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NNPCL, FIRS, Police fingered as govt agencies evading audit

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The Senate committee on public account, has listed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL,  Federal Inland Revenue Services, FIRS, Nigerian Police Force, NPF, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, among MDAs which have refused to appear before the public account committee.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu (Nasarawa West), expressed dismay over the delay tactics and refusal of some MDAs to appear before the committee and tender account for the year ended 2019.

Aliyu, on Tuesday at a press briefing in Abuja, decried some agencies have willfully failed to honour invitations to defend their written responses to the audit queries as submitted to the Committee Secretariat.

According to Aliyu, the Committee has over time, extended invitations to those agencies providing them ample opportunities to defend their queries but for reasons best known to them, these agencies have chosen to dIsregard invitations.

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He said, “the desire of the Public Accounts Committee to timely discharge its constitutional and legislative function is being delayed by the evasive and negative actions of some CEOs or accounting officers of the concerned MDAs.

“The Committee is very displeased with the attitude of foot dragging by agencies who are by law. expected to respond to
parliamentary invitations and account for their actions.

“Section 62 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered, states The Senate or the House of Representatives may appoint a committee of its members for such special or general purpose as in its opinion would be better regulated and managed by means of such a committee, and may by resolution, regulation or otherwise, as it thinks fit, delegate any functions exercisable by it to any such committee.

“Provisions of Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Rule 95(5) of the Standing Orders of the Senate, 2023 (as amended) vest the Public Accounts Committee with the mandate of ensuring accountability and transparency in the management of the public accounts of the Federation.

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“The Committee has powers to consider and inquire into the Report of the Auditor-General for the Federation on the Accounts of the Federation and to also embark on status inquiry on revenue generation ahd exoenditures oT the accounts of the Federation.

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I have called you this afternoon as Core partners not only in our Committee’s proceedings but as constitutionally empowered workers/servants in the vineyard of constitutional democracy to express our concern and displeasure at the attitude of some MDAs and their CEOs towards Our invitations to defend the audit queries raised against them in the Auditor-General’s Annual Report for the Year ended 31st December, 2019.

“It is worthy to state that the Committee Commenced the consideration of the Audit Report in October, 2023, with a view to presenting its report.

“Beside the demand for submission of written responses to audit queries, part of the Committee’s rules of engagement requires that Accounting Officers attend the Committee’s Public Hearing to respond to questions arising from the analysis of their submissions which in turn forms a basis for informed decision on the matter by the Committee.

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“This action by the concerned MDAs impacts on the Committee’s calendar and plan to submit its report to Senate Plenary.

“It is on this note that we as a Committee have resolved that going forward, the Senate Public Accounts Committee will go ahead to consider their audit queries as contained in the Auditor-General Annual’s Report and any MDA that henceforth fails to honour invitations to respond and present its defense, the Committee will adopt the position of the Auditor.

“Also, this resolution would be added to our rules of engagement if MDAS fail to improve on their attendance to our invitations”.

MDAs evading appearance as listed by the Chairman includes, Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (former DPR), Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment and FCT Internal Revenue Service.

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Others include, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Defence and Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited.

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Celebrity boxing: Speed Darlington wants rematch after losing to Portable

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Nigerian singer Speed Darlington is calling for a rematch against Portable after losing to him in a celebrity boxing match.

Speed Darlington was knocked out in the second round, and he’s unhappy about the outcome.

In a video, he claimed Portable didn’t deserve the win and the prize money, saying he had plans to use the money to build a swimming pool for his community in Imo State.

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Portable, I want a rematch. E dey pain me say you dey carry all that money dey go. E dey break my heart.

” I want a rematch. It’s so unfair. You have up to two experience before me and you fight. I never enter ring before. I did not come from poverty,” he said.

“You don’t deserve that money. E dey pain me. I want to build swimming pool for my villagers. I need a rematch, Portable”, he said.

According to Speed Darlington, Portable had an unfair advantage due to his experience, accusing him of using supernatural means to win the fight.

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He also claimed he suffered a shoulder injury during the match despite not feeling tired.

Speed Darlington, who wants a rematch, said he needs 30 days to prepare better

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Israel’s remote controlled bulldozers breaking ground in Gaza war

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At first glance, there is nothing unusual about the bulky bulldozer turning up soil at a testing site in central Israel, but as it pulled closer it became clear: the driver’s cabin is eerily empty.

This is the Robdozer, a fortified engineering vehicle manned remotely, and in this case operated from a military expo halfway across the globe in Alabama.

Army engineers and military experts say that the Robdozer — the robotic version of Caterpillar’s D9 bulldozer — is the future of automated combat.

The Israeli military has used D9 for years to carry out frontline tasks like trowelling roads for advancing troops, removing rubble and flattening terrain.

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But since war in Gaza broke out in October 2023 and later in Lebanon, the Israeli military has increasingly deployed this robotic version in a bid to enhance its field operations and reduce the risks to its troops.

“The idea is to eliminate the person from the cockpit of the dozer,” said Rani, whose team at the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries developed the Robdozer.

An unmanned D9 bulldozer digs up a field during a demonstration to the press at the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) quarters near Tel Aviv on March 26, 2025. Israel’s increasing use of advanced technology on the battlefield, from air defence systems to a broad range of AI-driven intelligence tools, has been well-documented but also criticised for inaccuracies, lack of human oversight and potential violations of international law. (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)

During the Gaza war, the military has increasingly opted for the unmanned version, which can carry out a full range of tasks “even better than a human”, said Rani, using his first name only for security reasons.

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While such vehicles and other systems are currently operated by humans, future versions could be autonomous, raising ethical and legal concerns over the unchartered future of warfare being shaped by the Israeli military in the Gaza war.

‘Changing the paradigm’
Israel’s increasing use of advanced technology on the battlefield, from air defence systems to a broad range of AI-driven intelligence tools, has been well-documented but also criticised for inaccuracies, lack of human oversight and potential violations of international law.

Analysts say the growing Israeli deployment of the Robdozer reflects broader global trends towards automation in heavy combat vehicles, like remote-controlled personnel carriers that operate much like drones.

An Israeli military official, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, told AFP that the army has been using “robotic tools for over a decade, but in very small numbers. Now it is being used in large-scale warfare”.

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70-hour Chess Marathon: Onakoya reportedly breaks record set by Norwegians

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Nigerian chess sensation and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, has broken the chess marathon record of 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds, set by two Norwegian players, Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad, in June 2024.

Onakoya and his chess partner, Shawn Martinez, are currently aiming to complete a 70-hour chess marathon in Times Square, New York.

The marathon, a four-day non-stop gameplay, started on April 17.

In a post shared on X shortly after surpassing the current record, he expressed fulfillment and called for action to educate and create opportunities for street children in Nigeria.

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For all the dreamers! We’ve officially BROKEN THE RECORD with my brother,” he wrote.

Although the official confirmation from Guinness World Records is still being awaited, Nigerians and chess lovers from different parts of the world have congratulated the chess master on his latest achievement.

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