Author: Gabby

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North in the Senate, has launched a scathing attack on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), branding it a den of corruption. His outburst followed a revelation by Umar Aliya, the former Chief Financial Officer of the company, during a probe by the Senate Public Accounts Committee into alleged financial misappropriation amounting to trillions of naira.

Aliya disclosed that certain officials were seeking to secure jobs for their children within the state-owned oil firm. Reacting furiously, Oshiomhole claimed that NNPCL lacks any semblance of integrity, asserting that these officials merely want their families to profit from illicit activities. He exclaimed, “I heard your statement about people wanting their children employed in NNPC—that is because it is a den of thieves, and they want their offspring to partake in the loot.”

The lawmaker further accused the company of being synonymous with fraud, adding, “NNPC has no reputation; its only reputation is for deceit. How dare you sit here and say individuals want their children employed there? Do you think we are joking?”

Oshiomhole’s remarks have ignited a firestorm on social media, with many netizens praising his boldness. The Senate investigation continues to unravel deep-seated corruption within Nigeria’s premier oil corporation.

In a decisive operation, officers from the Obalende Division of the Ogun State Police Command have apprehended two individuals and prevented a planned kidnapping targeting a Chinese citizen along the Ijebu-Ode/Odogbolu Expressway corridor.

The suspects, identified as Chinedu Onwuemena, 41, and Jimoh Ojo, 37, were taken into custody on Monday at approximately 5:30 PM. The breakthrough came following credible intelligence that prompted an immediate response from the Divisional Police Officer.

Acting on the tip-off, the DPO quickly mobilized personnel, including the Surveillance Team, to the designated area where the suspects were intercepted and arrested, effectively aborting the criminal operation. Police spokesperson DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi disclosed the details in a statement released on Thursday.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the duo conspired to abduct a Chinese national and demand a ransom of ₦50 million. Notably, Onwuemena, who served as an interpreter and driver within the company, allegedly exploited his position to facilitate the plot. Babaseyi further revealed that the arrested suspects were not acting alone; another accomplice remains at large, with efforts underway to track and capture the fugitive.

Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni lauded the professionalism and swift action of the Obalende Division operatives, emphasizing that their proactive response averted a potentially serious kidnapping incident. He reiterated the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and crime prevention, assuring residents and businesses of continued vigilance against criminal elements.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has pushed back against claims of theft and financial misconduct, with its former Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya, vehemently denying allegations that the corporation operates as a den of thieves. This defense comes in the wake of sharp criticism from Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who had labeled the NNPC a ‘house of thieves’ during a Senate Public Accounts Committee hearing.

During the session, Ajiya firmly stated that neither the organization nor its employees are guilty of stealing. He clarified that the N2.9 billion expenditure was allocated for the incorporation and rebranding of the company, not the N5.8 billion that had been alleged. The CFO insisted that the figure quoted by Oshiomhole was incorrect and that no funds had gone missing.

Ajiya emphasized the NNPC’s commitment to transparency, noting that audited accounts have been publicly released for the past 44 years. He challenged the committee and the public to scrutinize the financial records available on the company’s website, asserting that the NNPC has moved away from its historically opaque practices to build trust with Nigerians.

Social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, known as Verydarkman or VDM, wasted no time upon returning to Nigeria. After touching down at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, he immediately mobilized a mass demonstration against the nation’s escalating security crisis.

VDM spearheaded his Ratel Movement to the Nigerian Air Force Base in the capital, where chants of “Tinubu must go, APC must go, bandits must go, terrorists must go” echoed through the streets. A video clip capturing the protest quickly went viral on social media.

A vocal critic of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, VDM has been outspoken about the recent surge in kidnappings and killings across the country. While he was in China, he declared the Tinubu government incompetent and urged Nigerians to vote the president and the All Progressives Congress (APC) out in the 2027 elections.

Before his arrival, VDM had raised alarms about an alleged plot by authorities to detain him, fueling tension among his supporters. Despite those fears, hundreds of Ratel Movement members gathered at the airport to welcome him, and the protest proceeded without incident.

A group of Nigerian citizens evacuated from South Africa has touched down in Lagos, marking a significant step in the government’s response to recent xenophobic attacks. The returnees landed at Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Thursday aboard an Air Peace flight.

This development follows heightened tensions and targeted violence against foreign nationals in South Africa, prompting the Nigerian government to organize repatriation efforts. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier confirmed that the first cohort would depart earlier that morning.

The arrival of these evacuees underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens abroad amid a surge in anti-foreigner sentiment. Many of those returning had faced threats and loss of property in the wake of the unrest.

Officials have assured that adequate arrangements are in place to assist the returnees as they reintegrate into the country. Further groups are expected to follow as the evacuation operation continues.

Mukhtar Shagari, the former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu is losing sleep over the escalating insecurity across Nigeria. Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Thursday, Shagari emphasized that the president is deeply troubled by the safety challenges facing the nation.

He pointed out that while each state has a security vote, these funds should be redirected toward establishing state police forces. According to Shagari, there can be no justification for failing to protect lives and property, as Nigerians grow increasingly anxious about their safety.

“The president hardly gets a good night’s rest because of the security situation. He is profoundly worried about the well-being of Nigerians, but security cannot be left solely to the federal government,” Shagari stated.

He urged states to take more proactive roles in supporting the president, the military, and other security agencies to combat insecurity. This, he argued, would enable citizens to travel without fear, go about their daily routines, and sleep peacefully.