Connect with us

News

Reps To Hold Investigative Hearing On $2bn Renewable Energy Investments In Nigeria

Published

on

ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives is set to hold an investigative hearing from Tuesday November 5th – 6th on the $2 billion renewable energy grants and investments meant for the development of the renewable energy sector in Nigeria, which has not made a commensurate impact on the energy security challenges in the nation.
The public hearing follows the mandate given to the House Committee on Renewable Energy on Thursday June 6, 2024, to investigate Ministries, Departments, and Agencies with dealings in investment, procurement, and receipt of grants for the development of the renewable energy sector.
Naijablitznews.com reports that the motion titled, “Need to Investigate Investments in Renewable Energy Sector and Foreign Grants received from 2015 till date”, was sponsored by Rep. Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, lawmaker representing Oshodi-Isolo II Federal Constituency of Lagos State.
According to a statement by the  Chairman, Rep. Victor Afam Ogene, on Sunday in Abuja, the probe will cover the period from 2015 to 2024.
Rep. Ogene said that the House was miffed that “Despite government attracting over $2 billion in renewable energy investments in the past decade, as reported by the Rural Electrification Agency in 2023, there has been no noticeable improvement in the sector.
“The House of Reps was alarmed that the dysfunctional electricity generation and supply system persists, contrary to the objectives behind government investments and grants aimed at developing the renewable energy sector, hence the resolution to probe these investments in order to determine the integrity of the procurement and execution processes.”
The Chairman who said the investigation was not to witch-hunt but to discourage opaqueness and promote transparency and objectivity in handling government or public resources; thanked the European Union and other donor agencies for their useful submissions, insights and cooperation in sharing information with the committee.
The invited agencies and stakeholders include, but are not limited to Rural Electrification Agency, Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), NASENI Solar Energy Ltd, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Country Representative European Union, Union Bank Plc (Compliance Department), Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Federal Ministry of Power, Energy Commission of Nigeria and Federal Ministry of Finance.
Others are, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Federal Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management, Federal Ministry of Petroleum (Gas Resources), Niger Delta Development Commission, United States Agency for International Development, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Accountant General of the Federation, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Associations (Alliance) REEEA-A
and Other Concerned Stakeholders.
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Warning: Undefined variable $user_ID in /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/themes/zox-news/comments.php on line 49

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

News

Monday Sit-at-Home has ended in Onitsha — Governor Soludo declares

Published

on

ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad

Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has declared that the Monday sit-at-home across the Southeast is over.

Soludo disclosed this while revealing how he was stuck in traffic for 15 minutes in the Onitsha area of the state on Monday, August 3.

In a bid to push for the actualization of Biafra and the release of its embattled leader, Nnamdi Kanu, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had declared a sit-at-home on Mondays across the region. Economic activities were crippled due to the Monday sit-at-home in the zone.

Explaining that he came late due to traffic at Onitsha where everyone was going about their business, Soludo said:

Advertisement

“I’m sorry I came in about 15 minutes late because I was stuck in traffic at Onitsha. Today is a Monday, and to have traffic at Onitsha on a Monday, the Monday sit-at-home is over.

“I’m here in solidarity with you and my rich neighbour, Delta State. You have a governor in whom I’m well pleased any day, anytime.

“I had to move my executive council meeting today to tomorrow or next because this is very important and I’m very delighted to be here.”

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

How Sylva’s Alleged Coup Funds N700m Were Shared Among Soldiers, Clerics(List)

Published

on

ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad

Military investigators have traced more than ₦700m in 47 payments allegedly made to soldiers, civilians, companies and Islamic clerics assigned different roles in the failed 2025 plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration.Executive Branch

The investigation records alleged that a former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva, provided ₦785m through Purple Waves Limited, an Abuja-based construction and real estate company accused of serving as a financial intermediary for the purported plot.

The funds were allegedly transferred from the company to accounts controlled by a Kano-based Bureau de Change operator, Abdullahi Sani Mohammed, who reportedly disbursed the money on the instructions of the suspected coup leader, Col. Mohammed Ma’aji.

The claims remain allegations and are subject to determination by the General Court Martial and the Federal High Court, where several suspects are standing trial.

Advertisement

Sylva, who is believed to be outside Nigeria, has denied involvement in the alleged plot.Geographic Reference

According to investigation records reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES, Mohammed made 47 payments to various beneficiaries between September 20 and 30, 2025, as preparations for the alleged coup intensified.

The transactions occurred shortly before dates reportedly considered by the alleged conspirators for the operation, including September 27, October 1 and October 4.

The plan collapsed following Ma’aji’s arrest on September 29, 2025.

Advertisement

Investigators said several members of the alleged network were unaware of his arrest, allowing the BDC operator to continue making transfers until September 30.

Mohammed also reportedly continued receiving funds from Purple Waves until October 2.

In an extra-judicial statement to investigators, Mohammed said he had maintained a longstanding foreign exchange relationship with Ma’aji before the Purple Waves transactions began.

“Sometimes, Oga Ma’aji will call me to ask for a dollar price. If he asks me, I’ll tell him,” he wrote.

Advertisement

“Sometimes, he will ask if he can buy $1,000 or $3,000. Sometimes, he will ask for $10,000 or $9,000.”

He said their dealings later expanded to larger transactions involving accounts operated by A&A Express Link, ASA Multipurpose Concept and Luji Trade and Investment Limited.

Mohammed recalled receiving the first two major payments of ₦150m each into his Providus Bank account around September 18.Banking

“Oga Ma’aji called me around 18 September 2025. He told me his people would pay money into the account,” the statement read.

Advertisement

“As I checked the account, I saw ₦150,000,000 in A&A Express in Providus Bank.”

He said Ma’aji subsequently sent instructions through a WhatsApp voice note directing him to pay ₦10m into a First Bank account.

Mohammed claimed another ₦150m was later credited to the same account, followed by transfers of ₦100m, ₦50m, another ₦100m and ₦50m into his Luji Trade and Investment account at Fidelity Bank.

He confirmed receiving a total of ₦785m from Purple Waves between September 20 and October 2, 2025.

Advertisement

Investigators alleged that some serving and former military personnel received payments for operational responsibilities in the planned takeover.

Lt. Col. Shamsudeen Bappah, allegedly assigned to seize and hold the 102 Battalion in Zuma, Niger State, reportedly received ₦5m on September 27.

Lt. Felix Sunday Stephen, who was allegedly tasked with surveying an airport in Lagos, gathering intelligence and disrupting flights on the proposed operation day, reportedly received an initial ₦5m on September 23 and another ₦12m two days later.

An army officer identified as Lt. Aminu John allegedly received ₦10m on September 22.

Advertisement

Maj. Mundi Usman, who was reportedly assigned to lead an operation at the Presidential Villa, allegedly received multiple transfers, including ₦10m on September 23, another ₦10m on September 25 and ₦5m on September 28.

Squadron Leader Zuzu Noel Goddy of the Nigerian Air Force allegedly received ₦1m on September 28 to deploy gun trucks onto the Abuja airport runway and halt flight operations.

Another officer, Squadron Leader Sani Bubara Adamu, allegedly received ₦1m on September 25 for a purported operation targeting the Air House. Investigators said he remained at large.

Other alleged beneficiaries included former Capt. Abubakar Mohammed, Corporal Aliyu Ibrahim and Warrant Officer Nasiru Ibrahim, who reportedly received ₦5m each.

Advertisement

The records also identified an Islamic cleric, Goni Bukar, as one of the largest individual beneficiaries.

Investigators alleged that Bukar was engaged to provide spiritual support for the planned operation.

He reportedly received ₦10m on September 20, ₦20m on September 23 and another ₦20m on September 29, bringing the total transferred to him to ₦50m.

The cleric has maintained in statements attributed to him that money received from Ma’aji was intended for prayers, charity and mosque-related activities rather than an attempt to overthrow the government.

Advertisement

Investigators also traced several transfers to corporate accounts.

An account belonging to Cutzbytz Cakes reportedly received ₦10.3m on September 22, ₦20m on September 26 and ₦1.2m the following day.

Other recipients listed in the records included Co-fran Spinfluence, which allegedly received ₦32m; Aduko Engineering Services, ₦3.5m; Schutmann Nigeria Limited, ₦10m; Overere Services Limited, ₦15m; and Auto Revive, ₦6.26m.

An auto dealer identified as Ahmed Abdulganiyu allegedly received ₦46.5m on September 27.

Advertisement

Alhaji Abubakar Maliki reportedly received two payments totalling ₦55m, while Christopher Elube allegedly received two transfers totalling ₦36m on September 28.

Investigators said the use of corporate accounts suggested that some beneficiaries received the alleged coup funds through business entities rather than personal accounts.

Mohammed reportedly admitted transferring more than ₦700m to the listed beneficiaries on Ma’aji’s instructions.

The investigation records showed that the BDC operator received names, account details and payment amounts from the colonel.

Advertisement

“Later, he called me to his house in Lokogoma to calculate some money that I paid into people’s accounts,” Mohammed stated.

“He brought out his paper and his list to show me and tell me to buy $5,000 to bring to his house.”

The Nigerian Army reportedly recovered the funds that had not been disbursed when the BDC operator was arrested.

Investigators said the suspected conspirators used agricultural expressions to conceal their communications

Advertisement

The entire operation was allegedly referred to as “farming,” while logistics were called “fertilisers.”

The proposed execution day was described as the “harvest,” the operation itself as “digital farming,” and clerics consulted for prayers as “technical partners.”

The records alleged that Sylva initially hesitated to support the plot before later becoming a major financier through Purple Waves.

The company’s account reportedly held more than ₦5bn when disbursements began in September 2025.

Advertisement

Recall that more than 40 suspects, including serving and retired military personnel, a police officer, clerics and civilians, were arrested between September and October 2025.

Thirty-six military personnel are facing trial before a General Court Martial in Abuja.

Six other defendants are standing trial before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on 13 counts.

The defendants before the Federal High Court have challenged the admissibility of their statements and video recordings.

Advertisement

They argued that the evidence was obtained in violation of safeguards provided under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

The prosecution, however, urged the court to dismiss the objections and admit the materials in evidence.

Five associates of Sylva are also reportedly being prosecuted over allegations that they failed to disclose information about his whereabouts.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

READ FCT minister Wike’s media chat in punches

Published

on

ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad

IT’S words on marble again as FCT minister Nyesom Wike speaks during his media parley.

Read his words on marble below:

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Naija Blitz News