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Ararume talks tough, says Tinubu disobeying court’s order

Published

5 months ago

December 3, 2023

Senator Ifeanyi Ararume

Ararume talks tough, says Tinubu disobeying court’s order

Senator Ifeanyi Ararume has kicked against the appointment of a new Non-Executive Chairman for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

Ararume, who is the court-recognised chairman of the board, stated that the move by President Bola Tinubu is in breach of an order of court.

In a public notice issued on November 30, by his lawyer, Dr. Ogwu Onoja (SAN), the former senator stressed that he remains the chairman of the board until ordered otherwise by the court.

“Our attention has been drawn to the news of the appointment of new members of NNPC Limited Board, including a new Non-Executive Chairman by the President on the 27th November 2023, in utter violation of the judgment and order of the Federal High Court, Abuja dated 18th April 2023 in Suit No:

FHC/ABJ/CS/1621/2022 – Between Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume V. the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, NNPCL and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) wherein the court restrained the president from removing the name of Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Ararume from the Corporate Affairs Commission as a Non-Executive Director of NNPCL and that he be allowed to continue to function as the Chairman of the Board of NNPCL. This judgment remains valid and subsisting until this moment without being set aside”, the notice read in part.

Ararume expressed the shock that the president could brazenly disobey the court judgment by purporting to appoint a New Board and Management Team for NNPCL instead of giving implementation to the said judgment of the Federal High Court.

“It is shocking that rather than obey the valid and extant judgment of the court, the president has taken the laws into his hands to overrule the courts and usurp the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal before whom, the President has filed an appeal which is pending, by taking steps to undermine the judgment by such illegal appointments.

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“This singular act of Mr. President unfortunately denotes a wanton disregard for the rule of law and a direct affront on the judiciary,” the notice added.

It argued that with the said judgment still valid and subsisting, it is clear as crystal even to the common man that the appointment of the new Board and Management of the NNPCL by the President on November 27, 2023, is illegal, wrongful, null and void and of no legal consequence”.

The notice warned the general public to “beware of those illegal appointments in their own interest” and avoid having any dealings whatsoever with the new Board and Management of the NNPCL “as anyone who goes ahead to do any business or transactions with them will be doing so at his or her own peril.“We hereby call on Mr. President, who is a huge beneficiary of judicial pronouncements and the rule of law, to reverse his decision and allow the flow of the rule of law.

“Mr. President should have known that respect for the rule of law is equally a strong factor in the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which he has been traveling all over the world to promote.”

Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, had on April 18, 2023, set aside the removal of Senator Ararume as the Non-Executive Chairman of the newly Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited Board.

Justice Ekwo in the judgment held that Ararume’s removal by the then President Muhammadu Buhari contravened provisions of the NNPCL laws as well as the Company’s and Allied Matters Act.In addition, Ekwo had held that Ararume’s removal after his appointment by Buhari was illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void and subsequently nullified the president’s action.The court also declared as nullity all decisions and actions taken so far by the board in the absence of Ararume.

While Ekwo had made an order reinstating Ararume as Non-Executive Chairman of the NNPCL Board with immediate effect, he had made another order directing the defendants which included Buhari, NNPCL, and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), to pay Ararume the sum of N5 billion being damages he suffered following his unlawful removal as NNPC Board Chairman.

Ararume talks tough, says Tinubu disobeying court’s order

(THISDAY)

News

Labour blocks IBEDC Osogbo office, says new electricity tariff killing

Published

3 hours ago

May 13, 2024

Trends Admin

Labour blocks IBEDC Osogbo office, says new electricity tariff killing

Members of the Organised Labour in Osun on Monday blocked the main entrance of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Business Hub, Osogbo, protesting over the recent hike in electricity tariff.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the action was a result of the joint directive of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), to picket offices of power distribution companies (DisCos) in their respective state capital.

The action was to protest the recent increase in electricity tariffs approved by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The union leaders locked the entrance gates of IBEDC Business Hub and other sub-offices in Osogbo, with an instruction to security personnel not to allow anyone to gain access into the offices.

Speaking to NAN during the protest, Abimbola Fasasi, TUC State Chairman, said that the protest was to make a statement and let the Federal Government know that the electricity tariff increment was unacceptable to Nigerians.

“The FG must reverse its decision on electricity tariff increment. We don’t want it at this time.

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“The government has to develop and improve on electricity generation and supply.

“How many megawatts is Nigeria generating? They are just pumping money into power without results and they want to heap the expenses on Nigerians.

“We are saying NO to electricity increment and additional burden on Nigerians and that is why we are here today picketing IBEDC offices,” he said.

Fasasi said he expected the labour action to yield results in the next two to three weeks, adding that if there is no reversal, labour will shut down the Nigerian economy with a total strike.

Also speaking, Christopher Arapasopo, NLC State Chairman, told NAN that the position of labour is that the recent increase in the electricity tariff by the NERC should be reversed.

“You will recall that on April 3, NERC announced an increase in electricity tariff, and this is killing Nigerians and Nigerian workers say No to this.

“We ought to enjoy power supply for at least 20 hours, but I can not recollect the last time power was supplied to us for eight hours.

“Recently we had the issue of fuel scarcity and again we are battling with hike in electricity tariff. The Federal Government has to do the needful.

“The Central Working Committee (CWC) of the labour unions met on April 30, to take a stand against the electricity hike and that there should be picketing of DisCos today.

“We hope that the FG and DisCos will do the needful and reverse the tariff, but if they failed, the CWC will give directive on further steps to take.” he added.

Labour blocks IBEDC Osogbo office, says new electricity tariff killing

News

Activist, students arrested for protesting tuition fee hike in UI

Published

3 hours ago

May 13, 2024

Trends Admin

University of Ibadan

Activist, students arrested for protesting tuition fee hike in UI

Security personnel at the University of Ibadan apprehended three individuals, including an activist, during a protest against the rise in school fees.

The detained students are Aduwo Ayodele and Nice Linus, alongside activist Femi Adeyeye. Their arrest on Monday morning stemmed from objections to the recent tuition fee increase.

According to Sahara Reporters, they were being held at the university’s security post.

Attempts to contact the school administration for comments were unsuccessful.

In April, the UI Students’ Union Executive Council, led by Samuel Samson Tobiloba, criticized the 750% tuition hike for new students.

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The council urged an immediate reversal of the increment and sought a meeting with the university management to address the issue. The student union’s stance was prompted by the updated fees displayed on the students’ portal, ranging from N133,500 to N372,500 depending on the courses.

“We note with concern that this increment represents about 450% to 750% of the previous bundle fee which ranged from about N20,000 to N30,000,” the students’ body said, noting that it was not in support of the increment.

It, however, advised fresh students to exercise patience and not rush to pay the new fee.

It condemned the “increment in strong terms, and requested that this proposed increment be reverted to the status quo”.

“We are also requesting for a meeting with the University Management towards resolving this issue,” it said.

Activist, students arrested for protesting tuition fee hike in UI

News

Production begins in new A’Ibom oil well, says NNPC

Published

3 hours ago

May 13, 2024

Trends Admin

Production begins in new A’Ibom oil well, says NNPC

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Exploration and Production Limited (NNPC E&P Ltd.) and Natural Oilfield Services Ltd. (NOSL) have announced the successful commencement of oil production at Oil Mining Lease (OML) 13 in Akwa Ibom State.

The NNPC E&P Ltd. is an NNPC Ltd’s flagship upstream subsidiary, while NOSL is a subsidiary of Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Ltd (SEEPCO).

Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd., made this known in a statement on Sunday. Soneye said the production, which commenced on May 6 with 6,000 barrels of oil would ramp up to 40,000 barrels per day by May 27, 2024.

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“The first oil flow from OML 13 is a historic milestone in the partnership between NNPC E&P Ltd and NOSL.

“It highlights their dedication to driving growth and development in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, which remains a vital component of the nation’s economy,” he said.

Soneye said the achievement did not only signify the culmination of rigorous planning and execution by the teams involved, but also represented a new era of economic empowerment and development opportunities for the host communities.

Furthermore, for Nigeria, the first oil from OML 13 holds some significance as it contributes to the country’s efforts to increase its oil production capacity, which is crucial for meeting domestic energy needs and driving economic growth.

The NNPC E&P Ltd and NOSL partnership is also committed to operating in a manner that is safe, environmentally responsible, and beneficial to the local communities.