Loading and transporting of petrol and other related products have been halted by members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in Oyo and Osun states.
The petroleum stakeholders announced the suspension of their operations at an emergency meeting held in Ibadan on Saturday.
According to them, the decision became imperative due to the incessant “harassment and extortion of members by the police”.
The emergency meeting was attended by Mutiu Bukola, Ibadan depot chairman and Hammed Hamzat, chairman, Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of NUPENG.
Also in attendance were Surajudeen Adegoke, chairman, independent marketers branch of NUPENG, and Olalekan Lawal, IPMAN, vice-chairman.
NAN reports that they unanimously condemned the operations of the “inspector general of police (IGP) monitoring team” on the highway which had been “disrupting the lifting of petroleum products” from depot to filling stations in the two states.
Bukola, speaking on behalf of the associations, called for an immediate end to harassment and extortion of members of the associations.
He said they would not resume operations until the issues were addressed.
According to the IPMAN branch chairman, no filling stations would open and there would be no movement of petroleum tankers in the two states until members of the IGP monitoring team are removed from the road.
“A tanker driver bringing in a truck load of diesel was arrested at Gbongon junction in Osun in the early hours of Saturday and detained along with his truck,” the associations said.
“The team has assumed the role of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) which is the regulator in the sector.
“The NMDPRA officers at the lifting depot had already certified the product, meaning that there was no issue at all, only for the driver and the truck to be detained by the IGP monitoring team at Gbongbon.
“We hereby call for immediate release of the driver and the truck.”
In the last few months, he said the police team had “wrongly arrested” several tanker drivers and trucks, only to discover that they were innocent after investigations.
“There will be no movement of trucks in and out of Osun and Oyo states, meaning that there will be no loading of petroleum products from depot to filling stations within the two states,” he said.
“The purpose of the IGP monitoring team was to stop vandalism of pipelines but the team has left its function and is now chasing other things.”
Bukola also condemned what he described as multiple charges that “had been crippling operations” in the petroleum sector in the two states.
[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu Congratulates Thisday Publisher, Nduka Obaigbena, On His Birthday
Admin![[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu Congratulates Thisday Publisher, Nduka Obaigbena, On His Birthday](/media/k2/items/cache/f9fde50f3bac8474bd651d4bef3ad10a_L.jpg)
President Bola Tinubu extends his congratulations to Prince Nduka Obaigbena, CON, on the occasion of his 65th birthday.
President Tinubu notes the enterprising spirit of the former President of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association of Nigeria (NPAN), who founded ThisWeek Magazine, and later, THISDAY Newspapers, Arise Magazine, and The Arise News Channel.
The President prays for greater achievements for the renowned publisher, whose philanthropic efforts, especially in education, have demonstrated his passion for human development.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has re-arraigned Binance on a four-count charge bordering on alleged tax evasion.
Ayodele Omotilewa, Binance’s representative in Nigeria, was arraigned on Friday before Emeka Nwite, a judge at the federal high court in Abuja.
Omotilewa pleaded not guilty to the four counts.
In the amended charge filed on June 14, Binance Holdings Limited is listed as the sole defendant.
After the plea by the Binance representative, Moses Ideho, counsel to FIRS, sought a date for the commencement of trial. The presiding judge subsequently fixed October 11 as the trial date.
Over the past few months, Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, has been facing trial in Nigeria over alleged tax evasion and money laundering.
On June 14, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) dropped the tax charges against Gambaryan.
A federal high court in Abuja discharged Gambaryan after the FIRS confirmed the appointment of Omotilewa as the firm’s representative.
However, the EFCC has yet to drop its charges against Binance and its executives.
The anti-graft body had arraigned Binance Holdings Limited, Gambaryan, Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s regional manager for Africa, over allegations of money laundering.
Gambaryan and Anjarwalla were detained by the Nigerian authorities on February 28.
However, Anjarwalla escaped from the custody of the office of the national security adviser (ONSA), leaving Gambaryan to face the charges alone.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has named Thomas Matthew Crooks as the gunman who fired shots at the rally of former President Donald Trump.
According to the FBI, Crooks is a 20-year-old male from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
The former US president was injured in the shooting while he was delivering a speech at his campaign rally on Saturday.
The FBI has described the incident as an assassination attempt.
Although Trump survived the shooting, one person was killed while two others were gravely injured.
“The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump on July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania,” the bureau said on Sunday.
The FBI also shared a phone number and website for anyone with information, video, or pictures related to the shooting.
Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh office, said the website for tips is www.FBI.gov/Butler.
Following the shooting, Trump returned to New Jersey, with his plane touching down early on Sunday morning.
Several world leaders have condemned the attack and expressed sympathy with the Republican Party candidate for the US presidential election.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the shooting an “inexcusable attack”.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was “appalled”, adding that such “violence has no justification and no place anywhere in the world”.
Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, expressed concern over the incident, saying “our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased, those injured and the American people”.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has advised the family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, to refrain from commenting on the resolution reached by the Federal Government regarding the controversial Oil Mining Licence (OML) 245.
Lokpobiri’s statement follows comments from Mohammed Abacha, the son of the late head of state, who urged the minister to retract his public statement about resolving the disputes over OML 245 and resuming production in the national interest.
In a letter of protest written by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Reuben Okpanachi Atabo, the Abacha family gave Lokpobiri a 14-day ultimatum to withdraw his claim or face contempt of court charges. The letter, delivered to the offices of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Oil Minister on July 5, argued that Lokpobiri’s claims were false and disregarded ongoing court cases regarding Malabu Oil and Gas ownership.
Responding to the Abacha family’s statement, Lokpobiri said, “I don’t want to join issues with the Abacha family, but I can assure you that we are resolving all the issues with OML 245 under overriding national strategic interest. This matter has lingered on for the past 28 years. And if I were a member of the Abacha family, I wouldn’t even raise my head. As Heineken Lokpobiri, I can’t give any Lokpobiri a license. That in itself is criminal. So if they know what they are doing, they should keep quiet.”
Lokpobiri, an English-trained lawyer, emphasized that oil blocks are federation assets, and the federal government will ensure that Nigerians benefit from them.
History of Litigation
OML 245, considered one of Nigeria’s most prolific oil blocks, was acquired by Malabu Oil and Gas, a company belonging to the Abacha family, in 1998 for $2 million. In 2001, under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the federal government revoked Malabu’s license due to “questionable practices.” Malabu challenged the revocation in court and reached an out-of-court settlement with the government under former President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2006.
In 2011, Shell and Eni acquired the block for $1.3 billion from Malabu in a deal approved by the Nigerian government. Since then, there have been ongoing allegations and litigation, with Transparency International and other anti-corruption groups alleging bribery and corruption in the deal.
Regarding the 28-year crisis and litigation, Lokpobiri recently stated, “The core issue revolves around the agreement between the federal government, Shell, and ENI, wherein the Federal Government facilitated the transfer of rights from Malabu to Shell/ENI in exchange for consideration. This process was conducted transparently and by established legal frameworks.”
National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said that the return of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano and the several demolitions carried out by the state governor, Engr. Kabir Abba Yusuf, were fulfilment of campaign promises by the party.
Kwankwaso, however, alleged that some persons in Abuja pressured the former Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero into coming to Kano even after he, alongside others, had accepted the dissolution of the five emirates created by the Ganduje government.
Speaking on Prime Time, a political programme on Arise News monitored in Abuja, Kwankwaso, who was presidential candidate of the NNPP in the 2023 general elections, said they have no regrets for fulfilling the promises made during their campaign for which the governor was elected.
He said: “It was a campaign issue. Don’t forget that Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was installed in 2014 by our government. My Deputy who became governor decided in his wisdom to divide Kano into five emirates. What many people don’t remember is that it was tried by the Rimi government during the Second Republic.
“It was our position, our belief that Kano should continue as one solid traditional institution. That was what we believed in. So, during our campaign, the governor went round to tell the people that if they voted for him, Kano would return to being one solid traditional institution, of course with support from the other emirates.
“That is why when he was sworn-in, he started a process of consultation. For your information, the emirates that were created by Rimi were dissolved by Sabo Bakinzuwo who took over from him right there at the Race Course where he was sworn in.
“But for one year, the governor carried out due consultations and decided to follow due process through the State House of Assembly and Sanusi was reinstated. People voted for him for several reasons, including making Kano one strong emirate.
“So, we are not just coming from the streets. We have a history. We did not just wake up one day to do that. That is the position of the people of Kano State and we have done what is right and the other four emirs have accepted it and moved out of their palaces.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the inability of Sen. Mohammed Ndume to access President Bola Tinubu cannot warrant or justify his outlandish declaration that the president had been “caged”.
Mr Felix Morka, the party’s National Publicity Secretary said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
The statement was the party’s reaction to comments credited to Ndume, the Chief Whip of the Senate, saying President Bola had been “caged”.
Ndume, while saying that securing financial autonomy for local governments was the greatest achievement of Tinubu since he assumed office in 2023, also said that he was unaware of existential challenges in the country.
“The latest outburst in the media by the senator representing Borno South, and Chief Whip of the 10th Senate, Sen. Mohammed Ali Ndume, claiming that President Tinubu has been caged.
“And unaware of existential challenges in the country is as haughty as it is unnecessary.
A serving police inspector, identified as Hussaini Umar, has been reportedly murdered by some suspected members of a ‘one chance’syndicate in Abuja.
The deceased, said to be attached to the Force Intelligence Bureau (FID), had reportedly boarded the gang’s vehicle from Maitama Junction in the city centre to his home in Dei-Dei community, FCT, on Friday night.
Our reporter who visited the Kubwa General Hospital on Saturday morning, came across a police convoy, who went into the facility to convey his remains, and headed for Zaria, his home town, for burial.
A police official in the convoy, who didn’t disclose his name, said Umar was stabbed robbers before they dumped him around a bridge, near the NNPC Junction in Kubwa.
He said another vehicle ran over him, before the police patrol team, stationed around the junction, were alerted about the incident by some motorists, who took him to the hospital.
A police source in Dei-Dei equally confirmed the incident, adding that the victim had been living in the area for a while, and recently relocated his family to join him.
The FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, promised to make an inquiry and get back to our correspondent, but she was yet to do so as at the time of filing this report.
[DailyTrust]
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has regretted the dearth of courageous people who can speak truth to power.
Obi who spoke Saturday, during the 10th anniversary of Alaigbo Development Foundation in Umuahia, Abia State, regretted that the country had aboundance of praise singers who tell leaders what they what to hear.
The former Anambra State Governor who recalled how he judiciously managed public funds while in office, also charged public leaders to use public funds for the people.
He further charged them to make people-centred policies, and pursue programmes that promote public peace.
Obi blamed the woes of Nigeria on avarice and insatiable quest for wealth among public office holders.
He, therefore, challenged Nigerians to speak truth to power and stop hero worshipping.
Obi said: “What we lack in Nigeria is people who can tell you you are wrong when you are. Leaders are bound to listen to the people because the people put them in the office.
” Leaders must use public money for public purpose”, Obi thundered.
Continuing, he said:”When I was in public office, I used public money for public purpose. I made sure I used the peoples money for them.
” I did not spend any Kobo for personal gain. I didn’t take it owing pensions, gratuities. I did not owe any contractor. Now in private life I can do whatever I like with my money.”
The former Anambra State Governor who said he left office without owing workers including pensioners and contractors, disclosed that he also left behind $150m for the state.
Obi solicited continued prayers for leaders so they would serve the people with the fear of God.
The former Anambra Governor who advocated role for traditional institution, advised Government to partner socio-cultural organizations for the development of society.
He further encouraged ADF to continue its advocacy and sensitization of Ndigbo for advancing the cause of the Igbo nation.
Obi also preached unity among Ndigbo.
In his remark, the pioneer President of ADF, Professor Uzodinma Nwala, said the objective of ADF had been galvanize Igbo stakeholders for the development of Alaigbo.
The new national President of ADF, Nze Coleman Emeka Chukudelunzu, called for unity among Ndigbo to rebuild Igbo land.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the event, Maj General Chris Eze (retd.), commended the doggedness of Ndigbo to overcome the challenges of the civil war.
Highlights of the two -day event were the inauguration of the new national leadership of ADF, and cutting of the anniversary cake.
In the wake of Saturday’s shooting incident at former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, United States, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have issued separate statements condemning the violence and expressing relief that Trump is safe.
After the shooting that reportedly occurred minutes into Trump’s speech, Secret Service agents quickly surrounded the former president and escorted him off the stage.
Trending social media videos appeared to show blood on Trump’s face and a bleeding ear as he was led away.
Biden, after receiving briefing on the situation, said in a statement published on the White House website: “I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information.”
He added, “Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”
Biden’s vice, Harris, issued a similar reaction: “Doug and I are relieved that he (Trump) is not seriously injured. We are praying for him, his family, and all those who have been injured and impacted by this senseless shooting.
“Violence such as this has no place in our nation. We must all condemn this abhorrent act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more violence.”
Both Biden and Harris expressed gratitude to the Secret Service, first responders, and local authorities for their swift action in protecting the former president and managing the situation.
The U.S. Secret Service had earlier confirmed Trump’s safety, with spokesman Anthony Guglielmi tweeting, “The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe. This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available.”
Also reacting, the Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger told Washington Post that two people were confirmed dead following the incident, including one of the suspected shooters.
More...
Former President of the Senate, Anyim Pius Anyim, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Naija News gathered that Anyim announced his defection to the ruling party at the Pa Oruta Ngele Township Abakaliki during the Grand Finale of the APC Local Government election Campaign on Saturday.
Anyim, on Saturday, led other notable personalities across other political parties, including former State and National Assembly members, Former Governorship candidate of Labour Party, Edwin Nkwegu, Senator Obinna Ọgba, former national and state assembly candidates and thousands of their supporters to join the party.
The National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, Governor Hope Uzodinma, Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State and Minister of Works, David Umahi, State Chairman of the party, Stanley Meghan and others were in attendance to receive them.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, commended Anyim for all the support he gave to APC during the 2023 elections adding that it is only now he formally joins the party.
He also thanked President Bola Tinubu for all the support given to him when he faced legal battles after joining the party.
He said, “President Tinubu called me to come and see him, and when I came, he carried me in his car personally to meet a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who handled our case”
The Minister noted that he faced serious attacks and conditions for deciding to join the APC but is grateful that today the party has become the beautiful bride of all in the state and southeast.
The Minister noted that the President is very much interested in the development of the southeast and needs the support of the people to succeed.
He noted that the Lagos Calabar Coastal Road will have a spot that will pass through Ebonyi, adding that other work is ongoing on other major roads in the region.
He urged the two governors and other party Leaders in the region to work harder to bring on board every stakeholder in the region to the party so that the region would take its rightful place in national politics.
Uzodinma noted that the recent ruling of the Supreme Court will strengthen democracy in the country.
He urged youths to shun all forms of protests against the government of President Tinubu.
Anyim assured the National Chairman that Ebonyi State has always been united under one political family.
He noted that the people have resolved to collapse the whole state into one political family in appreciation of Governor Francis Nwifuru’s performance and efforts at uniting all groups in the state.
An early morning fire outbreak has burnt a section of the Gidan Rumfa palace of the 16th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II.
PUNCH Online gathered that the fire outbreak, which happened on Friday night, around 11 pm, was set by yet-to-be-identified persons.
A source, who spoke with Daily Trust, said the palace located at Kofar Kudu, where the Emir sits every Monday for the court, was seriously affected by the fire.
The source added that the throne, air conditioners, and other valuables were destroyed in the inferno.
“It was the palace at Kofar Kudu. You know the palace has an entrance from inside while the main entrance is from the front (outside). The key was forced open, and what was suspected was that they broke in, set the fire and locked the door.
“The throne, air conditioners and other valuables in the palace have been destroyed,” the source said.
However, the Chief of Staff to the Emir, Munir Sanusi Bayero, confirmed the incident in a statement, a copy of which was made available to The Punch on Saturday evening.
According to the statement, “It is hereby notified that on Saturday, July 13, 2024 morning, a fire incident occurred at the outer court of His Highness’s Palace, Kofar Kudu.
“Fortunately, there were no casualties, and the damage was minimal. The palace is taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of the palace and its occupants. We are also investigating the cause of the fire and taking steps to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.”
However, the Kano State Fire Service claimed they were not informed about the incident, as they didn’t receive any calls at their centres.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery is set to import a cargo of Brazilian crude, Bloomberg reported on Friday.
It said this would add to the large number of overseas barrels of crude feedstock that the Nigerian firm was importing.
Indigenous crude oil refiners, including Dangote refinery and modular refineries, as well as local crude producers have repeatedly raised concerns about the low crude oil output from Nigeria.
Although the government, through the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, has been making efforts to tackle this, oil production from Nigeria has remained low.
This has made it tough for local refiners to get crude, as bulk of the oil produced in-country are exported due to earlier arranged contracts with International Oil Companies operating in Nigeria and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
Bloomberg reported on Friday that traders with knowledge of the matter stated that Dangote refinery, which is still ramping up to full capacity, would receive a shipment of one million barrels of Tupi crude from Brazil for delivery in the second half of next month.
“The refinery, billed as pivotal in ending Nigeria’s dependence on foreign fuel, has already snapped up millions of barrels of American crude,” the report by the media organisation stated.
It stated that the purchases of non-Nigerian barrels likely reflect the most competitively priced, suitable cargoes.
The traders said the cargo was sold by Petrobras, a state-owned Brazilian multinational corporation.
Bloomberg said officials at the company, and one at Dangote, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Quoting data from the Latin American country’s commerce ministry, the publication said it was the first time that Brazil had exported oil to Nigeria.
Dangote refinery recently purchased five million barrels of US crude scheduled for delivery next month and in September.
It was reported in May this year that the refinery planned a purchase of 24 million barrels of crude from the US for over a year.
Modular refiners had also stated that crude importation would linger until Nigeria produces enough barrels to meet both domestic demand and exports.
Former United States President, Donald Trump, was rushed off stage during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, following alleged gunshots from unknown sources.
The incident, which occurred just minutes into Trump’s speech, may have left the former president injured.
Videos in circulation on social media show what seemed to be blood on Trump’s face, with his ear bleeding as he was being moved away by Secret Service agents.
Bullet pierced upper part of my right ear – Trump
Former President Donald Trump has released a statement following the shooting incident at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, which left one person dead and another seriously injured.
Trump himself sustained a minor injury during the attack.
“I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania,” Trump said in his statement sighted by PUNCH Online on Sunday.
He went on to express his condolences to the families of the victims stating, “Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured.”
The incident occurred as Trump began his final rally before the Republican Party convention. Witnesses reported hearing a series of loud bangs that sounded like gunshots, causing chaos at the event.
John Yeykal, an attendee from Franklin, Pennsylvania, described the scene saying, “We saw a lot of people go down, looking confused. I heard the shots, it sounded like between firecrackers and a small caliber handgun.”
The Secret Service quickly rushed Trump off the stage and into an SUV. They later confirmed that the “former President is safe” and declared the area an active crime scene.
Trump’s statement revealed that the shooter is now dead, though he added, “Nothing is known at this time about the shooter.”
Both President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama have issued statements condemning the violence and wishing Trump a speedy recovery.
Biden said, “There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”
Meanwhile, Obama echoed this sentiment, stating, “There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy.”
Media
Got shot and stood up like a beastpic.twitter.com/XImz3HJrgQ
— The UKhan ?? (@_theUkhan) July 13, 2024