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  • NSCDC arrests 3 black marketers, impounds crafted vehicles

    The Niger Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has arrested three suspected ‘black marketers’ for fabricating huge extra tanks in their vehicles.

    The Public Relations officer of the corps, DSC Nasire Abdullahi, stated this while addressing news on the arrest in Minna on Wednesday.

    He said that the command had also impounded four vehicles used for the operation.

    According to him, the Anti-Vandal Squad of the command, acting on credible intelligence on Tuesday, arrested four vehicles at the mega station of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) in Minna.

    “It was discovered that the vehicles were fitted with special constructed fuel tanks,” he said.

    He said  the suspects are, Ismaila Mohammed, 27, Ibrahim Usman, 42 and Idris Adamu, 39.

    The spokesman said that the driver of one of the vehicles escaped and efforts were on to arrest him.

    Abubakar said that the suspects would purchase the PMS at the Federal Government regulated price of N196 per litre, and sell to the public at  N250 and N300.

    He said that the activities of the suspects was causing untold hardship for members of the public.

    Abdullahi said that one of the vehicles, a Toyota Corolla carried  500 litres of PMS in a fabricated constructed tank with 14 jerry cans measuring 25 litres.

    He said that the second vehicle, a Toyota car  also carryied an inbuilt tank of 500 litres, while the third, a Jetta car carried constructed 200 litres with a normal 70 litres removed from another vehicle.

    Abubakar said that the fourth vehicle whose driver escaped  carried inbuilt tank measuring 1,000 litres.

    He said  that the Manager of the NNPC mega station has been invited for questioning.

    Abdullahi said that after diligent investigations the suspects would be arraigned in court.

    He said that the corps would not relent in its task to protect the critical assets of the country.

    “The NSCDC will continue to keep 24 hours surveillance in all government facilities in Niger.

    “The corps will clampdown on vandals and other economic saboteurs,” he said.

    Ibrahim Usman, one of the suspects said that he ventured into the business because he has no job.

    Usman who has two wives and 13 children,  said that they normally  tip the fuel pump attendants at NNPC to get the PMS.

    “We give them N2, 000 to N3,000 to sell fuel to us.

    “I cannot steal to take care of my family, so I have to go into buying and selling of fuel,” he said.

    President Bola Tinubu had on Monday announced the end of fuel subsidy, making the NNPC and other filling stations to increase the pump price between N537 and N600 per litre across the country.

  • Fuel price increase will accelerate inflation — NECA

    The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has said that increase in pump price of fuel would further accelerate inflation, which would distort and destabilise economic activities.

    Its Director General, Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, made the assertion in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

    Oyerinde said also, that the increase would shrink private sector business capital and lower the real disposal income of the people.

    ‘’The inaugural address of the president on fuel subsidy has generated heated reaction, with fuel queues returning to the petrol station and the prices of goods and services increasing astronomically.

    ‘’The increase, if not well managed, could lead to an increase in the prices of goods and services with consequential effects on the purchasing power of the already impoverished Nigerian.

    ‘’No doubt therefore, the economy would contract in terms of growth; business activities will face serious backlash; and aggregate consumption will fall due to inflationary pressure, ‘’ he said.

    The NECA boss said that, while it was desirable to remove the fuel subsidy, it was also important that the removal was systematically and strategically done.

    According to him, this is in order not to further impoverish and worsen the already bad socio-economic indicators such as employment, poverty per capital income and many more.

    Oyerinde said: ‘’It is worrisome to note that prices of other commodities have skyrocketed few hours after the president’s pronouncement of subsidy removal.

    ‘’Consequently, it is critically important that the new government approaches the removal of the subsidy with caution to circumvent further degeneration in the economy.

    ‘’We reiterate that in the spirit of frontally addressing corruption as stated in the president’s inaugural address, efforts should be stepped up to complete the rehabilitation of the refineries to complement the Dangote Refinery that just came on board recently.

    ‘’With the measure, it will be possible to attain scale in Premium Motor Spirit refining in the country so as to moderate domestic prices.‘’

    NECA is the umbrella organisation of employers in the organised private sector of Nigeria. 

  • Subsidy Removal: NLC rejects new fuel pump price template

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Federal Government to immediately instruct the Nigerian Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) to withdraw the just released pricing template to allow free flow of discussions by all parties.

    Mr Joe Ajaero, the NLC President, made the call in a statement signed by him and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Ajaero said that the new pricing template is vexatious, an ambush and may scuttle its ongoing dialogue with the federal government.

    According to Ajaero, government cannot in one breathe be talking about deregulation and at the same time fixing the prices of petroleum products.

    “We are worried that the Government through the NNPC despite the ongoing meeting of stakeholders in the Oil and Gas sector to manage the unilateral.

    “But unfortunate announcement by the President to withdraw subsidy on petroleum products, went ahead this morning to announce a new regime of prices under a new pricing template.

    “This is an ambush and runs against the spirit and principles of Social Dialogue which remains the best platform available for the resolution of all the issues arising out of the petroleum Down-stream sector.

    “This negates the spirit of allowing the operation of the free market unless the government has, as usual, usurped, captured or become market forces.

    “It is therefore unacceptable and we seriously condemn it. Good faith negotiation is key to reaching agreement,” he said.

    He added that what the government has done is like holding a gun to the head of Nigerian people and bring undue pressure on the leaders, thus undermine the dialogue.

    The NLC president said that Nigerians would not accept any manipulation of any kind from any of the parties, especially from the representatives of the government.

    “Our commitment to this process is buoyed on the fact that all the parties would be committed to ensuring that it is carried out within the ambits of liberty without undue pressure.

    “The release of that Template may not allow us to continue if nothing is done to withdraw it so that the dialogue can continue unhindered. It is clear that Government is actually trying to scuttle the process.

    “As it stands, the federal government has become fixated on their chosen course of action. Would this help this dialogue? It clearly will not.

    “There must be flexibility to allow concessions and reasonable accommodation that will produce the best result for Nigerian people. This is what we all seek at this time,” he said. 

  • Compel EFCC, ICPC to probe Wike, applicants ask Court

    A Federal High Court has been asked to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to probe the Rivers spending during the tenure of ex-Governor Nyesom Wike.

    The suit, filed by Sir Precious Elekima and a group, Incorporated Trustees of Peoples Life Improvement Foundation (PLIF), also urged the court to direct the Inspector-General of Police to step into the matter.

    In the suit marked: FHC/PH/CS/199/2023 filed on May 30 in the Port-Harcourt division of the court, the applicants averred that Wike allegedly diverted huge funds belonging to the state.

    Elekima and the PLIF said their resort to the court was a result of the alleged failure of the I-G, the EFCC and the ICPC to act on their petition dated May 23, 2023, which had since been submitted to them.

    Elekima and the PLIF want the court to among others, declare the 1st to 3rd respondents (the IGP, the EFCC, and the ICPC) have the statutory duties and powers to investigate their petition against Wike and some named bankers in Rivers “and to prosecute any of them found to have contravened any law within their respective statutory mandates.”

    They equally want the court to issue “an order of mandamus directing the 1st to 3rd respondents to investigate the criminal allegations made to them against the 4th to 16th respondents (Wike and the banks) in the said petition and prosecute them or any of them found culpable of the said criminal allegations.”

    Elekima and the PLIF claimed that they possess information and documents showing that huge funds were diverted from the Rivers’ coffers during Wike’s tenure.

    They stated that in the course of their official activities, they became aware and have reason to reasonably suspect and believe that the 4th respondent in his capacity as governor, fraudulently withdraw N117 billion belonging to the Rivers Government.

    This, they said, is in excess of the threshold permitted by extant laws and financial regulations with intent to misappropriate and divert same and did, in fact, divert same for his personal benefit.”

    Elekima and the PLIF added that they “reasonably suspect that the 4th respondent, in conspiracy with other officials of the Government of Rivers State and 5th to 16th respondents fraudulently withdrew, laundered and embezzled huge funds from the Rivers State internally generated revenue collected and domiciled in several accounts with the 5th to 16th respondents.”

    They alleged that they “reasonably suspect that the 4th respondent also diverted and fraudulently misappropriated huge public funds belonging to the Government and people of Rivers State to his private use.

    Filed along with the suit for judicial review, is a motion ex-parte in which they are seeking leave to apply for an order of mandamus and for service of originating summons on the 1st to 3rd respondents in Abuja.

    Rivers banks listed in the suit are: Access Bank, Ecobank, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Fidelity, Guaranty Trust, Unity Bank, Union Bank, Wema, Zenith, First Bank and Heritage Bank.

  • Alleged Misconduct: NAPTIP sacks Deputy Director, 4 officers

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has dismissed five of its personnel, including a Deputy Director, for alleged misconduct.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Mr. Vincent Adekoye, a Press Officer of the agency on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Adekoye said the misconduct ranged from corruption, demanding and receiving bribes from suspects and relatives, and leaking confidential information to suspects.

    Others are alleged violation of oath of secrecy; stealing and alteration of official records and absent from duty without Official leave.

    He said that these offence are all contrary to provisions of the Public Service Rules and other extant laws and regulations.

    He said that two other officers were demoted by two ranks for soliciting for bribe from a suspect of human trafficking, while one officer was demoted by one rank for negligence of duty.

    He said that the disciplinary actions followed the approval of the Governing Board of the agency at its meeting on May 25.

    Adekoye said that at the meeting, the board considered and ratified the decision of the agency’s Senior Staff Committee (SSC) which earlier sat on the disciplinary matters in accordance with the Public Service Rules and other extant laws and regulations.

  • Police dismiss Sergeant over N98,000 extortion

    The Police Command in Lagos State has announced the dismissal of Sergeant Ekpo Shimuyere attached to Shogunle Division for extorting a young man of N98,000.

    The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin told newsmen on Wednesday that the Provost Department of the command had already derobed the dismissed sergeant.

    According to him, the dismissed sergeant collected the phone of his victim and used a POS operator to transfer N98,000 out of the N100,000 in the young man’s bank account.

    Hundeyin said that the action of the policeman was contrary to the ethics of the profession.

    “Police got the complaint from the victim and the officer denied the crime when he was contacted. The command placed him under detention so that he will not tamper with the evidence.

    “We wrote to his bank and obtained his statement of account. We were able to trace the money to where the POS operator transferred it to before transferring the money to the officer’s account.

    “We followed due process to get his account. The victim was invited in the course of investigation, and he testified.

    “The POS operator was also invited, and he said the officer requested him to transfer the money from the victim’s account to another one,” Hudenyi added.

    He said that the Sergeant was consequently subjected to Orderly Room trial in line with extant laws.

    “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command, Mr Idowu Owohunwa, have reviewed the orderly room procedure of the officer with Force No. 461654, attached to Sogunle Police Division and have approved the punishment of dismissal from the Force,” he said.

    Hundeyin said that the commissioner warned officers and men against any form of corruption, stressing that the dismissal was to serve as a deterrent to others.

    He further warned that the command would continue to punish any police officer found to have engaged in unprofessional conduct.

  • Nigerians groan as Presidency, NNPCL hike fuel pump price to N555PL

    Details of the Tuesday meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company limited (NNPCL), Malam Mele Kyari,  has emerged as the company has rolled out template for new pump price per litre nationwide.

    Malam Kyari had on Tuesday had a closed door meeting with President Tinubu, following the controversy generated by inaugural speech comment on removal of fuel subsidy.

    Template for hike in fuel pump price per litre as categorized according to geopolitical zone effective, 31 May, 2023.

    Under the new prices depending on geopolitical zone, a price per litre will not cost less than N488  but will cost at most N555.

    The NNPCL has also directed dealers to reflect the new pump price in the respective geopolitical zones effective today, 31 May, 2023, in line with the released price templated.

    “Please implement meter change as approved effective today 31st May 2023. Wayne is to attend to all locations as relates to their area of coverage in our network”, the directive stated.

    A statement by Garba Muhammad, Chief Corporate Communications Officer NNPC Limited said as it strives to provide quality service which the company was known for, prices would continue to fluctuate to reflect market dynamics.

    “The NNPC Ltd. wishes to inform our esteemed customers that we have adjusted our pump price of PMS across our retail outlets, in line with the current market realities.

    “We assure you that NNPC Ltd. is committed to ensuring ceaseless supply of products.

    “The Company sincerely regrets any inconvenience this development might have caused,” Muhammad said.

    He appreciated the continued patronage, support and understanding of its customers through this time of change and growth.

    The sudden increase in pump price per litre contradicted President Tinubu’s explanations of his inuagural speech comment on immediate removal of fuel Subsidy.

    He had on Tuesday said that the removal would take effect end of June, 2023, in attempt to allay fears and tempers heightened by acute shortage of fuel and hike in prices by dealers following his inaugural speech comment of fuel Subsidy removal.

    Nationwide, following his inaugural speech, queues have returned to the fueling stations. While dealers who are open for operations have hike their pump price up to between N600-N700 per litre, just as most filling stations closed shop.

    Commuters nationwide have been stranded as transporters have hiked the fares resulting to chaotic situation just two days on assumption of office by President Tinubu.

    Reports indicate that motorists who had queued up overnight for fuel now refused to buy at the newly reflected high pump price per litre.

  • Adegoke’s Murder: Hotel receptionist bags 2-year jail term

    The Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo has sentenced Miss Adedeji Adesola, the receptionist that received the late Timothy Adegoke when he lodged in the Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife in the evening of November 6, 2021, to two years imprisonment for altering the receipt issued to the deceased.

    Adesola’s sentence was pronounced at the sitting of the court on Wednesday by Osun State Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo.

    She was said to have fabricated another receipt for the purpose of concealing traces of Adegoke’s lodgement at the hotel.

    The presiding judge, Justice Adepele Ojo, had on Tuesday, found Adesola guilty of doctoring the hotel receipt issued to the deceased, fabricating another, and concealing evidence charged against her.

    They further said the two years should start counting from the first day she was detained since the commencement of the matter.

    On Tuesday, the court convicted the founder of Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife, Ramon Adedoyin, and three staff of the hotel of conspiracy to murder and murder of the post-graduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).

    Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Oyebola Ojo, had on Tuesday sentenced Dr. Rahman Adedoyin, owner of Hilton Hotel in Ile-Ife, to death by hanging, over the murder of Timothy Adegoke.

    Adedoyin, alongside six of his hotel workers — Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle and Adedeji Adesola — were docked on an 18-count, including conspiracy to commit murder and unlawful killing of Timothy Adegoke.

    Other counts included an attempt to commit a felony, administering an extrajudicial oath, tampering with evidence, manufacturing evidence, indecent tempering with the deceased body, and interference with the deceased body among others.

    The court, however, discharged and acquitted three defendants, Magdalene, Chiefuna (2nd defendant), Oluwole Lawrence, (4th defendant), and Adebayo Kunle) 6th defendant), on the charges preferred against them.

    Justice Ojo, in her judgement, convicted Adedoyin on charges 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 15 and 16 which border on conspiracy to commit murder, murder, unlawful killing, conspiracy to administer extra judicial oath, indecent tempering with the deceased body, tampering with evidence and manufacturing of evidence.

    She also convicted the 3rd and fifth defendants, Adeniyi Aderogba and Oyetunde Kazeem, on counts, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8.

    According to her, there was no direct evidence linking the convicts to the killing of Adegoke but added that the circumstantial evidence against them is strong and compelling against them.

    She sentenced Adedoyin to 10 years jail term on counts 1 (conspiracy to commit murder), and death by hanging on counts 2 and 3, (murder and unlawful killing of Timothy Adegoke).

  • Japan aims to spend $25bn on childcare

    Japanese Prime Minister has increased the annual childcare budget by around 3.5 trillion yen (25 billion U.S. dollars) during a three-year intensive period to address the country’s declining birth rate.

    Fumio Kishida unveiled the increased size of spending, which was slightly more than previously suggested, at a meeting of cabinet ministers, including Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki and Economy Minister Shigeyuki Goto.

    Goto told a press conference after their meeting that Kishida instructed him to boost funding to prevent child poverty and abuse, expand support for children with disabilities, and reduce the financial burden of higher education.

    Goto said the government will compile a draft plan based on Wednesday’s instruction and aims to commence coordination with members of the ruling parties.

    The Japanese government had previously considered securing around three trillion yen per year to cover the expansion of childcare allowances and other related benefits from fiscal 2024.

    The number of babies born in Japan in 2022 slipped to a record low, falling under 800,000 for the first time since records began in 1899.

    The drop comes much earlier than the government expected.

  • Hoarding/Profiteering: Gov Diri warns marketers as fuel price hits N600

    Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa has warned oil marketers in the state against hoarding and profiteering on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.

    The warning is sequel to the sudden hike by fuel marketers of PMS to N600 per litre, following President Bola Tinubu’s pronouncement in his inaugural address that fuel subsidy was gone.

    Diri, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah on Wednesday, warned that his administration would take stern measures against any filling station that flouted the directive. 

    He said the state government had received reports that some filling stations in the state capital had hiked the pump price of petrol above the usual price of between N193 and N250 per litre to N500 per litre and above.

    “Marketers in the state are said to have reacted to the pronouncement of President Bola Tinubu during his inauguration on Monday that the Federal Government subsidy on petrol is gone.

    “The Presidency, however, issued a clarification statement on Tuesday that the removal of the subsidy was yet to take effect,” the statement read in part.

    The governor said it was wicked for oil marketers to swiftly seek to profiteer at the detriment of the people following a mere pronouncement that had not taken effect.

    Diri noted that the pump price of petrol is a significant determinant of the cost of goods and services in the country.

    The governor assured that his administration would not allow the people of Bayelsa to suffer undue hardship from the profiteering activities of some greedy businessmen.

    Diri said he had directed the state Ministry of Mineral Resources and the petroleum task force in the state to shut any filling station hoarding the product or caught selling above the usual pump price.

    He said: “I have directed the relevant Ministry and the state’s task force on petroleum to ensure that all filling stations sell petrol within the usual price range.

    “I have equally directed that any filling station that flouts this directive or fails to revert to the usual price be shut down. We will take further stern measures against any station that defaults.

    “This directive takes immediate effect,” Diri said.