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NSCDC uncovers illegal refinery in Rivers
By Francesca Hangeior.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has uncovered an illegal bunkering operation in a forested area of Umuedeokwara Community, Etche Local Government Area, Rivers State.
The discovery was made by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad during an operation aimed at curbing oil theft in the region.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Corps spokesperson, Afolabi Babawale, on Tuesday.
The CG’s SIS Commander, Deputy Commandant, Appolos Dandaura, revealed that the operation was based on intelligence reports indicating the presence of an illegal refinery at the site.
According to Dandaura, the criminals were tapping into multinational oil pipelines, using fabricated and galvanized metallic pipes connected with inserted valves to siphon crude oil.
The stolen oil was then stored in large tarpaulin reservoirs and locally refined into automotive gas oil.
“Like we always reiterate that our operations are intelligence-based and we value every piece of information and preserve the integrity of our informants; we swung into action, combed the entire forest, and discovered where the suspects were refining crude oil locally after storage in large trampoline reservoirs and further packaged them in cellophane bags and sacks.
“The following exhibits were marked at the crime scene: about 20,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil stored in cellophane bags, large quantities of siphoned crude oil stored in tarpaulin reservoirs, different sizes of aluminium and plastic buckets, galvanized metallic fabricated pipes, heavy-duty industrial hoses and items of clothing belonging to the suspects,” Dandaura was quoted saying.
At the scene, the NSCDC squad also found various equipment used in the illegal operation, including aluminium and plastic buckets, heavy-duty industrial hoses, and clothing items believed to belong to the fleeing suspects.
Dandaura noted that the operation aligns with the directive of the NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Audi, to clamp down on illegal bunkering activities and ensure that those responsible are arrested and prosecuted.
President Bola Tinubu has described the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, minister Nyesom Wike as a performing and dogged technocrat.
Naijablitznews reports Tinubu made this assertion during his maiden presidential chat on Monday.
The president rounded up by saying “I doff my hat for the performing minister.
Watch clip below:
By Gloria Ikibah
Prominent human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, has been released after fulfilling his bail conditions.
Farotimi, who had been in custody over allegations of defaming Senior Advocate of Nigeria and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola, regained his freedom on Tuesday morning.
He is currently enroute to his home in Lagos.
Confirming the development, activist and politician Omoyele Sowore stated on X, “I am pleased to report that Dele Farotimi is no longer being held in the prison facilities of Ekiti State and is now returning home to Lagos. The struggle continues!”
Earlier, a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ado Ekiti granted Farotimi bail, setting conditions that included a N30 million bond, two sureties (one of whom must be a property owner), the submission of his passport, and a restriction on granting media interviews following his release.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Following the intervention by the National Assembly leadership, the National Assembly Service Commission, NASC, has reversed the appointment of Dr Ibrahim Atiku as Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, DCNA.
The Commission has replaced Atiku with the permanent secretary [Estate and Works Directorate], Engineer Bashir Yero.
This was consequent upon the outcome of a meeting convened Monday night by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, with Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and their deputies in attendance.
Present also at the meeting were the Chairman of the NASC, Engineer Ahmed Amshi, two commissioners from NASC, and some permanent secretaries in the NASS bureaucracy.
THE CONCLAVE learnt that the high-level meeting took place in the Senate President’s residence.
Reports from the meeting said that the chairman of the NASC and his commissioners could not justify the appointment of Atiku when asked by the speaker how the choice of Atiku was arrived at.
THE CONCLAVE reports that it was at that point that the commission chairman sought the leave of the Senate President and the Speaker to ask that the permanent secretaries present should excuse them since they could not be sitting over a matter in which they had personal interest.
Upon their return to the room, after the leadership had arrived at a resolution one way or another, it was agreed that Engr. Bashir Yero of Estate and Works Directorate be appointed the DCNA, while Engr Sanda Liman of Procurement Directorate, be redeployed in Estate and Works.
The newly promoted Ibrahim Atiku [to the position of permanent secretary], as resolved and directed, should be deployed in Procurement Directorate.
The NASC is expected to formalise and/or activate the decision soonest.
Source: CONCLAVE
WATCH moment Tinubu hails FCT minister for his doggedness, sterling performance
BREAKING: Human Rights Lawyer Dele Farotimi Released
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