Author: oduduwanews

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a reduction in its ex-depot price for petrol to ₦840 per litre, marking a ₦40 decrease from the previous rate of ₦880.

The move signals a positive shift for downstream operators and may offer some relief to consumers grappling with rising fuel costs.

This price cut comes just five days after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited raised the official pump price of petrol in Lagos to ₦925 per litre. The timing suggests a potential reaction to competitive market dynamics or efforts to stabilize local pricing.

Only a week ago, Dangote refinery had increased its ex-depot petrol price to ₦880, making the latest move a swift reversal. The fluctuation in pricing underscores the volatility in the domestic fuel supply chain, influenced by both internal strategies and global market forces.

According to a Monday update by Anthony Chiejina, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of Dangote Group, the price reduction reflects current trends in international oil markets. Brent crude oil, for instance, fell by 1.54 percent—from $68.67 on June 23 to $67.61—by the close of business.

Looking ahead, the refinery reiterated its commitment to improving domestic fuel supply. It confirmed plans to commence nationwide distribution of diesel and petrol by August 15, a key milestone in its commercial operations.

To support this expansion, Dangote has acquired 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered tankers. The new fleet is expected to enhance fuel delivery efficiency while supporting cleaner energy initiatives across Nigeria’s transportation network.

An Ikeja Special Offences Court has sentenced a 45-year-old pastor, Ndukwe Ogbu, to 25 years in prison for defiling his 14-year-old daughter (name withheld).

In her judgement on Monday, Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe held that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt the three-count charge of defilement, sexual assault, and sexual assault by penetration against the convict.

The judge also noted that Mr Ogbu showed no remorse for the crime when he pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, citing that he had other children to care for.

She consequently found him guilty of the three-count charge brought against him by the Lagos State government. According to the judge, the testimonies of the medical doctor and social worker corroborated that of the survivor.

The convict was arraigned sometime in February 2021 and the trial commenced on Oct. 18, 2021. During trial, the prosecution called three witnesses and tendered exhibits, while the convict testified as the sole defence witness.

The first prosecution witness, Femi Oyeleke, a social worker, told the court that he reported the case to the police. The survivor and a medical doctor also testified against the convict.

In her testimony, the survivor identified the convict as her father and told the court that she was 14 years old when the abuse began. She told the court that her father had sexual intercourse with her on several occasions and threatened her not to tell anybody. The survivor said she later confided in her teacher in school who reported the case to the social worker.

The defendant, however, denied all the claims and maintained that he was not at home as claimed by his daughter. He confirmed to the court that he lived in the same apartment as the survivor, but she had her own separate room.

He also stated that he lost his wife when the children were young and the other children lived in the village with their maternal grandmother.

A Magistrate Court in Ganmo has ordered the remand of Alhaja Kafilat Kaola, a prominent Islamic figure and Ibadan-based On Air presenter, at the Oke Kura Correctional Centre.

The ruling follows allegations of defamation against Alhaji Taofeek Akewugbagold, the Wazeer Muslimeen of Oyo State and a respected Islamic cleric. Details of the alleged defamatory statements remain undisclosed, but the case has reignited public interest in the longstanding tensions between the two figures.

Background of the Case

Kaola’s remand comes amid claims that she made statements damaging to Akewugbagold’s reputation. While specific details are limited, the legal action underscores a growing judicial focus on defamation cases in Kwara State. In 2023, social media influencer Abdulazeez Adegbola, known as Tani Olohun, faced similar charges for allegedly defaming the Emir of Ilorin and other Islamic scholars, highlighting the court’s stance on public defamation.

Akewugbagold’s Prominence and Past Controversies

Alhaji Taofeek Akewugbagold, former Chairman of the Oyo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, is a revered figure in Nigeria’s Islamic community. In 2021, he was named Wazeer Muslimeen of Oyo State, a prestigious title likened to a “Prime Minister” in Islamic hierarchy. At the conferment, Kaola publicly praised Akewugbagold’s generosity and contributions to the Muslim community. However, their relationship has since soured, with the current defamation case pointing to unresolved tensions.

Akewugbagold has faced significant challenges in the past. In 2020, his twin children were kidnapped in Ibadan, leading to the arrest of six suspects charged with conspiracy, kidnapping, and illegal possession of firearms. The high-profile case, heard in an Oyo State High Court, drew widespread attention and raised questions about Akewugbagold’s vulnerability due to his public stature.

Ongoing Tensions and Legal Implications

The defamation case suggests deeper, possibly private, conflicts between Kaola and Akewugbagold, potentially amplified by public or social media interactions. As the investigation continues, the case highlights the increasing use of legal avenues to address reputational disputes in Nigeria’s religious and social spheres.

The court’s decision has sparked varied reactions, with some expressing hope for a fair resolution. The legal proceedings are expected to shed light on the nature of the allegations and the future of relations between these prominent figures.

According to a police report issued by the Divisional Police Officer of Yemetu Division, CSP Fayiwole Julius Oluwadare, the arrests followed an early morning patrol on June 27, 2025, at about 6:00 a.m., led by ASP Atilola Wasiu.

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested six suspected armed robbers and recovered firearms and dangerous weapons during a stop-and-search operation in Ibadan.

According to a police report issued by the Divisional Police Officer of Yemetu Division, CSP Fayiwole Julius Oluwadare, the arrests followed an early morning patrol on June 27, 2025, at about 6:00 a.m., led by ASP Atilola Wasiu.

Scores of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Omoluabi Progressive Group, loyal to former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State.

The mass defection took place over the weekend during a ceremony organised by the APC in Ejigbo Local Government Area and held at the Ilupeju Multipurpose Hall.

Receiving the defectors, Senator Mudashiru Husain, the Ejigbo APC apex leader and governorship hopeful, described the development as a major boost for the party ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

Husain noted that despite APC’s current position as the opposition party in Osun, its ranks continue to swell due to what he called “purposeful and inclusive leadership.”

He said the influx of new members from PDP and Omoluabi Group was evidence of growing support for APC’s ideals of social welfarism, economic growth, and human capital development, championed by President Bola Tinubu.

“The team spirit among our leaders in Ejigbo is working. Our efforts have yielded results, and this is just the beginning,” Husain stated.

He urged the new defectors to remain steadfast in their commitment to progressive politics, assuring them of fairness and equal opportunities within the party.

Speaking on his governorship ambition, Husain said it was not a do-or-die affair but a responsibility grounded in loyalty, experience, and grassroots acceptance.

Leaders of the defectors, Hon. Wole Olajire of the Omoluabi Group and Hon. Kareem Mubarak from PDP, cited disillusionment with their former platforms and confidence in APC’s leadership as reasons for their move.

Ejigbo LG Chairman, Hon. Ayegbayo Gbolahan, West LCDA Chairman, Hon. Olayanju Kolapo, and APC LG Chairman, Hon. Lateef Adegoke, also pledged full support to the new members and committed to working for APC’s victory in 2026.

There is growing fear in parts of Kwara State as bandits launched multiple attacks on communities in Edu Local Government Area, kidnapping several residents and injuring others within 24 hours.

In the early hours of Sunday, gunmen invaded Lafiagi town and abducted a well-known agro-chemical dealer popularly known as Alhaji Chemical. The attack occurred around 1 a.m. along Taiwo Road, causing panic among residents.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers were heavily armed and engaged local hunters in a brief gun duel before overpowering them and escaping with the victim. “They came around 1 a.m., started shooting, and went straight to his house. The hunters fought back, but the bandits had more weapons,” a resident said.

Barely hours after the Lafiagi incident, another attack was reported in Kokodo village, a border community between Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas, where two Hausa men were kidnapped around midnight on Monday.

According to villagers, the Kokodo attack happened just two hours after the kidnapping of a POS operator in Lafiagi town. The bandits, armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the community and took the victims from their homes.

During the Kokodo invasion, a teenage girl reportedly escaped from the kidnappers, while a resident who attempted to raise the alarm was shot by the attackers.

“The bandits came with heavy weapons. They kidnapped two men and shot a man who tried to shout for help,” a source told The Informant247.

These incidents follow closely on the heels of a deadly attack on Lile village in Patigi LGA, where several residents were killed, and bandits demanded a N200 million levy from the community.

Banditry has become increasingly rampant in Kwara North, especially in Edu and Patigi LGAs, where communities are being frequently targeted for ransom-related abductions.

In a renewed fight against economic saboteurs targeted at critical national assets and infrastructures of government across the country, the ondo state command officers have intensified intelligence-led surveillance across the state.

Acting on credible intelligence, the command tactical team on 26th June, 2025 at about 1000hrs, intercepted and arrested four suspected vandals at old Ore Toll Gate, Lagos Expressway, Odigbo LGA.

The suspects have been identified as:
• Mogaji Ibrahim, 40 years old, male, of Kano State,
• Umaru Adamu, 32 years old, male, of Yobe State.

• Abba Muhazu, 19 years old, male, of Yobe state, and
• Adamu Idris, 25 years old, also from Yobe state
  They were apprehended while transporting vandalised telecommunication wires,PHCN equipment such as transformer parts, high tension cables, copper and armoured cables and other cut-to-size metal objects from Kano to Lagos.

The exhibits have been recovered and secured as evidence. The suspects are currently in custody, and investigations are ongoing to uncover the master minds and the likely syndicates.

The state Commandant has warned all criminal elements in the state and those using the state as a thoroughfare to other states to stay clear of ondo state as operatives of the command are on high alert to flush out criminal elements from the state.

Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ibadan’s outer city zone have warned Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, against extravagant spending and poor financial management.

Their concerns focus on controversial state projects, including the proposed ₦63.5 billion renovation of the Agodi Government House and the ₦14.3 billion payment for an Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the Ladoke Akintola Airport—projects they claim already received significant prior funding.

In a communiqué issued after their quarterly meeting at the APC Secretariat in Egbeda, the party leaders criticized what they called “unnecessary spending” despite the state’s public debt nearing ₦500 billion. They noted the state receives over ₦22 billion in federal allocations and about ₦10 billion monthly in internally generated revenue.

They urged the government to prioritize prudent financial planning and channel fuel subsidy savings into long-term development.

Notable signatories included Alhaji Kamorudeen Ajisafe, Rasaki Akilapa, Moshood Erubami, and others. Senator Yunus Akintunde (Oyo Central) was also in attendance to support the party leadership.

The Ondo State Police Command on Thursday said it had arrested a man Chief Adeniyi Ifedayo, for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl in Laaagba community in Ondo East Local Government Area of the state.

Ifedayo, who was the traditional ruler of the community, was said to have lured the girl into his house in the community and harboured her in the house for two weeks, where he allegedly harassed her sexually.

A source stated that the victim was allegedly lured to the house of the traditional ruler by a yet to be identified commercial motorcycle rider in the community, adding that the suspect allegedly kept her in his house for two weeks and fed her with pap, while he assaulted her sexually on a daily basis.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Olayinka Ayanlade, who confirmed the arrest of the suspect, said the matter had been transferred to the state headquarters of the command.

He simply stated, ” The case has been transferred to the headquarters, and a thorough investigation is ongoing.”

Meanwhile state chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists Inna statement, has condemned the alleged sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl by the suspect.

In the statement issued by the Chairperson and the Secretary of the group, Mrs Tola Gbadamosi and Tosin Ighoteguono respectively, the association urged the state government and security agencies to ensure the suspect faces the full weight of the law.