He promised to sponsor my education

Our mother traveled to Libya, father abandoned us

A 35-year old commercial motorcyclist, Ademola Adepetu, has been arrested for allegedly raping his lover’s 12-year old daughter. The victim who narrated her ordeal before an Akure Magistrate court said that she was locked inside a room and raped severally.

She said that her father had abandoned her and her two younger siblings, aged 7 and 3, while their mother also traveled to Libya in search of greener pastures two years ago.

According to her “Before travelling, my mother rented one-room apartment for us and left us in the care of her younger sister, who later absconded and never returned”. She blamed her parents for negligence, noting that the defendant took advantage of their abandonment.

She said the defendant lured her with promises of sponsoring her education, but ended up assaulting her sexually four times.

Meanwhile, Adepetu, has been arraigned before the court on a one-count charge of unlawful sexual intercourse. Adepetu who pleaded guilty insisted that the girl was 15 years old when he had carnal knowledge of her.

The defendant claimed that a 15-year old girl was old enough to “know a man.”

He also told the court that he married his first wife before the age of 12.

The police prosecutor, Martins Olowofeso, earlier informed the court that the offence was committed in Ondo town. Olowofeso said the mother of the victim, who was a girlfriend to the defendant, travelled to Libya after renting a room for her three children, then aged 10, 5, and 3.

“After the children’s mother left for Libya, the rent for the one-room apartment expired. The defendant then offered to accommodate the children and it was during the period that he began to sexually abuse the girl”, he said.

Olowofeso therefore prayed the court to remand the defendant at the Olokuta prison pending advice from the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP).

Ruling, Magistrate Grace Alphonso, ordered that Adepetu be remanded at Olokuta Prison pending DPP’s advice. Alphonso also ordered that the three children, who were abandoned by their mother, should be taken into custody for protection and counselling.

She further ordered that the children’s mother, who is currently abroad and expected to return from Libya, be denied visitation rights upon arrival.

Alphonso therefore adjourned the case to July 24, 2025, for further hearing.

A fresh round of hostilities may have erupted between major oil marketers and the Dangote petroleum refinery as both parties jostle for dominance in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector, Saturday PUNCH reports.

This follows recent revelations by the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who declared that his $20bn refinery is still “fighting for survival” amid what he described as sabotage by entrenched interests and oil sector cabals resisting local refining.

He stated at a recent event that the battle with entrenched oil cabals — one that began even before the refinery commenced full operations — was still ongoing, but expressed confidence that he would ultimately prevail in securing the refinery’s future.

Findings revealed that the business mogul’s remarks were triggered by the continued importation of petrol and the reluctance of major marketers to buy in bulk from the refinery, despite its increased production capacity and improved output of petroleum products.

This comes against the backdrop that marketers of petroleum products utilising scarce foreign exchange brought in a total of 2.57 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, in 70 days between March 1 and May 9, 2025.

Saturday PUNCH analysis using an April 2025 midstream and downstream document and latest tanker vessel movement obtained from Blue Sea Maritime, showed that the marketers, who opted not to patronise Dangote, imported 755.7 million litres of petrol in March at an average of 25.19 million daily.

In April alone, petrol imports surged to approximately 1.47 billion litres, indicating sustained reliance on foreign supply.

Within just the first 10 days of May, an additional 331.33 million litres were brought into the country, underscoring the continued high demand met through importation despite ramped-up local production.

With an average of N948 per litre, importers may have spent N2.42tn on PMS imports. This is in addition to N4.51tn spent on the same purpose between October 2024 and February 2025.

Dangote had, since last year, raised the alarm that some mafias were sabotaging his refinery.

He specifically mentioned that some international oil companies were sabotaging his investment by denying the facility adequate crude supply despite the domestic crude supply obligation.

Dangote had alleged that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority was issuing licences to marketers to import substandard petroleum products into the country.

To fight this, the facility approached a federal high court to stop the regulatory authority from issuing import licences to marketers.

The court is yet to rule on the request.

At a point last year, Dangote said he regretted building the refinery, saying the mafias in the oil and gas sector were stronger than those of drugs.

“In a system where, for 35 years, people are used to counting good money, and all of a sudden, they see that the days of counting that money have come to an end, you don’t expect them to pray for you. Of course, you expect them to fight back.

“And I think that is the process that we’re now really going through. But the truth is that, yes, the country, the sub-region, and also the continent of sub-Saharan Africa, need this refinery. So, you expect them to fight through non-supply of crude, non-purchase of the product, but I think it’s all temporary. We’ll get there,” Dangote stated.

But giving an update at an investor forum in Lagos last week, Dangote said the fight for the survival of his $20bn refinery was still on.

He pointed out that some individuals who “for a very, very long time” have “made a lot of money from” government-subsidised oil imports into Nigeria, were the ones trying to sabotage the 650,000 barrels per day oil refinery situated in Lekki, Lagos.

“We are fighting, and the fight is not yet finished. But I have been fighting all my life, and I am ready and 100 per cent sure I will win at the end of the day,” he stated.

He later clarified that those who were still fighting against the survival of his refinery were major marketers and traders, and not the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited leadership.

However, despite the business mogul’s claims, data suggests that petrol imports have significantly declined in recent months.

Latest NMDPRA data indicates that daily imports of Premium Motor Spirit fell from 44.6 million litres in August 2024 to 14.7 million litres as of April 13, 2025—representing a sharp drop of about 30 million litres or 67 per cent.

This reduction is attributed to improved supply from the Dangote refinery, Port Harcourt refinery and modular refineries.

In a major shift, the NNPCL, once a dominant importer, has also scaled back its foreign purchases, opting instead to source products directly from the refinery.

However, the National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, in an earlier interview, said there should be no form of discord in the downstream sector over the source of petroleum product purchase.

According to him, Dangote should be allowed to refine its products with the naira-for-crude deal while importers and other traders should be given a level playing field to operate.

Gillis-Harry noted that there should be facts to back up all claims, saying there will be competition in any business, pleading, however, that it should be healthy.

“I just want all players to do their business without any fight,” the PETROAN boss said.

The National Publicity Officer of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, said the fight is just the usual competition in any business, especially when a product is doing better than others in the market.

He said, “Well, this is business. Competition abounds. There is no businessman whom people will not fight if he is doing well, especially when it is only your goods that are being produced, and the others are not being patronised because of the price. So, it is evident that every businessman wants to survive. It’s not an issue. What we can do is encourage him.

“We independent marketers are happy with him for his price slashes, although sometimes it’s against our business strategy and projections. But that is part of the business; it is profit and loss.

“You know the factor of demand and supply matter determines the market. So, if he’s talking about how people want to sabotage him, he has told us that he’s ready to fight the oil cabals, and he is in this business to ensure that Nigerians don’t suffer. So, we encourage him not to lose hope, and we independent marketers support him in all ramifications.”

The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, however, raised the alarm over what it described as an emerging monopoly in the downstream petroleum sector, warning that the dominance of the Dangote refinery could destabilise the market if not carefully managed.

In an interview with TVC on Friday, the Executive Secretary of DAPPMAN, Mr Olufemi Adewole, dismissed allegations of a “cabal” in the sector but admitted the existence of vested interests among private depot owners who had invested billions of naira over the years to keep fuel flowing to Nigerians.

He said, “There is no cabal in the midstream and downstream operations as far as I am concerned, because, going by the English definition of the word cabal, it’s a negative, subversive thing. There is no cabal. But I can tell you that we have vested interests.

“My principals have vested interests in the sector. So, if they have invested over these years, billions of naira, and they have bridged the gap, even before Dangote, they were there when nobody was there to bridge the gap and ensure Nigerians get fuel. Definitely, they should have commensurate returns on their investment. So, on that, I would say there is no cabal, but there are vested interests.”

Speaking further, Adewole stressed that the Dangote Refinery, despite its massive 650,000-barrel capacity, had not been able to meet even the current reduced local consumption needs.

He argued that private depot owners continued to bear the bulk of the fuel distribution burden across the country.

According to him, stopping the importation of fuel at this stage would be “chaotic” and “dangerous,” adding that a phased strategy was more viable once multiple domestic refineries were onstream.

Adewole also expressed deep concern over what he called a “clear and present danger” of monopoly, noting that Dangote’s scale gave it excessive influence over pricing and supply channels.

“You will recall that Dangote recently took the Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and a few other marketers to court. This tells you their mindset, and what they were challenging is actually the authority of the regulator, which is enshrined in the PIA, to release import licenses for marketers to import fuel. So, it gives you a picture into their mindset.

“So, the fear of monopoly is real, and we are working with other stakeholders to make sure this is not realised, and we are working with the regulators, encouraging them to do their work so that this is curtailed.”

On direct dealings with the refinery, Adewole said DAPPMAN members were not getting a fair opportunity to purchase products, alleging that the refinery preferred to sell only to selected marketers via gantry supplies, rather than bulk depot loading.

“Dangote Refinery prefers a selective approach. We have depots in Calabar, Port Harcourt and other coastal cities ready to pick in bulk—10,000, 15,000, even 20,000 metric tons—but access to load vessels is restricted.”

He also disclosed that price slashes after cargoes had left the gantry had left many marketers absorbing losses quietly, just to stay afloat.

“We didn’t come out to make noise. But we’ve been bearing the brunt, just to remain sustainable and profitable.”

Addressing the issue of pump pricing, Adewole explained that the cost of petroleum products was built on multiple layers: from crude price to refinery margins, logistics, and retail costs—highlighting the impact of operational inefficiencies and high financing costs on final prices.

“Depot operations are tough. Equipment is ageing, and capital costs are high. To import 20,000 metric tons, a marketer needs an exposure of over N20 billion. Most of this is bank-funded at high interest rates,” he concluded.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, has denied media reports that the federal government has commenced the extradition process against the self-acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Simon Ekpa.

The AGF was earlier reported to have made the statement during the Stakeholders/Citizen Engagement Forum held on Thursday in Abuja.

But speaking through his spokesperson, Kamarudeen Ogundele, Fagbemi clarified that “the report is untrue and a complete departure from what the AGF said.”

He added, “Ekpa, a leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is currently standing trial in Finland for charges filed against him by the Finnish government.

“To set the record straight, what the AGF said during the question-and-answer session was that the Nigerian government had been engaging with Finnish authorities to ensure that Simon Ekpa is held accountable for his actions.

“He explained that since the crimes committed by Simon Ekpa were cross-border in nature, the Nigerian government eagerly awaits the outcome of the proposed trial in Finland to make an informed decision on the next step to take.

“The AGF appeals to the media to be circumspect and avoid reporting speculations on the sensitive matter,” the statement concluded.

THE WHISTLER had reported that Ekpa’s lawyer, Kaale Gummerus, denied knowledge of any plans to extradite him to Nigeria.

“I do not have any information that Simon Ekpa will be extradited to Nigeria. The case is still pending,” Gummerus told the BBC pidgin.

Gummerus, who recently became Ekpa’s lawyer, had said in April that Ekpa would appear in court in June 2025 for trial.

Ekpa, who parades himself as the “Prime Minister” of the Biafra Republic government in exile, was arrested in Lahti, Finland, in November 2024.

Finnish police accused him of using social media platforms to incite violence against civilians and authorities in Nigeria’s southeast, a region historically tied to the Biafran independence movement.

The Nigerian government had accused Ekpa of coordinating violent acts, including attacks on security operatives and enforcing disruptive “sit-at-home” orders in the southeast.

Ekpa, alongside four others, was detained for allegedly financing such activities.

Detectives from the Ondo State Police Command have apprehended a notorious four-man gang involved in car thefts, which had been terrorizing residents.

The suspects, led by their ringleader, Afolabi Emmanuel, were nabbed by the Tactical Intelligence Squad (TIS) unit of the command after they allegedly stole a 2016 model Toyota Camry from the residence of one Mr Amokun Victor in Oka-Akoko.

The gang, which had been on the wanted list of the police, sold the vehicle through an accomplice in Ogori-Magongo, Kogi State.

Parading the suspects on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Akure, the Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, said the stolen car with a market value of N12 million, was sold for a paltry N700,000.

“The suspect confessed to scaling the fence of the victim’s compound, breaking into the apartment, carting away valuables and eventually driving off with the vehicle,” Afolabi said.

He explained that further investigation by the police led to the recovery of two more vehicles, including a Toyota Sienna worth N6 million, which had been sold for N4 million.

According to the police chief, the gang was responsible for a string of vehicle thefts across the 18 local government areas of the state.

He said the ringleader, Afolabi, is based in Lagos but frequently in Akungba Akoko, where his father resides, alleging that it was during his visit he identified potential targets before launching the theft operations.

"These suspects have been a menace, instilling fear in residents and dispossessing them of their hard-earned belongings," the CP stated.

"Their arrest is a significant blow to the network of criminals operating across state lines."

While urging vehicle owners to take precautions by installing anti-theft devices such as pedal locks and trackers, Mr Afolabi said the police had intensified efforts to track other fleeing members of the syndicate as investigations continue

Officers of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested 25-year-old Samson Oghenebreme in Lagos for allegedly transporting human organs from Edo State to a native doctor for suspected money ritual purposes.

The command, in a statement by its spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said, “Operatives of Odo-Noforija Division have arrested one Samson Oghenebreme ‘m’ aged 25 in Odomola community, Epe, for being in possession of human organs.

"The arrest, which occurred on April 25, 2025, followed credible information from members of the public about the suspicious movement of the suspect. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect was transporting the organs from Edo State to a native doctor for the purpose of money-making rituals.

 “The recovered human organs have been deposited at the General Hospital, Epe, for preservation, while the case has been transferred to the Edo State Police Command for further investigation and prosecution.

 “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, commended the swift response of the operatives and the vigilance of the Odomola community. He emphasized the importance of timely information sharing, which played a vital role in the prompt apprehension of the suspect.

 “CP Jimoh urges all residents of Lagos State to remain watchful and report any suspicious activities or individuals to the nearest police station. He assures the public that the Command remains fully committed to ensuring the safety and security of lives and property across the state.”

Chiamaka Favor (alias), a 2-year-old girl, who was trafficked from Abuja to Aba in February 2025, has been rescued by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

The victim was rescued by NAPTIP, Abia State Command on May 8, 2025.

According to a statement issued by the agency on Friday, May 9, the suspected trafficker was arrested by DSS Abia and handed over to NAPTIP.

The trafficker is alleged to have worked with three trafficking syndicates from Abuja and sold the child to a buyer for N100,000.

NAPTIP is seeking public assistance to reunite the minor with her biological parents.

“Investigations are ongoing. NAPTIP is calling on the biological parents or any relatives of the child to urgently contact the Agency,” the statement read.

The Vatican announced that the inauguration mass of Pope Leo XIV will take place on Sunday, May 18, in St Peter’s Square.

World leaders are expected to gather for the event, held 10 days after the election of Robert Francis Prevost as the first US head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

The new pontiff will meet with journalists on Monday and with diplomats accredited to the Holy See the following Friday, the Vatican said.

Leo’s first general audience will be on Wednesday May 21 and he will meet with members of the Roman Curia — top Vatican officials — on

May 24

The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dennis Idahosa, has refuted claims associating him with any clandestine cult organisation, labelling the accusation as untrue, damaging to his character, and designed to tarnish his image.

Naija News reports that Idahosa’s response came in light of a viral video shared by one Emmanuel Agbogun, who alleged that he and other notable figures from Edo were involved in different cult factions.

In a statement he personally signed and made public on Friday, May 9, the deputy governor asserted that the claims were baseless, slanderous, malicious, unfounded, and significantly deceptive.

“My attention has been drawn to a video circulating on social media, in which one Emmanuel Agbogun falsely accused me, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Dennis Idahosa, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, of being a member of a secret cult,” the statement reads.

“In the said publication, Agbogun mentioned my name and those of other notable citizens of Edo State, alleging that we are members of various cult groups in the state.

“I categorically state that these accusations are spurious, defamatory, malicious, unfounded, and grossly misleading. They are a deliberate attempt to tarnish my hard-earned reputation and to undermine my unwavering dedication to public service.”

The Edo State Deputy Governor stressed that the claims were not only false but also an attempt to distract from the current administration’s fight against cultism in the state.

“These allegations also seek to distract this administration’s ongoing efforts to combat cultism and restore peace and order in Edo State.

“The claim that I am affiliated with any secret cult group is entirely false and baseless. I vehemently deny any involvement, both past or present, in cult-related activities.

“As a public servant and the current Deputy Governor of Edo State, I have always upheld the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in serving the good people of Edo State and Nigeria at large,” he said.

Describing the publication as a direct attack on his character, Idahosa vowed to seek legal redress.

“Let me again reiterate that I consider this publication not only slanderous but also a direct attack on my character.

“I will not treat it lightly and will pursue all legal avenues to ensure that such defamation is addressed within the full extent of the law,” he said.

He further emphasised the government’s commitment to fighting cultism and reiterated that he has never been involved in such activities.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I am not, and have never been, a member of any secret cult. I am a Christian and a steadfast believer in the teachings of Jesus Christ,” he said.

Idahosa also urged citizens of the state to support the government’s efforts in tackling cultism.

“I urge all well-meaning citizens of Edo State to remain vigilant and continue supporting our collective efforts to eradicate cultism and uphold the values of peace, justice, and development,” he added

Three serving senators from Kebbi State, elected on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have resolved to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The three senators – Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North) and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) – declared their intentions on Friday, after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the presidential villa, Abuja.

The three lawmakers were led to the meeting with President Tinubu by the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje.

A gale of defections from opposition parties to the APC has been sweeping through the political landscape in the past few weeks.

The Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris; his Sokoto State counterpart, Ahmad Aliyu; and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, were also at the meeting with the president.

The APC National Chairman, Ganduje, told newsmen after the meeting that the three senators will officially announce their defection on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday.

The Nigerian Senate’s proposed two-day national security summit has come under heavy criticism from security experts and civil society stakeholders, who warn that the effort may amount to a futile exercise without a clear policy framework to implement its outcomes.

Voicing their concerns during a forum in Enugu on Friday, several speakers pointed out that similar summits held in the past had produced commendable recommendations that were never acted upon, leading to a cycle of unproductive dialogue and worsening insecurity. 

Prince Cajethan Nnadi, a high-tech security expert and head of a private security agency in Enugu, described the proposed summit as another example of the country’s “usual frivolities” unless there is a binding commitment to act on its resolutions.

“State police are the solution,” Nnadi asserted. “It is difficult for someone from Ondo State to secure any part of Enugu State because he is not familiar with the terrain.

“State police will guarantee internal security. It is also the most effective in intelligence gathering because natives understand their environment more than even drones.”

According to him, Nigeria’s security agencies are frequently overwhelmed because personnel are deployed to unfamiliar regions, limiting their operational effectiveness and intelligence-gathering capabilities. “Let’s equip the natives to route these miscreants out,” he added.

Mr. Ebubeagu Felix Okafor, the Enugu State Coordinator of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Coalition for Peace and Conflict Resolution, expressed deep regret over what he described as the government’s habitual “lip service” to security matters.

He cited the example of the national political conference convened by former President Goodluck Jonathan, lamenting how its extensive recommendations were never implemented despite the resources expended.

“Insecurity is the major source of all the problems facing us as a nation,” Okafor said.

“It has adversely affected the lawmakers, the judiciary, and indeed the nation’s economy. There is no summit that will solve the problems unless there is a framework to implement its outcome.”

Okafor further criticized the National Assembly for its inability to hold security agencies accountable, despite frequent invitations and hearings.

He warned that insurgents are reportedly acquiring more sophisticated weapons than the Nigerian military, a sign of deep structural issues within the country’s security architecture.

Security consultant Cyril Obosi took a different angle, suggesting that rather than another summit, the federal government should establish an independent investigative committee to scrutinize defence spending, especially in light of persistent reports of corruption and inefficiency.

“We need to address our security architecture totally,” Obosi said. “There are allegations that sophisticated weapons meant for the military are ending up in the hands of insurgents.

“Our food security is endangered. Some children are out of school because of insecurity. The government needs to do more, otherwise we are headed for a major economic downturn in this country.”

Despite these concerns, the Senate maintains that the summit is a necessary step toward forging a national consensus on security.

However, even the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, expressed skepticism earlier in the week, stating that “strategy is far more important than a summit.”

As insecurity continues to plague various parts of the country—ranging from terrorism in the Northeast to banditry and kidnapping in the Northwest and Southeast—the public appears increasingly disillusioned with high-level meetings that fail to produce tangible results.

Stakeholders insist that unless the summit’s recommendations are backed by political will, budgetary support, and a practical implementation plan, the initiative risks becoming another missed opportunity in Nigeria’s prolonged struggle with insecurity