Author: Halimah Olamide

By Halimah Olamide The Department of State Services (DSS) has described allegations by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) that its officers had taken control of its Abuja and Lagos offices, as “inaccurate and misleading”. The DSS, in a publication on its website on Tuesday in Abuja said a team of two unarmed operatives of the service were lawfully detailed on routine investigation to SERAP office in Abuja. Recall that NPO reported that SERAP stated that their Abuja office was raided yesterday, Tuesday by operatives of the DSS. The publication said SERAP, a Human Right Group had sadly skewed…

By Halimah Olamide The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has criticised Dr Rabi’u Kwankwaso, a chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), for condemning the Federal Government’s method of distributing palliatives to the needy. A statement by the APC Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, said the Federal Government was committed to reducing hunger in the country, but the NNPP government in Kano was frustrating these efforts. He said that President Bola Tinubu has approved several palliative measures for the poor households and vulnerable individuals, but those assigned to distribute them were allegedly diverting the resources. Abbas cited instances…

By Halimah Olamide The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd and its Joint Venture (JV) partner, Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL), have concluded the conversion of five of its JV assets into the PIA terms. This was contained in a statement by the Spokesperson, NNPC, Olufemi Soneye, on Monday. This is in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021 provisions of transiting assets from the Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) into PIA terms. Under the new PIA regime, all existing Oil Prospecting Licenses (OPLs) and Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) would be automatically converted to Petroleum Prospecting Licenses (PPLs) and Petroleum Mining…

By Halimah Olamide By Halimah Olamide Former Minister of Solid Minerals, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has described the arrest of the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) and the raid of Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) as a trauma for Nigerians. This was contained in a post via her X handle. “So as if this severest economic hardship unleashed on citizens by the @nigeriagov of @NGRPresident @officialABAT is not traumatizing enough, the country’s security apparatuses are now daily deployed to harass and intimidate Nigerians. “I wanted to be certain of the news yesterday that the latest victims of draconian assault on rights…

By Halimah Olamide Amnesty International, has accused President Bola Tinubu of going too far in efforts to gag dissent voices. This was contained in a post via the organization’s X handle on Monday. This is coming just after there were reports that the Department of States Service (DSS), raided the Abuja Office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). “Officers from Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS) are presently unlawfully occupying SERAP’s Abuja office, asking to see our directors.” SERAP stated. The post by Amnesty International read; “Amnesty International received disturbing report of the unlawful invasion of the Abuja office…

Says Witnesses Have been Identified By Halimah Olamide The Kwara State Police Command has announced that it has launched investigations into the killing of Qoyum Abdulyekeen Ishola, a Kwara State Polytechnic student. This was contained in a statement by the Spokesperson, Kwara Police Command, Dsp Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, on Sunday. Recall that NPO reported that the deceased was on his way from a birthday party when the bike he took was stopped by police. The bikeman turned upon sighting the police and the police ran after them. Unfortunately, when they couldn’t catch up with them, one of the policemen pulled the…

By Halimah Olamide Operatives of the Department of the State Services (DSS) have arrested Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero. NPO Reports learnt that he was arrested at Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja. He was set for a trip to the United Kingdom, when he was picked up by officials of the agency. As at press time, details of his arrest as well as the reasons are yet to be known. NPO reports that the Police Force had invited and interrogated Ajaero over allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony. READ ALSO: Breaking: DSS Raids…

By Halimah Olamide Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given President Bola Tinubu 48 hours to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, to immediately reverse the apparently illegal and unconstitutional increase in fuel price across its retail outlets. This was contained in a statement by the Deputy Director, SERAP, Kolawole Oludare on Sunday. SERAP urged him to “direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies “to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC, including the spending of the reported $300 million ‘bailout funds’…

By Halimah Olamide The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has tasked the state Governor Ademola Adeleke to come out clean on the raging issue of the N297 million Osun State University (UNIOSUN) Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) contract scam involving his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye. This was contained in a statement signed by the State’s party’s, Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi. The statement described the justification of the governor as mere diversionary meant to confuse the right-thinking members of the society. Akinleye was accused of using his office and affinity to…

•Says Market Open to Lower Prices from Any Domestic Refinery By Halimah Olamide The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has declared that it is not the sole off-taker of Dangote Refinery Products(PMS). This was contained in a statement signed by the NNPC Spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, on Saturday. The statement is in response to the contrary claims by the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, which claims which states that the Dangote Refinery Limited (DRL) is being undermined by actions of the NNPC. Specifically, MURIC asserts that recent changes to the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) will prevent the Dangote…