News
FG commences collection of charges on helicopters landing on oil rigs
The federal government, through its consultant, Naebi Dynamic Concepts Limited, has inaugurated a team to drive its new initiative of collecting landing and take-off charges from helicopters operating on all oil platforms across the country.
In a statement, Chike Stanley, managing director/chief executive officer, Naebi Dynamic, said the implementation committee for Rivers state was inaugurated at the international wing of the Port Harcourt airport on Thursday.
The team included representatives of police, Department of State Services (DSS), Rivers state government and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
Inaugurating the committee, Stanley said the policy would create at least 15,000 jobs nationwide, adding that he took the step in order to advance the mandate given to the firm by Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation.
Stanley said the implementation team would help the firm have easy access to all the platforms, oil rigs, airstrips, aerodromes, helipads, and helipods in Rivers state.
“Our mandate is to collect helicopter landing charges for IOCs and LOCs on all the platforms, oil rigs, airstrips, aerodromes, helipads, among others,” he said.
He added that the initiative would generate jobs and increase the internally generated revenue (IGR).
“It is also solving security problems. It has been tough, but it has been wonderful,” Stanley said.
“We are getting there. We have started. Already there is compliance at the airport and we hope to have more compliance. We thank the minister for always giving us all the support that we need.
“I thank the President of Nigeria, who has created this platform. I thank the minister of aviation, who has stood his ground to ensure that jobs are created for Nigerian youths.
“In the next five years this platform will generate employment for more than 15,000 youths across the country.
“This will help to curb some levels of insecurity. This opportunity will help to engage them.
“We have called the stakeholders to educate them on what has happened. They have written to NNPC, they have written to the ministry of petroleum. We are also taking people from these communities to train, employ and mentor.
“The essence of the meeting is a message that nobody is coming to harass any IOCs. This is a way to tell the IOCs that the government has directed access to be created to implement this.
“When you see them being received, as an IOC, you know that this is the standard practice across the global aviation industry.
“This is an implementation committee for Rivers State. We are going to move from state to state. It is an implementation team to carry out the responsibility given by the federal government.”
On his part, Sirika said the initiative would help to increase revenue generation in the sector and create employment opportunities across the country.
News
Court dismisses suit seeking to stop EFCC from probing Sanwo-Olu after his tenure
The federal high court in Abuja has struck out the suit seeking to restrain the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, at the end of his tenure.
NAN reports that Joyce Abdulmalik, the presiding judge, dismissed the suit after Gbenga Femi Akande, the counsel who appeared for Sanwo-Olu, moved the motion to discontinue the case.
The court struck out the case on October 31.
In October, a lawsuit instituted on behalf of Sanwo-Olu against the EFCC over an alleged plan to arrest and prosecute him after his tenure was heard in court.
Darlington Ozurumba, a lawyer, filed the suit on behalf of the Lagos governor, who will complete his eight-year tenure on May 29, 2027.
In the suit, the lawyer argued that the alleged plan to arrest Sanwo-Olu is “unconstitutional and a flagrant violation of his fundamental right to personal liberty and freedom of movement as stipulated under sections 35(1) & (4) and 41(1) of the constitution”.
The suit sought an order to restrain the EFCC from harassing, intimidating, arresting, detaining, interrogating, or prosecuting Sanwo-Olu in connection with his tenure as the governor of Lagos state.
Reacting to the suit, the Lagos government had said Sanwo-Olu did not instruct anyone to file a case against the EFCC.
Lawal Pedro, the Lagos attorney-general, said the state will investigate “how the case came to be without the knowledge” of the governor.
Pedro said neither the governor nor his aides are under investigation by the EFCC, adding that there is no threat of arrest by the anti-graft agency.
In a counter affidavit, Ufuoma Ezire, a superintendent and litigation secretary in the legal and prosecution department of the antigraft agency, said the EFCC is not investigating the governor and has never threatened to arrest him or his staff.
The anti-graft agency described the legal action as speculative and a “mere conjecture”.
On Tuesday, Hadiza Afegbua, counsel of the EFCC, appeared in court for the case.
However, NAN reports that the lawyer was disappointed that the case was not among the 10 listed for hearing at the court.
The counsel was reported to have expressed surprise when she learnt that the suit had been struck out on October 31.
However, the enrolled order dated October 31 shows that only Akande, the counsel who represented Sanwo-Olu, attended the proceedings leading to the dismissal of the suit.
News
Ododo surrenders Yahaya Bello to EFCC
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state.
TheCable understands that Usman Ododo, Kogi governor, brought Bello to Abuja this morning and invited EFCC to come pick him up.
The EFCC had charged the former governor with alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of N80.2 billion.
In April, the commission declared Bello wanted after several attempts to arrest him proved unsuccessful.
On August 20, the court of appeal in Abuja ordered Bello to surrender himself for arraignment.
Ola Olukoyede, EFCC chairman, would later allege that Bello withdrew $720,000 from Kogi coffers to pay his child’s school fees in advance.
The anti-graft agency also filed a 19-count charge against Bello over alleged money laundering.
However, the arraignment was stalled due to the absence of the former governor.
In May, Abdulwahab Mohammed, counsel to Bello, told the court that the former governor’s whereabouts remain unknown and that he was nurturing some safety concerns.
On August 20, the court of appeal in Abuja ordered Bello to surrender himself for arraignment.
Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, had said the court’s ruling was a “vindication” of the EFCC’s stance that Bello must face trial.
Sources had told TheCable that Bello has been hiding in plain sight — holed up in the “protective custody” of the Kogi state government — since he was declared wanted by the EFCC.
News
Tinubu writes reps, seeks Oluyede’s confirmation as COAS
President Bola Tinubu has asked the house of representatives to confirm Olufemi Oluyede as the substantive chief of army staff (COAS).
Tinubu’s request is contained in a letter read by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, during plenary on Tuesday.
Tinubu said Oluyede’s confirmation is in accordance with the provision of section 218(2) of the 1999 constitution as amended and section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act.
The president said the army chief’s contribution to the military and Nigeria makes him “well-suited” for the role.
He said Oluyede has been professional in his duties, adding that his confirmation should be done “expeditiously”.
On October 30, Tinubu appointed Oluyede as the acting COAS following the prolonged illness of Taoreed Lagbaja, the former army chief.
-
Education2 days ago
Akwa-Ibom to probe 26 schools as video depicts poor nutrition at boarding house
-
Business1 week ago
Lagos state government to commence upgrade of major junctions in Ikeja axis, seeks residents’ cooperation
-
Special Features4 days ago
Iyabo Ojo, Brainjotter, Dayo Oketola, Penzaarville, Tomiwa and others to speak at the Bodex Social Media Hangout 5.0
-
Business4 days ago
31 electricity towers affected as vandals destroy transmission lines in Edo communities
-
Special Features6 days ago
DG ARCON, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo to speak at Bodex social Media Hangout 5.0
-
News2 days ago
Lagos state government shuts establishments in Gbagada, Ogudu, others over noise pollution, environmental violations
-
News7 days ago
Lagos state government seals Ile Iyan restaurant over waste disposal violations
-
News1 week ago
Accountability: IGP Declares Public Relations Officers Conference Open In Asaba