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Senate approves MTEF/FSP 2025-2027
*Investigates NNPCL over N8.4trn withheld subsidy funds
By George Mgbeleke
As Nigerians await the presentation of 2025-2027 National Budget by President Bola Tinubu before the joint session of National Assembly very soon, the Senate on Tuesday approved the 2025–2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF and Fiscal Strategy Paper, FSP earlier submitted by the President.
This was even as the Red Chamber mandated its joint Committees on Finance; Petroleum (Upstream) and Petroleum (Downstream) as well as Gas to investigate reports from the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Responsibility Commission, RMAFC, alleging that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL withheld N8.48 trillion as claimed subsidies for petrol.
It noted that the investigation would address the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI report, stating that NNPCL failed to remit $2 billion (N3.6 trillion) in taxes to the Federal Government.
The Senate further directed its committees to verify the total cumulative amount of unremitted revenue (under-recovery) from the sale of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS also known as petrol by the NNPCL between 2020 and 2023.
It also directed the relevant committees to carry out in-depth investigation of such agreements by the NNPCL, Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG and Immigration Services with a view to reconcile remittances to the Federation Account.
The approval followed the adoption of the report of Senate joint Committees on Finance; and National Planning & Economic Affairs, chaired by Senator Sani Musa (APC Niger East) during plenary.
In the three years projections, the Senate pegged the exchange rate at N1,400/$ for 2025, 2026 and 2027 respectively.
It also projected oil benchmark prices at $75, $76.2 and $75.3 per barrel for 2025, 2026 and 2027 respectively.
The Senate added that the three-year projections for domestic crude oil production had a significant increase from 1.78m bpd in the preceding year to 2.06, 2.10 and 2.35 for the subsequent years of 2025, 2026 and 2027, respectively.
It further projected Gross Domestic Product, GDP growth rates of 4.6 per cent, 4.4 per cent, and 5.5 per cent for 2025, 2026 and 2027.
The Red Chamber also projected the inflation rates at 15.75 per cent, 14.21 per cent, and 10.04 per cent for 2025, 2026 and 2027 respectively.
It, however, demanded a reduction in the petrol prices against the backdrop of the commencement of production at the Port Harcourt refinery.
According to the recommendations, “The 2025 Federal Government of Nigeria budget proposed spending of N47.9trilion of which N34.82 trillion is retained. New borrowings stood at N9.22trillion, made up of both domestic and foreign borrowings.
“Capital expenditure is projected at N16.48 trillion with statutory transfers standing at N4.26 trillion and sinking funds projected at N430.27billion.”
Speaking during debate on the report, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Adeola (APC Ogun West) referenced the Federal Government’s Compressed Natural Gas, CNG initiative as the underlying imperative for the adoption of the N1,400 to one dollar.
“With the functioning of our refineries the demand for Forex will drop. With the CNG initiative, Nigerians will have an option for your information if you leave Benin to Lagos the amount of fuel is about 130,000 but with CNG you can’t use more than N48,000. Another issue to be addressed is the recurrent to-capital ratio which is very high,” he said.
In his contribution, the former Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP Kebbi North), stressed the need to support the manufacturing industries if the projections of the MTEF are to be achieved.
In his remarks, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio commended the chairman and members of the joint committees for their indepth analysis and general good work done on the document.

Law & Crime

Valedictory Session:Ewhrudjakpo, Ayemieye, Others Pour Encomium On Late Justice Alagoa

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Bayelsa Deputy Gov.Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and others

 

By David Owei, Yenagoa.

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, along with the state Chief Judge, Justice Matilda Ayemieye, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Biriyai Dambo (SAN), and other personalities have poured encomiums on the late Justice Stanley Shenko Alagoa, describing him as one of the best justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who spoke at a special valedictory session held at the court of the Chief Judge in Yenagoa at the weekend, said there were a lot of positive lessons to learn from the exemplary life of the late Justice of the Supreme Court.

He eulogized Justice Alagoa as an incorruptible judge, emphasizing that his judicial pronouncements and judgements would be quoted for as long as justice system remains in Nigeria, and called on his family to take solace in his worthy legacy.

His words: “There are two sets of people in the world – those who left their shoes dirty, and those who left theirs clean. The late Justice Alagoa is of the latter group.

“Alagoa was a man of integrity. He condemned corrupt politicians as a challenge to the Nigerian Justice System. It is not how long a man live, but how well.

“Justice Alagoa has taught everyone in Nigeria a lesson; His pronouncements and judgements will be quoted as long as the justice system remains. Let us immortalize him by promoting what he represented.”

In her remarks, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Matilda Abrakasa-Ayemieye, pointed out that the late Justice Alagoa was the first Bayelsan to climb to the Supreme Court of Nigeria and did so much in contributing towards the development of the country’s legal jurisprudence.

Justice Ayemieye, who described Alagoa as one of the finest jurists at the Supreme Court, explained that he was a man of integrity, whose notable contributions to the growth of the Nigerian justice delivery system would not be easily forgotten.

She, however, used the opportunity to remind the living that they came from God and shall return to Him in due time, stressing that everyone shall give account of him or herself at an appointed time.

On his part, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Biriyai Dambo (SAN), said “it is evident from from his biography that Justice Alagoa was a diligent judge who rose through the ranks to the pinnacle of his illustrious career at the Supreme Court,” and deserved the honour of being given a befitting funeral.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa Branch, Mr. Somina Johnbull, noted that the deceased who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1974, describing him as an exemplary ambassador of the state judiciary having been one of the three judges from Bayelsa that ascended to the Supreme Court.

Other dignitaries present at the session were retired Justice Francis Tabai; the Chief Judge of Rivers State represented by Justice A. Victor; the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Daniel Ayah, retired Justice Margaret Akpomiemie, the Head of Service, Mrs Biobelemoye Charles-Onyeama, amongst others.

In a related development, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, at the weekend, also led a delegation of political leaders and stakeholders of Bayelsa West to pay a condolence visit to the family of the late His Royal Majesty, King Joshua Igbagara, the paramount ruler of Ibeni -Oyiakiri Kingdom in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking at the Biogbolo residence of the departed first class traditional ruler, the Deputy Governor noted that the Sagbama Area, Bayelsa West, and by extension, the entire state and Nigeria had lost a great leader who positively impacted so many lives

He, however, pointed out that “for the fact that the late King Igbagara lived for about 90 years, his departure should be seen as a heroic incident that calls for celebration having exceeded the biblical age benchmark of 70 years.”

While assuring the Igbagara family of government’s support in the burial of the one-time Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, Senator Ewhrudjakpo, enjoined them and the entire Ibeni-Oyiakiri clan to draw strength from the good life their father and king had lived.

Responding on behalf of the family, the first son of the deceased, Prince Austin Igbagara, expressed gratitude to the Deputy Governor and the political leaders and stakeholders for condoling with them in their trying moment.

Prince Igbagara, who disclosed that the monarch died in Lagos after a brief illness, promised the Bayelsa West delegation that the family would officially inform them when a date is fixed for the funeral of their departed father.

The delegation had Hon. Commissioner for Special Duties (Bayelsa West), Mr. Michael Magbisa, and his tourism counterpart, Mr John Ala: the Chairman of Sagbama Local Government, Mrs. Alice Tangi-Allen; and chieftains of the PDP, Hon. Fyneman Wilson, Dr. O.O. Osusu; Engineer Numupre Wills; Chief Victor Okubonanabo, the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Chief Lambert Ototo, among others.

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Law & Crime

Niger CJ frees 45 awaiting trial inmates of Suleja’s Prison custody 

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By Uthman Baba-Al-Naseer, Minna

A total of Forty Five inmates on awaiting trial and Convicts have breath the air of freedom during the visit of the Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice ♎ Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik statewide working visit to Correctional Centres

The Chief Judge commenced the four days working visit on the 6th,March 2025 in Suleja Federal Medium Correctional centre where five convicts were pardoned for being remorseful while serving their jail terms.

Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik,in continuation of the visit to bring relief to the correctional facilities across the state, was at the Minna old Medium Correctional centre between Monday, 10th,and Tuesday,11th,2025 and a total of twelve Convicts were discharged.

Also, the Chief Judge ordered for the summary trial of fourteen others to be given lighter convictions from the date of their arrest and detention in the correctional Custody.

At the Minna new Medium Correctional centre in Tunga, a total of twenty five other inmates standing trial were discharged by the Chief Judge while twelve inmates standing trial on various Offences had their cases reviewed.

Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik concluded the working visit to Children remand home at Angwan Daji where she released five under aged children two among them were kidnapped.

Equally,the Chief judge granted bail to two siblings Anas Umar,and Mubarak Umar who were arrested at Gauraka in Tafa Local government area of Niger State.

They were alleged to have been in possession of aluminum believed to have been stolen and sold to scrap dealers (Yan gwongwon).

The Chief Judge directed the Ministry of women affairs to take the adoption of the two siblings with the aim of keeping them in their custody for proper upbringings.

Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, while expressing her disgust on the increasing rates of crime among juveniles,in the state, she called on parents and guardians to leave up to their responsibility of inculcating proper upbringings to their children.

She noted that the involvement of Anas into crime was initiated by his brother stating that their parents have deviated from their parental responsibilities.

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Law & Crime

Rivers Crisis: State Assembly in another troubled water  ……. Wants DSS to Probe CJ over alleged age forgery 

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By Our Reporter
Barely 24 hours in the fight against the state governor,  Siminalayi Fubara,  Rivers State House of Assembly has called on the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi for alleged age falsification.
The call for investigation of the State Chief Judge was made following a motion by the leader of the Assembly, Hon. Major Jack during plenary on Thursday.
Recall that the Deputy Speaker of Rivers  Assembly, Dumle Maol, had raised an allegation of age falsification against the Chief Judge of the state, Simeon Amadi a couple of days ago.
He said, “These documents before me simply say that the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi, falsified his age in service. Mr Speaker, that is a very serious allegation, and I do hope that this House takes legislative notice.”
The House debated on the topic and resolved to write a letter to the Director of the DSS to do its investigation and revert to the House on their findings.
In his remark, Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, called for an investigation into the alleged age falsification against the state chief judge, Justice Chibuzor Amadi.
Amaehwule also accused the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara of barring all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies not to appear before the House or assist the lawmakers in the conduct of investigations.
He said, “The documents are only suggesting a case of age falsification by the honourable Chief Judge of the state, Simeon Amadi. What it means is that there has to be an investigation to that effect.
“Though the House is empowered to conduct investigation by the provisions of Section 128 of the Constitution, the Governor of the State has barred all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies not to appear before the House or assist the House in the conduct of investigation.
“So, the House is calling on the Department of State Service to institute an investigation on the alleged age falsification by the Chief Judge with a view to ascertaining the veracity or otherwise of the allegation, which will be forwarded to the National Judicial Council (NJC).”
After a voice vote, the House eventually agreed to write the DSS to investigate the age falsification allegation against the Chief Judge.
Meanwhile, the Speaker had asked all Committees to endeavour to submit their reports to the House before the House proceeds on recess, particularly, the House Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions.
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