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OML 11: Controversies Trail Ogoni Leaders’ Visit To Buhari

Published

5 years ago

October 27, 2021

The visit to President Muhammadu Buhari by leaders of Ogoniland appears to be generating controversies among leaders of the ethnic nationality.

The operation of OML 11 which is located in some parts of Ogoniland is at the heat of the controversies.

The President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni people, Prince Bira, who briefed newsmen after a steering committee meeting of the group in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said the visit was meant to “hoodwink unsuspecting Ogoni leaders” into facilitating the handover of the OML 11 to an indigenous oil firm which he said represents their business interest.

Reading the communique after the meeting, Bira said “the central Committee condemned and described the visit which was shrouded in secrecy as a sham, designed and executed to hoodwink unsuspecting Ogoni leaders on the delegation to give credit to and legitimize the masked criminal intent of advancing the political and economic interest of those behind the visit”.

The committee also hailed the position taken by the President of MOSOP “who upon confirmation of the ploy by some Abuja-based politicians and their collaborators to use the visit to facilitate the handover of OML 11 to an indigenous oil firm that represents their business interest, protested and refused to join the delegation to the state House”.

MOSOP further explained that they were not opposed to the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland but insisted that the move must be “preceded by abroad based consultation and agreements reached with the people”.

DAILY POST gathered that a meeting in which the OML11 operator-ship was to be handed over to the said oil firm after the meeting with the president could not go on in Abuja due to the disagreement among Ogoni leaders.

The MOSOP president also announced the rejection by Ogoni people the “proposed pardon” of late environmental activist Ken Sarowiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders, who he said should be exonerated instead.

Headline

Indian Court Denies Bail To Nigerian Man Over Drug Charges

Published

5 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

5 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

5 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.