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Plateau Assembly Speakership: Group Knocks Abok says Court of Appeal never rejected Sanda’s Appeal

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The APC Plateau State has vehemently refuted the circulation of fake news on social media platforms regarding the Court of Appeal’s alleged dismissal of the appeal filed by Hon. Yakubu Sanda, Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, and 12 others. These claims are in relation to the controversial judgment of the Plateau State High Court on May 3, 2023, which purportedly restored former Speaker Hon. Nuhu Abok to office despite his non-membership in the House since March 22, 2022.

In a press statement read by Ambassador Haggai Choji Usseni, the APC Vanguard for Good Governance clarified the matter, emphasizing that the Court of Appeal sitting in Jos on May 19, 2023, did not dismiss Hon. Yakubu Sanda’s appeal. Instead, the court postponed the hearing of the Appellants’ Motion Ex-parte due to the presence of the Respondents in court. The court opted to hear the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction, scheduling the hearing for May 25, 2023. Meanwhile, all parties have been directed to maintain the status quo.

Contrary to the misinformation being spread, Hon. Yakubu Sanda remains the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly. Immediately after the High Court’s judgment on May 3, 2023, he filed a Notice of Appeal and a Motion for stay of Execution and Injunction to prevent the enforcement of the judgment by the Judgment Creditors.

The controversy stems from the former Speaker, Hon. Abok Nuhu, who is no longer a member of the Plateau State House of Assembly after defecting to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). It is important to note that the speakership position is contingent upon membership. Thus, Hon. Abok Nuhu cannot reclaim the position of Speaker unless he is re-elected as a member of the House. The House declared Hon. Abok Nuhu’s seat vacant on March 22, 2022, following the reading of his resignation letter on the House floor, in compliance with the provisions of Section 109(1)g and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The APC Plateau State further refuted the claim made by the PDP that the judgment of the High Court is declaratory rather than executory. The judgment, which includes an award of exemplary damages in the sum of N20 million against the defendants, a mandatory injunction against the Clerk and the Plateau State Government to recognize Abok as Speaker and restore his privileges, as well as a perpetual injunction against the defendants/judgment debtors, cannot be considered executory.

In light of the ongoing legal proceedings, the status quo, as ordered by the Court of Appeal, maintains Hon. Yakubu Sanda as the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly. His appeal and the filing of a motion for stay and injunction against Abok and his allies seek to prevent the enforcement of the judgment.

The APC Plateau State also expressed concerns about the illiterate language and tone used in the fake news story currently circulating. They suspect that the desperate Abok Nuhu personally wrote and planted the story. Furthermore, it was revealed that Abok Nuhu has been exploiting past questionable financial dealings to blackmail the House of Assembly’s Clerk, who serves as the signatory to the House’s accounts. Hundreds of millions of naira have been illicitly paid to Abok Nuhu as satisfaction for the controversial judgment debt, despite its enforcement is currently suspended pending the appeal and motion for stay and injunction.

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Akor Adams Says Super Eagles Focused On Improvement, Not Unbeaten Record Under Eric Chelle

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Super Eagles striker Akor Adams has revealed that the national team is not overly focused on its unbeaten record under coach Eric Chelle despite extending the streak after the 2-2 draw against Poland.

READ ALSO: Eric Ejiofor Urges Nigerians To Trust Eric Chelle After Super Eagles’ Impressive Run

Nigeria have now gone 24 matches without losing in normal time under the Franco-Malian tactician, but Adams insists the players are more concerned about improving performances and getting positive results.

“We are not too focused on the unbeaten record,” Adams said.

According to the Super Eagles forward, the team’s main objective remains continuous improvement and representing the country positively.

“Our focus is on performing better and getting results for Nigeria,” he implied.

Adams also praised Chelle for introducing a fresh tactical identity and philosophy to the national team since taking charge.

“The coach has brought a different dimension and philosophy to the team,” he noted.

The striker believes the tactical changes have contributed significantly to the team’s recent performances and growing confidence.

“You can see the improvements in the way we play,” he added.

Nigeria’s unbeaten run under Chelle has continued generating optimism among supporters as the team rebuilds following recent disappointments.

“The team appears more organized and competitive now,” many football observers believe.

The Super Eagles continue preparing for future competitive fixtures while integrating new players into the squad.

“There is growing belief around the direction of the team,” supporters continue to say.

For Akor Adams, the message is clear.

Records are not the priority.

Improvement and results matter more.

And Eric Chelle’s philosophy is helping shape a stronger Super Eagles side.

 

Because lasting success in football comes from growth, consistency, and collective ambition.

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Dangote refinery raises processing capacity to 700,000 barrels per day

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Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals says it has increased its crude oil processing capacity to 700,000 barrels per day (bpd), surpassing its installed nameplate capacity of 650,000 bpd following a performance assessment by its process licensors.

The development marks a significant operational milestone for the refinery, which is widely regarded as the world’s largest single-train petroleum refining facility.

In a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday by the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, the company explained that the increase demonstrates the refinery’s ability to process additional feedstock while optimising performance across its production units.

In his remark, Vice President, Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, said the refinery’s latest output increase forms part of a broader expansion strategy aimed at scaling capacity to 1.4 million bpd within the next 30 months.

Mr Edwin said the proposed expansion could position the facility among the largest refining complexes globally, while strengthening Nigeria’s drive for energy self-sufficiency.

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“The refinery’s growth trajectory reflects a deliberate move toward continental and global refining dominance, not just domestic supply sufficiency,” he said.

The announcement of reaching 70, 000 capacity comes a few days after the refinery chief executive disclosed that the production target of 70,000 barrels per day would be reached by 2028.

On Tuesday, the refinery CEO, David Bird, while speaking during the S&P Global Energy Middle East Petroleum and Gas Conference in London, said the refinery is currently operating at full nameplate capacity and is planning what he described as a “ruthless replication” strategy to expand output.

“We will bring 700,000 barrels per day of fully complex refining capacity on stream by the end of 2028,” he said, adding that long-lead equipment has already been procured while construction contracts are being awarded.

He added that the group could eventually increase refining capacity to 2.1 million bpd, supported by plans for another refinery in East Africa, positioning the company as a major player in global crude and refined product markets.

“Nigeria has gone from fuel scarcity to absolute fuel abundance since the Dangote refinery came online,” Mr Bird said.

According to Kpler data cited last month, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery exported an estimated 57 million barrels of jet fuel between April 2024 and April 2026.

The data showed exports rose from about 20,000 barrels per day in April 2024 to around 65,000 barrels per day by the end of that year before peaking at approximately 160,000 barrels per day during the review period.

The figures highlight the growing role of refined petroleum exports in Nigeria’s energy sector, particularly aviation fuel, as the country seeks to strengthen domestic refining capacity and reduce dependence on imported products.

Expansion plans and export ambitions

Owned by industrialist Aliko Dangote, the refinery commenced fuel production in 2024 and has since expanded output to include petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, and other refined petroleum products.

The company said the facility now supplies both domestic and international markets, exporting refined products to several African countries and to European destinations, including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands.

It also said refined products from the facility have reached markets in the United States, while jet fuel exports have extended to Saudi Arabia.

Dangote Industries argued that the refinery has increasingly played a stabilising role in regional fuel markets amid supply disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, with more African countries turning to the facility for energy security.

Growing global footprint

The refinery’s rising output has further strengthened its position in global fuel markets.

The company noted that the facility emerged as the world’s largest exporter of jet fuel in April, citing data from S&P Global Commodities.

Industry analysts say the refinery’s operations have already contributed to reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum products, easing pressure on foreign exchange demand and improving local fuel availability.

READ ALSO: Dangote refinery can supply Jet Fuel Globally — Official

As production volumes increase, the refinery has also attracted stronger engagement from international crude suppliers and commodity traders, sourcing feedstock from both domestic and foreign producers to sustain rising throughput.

Dangote Industries said the planned expansion to 1.4 million bpd by 2028 is expected to generate broader economic benefits, including job creation, increased industrial activity and improved trade balances.

The refinery also expects to deepen downstream industrialisation through increased supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), polypropylene and other industrial feedstocks used in manufacturing.

Plans also include production of Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB), a key raw material used in detergent manufacturing, as part of efforts to expand the country’s petrochemical value chain.


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