Several members of Donald Trump’s incoming administration have received threats including bomb alerts, the FBI said Wednesday, with one nominee reporting a pipe-bomb scare sent with a pro-Palestinian message.

“The FBI is aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees, and we are working with our law enforcement partners,” the agency said in a statement.

Swatting refers to the practice in which police are summoned urgently to someone’s house under false pretenses. Such hoax calls are common in the United States and have seen numerous senior political figures targeted in recent years.

Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Trump’s transition team, earlier said that several appointees and nominees “were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them.”

Elise Stefanik, a Trump loyalist congresswoman tapped to be UN ambassador, said her residence in New York was targeted in a bomb threat.

She said in a statement that she, her husband, and small son were driving home from Washington for the Thanksgiving holiday when they learned of the threat.

Lee Zeldin, Trump’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, said his home was targeted with a pipe bomb threat sent with a “pro-Palestinian themed message.”

The former congressman from New York said he and his family were not home at the time.

Fox News Digital quoted unidentified sources saying that John Ratcliffe, Trump’s nominee to head the CIA, and Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary pick, were also targeted.

Ahead of his return to the House in January, Trump has already swiftly assembled a cabinet of loyalists, including several criticized for a severe lack of experience.

The Republican, who appears set to avoid trial on criminal prosecutions related to attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss, was wounded in the ear in July in an assassination attempt during a campaign rally. The shooter was killed in counter-fire.

In September, authorities arrested another man accused of planning to shoot at Trump while he played golf at his course in West Palm Beach, Florida

The Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Ltd in Rivers State has officially commenced crude oil processing, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s energy sector.

This development was announced on Tuesday by Femi Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

“Today marks a monumental achievement for Nigeria as the Port Harcourt Refinery officially commences crude oil processing. This groundbreaking milestone signifies a new era of energy independence and economic growth for our nation,” Soneye stated.

He lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the NNPC Board, and the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) Mele Kyari for their dedication to the project.

“Hearty congratulations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the NNPC Board, and the exceptional leadership of GCEO Mele Kyari for their unwavering commitment to this transformative project. Together, we are reshaping Nigeria’s energy future!”

Truck loading operations at the refinery are also set to begin immediately, Soneye added, while affirming that the NNPCL is working diligently to restore operations at the Warri Refinery in the near future.

End of a Series of Delays

This marks the end of a long series of missed deadlines for the refinery, located in Nigeria’s oil-rich Rivers State. Upon assuming office in August 2023, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, promised that the refinery would begin operations by September 2023.

However, this deadline was postponed to December 2023 and subsequently to April 2024.

Earlier this year, GCEO Mele Kyari reiterated NNPCL’s commitment to enhancing the nation’s refining capacity.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and his entourage during an inspection tour of the rehabilitation work progress at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Ltd. plant, in Port Harcourt on Friday.

During an inspection of the PHRC in August 2024, Kyari stated, “We are focused on delivering this rehabilitation project, our two other refineries, and all other investments towards revamping the nation’s refining capacity. We are hopeful that in 2024, this country will be a net exporter of petroleum products.”

The Federal Government had approved $1.5 billion for the refinery’s rehabilitation in 2021. The facility, one of Nigeria’s largest, had been out of operation since 2019.

Boosting Domestic Refining Capacity

Nigeria, one of the world’s largest producers of crude oil, has long struggled with limited refining capacity, relying heavily on imports to meet domestic demand. This reliance has led to costly crude-for-fuel swaps and subsidies that drained foreign reserves.

The launch of the Port Harcourt Refinery follows the commissioning of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery earlier in 2024. The privately-owned refinery began producing petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel, providing a significant boost to Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity.

“These milestones,” Soneye said, “are expected to cushion the impacts of the removal of fuel subsidies, which had driven the price of petrol from N200 to over N1,000 per litre.”

Nigerians are hopeful that with both the Port Harcourt and Dangote refineries now operational, the nation’s energy sector will achieve greater stability, reduce dependency on imports, and lower the cost of petroleum products.

Moriah Trust Limited and its alter ego, Mr. David Nwedu, have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate alleged fraudulent activities by Ecobank Nigeria Plc involving a $285,006 Advance Payment Guarantee (APG) Bond.

The petition also seeks accountability for bank officials allegedly complicit in these transactions.

The petition, titled “Criminal Complaint Against Ecobank Nigeria Plc on an Attempt to Defraud Moriah Trust Limited of an Advance Payment Guarantee Bond No G 00613 for $285,006,” was dated November 13, 2023, and filed with the EFCC on January 26, 2024. It was signed by Olabanji A. Eniola Esq. of Umar, Gimba & Associates, solicitors to the petitioner.

The document sighted by TheNiche, reveals that Moriah Trust Limited, a customer of Ecobank Nigeria Plc, operates a domiciliary account (No. 2230509622). In 2005, while executing the “Abidjan Lagos Transport Corridor” project, Mr. Nwedu, on behalf of Moriah Trust, requested a 20% APG of the contract sum of $1,425,032.70. Ecobank approved the request, crediting $285,006 to the account.

Ex- Bankers Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Deceased Customer’s Funds

However, the petition states that the International Development Association (IDA), the project’s awarding body, had earlier advanced $70,000 to the petitioner. As a result, only $215,006 of the APG remained payable. On November 14, 2005, the IDA transferred $214,996 to Ecobank on behalf of Moriah Trust Limited, deducting $10 as bank transfer charges. This amount was purportedly warehoused by Ecobank pending the discharge of the APG.

On January 5, 2006, Mr. Nwedu fulfilled his contractual obligations and returned the APG document to Ecobank for discharge.

Surprisingly, instead of crediting the warehoused $214,996, Ecobank allegedly credited the domiciliary account with $20,060,118 on January 18, 2006, an amount grossly in excess of the expected sum.

The petition claims that Mr. Nwedu immediately notified Ecobank of the error. The bank reportedly responded that it had erroneously credited the naira equivalent of the warehoused funds to the domiciliary account. Following this, Ecobank allegedly deactivated the account without informing or obtaining the consent of Moriah Trust Limited, leaving the erroneous credit balance intact.

EFCC freezes N10billion linked to ex-Lagos gov Ambode

Efforts to resolve the issue proved futile. In 2008, Mr. Nwedu deposited $17,000 to reactivate the account and reconcile the statements, but the bank allegedly failed to act. A further deposit of $3,000 in 2009 also did not yield any results, as Ecobank reportedly continued to deny the petitioner access to the account.

The situation has caused significant challenges for Mr. Nwedu. Since 2019, the IDA has demanded a project closure report, which he has been unable to provide due to his restricted access to the account. This has reportedly led to allegations of fiduciary breaches against him, causing irreparable damage to his reputation.

The petition accuses Ecobank Nigeria Plc of deliberately withholding access to the account, raising suspicions of fraudulent activity involving the APG funds. It urges the EFCC to investigate the matter thoroughly, identify any officials involved, and ensure justice is served.

“The actions of Ecobank Nigeria Plc constitute an attempt to defraud Moriah Trust Limited of its hard-earned funds,” the petition reads, adding that the EFCC chairman should intervene to uncover any illegal transactions and protect the petitioner’s financial interests.