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N1.1bn Fuel Subsidy Fraud: We’re Guilty –PPPRA

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13 years ago

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The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) yesterday admitted that it verified the documents used by Abdullahi Alao and two others to obtain the subsidy payments from the Federal Government.

Alao, son of Ibadan-based business mogul, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola-Alao; Opeyemi Ajuyah and Olarenwaju Olalusi are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of a Lagos High Court in Ikeja.

The three oil marketers and their companies— Majope Investment Ltd. and Axenergy Ltd. were charged with N1.1 billion fuel subsidy fraud.

At the proceeding, EFCC counsel, Mr Francis Usani, called two officials of the agency to testify against the defendants.

The witnesses are: Head, Lagos Zonal Office, Mr Victor Chidok,  and Mrs Omolara King, a senior field officer of the PPPRA.

Chidok, in his testimony, confirmed that the set of 37 documents used by the defendants to obtain the subsidy payments from the Federal Government were verified by the PPPRA.

He said the documents were also verified by other agencies including the Department of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Navy and the customs before they were signed by the agency.

Also testifying, King said she was informed that the defendant’s vessel, MT Brig had berthed at Lister Jetty in Apapa on January 21, 2011.

The witness said she participated alongside other agencies in inspection of the vessel which was aimed at knowing the quantity and quality of the product brought in.

King said: “The haulage quantity was about 15,000 metric tonnes.

“The hoses were then connected to the vessel for discharge to the shore tank.

“After that I left because it is not humanly possible for me to be there throughout the duration of the discharge because it can take days”.

The witness said she did not participate in the dip to determine the quantity of the products discharged into the shore tank.

“For this particular transaction, we did not dip the tank but we signed the shore tank certificate on January 25, 2011.

“The shore tank certificate is very important because it determines the amount that will be paid to the marketer as subsidy”, she added.

Under cross-examination by Ajuyah’s counsel, Mr Oludare Falana, the senior field officer admitted that she did not know whether the 15,000 metric tonnes were all discharged.

King further admitted that the former head of Lagos zonal office of the agency, Mr Tope Ogundola, approved the transaction after checking the relevant documents.

The matter was adjourned till March 27 for continuation of trial.

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198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

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6 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.
Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.
He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper,  7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.
He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.
According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin.  This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.
“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education.   We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”
Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic,  “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.
The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.
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Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council  trains tra 1,000 teachers

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6 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.
This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies
The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.
He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.
Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.
“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.
“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.
On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.
Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.
He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.
 Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo
Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.
He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.
He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.
According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.
Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.
She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa
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RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

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6 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.

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