Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “set up a presidential panel of enquiry to promptly probe the grim allegations that over 149 million barrels of crude oil are missing, as documented in the 2019 audited reports by the Auditor General of the Federation and Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).”

SERAP also urged him to “ensure the effective prosecution of anyone suspected to be responsible for the plundering of the country’s oil wealth and the full recovery of any proceeds of crime.”

According to the 2019 audited report by the Auditor General over 107 million barrels of crude oil were lifted as domestic crude without any document or tracing. NEITI also reported missing 42.25 million barrels of crude oil in 2019.

In the letter dated 22 April 2023 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these very serious allegations.”

SERAP said, “the recommended steps can be taken between now and the end of your term of office to set the tone for the next administration.”

The letter, read in part: “SERAP notes that you have repeatedly promised to combat corruption. As you go into the final weeks of your term of office, the missing crude oil allegations present yet another opportunity to demonstrate your commitment and to uphold your oath of office both as President and Minister of Petroleum Resources.”

“As the President and substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources, you and your government should prioritise getting to the bottom of these allegations and use the remainder of your term of office to ensure justice and accountability for these serious crimes against the Nigerian people.”

“Investigating the allegations and naming and shaming and prosecuting those suspected to be responsible for the missing crude oil would serve the public interest and end the impunity of perpetrators.”

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”
“The allegations by both the Auditor-General and NEITI are different from a whistleblower’s claims that 48 million barrels of Bonny Light crude oil allegedly sold in China in 2015 are missing or unaccounted for.”

“The reports by the Auditor-General and NEITI suggest a grave violation of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and the country’s anticorruption laws and international obligations, as well as the public trust.”

“These damning revelations also suggest your government is failing to prevent and combat the plundering of Nigeria’s wealth and natural resources, name and bring suspected perpetrators to account and recover any proceeds of crime.”

“Poor and socio-economically vulnerable Nigerians have continued to pay the price for the stealing of the country’s oil wealth apparently by both state and non-state actors.”

“The country’s oil wealth ought to be used solely for the benefit of the Nigerian people, and for the sake of the present and future generations.”

“These allegations can promptly be investigated and suspected perpetrators named and shamed. Taking these steps would advance the right of Nigerians to restitution, compensation and guarantee of non-repetition and improve public confidence in the fight against corruption, and related crimes, especially in the oil sector.”

“According to the 2019 audited report by the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF), some 107,239,436.00 barrels of crude oil were lifted as domestic crude without any document or tracing.”

“To date, there is no information on the sale of Un-Utilized Crude oil by Refineries for 2019 and no information on crude oil allocations from 30th May to 31st December 2019. The Auditor-General is concerned that the missing crude oil may have been diverted.”

“The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) also reported missing 42.25 million barrels of crude oil in 2019.”

“Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution imposes clear responsibility on your government to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the Constitution. Section 15(5) imposes the responsibility on your government to ‘abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.’”

“Under Section 16(1) of the Constitution, your government has a responsibility to ‘secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity.’ Section 16(2) further provides that, ‘the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.’”

“The UN Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party obligate your government to effectively prevent and investigate the plundering of the country’s wealth and natural resources and hold public officials and non-state actors to account for any violations.”

“Specifically, article 26 of the UN convention requires your government to ensure ‘effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions’ including criminal and non-criminal sanctions, in cases of grand corruption.”

“Article 26 complements the more general requirement of article 30, paragraph 1, that sanctions must take into account the gravity of the corruption allegations.”

“The proposed panel should be headed by a retired justice of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal, and its members should include people with proven professional record, and of the highest integrity that can act impartially, independently, and transparently.”

Kolawole Oluwadare
SERAP Deputy Director
23/4/2023
Lagos, Nigeria
Emails: info@serap-nigeria.org; news@serap-nigeria.org
Twitter: @SERAPNigeria
Website: www.serap-nigeria.org
For more information or to request an interview, please contact us on: +2348160537202

Omo-Agege felicitates with Muslims on Eid el Fitri
Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has congratulated the Muslim ummah on the successful completion of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.
He said the Eid el Fitri celebration effectively seals the fact that Nigeria’s affairs are being ordered by God, coming after the success of the 2023 general elections.
In a press release issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Sunny Areh, Omo-Agege who is also the governorship flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, thanked the Muslim faithful for seeking God’s intervention and divine guidance in the affairs of the country.
He urged them to continue to pray for Nigeria as the transition into a new administration led by President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu is firmly on course.
“We have to keep seeking God’s favour and grace for our country. He saw us through a peaceful general elections and now we have to pray that the administration after May 29 will usher a new era of national renewal and development for Nigeria”, Senator Omo-Agege said.
Signed:
Sunny Areh
Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege

PRESIDENT-ELECT’S SALLAH MESSAGE
We thank Munificent Allah for the grace to witness this year’s Eid-el-fitri celebration after the Holy Month of Ramadan.
For Muslims in our country and all over the world, Ramadan is a sacred spiritual obligation as one of the five pillars of Islam. With the help of Almighty Allah, we have gone through a period of abstinence, self-discipline, self-reflection, self-purification in gratitude and total submission to the will of Allah.
We have engaged in fervent prayers and supplications to Allah.
Beyond the self-abnegation and pious living that the fasting period imposed on us, the spiritual excercise we just concluded has also helped us to improve on our moral character, refine our minds in pursuit of higher ideals for which there should be no turning back.
At the heart of our faith and a major demand on all faithful is the requirement to commit ourselves to wholesome living. This entails love for one another, love for fellow humans regardless of creed, region and ethnicity, love for our communities and love for country.
To love one another, have compassion, empathy and love our beloved country means we must become better citizens in line with the teachings of Prophet Muhammed.
We must constantly seek to become a better version of ourselves in patriotism, dedication to duty and honesty. We must also never be weary of doing what is right, fair and just to all.
We are at the dawn of a Renewed Hope for a better, greater and a more prosperous Nigeria and I stand ready to walk with all Nigerians, young and old, male and female, with this opportunity to serve you in honour and dignity. This is a commitment that I have made and one in which we cannot afford to fail.
I wish all Muslims in Nigeria and beyond happy Sallah celebration.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President-Elect, Federal Republic of Nigeria
April 20, 2023

PRESIDENT BUHARI HAILS MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, MOHAMMED HASSAN ABDULLAHI AT 55
President Muhammadu Buhari shares in the joy of the occasion with Minister of Environment, Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi, on his 55th birthday, April 21, 2023, rejoicing with the minister for many years of lofty achievements, especially in public service.
President Buhari affirms the loyalty, diligence, and sincerity of purpose of the former Minister of State, Science and Technology, who brings his best to every responsibility and leaves an aftertaste of excellence in service, particularly in leadership.
The President notes the contributions of Abdullahi to national development since joining the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in 2019, and the strides recorded in the local and global environmental issues, making policies of the administration to be felt at the grassroots, like the Ogoni Clean-up exercise in Niger Delta, tackling of erosions, updating on Environmental Impact Assessments and the Clean Energy Initiative.
President Buhari commends the foresight and leadership of the minister in ensuring sustainability, restoration and protection of the environment, and his personal efforts in promoting youth involvement in governance through home-grown initiatives in Nasarawa State.
As the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Nasarawa and Secretary to the State Government turns 55, the President salutes his courage in successful legal practice for many years, before opting to serve the country in governance.
President Buhari prays that the Almighty God will keep and protect the minister and his family.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
April 20, 2023

PRESIDENT BUHARI BIDS FAREWELL TO VIETNAM AMBASSADOR
“Best wishes in your next assignment. In your three years tour of duty here, we have virtually lived together. Congratulations on a successful term.”
These were the words of farewell from President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday at State House, Abuja, as he said goodbye to Ambassador of Socialist Republic of Vietnam, His Excellency Luong Quoc Thinh.
The President thanked the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for its support in areas of security, and economic development, expressing the wish that bilateral relations between the two countries will continue to grow.
Ambassador Thinh congratulated the Nigerian President on successful 2023 general elections, and the widespread victory of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) in Presidential, National Assembly, Gubernatorial and State Assembly polls.
He canvassed a mutual relationship between the Communist Party of Vietnam, and the APC.
Ruing that the Coronavirus pandemic affected a good part of his stay in the country, Ambassador Thinh lauded President Buhari on how Nigeria admirably tackled the global health challenge, and how the economy is being rebuilt.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
April 20, 2023

SALLAH MESSAGE: PRESIDENT BUHARI HAILS PEACEFUL ELECTIONS, CALLS ON CITIZENS TO WORK HARDER TOWARDS TOLERANCE
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the peaceful outcome of the 2023 general elections”will go down on record as one of the proudest achievements of my administration in addition to our neutrality in the conduct of the elections.”
In his goodwill message to Muslims on the occasion of the Eid-el-fitr celebration to mark the end of the 30-day Ramadan fasting season, President Buhari explained that “the outcome of the elections were in line with my pledge to leave a legacy of free and fair elections.
“I’m proud that I have created a level playing field for all contestants regardless of party affiliation in order to produce a fair outcome for all.”
According to the President, “free and fair elections are the only principles that give credibility to our democracy, because the subversion of the will of the people undermines democracy itself.”
“The elections were so transparent that even members of the my own party were routed and unseated. At no point did I interfere with the process in order to give unfair advantage to anyone,” the President added.
On the Ramadan fast, President Buhari congratulated Muslims on successfully completing this demanding spiritual obligation.
While praying to Allah to reward the Muslims for their sacrifices during the fasting season, President Buhari advised that “we shouldn’t forget the important lessons of the Ramadan which includes improving our bond with the underprivileged and poor members of society.”
According to him, “abstention from food and drinks during the fasting period had made it possible for us to appreciate the situation of those who go without eating every day.”
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
April 20, 2023

Adamawa: Okowa congratulates Fintiri on his re-election

Governor of Delta, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has congratulated his Adamawa counterpart, Ahmadu Fintiri, on his re-election.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba, Okowa described Fintiri’s re-election as “hard earned and deserved victory”.

He commended Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faithful and the people of Adamawa for standing firm with the governor and the party all the way.

The governor also lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Headquarters for saving what would have been a “rape of democracy”.

He deplored the action of the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, in the process, saying that he and his cohorts represented anti-democracy forces.

He noted that the re-election of Fintiri signposted the PDP’s sterling performance in the state, especially with the leadership of former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in the state.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I congratulate you, my dear brother and friend, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, on your successful re-election as Governor of Adamawa.

“It is heart-warming to hear of your victory after a hard-fought battle against retrogressive forces bent on over-turning the wishes of Adamawa people.

“It is my prayer that God will grant you wisdom, knowledge and the needed resources to attend to your campaign promises of further developing the state and making life more meaningful for your people,” he added.

Rt. Hon. Dekor Receives Certificate Of Return From INEC, Promises More Vibrant Representation
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 presented a certificate of Return to Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor, re-elected member, Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency.
The certificate was presented to him at a brief ceremony at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
Rt. Hon. Dekor who signed and collected the Certificate of Return assured the good people of Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency of more vibrant representation at the National Assembly.
The lawmaker noted that hard work, performance and good representation of his people were responsible for his re-election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He also pledged to engage all parties and his administration would be operating an open government for the general progress of Ogoni people.
Rt. Hon. Dekor, who thanked God for the electoral victory, Governor Nyesom Wike and the good people of Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency also reiterated his call for a peaceful, united and progressive Ogoni, saying “election is over, let us come together to move Ogoni forward”.
“I’ve forgiven anyone who at one time disparaged my person and character for whatever reasons”, Rt. Hon. Dekor said.
The inspiration, according to the Lawmaker, was drawn from Matthew 6:14, stressing that “forgiveness occupies a prime spot in Christianity.”

Delta mourns as rainstorm kills 6, injure others

The Delta State Government on Thursday said 6 persons have lost their lives to rainstorm and windstorm recorded in Oko Community in Oshimili South Local Government Area of the state.

State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, who confirmed the sad development at a news conference in Asaba, said 5 others who sustained various degrees of injuries were being treated at the hospital.

According to him, a collapsed structure led to the death of 6 persons, one other person is critically injured and is being attended to at the Asaba Specialist Hospital, 5 others sustained various injuries are already in stable condition.

“It is something that is quite disturbing and unfortunate. It is our prayer that God will grant the deceased eternal rest even as we pray to God to comfort the bereaved families and grant them the fortitude to bear their loss,”

In a related development, Aniagwu said a 10-year-old boy was swept away at Okotomi area of Okpanam Community in Oshimili North Local Government Area.

He said the State Government was coordinating rescue efforts to recover the boy.

The Commissioner also disclosed that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has approved the constitution of Inauguration Committee to oversee a smooth transition to the next administration in the state.

On the falling of a petrol tanker on Udu Bridge, Aniagwu appealed to residents to be patient, saying that efforts were on to evacuate the tanker for free flow of traffic.

We’ve connected communities with roads – Okowa

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Thursday, said his administration had connected many communities in the state with roads and bridges spanning over 2,000 kilometres.

He said that the state government had also constructed drainage channels of the same magnitude as the roads in addition to storm water projects to check erosion and ensure durability and sustainability of the roads.

Okowa made this known while inaugurating Ugbolu-Akwukwu-Igbo road and Okpanam Bye-Pass, adjoining roads and discharge channels both in Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state.

He said that his administration had contributed to the growth of commerce in the communities due to the huge network of roads across the state, and lauded Deltans for their support and cooperation to his administration in the last eight years.

“For people who know this road as it used to be, I am sure that if you go through it now, you will find it very exciting.

“Beyond the road, there is a lot of economic impact because along this route, we have the Norsworthy farms, which is a very huge agricultural investment in oil palm.

“I believe that, that in itself is going to continually create jobs for our people, especially as the oil palm farm also has a refinery which is currently under construction,’’ he said.

The governor congratulated the communities for the infrastructure, and said “the best development you can bring to the people is to connect them to each other because it will continue to ensure growth of commerce.

“It will continue to ensure that industries are attracted as you already have one, the Norsworthy farm and Oil palm refinery already attracted along this route.

“I am glad to hear from the Commissioner for Works that they have about 58 road projects still awaiting inauguration. Of course, only a few will be inaugurated.

“But, the important thing is that a lot of roads have been paved for our people and we are happy that the people themselves continue to enjoy the connectivity between our various communities.

“Well over 2,000 kilometres of roads have been built by this administration and I know that a lot of drains to protect the roads have also been done.”

He added that his administration had done a lot in flood control measures in Asaba and Warri, and assured that the next administration would continue from where he would stop.

“We have done a lot in terms of storm water drainage but clearly within the Asaba community.

“We have not been able to complete all, especially in the Okotomi area of Okpanam, where we have not been able to get to in terms of flood control.

“But, we hope that our people will be patient with us. We will try to do the best that we can to reach all our people as much as we can and what we are not able to do, I am sure that the next administration will do that.

“The storm drainage in Asaba truly has helped a lot to control flood water in Asaba, and environs. And, I know that the one we are doing in Warri now is also nearing completion.

“We will continue to reassure our people that even as I exit from office next month, the next administration will continue with positive development of the,” Okowa stated.

Commissioner for Works, Mr Noel Omodon, said the Ugbolu-Akwukwu-Igbo Road spans 11.9km with a drainage length of 11.54km, while the Okpanam Bye-Pass comprised 4.79km Road and 12.96km drains with 13 adjoining roads.

He said the ministry had completed 58 road projects that were ready for inauguration and commended the contractors for doing a good job on the projects.

Earlier, Vice Chairman, Oshimili North Local Government Area, Hon. Uju Okolo commended Governor Okowa for his sterling accomplishments in the development of the area and the state in general.

Okowa constitutes handover committee, says membership not appointment

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has approved the constitution of Inauguration Committee to coordinate a smooth transition to the next administration in the state.

Announcing the constitution of the Committee at a news conference in Asaba, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, said the Committee headed by Secretary to the State Government, Chief Patrick Ukah, has the Permanent Secretary, Government House, Mr Eddy Ogidi-Gbegbaje, as Secretary.

He, however, stated that membership of the committee and sub-committees was not an automatic qualification for appointment into the next administration in the state, advising against “entitlement mentality” being associated with membership of the committee.

“You are very much aware that the Okowa administration is winding down and in about a month or couple of weeks, we will be heralding a new administration.

“As it is customary, we have put up a Committee to carry out a number of activities to ensure a smooth transition.

“What is trending in the Social Media is as if those who have been appointed into the main Committee and sub-committees have been given appointment in the new administration.

“We want to make it very clear that those appointed into the committees have only been asked to come and work for the purpose of seeing a smooth transition from the Okowa administration to the next administration.

“It does not mean that they are the ones that worked more than any other person. It does not also suggest that they are much more important than any other person.

“You know that if everybody who contributed to the success of the election were to be considered it means we will have a committee that will be more than a million,” he said.

Aniagwu appealed to party faithful who felt agitated for not being appointed into the committees to know that their assignment is just to midwife the process of a smooth transition.

“It doesn’t suggest that these persons who have been appointed have been automatically engaged by the new administration nor does it undermine the effort of every other person who did not see their names in the different committees.

“There are individuals who contributed very immensely to the success of the election and I can assure you that both the outgoing and incoming administrations take very serious cognisance of those efforts and in due course, the good Lord will instigate a process where they will be rewarded.

“Appointment into the Committee is just to midwife these processes that will culminate in the eventual handover to the next administration.

“So we appeal to our brothers to note that the Committee will not work in isolation and they will be reaching out to a number of people to assist them carry out the task,” he explained.

He urged Deltans to continue their support for the Okowa administration not only to May 29 but to the incoming Oborevwori administration adding that the success of Okowa will advance the state.

Eid ul Fitri: Jimoh Ibrahim congratulates Muslims

•Urges them to uphold peace, love

The Ondo South Senator-elect, and billionaire business mogul, Dr Jimoh Ibrahim, CFR has sent message of felicitations to Muslim faithful in Ondo South, Ondo State and Nigeria in general, felicitating them on the occasion of the Eid ul Fitri Celebration 2023.

Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, in a statement he personally signed and made available to the press by his Media aide, Bola Olagbegi, noted that Ramadan fasting is a significant season of piety in which the faithful penitently seek Allah’s face, living a life of discipline and abstinence from all wordly encumbrances that can distract them from focusing on the injunction of Allah, the most benevolent.

The Ondo South Senator-elect charged the Muslims not to go back on all the lessons of Ramadan and all the good virtues they have learnt during the period, adding that the Eid ul Fitri Celebration offers another special opportunity for Nigerians to pray for Nigeria particularly as the nation is preparing to transit from one civilian government to another.

“As we celebrate Eid-el-Fitri, it is my hope and prayer that the spiritual lessons of Ramadan and the Holy Prophet’s teachings of piety, love, justice, fairness, equity, peaceful co-existence with others, tolerance, honesty and dedication to duty will remain with us all for the benefit and greater glory of our dear nation.

“May the lessons and blessings of the Holy Month also permeate all national endeavors and positively influence our attitudes towards our fellow men and women, irrespective of religion or origin and promote greater commitment to the peace, unity and stability of the nation.

The Araba of Ikaleland and Founder University of Fortune, Igbotako therefore wished all Muslim faithful Eid Mubarak, while praying Allah to grant them many more years in good health to experience the Ramadan.