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Finally, loud mouth Deji Adeyanju begs PDP over defamation, says “I’m sorry”
Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju retracted the alleged defamatory statements made against the acting National Chairman and the acting National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party Umar Damagun, and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, on Friday.
Adeyanju, in a letter dated December 6 written from his law firm, Deji Adeyanju & Partners, and signed by Zainab Otega, tendered an apology for the defamation.
Otega, in the letter addressed to Johnson Usman, SAN, counsel for Damagun and Anyanwu, said the “statements were not intended to defame your clients.”
She further maintained that any perception of defamation in the said statements is regretted and withdrawn with apologies.
The letter reads, “We are solicitors to Deji Adeyanju, Esq (hereinafter referred to as our client), on whose instruction we act.
“Our client received two letters from the law firm of the revered Senior Advocate of Nigeria, J. J. Usman, alleging that some statements he made on a podcast a few weeks ago were deemed defamatory of Damagun and Anyanwu, the National Chairman and Secretary of the PDP respectively.
“Our client’s statements on the podcast were taken out of the bigger context of the conversation which is the need for the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party to provide a virile opposition to the ruling party.
“These statements were not intended to defame your clients, and any perception of defamation in the said statements is regretted and withdrawn with apologies.
“As a human rights activist, our client remains committed to the betterment of Nigeria and will continue to urge those in leadership to prioritise the interest of Nigerians over and above personal interest.”
Adeyanju had on Wednesday, accused Damagun of serving tea and Anyanwu of serving ‘Kilishi’ in the house of President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
He made the claims while disclosing Tinubu’s plans to install a PDP presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Featuring on The Honest Bunch podcast, Adeyanju claimed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Damagum are Tinubu’s moles in the PDP.
He said, “The current PDP is in Wike’s pocket at the national level, he installed the current PDP National chairman who goes to serve tea in Femi Gbajabiamila’s House.
“While Damagum is serving tea, PDP’s National Secretary, Sam Anyanwu, goes to the kitchen to serve Kilishi, they are the people in charge of the PDP.
“These are Tinubu’s moles, just like Abure in LP who is an APC mole. There is no opposition, that’s why nobody is challenging the system. Aside from a few of us, who else is talking?”
Aftermath of the allegations, Damagun and Anyanwu threatened to drag Adeyanju to court for civil and criminal litigation over the alleged defamatory remarks.
Both through their counsel, Johnson Usman, SAN, asked Adeyanju to retract the statements and tender apology in national dailies and other social media platforms to avert the looming legal tussle.
PUNCH.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has announced a reduction in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, at its retail outlets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
According to a report by The Cable, the petrol price at the NNPC station in Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, was cut from ₦935 per litre to ₦910, signaling a slight relief for consumers in the nation’s capital.
However, the new pricing has not yet extended to Lagos, where petrol prices at NNPC retail outlets remain unchanged. This discrepancy has sparked renewed concerns over regional price variations in Nigeria’s downstream oil market.
The latest adjustment comes in the wake of an intensifying price contest between NNPC and the privately-owned Dangote Refinery. Just days earlier, on May 12, the Dangote Refinery lowered its ex-depot petrol price to ₦825 per litre, a strategic move aimed at capturing a larger share of the domestic fuel market.
The price reduction appears to be an outcome of recent high-level discussions between NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Bayo Ojulari, and Dangote Refinery’s founder, Aliko Dangote. The meeting, held on May 9, reportedly sought to realign the relationship between the two entities and promote collaboration rather than rivalry.
Speaking after the meeting, Dangote stated, “There is no competition between us; we are not here to compete with NNPC Ltd. NNPC is part and parcel of our business, and we are also part of NNPC. This is an era of cooperation between the two organisations.”
Ojulari echoed this position during a press briefing on May 12, attributing the petrol price reduction to the recent procurement of fuel at lower international prices. He explained that the earlier surge in pump prices was due to existing stock purchased by marketers at higher rates.
“This downward price adjustment reflects our effort to respond to changing supply conditions and deliver better value to Nigerians,” Ojulari said, while also noting that more adjustments may occur as the market stabilizes.
Industry observers view the ongoing price adjustments as an early indicator of growing competition in Nigeria’s petroleum sector, especially with the Dangote Refinery ramping up its operations. Analysts believe that sustained collaboration between both players could enhance supply efficiency and potentially ease the burden of fuel costs for consumers nationwide.
News
BUNKERING: Army, Tantita Security Arrest Truck Laden with Illegally Extracted Crude Oil in Delta
A joint team comprising officers of the 181 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Oleh, and personnel from Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd. has arrested a vacuum truck involved in illegal crude oil extraction at Well 3, Olomoro, in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.
According to reports, the truck, which previously belonged to Engr. Daniel Omoyibo, also known as Damotech, was gifted to the driver, Mr. Matthew Ojomikre, who is currently being detained at the Forward Operating Base (FOB), 181 Battalion, Oleh.
Upon interrogation, the driver confessed that his company had been contracted by Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd. to evacuate sludge from Well 3, Olomoro. However, he was unable to provide any formal approvals or documentation authorizing the activity, as was previously the norm.
Until recently, Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd. had consistently provided crude and condensate trucking permits to officers of the Nigerian Army and Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd. for proper monitoring from the loading point to the discharge location.
Officers of Tantita Security Services, in collaboration with a team from Heritage and the Nigerian Army, have collected samples from the vacuum truck for laboratory testing and analysis.
The preliminary confessional statement from the driver indicates that he illegally collected crude oil from Well 3 under the pretense of evacuating sludge from the wellheads.
Authorities have reported that the same truck has previously been involved in unauthorized crude oil evacuations within the Isoko axis.
The driver, the truck, and its contents remain in custody at the 181 Battalion Base in Oleh for further interrogation and possible prosecution.
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