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Senate Kicks As Oil Firm Slams It With N10 billion Lawsuit

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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.

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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.

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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.

READ ALSO:Edo: Cars, Buildings Damaged As Secondary School Students Unleash Terror On Teachers, Security Personnel

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“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)

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Kenya Deports Nigerian Captured On CCTV Assaulting Woman In Wheelchair [VIDEO]

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A Nigerian national who was caught on CCTV camera assaulting a Kenyan woman confined to a wheelchair in Nairobi has been deported.

In the footage that went viral on April 26, 2024, the Nigerian man identified as John Nwankwo Noko, is seen clobbering a helpless Ms. Pauline in the head before two other ladies looking on intervened to stop the act.

In a statement signed by State Department of Gender Principal Secretary Anne Wang’ombe, Nwankwo was deported on Saturday, May 4, 2024, for assaulting his partner, Ms Pauline.

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He is accused of physically assaulting his partner, a Kenyan woman confined to a wheelchair, raising concerns about cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

READ ALSO: 70 Passengers Fall Ill, Vomit Bug During Flight From Mauritius To Frankfurt

“The act of violence has not only violated the rights of an individual but has also highlighted the broader issues of gender-based violence, that is rampant in our society,” Orwoba said in the statement.

The case was first brought to the attention of the police by Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba on Wednesday, May 1.

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Orwoba, acting on the video that first went viral on social media on April 29, visited the woman at her home, who confirmed that her life was in danger.

She [the woman] claimed that her Nigerian partner “had been threatening to kill her and her two domestic workers if they outed him,” Orwoba said.

Senator Orwoba then reported the matter to Karen Police Station, after which it was picked up by the offices of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kindiki Kithure, and that of Immigration PS Julius Bitok.

READ ALSO: Woman Wins $1million Lottery For Second Time In 10 Weeks

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Mr Nwankwo Noko has been arrested and processed for deportation,” Gender PS confirmed.

The nominated senator, who has continually advocated for violence against women has since demanded an end to the rising cases, saying they not only leave women with physical and emotional damage but also tear the moral fabric of our society.

We strongly condemn such behavior and we shall continue working towards creating a safer environment for women, free of fear,” Orwoba added.

Watch footage below:

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Woman Wins $1million Lottery For Second Time In 10 Weeks

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Christine Wilson of Attleboro recently claimed a $1 million jackpot, the Massachusetts State Lottery announced on Wednesday, May 1.

Amazingly, it marked the second $1 million prize she’d won in just 10 weeks.

Wilson’s latest winnings came from playing the 100X Cash $10 instant ticket game. The scratch game involves matching any of the player’s numbers or bonus numbers to any winning number.

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READ ALSO: 70 Passengers Fall Ill, Vomit Bug During Flight From Mauritius To Frankfurt

In February, Wilson claimed her first $1 million lottery prize after playing the Lifetime Millions $50 instant ticket game.

When she won her first prize, Wilson said that she would use some of the money to buy an SUV. Now she plans to put her new winnings towards savings.

As with her first jackpot prize back in February, for her latest win, Wilson opted for the cash payout option of $650,000 before taxes.

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And it’s not just Wilson who is reaping the rewards for her latest jackpot. The Family Food Mart that sold her the ticket will receive a $10,000 bonus.

READ ALSO: NAF Kills Several Terrorists In Borno, Niger Airstrikes

Wilson joins other lucky folks who have won a lottery jackpot twice in the last year. In February, a Michigan man won a $110,000 prize by playing the state’s Fantasy 5 Double Play drawing. Six months earlier, the man had also netted $110,000 via the same game.

Meanwhile, in October 2023, Jennifer Minton of Gloucester, Virginia, won $50,000 playing that state’s Safari Quest online game. A week later, she won again, netting a $1 million prize.

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And in March of that same year, a couple from Australia scored two $1 million prizes on separate tickets in the same drawing for Australia’s Monday & Wednesday Lotto game.

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70 Passengers Fall Ill, Vomit Bug During Flight From Mauritius To Frankfurt

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About 70 passengers fell ill with a vomiting bug mid-way through their flight from Mauritius to Frankfurt.

According to Mail Online, Condor airline Flight DE2315 was travelling on Thursday, May 2, from Mauritius to Frankfurt when it became clear that many passengers on board were suffering from the bug.

The aircraft landed in the German city at around 5.33pm where it was greeted with a large contingent of emergency services.

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Crew had called ahead to alert officials on the ground of the unfolding emergency.

READ ALSO: Teenager Jailed For Life For Murder Of 16-year-old Boy At House Party

It was found that 70 of the 290 passengers onboard had suddenly reported symptoms including nausea and vomiting.

A spokesperson for the Germany airline confirmed the incident to the country’s Bild tabloid, adding that the crew was not affected by the illness.

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‘She [the pilot/crew] is also educated and trained for special situations like this,’ the statement to the newspaper said.

‘After carefully examining the overall situation, the flight continued. The aircraft landed safely in Frankfurt, where medical professionals were available to care for the affected guests.’

READ ALSO: How Flight Engineer Saved Us From Disaster — Ex-DG, Bureau of Public Service Reforms

The airline, however, did not confirm the cause of the sudden illness, but noted that the food onboard would have been prepared in Mauritius.

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‘Condor has already initiated an investigation into the case to get to the bottom of the cause and to derive possible measures from it,’ the spokeswoman added.

Condor is working closely with all responsible partners and authorities. There is currently no result available.

‘We generally do not participate in speculation about the cause, for example about individual menus on board that were prepared in Mauritius,’ the statement added.

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