News
Court adjourns alleged murder case against 20 ex-NUPENG leaders
A Federal Capital Terrritory, FCT, High Court on Monday adjourned the trial of 20 former leaders of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) charged with attempted murder.
In the suit marked: CR/042/2023, the former union leaders, including a one-time National Chairman, Lucky Osesua, were charged with attempted murder, breach of peace and assault.
Also charged are Dayyabu Garga, Humble Obinna, Akinolu Olabisi, Godwin Nwaka, Tiamiu Sikiru, Abdulmimin Shaibu and John Amajuoyi.
Others are Zaira Aregbo, Patrick Erhivwor, Stephen Ogheneruemu, Gift Ukponku and Sunday Ezeocha.
The union members were alleged to have attacked NUPENG President, Wiliams Akporeha, General Secretary, Wale Afolabi and the newly elected National Chairman of the PTD branch of NUPENG, Augustine Egbon.
The NUPENG members were particularly alleged to have acted “in a manner likely to cause the death of one Comrade Wiliams Akporeha and Comrade Augustine Egbon”, when they laid siege at PTD’s office at No. 50 Moses Majekodenmi Crescent, Utako District in Abuja on Nov. 1.
In the suit, the defendants were further accused of voluntarily causing grievous bodily harm to Comrade Williams Akporeha, Comrade Olawale Afolabi, Comrade Solomon Kilanko and Comrade Augustine Egbon.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Yusuf Halilu adjourned the case after the prosecution counsel, Mr Frank Longe, informed the court that the prosecution had filed an additional proof of evidence.
The judge noted that there was a contractual agreement between the court and the defendants, adding that bail was a constitutional right since the defendants were presumed innocent by the constitution.
He then warned the defendants to avoid doing anything that might cause revocation of their bail.
The defence counsel, Mr Christopher Oshomegie, SAN, sought for adjournment, saying the defendants had filed a motion, notifying the court of change of counsel.
He said his clients have asked another counsel, Mr Enenche Ekoja, to take over their case, adding that there was the need for the defence to properly sort out the issue.
“There is nothing damaging than to have defendants who no longer have confidence in you representing them,” he told the court.
He, however, sought a brief adjournment to enable the defence team sort out themselves as well as go through the additional proof of evidence filed by the prosecution.
Meanwhile, the prosecution counsel said he was ready to go on with the case having brought some of its witnesses to court.
The counsel then informed the court that the defendants were still going about to cause trouble in spite of the fact that they were on bail.
Oshomegie denied the allegation and argued that his clients were gentlemen who would never engage in such criminal acts.
He, however, urged court to protect the defendants from those he described as ‘power mongers.’
News
Kyari in trouble as N/Delta youths vow to storm Abuja over failed promises on Port Harcourt refinery
…urge NNPCL Boss to resign
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Groups, under the aegis of Coalition of Niger Delta Youths Against Poverty, Insecurity & Environmental Degradation (CONDYAPIED), have expressed disappointment over failure of the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, to operationalise the Port Harcourt Refinery before the end of September, 2024, as promised.
The NNPCL Boss had severally assured Nigerians that the Port Harcourt refinery would start local refining and that prices of petroleum products would reduce drastically before the deadline of September 2024.
One month later, neither of the Port Harcourt, Warri or Kaduna refineries is functioning, safe for only Dangote refinery, as marketers still import refined petroleum into the country, thereby causing serious hike in the price of the products.
A press statement on Sunday, jointly signed by Engr. Jonas Igariga, Coordinator of the Coalition, and Comrade Jack Opobo, General Secretary, the Coalition called on Kyari to tender his resignation letter and apologize to Nigerians.
“In a sane society where leaders have conscience, the likes of Mele Kyari should burry their heads in shame and tender their resignation and apologies to Nigerians for plunging the entire nation into untold hardship”, the Coalition said.
The Coalition averred that, inspite of huge funds injected into the Port Harcourt refinery, Kyari prefers importation of refined products, to making local refinery operational, despite his many promises.
“The NNPCL GCEO has failed Nigerians, times without number, on the issue of Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri refineries, after blowing over 3 billion dollars on the project. It has been discovered that Mele Kyari and his goons have no plans to fix any refinery as they prefer to import adulterated products into the country and milk the citizens dry.
“NNPCL cabal and their importers are deliberately sabotaging the good intentions of President Tinubu by making sure there are queues and Nigerians buy the product at any price fixed and given to them by the oil Lords. We shall not fold our hands and allow this to happen”, the statement added.
According to the statement, several warnings had gone to Kyari in the past, to fulfill his promise by making sure the Port Harcourt refinery became operational in September; but to no avail.
“We read the statement signed by the Coalition of Niger Delta Youth On Energy Reforms and Transparency in the Oil and Gas Sector, urging Kyari to ensure that the Port Harcourt Refinery became operational before the end of September as he promised.
“The group expressed concern about the energy crisis in the country caused by the non-functionality of local refineries, continued dependence on the importation of petroleum products, and the resulting cost implications for the country.
“They noted that the failure of NNPC has further worsened the country’s energy crisis and impoverished the people of the oil-producing Niger Delta.
“The group alleged that the Port Harcourt refinery is being planned to be converted into a blending plant. They claimed that substandard petroleum products from Russia will be mixed with chemicals and sold to the people of the Niger Delta.
“This is basically our fear too. We at the CONDYAPIED are not only concerned about the corruption going on at the NNPCL, but we are grately worried over the plan to convert the Port Harcourt refinery to a mere blending plant. We shall resist this with all our might. We shall shut down Abuja in protest, in the coming weeks, and occupy the NNPC towers until the needful is done.
“We will not allow our refinery to be converted to blending plant, because we are aware of the potential environmental degradation and terrible impacts on our people. This move could expose the people of Niger Delta to harmful chemicals from environmental pollutions and degradation caused by the waste products released into the environment, if it is allowed”, the Coalition submitted.
News
Just in: Gunmen Abduct Road Safety Agency, FRSC Official In Enugu, Demand N50Million Ransom
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Gunmen in Enugu have kidnapped an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Emeason Chima.
Chima, who is attached to RS4.211, Ugbokolo unit of the agency, was kidnapped on Saturday around Maduka University in Nsukka, Enugu State.
The gunmen are demanding N50 million ransom to release the victim, a senior FRSC official in the state revealed.
The official who wasn’t authorised to speak to journalists said Chima was driving alone in his car when he was attacked and abducted.
Meanwhile, an internal memo within the agency confirmed that the gunmen – using the officer’s phone -demanded for a ransom of N50 million.
“The Command Is In Receipt Of Information About The Kidnap Of SRMA Emeason Chima,” Emmanuel Al-Hassan, Ugbokolo unit commander said in the memo.
“Place Of Incidence: After Maduka University, Nsukka Enugu Road through OPI junction, in Enugu State. Information extracted so far confirmed that the staff was driving alone in a Toyota saloon car when he was kidnapped.
“The unit commander has already been contacted by the kidnappers using the staff phone, where a demand of 50million ransom has been made.
“Further details will be made available as events unfolds. This is forwarded for your information and further guide sir.”
Security has deteriorated in the South-East part of the country with frequent attacks by non-state actors in recent times.
The gunmen have carried out a series of abductions, collected huge ransoms and in some occasions killed their victims.
Aside from government officials and facilities, military and police personnel and others have been targets of attacks by these gunmen in the region.
The Nigerian government has accused pro-Biafra group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region.
But the group has repeatedly denied its involvement in the attacks.
News
NNPC Update on Helicopter Crash: No Additional Bodies Recovered
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The NNPC Ltd. wishes to announce that beyond the three bodies found in the ill-fated helicopter operated by East Winds Aviation that crashed on Thursday in Port Harcourt, no other bodies have been recovered.
The Company further notes that intensified search and rescue operations for the remaining bodies along with relevant authorities is still ongoing
Once again, our hearts and prayers are with family members of this unfortunate incident.
Olufemi Soneye
Chief Corporate Communications Officer
NNPC Ltd.
Abuja
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