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Tag: recovers

  • Shell recovers oil from spills, shuts pipeline

    Royal Dutch Shell subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC), yesterday said it has recovered more than 95 per cent of the oil from two spills that took place this year, although the pipeline that carries crude to the coast for export remains closed.

    The Trans Ramos pipeline, which carries some Forcados crude oil to the export terminal of the same name, closed in late April following two leaks, one in Abhoro in Bayelsa State and one in Odimodi, in Delta State.

    A spokesman for Shell said there had been no change in the operating status of the pipeline.

    “As soon as clean-up and site assessment are completed, we are committed to starting the immediate remediation of the impacted areas in Aghoro and Odimodi,” SPDC said in a statement.

    The Forcados grade, along with Bonny Light and Qua Iboe, is one of Nigeria’s three largest crude streams.

    Meanwhile, the Chairman, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, Ambrose Orjiako, said market exists for gas produced in the country, adding that the remained committed to producing the product for the country

    Orjiako who spoke during a breif ceremony to mark the 60th birthday of the Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Mr. Austine Avuru in Lagos,  said part of the reasons why there is growth in gas treatment is because there is increasing demand with good pricing for the product.

    The theme of the forum was: 60 Years Later: Preparing for a Nigeria without Oil.

    He said the environment remains very conducive for gas supply to the industry as well as to the agriculture sector.

    “Seplat as an organisation does not always project, but at all times we say that the future is bright for the company. Given the very strong foundation and fundamental conditions of Seplat, we can only look ahead and know that the future is very bright for the company,” he said.

  • EFCC recovers N473b, $98.2m, £294,851 in 2017, says Magu

    EFCC recovers N473b, $98.2m, £294,851 in 2017, says Magu

    •Agency presents scorecard at budget defence

    NIGERIANS heard yesterday the amount of crime – related funds recovered so far by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in local and foreign currencies.

    EFCC’s acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu gave the details as N473b in addition to $98,258,124.97; £294,851.82; 7,247,363.75 Euro; 443,400 Dirham and 70,500 Rand.

    He also confirmed that identified whistle blowers, including the Osborne Towers, Ikoyi whistle blower, were being paid to encourage other into buying into the policy.

    Magu spoke while presenting his agency’s 2017 scorecard before the Kayode Oladele-led House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes.

    He was at the Green Chamber to defending the Commission’s votes in this year’s Appropriation Bill.

    According to him, in 2017, the Commission succeeded in securing the final forfeiture of the $43 million Osborne Towers, Ikoyi cash; N32 billion and $5 million recovered from a former Petroleum Resources Minister and N449 million discovered at Legico Plaza on Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Magu told the House panel that the $43m Osborne Towers cash was forfeited to the Federal government because no one came forward to claim it.

    When asked whether the Osborne cash was ever traced to anyone, the EFCC chief explained that the document recovered from the property where the money was recovered showed that it belonged to a company owned by the wife and son of a former director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

    However, after due diligence and no one coming forward to claim it, the court had to pronounce its final forfeiture, he told the committee.

    Among other recoveries and forfeitures from proceeds of crime, Magu said that over N329 billion was recovered from petroleum marketers by the Kano office of the Commission; withholding tax recovery of over N27.7 billion from banks; 6.6 million recovered from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); recoveries of about N1.1 billion on behalf of AMCON (Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria) and the recovery of subsidy fraud funds of over N4 billion.

    He, however, reiterated the government commitment to the whistle blowing policy, saying that the promised incentives were being paid without delay.

    Saying that the Ikoyigate whistle blower has also been paid, Magu noted that the payment policy was meant to encourage more Nigerians to join in the campaign against corruption.

    On the implementation of last year’s budget, the EFCC boss complained of delay in the release of funds which he said affected his agency’s operations.

    Magu said: “Delayed and irregular release of the overhead component of the recurrent vote affected the commission’s investigation and prosecution activities especially in the zones.

    “Out of the total sum of N17,202,253,360 appropriated in 2017, only N11,737,492,342.07 or 68 per cent has so far been released out of which N9,759,277,008.53 has been utilised.

    “From the sum of N7,127,316,354 appropriated for personnel, N6,533,373,324 was released; from N3,000,713,298 appropriated for overhead only N1,667,007,163.70 has been released while from N7,074,223,708 appropriated for capital expenditure, only N3,537,111,853.87 was released to the commission so far.”

    He said the reduction of the Commission’s budget proposal for this year from N45 billion to about N21 billion, could hamper the agency’s operations.

    Magu informed the Committee that the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has been granted autonomy.

    “In the course of the outgoing financial year, the NFIU was granted self-accounting status by both the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Budget Office. Effective date of implementation is 1st January, 2018, with a budget proposal of N2.903 billion,” he said.

    Of the sum, N339.350 million was proposed for personnel cost; N22.500 milion for meals and refreshment to cater for numerous sub-regional, national and internal meetings while N26.500 million was proposed for publicity and advertisement for stakeholders in the financial sector.

     

  • TCN recovers 500 containers of transmission equipment

    TCN recovers 500 containers of transmission equipment

    The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), recovered 500 containers of equipment for electricity transmission expansion on Monday, the Minister of Power Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has said.

    He said the containers, which were left in the ports, were delivered to different transmission substations, and TCN sites where work is ongoing.

    Fashola, who spoke yesterday during the presentation of the final report of the 20 years Transmission Expansion Master Plan in Abuja, said: “As at yesterday (Monday) with that budget, we have been able to recover 500 containers belonging to TCN, containing equipment for transmission expansion projects that were left at our ports before President Buhari became president.”

    He said the impression that TCN could not wheel more than 5,000 megawatts is now changing, since as at  December last year,  TCN was able  to attain 7,125mw.

    He said the president has given a mandate for the improvement of the transmission capacity of the company, and that the ministry acted with the Power Recovery Programme and the N701 billion payment assurance guarantee, coupled with the grid expansion Programme.

    On the 20 years transmission expansion plan, Fashola said the essence was to avoid issues of stranded power in the future. He said attaining the vision will depend om hardwork. He said: “Don’t pray about, it is about hardwork, it is not prayer. It is a statement of commitment and that is why everybody is here to play his role.”

    Fashola said the plan was a milestone to the incremental, steady and uninterrupted power supply mantra of the ministry under his watch.

    Meanwhile, the TCN, Interim Managing Director, Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed, said the 20-year master plan was conceived after the delivery of the National Load Demand Study by Tractebel in 2009, saying after the conclusion of the National Load Demand, it became necessary for the nation to have the least Cost Transmission and Generation Master Plan in order to meet the demand as explained in the load demand report.

    He said TCN engaged Fitchner of Germany under the NEGIP, which is a project financed by the World Bank in November 2015.”

    Mohammed said the study started with data collection aimed at establishing the basis for the assignment, but the data collection was followed by clarification by TCN System Planning Team in 2016.

    He said the major issue that affected the work flow was the establishment of a schedule for collecting demand and load shedding data from the DisCos.

  • Fed Govt recovers N140b from Customs

    Fed Govt recovers N140b from Customs

    The probe by the joint Senate Committees on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport has led to the recovery of N140 billion, Senator Hope Uzodinma,  said yesterday.

    Uzodinma, who is chair of the committee spoke yesterday while presenting an interim report on the investigation of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to the House.

    The lawmaker highlighted wrong tariff classification, misuse of procedure codes, abuse of diplomatic cargo, falsification of import documentation and undervaluation, among others, as causes of revenue loss.

    He said the infractions distort the economic profile of the country and place extensive pressures on Nigeria’s foreign reserves.

    “As a result of this exercise, some collection banks have made additional remittances to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the tune of N128 billion and evidence of payment and receipt have been received by the committee.

    “From the selected 60 companies, over N12 billion payments have been made to government voluntarily by the companies based on their own internal self-audit after receiving documented evidence of their culpability from our committee.

    “Distinguished colleagues, it is instructive to note that despite all payments made so far made, none of the approved collection banks or the selected companies has fully cleared the established liabilities against them,” Uzodinma said.

    He added that the joint committees would produce a more comprehensive report within eight weeks.

  • Niyola recovers from sad incident

    Niyola recovers from sad incident

    EME Diva, Eniola Akinbo popularly known as Niyola seems to have been recuperating after the shocking death of her friend, Karabo Mokoena.

    Karabo, in May, was reportedly murdered and burnt to death by her ex-boyfriend, Sandile Mantsoe, in South Africa.

    Niyola took to her Instagram page to appreciate her fans. She posted a photograph of a candle light with caption; “Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me in this very difficult time. I appreciate all the love and prayers. May God meet you all at your points of need.”

    The ‘Toh Bad’ crooner’s absence from the music world may be due to the shocking death of her best friend.

  • EFCC recovers N329b from 10 marketers

    EFCC recovers N329b from 10 marketers

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered N329.150billion from 10 marketers from 2016 to date.

    The marketers defaulted in payment for products supplied to them by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) through its subsidiary, the Petroleum Products and Marketing Company (PPMC).

    About N20, 604, 109, 123.90 is yet to be recovered.

    The PPMC has written to the EFCC to help recover the funds.

    Following a petition against the marketers, EFCC Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu raised a special task force to investigate how the marketers incurred the debts of about N349, 818,411,556.37.

    The Task Force, which was managed by the EFCC Zonal office in Kano, recovered the N329.150billion   from 10 marketers.

    After the reconciliation at the weekend, the PPMC gave a status report to the Acting Chairman.

    The report, signed by Umar Ajiya reads in part:  “Further to our previous correspondence to your office in respect of the above subject matter, please note that till date, the debts recovered from major oil marketers include N87, 028, 851, 268.17 and N242, 121, 256,468.03 for legacy and current debts respectively, leaving a balance of N20, 604, 109, 123.90 broken down into N4, 426,439, 240(legacy debts) and N16, 177,669, 883.90(current debts)

    “These amounts have been agreed with the marketers that they shall be deducted and paid from outstanding entitlements or payments due to the marketers from the Federal Ministry of Finance and which will bring to the end the debt recovery effort.

    We wish to express our profound gratitude for the successful collaboration between the EFCC and PPMC/ NNPC which largely resulted in the huge recovery of debt from the marketers from the inception of the recovery exercise in 2016 to date.”

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said if the EFCC had not moved in, some of the marketers would have been foot-dragging on the debts.

    “You can imagine what N349billion can do in the life of a nation. Some of these marketers were supplied products but they did not pay even after selling to customers.

    “The EFCC detectives are still working on the recovery of the over N20billion still outstanding,” he said.

    Earlier, the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, had given an insight into the breakthrough by EFCC detectives.

    He said:  “Findings by the operatives of the EFCC revealed that the oil marketers were actually indebted to the Federal Government to the tune of N91,519,485,204.44billion between 2010 and 2016.

    ”Further investigation into the allegation also revealed that the oil marketers had continued to obtain petroleum products from the government without proper payment, in violation of the NNPC/PPMC credit facility regulations.

    ”Upon the conclusion of the preliminary investigation, officials of NNPC/PPMC and all the managing directors of the concerned companies which are NNPC retails , Conoil Plc, Total Plc, OVH Energy Plc, Oando Plc, Forte Oil and Gas Plc, Mobil Plc, MRS Oil Plc, and NIPCO Oil Plc were invited to the Kano Zonal Office of the Commission where their statements were recorded following which the recovery process commenced.”

    Shady deals in the oil sector, including the fuel subsidy scandal, were  said to have cost the nation over N1.3 trillion in 2011.

    But the manipulation of subsidy claims caused an uproar nationwide.

    The Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation of Fuel Subsidy Payments had initially  indicted 21 firms for fraudulent claims that cost the nation N382 billion but the list was later increased to 25 by the Federal Ministry of Finance, based on fresh evidence.

    The former Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said  of the N422 billion scrutinised, N18 billion was found to be duplication; N21 billion was cleared.

    He also confirmed out of the 116 oil marketing and trading companies (OM&T) invited, 107 honoured the invitation.

    He said: “Of the N422 billion, N18 billion was found to be duplication. So, the actual amount that was being verified is N403 billion. Of this amount, N21 billion was cleared and that leaves N382 billion as the sum in contention for which the committee recommended that the process of recovery should be made,” the report noted

  • Imenger Junior recovers from knee injury

    Imenger Junior recovers from knee injury

    Nanen Barnabas Imenger Junior has reiterated his resolve to make an immediate impact in the remaining eight matches of the Glo Premier League season after his recovery from knee injury that has kept him out of the game for quite some time.

    Imenger Junior has only played four matches throughout this season with three coming for Lobi Stars and the other one for Kano Pillars whom he spent some time with on loan before he was recalled at the start of the second stanza this season.

    With only a goal thus far in the league this season, Imenger Junior told SportingLife that he would be hitting the remaining part of the season in the league and in the Federation Cup final with a bang while hoping to help Lobi to avoid relegation and also to steer them to the Federation Cup title against Akwa United.

    Imenger Junior is the child of former Super Eagles’ player, Barnabas Imenger and he has played professional football in Sweden and has been capped by the Home Based Eagles whom he attended the CHAN 2014 held in South Africa.

  • EFCC recovers N38m bullet-proof SUV from ex-NIMASA DG

    EFCC recovers N38m bullet-proof SUV from ex-NIMASA DG

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may have recovered a Toyota Land Cruiser Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) belonging to the ex-Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi.

    Also, the anti-graft agency is also said to have frozen accounts of two companies financially associated with NIMASA, Mieka Divers Limited and Global West Vessels Limited.

    The two companies are reportedly owned by ex-Niger Delta warlord, Chief Government Ekpompolo, otherwise known as Tompollo.

    Head, Media Unit of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone yesterday, could not immediately confirm the development, but said the matter was still under investigation.

    “I can’t confirm that to you immediately, but what I know is that the matter has been under investigation”, Uwujaren said.

    Investigation by our correspondent also revealed that a number of private bank accounts, allegedly linked to Akpobolokemi, had also been frozen on the orders of the EFCC.

    A security source who spoke to our correspondent under a condition of anonymity yesterday, however, confirmed the measures taken on the said bank accounts.

    According to him, the move was aimed at checking the ongoing illegal movements of large sums of foreign and local currencies across the nation’s borders.

    The source stated further that there were ongoing security surveillance on a number of private and corporate accounts suspected to be linked to slush funds and that those of Mieka Divers Limited and Global West Vessels Limited were just two of such accounts under watch.

    Also affected is the contractor handling the N30 billion Maritime University at Okerenkoko, in the Gbaramatu, Delta State. The contract is being handled by Mr. Kime Engozi, believed to be a close ally of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Funds, amounting to billions of naira, allegedly paid to the contractor by the last administration, are said to have been trapped at a Yenagoa, Bayelsa State branch of an old generation bank.

    The funds, are said to be part payment for the construction work on the Maritime University and the NIMASA Technical College, Okoloba, also in Delta State.

    Further investigation by our correspondent revealed that freezing the accounts was not a move to stall the various projects for which monies had been paid.

    Rather, the move, our source said, was to verify and to keep close watch on outflow of funds from the accounts, with the view to ensuring that such funds were not meant for sinister purposes.

    “For instance, just one individual got about N13 billion from a single transaction with NIMASA. The same individual also collected about $57 million from similar deals from the agency without proper documentation.

    “No serious administration would attempt to sweep this type of thing under the carpet. So there must be proper explanations, bearing in mind the security implications of movement of such large sums within the system”, the source stated.

    Although Tompollo is not known to be under investigation by the EFCC, Akpobolokemi has been under the anti-graft agency’s investigation since August over issues relating to the running of the NIMASA under his watch.

    The EFCC had since seized the international passport of the ex-NIMASA boss. A number of his close aides, including an Executive Director at NIMASA, had also been guests of the commission in the last few weeks.

    A security source said yesterday that the aides were assisting the EFCC in investigation, relating to amounts spent on the Maritime Domain Awareness and Surveillance System (MDASS) as well the management of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF).

    Attempts by the last session of the House of Representatives to investigate spendings, particularly huge payments to Global West Vessels Limited by NIMASA in 2013 were thwarted under the last administration.

    Of particular interests to the House of Representatives was the revelation that 50 percent of revenue being generated by NIMASA was allegedly being paid to Tompollo’s Global West Vessels against financial regulations.

    The House investigation had also faulted the way and manner the CVFF account was being run by NIMASA, particularly the frequent movements of funds into different individual and corporate accounts.

    At the time, the CVFF accounts were being operated in four different accounts in Skye Bank, Sterling Bank, Diamond Bank and Fidelity Bank.

  • Ebele Obi recovers from knee injury

    Ebele Obi recovers from knee injury

    Heartland goalkeeper Ebele Obi will resume full training on Thursday, as he has fully recovered from the knee injury that has kept him out of action since the beginning of the season.

    Obi sustained the injury during a training session and this made him unavailable for Heartland’s first 15 league games of the season.

    The former Enugu Rangers’ shot-stopper told SportingLife that he is presently 95% fit and that by the time he trains with the first team ahead of the away tie with Giwa FC in Kaduna, he should be fully fit to be among those selected for the away game.

    “I thank God that I can say that I am 95% fit now. I will join the training session immediately the team returns from the home game with FC IfeanyiUbah in Port Harcourt.

    “I hope to be available for selection ahead of the away tie with Giwa FC,” Obi, who is the younger brother of Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi, told SportingLife.

  • Adamu Mohammed recovers from knee injury

    Adamu Mohammed recovers from knee injury

    Kano Pillars’ Adamu Mohammed has resumed training after recovering from a troubled knee and is delighted that he will be fully fit when the  Glo Premier League resumes on June 14. The former Gombe United and Enugu Rangers striker told SportingLife that he is not feeling any pain in the problematic area and he has started real training.

    “I have been out injured since our game with FC Taraba,” Mohammed told SportingLife. “I had the knee injury during the final training for the match. I have started training and by the time the leagues resumes, I will be ready for real action.”

    The lanky forward has played three league games for the Sai Masu Gida  netting once and getting an assist in his side’s second goal against Bayelsa United.