NNPCL GCEO faces arrest for shunning Senate invitation - Newstrends
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NNPCL GCEO faces arrest for shunning Senate invitation

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Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), Mr. Bayo Ojulari
Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari

NNPCL GCEO faces arrest for shunning Senate invitation

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, to appear before it or face a warrant of arrest for repeatedly shunning invitations to defend audit queries.

Chairman of the committee, Aliyu Wadada, gave the directive during a session with NNPCL representatives at the National Assembly, warning that the Senate would not hesitate to invoke its constitutional powers should Ojulari fail to comply.

Ojulari, who has now failed to honour four separate invitations, instead sent the Chief Financial Officer, Dapo Segun, to represent him,  a decision that has infuriated committee members who insist the appearance is non-negotiable. Segun, appearing before the committee, said Ojulari’s absence was due to a sudden presidential invitation. According to a letter dated July 22, read aloud by the committee clerk, Mohammed Sani Abdullahi, the GCEO was summoned by President Bola Tinubu at around 1pm same day, which prevented his appearance.

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But senators dismissed the explanation, accusing Ojulari of serial disregard for the National Assembly. The committee is probing audit queries from 2017 to 2023, which flagged discrepancies amounting to N210 trillion, including unsubstantiated liabilities of N103 trillion. Lawmakers are alarmed that only N3 to N5 trillion was recorded in the company’s profit and loss account over the six-year period. “This invitation is not optional,” Wadada stated. “Anyone too big to comply with the law should consider relocating.” He clarified that the committee was not accusing the NNPCL of theft but stressed that the scale of the discrepancies demanded immediate and direct clarification. He described Ojulari’s failure to appear as “insulting” to both the committee and Nigerians, adding that public trust in the NNPCL hinges on transparency.

The lawmakers expressed unanimous frustration over the GCEO’s repeated absence. Senator Victor Umeh acknowledged that a presidential call might justify Ojulari’s latest absence but warned against using President Tinubu as a shield from legislative accountability. “That excuse should not be allowed to continue.”

He was supported by Joel Thomas Onowakpo who accused the NNPCL boss of treating the committee with disdain. “To me, the NNPCL boss thinks that he is bigger than this committee. We don’t need a soothsayer to tell us that he will never honour our invitation unless we compel him.”

Similarly, Aminu Abbas described Ojulari’s attitude as outright disrespect. “No GCEO is bigger than the National Assembly. For failing to honour invitations four times, he should be ordered to appear tomorrow unfailingly.”

The committee then resolved that Ojulari must appear in person by 3:00pm on Wednesday, or the Senate will proceed with the issuance of a warrant of arrest and initiate prosecution under the full weight of its constitutional authority.

NNPCL GCEO faces arrest for shunning Senate invitation

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Kano Police Trace 12 Stolen Vehicles, Arrest 10 Suspects

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Kano Police Trace 12 Stolen Vehicles, Arrest 10 Suspects

The Kano State Police Command has arrested 10 suspected members of an alleged interstate car theft syndicate and recovered 12 vehicles linked to the group.

Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Adamu Bakori disclosed this on Wednesday during a briefing at the Tarauni Area Command.

According to him, five suspects were first arrested in Adamawa on September 7, leading to the recovery of a Mercedes-Benz GLK 350. Further investigation resulted in the recovery of 10 additional vehicles from Kano and neighbouring states.

Five more suspects were arrested on September 12 at Kwankwasiyya City Quarters, Tarauni, where police allegedly recovered a stolen Toyota Hilux.

Bakori said preliminary findings showed that the suspects allegedly operated across Kano, Katsina, Bauchi, Gombe and other states. He said the group allegedly stole vehicles, hid them at different locations and moved them across state borders for resale.

The commissioner noted that 11 of the 12 recovered vehicles were unregistered, making it difficult to trace their owners.

He urged vehicle owners to register their vehicles and display valid number plates, while warning that unregistered vehicles could make criminal investigations more difficult.

Bakori said investigations were ongoing and efforts were underway to arrest other suspected members of the syndicate.

 

Kano Police Trace 12 Stolen Vehicles, Arrest 10 Suspects

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Osun Govt Vows to Prosecute Those Behind Recent Killings

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Adeleke withdraws EFCC suit after Tinubu’s intervention
Osun Govt Vows to Prosecute Those Behind Recent Killings

The Osun State Government has vowed to prosecute anyone found responsible for the recent killings and violent clashes across the state.

The government also denied allegations that it was protecting those suspected of killing Olalekan Oyeyemi amid a leadership dispute in the state chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

Speaking on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Security Matters, Samuel Ojo, said the administration would allow security agencies to investigate the cases without interference.

 Adeleke Summons Security Chiefs

Following the recent violence, Adeleke called an emergency security meeting attended by commanders from the police, DSS, Army, NDLEA, Immigration, Correctional Service, Civil Defence and Amotekun.

Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi represented the governor at the meeting.

Ojo said the security chiefs agreed to intensify efforts to stop further killings and restore peace across Osun.

He also dismissed claims that the government was shielding suspects in Oyeyemi’s murder, saying the police and DSS had been directed to thoroughly investigate the case.

Meanwhile, two NURTW leaders, Gbedegesin and Kareem Akeem, had alleged that Oyeyemi was killed because some union leaders opposed his proposed emergence as the next state chairman.

Transportation Commissioner Sesan Oyedele, however, denied that the government endorsed Oyeyemi for the position. He said the union leaders only informed him of their decision to choose the deceased.

About five people have reportedly been killed between August 24 and September 15 in Ikire, Ile-Ife and Osogbo in incidents linked to motor park disputes and alleged cult-related clashes.

 

Osun Govt Vows to Prosecute Those Behind Recent Killings

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57-Year-Old Man Arrested Over Sexual Abuse of Stepdaughter in Edo

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57-Year-Old Man Arrested Over Sexual Abuse of Stepdaughter in Edo
Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor

57-Year-Old Man Arrested Over Sexual Abuse of Stepdaughter in Edo

The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 57-year-old man, identified as Kadiri Edenokun, over the alleged defilement of his six-year-old stepdaughter in Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

The suspect was reportedly taken into custody after the alleged abuse of the child was brought to the attention of the authorities, prompting the police to commence an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the case.

Police sources said the suspect allegedly admitted during interrogation that the incident occurred on more than one occasion. However, the allegation remains under investigation, and Edenokun has not been convicted of any offence.

The case has renewed attention on the problem of child sexual abuse in Edo State, particularly allegations involving adults who have regular access to children within homes and other familiar environments.

The Edo State Government disclosed in August that more than 70 cases of child defilement had been recorded in the state between January and July 2026. The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Eugenia Abdallah, said children between the ages of two and 10 were among those affected.

The commissioner also said that more than half of the cases reported during the period involved fathers of the affected children, highlighting concerns over sexual abuse occurring within family settings.

The state government has continued to work with relevant agencies on cases of sexual and gender-based violence, including the provision of medical, psychosocial and protective support to survivors.

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The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has also been involved in providing temporary protective care and other forms of assistance to children and young people affected by sexual violence.

In a separate case reported recently, the ministry provided an update on a 16-year-old girl who was allegedly sexually abused and became pregnant. The ministry said the survivor was placed in a government shelter and was receiving support while arrangements were being made for her welfare and education.

The police have also reported a number of arrests involving alleged sexual offences against minors across Edo State.

The Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, said the command arrested several suspects in August in connection with sexual and gender-based violence. Some of the suspects were subsequently charged to court, while investigations into other cases continued.

Among the cases reported by the command were allegations involving girls aged 13, 15 and 11. Police also reported investigations involving alleged defilement of minors in Okpella and other parts of the state.

At its August operational review, the Edo Police Command said 12 suspects had been arrested in connection with sexual and gender-based violence during the month. The command also reported arrests linked to kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, human trafficking and other offences.

The latest case involving the six-year-old girl is expected to be subjected to further investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged abuse and determine whether sufficient evidence exists to support criminal charges.

The child has reportedly been placed under appropriate care and is receiving medical attention with the involvement of the Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

Child protection advocates have consistently stressed the importance of promptly reporting suspected cases of child abuse and sexual violence, particularly where the alleged perpetrator is a family member, caregiver or another adult with access to the child.

Under Nigerian law, allegations of defilement involving children are treated as serious criminal matters, with the relevant authorities responsible for investigating reported cases and presenting evidence before a court where prosecution is warranted.

The police are expected to complete their investigation and take appropriate legal steps based on the evidence gathered.

Edenokun remains an accused person at this stage, and any determination of criminal responsibility will ultimately be made through due process and, where applicable, by a court of law.

57-Year-Old Man Arrested Over Sexual Abuse of Stepdaughter in Edo

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