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NNPC director faces contempt charge over alleged court order violations
A Director with the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mrs Fatima Yakubu, has been slammed with the contempt of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for allegedly violating the orders of the court.
If found guilty, the director would be risking a jail term of two years as punishment for disobedience to lawful order of court.
The contempt charge was Instituted against her by four staff of the NNPC, who are contributors to the NNPC Multipurpose Cooperative Society.
The four aggrieved staffers had in a suit marked: FCTHC/ABJ/CV/2640/2024, obtained an order from the Abuja high court which restrained 14 leaders of the NNPC Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society from parading themselves as officers of the Cooperative society.
Justice Charles Agbaza who issued the order while ruling on an ex-parte application of the four staffers also stopped the 14 people from taking any step in respect of the leadership of the Cooperative Society or holding themselves out as officers of the cooperative.
However in spite of the order of the court, Mrs Fatima Yakubu who is in charge of Human Resources Department of the NNPC was alleged to have given the portal of NNPC to the 14 people which they used to carry out a purported election for officers of the Cooperative Society.
At the proceedings however, the contempt charge could not proceed as two lawyers engaged in fierce legal battle on who should represent the NNPC Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society.
The two lawyers comprising a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) , Anthony Malik and Andrew Eche in the open court laid claim and counter claim to being the valid lawyer to the Cooperative Society.
In the drama that ensued, the senior lawyer, Anthony Malik pleaded with Justice Charles Agbaza to give him and the junior lawyer, Andrew Eche time to settle the issue of legal representation out of court.
Counsel to the aggrieved 4 Staff, George Ibrahim SAN from Ogwu James Onoja and Associates cut in and informed the court that the 14 persons sued are in contempt and cannot have any say until they have purged themselves of the contempt.
The senior lawyer pleaded with the court to resolve the issue of legal representation so as not to delay the case of his clients any further.
On his part, Eche drew the attention of Justice Charles Agbaza to an earlier order for one, Olalekan Ogunbayo, the President of the Cooperative Society to be in court to clear the issue of lawful legal representation for the Cooperative Society and that the person was in court.
Sensing the implications, Malik SAN objected to the move on the ground that it can lead to ridicule and embarrassment to his person and insisted that the issue be resolved with the junior lawyer out of court.
In a brief ruling, Justice Charles Agbaza shifted the matter till October 17 for the legal representation issue to be resolved and for the substantive issue to be determined.
The four plaintiffs in the suit are Eze Onwuneme, Chamberlin Ajagba, Alhaji Ibrahim Yakubu and Bello Mohammed Garba.
The defendants are Engr Josiah Gbemi Omole, Udo Iboro, Ituah Aikhena, Osondu Ibeji, Farouk Achimugu, Prince Etuwewe, Nura Bello, Micheal Adejoh, Sambo Abdulaziz. Vincent Orji, Saint Kamvene, Braimoh Sunday Joseph and Galadima Immanuel.
The rest are Engr Iliya Yusuf, Musa Garba Abubakar, NNPC Ltd Staff multipurpose Cooperative Society. Abuja.
The plaintiffs had applied for an order nullifying the purported appointment of the 2nd and 3rd defendants as President and General Secretary of the 16th defendant as well as the 4th and 15th defendant as members of the Management Committee.
They also sought an order of injunction restraining the 1st Defendant, his assigns, privies, servants or body or group of persons acting on his behalf from recognizing or giving effect to the 2nd-15th Defendants as President, General Secretary and members of the
Management Committee of the 16h Defendant.
Besides, they asked the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction restraining the 2nd- 15th Defendants and their agents or servants from parading themselves as Management Committee of the 16th Defendant.
The Nigeria Police Force said it has completed the extradition of Benjamin Best Nnayereugo, widely known as “Killaboi,” from Doha, Qatar, to Nigeria.
Killaboi, who had been on the run for the murder of Augusta Onuwabhagbe, was returned to the country in the early hours of today, Saturday, through the coordinated efforts of the Ministry of Justice, INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters Abuja and the Qatari Judicial Authorities.
The extradition followed a petition from the family of the deceased, submitted through their legal representatives, dated 29th September 2024.
A statement by Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumiyiwa Adejobi, said the matter was assigned to INTERPOL NCB Abuja, after which investigations revealed that the suspect murdered Onuwabhagbe, a 21-year-old first-class student of Lead City University, Ibadan, in his residence located at No. 24a Abiola Apooyi Street, Oral Estate, Ajah, Lagos, on 13th July 2023. After committing the crime, he fled Nigeria and later released an online video purporting to confess to the act, a deceptive strategy to derail investigative efforts.
Following his declaration as wanted by the NPF Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) on 13th October 2023, an INTERPOL Red Notice was issued for his global apprehension.
The statement said “He was initially arrested in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on 20th October 2023 under the false identity ‘KANU PRINCETON SAMUEL,” but escaped custody during a prison break on 26th November 2023 in Freetown.
“Further intelligence gathering revealed that the suspect continued to evade law enforcement, traversing multiple regions including West Africa, East Asia and the Middle East, under forged identities before eventually relocating to Doha, Qatar on 24th January, 2025. Operating under the alias “TOURE ABDOULAYE” with a fraudulent Guinean passport, he secured illegal employment and concealed his identity.
“Through robust international cooperation and the use of advanced biometrics, INTERPOL NCB Abuja, in collaboration with INTERPOL NCB Doha, confirmed his identity, leading to his arrest by Qatari authorities in February 2025. An official extradition request, processed via the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, was subsequently approved by the Qatari judicial authorities, resulting in his repatriation to Nigeria.”
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, while recognising the strength in the synergy amongst nations to curb trans-border crimes, commended the diligence of INTERPOL NCB Abuja.
He extended appreciation to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Government of Qatar, INTERPOL NCB Doha, and the Nigerian Embassy in Qatar for their invaluable collaboration in securing the fugitive’s return.
The Inspector-General of Police further assured the general public of the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to ensuring that the suspect faces diligent prosecution, as part of the NPF’s dedication to justice and the safety of all Nigerians.
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has appealed to the Federal Government to step up and deal with rising insecurity in the state as the death toll from the recent attacks by suspected herdsmen on Ukum and Logo local government areas in the state has risen to 56.
The governor made the call on Saturday when he visited the scenes of attacks by suspected herdsmen in Ukum and Logo local government areas to ascertain the impact of the attacks.
Addressing journalists after the visit to the affected communities in the two local government areas, Alia condemned the violent attacks on the defenseless people and called for greater action from security agencies to nip these killings in the bud.
The governor used the visit to engage with community leaders and their people whom he assured of a better deal in addressing all forms of insecurity.
He also called for calm and urged the people to resist the will to resort to self-help
Security has also been beefed up in the Sankera axis where these attacks happened to restore confidence, while emergency services and relief items have been extended to the two local government areas.
In neighbouring Plateau State, also in the North Central geopolitical zone, over 100 people have been killed in the last two weeks when bloodthirsty marauders unleashed mayhem on communities in the Bokkos and Bassa local government areas of Plateau State.
Muhammad Auwal Jatau, Bauchi deputy governor, has denied reports claiming that he slapped Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, during a high-profile event in the state.
The alleged incident was said to have taken place on Friday inside a white coaster bus conveying dignitaries from Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa international airport to the Bauchi emir’s palace.
The dignitaries were en route to the turbaning of Mohammed Abubakar, a former governor of the state.
According to unverified reports, an argument broke out after the minister allegedly made disparaging comments about Bala Mohammed, Bauchi state governor.
Jatau was said to have slapped the minister in reaction, reportedly in the presence of Vice-President Kashim Shettima and other prominent figures.
But Muslim Lawal, spokesperson to the deputy governor, described the claim as “false and baseless”.
“No, no, no, how can the deputy governor slap the minister? I don’t think that ever happened in Bauchi because I know my principal is a responsible person,” he said.
“The number two person cannot slap a minister or whoever person that people are talking about. We are not even aware of that. I am just hearing this from you.”
Lawal questioned the credibility of the viral report and called on anyone with evidence to present it.
“Did you see the evidence of the slap? I didn’t see it, I’m just hearing about that from you,” he said.
“But my belief is that there is no way the deputy governor will slap a minister. I don’t think such can ever happen in Bauchi, not even my principal or whoever is in his position.”
He said there was no reasonable provocation for such an act.
“What is even the issue that will make the deputy governor slap a minister?” he asked.
“I was not in the car and if there is any evidence that the deputy governor did such, maybe we can speak on that, but as of now, I don’t even know about it. That’s our position.
“And I don’t even think that the deputy governor, even if it is not in the presence of the vice-president, can do that.”