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Police Clarify Prof. Duru’s Witness Role, Deny Links To Akpabio Following Withdrawn Complaint
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has clarified the involvement of Professor Sandra Duru in a recently withdrawn criminal complaint, rejecting viral social media claims that Senate President Godswill Akpabio declined an appointment offer to her as false and misleading.
This clarification addressed ongoing legal tensions between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Speaking with our correspondent, Head of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit, CP Akin Fakorede, said the case was thoroughly investigated by the police before being forwarded to the Ministry of Justice for legal action.
Fakorede explained that Professor Duru was formally listed as a prosecution witness during the investigation and in the charges prepared by the Ministry of Justice.
He said her statement was recorded in accordance with established police procedures, providing information to help investigators assess the credibility of the complaint.
Fakorede said, “As part of the investigation, Professor Sandra Duru provided information, including documented conversations between herself and the defendants. These materials were verified, analyzed alongside the alleged offence, and transmitted to the Ministry of Justice.”
He said the Ministry of Justice filed charges in court, but the complainant later instructed his legal team to withdraw all pending cases during the Christmas and New Year period, citing personal reasons related to forgiveness and charity in the spirit of the season.
Fakorede said the police later became aware of social media publications which, he said, grossly misrepresented the facts of the case.
He singled out a post allegedly authored by one Hamza Lamisi, which claimed that CP Fakorede had stated that Senate President Godswill Akpabio declined an appointment offered to Professor Duru.
“That claim is categorically false,” Fakorede said. “I have never met or known anyone by the name Hamza Lamisi, and at no time did the Senate President, either orally or in writing, make such a statement. The Senate President’s statement on the matter is a document of public record and was even tendered before the court.”
He described the publication as a “mischievous falsehood” and disclosed that the police have commenced steps to investigate the matter. Fakorede confirmed that an invitation has been extended to Lamisi to explain the source of the claim.
“These are reckless and predatory actions by individuals who seek to exploit sensitive disputes for attention or personal gain. The statement is fictitious and has no evidential basis whatsoever,” he added.
While reacting to the issue, Professor Sandra Duru also rejected allegations circulating online suggesting that her actions were motivated by personal reward or benefit.
“I categorically deny, in totality, the false and malicious claim that my position on any matter is for reward purposes,” Duru said. “At no time have I received, requested, or negotiated any benefit from Senator Godswill Akpabio or from any individual whatsoever. My interventions are evidence-based, principle-driven, and grounded in documented facts.”
She further clarified that it was Senator Natasha Akpoti who initially contacted her, after which she petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over what she described as grave allegations, including claims related to organ harvesting. According to her, those petitions are on the official police record.
Professor Duru also disclosed that she has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over what she described as false and derogatory claims allegedly made by Hamza Lamisi, a legislative aide to Senator Akpoti. She said the claims included defamatory allegations concerning her mental health.
“It is the duty of the Nigeria Police Force to compel those making these allegations to provide concrete proof, including any certified medical report,” she said, adding that failure to do so would render the statements “malicious falsehoods and actionable defamation.”
The police have maintained that investigations into the social media publications are ongoing, while urging members of the public to refrain from spreading unverified information capable of misleading the public or undermining investigation.
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Oceangate Engineering To Appeal Federal High Court Ruling over Forfeiture of Assets
Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Limited has said it will appeal to the recent ruling of the Federal High Court ordering the forfeiture of certain assets.
Barr. Nnenna Onyeaso, the Company Secretary said in a statement on Thursday insisting that neither the company nor its leadership was found guilty of any wrongdoing.
Onyeaso said that the firm has described the court’s decision as a civil asset forfeiture order based on suspicion rather than proof, stressing that the judgment did not establish any criminal liability against the organisation.

According to her, the company maintain that it has already directed its legal team to file an appeal, expressing confidence in the judicial process and the outcome of a thorough review of the case.
“To be clear, this ruling is a civil asset forfeiture order with no finding of wrongdoing against Oceangate or its leadership.
“The court’s decision rested on a legal standard of suspicion, not proof, and it is one we intend to pursue fully through the appeals process,” she said in a statement.
The firm secretary also said that Oceangate has reiterated its belief in the rule of law, noting that the appellate system exists to address such outcomes.
She added that the company remained confident that the facts of the case will ultimately affirm its integrity and business practices.
Onyeaso said that the firm also emphasised that its operations remained unaffected, stating that it continues to provide employment for many Nigerians while contributing to the country’s energy sector and broader economy.
“We have always believed in the ability of the judicial process, and that belief has not wavered,” she added.
She noted that Oceangate further expressed appreciation to its employees, partners, and clients for their continued support amid the development, assuring stakeholders of its commitment to transparency and accountability.
The Secretary said that the company reaffirmed its confidence in Nigeria as a viable destination for investment, describing the country as a land of equity, growth, and opportunity.
“We remain committed to the continued growth of our business and the communities we serve as we are optimistic that justice will prevail at the end of the legal process.
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Anti-Party Activities: Rivers APC Takes Disciplinary Action Against Fubara
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended a prominent member, Fubara Dagogo, following his legal attempts to halt the party’s national convention.
The decision was taken by the Ward 4 Executive Committee after allegations of anti-party activities and gross misconduct were levelled against the party chieftain.
The crisis arose after Dagogo took legal action against the APC over its upcoming national convention.
He approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, requesting an order to halt the party’s planned event.
In his suit, Dagogo alleged that he was unjustly prevented from contesting for the position of National Vice-Chairman (South-South).
Although Dagogo reportedly paid N5.1 million for the nomination form, he claimed the party refused to provide the required documents to formalize his candidacy.
He subsequently petitioned the court to suspend the South-South zonal congress and recognize his eligibility for the position.
Additionally, he sought the nullification of any election conducted without his participation and demanded N100 million in damages for what he described as marginalization.
However, the leadership of his ward in Bonny viewed this legal move as a direct violation of the party’s internal discipline.
The Ward Chairman, Richard Ibani, announced the suspension, stating that the resolution was passed during a committee meeting held on March 16.
The document confirming his removal was signed by the Ward Secretary, Donald Jumbo, and 21 other executive members.
The ward leaders maintained that Dagogo’s actions were an embarrassment to the party and a breach of the APC Constitution 2022 as amended. Specifically, they cited Article 21.2 (I), (II), and (VII), which deal with party discipline and the conduct of members.
In a strongly worded statement, the committee noted that they had previously cautioned members against acts that could ridicule the party.
They stated: “The ward exco has always advised its members to desist from actions capable of ridiculing our party, but your recent actions have shown that you are not willing to respect and abide by the constitution and actions of our great party.”
The suspension is indefinite and took effect immediately.
The ward leadership has also called on the state secretariat to uphold the resolution and apply further necessary actions.
News
Sterling Bank Charts Way Forward For Nigeria’s Transport, Logistics Sector
Industry leaders, policymakers, financiers, and innovators convened in Lagos today for the inaugural Nigeria Transport & Logistics Summit (NTLS) 2026, hosted by Sterling Bank at Eko Hotel & Suites, to forge actionable strategies for building a faster, more connected Nigeria through transport, mobility, and logistics.
Held under the theme “Funding the Engine of Growth,” the summit positioned Nigeria’s transport and logistics sector as a critical but under-leveraged driver of productivity, regional integration, and economic growth. Transport, mobility, and logistics collectively form the backbone of the Nigerian economy, yet chronic underinvestment, infrastructure deficits, and limited access to financing have long constrained its potential.
Transport, mobility, and logistics collectively form the backbone of Nigeria’s economy. While the logistics sub-sector alone contributes approximately ₦1 trillion to national GDP, experts estimate that the broader transport and logistics market exceeds ₦15 trillion in potential value. Yet persistent infrastructure gaps, inefficiencies, financing constraints, and policy fragmentation continue to limit the sector’s full impact.
NTLS 2026 brought together senior government officials, regulators, infrastructure operators, investors, development partners, and private sector leaders to address critical priorities including multimodal connectivity, airport and road modernization, energy-efficient mobility, digital trade facilitation, and innovative financing frameworks.
Speaking at the summit, Sterling Bank’s Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, represented by Sterling One Foundation CEO, Mrs. Olapeju Ibekwe, called for urgent, coordinated action to fix the systems that move Nigeria’s economy forward.

L-R Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO, Sterling One Foundation; Darlington Nwankwo, Divisional Head, Renewable Energy, Mobility and Tourism, Sterling Bank; Oluwaseun Osiyemi, Honorable Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State: and Moyomade Akinyosoye, Divisional Head, Institutional Banking, Sterling Bank, at the recently concluded Nigeria Transport and Logistics Summit, hosted by Sterling Bank in Lagos recently.
He emphasized that while Nigeria’s transport and logistics challenges, ranging from port congestion to inefficient corridors and high operating costs, are well documented the real opportunity lies in effective execution.
“We must move beyond diagnosing the problem to building integrated, modern logistics systems that can power productivity at scale. This means fixing our ports, strengthening logistics corridors, improving road and rail connectivity, and embedding efficiency across the value chain.”
“Nigeria’s competitiveness, both regionally and globally will increasingly depend on how effectively we move goods, people, and services. The time for incremental change has passed; what is required now is bold, coordinated execution across public and private sectors,” Abubakar concluded.
Also speaking at the event, the Divisional Head, Renewable Energy, Mobility and Tourism at Sterling Bank, Mr. Darlington Nwankwo, described logistics as the backbone of trade, industry, and national competitiveness.
He noted that while the sector contributes just under four percent to Nigeria’s GDP, estimated at approximately ₦15trillion, its true economic impact is significantly larger when viewed as an enabler of productivity across agriculture, manufacturing, and trade.
“We must be deliberate about fixing the logistics backbone of the economy if we are to unlock the growth we need. Nigeria’s trade competitiveness is directly linked to the efficiency of its logistics corridors, from ports to inland distribution networks.”
“At Sterling, we see our role as connecting capital to execution, designing financing solutions that do not just fund infrastructure but unlock entire value chains. This includes supporting multimodal transport systems, enabling cleaner mobility solutions, and partnering with both government and private sector players to reduce investment risk. The opportunity before us is not just to fix what is broken, but to build a logistics ecosystem that is faster, more efficient, and globally competitive.”
Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, echoed the call for bold ideas, strategic investments, and forward-looking policies, describing the summit as a vital platform to shape the future of movement, trade, and connectivity in Nigeria. He urged policymakers to move swiftly from planning to implementation, called on investors to support infrastructure and innovation, and encouraged industry leaders to champion efficiency, sustainability, and accountability.
In his keynote address, Professor Biodun Adedipe grounded these ambitions in hard realities, noting that with nearly 90 percent of Nigeria’s logistics dependent on road transport, the country faces mounting congestion and maintenance costs that demand diversification into rail and more durable infrastructure. He cautioned that economic transformation requires patience, with meaningful results unlikely to materialise in under 18 months.
Panel discussions throughout the day focused on reducing logistics costs, strengthening aviation and road integration, modernizing downstream energy distribution, and accelerating the adoption of cleaner and more sustainable mobility solutions.
The summit concluded with a call for sustained public-private collaboration, stronger regulatory coordination, and the creation of structured financing vehicles to de-risk infrastructure investments.
As Nigeria seeks to strengthen its regional trade position and unlock non-oil export growth, NTLS 2026 marks a decisive step toward building a more integrated, resilient, and globally competitive transport and logistics ecosystem.
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News7 hours agoSterling Bank Charts Way Forward For Nigeria’s Transport, Logistics Sector
