News

Destruction of Beer Bottles Economic Sabotage, Court Rules, Directs EFCC to Intervene

Published

7 months ago

August 18, 2024

Eric

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the destruction of bottles of beer in some parts of the country is an economic sabotage.

The verdict of the court followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/275/2021 filed by Sesugh Akume, an activist, against the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

There have been seizures and destruction of alcoholic beverages by Hisbah, the Islamic police, in the northern part of the country—mostly in Kano state.

In 2022, the Kano Hisbah destroyed over three million bottles of assorted beer as part of the state’s efforts “to address drug abuse, intoxication, and other social vices”.

In the verdict delivered by Emeka Nwite, a judge of the federal high court in Abuja, on May 20, it was held that the EFCC should prevent, investigate and prosecute destruction and wasting of alcoholic beverages.

TheCable sighted some parts of the certified true copy (CTC) of the judgment on Friday.

The judge said the EFCC is bound to put a stop to any act that constitutes economic sabotage.

“It is the contention of the applicant that the 2nd respondent (i.e. EFCC) ought to investigate the common act of Kano State Government in seizing, breaking, and extravagantly pouring away the liquid content of bottles, which forms part of the value-added tax being shared by the federal government between it, the state(s) of the federation, and the local government [system] inclusive of Kano state,” Nwite said.

“Now, economic sabotage is one which Nigeria as a ‘nation’ must not tolerate and must be frowned at indeed. The 2nd respondent is duty-bound to put a check and stop any act of economic sabotage to the nation.

“However, such must be done according to laid-down rules and procedures.

“This case (possibly) for the very first time in Nigeria establishes that breaking bottles of alcoholic beverages and wasting its content is an act of economic sabotage (along with its consequences) and further establishes the duty of the EFCC to prevent, investigate, and prosecute such actions.”

TheCable

News

Explosion Rocks Trans Niger Pipeline in Rivers

Published

5 hours ago

March 18, 2025

Eric

An explosion has rocked a section of the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo Community in Gonna Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The explosion occurred late on Monday night near the Bodo-Bonny Road under construction

Thick black smoke was seen billowing into the atmosphere, with a raging fire spreading fast into the mangrove from a video that emerged on Tuesday morning.

The TNP is a federal transport line that supplies oil to the Bonny Export Terminal in Rivers State.

When contacted, the Police spokesperson in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko said she would find out and get back to our reporter, though she had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

The Punch

News

Sack Wike Now, Niger Delta Youths Tell Tinubu

Published

3 days ago

March 15, 2025

Eric

The youth chapter of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Nyesom Wike, to retract his publicly disparaging remarks against the Ijaw nation and the leaders of this socio-political body.

According to the youths, it is embarrassing that Wike insulted the late former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, even in death without respecting him.

Addressing journalists on Saturday, the National Youth President of the Youth Wing, Doben Donyegha, who gave the ultimatum, said that it was annoying that Wike abused the leaders of the South-South geopolitical zone less than 24 hours after its delegation met with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Wike, during a media chat on Thursday, described PANDEF as “the worst organisation anybody can rely on”, while also calling the board of trustee members of the body “political merchants”.

Donyegha, who also urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately sack the minister from his cabinet, said that the youth wing no longer had confidence in him and that keeping Wike in his cabinet may affect the president’s re-election chances in the Niger Delta come 2027.

The President of the PANDEF youths also asked the Code of Conduct Bureau to investigate the minister, alleging land-grabbing activities in the FCT.

News

Ahead Budget Presentation, Amaewhule-led Rivers Assembly Adjourns Sitting Indefinitely

Published

4 days ago

March 14, 2025

Eric

The Rivers State House of Assembly has adjourned its sittings indefinitely.

The decision to adjourn legislative duties indefinitely was reached during plenary, presided over by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, in Port Harcourt on Friday.

The development comes hours after the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, wrote to the Speaker, informing him of his intention to visit the House to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill for consideration and approval.

The governor, in a letter dated March 13 and addressed to the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, said he intends to present the budget on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, or any other day within March that the House may deem fit.

Fubara said his decision is in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment and in response to the lawmakers’ request for him to re-present the budget.

He recalled the bitter experience of visiting the Assembly Quarters with his entourage, where the lawmakers were temporarily sitting to present the budget, but he was denied access to the complex.