A former deputy governor of Oyo State, Barrister Iyiola Oladokun, has cried out that he and his family has been rendered homeless after the explosion that rocked Ibadan on Tuesday night.

Oladokun spoke in an interview with DAILY POST on Wednesday.

Recall that the explosion occurred at Dejo Oyelese Close, Bodija Housing Estate in Ibadan

Our correspondent reports that Oladokun’s residence was among the houses affected by the explosion.

The former deputy governor, while speaking with DAILY POST on Wednesday, said that he and his family members cannot sleep in his house again due to the damage from the explosion.

According to him, a friend had to provide accommodation for him and his wife after the explosion on Tuesday night.

He noted that property worth millions of naira was destroyed in his house as a result of the incident.

Oladokun said, “I am one of the residents of Dejo Oyelese Close. My house was affected.

“We were just watching the football match when the explosion occurred. All the doors that were closed were forced open.

“It was very devastating. All the doors, burglaries, windows and even the roof have gone.

“We give glory to God that me and my wife were not hurt.

“I am just coming back now because we can’t sleep here again. We couldn’t sleep here yesterday. We have to use our phone to move out yesterday. We had to find somewhere to sleep yesterday.”

A former Nigerian international, Garba Lawal, has said Thursday’s second Group A match against hosts Cote d’Ivoire is a golden opportunity for the Super Eagles to atone for the opening day 1-1 draw with the less illustrious National Thunder of Equatorial Guinea at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’ Ivoire.

While the three-time African champions only managed to force their opponents to a draw, the Elephants of Cote d’ Ivoire were imperious in their opening group match against Guinea Bissau which they won 2-0 to sail to the top of the table.

The draw left the Super Eagles joint second with Equatorial Guinea who will take on Guinea Bissau in the group match to be played before the highly anticipated clash of the former AFCON winners.

Anything less than a draw will definitely spell doom for the Coach Jose Peseiro led Super Eagles who exited the last edition in Cameroon at the Round of 16 after they suffered a slim 0-1 loss in the hands of the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia.

Speaking to Daily Trust ahead of tomorrow’s match, the former Super Eagles utility player said the squad of 2024 is left with no option than to get a result that will keep them in the competition.

He said even as it is going to be a very difficult match, if the Super Eagles will play with the required confidence, they would get a decent result against their opponents.

“The Super Eagles must move on from that game against Equatorial Guinea. If they are to forge ahead, they must not lose against Cote d’Ivoire. But it is going to be a very difficult match.

“To either win or draw the match, the Eagles must believe in themselves and play with confidence. If they are confident enough, they will overcome the Ivorian hurdle,” said the Olympics champion.

Lawal, therefore, said the Super Eagles stand a good chance against Cote d’ Ivoire but they need a bit of luck to be able to convert the chances that will come their way.

According to him, ill-luck contributed substantially to the slip against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.

“They played out their hearts but were unlucky to miss the goal scoring opportunities that came their way. I pray they will be lucky against the Elephants in the crucial match,” said Lawal.

Petroleum product retailers have revealed what Nigerians should expect as fuel prices following the commencement of operations at Dangote refinery.

Recall that the Dangote refinery announced the commencement of production last Friday.

The company had expressed readiness to supply the Nigerian market diesel and JetA1 or aviation fuel pending approval from the Federal Government.

It added that fuel production will commence in the coming months.

Reacting to the development in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Monday, the President of Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association, PETROAN, Billy Gillis-Harry, said price reduction would be one of the benefits of the coming onstream of the Dangote refinery.

According to him, it will be surprising if domestic refineries do not impact the price of fuel.

He added that Nigerians should expect to pay less for fuel.

“The promise that Dangote refinery petroleum products will be rolled out this month is good.

“There are remarkable benefits for Nigerians. When you import petrol products, you incur some costs. Common sense dictates that the in-country’s refining capacity should impact the price of the products.

“I will be surprised if we produce petrol in Dangote and Port Harcourt refinery and there is no price reduction benefit for Nigerians. Nigerians should expect to pay less. What the amount will be, I can’t determine right now”, he stated.

Two second-half goals from Hamari Traore and Lassine Sinayoko gave Mali a 2-0 win over South Africa in their opening match of the ongoing 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Cote d’Ivoire Tuesday night.

The thrilling encounter saw Mali dominating the possession to extend their unbeaten streak in opening games at AFCON.

Hamari Traore gave the West African side the lead in the 60th minute before Lassine Sinayoko scored six minutes later to increase the tally.

South Africa’s Percy Tau, however, missed a first-half penalty.

The Tuesday’s game not only solidified Mali’s standing in Group E but also reinforced their aspiration to claim the AFCON title with their attacking prowess in full display and setting a promising tone for their campaign in the tournament.

Mali, which has never lifted the trophy despite being seasoned participants with 13 appearances, was determined to make a significant impact this year judging by their 2-0 dropping of Bafana Bafana in their opener game.

The defeat adds pressure on South Africa as they must get good result against Namibia, who earlier on Tuesday beat Tunisia 1-0, to keep their knockout hopes alive.

Next up for Mali is a clash with Tunisia, which suffered a shocking 1-0 defeat against Namibia.

[Leadership]

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo is in the eye of the storm over his links to the scandal rocking the Humanitarian Ministry.

The young minister’s company, New Planet Project, got paid hundreds of millions of naira as consultancy fees for some work done for the scandal-ridden Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

The revelation has prompted calls for his suspension.

It would be recalled that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu has already been suspended by President Bola Tinubu.

In addition, President Tinubu has equally suspended all programmes under the NSIP.

Public opinion on the Minister of Interior has been divided.

Many believe that he should be given the same treatment as Edu, while others have described him as the star of the Bola Tinubu administration due to his work in reforming the knotty international passport process; hence, they believe he should be spared.

The minister has maintained that he has done no wrong.

According to him, he resigned from the company following his election into the House of Representatives in 2019 in accordance with the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

But critics said resignation is not enough because he remains the beneficial owner of the company hence the argument of conflict of interest.

Fisayo Soyombo, a Nigerian journalist posted on X that the “Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo will NEVER be able to revolutionise Nigeria’s messily-corrupt passport application system. Zero percent chance!”

“You know why already: his hands are not clean,” he claimed in the post.

However, there are many people out there who believe that the current push for the minister’s ouster is a matter of corruption fighting back.

“The digitization reform for processing International passport that Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (introduced/embarked on) clearly threatened the livelihood of so many “civil servants.” And there is a huge fighting back going on. Unfortunately Nigerians, in their ignorance, will be used as pawns in this battle,” Kelvin Odanz, a popular handle on X posted.

But the minister is not new to scandal, here are some of other scandals involving him.

NDDC off your mic scandal

Tunji-Ojo, who was the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC in the 9th Assembly, also faced corruption allegations during the probe of the NDDC under Daniel Pondei.

It would be recalled that Pondei staged a walkout during the investigation, stating that “we are not comfortable with the chairman of this committee presiding over a matter he has been accused of.”

He added that “There is no point of order here. As long as he is the chairman of this committee, the NDDC will not make any presentation here.”

According to the NDDC, Tunji-Ojo’s company was also a beneficiary of some of the questionable contracts in the NDDC.

Subsequently, Tunji-Ojo was forced to recuse himself from that investigation due to the corruption allegations against him and his company.

NYSC scandal

During the ministerial screening, Tunji-Ojo also faced scrutiny over his NYSC certificate prompting allegations of certificate forgery.

The minister claimed to have concluded his NYSC in 2020 which raised two questions- one, he was well above the 30-year age limit.

Secondly, the date raised another issue, which is that he was serving while he was in the National Assembly as a lawmaker. Lastly, the certificate carried 2023 as the date of issuance.

NYSC later “authenticated the genuineness” of the certificate, stating that Tunji-Ojo was initially mobilized in 2006 but absconded before the completion of the one year mandatory service.

Despite the controversy, Tunji-Ojo was cleared by the Senate and confirmed as minister.

Minister’s strategy of dealing with scandal

The minister has beat all previous scandals, and in the ongoing one, the president appears not ready to suspend him.

Many believe that Tunji-Ojo’s relationship with the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila may be a major factor.

A former aide of the Minister, who spoke with DAILY POST on the condition of anonymity, said the strategy of the minister is to always allow “time to address issues”.

“Honourable (Tunji-Ojo) appeared on Seun Okinbaloye’s programme (on Channels TV) to discuss the passport portal knowing fully well that Seun will ask him about the Edu matter. Some politicians will avoid speaking, thereby creating more doubt,” the former staffer said.

Many believe the minister’s strategy is working.

It would be recalled that during the interview, he emphasized that he resigned from the company in 2019, hence, those who support him argued that he complied with the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

Meanwhile, reports indicated that the minister failed to appear before the Code of Conduct Bureau on Tuesday as scheduled.

He was requested to appear before the Bureau yesterday, Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at the CCB Headquarters, Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja.

A letter of invitation was signed by the CCB Director, Investigation and Monitoring, Gwimi S.P., on behalf of the CCB Chairman, Murtala Aliyu.

“The Bureau is investigating a case of alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers in which your name featured prominently. Consequently, you are invited for an interview scheduled as follows:

“Date: Tuesday, January 16 January, 2024. Time: 1100hrs prompt. Venue: CCB Headquarters on 5th Floor, Annex III, Phase I, Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja,” the letter read in part.

Emerging reports indicated that the minister asked for a new date to make his appearance.

[DailyPost]

The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd has stated that there were 157 incidents of crude oil theft between December 30, 2023 and January 5, 2024 across the Niger Delta.  

This was stated in the weekly TV show, Energy and You aired on service of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA). 

According to the report, the incidents recorded range from illegal refineries, illegal connections, oil spills, illegal storage sites, pipeline vandalism etc.  

It further stated that there were 52 cases of illegal refineries discovered, 32 illegal connections to pipelines, 25 cases of pipeline vandalism, 2 incidents of oil spill, 3 cases of vessel infraction etc.  

The NNPCL reports that these incidents were reported by both oil companies like the AGIP, SPDC, and government and private security agencies like Tantita, the NNPCL Command and Control Centre.  

Location of incidents 

The report noted that 52 illegal refineries were discovered in Owazza, and Oguzor in Abia state, Ohaji-Egbema in Imo state, Omoku in Rivers state and other communities in Bayelsa state. They were subsequently destroyed.  

The illegal connections reported were discovered in Olodiama and other communities in Bayelsa state, and Udu in Delta state. In Okrika and Ebocha in Rivers state, the NNPCL reported the vandalisation of oil well heads in those communities.  

Of the total incidences of crude oil theft recorded, around 9 were recorded in the deep water while the majority of cases were recorded in the Central and Eastern regions of the Niger Delta with 95 and 45 cases respectively.  

What you should know  

• Nigeria has been battling crude oil theft across the Niger Delta which has reduced government revenues and led to environmental degradation and divestment by IOCs in onshore operations.  
• Shell- one of Nigeria’s oldest international oil companies recently announced the sale of its onshore oil assets to a group of companies called Renaissance for $1.3 billion. This comes after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Shell in an $878 million oil spill case which halted the proposed sale of its onshore assets.  
• The National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President stated in August that the country loses around 400,000 barrels of crude oil to theft daily during a visit to oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta.  

[Nairametrics]

Three chieftaincy titles handed by Anambra monarchs to the Senator representing Anambra South on the floor of the Nigerian Senate, Ifeanyi Ubah, has been withdrawn.

Announcing the development in a statement on Tuesday, the press secretary to the Anambra state government, Christian Aburime, said that the chieftaincy titles were withdrawn because the conferment contravened the state’s traditional rulers code.

Aburime explained that the action of the three monarchs ran foul of the state’s traditional rulers’ code.

The traditional rulers that withdrew their chieftaincy titles from the lawmaker includes the traditional ruler of Aguluezechukwu in Aguata Local Government Area, Igwe F.E. Ebelendu; traditional ruler of Neni in Anaocha Local Government Area, Igwe Onwuamaeze Damian and the traditional ruler of Ojoto in Idemili South Local Government Area, Igwe Gerald Mbamalu.

The statement read, “It has come to the attention of Anambra State Government that Igwe F.E. Ebelendu of Aguluezechukwu in Aguata Local government Area, Igwe Onwuamaeze Damian Ezeani of Neni in Anaocha Local government area and Igwe Gerald Obunadike Mbamalu of Ojoto in Idemili South Local Government Area have respectively apologised to Anambra State Government and withdrawn and cancelled the phantom chieftaincy titles conferred on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, as it contravenes the State Traditional Rulers’ law.

“This action by the three traditional rulers was in direct contravention of the State Traditional Rulers’ code, which outlines the rules and regulations regarding the granting and revocation of chieftaincy titles.

“Consequently, the titles of Ikemba Ojoto, Odenjiinji Neni and Dike Eji Eje Ogu earlier bestowed on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah have been withdrawn and cancelled by the three Igwes.

“This was contained in their respective letters of apology to the state government which also confirmed the withdrawal and cancellation of the chieftaincy titles which they variously described as nullity.

“However, it is instructive to note that traditional rulers are kindly advised to adhere strictly to the State Traditional laws and avoid any untoward actions that could contravene the provisions of the law.”

Naija News recalls that the three monarchs had conferred various chieftaincy titles on Ubah during their respective Ofala and cultural festivals last December.

Uba, who recently decamped to the All Progressives Congress, is rumored to be interested in the state’s governorship poll billed to take place in 2025.

The Charles Soludo led Anambra government had suspended the traditional ruler of Neni Kingdom, Igwe Damian Ezeani, ffor conferring of the chieftaincy title on the Senator.

The suspension letter signed by the state Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Tonycollins Nwabunwanne, detailed that Ezeani violated the code of conduct for traditional rulers by conferring in conferring the chieftaincy title on the senator.

Recent developments suggest a concerted effort by certain influential figures within and outside the Presidential Villa to implicate Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, in the transactions of the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.

This comes in the wake of a series of leaked memos from the ministry and its agencies, following Edu’s suspension and ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A particularly contentious memo dated December 18, 2023, from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, revealed President Tinubu’s approval of N3 billion from the COVID-19 Palliative Fund for verifying the National Social Register.

The disclosure of this memo led to widespread reactions on social media, with some Nigerians expressing outrage.

In response to the uproar, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, clarified that the approval of the N3 billion was a direct decision by President Tinubu, countering insinuations that Gbajabiamila was involved.

Furthermore, a presidential aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity with Vanguard, indicated that the release of such memos is likely to persist, suggesting that “Gbajabiamila was the prime target” of these revelations.

The source said, “The CoS did not convey his approval. He conveyed approval of his boss, it’s the practice with Abba Kyari and others, that the Chief of Staff conveys approval or otherwise of the President to Cabinet members and institutions that might have requested one or two things from the President. The current Chief of Staff has not faced twenty per cent of the attacks one of his predecessors, Abba Kyari got over wrong allegations. President Tinubu’s verdict on his Chief of Staff’s integrity is known to the public.

“The latest memo that came out was just an attempt by some persons within and outside the Villa to tie Gbajabiamila to the Betta Edu investigation. Thankfully, one of the official spokesmen of the President, Mr Bayo Onanuga has clarified that indeed, the N3 billion was approved by the President himself and not by Gbajabiamila.

“For the sake of clarity, it is not out of place for the President via his chief of staff to raise a memo to approve N3bn for verification of 11 million people inherited from the social register of the last administration based on official request from the minister. N3bn divided by 11 million means each person was verified at about N273 only. So the media trial of the President and his Chief of Staff is of no effect.

“It is left for the humanitarian affairs ministry to prove the exercise was indeed conducted. However, the intention of those who released the memo was to soil Gbajabiamila’s name. The President will rely solely on the outcome of the investigation team he already set up on the Humanitarian ministry.”

Recall that the President had at a Federal Executive Council on October 30, 2023, stated that he was aware of the campaign of calumny launched at Gbajabiamila and even passed a vote of confidence on him.

The President said, “I have absolute confidence in my Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. So, all campaign of calumny, the buck stops here! If I make mistakes, I’ll own up to them.”