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Shell in Trouble As Civil Society, Groups Condemn Plot to Smear AITEO

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Shell in Trouble As Civil Society, Groups Condemn Plot to Smear AITEO

Shell Rattled By Bank Accounts Restrictions, as Aiteo Seeks $4bn for ‘16 Million Barrels of Crude Diverted ’

 

• Court Throws Out Shell’s Plea to Unfreeze Accounts in Oil Diversion Case

 


…DPR Condemns, Sanctions SDPC for Short-changing Aiteo, other Indigenous Oil Firms.

 

 

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), youth leaders, lawyers as well as student bodies, have alerted Nigerians and the international community of an alleged plot by oil giant,

the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), to launch a global smear campaign against Aiteo Group.

The groups and their members, numbering over a thousand who gathered in Abuja, told journalists that information at their disposal indicated that the development was meant to divert attention from the international oil company’s role in the missing 16 million barrels of crude oil.

Stating that the missing crude oil had deprived Nigeria of the needed revenue to fix the country, the aggrieved groups, including human rights organisations, maintained that the authorities must focus on getting to the root of the matter, rather than being distracted by the alleged plot.

Other organisations present at the event were the Arewa Consultative Youth Movement, the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Youth Movement, Niger Delta Youth Council, Oduduwa Youth Assembly, Middle Belt Youth Vanguard, the Africa Youth Council among others.

Also present were Consortium of lawyers for Human Rights and Justice, African Centre for Human Rights and Justice and the Africa Youth Council.

In a joint statement, read on behalf of the conveners by Mr Tochukwu Ohuzuruike, a lawyer, and Mallam Kabir Yusuf, the groups said that the latest attempt was aimed at diverting attention from crude theft allegation and sabotaging the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari to raise the nation’s oil revenue.

They reiterated their earlier position that the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), having conducted an investigation, discovered that Shell deployed an unapproved metering system totalling over 2 million barrels of oil which the agency asked Shell to refund to the affected companies.

The groups said that they were of the view that the unapproved metering system Shell deployed was such that it gave inaccurate figures of the actual volume of crude pumped to the terminal.

According to them, since the allegation broke, Shell had been doing its best to divert attention, obfuscate facts, deflect all efforts at getting to the truth and sponsor an international media smear campaign against Aiteo and its management.

The groups listed some highpoints of the alleged smear campaign as labelling Aiteo as a serial loan defaulter, portraying the company in bad light before credible lenders across the world and making it impossible for the company to access any further financial facilities from lenders.

“It is this same statement which had been invalidated and set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction that Shell is deliberately pushing out to the media without mentioning that it has been set aside and invalidated by the court.

“More of the information Shell is syndicating in the media is that Mr. Benedict Peters has no reasonable and verifiable means of income and livelihood among others,” the groups stated.

The groups called on Nigerians and the global community to ignore the alleged fabricated and well financed smear campaign against Aiteo and its executives.

“This economic sabotage has not only affected the local oil companies but has drastically affected the oil revenue base of the federal government and has denied the government of the needed revenue to complete the fix Nigeria project,” the groups noted.

However, Shell had denied any wrongdoing in the case of the missing barrels of oil, stating that the allegations were factually incorrect and that there was no loss of revenue to the federal government.

In a statement by Shell’s Media Relations Manager, Bamidele Odugbesan the crude theft/diversion allegation was also factually incorrect.

He said: “This is a distinct issue that relates to the directive by the Department of Petroleum Resources to SPDC as operator of the Bonny Oil and Gas Terminal, an asset belonging to the SPDC Joint Venture, to implement a crude re-allocation programme between injectors into the SPDC JV’s Trans Niger Pipeline and injectors into the NCTL.

“Crude allocation review and re-allocation is a normal industry practice to re-allocate previous provisional allocated volumes under the directive and supervision of DPR, and this is not an exercise resulting from crude diversion, underreporting or theft at the terminal.

“This industry practice is not peculiar to the SPDC-operated Bonny Oil and Gas Terminal alone and does not translate into any loss of volumes to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“The re-allocation in issue was initiated by SPDC as operator of the Bonny Oil and Gas Terminal, while the DPR validated and confirmed it for implementation for the concerned oil producers.

Crude oil production metering and allocation are subject to specific guidelines issued by the industry regulator, DPR. SPDC strictly adheres to these guidelines and the implementation is regularly verified by the regulator

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Police Officers Detained as Family Property Dispute Sparks Demolition Controversy in Lagos

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Police Officers Detained as Family Property Dispute Sparks Demolition Controversy in Lagos By Ifeoma Ikem

Police Officers Detained as Family Property Dispute Sparks Demolition Controversy in Lagos

By Ifeoma Ikem

 

A property dispute within the Omotayo-Ojo family has taken a dramatic turn following a controversial demolition exercise at a residential building in Ikosi-Ketu, Lagos State, which reportedly left tenants displaced and led to the detention of some police officers allegedly involved in the operation.

 

 

The property, located at 23B Loveall Street, Ikosi-Ketu, has been the subject of a prolonged ownership tussle since the death of its owner, Chief Oludola Omotayo Ojo, the Babaalaje of Imesi-Ile, Osun State, in 2019.
Residents said tension erupted when a group of individuals, accompanied by security operatives, stormed the premises and commenced demolition activities.

 

 

According to eyewitnesses, portions of the building were pulled down while tenants rushed to salvage their belongings from affected apartments.

 

 

The residents alleged that windows, doors and roofing sheets were damaged during the exercise, exposing parts of the building to the elements and causing significant losses to occupants.

 

 

At the centre of the dispute is Mrs Mojisola Omotayo Ojo Alolagbe, who claimed that the property was allocated to her by her late father during his lifetime as a source of financial support.

 

She alleged that some family members had persistently challenged her ownership claim despite ongoing legal proceedings relating to the administration of the deceased’s estate.
Alolagbe further claimed that the latest incident was part of a series of attempts to wrest control of the property, citing previous cases of alleged vandalism and partial demolition in November 2025, January 2026 and February 2026.

 

 

The situation escalated further when reports emerged that police officers allegedly involved in the demolition were later apprehended and conveyed in a Black Maria vehicle over questions surrounding the legality of their participation in the operation.

 

Sources familiar with the matter said those behind the demolition had initially claimed to be acting on approval from the Lagos State Ministry of Lands. However, the authenticity and extent of such approval could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.

 

 

The development has generated concern among residents and community members, who questioned the involvement of security personnel in what they described as a civil matter.

 

 

Some tenants, who said they had recently renewed their tenancy agreements, lamented the destruction of their property and appealed to the authorities for protection and possible compensation.

 

They also called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the demolition, insisting that the rights of all parties involved should be protected.
Stakeholders have urged the Lagos State Government, security agencies and the judiciary to intervene and ensure that the dispute is resolved through lawful means to prevent further escalation.

 

 

The controversy has continued to draw public attention, raising concerns over property rights, estate administration and the role of law enforcement agencies in civil disputes.

 

Police Officers Detained as Family Property Dispute Sparks Demolition Controversy in Lagos

By Ifeoma Ikem

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UKA Gears Up for Final ATC Exchangeability Test Run as June Preparations Begin

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UKA Gears Up for Final ATC Exchangeability Test Run as June Preparations Begin.

May 30, 2026 – As the month of June gathers momentum, the *United Kingdom of Atlantis, UKA*, a sovereign nation has unveiled a series of vital guidelines and preparatory packages to ensure citizens and stakeholders run the *ATC Exchangeability* process effectively.

In an official update, the *President of Atlantic Crown Limited, Empress of Attica Empire UKA*, confirmed that the *Final Test Run of ATC Exchangeability* is scheduled for the month of June 2026. The exercise marks a key phase ahead of the *Official Exchangeability Window, set to run from July 2026 to February 2027*.

### Key Highlights from the Presidential Briefing
1. *Final Test Run – June 2026*
The test run is designed to validate systems, procedures, and user readiness before full activation. Citizens, partners, and designated participants are urged to follow all official advisories released by UKA authorities during this period.

2. *Official Exchangeability Period*
Following the successful completion of the June test run, the Official Exchangeability will commence in july 2026 and we are Expecting Full Exchange ability between July Ending, 2026 to February 2026.

UKA stated that detailed schedules, eligibility requirements, and step-by-step instructions will be communicated progressively through verified UKA channels.

3. *Benefiting Packages for June*
In line with UKA’s commitment to citizen empowerment, the month of June will feature “benefiting packages” aimed at education, preparation, and seamless onboarding. These packages are intended to equip the people of UKA with the knowledge and tools needed for effective participation.

4. *Commitment to Transparency*
Addressing the nation, the Empress of Attica Empire UKA emphasized:
_“Final Test Run of ATC Comes up in The Month of June, As We Prepare For The Official Exchangeability, Between July 2026 To Feb 2027. All Information Will Be Communicated.”_
UKA reaffirmed that only information released through official UKA platforms should be regarded as authoritative.

The United Kingdom of Atlantis is encouraging all citizens, representatives, and interested parties to remain alert to official communications, attend designated orientation sessions, and avoid unofficial sources. UKA’s dedication to order, clarity, and the collective benefit of its people as the nation moves into this significant phase.

For updates, advisories, and participation guidelines, citizens are advised to monitor official UKA communication channels.

United Kingdom of Atlantis, UKA, is a sovereign nation, committed to national development, citizen welfare, and structured economic participation through initiatives such as ATC Exchangeability.

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Three Years On, General Buratai Hails Tinubu’s Economic, Security Achievements

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Three Years On, General Buratai Hails Tinubu’s Economic, Security Achievements

 

 

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as bold economic reforms and improved security efforts as the President marks three years in office.

 

 

 

 

In a goodwill message on Thursday to commemorate Tinubu’s third anniversary as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Buratai said the administration had taken courageous decisions that would leave a lasting impact on Nigeria’s development.

 

 

 

According to him, President Tinubu broke a long-standing cycle that had hindered national growth by removing fuel subsidy and implementing foreign exchange reforms aimed at stabilising the naira and strengthening the economy.

 

 

 

 

He noted that the reforms were beginning to yield positive results, citing the global acceptance of Nigerian debit cards, the gradual revival of local refineries, access to student loans, and ongoing road and infrastructure projects across the country.

 

 

 

“The FCT Administration has also recorded remarkable progress, completing major road projects that remained unfinished for over 16 years,” Buratai stated.

 

 

 

The former army chief also praised the administration’s security efforts, saying renewed military offensives against insurgents, terrorists and bandits had led to notable successes across various parts of the country.

 

 

 

He specifically lauded recent joint operations involving Nigerian and United States forces against Boko Haram and ISWAP in the North-East, as well as intensified counter-banditry operations in the North-West.

 

 

 

 

“We have seen notorious ISWAP commanders being neutralised. I congratulate the Commander-in-Chief, the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and heads of intelligence agencies for their efforts,” he said.

 

 

 

 

Buratai, however, acknowledged that challenges remained, stressing the need for more aggressive military operations and intelligence-driven strategies in the coming year.

 

 

 

 

While urging Nigerians to remain hopeful, he said celebrating the President’s achievements did not amount to ignoring the difficulties facing the nation.

 

 

 

 

“Because you truly care, you have shown the courage to trade short-term comfort for long-term hope. Nigerians need your reassurances, and that is why we remain optimistic and full of confidence,” he added.

The retired military officer reaffirmed his support for the Tinubu administration and expressed confidence that the foundation being laid by the government would deliver a brighter future for the country.

 

He also prayed for God’s guidance, wisdom, strength and good health for the President as he continues to lead Nigeria.

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