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Oil sector probe investigation: Lawyers demand suspension of NNPC head, Kyari, others

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No fewer than 20 constitutional lawyers have called on the House of Representatives’ Joint Committee on Petroleum (Downstream and Midstream), to recommend the suspension of the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Mele Kyari.

This call also includes the suspension of Lawal Sade, Managing Director of NNPC Trading Company, and Bala Wunti, Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), pending the conclusion of a forensic investigation into the company’s operations.

The lawyers, led by constitutional activist, Tijani Usman, issued a press statement on Thursday, insisting that suspending these executives was crucial to ensuring an uninterrupted investigation. They argued that allowing these officials to remain in their positions would enable them to access sensitive information and documents, potentially derailing the investigation.

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The legal practitioners criticised Kyari and his team for allegedly sabotaging President Tinubu’s efforts to salvage the nation’s economy. They asserted that the executives’ incompetence has hindered legislative intentions aimed at improving the petroleum sector.

The lawyers equally urged the Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere (Downstream) and Hon. Henry Okojie (Midstream)-led probe panel not to sweep the OVH Acquisition and other related deals under the carpet as they are the larger issues the joint committee should look into beyond those raised in the motion that prompted the forensic investigation.

“It is quite fascinating that the House of Representatives has resolved to carry out a forensic investigation into the presence of middlemen in trading, the indiscriminate issuance of licenses, the unavailability of laboratories to check adulterated products, the influx of adulterated products into the country, the allegation of non-domestication of profits realised from crude marketing sales in local banks, and other anomalies.

“Interestingly too, the forensic investigation also cover the importation of substandard products and high-sulphur diesel into Nigeria, the sale of petroleum products below fair market value, and the impact on downstream and local refineries and as the source of funds for such interventions, amongst other things, and report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.

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“However, this would be efforts in futility if the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari and his cohorts, especially Lawal Sade, the Managing Director of NNPC Trading Company and Bala Wunti, the Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS) are allowed to remain in office why the investigation is being conducted.

“Thus, we urge the House of Representatives’ Joint Committee on Petroleum (Downstream and Midstream) conducting forensic investigation into the state of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and downstream sector generally to recommend their suspension to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or else they will use their tremendous influence to sabotage this timely intervention.

“When that is done, President Tinubu who should by now realised that the Kyari- led NNPCL was sabotaging his efforts to fix the economy due to their crass incompetent and mischief should suspend the management of the company to give the lawmakers unfettered access to do their job.

“Beyond those rots spelt out in the motion which necessitated the probe, the Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere (Downstream) and Hon. Henry Okojie (Midstream)-led probe panel should make sure the OVH Acquisition and other sleeze are not swept under the carpet.

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“Nigerians are well aware how after N140 billion purchase, NNPCL was unable to complete the acquisition of OVH Energy Marketing Limited‘s downstream assets. So, the panel will be daring the people who are already fed up with the kleptomania in the company.”

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Insecurity! Troops arrest Bello Turji’s ally Bako, silence 211 terrorists in 7 days

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A suspected terrorist has been nabbed by the troops in the North West theatre of operation.

The arrested high profile and notorious terrorist was identified as Bako Wurgi. The terror leader is linked to the murder of the Sokoto Monarch and a staunch ally of wanted high profile terrorist Bello Turji’s.

In a statement made available to journalists on Friday in Abuja, the Defence Director Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba said the arrested terrorist leader, Bako Wurgi, eventually succumbed to gun shot injuries sustained during the fire fight.

According to General Buba, the terrorist leader Wurgi provided valuable intelligence to support troops operations before he eventually passed on.

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General Buba also disclosed that another two high profile terrorists identified as Hamisu Sale (aka Master) and Abubakar Muhammad were arrested during seperate operations conducted in North Central theatre of operation.

In his words, the duo are cooperating and providing valuable intelligence on the terror network.

The DHQ spokesman was deadpan when he said that, “Troops are on high alert and have increased readiness to protect the country from further terrorist aggression, particularly during the yuletide.

Accordingly, robust operations targeted at terrorist leadership are being conducted across the various theatres of operations.”

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He disclosed that during the week under review, troops neutralised 212 and arrested 272 persons.

The DHQ publicist informed that troops recovered 247 assorted weapons and 6,174 assorted ammunition.

Giving the breakdown, General Buba said 2 RPG UXO4, 110 AK47 rifles, 56 fabricated rifles, 36 dane guns and 2 FN rifles were recovered during the week under review.

Others include, 2 baretta pistols, 15 locally made pistols, 2 revolver pistols, 12 pump action guns, 2 double barrel guns, one single barrel gun, one RPG bomb, one RPG tube, 2 exploded RPG chargers, one PKM link, one link of GPMG and 70 AK47 magazines.

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Also recovered are 3,235 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,583 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 130 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm ammo, 400 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 92 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 107 rounds of 9mm ammo, 311 live cartridges, one FN magazine, 3 bandoliers, 5 baofeng radios, 8 vehicles, 51 motorcycles and 103 mobile phones amongst other items.

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Speaker Abbas Refutes Claims of Outstanding Land Payment to FCTA

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By Gloria Ikibah

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, has clarified reports alleging that his land title in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was revoked due to unpaid dues.

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In a press statement issued on December 20, 2024, the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, affirmed that Speaker Abbas owns only one land title in the FCT and had fully settled the required payment in October 2024. This payment was made promptly after the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) issued public notices in the newspapers regarding outstanding obligations.

The Speaker described the inclusion of his name among defaulters as an error on the part of the FCTA and urged the agency to exercise greater caution in managing such matters.

He also called on the media to verify facts thoroughly before publishing reports, cautioning against the dissemination of misleading information that could tarnish his reputation.

The Speaker therefore appealed for restraint in circulating inaccurate.

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Wike gives final ultimatum to land owners to pay for C-of-O

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has given owners of the 762 plots of land in Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone, A10, Abuja, a fresh two-week ultimatum to pay for their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) or risk final revocation of their allocations.

According to a statement on Friday, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the FCT Minister reiterated that the primary interest was not for people to lose their lands, but to get them to make necessary payments to the government.

The statement read: “It should be recalled that on October 5, 2024, list of 3,273 allottees/title holders that were yet to pay for their C-of-O were published. They were offered two weeks to pay their bills or lose their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) titles. Out of the 3,273, a total of 2,511 complied, leaving 762.

Yesterday, notice of withdrawal of the R-of-O titles of the 762 defaulters was published.

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“Since then, many of the affected allottees have offered to pay, and since the primary aim of the government is to ensure payment, a two weeks grace has been given.

“Consequently, the 762 allottees and the 614 others with outstanding payment on C-of-O will have till January 3, 2025 to pay, or have their R-of-O titles withdrawn, pursuant to the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978.

After January 3, 2025, there will be no further extension and withdrawal of the R-of-O titles of defaulters will be final.”

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