PMS (Petrol) will sell at N86.50 in the New Year as PPPRA released the new approved pricing template.

The Petroleum Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) in Nigeria has announced the implementation of the revised components of the Petroleum Pricing Template for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

In a statement by the Executive Secretary of the PPPRA, Mr Farouk Ahmed, the pump price was put at 86.50 Naira per litre, a price the agency said was in line with the prevailing market trend.

“This new price regime is with effect from January 1, 2016,” the statement read.

According to Mr Ahmed, the reversed template was approved by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.

The statement said that the major components of the pricing template affected by this review were Traders Margin, Lightering Expenses, Nigeria Port Authority, Jetty Throughput, Storage Charges and Bridging Fund.

Other components revised include Retailers’ Transporters and Dealers Margins.

As contained in the breakdown, the Ex-depot price of PMS shall be 77 Naira per litre while the pump price will be 86.50 Naira per litre.

The new price is a reduction of 50 Kobo from the old price of 87 Naira.

It is the second time that the government will be reducing the price of petrol since the price of crude oil dropped.

The PPPRA also advised all marketers to adhere strictly to the approved Ex-depot and pump prices, as it would, in conjunction with relevant government agencies, enforce compliance.

The oil-rich nation is currently experiencing fuel scarcity, a situation that the government said would soon come to an end, as some of the nation’s refineries have started production.

Source: ChannelsTV.com

No Plea Bargaining for Looters & Terrorists - Minister of Justice/AGF

Abubakar Malami (Minister of Justice/AGF)

The Nigerian government will not consider plea bargain as an option for anyone facing prosecution for terrorism and financial crimes, a government official has said.

The Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, met with members of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group in Abuja on Tuesday where he made the strong statement about the government’s willingness to prosecute offenders.

Mr Malami said that the government would not allow criminal cases to be compromised.

“The office of the Attorney General of the Federation will not advocate plea bargain for anyone,” he reiterated.

Jailed For Cowardice

The Minister of Justice also revealed that the government would audit high profile cases that had been compromised in the past.

During the meeting with the group, the Minister also discussed cases of soldiers jailed for cowardice against the Boko Haram Insurgency, with the BBOG pleading that the soldiers should be reinstated.

Led by BBOG’s Co-convener, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, they presented several issues before the Attorney General, including an immediate recall of the military men who were jailed for cowardice at the war front without arms.

The Nigerian Army had months ago arraigned 71 soldiers on several count charges including criminal conspiracy, conspiracy to commit mutiny, insubordinate behaviour and false accusation.

They were tried and discharged on some charges but found guilty and convicted on other charges including mutiny.

Five of the soldiers were discharged and acquitted while one was sentenced to 28 days in prison with hard labour.

Source: ChannelsTV.com

Radio Biafra Transmitters Installed On MTN Masts —FG

The Federal Government has said the transmitters for Radio Biafra, which has been accused of spreading secessionist agenda and campaigning for the carving out of a Biafra Republic from Nigeria, were found to be installed on MTN masts in Enugu and Anambra states.

According to the Federal Government, the installation of the transmitters on the telecommunications company’s masts was to ensure wider coverage for the radio.

The headquarters of the radio station is “presumably in London.”

This is contained in the government’s case summary of the fresh six counts of treason and other ancillary offences instituted against the founder of Radio Biafra and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, and two others, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

One of the two other defendants in the six counts filed by the Federal Government is a field maintenance engineer, David Nwawuisi, charged with the responsibility of maintaining the MTN masts in Enugu State.

The other defendant, Benjamin Madubugwu, was said to be living in Ubilisiuzo, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, where he allegedly received custody of a container housing transmitters from Kanu.

On December 23, during the accused persons’ appearance in court for their scheduled arraignment, Kanu refused to take his plea due to what he called his lack of confidence in the presiding judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed.

The judge promptly returned the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for reassignment to another judge and the three accused persons were returned to the custody of the Department of State Services.

The fresh charges were filed against the three men barely 24 hours after Justice Adeniyi Ademola, in a ruling on Kanu’s bail application on December 17, ordered his unconditional release from DSS custody, having been detained for about two months without any valid charges filed against him.

The Federal Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Mohammed Diri, who signed the fresh charges, the case summary and other processes accompanying them on behalf of the government, alleged that Nwawuisi installed the transmitters on MTN masts “on request by an IPOB member, Chidibere Onwudiwe.”

Diri added, “The 3rd defendant (Nwawuisi), a Field Maintenance Engineer, charged with the responsibility of maintaining MTN masts in Enugu State, was also arrested in the course of the investigation.

“He agreed, on the request of an IPOB member, who is at large, Chidebere Onwudiwe, to install and did install IPOB radio transmitters on MTN masts for a consideration.”

The prosecution alleged that the transmitters were smuggled into Nigeria by Kanu and were discovered during a search in Madubugwu’s residence.

While Kanu was accused of treasonable felony, management of an unlawful society (IPOB), and smuggling of goods, including radio transmitters, into the country, Madubugwu and Nwawuisi were accused of assisting in the management of the said unlawful group.

The prosecution alleged, in the six counts, that the transmitters were installed on the MTN masts between April and May 2015.

PRESIDENT BUHARI TO SPEAK ON CURRENT NATIONAL ISSUES ON MEDIA CHAT

President Muhammadu Buhari will host his first Presidential Media Chat tomorrow, Wednesday, December 30, 2015.

In the course of the programme, which will be broadcast live on the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), President Buhari will answer questions from a panel of journalists on a broad range of current national issues.

The Presidential Media Chat will begin at 1900 hours. Other television and radio stations in the country may hook-up to NTA and FRCN to relay the programme to their viewers and listeners.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
December 29, 2015

Ask EFCC to leave Tompolo alone, ex-militants BEG Buhari

FORMER Niger Delta militants, weekend, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to leave ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, alone and follow the rule of law in its dealings with him. The erstwhile agitators, who met under the auspices of the Transformed Niger Delta Ex-militants Forum, asserted that some persons, who were envious of Tompolo, wrote a petition against him to the EFCC, but advised that the commission in the discharge of its duties should respect the rule of law.

In a communiqué signed by its national president, Meshach Bebenimibo and others, they said, “We appeal to the President as a matter of urgency to instruct the EFCC to follow due process within 1999 Constitution as amended.” At the meeting held in Warri were Prince Bebenimibo, Bayelsa , Edo, Cross River, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Ondo coordinators of the group, Peter Ayeebide, Austin Peremobowei, Korebor Minama, Anthony Youbai, Oluwah Michael and Oloye Tamarayende.

They said: “We want EFCC to leave Tompolo alone because the petitioners are acting out of jealousy to indict and incarcerate him, that is why they are lying to the whole world that Tompolo sold the land for the building of Nigerian Maritime University, NMU, Okerenkoko.”

According to the communiqué, “The petitioners know the truth and the truth is that Tompolo only sold the International Diving Institute buildings at Kurutie community and the place was sand filled before he built the school. Among the structures are lecture halls, multipurpose pavilion, administrative block, vice- chancellor’s lodge and hostels for male and female students.”

“The previous government brought valuers and did all necessary legal things and collected VAT money before paying him about 90 per cent as agreed.

“We also urge EFCC to have a rethink and defreeze Mieka and GlobalWest accounts.” The group, however, commended President Buhari for his interest in the region, particularly the inclusion of fund for the Amnesty programme in the 2016 Budget presented to the National Assembly, saying, “We really appreciate your kind gesture.”

Ex-Minister Obanikoro responds to Sahara Reporters that he is hiding from Nigerian Investigators Abroad

RE: Ex-Minister Obanikoro now hiding from Nigerian Investigators Abroad... Sahara Reporters

Ordinarily, I wouldn't dignify SaharaReporters with a response to the baseless and shameful journalism it practices, but there is a limit even to new media madness.

Dragging my children into your deliberate campaign and onslaught against my person, however will not be ignored and I demand you cease and refrain from this practice and limit your scope to me only.

For the record, I have been in public service since 1992, and I have never owned or currently own a home anywhere in the world outside Nigeria, however I am proud of my son and his family who are private citizens for their accomplishment as they have the right to do so.

I still have a case against @SaharaReporters and its owner filed at their “Hide Out” in the State of New York, and this will certainly add to the body of evidence against this hack-journalism platform.

Perhaps this is in retaliation to the suit, but be rest assured, I won’t be deterred and will pursue this to a logical conclusion.

While I remain open to answering any question on my conduct as a public servant in any administration at state and federal levels in Nigeria, I urge responsible practitioners of Journalism to refrain from helping hack journalists bring their profession into disrepute with baseless rumours and the blind crusade of an already biased and bought media platform.

My aspirations now therefore are to seek further education as I am doing in pursuit of a degree in History at the Oglethorpe University based in Georgia USA and to Mentor the next generation of leaders in Nigeria.

Musiliu Obanikoro

Senator Shehu Sanni suspended for 11 months by his party APC!

Senator Shehu Sani has been suspended by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for anti-party activities and other offences.

Sani, who represents Kaduna Central senatorial zone, has been suspended for a period of eleven months by the Tudun Wada ward of the APC.

Tudun Wada APC in a letter addressed to Sani on Sunday, December 27, 2015 which was signed by the secretary of the ward, Ahmed Abdulhamid, the Public Relations Officer, Auwal Mai Anguwa, and ex-officio member, Aminu Alilan, stated that the suspension would run for a period of 11 months and that, henceforth, “the senator is disengaged from partaking in or attending party activities in Kaduna State.”

In the letter, the party listed the offences of Sani aside choosing to remain confrontational with the state government and Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to include, uttering statements that allegedly “violate the rules of engagement of the party, factionalizing the party, and engaging in anti-party activities by criticizing the policies of El-Rufai.”

“Hardly a week passes by that his group will not be on air criticising and challenging the enduring legacies of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, that his statement on national issues is not in conformity with that of the state government and government of Kaduna State,” it stated.