.87 percent, respectively.
[DailyPost]
- Koko hands over new staff clinic, five other completed projects to successor
Immediate-Past Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Mohammed Bello Koko has said the agency generated N541 billion in the first half of the year.
He said the agency also remitted N255 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Funds (CRF) within the first six months.
Koko said the performance of the agency in the first half of the year surpassed its year-on-year total revenue generation and remittances in any year, putting the cumulative revenue of the NPA between 2022 and the first half of 2024 at N1.423 trillion
According to him, his administration put in place sustainable reforms, especially a drastic improvement in the Turn-Around-Times of vessels and trucks in Apapa and TinCan ports.
He, however, said he is handing over a new staff clinic and five other completed projects to his successor for inauguration.
He confirmed that the NPA raised staff salary during his tenure, even as he pleaded with them (members of staff) to cooperate with and redouble their commitment to his successor.
The outgoing NPA MD, who dropped the hints in his valedictory remarks at the handover to his successor Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos, said he felt fulfilled for improving NPA better than he met it.
He said: “We recorded an unprecedented growth in revenue generation and remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) from Revenue of N381 billion in 2022 and N501 billion in 2023 to N541 billion in the first half of 2024 and remittances to CRF increasing from N93.4 billion in 2022 to N206 billion in 2023 and to N255 billion in the first half of 2024 – surpassing our year-on-year total revenue generation and remittances in any year.
“With unprecedented tax remittances to the Federal Government ranging up to N60 billion in the period of my stewardship, we raised the bar higher.
“Our hope and prayers are for the new management to continue on this trajectory and surpass it. But we were also deliberate on dialogue and driving reforms.”
He listed some of his achievements in office to including all-round port efficiency.
Koko said: “We hit the ground running with the necessary approvals to get the Lekki Deep Seaport fully operational to retake the lost transit and transshipment cargo.
“Promoted the non-oil export drive of the President by setting up ten (10) Export Processing Terminals (EPTs), mainstreaming it to the NXP and e-call up system to facilitate exports, and the result is evident in the attainment of a foreign trade surplus, as highlighted in the NBS report for Q1 2024.
“Upgraded data center, servers, storage, and business continuity; established a data recovery and protection unit with an up-to-date data protection audit certification.
“Digitised staff attendance for accountability and improved productivity; ensured the sustainability and free flow of cargo by clearing the decade-long traffic gridlock menacing the Apapa and Tincan Island port complexes, and its environs.
“Provided aids to navigation such as buoys, fenders, and bollards across all the ports, and also enhanced seaside operations by providing marine crafts, pilot cutters, tugboats, mooring boats, etc to improve port efficiency.
“These led to a reduction in both vessel and truck turn-around times. The vessel TAT went down from an average of 6.5 days to an average of 5 days, while truck TAT went from an average of 10 days to a few hours.”
Koko also said he was happy to have attained 100 per cent Ease-of-Doing-Business rating by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).
He said: “We also restored service boat management contract with attendant boost in revenue;
“Concluded the consultancy for the deployment of a Vessel Tracking System in conjunction with NLNG Shipping;
“Secured FEC approval for the expansion of the Snake Island Port and a willing private investment to the tune of $300m on this project;
“Secured FEC approvals for the development of new ports such as ports of Ondo, Badagry, Burutu, and Snake Island expansion project, amongst other proposals that have reached advanced stages of review and approval;
“Consultancy for the development of the 25-Year National Ports Masterplan to guide investment and port expansion plans;
“Attained a 100% ease-of-doing-business rating by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), despite having the most number of reforms;
“In addition to the aforementioned, we were also able to conclude with the FMMBE/BPP on the deployment of the Port Community System (awaiting a few processes before seeking FEC approval), and its corollary, the National Single Window, as well as propel the subject matter of port modernization to conclusive stages with the signing of the mandate letters for the reconstruction of TinCan Island and the comprehensive rehabilitation of Apapa, Rivers, Onne, Warri, and Calabar Port complexes, respectively.”
On the six projects being handed over to his successor for inauguration, Koko said: “We have also completed some key projects that are ready for commissioning. These projects are crucial to staff development and improved efficiency.
“Some of them include; the Staff Clinic at Lagos Port Complex; inter-agency building at TinCan Island Port to accommodate agencies in the port in one place to enhance operational efficiency; security mobile scanners at the Lagos Port Complex; administrative buildings of the Tincan, Warri, and Rivers Ports; Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria’s Headquarters; upgraded Revenue Invoicing Management System (RIMS 2.0); and employees e-medical records management”.
“Let me begin by appreciating all of you for the life-applicable experience of the last eight years of my sojourn in the NPA.
“Looking back, I would like to summarize this tremendous phase of my life as a learning curve and an abiding history or experience.
“As I bow out today, I feel fulfilled for two reasons. Firstly, by working with all of you here, we have repositioned the authority for greater operational efficiency and unprecedented revenue generation and remittance to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Secondly, my sense of fulfillment derives from the fact that we have achieved a lot and have made the Authority far better than we met it, and now handing over to a management team of distinguished professionals with the requisite character, competence, and capacity to sustain and indeed surpass the current performance trajectory.
“As many of us are aware, the Authority under the management team I was privileged to lead was able to position the Authority for improved efficiency, revenue generation, accountability, and adherence to international best practices in port management and operations.”
He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari for “the incredible opportunity to serve as the MD of the NPA”.
Unveiling his plans for port rehabilitation and modernization, Dantsoho said that priority will be given to total automation of NPA processes and adequate staff welfare.
He said: “We will continue the digital transformation of the Authority and reinforce the current efforts at deploying the Port Community System (PCS) which we believe is key to our dream of total automation of our processes, thereby eliminating leakages and corruption.
“The current efforts towards infrastructural renewal and development will be enhanced. In particular, we will drive: Port Rehabilitation and Modernization
“We will pay attention to the logistics that surround the arrival of cargoes along the port corridor, their receipt at the terminals and loading onboard ships in the most efficient way and also cargo evacuation from our ports.
He listed other targets as follows:
* Deep sea Ports Development, in order to unlock the full potential of the economy;
* Promotion of transparency, accountability and Ease of doing business in our ports;
*We shall enhance collaboration and communication between sister agencies and promote stakeholder engagement.”
[TheNation]
A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has called for an independent audit of why the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited capped its investment in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery at 7.2 per cent instead of the planned 20 per cent.
This was as the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC, Mele Kyari, denied owning a blending plant outside Nigeria on Tuesday.
The comments were coming amid the controversies surrounding the Dangote refinery.
Ezekwesili said she had earlier decided not to speak on the Dangote refinery-NNPC saga while reacting to the matter through her official X handle.
“However, as more and more information filtered out from both parties, we can reasonably conclude that something seriously murky has gone on and needs to be fully unravelled for public accountability. And urgently, too,” she stated.
The former minister added, “How can a project that by all definition attained the stature of a ‘national interest project’ be marred in this depth of embarrassing controversy that is playing out in the full glare of the local and international investing community?
“Did the Nigerian government not tell us it borrowed $3.3bn from Afriexim-Bank to take a stake in the Dangote refinery?”
Ezekwesili recalled that during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, she used to tell the NNPC that it could not continue to run as a federation on its own.
“When we were in government, I often told the NNPC leadership that they cannot carry on as though there is a ‘Federal Republic of the NNPC’ just because they think of themselves as ‘the goose that lays the golden egg’.
“The opacity of the NNPC was the reason we took great delight in designing the multi-stakeholders Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency International in those early 2000s that I pioneered as Chairperson.
“We went above global minimum voluntary standards of transparency requirements by entrenching ours in an Act that established NEITI as the transparency regulator of the oil and minerals sector,” she explained.
She called on President Bola Tinubu “to immediately use the instrumentality of NEITI to launch an independent audit of the Dangote refinery-NNPC transaction to offer the public the true state of play.”
The PUNCH recalls that the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, recently revealed that NNPC’s investment in his refinery was 7.2 per cent and not 20 per cent, as speculated.
“The agreement was actually 20 per cent which we had with NNPC, and they did not pay the balance of the money up till last year; then we gave them another extension up till June (2024), and they said that they would remain where they have already paid, which is 7.2 per cent. So NNPC owns only 7.2 per cent, not 20 per cent.” Dangote stated.
NNPC confirmed this, saying it decided not to invest further in the refinery.
Kyari denies plant
Meanwhile, the NNPC’s boss said on Tuesday that he does not own a blending plant outside Nigeria, reacting to claims by Dangote that some officials of the national oil company own blending plants in Malta.
Amid the crisis surrounding his $20bn refinery, Dangote had said, “Some of the terminals, some of the NNPC people, and some traders have opened blending plants somewhere off Malta. We all know these areas. We know what they are doing.”
Reacting to this in a post on his X handle, Kyari said he had been inundated with calls from family members and friends, asking if he truly owns a blending plant in Malta.
The NNPC helmsman said he does not own or operate any business directly or by proxy anywhere in the world, except for a local mini-agric venture.
He also said he is not aware of any employee of the NNPC that owns or operates a blending plant in Malta or anywhere else in the world.
“I am inundated by enquiries from family members, friends, and associates on the public declaration by the President of Dangote Group that some NNPC workers have established a blending plant in Malta, thereby impeding procurements from local production of petroleum products.
“To clarify the allegations regarding the blending plant, I do not own or operate any business directly or by proxy anywhere in the world except for a local mini-agric venture, neither am I aware of any employee of the NNPC that owns or operates a blending plant in Malta or anywhere else in the world.
“A blending plant in Malta or any part of the world does not influence NNPC’s business operations and strategic actions.”
The NNPC boss threatened to sanction any official of the company involved in such acts if they truly existed.
“For further assurance, our compliance sanction grid shall apply to any NNPC employee who is established to be involved in doing so if availed, and I strongly recommend that such individuals be declared public and be made known to relevant government security agencies for necessary actions because of the grave implications for national energy security,” he stated.
Dangote has been speaking up following allegations by the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, that the diesel produced by the Dangote refinery had higher sulphur content than imported ones, a claim Dangote described as an attempt to demarket his refinery.
Ahmed had also said the country would continue to import fuel to stop the Dangote monopoly.
[Punch]
More...
Michael Aondoakaa, former attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, has agreed to testify against Nigeria in the ongoing arbitration at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Paris, France, TheCable understands.
Sunrise Power, a company promoted by Leno Adesanya, had, on October 10, 2017, started arbitration against Nigeria at the ICC seeking a $2.354 billion award for “breach of contract” in relation to a 2003 agreement to construct the 3,050MW plant in Mambilla, Taraba state, on a “build, operate and transfer” (BOT) basis.
The Nigerian government has maintained that Olu Agunloye, then minister of power, acted outside of his powers when he awarded his contract.
Nigeria is also alleging fraud and corruption in the award and in the subsequent settlement agreements reached in an attempt to settle the dispute.
Agunloye is currently on trial in Nigeria for his alleged role in the contract saga. He denies all allegations.
AONDOAKAA VS NIGERIA
Now, Aondoakaa, a senior lawyer who was AGF from July 2007 to February 2010, has been enlisted by Sunrise to argue that the contract was valid — in order to boost the company’s chances of winning in arbitration.
Aondoakaa was a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) under President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua when the ill-fated gas processing agreement was signed with P&ID, leading to and arbitration fine of over $11 billion fine on Nigeria which was eventually quashed in a British court.
An Aondoakaa associate told TheCable that the former minister of justice is working closely with Adesanya’s legal team in the arbitration and Nigerian matters.
Sunrise is hoping to use his testimony to counter that of the government officials, including some ministers in President Buhari’s cabinet who are testifying in favour of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Adesanya has also filed a human rights case against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after he and Agunloye were charged to court.
Adesanya is being represented by Mohammed Seidu Diri, a senior lawyer who served as special assistant to Aondoakaa when he was AGF. Diri was also a director of public prosecution (DPP) at the federal ministry of justice.
A similar case filed by Agunloye against the government of Nigeria has since been dismissed.
DENIED BY TWO FORMER PRESIDENTS
Two former presidents have denied the validity of the contract and settlement agreements.
In an interview with TheCable, former President Olusegun Obasanjo challenged Agunloye to tell Nigerians where he derived the authority to award a $6 billion contract to Sunrise from.
“When I was president, no minister had the power to approve more than N25 million without express presidential consent. It was impossible for Agunloye to commit my government to a $6 billion project without my permission and I did not give him any permission,” Obasanjo told TheCable.
Agunloye later issued a statement insisting that he had Obasanjo’s approval — although it turned out it was a letter of comfort his principal approved to be issued to Sunrise and not a go-ahead to award the contract.
Buhari also denied authorising the settlement entered into with Sunrise by Abubakar Malami, his AGF.
“While I understood that my ministers of justice, power and water resources were approached by Sunrise and were engaging with various stakeholders that were involved in the project to resolve the issues blocking the project’s implementation, at no time did I specifically instruct them to enter into and conclude any settlement agreement with Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited,” Buhari wrote in a letter to Lafeef Fagbemi, the current AGF, in February this year.
“Indeed, when the proposed settlement agreement and addendum were presented to me for my consideration and approval on 20th April 2020, I refused to approve the settlement deal because I was convinced that there was no basis for Sunrise’s claim.”
Malami has yet to dispute Buhari’s claim.
The family of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba aka Mohbad, has conducted a fresh autopsy seeking to determine the cause of his death.
PUNCH Metro reported that the Magistrate of the Coroner Court sitting in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, T.A. Shotobi, on June 26, granted an order to the father of the deceased, Mr. Joseph Aloba, to engage a licensed and certified pathologist for a completely independent autopsy on the late singer.
The court also ordered that the applicant, Aloba, should bear all costs associated with the examination, evaluation, and autopsy.
A member of the family’s legal team, Monisola Odumosu, in a statement on Tuesday, said the autopsy was conducted on Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20.
Odumosu noted that the family would proceed to carry out toxicology and histology tests on the necessary samples already obtained if the post-mortem procedure failed to reveal the cause of death.
“The second autopsy as requested by the Aloba family and ordered by the Magistrate of the Coroner Court, Ms. T.A. Shotobi, was conducted on Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20, 2024. This autopsy is a two-part exercise, with the first part now completed.
“If the cause of death cannot be determined from this initial examination, the second part will proceed, involving a toxicology and histology test on the necessary samples already obtained,” the statement read in part.
The legal team further disclosed that the procedure was witnessed by Mohbad’s father and two separate pathologists appointed by him and Mohbad’s wife, Wunmi.
“This comprehensive procedure, conducted last Friday, was witnessed only by Mr. Joseph Aloba, the forensic pathologist appointed by Mr. Joseph Aloba and his team, legal representatives of both Mr. Joseph Aloba and a pathologist appointed by Wunmi Aloba to observe the procedure,” the statement added.
Mohbad died at the age of 27, on September 12, 2023, with circumstances surrounding his death sparking controversies on social media.
Being a former record label signee of Marlian Music owned by Naira Marley, Mohbad left the label in February 2022. The Lagos State Police Command had on September 18, 2023, inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe the singer’s death.
His death also led to the arrest of Naira Marley and controversial Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, also known as Sam Larry, amongst others.
The singer’s body was on September 21, 2023, exhumed for autopsy to unravel the cause of his death.
However, a pathologist, while testifying before the Coroner’s Court on May 15, revealed that an autopsy couldn’t determine Mohbad’s cause of death due to the decomposition of his body.
Following the disclosure, PUNCH Metro exclusively reported that the US-based lab refuted the claim by the Lagos State Government that the toxicology test was conducted at its facility.
The revelation was in response to inquiries made by our correspondent, who embarked on a fact-finding mission to ascertain the musician’s cause of death.
Responding to PUNCH Metro’s inquiry on May 17, the Client Services Associate, Forensics Division, NMS Labs, Esther Dede, stated, “Unfortunately, we do not have a case for that patient.”
AEDC Partners with Transafam Power to Deliver 50MW Embedded Power Generation to Abuja’s Idu Commercial Hub
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The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Transafam Power yesterday, to implement a groundbreaking 50MW embedded power generation project for the Idu commercial hub in Abuja.
The MOU was executed by AEDC MD/CEO, Engr. Chijioke Okwuokenye, and MD/CEO, Transafam Power Limited, Engr. Vincent Ozoude, during the Summit on Accelerated Scale-Up of Renewable and Distributed Energy Resources in Nigeria, hosted by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
With this, AEDC will fulfill 82% of NERC’s requirements for embedded power generation, ensuring a reliable and consistent power supply for the Idu Cluster. It marks a pivotal advancement in AEDC’s transformation agenda, allowing the company to generate its own electricity and reduce reliance on the national grid. By diversifying its energy sources, AEDC is committed to providing stable and dependable electricity for all stakeholders involved.
In addition, the partnership enables Transafam, a leading power generating company and subsidiary of Nigeria’s largest listed conglomerate, Transcorp Group, to diversify its mode of generation providing on-grid and embedded generation to optimise its current generating capacity and serve a wider cluster.
Electricity is a critical sector in urgent need of transformation. This partnership represents a significant stride towards delivering reliable and sustainable power to Nigerians, enhancing the overall power landscape in Nigeria, and fostering growth and economic prosperity for all—a demonstration of Africapitalism.
Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), says inflation is pushing Nigerians into different categories of poverty.
Cardoso said controlling inflation is in the best interest of Nigerians.
He spoke on Tuesday during a press briefing at the end of the monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja.
The governor highlighted the significant impact of inflation on the economy, saying purchasing power has diminished and poverty levels have increased.
Cardoso stressed the importance of taming inflation for the average individual and the organised private sector, which faces its own consequences.
He also acknowledged the need for economic growth and the challenges posed by high interest rates imposed to control inflation and ensure the economy’s long-term stability.
“I think I will just say one or two things and these are some of the things that we discuss with the organised private sector that inflation really and truly is having a major impact on our economy,” Cardoso said.
“Purchasing power is getting eroded, people are being pushed into different categories of poverty, and it is in their own interest that we are able to tame the scourge of inflation. If not, the ramifications will also be for them.
“It is not on the average man alone, it will also be for them and we understand the need for growth and we also understand that it is relatively challenging when you have high interest rates.
“My belief is that it is so fundamental to the long-term future and stability of our economy, that inflation should be brought under control.”
According to Cardoso, these short-term pains will eventually benefit the economy and the manufacturing sector.
Speaking on the current economic situation, the CBN governor said the influx of liquidity into the system over a short period played a significant role.
He said the consequences of printing money through ways and means advances are being felt, leading to an out-of-control money supply trajectory.
Cardoso said in response to this, interest rates are being raised to manage the money supply and prevent further spikes.
On Tuesday, MPC raised the monetary policy rate (MPR), which benchmarks interest rates, to 26.75 percent — from 26.25 percent.
Last week, Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 34.19 percent amid the surge in food prices.
Speaking further, Cardoso said MPC voted to hike the rate by 50 basis points to 26.75 percent, adjust the asymmetric corridor to +500 and -100 basis points around the MPR.
The committee retained the cash reserve ratio (CRR) at 45 percent, and liquidity ratio at 30 percent.