All Posts in "Day: October 18, 2024"
Shell’s Osagie Okunbor Projects Bright Future For Nigeria’s Oil,Gas Industry
DSS Sues SERAP Over Alleged False Claims
Politicians Plotting To Blackmail Judiciary,Group Alleges
Mohammed Shosanya
The Coalition Against Corruption and Injustice (CACI) in Nigeria has raised concerns over alleged plots by some politicians to compromise the judiciary’s independence.
Its action is against the backdrop of call by a group, which recently sought the removal of Justices John Tsoho, Peter Lifu, and James Omotosho if the Federal High Court Abuja.
In a statement signed by Prince Livinus Itodo, the Coalition accused a Governor of backing a group of blackmailers to bully the judiciary and undermine its integrity.
Itodo described such politicians as power-drunk, who are abusing their offices in a bid to silence opposition and maintain a stranglehold on power.
According to Itodo, the accusations against Justices Tsoho, Lifu, and Omotosho are unfounded and lack concrete evidence.
Itodo described the judiciary as a sacred institution, essential to Nigeria’s democratic system, adding that its independence and impartiality are non-negotiable.
“The recent call by the Joint Action for Democracy (JAD) to remove Justice John Tsoho, Justice Peter Lifu, and Justice James Omotosho from office is a thinly veiled attempt to undermine the judiciary’s integrity.
“This move, allegedly backed by a certain Governor is a blatant intimidation tactic aimed at compromising the independence of our judicial system.
“The Governor’s involvement in this scheme is particularly concerning, given his history of prioritizing personal interests over the welfare of people of the state.
“His actions suggest a focus on personal agendas rather than the well-being of his people. It has become evident that the Governor is power-drunk, abusing his office to silence opposition and maintain a stranglehold on power.
“The JAD’s accusations against Justices Tsoho, Lifu, and Omotosho are unfounded and lack concrete evidence. This smear campaign seeks to erode public trust in the judiciary, creating an environment conducive to corruption and injustice. We must not allow this to happen” Itodo stated.
The group noted that judiciary is a sacred institution, essential to our democratic system, adding that its independence and impartiality are non-negotiable.
“If we allow these politicians’ tactics to succeed, the consequences will be far-reaching.The judiciary’s integrity will be compromised, leading to widespread disillusionment with the justice system. The independence of the judiciary is crucial to our democratic system.
“Compromising this independence will have devastating consequences for our democracy. A compromised judiciary will create an environment where injustice thrives, and the rule of law is disregarded.
“JAD’s actions are not about seeking justice or accountability but rather about silencing the judiciary and advancing a selfish agenda.
“The tactics of these serial blackmailers to bully the judiciary are reprehensible and will not be tolerated” the group warned.
The Coalition commended the judiciary for its commitment to justice and fairness despite the relentless attacks on judges.
Itodo called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate these allegations and protect the judiciary’s integrity.
“The legal community must stand united against these intimidation tactics. Nigerians must demand accountability and transparency from those seeking to undermine our judiciary.
“We will not stand idly by, while some politicians attempt to compromise the country’s judiciary.We therefore urge all Nigerians to join us in defending the integrity of our judicial system.
“JAD must cease their attacks on the judiciary. The Nigerian people will not be swayed by their baseless accusations and intimidation tactics” the Coalition stated.
Fubara Approves N85,000 Minimum Wage For Rivers Workers
NNPC-CNL JV Drills Meji NW-1 Well
Mohammed Shosanya
The NNPC Limited – Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture (NNPC-CNL JV) has made a near-field discovery with the successful drilling of the Meji NW-1 well in Petroleum Mining Lease (“PML”) 49 within the shallow offshore area of the Western Niger Delta, which was recently converted to the PIA 2021 terms.
The Well was spud on September 2, 2024, and reached a total depth of 8,983ft measured depth on September 13, 2024,Olusoga Oduselu,Chevron’s General Manager, Policy Government and Public Affairs,said in a statement on Friday.
The Well has encountered about 690ft of hydrocarbons within Miocene sands and successfully appraises an extension of the Meji field. Well operations were completed, and the rig left location on October 2, 2024.
According to.the statement,the accomplishment is consistent with CNL’s intention to continue developing and growing its Nigerian resources, including the onshore and shallow water areas and supports Chevron’s broader global exploration strategy to find new resources that extend the life of producing assets in existing operating areas and deliver production with shorter development cycle times.
It added:”The NNPC-CNL JV will continue to collaborate with the Nigerian government and other stakeholders to support the development of the Nigerian oil and gas industry and the Nigerian economy in general”.
ENDSARS:Lagos Commences Probe Into Journalist Pelumi Onifade’s Death
Mohammed Shosanya
The judicial inquiry into the cause of death of Mr. Pelumi Onifade, a 20-year-old reporter with Gboah TV who died during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020, began in Lagos on October 17, 2024 with the investigating magistrate promising a thorough and impartial investigation to uncover the truth, assign responsibility for his death, if necessary, and provide his family with closure.
The coroner’s inquest into the death of Mr. Onifade, who was reportedly arrested by policemen attached to a Lagos state taskforce while he was covering the #EndSARS protests in 2020.
He was later found dead at a mortuary in Ikorodu in Lagos, where his body was deposited, was convened on the orders of a Federal High Court in Lagos following a wrongful death suit brought against the Police and the Lagos State Government by Media Rights Agenda (MRA) demanding, among other things, an investigation into the late journalist’s death.
In his July 19, 2024 judgment in the suit, Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji directed the Attorney-General to take all necessary steps to ensure an investigation into the circumstances of Mr. Onifade’s death and to conduct a coroner’s inquest to ascertain the cause of death as well as identify and prosecute those responsible for his death.
At a preliminary hearing at the coroner’s inquest on October 17, Media Rights Agenda was represented by Mr. Kingsley Kenechukwu, a lawyer from the law firm of Charles Musa and Co., and Mr. Monday Arunsi, a Legal Officer at MRA, while the Attorney General of Lagos State was represented by Mr. Oluwaseun Akinde.
Mrs. T.R.A. Oladele,the District Coroner who presided, said the core objective of the inquest is to ascertain whether the death was preventable, the true cause of death, and the validity of any allegations made in connection with Mr. Onifade’s death, adding that the inquest would also serve to identify any negligence or culpability on the part of anyone.
The coroner heard from Mrs. Bose Onifade, mother of the late journalist, who recounted the conflicting reports about the location of her son’s body and the family’s futile efforts to secure the release of his corpse to them.
She told the coroner that the family had initially been told by the Lagos State Government Taskforce at Oshodi that the body had been taken to the Ikorodu mortuary, where her husband, Mr. Olatunde Onifade, accompanied by some of his church members, positively identified the body the late journalist, but added that the mortuary refused to release the body to him.
According to Mrs. Onifade,they were later told that the body had been moved to Yaba mortuary,but on getting there, they were not given any clear information about its whereabouts.
She said the confusion and lack of clarity has worsened the family’s distress.
Replying,Mr. Akinde,representing the Attorney General, suggested that the taskforce responsible for the removal of the body, along with other relevant authorities, be contacted to provide documentation such as a serial number to track the body’s movements as this would help to clarify the body’s location and alleviate the family’s concerns.
The coroner directed that official records and documentation regarding the body’s transfer be obtained from the taskforce, adding that DNA testing might be necessary to conclusively confirm the body’s identity, especially given the discrepancies in the available records.
She told the coroner that her DNA had already been collected at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and the DNA Test Centre in CMS, Lagos, but that she had not received any feedback or follow-up from either of the institutions.
Mr. Akinde assured the coroner that he would follow up on the matter to ensure a prompt resolution.
The coroner directed that a comprehensive list of all relevant parties to be included in the inquest proceedings should be compiled and that the list should include not only the taskforce members but also any additional witnesses or officials with knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the death.
She said the objective is to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation by incorporating all pertinent testimonies and evidence.
The coroner accordingly directed Mr. Akinde to send a formal request to the appropriate agencies, to provide clarification on the status of Mr. Onifade’s body and ask for all relevant records, stressing that the primary objective of the inquest is to uncover the truth, assign accountability where necessary, and provide the deceased’s family with a sense of closure.
The coroner adjourned further proceedings until October 30, 2024.
CNG Accident:Cylinder In Exploded Vehicle Fake,Substandard-NIPCO Gas
Mohammed Shosanya
NIPCO Plc,has said that the cylinder installed in the vehicle that exploded on Wednesday at its gas station in Eyean,Benin City,was a fake,fabricated, substandard unit not designed for Compressed Natural Gas
The company conveyed this in a statement,saying the vehicle exploded
after filling with just around 4 SCM of gas
Its preliminary findings showed that the explosion occurred when a vehicle arrived at the station for CNG refueling.
The driver fled the scene immediately after the incident,the statement said on Friday,adding that no fatalities were recorded,but two individuals sustained injuries.
One person suffered a leg injury, and another sustained an eye injury,it confirmed,while both victims were promptly rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
It added:”Based on the attending doctor’s recommendation,one of the individuals will require surgery at a different hospital. Our team is ensuring they receive the necessary care and treatment.
“The incidence has been reported at the local police station and the police has taken the custody of fake cylinder pieces and the car involved in the incident”.
The company said,the incident underscores the dangers of unauthorized CNG installations by unqualified technicians using non-compliant cylinders, which it has always campaigned against.
The company also disclosed that it’s cooperating fully with the relevant authorities to prevent a recurrence and reinforce its commitment to public safety across all operations.
The operations at the affected station are suspended to express the company’s solidarity with those impacted by the incident,the statement further quoted.
It added:”We remain resolute in our efforts to provide safe and reliable infrastructure for the growth of CNG as an alternative automotive fuel in Nigeria. We assure the public and our valued customers that safety remains paramount in all our operations.
“NIPCO Gas Limited will continue to uphold the highest industry standards to ensure the well-being of all stakeholders.Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available”.