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Reps Committee recovers N21.4bn from four oil companies

Published

1 week ago

March 31, 2025

House of Representatives

Reps Committee recovers N21.4bn from four oil companies

The House of Representatives claimed it has recovered an additional $14.2 million (N21.4 billion) from four oil and gas companies as part of its ongoing investigation into financial discrepancies in the sector being conducted by its Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

Rep. Akin Rotimi, Jr, the spokesperson for the House announced this in a statement on Sunday.

The Reps’ spokesperson recalled that the Committee had earlier announced recovery of ₦28.7 billion ($19.24 million) on March 16, 2025.

He said with the latest recovery, the total amount recovered so far by the Committee is now $33.44 million (₦50.1 billion).

Giving breakdown of the latest recoveries, Rotimi said Platform Petroleum Ltd paid $1.9 million (N2.9 billion) while Midwestern Oil and Gas Ltd doled out $1.578 million (N2.3 billion).

He added that $523,845 (N785.7 million) and $10.3 million (N15.5 billion) were recovered from Universal Energy and Aradel Energy Ltd respectively.

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Rotimi quoted the Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Bamidele Salam as crediting the successes recorded in the recovery of the funds to the unwavering support and leadership of the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen.

He noted that the Speaker’s firm commitment to legislative oversight and accountability has ensured that committees operate effectively, free from undue interference, and with a clear mandate to safeguard public resources.

“Under the leadership of Speaker Abbas, the House of Representatives has reinforced its commitment to fiscal transparency and good governance. The independence granted to committees like ours has enabled us to carry out our mandate diligently, ensuring that public funds are properly accounted for. This approach has been instrumental in our ability to recover these substantial sums, and we remain steadfast in our mission to strengthen financial accountability in Nigeria,” Rep. Salam stated.

In addition to the recovered funds, the Committee has issued a 20-day ultimatum for four companies to remit a total of $23.2 million (N34.8 billion). Failure to comply within the stipulated timeframe will result in the enforcement of appropriate sanctions, including the public naming of defaulters in national newspapers.

The companies and their required payments are as follows:

– Total Energies: $2 million within 7 days

– Seplat Energies (SPDC): $6.036 million and N1.5 billion within 7 days

– Aradel Energy Ltd: $12.1 million within 7 days

– Network Exploration: $3.1 million within 7 days

Rep. Salam emphasised the Committee’s commitment to enforcing compliance, warning that companies that fail to meet their financial obligations will face the full weight of legislative oversight.

The Committee also expressed concern over several companies that have disregarded invitations to appear before it. The following firms are now under heightened scrutiny and may face further actions if they continue to evade accountability:

– Frontier Oil and Gas

– Conoil Producing

– Walter Smith Petrochemical

– Bilton

– Energia Ltd

– Aiteo Petroleum Ltd

– Pillar Oil Ltdp

Reps Committee recovers N21.4bn from four oil companies

Related Topics:committee Oil Companies Reps

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Lakurawa terrorists kill 13 vigilantes in Kebbi

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April 7, 2025

Trends Admin

Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, Nafi’u Abubakar

Lakurawa terrorists kill 13 vigilantes in Kebbi

The Lakurawa terrorist group on Sunday killed 13 members of a vigilante group as they attacked Morai community in Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The 13 vigilantes were reportedly killed when they tried to resist the Lakurawa as they attacked and rustled cattle from the community.

A local, Malam Ibrahim Augie, told our correspondent that vigilante members in their numbers had come out to repel the terrorists’ attack when they were informed of their incursion into the village, but the terrorists had already encircled them and killed 13 of them.

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He said, “The vigilantes hid to attack and recapture the rustled cattle, but they didn’t know the Lakurawa had already seen them and they were shot and killed,” he said.

The police spokesman, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, could not be reached at the time of filing this report as his line was not going through.

Lakurawa terrorists kill 13 vigilantes in Kebbi

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Reno Omokri, Shehu Sani, others screened for ambassadorial appointments

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2 hours ago

April 7, 2025

Trends Admin

Reno Omokri

Reno Omokri, Shehu Sani, others screened for ambassadorial appointments

Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani was among those screened by the Federal Government following the commencement of the screening process for candidates nominated for diplomatic roles in a bid to fill the vacant roles for its 76 embassies and 22 high commissions.

According to reports, nominees have been asked to report to the DSS offices nearest to them for security checks.

Some have reportedly been informed to provide personal education and work history.

It was gathered from a source that two former south-eastern governors, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, have been screened for the role.

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The source also disclosed that Sani, who recently joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and former presidential aide Reno Omokri are among the nominees who have also been screened.

The source also revealed that former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro, and former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, have already gone through the screening process and have been cleared for their prospective national assignments.

In September 2023, President Bola Tinubu recalled all Nigerian diplomats, both career and non-career.

Nearly two years after their recall, in March 2025, the presidency stated that their replacements would be named “very soon”.

Reno Omokri, Shehu Sani, others screened for ambassadorial appointments

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Nigerien Army arrests commander of terrorist group, seizes cash, weapons

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2 hours ago

April 7, 2025

Trends Admin

Nigerien soldiers

Nigerien Army arrests commander of terrorist group, seizes cash, weapons

The Nigerien Army has arrested a suspected senior member of the terrorist group Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) in the Tillabéri region, recovering cash, weapons, and logistics items believed to be meant for terrorist operations.

The army, in its operations report covering April 3 to April 5, confirmed that the suspect was intercepted on April 3 at about 6:30 p.m. while traveling in a vehicle along the Torodi–Niamey route.

According to military sources, a search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a firearm, several mobile phones, and a sum of 5,032,900 CFA francs. The army believes the money was intended for the procurement of logistics to support terrorist activities.

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Further investigation led troops to a garden owned by the suspect in the village of Boborgou. The location was allegedly used as a logistical base by armed groups. Items discovered included food supplies, communication airtime credit, clothing, and black fabric believed to be used for camouflage.

In a nearby school building, security forces also uncovered a significant stock of pasta reportedly meant to sustain active terrorist elements operating in the area.

The army stated that the suspect is also strongly linked to the hijacking of two vehicles between Makalondi and Niaktiré on April 2.

Security operations are ongoing in the region as part of broader efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and restore stability.