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Soldiers not involved in oil theft, DHQ replies NNPC

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The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has reacted to allegations by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) that some military personnel and security agencies are involved in oil theft and illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region.

Fielding questions from journalists on the operations of the military, Jimmy Akpor, director of defence information, said the allegations were unfounded.

Akpor said the major stakeholders in the oil and gas industry have an understanding of the workings of the industry, adding that it is unfair to drag the military into the activities of the criminals.

He said the armed forces and other security agencies have continued to do their best to safeguard the nation’s economic assets in the region.

In August, Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, alleged that churches, mosques, and security agencies as well as host communities were involved in crude oil theft.

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‘OIL THIEVES DENIED N1.2BN’

Providing updates at the briefing on Thursday, Musa Danmadami, director of defence media operations, said oil thieves have been denied N1.2 billion by the military within two weeks of its clearance operations.

 

He said the navy seized N664.8 million worth of crude oil, N546.7 million worth of diesel; N12.2 million worth of Kerosene; and N11.8 million worth of petroleum products.

He said troops of Operation Delta Safe in collaboration with the Department of State Service (DSS) have continued to deny criminal elements freedom of action.

“Also, troops of Operation Delta Safe discovered and destroyed 67 illegal refining sites, 11 wooden boats, 218 storage tanks, 168 cooking ovens, and 61 dugout pits within the period under review,” he said.

“Troops also recovered 2.07 million litres of crude oil, 706,000 litres of automotive gas oil, 15,500 litres of dual purpose kerosene and 67,000 litres of premium motor spirit.

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“Eight trucks, three pumping machines, three outboard engines and three generators were also recovered, while five pipeline vandals were also arrested.

“All recovered items were handed over to the relevant authority for further action.”

He said in the south-west, troops of 81 division, on August 26, foiled an attempt to smuggle 792 parcels of illicit drugs suspected to be cannabis sativa into the country.

He said the consignment, worth about N10 million, was intercepted by the troops at a checkpoint along the Ilaro-Benin Republic border.

“Similarly, the joint border patrol troops conducted anti-smuggling operations at Sawa Sawa village along Owode-Apa bush path in Badagry LGA of Lagos state,” he said.

“Similar operation was carried out at Oke-Agbede Waterside in Imeko Afon LGA, Oyan waterside, Yewa south, Yewa north and Ado-Odo/Ota LGA of Ogun state.

 

“Consequently, a total of 449 Jerri cans of PMS (30 litres), 529 (50kg) bags of foreign rice and one vehicle were recovered.

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“All recovered items were handed over to the Nigerian Customs Service in Abeokuta, Ogun state.”

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DNA: Court orders substituted service on Mohbad’s wife

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A Magistrate Court sitting in the Ikorodu area of Lagos has ordered that Wunmi, the wife of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba popularly known as Mohbad, be served notice of a pending DNA test application, by substituted means.

 

A statement signed by a member of the legal team to the Aloba family, Monisola Odumosu, disclosed this on Wednesday maintaining that the order became necessary after the court sheriff attempted to serve the court process personally on Wunmi twice, but failed.

 

It will be recalled that the Aloba family is contesting the paternity of baby Liam and filed an application before the Family Court to grant an order against Wunmi to present herself and baby Liam for a DNA test at any recognised laboratory in Lagos.

 

In the application filed by the legal team to Joseph Aloba, father to the late singer, the family sought an order to serve Wunmi the court papers for the DNA, by posting all the originating processes and other processes in the suit on the last-known address of the respondent.

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Odumosu said, “If the process were served on the last-known address of the respondent by Order of the Court, it would constitute good service and she would be aware of the pending suit. The Chief Magistrate granted the order and ordered that the respondent be served by posting the court process on her last known address.

 

The statement added that the singer’s wife, in a viral video, said she was ready for a DNA test, noting that she had never been available for the court sheriff to serve her the originating motion.

 

Odumosu also added that the matter had been adjourned till next month for the report of service.

 

Counsel to Wunmi, Taiwo Olawanle, has however denied knowledge of the court order.

 

He said, “We don’t have the court order. If we have an order, we will advise her to adhere to it. That is not a problem. But we are not aware of any order”.

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Mohbad, aged 27, died on September 12, 2023, under controversial circumstances. He had left his
record label, Marlian Music owned by Naira Marley, in February 2022.

 

In September, 2023, The singer’s body was exhumed for autopsy to unravel the cause of his death.

 

The Lagos State Police Command had in the same September also inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe the singer’s death.

 

His death also led to the arrest of Naira Marley and controversial Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, also known as Sam Larry, amongst others.

 

At the last sitting of the Coroner inquiring into the cause of his death on March 2024, the Director of the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, Dr Richard Somiari, had indicated that the results of an autopsy conducted on the deceased body would be ready in the next three to four weeks.

 

Somiari gave the assurance while testifying before the coroner, Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi.

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NCos moves Bobrisky from Ikoyi to Kirkiri prison

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Embattled cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye popularly known as Bobrisky, who was sentenced to a six-month jail term for abusing the Naira, has been transferred from the Ikoyi Correctional Center to the Kirikiri Prison by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS).

 

This is contrary to reports that Bobrisky is still being held at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.

 

According to reports, the popular cross-dresser is presently held at the Kirikiri Prison and was discreetly transferred since last weekend to Kirikiri.

 

, “It is procedural that he is moved to Kirikiri since it is an expansive prison compared to what we have here,” s dourve said.

The added that due to security reasons, Okuneye was quietly moved to the facility where he will serve his term.

 

It would be recalled that Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced the cross-dresser to six months imprisonment.

While sentencing the convict on Friday, April 12, 2024, the judge said the verdict would serve as deterrent to others who are fond of abusing and mutilating the naira.

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Bobrisky is being identified as a male based on his admission at the court last week and according to reports that there is no realignment of gender or genital organs.

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Cubana chief priest pleads not guilty, granted ₦10m bail

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Popular Instagram celebrity Pascal Okechukwu also known as Cubana Chief Priest has pleaded not guilty for alleged naira abuse.

 

He pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

 

The socialite was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Lagos before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on Wednesday.

 

The anti-graft commission filed a three-count charge against Cubana Chief Priest accused of abusing the naira at a social event, an act said to be contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.

 

After he pleaded not guilty, the court granted him bail in the sum of ₦10m with two responsible sureties in like sum who must be gainfully employed with the federal or state government and not less than grade level 16.

 

The sureties are to have landed property and the document must be verified by the court.

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Cubana Chief Priest is also to submit his travel passport to the custody of the court.

 

The bail conditions must be perfected within seven days but in the meantime he was released to his lawyer who must give an undertaken to produce him later. Failure to do so, he will be remanded in correctional facility.

 

A copy of the charge showed it was filed on April 4th by EFFC’s prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) alongside seven other lawyers representing the chairman of the Commission.

 

In Count 1, it was alleged, “that you, Okechukwu Pascal on 13th Feb. 2024, at Eko Hotel, within the jurisdiction of the court, while dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.

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In count 2, it was alleged, “that you Okechukwu Pascal sometime in 2020, in Lagos during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.

 

In Count 3, it was alleged, “that you Okechukwu Pascal sometime in January 2024, in Lagos during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.

 

Meanwhile, the defendant also informed the court of his pending application to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to hear the charge.

 

Justice Ogundare has adjourned till May 2nd to hear the application.

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This is coming days after the EFCC arraigned controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye better known as Bobrisky on similar charges for which he was sentenced to a six-month jail term.

 

 

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