Crime Facts

Fuel Scarcity: Buhari Needs Courage To Break Cartel, Says Rep

  A member of the House of Representatives, Sergius Ogun says President Muhammadu Buhari needs courage to break the cartel operating in the oil sector. “We need to pray for the President to be strong. In this industry, we have strong cartel… The President will have to take the courage to stop some of these things,” the lawmaker said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Thursday.   According to the member of Reps Ad-hoc Committee on Petroleum Downstream, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited is broke and can’t pay oil suppliers. He said the ongoing fuel scarcity in the country can be traced to NNPC’s inability to pay oil suppliers and many more issues including oil theft. “The suppliers are not willing to give the refined products because NNPC is owing… NNPC is broke, they don’t have money to pay suppliers,” said the lawmaker representing Esan North East/Esan South East Constituency in Edo State. ‘NPA, NIMASA Ignore Presidential Directive, Charge Oil Marketers In Dollars’ Ogun, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also said the entire supply and logistics value chain in the oil sector have been dollarised and this poses a challenge to fuel marketers. The lawmaker said the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) charge docking fees and others in dollars despite a presidential directive forbidding that. He said oil suppliers and marketers scavenge for dollars at the black market to pay government agencies as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) doesn’t release forex to them. Ogun said noted that these impediments and unnecessary costs transferred on the masses must be removed by the President. “NPA takes their docking charges in dollars. NIMASA takes theirs in dollars. I actually heard there is a memo from the Villa and the late Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari met with the then Minister of Transportation and his agencies for them to take their fees in naira but he was ignored. “CBN is not giving them dollars, so they have go to the black market to buy dollars for these transactions with government agencies within the country,” he said. The lawmaker said the President needs a strong willpower to stop these issues and more affecting the fluid distribution of Premium Motor Spirit popularly known as petrol within the country. “The President we voted for in 2015 is the man with steel but those that brought him in did not allow him to do a whole lot. How can you have a presidential memo that agencies should not collect dollars anymore and he is ignored? Where is the steel?” he asked. On his part, a member of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Adegboyega Adeniji said strong leadership will bring an end to oil theft, lack of functional refineries and other related challenges in the sector. Ultimatums… Last Thursday, amid biting fuel scarcity across Nigeria, the Department of State Services (DSS) directed oil marketers and the NNPC to resolve the fuel crisis within 48 hours, saying the situation is detrimental to the security of the country. The House of Representatives also gave the NNPC one week to end the artificial scarcity of petroleum products. However, vehicle owners especially in Lagos and Abuja continue to have a tough time getting petrol from filling stations. Whilst many outlets are closed, the few ones that are open sell the indispensable commodity for as high as N250 per litre above the uniform price of N169/litre. The shortage of supply has led to long, gruelling snake-like queues at the few open filling stations as motorists and business owners jostle to buy fuel while others resort to the black market. The situation has also worsened traffic on major roads as vehicle owners block at least one lane to join queues to filling stations.

Second Niger Bridge Opens To Vehicular Movements

  The Second Niger Bridge has been opened to vehicular movements, Channels Television can confirm. The bridge was open at exactly 9:50am on Thursday, December 15, 2022 despite assurances by the Federal Government that the bridge will be opened at 12am. According to a government official who spoke to Channels Television, the delay was as a result of some little adjustments on the roads the roads linking the bridge. The first driver to pass through the bridge, Sunday Emem, expressed his delight to Channels Television. “I feel so happy, at least it will reduce the hold-up. We’ve stayed over one hour at the other bridge,” he said. Obinna Eze, the second driver to pass through the bridge, urged the present administration to complete it before May 2023. “It is a reality, though it is not 100% complete, so far what we are seeing is impressive. We commend the present administration and we hope they complete it based on the time frame,” Eze said. Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), last Thursday disclosed that the Second Niger Bridge would be open to traffic from December 15, 2022, to January 15, 2023 to ease the experience of travellers during Yuletide break. The 1.6 kilometers long bridge links Anambra and Delta states. The Second Niger Bridge was first proposed during the 1978/79 political campaign by then-candidate Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

Sit-at-home: Nigerians sign petition for Simon Ekpa’s arrest

  Following the five-day sit-at-home order that has led to the killing of many residents in the South-East recently, Nigerians all over the world are signing a petition appealing to the Finnish government, Nigerian government and the European Union to arrest Simon Ekpa, the brain behind the order. As of the time of filing this report, 2,761 people on Thursday had signed the petition seeking for Ekpa’s arrest. Ekpa, a self-acclaimed disciple of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, in a viral video, ordered the people of the South-East to observe a sit-at-home from December 9-14, 2022. An order that has been marked by bloodshed and destruction of lives and properties in the region by its enforcers. Although IPOB, through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, denied ever issuing any sit-at-home order on the days mentioned above, violence had continued to reign in the region. Consequently, aggrieved Nigerians are signing the petition calling for Ekpa’s arrest for “terrorism and genocide.” The petition reads, “We call on the Finnish Government, EU, The Nigerian Government to arrest Mr. Simon Ekpa, and investigate all his heinous crimes and terror activities in Eastern Nigeria. “One Simon Ekpa (also known as Ifeanyi Njoku), a Nigerian living in Finland, and holding Finnish citizenship, has by proxies, successfully established and coordinated an armed rebel group in Eastern Nigeria whom he now wields to destroy lives, property, and businesses in Eastern Nigeria. “He’s been seen countless times, using his media platforms in Finland to issue orders to his armed goons in Eastern Nigeria to launch deadly attacks on millions of people in the region for flouting his sit-at-home orders. “Simon is a separatist fighting for state secession but has never been brave enough to come home and lead the war from the front in Nigeria. “He is rather igniting and fueling terror on his ethnic group who decline his call for secession. “Simon’s action is stirring up bloodbath – a genocide in the region, and innocent women, children, the aged and youths are the victims dying everyday. “Sign the petition, and share it everywhere, to call on the Finnish Government, EU, The Nigerian Government to arrest Mr. Simon Ekpa, and investigate all his heinous crimes and terror activities in Eastern Nigeria.” The PUNCH reported on Tuesday that the detained IPOB leader, Kanu, condemned the attacks ongoing in the eastern region of the country following Ekpa’s five-day sit-at-home order. According to the special counsel for Kanu and IPOB, Aloy Ejimakor, who visited Kanu in his DSS detention on Monday, the IPOB leader expressed his sadness over the attacks and expressed his sympathy for the victims. Ejimakor had said, “I had a visitation with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu today (Monday). “With profound sadness, he received news of the staggered attacks of the past few days across the South-East, including the one at my hometown. “He asked me to strongly condemn the attacks on his behalf and convey his comfort to all the victims.” In a similar report Kanu’s brother, Emmanuel, also condemned the attacks, saying Ekpa had acted like a “paid agent.” Emmanuel said, “Whatever has happened was completely wrong. There was no order issued by the leader of IPOB. “It beats my imagination that somebody who claims to be fighting for the cause of Ndigbo will at the same time be engaging in activities injurious to the same people. “There is no doubt he is working for some people because no true-blooded Igbo will do something to jeopardise the lives of Igbo people. The leader has always said that he cannot take a life because he doesn’t give life. So, why will people take other people’s lives? “Why will you kill the same people you say you are fighting to protect? It doesn’t make sense. It is just obvious that Ekpa is working for some people to destroy what the leader has built over the years. Why would he give a sit-at-home order? Under whose authority will he do that? “My brother (Nnamdi Kanu) told me clearly that he did not authorise any person or group to order for sit-at-home. So, why do that? Who is he doing it to impress? It is only a paid agent that will behave the way he does,” Emmanuel concluded.

Alleged organ harvest: EFCC behind my travails – Ekweremadu

  Embattled former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, on Thursday told Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was responsible for his travails at the London Court where he had been in detention over alleged organ harvest. The Senator who has been in custody in London over an alleged organ harvest told the Federal High Court that the EFCC wrote a letter to the London Court which made the foreign court refuse to admit him to bail. Ekweremadu’s allegations were contained in an application he filed before the Nigerian court seeking an order of the court to set aside interim order granted in favour of the Federal Government for forfeiture of his 40 properties in the country and outside the country. The ex-Deputy Senate President in the application by his counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), claimed that the forfeiture order was granted to the Federal Government in error because the EFCC suppressed information and facts in respect of the properties. Specifically, the detained Senator alleged that the EFCC fraudulently obtained the forfeiture order for the government by concealing information that the investigation on the 40 properties started as far back as 2008. Among others, he alleged that the EFCC was fully aware that he was in detention in London when the application for forfeiture of the properties was filed and argued. He said that the anti-graft agency deliberately refused to disclose to the court that he was in London detention and would not be able to counter the forfeiture request. Ekweremadu, therefore, prayed the court to set aside the forfeiture order and stay proceedings in the matter until he resolves his ordeal before the London Court. However, counsel to the EFCC, Silvanus Tahir (SAN), denied that the commission was behind Ekweremadu’s ordeal. While admitting that EFCC wrote the London Court based on a special request, he said that it was a normal routine for anti-graft agencies to exchange information that would be of help to one another. Tahir did not oppose the request for a stay of proceedings till Ekweremadu fully resolve his matter before the London Court but however, vehemently opposed the request for setting aside the forfeiture order. Justice Ekwo after taking arguments from parties fixed January 25 next year for ruling in the matter. The Court had on Friday, November 4 ordered interim forfeiture of 40 landed property linked to Ekweremadu in some parts of the country and outside the country. Justice Ekwo issued the order following an ex -parte motion filed and moved by Ibrahim Buba, lawyer to the EFCC. The Judge, who granted the motion, ordered the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order of the property in a national daily within seven days. He had directed anybody who has an interest in the forfeited property to indicate within 14 days of the publication of the interim forfeiture order why the property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government. The affected properties included 10 property in Enugu, three in the United States of America, two in the UK, one in Lagos, nine in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates and 15 located in the Federal Capital Territory.

EFCC recovers N30bn from suspended Accountant-General

  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Thursday, said it had so far recovered over N30 billion from the corruption activities surrounding the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Idris Ahmed. Chairman of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, stated this at the media briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Recall that the Commission is currently prosecuting the embattled AGF over alleged N109 billion fraud. Giving highlights of the achievements of the anti-graft body from January to December, 2022, the EFCC boss gave other recoveries as N134,33,759,574.25, $121,769,076.30, £21,020.00, €156,925.00, ¥21,350.00, CFA300,000.00 among others. He also revealed that over 3,615 convictions were recorded within the period, affirming that the administration is serious about its anti-corruption programme. He announced that the nationwide auction of forfeited automobiles will be followed by the disposal of over 150 houses to interested buyers. Bawa assured that by the time the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCMUL) becomes fully operational, it will be difficult for money to be laundered in the country.

You’ve performed below average – MBF to Buhari

  The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has said President Muhammadu Buhari performed below average since he took over the reins of the Nigerian government on May 29, 2015, till now. MBF said Buhari’s administration has failed leaving Nigerians worse off than it met them seven and half years ago especially as insecurity and poor economy bite hard. The forum said this on Wednesday in reaction to President’s statement that he has done his best for the country. Buhari while meeting with Al-Mahfoudh Bin Bayyah, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Forum, and Bob Roberts, his deputy, in Washington DC, the United States, said solving the problems affecting youths was the priority of his government because they were the country’s promise for a better future. According to a statement by Garba Shehu, a presidential media aide, Buhari said, “We are big in size and population, facing many challenges, but in many areas, we are trying. In seven-and-a-half years, I have done my best.” MBF National President, Dr Bitrus Pogu, on the contrary, described the President’s claim as nothing but image-laundering in a foreign land. Pogu said, “The statement from President Buhari was a self-assessment. Of course, nobody will say anything negative about himself. But we are Nigerians and we know that his performance has been below average. “Whether you talk of the economy or security, which was the main issue in his campaign when he came into power, and other indices, you will know that he has failed and left Nigerians worse off.” “When you talk of the economy, recall that when he came in 2015, the US dollar was exchanging for about N197 but today in the open market, it is exchanging for almost N800. Prices of goods and services have gone beyond the imagination of anybody. “There is so much poverty and you can see poverty on the faces of the majority of Nigerians. Insecurity has grown from Boko Haram in the North- East to nationwide killings, kidnappings for ransom and all of that.” MBF helmsman also discussed the infrastructural decay in the country under Buhari’s government, adding that the foreign embassies and the Nigerian citizens know the truth. “If you talk of infrastructural development, there is nothing to celebrate. You cannot say, yes this is an achievement that he can talk about. “So, I think he just wanted to launder his image but I believe the Embassies of foreign countries are here in Nigeria and they know the truth about what Nigerians have been going through in seven-and-a-half years. And we Nigerians also know the truth. “So, looking at these indices, what the president has said is far from what obtains in this country. It is better for Mr President to accept that he has failed in so many areas but that he would do his best to right some of the wrongs before he leaves office. I think that would have been a better thing to say than to say that he has done his best,” Pogu added.

Be wary of misleading information on 5G networks – Police

  The National Cybercrime Centre of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF-NCCC) has called on the public to be wary of a misleading information being circulated in the social media about 5G network services. The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made the call in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja. He said the information was purportedly claimed to emanate from the NPF-NCCC, informing the public of the commencement and warning of possible breaches in the migration protocols to the 5G network services. Adejobi said that the information was a ploy by subversive elements to prepare the ground for likely phishing and cyber-attacks. He said the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and the Director in charge of the NPF-NCCC, Mr Henry Uche, had dissociated the centre from the message. Uche said the message was not from NPF-NCCC and urged the public to be wary of it, adding that it was likely the handiwork of cyber criminals. The statement reads: “The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) hereby warns members of the public and strategic stakeholders in national security matters to be wary of a suspected ploy by subversive elements to prepare the ground for likely phishing and cyber-attacks through the deliberate publication and dissemination of a WhatsApp message, currently in circulation, purportedly from the Cybercrime Department of the Nigeria Police Force informing the general public of the commencement and warning of possible breaches in the migration protocols to the 5G network services. “The Director in charge of the NPF-NCCC, DCP Uche Ifeanyi Henry, has noted that the message did not emanate from the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre and therefore warns the general public to be wary as it is likely the handiwork of cyber criminals setting the grounds to fleece innocent and unsuspecting members of the public of their monies or to steal their identities. “The general public is hereby advised to discountenance the broadcast message and cease sharing such, as it is deceptive and misleading. Genuine guidelines on the roll-out and migration to the 5G network will be available in due time on authorized websites and verified social media handles of the NPF-NCCC, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Telecom Companies, and other communication service providers.” (NAN)

DAILIES TOP STORIES: Banks reconfigure ATMs, new naira enters circulation today

  Thursday 15 December 2022 FG approves new whistleblower bill, cancels tax holiday Brave Morocco bow out to France NNPC price slash fails to end fuel queues Strike: FG must pay us our four month salary arrears, SSANU insists Africa confronted with internal, external trade barriers — Elumelu Police kill two ‘wanted terrorists’ in Katsina Arise TV debate sponsored by PDP to embarrass Tinubu – APC campaign Buhari Meets Biden At The White House Amid US-Africa Summit East-West Road Project To Gulp N200bn – Fashola After Delayed Plenary, Senate Asks CBN To Adjust Withdrawal Limits Ansaru Terrorists Operate As Another Govt In Birnin Gwari, Collect Levies From Residents – Kaduna Councillor Adeleke Suspends Mining Firms’ Operating Licences In Osun PSC Promotes 745 Officers, Replaces Five Police Commissioners Kudirat’s Murder: Abiola’s Children Sue Buhari, Seek $10m As Compensation LP postpones presidential campaign in Ekiti, Ondo over ‘unusual circumstances’ Surging transport, gas prices push Ghana’s inflation to 50.3% — highest since 2004 FG: Whistleblower policy has lost momentum — Nigerians concerned about their safety Nigerian teachers can now seek employment in UK schools 12-year-old Nigerian chess champion granted asylum in US Fuel Scarcity: IPMAN Threatens To Shut Outlets Over DSS Warning Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

Fuel Scarcity: IPMAN Threatens To Shut Outlets Over DSS Warning

  The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Ogun State has threatened to shut down all its outlets across the state over the ultimatum issued to marketers by the Department of State Security (DSS). DSS had last week given the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and oil marketers a 48-hour ultimatum to make petrol, available across Nigeria in wake of the fuel scarcity. But while reacting to the DSS ultimatum, IPMAN said such policy has failed “in its sense of reasoning with genuine business operators who do not get product from government’s depot to sell same at government approved price.” In a statement, Femi Adelaja, the association’s chairman in Ogun, asked the secret police to go after those who are making supplies difficult for IPMAN members. He added that the DSS operatives have chosen “the path of dishonour by threatening to go after IPMAN members, whose businesses survive on loans and other credit facilities provided by commercial banks at a not-too-friendly interest rate.” The statement read, “Rather than for the security operatives to go after those who are making supplies difficult for IPMAN members, they have chosen the path of dishonour by threatening to go after IPMAN members, whose businesses survives on loans and other credit facilities provided by commercial banks at a not-too-friendly interest rate. “If any of the law enforcing agencies in Nigeria is genuinely concerned about the security of the country, they should go after the NNPCL officials and ensure that they make the product available for independent marketers at the already agreed price and desist from the unnecessary ranting ‘of a wounded lion’”. Adelaja described the DSS stance on fuel scarcity as ploy by government agency that has failed in its statutory responsibility and chosen to chase genuine business investor around all in the name of securing the nation. The association therefore warned the DSS to reverse it’s earlier position of clamping down on IPMAN members, and as well apologize to Nigerians on its action. “IPMAN however, warned that should the DSS fails to reverse its position and apologize to the peace loving members of the Nigerian society, whose psyche was affected by its earlier statement, we would be left with no alternative than to close all our outlets across Ogun State,” he said.

Buhari Meets Biden At The White House Amid US-Africa Summit

  President Muhammadu Buhari met with the United States President Joe Biden in Washington DC on Wednesday. Photos shared by the Presidency show Buhari in a meeting with Biden and the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the White House on the sidelines of the US-Africa Leader’s Summit. Buhari departed from Abuja on Sunday to join other African leaders for the summit aimed at rebooting US relations on the continent in Washington DC. The US-Africa summit, which began in 2014, is the biggest international gathering in Washington since the COVID-19 pandemic and the most substantial commitment by a US administration to boosting its influence in Africa for almost a decade. The summit, according to the US government, “will demonstrate the US enduring commitment to Africa and will underscore the importance of US-Africa relations and increased cooperation on shared priorities.”