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NHRC condemns physical assault on activist Maxwell Opara, urges Police to investigate

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The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) condemned the the alleged physical assault on a frontline human rights activist and lawyer, Maxwell Opara by Jesam Michael Ubi and his cohorts at the Federal High Court premises Abuja on 7th of May, 2024.

Media reports making the rounds claimed that the alleged assault and attack on the lawyer happened while he was granting a press interview at the Court premises where he had gone to defend his clients who were charged with cyber bullying and criminal defamation. The clients who are the defendants in the matter are Mr. Donald Michael, Apostle Michael Okoh, Engr. Fimienye Awajoma and others

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu OFR,SAN who disapproved of the said act while reacting to media reports on the incident wondered why aggrieved individuals and groups take laws into their hands attacking and assaulting Citizens.

According to the Chief Human Rights Officer of Nigeria, it is most unfortunate that individuals, groups or institutions could contemplate and resort to selfhelp, taking the laws into their hands in a bid to settle disputes or misunderstanding when there are laid down Constitutional and legal mechanisms for addressing such matters amicably.

In a statement he personally signed, which was sent to Nationwide Reports by the Media Office of the Commission, the learned Silk cited national, regional and international Laws and Articles prohibiting any form of assaults, torture or attacks. He cited Section 34 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, which states that, “Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly no person shall be subject to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment”.
In the same vein, the renowned Human Rights Advocate recalled the provisions of Article 7 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Right (ICCPR) which states that “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”.
The Chief Executive Officer of the NHRC also picked holes in the alleged hijack of a press interview session addressed by the victim by agents of Mr. Jesam Michael Ubi, saying that such behaviour runs contrary to the provisions of the Constitution and other legal instruments which expressly guarantee the right to freedom of expression.
The Executive Secretary cited Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 which provides that “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference”.
“Citizens must engage one another to settle disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms and where the matter is already in Court, all efforts must be made to exercise restraints and allow the Court to decide the case one way or the other and any party who is dissatisfied with the decision of the Court can only appeal”, the erudute lawyer advised.
He called on the Nigeria Police Force to immediately commence an independent investigation into the matter even as he urged citizens who have useful information in this regard to assist the Police with such intelligence to enable them to fish out those behind these heinous and dastardly acts and ensure that they are prosecuted and punished in accordance with the law to serve as a deterrent.
However, as a Commission which is mandated by the law to promote, protect and enforce the rights of all Nigerians and other nationals living in the country, we will allow the law enforcement agencies particularly the Nigeria Police Force to thoroughly investigate the matter in line with the doctrine of fair hearing and social justice.
The Commission urges everyone, including the aggrieved lawyer to refrain from any action that is at variance with what the legal profession stands for while awaiting the outcome of the investigation, to avoid further escalation of the issue.

 

 

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Gov Alex Otti visits Nnamdi Kanu in Sokoto prison

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Alex Otti, the Abia State Governor, on Sunday paid a visit to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.

The governor was accompanied by officials of the Sokoto State Government during the closed-door visit.

Nnamdi Kanu was recently moved to Sokoto after he was convicted on terrorism-related charges and handed a life sentence by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Governor Otti had earlier promised to pursue every lawful and political avenue to ensure that Kanu gets justice. Sunday’s visit is seen as part of ongoing efforts by the Abia State Government regarding his case.

Details of the meeting were not made public as of the time of this report.

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Terrorists abduct bride, bridesmaids in Sokoto attack

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Armed terrorists have abducted a bride-to-be, her bridesmaid, and eight other residents from Chacho village in Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State

The Sokoto abduction occurred around 1:30 a.m., according to residents, when the attackers stormed the village. Most of the victims were women, with only one man also taken.
One resident sustained injuries and is receiving medical treatment. Villagers told reporters that the bride was preparing for her wedding scheduled for later that morning when the raid struck, plunging the community into shock and mourning.

A community member described the attack as “tragic,” noting the delay in security response. “Security operatives were alerted immediately, but they only arrived about an hour after the bandits had fled,” he said, expressing frustration.

 

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Dangote Refinery to supply 1.5bn litres of petrol monthly

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….Writes NMDPRA, Engages Marketers to Stabilise Fuel Market

Photo caption: L R: Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Fertiliser Limited, Vishwajit Sinha; Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Dangote Petroleum Refinery, David Bird; President and Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Ltd, Aliko Dangote; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, South South Development Commission, Usoro Akpabio, during the visit of SSDC members to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Fertiliser Plant in Lagos on Sunday, November 30, 2025.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced plans to supply one billion five hundred million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) monthly to the Nigerian market in December 2025 and January 2026, a move aimed at ensuring uninterrupted nationwide fuel availability through the festive season and into the New Year.

President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, disclosed the plans at the weekend, noting that the refinery will make available 50 million litres of PMS daily beginning December 1.

“In line with our commitment to national wellbeing, and consistent with our track record of ensuring a holiday season free of fuel scarcity, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery will supply 1.5 billion litres of PMS to the Nigerian market this month. This represents 50 million litres per day. We are formally notifying the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of this commitment. We will supply another 1.5 billion litres in January and increase to 1.7 billion litres in February, which translates to about 60 million litres per day,” Dangote said.

Photo caption: L R: President and Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Ltd, Aliko Dangote; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, South South Development Commission, Usoro Akpabio, during the visit of SSDC members to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Fertiliser Plant in Lagos on Sunday, November 30, 2025.

Speaking during a visit by the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) to the refinery and the Dangote Fertiliser complex, he stated that the facility currently has adequate stock and is producing between 40 and 45 million litres of PMS daily. He added that the daily supply of 50 million litres should dispel long-standing claims that domestic refineries lack the capacity to meet national demand.

Dangote also revealed ongoing engagement with petroleum marketers to strengthen distribution systems, including expanding the use of CNG-powered haulage.

“Our priority is to ensure Nigeria receives the products it needs. This is not driven by profit motives; it is about guaranteeing the availability of essential energy products. It is similar to the transformation we delivered in the cement sector,” he added.

He further noted that the refinery is progressing with its expansion plan to reach a capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day. More than 100,000 workers are expected to be involved in the expansion of both the refinery and the fertiliser complex. Dangote emphasised that the Group remains committed to its vision, driven by the strong public support for the company’s role in shaping Nigeria’s economic development.

During the visit, the Managing Director of SSDC, Usoro Offiong Akpabio, commended Dangote’s leadership and his continued contribution to strengthening Nigeria’s industrial capability, national energy security and long-term economic competitiveness.

She described the South-South region as Nigeria’s natural energy corridor, with vast crude oil reserves, gas infrastructure, maritime assets, agro-industrial activity and emerging industrial clusters. She noted that deeper collaboration between the region and the Dangote Group could unlock opportunities in product distribution, CNG infrastructure, petrochemicals, agriculture, and employment creation.

Akpabio added that such partnerships would advance the Federal Government’s energy stability agenda and position the South-South as a strategic growth hub for the Dangote Group.

“As the statutory development body for the South-South, SSDC is mandated to drive regional economic development, infrastructure integration, human capital advancement, and private-sector–led growth. In this regard, we stand prepared to support State-level policy and regulatory support for Ease-of-doing-business across our six states. Enabling environments for Dangote Group’s expansion into strategic sectors such as gas processing, agro-industrial value chains, renewable energy, logistics, and export-oriented manufacturing,” she said.

In a letter from the refinery’s Managing Director, David Bird, to the Authority Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, the company reaffirmed its readiness to host NMDPRA officials onsite at the refinery from December 1st to verify and publish its daily supply volumes. The refinery also sought the Authority’s support to ensure unhindered importation of crude, feedstocks and blending components, as well as smooth vessel loading for product evacuation.

“In the spirit of full transparency to the public we are willing to publish our daily production and stock volumes (online and print media),” Bird stated. “We seek the full support of NMDPRA to allow Dangote refinery to import our crude, feedstocks and blending components unhindered as well as support the lifting of our products by vessel. We continue to experience delays in vessel clearance which impacts not only the refinery operations but also our customers, adding unnecessary costs and inefficiencies”.

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