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High-Stakes Showdown: Ex-NBA President Resists AGF’s Attempt to Drop $8.4M Oil Scam Case
A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joseph Daudu (SAN), has urged the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja to reject the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN)’s attempt to withdraw a major oil theft case involving multinational oil traders Trafigura Beheer BV and Trafigura PTE Limited.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Appearing before Justice Mojisola Dada on Thursday, Daudu, who represents the nominal complainant Nadabo Energy Limited, argued that the case was filed under the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State (Cap. C17, 2003) and, therefore, cannot be discontinued by the federal authorities.
He described the AGF’s notice of discontinuance—filed through the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)—as unconstitutional, stressing that it violates Section 211(1) of the 1999 Constitution. According to Daudu, only the Lagos State Attorney General has the legal standing to withdraw such a case, given its state-level origin.
The application by the AGF followed a petition from Trafigura’s legal counsel, requesting the Federal Government to take over the matter. Daudu, however, labeled the move “ultra vires, null, void, and constitutionally defective.”
“This notice is legally incompetent and should be struck out,” he argued.
The matter—ID/7980c/2018—revolves around allegations by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) that Trafigura and five co-defendants stole Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) worth $8.4 million from Nadabo Energy.
The other defendants include Yusuf Kwande, Mettle Energy and Gas, Rembrandt Ltd, Osahon Asemota, and Jil Engineering and Oil Services Ltd—all of whom have pleaded not guilty.
The trial had reached an advanced stage, with 17 witnesses called by the prosecution. A no-case submission filed by the defence was dismissed, with the court ordering them to present their defence.
Instead, Trafigura’s legal team petitioned the AGF to halt the proceedings. The court later discharged the defendants after the notice of discontinuance was adopted by the prosecution.
Lead defence counsel Bode Olanipekun (SAN) argued the charges constituted double jeopardy, citing a previous case involving the same parties heard by Justice Sedotan Ogunsanya.
Former NBA President Joseph Daudu (SAN) has opposed a move by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to halt an $8.4 million oil theft trial involving Trafigura Beheer BV and Trafigura PTE Limited at the Lagos State High Court.
Appearing before Justice Mojisola Dada, Daudu insisted the trial was based on state law—Lagos Criminal Code (Cap. C17, 2003)—and can only be discontinued by the Lagos State Attorney General, not the federal government. He labelled the AGF’s notice of discontinuance, filed after a petition from Trafigura’s lawyers, as unconstitutional and “grossly incompetent.”
The case involves allegations by the Special Fraud Unit that Trafigura and five others stole Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) valued at $8.44 million from Nadabo Energy Ltd. All accused parties had pleaded not guilty, and 17 witnesses had already been called before the defence’s no-case submission was dismissed.
Despite the court’s directive to begin their defence, Trafigura appealed to the AGF for a case withdrawal, which was controversially granted, leading to the discharge of all defendants. Trafigura’s counsel, Bode Olanipekun (SAN), argued the charges duplicated earlier proceedings, constituting double jeopardy.
The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) began nationwide on Thursday, with over 2.2 million candidates expected to participate across accredited centres.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The exam, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will run from April 16 to April 22 in multiple daily sessions.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged examination officials to remain highly committed and professional, noting that the success of the exercise depends largely on their dedication.
He gave the charge during a virtual final briefing for technical officers ahead of the examination, where he also praised staff, ad hoc personnel, service providers, and technical advisers for their roles in the successful conduct of the mock exam.
Oloyede said many of the issues recorded during the mock exercise were due to poor assessment of centres by some technical officials.
He further stated that incentive packages would be awarded to teams that perform exceptionally, particularly in handling exam materials and submitting timely reports.
Reiterating JAMB’s zero-tolerance stance on malpractice, he warned candidates against bringing prohibited items into examination halls.
He also disclosed that biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems have been deployed to protect the integrity of the exercise.
Candidates whose biometrics cannot be verified, he added, will be rescheduled to write the exam at approved centres.
Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent monitoring proceedings at Aduvie International School, Jahi, reported that the first session scheduled for 8:30 a.m. began slightly behind schedule at about 8:40 a.m.
The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, on Thursday inspected security deployments at Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the inspection is part of proactive measures to ensure a smooth, peaceful, and hitch-free conduct of the ongoing examinations.
The UTME is scheduled to run nationwide from April 16 to 18, 2026.
During the exercise, CP Sanusi assessed security arrangements put in place to safeguard candidates, examination officials, and CBT facilities.
He also engaged with centre supervisors, assuring them of adequate security presence throughout the examination period.
Adeh added that the CP reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, warning that any attempt to disrupt the examinations would be met with decisive action in line with the law.
Over 700 former terrorists who have undergone deradicalisation and rehabilitation are set to be reintegrated into their communities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Nigerian military has also dismissed reports alleging that beneficiaries of Operation Safe Corridor are being recruited into military institutions.
According to African Independent Television, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier-General Yusuf Ali, made this known during a media tour of the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre in Gombe, North-East Nigeria.
He said many Nigerians still misunderstand the Federal Government’s structured counter-terrorism initiative, which is designed to restore peace in communities affected by insurgency.
Brigadier-General Ali explained that the programme focuses on rehabilitation and peaceful reintegration of repentant individuals into society.
During the tour, some of the participants also shared accounts of their involvement in offences that led to their admission into the programme.
The facility inspection was part of preparations for the graduation of over 700 clients who have completed the deradicalisation and rehabilitation process and are set for reintegration.
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