IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja has adjourned proceedings to February 6 following the absence of five witnesses scheduled to testify on behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC, which was set to begin its defense on February 5, informed the tribunal that its witnesses were delayed while traveling from Benin City. In response, INEC’s counsel, Abdullahi Aliyu, opted to tender three documents to make partial progress in the hearing.

The documents submitted included:

Certified True Copies of State-level collation results (Form EC8D)

Declaration of results

2022 election regulations and guidelines

INEC assured the tribunal that it required just one more day to conclude its defense and requested a short adjournment. However, Tribunal Chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, criticized the electoral body for wasting an entire day due to its unpreparedness.

Adetunji Oyeyipo, counsel for PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo, did not object to the documents, stating they were already submitted as evidence to challenge the election outcome.

Further proceedings are now scheduled for February 6. 

The Imo State Police Command has arrested three individuals for allegedly being in possession of a human skull in Ogii, Okigwe Local Government Area.

Police spokesperson Henry Okoye, in a statement on Tuesday, identified the suspects as Patrick Okoere (29), Ifeanyichukwu Anyaemeka (28), and Chukwuemeka Onyekachi (20). They were apprehended on February 3 along the Okigwe-Umuahia Express Road with the assistance of local residents.

Suspicious Items and Confession

Apart from the human skull, the suspects were also found with a native hen and white garments, items often linked to ritual practices.

During interrogation, Okoere allegedly claimed that his uncle, Osunta Oko, instructed him to acquire a human skull. He further stated that he found it near a riverbank along the Okigwe-Umuahia Expressway, a known crime-prone area.

Ongoing Investigation

The Imo State Police Command is currently searching for Osunta Oko and other potential accomplices. A DNA analysis is also underway to determine the identity of the skull’s owner.

Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma has assured residents that the police remain committed to ensuring justice and security in the state. 

Some oil marketers are gradually removing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) logo from their filling stations as they opt out of franchise agreements due to intense competition in refined product pricing.

Reports indicate that many Lagos-based dealers are considering a similar move following the recent price reduction by the $20 billion Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki. Several stations along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Ibafo have already rebranded, shedding the NNPCL name in pursuit of cheaper products.

Competition Driving Change

The deregulation of the downstream oil sector has heightened competition, prompting independent marketers to seek cost-effective product sources. The latest development comes after Dangote Refinery slashed its loading price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from ₦950 to ₦890 per litre, significantly undercutting NNPCL’s imported petrol prices.

According to Chinedu Ukadike, National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), marketers are shifting alliances because NNPCL no longer holds a monopoly on petroleum importation and distribution.

The Shift in Franchise Agreements

A franchise licence in the oil sector allows marketers to operate under an established brand, ensuring product supply. However, with Dangote’s lower prices, many marketers see greater profitability and flexibility outside of NNPCL agreements.

Oil and gas expert Olatide Jeremiah explained that NNPCL previously controlled fuel pricing by subsidizing petrol internally. This made marketers seek NNPCL franchise licences to access cheaper products. However, Dangote’s entry disrupted this strategy, making direct purchases more attractive.

More Stations May Rebrand

Lagos PETROAN Chairman, Akinola Ogunyolemi, confirmed that most filling stations displaying the NNPCL logo are privately owned. He noted that station owners often rebrand when contracts expire or better offers emerge.

Industry analysts predict that more stations will switch allegiances as imported fuel prices remain higher than Dangote’s locally refined petrol.

Meanwhile, a fresh price war has emerged between Dangote, NNPCL, and other major marketers. The NNPCL and other importers recently sourced cheaper refined products internationally, prompting Dangote Refinery to lower its price to remain competitive.

Experts anticipate further price adjustments as competition intensifies, shaping the future of Nigeria’s downstream oil market. 

The Federal Government has approved a N758 billion bond to settle outstanding pension arrears, offering significant relief to retirees.

The approval was granted during Tuesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House in Abuja, allowing the Debt Management Office (DMO) to secure the necessary funds to address pension liabilities under the Defined Benefit Scheme. This scheme, which preceded the contributory pension system introduced in 2004 and amended in 2014, covers retirees who served before the transition.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, disclosed this development during a press briefing after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He emphasized that the initiative is aimed at easing the financial burdens faced by retirees awaiting their entitlements. 

The Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has cleared former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode of forgery charges. The EFCC had accused him of falsifying medical reports to delay his ongoing N4.9 billion fraud trial. However, Justice Olubunmi Fadipe ruled that the prosecution failed to establish a case against him.  

The EFCC alleged that Fani-Kayode used fake medical reports from Kubwa General Hospital, Abuja, but hospital officials denied issuing them. A witness claimed he paid for forged documents, but the judge noted that key witnesses, including those who allegedly received money from him, were not presented in court.  

As a result, the judge ruled in favor of Fani-Kayode’s no-case submission and discharged him of all charges. 

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has placed its employees on administrative leave and begun recalling staff from overseas assignments as part of a broader restructuring under the Trump administration.

In a statement published on its website, which reappeared on Tuesday, the agency announced that the leave will take effect just before midnight on February 7, 2025. The directive applies to all USAID direct-hire personnel, except those handling mission-critical functions, core leadership, and designated programs.

“Thank you for your service,” the statement read.

The move aligns with former President Donald Trump’s initiative, supported by billionaire Elon Musk, to downsize the U.S. government—a decision that has sparked backlash from Democrats and human rights advocates.

USAID, which funds health and emergency programs in approximately 120 countries, is regarded as a key instrument of U.S. soft power, especially in countering the influence of global rivals like China. Musk, who has significant business interests in China, has openly criticized the agency, calling it “a viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America” and vowing to dismantle it.

Musk has also alleged, without evidence, that USAID engages in covert intelligence operations and has funded controversial research, including bioweapon development. He stated that he personally cleared the decision with Trump.

The action against USAID follows long-standing conservative arguments that U.S. foreign aid is wasteful and neglects domestic priorities. The agency, which has a budget exceeding $40 billion, has historically provided assistance to countries such as Ukraine, Ethiopia, Jordan, and Afghanistan.

As the world’s largest provider of development assistance, the U.S. government’s potential shift in aid policy could have significant geopolitical implications.

photo credit: AFP photo