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NASS to commence investigation as alleged N20bn payment to ghost consultants rattles NNPCLtd.

Harrison EDEH
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NASS to commence investigation as alleged N20bn payment to ghost consultants rattles NNPCLtd.

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCLtd.) said it is ready for investigation by the National Assembly, as allegations of N20 billion payment to a ghost consultant rattles the national oil company.

The news about the allegation has already hit the media, which follows resolution by the Federal House of Representatives on April 6 to look further into the matter by constituting an ad hoc committee to that effect.

Prior to resolution by the House, the NNPCLtd. has earlier denied the allegations of payment to N20 billion to a ghost consultant in a clarification statement it officially issued on April 3, 2022.

The statement issued by the company’s official spokesperson Garba Deen Muhammad, said, “The NNPC Ltd. wishes to state that as a responsible corporate organisation, it doesn’t have or deal with ghost consultants.

“At NNPCLtd. the process of engaging consultants whenever the need arises is clear and verifiable and follow global best practices.”

Sequel to the clarification, NNPCLtd. further said it was already aware of the plan by the National Assembly to probe the allegation that it paid N20 billion to ghost consultants.

In a separate statement obtained by The ICIR, the national oil company maintained that it “received with great relief, the resolution of the House of Representatives to investigate allegation of the payment of a huge sum of twenty billion naira to so-called “ghost consultants”.

Garba Deen Muhammad, its spokesperson, noted that the company had earlier refuted the allegation that was first published by an online platform, stressing that, “it was without any iota of evidence”.

“Under the current Board and Management, NNPCLtd. has instituted a culture of transparency that includes making its annual Audited Financial Statements (AFS) public.

“It is in this light that the NNPCLtd. welcomes the resolution of the House of Representatives to investigate this very outrageous allegation,” the spokesman said.

The company expressed confidence that the outcome of any investigation into the allegation will vindicate it, and put an end to all speculations concerning the matter.

Foreign minister dismisses suspension reports

Beloved JOHN
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Foreign minister dismisses suspension reports

THE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has dismissed reports of his suspension from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Onyeama was reportedly suspended by the Enugu State chapter of the party over alleged anti-party activities.

The ICIR reported that the Enugu State APC had, while announcing the suspension of the foreign minister, also expelled a former governor of the state, Sullivan Chime, the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, and others over alleged anti-party activities.

The state chapter of APC had said the action taken was in line with recommendations stated in a disciplinary committee report.

The party said the minister and the others supported candidates of other political parties during the general elections.

Reacting to the development through the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca Omayuli, the minister described reports of his suspension as ‘mischievous’.

He urged the public to disregard the allegation.

“The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to a story circulating on social media that the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Geoffrey Onyeama, has been suspended by his party, the All Progressives Congress because, as alleged, ‘he was sent to the United States to blackmail Peter Obi, and he declined the request’.

“The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs states there is no truth to the mischievous allegations.

“The general public is, therefore, called upon to disregard the story,” the statement read.

Bandits strike again in Zamfara, abduct 80 children

Mustapha USMAN
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Bandits strike again in Zamfara, abduct 80 children

At least, 80 children were reportedly abducted by bandits in Tsafe Local Government Area, Zamfara State on Friday, April 7.

According to BBC Hausa, some of the children, who are between the ages of 12 and 17, were kidnapped in the bush.

The children, according to the parents who spoke with BBC Hausa, were reportedly fetching firewood at about 8:00 a.m. when the assailants rounded them up and marched them away into the forest.

The abductors, however, are yet to reach the parents to make any demands as of the time BBC reported the kidnap.

This is not the first case of abduction and kidnapping in Zamfara, as bandits incessantly rampaged several communities in the state.

In 2019, armed bandits attacked the Government Girls Secondary School, Moriki, in Zurü local government area of Zamfara State, kidnapping several students and teachers.

This attack was the second when hoodlums would be attacking a secondary school and abducting students in President Muhammadu Buhari’s first term in office, in spite of the administration’s claim of having improved security across the country, according to the report.

The first was in February 2018 when 110 school girls were abducted by Boko Haram from their school dormitory in Dapchi, Yobe State. Some of the girls, numbering 104, were released a month later following negotiations between the government and Boko Haram.

However, five died in custody while one, Leah Sharibu, is still being held because she refused to convert to Islam.

There were many other cases of bandits’ attacks in the state that have claimed several lives. Despite the security operatives repelling some of the attacks, the terrorists have managed to record many feats in the state.

For instance, in February 2022, the terrorist group attacked Tsafe LGA of the state, killing 17 civilians.

Also, Aljazeera reported that an estimated 200 people were killed and 10,000 displaced in attacks by armed bandits in the northwestern Nigerian state of Zamfara following military air raids on their hideouts in January 2022.

BBC also reported in November 2022 that 130 people were kidnapped by gunmen in Zamfara, a local official.

According to the report, the state information commissioner Ibrahim Dosara, disclosed to the British media that Gunmen on motorcycles raided two areas and abducted women, children and the elderly.

Recently, On March 4, 2023, The ICIR reported how the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of a division in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State Kazeem Raheem, a sergeant and one vigilante were killed by bandits during an attack at the headquarters of the local government area.

It was gathered that on receiving news of the attack, the DPO, Kazeem Raheem, mobilised his men and some local vigilantes to protect the residents against the bandits

The DPO, a sergeant identified as Rabiu Bagobiri and a vigilante identified as Shehu Chuka, were killed during the counter-offensive.

Reps ask NDDC to halt release of N15bn to FG

Beloved JOHN
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Reps ask NDDC to halt release of N15bn to FG

THE House of Representatives has asked the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) not to release the sum of 15 billion earmarked as counterpart funding to the Federal Government.

The Federal Government had requested the sum for a humanitarian intervention programme, but the House of Representatives has placed the release of the fund on hold.

The lawmakers asked the committee on NDDC to review the request and report back to the house within two weeks.

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The House of reps passed the resolution at Thursday’s plenary.

This was after adopting a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Unyime Idem, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker from Akwa Ibom.

Unyoke said the government had requested the funds from the ministry without the parliament’s approval.

The lawmaker said the money that is to be released is recovered by the EFCC without budgetary provision.
He noted that the NDDC budget estimates for 2021, 2022 and 2023 were before the House for legislative approval.

Unyoke described the move as illegal and a breach of the Appropriation Act.

“Part of the fund available for use by the Commission is money recovered on its behalf by the EFCC and given to the Commission to ease the implementation and its financial obligations.

“The Federal Government sent a special request mandating the Ministry of Niger Delta to jointly finance an intervention and humanitarian programme of sums running into several billions of naira using the money recovered by the EFCC without budgetary provision,” he said.

Investors lose N674bn as interim govt rumour hits stocks

Ehime ALEX
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Investors lose N674bn as interim govt rumour hits stocks

THE overall market value of stocks traded at the floor of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) fell by N674.53 billion this week, as concerns over installing an interim government triggered investment sentiments in the capital market.

Market capitalisation, the market’s total market value dropped to N28.87 trillion on Thursday, April 6, from N29.54 trillion that the market opened with on Monday, April 3.

The Department of State Services (DSS) had on Wednesday, March 29, disclosed it had uncovered a plot by some political actors to install an interim government in the country, raising dust in the political and economic space.

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The ICIR had reported that the Nigerian stock market lost N856.97 billion in the month of March.

Sharing his thoughts on what further drove the market to record a four-day straight decline in the first week of the new month, the national chairman of the Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), Boniface Okezie, told The ICIR that the uncertainty in the political space might be a deciding factor in the capital market.

According to Okezie, the Nigerian economy is still in the woods and election matters are yet to be settled by the court.

He believed that expediting action on the cases would help in bringing relief to investors.

“Let’s know the direction the economy will be moving that will give us the direction the market will head for now. The coast is not clear because the outgoing government is just standing still even when their presence has not even helped the market,” Okezie said.

He also identified insecurity as still prevalent, though it appeared it was dropping before the general elections.

“After the election we have begun to see pockets of killing here and there, and in the north,” Okezie added.

Investors are expected to trade cautiously as insecurity and political activities continue to headline Nigeria’s macro economy, analysts at Cowry Asset Management stated in their weekly market report.

“We continue to advise investors to trade on companies’ stocks with sound fundamentals and a positive outlook,” the analysts said, adding that in the week to come, they expected the “current trend of mixed sentiments to linger as the market seeks for a major catalyst that could trigger positive sentiments.”

The socio-political tension emanating from the recently-held general elections recently held is taking its toll on investors’ confidence, the chief executive officer, Highcap Securities Limited, David Adonri, told The ICIR.

“The cumulative effect of all these is that migration of financial assets from equities to the safety of debt in this quarter may be inevitable,” Adonri posited.

He noted, however, that the stock market might also be reacting to rising inflation, hike in interest rate and low capital inflow.

“Investors are also gearing up for the anticipated negative impact of the currency confiscation exercise on fundamentals of companies when Q1 (first quarter) results start hitting the market this month,” he said.

Abel Ezekiel, an investment and portfolio analyst, reminded that the rumour about an interim government remained a rumour.

Ezekiel said, “Are we now saying that President Muhammadu Buhari will install an interim government when he is to hand over to a president-elect from his party? On what basis?”

Arguing that some analysts were just making a statement outside the reality on ground, he said, “What is happening is far different from what happened in 1993 when Nigeria was forced into an interim government.

“The drop in the market value this week was as a result of the drop in the share price of Airtel Africa.

“What we saw this week is a corrective step, a kind of investors’ strategy to take dividends, and not because of the colour of the rumour of an interim government.”

Meanwhile, the local stock traded for four days as the federal government declared Friday, April 7 and April 10 public holidays to mark the Easter celebration.

Movement of stocks showed that the NGX All-Share Index depreciated by 2.28 per cent to close the week at 52,994.13 basis points (bps), leaving the year-to-date return to decline to 3.40 per cent from 7.04 per cent last week.

This caused the stock market to drop further in value as investors also reacted to the publications of economic data and dividend announcement by companies.

Part of what also played out in the market was that investors have begun to reposition ahead of the first quarter earnings season based on the current price levels that have been perceived to be an attractive point of entry.

However, the stock market trended downward as a result of sell-pressure in some of the mid and large capitalised stocks.

Across the sectors, performance was largely negative, except for the insurance sector which gained 2.19 per cent to close at 181.40bps, while all other sub-sector indices dropped in volume.

The industrial index led the pack, dropping by 3.65 per cent to close at 2,455.43bps; banking index saw a 1.05 per cent loss to 448.23bps; consumer goods index declined by 0.62 per cent to 698.37bps; and oil and gas index fell by 0.11 per cent to 510.25bps.

The share price of Airtel Africa, the most capitalised stock on the Exchange, dropped by 10 per cent to close at N1,331.10 from N1,479.00 it opened on April 3.

In the review week, a total turnover of 1.054 billion shares worth N10.05 billion in 16,155 deals was traded by investors, in contrast to a total of 2.071 billion shares valued at N17.562 billion that exchanged hands last week in 17,917 deals.

While 37 stocks depreciated in price higher than 30 in the previous week, 16 stocks appreciated in price during the week lower than 37 stocks in the previous week.

Jos DisCo interfaces with Mainstream Energy to facilitate power procurement agreements

Harrison EDEH
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Jos DisCo interfaces with Mainstream Energy to facilitate power procurement agreements

In an effort towards repositioning Jos Electricity Distribution Plc (JED) for efficiency, its managing director, Abdu Bello Mohammed, paid a courtesy visit on April 6 to the management of Mainstream Energy in Abuja with the aim of procuring power from the company.

Mohammed said during the visit that JED Plc under his leadership would continuosly strive to deliver qualitative and reliable electricity supply to its franchise states of Bauchi, Benue, Gombe, and Plateau.

Mohammed, in a statement issued today by JED’s head of Corporate Communications, Friday Adakole Elijah, explained that the visit was centred on effective collaboration between the two companies, and emphasised the need to concretise arrangements on power procurement from a very credible and solid enterprise in order to deliver power to its franchise areas.

He assured that JED Plc would deliver efficient services in energy distribution as a result of huge investments by the new owner.

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In his words, “The visit to the headquarters of Mainstream Energy was to initiate discussions on bilateral power procurement and other investment-related issues.”

Mohammed explained that the visit was consequent upon the directive by the regulator that all the Discos in the country should commence engagement with the power generation companies for bilateral power procurement, stressing, “We are here in line with this directive.“

The managing director of Mainstream Energy, Lamu Audu, responded that he was eagerly looking forward to the actualization of the bilateral discussion, and underlined his cmompany’s readiness to assist JED Plc achieve its set goals.

Ogun guber poll: Adebutu files petition against Abiodun’s victory

Beloved JOHN
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Ogun guber poll: Adebutu files petition against Abiodun’s victory

THE governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, has filed a petition challenging the victory of the incumbent governor, Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Adetutu filed a petition before the Election Petition Tribunal alleging manipulation of results in the state election.

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Adetutu and his legal team led by Gordy Uche, SAN, as well as party chieftains, visited the tribunal secretariat at Isabo Magistrate court premises in Abeokuta to submit voluminous copies of the petition.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Abiodun as the winner of the March 18 governorship election.

Abiodun pulled 276,298 votes to defeat Adetutu, who scored 262,383.

Speaking with reporters on his petition, Adebutu said his mandate was stolen.

The PDP candidate said he filed his petition on “four solid grounds”, noting that he hopes the tribunal will do its best.

“We have up to four solid grounds, but it will be sweeter when our opponent tells you the grounds.

“Our prayers are just that the right thing is done and the man who won is given the mantle of the office.

“And in the alternative, the petitioner prayed for an order of the Tribunal “directing 1st Respondent to conduct fresh election in the 99 polling units which cut across 41 wards and 16 Local Government Areas of Ogun State where elections were either not held and cancelled due to disruption and over-voting.”

In his petition, Adetutu asked that the tribunal declare Abiodun unqualified and disqualify him as a candidate for the governorship election.

He also asked to be declared the winner of the election as the candidate who has the highest number of valid votes and has satisfied the requirements of the constitution.

The reliefs sought by Adetutu include: “An order of this Honourable Tribunal setting aside the Certificate of Return dated 20th day of March 2023 wrongly issued to the 2nd Respondent by the 1st respondent.

“An order directing the 1st Respondent to immediately Issue a Certificate of Return to the 1st petitioner as the duly elected Governor of Ogun State.

“In the alternative: an order of this Honourable Tribunal directing 1st Respondent to conduct fresh election in the 99 polling units which cut across 41 wards and 16 Local Government Areas of Ogun State where elections were either not held or cancelled due to disruption and over-voting.

“An order of this Honourable Tribunal directing the 1st Respondent to conduct a fresh election for the office of Governor of Ogun State to the exclusion of the 2nd and 3rd Respondents.”

LP crisis ploy to frustrate Obi’s tribunal case – State chairmen

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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LP crisis ploy to frustrate Obi’s tribunal case – State chairmen

STATE chairmen of the Labour Party (LP) have alleged that the internal crisis rocking the party is aimed at frustrating the chances of Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, at the election tribunal.

Speaking on behalf of the 36 state chairmen on Friday, April 7, Nasarawa State Labour party chairman, Alexander Ombugu, said the current leadership crisis in the party is politically motivated and sponsored.

“We are aware that the present crisis in the Labour Party is being sponsored by other political parties to spoil the chances of our party in the ongoing presidential election tribunal so that Mr Peter Obi will lose focus in continuing with the case.

“And because they know that the court is the last hope of the common man, and seeing that we are hopeful to reclaim our mandate, they decided to come up with all these plans by sponsoring some persons to cause disaffection in the Labour Party.

“The other political parties know that he (Obi) won the February 25 presidential election with a landslide but the irregularities which occurred during the electioneering process including the non-transmission of results to the Independent National Electoral Commission results viewing portal, made another candidate to be announced as the winner of the election,” Ombugu said.

Ombugu added that the 36 state chairmen are behind Julius Abure, the LP national chairman who was recently removed by a court following an ex-parte motion filed by some aggrieved party members.

He said, “The State Chairmen have called on all their supporters across the country to remain committed to the growth of the party and not be deterred by the activities of those who are sponsored to cause setbacks in the party.

“They have also urged the judiciary to continue to be upright in justice delivery and the security agencies not to allow themselves to be used by greedy and desperate politicians who do not mean well for the nation.

“At a time like this, members of the judiciary and security agencies are likely to face intimidations from politicians who are greedy and desperate. We want to urge them to continue to discharge their duties according to the laws guarding their professions, because we all have to put Nigeria first in everything we are doing.

“But we want to let them know today, that no matter what they do, we will continue to remain loyal to our National Chairman, Mr. Julius Abure, and give him the needed support to take our party to greater heights. So, we are calling on all our supporters across the country to remain committed to the growth of the party and not be deterred by the activities of those who are sponsored to cause setbacks in the party.”

The ICIR had earlier reported that a High Court in Abuja barred the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, and three other national executive officers from parading themselves as officials of the party until they are vindicated of allegations against them.

Other members sued alongside the national chairman include the National Secretary, Farouk Ibrahim, the National Organising Secretary, Clement Ojukwu, and the Treasurer, Oluchi Opara.

FCT Police Command deploys personnel ahead of Easter

Ijeoma OPARA
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FCT Police Command deploys personnel ahead of Easter

THE Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said it has massively deployed its operatives to combat crime and ensure smooth festivities ahead of the forthcoming Easter celebrations.

This was contained in a statement by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Command Josephine Adeh on Friday April 7.

“The deployment is characterised by strengthened police-community relationship towards intelligence gathering, visibility policing at all places of worship and every point of social gathering, stop and search duty, intelligence-led raids on black spots, highway, and border patrol, aggressive vehicular/foot patrol, and surveillance, inter-agency collaboration and sundry,” she noted.

Adeh said the FCT Commissioner of Police Sadiq Idris Abubakar charged officials to ensure that their official duties were carried out with adequate consideration for fundamental human rights and according to global best practices.

“Consequent upon the above, the FCT Commissioner of Police AIG Sadiq Idris Abubakar Ph.D., mni wishes to assure residents of the Territory of the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that they have a safe and peaceful environment during the Easter celebration period and beyond,” she noted.

Residents were also urged to remain vigilant throughout the period, and report suspicious activities or share valuable information via the police control room numbers: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883.

Protests rock Benue as armed herdsmen kill 46 in latest attack

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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Protests rock Benue as armed herdsmen kill 46 in latest attack

RESIDENTS of Apa community in Benue State on Friday, April 7, took to the streets to protest against incessant killings by suspected armed herdsmen in the state.

The protesters, mostly youths, mounted roadblocks on the Oweto-Loko-Abuja Road.

They lamented that more than 100 people have been killed and injured in the community while a traditional chief’s hand was amputated by the armed herdsmen.

The protests followed the killing of 46 persons in the latest attack by suspected armed herdsmen in Benue State.

The 46 persons were reportedly murdered in fatal attacks on Umogidi community of Entekpa Adoka district in the Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, on Thursday, April 6.

Speaking on Thursday, Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Bako Eje, said the fresh attack was launched following the suspicious invasion of the community by herders on Tuesday.

“You know that these herders killed three people on Tuesday and they (herders) came back on Wednesday at about 4.15 pm and killed 46 people, including my own son, who was 32 years old.

“We just buried him and some other persons are still missing. Among the people killed were my immediate younger sister’s husband, and her second son who was almost 38 years old.”

Also a resident of the community, who identified himself a Sunny, said, “We were still mourning the death of the three people killed on Tuesday by these herders when we started hearing gunshots from different angles leading to the death of several people.”

Meanwhile, reacting to the attack on community members, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Paul Hemba described the incident as very tragic and painful.

“I can confirm to you that there was an attack in Umogidi and as of this morning, the casualty figure, from those who were seen physically from what I was told, was 46. But the figure may be higher because some people are still reported missing,” he said.

The police spokesperson for the state, Catherine Anene, disclosed that eight corpses have been recovered.

“Attack on Umogidi community is confirmed. Eight corpses have been recovered, including a police officer. More police teams have been deployed to the area to forestall further breakdown of law and order.”

The ICIR earlier reported that the Benue State Emergency and Management Agency said it had recorded  5,138 deaths from suspected armed herders in seven years.

According to the state emergency management agency,  18 of the 23 Local Government Areas had been under series attacks since  the beginning of Governor Samuel Ortom’s administration.

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