Headlines

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has reduced the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, across its retail outlets nationwide.

The price of petrol at NNPC retail outlets has dropped from N1,060 per litre to N1,040 per litre in Abuja, a reduction of N20 per litre.

The price change took effect on Saturday morning.

However, prices at independently-owned filling stations remain higher, ranging from N1,115 per litre to N1,120 per litre, depending on location.

It is the belief of stakeholders that local production from the Port Harcourt and Dangote refineries will lead to more competitive fuel pricing in the near future.

Production from the Port Harcourt refinery, which began in November has joined Dangote’s 650,000 barrels per day refinery, which earlier began supplying products into the Nigerian and foreign markets.

A tragic accident involving a J5 Ford bus (FKJ 724 YC) and a Mercedes truck (FKJ 746 YC) at Ilubirin, inward Sura, along the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge, has claimed one life and left four others injured.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday, signed by Adebayo Taofiq, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment.

According to the statement, LASTMA officials, led by the General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, arrived promptly at the scene and coordinated rescue operations. Five victims were extricated from the wreckage, but one succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash, while the other four sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the J5 Ford bus, carrying pepper and other perishable goods, experienced brake failure while traveling at high speed, leading to the collision with the Mercedes truck.

Emergency response teams, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Response Unit, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigerian Police Force, and Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), worked alongside LASTMA to manage the situation and ensure the victims received immediate medical attention at the General Hospital on Lagos Island.

In a bid to restore normalcy, LASTMA officials cleared the accident site, removing the damaged vehicles and scattered goods to ease traffic flow along the bridge.

While expressing condolences to the family of the deceased, Bakare-Oki emphasized the importance of road safety, especially during the festive season. He urged drivers, particularly operators of heavy-duty vehicles, to avoid speeding and ensure their vehicles, especially braking systems, are in optimal condition before embarking on any journey.

LASTMA reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of road users and pledged continued collaboration with relevant agencies to prevent avoidable accidents on Lagos roads.

Governors of Nigeria’s 36 states have reached a consensus on establishing state police as part of efforts to address the country’s ongoing insecurity challenges. This decision was among the resolutions from Thursday’s National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, briefed journalists after the meeting, confirming that submissions on state police had been received from all states except the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He explained that the NEC secretariat would engage stakeholders further and present a comprehensive report during the council’s next meeting in January.

Governors Sani noted that most states support the creation of state-controlled police forces, citing the need to address unique security challenges in their regions and the inadequacies of the current centralized policing system. He emphasized that a decentralised security framework would allow states to tailor measures to their specific needs, enhancing citizens’ safety.

“Virtually all 36 states have made their submissions, and most are in agreement on the establishment of state police. Considering the ungoverned spaces across Nigeria and the lack of personnel in existing security agencies, state police is seen as a practical solution to insecurity,” Sani said.

The push for state police has gained momentum as states struggle with rising insecurity exacerbated by limited security agency resources. Governor Sani pointed out that the current deficit in personnel across the police, army, and other agencies has left many areas vulnerable, making decentralised policing essential.

However, the NEC decided to defer final deliberations until its next meeting to allow the secretariat to compile and present a detailed report based on the states’ submissions. The council also resolved to conduct further stakeholder engagements to refine the proposal.

The initiative reflects a growing recognition of the need for tailored security approaches to address Nigeria’s complex and region-specific security challenges.

The law firm of Afe Babalola & Co. has filed a petition with the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), seeking the disbarment of Lagos-based lawyer Dele Farotimi for alleged violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners.

The 90-page petition, dated December 6, 2024, was signed by Ola Faro, a partner in the firm, who was also referenced in Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System. The petition accuses Farotimi of making unfounded allegations of corruption against the judiciary, including Supreme Court justices, Lagos High Court judges, and members of Afe Babalola & Co.

The petition outlines alleged breaches of professional conduct, including:

• Making false and defamatory statements about judicial officers and the legal profession.
• Assisting clients in illegal and fraudulent activities.
• Engaging in misconduct by bribing judicial officers and having unlawful access to them.
• Failing to maintain respect, fairness, and dignity in dealing with fellow lawyers and the courts.
• Using offensive and unprofessional language against the Supreme Court and its justices.

According to the petitioners, these actions discredit the judiciary and undermine the integrity of the legal profession. They argue that Farotimi’s statements in his book are capable of causing harm to the reputation of the judiciary, their law firm, and society at large.

The LPDC, tasked with regulating legal practitioners in Nigeria, has the authority to investigate allegations of professional misconduct and recommend sanctions, including striking a lawyer’s name off the roll of legal practitioners.

The petitioners stated that the petition was filed to uphold the dignity of the legal profession and the judiciary as a temple of justice. The LPDC’s decision, if unfavorable to Farotimi, can be appealed to the Supreme Court.

Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has pleaded not guilty to charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC arraigned Bello at the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 19-count charge of alleged money laundering amounting to N80 billion.

The charges include accusations of diverting public funds for personal use, including acquiring properties both within Nigeria and abroad.

After the charges were read in court, Bello confirmed his understanding of the allegations and entered a plea of not guilty to all counts.

The court granted him bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties of equal value.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended his decision to demolish properties supposedly built on government lands in Abuja, despite criticism from residents and property owners.

Leading reporters reports that the demolitions by Wike sparked controversy, with many residents left without homes.

A construction company, Paullosa Nigeria Limited, recently raised the alarm over a demolition notice issued by the Federal Capital Development Authority to demolish its estate in the Lifecamp area of Abuja.

However, Wike on Thursday insisted that the structures being demolished were illegally built on government lands and posed security risks.

He vowed to continue the demolitions, saying, “Let heaven fall. It is even better that heaven comes down now so that we would not be fasting again to go to heaven.”

The minister also addressed allegations of blackmail, stating that he would not be swayed by threats or intimidation.

“What is wrong is wrong; no amount of blackmail can stop us,” he said. “We would stop anybody who thinks they will take government land for whatever reason with formal approval. We would not look at your face. If you like, be a civil rights activist or a television personality.”

Wike warned individuals who still owed ground rents in the FCT to pay up or risk their titles being revoked. He emphasized that security was a priority function of any government.