News
ASUU to EFCC, ICPC: Make public fraud investigation reports on UNILORIN.
THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ibadan Zone has raised an alert over alleged attempt by the University of Ilorin management to sack the chairman and secretary of the branch for whistle-blowing on corruption in the university.
It asked EFCC and ICPC to make public results of their investigations on the whistle blowing of the union against the University of Ilorin.
The union further called on the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu as well as the Chairman Governing Council to call the University management to order before plunging the university to another legal crisis.
It urged the Acting President to ensure that the University of Ilorin is not treated to be above the law by the Buhari-led government.
This was contained in a press statement issued in Ibadan after the Zonal meeting of the Union signed by the Zonal Chairman, Dr Ade Adejumo and Dr Deji Omole, Chairman University of Ibadan Chapter.
They noted that it was shocking the federal government seems to choose to prosecute only whistle blowing adding that the anti-corruption can be seen to be selective in prosecution if only those perceived enemies of the government are prosecuted after whistle blowing.
The duo of UNILORIN ASUU chairman and Secretary, Dr Kayode Afolayan and Dr Solomon Oyelekan respectively had been suspended for four months for signing a document on behalf of ASUU and presenting same at the EFCC and ICPC on alleged corruption and fraud being perpetrated.
“The University of Ilorin Administration is bent on terminating the appointment of Union officials critical of its corruption, lawlessness, dictatorialness and disregard of democratic norms. The union is hopeful that the new Chairman of Council of UNILORIN, Dr. Jubril Oyekan will act positively to prevent the University from sliding down further and being drawn into another round of tussle with our union. We believe he would not be part of a grievous scandal of a Council submitting to the whims of the Administration and terminating the appointments of scholars because they blew the whistle on the wife of the Vice Chancellor or because they alerted the same Council to corrupt practices in the institution. In the meantime, we again call on the relevant agencies to furnish members of the public with the result of their investigations on the petitions submitted by the union. We call on the Visitor to the University and other supervising agencies to prevail on this public institution to stop the continuous harassment of critical voices of dissent.”
Expressing confidence of a positive response to its call, ASUU called for cessation of harassment and victimization of members of the union who are speaking truth to power.
“After series of attempts by the union to make the university return to the path of decency, the union had no choice than to file petitions before the EFCC, ICPC, CCB and the Visitor to the University over the monumental infractions that have become endemic in the University of Ilorin. Also recently, in a three part investigative report, The Nation newspaper of March 14, 15 and 16 2017 brought out many of the gory details of the UNILORIN anomaly in graphic terms. In addition, the immediate past and the current administration have been exposed as corrupt, nepotistic and lawless. To say the least, the university can no longer be regarded as a university in the proper meaning of the word.
“On February 6 the Branch of the Union in the University of Ilorin drew attention to the malfeasance of the VC employing his wife, Mrs Toyin Ambali under shady circumstances and promoting her within a year instead of the three years allowed by regulation. Rather than retrace his steps, the Vice-Chancellor, apparently to avenge the exposure of his wife directed that the Chairman and Secretary be issued with a query.”
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has dismissed media reports suggesting that the recently resuscitated old Port Harcourt refinery has been shut down, labeling such claims as baseless and misleading.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, clarified that the refinery, with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, is “fully operational.”
The facility resumed operations two months ago after years of inactivity.
“We wish to clarify that such reports are totally false, as the refinery is fully operational, as verified a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC,” Soneye said.
He added that preparations for the day’s loading operation are currently underway, emphasizing that the public should disregard the claims.
“Members of the public are advised to discountenance such reports as they are the figments of the imagination of those who want to create artificial scarcity and rip off Nigerians,” Soneye stated.
The old Port Harcourt refinery is part of the country’s efforts to revive its local refining capacity. Three years ago, the Federal Government approved $1.5 billion to rehabilitate the plant, which was initially shut down in 2019 due to operational challenges.
Despite being one of the largest oil producers globally, Nigeria has long relied on fuel imports to meet its domestic needs, swapping crude oil for petrol and other refined products. This dependency, coupled with government subsidies, has strained the nation’s foreign exchange reserves.
The recent return of the Port Harcourt refinery to operation follows the commissioning of the Dangote refinery, which began petrol production in September 2024. These developments are expected to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imports and address long-standing issues in the petroleum sector.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has declared that the era of armed and bank robberies in Lagos State is a thing of the past, attributing the success to the collaborative efforts between the police and the state government.
Egbetokun made this statement on Thursday during the 18th Annual Town Hall Meeting on Security organized by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF). He noted that since 2007, only one bank robbery had been successfully executed in the state, which occurred in 2014.
“There was a time when armed robbery and bank robbery were common in Lagos. However, I can confidently say that since 2007, only one bank robbery succeeded, and that was as far back as 2014. The days of armed robbery and bank robbery are gone,” he said.
The IGP commended the Lagos State Government for its consistent support, emphasizing the critical role it has played in maintaining security in the bustling economic hub of the nation. He highlighted the challenges posed by the state’s continuous internal migration, with thousands of people moving into Lagos daily, creating additional security demands.
“What we are doing here today is the usual assistance the state government has been giving to the police. Without this, we would have been overwhelmed with insecurity in Lagos State,” Egbetokun added.
At the event, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu further demonstrated his administration’s commitment to security by donating over 250 brand-new patrol vehicles, along with hardware, communication gadgets, and protective gear to the police.
In his address, Sanwo-Olu outlined the government’s efforts to scale up the use of technology and data for improved security and traffic monitoring. He revealed plans to deploy drone technology for surveillance of waterways and densely populated areas.
“The EGIS component of our mapping and digitalization has almost been completed. Lagos is now properly mapped, and drone technology will be deployed to enhance monitoring, crowd management, and traffic assessment. This will ensure real-time responses to incidents,” the governor explained.
Chad announced Thursday that it was ending military cooperation with former colonial power France, just hours after a visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.
“The government of the Republic of Chad informs national and international opinion of its decision to end the accord in the field of defence signed with the French Republic,” foreign minister Abderaman Koulamallah said in a statement on Facebook.
Chad is a key link in France’s military presence in Africa, constituting Paris’s last foothold in the Sahel after the forced withdrawal of its troops from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
“This is not a break with France like Niger or elsewhere,” Koulamallah, whose country still hosts around a thousand French troops, told AFP.
At a press briefing after a meeting between President Mahamat Idriss Deby and Barrot, Koulamallah called France “an essential partner” but added it “must now also consider that Chad has grown up, matured and is a sovereign state that is very jealous of its sovereignty”.
Barrot, who arrived in Ethiopia on Thursday evening, could not immediately be reached for comment.
– ‘Historic turning point’-
Chad is the last Sahel country to host French troops.
It has been led by Deby since 2021, when his father Idriss Deby Itno was killed by rebels after 30 years in power.
The elder Deby frequently relied on French military support to fend off rebel offensives, including in 2008 and 2019.
It borders the Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya and Niger, all of which host Russian paramilitary forces from the Wagner group.
Deby has sought closer ties with Moscow in recent months, but talks to strengthen economic cooperation with Russia have yet to bear concrete results.
Koulamallah called the decision to end military cooperation a “historic turning point”, adding it was made after “in-depth analysis”.
“Chad, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement, undertakes to respect the terms laid down for its termination, including the notice period”, he said in the statement, which did not give a date for the withdrawal of French troops.
The announcement comes just days after Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye indicated in an interview with AFP that France should close its military bases in that country.
“Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country,” Faye told AFP on Thursday.
-
News2 days agoBank Robberies Now History in Lagos Since 2014 – IGP
-
Metro12 hours ago
Grim Friday: Man, Wife, Grandson Perish in Ibadan Fire
-
Crime & Court2 days ago
Human Rights Lawyer, Dele Farotimi, Granted ₦30m Bail
-
News11 hours ago
NNPCL Refutes Shutdown Claims: Port Harcourt Refinery Fully Operational
