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Besides Niger, Nigeria Imports Fuel from China |The Source

By
Uche Mbah
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Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari

By Uche Mbah

Nigeria is said to have resumed fuel importation from China in the wake of the criticisms that the Oil Producing and exporting country is poised to start importation of downstream petroleum products from Niger.

Nigeria is Africa’s biggest producer of crude oil and a major Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC member.

Currently, the refineries in Nigeria are not working, and where they work, run on losses.

Reports indicate that China shipped 37,000 metric tonnes of refined products to Nigeria last September,  and has been doing so since July 2019, according to S&P Global Platts.

Nigeria has then followed countries like Togo, which imported 50, 000 metric tonnes. Between April and July 2020, Nigeria imported 50, 000 metric tonnes of PMS. Besides Nigeria and Togo, South Africa and Kenya are also beneficiaries of Chinese importation. Kenya and South Africa are receiving 40,000 mt and 35,000 mt, respectively.

China has been making frantic efforts to make an incursion into African economies through fuel supplies and provision of loans with complicated conditionalities.

To meet up demands, China increased its crude imports to 10.1 million barrels per day, United States Energy Information Administration, EIA states. This was a 0.9 million barrel per day increase in 2019. Last year, their refining capacity increased by one million barrels per day. This was because, due to increased demand, they built two new refineries, which came on stream recently.

But in Nigeria, there have been reports that refineries are incurring overheads without producing a single drop of oil. Besides, the renewed threat of hostilities in the Niger Delta region indicates that it is not yet Uhuru for Nigeria to take the bull by the horn and refine its own crude.

Bullet Charm: How a Lady Shot Lover Dead in Calabar |The Source

By
The Source
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By Stanley Ekpenyong

It was a tragic end for a middle- aged man in Calabar on Wednesday when the efficacy of bulletproof charm he was testing proved impotent.

Popular as “Email”, the deceased who is said to be a cultist and hard drugs peddler, had asked his girlfriend to shoot him so as to determine the efficacy of the charm which an undisclosed native doctor had earlier administered on him and his gang  in the notorious Calabar South axis of the Cross River state capital.

While his gang members had earlier successfully tested the charm, Email elected to hand a gun to his girlfriend and ordered her to shoot him to also prove to his members the charm’s potency.

However, as the lady pulled the trigger at a close range, a volley of bullet hit Email, killing him instantly.

A source privy to the sordid incident recounts what transpired: “The deceased whose real name is not known was simply known as “Email” .He was both a cultist and drug peddler who specializes in the sales of Indian hemp.

He was with a group of his friends at the time of the incident in a compound at Nelson Mandela street, Calabar South, opposite the Assembly of God Church.

At about 11:00 am on the fateful day, the girlfriend passed by the compound of the late boyfriend who  was with his group of friends after they had taken local concoctions including native charms against gun shots.

“His friends had tested, and it proved effective, but the deceased young man decided to order his girlfriend to shoot him to test the efficacy of the charm on him.Unfortunately, the gunshot from the girl penetrated and he slumped and died instantly and there was chaos”

Irked by Email’s gruesome, but unexpected death in the hands of his girl friend, his friends descended on the girl with dangerous weapons leaving her battered. She was however, later rescued by the police and taken to a police clinic in Calabar for treatment.

EndSARS: IGP Orders Investigations Into Suit Seeking To Stop Judicial Panels of Inquiry, Queries Force Legal Officer |The Source

By
The Source
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Abubakar Mohammed Adamu - IGP

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu, has directed the immediate investigations into a suit purportedly challenging the legality of the States’ Judicial Panel of Inquiry, investigating allegations by citizens against officers of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Nigerians had woken up to the shocking news that the Police had filed a suit challenging the Panels, which were ordered to be set-up by the President Muhammadu Buhari. And the question was: Why would the IGP challenge something approved by the President.

But it turns out the IGP may have been ignorant of the suit.

A release signed by Force Spokesperson, DCP Frank Mba,  said  that the IGP,  who gave the order  for the investigation on the heels of trending reports in the media, on 3rd December, 2020, expressed the disapproval of the Force Management Team on the matter and ordered investigations into the alleged role of the Force Legal Section including its Head. Meanwhile, said the statement, the Force Legal Officer has been queried and may face further sanctions if found guilty of dereliction of duty.

“The IGP reiterates the commitment of the Force to fulfilling all its obligations with regards to the disbandment of the defunct SARS, the ongoing Judicial Panels and all other police reform.”, Mba said.

Why Niger Deltans Are Celebrating The Sack Of NDDC Interim Management Committee |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Many Deltans are celebrating the sacking of the Interim Management Committee, IMC, of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. For months, many stakeholders in the region had protested against  the IMC, calling it an abbreration. Most vocal, among others, were Professor Itse Tsage, and Chief Edwin Clerk.

The grouse was that the IMC had no place in the NDDC. Incidentally, President Muhammadu Buhari had nominated and sent the names of  subsantive Board Members to the Senate for confirmation. They were duly confirmed by the Senate but the President refused to inaugurate the Board, allegedly on the advice of the Minister for Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio who preferred the setting up of the IMC to undertake a forensic audit of the Commission.

Even though the Senate protested, the Board was never inaugurated. And nothing has been heard of the forensic audit till date.

But on Thursday, an FCT Federal High Court suspended the IMC  led by Prof Kemebradikumo Pondei.

The Court by its interim order restrained Pondei, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, and others from performing the functions of the Board of NDDC.

Aside from suspending the Committee the court further granted leave to the applicant, Incorporated Trustees of Forum for Accountability and Good Governance (FAGG), to apply for judicial review for an order of mandamus compelling the Independent Corrupt Practice and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to investigate Akpabio and members of the Board over allegations of N3 billion contract fraud.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed,  also granted leave to the applicant to apply for a judicial review of the power of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or the Minister of the Niger Delta to appoint Prof Pondei, Dr Ojougboh and others in an interim capacity.

The orders are contained in an enrolled order of the court dated November 5, 2020.

By this order of the Court, the members of the NDDC Board are restrained from performing the functions of the Board pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice which is fixed for December 8.

Meanwhile, the applicant has expressed worry that despite the restraining order, the defendants were still in total disobedience of it and have been going to their offices and performing the functions of the Board of the Commission.

The plaintiff also urged that the most senior civil servant or administrator in the Commission be appointed while praying that the suspended officers be stopped from accessing the Commission’s offices and files as they could tamper with evidence which could be used by the ICPC in its probe.

Parties joined in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Honourable Minister of the Niger Delta, Prof Kemebradikumo Pondei, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, Dr Joi Nunieh, Mrs Caroline Nagbo, Cecilia Bukola Akintomide and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission.

Communal Clash Rage In Two Ondo Communities |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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Rotimi Akeredolu - Ondo Communal Clash

By Ayodele Oni

A communal clash between two Ondo communities has claimed the life of two persons. A palace in one of the feuding towns razed.

The fracas is between Ude and Isinigbo communities in the Akure North  Local  Government  Area.

The two communities are now ghosts of themselves as people have fled to safety,  leaving behind the debris of desyroyed buildings.

It was gathered that the crisis was trigerred by an alleged move by the traditional ruler of one of the communities to annex land belonging to his neighbour.

The traditional ruler of Ude, Sunday Boboye,  is reported to be insisting that his territory extends to Isinigbo and has been harassing residents of the village.

His palace was not spared as people of Isinigbo invaded, vandalised and razed some buildings with the monarch escaping.

Roads leading to both communities were sealed off with bonfires as many shops owners quickly closed and ran for their lives.

It was gathered that members of Isinigbo community trooped out in protest against the Ajagun of Ude for demolishing their houses including buildings belonging to non-indigenes who bought land many years ago.

The Oluomon of Isinigbo, Oluwole Kareem, said they had to protest to stop continued demolition of their buildings by the Ajagun of Ude.

Oluwole said they were surprised when a case the Isinigbo community had won in 2012 was taken to another court by Boboye and judgment was secured.

According to him, the people have been domiciled on the land for the past 800 years.

“Boboye came to us that we are occupying the land illegally. He said he has won the case. He first came and demolished over 50 houses. We protested, but the government did not do anything. His lawyer said he was not aware about the demolition. If he had won the case, he was supposed give us time for dialogue. He did not give us that chance.

“Last Thursday, he went to demolish over 150 buildings. He was bringing thugs and fake policemen. Apart from demolishing our houses, he turned himself to a robber. After demolishing my house, he took my monkey I have been training for the past 15 years. He also took my brother’s goat.

“He has been threatening us. People have bought land here for over 15 years ago. He placed sign post to rename our community the New Ude Estate. Isinigbo has been existing since over 800 years. He want to make our place an extension of Ude.

“We came out for peaceful demonstration to let the government know our plight. The state government should intervene.”

Ondo Police spokesman, ASP Tee-Leo Ikoro, said nobody was killed in the fracas.

Ikoro confirmed the burning of the Ajagun of Ude’s palace, but said normalcy has been restored, while investigation has commenced into the incident.

Horror As 26 Are Abducted Along The Benin-Auchi Expressway; Trailer Rams Into Victims |The Source

By
The Source
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Benin Expressway

Reports say about 26 persons were, Thursday morning, kidnapped along the busy Benin-Auchi Expressway

According to an eyewitness who narrowly  escaped and spoke to an online publication, Trojan.com.ng the kidnappers had a free field for  about three hours. He said:

“As we speak, my car is still at the scene of the incident.

I spent over four hours in the bush along with many other commuters while the Kidnappers continued raining their guns unchallenged.

“Obviously, the Nigerian government has failed the people.

“People are being killed in their homes and on the roads like fowls everyday”,

Unconfirmed reports say there were fatalities as well.

The suspected kidnappers had blocked the Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi road by Obagie

The kidnappers had, allegedly, first attacked a commerical vehicle which they used  to barricade the road. An on-coming trailer driver,  suspecting danger, refused to stop.

The trailer was  said to have  rammed into the bus causing fatalities. A number of members of a vigilante group, trying to resist the kidnappers were, allegedly, shot dead.

At the time the story was reported, a statement was still being awaited by the Police for confirmation.

Finally, Maina Is Extradited To Nigeria; His Lawyer Quits |The Source

By
The Source
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Maina in NIgeria

The Nigeria Police Force has extradited Abdulrashid Abdullahi Maina, former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), today, 3rd December, 2020, to Nigeria from Niamey, Niger Republic.

Maina was arrested in Niamey, having been declared wanted by a Nigerian court of competent jurisdiction over a pending criminal trial against him.  He jumped bail and disappeared into air and left Senator Ali Ndume who stood Surety for him in a quandary. The trial Judge, the Hon Justice Okon Abang, angry over Maina’s continuous absence, remanded Ndume in Prison. Five days after, he granted him bail for good behaviour, but ordered the seizure of his passport, and asked for him to provide a surety.

According to a  release by the Force Spokesperson, DCP Frank Mba, “Abdulrashid Maina was arrested on 30th November, 2020 through the collaborative efforts of the operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, INTERPOL NCB, Abuja and their Nigerien counterpart. The team from INTERPOL Nigeria, led by the Commissioner of Police INTERPOL, CP Garba Umar, having completed the necessary documentation requirements and other extradition processes, flew the wanted former Pension Boss, Maina into Nigeria aboard an NPF Jet 5N-HAR and landed at exactly 1417Hrs (Nigerian Time).

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, while applauding the trans-national/inter-agency collaborations that led to the successful arrest and extradition of the wanted fugitive, assures that necessary legal actions will follow immediately.

Meanwhile, Maina’s Lawyer, Ademola Adedipe, has been granted leave to withdraw from defending him, a request he had earlier made, but was denied.

Arik Air Shuts Down |The Source

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0

By Adesina Soyooye

Air travellers who purchased Arik Air tickets to various destinations are in for a rough, difficult time. This is because beginning Thursday, December 3, the Airline will be shut down indefinitely.

Arik Air, under receivership by AMCON, has had problems, especially, since COVID-19,  with its staff and Aviation Unions based on alleged sack, suspension and other welfare of Staff.

The interventions by both the Ministers of Aviation Hadi Siriki and Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, in the crisis with Aviation Unions have not worked.

On Tuesday a letter to all Arik Staff, by the umbrella union of Aviation Unions, NUATE,  copied to the the CP Airport Commands,  Directors of the DSS, and Airport Chief of Security, MMIA, directed the workers to ground the Airline till further notice.

It reads in part: “As per outcome of the Congress meeting of 2nd December, 2020, and based on the fact that the Management of Arik has completely failed to respond to, in anyway, to the twin demands conveyed from the previous meeting, and the ultimatum having elapsed from 1st December 2020, it is hereby directed by the National Secretariat of NUATE that all services be withdrawn from  Arik Air with effect from 3rd December, 2020.

“All workers of Arik Air are enjoined  to eschew any divisive tendencies and join hands to secure their present and future by cooperating with NUATE to deal decisively with this matter.

“This action shall persist indefinitely until all Arik workers  are fully recalled, and the conditions of service is fully signed into existence.”

The letter was signed by the General Secretary of NUATE, Comrade Ochema Aba.

How Buhari’s Leadership Style Threw 60m Nigerians Out Of Job |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

60 million Nigerians have recently been thrown out of job by the President Muhammadu Buhari Government.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which revealed this attributed this sad situation to bad governance, Leadership style and poor economic policies as the major issues.The party said it has thrown, and  plunged the Nation into an unbelievable low which has now manifested  in the worst  recession ever.

Proof, according to PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, is the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report that the economy has plunged into another recession within five years, thus confirming its position that the APC-government lacked the competence to run a national economy.

The party accused the Government of insincerity in its performance claims and rating.

The PDP claimed it handed over to the APC, in 2015, an economy that was rated the fastest growing in world.

The statement reads: “Indeed, President Buhari will be the first, in our history, to score a hat-trick, in plunging his nation into economic recession, both as military and civilian leader.”

It blamed the economy’s relapse into recession on alleged “restrictive and anti-trade policies, bizarre foreign exchange controls and monetary policies that impede growth.”

Besides, the PDP blamed the development on over-bloated public sector that encourages sharp practices.

“This has crippled domestic production and competiveness, eroded investors’ confidence and occasioned a dearth in foreign direct investment, leading to the economic contraction we have continued to witness under Buhari’s watch.”

According to the PDP, more than 60 million Nigerians have been rendered jobless, lamenting that the rising insecurity had forced millions of businesses to close shops and millions of farmers abandoning their farmlands.

The party lamented that the latest petrol price has impacted negatively on the disposable incomes of Nigerians.

The statement reads: “We however insist that poor management and not the high cost of crude oil in the international market is responsible for high costs of domestic price of fuel.”

It also condemned the border closure policy, urging the government to reflate the economy with funds allegedly stolen by public officials.

Ondo: Amotekun Nab Suspected Killers Of First Class Monarch |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Amotekun

By Ayodele Oni

Miffed by criticisms that trailed its ineffectiveness, the Amotekun Corps in Ondo State has woken up. The security outfit has arrested some suspected killers of the traditional ruler of Ifon in Ose Local  Government , Oba Isreal Adeusi, the Olufon of Ifon.

Those arrested, whose identities are still being kept in secret, were picked up in forests around the vicinity where the incident occurred last Thursday.

The First  Class Monarch was returning from a meeting of the State’s Council of Obas when he was shot and killed  by unknown gunmen.

Commander of the Ondo Security Network Agency, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, also,  disclosed that four kidnapped victims were rescued during the pursuit of Oba Adeusi killers.

Adeleye said surveillance has been mounted in the bushes around the state and at the farm of Chief Olu Falae to prevent further attack on the farm by suspected herdsmen.

The Ondo Amotekun boss said the “Operation Clean Up” launched on Tuesday led to the arrest of over 20 suspects from various black spots in Akure and environs.

According to him, the Operation Clean Up was meant to take the war to the criminals in their various hide outs in the city or the forest.

“In the past few weeks, cases of kidnappings, armed robbery increased in Ondo state and men of the Amotekun Corps went into action in collaboration with other security agencies.

“We observed a downward trend after the ban of okada at night so we had to change tactics. That was why we launched the Operation Clean Up which is intense patrol across the nook and cranny of Akure and other parts of the state.

“The idea is to take the war to the kidnappers, criminals or wherever they are hiding and we have recorded huge success. Amotekun operates in the bush, forest, water and anywhere.”

The security Chief also revealed that  some cows were arrested while destroying  farms and the herders fled.

He said the cows would not be released until the owners reached amicable agreement with the farmers whose crops were destroyed.

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