Category: Local

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said that key officials in his administration were targeted and hunted by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari shortly after he left office in 2015. Jonathan made this known in Abuja on Thursday during the public presentation of a memoir titled “OPL 245: Inside Story of the $1.3bn Nigerian Oil Block,” authored by Bello Adoke, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. Represented by ex-Senate President Pius Anyim, Jonathan said the OPL 245 saga was one of the many instruments used to persecute his former aides, with Adoke becoming a global target despite only implementing a presidential directive in the controversial oil deal. “Shortly after my tenure ended in 2015, the succeeding government launched what many saw as a manhunt against key officers of my administration,” Jonathan stated. “Adoke was hunted across the globe. But today, he is alive, he is healthy, and he is here to tell his story.” The OPL 245 case, widely known as the Malabu Oil scandal, involved the sale of a lucrative oil block to Shell and Eni in 2011 for $1.3bn. Allegations later surfaced that $1.1bn of the payment was diverted through intermediaries as bribes to officials and politicians. Adoke, who faced international and local prosecution under the Buhari administration, was eventually discharged and acquitted by courts in Nigeria and abroad. Speaking at the event, Adoke said the book was written not to attack individuals but to set the record straight and provide clarity about his role in the matter. He said he had forgiven all those involved in his ordeal, including former EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu, who later apologised. “This book is not written to denigrate anyone. It is meant to set the record straight and offer my account of what transpired,” Adoke said. He alleged that President Buhari’s pursuit of the case was largely influenced by a sense of revenge on behalf of the Abacha family, who had originally been awarded the oil block in 1998. Adoke lamented the massive public resources expended on his prosecution and expressed concern that Nigerian prosecutors who allegedly lied under oath were never held accountable. Vice President Kashim Shettima, who also spoke at the launch, praised Adoke’s forgiveness and described him as a man of conviction. “I admire Adoke for standing by his convictions. He was not praised — he was mocked — and still came out stronger,” Shettima said. Revealing how Adoke once stood up for the rule of law, Shettima shared a personal story of how Jonathan once considered removing him as Borno State Governor, but Adoke advised against it, saying the President lacked such constitutional powers. “That was the beginning of my lifelong bond with Adoke and Tambuwal,” Shettima added. Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde commended Adoke for uniting political rivals at the book launch and stressed the importance of preserving national history through honest storytelling. Makinde noted that OPL 245 contains over nine billion barrels of crude oil, making the block a highly strategic national asset. Former Senate President Bukola Saraki and ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai also lauded Adoke’s courage. El-Rufai particularly stressed that memoir writing must become a norm among public officials. “We should actually thank Adoke for helping to stabilise democracy in 2015. Instead, he was persecuted,” El-Rufai said. He urged leaders in power today to remember that “everyone’s turn will come.” The event brought together politicians from across Nigeria’s political spectrum, reflecting the broad influence and legacy of Adoke’s career — and his turbulent journey through one of Nigeria’s most contentious oil scandals.

The Federal Government is set to eliminate subsidies in the electricity sector by transitioning to a fully cost-reflective tariff regime, according to Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu. This is part of broader reforms aimed at addressing the sector’s mounting debt and ensuring sustainability. Speaking during the Mission 300 Stakeholders’ Engagement in Abuja, Adelabu revealed that Nigeria owes power generation companies over ₦4 trillion in unpaid subsidies as of December 2024. Recent data also shows that an additional ₦1.1 trillion was incurred in the first half of 2025, pushing the total debt to about ₦5 trillion. He emphasized that continuing with the subsidy model is unsustainable and threatens economic development. “To stop the accumulation of further debt, the government is working to transition the sector to a fully cost-reflective regime, while implementing targeted subsidies for the economically vulnerable,” he said. Under the current structure, the allowed tariffs are far lower than the actual cost-reflective tariffs. For example, Band A customers are charged ₦209.50 despite the cost being over ₦220. Band B and C customers pay as little as ₦67 and ₦56, even though the real cost exceeds ₦200 per unit. Adelabu said the reforms would include: The minister noted that the breakdown of local government administration has forced lawmakers to take on executive roles, including power-related infrastructure, thus complicating sector responsibilities. Finance Minister Wale Edun, speaking virtually from Brazil, backed the reforms, saying they were essential for boosting job creation and unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential. He claimed power distribution improved by over 40% in Q1 2025. Consumer Pushback Despite government assurances, consumer rights advocates and energy analysts warn that raising tariffs without service improvements will worsen public dissatisfaction. Kunle Olubiyo, President of the Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, said the public would be unfairly burdened without corresponding improvements in electricity supply. “Between 2015 and now, we’ve only added about 400 megawatts to the grid. Increasing tariffs won’t solve the performance gap,” he said. Bode Fadipe, CEO of Sage Consulting, noted that while liquidity is critical, focusing only on tariff hikes without addressing structural and policy deficiencies will not fix the sector. Consumers like Abubakar Aliyu in Band C areas say they often receive less than six hours of electricity daily. “If service doesn’t improve, any tariff hike will be unjustifiable,” he said. As the nation faces rising inflation and economic strain, stakeholders are urging the government to approach the power sector reforms with a balanced mix of pricing, investment, and accountability.

By Kamal Yalwa: Abuja | July 8, 2025 Abayomi Arabambi, the factional National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), has declared that the party’s 2023 presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, will soon be formally expelled for alleged anti-party activities. In a strongly worded statement, Arabambi accused Obi of fraternising with rival political platforms, a move he described as unconstitutional and disloyal. He insisted that Obi had already been suspended before further engaging in acts that contradict the party’s constitution. “You don’t join a political party and at the same time put your leg in another. He knows it is unconstitutional to belong to two political parties,” Arabambi said. He criticised Obi’s alleged association with what he called the “Yahoo Yahoo coalition”—a veiled reference to the new ADC-led opposition alliance featuring key figures like Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Peter Obi, and others. Arabambi also dismissed the legitimacy of any caretaker committees or parallel party structures formed under Obi’s influence, asserting that both the Labour Party’s internal constitution and Section 222 of the Nigerian Constitution prohibit such arrangements. “We are convening a NEC meeting where he (Obi) will be expelled. The expulsion will be recommended at NEC and ratified at our national convention in line with our constitution,” he stated. The statement further deepens the crisis within the Labour Party, which has been plagued by internal factional battles and leadership disputes since the conclusion of the 2023 elections. While Peter Obi has yet to formally respond to these expulsion threats, his recent political moves, including attendance at opposition strategy meetings, have raised questions about his next political alignment ahead of the 2027 elections. The Julius Abure-led LP faction, to which Arabambi belongs, insists it is the only constitutionally recognised leadership of the party. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to issue an official statement regarding the legitimacy of either faction.