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No petition on alleged corruption against me in UK- Akpabio denies report

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Minister, Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has denied media report  that a petition on alleged corruption against him and Scott Tommey, has been received by the UK Fraud Office, saying, the allegation is a figment of the imagination of the purveyors and sponsors of the allegation.

A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Jackson Udom, called on the public to discountenance and disregard the story and see it as a calculated attempt to tarnish the hard earned image of the Minister over the years.

The statement titled: RE UK Fraud Office Receives Petition Against Akpabio, Scott Tommey, Begins Investigation, reads:

“The attention of the Honourable Minister, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has been drawn to a fabricated fairytale making the rounds and written by one Jackson Ude and published by Pointblank news on the aforementioned subject.

“Ordinarily, the Honourable Minister would have ignored the gibberish, except that it is expedient for purposes of setting the records in order to clear the air over the falsehood perpetrated by  serial blackmailers whose stock-in-trade is to indulge in smear campaigns for pecuniary reasons.

“First and foremost, it is important to state as a preliminary point that His Excellency Senator Godswill Akpabio is not aware of the pendency of any petition/ investigation against him at the United Kingdom Serious Fraud Office.

“Howbeit, It is safe to say that the purported petition, investigation merely exist as a figment of imagination in the minds of the blackmail merchant(s).

“For the records, Senator Akpabio does not own any Foreign Account or business in the United Kingdom. He has no investment through a proxy. The centrality of his political life or career has been pro publico bono( for public good). He has made huge sacrifices as a consummate politician to better the lot of many who have come in contact with him.

“The former Senate Minority Leader knows Scott Ikot Tommey as a businessman, just as he knows a host of other businessmen and contractors  with the  Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC).

Senator  Akpabio supervises the NDDC and has worked tirelessly to make a mark in the past few years as the supervisory Minister over the Commission.

“At the risk of repetition, it is categorically denied herein that Scott Tommey is and has been a business front  for money laundering on behalf of Senator Akpabio.  Scott Tommey’s  contractual engagements with the NDDC predates Senator Akpabio’s  appointment as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

“It is therefore manifestly evident that the publishers of Pointblank news cannot attest to the veracity of this spuriously fabricated blackmail which offends the ethos of modern journalism.

“Senator Godswill Akpabio, possesses a sterling personality that transcends cheap blackmail. His meteoric rise in life, economic acumen, garnered in his over 35 years of successful law practice  and his experiences in the  private sector, his  political clout stand him out as a Nigerian politician and business man of influence.

“He served as Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State for six solid years; Governor of Akwa Ibom State for eight years, Minority Leader of the 8th Senate and currently serves as member of the Federal Executive Council of Nigeria.

“Senator Akpabio is a credible Nigerian who has over the years been committed to the transformation of Nigeria. He has shown great commitment in service in more than two decades of being in public office.

“We challenge the authors of this blackmail to publish and substantiate such claims and documents which they allege link(s) the Honourable Minister to Money laundering.

“The general public should discountenance the said publication and the publisher(s) of this infantile and unverifiable defamatory publication. They must, within seven clear days, retract the said publication with an apology or face the wrath of the law on criminal defamation”.

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Iran War Disrupts Oil Supply, Global Loss Hits $50bn

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The global oil market has recorded losses exceeding $50bn following massive supply disruptions triggered by the ongoing Iran war, which has now stretched to nearly 50 days.

Data from energy analytics firm Kpler showed that more than 500 million barrels of crude oil and condensate have been wiped off the global market since the crisis began in late February, making it the largest energy supply disruption in modern history.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, on Friday said the Strait of Hormuz had been reopened after a ceasefire agreement reached in Lebanon.

However, tensions escalated again on Saturday as Tehran warned it could shut the strategic waterway if the United States sustains its blockade of Iranian ports.

Also, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism that a deal to end the conflict could be reached “soon,” although he did not provide a definite timeline.

Analysts warned that the scale of disruption could have prolonged effects on global energy stability, with shocks expected to linger for months or even years.

Providing context, Principal Analyst at Wood Mackenzie, Iain Mowat, said the 500 million barrels lost is equivalent to grounding global aviation demand for 10 weeks, halting all road transport worldwide for 11 days, or shutting down the entire global oil supply for five days.

Further estimates showed that the lost volume is nearly equal to one month of oil demand in the United States or more than a month’s supply for Europe. It also represents about six years of fuel consumption by the U.S. military and could power global shipping activities for approximately four months.

The crisis has significantly affected oil-producing nations in the Gulf, with output losses reaching about eight million barrels per day in March—roughly equivalent to the combined production of two of the world’s largest oil companies.

Jet fuel exports from major producers, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman, dropped sharply from 19.6 million barrels in February to just 4.1 million barrels recorded across March and April combined. Analysts said the shortfall could have powered about 20,000 round-trip international flights.

With crude prices averaging around $100 per barrel since the onset of the conflict, the lost volumes translate to an estimated $50bn in revenue. Experts noted that this figure is equivalent to about one per cent of Germany’s annual Gross Domestic Product, or roughly the size of the economies of smaller European countries.

Meanwhile, global onshore crude inventories have declined by about 45 million barrels in April alone, while total production outages have risen to approximately 12 million barrels per day since late March.

Industry experts cautioned that unless a lasting resolution is reached, the disruption could intensify volatility in global oil markets, worsen inflationary pressures, and further strain fragile economies worldwide.

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Oseni Secures Prestigious City People Political Award Nomination

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A member of the House of Representatives representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency and Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, Aderemi Oseni, has been nominated for a Special Award in Politics at the 2026 City People Political Awards.

The nomination was conveyed in a letter dated April 13, 2026, signed by the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of City People Magazine, Seye Kehinde.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued by Oseni’s media aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists in Ibadan on Thursday.

According to the statement, the lawmaker earned the nomination in recognition of his “outstanding contributions to politics in Oyo State, particularly in Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency.”

The organisers noted that Oseni emerged as a nominee following a comprehensive review of performances across sectors by the award’s selection committee.

Part of the letter read, “Having performed creditably well in your sector last year, the Organising Committee presented you as a nominee in your sector.”

The award ceremony is scheduled to hold on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at Etal Hall, Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, at 4pm.

The City People Awards is an annual event that recognises individuals who have distinguished themselves in governance, public service and other sectors of national development.

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Kaduna Electric to prosecute, expose attackers of staff

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The Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company has announced a crackdown on individuals who assault its staff, warning that offenders will face prosecution and public exposure.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the company expressed concern over what it described as a “disturbing surge” in attacks on its field workers and third-party partners.

It noted that the affected personnel were mainly engaged in meter installation, revenue collection and maintenance of electricity infrastructure.

According to the firm, the increasing cases of harassment, physical assault and unlawful detention of its workers pose a serious threat to employee safety and the stability of electricity service delivery across its franchise areas.

The Deputy Managing Director, Abubakar Mohammed, said the company would no longer tolerate any form of aggression against its workforce.

“Let this serve as a clear warning to anyone who engages in the assault of our staff. Kaduna Electric will pursue every case to its logical conclusion,” he said.

“We will work closely with security agencies to ensure offenders are brought to justice and face the full weight of the law,” Mohammed added.

He further disclosed that the company would publicly reveal the identities of individuals found culpable.

According to him, names, photographs and other details of offenders would be published on the company’s official platforms as well as in national and local media.

“This measure is intended to ensure accountability and serve as a strong deterrent. Anyone who chooses to attack our personnel should be prepared not only to face prosecution but also public exposure,” he added.

The company stressed that assaults on utility workers attract serious legal and financial consequences, noting that offenders risk criminal charges that may lead to fines or imprisonment.

It added that perpetrators could also face civil liabilities, including compensation for medical treatment, psychological trauma and loss of work hours.
While condemning the attacks, Kaduna Electric urged customers to adopt peaceful and lawful means of resolving disputes.

It advised aggrieved customers to channel complaints through its customer service units or appropriate regulatory bodies.

The management reaffirmed its commitment to protecting its workforce and partners, stressing that a safe working environment is essential for delivering reliable and efficient electricity services.

Although disputes between electricity providers and consumers are often linked to billing issues, metering challenges and service delivery concerns, the company maintained that such matters must be resolved through dialogue, insisting that violence against its staff will no longer be tolerated.

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