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Court Dismisses N8.5bn Fraud Case Against Ex-NIMASA DG

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The Federal High Court in Lagos has discharged and acquitted the former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, from an alleged 8.5 billion Naira fraud case.

Justice Ayokunle Faji, on Monday, cleared Akpobolokemi and an employee of NIMASA, Josphine Otuaga, of the 22-count charge of conspiracy, conversion, and stealing (by fraudulent conversion) brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The judge, while delivering a ruling on a no-case submission filed by the defendants, held that the EFCC failed to establish sufficient evidence in the case against the duo.

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However, the court ordered the former Commander of the Joint Task Force, JTF, Operation Pulo Shield, Major-General Emmanuel Atewe (rtd) and an employee of NIMASA, Kime Engonzu, to open their defence.

Akpobolokemi had, in a no-case submission filed by his lawyer, Joseph Nwobike, SAN, asked the court for an acquittal without having him present a defence.

READ ALSO: Terrorists Kill 2 Army Officers, 4 Soldiers In Niger State Ambush

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The defense counsel had also argued that the prosecution, with all its witnesses and evidence tendered while making its case, failed to link his client to the alleged crimes.

In his ruling, Justice Faji held that none of the witnesses called by the Prosecution led any shred of evidence linking the first defendant and the fourth defendant to the offences they were charged with.

The court held that having regard to the totality of evidence led by the prosecution failed to provide any credible evidence linking the first defendant with the commission of the alleged crimes against him in Counts 1-11 of the first amended charge and established a prima facie case against him warranting him to enter upon his defence.

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Justice Faji, therefore, held that if there was no sufficient evidence linking the accused with the statutory elements and ingredients, a court of trial must, as a matter of law, discharge him.

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BREAKING: NNPCL Reduces Fuel Price After Dangote Refinery, Depot Owners Cut Rates

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has reduced its premium motor spirit pump price after Dangote Refinery and depot owners dropped ex-depot prices.

A visit to filling stations in Abuja on Thursday, gathered that the state-owned firm has slashed its fuel price to N930 per litre from N945.

The downward adjustment has been implemented in NNPCL retail outlets in Kubwa Expressway, Gwarimpa, Wuse Zone 4, Zone 6 and filling stations within Abuja and environs.

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This means that NNPCL reduced its fuel retail price by N10 per litre.

READ ALSO:EFCC Grills Ex-NNPCL Boss, Mele Kyari

It was also observed that other Nigerian filling stations, such as Ranoil in Gwarimpa, have reduced fuel pump prices by N5 to N935 per litre from N940.

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Similarly, MRS and AP Ardova filling stations in Abuja are currently dispensing their petrol between N930 and N935.

The development comes as Dangote Refinery and depot owners such as Pinnacle and Aiteo dropped ex-depot prices by at least N10 to N846, N845, and N844 per litre, respectively, as of Thursday morning.

Earlier, the spokesperson of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Chinedu Ukadike, told DAILY POST that fuel prices may drop further as the ongoing petrol price war intensifies.

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Delta-billionaire Lawuru To Grace Ijaw Media Conference As Guest Of Honour

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The President of Egbema Brotherhood, Alaowei Promise Lawuru, is expected to grace the forthcoming Ijaw Media Conference 2025, as a guest of honour.

The event is scheduled to hold on December 3rd, 2025, in Warri, Delta State.

The annual media conference organised by the Ijaw Publishers Forum with the theme ‘Safeguarding Niger Delta’s Natural Resources for Future Generations,’ is second edition of the series.

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Lawuru, youthful politician and businessman’s willingness to appear as guest of honour was made known
when a delegation of the Central Working Committee led by Pastor Arex Akemotubo paid him a visit to inform him of the forthcoming event and his expected role.

READ ALSO:IPF Holds Annual Ijaw Media Conference December

In his presentation, Akemotubo explained that this year’s theme was chosen out of concern for the growing strain on the region’s land and waters.

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The Publisher of WaffiTV stressed that the forum wants to strengthen public understanding, support honest reportage, and encourage leaders to protect what the Niger Delta holds for the next generation.

He addex that Lawuru’s history of service and steady involvement in community work made him a natural choice for the role.

READ ALSO:IPF Commends Tompolo’s Commitment To Security In Delta, Nigeria

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Chief Lawuru welcomed the invitation and spoke warmly about the need for shared responsibility among stakeholders and groups such as the IPF.

He commended the forum for using the media to defend the region’s interests and promised full support for the conference.

Lawuru further urged other stakeholders across the Ijaw nation to lend their weight to efforts that safeguard the environment.

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Senate Recommends Death Penalty For Kidnappers

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The Senate has passed a resolution classifying kidnapping as an act of terrorism, stipulating that an amendment to the Terrorism Act be made to impose the maximum penalty of death.

The resolution was made during plenary on Wednesday.

Under the new law, according to the upper legislative arm, once a kidnapping conviction is established, the death penalty must be applied.

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Nigeria suffers from a persistent security crisis fuelled by attacks and violence by “bandit” gangs that raid villages, kill people, and kidnap for ransom.

READ ALSO:Senate Uncovers $300bn Unaccounted Crude Oil Sales

In response to recent kidnappings and attacks by terrorists, President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday ordered a total security cordon over the forests in Kwara State.

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Series Of Abductions

Bandits had struck the Isapa community of the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting 11 residents.

The attack came about two weeks after and 38 worshippers were abducted from a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in the Eruku community of the state.

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Terrorists also attacked St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Niger State, abducting more that 300 school children and staff in a resurgence of the mass kidnappings that have long harrowed Africa’s most populous country.

READ ALSO:Bill To Establish Federal Oil And Gas Hospital In Delta Scales Second Reading In Senate

In the same week, 24 schoolgirls were taken from the Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, Danko Wasagu Local Government Area in Kebbi State, but regained freedom on Tuesday.

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At least 50 taken from St Mary’s Catholic school also managed to escape, but more than 265 children and teachers are still being held.

Nigeria’s high-profile mass kidnapping was that of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014, when Boko Haram forced 276 girls from their dormitories in the North-East region.

More than a decade later, man of the Chibok girls are still missing.

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