Pep Opara's Blog

A leak of private property data in Dubai has shed new light on how the proceeds of a notorious $1.3 billion oil deal involving Shell may have been spent on luxury villas in the secretive Arab Emirate. PREMIUM TIMES’ UK partner, Finance Uncovered, has discovered the name of former Nigerian oil minister Daniel Etete among thousands of property and residency records compiled by assorted real estate professionals in Dubai. The leak was obtained by the U.S. non-profit C4ADS, passed to the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project and seen by Finance Uncovered. Mr Etete was the suspected mastermind behind a 2011 deal known as OPL245 that is alleged to be one of the most corrupt in the history of the oil industry. Mr Etete, as well as oil giants Shell and Eni of Italy, and a number of their former executives, are due to stand trial on various corruption charges relating to OPL245 in Italy on June 20. It is said to be one of the biggest trials in corporate history. All the...

Shocked?!...But it is Politics. All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the defection of the Benue State Governor, Dr Samuel Ortom to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) as “somewhat surprising”. Malam Bolaji Abudullahi, APC National Publicity Secretary said this on Wednesday in Abuja, while reacting to the development. The party recalled efforts made by its National Chairman, Mr Adams Oshiomhole to address some of the grievances raised by the Governor pertaining to the local politics in his state. “The Governor had left the meeting saying he was satisfied with the assurances given by party leaders. We are still working on giving effect to the resolutions from the meeting. “Therefore, we are somewhat surprised by Gov Ortom’s decision,” the statement said. The APC reiterated its earlier position that it respects the rights of every citizen to choose his political affiliation, but expressed hope that those who left its fold would rescind their decisions. It a...

                     Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson thanked medics for saving his life and said he felt humbled by the huge outpouring of sympathy in his first public comments since undergoing emergency surgery for a brain haemorrhage in May. The 76-year-old Scot, who won 38 trophies in 26 years in charge at United, praised medical staff in a video message released by the club. Ferguson, who guided United to 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies, remained in intensive care for several days following the emergency surgery.  “Hello. Just a quick message, first of all to thank the medical staff at Macclesfield, Salford Royal and Alexandra hospitals,” said a healthy-looking Ferguson, whose speech appeared to have been affected a little. “Believe me, without those people, who gave me such great care, I would not be sitting here today. So thank you from me and my family, thank you...

Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) has been abducted by unknown gunmen. This was disclosed by Senator Ben Bruce (Bayelsa East) on his Twitter page. “I have just been informed by Moses Melaye, @dino_melaye’s brother, that Dino has been abducted by unknown persons in a Toyota Sienna that blocked their car and overpowered them on their way to Kogi to answer to Dino’s court case. Lets be on the watch out. Will keep you updated,” Bruce tweeted. Melaye was arraigned yesterday before an FCT High Court in Apo, Abuja on a six-count charge bordering on attempted suicide. Daily Trust reports that Melaye was also charged with the offences of attempt to escape from lawful custody and damage of police property.

                                            Trouble in Safety Net Party! Members of the House of Representatives from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC have disowned Senator Abu Ibrahim in his allegation that Speaker Yakubu Dogara was part of a plot to impeach President Muhammad Buhari. Vanguardnews reports that the members at a press briefing on Thursday told House of Representatives Correspondents that the allegation was a figment of Senator Ibrahim’s imagination. Pledging their unalloyed support to the reelection bid of President Buhari, the members who converged under the aegis of Parliamentary Support Group, PSG, led by Hon. Abdulmumuni Jubril said that Speaker Dogara was with them in the movement. “That’s just his personal opinion. That’s purely a Senate issue”, Hon. Jubril said in response to a question. Recall that Senator Ibrahim, a clos...