Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, governor, Olayemi Cardoso, says the 1,000 staff who left the bank were not forced to leave.

Cardoso stated this on Friday at the resumed House of Representatives investigative hearing on the disengagement of the 1,000 workers by the CBN.

The apex bank, on December 4, 2024, said its Early Exit Package, EEP, was entirely voluntary and without any negative consequence for eligible staff.

This comes amid reports that 1,000 staff were sacked from the apex bank.

Reacting to the development, however, the House of Representatives ordered the CBN to suspend the planned retirement of 1,000 staff.

The green chamber had also established an ad hoc committee to probe the process and legality of the exercise.

At the resumption of the investigative hearing on Friday, the CBN governor, however, said the 1,000 members of staff were not forced to quit.

Represented by CBN’s deputy director of corporate service, Bala Bello, the apex bank boss also said the early exit programme, the restructuring and reorganisation was to optimise the bank for enhanced efficiency.

“They are basically ways and means through which the performance of an organisation is optimised by putting, ensuring that round pegs are put in right holes.

“The manpower requirement of the bank is actually met. I’m very happy to mention, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, that the early exit program of the central bank is 100 percent voluntary.

“It’s not mandatory. Nobody has been asked to leave, and nobody has been forced to leave. It’s a completely voluntary programme that has been put in place.

“I believe several organisations across the world, and even within this country, both in the private sector and the public sector, are undertaking similar exercises.

“So nobody has been asked to leave. With a lot of humility, I will tell you that this same program that is taking place is not at the instance of the bank,” Cardoso said.

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has announced that the state government will subsidise the cost of petrol to N600 per litre for farmers in communities affected by Boko Haram insurgency.

A statement on Saturday by the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on New media, Abdulrahman Bundi, said Zulum announced the subsidy on Friday evening during the flagged-off distribution of farm inputs to over 5,000 farmers displaced by Boko Haram insurgents in Bama town.

He said a litre of petrol sold between N1,000 and N1,200 in Maiduguri will be subsidised to the farmers for N600.

“This is aimed at alleviating the financial burdens faced by farmers in communities that have suffered economic and infrastructural destruction due to years of conflict.

“One of the major challenges that are facing the farming communities here as regards irrigation farming is the increasing cost of fuel. As a result, I want to announce to the general public that the government will procure petroleum products and sell them to the farmers at a subsidised rate. A litre of petrol is being sold in Maiduguri at the cost of about N1,200, but inshallah, henceforth, for irrigation farmers this season, a litre of petrol will be sold at the rate of N600.

“The Commissioner for Agriculture will work with the Brigade Commander to ensure the delivery of the petroleum products to farmers in Bama town as soon as possible,” he quoted the governor.

He said Zulum distributed farm inputs, including 2000 bags of blended NPK fertiliser, 1000 units of water pumps, and 620 units of gasoline pumps.

According to him, other materials include 380 units of solar water pumps, 1000 units of sprayers, 800 rolls of 2-inch flexible hoses, and 1000 litres of pesticides and seeds, among other items.

He said Zulum expressed gratitude to the federal government for the tremendous support of his administration’s effort in reconstructing and resettling communities affected by insurgency.

South Korea’s political leadership was in uncharted territory Saturday after the sitting president resisted arrest over a failed martial law decree days before the warrant expires.

In scenes of high drama on Friday, Yoon Suk Yeol’s presidential guards and military troops shielded the former star prosecutor from investigators, who called off their arrest attempt citing safety concerns.

The South Korean president was impeached and suspended last month after the bungled martial law declaration — a political move swiftly overturned by parliament — with a separate warrant later issued for his arrest.

“There was a standoff. While we estimated the personnel blocking us to be around 200, there could have been more,” an official from the investigation team said Friday on condition of anonymity.

“It was a dangerous situation.”

Yoon faces criminal charges of insurrection, one of a few crimes not subject to presidential immunity, meaning he could be sentenced to prison or, at worst, the death penalty.

If the warrant is carried out, Yoon would become the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested.

Since his impeachment, Yoon has holed up in his presidential residence in the capital Seoul, where he has refused to emerge for questioning three times.

The unprecedented showdown — which reportedly included clashes but no shots fired — left the arrest attempt by investigators in limbo with the court-ordered warrant set to expire on Monday.

Officials from the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), probing Yoon over his martial law decree, could make another bid to arrest him before then.

But if the warrant lapses, they may apply for another.

The Constitutional Court slated January 14 for the start of Yoon’s impeachment trial, which if he does not attend would continue in his absence.

Former presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Park Geun-hye never appeared for their impeachment trials.

Yoon’s lawyers decried Friday’s arrest attempt as “unlawful and invalid” and vowed to take legal action.

Two top officials from Yoon’s presidential security service also refused a police request to appear for questioning on Saturday, citing the “serious nature” of protecting him, the service said in a statement sent to AFP.

Experts said investigators could wait for greater legal justification before arresting the suspended president again.

“It may be challenging to carry out the arrest until the Constitutional Court rules on the impeachment motion and strips him of the presidential title,” Chae Jin-won of Humanitas College at Kyung Hee University told AFP.

South Korean media reported that CIO officials had wanted to arrest Yoon and take him to their office in Gwacheon near Seoul for questioning.

After that, he could have been held for up to 48 hours on the existing warrant. Investigators would have needed to apply for another arrest warrant to keep him in custody.

Yoon has remained defiant and told his right-wing supporters this week he would fight “to the very end” for his political survival.

By the time investigators arrived to arrest Yoon, he had layered his presidential compound with hundreds of security forces to prevent it.

Around 20 investigators and 80 police officers were heavily outnumbered by around 200 soldiers and security personnel linking arms to block their way.

A tense six-hour standoff ensued until Friday afternoon when the investigators were forced to U-turn.

The investigators said in a statement on Friday they would ask Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who was installed as acting president a week ago, to back the warrant.

The weeks of political turmoil have threatened the country’s stability.

South Korea’s key security ally, the United States, called for the political elite to work towards a “stable path” forward.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to maintaining bilateral ties on Friday.

Outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to hold talks in Seoul on Monday, with one eye on US-South Korea relations and another on nuclear-armed North Korea.

Former President Donald Trump has fiercely criticised ongoing legal proceedings, labelling them as “witch hunt” following a New York judge’s decision to set January 10 as the date for his sentencing in the hush money case.

In a posted on Truth Social Friday, Mr Trump further escalated his position against the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and the court system, dismissing Justice Juan Merchan’s scheduled January 10 sentence as a politically motivated attack.

He said, “This illegitimate political attack is nothing but a rigged charade. “Acting” Justice Merchan, who is a radical partisan, just issued another order that is knowingly unlawful, goes against our Constitution and, if allowed to stand, would be the end of the Presidency as we know it. Merchan has so little respect for the Constitution that he is keeping in place an illegal gag order on me, your President and President Elect, just so I cannot expose his and his family’s disqualifying and illegal conflicts. I am the only Political Opponent in American History not allowed to defend myself – A despicable First Amendment Violation!.”

Mr Trump referenced various legal scholars and pundits who opposed to the case, saying “Every Legal Scholar and Pundit, including the highly respected, and sadly recently passed, David Rivkin, as well as Jonathan Turley, Elie Honig, Andy McCarthy, Alan Dershowitz, Gregg Jarrett, Elizabeth Price Foley, Katie and Andy Cherkasky, Paul Ingrassia, and many others, have unequivocally stated that the Manhattan D.A.’s Witch Hunt is a nonexistent case, which is not only barred by the Statute of Limitations but, on the merits, should never have been brought.”

This reaction followed a decision of a New York judge to set January 10 as the date to sentence U.S former and President-elect Donald Trump in hush money case.

The scheduled sentencing came days before Mr Trump would be inaugurated for a second term in office and would see him become the first American president convicted of criminal offences.

“Only by bringing finality to this matter will the interests of justice be served,” Judge Merchan wrote in a decision issued on Friday.

Judge Merchan noted that Trump is likely to receive a “conditional discharge” — a legal resolution where the case is dismissed if the defendant avoids further legal trouble.

“A sentence of an unconditional discharge appears to be the most viable solution to ensure finality and allow the defendant to pursue his appellate options,” the judge explained.

Mr Trump’s conviction stemmed from 34 counts of falsifying business records related to an alleged attempt to cover up a hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the final weeks of his 2016 presidential campaign.

Ms Daniels claimed the two had a sexual encounter years earlier, which Trump denied. The payment was reportedly intended to prevent Ms Daniels from going public with her allegations.

The Federal Road Safety Corps on Friday said 222 people were killed in road crashes in Oyo state in 2024.

FRSC disclosed this in Ibadan in its end-of-the-year statistics signed by the sector commander, Rosemary Alo.

Ms Alo said the figure indicated a reduction compared to the 270 deaths recorded in 2023.

According to her, the figures emanated from 304 road crashes recorded in 2024 and 495 crashes in 2023, respectively.

The sector commander noted that the statistics indicated that 779 people were injured in crashes in 2024 compared with 1,321 in 2023.

“1,795 people were involved in road crashes in 2024, while 2,935 people got involved in 2023. The number of crashed vehicles reduced to 412 in 2024 from 794 recorded in 2023,” she said.

The sector commander attributed the 2024 road traffic crash data reduction to aggressive stakeholders’ sensitisation programmes and enforcement exercises of the corps in 2024.

Ms Alo added that the corps embarked on inclusive advocacy in 2024, sensitising passengers to always engage their rights to speak out when a driver drives recklessly.

“Initially, the focus has always been on drivers, but now, we are telling passengers to note that more people lose their lives in an accident than the driver.

“So, passengers must not be complacent when the driver fails to obey traffic rules,” she said.

She, however, urged drivers and commuters to always see their safety on the road as a joint responsibility to avoid loss of lives and property.

The Kwara Police Command has promised to arrest those involved in Wednesday’s killing of a retired controller of works, Abdulrazaq Ajani, in Ilorin.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, gave the assurance in Ilorin on Friday while presenting an update on the incident.

According to the spokesperson, investigations are ongoing to arrest and make those found culpable face the law.

“No arrest has been made as of this moment, but our police detectives are working assiduously to unravel this tragic incident.

“Kwara Police Command commiserates with the entire family of the Ajanis’; we pray that God Almighty consoles and comforts members of the family he left behind.

“Further updates will be communicated as investigations progress,” she said.

Mr Ajani was reported murdered by four young persons.

He was said to have been trailed to his residence at Dele Gege Street, Aderoju, Tanke, area of Ilorin, on Wednesday.

The incident occurred about 3:00 p.m., a few minutes after Mr Ajani and his family returned from Offa, their hometown, where they celebrated the New Year.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will embark on a diplomatic tour of Africa, visiting Nigeria, Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, and Chad from January 5 to 11.

This trip is significant as it marks the 35th consecutive year that China’s foreign minister has chosen Africa as the destination for their first overseas trip of the year.

In a statement released on Friday, the spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning, said the visit highlights the importance of maintaining strong ties with African nations.

Ning said, “Wang Yi’s visit is at the invitation of these countries and reinforces China’s long-standing tradition of strengthening Sino-African relations.”

According to Ning, Chinese President Xi Jinping made some proposals at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation last year.

He suggested upgrading bilateral relations between China and African countries with diplomatic ties to strategic relations and elevating China-Africa relations to an “all-weather community with a shared future” for the new era.

This vision is built on advancing modernization in six key areas and implementing 10 partnership actions, which aim to strengthen cooperation in areas like trade, industrialisation, infrastructure development, and people-to-people exchanges.

These actions include initiatives such as building a platform for governance experience sharing, a China-Africa knowledge network, and 25 centres for China and Africa studies.

Ning added that the African side responded positively to these proposals.

A commercial long bus, popularly known as a ‘Molue’ was involved in an accident at Ahmadiyya inward Abule-Egba axis of Lagos State, resulting in the injury of several passengers, while others escaped through the bus’s windows.

Eight individuals, including five males and three females, suffered varying degrees of injuries. Among those injured was the bus driver, who sustained a fractured left arm.

This was disclosed in a statement by Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, on Friday, January 3.

According to Taofiq, the injured passengers have been handed over to LASAMBUS medical personnel and transported to the General Hospital at Ile-Epo for urgent medical attention.

The statement partly reads: “A critical road traffic incident involving a commercial long bus, popularly referred to as a ‘Molue,’ occurred earlier today at Ahmadiyya inward Abule-Egba, causing severe injuries and significant disruption to traffic.

“The accident was triggered when the vehicle, registered as KTU 801 XM, lost control at excessive speed, reportedly due to driver impatience. In an attempt to avoid colliding with another LT commercial bus and pedestrians awaiting transport at the roadside, the driver veered sharply, resulting in the bus crashing into the expressway median and overturning. Several passengers sustained injuries, while others escaped through the bus’s windows.

“Officers from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) promptly arrived at the scene, executing a well-coordinated and efficient rescue operation.

“Eight individuals, including five males and three females, suffered varying degrees of injuries. Among the injured was the bus driver, who sustained a fractured left arm. All victims were immediately handed over to LASAMBUS medical personnel and transported to the General Hospital at Ile-Epo for urgent medical attention.

“To ensure the free flow of traffic and public safety, LASTMA’s Response Unit was swiftly mobilized to oversee the removal of the overturned vehicle. Security support was provided by officers from the Meiran Police Division, ensuring that the rescue operation proceeded without hindrance.

“Expressing his heartfelt concern, LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, extended his sympathies to the injured passengers and conveyed his wishes for their swift recovery. He emphasized the paramount importance of strict adherence to traffic regulations, particularly compliance with speed limits as prescribed by the Lagos State Government.”

The Police command in Osun has confirmed the killing of a pastor, Mr Sina Olaribigbe, by a jealous husband who suspected him of having an affair with his wife.

CSP Yemisi Opalola, Police spokesperson of the command, confirmed the incident on Thursday in Osogbo.

Opalola said the husband met the pastor in his wife’s house and allegedly stabbed him because he believed they were having an affair.

“The couple are not living together; though they are not legally separated.

“The pastor had been intervening in their quarrels, and on this occasion, he was at the wife’s house when the estranged husband arrived.

“The husband probably believed the pastor was having an affair with his wife.

“The husband was reported to have acted out of rage and stabbed the pastor multiple times, thereby killing him instantly,” she said.

According to Opalola, the suspect is in custody while the pastor’s corpse has been deposited at the morgue.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the wife of the suspect is a member of the deceased pastor’s church, where she’s believed to be an interpreter.

The Borno State Urban Planning and Development Board (BSUPDB) has banned street hawking and other illegal activities in the Maiduguri metropolis.

In a statement on Friday, the general manager of the board, Limán Mustapha, said the ban was in accordance with the Borno State Urban Planning and Development Law of 2002.

He said the board banned street hawking and the operation of tricycle operators and generator mechanics around Maiduguri’s post office and Monday Market areas.

Mr Mustapha said the board also banned any activity on pedestrian walkways, junctions and roundabouts, sale of engine oil on the road reservations, dumbing of sand or building materials and mixing of cement on the roads, and construction of boreholes by the roadsides.

The manager said those affected by the order had been asked to vacate the occupied sites immediately.

“The board has no alternative but to arrest and prosecute defaulters in a court of law,” adding that the measure would ensure a clean, safe and organised urban environment in Maiduguri and other parts of Borno.

He called on residents and business owners to comply with the ban to avoid legal action.

US President Joe Biden has decided to block the proposed $14.9 billion purchase of US Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel, according to two anonymous administration officials, the Washington Post reported on Thursday.

A White House announcement of the presidential finding is planned as soon as Friday unless Biden has a last-minute change of heart, which the officials do not expect, according to the Post.

Biden decided to block the deal despite intense efforts to sway him in recent days by some of his senior advisers, who warned that rejecting a sizable investment from a top Japanese corporation could damage Washington’s relations with Tokyo, the paper reported.

There was no immediate comment on the report from the White House late Thursday evening.

The decision was left with Biden after a US government panel failed to reach a consensus in late December on whether US Steel’s acquisition by Nippon Steel threatens Washington’s national security.

The controversial transaction was referred to Biden, who was legally required to act within a 15-day deadline, after the deadlock by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

Biden has criticized the deal for months, joining a loud consensus of US power players who have slammed the transaction.

They include President-elect Donald Trump and the incoming vice president, JD Vance.

The deal became caught up in the 2024 US presidential campaign when Pennsylvania emerged as a critical swing state and leaders of the United Steelworkers union loudly opposed the transaction.

Nippon Steel has described the transaction as a lifeline to Pennsylvania’s much-diminished steel industry.

The Japanese company and US Steel have vowed to pursue legal action against the government, claiming it failed to follow proper procedures during its consideration of the acquisition.

No fewer than seven persons lost their lives in a lone auto crash on Kaltungo-Cham Road in Gombe State.

The Sector Commander, Mr Samson Kaura, Federal Road Safety Corps in the state, confirmed the incident on Thursday in Gombe.

He said that 31 other persons sustained varying degrees of injuries in the lone trailer crash, which occurred at about 7:30 a.m.

Kaura attributed the accident to the suspected brake failure of the truck conveying soft drinks and 38 persons, comprising 34 males, two females, and two children.

He said the deceased comprised five males, one female, and a child, adding that the corpses had been deposited at the morgue of the General Hospital Kaltungo, while 31 injured persons were receiving medical attention at the facility.

He cautioned Nigerians against joining trailers to reduce high transportation fares, adding that “always consider the cost of road traffic crashes and loss of lives, and how much you will pay as the cost of transportation.

“Only a lone crash and we have many casualties; we spent a whole day attending to the situation.

“We advise against using trailers to travel because they (travellers) want to avoid paying the high cost of transportation.

“Please stop joining trailers or heavy-duty vehicles. They are not meant to convey humans, but goods,” he said.

Kaura also advised drivers to ensure good vehicle maintenance to curb crashes.

A Zambian police officer reportedly under the influence of alcohol released 13 detainees to celebrate the New Year, sparking a manhunt for the escaped suspects.

The BBC reported that Inspector Titus Phiri allegedly took cell keys from Constable Serah Banda at Leonard Cheelo police station in Lusaka on New Year’s Eve, freeing individuals held for crimes including assault, robbery, and burglary.

Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga described the incident, stating, “In a state of intoxication, [Phiri] forcibly seized cell keys… unlocked both the male and female cells, and instructed the suspects to leave, stating they were free to cross over into the new year.”

Following the escape of 13 out of the 15 detainees, Phiri himself fled the station. The officer has yet to address the allegations.

This unusual incident drew parallels to a 1997 episode when the late High Court Judge Kabazo Chanda ordered the release of 53 detainees.

Judge Chanda criticized the prolonged detention of suspects, some held as far back as 1992, without trial. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” he declared at the time.

Reacting to the latest case, lawyer and former presidential spokesperson Dickson Jere commented on Facebook, “I keep laughing each time I picture the scenario – comical! But then, I remembered a similar incident in 1997.”

A wedding in Jigawa State has turned tragic after a bride allegedly poisoned food served at the reception.

The incident is said to have left the groom critically ill and one of the wedding guests dead.

The incident occurred in the Jahun Local Government Area of the state.

Eyewitnesses suggested that the bride’s actions may have been driven by a personal vendetta.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Shi’isu Adam, confirmed the incident and said an investigation was underway.

“We received a report that the bride had tainted the food served at the wedding reception, leaving the groom critically ill.

“Police have arrested two suspects in connection with the alleged food poisoning incident that occurred during a wedding ceremony in the state,” Adam said.

He revealed that the two suspects are the bride and another female, adding that they are in custody and being interrogated by the Criminal Investigation Department of the command.

The police spokesperson added, “We will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served.”

According to the police spokesman, all the wedding attendants who consumed the poisoned food have been discharged from the hospital, except for the one person who was confirmed dead.

“The command is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, and we will provide more details as soon as possible.

“For now, we can confirm that the incident occurred, and we are working tirelessly to unravel the facts. We urge the public to remain calm and assured that justice will be served,” he concluded.

The identities of the deceased, the groom, and other victims have not been disclosed by the authorities.

The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has condemned Wednesday’s truck attack that killed at least 15 people in the city of New Orleans, United States.

Media reports indicated that a U.S. male citizen had intentionally driven a pick-up truck into a crowd of people celebrating the New Year in the city’s French quarter shortly after 3 a.m. local time.

The 42-year-old suspect was killed in a police shootout that injured two officers.

His potential allegiance to ISIL extremists is under investigation after a flag of the terrorist organisation and improvised explosives were found in the rented vehicle and in other locations nearby, according to the FBI.

“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attack in New Orleans.

“He condemns the attack, where a driver struck a crowd gathered to celebrate the New Year, reportedly killing at least 15 people and injuring over 30 others,” his Associate Spokesperson, Florencia Soto Nino-Martinez, said on Thursday in New York.

“He extends his condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives and to the Government and people of Louisiana and the United States.

“He also wishes a swift recovery to those persons injured.”

The U.S. authorities are also investigating possible links between the outrage and a deadly vehicle explosion in Las Vegas on Wednesday morning.

Reports indicated that a Tesla Cybertruck exploded near the entrance of the Trump International Hotel on New Year’s Day.

Police said that the driver was killed and seven others were injured when a combination of fireworks, gas tanks and camping fuel was detonated.

Hours after the devastating attack, it remains unclear whether the perpetrator, who was killed after his deadly rampage, had accomplices, U.S. media reported on Wednesday.

According to several media outlets, investigators are examining surveillance footage showing a suspicious group of four people.

Initially, it was suspected that they might have placed explosive devices in the affected neighbourhood.

A Catholic priest, Rev. Father Joseph Enyinaya, has been arrested for allegedly shooting a young boy who threw a banger in St. Columbus Catholic Church, Amaimo Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, dead.

Residents claimed the Catholic Priest brought out his revolver and shot the young boy who allegedly threw the banger inside the church.

The incident occurred on December 31 with the police confirming arrest of the priest.

Imo police spokesman, Henry Okoye, told The Nation on Thursday: “The priest has been arrested, and the body of the boy has been recovered and deposited at Atta Ikeduru Mortuary.”

Okoye added that a detailed investigation has been initiated to ascertain the remote facts surrounding the incident.

“The police investigation is expected to shed more light on the events leading up to the incident,” he said.

Rivers State Governor, Siminialayi Fubara, has signed the 2025 N1.1trn Appropriation Bill into law, declaring that the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led House of Assembly remains the authentic one in the state.

The governor signed the bill on Thursday, approximately four days after it was presented to the three lawmakers led by Speaker Oko-Jumbo.

Fubara insisted that Martins Amaewhule and 26 other members who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) are no longer recognised as legislators.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has extended an invitation to former President Olusegun Obasanjo for a tour of the Port Harcourt Refinery to verify its operational status.

This development follows Obasanjo’s recent interview with Channels Television, where he cited advice from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) suggesting the refinery would not function effectively.

According to the former president, SPDC, which was approached to acquire equity in the refinery, expressed concerns about corruption impeding its operations.

Obasanjo further alleged that NNPCL has been misleading Nigerians about the refinery’s functionality.

Responding to the claims, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, respectfully invited the former president to visit the facility, emphasizing the company’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

Soneye said: “Furthermore, we extend an open invitation to President Obasanjo for a tour of the rehabilitated refineries to witness firsthand the progress made under the new NNPC Limited.”

Soneye also invited Obasanjo to join the NNPCL in its determination to guarantee the country’s energy security.

“We invite our esteemed former president to join us in this effort as we continue to deliver energy security for our nation and provide tangible benefits to Nigerians.

“His wisdom and experience are invaluable, and we assure him that his advice will always be welcomed and appreciated,” he said.

Soneye explained that the NNPCL did not only carry out a turnaround maintenance on the plant but it embarked on a complete overhaul of the refinery.

He said: “As part of this transformation, NNPC Limited has gone beyond oil and gas to become an integrated energy company.

“One of our notable achievements is the complete rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PhRC) and Warri Refinery.

He said: “As part of this transformation, NNPC Limited has gone beyond oil and gas to become an integrated energy company.

“One of our notable achievements is the complete rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PhRC) and Warri Refinery.

“This process was not merely the Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) of the past but a full-scale overhaul designed to meet world-class standards. Similarly, we are currently conducting the same comprehensive rehabilitation of the old Port Harcourt Refinery and Kaduna Refinery.”

He added that NNPCL has evolved from being a government corporation to a private entity with limited liability.

He said owing to the transition, NNPCL has also moved on from being a loss-making organization to profit -driven international energy firm.

The new NNPC Limited, he said, is committed not only to enhancing these refineries but also to maintaining them to global standards.

Soneye noted that NNPCL will ensure their sustainable operation and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s energy security.

He said: “Regarding his recent comments, we would like to respectfully clarify the current state of the NNPC.

The NNPC has undergone a transformative journey, evolving from a government corporation into a private entity—NNPC Limited.

“This transition has marked a significant shift from being a loss-making organization to a profit-oriented global energy company.”

“We deeply respect and hold President Obasanjo in the highest regard as a distinguished statesman who has contributed significantly to the progress of our nation.

“He has every right to share his perspectives on national issues, and we value his insights and counsel.”

He said: “We remain grateful for his leadership and enduring commitment to the growth and development of Nigeria. Together, we can continue to build a brighter future for our great nation.”

Soneye, who was also requested to react to a media report that NNPCL was to stop the supply of crude oil to Dangote Refinery said, “No need to respond to falsehood.”

Rival camps of South Korean protesters faced off in chaotic scenes outside the presidential compound Thursday, some trying to protect the impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, inside from arrest, as others called for his immediate detention.

Yoon was last month impeached by lawmakers over his ill-fated martial law declaration and investigators probing him over insurrection have a warrant to detain him which they have vowed to execute before Monday.

But hundreds of Yoon’s die-hard supporters, including far-right YouTube personalities and evangelical Christian leaders, gathered outside his compound in Seoul, facing off with the anti-Yoon camp and riot police.

One woman threw herself in front of a police bus, spreading her arms across the windshield, while other Yoon supporters lay down in the street — eyes closed, arms crossed in front of them — when police attempted to move them.

One protester, Park Shi-dong, 74, told AFP he was there to “fight to the death to save liberal democracy,” saying Yoon’s imposition of martial law was justified and he should not be removed from office.

“Impeachment invalid” the protestors yelled as they waved South Korean flags and red lightsticks.

“Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon Suk Yeol, we protect! We protect!” they yelled.

Dozens of people were live streaming the protests on YouTube channels, AFP reporters saw.

On Wednesday, Yoon sent a message to the hardline supporters outside his residence, telling them he was watching them on YouTube and urging them to help him “defend democracy” and “fight to the end”.

The opposition and experts decried his move, claiming it was an attempt to weaponise his most extreme protesters, and warning it could lead to violence.

But Yoon supporters like Kim Sang-bae, 63, said they would not leave the area, as they were desperate to “stop the injustice” of the sitting president being arrested — a first in South Korean history.

Yoon’s lawyers have said they believe the arrest warrant is illegal and his security team has previously refused to honour search warrants.

The president himself has refused the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO)’s summons three times — which is what prompted them to seek to detain him for questioning.

Local media reported that one pro-Yoon protester was arrested on charges of obstructing police.

A New Year tragedy was narrowly averted in Edo State after a 55-year-old man, Osaro Ahunwan, allegedly set fire to the home of his estranged wife, Tina Uyi, at Idumwonwina, near Oluku, the Ovia North-East Local Government Area.

Tina, a 54-year-old Italy-based businesswoman, returned to Nigeria on December 31, 2024, to celebrate the New Year with her family.

According to eyewitnesses, Osaro went to Tina’s residence and was refused entry, prompting him to allegedly douse the building with petrol and set it ablaze.

A source said, “Tina returned to Nigeria from her base in Italy and Osaro went to her house when he learnt that she had returned. Tina heard a loud bang on her window while coming out from the bathroom but did not let him in.

“Tina refused her estranged husband into her apartment, claiming that their relationship had ended as her family had returned her pride price since April 2024.”

The fire reportedly engulfed the entire house, destroying property worth millions, including cash in local and foreign currencies.

Tina’s nonagenarian parents were rescued by neighbours, while the Edo State Fire Service extinguished the flames.

Tina, who sustained third-degree burns, is receiving treatment at a private hospital in Benin.

Speaking to PUNCH Online via a phone call, she said, “Osaro destroyed my Lexus (330) Jeep when we had a misunderstanding. He is too controlling and very suspicious of my movement. Even when I am out shopping and he calls, as soon as he hears a male’s voice, he starts calling me names.

“Due to his violent and overbearing character, I decided to quit the marriage that lasted less than two years.

“This time, he tried to come into my apartment and he committed this arson because I refused him entry.”

Tina told PUNCH Online that sometime in 2023, Osaro had threatened to kill her and himself as well.

PUNCH Online gathered that the police in Ekiadolor have arrested the suspect, Osaro and his accomplice, Odaro Ovia Robo (Tina’s elder brother) over the incident.

During interrogation, Osaro reportedly confessed that Tina’s elder brother, Odaro Oviarobo, popularly known as “OD,” provided him with detailed information about his sister’s (Tina) itinerary.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Command, SP Moses Yamu, while confirming the incident, said he was yet to speak to the Divisional Police Officer in Charge of the Ekiadolor Division for details of the incident.

As of the time of filing the report, both Osaro and Odaro remain in police custody as investigations continue.