Alleged Insolvency:Court Grants AMCON’s Request To Take Over Gov Abiodun’s Heyden Petroleum

 

 

A Lagos Federal High Court,has granted an interim taking over of Heyden Petroleum Limited, a company owned by the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, over alleged insolvency.

 

 

 

In suit No AMC/67/2024,Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, granted the taking over of the petroleum company by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) after hearing the submission of granting an exparte motion filed through it’s lawyers, O. T. Ogunba and I. U. Odo of Kunle Ogunba SAN & Associates, who move the motion, affidavit in support and written address.

 

 

 

Other companies affected by the interim order are; Innovative Ventures Limited and Optimum Construction & Property Development Company Limited.

 

 

 

The court had on October 29, 2024 made the taking over order, while delivering ruling on the motion exparte as prayed by the AMCON’s lawyers who moved in terms of the motion.

 

 

You Thrive In Monopoly,Petrol Outlet Owners Tell Dangote

      Mohammed Shosanya

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN),has accused Dangote Refinery of employing its usual gimmick to maintain monopoly  over other competitors in the petroleum market.

It strengthened its position with the latest Dangote Refinery’s  allegation that the association plans to import cheaper and substandard petroleum products into the country.

 PETROAN’s spokesperson,Dr. Joseph Obele,conveyed this in a statement on Monday and emphasized his the association’s commitment to providing high-quality products at competitive rates, contrasting with Dangote’s pricing strategy, which they argue is not aligned with local production costs.

The statement quoted that the publication by Dangote refinery that PETROAN will import sub standard petroleum product is not coming as a surprise to stakeholders, because such is his owner’s usual gimmick for maintaining monopoly.

The publication,it said, after PETROAN and IPMAN announced plans to sell far lesser than the current Selling rate of PMS in Nigeria.

The statement also said that, PETROAN has never compared the price of Dangote Refinery’s  PMS with any other on the fact that Dangote’s PMS price wasn’t known earlier.

According to the statement,”PETROAN has concluded plans with her foreign Refinery counterparts and financial partners to import the best quality of PMS and then sell far lesser than the present selling rate of PMS in Nigeria.

It disclosed that the association plans   to enter the market before December 2024, pending the approval of our import permit license by the regulatory agency and access to foreign exchange from Central Bank of Nigeria at the the official rate.

It added:”Before now Dangote Refinery has refused to make public her selling rate of PMS until IPMAN and PETROAN announced readiness to sell lesser.

“The rate of N990 as announced by Dangote refinery was inconsiderate base on the fact Dangote Refinery enjoyed massive concession for accessing foreign exchange during the construction of the refinery.

“The core determinant for setting price is consideration for cost of production then add a fair margin. But this wasn’t the case for the determinant of PMS price by Dangote refinery as they said” the parameter was comparison with the international selling rate at the global market.

“A nation that gave you a yet to be disclosed concession for foreign exchange which was highly criticised by financial expert’s, such a country Pricing template shouldn’t have been templated by the selling rate at the international market but rather it should have been cost of production plus fair margin.

“The allegations that PETROAN will import inferior Products and saying also that an international company is trying to establish a PMS blending plant in Lagos are all strategies for Dangote Refinery to push others out of the market in of view achieving monopoly for exploitation.

“Few months ago the CEO of Dangote Refinery said NNPC LTD was importing inferior petroleum products, that his own was far better than what NNPC LTD was selling to marketers.

“In another press conference he said the Refinery at Malta was just a blending plant and not a Refinery. All the allegations are with the Objectives of closing the doors for other Operators so to enjoy monopoly.

“Evidences available showed that diesel (AGO) as a deregulated product was selling less than #800 in Nigeria market few weeks before the commencement of AGO production by Dangote Refinery, at the entrance of AGO market by Dangote refinery we witnessed a rapid surge above #1,000 as against the the perception of a “salvaging refinery”.

The statement commended President Bola Tinubu for his commitment towards the revamping of the nation owned refineries,adding  that the ongoing rehabilitation project never suffers funding under President Tinubu as it was earlier.

The association advised that the Port Harcourt and Warri Refinery plant after rehabilitation should immediately be privatised and handled over to a reputable firm that has the Technical capability, managerial skills and financial strength in partnership with PETROAN and other critical stakeholders.

This,it said,will enable the operators of the government-owned refineries to withstand aggressive competition that will be posed by the known beneficiaries of monopolistic market.

It added:”Antecedents of the beneficiaries of monopolistic market has showed numerous suffocating business owners crashing out of other sectors for a sole operator in the past.

“Stakeholders concerns is a prayer that the process of the privatisation should be transparent using the Indorama Petrochemicals as a model as against Maintenance Repairs And Operations (MRO) contract Business scholars have described the red ocean strategy as a situation when companies try to outperform their rivals to grab a greater share of existing demand.

“While some other business scholars argued that it is detrimental to adopt the red ocean strategy with the motive for making your competitors quit inview of acquiring their facilities, because such market will be a monopolistically orchestrated market inview of exploiting the people.

“A balance market should be an all inclusive market players where the market leader is enjoying his lead, while the market challenger is servicing a certain degree of the consumers and the market followers are still surviving in the market at affordable price

“Therefore, it is penitent that Federal Government should discourage and dismantle any attempt of monopoly in the downstream sector inview of crashing the current selling rate of PMS”.

#EndBadGovernance Protests:Tinubu Orders Immediate Release Of  Minors In Detention

   Mohammed Shosanya

 

 

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Attorney General of the Federation, to take immediate steps to secure the release of all minors arrested and undergoing trials for their roles during the #endbadgovernance protest.

 

 

 

Minister of Information and National Orientation,Ibrahim Idris who  disclosed this on Monday at the Presidential,Villa Abuja, said the President  also instructed that all charges against them be dropped immediately.

 

 

 

 

According to him,the President has also directed that an investigation be launched into the circumstances that resulted in their arrest and arraignment to uncover if there was infractions.

 

 

 

 

A mild drama had played out last week when some of the minors appeared in court for trial and fainted over their malnourished state.

 

 

Access Bank Clinches Digital Jurist Awards

 

Mohammed Shosanya

 

Access Bank Plc has been named the 2024 Best Digital Award Winner in the Commercial Banks Category at the Digital Jurist Awards, organized by Phillips Consulting (pcl.).

 

 

 

The bank also secured the Best Website Award, achieving an impressive score of 201 points for its engaging and user-friendly digital experience.

 

 

 

 

Access Bank’s cumulative score of 380 points reflects its excellence across digital touchpoints, including its website, web portal, mobile app, and social media.

 

 

 

Speaking on the recognition,Amaechi Okobi, Chief Communications Officer of Access Holdings Plc, said:“We are honoured to receive the Best Digital and Best Website Awards at this year’s Digital Jurist Awards. At Access, our focus on digital innovation is driven by our commitment to deliver seamless, secure, and customer-centric solutions across all touchpoints.

 

 

 

“This recognition validates our ongoing efforts to enhance our digital platforms, making financial services more accessible and efficient for our customers. We thank Phillips Consulting for recognising our efforts and will continue to raise the bar in digital excellence.”

 

 

 

Phillips Consulting has long served as a development partner to Nigerian financial institutions and other organisations with an online presence.

 

 

 

Leveraging its proprietary Digital Jurist platform, the firm has conducted assessments of digital touchpoints in various sectors, from financial services and insurance to telecommunications and government agencies, over the past 17 years.

 

 

 

Originally established as Web Jurist®, the platform was reimagined as Digital Jurist to assess new and diversified digital channels in the evolving digital economy.

 

 

 

Digital Jurist’s evaluation framework examines a range of factors, including user experience, accessibility, performance, functionality, security, customer service, support, marketing, and content engagement across digital platforms.

 

 

 

These awards reinforce Access Bank’s leadership in digital banking, adding to recent accolades including 2024 Best Digital Bank and Best Mobile Banking App by World Finance, Best Mobile Banking App and Best Digital Bank by The Digital Banker Awards, and Best Digital Banking Initiative at the Global Retail Banking Innovation Awards 2024.

 

 

 

Igboanugo Narrates Encounter With Soyinka In New Book

 

  Mohammed Shosanya

 

 

Veteran journalist and Publisher of Whirlwindnews.com.ng, Sunny Igboanugo on Monday, announced the release of a book, detailing his encounter with Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka over issues relating to the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

 

 

 

 

The book titled:Soyinka’s Metamorphosis,Echoes from the “People’s Mandate,” is a response to an earlier publication by the literary icon titled: Baiting Igbophobia, The Sunny Igboanugo Thesis, where he tackled the journalist over an earlier article relating to the outcome of the 2023 presidential polls.

 

 

 

 

In a statement announcing the launch of the book,his riposte to Soyinka, Africa’s first Nobel Prize in Literature winner, Igboanugo, while acknowledging the challenges embedded in the profession,explained that his effort was a protest to the course the nonagenarian took on the issue.

 

 

 

 

 

He lamented that instead of treating the said article on its merit, Soyinka veered off into ethnic issues, which were never raised therein either directly or through inference, noting that this trend has not only been quite prevalent in the polity today,but posed great danger to Nigeria.

 

 

 

 

He bemoaned that globally-acclaimed playwright, who had put his immense skill to good use and devoted the larger part of his rewarding life on earth to challenging oppression, advocating human freedom and speaking truth to power would now be associated with this ugly trend, adding  underscores a sudden metamorphosis of Soyinka.

 

 

 

 

Igboanugo,who detailed some of the travails he encountered in the three decades of practice,including the years of his active advocacy for the struggle to revalidate the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, now confirmed to have been won by Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola,some of them in near brushes with death, vowed that he would neither be intimidated nor succumb to any attempt to deny him his Nigerianness.

 

 

 

 

 

He said:“None of these,has brought me to the devastating level of distress I experienced in the last few months, since this book by Prof. Soyinka came to my attention. It almost brought me to the state of emotional wreck. The said book, under his INTERVENTION SERIES, was in response to my article of September 19, 2023.

 

 

 

 

 

“In the said opinion piece that triggered the mighty pen of the literary giant, I had tried, purely in line of duty, to establish the motive behind the Professor’s posturing about the 2023 presidential election, particularly with reference to Peter Obi and the Labour Party. In expounding my logic, I tried to stay the course, as a professional ought to, never delving into personal attacks or insinuating anything untoward against the revered sage.

 

 

 

 

 

“But what did I get in reply? In his riposte via the book, the Prof. only made a scant mention of the content of the article in question. Instead, he devoted the rest to attacking my Igbo identity. Surely, if the sage, had descended on me as a person, if he had reduced me as less than Nebuchadnezzar, as he once labelled, former President Goodluck Jonathan, I would have remained mute and probably continued with my trade the way I know it.

 

 

 

 

 

“Reading the book itself, he did exactly that. He treated me to a lavish buffet of his legendary tongue-lashing. But he did not stop at describing my persona in the most terrible terms or attacking my professional competence. For this alone there would not have been any form of contest in the form of a riposte.

 

 

 

 

“My pain was the attempt by the Prof. to strip me of my identity as a Nigerian and closet me in purely ethnic straightjacket. There was nothing in the original piece from me that suggested any ethnic link by any stroke imagination. The only link I tried to establish was that the NADECO affinity the Nobel Laureate shares with President Bola Tinubu as veterans of the June 12 struggle. My take was that it was the binding factor.

 

 

 

 

“I tried to explain how, having struggled together through the thick and thin of the NADECO era they had developed the compelling need to watch each other’s back no matter the circumstances. I argued that such relationship would naturally create personal indebtedness too difficult to break.

 

 

 

 

“That was all my piece was all about. Even though the said article had one or two factual errors which the Prof. did not fail to point out in his book, they did not detract from the texture of the reasoning that formed the basis for holding my views. The emphasis was on the affinity that existed between him and Tinubu.

 

 

 

 

“I was therefore completely aghast when the Prof. took the issue completely out of context and veered into ethic labelling. That the Prof. would take that route is my idea of a complete metamorphosis. I would not in my wildest imagination assume that the Soyinka of The Man Died fame would descend into such arena occupied by less-endowed in the society. Ordinarily, I would have depended on him to defend my right and freedom to speak my mind. But that did not happen.

 

 

 

 

“That informed my determination to reply through this effort. I have decided to tell my own story to establish my true identity and insist on it. The content of this book, my own riposte, is to reveal that the Prof. is totally wrong on this.

 

 

 

“In fact, some people still latching on similar ethnic sentiments, tried to dissuade me by pulling up what they advertised as the pro-Biafra sentiments of the Prof. They raised the issue of how he tried to help the Igbo during the civil war advising that I should ignore him.

 

 

 

 

“That even strengthened my position, because I believe keeping silent would help in strengthening the ethnic slurs that have now become the burden of the Igbo man, because the likes of the Prof. are keeping silent and, in some cases promoting it. Those who read his book will not miss this trend. I believe that such a figure who stood against the bad hand dealt the Igbo people of Biafra at such a young age, should even do more now that age has added more insight and knowledge to him.

 

 

 

 

“I believe my reply would reactivate his memory and remind him of who he truly is in the history of Nigeria. It was a duty I felt compelled to do. How did the Igbo come into such a plain discourse? So, an Igbo man cannot contribute to any subject in today’s Nigeria without being told from whence he is coming? Even a journalist? This is the essence of this book. This book is therefore a PROTEST!  I am not only protesting with this book as an individual, but to draw global attention to the dangerous trend that has become the lot of Ndigbo today, where they are being deliberately targeted as the culprits to anything that goes wrong in the country.

 

 

 

 

“I am insisting that nobody can take away my Nigerianess. I am aware that I am a global dwarf compared to the dominating image of Prof. Wole Soyinka globally. I do not compete with him or attempt to do so in any way. His own book, as usual, is already making waves nationally and internationally like many other of his works.

 

 

 

 

“Mine may make little impact. But whatever impact it makes, even if it is read by one person, I will be glad that someone outside myself would have heard my story. That is why I am happy today. For the first time in months, I have once again regained some level of personal calm. I have told my story, from my little corner of the world space. Let Prof. Wole Soyinka have the world stage, but allow me to have my corner where my voice, no matter how tiny will be allowed to echo. That is my prayer.

 

 

 

“Of course, aside my protest, I have also used this book to try and tell the full story based on my views and how I captured the 2023 general election, particularly that of the presidential polls of February 25. It is a full package that tried to puncture some of the assertions out there in the public domain, including those made by the Nobel Laureate made regarding the election.

 

 

 

 

“I tried to capture the full sequence of events, their meaning and how they affected the outcome of the election in the most unbiased manner and in the end declared who I believe won the election between Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

 

 

 

 

“In the end, just as I spoke some 31 years ago on June 12, I spoke as professionally as any individual in the book. I shall continue to do so in the future. I spoke yesterday, I am speaking today and I shall speak tomorrow. I shall not only speak as an Igbo, I shall speak as a Nigerian – Nigerian with my full chest. Just like Prof. Wole Soyinka, a Yoruba or Adamu, an Hausa will speak!”

 

 

False Assets Declaration:Court Acquitts Ex-CJN,Onnoghen 

       Mohammed Shosanya
 A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, led by Justice Abba Mohammed,Monday, discharged and acquitted a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen from his conviction of false assets declaration charges by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The conviction of Onnoghen on April 18, 2019 and freezing of his bank accounts by the Umar Yakubu Danladi led Tribunal was set aside by the appellate court following the resolution of the issues that led to the trial and conviction.
Justice Mohammed,in a verdict on the terms of settlement adopted  by the Federal Government and Onnoghen, ordered that the bank accounts of the former CJN, frozen since 2019 be unfrozen.
In the terms of settlement of the matter,  it was unanimously agreed by parties that the Code of Conduct Tribunal was wrong in convicting Onnoghen without recourse to the National Judicial Council (NJC) as a body constitutionally empowered to displine judicial officers in Nigeria.
The terms of settlement was endorsed by Onnoghen, two of his lawyers, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) and Dr Ogwu James Onoja (SAN), while the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, (AGF) Prince Lateef  Fagbemi (SAN) signed for the Federal Government.
Onnoghen’s lead counsel, Awomolo announced the terms of settlement dated October 24, 2024, but filed on November 1, and was confirmed by Tijani Gazali (SAN), counsel to the Federal Government.
Justice Mohammed pronounced the settlement terms as the judgment of the court.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari, had in 2019, unceremoniously removed Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria during the pendency of a charge against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The CCT had in 2019, convicted Onnoghen in all the 6-count charges of breach of Code of Conduct for Public Officers brought against him by the federal government while in office as head of the country’s judiciary.
The lead judgment delivered by Chairman of the CCT, Danladi Yakubu Umar, ordered the immediate removal of Onnoghen from office as the CJN.
The Tribunal also stripped him of all offices earlier occupied among which were the Chairman of the National Judicial Council, (NJC), and  Chairman of the Federal Judicial Service Commission.
The Tribunal also ordered the forfeiture of his five bank accounts and the money in the accounts which Onnoghen did not declare in his asset declaration form submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau, (CCB), an agency of the Federal Government.
Although Onnoghen had been on suspension since January 25, 2019, and had resigned on April 4, the tribunal nonetheless ordered his removal from office as the Chief Justice of Nigeria and also as the chairman of both the National Judicial Council and the Federal Judicial Service Commission.
Dissatisfied with the CCT verdict, Onnoghen on April 29, 2019 approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja with 16 grounds on why his conviction by the Tribunal should be quashed.
The former CJN  prayed the Court of Appeal to void and set aside the CCT judgment delivered against him on April 18, 2019, on various grounds.
Heirs Energies Boss To Exhibit African Energy Leadership At African Energy Week

 

 

Mohammed Shosanya

 

Heirs Energies, a leading integrated energy company in Africa, announces its participation in the prestigious African Energy Week (AEW) 2024, taking place from November 4-8 in Cape Town, South Africa.

 

 

 

Osa Igiehon, CEO of Heirs Energies, will represent the company at this pivotal gathering of energy stakeholders across the continent and beyond.

 

 

 

AEW 2024, centered on the theme “Investment in African Energies: Energy Growth Through Enabling Environment,” brings together high-level government officials, industry leaders, and international investors to shape the future of Africa’s energy sector.

 

 

 

Osa will participate in several key sessions, including:A fireside chat on “Navigating Nigeria’s Energy Future: Challenges, Strategies, and Opportunities in the Upstream Sector”

 

 

 

A panel discussion on opportunities for Nigerian independent operators.

 

 

An exclusive roundtable on Africa’s green energy future, sharing Heirs Energies’ vision for African energy development

 

 

“Heirs Energies is committed to driving sustainable energy solutions that power Africa’s growth,” said Osa Igiehon, CEO of Heirs Energies.

 

 

 

Highlighting the import of collaboration in shaping a sustainable energy future, Heirs Energies reaffirms its commitment to driving progress in Africa’s energy sector.

 

 

 

“Our participation in African Energy Week 2024 shows our dedication to collaborating with stakeholders across the continent to unlock Africa’s vast energy potential and address global energy security challenges,” Osa stated.

 

 

 

 

The event will feature prominent attendees including heads of state, ministers of energy and petroleum resources from various African countries, global energy leaders, and executives from major international organizations.

 

 

 

 

Heirs Energies’ involvement in AEW 2024 reflects its position as a key player in Africa’s energy landscape and its commitment to fostering partnerships that drive innovation and sustainable development across the continent.

Army Recovers 700,000 Litres Of Stolen Crude In Niger Delta

            Mohammed Shosanya

Operatives of the 6 Division,Nigerian Army working closely with other security agencies have arrested 24 suspected oil thieves, recovering 700,000 liters of stolen crude in the Niger Delta Region.

In a statement signed by the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma on Sunday,the Army disclosed that the feats were achieved following successful operations conducted from October 28 to November 3, 2024, several

According to him,the operations led to the deactivation of 29 illegal refining sites and destruction of 14 boats used for stealing crude.

The Army highlighted that in Rivers State, it’s troops intercepted one massive wooden boat ladened with over 150,000 litres of stolen crude around Kula general area in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area (LGA), as six suspects connected to the crime were also arrested.

Around Kula general area,one massive wooden boat with over 50,000 litres of crude was intercepted in addition to the deactivation of three illegal refining sites with several large cooking pots containing over 20,000 litres of stolen AGO.

He further noted that the troops around Kay and Abesa areas in Akuku – Toru LGA, destroyed 10 illegal refining sites, confiscating over 400,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

At Rukpoku pipeline, following credible intelligence, the troops intercepted two spatially constructed tanker truck with the capacity to carry 15,000 litres each stealing products at the pipeline.

The Army also disclosed that it’s crackdown on criminals was also extended to the notorious Imo River stretch, Bille in Degema, Egbelom Forest and Obiafu Oil Field, Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA with several arrests, deactivating illegal refining sites and effecting several seizures.

In Bayelsa State, along Boma creek in Southern Ijaw, the troops deactivated two illegal refining sites, with a storage facility containing over 2,500 litres of stolen crude, as well as intercepted two wooden boats with over 2,500 litres of stolen products.

The 6 Division Spokesperson further stated that in Southern Ijaw, at Obughene creek, one illegal refining site with a storage facility containing over 4,500 litres of stolen crude was handled accordingly, while in West Boma creek, one illegal refining site was destroyed with over 3,000 litres of stolen products recovered.

In Akwa Ibom State, troops intercepted two Toyota Camry with Reg Nos AYB 704 FQ and KY 379 EB loaded with illegally refined AGO concealed in 60 nylon bags and 25 nylon bags respectively,estimated to be over 3,000 litres, adding two persons were arrested in the vehicles.

According to Lt. Col. Danjuma, the troops along road Ikot Abasi – Abak, intercepted one Toyota Camry with Reg No KTS 277 LN loaded with 30 nylon bags of illegally refined AGO, adding that the driver was also arrested.

In Delta State, several operations were conducted, where troops intercepted a tricycle at Beneku, conveying stolen iron pipes at a Community in Kwale, Ndokwa West LGA. The pipes were suspected to be stolen from Oando non operational pipelines.

One suspect, Stanley Asikewe who is notorious for illegally cutting iron pipes along side the tricycle operator, Jerry Okwuagu have been taken into custody.

The troops acting on tip off discreetly swooped on on an illegal storage dump at Patani town, in Patani LGA. of Delt dump contained over 40 jerricans of 25 litres of stolen products. Likewise at Uro Community waterways in Isoko South LGA, troops intercepted one wooden boat conveying over 200 sacks of premium motor spirit.

According to the statement,the occupants of the wooden boats fled on sighting troops. Around Opete Sand beach at Aladja general area in Udu LGA, troops discovered one makeshift shop by the River bank stocked with several jerricans of stolen AGO.

All the people arrested have been handed over to the appropriate agency for prosecution, while products confiscated have been handled accordingly inline with subsisting operational mandate,the statement added.

Lt Col Danjuma relayed the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam’s commendation of the troops for their successes, urging them to continue to sustain the tempo in order to clear the region of criminal elements.

Major General Abdussalam also implored stakeholders, particularly the community leaders to take ownership of the fight against illegal oil bunkering in the region.

Oyo Govt Clears Air On Kidnappers’ Den Viral Videos

 

Mohammed Shosanya

 

 

The Oyo State Government has reacted to some viral videos about kidnappers’s den in Ibadan,saying the visuals  are being re-circulated by mischief makers as if they are recent ones.

 

 

 

The government said these videos are not recent because the incidents they depict happened in 2014 and 2019,adding that they should, therefore, be discounted.

 

 

 

In a statement,the government said one of the videos shows kidnappers’ dens in the Soka area of Ibadan,while the other is about an illegal rehabilitation centre in Olore, Ojoo, Ibadan.

 

 

 

 

The Soka incident happened in March 2014 – more than ten years ago,it said.

 

 

 

According to the statement,the second one in a supposed rehabilitation centre in Ojoo, Ibadan, was uncovered in 2019 – more than five years ago.

 

 

 

 

It stated that the intention of those circulating the old videos and passing them off as new is to create unnecessary panic in the state.

 

 

 

It added:”The government urges the mischief makers to stop their antics while we also call on members of the public not to help them push their evil agenda of creating fear among the populace.

 

 

 

“The Governor ‘Seyi Makinde-led administration in Oyo State remains resolute on its commitment to ensuring the security and safety of everyone in the state.

 

 

 

 

“Oyo State Government has invested heavily in security infrastructure and is determined to do even more to ensure round the clock safety of lives and properties in the state”.

 

 

 

 

“The government, again, urges members of the public to disregard the videos, one of which is over ten-years old, the other more than five-years old. The people should go about their normal businesses without any form of fear”.

 

 

 

ICPC Arraigns Provost,Lecturer For Alleged Certificate Forgery 

 

 

Mohammed Shosanya

 

 

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Hauwau Gimbiya Mukhtar Abdulkarim, the serving Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical) (FCET), Gusau.

 

 

 

 

 

He was arraigned alongside Abdullahi Boyi, a lecturer with the Sokoto State College of Education (SSCE) Sokoto on alleged certificate forgery.

 

 

 

 

The ICPC’s spokesperson,Demola Bakare,in a statement  said the duo were arraigned on a six-count charge, registered as charge No. SS/213c/2024, before Hon. Justice Muhammad Aliyu Sambo at the Sokoto State High Court.

 

 

 

 

The agency accused the two defendants of forging an appointment letter and subsequent use of same for application for the position of Provost at the Federal College of Education(Technical) Gusau, Zamfara State.

 

 

 

 

They were also accused of making false statements to the officers of the ICPC in the course of investigation which is an offence under Section 25(1) (a) and punishable under Section 25 (ii) (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related offences Act 2000.

 

 

 

Count one of the charge,according to the statement reads,“That you Hauwa’u Gimbiya Mukhtar Abdulkarim (F) and Abdullah Boyi (M) sometimes in the year 2023 or thereabout at Sokoto within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to do an illegal act to wit: forgery of a letter of “Notification for Appointment” to the Post of Chief Lecturer on COMPCASS 14 with effect from 1st January, 2017 and you thereby committed an offencecontrary to section 59(1) and punishable under section 60(2) ofthe Sokoto State Penal Code Law,2019.”

 

 

The defendants,however,pleaded not guilty to all the six charges. 

 

 

Counsel for the defendants,Dr. Muhammad Mansur Aliyu and Mr. M.S Diri SAN,respectively moved for applications for bail on behalf of their clients.

 

 

 

They requested the court to consider reasonable terms for bail citing the defendants’ “established positions and cooperation during the investigation.”

 

 

 

Counsel to the ICPC,Mr. Suleiman Ahmad did not oppose the bail applications.

 

 

 

Hon. Justice Sambo,granted bail under specific conditions designed to ensure the defendants’ continued presence throughout the trial proceedings.

 

 

 

 

The bail conditions require each defendant to provide two sureties who are permanent residents of Sokoto State, with each surety signing a bond of one million naira (₦1,000,000).

 

 

After granting the bail, the prosecution  counsel requested a date for trial to commence, emphasizing the Commission’s preparedness to present witnesses and evidence in support of the charges.

 

 

 

 Justice Sambo adjourned the matter to 21st November, 2024,for further mention on the matter.