News
Jonathan On Pilgrimage To Israel,Today …Marketers In N963.7m Subsidy Fraud
L-R: Managing Director, Enertek, Mr Mathias Hiebi, Technical Director, Mr Manfred Haase and representative of Adamawa State Government, Alhaji Ali Dandiyya, at the renewable energy and efficient energy projects stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja last Monday.
President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to leave the country today for pilgrimage and official visit to Israel
He will also meet with President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset.
A statement issued by his media aide, Dr. Reuben Abati, said talks between President Jonathan’s delegation and Israeli government officials were expected to focus on the enhancement of bilateral relations between Nigeria and Israel in areas including trade, economic development, infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, communications, culture, education and tourism.
The President, according to the statement, is also slated to meet with the President of the Palestinian National Authority, Mr. Mahmoud Abbas.
It added that President Jonathan, who would be accompanied on the trip by Senator Emmanuel Paulker, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Akinwunmi Adesina, the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, the Minister of Works, Arc. Mike Onolememen, the Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), Prof. Viola Onwuliri, and the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, will undertake a tour of some locations in Israel which are revered by Christians because of their association with the earthly mission of Jesus Christ.
The statement also dismissed reports that the President would lead 19 governors to the Asian nation.
“While the President may meet and interact with some other Nigerians who are already on a pilgrimage to Israel, reports in the media that he is leading 19 state governors and about 30,000 Nigerians to Israel are a misrepresentation of facts. Irrespective of President Jonathan’s visit, thousands of Nigerians visit Israel annually during the pilgrimage season which goes on for months and they will undoubtedly do so again between now and early next year.It is entirely fortuitous for some of these Nigerian pilgrims therefore that their visit to Israel this year will coincide with President Jonathan’s,” it stated.
The President is expected back in the country early next week.
Meanwhile, a prosecution witness, Mr Ihechukwu Ireogbu, yesterday testified that an oil marketer, Rowaye Jubril, forged some documents to fraudulently obtain N963.7 million subsidy payment from the Federal Government.
Ireogbu, Managing Director, MGI Inspection Ltd., gave evidence at the resumed trial of Jubril before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court.
Our correspondent reports that Jubril was charged to court alongside his company, Brila Energy Ltd.
They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ireogbu, who was cross-examined by Jubril’s counsel, Mr Raphael Oluyede, said that his firm had a prior business relationship with the defendant.
He, however, testified that MGI Inspection Ltd. did not participate in the inspection of the 13,500 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) purportedly imported by Jubril.
The witness said that the claim by Jubril that the company inspected the product on Jan. 26, 2011 and Jan. 27, 2011 at off-shore, Cotonou in Benin Republic, “was completely false.”
Ireogbu said that he instructed Mr Felix Iweka, an employee of the Port Cargo Services – a subsidiary of the company – to go to Cotonou to carry out the inspection.
According to him, Iweka later confirmed that he did not inspect ship-to-ship transfer of the product between the mother vessel, MT Overseas Lima, and the daughter vessel, MT Delphina.
“He only carried out a survey on another vessel and not this particular transaction,” the witness said.
Also testifying, Mr Akinwunmi Olarenwaju, an employee of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), said that the agency made fruitless efforts to contact the purported supplier of the product.
Olarenwaju, who was led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Mr Seidu Atteh, said that the defendant had claimed that he purchased the product from Napa Petroleum Trade Incorporation, Panama.
He said: “The EFCC requested a tripartite meeting between the suppliers, the oil marketers and the PPPRA in respect of the transactions.
“We invited Napa Petroleum, Mercurial Trading and Namax Petroleum for the meeting.”
The witness testified that Napa Petroleum did not respond to its letter and failed to attend the said meeting.
The case has been adjourned till January 21, 2014 for continuation of trial.
L-R:Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Dr Folashade Esan; Minister, Mr Labaran Maku and acting Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Otunba Jide Adebayo, at the Minister of Information’s monthly world news conference in Abuja yesterday
The Hausa Community in Rivers State has dissociated itself from media reports credited to one MaiwadaAdamu that the Arewa Community in Rivers State has appointed Alhaji Musa Saidu as the acting SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt, following the inability of the former SarkinHausawa, Alhaji Isa Madaki to carry out his functions.
MaidawaAdamu, who is also the spokesman of the Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Co-existence, had briefed journalists on the change, but in a swift reaction, the Office of Alhaji Isa Madaki, has come out to say that the only recognised body which has the powers to appoint the SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt is the Council of SarkinHausawa in PortHarcourt headed by Alhaji Isa Madaki.
The statement also said Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki is the only recognisedSarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, adding that his appointment follows the proclamation and endorsement by the council members of SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The statement further called on the general public and all authorities concerned to give Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki maximum co-operation and support,as he discharges his duties as SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt.
The Suspended Rivers State Commissioner for health, Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, has described as baseless allegations in some quarters that she was responsible for the purported disruption of the Nigerian First Lady’s empowerment program in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh, who said this in a statement personally signed by her and a copy made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt also described the allegation as a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers
According to Dr Oreh, “they are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord”
In her words,”the allegations levelled against me, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, regarding the supposed disruption of the First Lady’s empowerment programme on Friday 2nd May, 2025, are entirely unfounded, completely false, and a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers and conflict entrepreneurs.
“They are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord.”
The suspended commissioner challenged those behind the allegation, especially the Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation to show proof of its assertion adding “It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I challenge the “Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation” (assuming such a body really exists) to provide tangible proof to support their assertions.
“It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I have neither sponsored nor will sponsor any activities aimed at embarrassing or disrupting the activities of the administration appointed by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to oversee the affairs of Rivers State following his declaration of a state of emergency on Tuesday, 18th March, 2025, and have rather spent the time of my suspension from office focused on other endeavours and my doctoral studies.
“I reaffirm my commitment to working tirelessly for the progress and development of Rivers State.
“Furthermore, I believe that it is crucial for all stakeholders to promote a culture of truth, integrity, and respect in public discourse.
“Unsubstantiated wild claims undermine trust and hinder constructive engagement, and this is not what the state needs at this difficult and delicate time.
“I urge everyone to focus on issues that unite us and foster a positive, solution-driven dialogue for the betterment of our State, and urge everyone to work together to build a brighter future for Rivers State, grounded in truth, transparency, and collective effort,”she said.
By: John Bibor
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has called on key regulators, asset owners and other stakeholders to continue to support the agency toward the goal of remediating the Ogoni environment and restoring the livelihoods of the people and building structures for peace.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who made the call during the Project’s first quarter meeting with regulators, asset owners and stakeholders in Port Harcourt, urged the stakeholders to remain resolute in supporting HYPREP’s work.
“We particularly expect each regulatory agency and asset owner to deepen their involvement and continue to provide strategic support to the project”, he said, stressing that the quarterly meeting platform remains instrumental in providing a structural avenue for regulators, asset owners, and implementation partners to offer feedback to HYPREP on project performance and deliberate on ideas that move the project forward, as well as strengthen collaboration, deepen synergy and reinforce collective responsibility.
Zabbey disclosed that the socio-economic study of Ogoni has started, as HYPREP has contacted the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organisation(WHO) to commence in the next quarter a three-year human health biomonitoring in Ogoniland.
He noted that work on several fronts of the cleanup project is progressing steadily, adding that as key project partners, the insights and shared experience of the regulators and asset owners have always enriched HYPREP’s operations.
He said the policy thrust of HYPREP for 2025 is clear, as the Project is intensifying efforts to complete within stated timelines, the various ongoing projects, including remediation works and mangrove restoration, potable water facilities, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, the Ogoni Power Project, Ogoni Specialist Hospital, and Buan Cottage Hospital, among others.
Zabbey, however, announced that HYPREP would commence new set of shoreline cleanup, mangrove restoration and livelihood projects, to sustain the momentum of implementing the Ogoni cleanup, adding that the agency would also conduct detailed site characterisation of the high-risk complex sites, leading to remediation works at the sites.
He noted that HYPREP’s collaboration with Rivers State Ministries of Health, Power and Environment, and civil society organisations remains vital, stressing that the technical and administrative support of all relevant government agencies and funding partners is indispensable in helping HYPREP overcome operational bottlenecks, especially those encountered in interfacing with host communities.
He further indicated that “the people of Ogoni and the nation are looking to us with hope and expectation, and expect tangible results from the remediation initiative”, assuring the participants that the Project Coordination Office is committed to delivering positive results.
“We must, therefore, continue to work with diligence, transparency, and a renewed sense of purpose”, he declared, saying, “ the completion and commissioning of projects this year must reflect not only our technical ability but also our collective commitment to environmental sustainability and sustainable development in Ogoni.”
During the interactive session, the Project Coordinator briefed the participants on the progress made so far by HYPREP to conclude the distribution of starter packs to the 5,000 Ogoni trainees, and called on contractors who had already collected huge chunk of money for the project, to deliver without further delay.
In all, the regulators, asset owners and stakeholders commended HYPREP for the good works it is doing, and urged it to do more.
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency(NOSDRA) was represented at the event by Deputy Director, Oil Field Assessment, Dr Abam Komommo Omini, while Dr Vincent Nwachukwu, Director of Medical Services, represented the Rivers State Ministry of Health.
The Rivers State Ministries of Water Resources, Power and Environment were represented by Dr Bealo Brownson; Engr K. J. Osele; and Mr James Ordu respectively, while the Society for Women and Youth Affairs (SWAYA); and the Stakeholder Democracy Network(SDN); among other civil society organisations were also at the event.
By: Donatus Ebi