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All is now set for the formal reinstatement of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday afternoon as the presiding officers of the House have suddenly tendered their resignations at plenary.
The deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Fatai Bola, has announced his resignation at about 3.15pm.
As the plenary progresses, the Speaker Mojisola Lasbat Meranda also announced her resignation.
Consequently, the coast is now clear for the return of Obasa as Speaker of the House following the crisis that engulfed the House after his impeachment in January.
Details Later…
The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved the employment of 1,010 secondary school teachers in the state
According to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, on Monday, the governor’s approval came after the completion of the recruitment process by the state Teaching Service Commission which screened thousands of applicants last year.
Adeniyan said the successful candidates are to begin their documentation immediately.
The statement read, “The governor had given approval for the recruitment of 1010 secondary school and 1000 primary school teachers last year, which signalled the start of the recruitment exercise by TESCOM and the State Universal Basic Education Board.
“While the final list for the secondary school candidates was approved by the governor on Friday, that of the primary school candidates is currently undergoing its finishing touches.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa has expressed concern over teaching staff shortages in public schools, particularly in rural communities. This necessitated his directive that the recruitment must be based on the peculiar needs of the understaffed schools across the state.”
He added that the recruitment of teachers in both primary and secondary schools was one of the efforts of the Aiyedatiwa administration to revamp the education sector in the state.
“The governor had last Friday approved the payment of N633m for the registration of students for the West Africa Examination Council’s Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.
“This came after the governor approved the upgrade and conversion of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo to a University of Agriculture and Agribusiness,” he added.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a wanted 59-year-old international drug baron, Ogbonnaya Jeff.
He was apprehended at his hideout in the Ojo area of Lagos after 17 years of evading authorities.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), said the agency’s Special Operations Unit had been tracking Ogbonnaya following an Interpol Red Notice against him and intelligence from the National Intelligence Service of South Korea.
He stated that the agency had gathered incontrovertible evidence of Ogbonnaya’s activities, including his recruitment of young Nigerians as drug couriers to smuggle illicit substances into the Republic of Korea.
He said, “The major development that warranted this special briefing pertains to the arrest of a drug lord wanted across the world as the leader of an international drug trafficking organization.
“On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, we arrested Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff, a 59-year-old drug baron. The suspect was apprehended at his hideout at No. 3, Ibukunoluwa Taiwo Close, off LASU Road, Lagos. He had been under NDLEA investigation before his arrest. As a result, we have comprehensive intelligence on his activities and incontrovertible facts confirming that he is a notorious drug lord who recruited young Nigerians as couriers to smuggle illicit substances into the Republic of Korea (South Korea).
“Our records reveal that many Nigerians apprehended outside the country for drug-related offences were linked to him. Furthermore, we have established that he laundered drug proceeds through the importation of electronics and other goods. Following his arrest, a search of his residence led to the recovery of multiple Nigerian international passports belonging to different individuals, many of which contained Korean visas. Additionally, we recovered some illicit substances stored at the back of his house.”
Marwa said Ogbonnaya had previously served a one-year prison term in South Korea in 2007 before being deported to Nigeria in 2008. However, he resumed his illicit operations, orchestrating drug shipments to the Far East.
“His dossier indicates that he served a one-year prison sentence in the Republic of Korea in 2007 and was deported to Nigeria in 2008. Despite this, he continued his illicit trade, remaining actively involved in drug trafficking operations to the Far East.
“Presently, he is wanted in the Republic of Korea for multiple drug trafficking offences in collaboration with his accomplices. An INTERPOL Red Notice was issued for his arrest and extradition to the country for offences committed between 2023 and 2024.
“From a series of interdictions, it has been established that Ogbonnaya is the ringleader of a drug trafficking organization responsible for smuggling narcotics into the People’s Republic of Korea. He has been orchestrating operations remotely, giving instructions to drug mules and domestic suppliers who are members of his syndicate spread across Cameroon, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Liberia, and other East and Southern African countries.”
Marwa stated that between December 2023 and April 2024, Ogbonnaya allegedly directed two couriers—Santa Elizabeth Pieterse and Carl Yohan Stephan Brisman—to smuggle five kilograms of methamphetamine into South Korea via international flights.
“On October 5, 2023, at a location in Burkina Faso, the suspect dispatched 6,051.06 grams of skunk, concealed in dried chillies and jujube, to a Korean, Kim Dong Wook, at a designated address in Jinju City, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. The package arrived at Incheon Airport on October 19, 2023, at 7:20 a.m. via Air France.
“Investigation reveals that while residing in Nigeria, he directed his drug couriers, Santa Elizabeth Pieterse and Carl Yohan Stephan Brisman, to smuggle a total of five kilograms of methamphetamine into South Korea via overseas flights between December 2023 and April 2024. In recent times alone, he has sent illicit drugs worth over N1.4 billion in street value to South Korea.
“Ogbonnaya maintains another domestic carrier, identified as ‘Asa,’ who delivers drug consignments to a warehouse operated by Okori Emmanuel, a Nigerian who serves as his supply manager in South Korea. As of now, two arrest warrants have been issued against Ogbonnaya by the Seoul Central District Court in January and June 2024. These warrants charge him with importing narcotic drugs in violation of Article 3-7 of South Korea’s Narcotics Control Act, an offence punishable by a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.”
Marwa, however, reaffirmed the NDLEA’s commitment to ensuring that Nigeria does not serve as a base for international drug trafficking operations.
A former Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party during the 2023 general election, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has dumped the party.
Jandor announced his resignation at a press briefing held at Liberty Place, Ikeja, in Lagos on Monday.
According to him, his reasons for leaving the party are not unconnected to indiscipline and anti-party activities, which have become the norm in his erstwhile party.
The ex-PDP governorship candidate, who a large group of supporters accompanied, revealed that the decision to part ways with the PDP stemmed from actions taken by some of the party’s leaders, including the former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George.
According to Jandor, these leaders actively worked against the PDP in the 2023 elections.
He said, “I am here before you today with a heavy heart but a clear conscience. We have dedicated ourselves to the ideals of democracy, good governance and a pursuit of a better Lagos.
“However, it has been found evident that the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, both at the national and state levels, has failed to uphold these principles. The persistent anti-party activities, internal sabotage and lack of discipline have led me and my supporters to leave.
“We will consult widely with everybody and then take the decision to collapse our structure to another platform. What is majority on the ground now is that we have left the Peoples Democratic Party,” Jandor stated.
The PUNCH reports that Jandor had, in preparation for the 2023 general election, tackled the chieftain of their party in Lagos, Chief Bode George because he didn’t support his ambition due to his choice of running mate.
George, who supported Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party candidate in the election, claimed that he had no regrets about not supporting Jandor.
However, in a statement signed by Gbenga Ogunleye, Head, Media and Communications, JANDOR4Governor Campaign Organisation, Jandor said Bode George’s modus operandi during each election cycle is to attack the PDP candidate and destabilise the party, thus paving the way for the APC to remain in power.
The full statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to a statement made by Chief Olabode George justifying his treacherous action during the recently held governorship election in Lagos State”.
“Chief George, while fielding questions on national television yesterday, said he had no regret for supporting and voting for the Labour Party governorship candidate against the candidate of his supposed political party, the Peoples Democratic Party”.
“It is not surprising that Chief Bode George, as his usual practice, worked against the interest of the PDP again, but his attempt to blame the infighting in the party as an excuse and a justification for his action is a failed attempt to hide behind a finger.”
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye says power for a good ending – a greater tomorrow is very vital to humans.
This is as he emphasises that life’s ending can far surpass its beginning.
Speaking during the Church’s monthly Thanksgiving Service at its Lagos headquarters on Sunday which coincides with the cleric’s 83rd birthday, Adeboye used biblical teachings and personal insights to inspire his audience.
He also urged them to focus on building a glorious future.
So This Happened (Ep286) Review The Growing Fear Of Deportation Faced By Nigerians In The US, Others
Quoting the Bible, he said, “The book of Isaiah 3:10 says, ‘Say to the righteous, it shall be well with him.’”
He explained life as a three-phased journey—past, present, and future—emphasising the importance of planning today for a better tomorrow.
“The past is the mother of today. The present has the DNA of the past. You’re who you are today because of certain decisions you took in the past.
“You are a medical doctor today because you chose to go to a medical school in the past. The decisions you take today will invariably affect your tomorrow,” he remarked.
Highlighting the significance of the future, Adeboye added, “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof. It is how you end that matters.
“The Almighty God has the ability to guarantee your future. He can make sure that your tomorrow is great.”
Example of Abraham
To illustrate, Adeboye referenced the story of Abraham, saying, “God blessed Abraham in all things and made him great. Isaac, his son, was very great.
“Jacob, the son of Isaac, was exceedingly great. God can take you from great to greater to exceedingly great.”
He noted the generational growth of Abraham’s lineage: “Abraham had one child that God recognised. Isaac had two sons. Jacob had 12 sons. These 12 multiplied.
“By the time they were going to Egypt, they were 70, and when they were leaving Egypt, they had become 600,000 people.”
Keys to a Greater Future
Adeboye urged his audience to embrace preparation and discipline for a greater tomorrow, particularly in raising children.
“Train your children because they are your tomorrow. The Yorubas say a child you don’t train will sell the house you are building.
“God vouched for Abraham because He knew Abraham would train his children in the way of the Lord,” he said.
He warned parents against laxity, advising, “Don’t allow your children to do whatever they like.
“If you allow them, you are ruining your future. Be firm when it comes to your children serving the Lord.”
To children, Adeboye gave a stern reminder: “You’re not only to obey your parents; you are to honour them.
“It is by honouring your parents that you will live long. If you think you know more than your parents, you may never live long.”
Diligence and Humility
For a greater future, Adeboye highlighted the principles of sowing, diligence, and humility.
“Learn to sow. It is what you sow in the present that will be your harvest in the future. Also, be diligent. God is a rewarder of those who are diligent,” he counselled.
On humility, he said, “Pride is a killer. God resists the proud. You can’t have a future if God is constantly resisting you.
“Submit to God, and He will make sure no one tampers with your destiny.”
Promise of a Glorious Future
Concluding, Adeboye underscored that a glorious future is only guaranteed for those in Christ. “You have a glorious future if Christ lives in you,” he affirmed.
Veteran Nollywood star, Norbert Young and his wife, Gloria, have shared their journey through seven years of childlessness, revealing how the experience affected them individually and as a couple.
In an interview with Tope on Love Notes which with Tope which started trending on Sunday, the couple reflected on the emotional weight of that period, with Gloria expressing how deeply it affected her, while Norbert maintained that he never saw it as a challenge.
When asked about difficulties in their marriage, Norbert initially struggled to pinpoint one.
But Gloria quickly reminded him, saying, “I was childless for seven years, Norbert.”
Norbert, however, insisted that he never viewed it as a challenge, explaining his perspective, “I didn’t see it as a challenge, you see, because I kept telling her, ‘What are you worried about? What is it? Be calming down.’
“How can I see it as a challenge? I had a sister who was married for 16 years without a child, and on the 17th year, she had a child.
“Her husband never told her to leave. That child today is a medical doctor—a big man too. So what’s the big deal? It didn’t threaten our union at all.”
Despite his confidence, Gloria admitted she felt the pressure saying, “He never did. But I was the one feeling it, and I was the one seeing things. And he was the one telling me, ‘What is it? Stop worrying about such things.’”
Norbert acknowledged her anxiety, saying, “She was anxious about it—being childless for that long. Like I said, it wasn’t a challenge for me, but it was for her. As a couple, it was challenging, but personally, I didn’t see it that way.”
Gloria then brought up societal pressure, asking Norbert if anyone had ever questioned him about their lack of children.
His response was firm: “Them born you well come ask me that? Nobody in my family asked me.”
Gloria, however, had a different experience.
She recalled how, at family gatherings, she would often be subjected to silence but pointed stares from relatives.
She said, “Nobody in his family did. But I would go to my own family gatherings, and not asking per se, but imagine you’re walking into the room, and one aunty looks at you—makes sure that you know she’s looking at you—then her eyes go down to your stomach.
“And as you walk away, her eyes are still there. What is she telling you? Like, ‘How far na? E don tey oh! E don pass one, two, three…’ Without saying a word. Oh, I had those kind of aunties.”
Click the link below to watch the video
Media
Bitcoin experienced a substantial increase, climbing around 20% from its recent lows, while other cryptocurrencies mentioned by President Donald Trump in a recent Truth Social post also experienced a sharp rise.
Market action showed Bitcoin rallied as high as $95K on Sunday after the president’s announcement via social media. Bitcoin cooled at $93K at the time of publication.
Trump suggested that his January executive order on digital assets would create a reserve of currencies in the U.S., including Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, Solana, and Cardano.
The president of the world’s most powerful economy revealed the plan in a Sunday post on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating that a presidential working group had been instructed to move forward with the reserve’s establishment
“The initiative aims to support the crypto industry and strengthen America’s position in the global digital asset market,” he said. “After years of corrupt attacks by the Biden Administration, a US Crypto Reserve will elevate this critical industry, which is why my Executive Order on Digital Assets directed the Presidential Working Group to move forward on a Crypto Strategic Reserve that includes XRP, SOL, and ADA,” Trump stated.
This announcement led to a positive change in sentiment for the world’s largest cryptocurrency, which had been losing ground since mid-January due to disappointment over Trump’s inaction in relaxing regulatory policies. Over a fifth of Bitcoin’s value has been taken off the price since it peaked at $109,000 in early January
Trump disclosed plans to create a Crypto strategic reserve in the United States in the last quarter of 2024, indicating his support for the cryptocurrency industry.
He declared, “We’re going to do something great with crypto because we don’t want China or anybody else to embrace it, but others are, and we want to be ahead.”
Bitcoin dropped more than 17 percent last month, marking its largest monthly percentage decline since June 2022.
Optimism that the crypto-friendly president would support a strategic Bitcoin fund and end the Biden administration’s crackdown on the sector has propelled its rally since Trump’s election in November.
However, investors haven’t heard much specific news about that policy thus far, aside from the rush of tech-friendly officials Trump appointed to office.
Technical analysis
Recent market activity shows that Bitcoin could extend the rally to retest its next resistance level at $100,000 if it continues to recover.
The daily chart’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) now stands close to neutral, suggesting improved market sentiment.
The RSI needs to move above its neutral level of 50 for the bullish momentum to continue. However, if Bitcoin continues to fall and closes below the $90,000 support level, it may retest its $85,000 daily support.
President Trump’s position on cryptocurrencies has changed over time. He was initially dubious, but in keeping with his pledge to make America a center for cryptocurrency innovation, he has lately taken a more encouraging stance.
This commitment is demonstrated by the issuance of Executive Order 14178, which instructs federal agencies to create frameworks that facilitate the integration and regulation of digital assets.
America’s Crypto Czar confirms Trump’s strategy
White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks has endorsed President Donald Trump’s declaration of an American strategic reserve for cryptocurrency.
“President Trump has announced a Crypto Strategic Reserve consisting of bitcoin and other top cryptocurrencies,” Sacks wrote in a post on the social media site X. President Trump is making the U.S the “World’s Crypto Capital.’
Sacks announced plans for a major industry gathering: “On Friday, March 7, President Trump will host the first White House Crypto Summit.. Prominent CEOs, investors, and founders from the cryptocurrency sector will be among the attendees. I hope to see you all there!”
The summit is anticipated to help the administration and important stakeholders communicate, strengthening America’s prominent position in the global crypto industry
[Nairametrics]
Lagos Assembly Crisis: Presidency, APC Leaders Eye Court Resolution If Obasa’s Reinstatement Fails
Admin
As the leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly deepens, sources within the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership have hinted at a possible judicial resolution if efforts to reinstate Mudashiru Obasa fail.
Despite intense lobbying from political heavyweights, the majority of lawmakers remain steadfast in their support for Speaker Mojisola Meranda, creating a stalemate between the two factions.
Naija News reports that a highly placed source within the Presidency told Vanguard, “The President is insisting Obasa must return but the Assembly members are also throwing their weight behind Meranda.
“The two camps do not want to shift grounds. As it is, the court will decide who the Speaker is and you know how judicial process works, it will move from the High Court to Appeal Court and from there, to the Supreme Court; the court will decide.”
The legal process, according to insiders, could be drawn out, moving from the High Court to the Court of Appeal, and eventually, to the Supreme Court a situation that could leave the Assembly in limbo for months.
Meanwhile, Obasa has taken the legal route, suing Meranda, the Assembly, and 36 lawmakers in a bid to overturn what he describes as his “unlawful removal.”
The case, currently before Justice Yetunde Rukayat Pinheiro of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, was adjourned last Friday to March 7, when pending applications are expected to be heard.
[NaijaNews]
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked President Bola Tinubu to instruct the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, to halt the increase in Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transaction fees pending the conclusion of the lawsuit on its legality.
SERAP stated that if the CBN implements the ATM fee increase while the suit is still pending before the Federal High Court in Lagos, it would undermine the judicial process and the rule of law.
The civil society organisation, which made the argument in an open letter dated March 1, 2025, signed by its Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, also asserted that the apex bank must suspend the increase and wait for the lawsuit’s outcome.
SERAP further urged the president to seek legal advice from the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN),, regarding the CBN’s legal responsibility to uphold the rule of law by suspending the ATM fee increase while the lawsuit is pending.
This lawsuit followed the CBN’s announcement that ATM withdrawals at bank-owned machines outside their branch premises would now incur a fee of N100 for every N20,000 withdrawn.
Withdrawals made at shopping centres, airports, or standalone cash points would incur a fee of N100 plus a surcharge of up to N500.
In the open letter, SERAP stated that suspending the fee increase would align with the letter and spirit of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended), the president’s oath of office, and repeated promises to uphold the rule of law.
The organisation insisted that the CBN has the responsibility to uphold due process, protect the integrity of the judicial process, and ensure that its operations do not undermine the rule of law or the court.
It also maintained that the CBN must maintain the status quo as of February 26, 2025, when the court documents were duly served, and during the lawsuit filed by SERAP concerning the ATM fee hike before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
SERAP stated, “The CBN is not permitted to act in ways that would disregard the public interest or create a situation of complete helplessness for the Federal High Court.
“Nigerian courts disapprove of acts of self-help and respond swiftly to such conduct to reinforce that they will not be manipulated to hinder one party while allowing the other to benefit extrajudicially.
“Implementing the increase in ATM transaction fees while the upheld court processes and lawsuit are pending would directly threaten the integrity of the country’s judicial system and the rule of law.
“The credibility and relevance of the judicial system are at risk of being compromised, which could encourage other ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to adopt similarly dismissive attitudes toward pending legal cases.
“The CBN must fulfil its general duty to act in good faith and avoid actions that might undermine the integrity of the judicial process by promptly suspending the increased ATM transaction fees until the lawsuit is heard and resolved.
“We would appreciate urgent action on the recommended measures to uphold the integrity of the judicial process and the rule of law.
“It is in the public’s interest to ensure that the streams of justice remain clear and pure, maintaining the authority and integrity of the court in this matter.
“SERAP filed the lawsuit on February 21, 2025, under number FHC/L/CS/344/2025, against the CBN due to its failure to reverse the unfair and unreasonable increase in ATM transaction fees.
“The court documents were officially served to the CBN in Abuja on February 26, 2025, and the CBN has acknowledged receipt.
“In the lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP is asking the court to determine whether the CBN’s decision to increase ATM transaction fees was arbitrary, unfair, unreasonable, and contrary to the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018.
“It is crucial to keep the streams of justice clear and pure and to uphold the authority and integrity of the court in this case,” SERAP stated.
[Leadership]
Nigeria’s office of the Accountant General of the Federation has identified major setbacks to the implementation of the July 11, 2024 Supreme Judgement on local government councils autonomy.
According to the government agency, the two major setbacks are the failure of LGAs to submit account details, adding that identifying the LGAs that are democratically elected is a prerequisite for receiving the direct payment.
This was contained in the Federation Account Allocation Committee Technical Sub-Committee meeting, the minutes obtained at the weekend.
The meeting was chaired by AGF, Oluwatoyin Madein.
Meanwhile, the OAGF and Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice have commenced talks to address the setback, according to sources familiar with the matter.
According to the minutes, of the 774 local government councils, only Delta State, with 25 local government councils, has submitted their account details for direct payment.
“So far, only local governments in Delta State have provided account details.
“However, consultation with the Attorney-General of the Federation on the modalities of the submission of the accounts was still ongoing,” it said.
Addressing the challenge, Madein said a system was set to be implemented, but the initial challenge was in determining which local government councils had constitutionally elected chairmen.
She remarked that this foundational stage remained unclear.
“Additionally, for those with properly elected leadership, the question arose as to what mechanisms would be deployed to ensure they receive direct allocations.
“This was because numerous complexities needed to be addressed,” she said.
Recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria had commenced profiling the chairmen and signatories to the bank accounts of the 774 local government areas in the country as part of processes to commence local government autonomy.
The Director of Legal Services at the CBN, Kofo Salam-Alada, in a notice explained that this was necessary to ensure financial accountability.
“This is all about standard procedure in the form of KYC (Know Your Customer). Anyone who will be a signatory to the account must be profiled.
“The process is ongoing, and we are collaborating with the AGF’s office. We have also written to the LGAs,” he said.
However, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria said it had received no communication from the apex bank concerning the opening of bank accounts.
ALGON Chairman in Abia State and Chairman of the Mayor Isuikwuato LGA, Chinesu Ekeke, said the CBN had yet to invite any LG chairman for signatory verification.
“No, we have not been invited for signatory verification. I am just hearing it. I have not heard it from any other source.
“I have not seen any publication to that effect, even at ALGON headquarters; nobody has informed us,” he stated.
This comes as the National Union of Local Government Employees earlier warned the CBN against aiding state governors in undermining the financial autonomy of local government councils.
DAILY POST recalls that the Supreme Court had, on July 11, 2024, affirmed the financial autonomy of the 774 local government areas in the country and prohibited governors from further control of funds meant for the councils.
The apex court also directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to pay local government allocations directly to their accounts, declaring the non-remittance of funds by the 36 states unconstitutional.
But eight months after the judgement, the financial autonomy has yet to take effect.
[DailyPost]
More...
The House of Representatives will today begin an investigation into outstanding debts by several oil companies to the Federation Account amounting to about N9.4 trillion.
In a statement, House spokesman Akintunde Rotimi said the investigative hearing is in compliance with the committee’s constitutional mandate under sections 85, 88, and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as Order XX – Rule 6 of the House of Representatives Standing Orders (11th edition).
The statement revealed that during the review of the Auditor-General’s Annual Report on the Consolidated Financial Statement for the year ended December 31, 2021, and following further in-depth investigations, it was discovered that as of the last quarter of 2024, several oil companies owed a total of approximately N9.4 trillion to the Federal Government.
It added that the amount covered unpaid royalties, concession rentals, and gas flare penalties, besides obligations arising from production-sharing contracts, repayment agreements, and modified carry arrangements.
He said: “Despite the clear provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act – which require such debts to be settled within 30 days – many of these liabilities have remained unsettled since 2021.
“In light of these findings, the Public Accounts Committee hereby invites the oil companies listed below to submit the previously requested documents and appear before the committee in Meeting Room 446 of the Fourth Floor of the House of Representatives at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja at 10 a.m. prompt.
The companies listed to appear before the committee include: Addax Petroleum Exploration Nigeria Ltd, AITEO Group Chevron Nigeria Limited (OML 90, 95, 49), Chorus Energy, Conoil Plc, Continental Oil & Gas Company Limited, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, Esso E & P. Limited (Usan, Erha), First E & P. Limited, Frontier Oil Limited, General Hydrocarbons Limited, Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited (NAE), Panocean Oil Nigeria Limited (OML 147), Neconde Energy Limited, Total E and P Nigeria (OML 100, 102, 52 & 99), Niger Delta Petroleum, Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) (OML 60, 61 & 63)
The others are: Oando Oil Limited (OML 60, 61 & 62), Heirs Holdings, Platform Petroleum Limited, Shell Petroleum Development Company (OML 27), Universal Energy Limited/Sinpec, Shoreline Natural Resources, Star Deep Water Petroleum Limited, Sahara Field Production Limited, and Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (OML 67 & 70), among others.
The statement said: “This notice supersedes all previous communications regarding the dates for appearance. Every company is required to be represented by its Chief Executive Officer, in person, and any other officer(s) well-versed in the issues under investigation.
“The committee cautions that failure to appear on the designated date may result in further action being taken against the defaulting organisation.”
[TheNation]
A National Youth Service Corps member, Rofiat Lawal, who was abducted along the Benin-Ore Expressway last Tuesday, has disclosed that her abductors threatened to force her into marriage and take her to Sokoto if her family refused to pay a ransom.
This is just as she narrated that one of the abductors, who are Fulani, took her NYSC uniform and wore it.
PUNCH Metro reports that Rofiat was abducted on her way to her place of primary assignment in Oyo State while coming from Edo State.
The abductors initially demanded a ransom of N20m but after several negotiations, they reduced it to N5m.
A friend of Rofiat, identified as Agbakwara, who raised the alarm about her abduction on his Facebook page, had on Saturday narrated how she was eventually freed after her family paid a ransom of N1.1m to an account purportedly belonging to a family of another kidnapped victim.
Narrating her experience in an exclusive interview with our correspondent on Sunday, Rofiat noted that the kidnappers waylaid the vehicle she boarded along the Ore area of the expressway.
She disclosed that out of the 10 passengers in the vehicle, six of them were kidnapped and led into a bush along the expressway.
She added that valuable items such as money and mobile phones were taken from all the victims, including her NYSC uniform, which one of the kidnappers wore.
The corper said they trekked for seven hours on the first day they were abducted before they were allowed to rest.
She said, “On our way coming from Benin to Ore, they stopped our vehicle. I was sitting at the front and what I heard was gunshots. When I raised my head, I saw three people with guns in front of the vehicle and three people at the back. The driver tried to escape but he could not. So, they asked us to lie down and took six of us.
“They led us into the bush, searched us and collected our phones and money. Some of the victims were marketwomen and they collected all their money, which ranged from N600,000 to N1.2m and so on, but I was with N15,000, which they took from me. One of them took my NYSC uniform and wore it.
“After they collected our valuables, we trekked from 3 pm to 10 pm in the bush. During the day, they would ask us to sit somewhere in the forest and at night, they would ask us to start trekking. That was how we spent the four days with them.”
She narrated that other victims, who were mostly elders and traders, were beaten on several occasions during the four days of captivity.
When asked if she was hurt, she narrated that they did not torture her compared to what was done to others, but one of the kidnappers threatened to force her into marriage and take her to Sokoto State.
“One of them said he would marry me and take me to Sokoto if my family refused to pay ransom. I was less harassed, unlike the other victims who were older than me. I was the youngest among those of us who were kidnapped. They did not even know if I was a corps member or not, they were just concerned about the money they wanted to get from us.
“I don’t know the total ransom that the six of us kidnapped paid as ransom. Some paid N2m, N3m and so on, depending on how your family negotiated.”
Asked if they ate during the four days of captivity, she replied that the kidnappers were prepared with garri, which they gave to them on a few occasions.
“They carried a cooler with them which was stored with garri. That was what they gave us on a few occasions.
“They were prepared for the operation and it does not seem like that was their first time doing it.
She urged the NYSC authority to avail her of some period of rest considering the traumatic experience she had within the four days.
“The NYSC authority has reached out to me. The State Coordinator and my Local Government Inspector have called to check up on me. My appeal is that they should give me some days to rest and get medical attention because of the traumatic experience I had gone through for the four days.
“I do not regret participating in the NYSC because what will happen will happen. Others whom we were kidnapped together were not NYSC members,” she concluded.
She thanked her family for raising the ransom and getting her out of captivity.
[Punch]
Human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has said that despite the withdrawal of criminal charges against him, he was still weighing options over his 21-day incarceration and legal battles.
Speaking on The Duke Rants podcast published to YouTube weekend, Farotimi was asked what he would say if he met Chief Afe Babalola today.
He said: “Like a good Yoruba boy, I’ll give him his salutations. It doesn’t change the fact that I’m still considering my options as regards what to do about what I went through.”
Pressed on what options he was considering, he said: “Oh, all the areas of options that are open to a person who was unlawfully kidnapped from his office, hauled before a magistrate for a non-existent crime.”
Farotimi recounted the irregularities surrounding his arrest, stating that law enforcement officials violated standard legal procedures.
“Policemen crossed five state lines, entered a sixth state — from Ekiti to Ondo, to Osun, to Oyo, to Ogun, and then crossed into Lagos. Somebody has to explain the basis of my incarceration for 21 days,” he added.
Recall that earlier in February, Farotimi disclosed that, despite Afe Babalola withdrawing his petition against him, he still faced four separate lawsuits filed by members of Babalola’s law office across different states.
He said: “My inability to speak to certain aspects of this issue is borne out of the fact that, despite the discontinuation of the criminal proceeding, I still have four suits that I am aware of, in four different states of the federation, filed by members of the same law office, against my person.’’
His legal troubles began after Babalola petitioned Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, alleging that Farotimi defamed him in his book, ‘’Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.’’
Following his arrest, Farotimi was arraigned before an Ekiti State Magistrate Court for alleged criminal defamation and before the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti for alleged cyber-bullying.
On January 27, Babalola announced his withdrawal of the cases after interventions by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other traditional rulers.
However, Farotimi’s legal challenges are far from over.
Farotimi strongly defended his book, insisting it was based on research and personal experience, rather than falsehoods.
“I did not sit down in a beer parlour; I was not at an officers’ mess; I was not gossiping. It was not idle, cheap talk. I wrote a book.
“Let us deal with veracity. Anybody can go and read and then come back and challenge me with the lie that I have told,’’ he declared.
He dismissed claims that the controversy was about his personal reputation, adding that the real issue at stake was Nigeria’s legal system.
“This is not a trial of Dele Farotimi. Let nobody make that error. It is a trial of the legal system that we have built as a collective,” he asserted.
Farotimi also emphasised that his book was not intended as a personal attack on Babalola or any individual but was a critique of systemic corruption within the judiciary.
“Chief Afe Babalola is more than old enough to be my father,” he said. “I did not set out to destroy the man or to tarnish his image. Nothing personal. I was writing about the institution of the judiciary.”
[Vanguard]
…. Absorbs N16bn loss by refunding N65/litre to marketers for Nigerians to benefit from cheaper fuel
...Insists Nigerians deserve good quality, affordable fuel products
Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has announced that it will refund customers who purchase Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at rates higher than the advertised prices from any of its key partners – AP (Ardova Plc), Heyden, or MRS – across Nigeria.
This move follows the refinery's recent reduction of its gantry price from N890 per litre to N825 per litre. The refinery stated that this is part of its ongoing efforts to ensure that Nigerians are the primary beneficiaries of the price reduction and in line with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to stimulate the economy.
In a statement issued over the weekend, the refinery confirmed it will refund N65 per litre on the over 200,000 metric tonnes of PMS purchased by marketers at the old gantry price of N890 per litre, prior to the new rate of N825 per litre. Dangote refinery also absorbed N16bn loss by refunding N65/litre to marketers for Nigerians to benefit from cheaper fuel
“The step, effective February 27, 2025, guarantees that none of our valued business partners will experience a loss due to the price change. More importantly, it ensures that the new, lower rate takes immediate effect nationwide for the benefit of the Nigerian people,” the statement said.
The refinery emphasised that this initiative extends beyond MRS Holdings, Ardova Plc (AP), and Heyden. It urged other marketers sourcing stock from it to pass on the benefits of the new pricing to consumers at the retail level, encouraging a collective commitment to affordable, quality products.
Dangote also condemned any exploitation of the new pricing structure. “It is both unpatriotic and detrimental to the welfare of Nigerians for any party to purchase at a rate of N825 per litre and then sell to consumers at N945 or more per litre. This constitutes excessive profiteering, further burdening Nigerians for personal gain,” the statement added.
"Dangote Refinery in its effort to ensure good quality and affordable fuel for Nigerians, is working with its partners to make this price accessible. Consumers who purchase fuel above the advertised rate at any of its key partners – AP (Ardova Plc), Heyden, or MRS – anywhere in Nigeria, are encouraged to report to Dangote Refinery with their receipts for a full refund of the excess amount.
The approved rates per litre are as follows: MRS: N860 in Lagos, N870 in the South-West, N880 in the North, and N890 in the South-South and South-East; Heyden and AP: N865 in Lagos, N875 in the South-West, N885 in the North, and N895 in the South-South and South-East.
With the new gantry price set at N825 per litre, Dangote Refinery expects that no Nigerian will pay more than N900 per litre for PMS, regardless of location or petrol station. The refinery also underlined its commitment to providing high-quality, eco-friendly fuel that benefits vehicle performance and supports public health.
“Our commitment aligns with the objectives of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which champions self-sufficiency in critical sectors like energy. We remain dedicated to supporting Nigeria’s economic growth and ensuring every Nigerian has access to affordable, high-quality energy solutions,” the refinery said.
Dangote Refinery concluded, “This initiative is one of many ways Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals continues to contribute to a prosperous and sustainable future for our country. In this journey toward energy security, we stand united with the Nigerian people, always striving to provide lasting solutions and a more prosperous future for all.”