Author: Amina Mohammed

The 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote refinery is undergoing test runs for Premium Motor Spirit or petrol production, with full operation expected by mid-September. This was revealed by Reuters quoting a note by industry monitor IIR Energy. The $20bn refinery built by Aliko Dangote which has so far only produced diesel and other distillate fuels, had earlier said that petrol deliveries from the refinery would start in July. Before that, the refinery had aimed to start making the motor fuel by May. “It is possible that there could be further extensions”, IIR said in a note to clients. Once fully operational, the refinery…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released lawyer Phillip Tunji Ojo, who had been detained at its facility in Oyo State. Ojo’s release came approximately 24 hours after his arrest by the anti-graft agency in Ibadan. Following his detention, members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) organized a peaceful protest demanding the immediate and unconditional release of their colleague. Ibadan NBA Chairman, Ibrahim Lawal, confirmed Ojo’s release and emphasized that the protest was necessary to express their dissatisfaction with what he described as the “illegal and unlawful detention” of the lawyer while performing his duties. Lawal asserted that…

Oando Plc has completed the acquisition of Eni’s subsidiary, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), for $783m. The company announced this on Thursday in a statement by its Chief Compliance Officer and Company Secretary, Ayotola Jagun. The deal sees Oando, which is listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited and Johannesburg Stock Exchange, take ownership of 100 percent of the shareholding interest in NAOC from Italian energy company, Eni. For Oando, a leading energy solutions provider in Nigeria, the acquisition “is a significant milestone” in its long-term strategy to expand its upstream operations and strengthen its position in the Nigerian oil and…

President Bola Tinubu will today, swear in Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. He said the swearing-in ceremony will take place at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja, the nation’s capital. Justice Kekere-Ekun will succeed Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who bowed out on Thursday after clocking the retirement age of 70 years. The President also congratulated Ariwoola, whose stint in the judiciary he described as a “successful public service career,” commending him for his services…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied reports suggesting that its officials shared forfeited assets linked to the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele and his associates. In a rebuttal statement issued on Wednesday, EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, faulted an online publication alleging that the anti-graft agency He said the notion of sharing the proceeds of forfeited assets was strange to the agency, stressing that the publication was made out of ignorance and mischief. “No official of the Commission was, or has ever been involved in the “sharing” of any proceeds of forfeited…

A Benue State High Court has ordered the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) not to remove the chairman of the state chapter, Hon. Augustine Agada. A copy of the order via an exparte order granted by Justice Theresa Igoche in motion no MH /1585m/2024, was made available to journalists on Wednesday at the APC national secretariat in Abuja. The court particularly directed the Abdullahi Ganduje-led National Working Committee (NWC) not to remove the Austin Agada-led State Working Committee until the expiration of their four-year tenure. The Benue state chapter of the APC is split along the lines of Governor Hyacinth…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has responded to calls by Chief Edwin Clark, leader of the Southern and Middle Belt Forum, for an investigation into his conduct and potential expulsion from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Wike stated he would not entertain Clark’s demands, emphasising that Clark is not a member of the PDP. Speaking during a media briefing on Wednesday to mark his first year in office, Wike addressed the recent letter from Clark to PDP National Chairman Umar Damagum. In his letter, Clark requested the formation of a probe panel to investigate Wike and…

President Bola Tinubu has reappointed Professor Abdurrahman Abba Sheshe as the Chief Medical Director of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. Disclosing this in a statement on Wednesday, presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, said the reappointment for a second and final term of four years takes effect from December 5. “Professor Sheshe was first appointed as the Chief Medical Director of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital on December 6, 2019. “The President expects that with the renewal of Professor Sheshe’s appointment, he will re-dedicate himself to improving the standards of the hospital and ensuring the efficient delivery of qualitative services to citizens,” the…

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca insisted Wednesday he was not presiding over a “mess” of a squad after the London club were involved in yet more transfer activity. Joao Felix signed a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge, with his return from Atletico Madrid to the club where he spent an underwhelming spell on loan in the 2022/23 season helping facilitate Conor Gallagher’s move in the opposite direction. Maresca now has one of the largest squads in the Premier League at his disposal, although he has made it clear Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are not part of his plans. But speaking…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared the On-Street Parking scheme, commonly known as the ‘Park-and-Pay’ scheme, to be illegal, citing fraudulent practices in the contract agreement between the managing contractors and the FCT administration. Wike made this declaration during a media briefing on Wednesday, marking his first year in office as FCT Minister. He revealed that the scheme, initially introduced in 2014 and reintroduced in 2023, was underpinned by a contract worth N908.3 billion with concessionaires NAJEC Limited and Messrs Automaten Technik Bauman Nigeria Limited. The agreement was estimated to generate N26.93 billion in…