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Firm Wants Attorney-General Investigate Court Ruling On Breach Of Contract

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The management of Fidken Multi Services Ltd., has called on the Attorney-General and Minister Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to intervene on alleged judicial manipulation and connivance in a case between the firm and Togo Oil & Marine Ltd, also known as TOM, owneriof Vessel MV MONTY J & ANOR.

Fidken Multi Services Ltd. also called on the Chief of Naval Staff,
Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, and Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, to investigate and bring to justice their men who allegedly aided the escape of the vessel owned by a foreign firms despite a restraining order from the Court of Appeal Lagos.

The Managing Director, Fidken Multi Services Ltd., Engr. Kennedy Fidelis, made the call on Wednesday in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri, Delta State.

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According to him, his company, Fidken Multi Services hired the vessel for a period of Six (6) Months with a renewable agreement but unfortunately the vessel broke down after two weeks of delivery to Nigeria from Lome, Togo.

He named Socemet as Ship Brokers, that is, the company that connected his company with the ship owners.

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He noted that, rather than the owner-company to take up the responsibility of repairs as per contract agreement, TOM sent representatives to plead with the management of Fidken Multi Services Ltd to assist in fixing the vessel.

He said TOM, m during the plea, said that the company was bankrupt to foot the bill of the repair, just as the company promised to make a refund of any amount spent on the repair or make deduction during execution of the contract.

The MD added that, the promise of refund or deduction during execution of the contract prompted his company to show concern and consequently took full responsibility of the repair.

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According to him the breakdown of the vessel was already causing a lot of down time and draw back to his business.

READ ALSO: US Court Sentences Osun Monarch To Prison Over $4.2m Fraud

He lamented that, however, immediately after the repair, the management of TOM first attempt was to put up the vessel for sale without his knowledge or any of his management staff.

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Engr. Fidelis said this single act by TOM to sell out the vessel he repaired when it was down without his knowledge was a complete breach of the existing contract.

According to him, after several attempts to take away the vessel from him, they finally escaped with the vessel back to Lome, Togo, in spite of a restraining order by the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/LAG/CV/991/2024.

He narrated: “We approached the court to demand a full Bank guarantee of USD380,729.00 ,USD 1.080,000.00 and USD 659,555.00 to cover our total claims as pre Bond condition ordered by Appeal Court should they go away with the vessel. But surprisingly, the Federal High Court in its judgement awarded the Sum of USD380,729.00 only as a guarantee for the release of the vessel. This sum can only cater for a part of the expenses we have incurred in maintaining the vessel, so we approached the Court of Appeal, and a restraining order was immediately placed on the release of the vessel.

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“But this foreign company, in connivance with security agents jettisoned the order and moved the vessel out of the country.

READ ALSO: FG Security Agency, Nigerian Army Move To Tackle Illicit Small Arms, Light Weapons

“The judgment by the Federal High Court, was a surprise to us. We couldn’t believe that in spite of the evidence our legal team presented, the presiding judge could give such a judgement. And this is why we are calling on the Attorney-General to investigate this. Also, some security agents aided this company to escape with the vessel.”

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Corroborating this, Comrade Omentan Parson, a human rights activist who said he has been following up the case since inception, said this was the fifth time the company attempted to escape with the vessel, lamenting that they eventually succeeded.

He alleged that this same foreign company, in order to escape with the vessel, used Nigerian security personnel to kidnap the security man in charge of the vessel, saying this matter of kidnap is about to be filed in the court too.

It’s quite unfortunate that Nigerian security agents whose monthly pay is from tax payers (Nigerians) could be used by a foreign company against fellow Nigerians. This is very bad. They (security agents) aided every step of the vessel in making sure it escape from this country.

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“I was by the Jetty in Port Harcourt where I saw security agents supervise the bunkering the vessel and provide an escort Gunboat with personnel in making sure she left the shores of Nigeria.”

Calls put across to the foreign contact of the Managing Director of TOM, Mrs Jessica Jones, by our correspondent did not connect neither did she reply to the SMS sent to her cellphone.

 

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Bauchi Govt Sanctions 4 Senior Officers For Gross Misconduct

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The Bauchi state Civil Service Commission (CSC) has sanctioned four senior officers for gross misconduct in the discharge of their service.

This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Bauchi on Friday by Mr Saleh Umar, the Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi state Civil Service Commission.

According to him, the decision, which was made during the Commission’s plenary session, was in its continued effort to sanitise the State’s Civil Service.

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He listed the names of the officers that were sanctioned to include; Garba Hussaini, a Director, Education and former Provost, Haruna Umar, a Deputy Director, Administration and Human Resources.

READ ALSO:Bauchi Board Laments Low Teacher Turnouts In Training Exercise

Others included; Umar Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer (Account)- Bursar and Mohammed Usman, Chief Clerical Officer – Cashier, all attached to Bill and Melinda Gate College of Health Sciences Technology in Ningi Local Government Area of the state.

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Umar explained that the interdicted officers have been placed on 50 per cent of their salaries with effect from 28th October, 2025 until the end of the full investigation.

The Commission’s decision was taken to allow further investigation into the allegations laid against the officers.

“The Officers were found guilty of misconduct that contradict Bauchi State Public Service Regulations – 0327 (x) and (xxii) and interdicted under rules 0329 (i), (ii) and (iii) to further distance them from their duty posts for seamless and smooth investigation.

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READ ALSO:Bauchi Begins Production Of Exercise Books, Chalks For Schools

“In a light-hearted part, the Commission has promoted 21 officers to their next grades of Deputy Chief Librarian, Assistant Chief Librarians and Principal Librarians to grade levels 15, 14, 13, 12 and 10 respectively.

“Others were Assistant Chief Executive Officer and Chief Confidential Secretary on grade levels 13 and 14,” said Umar.

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The Public Relations Officer added that Dr. Ibrahim Muhammad, the Chairman of the Commission, reiterated the Commission’s unwavering commitment to the rules of law under his watch.

He noted that while promising to continue to uphold integrity, transparency and fairness in the commission, the Chairman also expressed dismay over the nonchalant attitude of some Civil Servants not knowing the disciplinary procedures in civil service and its consequences.

Chairman also called on all workers to be conversant with the do and don’t in carrying out their assignments to avoid unnecessary offense,” he said.

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Don’t Take Law Into Your Hands – NYSC Warns Corps Members

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The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has warned all corps members serving their fatherland not to take laws into their own hands during and after their service year.

Mr Umoren Kufre, the Bauchi state Coordinator of NYSC gave the warning during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2025 Batch ‘C’ stream 1 corps members at the state’s NYSC permanent orientation camp, Wailo in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state on Friday.

“I urge you to obey all the rules and regulations governing the NYSC. In case you notice any irregularity, do not take the laws into your hands.

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READ ALSO:NYSC Deploys 1,900 Corps Members To Bauchi State

“Always ensure that you follow the proper channel of communication to express your grievances.

“Let me assure you again that management will ensure that the basic amenities you need in the camp are provided for you. Your safety and comfort remains our utmost priority,” he said.

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Kofre, who explained that a total of 2,050 corps members were posted to the state for the one year compulsory service, said there has not been any serious problem since the commencement of the course and the prospective corps members were participating actively in all camp activities.

He appreciated Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state for his continuous support to the scheme in the state as well as the complete renovation of Corps Members hostels and the construction of a brand new Multipurpose Hall in the camp.

READ ALSO: PDP NWC Suspends Legal Adviser, Anyanwu, Others Amid Convention Crisis

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The NYSC boss, however, called on the governor to help them rebuild the part of the camp perimeter fence that collapsed about a year ago.

Declaring the orientation camp exercises open, Gov. Bala Mohammed urged the corp members to take the lead and advocate for national development and transformation.

Represented by Mr Mohammed Umar, the State’s Head of Service, Mohammed called on them to take the noble call with utmost seriousness and commit themselves to achieving the scheme’s objectives of national unity and development.

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While administering the oath of allegiance, Justice Rabi Umar, the Chief Judge of the state who was represented by Abdullahi Yau, Deputy Registrar, High Court of Justice, charged the corps members to maintain law and order towards the peaceful orientation exercises

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17 Nigerian States Implementing CPS As PenCom Assets Rise To Over N26trn

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The National Pension Commission hassaid only 17 Nigerian states are currently implementing the Contributory Pension Scheme as its assets rose to over N26 trillion in September 2025.

Ms Omolola Oloworaran disclosed this during an event in Benin, Edo State.

Oloworaran, who was represented by the Commission’s Inspectorate Commissioner, Chief Samuel Chigozie Uwandu, stressed that CPS plays a vital role in national economic development.

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According to her, CPS has evolved beyond a retirement policy and has become a symbol of a national shift towards financial discipline and long-term planning.

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Oloworaran noted that the scheme illustrates “a decisive break from past dependencies on state-provided old-age financial security to a new culture of retirement savings and forward planning.

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A contract between the worker and the employer, with the assurance that a lifetime of labour would be rewarded with financial security in old age.”

“Seventeen states out of the 36 states in the country are currently implementing the Contributory Pension Scheme. Twelve states have not started at all, while seven states are at various stages of establishing their pension bureaux.”

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