News
Dangote Refinery Labels PENGASSAN Strike ‘Economic Sabotage’
Dangote Petroleum Refinery (DPR) yesterday described the strike call by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on its members as act of lawlessness and sabotage against the country and its people.
The refinery accused the leadership of the association whipping up sentiments under the pretense of protecting PENGASSAN members to bully them and feed fat on their check-off dues, which it claimed runs into billions of naira.
In a statement by its management, DPR called on relevant authorities to rein in those it called “the oligarchs in PENGASSAN), nothing that “they have proved themselves to be terrorists and have turned the union into a bully organization.”
According to DPR, the call by PENGASSAN in a September 27 memo on its members to withdraw service effective from “00.01hrs Monday (today)”, will inflict unbearable hardship on Nigerians.
The refinery described PENGASSAN’s claimed that it hired 2000 Indians as replacement to the “over 800 presumably sacked Nigerians” as erroneous.
The statement reads: ‘PENGASSAN has not joined issues with us on these factual assertions; rather, it continues to peddle the falsehood that Dangote Refinery has sacked all Nigerians working in the refinery and presumably hired over 2,000 Indians to replace them.
“That is complete falsehood. We also stated in the release that there is an ongoing reorganization with the Dangote Refinery which has resulted in the discharge of a very small number of staff and that the exercise is not arbitrary but is being carried out in the interest of the refinery.
“These facts have not been rebutted by PENGASSAN, neither has its oligarchs attempted to verify the truth. Rather, it continues to peddle the falsehood that we have sacked over 800 members of PENGASSAN for joining PENGASSAN.”
The refinery stated how PENGASSAN and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) frustrated plan by the Federal Government to sell the moribund refineries in Port Harcourt and Kaduna to Dangote Group-led blue star consortium at $750 million in 2007.
Challenging PENGASSAN and NUPENG to pusblish their audited accounts in the past 10 years for public scrutiny, DPR urged the government to call unions’ leadership to order.
“We call on the Federal Government and its agencies, as well as all Nigerian, to stare down PENGASSAN and put a stop to the machinations and blackmail tactics of its oligarch and sponsors”, the refinery said.
News
Court Sets Feb 25 For El-Rufai’s Arraignment In DSS Cybercrime Case
The Department of State Services (DSS) will arraign former Governnor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai, on February 25 over alleged cybercrime and breach of national security.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court has fixed the date for the arraignment of the former Governor on a three-count criminal charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) after the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho assigned the case to her.
NAN earlier reported that the DSS, on Monday, filed a three-count criminal charge against El-Rufai following his alleged involvement in wiretapping the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The charge, instituted by the Nigerian secret police, is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026.
The service accused El-Rufai of breaching the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act (2024) and the Nigerian Communications Act (2003.)
In court, El-Rufai was alleged to have, on Feb. 13, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, admitted during the interview that he and his cohorts unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA, Mr Ribadu.
The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
News
Maureen Badejo To Appear Before Federal High Court Tomorrow On Defamation, Cybercrime Charges
Maureen Omorinola Badejo is scheduled to appear before the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on February 20, 2026, following charges filed by the Inspector-General of Police over allegations bordering on defamation, cyberstalking, and related offences.
The charges arise from online publications made in November 2021, in which Ms. Badejo allegedly transmitted statements and videos on YouTube and Facebook concerning Apostle Johnson Suleman and his associate Dickson Omodiale Osajie.
According to the charge sheet, the prosecution alleges that:
Ms. Badejo conspired with others to publish defamatory content against Apostle Suleman.
She allegedly portrayed him as a cultist, rapist, assassin, ritualist, and other criminal labels, knowing the claims to be false.
She is accused of sending false messages via computer networks intended to cause annoyance, hatred, intimidation, and injury to reputation.
Additional allegations state that defamatory statements were also made against Mr. Dickson Osajie, claiming involvement in crimes such as rape and ritual killing.
Authorities further allege that the publications caused fear for safety and threatened bodily harm to the complainants.
The offences cited fall under provisions of the Criminal Code Act (Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004) and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
The case follows a formal petition submitted to the Nigeria Police Force by Mr. Osajie, who alleged persistent cyberstalking, harassment, invasion of privacy, threats to life, and dissemination of false information affecting himself, Apostle Suleman, and their families.
Statement from Maureen Badejo
Ms. Badejo maintains her readiness to face the court and present her defense, expressing confidence in the Nigerian judicial system to ensure fairness and justice.
“I will appear in court as required and trust that the truth will prevail through due legal process,” she stated.
However Ms. Badejo is expected to be formally arraigned before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, where the charges will be read and she will enter her plea.
News
Rivers Assembly Suspends Impeachment Move Against Fubara After Tinubu’s Intervention
The Rivers State House of Assembly has officially suspended impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention.
The House moved the motion to halt the impeachment process on Thursday at its resumed sitting in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
JomogNews had reported that during its first sitting of 2026, the House had begun impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy over allegations of gross misconduct, including the demolition of the State Assembly complex and alleged spending without legislative approval, among other claims.
More details later….
-
News2 days agoMaureen Badejo To Appear Before Federal High Court Tomorrow On Defamation, Cybercrime Charges
-
News2 days agoRivers Assembly Suspends Impeachment Move Against Fubara After Tinubu’s Intervention
-
News2 days agoReserves Surge To $48.5bn As Nigeria Reclaims 2013 Peak Levels
-
Health1 day agoFG Launches Salt-Reduction Campaign In Lagos To Combat Hypertension
-
News1 day agoCourt Sets Feb 25 For El-Rufai’s Arraignment In DSS Cybercrime Case
