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RIVERS STATE GOVERNOR ACCUSED OF INCITING MILITANT ACTIVITY

The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, has made a startling allegation against Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State. Fagbemi claims that the governor effectively encouraged militant groups to vandalize pipelines in the state. Fagbemi’s assertion is based on a statement allegedly made by Governor Fubara, in which he hinted at a future call to action for the militants. According to Fagbemi, this statement was effectively a telegraphed message to the militants, which they subsequently acted upon. The AGF emphasized the gravity of this situation, given Nigeria’s heavy reliance on oil. “Any attack on our pipelines is not just an attack on Rivers State, but on the entire nation,” Fagbemi said. Fagbemi defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing the Supreme Court’s judgment as the basis for this action. The AGF argued that Governor Fubara and the state house of assembly had failed to maintain a stable environment for governance, necessitating their suspension. Fagbemi dismissed criticisms that the president’s action was premature, pointing out that the situation in Rivers State had become increasingly dire. “People are living in fear, and lives are being lost. This is an extraordinary situation that demands extraordinary measures,” Fagbemi said. The AGF noted that the National Assembly has the power to reverse the suspensions, but this would require a two-thirds majority vote. Fagbemi also suggested that the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State serves as a warning to other states, indicating that the government will take decisive action to maintain order and protect critical infrastructure.

US RETURNS $52.88 MILLION LINKED TO DIEZANI ALISON-MADUEKE

The United States government has returned $52.88 million linked to former Nigerian Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke. The amount was reportedly traced to assets forfeited by Galactica, connected to Madueke and her associates. US Ambassador Richard M. Mills Jr. and Nigerian officials, led by Attorney-General Prince Lateef Fagbemi, formalized the agreement at the Ministry of Justice in Abuja. The funds will be managed with transparency, under the supervision of the World Bank and International Institute for Justice (IIJ), to ensure their proper use in projects benefiting Nigeria. According to Fagbemi, “Measures have also been put in place to ensure that the repatriated funds are not only disbursed but also utilized transparently and accountably by the World Bank and IIJ, with periodic reports to be forwarded to Nigeria and the US on the implementation of the projects.” He added that this framework will guarantee that the funds are effectively used for the full benefit of the Nigerian people, in line with international anti-corruption standards. Madueke, who served as oil minister from 2010 to 2015, is alleged to have accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million dollar oil and gas contracts. She has been charged with bribery offenses in the UK and has denied corruption allegations. Assets worth millions of pounds relating to the alleged offenses have been frozen as part of an ongoing probe by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA). The US Department of Justice has recovered assets totaling $53.1 million linked to Madueke’s alleged corruption, thanks to evidence provided by the NCA. The NCA worked closely with Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which recovered about $153 million and more than 80 properties from Madueke last year.