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

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

4 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

4 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.