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Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp Group) wishes to announce the listing of its subsidiary, Transcorp Power Plc (Transcorp Power or TP Plc) via listing by introduction on the Main Board of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), on Monday, March 4, 2024.
There will be a “Facts Behind the Listing” at NGX Group House at 2:45pm, where the Management of TP Plc, led by the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peter Ikenga, will provide information to Trading License Holders, Analysts, Press and Investors about the listing and the Company.
Following this listing, Transcorp Group will have two subsidiaries listed on NGX, demonstrating its commitment to creating value for the Nigerian public and catalyzing economic growth in Nigeria. Transcorp Group will continue to maintain a significant holding in Transcorp Power Plc.
Transcorp Power operates the Ughelli Power Plant in Delta State, with an installed capacity of 972MW. At the time of acquisition, the plant had an available capacity of 160MW. Transcorp Power invested and increased the available capacity to 680.83MW (a 227% increase) within four years of acquisition, surpassing the 5-year target of 670MW set by the Bureau of Public Enterprises. Transcorp Power Plc is a member of the West African Power Pool and a participant in the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market. Today, Transcorp Power supplies electricity to the ECOWAS Regional Market.
About Transcorp Group
Transcorp Group is one of Africa’s leading, listed companies, with strategic investments in the power, hospitality, and energy sectors, driven by its mission to improve lives and transform Africa.
Transcorp Group’s power businesses, Transcorp Power Plc and Transafam Power, provide 15% of Nigeria’s installed power capacity. Transcorp Group is committed to developing Nigeria’s domestic energy value chain, though its investments in OPL287. The Group’s listed hospitality business, Transcorp Hotels Plc, owns the iconic Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Nigeria’s flagship hospitality destination, and has launched digital platform Aura by Transcorp Hotels.
Signature of Authorized Signatory
Name of Authorized Signatory
Designation of Authorized Signatory
Chairman, Transcorp Power Plc, Emmanuel Nnorom
Managing Director/CEO, Peter Ikenga
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it successfully concluded a sale of government securities, issuing 1.053 trillion ($680 million) in short-term instruments.
The apex bank made this known in a statement on Monday by its acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Hakama Sidi-Ali.
The CBN said the sale, which occurred on March 1, 2024, was part of its liquidity management exercise.
In a statement on Monday, the regulator said the 500 billion offered at the open market operations (OMO) auction was oversubscribed, selling 1.053 trillion.
According to the apex bank, 79 per cent of the total bids, or the equivalent of $530 million, came from foreign investors.
It is understood that the Friday auction was the first since the CBN’s monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting, which was followed by a virtual meeting with foreign portfolio investors.
The bank said Olayemi Cardoso, its governor, used both meetings to set a detailed strategy to curb inflation, stabilise the exchange rate, and spur confidence in the banking system and economy.
At the meeting with investors, Cardoso was said to have further highlighted an outlook for sustained increases in the CBN’s foreign currency reserves, improved liquidity in the foreign exchange (FX) market, and imminent settlement of the remaining backlog of genuine FX transactions by the CBN.
“The CBN is committed to supporting price stability by taking the necessary measures to increase liquidity in the foreign exchange markets sustainably,” the governor was quoted as saying.
“Our focus is on building a fully functioning market that allows smooth entry and exit for investors.”
Immediate past Ondo Deputy Governor Hon Agboola Ajayi, has said that he would emerge victorious at the governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) scheduled to hold next month.
Ajayi, who declared his intention to contest as Governor at a media parley in Akure, said he would protest if the primary were smirk of transparency.
Ajayi said his decision to govern the State was because he has the capacity and experience to keep ‘everybody busy.’
The former Deputy Governor promised to build a railway system to link coastal communities to Kogi State if elected Governor of the Sunshine state.
He said the State has no business to build a seaport but to provide infrastructure in the riverine communities to attract private investors to build the seaport.
Ajayi said he understood how to run the State without relying on monthly allocation from the federation account.
He explained that the planned railway to link Kogi State would reduce the number of heavy duty trucks on the highway.
Ajayi said he would not defect from the PDP if the primary were conducted in a transparent manner.
According to him: “I understand how Ondo State can be govern and everybody will be happy. I understand what we need to revive the economy of this state. I understand how to run the state without relying on federal government allocation. I can prove it to anybody. I understand where there is money in Ondo State.
“I understand how our elderly people can get what they are due for after retirement. I know how to engage the youths.
“I know how to secure the society and I know that the economy activity of Ondo is best in the construction of road to link the riverine areas. If we do that, we will decongest Lagos State.
“What they have in Lagos is a small portion of what we have in Ondo State. We have the longest coastline in the West Africa. We don’t need port Ondo for now. Private investors will come and do build the port if necessary infrastructure were put in place.
“What we need is to construct road to the sea. Agagu started it and the road terminated at Ugbonla. By now that road would have been taken to Ayetoro.
“If that road had been constructed, you will see more development and investors will invade Ondo State. Lagos State will be decongested. Somebody will come and build the Port.
“What is the business’s of Ondo to build seaport?We need the enabling environment for private investors to take over. We will continue to enjoy a safe economy.
“By the time we put all the aspirants together, asked other aspirants their manifesto. I read that they want to establish another university in this state.
“Can we run about five universities? I want us to have a better Ondo State. We are not surprised seeing people drifting from one party to another. We must change the narrative by having a government that knows how to unlock potentials in the state. How do we make use of the natural virgin environment God has given to us.
“We will open our coastal areas in Ondo State. I will construct rail from the riverine to Kogi State to link the federal government rail. We have the money. Government is a continum.
“I will revive all dead factories in the State liker the Oluwa glass factory. The raw materials are still there. We should be able to generate our electricity. I understand what can be done in Ondo to revive the state and make everybody busy.”
Speaking on the planned consensus candidate in the PDP, Ajayi said all the aspirants would have to agree on who pick as the candidate.
“Consensus can work if all the aspirants agree to it. If one said no, then there is no consensus. All of us must agree without a dissenting voice.
“It is when the party starts selling forms you know the real aspirants. Let us wait and see how many persons will obtain the form. I am above 50 and not desperate.
“I do not think the PDP will not promote transparency. They will not compromise. Once I enter and loose out in a transparent manner, I will support who emerged as candidate. If it is not transparent, we will protest.”
The Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero, urged essential commodity traders to lower the prices of foodstuffs and goods, facilitating an affordable Ramadan for the masses.
He emphasized this appeal during the launch of the book ‘Dauloli a Kasar Hausa’ in Zaria, urging wealthy Nigerians to assist the less privileged during the holy month.
Ado-Bayero commended the publisher for detailing the Hausa Kingdoms in areas like Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Zazzau.
“They offered a clear explanation of the administrative system of governance deployed by each kingdom, their trades, norms and values,” he said.
Man Who Found and Returned Missing N100m Rewarded with Hajj Slot, Cash, and Bus
The book reviewer Ahmed Zaria of the Kaduna State University said the 356-page book has seven chapters.
Mr Zaria said the book provides a clear narrative and history of the Hausa kingdoms, their politics, administration, norms, and values from their inception.
He added that the book is a must-have copy for students and researchers in linguistics and history.
The don, who advised academics not to relent in research activities, lamented that some academics abandon research upon reaching the professorial cadre.
The publisher, Mr Gusau, said the book was an attempt to harmonise the written history of the Hausa Kingdoms, adding that most of the research at the universities was on a few kingdoms and not all.
Mr Gusau added that the book also attempts to support harmony and strengthen unity among the Hausa kingdoms and other Nigerians.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), on Monday, explained why some telecommunications subscribers who previously linked their SIM cards to their National Identification Numbers (NINs) have their mobile lines barred.
NCC spokesman, Reuben Muoka, said “people who probably didn’t get a cleared or verified NIN” have been barred because “the earlier ones they submitted was not good”.
Muoka, who was on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme, said some SIM cards have verification and identification issues like disparity in information such names and other data.
“There are still some subscribers whose NINs are yet to be verified by NIMC and those have to also be corrected,” he said.
Many subscribers have complained that they had previously linked their NIN with their SIM cards years ago but the NCC official said some lines were barred because the information on the NIN did not tally with what the customers register with their SIM cards.
He said subscribers will have to visit the outlets of their service providers to validate their NINs and resolve other matters.
“For now, it requires those physical visits to the stations to get it verified and validated but in the future, we hope that this will be done virtually,” the NCC spokesman said.
The NCC had last week issued a directive to telecom service providers to bar subscribers who have failed to link their phone numbers to their NIN on or before February 28, 2024.
As of December 2023, Nigeria has over 224 million, according to data by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). MTN boast of over 87 million subscribers, representing 38.79% of the total market share, the highest in the country by any licensed Mobile Network Operator (MNO). Globacom and Airtel have 61 million subscribers each while 9mobile has 13.9 million users.
Millions of lines were barred last week at the expiration of the deadline but the regulator’s spokesman said the NCC has been going through one deadline after the other since 2022 “to give extension for convenience but it is time to get to a closure”.
“Take it that everybody who has not submitted his NIN to the service providers have been barred. Actually, the service providers starting barring people many days to the deadline,” he said.
Muoka, however, said it will be difficult to tell the actually number of phone lines that have been barred but the NCC will do an audit before the end of the week as data are expected from service providers.
He said the NIN-SIM linkage has an objective which is to make Nigerians have digital identity to tackle security matters.
“The whole essence is actually to achieve the convenience that digital services and products will offer. By the time you have your identity together, you will be able to attend to a number of things. Even the banks are now asking their customers to link their NINs to their Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs). It is actually to make a holistic package of all your digital services,” he stated.
Amidst the food price hike and economic hardship besetting the nation, the government of Ukraine recently donated 25,000 tonnes of wheat as emergency food assistance to 1.3 million vulnerable, crisis-affected people in Nigeria’s northeastern region, a development which Mr Peter Obi has now described as disheartening.
The Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the last election says it is while the gesture is laudable, it speaks volumes as to the failures of the nation to cater for its people.
In a thread posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Mr Obi asserted that this development underscores a national disgrace that “stems from years of leadership failure, necessitating urgent reflection and a reordering of our national priorities and resource management and allocation”.
According to him, this act of human solidarity testifies to a rare generosity of spirit of the people of Ukraine, one which obi says should earn them greater global solidarity.
However, the former Anambra State Governor stressed that a situation like this emphasizes vigorously the importance of sound political leadership as the first concrete requirement for any nation desiring to develop and enhance the standard of living of its citizenry.
In his view, it is disheartening that Nigeria which once was an economically confident nation, blessed with vast arable land and abundant natural resources, now relies on a war-torn Ukraine for food assistance.
Below is the LP presidential candidate’s full statement on Nigeria receiving aid in the form of food, from Ukraine.
UKRAINE DONATES FOOD TO NIGERIA.
Let me begin by sincerely appreciating the war-torn nation of Ukraine for their generous donation of tons of grains to Nigeria thereby aiding our current fight against nationwide hunger.
As laudable as Ukraine’s kind gesture is, it speaks volumes for us as a people endowed with all needed human and natural resources, that a country officially prosecuting a brutal war of national survival with its powerful neighbor, Russia, is generous and kind enough with their food supplies to help us who are officially at peace.
For the people of Ukraine, this act of human solidarity testifies to a rare generosity of spirit which should earn them greater global solidarity. It demonstrates our shared humanity.
However, a situation like this underscores vigorously the importance of sound political leadership as the first concrete requirement for any nation desiring to develop and enhance the standard of living of its citizenry.
It is disheartening that our once economically confident nation, blessed with vast arable land and abundant natural resources, now relies on a war-torn Ukraine for food assistance.
This national disgrace stems from years of leadership failure, necessitating urgent reflection and a reordering of our national priorities and resource management and allocation. Instructively, Ukraine, with a population of 43 million on 603,728 km2, outshines Northern Nigeria, covering 744,249 km2 with a young, energetic population exceeding 100 million.
In 2015, Ukraine’s GDP per capita was $2125, compared to Nigeria’s $2680. By 2022, despite being at war, Ukraine’s GDP per capita exceeded $4000, while Nigeria’s regressed to $2184. Ukraine cultivates over 60% of its arable land, whereas Nigeria has over 60% uncultivated arable land.
Despite the conflict, Ukraine feeds itself, and exports agricultural products worth over $ 25 billion which is about the same value as our crude oil export earnings, and it serves as a strategic global food supplier, even providing aid to a peaceful yet unproductive Nigeria.
To overcome this embarrassment, we must aggressively reorder our priorities by investing resources in productive sectors like agriculture. Addressing insecurity is crucial for farmers to return to their fields, enabling a productive manufacturing sector and supporting small businesses.
In 4 to 5 years, this concerted effort can reverse the current trend, leading us toward a productive and New Nigeria that I believe is possible and within reach.
In a bid to enhance regulatory measures, companies violating the newly instituted Expatriate Employment Levy (EEL) policy in Nigeria now face substantial fines of N3 million for each offense, as disclosed by reliable sources.
The outlined offenses encompass failure to submit the EEL, non-registration of employees, corporate entities neglecting to renew EEL within the stipulated 30-day period, and the provision of false information on EEL submissions.
Introduced by President Bola Tinubu on February 28, 2024, the EEL aims to bridge wage disparities between expatriates and the Nigerian workforce while fostering increased employment opportunities for qualified local individuals within foreign-operated companies.
Under the policy, companies must adhere to stringent guidelines, with penalties ranging from N3,000,000 for failure to file EEL within the designated timeframe, register an employee promptly, or provide accurate information on EEL submissions.
Moreover, the handbook reveals that companies employing expatriates will be required to pay $15,000 for directors and $10,000 for other categories.
Issuing a notice, the Ministry of Interior declared the EEL card as a mandatory document akin to a passport, mandatory for expatriates entering or leaving the country.
Compliance with the policy is expected by April 15, 2024, as announced by the ministry on its official website. The EEL card holds significance for lawful exits and entries into Nigeria, emphasizing its pivotal role in the expatriate employment landscape
Femi Falana, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has challenged the federal government to confirm or deny if petrol subsidy has been restored.
During his inauguration on May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of the petrol subsidy.
This development has worsened the living conditions of Nigerians, as the disposable income of citizens continues to decline due to inflation.
In a statement on Sunday, Falana said Robert Dickerman, chief executive officer of Pinnacle Oil, claimed at a conference in Abuja that the federal government still pays N1 trillion every month for petrol subsidy.
The human rights activist said instead of urging Nigerians to continue to endure the hardship caused by the removal of subsidies on petrol, the president should go public about the state of the economic policy.
“During his inauguration on May 29, 2003, President Bola Tinubu announced the end of fuel subsidies and total deregulation of petroleum products. But at the recently concluded Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) held in Abuja, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited, Mr. Robert Dickerman revealed that the Nigerian Government still pays N1 trillion every month for petrol subsidy,” the statement reads.
“Mr. Dickerman who made the disclosure while participating in a panel discussion disclosed that a significant subsidy is still in place, adding that this has contributed to the affordable price of the product and potentially fueling smuggling activities to neighbouring countries.
“On its own part, the World Bank has alleged partial return of fuel subsidy in a report presented in Abuja last December. In justifying its claim then, the World Bank said that based on the official exchange rate then, the petrol should sell for around N750 per litre and not the N650 currently being paid by Nigerians.
“Curiously, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited has not deemed it fit to deny the serious allegation that fuel subsidy has been restored. Since there is no provision for fuel subsidy in the 2023 and 2024 Appropriation Acts, the federal government should, without any further delay, confirm or deny the serious allegation and end the opacity surrounding the importation of fuel from foreign countries.”
Falana also cited a February 2024 report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) advising the Nigerian government to completely phase out petrol and electricity subsidies in the country despite the president’s announcement.
The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has issued a one-week deadline to all private airline operators in the country to account for the sum of N4bn given to them by the Federal Government to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic or refund same in the absence of justifiable evidence of how the amount was spent.
The committee, chaired by a member of the Peoples Democratic Party from Osun State, Bamidele Salam, issued the ultimatum on Friday at the resumed investigative hearing into the alleged mismanagement of the COVID-19 intervention funds by ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
The PUNCH reports that the committee is investigating over 56 MDAs for alleged mismanagement of the intervention funds.
The committee said, “All private airlines that received COVID-19 relief funds designated to support the aviation sector are to refund the allocated funds to the Federal Government treasury if they fail to give justifiable evidence of how the money was judiciously spent within a week.”
The committee lamented that in spite of their appearance, many airlines and industry stakeholders, including Aero Contractors, Azman and representatives from the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, could not convince the lawmakers satisfactorily how the funds given to them were expended to manage the COVID-19 pandemic challenge.
The Marketing Manager of Azman Airlines, Odum Uju, who represented the company at the hearing, admitted receiving N367.90m purportedly allocated for various operational expenses, including aircraft maintenance, spare parts, fuelling, forex purchasing, and insurance premium paid while the Station Manager of Aero Contractor, Abdulmalik Musa, said the company received N217.35m from the Federal Government to manage the threat of the coronavirus.
The representative of the Aero Contractor Airline, however, said the fund was used for airport handling and facility payment, fuelling, onboard catering payment, pilot training payments, and lease rental payments.
Reacting to the submissions, a member of the committee and former pilot with the Nigerian Air Force, Ojuawo Adeniyi from Ekiti State, faulted the submissions, saying the services claimed by the operators were applicable only during the regular operations of airlines.
Subsequently, a motion was moved by the member representing Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency, Cross River State, Akiba Bassey, for the refund of N4bn to the Federation Account should the airlines fail to give the committee a satisfactory account of how they spent the COVID-19 intervention funds and same was unanimously supported by his colleagues.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has questioned two officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and one from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) over $3.4 billion loan allegedly granted to Nigeria by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Naija News reports that the anti-graft agency has also invited another set of officials from the Federal Ministry of Finance for interrogation.
Recall that the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has approached the court over what it alleged as “the failure to probe the grim allegations that the $3.4 billion” was missing.
SERAP, in a statement to Naija News, said it had filed a lawsuit against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for failing to probe the $3.4 billion loan that was either “missing, diverted or unaccounted for.”
It said its lawsuit was in line with Section 16(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution.
The organization also said it sued the President, having taken cognizance of articles 5, 9, and 26v of the UN Convention Against Corruption.
But speaking to The Nation, a source disclosed that the ICPC has retrieved vital documents on the loan, which was meant to finance the budget and to manage COVID-19, adding that the probe of the loan was already in progress.
The source said: “ICPC has launched a comprehensive investigation into the $3.4 billion loan. The commission began the probe after it had reviewed the report of the Auditor-General of the Federation. Our investigators are trying to establish if the cash was missing, diverted, or unaccounted for.
“The documents relating to the loan were retrieved from the CBN, the OAGF, and the Ministry of Finance.
“Some CBN and OAGF officials were interviewed, and the officials of the Ministry of Finance will be interviewed in the coming (this) week.
“Documents retrieved and statements from the officials of the OAGF revealed that the utilisation of the funds were as directed by the Ministry of Finance.
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“Investigation is ongoing into the various approval and utilisation of the funds by the beneficiaries.”
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…No account blocked yet–DMBs
…Technical hitches sabotaging NIN linkage, customers cry out
…Give customers more time –BCAN
ABOUT 91 million bank accounts are at risk of being frozen following the March 1 expiration deadline given by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to commercial banks to get all accounts linked with customers’ Bank Verification Number (BVN) or National Identity Number (NIN).Daily Sun learnt that many banks sent fresh and final reminders to depositors at the weekend urging them to use various digital platforms to regularize their accounts or visit any of
their branches to achieve that.
The CBN directed banks to restrict tier-1 accounts or wallets without NIN or BVN in a notice on December 1, 2023 signed by the Director of Payments System Management Department, Chibuzo Efobi and Director of Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Haruna Mustapha. The statement said; “For all existing Tier-1 accounts/wallets without BVN or NIN: Effective immediately, any unfunded account/wallet
shall be placed on ‘Post No Debit or Credit’ until the new process is satisfied.
“Effective March 1, 2024, all funded accounts or wallets shall be placed on ‘Post No Debit or Credit’, and no further transactions will be permitted. The BVN or NIN attached to and/ or associated with all accounts/wallets must be electronically revalidated by January 31, 2024. In response to the directive, Nigerian banks sent out notifications to customers and urged them to come forward and update their bank account information with their BVN/NIN before Friday, March 1, 2024,deadline.
The banks warned that customers who fail to provide the required information risk being unable to carry out transactions. While the CBN has not officially spoken on the fate of customers whose accounts are without NIN or BVN, many depositors are panic-stricken as they flood various banks to sort out the issue. The Nigeria InterBank Settlement System (NIBSS) revealed that BVN linked accounts stood at 60,492,104 million as at January 26 march.
[Sun]
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has said the looted warehouse in Abuja, yesterday, does not belong to the agency as was reported in some sections of the media.
It was earlier reported that residents of the Federal Capital Territory yesterday looted a warehouse reportedly belonging to a government agency, with some reports alleging that the warehouse belonged to the National Emergency Management Agency over the current economic hardship across the country.
Hoodlums broke into a government storage facility in Gwagwa town in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday, and looted stored food items. Some residents said youths in their number broke into the warehouse located around Tasha area of the community around 7 am, looting bags of maize and grain.
Some residents said youths in their number broke into the warehouse located around Tasha area of the community around 7 am, looting bags of maize and grain. A resident, Jaafar Aminu, said the looting continued unhindered till 9 am.
He said some residents as well as persons from neighbouring Jiwa and Karmo town trooped towards the site with the intention of partaking in the loot.
He said the situation has caused a grid lock on Gwagwa-Karmo road, that leads to Dei-Dei and Jabi axis, respectively.
However, NEMA, in a statement by Ezekiel Manzo, said: “The attention of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has been drawn to media reports on Sunday alleging that the Agency’s warehouse was looted by some hoodlums in Abuja.
“This is to clarify that the looted warehouse does not belong to NEMA. However, the agency sympathizes with owners of the looted facility.”
He said, “To forestall any security breach at NEMA facilities, the director general, Mustapha Ahmed has directed zonal directors and heads of operations to strengthen security in and around the Agency’s offices and warehouses nationwide.”
[Leadership]
Salihu AbdulHadi Kankia, a member of the First Aid Group of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), was showered with rewards for returning a lost bag containing over N100 million.
The recognition came during the closing ceremony for Islamic scholars presenting this year’s Ramadan Tafsir in Bauchi.
Engr Mustapha Imam Sitti, National Director of the First Aid Group who introduced Kankia commended him for the act.
In a post published on its Facebook page, the Bauchi State branch of JIBWIS said, “Kankia found a bag containing a large sum of money, exceeding one hundred million naira.
“Instead of keeping it for himself, he rushed to the police station and reported his discovery, the police successfully located the owner, who upon verifying the contents, confirmed nothing was missing.”
The post added that “Kankia’s honesty didn’t go unnoticed, The Izala group honored him with an award and sponsored his Hajj pilgrimage this year.
“Additionally, Hon. Abdulmalik Zannan Bangudu, a member of the Zamfara State Assembly, gifted him two million naira.
“Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi State also presented Kankia with a bus to kickstart a business venture.”
[Dailytrust]
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the military forcefully took away some suspects allegedly involved in oil bunkering from police custody.
Counsel to the IGP, Idris Mohammed, revealed this to Justice James Omotosho when the matter was called for the alleged oil bunkerers to take their plea in a five-count criminal charge filed against them.
The IGP had, in an earlier charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/60/2024, listed 19 alleged oil bunkerers for prosecution.
They include MT Harbor Spirit, Muhammad Malik Sidique, Joju Oil and Gas Ltd, Shittu Joseph, Enudi Kenneth Amechi, Jeremiah Oberhiri Nyohe, Abiodun Kolapo Joseph, Razaq Mahmud, Onwe Jonas Egana, Jeremiah Fezighe Gilbert as 1st to 10th defendants.
Also joined in the criminal charge dated and filed February.15 are Idon Simeon Amon, Adedeji Nathaniel Thomson, Effiong Ekpo Otu, Preye Moses Egbuson, Opoufoni Owei, Abiodun Razaq, Youngstar Amon, Collins Ebuka Eluche and Taiye Rashid Balogun as 11th to 19th defendants respectively.
However, the police, in an amended charge dated and filed February 28, brought criminal charges against only MT Harbor Spirit, a Vessel, Muhammad Malik Sidique and Joju Oil and Gas Ltd as 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively.
In the amended charge, count one read that MT Harbor Spirit, Muhammad Malik Sidique, Joju Oil and Gas Ltd and the 4th to 19th defendants in the earlier charge (now at large) “on February 4, 2024, in the Deep Sea in Ogbogoro Oil Field, Brass Area of Bayelsa State, conspired” to tamper with oil pipeline for the transportation of crude oil.
The offence, according to the prosecution, is punishable under Section 1(7) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
In count two, the defendants and others now at large were alleged to have on February. 4 in the Deep Sea in Ogbogoro Oil Field, Brass Area of Bayelsa State, wilfully tampered with OML 59, Ogbogoro 001 Oil Field, operated by ELF for the transportation of crude oil.
In count three, the defendants were alleged to be dealing in about 80, 000 litres of crude oil without lawful authority or appropriate license.
Count five accused the defendants of storing about 80, 000 litres of crude oil in MT Harbour Spirit Cargo Tanks in the Deep Sea in Ogbogoro Oil Field without appropriate licence contrary to Section 4 of the Petroleum Act, Cap P10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
However, at the point of taking their plea, the IGP’s lawyer, Mohammed, informed the court that Muhammad Malik Sidique was the only defendant in court.
He said though a five-count charge dated and filed on February 15 was preferred against 19 defendants and that the 4th to 19th defendants were forcefully taken away by the armed forces during one of their visits to their custody.
The lawyer prayed the court to issue warrant of arrest against the 4th to 19th defendants who he alleged were at large.
But Justice Omotosho faulted Mohammed for claiming that the 4th to 19th defendants were at large when he had earlier told the court that the armed forces forcefully took them away.
The judge frowned at the abuse of the word “at large” adding that such words are used for suspects or defendants whose whereabouts are unknown.
“With what you have said that the armed forces took them to their custody, are they at large? At large is when somebody cannot be traced,” the judge said.
The IGP’s lawyer, thereafter, sought the leave of court to amend the amended charges in open court.
But the judge observed more anomalies with the charge sheet and then ordered the prosecution to go and put his house in order.
“Go and serve them there (at the military custody) and bring them or you remove their names from the charge. We are here for justice. I don’t know them,” he directed.
The IGP’s lawyer, then, told the judge that the police did not hand over the defendants to the military, rather, they forcefully took them away from their custody.
Counsel for the defendants, Michael Mbanefo, did not oppose to the further amendment of the charge.
However, Mbanefo urged the court to direct the prosecution to agree with him and grant Sidique administrative bail because he had been in custody since his arrest.
But Justice Omotosho declined, saying “the court does not grant administrative bail”.
Justice Omotosho thereafter adjourned the arraignment of the alleged oil bunkerers til March 6.
[DailyPost]