Confusion as 4 Oil Companies Named by NNPC as Liable for Imported Substandard Petrol Deny Accusation Peter Uzoho Four of the oil companies accused by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC)
Limited, Mele Kyari, of importing substandard petrol have all in writing denied the allegation, thus creating more confusion in the drive to unmask shippers of the bad fuel.
In their separate publications, the four companies - MRS, Emadeb, Brittania-U and Oando - vehemently denied importing the high methanol petrol that is unacceptable in
Nigeria. Only Duke Oil, NNPC's trading arm, also engaged in the Direct-Sale-Direct-Purchase arrangement with NNPC, has been mute about the allegation
of importing the bad fuel. Surprisingly, the NNPC boss has been silent about the renunciations by the companies he earlier accused of importing the toxic fuel. Efforts to speak
to Kyari on the issue last night proved abortive. A source told THISDAY last night that NNPC’s Duke Oil is Continued on page 5
Abba Kyari: PSC Angry, Orders Fresh Probe with 2-Week Ultimatum...Page 5 Saturday 12 February, 2022 Vol 27. No 9804
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2023: APC to Determine Presidential Candidate By Consensus, Says Zulum Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum yesterday gave an indication that the 2023 presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
will be determined by consensus, saying the party will rely on President Muhammadu Buhari, its governors and other party leaders “to decide on who emerges as the presidential flag-bearer of the party.”
Speaking while welcoming members of the Pro-Osinbajo Progressive Consolidation Group (PCG) to his office in Maiduguri, Zulum said contending interests in the forthcoming presidential primaries and other elections
will not stop the APC from establishing a consensus that would consolidate party unity and national progress. He emphasised that Borno State will work with the party’s hierarchy, members of the
National Assembly, and leaders at ward and state levels to ensure actualisation of decisions to be made by Buhari who is the party’s leader. Members of the pro-Osinbajo PCG met with Zulum, the Secre-
tary to Borno State Government, Alhaji Usman Jidda Shuwa, and members of the state cabinet with a strong message on the need for a united front towards Continued on page 5
S’Court Annuls Buhari’s Order 10 on Financial Autonomy for States’ Judiciary, Legislature
The Constitution provides a clear delineation of powers between the states and the federal government. The President has overstepped the limit of his constitutional powers by issuing the Executive Order 10, which is inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution and therefore unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever
Alex Enumah in Abuja Efforts by President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure independence of the judicial and legislative arms of government at the state levels suffered a major setback at the Supreme Court yesterday following the invalidation of his Executive Order 10 signed in June 2020. The Order cited as “the implementation of financial autonomy for state legislature and judiciary 2020”, has a key provision which gives the Accountant-General of the Federation the power to deduct from the allocations due to a state from the Federation Account, any sums appropriated for the legislature or judiciary of that state, which the state fails to release to its legislature or judiciary as the case may be, and to pay the funds directly to the state’s legislature or judiciary concerned.
The Supreme Court in a split Judgment delivered in a suit by the 36 state governors challenging the order of the president voided the Order 10 on the grounds that the president exceeded his powers when he initiated the Order to compel the governors to implement the constitutional provisions on financial autonomy for states’ judiciary and legislature. The apex court said by the Order, President Buhari usurped the powers of heads of other arms of government. Miffed by the Presidential Order, the 36 states of the federation, had through their attorneys-general, filed a suit on September 17, 2020, at the apex court to challenge the constitutionality of the Executive Order 10, as well as for the court to make an order compelling the Continued on page 5
SHOWCASING AGRIC POTENTIAL IN BAYELSA...
L-R: Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel; and Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, during the inauguration of the maiden dry season farming in the state at Otuasega community, Ogbia Local Government Area…yesterday.
Finally, Obi Okonjo II Takes Possession of 150-year Ogwashi-Uku Palace... Page 8