Headline

JUST IN: Commercial Activities Disrupted As Group Protests Against NDDC

Published

4 years ago

February 9, 2022

… Accuses Akpabio Of Pocketing Commission

… Wants NDDC Separated From N’Delta Ministry

Commercial activities and vehicular movement along the busy Murtala Muhammed Way in Benin City were Wednesday disrupted for hours as hundreds of youths protested against the activities of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), just they called for the inauguration the already cleared members of the board.

They also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to remove the Commission from the Ministry of the Niger Delta and return to the presidency where it was originally domiciled.

The protesters under the auspices of Concerned Edo Citizens in conjunction with Coalition of Edo Volunteers Groups carried placards of various inscriptions accusing the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio of personalising the Commission.

They alleged that all those calling the shots in the intervention agency were all from Akwa Ibom State.

In a statement jointly signed by Bar Eni Balulu, Comrade Eshiefaotsa Sylanus and Comrade Kola Edokpayi, the group demanded “The immediate inauguration of the substantive Board of NDDC as presently constituted, screened and confirmed by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, since November, 2019.

“Remove the agency from the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and return it back to the Presidency. (Sic)

“Release of Government White paper on the forensic audit report submitted to government on the 2nd September, 2021 and take punitive actions against all those found wanting and indicted by the Forensic Audit Report to serve as deterrent to others.”

They said the noble intention of President Muhammadu Buhari to clean the Augean Stable “has been hijacked by hawks who found willing partners in the new Interim arrangement to continue with the nefarious activities in the Commission to the detriment of the Niger Delta people.

“The Interim Management Committee stayed on board for over a year, revelling in scandals, accusation and counter accusations of fraud, personalization of Contracts award and massive corruption, before they were summarily dissolved.

“As the people of Niger Delta heaved a sigh of relief that now, the substantive board would be inaugurated, the problem was compounded by appointing a Sole Administrator for the Commission in continuous violation of the extant laws guiding it.”

They said they suspect the report of the forensic audit may have indicted some “big fishes” and that is why the government is reluctant to make it public.

“Mr. President, the people of Niger Delta see you as the father of modern day Nigeria and hold no grudges against you. Just as the North East. Development Commission (NEDC) is tackling the challenges of the North East Region, we expect and demand that the NDDC be inaugurated to tackle the Niger Delta region challenges”

Headline

Indian Court Denies Bail To Nigerian Man Over Drug Charges

Published

3 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

A court in India has denied bail to a 44-year-old Nigerian national, Cristian Soporuchukwu, who is currently facing drug trafficking charges in the country.

Cristian Soporuchukwu initially entered India on a business visa but was later arrested over allegations of involvement in the sale of hard drugs.

Reports indicated that after arriving in India, Soporuchukwu travelled through Goa, Delhi, and Mumbai, where he allegedly established links with suspected drug traffickers.

He was accused of purchasing MDMA crystals and distributing them to college students and information technology workers.

According to reports, operatives of the Beguru Police arrested Cristian Soporuchukwu in April 2025 for allegedly selling MDMA crystals around Begur Lake and the AECS Layout Road area.

The New Indian Express reported that the High Court of Karnataka subsequently dismissed the Nigerian’s bail application.

“The anti-narcotics wing seized about 1 kg of MDMA crystals, a pocket weighing machine, 10 zip-lock covers, a mobile phone and a scooter from him,” the report stated.

Justice V. Srishananda, while ruling on the bail application, reportedly held that errors relating to the grounds of arrest could not automatically justify bail in serious narcotics-related offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, NDPS, Act.

The court further noted that Cristian Soporuchukwu had allegedly overstayed his visa in India, according to the report.

Headline

Strait Of Hormuz: US Announces Sanctions Against Iran

Published

3 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States Treasury has announced sanctions against Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority.

Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement extended the threat of sanctions to anyone paying the fees, saying they may be providing support to and receiving services from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and therefore may be exposed to sanctions risk.

“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash.

“Treasury has deprived the Iranian regime of revenue for their weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions,” Bessent said.

Bessent added that the US has succeeded in disrupting tens of billions of dollars’ worth of revenue from being accessible to Tehran.

Headline

US Launches New Airstrikes On Iran

Published

3 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States has launched new airstrikes in southern Iran.

The strike shot down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz and then a ground control site.

A US official revealed that American forces struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.

The official described the strikes as purely defensive, saying the US intended to maintain the ceasefire.

Report says this is the second time in three days that the US has carried out self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets in southern Iran.

Recall that on Monday the US carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile locations and boats that US Central Command said were preparing to launch mines in the Strait of Hormuz.