NEWS
NNPC Ltd launches crude theft monitoring applications
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) on Friday launched ‘Crude Theft Monitoring Applications’ to curb oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the launch was held in Abuja on the sideline of the signing of renewed Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) agreements between NNPC and its partners in Oil Mining Leases.
The portal with the address ‘stopcrudetheft.com’ could also be accessed through a mobile phone.
The portal has application options for reporting incidences, with prompt follow-up and responses, and another one for crude sales documents validation.
Speaking during the launch, Malam Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), NNPC Ltd. said ”vandals’ actions on pipelines became a difficult thing to deal with, but it engaged partners to ensure that it responded to the situation.”
According to the GCEO, there was involvement of government regulatory bodies, security agencies and host communities while it put up a robust framework to curtail the menace.
“There are still ongoing activities of oil thieves and vandals on our pipelines and assets, very visible in the form of illegal refineries that are continuously put up in some locations and insertions into our pipeline network.
“Arrests have been made and vessels have been arrested by Nigerian Navy, I commend the Armed forces, in the last three months, they have done substantive work and had destroyed some illegal refineries,” he said.
Kyari said international refineries where the stolen crude could be taken to had obligations to ensure they bought Nigerian crude from credible sources which could be validated.
He said, ”if they refused to do that, they would be held responsible as part of the culprits involved.”
He explained that the platforms were created for members of the communities and other Nigerians to report incidences of theft and be rewarded.
Kyari urged that on the international arena, companies must report suspicious sale.
He further said,”every product that left the country must have a unique registration number by the NNPC and validated by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
“Ahead of this, we are also creating a platform where end-users, particularly refiners and traders can validate the product.
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“We cannot do this without international collaboration. It is impossible for any refinery to take a crude they do not know the source, refineries are designed to process certain specific grade of crude.
“It is their duty to ensure that they validate this, because we have unique number of every crude that leaves this country,” he said.
The GCEO, while stating that it has a total coordination process now, said it had a line of sites around all marine movement in the country and had created a functional platform.
“We have visibility around everyone’s operations and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) is following everyone related to those transactions.
“Wherever there is massive movement of cash, EFCC will follow the person, we believe that the combination of all these will get us back to normalcy,” he said.
A lawsuit has been filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
The legal action seeks to nullify his appointment and bar the President from making similar decisions in other states.
The suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/572/2025, was initiated on Tuesday by Abuja-based lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, who argues that the appointment violates Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, is listed as the 1st defendant, while the Attorney-General of the Federation, Vice Admiral Ibas (Rtd.), and the Attorneys-General of the 36 states are named as the 2nd to 39th defendants.
Jideobi is urging the court to declare all decisions made by Ibas in his capacity as Sole Administrator unconstitutional and of no effect.
READ ALSO: Tinubu Swears In Ibas As Rivers Sole Administrator
He is also seeking an order preventing the President from appointing Sole Administrators in any state across Nigeria.
Through a team of lawyers led by Chimezie Enuka, the plaintiff is asking the court to rule on the following:
“Whether the President has the constitutional power to remove, suspend, or interfere with the tenure of an elected governor or deputy governor.
“Whether the suspension of the Rivers State Governor and Deputy Governor on March 18, 2025, was lawful.
“Whether the Constitution permits the appointment of a Sole Administrator to govern a state.
Jideobi contends that the only lawful means of removing a governor are outlined in Sections 180, 188, 189, 305, and 306 of the 1999 Constitution, none of which provide for the appointment of a Sole Administrator.
The plaintiff is asking the court to: overturn the suspension of the Rivers State Governor and Deputy Governor, Invalidate the appointment and swearing-in of Ibas as Sole Administrator, Order Ibas to immediately vacate the Government House in Rivers State and Issue an injunction stopping the President from appointing Sole Administrators in any Nigerian state.
In a 32-paragraph affidavit, Jideobi insists that Nigeria operates a federal system of government, where elected governors are not subject to presidential removal.
“As a lawyer, I have never seen the term ‘Sole Administrator’ in the 1999 Constitution,” he asserted.
He further argued that allowing the President to make such appointments could set a dangerous precedent, potentially leading to political instability in the country.
No hearing date has been scheduled yet.
The Senate has confirmed Sylvester Nwakuche as the new Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), following his appointment by President Bola Tinubu on December 13, 2024.
His appointment comes after the retirement of Haliru Nababa.
The confirmation was finalized during Tuesday’s plenary session after the Senate Committee on Interior, chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, submitted its report.
READ MORE: 12 Inmates Escape Kogi Prison, Authorities Launch Manhunt
Lawmakers unanimously approved the committee’s recommendation, officially endorsing Nwakuche’s leadership of the NCoS.
Announcing the confirmation, Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged Nwakuche to take urgent steps to enhance the security of correctional facilities across the country.
“We hope that under your leadership, the era of frequent jailbreaks in the country will come to an end,” Akpabio stated.
This call for improved security comes in the wake of a recent jailbreak at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Koton Karfe, Kogi State, where 12 inmates escaped in the early hours of Monday, resulting in the death of one correctional officer.
Suspended Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has petitioned the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), seeking the disbarment of Senator Nedamwem Imasuen, who currently serves as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
In her submission to the LPDC, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Imasuen of being previously disbarred in the United States for professional misconduct.
She cited a ruling from the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, dated May 10, 2010, which she claims found him guilty of fraud, misappropriation of client funds, and failure to respond to disciplinary authorities.
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To substantiate her claims, the senator provided a copy of the Justia New York Case Law 2010, titled Matter of Imasuen, and stated that she would present additional evidence from official records when the case is heard.
According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, Imasuen was disbarred after a complaint was lodged by Daphne Slyfield, a former client who had allegedly paid him significant legal fees but was later abandoned.
The US court determined that he had violated multiple professional rules, leading to his permanent removal from legal practice in the country.
Following his disbarment, Imasuen moved to Nigeria, where he continued to operate as a lawyer while also building a political career.
He eventually won a seat in the National Assembly as the Senator representing Edo South and was later appointed as the chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee, a position that requires unquestionable integrity.
Akpoti-Uduaghan argues that Imasuen failed to disclose this crucial part of his history, both in his legal career and during his political aspirations.
She specifically pointed out that he did not reveal his disbarment in his Form EC9—his sworn declaration of personal details submitted to INEC during his election bid.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition is closely linked to her recent six-month suspension from the Senate, which was enforced under Imasuen’s leadership.
She alleged that Imasuen ignored an interim order from the Federal High Court in Abuja, issued on March 4, which had restrained his committee from proceeding with disciplinary action against her.
According to her, despite receiving the court’s directive, Imasuen “acted in contempt of court” by going ahead with her suspension. She also accused him of deliberately attempting to undermine the judiciary by disregarding the ruling.
Legal experts suggest that if the LPDC rules in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s favor, Imasuen could face serious professional and political consequences, including the potential revocation of his ability to practice law in Nigeria.
As of now, Senator Imasuen has not publicly responded to the allegations.
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