NEWS
Afenifere, Obi Laud Babalola For Withdrawing Suits Against Farotimi

The decision of legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola to withdraw the defamation and cyberbullying suits he filed against human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi has met with widespread commendations.
Biztellers reports that top among those praising Chief Babalola’s decision are the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organisation, Afenifere and the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in Nigeria’s 2023 elections, Peter Obi.
They barred their minds on Monday, according to The PUNCH.
Recall that Babalola and Farotimi had been locked in a legal battle since last year, on the grounds of Babalola’s complaint that Farotimi defamed him in a book titled ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.
ALSO READ: JUST IN: Oba Ogunwusi Prevails On Babalola To Withdraw Suit Against Farotimi
Sequel to Babalola’s petition, the Ekiti State Police Command arrested Farotimi in Lagos State and arraigned him before two courts in Ekiti.
The charges proffered against Farotimi before the Ekiti State Magistrates’ Court in Ado Ekiti and the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti, were criminal defamation and alleged cyber-bullying, respectively.
The activist was remanded for 20 days before he could perfect his bail and regain freedom on December 24, 2024.
Biztellers reported on Monday, that Babalola, revealed his intention to withdraw the court cases against Farotimi, on the intervention of Yoruba monarchs, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
In his words, “I will tell my lawyers to withdraw the case,” Babalola said after a midnight meeting with the traditional rulers at ABUAD.
Consequently, the Afenifere issued a reaction through its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, Afenifere, who had earlier called for Farotimi’s release.
In a statement on Monday, Ajayi commended Babalola for accepting the olive branch waved by the royal fathers.
Afenifere said that by heeding the calls of the traditional rulers “Aare Afe Babalola has demonstrated, as a true Yoruba son, certain core ethos of being an Omoluabi.
“He came to defend his reputation and when he was appealed to by our foremost traditional institutions, he dropped the gauntlet. This is highly commendable.
“We also applaud Ooni and other monarchs ‘for the bold step they took’, he stated.
‘They acted as true elders in line with the saying ‘Agba kii wa loja, ki ori omo titun wo’ – Elders would not sit-by in a marketplace to watch the dangling head of a child!’
“This act has further demonstrated the valuable roles that our Obas – who are the custodians of our culture and tradition – can play in the society, if given the chance,” he added.
In a similar vein, Obi, who had also last year visited Babalola over the matter, described Monday’s outcome as positive.
Obi spoke through his media aide, Ibrahim Umar.
The former Governor, Anambra State said, “We are pleased that this matter has been resolved amicably, and we believe that this outcome is a testament to the power of dialogue, and constructive engagement. Let me set the record straight: Obi’s visit to Afe Babalola was not about begging for pardon for Dele Farotimi, but rather a genuine effort at intervention and conflict resolution.
“As a leader, Obi recognises the importance of peaceful resolution of disputes, and his actions were guided by this principle. Now, with the news that Afe Babalola has agreed to withdraw the suit against Dele Farotimi, we welcome this development as a positive outcome of Obi’s intervention.
“This decision demonstrates that Chief Babalola is also committed to finding peaceful solutions to conflicts, and we commend him for this gesture. It’s worth noting that Mr. Obi’s actions were driven by his desire to facilitate a peaceful resolution that would allow all parties to move forward positively and constructively,” he stated.
At the reconciliatory meeting led by the Ooni were the Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro; the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole: the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu; the Oloye of Oye Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju; and the Alaaye of Efon Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare.
Babalola, who restated the importance of the Yoruba traditional institution and the influence it wielded, said, “The monarchs are here, they have appealed to me over a criminal charge involving somebody who said I was corrupt.”
According to Babalola, he felt so bad that Farotimi accused him of winning all his cases through corruption; hence, he rejected all earlier appeals to him to take the cases out of court.
He also listed those who earlier appealed to him to take the matter out of court, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah; and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adejugbe.
He said, “If you go through the pamphlet (Farotimi’s book), you will find that he attacked many judges by names, he attacked Supreme Court judges, and none is bothered, but I am bothered. I am bothered because of where and how I started life, from the farm to where I am.
“There is nothing I am going to gain from his imprisonment, there is nothing I am going to gain from so-called damages. I am not on the quest for more wealth, but rather, how to spend what I have for the benefit of others. The only time I am happy is when I give.
“The request is simple, take away this criminal case in court. When Obasanjo wrote, he came here, I said no. When Kukah phoned and came, I said no, but on this occasion, I say yes. Thank you, Kabiyesis. I will speak to my lawyers to withdraw it.”
The Ooni, Oba Ogunwusi, who spoke on behalf of Yoruba monarchs, had requested Babalola to withdraw the case in court, assuring him that “Nobody can tarnish your name. Your name is more than silver and gold and you have stood for your name with the message that nobody can joke with your name.”
Oba Ogunwusi, who acknowledged Babalola’s contributions to the development of Yoruba, Nigeria and the world, said, “We (monarchs) came here to discuss the matter with him and he gave full respect to the obas and agreed.
“We, the obas, can attest to the hard work of Aare Afe Babalola and how he has invested so hard to build his name. The name cannot be tarnished or rubbished by anyone. Aare Afe Babalola has proven to the world that he cherishes his name and the world has heard him clearly.
“Baba, we want to appeal and also use our race to instruct you. Dele Farotimi is your son, you may not know him, we give birth to different children in this world, some are tough, some are soft, some are hard. Why we are here is our ethos as a race.
“We are using our race because some of our elders in Yorubaland and even beyond Yorubaland have spoken, but combining forces with the traditional institution, we have heard you, enough, enough and enough. Your name is intact. We have resolved the matter in our own way, we have done the needful,” the Ooni said.
NEWS
BREAKING: Kyari Rubishes Fuel Quality Talks As Mere Drama, Bad Marketing Antics

. . . Insists NNPC Ltd Didn’t Import Products This Year
. . . Says Importation A Standard Industry Practice Worldwide
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari has flayed talks about the existence of sub-standard fuel in Nigeria, describing it as unfortunate drama and bad marketing practice.
Kyari, who was speaking while fielding questions at a fireside chat during the 60th Nigeria Mining & Geosciences Society (NMGS) Conference in Abuja said the NNPC Ltd, and indeed the country does not have any issues of quality in the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol across the country.
“The talk around fuel quality is unfortunate and a very bad marketing practice. It’s all drama and entertainment and as we know, drama has a way of entertaining the people,” Kyari stated.
ALSO READ: Atiku Bombs Tinubu Over Violence In Osun State
He said Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has quality standards which are obtainable in every country and there are no two countries that have the same standards.
Citing an example, Kyari said in Europe, oxygenate (a fuel additive) has to be introduced into PMS otherwise it will solidify the tank in people’s cars. But if the same fuel additive is introduced into cars in Nigeria, it turns to water once it gets into contact with air.
In essence, Kyari said, what is required by law to be introduced in one country, it is also required by law not to be introduced in another country.
He added that in the case of Nigeria, the country has standard regulatory agencies such as the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Regulatory Agency (NMDPRA), whose job is to ensure that every product that comes into this country meets the required products specifications and standards.
“I believe these regulatory agencies are doing their job. They have not come back to tell anyone that we have substandard products in the country,” Kyari told the audience.
The NNPC Ltd helmsman said the Company has already taken the necessary legal and security steps to ensure that people (behind such video) don’t mess up the country.
He said the implications of such acts are not only on NNPC Ltd anymore but more about messing up the whole country.
Kyari, who maintained that people can have their frustrations, cautioned that falsehood should never be extended into business.
The GCEO also debunked reports claiming that NNPC Ltd has imported 200 million litres of fuel in February this year.
“These are just lies, because we didn’t even import products within that window that the report was published. All the mischief about aligning this fictitious importation with the so-called low-quality fuel are just baseless,” he stated.
He explained that importation is a normal practice in the Industry, as every country imports petroleum products, including the United States.
He said Nigeria has supplied petroleum products to countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which doesn’t mean that there are no refineries in those countries.
Earlier in an address, Kyari charged members of the Nigerian Mining & Geosciences Society (NMGS) to embrace new technologies and foster a culture of continuous improvement in order to maximise the nation’s natural resources and generate more revenue for the country.
The Conference, which has as its theme “Transformation of the Mineral, Energy, Water, and Construction Sectors through Innovation”, focused on conversations around mining industry reforms, policy enhancements, and broader public appreciation of geoscience’s role in national development.
NEWS
Senate Corrects Errors In 2025 Budget, Adjusts Key Allocations

In a move to correct discrepancies in the 2025 Appropriations Bill, the Senate has revised several budgetary allocations after errors were discovered during the final cleaning and realignment process by the Joint Committee on Appropriations.
The adjustments, which primarily affected recurrent expenditure, pensions, and capital projects, were necessary to ensure fiscal accuracy. Key revisions include:
Ministry of Defence: Reduced from ₦2.51 trillion to ₦2.49 trillion
Ministry of Police Affairs: Adjusted from ₦1.225 trillion to ₦1.224 trillion
Total Pensions, Gratuity, and Retirement Benefits: Increased from ₦950 billion to ₦1.44 trillion
Military Pensions and Gratuities: Revised from ₦252.6 billion to ₦383.9 billion
National Pension Commission (PENCOM): Increased from ₦529.4 billion to ₦804.7 billion
Similarly, the Senate made reductions in capital allocations for several key ministries:
Presidency: Cut from ₦144.4 billion to ₦142.7 billion
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security: Reduced from ₦1.95 trillion to ₦1.83 trillion
Federal Ministry of Works: Adjusted from ₦2.04 trillion to ₦2 trillion
Federal Ministry of Education: Decreased from ₦953.9 billion to ₦944.6 billion
READ MORE: BREAKING: Reps Approves N54.99trn 2025 Budget
Despite these changes, the overall budget size remains ₦54.99 trillion, with allocations for Statutory Transfers (₦3.64 trillion) and Debt Service (₦14.31 trillion) left unchanged.
However, Recurrent (Non-Debt) Expenditure has increased to ₦13.58 trillion, while Capital Expenditure has been adjusted downward to ₦23.43 trillion.
Citing Orders 1(B) and 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders (2023, as amended), the Senate resolved to rescind its earlier decision on the affected line items and the bill’s long title.
The corrected bill has now been recommitted to the Committee of Supply for reconsideration and final passage.
Lawmakers say the corrections are necessary to ensure the budget is implemented with greater accuracy and fiscal responsibility.
NEWS
NNPC Declares Recruitment Exercise Successful

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has declared its recently concluded recruitment exercise successful.
The state oil major made the claim in a statement via its socials on Monday, in which, its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, disclosed that offer letters for employment would be issued to successful candidates.
He maintained that the recruitment exercise was conducted with the utmost fairness, transparency, and rigour.
He wrote, “NNPC Limited is delighted to announce the successful conclusion of its recruitment exercise, which was conducted with the utmost fairness, transparency, and rigour, and is highly regarded as one of the best in the country.
ALSO READ: BOF Receives Donation Of Medical Equipment From NNPC-SNEPCo
“Following this completion, successful candidates will be receiving their appointment letters.”
He expressed gratitude to all applicants who participated in the process, and hope that those who were not successful at the instance, “will look forward to future opportunities”.
“We express our sincere gratitude to all applicants who participated in the process. We are hopeful that those who were not selected this time will look forward to future opportunities with NNPC Limited.
“We continue to uphold our commitment to excellence and equal opportunity in our hiring processes as we strive to build a world-class energy company,” the statement concluded.