JUST IN: NNPCL invites Obasanjo for tour of Port Harcourt Refinery

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has extended an invitation to former President Olusegun Obasanjo for a tour of the Port Harcourt Refinery to verify its operational status.

This development follows Obasanjo’s recent interview with Channels Television, where he cited advice from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) suggesting the refinery would not function effectively.

According to the former president, SPDC, which was approached to acquire equity in the refinery, expressed concerns about corruption impeding its operations.

Obasanjo further alleged that NNPCL has been misleading Nigerians about the refinery’s functionality.

Responding to the claims, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, respectfully invited the former president to visit the facility, emphasizing the company’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

Soneye said: “Furthermore, we extend an open invitation to President Obasanjo for a tour of the rehabilitated refineries to witness firsthand the progress made under the new NNPC Limited.”

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Soneye also invited Obasanjo to join the NNPCL in its determination to guarantee the country’s energy security.

“We invite our esteemed former president to join us in this effort as we continue to deliver energy security for our nation and provide tangible benefits to Nigerians.

“His wisdom and experience are invaluable, and we assure him that his advice will always be welcomed and appreciated,” he said.

Soneye explained that the NNPCL did not only carry out a turnaround maintenance on the plant but it embarked on a complete overhaul of the refinery.

He said: “As part of this transformation, NNPC Limited has gone beyond oil and gas to become an integrated energy company.

“One of our notable achievements is the complete rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PhRC) and Warri Refinery.

“This process was not merely the Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) of the past but a full-scale overhaul designed to meet world-class standards. Similarly, we are currently conducting the same comprehensive rehabilitation of the old Port Harcourt Refinery and Kaduna Refinery.”

He added that NNPCL has evolved from being a government corporation to a private entity with limited liability.

He said owing to the transition, NNPCL has also moved on from being a loss-making organization to profit -driven international energy firm.

The new NNPC Limited, he said,  is committed not only to enhancing these refineries but also to maintaining them to global standards.

Soneye noted that NNPCL will ensure their sustainable operation and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s energy security.

He said: “Regarding his recent comments, we would like to respectfully clarify the current state of the NNPC.

The NNPC has undergone a transformative journey, evolving from a government corporation into a private entity—NNPC Limited.

“This transition has marked a significant shift from being a loss-making organization to a profit-oriented global energy company.”

“We deeply respect and hold President Obasanjo in the highest regard as a distinguished statesman who has contributed significantly to the progress of our nation.

 “He has every right to share his perspectives on national issues, and we value his insights and counsel.”

He said: “We remain grateful for his leadership and enduring commitment to the growth and development of Nigeria. Together, we can continue to build a brighter future for our great nation.”

Soneye, who was also requested to react to a media report that NNPCL was to stop the supply of crude oil to Dangote Refinery said, “No need to respond to falsehood.”

JUST IN: NNPCL invites Obasanjo for tour of Port Harcourt Refinery

El-Rufai’s ex-CoS Bashir arrested for alleged financial misconduct

Mohammed Bashir Sa’idu, a former Kaduna State Commissioner for Finance and Local Government, has been arrested on allegations of money laundering, criminal breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds.

The Nigeria Police Force confirmed the arrest and stated that an investigation is ongoing to uncover the extent of the alleged misconduct.

Sa’idu, who once held a critical role in managing the state’s finances, now faces serious accusations that could have far-reaching implications for governance and accountability in the region.

According to a security source, a petition received by the police, Sa’idu is accused of laundering N3.96 billion and misappropriating N244 million during his tenure in the Kaduna State government between 2015 and 2023.

The allegations include the sale of $45 million in state-owned foreign currency at an undervalued exchange rate of N410 per dollar, instead of the parallel market rate of N498 per dollar, causing a loss of over N3.96 billion to the government.

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Police sources say this transaction breaches Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Additionally, Sa’idu is accused of failing to account for proceeds from the sale of government houses in Marafa Estate, Kaduna, amounting to approximately N244 million. This constitutes a breach of trust under Section 300 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.

Reports indicate that the Kaduna State House of Assembly previously investigated Sa’idu’s financial dealings and forwarded its findings to anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). As part of the investigation, Sa’idu’s international passport has been seized.

Critics have attempted to frame the arrest as politically motivated, claiming it was orchestrated through Operation Fushin Kada, a unit established to combat banditry. However, the police have dismissed these claims, emphasizing that the arrest is based on credible allegations of financial crimes.

Sa’idu, who served in various capacities in Kaduna State, including as Chief of Staff and Commissioner of Finance, remains in detention as investigations continue.

El-Rufai’s ex-CoS Bashir arrested for alleged financial misconduct

Ilorin: Retired works controller murdered on New Year’s Day

A shocking tragedy struck Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, on New Year’s Day as AbdulRazaq Ajani, a retired controller of works at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, was brutally murdered in his home.

The incident occurred shortly after he returned with his wife and children from a trip to his hometown, Offa.

The horrifying event unfolded around 3 p.m. at Dele Gege Street, off Awolowo Road, in the Tanke area of Ilorin. According to family members, four young men, aged between 18 and 22, entered the compound moments after Mr. Ajani and his family arrived.

CCTV footage from the scene revealed unsettling details. Two of the assailants were seen loitering outside the gate, with one sipping water from a plastic bottle, while the other two casually strolled into the compound. The retired officer, who was in one of the sitting rooms on the ground floor of his one-storey residence, noticed the strangers and rose to meet them at the main door.

“They appeared to be engaging him in a discussion until he was suddenly lying face down on the ground,” said one of the family members describing what he saw on the CCTV.

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The immediate family members reportedly watched in horror as the assassins hacked their father with what looked like small axes.

Their gruesome task accomplished, the assassins swiftly fled the scene before the howling of the family members drew the attention of neighbours.

When this reporter arrived at the house at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, the police had evacuated the body and left.

A few mourners and some family members sat in the main sitting room, a few metres from the blood-splattered corridor where the senior citizen was hacked to death by the assassins.

A civil engineer, Mr Ajani retired from the Federal Ministry of Works about four years ago but was said to have accepted a contract appointment at the ministry last year.

Neighbours in the quiet street spoke highly of him and his wife, who owns a popular confectionery, Reo Cakes, in Ilorin.

Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, the police spokesperson in Kwara State, said the police have begun investigations into the incident.

In a telephone conversation on Thursday morning, Mrs Ejire-Adeyemi said the police replied promptly to a distress call from the residence but the killers escaped before the arrival of officers.

“We will review the CCTV records and other evidence and bring those involved in the killing to justice,” she said.

Ilorin: Retired works controller murdered on New Year’s Day