The Nigerian Senate has directed the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Bayo Ojulari, to respond within three weeks to audit queries relating to an alleged unaccounted sum of 210 trillion naira covering 2017 to 2023.

The instruction came from the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Senator Ahmed Wadada (Nasarawa West), following a session with Ojulari.

Senator Wadada emphasized that the funds were neither missing nor stolen but remain unaccounted for in official documentation.

Ojulari, appearing before the committee for the first time since assuming office just over 100 days ago, apologized for his earlier absence from previous hearings. He also requested additional time to carefully review the 19 audit queries presented.

The Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo has announced the suspension of Felix Isere, his Special Adviser on Oil and Gas, due to allegations of unauthorized fundraising related to an upcoming oil and gas summit in Edo.

As a result of this situation, the Governor has directed that the oil and gas summit, originally scheduled to start on August 7th, be postponed.

Consequently, the summit is suspended, and Isere has been instructed to return all funds collected from various donors. Prospective donors are advised to refrain from engaging in any further transactions with the suspended appointee, as stated in the announcement.

The Northern States Governors Forum has reiterated its support for President Bola Tinubu, recognizing the significant progress made in infrastructure, security, and economic reform.

During the opening of a two-day interactive session organized by the Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna, the Forum’s Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, emphasized that the event was not just a platform for rhetoric but an essential opportunity to carefully assess the performance of the Federal Government based on the commitments made during the 2023 campaign.

Governor Inuwa expressed optimism that the region is beginning to see the positive effects of this political alliance. He pointed out several important projects currently in progress, including the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway, the Kano-Katsina-Maradi rail line, the rehabilitation of the Kaduna Refinery, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline, and the ongoing oil drilling operations at the Kolmani Oil Fields.

He stressed that these initiatives reflect a focused policy approach aimed at enhancing the economic and social development of the Northern region.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has requested to withdraw its legal challenge against the import licenses issued by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and various oil marketers for the importation of petroleum products.

In a notice of discontinuance, Dangote Refinery officially withdrew the lawsuit. The refinery argued that import licenses should only be granted in cases of a shortfall in petroleum products.

Additionally, they called on the court to acknowledge that the NMDPRA has failed in its statutory duty under the Petroleum Industry Act to support local refineries like theirs.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kaduna State has denied reports claiming that former governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has been banned from the party for thirty years.

Honorable Darius Kurah, the Kaduna State Publicity Secretary, stated that the claims by Araba Rufus Aiyenigba are false and unauthorized. The recognized National Publicity Secretary is Ambassador Judith Shua’ibu.

The SDP emphasized that El-Rufai has not received any official complaints or expulsion notices from the party. They also dismissed claims that he is promoting other political parties, reaffirming his commitment to good governance without representing himself as an SDP member.