Category: Featured

Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari is due in court on Monday to face drug dealing charge filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

He will appear along with six others.

The anti-narcotic agency which has been interrogating the suspects, accused them of dealing in 17.55 kilogrammes of cocaine among others.

Yesterday, The Nation exclusively reported that Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister for Justice Abubakar Malami on Wednesday filed a request before the Federal High Court in Abuja for Kyari’s extradition to the United States, where he will face money laundering, wire fraud and conspiracy charges.

Named with the former Intelligence Response Team (IRT) leader in the NDLEA charge are four senior police officers and two civilians.

The officers are: Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Sunday J. Ubua; Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Bawa James; Inspectors Simon Agirgba and John Nuhu.

The civilians are Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court will handle the case which was filed on February 28.

The charge reads:

*That you  DCP Abba Kyari, ACP Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu, all male, on or about the 19th to 25th January 2022, at the office of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abuja conspired amongst yourselves with ASP John Umoru (now at large) to deal in 17.55kilogrammes of cocaine and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

* That you DCP Abba Kyari, ACP Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu, all male, adult on or about the 19th to 25th January 2022, at Abuja dealt in 17.55kilogrammes of cocaine without lawful authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

* That you DCP Abba Kyari, ACP Sunday J Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector  Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu, all male, all male, adult on or about the 19th to 25th January 2022, within the office of the Inspector-General of (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abuja, conspired amongst yourselves and with ASP John Umoru (now at large) to unlawfully tamper with 21.35 kilogramames of cocaine seized from Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka AlphonsEzenwannne in the custody of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), by removing and disposing 17.55 kilogrammes of the cocaine and by substituting same with some other substance and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ACT CAP N30 Laws of the Federation 2004.

* That you DCP Abba Kyari, ACP Sunday J Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector  Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu, all male Adult on or about the 19th to 25th January 2022, within the office of the Inspector-General of (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abuja, unlawfully tampered with 21.35 kilogramme of cocaine seized from Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwannne in the custody of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), by removing and disposing 17.55 kilogrammes of the cocaine and substituting same with some other substance and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 16 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ACT CAP N30 Laws of the Federation 2004

*That you Chibunna Patrick Umeibe, male adult and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, male adult on or about the 19th January 2022 at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu Nigeria, without lawful authority imported 21.35kilogrammes of cocaine and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14(b) of the National Drug Law enforcement Agency ACT CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

* That you Chibunna Patrick Umeibe, male, adult; and you Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, male adult on or about the 25th January 2022 at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, Nigeria,  without lawful authority imported 21.35kilogrammes of cocaine and thereby committed an offence contrary to an punishable under section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ACT CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

* That you Chibunna Patrick Umeibe, male, adult; and you Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, male adult and one IK, now at large, on the 25th January 2022, at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, Nigeria, knowingly possessed 21.35 kilogrammes of cocaine and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(d) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Also yesterday, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, explained the decision by the Federal Government to initiate extradition proceedings against Kyari before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In a statement by his spokesman, Dr. Umar Gwandu, the AGF said: “As you are aware, extradition is a process that involves multifaceted components. The components are usually multi-territorial; international, local and judicial.

“Submission of request from the concern party to the relevant authorities constitutes one of such components.

“The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice received the extradition request in respect of the officer in question.

“After thorough studies and reviews of issues regarding the application and components thereof, the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice processed the application and forward same to the relevant authorities for further necessary action.”

Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho has begun negotiations with Benin Republic government over his ‘health status’.

The Nation reports Benin Republic had ‘renewed’ the incarceration of the embattled agitator for another six months.

Checks by The Nation show the 49-year-old agitator has spent over 227 days in Benin Republic prison.

Many supporters have lamented about the continuous detention of Igboho ‘without trial’.

The legal battle to either extradite Igboho to Nigeria or hand him back his freedom has witnessed a series of dramatic twists and turns

Protesting his continued detention, the agitator had dragged the government of Republic of Benin before the ECOWAS Court of Justice.

Igboho reportedly asked the regional court to award him $1million as general damages for each day he had been imprisoned in the country.

But the ECOWAS Court of Justice said that it had not received any matter relating to the trial of Igboho.

Counsel for the detained activist, Chief Yomi Aliyyu in a statement on Thursday titled: ‘Re: Purported release of Sunday Igboho’, said: “Kindly discountenance any news about the release of Chief Sunday Adeyemo or that he is on his way to Germany. It is not true, please.

“With the assistance of a worldwide renowned professor and prof Akintoye and lawyers (Falola and myself), we are negotiating for something more comfortable for him than prison to meet his health demand.

“I advise you to remain calm and prayerful.”

• Malami asks court to okay requests

• Cop challenges 14 days detention order 

Nigeria has approved the request by the United States for the extradition of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari.

A grand jury, last April 29, filed an indictment against Kyari with the approval of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

A deputy clerk of the court issued a warrant of arrest for him.

Kyari is wanted to stand trial for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft.

He was accused of conspiring with a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Nigerian, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi to commit the crime.

Yesterday, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), filed an application before the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja for Kyari’s extradition.

The application marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022 was filed under the Extradition Act.

The AGF said the application followed a request by the Diplomatic Representative of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja.

It is “for the surrender of Abba Alhaji Kyari, who is a subject in a superseding three counts indictment”.

Kyari and five other police officers are undergoing interrogation by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over a cocaine deal.

Last week, a court endorsed further 14-day detention for the suspects.

In the affidavit filed in support of the extradition application, the AGF stated that he was satisfied that provision is made by the laws of the U.S. such that so long as Kyari has not had a reasonable opportunity of returning to Nigeria, he will not be detained or tried for any offence committed before his surrender other than the extradition offence which can be proved by the fact on which his surrender is sought.

He added that he was satisfied that the offence in respect of which Kyari’s surrender is sought is not political nor is it trivial.

The AGF also expressed satisfaction that the request for the surrender of Kyari was not made to persecute or punish him on account of his race, religion, nationality or political opinions but in good faith and the interest of justice.

He added that Kyari, “if surrendered, will not be prejudiced at his trial and will not be punished, detained or restricted in his personal liberty, by reason of his race, nationality or political opinions”.

The AGF said having regard to all the circumstances in which the offence was committed, it will not be unjust or oppressive, or be too severe a punishment, to surrender him.

Malami said he was also satisfied that Kyari has been accused of the offence for which his surrender is sought.

He noted that there was no criminal proceeding pending against Kyari in Nigeria for the same offence.

According to court documents, the three count-charge marked: 2:21-cr-00203-RGK, was filed on April 29, 2021, before the US District Court for the Central District of California, USA.

The charge filed along with the extradition application, sighted by The Nation, reads:

• Count one: Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years;

• Count two: Conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 1956(h), carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

• Count three: Aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting that offence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1028A(a)(1) and 2(a), carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of two years.

In the request for Kyari’s extradition, the U.S. Embassy stated: “On April 29, 2021, based on the indictment filed by the grand jury and with the approval of the United States District Court for the Central District of California, a deputy clerk of the court issued a warrant of arrest for Kyari.

“The arrest warrant remains valid and executable to apprehend Kyari for the crimes with which he is charged in the indictment.

“Kyari is wanted to stand trial in the United States for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, and identity theft.

“Kyari is the subject of an indictment in case Number 2:21-cr-00203 (also referred to as 2:21-MJ-00760 and 2:21-CR-00203-RGK), filed April 29, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.”

The embattled “super-cop” has challenged the order made on February 22 by Justice Zainab Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Abuja empowering NDLEA to detain him for 14 days in the first instance.

In an application filed by his lawyers, Kyari wants the court to set aside the order for his detention, arguing that the order was issued without him being accorded a fair hearing.

The court has scheduled a hearing in Kyari’s application for March 8.

By John Ofikhenua, Sanni Onogu, Abuja and Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

• Queues at filling stations cause traffic gridlock in cities

• ‘Panic buying, hoarding to blame’

• NNPC: loading has started

There was no sign of improvement yesterday as the scarcity of petrol persisted.

Queues of vehicles stretching several kilometres created gridlocks in major city centres and towns across the country.

In Lagos, black market sellers took advantage, offering petrol in jerry cans.

A resident, Folakemi Titilope, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that she spent three hours on queue before buying at N200 per litre, above the approved pump price band of N162 to N165.

In the Lagos Island metropolis, motorists groaned.

There were queues at many service stations from 1004 axis to the Jubilee Bridge, Ajah.

Despite the scarcity, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) said about 253.98 million litres of petrol were available at Lagos depots.

It said 46.66 million litres of petrol were trucked out of the depots on Tuesday to filling stations in Lagos and other parts of the country.

NMDPRA Lagos Zonal Operations Controller, Ayorinde Cardoso, told NAN: “As at 8 a.m. this morning (yesterday), the total stock in Lagos depots was 253,980,444 litres of PMS.

“Total volume of PMS trucked out on Tuesday was 46,660, 659 litres with 1,101 trucks, while 700 of the trucks were distributed to Lagos and Ibadan Zone while 401 trucks were bridged to other parts of the country.”

NMDPRA General Manager, Public Affairs, Kimchi Apollo, said the agency discovered that some marketers were hoarding the product.

He said: “Today (yesterday) some stations were discovered to be hoarding fuel. We have fuel in Nigeria, so we are trying to see how we can make it happen.

“We have discovered hoarding, panic buying, profiteering by selling to black marketers. Some people are even taking cars from car stands to buy fuel for sale.”

The product was scarce in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday. Many retail outlets were locked; the few that sold the product were overwhelmed with queues.

Although they sold at the official pump price, customers complained about under-dispensing.

In the black market, the product sold for between N3,000 to N4,000 per litre.

Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Malam Garba Deen Muhammad, did not pick his calls or respond to text messages sent to him.

He also did not respond to previous attempts by our correspondent to reach him during the week.

Some Nigerians are wondering why the authorities, especially the NNPC, are silent when they ought to be giving daily updates to long-suffering citizens on the situation.

Some have been left surprised that no one has been held to account for the toxic petrol that triggered the scarcity beyond an apology by the NNPC.

NSCDC arrests 16 in Delta

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Delta Command, said it arrested 16 officials of petrol stations in Asaba metropolis for hoarding fuel and selling above pump price.

The agency said those arrested would be prosecuted.

NSCDC spokesman, Mr P. Okwechime, said the agency arrested an official of an oil marketer, Rainoil on Nnebisi Road, near Konwea plaza, Asaba, and another staff of Dwell Petroleum Ltd for selling fuel at N220 per litre instead of N165.

He said the private security guard at Dwell Filling Station was arrested after staff members frustrated efforts to reach the station’s manager.

Okwechime said: “We asked for the manager. He was kept away. We asked one of the attendants to take us to the manager.

“On getting to the office, she entered and locked the door against us, preventing us from going in.”

Okwechime said when NSCDC officials compelled the staff at Rainoil station to open the storage tanks, they found over 12,000 litres of petrol.

He said kerosine and diesel were also hoarded while motorists waited in long queues in the sun.

He said the staff of Rainoil was arrested for refusing to sell the products to waiting customers.

Senate seeks Executive Bill to amend PIA

Also yesterday, the Senate urged President Muhammadu Buhari to transmit a bill to the National Assembly to amend the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Senate President Ahmad Lawan made the call moments before he referred the President’s request for the amendment of the 2022 Appropriation Act to the Committee on Appropriation after the bill scaled second reading.

According to him, a request seeking an amendment to the PIA would enable the National Assembly to extend the subsidy regime in the PIA.

It will cover the President’s request for an additional N2.557 trillion to cover fuel subsidy in the 2022 budget from July this year.

The PIA provides that the present subsidy regime will end in June.

President Buhari had, in a February 10 letter to the National Assembly, requested N2.557 trillion to fund fuel subsidy in the 2022 Budget Framework from July.

Lawan mandated the relevant oil and gas committees of the National Assembly to engage the executive on a bill to amend the PIA to align with the President’s request.

NNPC resumes loading at depots to clear queues

After days of studied silence, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (NNPC) spoke on the biting petrol scarcity yesterday.

It said loading of trucks has started at all depots to clear the scarcity being experienced by across the country.

The corporation said it has in stock 1.7 billion litres of petrol.

Its Group Managing Director Malam Mele Kyari dropped the hints while chatting with reporters in Abuja after a meeting with the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petrol Tanker Drivers (PTD).

Also at the meeting were the Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPMAN) and Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN).

Kyari said that the additional fuel would relieve the situation in view of persistent queues which continued at the nation’s capital and other parts of the country with fewer stations dispensing the product.

He said: “Currently, we have over 1.7 billion litres of PMS in our hands both in marine and on land.

“This means that we now have the capacity to load out excessively from all depots. We have put in place measures to ensure 24 hours loading in all depots.

“This will ensure that scarcity created by panic buying will now be freed so that normalcy will return to filling stations.

“Typically in situations like this, people go to the fuel stations and buy in excess of what they need and this is what additional supply will resolve. I am very sure that very soon, we will see relief on this.”

Hotelier, Ramon Adedoyin, and six other suspects in the death of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, student, Timothy Adegoke, have arrived in Osogbo, Osun State, for trial today.

Counsel to Adegoke’s family, Femi Falana, demanded that the matter be transferred to Osun after the suspects had been arraigned before a Federal High Court, Abuja.

The hotel owner, Adedoyin, was alleged to have unlawfully interfered with the body while Adedeji Adesola, Magdalena Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwale Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem and Adebayo Kunle were arraigned on seven-count charge of conspiracy, attempted murder, and murder, among others.

The case was struck out on February 7, 2022.

Meanwhile, a top security source told The Nation that, “Chief Ramon Adedoyin and other suspects have arrived in Osun ahead of the commencement of their trial on Thursday. They arrived in the state on Wednesday evening.”

Police spokesman, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed that the trial will begin today.

By Yusuf Alli and Jide Orintunsin, Abuja

Yesterday’s inauguration of a new eight-man zoning committee for the March 26 convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has introduced a new twist to the ruling party’s zoning war.

There were indications that the party may alter the zoning formula released last week by the governors.

Sources said some members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and party leaders were uncomfortable with the formula.

The committee, which is headed by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbduRazaq, has been given Monday deadline to submit its report.

Other members of the panel are: Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege; Prof. Etim Nyong; Dr. M.B. Shehu; Comrade Mustapha Salihu; Senator Teslim Folarin;  Alhaji Sadeeq Sule-Iko Sami and Anambra State Deputy Governor Nkem Okeke, who will serve as Secretary.

According to investigation, APC governors have broken into two camps following irreconcilable differences over zoning.

It was gathered that the two camps have been battling for the control of party structure ahead of the party’s presidential primaries.

The division, it was learnt, accounted for the absence of half of the APC governors at a session with President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja.

Eleven out of the 22 PGF members met with the President at the State House, fueling speculations that all was not well with the governors.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said at the session with the President, a futile attempt was made by three governors to tinker with the formula.

But eight governors had their way when Buhari rejected moves to alter the zoning formula.

The aggrieved governors were said to have launched a counter-attack which led to the inauguration of the new zoning committee.

The highly-placed source said: “All is not well with our party since last week when the zoning formula was released.  Some governors were excited with the new formula. But some rejected the formula and insisted on a review.

“The divergent positions of the governors made the Caretaker Committee to set up the new zoning formula committee.

“Our forthcoming convention is riddled with intrigues. Our governors are trying to outwit each other.”

A governor, who spoke with our reporter in confidence yesterday said: “They are joking. Do they want to overrule the zoning formula already approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Those behind the so-called review of the formula will come back to disown this latest one just as they disowned the proposed zonal elections.

“We are watching the latest development in the party.”

CECPC Secretary John James Akpanudoedehe who announced the inauguration of the eight-man power sharing committee yesterday in Abuja through a statement, said: “The Committee is expected to submit its report on Monday.”

According to the proposed zoning formula, the North-Central retains the office of the National Chairman of APC.

Some other key positions are National Secretary, Deputy National Treasurer, National Women Leader, and National Welfare Officer (South-South); National Publicity Secretary, National Treasurer and Deputy National Organizing Secretary (Southwest).

For the Southeast, the offices proposed for it are Deputy National Chairman (South), National Youth Leader, National Vice Chairman and Deputy National Auditor.

The new outlook for the Northwest includes Deputy National Chairman (North); National Legal Adviser, National Financial Secretary and Deputy National Youth Leader among others.

In the case of the North-East, its likely new offices are National Organising Secretary, National Auditor and Deputy National Women Leader.

The slots designed for the Northcentral are National Chairman, Deputy National Secretary, Deputy National Publicity Secretary and Deputy National Legal Adviser.

Another source added: “These proposals are not cast in stone. It is left to the eight-man committee of Governor AbduRrazaq to come up with an acceptable formula.”

The AbdulRrazaq committee has a mandate to consult the various stakeholders and advise the CECPC on how best to share the elective offices of the party ahead of the convention.

Aside from consultation, the committee will also consider the zoning arrangement earlier prepared by the governors to President Buhari.

Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai told reporters after the meeting with Buhari that the party would be swapping positions earlier held by the north and south regions.

The governors limited their zoning arrangement proposal to party offices and promised to come up with the zoning arrangement for elective offices in the country.