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Senate summons ex-NNPC boss Kyari over N210tn audit queries

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The Senate on Thursday summoned the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, over an alleged N210tn expenditure by the national oil company between 2017 and 2023, which the lawmakers say has not been properly accounted for.

Invited alongside Kyari are the former Chief Financial Officer, Umar Isa, and the former Group General Manager of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services, Bala Wunti.

The Senate committee handling the probe threatened to issue warrants of arrest against the former management officials if they fail to appear before it on a date to be communicated.

The committee also questioned why the national oil company allegedly spent about N5bn on the change of name from the defunct Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to the Nigerian NNPC Limited.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Aliyu Wadada (Nasarawa West), read the resolutions to journalists. He said the summoned former management team should appear before the panel.

They are to come alongside the incumbent Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari.

Wadada stated: “NNPCL should refund the sum of N210tn, being the combined sum of N103tn and N107tn, which were not properly accounted for as contained in the audit reports. The NNPCL should and must account for the two figures.

“The second resolution of the committee is that the NNPCL should remit to the treasury all production costs charged against crude oil revenue for the period under review, since NNPCL and its subsidiaries, including NAPIMS, do not directly produce crude oil.

“Thirdly, the immediate past management of NNPCL and NAPIMS, which includes Mele Kyari as the then GCEO, Umar Ajia Isa as the then CFO, and Bala Wunti as the then GGM, NAPIMS, should appear before the committee and be led by the present management along with the external auditors that served within the period under review.

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“Fourthly, the Auditor General for the Federation should carry out a forensic audit review of the audited financial statements of NNPCL for the period under review in line with Section 85 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended).”

He added that the committee considered the N5bn expenditure on the corporation’s name change unacceptable, adding that “Satisfactory explanations must be given.”

According to Wadada, the resolutions followed the inability of NNPCL to provide satisfactory responses to 19 questions raised by lawmakers from the audit report.

“NNPCL, in response, claimed the N103tn represented cumulative amounts expended by NNPCL Joint Venture partners from JV Cash Calls 2017. That response is unacceptable, and the figure of N103 trillion remains unresolved.

“The subsidy receivables, according to the audited financial statement of NNPCL, stood at N107tn. As of December 2023, NNPCL recorded N107tn as sundry receivables, some allegedly owed by different banks and other entities. When combined, NNPCL needs to properly account for N210tn,” he explained.

Despite the concerns, the committee reaffirmed its support for the administration of President Bola Tinubu, noting that the Federal Government remained committed to promoting transparency, probity, and accountability in the management of public funds.

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Putin ‘helping Iran attack US military as Russia shares comprehensive intel on American targets’ in major WW3 escalation

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March 6, 2026

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Russia is reportedly sharing intelligence with Iran as the conflict across the Middle East intensifies following recent US-Israeli strikes.

According to a report by the Washington Post, Russian officials have allegedly provided Iran with information about the locations of United States warships and aircraft operating in the region.

Sources cited in the report said the intelligence sharing appears to be extensive, describing it as “a fairly comprehensive effort”. The reported assistance comes as Iran’s ability to independently locate US military targets has reportedly been weakened following recent military operations that targeted key Iranian leadership and infrastructure.

Vladimir Putin has not publicly confirmed the reports, but the alleged intelligence support would mark the first indication that Russia is directly assisting Iran since the conflict escalated.

Meanwhile, the White House said Iranian forces have suffered significant losses in recent days. Anna Kelly said the Iranian government was under increasing pressure from ongoing strikes. “The Iranian regime is being absolutely crushed,” she said.

Kelly did not directly address the reports about Russia sharing intelligence with Iran but added that Tehran’s military capabilities were declining. “Their ballistic missile retaliation is decreasing every day, their navy is being wiped out, their production capacity is being demolished, and proxies are hardly putting up a fight,” she said.

Officials also noted that although Russia and China have maintained close coordination diplomatically, there was no clear indication that China was providing similar support to Iran.

The developments come as regional tensions continue to rise, with drone and missile attacks targeting US bases across the Middle East.

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In one incident, several American soldiers were killed when an Iranian drone reportedly struck a tactical operations centre at Port Shuaiba in Kuwait. Donald Trump later offered condolences to the families of those killed and warned that further American casualties could occur as the conflict continues.

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Jigawa sacks 22 over Ramadan feeding scam

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March 6, 2026

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The Jigawa State Government has dismissed 22 vendors and companies involved in the ongoing Ramadan Iftar programme over allegations of cheating, misrepresentation of food quality and quantity, and questionable financial practices.
The decision was taken as part of efforts to promote transparency and accountability in the initiative designed to provide meals for vulnerable residents during the holy month.
Recall that Governor Umar Namadi initiated the Ramadan Iftar programme, targeting 7.9 million beneficiaries across 640 free meal centres in the state, to provide relief and nutritious meals to vulnerable citizens during the 2026 Ramadan period.
However,  two weeks into the programme, a comprehensive supervisory report and field monitoring exercise reportedly uncovered serious misconduct by several vendors and companies following public complaints.
The State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Special Duties has now taken swift action, dismissing those suspected to be involved in the scandal.
In a statement made available to journalists in Dutse on Friday by the Jigawa State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Special Duties, Auwalu Sankara, the dismissals were attributed to gross misconduct, mismanagement of public funds, and poor handling of the programme.
The statement listed the affected individuals and entities as follows: Haruna Ladan Inv. and Property (Jahun LGA); Musa A. Jibrin (Gwiwa 1, Jahun LGA); Nura Yahaya (Chukuto Ward, Taura LGA); Usman Umar Malam (Sarawa 1, Kafin Hausa LGA); Muhammad Suleiman (Sarawa 2, Kafin Hausa LGA); Musa Salisu (Zago 1, Kafin Hausa LGA); Dauda Yusuf (Zago 2, Kafin Hausa LGA); Lurwanu Alhassan (Unguwar Ya 1, Birnin Kudu LGA); Ashiru Kamisu (Danladi 1, Sule Tankarkar LGA); Shuaibu Muhammad (Danladi 2, Sule Tankarkar LGA); Muhammad Abdullahi (Jeke 1, Sule Tankarkar LGA); and Jafaru Magaji (Amanga 1, Sule Tankarkar LGA).
Others are Sulaiman Shuaibu (Yayari 1, Hadejia LGA); Badamasi Umar (Yayari 2, Hadejia LGA); Danbaba Nasallah (Matsaro 1, Hadejia LGA); Fatima Abdulaziz (Yankoli 1, Hadejia LGA); Ibrahim Sulaiman (Yankoli 2, Hadejia LGA); Yusuf Wada (Jahun); Haruna Yau and Aisha Garba (Malam Madori); Babannan Baffa (Guri); and Amina Abdullahi (Gwaram).
“These individuals and entities have been dismissed for gross misconduct, mismanagement of public funds, and poor handling of the programme,” Sankara said.
“Our commitment to standards remains unwavering,” he said, stressing that the government would not compromise on standards or allow any deviation from its policies, especially during the sacred month.
“We are already in the process of substituting these individuals with deserving contractors,” he added.
Sankara said the administration has prioritised the welfare of the people of Jigawa State.
“The dismissals demonstrate the government’s resolve to protect public funds, and the welfare of the people of Jigawa remains our highest priority.”
“The people of Jigawa deserve better. We will ensure accountability and continue to serve the people,” Sankara said, assuring the public of the government’s commitment to maintaining standards.
He thanked Namadi for his support, adding that “the government will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the success of the programme.”

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US likely responsible for strike on Iran school – New York Times

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March 6, 2026

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The United States is most likely responsible for a strike that reportedly killed scores of people at an elementary school in southern Iran, according to a New York Times investigation.

The February 28 strike hit an elementary school in the Iranian town of Minab and killed at least 150 people, according to Iranian officials.

Neither Israel nor the United States has claimed responsibility for the attack, which was in close proximity to sites controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

The US Department of Defence has said it is investigating the incident.

The New York Times reported on Thursday that US military statements indicating forces were attacking naval targets near the Strait of Hormuz, where an IRGC base is located, “suggest they were most likely to have carried out the strike.”

An analysis of social media posts from the time of the attack, as well as photos and videos from witnesses, indicated that the Shajare Tayyebeh elementary school was struck at the same time as a Revolutionary Guards’ naval base site, the Times said.

Two unidentified US officials told Reuters that military investigators “believe it is likely” that US forces were responsible for the strike.

AFP has been unable to reach the location to independently verify the toll or the circumstances of the attack.

General Dan Caine, the top US military officer, said on Wednesday that the United States was carrying out strikes along the southern Iran at the time.

A map he presented, the Times reported, indicated an area including Minab had been targeted by strikes in the first 100 hours of the operation.

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Caine noted that Israel had mainly been operating further north in Iran.

The school was at one point part of the IRGC’s naval base, according to satellite images from 2013 reviewed by the Times.

However, the paper said publicly available historical satellite imagery “shows the structure bears the hallmarks of a school, including a sports field and other recreational areas that were added over time.”

“Given the U.S.’s intelligence capabilities, they should have known that a school was in the vicinity,” Beth Van Schaack, a former State Department official who teaches at Stanford University’s Centre for Human Rights and International Justice, told the Times.

The Norway-based rights group Hengaw said the school was holding its morning session at the time of the attack and reportedly had about 170 students present.

Asked on Wednesday whether the United States was involved in the strike, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt replied: “Not that we know of.”

AFP

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