Headline

Senate Kicks As Oil Firm Slams It With N10 billion Lawsuit

Published

4 years ago

December 8, 2021

The Senate has been sued for N10 billion by Halkin Exploration and Production Limited for investigating a dispute the company had with another oil firm, Hardy Oil Nigeria Limited.

The disputing companies had a petition laid before the upper legislative Chambers which had been referred to the Senate Committee on Public Petitions, Ethics and Privileges chaired by Senator Ayo Akinyelure.

Both companies had laid claims to owning Atala Marginal Oil Field (OML 46), worth $60 million but at the rescheduled Committee hearing on Tuesday, Halkin Exploration and Production Limited sought for the panel’s discontinuation of hearing and announced that the Senate has been sued for N10 billion for daring to investigate the matter.

Angered by the development, the Committee insisted that it had powers in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to investigate, threatening that the Managing Director of Halkin must appear before it at the adjourned date.

Hardy Oil had in a petition filed against Halkin to the Senate, alleged that Atala Marginal Field ( OML 46) hitherto owned by it, was fraudulently sold to Halkin by the now-scrapped Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

The Committee expressed surprise that the two disputing oil firms at the beginning of the investigative hearing made themselves available for investigation through their representatives in October, only for Halkin to slam the committee with a N10 billion suit, asking for discontinuation.

The Committee Chairman said his office received a letter from a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), M.A Mahmud on the order of Halkin Exploration and Production Limited, stating that they have gone to Court.

He said: “The SAN in the letter, informed us that the Senate had been sued for the sum of N10 billion and that all issues relating to the oil well, are to be handled by the court of law.

“This to us is unacceptable because none of the disputing parties was in court before the petition was received by us upon which investigation commenced with the attendance of the two parties.

Senator Akinyelure reminded the panellists of Halkin’s letter dated 12th October 2021 of their intention to appear before the Senate Committee with documents to support their ownership claims, wondering what was responsible for the afterthought.

“Mr Odogu must appear at our next sitting failure of which, warrants of arrest would be issued on him because nobody can stop the Senate from carrying out investigation brought before it as empowered by section 88 of the 1999 Constitution.

“The Clerk of this committee will write the Halkin’s MD for a rescheduled appearance which must be honoured”, he said.

Other members of the Committee, Senators James Manager, Uche Ekwunife, Smart Adeyemi, Sam Egwu, vowed to ensure the continuation of the investigation at the next sitting.

(DAILY POST)

Headline

Again, Russia Claims Another Village In Ukraine’s Region

Published

1 day ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Russian army Monday claimed to have captured another village in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, moving deeper into Ukrainian territory as peace efforts stall.

Russian forces are slowly but steadily gaining ground in costly battles for largely devastated areas in eastern and central Ukraine, normally with few inhabitants or intact buildings left.

Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had seized the settlement of Zaporizke in the region, which Russian troops recently advanced into for the first time in the three-and-a-half-year offensive.

Kyiv denies that Russian troops have gained a foothold in the Dnipropetrovsk region, an important industrial hub.

After another push by US President Donald Trump to broker a Ukraine-Russia summit, hopes for peace dimmed when Russia last week ruled out any immediate meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.

The central region of Dnipropetrovsk has previously been largely spared from fighting that has ravaged swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine, until Russia said its forces broke through in July.

Dnipropetrovsk is not one of the five Ukrainian regions — Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Crimea — that Moscow has publicly claimed as Russian territory.

Ukraine said Russia had launched over 100 drones Monday, killing a 37-year old civilian driver and wounding two people in the northeastern Sumy region.

Moscow said Kyiv had launched about two dozen drones targeting western Russia

Headline

US Comedian Reggie Carroll Shot Dead In Mississippi

Published

1 day ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

A United States comedian, Reginald “Reggie” Carroll, has been shot dead in Southaven, Mississippi.

The 52-year-old Carroll, widely known as the Knockout King of Comedy, was reportedly killed on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.

The Southaven Police Department confirmed the incident in a Facebook statement on Saturday.

“Southaven officers located one male victim suffering from gunshot wounds.

“The officers and medical personnel provided life saving techniques but the individual succumbed to his injuries,” the statement partly read.

The victim was later identified as Carroll, a Baltimore native.

Police said one suspect was arrested and charged with his murder.

“One male is in custody and has been charged with the murder of Reginald Carroll.

“Our thoughts are with the family of Mr. Carroll.

“Thank you to the community for their patience and understanding,” the department added.

The police further assured that there was no ongoing threat to residents, describing the case as “an isolated shooting.”

Carroll, who built his career in stand-up comedy, gained national recognition touring with Katt Williams and headlining his own showcase, Knockout Kings of Comedy.

He also featured in the 2000 edition of Showtime at the Apollo, appeared on the UPN sitcom The Parkers alongside Mo’Nique and Countess Vaughn, and starred in the 2022 television film Rent & Go.

In 2023, he produced the stand-up special Knockout Kings of Comedy.

The Southaven Police Department disclosed that an investigation into his death is ongoing.

Headline

US Defends New Social Media Vetting For Nigerian Visa Applicants

Published

1 day ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria on Monday reaffirmed that the safety and security of the United States remain the cornerstone of its visa application and decision-making process.

The US said this following its directive last week that mandates Nigerians to disclose all social media usernames and handles used over the past five years as part of the visa application process.

US Mission said Nigerian visa applicants must provide a comprehensive list of their social media profiles on the DS-160 visa application form, and warned that omitting the information could lead to visa denials.

Reacting to the development, the Federal Government said US citizens intending to visit Nigeria will be subjected to the same measures.

“The best we can do is to carry out reciprocal action. Some people from the US might want to apply for a visa, and we will adopt the same measures,” spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said last Monday.

However, in a statement released Monday on X, the US Mission said prospective visa applicants undergo careful vetting to maintain a safe and welcoming environment in the US.

It said, “The safety and security of the United States is at the heart of every #USVisa application and decision process.

“That’s why prospective applicants undergo careful screening to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all.”

The Mission added, “These measures help protect American citizens and communities while supporting secure and responsible travel.”