Alleged $620,000 bribe: Defence team under pressure to dump Lawan

Counsel to embattled member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Farouk Lawan, are said to be under pressure from some forces to back out of the alleged $620,000 bribe scandal.

Two Nigerians charged with links to Yemen al Qaeda

Two Nigerians have been charged with collecting money from al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in Yemen to pay for training for Nigerian militants, a court document shows.

Reps probe NNPC joint venture proceeds

THE House of Representatives, on Thursday, directed its committee on petroleum resources (upstream) to investigate the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Joint Venture Agreements (JVA) so as to block revenue leakages and report back to the House within seven weeks.

The House committee was also asked to carry out a forensic review of the NNPC joint venture books to establish the amount of income tax that had accrued to joint venture partners in the past seven years and the amount remitted to the Federation Account.

The House’s resolution was sequel to a motion moved by Honourable Ossai Ossai, entitled, "recovery of revenue accruable to the Federation Account from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its joint venture partners."

Leading debate on the motion, Honourable Ossai said that "the Joint Operating Agreements (JOA) largely favoured the operator-companies to the detriment of the non-operator, NNPC."

This development, he said, had continued to happen despite the fact that the NNPC and the oil companies were expected to fund the joint venture operations, stressing that income from sale of assets, marine transportation, haulage or pipeline transportation, which formed part of the Joint Venture Operations, were unaccounted for.

On the joint venture income with the NNPC, he noted that "these sources of the joint venture income amounted to billions of naira or dollars, particularly haulage or pipeline transportation as the case may be."

He said that the companies under the joint venture agreements netted the huge income against expenses already settled with the collusion of NNPC to avoid remittance to the Federation Account, maintaining that,"besides the lifting of oil in agreed sharing ratio, there are associated benefits or revenues in line with their interest holdings as contained in the JVA."

The motion was unanimously supported by the lawmakers when the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Emeka Ihedioha put the motion to vote.Daily Jokes | Free Forex Signals | Ibadan City Network (Forum) | Small Business Guide

Jonathan asks panel to probe N2.19tr subsidy claims

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday set up a committee to verify and reconcile the findings of the Technical Committee which reviewed subsidy claims and payment in 2011.

I did not insult Reps, says Otedola

Oil merchant Femi Otedola yesterday denied insulting members of the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges during a hearing on the bribe-for-clearance scandal.In a statement issued by his lawyer, Babajide Koku (SAN), Otedola said he was never abusive of anyone. He re-iterated his insistence on his testimony being taken in public.

Lawyers set agenda for incoming CJN Muktar

Lawyers have urged the incoming Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aolma Muktar, to focus on policies that will restore integrity for which the nation’s Judiciary was once associated.

Alleged N503m fraud: Speaker, aide lose bid to stop trial

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji yesterday, lost a bid to stop his trial before a Federal High Court, Lagos as the court dismissed his application for lack of merit.

Boko Haram: NSA begs Emirs

National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki yesterday begged Emirs and influential leaders in the North to assist the government in reaching out to Boko Haram contacts for dialogue.

Building Collapse: Lagos Demolishes 2-Storey Building

A two-storey building that partially collapsed after a heavy downpour on Tuesday at 49 Freeman Street, Oyingbo area of Lagos State has been demolished by the state government.

China, Vatican in face off over bishop’s consecration

THE upcoming consecration of Father Yue Fusheng as a bishop in China without the consent of the Vatican has earned the anger of the Holy See as it warned yesterday that he would be excommunicated along with any bishop taking part in the ceremony.

11 killed in new Iraq attacks

A car bombing at a market in central Iraq killed eight people on Wednesday and three others were murdered in Baghdad. In Wednesday's deadliest attack, a car bombing in Zubaidiyah at 9:15 am killed eight people and wounded 37 others, a security official said on condition of anonymity.

Zamfara: Sharia court sentences 4 to 6 months imprisonment for fornication

The High Sharia Court sitting in Kaura in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State has sentenced four adults to six months imprisonment for fornication and are to be given 30 strokes of the cane each.

Heavy rains: NCAA warns pilots against impatience

IN view of an earlier prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) of impending heavy rains attached with storms, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Wednesday, issued a circular to pilots and airline operators in the country, to exercise restraint while the period lasts.

Boko Haram: Police Now Victims of Human Rights Abuses

The Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, Wednesday said rather than for policemen to be involved in flagrant human rights abuses, especially in the northern part of the country where the Boko Haram insurgents had made life unbearable for the people, they were now the victims.

76 Oil Wells: Nigeria Risks Ceding More to Cameroon

As Cross River and Akwa Ibom States await the Supreme Court judgment on the disputed 76 oil wells, the Cross River Forum of Local Government Chairmen Wednesday in Abuja warned that ceding the wells to Akwa Ibom might result in automatically ceding parts of the state to Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tome and Principe.

FG Proposes Bill on Fake Drugs, Substandard Products

Stiffer penalty awaits organisations and individuals who deal in counterfeit drugs and substandard products in Nigeria as an executive bill is being proposed that would make the prosecution of such offenders possible.

I’ve got phone numbers of Boko Haram leaders - NSA

THE new National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd) said on Wednesday in Jos, Plateau State, that he had contacts of key Boko Haram leaders for possible dialogue with the group.

Jonathan nominates Mukhtar as CJN, presents name to Senate

NIGERIA will soon have its first female Chief Justice of Nigeria as President Goodluck Jonathan has nominated Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, whose name has been presented to the Senate for confirmation.

3 Ogun PDP chieftains sentenced to 6 months imprisonment

Justice Charles Achibong of a Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced three chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State to six months imprisonment for flouting a court order.

STF personnel murdered in Plateau •Gunmen kill GM in Borno

A mobile policeman, Corporal Friday Babale, attached to the Special Task Force in charge of security in Plateau State has been murdered by unknown gunmen in Barakin-Ladi Local Government Area of the state.