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JUST IN: Reps Grill Malami Over $2.4bn Illegal Oil Sale

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The House of Representatives is currently grilling the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), over the alleged illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil in China valued at over $2.4bn.

Malami, in company with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice/Solicitor-General of the Federation, Beatrice Jedy-Agba, is appearing before the House’ Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate Alleged Loss of Over $2.4 Billion in Revenue from Illegal Sale of 48 Million Barrels of Crude Oil Export in 2015 Including All Crude Oil Exports and Sales by Nigeria from 2014 Till Date.

While the ministry made a written presentation to the committee, Malami restated his earlier position about the allegation and the probe. He asked the lawmakers to avail him of documents and facts at their disposal to assist him in aiding the investigation.

It is the second time that Malami and Jedy-Agba will be appearing since the probe began.

READ ALSO: $2.4bn Oil Probe: Malami To Appear Before Reps Thursday

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The minister, when he first appeared before the committee on April 27, 2023, had told the lawmakers that the allegation that 48 million barrels of crude oil valued at over $2.4bn was illegally sold to China is false.

Malami stated, “Mr Chairman, let me state on record and for the benefit of Nigerians and the committee, that the allegations relating to the 48 million barrels are baseless. The allegation is unfounded. It is lacking in merit, and indeed lacking in substance. It is in its own right – the allegation – devoid of any reasonable ground pointing to a material suspicion that is cogent enough to invoke the constitutional oversight of the committee.

“Why do I say so? Sometimes in 2016, allegations were rife and hyped on social media. There were allegations of the existence of stolen 48 million barrels of Nigerian crude oil in China, said to have been valued at $2.4bn. President Muhammadu Buhari informally requested the Attorney-General – making reference to my humble person; (the then Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) Mele Kyari; former Director-General, Department of State Services, Lawal Daura; and the late Abba Kyari (the then Chief of Staff to the President) to look into it and advise.

READ ALSO: Crude Oil Exports: Malami Allegedly Paid $200m As Whistleblower Fees — Reps

“But unfortunately, Mr Chairman, for there to be a reasonable ground for suspicion, at least you require certain basic facts. If you are talking about a product, you cannot establish the substance relating thereto without confirming the origin of the purported product in China. If you talk of a product in China, is it of Nigerian origin? That can be established by way of samples and specifications. Is it Bonny Light which you know apparently emanates from Nigeria? The basic detail of the existence of the product and connecting it to Nigeria was not there at all.”

According to The PUNCH, the minister had added that there were no particulars of the vessels that transported the fuel to China.

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“They were not available at our disposal at all,” he stated, adding that no Chinese authorities confirmed receipt and custody of the product in China.

Details later…

 

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Soludo Admits Refusing To Construct Road Due To Political Affiliation

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The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has said he initially declined to construct a road in Okpoko community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state because the House of Representatives member representing the area, Noble Igwe, was in the opposition party.

Soludo said that when the house member complained about the poor state of the road, known as Nwokedi Street, to him, he dismissed his complaints because he was in opposition.

The governor stated this while inaugurating 12 km of roads in the Okpoko area on Monday.

READ ALSO: DHQ Vows Decisive Response To Killers Of Soldiers In Delta

He said, “I rejected the advice to develop Nwokedi Street because the House member representing the area was formerly in the opposition. As of the time he brought the poor state of the road to my attention and advised it should be repaired, he was in the opposition then, and I did not listen to him.

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“But one day, I was taking a walk, one guy showed me a road which the honourable member representing Ogbaru constituency 1, Noble Chukwunoso Igwe, had spoken to me about and because he was an opposition, I could not do any thing on the road then.

“Today, Noble Igwe is in our party, and he is a mainstream member, so we have listened to him. When he was in the opposition, he was in the parlour talking but his voice could not be heard, but today, he is not only a mainstream member of our party, but he is right in the bedroom talking with us. You cannot be outside and be talking, you have to come inside the bedroom so that we can listen to you.”

READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Ganduje Presents Idahosa As Edo Deputy Governorship Candidate

Soludo urged the people to support his government.

He said he is in governance because of places like Okpoko, noting that he will rebuild Okpoko and give the people a sense of belonging.

“Even if there is no money in Anambra, we wouldn’t mind using all the money in Anambra to develop Okpoko. Okpoko must be rebuilt. One of the reasons I became a governor was to give Okpoko identity,” he added.

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DHQ Vows Decisive Response To Killers Of Soldiers In Delta

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The Defence Headquarters on Monday vowed that there would be measured responses and injurious consequences for killers of its personnel in Delta State.

No fewer than 15 military personnel were killed during a communal clash over a land dispute in Bomadi and Okuoma communities in Delta State.

The personnel attached to the 181 Amphibious Battalion were responding to a distress call when they were ambushed and killed on Thursday.

The DHQ, in a statement by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Buba Edward, stated that its rule of engagement and human rights laws would be respected while dealing with the culprits.

READ ALSO: Pastor Preaching With AK-47 Seeks Judicial Review Of Trial

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The statement partly read, “The senseless and barbaric killings of these men is a tragedy. They were killed in a dehumanised and unspeakable manner. Accordingly, on behalf of the CDS, Gen CG Musa, the armed forces mourn the loss of these gallant troops who paid the supreme sacrifice for the nation. We console their families, colleagues, and loved ones over the tragic incident. They have died trying to restore peace in the nation.

“It is necessary to reiterate that both the Constitution and the Armed Forces Act saddled the military with the responsibility of the protection of sovereignty and territorial integrity of our nation. Accordingly, the armed forces consist of citizens from every nook and cranny of the nation that have taken an oath of allegiance to put themselves in harm’s way to defend our great country.

“The military assures all that there would be measured responses and injurious consequences for the perpetrators of these dastardly acts. Nevertheless, the armed forces being a disciplined force that complies with rules of engagement, laws of armed conflict, and respect for human rights would be tempered by these provisions. We would not be led by emotions but by the rule of law.”

Buba also denied reports of reprisal attacks by troops in the community after the incident.

READ ALSO: How Tinubu, Akande, Osoba Missed Opportunity To Rewrite 1999 Constitution – Adebanjo

According to him, the community had been deserted before the arrival of the troops on the scene.

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Buba urged those dishing out false information on the incident to stop disrespecting the dead.

He called on the community to assist the military in arresting the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

Buba said, “It is against this background that the military debunks all claims that the military embarked on reprisal attacks in Okuama Community after the incident. The community was deserted even before troops arrived at the scene.

“Importantly, those involved in peddling this misinformation, disinformation, and fake news that the military had embarked on reprisal attacks on the community following the incident should desist from further dishonouring our fallen heroes.

READ ALSO: Only Seven Banks Can Meet CBN Recapitalisation Requirements – Report

“Rather, it behooves the community leaders, elders, and even the people of Delta State to assist in the investigation to identify the perpetrators of the dastardly act so that they can be held accountable for their actions.

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“Furthermore, it must be noted that the dispute between Okuama and Okoloba communities remains unresolved. It, therefore, implies that there could be untoward activities not initiated by the military.”

Buba, however, urged Nigerians to resist the temptation of sharing the gory videos of how the soldiers were killed.

“We urge the public to resist the temptation of allowing any videos of the incident of the killed personnel from going viral. Their loved ones are still alive, even though they have died protecting our country and its citizens.

“It would be dishonoured to the fallen heroes to allow such ugly videos of their demise go viral. Above all, as the military mourns, it remains ever determined to ensure the safety and security of citizens across the country,” he said.

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JUST IN: Tinubu Appoints Chairman, Executive Secretary For Almajiri Commission

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President Bola Tinubu has made adjustments to earlier appointments he approved at the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education.

Brigadier-General Lawal Isa (retd.), whom he appointed Executive Secretary on March 15, will now serve as chairman of the commission.

Dr. Idris Sani will now serve as its executive secretary/CEO.

The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed this in a statement he signed Monday evening titled ‘President Tinubu appoints new Almajiri Education Commission leadership team.’

READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Ganduje Presents Idahosa As Edo Deputy Governorship Candidate

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“Brigadier-General Lawal Ja’afar Isa (Rtd) is now to serve as the Chairman of the Board of the Commission, while Dr. Idris Sani is to serve as the Executive Secretary/CEO,” the statement read.

Sani replaces Sha’aban Sharada, who served as the commission’s pioneer leader since its creation in May 2023.

On May 28, 2023, former President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the National Commission for Almajiri and Out of School Children Education Bill 2023 and appointed Sharada, the outgoing Member of the House of Representatives for Kano Municipal, as Executive Secretary.

A former military administrator of Kaduna State from 1993 to 1996, Ngelale described Isa as a respected leader.

READ ALSO: Army Recovers Mutilated Corpses Of Officers In Delta

Meanwhile, Sani holds master’s and doctorate degrees in Islamic Studies.

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He was the Director-General, Al-Iman School Lafia; Commissioner, Basic/Secondary Education, Yobe State; Chairman, Nigerian Arabic Language Village, Borno State; Member, Nasarawa State Government Committee on Enlightenment Campaign, and Secretary-General, Association of Private Schools in Nasarawa State.

The President expects that the new appointees will “bring their vast experience into the management of this critical Commission, which impacts the very core of society, by ensuring that his administration’s drive to guarantee Nigeria’s out-of-school children the most comprehensive education is realized in the superseding interest of the nation’s future,” said Ngelale.

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