News

Peace Building Agency partners with media, creative industry on peaceful co-existence in Plateau

Published

3 years ago

February 1, 2023

vicky

Mr Joseph Lengmang, Director General of Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA) has expressed strong support to partner with the media and personalities from the creative industry in the promotion of peaceful co-existence in the state.

He noted that without the support of the media, the agency wouldn’t have achieved the current milestone it has recorded since it was conceptualized six years ago.

Lengmang disclosed this on Tuesday during a media engagement with the media and men from the creative industry in Plateau State, held at the Agency headquarters in Jos.

Represented by the Director of Administration, Gayi Timothy Gayi said mediation and dialogue remain a veritable tool the agency has adopted over the years in the search for lasting peace in rural communities.

He said through dialogue, people from the warring communities across the state have embraced each other to build confidence among themselves for an enduring peace.

The information officer, Kenneth Dakop who gave an overview of the agency’s engagement with communities said the systematic dialogue has been used in proffering community-driven solutions to the violent attacks.

He explained that the agency in collaboration with Plateau Inter-Religious Council has facilitated mediation that culminated in the signing of an expression of commitment to peace and peaceful co-existence agreement between the Irigwe ad Fulani in Bassa Local Government Area.

He noted that a series of programmes including theatre for change and drama has also been adopted as a catalyst to resolving the prolonged violent attacks.

Dakop said the agency has adopted an implementation strategy which includes decentralization of their activities to include monthly Community Peace Architecture Forum (CPAF) and Community Participatory Theatre otherwise known as Theatre for change.

He said that the agency has carried out mediation and dialogue programmes in Bokkos, Shendam, and Riyom, among other local government areas in the state, to strengthen peaceful co-existence among citizens.

He admonished personalities from the creative industry who are anchors of one radio programme and the other to preach peace during their respective programmes to deepen peace in the state.

Related Topics:PPBA PPBA partners with media on peaceful co-existence

Up Next

Gunmen abduct NTA reporter and three others along Bauchi-Jos highway

Don't Miss

General Elections: CAN denies endorsing candidates

Click to comment

News

Osun Guber: Adesuyi urges security agencies to prosecute violence perpetrators

Published

2 hours ago

July 9, 2026

Preport

The governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, in Osun State, Olufemi Adesuyi, has called on security agencies to intensify efforts aimed at preventing further political violence ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

Adesuyi made the appeal in a statement issued in Osogbo on Wednesday, where he expressed concern over the recent increase in violent incidents across the state and urged law enforcement authorities to act decisively against perpetrators.

He urged the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies operating in Osun to be proactive in maintaining law and order during the election period.

According to him, “those involved in violent acts should be arrested and prosecuted regardless of their political affiliations.”

The ZLP candidate said the growing trend of killings and politically linked violence posed a threat to public safety and democratic governance in the state.

He warned that allowing such incidents to continue unchecked could affect the credibility of the forthcoming governorship poll.

Adesuyi stated, “The trend of these killings, if left unchecked, will threaten the peace and democratic values in this state. That will definitely affect the credibility of the forthcoming August 15 gubernatorial election.”

He added that politics should remain a contest of ideas and service rather than a struggle that endangers lives.

“We must not allow desperation to turn our democracy into a bloodbath. The rate at which political violence is spreading in Osun is worrisome. No position, no matter how highly placed, is worth wasting human blood for,” he said.

The governorship hopeful also appealed to politicians across party lines to conduct their campaigns peacefully and place the interest of Osun State above partisan considerations.

He said, “politicians must understand that power is transient. You cannot achieve your ambition by shedding the blood of innocent people.

“Let us campaign with decorum, respect our opponents, and allow the people to decide freely.”

Calling for restraint before, during and after the election, Adesuyi stressed that political differences should not lead to hostility among residents.

“Election is not war. Let us conduct ourselves peacefully, responsibly, and with respect for one another before, during, and after the election. Political differences should never make us enemies,” he said.

He encouraged eligible voters not to be discouraged by security concerns but to participate actively in the electoral process, while also seeking support for his governorship ambition.

The appeal comes amid heightened concern over violent crimes in Osun State, which recently prompted a visit by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu.

Business

EFCC Arraigns Former MD Of Port Harcourt Refinery for Alleged N1.32bn Money Laundering

Published

7 hours ago

July 9, 2026

Preport

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday f2026 arraigned Mr. Ahmed Adamu Dikko, former Managing Director of Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd (PHRC), before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering.

The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/360/2026 and dated and filed on June 22 by the Commission’s counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, listed Dikko and Masterpiece Projects & Investment Limited as first and second defendants respectively.

Dikko, who led the Port Harcourt Refining Company for about four years, pleaded not guilty to a 12-count charge filed against him by the Commission on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

The EFCC accused Dikko of laundering N1,322,839,112.7 (One Billion, Three Hundred and Twenty-Two Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty-nine Thousand, One Hundred and Twelve Naira, Seven Kobo) in proceeds allegedly linked to contractors engaged by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery, through cash property purchases, undisclosed bank retentions, third-party fund concealment and unauthorised currency conversion, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count one reads in part: “That you AHMED ADAMU DIKKO… did directly make cash payment of the dollar equivalent of the sum of N218,375,000.00 to one Hadeija Bashir for the purchase of Plot 558, Abubakar Umar Street, Katampe Extension, Abuja without passing through a financial Institution and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 2(1)(a), 19(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.”

Count eight reads: “That you AHMED ADAMU DIKKO, former Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd (PHRC) on or about the 26th of June, 2023 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court disguised the origin of the sum of N328,710,337.50 (Three Hundred and Twenty Eight Million, Seven Hundred and Ten Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty Seven Naira, Fifty Kobo) paid into the GTBank Account Plc No. 0123201507 operated by Masterpiece Projects & Investment Limited by OMSA Integrated Services Limited from the transactions involving NNPC Limited allocation of Vacuum Gas Oil for export when you knew that the said sum of N328,710,337.50 constituted proceeds of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary Section 18(2) (a) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

Count eleven reads: “That you AHMED ADAMU DIKKO between October, 2022 and May, 2025 did convert the aggregate sum of $77,080 through Ibrahim Isa Yaro which amount did not form part of your known lawful earnings as a former public officer with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

Thereafter, counsel to the defendant, Okechukwu Ajunwa, SAN urged the court to grant the defendant bail pending the determination of the suit. Iheanacho, however, opposed the bail application.

In his ruling on the bail application, Justice Ekwo granted the defendant bail in the sum of N150,000,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) with a surety who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and with a landed property valued at not less than the bail sum. He ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending when he’s able to meet the bail conditions.

The matter was therefore adjourned to October 12, 13 and 14, 2026 for trial.

The post EFCC Arraigns Former MD Of Port Harcourt Refinery for Alleged N1.32bn Money Laundering appeared first on Business Today NG.