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School should mould students for better future – Commissioner

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School should mould students for better future – Commissioner

The Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, says school is not just about teaching and learning in classrooms, but also about positively impacting humanity.

Alli-Balogun made the remark at the opening of a two-day capacity-building seminar in Lagos, according to a statement by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Examinations Board, Bakare Fatai, on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the seminar was organised by the Lagos State Examinations Board for tutors, heads of schools and other education stakeholders.

The commissioner said, “School is not for teaching and learning in the classroom alone, but also for moulding the totality of the lives of students for a better tomorrow.”

The commissioner emphasised the need to observe an additional hour in school.

He said that the extra hour to the normal closing time was meant for reading and extracurricular activities by students.

He urged teachers to take cognizance of the three domains of education  –  cognitive,  affective and psychomotor.

“These are a variety of methods in professional development aimed at promoting mindsets and behaviours that enhance the learning process and create a culture of career and readiness for every student.

“The importance of having a mutual and friendly relationship between teachers and students cannot be overemphasised, because such a relationship gives students a sense of belonging,” Alli-Balogun said.

The commissioner charged teachers to improve their attitudes and be friendly with members of their immediate communities.

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Lawyers weigh in on crisis rocking Body of Benchers

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Lawyers weigh in on crisis rocking Body of Benchers

DEBORAH MUSA writes on lawyers’ reactions to the crisis rocking the Body of Benchers which is regarded as a body of practitioners of the highest distinction in the country’s legal profession

Given its membership and the reasons behind its formation some years ago, one would think that the Body of Benchers, Nigeria’s legal body housing legal practitioners of the highest distinction in the profession, will operate devoid of crisis. But recent events occasioned by a superiority battle between the Chairman of the body, Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo, and Chairman of the Appointments Committee of the Body of Benchers, Austin Alegeh (SAN), have left much to be desired.

The battle between the duo came after Awomolo’s controversial move upon assuming the BOB chairmanship, where he allegedly unilaterally dissolved all committees and reconstituted them without consulting the larger body.

Alegeh wrote a protest letter dated May 2, 2024, to the Secretary of the Body, complaining about the illegality of Awolomo’s steps and demanding a reversal but the chairman allegedly ignored the letter and recently warned Alegeh not to disrupt the operations of the appointments committee.

Peeved by the development, Alegeh approached a Federal High Court in Lagos to stop Awomolo from effecting his plan.

Last week, the court issued an interim injunction restraining Awomolo from removing Alegeh as Chairman of the BOB Committee on Appointments.

The ruling, delivered by Justice Lewis Allagoa, came in response to a 50-paragraph affidavit submitted by Alegeh.

Justice Allagoa granted Alegeh’s request to prevent Awomolo from making any changes to the leadership of the appointments committee.

The development has attracted different reactions from legal luminaries in the country.

A lawyer, Olatunji Salawu, noted that if the chairman has the power to constitute the committee then it wouldn’t be out of place for him to reconstitute the same committee, unless otherwise.

Explaining his understanding of the crisis, he said, “There is a change in leadership in the Body of Benchers which is a tenure of one year. As a new chairman, Chief Awomolo reconstituted the existing committee they have in the BOB. This is a committee that was constituted towards the tail end of the tenure of the immediate past chairman, Justice Mary Odili.

“Alegeh and the others are aggrieved that they were reconstituted and have a tenure of three years and the three years have not expired; hence Awomolo cannot reconstitute.

“Now, the aggrieved are challenging whether he has the power to reconstitute.

“I am not a member of BOB, so I cannot tell how it completely works there and I am not familiar with their rules or if the chairman has the power to constitute but my opinion is if he has the power to constitute, then he can also reconstitute.

Continued on www.punchng.com

“He can choose to reconstitute a committee to those he can work with or those who can make the tenure effective.

“If the committee was constituted by the vice chairman, it means the chairman can reconstitute it. He can choose to rejig it if he doesn’t think the committee is strong enough but if there is a written down rule on it or the committee’s tenure, then he cannot. He has to follow the written down rule.”

Also speaking on the crisis, Emeka Ngige (SAN) urged the parties involved in the disagreement to let peace reign.

He said “We pray for peace to reign. We don’t need a crisis in the Body of Benchers because we will be sending the wrong signal to lawyers and law students. The BOB is a body of lawyers with the highest distinction. This is strange and it has never happened before.

My advice is that the combatants should sheathe their swords and let peace reign.”

Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Lekan Ojo, said, “It is unfortunate. We are hoping that the elders of the profession will have the crisis resolved.”

One of the aggrieved in the matter, Augustine Alegeh, noted that the matter is already in court. He said, “It is a matter that can be resolved easily.”

Residents urge LAWMA to evacuate refuse heaps on streets

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Residents urge LAWMA to evacuate refuse heaps on streets

Some Lagos residents on Wednesday decried the heaps of refuse on some major roads around the state without prompt evacuation by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority.

In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria, the residents lamented the indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the roads by some Lagosians.

NAN reports that indiscriminate waste disposal is a common issue in many cities, including Lagos. It can lead to environmental pollution, health hazards, and other negative impacts.

A businesswoman, Ibukun Cole, while speaking to NAN, said residents could avoid littering by disposing of their wastes properly.

“I think we really need to be more enlightened on the dangers of improper waste disposal. It will interest you to know that some people even dispose of waste in the gutters especially when it rains.

“I feel there should be a form of community clean-up and awareness programmes in every area to ensure people know the dangers of indiscriminate refuse dump,” Cole said.

A resident in Agege area of Lagos, Shina Ibrahim, told NAN that LAWMA was not doing enough in evacuating the heaps of refuse in the area.

“Refuse dumps are being scattered all over the area and even in our homes. LAWMA does not come regularly as they should. We need them to regularly show up so that there won’t be heaps of refuse,” he said.

Another resident who lives in the Igando area of the state, Tosin Ogundairo, said residents should take advantage of waste management services and designated bin collection points rather than indiscriminately dumping refuse.

Reacting, the National President of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria, Olugbenga Adebola, encouraged Nigerians, particularly Lagosians, to patronise PSP operators assigned to their areas for seamless waste evacuation.

Adebola said, “Many tenements don’t pay for their wastes thus cultivating the habit of indiscriminate waste disposal and this is posing great environmental danger to the environment. If you pay, then you can call the attention of the government or your PSP operators directly to say ‘I have not seen my PSP, and because many people do not pay, that is why they are dodging, that is why they will continue to litter the area, and it is only through enforcement that they come alive to their duty.”

Tinubu’s Renewed Hope mantra aligns with MKO’s vision – Sanwo-Olu

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Tinubu’s Renewed Hope mantra aligns with MKO’s vision – Sanwo-Olu

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, said the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu aligned with the vision of the late MKO Abiola,  the adjudged winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Sanwo-Olu added that former President Muhammadu Buhari deserved commendation for naming June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day in recognition of Abiola’s struggle for democracy.

Represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, the governor spoke at a programme held at Abiola Crescent, Ikeja, Lagos, to honour the memory of Abiola.

The event was organised by the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership and the Moshood Abiola Mandate Movement.

While speaking, Hamzat said the June 12 event made many persons lose faith in Nigeria, “but we must appreciate (former President) Muhammadu Buhari, who officially recognised that election; who recognised June 12 and gave our father (Abiola) the title of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, which is the highest honour that this country can bestow upon someone.”

Hamzat said, “We do this every year. Some of us were not too young when the election was held, and it was regarded as the freest and fairest election. At that time, a lot of us lost faith in our country. We wondered what was going on with Nigeria. Is it that we’re cursed? Why can’t we do this? A great election, why will the military stop it?

“We must also thank President Bola Tinubu who was part of the process; that is why the appellation ‘Renewed Hope’ makes sense. The Renewed Hope was targeted at MKO Abiola’s mantra.”

Abiola’s first daughter, Lola Abiola-Edewor, said the ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra of President Tinubu, aligned with that of her father’s.

Edewor said it was significant that Tinubu chose the mantra, which, she said, aligned with the Hope ‘93 slogan used by Abiola during his presidential campaign in 1993.

“This day in particular is very memorable. If we recall, the mantra of this present government is Renewed Hope. Remember also that the mantra of MKO Abiola during his campaign was Hope ‘93. It’s very significant in my opinion that our President chose his mantra to be Renewed Hope,” she told the audience in the hall filled with government officials, Abiola’s family, pressmen and members of the public.

She said, “He (Tinubu) knows; when we say Renewed Hope, he knew where he took over from the past government. He’s a grassroots politician, he has been through this political work for a long time and he’s very close to the people. So, for him to have chosen the mantra Renewed Hope, he knew that Nigerians were beginning to lose hope, and he made many promises to us. I have confidence that those promises will come to pass.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Chief of Staff, Tayo Ayinde, and the Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, were also at the event alongside the Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, Abimbola Akinajo.

Nigerians observed Democracy Day on Wednesday in commemoration of the June 12 1993 event. However, protests were held by civil society organisations and other Nigerians in Lagos, Oyo, Osun and Abuja among others.

Nigeria’s oil production drops to 1.25mbpd, says OPEC

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Nigeria’s oil production drops to 1.25mbpd, says OPEC

Nigeria’s daily oil production dipped further to 1.25 million barrels per day in May, a report by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has said.

This is despite the claim by the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited that the country’s oil production has risen to 1.7mbpd.

OPEC data showed that Nigeria lost 30,000bpd as crude production dropped from 1.28mbpd in April to 1.25mpd in April.

Recently in May, the NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, stated that crude production was nearing 1.7mbpd at the time.

Kyari, who spoke during a stakeholders engagement between the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists and the NNPCL held in Lagos, said,  “As of today’s data, we’re inching to 1.7mbpd. We won’t celebrate this. On 17th of April 2020, our production, without doing anything, without drilling new wells, shot to 2.2mbpd. The difference was COVID-19. The thieves, the vandals, everybody went to sleep.”

But in its Monthly Oil Market Oil Report for May 2024, OPEC said it gathered from direct communication with the OPEC member country that Nigeria’s oil production had further gone down, though the figure stood at 1.42mbpd from data gathered from secondary sources.

The According reported earlier that Nigeria’s dwindling daily oil production turned the corner in April, rising marginally from 1.23 million barrels per day in March to 1.28mbpd, according to OPEC.

OPEC said Nigeria’s oil production added 50,000 barrels daily in April after it fell in recent times.

The nation’s crude production fell from 1.32 million barrels per day in February to 1.23 million barrels per day in March.

Production dropped from 1.427mbpd in January to 1.322mbpd, according to direct sources.

The continuous drop in production came amid stakeholders’ concerns over the loss of revenue due to the failure of the government to ramp up production.

Recently, the Chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, Wole Ogunsanya, said the country was losing a lot of revenue daily due to its inability to tackle dwindling oil production.

According to Ogunsanya, if Nigeria could retain between 60 and 70 per cent of the oil and gas value chain in the country, it stands a better chance of being among the top 20 economies in the world.

He pointed out that the country was underproducing to the tune of at least 500,000 barrels per day, which was a huge loss to the country.

But the Federal Government said the drop in Nigeria’s crude oil production was due to issues encountered on the Trans Niger Pipeline, coupled with maintenance activities carried out by some oil companies operating across the country.

It, however, stated that efforts were on to fix the pipeline, adding that this would enable the country to produce up to 1.7 million barrels per day of crude oil and condensates.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, claimed that the drop in production was due to issues encountered on the Trans Niger Pipeline.

“In response to recent concerns regarding a shortfall in oil production in Nigeria during the first quarter of 2024, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, assures (Nigerians) that measures are being taken to address the situation to, not only restore production to previous levels but to also increase it.

“The minister clarifies that the reported production shortfall was primarily due to issues encountered on the Trans Niger Pipeline, coupled with maintenance activities carried out by some oil companies operating in Nigeria.

“The minister is also pleased to announce that the issues have been adequately addressed, and production is expected to return to its previous levels in the coming days,” a statement by Lokpobiri’s spokesman, Nneamaka Okafor, said in April.

At a meeting with stakeholders in Lagos recently, Lokpobiri emphasised that idle oil wells and licences would be revoked and handed over to individuals with proven capacity to produce.

The NNPC GCEO has on different occasions blamed energy theft and vandalism for the falling oil output, saying this was no one was investing in the sector.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government said it is ready to attract investors to the oil and gas sector by reducing front entry barriers, one of which is the reduction of signature bonus from around $200m to $10m.

PTAD clears 4,443 deceased pensioners’ next-of-kin for payment

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PTAD clears 4,443 deceased pensioners’ next-of-kin for payment

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate has processed 4,443 files of next-of-kins of deceased pensioners, with complaints of non-payment of death benefits and gratuity, as of May 17, 2024.

According to PTAD’s “Expended Nok & Gratuity Project Progress Report”, about 842 NoKs have been found and verified as paid, and PTAD will communicate this development to the affected pensioners.

However, 1,147 NoKs require additional documents, and the project’s correspondence team has contacted 540 NoKs and pensioners to request the required documents.

Unfortunately, less than 50 per cent of those contacted have provided the necessary documents.

The report also stated that 607 beneficiaries could not be reached via the provided phone numbers, and PTAD has resolved to write to the pension unions and MDAs where the principal worked for further action.

Furthermore, benefits belonging to 535 NoKs and pensioners have been computed, with 125 beneficiaries paid a total of N245,834,813 after meeting the statutory documentary requirements. The remaining 409 beneficiaries await the provision of secondary document requirements.

PTAD is working with the High Courts of Justice to validate the Letters of Administration  in favor of NoKs, and the project will continue to work towards resolving the issues.

The report read in part, “The project’s dedicated correspondence team were able to place calls and emails through to about 540 Noks and pensioners requesting for the required documents. It will be worthy to mention that less than 50 per cent of those contacted were able to provide the required documents.”

 Additionally, “About 607 beneficiaries could not be reached via the phone numbers provided during verification. As efforts to communicate the requirement have failed and as such, the Directorate has resolved to write to the pension unions and MDAs where the principal worked for further action.”

PTAD has assured that it will continue to work towards resolving the issues, stating, “On a final note, the Project will continue to walk the talk as it has been the tradition of PTAD.”

Pro-Wike lawmakers no longer PDP members, Rivers AG insists

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Pro-Wike lawmakers no longer PDP members, Rivers AG insists

The Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dagogo Iboroma (SAN), restated on Wednesday that the 27 members of the state Assembly loyal to ex-governor Nyesom Wike are no longer members of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Iboroma said the lawmakers, led by the Speaker,  Martin Amaewhule, had last year defected to the All Progressives Congress and ceased to be PDP members.

He added that having defected from the PDP to the APC they had lost their seat as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Iboroma, in a statement on Wednesday, said contrary to reports, the Certified True Copy of a Monday judgment by the Rivers State High Court, validated the position that Amaewhule and his colleagues were no longer PDP members.

He blamed the media for what he described as a misrepresentation of the judgment delivered by Justice Okogbule Gbasam.

Iboroma said, “Yesterday (Tuesday) I briefed the press and made the point that there is a misrepresentation of the judgment of the High Court of Rivers State in Suit No. DHC/20/CS/2024 in social, print, and electronic media.

“My position has been confirmed and vindicated by the Certified True Copy of the court order in Suit No. DHC/20/CS/2024.”

Iboroma stated that a court order embodied the enforceable decisions of a court, adding that in this case in focus, the enforceable orders of the court would necessarily entail the specific pronouncements of the court.

He listed the three orders of the court in the judgment to include: “That this suit be and is hereby dismissed/struck out for want of jurisdiction.

“That the Peoples Democratic Party be and is hereby joined as 4th defendant. That the claimants’ case be and is hereby dismissed for lacking in merit.”

He added, “Contrary to the false claims and misrepresentation in social, print and electronic media, the court did not make a declaration that Martin Amaewhule is the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, neither did it make a declaration that Martin Amaewhule and 26 others are members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Peoples Democratic Party.

“If it were so, it would have been embodied in the court orders, which have been circulated to you all and displayed by me here for the purpose of clarity.”

Iboroma regretted that the deliberate ‘misrepresentation’ of Monday’s court was painted in a bad light and the public was misled with such misinformation.

He said: “Whatever finding of fact that is not included in the court order is an Obiter Dictum, which has no binding force.

“Once again, I respectively urge the media to desist from giving any interpretation to any judgment without first reading the content of the judgment and seeking legal advice,” the attorney general added.

Constitution, not suit will address LG autonomy

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Constitution, not suit will address LG autonomy

The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has said the constitution needs to be amended “to expunge the Joint Account Allocation Committee” for local governments to fully have financial autonomy.

AbdulRazaq, who is the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, said though he personally believes in LG autonomy, the constitution provided for the JAAC.

“JAAC, in summary, pulls resources together to pay all teachers, health workers, traditional rulers, and other statutory duties listed in the schedule of the local government areas,” the governor explained.

“If we all want these to change as a national consensus, we believe that the constitution will have to be amended to expunge JAAC,” AbdulRazaq said.

He was reacting to the lawsuit filed by the Federal Government at the Supreme Court against the 36 states of the federation.

The Federation Government, in the suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), wants the Supreme Court to order that funds standing to the credit of local governments from the Federation Account should be paid to them directly rather than through the state governments.

The Federal Government also wants the court to stop state governors from appointing caretaker committees to manage the affairs of local governments instead of duly elected local government chairmen and councillors.

Hearing in the suit has been fixed for June 13, with most of the states countering the prayers of the Federal Government.

AbdulRazaq, on Wednesday, insisted that Kwara State was not in violation of the provisions of the law on the subject.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, quoted the governor as saying, “The position of the state in the ongoing legal proceedings on local government is that the state does not violate any section of the law regarding autonomy.

“It is my personal belief that each local government should manage its resources and be responsible for its obligations, including wages that are first-line charges. I also believe that the state governor should not be held liable if any local government is unable to pay salaries since we do not touch a kobo of their money.

“We also do not have any joint project accounts with any local government in the state, as was the case with the previous administration in our state.

“These are my personal beliefs. But my personal belief is not necessarily the same as the letters of the law, including the provisions of the JAAC, which is a creation of the Constitution. As of today, local government allocations are sent to the JAAC as required by the law. Section 162 of the Constitution is very clear on this.

“As things stand today, no activity of the local government in Kwara State is at variance with these provisions of the law. Our case in the court is not about my personal belief. It is, we believe, in the defence of the constitution, which created JAAC for reasons that are well-grounded in our experiences as a people. JAAC, in summary, pulls resources together to pay all teachers, health workers, traditional rulers, and other statutory duties listed in the schedule of the local government areas.

“If we all want these to change as a national consensus, we believe that the constitution will have to be amended to expunge JAAC,” AbdulRazaq said.

Akpabio denies teaming up with El-Rufai for 2027 presidency

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Akpabio denies teaming up with El-Rufai for 2027 presidency

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday, described as mischievous campaign posters in circulation suggesting a political alliance between himself and former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, for the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement by his  Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio described the campaign posters as “the handiwork of mischief makers.”

“Senator Godswill Akpabio does not have any intention to contest for president in 2027 nor is he nursing any ambition of a joint presidential ticket with Mallam Nasir El-Rufai or any other person by whatever name,” Eyiboh said.

Describing the posters as “spurious and mischievous,” Eyiboh said Akpabio was focused on his role as the Senate President, supporting President Bola Tinubu in resetting Nigeria and restoring the nation’s pride on the global stage.

“Since assuming office on June 13, 2023, Akpabio has been dedicated to providing the necessary legislative support to the Tinubu administration and has not contemplated running for President at any point.

“It is embarrassing for anyone to link the person of Senate President Godswill Akpabio to an insipid presidential ambition, when a competent, trusted, and tested leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is in the driving seat, effectively navigating the contours of purposeful leadership and adept governance with his Renewed Hope Agenda,” Eyiboh said.

He urged Nigerians to disregard the posters “as attempts to distract from the significant and positive interventions being made by the Senate under Akpabio’s leadership.”

The statement also called on security agencies to investigate and identify those behind this “ugly enterprise.”

El-Rufai is currently facing an allegation of N423bn theft allegation levelled against him by the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

Though shortlisted by President Bola Tinubu for ministerial appointment, the National Assembly declined to confirm him, citing unfavourable security reports.

Delta lawyer kicks as EFCC allegedly auctions seized tugboat

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Delta lawyer kicks as EFCC allegedly auctions seized tugboat

A Warri, Delta State-based lawyer, Prof. O. G. Izevbuwas, has kicked against an alleged move by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to auction a tugboat, MV Omas Success, owned by his client, Ocean Marine, which the anti-grant commission reportedly seized six years ago.

The lawyer has subsequently issued a 30-day ultimatum to the EFCC to release the tugboat, MV Omas Success, to his client, arguing that “while the EFCC Act vests some powers of seizure in the commission, such powers are only exercisable where a vessel has been found culpable.”

He said, “Our client’s tugboat was not involved in any wrong neither was it intended to be used in committing any crime.”

He consequently demanded from the EFCC a sum of N50 million, “being damages for the salvage and repairs of the boat, having been majorly submerged by water.”

In a protest letter from the lawyer to the EFCC, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Monday, Prof. Izevbuwa who led a team of other lawyers, F. I. Bob-Osaze (Mrs.), C. C. Udoala (Mrs.), J. E. Ibiomgbo Esq. and A. E. Iluobe (Miss), alleged that the EFCC had deprived their client “the use of the tugboat for the past six years,” adding that they were shocked when the EFCC displayed the tugboat for sale by auction few days ago and the client saw it.

The protest letter reads in part, “Our client is at a loss to understand why the commission has decided to take this unilateral move.”

Izevbuwa explained that in 2018, the tugboat was assigned by its owner to Egrangbene community, Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State where dredging and canalization work was being carried out.

“The tugboat was detailed to move dredging equipment and hoses to other locations within Egrangbene community. The photographs of the tugboat, its operator’s permit, and other documents are attached herein as Annexures A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, and K respectively.’’

“Our client states that on their way back from Egrangbene community, the tugboat had mechanical problems when it was tied at New Jerusalem Christian Settlement within Egrangbene community.

“It was while awaiting repairs that men of the Joint Task Force, Warri Base, descended on the tugboat in a warlike manner. They then illegally and unlawfully towed it away.

“Our client states that it was while awaiting the release of the tugboat that it became aware that the tugboat had been handed over to the EFCC.

“Your commission subsequently invited the Managing Director of our client and some other workers in the company in the course of its investigation, through a letter dated 27th September 2018, with reference CR.3000/EFCC/BNZ/STF/278/VOL.6/100. A copy of the said letter of invitation and a copy of the letter dated 9th October 2018 written by our client’s solicitors asking for a re-scheduling of the interview is attached herewith as Annexures L and M respectively.”

The lawyer stated further that after a detailed investigation by the EFCC, it was discovered that the men of the Joint Tax Force who arrested our client’s tugboat were only on a voyage of mischief.

Also speaking with journalists, the owner of the tugboat, Mr. Owen Nanakumoh Esq, Chairman/Managing Director of Ocean Marine Services Limited, affirmed that “as we are talking, they’ve sold it (tugboat) amongst other vessels through auction, despite the receipt of this protest.”

Nanakumoh named the purported buyer of the tugboat from the auctioneer as Mr. Elo E.

He added that the buyer called the military when “our protest was brought to him before the Enerhen police, but the military threatened to deal with whosoever questions or interferes.” He disclosed that the buyer claims the order is from the Defence Headquarters, Abuja. Nanakumoh said.

The tugboat owner therefore pleaded profusely that the Service Chiefs should intervene and ensure that justice is served.

Efforts to hear from the EFCC on the incident were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.

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