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SEXUAL HARASSMENT TRIAL: COURT TO RULE ON MOTION TO RELEASE NDIFON’S PHONES

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THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT SITTING IN ABUJA HAS RESERVED A RULING ON THE MOTION ASKING FOR THE COURT TO RELEASE THE TELEPHONES OF PROFESSOR CYRIL NDIFON TO A PURPORTED NATIONAL COMPUTER FORENSIC LABORATORY.

 

PROFESSOR CYRIL NDIFON, A SUSPENDED DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF LAW, UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR, AND BARRISTER ANYANWU ARE BEING TRIED BY ICPC BEFORE JUSTICE JAMES OMOTOSHO OVER ALLEGED SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND ATTEMPT TO PERVERSE THE CAUSE OF JUSTICE CONTRARY TO SECTIONS 8, 18, AND 19 OF THE CORRUPT PRACTICES AND OTHER RELATED OFFENCES ACT, 2000 AND SECTION 182 OF THE PENAL CODE CAP. 532 LAWS OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA, 2006.

 

AT THE RESUMED HEARING ON TUESDAY, COUNSEL TO THE TWO DEFENDANTS, MR. JOE AGI SAN INFORMED THE COURT ABOUT THE TWO MOTIONS THE DEFENDANTS/APPLICANTS FILED BEFORE IT.

 

HE HELD THAT GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE MOTION DATED AND FILED ON THE 15TH OF MARCH, 2024, IT SHOULD TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER THE ONE FILED ON THE 8TH OF MARCH, 2024.

 

THE FIRST MOTION FILED ON THE 8TH OF MARCH, 2024 HINGED ON THE APPLICATION FOR THE RELEASE OF THE FIRST DEFENDANT’S (NDIFON) PHONES TO A PURPORTED NATIONAL COMPUTER FORENSIC LABORATORY WHILE THE SECOND MOTION, FILED ON THE 15TH OF MARCH, 2024 PRAYED THAT THE AMENDED CHARGE AGAINST THE DEFENDANTS BE DISMISSED ON THE GROUND THAT THE PROSECUTION COUNSEL’S NAME “IS NOT ON THE ROLL OF LEGAL PRACTITIONERS IN NIGERIA”.

 

HE SAID, “IT IS OUR SUBMISSION THAT WHERE THE ISSUE OF JURISDICTION IS RAISED IN ANY PROCEEDINGS, IT TAKES PRECEDENCE OVER ANY OTHER MOTION PARTICULARLY WHEN IT HAS TO DO WITH THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROFESSION AND ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. THE MOTION OF 15TH OF MARCH, 2024 HAS BECOME A LIFE WIRE AND THE MOTION OF 8TH OF MARCH, 2024 IS NOT USEFUL PARTICULARLY WHEN THERE’S NO COUNTER AFFIDAVIT.

 

WHILE RESPONDING, THE COUNSEL TO THE ICPC, DR. OSUOBENI EKOI AKPONIMISINGHA TOLD THE COURT THAT THE MOTION FILED BY THE DEFENDANTS/APPLICANTS ON THE 15TH OF MARCH, 2024 WAS NOT RIPE FOR HEARING WHETHER IT HAS PRECEDENT OR NOT ON THE ONE FILED ON 8TH OF MARCH, 2024.

 

“THE PROSECUTION WAS SERVED WITH A MOTION DATED 15TH DAY OF MARCH 2024 ON FRIDAY AT ABOUT 4:09 PM AFTER THE CLOSE OF WORK. THIS MOTION IS NOT RIPE, WHETHER IT HAS PRECEDENCE IS IMMATERIAL BECAUSE I HAVE THE RIGHT TO RESPOND TO THE SERVED MOTION. WE HAVE REACTED TO THE MOTION DATED 8TH OF MARCH, 2024 AND THE PROSECUTION IS WILLING AND READY TO TAKE THE ARGUMENT ON THAT SIR.”

 

JUSTICE J.K OMOTOSHO, AFTER LISTENING TO THE ARGUMENTS RULED THAT THE MOTION ON THE 8TH OF MARCH, 2024 WOULD BE HEARD FIRST.

 

WHILE SPEAKING ON THE APPLICATION DATED ON FILE ON THE 8TH DAY OF MARCH 2024, COUNSEL TO THE DEFENDANTS/APPLICANTS, JOE AGI, SAN INFORMED THAT A COUNTER AFFIDAVIT ON THE MOTION HAD BEEN RECEIVED AND A REPLY ON THE POINT OF LAW HAD BEEN FILED. HE THEREFORE PRAYED THAT THE AFFIDAVIT FILED BY THE DEFENDANTS/APPLICANTS BE GRANTED.

 

THE PROSECUTION ON ITS PART PRAYED THE COURT TO DISMISS THE APPLICATION OF THE DEFENDANTS SAYING “IT IS CONTAINED IN OUR AFFIDAVIT THAT THE COURT CANNOT MAKE ORDERS IN DOUBT AS THERE IS NO SUCH LABORATORY CALLED NATIONAL COMPUTER FORENSIC LABORATORY. THE PARTY ASKING THE COURT TO DO A PARTICULAR THING IS UNDER AN OBLIGATION TO GUIDE THE COURT SO THAT THE COURT WOULD NOT GIVE A RULING FOR THE REGISTRY TO TAKE IT THERE AND THERE IS NO SUCH LABORATORY.”

 

THE JUDGE THEREAFTER ADJOURNED THE TRIAL TO THE 15TH OF APRIL, 2024 FO

R A RULING ON THE MOTION.

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OANDO WINS ‘DEAL OF THE YEAR’ AWARD AT AFRICA ENERGY WEEK 2024

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Oando Plc, Africa’s leading energy solutions provider listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX) and Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) is pleased to announce that the Company has emerged winner of the ‘Deal of the Year’ award at Africa Energy Week (AEW) 2024.

The Africa Energy Chamber (AEC), the organisers of the annual week-long oil and gas conference, hosted and recognised different stakeholders at a Gala and Award night held at the Cape Town International Conference Centre (CITCC), on Tuesday, 5 November, 2024.

In a category comprising other high-profile deals in the sector and across Africa, Oando won the award in recognition of the Company’s recently completed landmark $783 million acquisition of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) from the Italian Energy firm Eni on 22 August, 2024.

This acquisition, 10 years in the making since Oando’s initial entry into the ConocoPhillips/NAOC/NNPC Joint Venture (JV) in 2014 when the Company acquired ConocoPhillips Nigeria business, doubled the company’s stake in the JV to 40% and operator of the assets.

In receiving the award, the Company’s Group Chief Executive, Wale Tinubu, remarked “We are delighted and honoured to receive the ‘Deal of the Year’ award from Africa Energy Week. It’s been a remarkable year on many fronts. First, we marked our 30th anniversary as a business, then concluded our strategic plan to acquire our second IOC in a decade, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and step up to the role of operator.

“This award is more than just an accolade for a successful deal closure; it represents a public acknowledgement of the culmination of 30 years of grit, hard work, resilience, and sheer belief in our vision. It is a testament to my belief that with the #HumansOfOando, impossible is nothing. I’d like to thank the dream team, the #HumansOfOando, our financiers, and partners for their belief and role in making this award a reality.”

The acquisition is the culmination of a decade of preparation, strategic planning, and unwavering commitment to a vision of becoming Africa’s first indigenous International Oil Company.

It is a testament to the organisation’s 30-year journey spanning the entire energy value chain, with consistent and deliberate actions at each stage that have led to the advancement of indigenous participation in the industry.

The Deal of the Year award “recognises the most transformative and impactful deal in the energy sector – honouring excellence in negotiation, strategic alignment, innovation and collaboration – and celebrates deals that drive advancements in energy and economic growth.”

With this year’s AEW theme of “Invest in Africa Energies: Energy Growth Through an Enabling Environment”, the AEC, through the AEW Awards 2024, recognised other persons, International (IOCs) and National Oil Companies (NOCs) across the continent through awards in 10 categories.

 

Tinubu at the event also delivered a key note address with the topic, Transforming Africa’s Oil and Gas landscape through strategic Merger and Acqusition.

During the address he noted that indigenous companies contribute approximately 30% of the country’s crude oil production and hold around 40% of the total oil reserves. Additionally, they account for 60% of the country’s gas production and approximately 32% of gas reserves. This data underscores the growing significance of local players in the African oil and gas sector.

He also highlighted improvements in the business environment, citing the improved Ease of Doing Business driven by recent reforms that have attracted increased investments in energy. Tinubu pointed to the successful Implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which has established a regulatory framework that enhances transparency and boosts investor confidence.

Tinubu’s remarks included a call for enhanced collaboration among policymakers, investors, and oil and gas companies to foster the growth of indigenous firms through supportive regulations, financing access, and technology transfer. He urged stakeholders to focus on leveraging M&As to diversify and expand capabilities within the sector while emphasizing the need to strengthen Africa’s institutional and financing capacity for local firms.

As Oando continues on its growth trajectory, Tinubu’s insights served as a powerful reminder of the strategic importance of indigenous companies in Africa’s energy transformation and the collective effort required to drive sustainable development across the continent.

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AMCON Takes Over Gov. Dapo Abiodun’s Heyden Petroleum Over Alleged Insolvency

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Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos has granted an interim take-over of Heyden Petroleum Limited, a company owned by the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, over alleged insolvency.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa in suit No AMC/67/2024, granted the take-over of the petroleum company by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) after hearing the submission of an Ex Parte motion filed through its lawyers, O. T. Ogunba and I. U. Odo of Kunle Ogunba SAN & Associates, who moved the motion with a supporting affidavit and written address.

Innovative Ventures Limited and Optimum Construction & Property Development Company Limited are also affected by the interim order granted on October 29, as prayed by the AMCON’s lawyers

The judge later adjourned the hearing of the substantive suit till November 21, 2024

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Nigerian Medical Association Demands Sacking Of Kano Commissioner Over Alleged Assault On Doctor

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The Kano State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has demanded the removal of state Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Amina Abdullahi, over allegations of assault on a doctor at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital.

In response to the incident, the NMA is urging its members to suspend services at the hospital.

 

In a statement issued on Monday by NMA Chairman Dr. Abdurrahman Ali and Secretary Dr. Ibrahim Muhammad, the association asserted that the commissioner’s actions “constitute misconduct, punishable by dismissal as enshrined in Section 3(a)(0), (ii), (iv), and (v) of the Public Service Rules.”

The NMA stated that the assault, which took place on November 1 at the hospital’s Emergency Paediatric Unit, represented an abuse of power from an official expected to uphold humanitarian values.

 

The NMA accused the commissioner and her entourage, including security personnel, of harassing and assaulting the doctor.

 

The altercation reportedly arose from the unavailability of prescribed medication, a situation beyond the doctor’s control, who was managing over 100 patients single-handedly.

 

“The NMA Kano Branch finds it particularly disturbing that an official entrusted with the welfare of the state’s citizens would misuse their authority in this manner,” the statement read.

 

“Such actions not only demonstrate a lack of empathy for the hard-working healthcare professionals but also reveal a troubling disregard for the systemic challenges facing our public health sector, such as chronic understaffing, resource shortages, and security concerns for medical staff.”

 

The association highlighted that incidents of this nature are becoming increasingly common, placing medical professionals in unacceptable personal risk as they strive to fulfil their duties under challenging conditions.

 

Following an emergency meeting, the NMA resolved to take a stand, calling for the immediate dismissal of the commissioner and an increase in staffing and security at the hospital.

 

“The Association’s Congress has resolved to call for the dismissal of the commissioner who has demonstrated a gross lack of respect and compassion for frontline healthcare workers and a disturbing disregard for the ethical standards expected of public office holders,” the NMA added.

 

The association further emphasised the need for implementing the minimum benchmark for the number of doctors required to ensure adequate care, thereby preventing the extreme overstretching of medical personnel. They also called for improved security measures to protect both medical staff and patients.

 

The NMA has threatened to suspend medical services at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital within 48 hours if their demands are not met.

 

“Our decision to suspend services is difficult but necessary. Healthcare professionals should not have to work in fear. This action calls on both the government and the public to recognise the daily challenges we face in delivering care,” they stated.

 

The association urged the governor to address the issues promptly to avoid further disruptions in the healthcare system.

 

“The NMA remains committed to working with the government and all stakeholders to restore and strengthen Kano’s health system so that every resident can receive timely and quality medical care,” the statement concluded.

SAHARA REPORTERS

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