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Ex-Minister Of Petroleum, Diezani Distances Self From Ownership Of Repatriated $52.8m Loot

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A former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke has distanced herself from the ownership of $52.5m recently repatriated to Nigeria from the United States of America, USA.

The former Minister who has been in the United Kingdom, UK, since she left the shores of Nigeria claimed that the money linked to her in the media as a loot actually belonged to a Nigeria’s oil magnate, Kola Aluko.

Breaking her silence in the matter through her counsel, Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN, Mrs Alison Madueke insisted that there was nothing like “Diezani Loot”, since she had no hand whatsoever in the issues surrounding the forfeiture of the money by the owner.

Stating her position, the former minister said the $52.5m came from a vessel seized by the American government from Kola Aluko and which was later sold and proceeds returned to the federal government of Nigeria.

Her denial of ownership of the money was contained in a lengthy press statement issued on Sunday by the Chambers of Mike Ozekhome SAN and titled ” There is no such thing as Diezani Loot “.

Part of the statement read “My chambers makes this intervention in the public domain as Solicitors to Diezani Alison-Madueke (DAM) ,the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, HMPR.

“As her Solicitors, we are fully versed in and conversant with her present ordeal and the entire facts surrounding her matters both here in Nigeria and abroad. So, we write from the vantage position of one that is aware of the cocktail of lies that have been spurned around her cases in the last ten years.

“Many of the narratives are outrightly false; some others sheer outlandish speculations; and most, simply bizzare stories cooked up by her traducers to extract a Shylock’s pound of flesh from her for reasons she does not know and cannot even fathom.

“This intervention therefore seeks to correct this skewed narrative and set the records straight for purposes of history. Many Nigerians often talk about wanting ‘technocrats’ to be involved in governance. They desire that people with character and integrity should join politics.

“We agree with them. However and regrettably too, now and again and many a time, the same people not only allow, but actually join the bandwagon to mob-lynch those who chose to serve the nation.

“And we often do this insidiously, covertly and overtly, even when there is no concrete or even any iota of proof that such public officers ever abused their offices or stole from public coffers.

“It is therefore surprising and of great concern to us, to see the level of sustained vilification of an innocent Nigerian citizen who has not yet been tried and found guilty of any offence known to law by any court of law whether in Nigeria or abroad. The person at the receiving end is Citizen Diezani Alison-Madueke (DAM).

“We note with concern the recent deliberate attempt to link her with what has been described as a civil forfeiture of a yacht Galactica, the sale of which was said to have yielded $52.8m to the US government; which sum has since been repatriated to Nigeria.

‘This is a clear example of the mischievous and cruel sport of tarnishing the image of the lady through a bouquet of consistent, persistent and unrelenting cocktail of falsehoods and misinformation.

“The purveyors of this line of misinformation term it “name-and-shame”. To sell the storyline, the architects ensured they attached Diezani’s name to a recovered yacht which is not in any way linked to her.

“They now falsely termed it “Diezani loot”. Nothing of the sort ever happened. She was never involved in the purchase, use and sale of the said yacht.

“The yacht Galactica, from information readily available in the public domain and in open sources, was purchased by Mr Kola Aluko who had used the vessel until he agreed to its forfeiture to the United States of America.

“The yacht Galactica was neither owned nor ever used by our client. DAM has in fact never set her eyes on the yacht. Kola Aluko is an experienced businessman who had been in business well before DAM came into office as HMPR.

“The only tenuous basis for deliberately linking DAM to the said yacht is the false narrative that the Strategic Alliance Agreements (SAAs) which were entered into between Kola Aluko & Jide Omokore’s Atlantic Energy companies and NNPC, were allegedly corruptly awarded to the said companies by DAM. DAM was not the GMD of the NNPC as so did not and could not have awarded the said contracts.

“We plead, as her lawyers, with all and sundry that she be accorded fair hearing and that the process of these UK court proceedings be allowed to take their natural course to avoid prejudice to her in the ongoing subjudice UK proceedings against her.

”Those purveyors and peddlers who habitually spin these outrightly false, unfounded, defamatory, unintelligent and indefensible narratives to denigrate and humiliate her should please find better use of their time and leave DAM alone.

“Let the law take its natural course without interference. We humbly pray”, the statement said.

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Tinubu The Best Thing To Happen To Nigerians, Says Lagos Assembly

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Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday listed some achievements of the Bola Tinubu-led administration describing the President as a blessing to Nigeria.

Speaking during plenary, the lawmakers took time to eulogise the President saying he came into office at a time when Nigerians were at a crossroads over the country’s socio-economic status before the 2023 elections.

Raising the motion, Hon. Tobun Abiodun (Epe I) told his colleagues that the policies initiated by Tinubu had begun to yield positive results in less than two years of his being in office.

Tobun noted that the country’s GDP had been boosted following Tinubu’s economic expertise. According to him, this is further reflecting in the current continuous strength of the Naira.

“Currently, the policies are yielding positive results and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has increased. The value of naira is gradually gaining strength.

“There is no more fuel scarcity anymore in the country. We need to encourage the federal government to continue on the good pedestrian it started two years ago,” Hon. Tobun said.

In his contribution, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Adewale Temitope (Ifako-Ijaiye I) said the President’s steps had shown that he was prepared before he took the baton of leadership.

Temitope said the Federal Government under Tinubu continues to meet the yearnings of Nigerians citing the refineries that are in operation and that have led to drops in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

He re-echoed the efforts and sacrifices made by Tinubu, who he described as a true democrat, for the continued successes and strength of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) both in the state and the nation.

He said the House remains committed to the ideals of the party, its leadership and the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), a team of elders that continue to guide the party in Lagos.

On his part, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Etim Osa II) praised the President for his fight against insecurity and his reducing inflation.

Contributing to the debate, Hon. Aro Moshood (Ikorodu II), commended the President for the upward review of the country’s minimum wage, his investment drive that has seen the country securing over $40 million and for assuaging the effects of the removal of subsidy.

Speaker Mojisola Meranda expressed optimism that the President would meet the yearnings of Nigerians.

“I know President Tinubu will take us to the Promised Land. When he started, it was rough but it is becoming obvious the policies are yielding results.

“This is a positive result happening within the short time Tinubu came into power. Tinubu’s investment in the security architecture is also yielding results as we have insecurity reducing,” she said.

She directed the acting Clerk of the House, Abubakar Taiwo Ottun, to send a commendation letter to the President acknowledging the positive impact of his policies and programmes.

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Tinubu Approves Retirement Age Increase For Doctors, Healthcare Workers To 65 Years

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President Bola Tinubu has approved an increase in the retirement age for doctors and other healthcare workers from 60 to 65 years.

Dr Mannir Bature, national publicity secretary, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), made the disclosure in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

Bature said the coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, has been directed to formally present the approval to the council on establishment through the office of the Head of Service for finalisation.

He said the policy shift was conveyed by Pate during a high-level meeting with the

NMA President, Professor Bala Audu, and key stakeholders in the health sector.

Bature said the meeting also had in attendance the leadership of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).

He said discussions centred on progress made regarding the welfare of doctors and other healthcare professionals in Nigeria.

According to him, the coordinating minister confirmed that the arrears resulting from the adjustment of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) are set for payment.

“The necessary funds have been secured, and disbursement to beneficiaries will commence soon,” he said.

Bature quoted the minister as saying that President Tinubu has approved the correction of consequential adjustments for both CONMESS and the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), arising from the implementation of the new minimum wage.

“The process to effect this correction is at an advanced stage, providing much-needed relief to doctors and other healthcare workers” he said.

He said following an extensive review initiated by the NMA, approval has been granted for the implementa tion of new tariffs for healthcare service providers.

“This will particularly benefit members of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners and Nurses (ANPMPN), ensuring better financial remuneration and sustainability for healthcare services nation-wide,” he said.

Bature said the coordinating minister expressed appreciation for the patience and collaboration of all stakeholders, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of all healthcare workers.

He said attendees at the meeting renewed their commitment to work together in advocating for the welfare of healthcare workers and ensuring the full implementation of key reforms.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NMA has championed increasing the retirement age of health workers from 60 to 65 years to address brain drain, improve knowledge transfer and for quality healthcare delivery.

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First Lady Commiserates With Families Of 17 Zamfara School Fire Victims

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The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has condoled with the families of those who died in a fire outbreak that affected an Islamic school in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, on Tuesday night.

The police in Zamfara confirmed the death of 17 almajiris (street children), while 17 others were injured in the fire incident in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area.

In a statement on Thursday, Senator Tinubu also commiserated with Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara over the tragic incident.

“I pray Allah to comfort and give the families and loved ones of the departed the fortitude to bear this painful loss.

“This, once again, brings to mind the need for precautionary safety measures in all our public facilities.

“I pray that such an incident will not recur, not only in Zamfara but in any other part of Nigeria.

“May Allah grant the souls of the departed Aljannah Firdaus,” she said.

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