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Lid blows open in Buhari Minister’s secret gas deal *Ahmed, ex-Finance Minister, fingered

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A consultancy deal quietly orchestrated by Zainab Ahmed, former Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, is raising eyebrows in the power sector, with several insiders describing it as “illegal” and “a waste of public funds.”

TheCable reports that to execute a Make-up Gas Reprocessing (MUGR) deal, the ministry appointed a “transaction adviser” in an arrangement that some fear might land the federal government in legal challenges.

Make-up gas (MUG) is the gas a power generation company (GenCo) has already paid for but has, for one reason or another, not utilised during the year.

A gas supply agreement (GSA), a bilateral transaction executed by a GenCo and a gas supplier, spells out terms for a review of the clauses.

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Ahmed, who had proposed that Nigeria could covert the MUG to liquified natural gas (LNG) and export to earn revenue for the federation, was said to have sought and got the approval of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

However, there are now questions as to her engagement of Ahmed Zakari & Co, an accounting firm, as transaction advisers in what is purely a bilateral agreement between Calabar Generation Company Limited (Calabar GenCo) and Accugas Ltd.

Calabar GenCo is owned by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), which belongs to the three tiers of government, while Accugas is a private company.

“Accugas and NDPHC were already discussing the extension of the sunset date for the utilisation of the MUG without the involvement of any consultant or adviser. Both parties subsequently executed an addendum to the GSA that provides for the MUG to be utilised within seven years,” an official of the ministry of finance told TheCable.

“The implication is that at the time Zainab Ahmed executed the transaction agreement with Ahmed Zakari & Co in September 2022, they all knew that there was really nothing for the firm to do, beside being paid for doing nothing.”

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TheCable could not confirm the exact fees Zakari & Co is being paid but sources said it is dollars.

The paper quoted an industry insider as saying: “The standard practice with respect to the utilisation of MUG is for the buyer to contact the seller and for both contracting parties to negotiate alternative durations for the utilisation of the MUG. This is necessary because it is gas that the buyer has already paid for. There is usually no requirement for a third party to get involved. Indeed, because the GSA is a bilateral agreement, it will cease to be so if third and fourth parties get involved.

“What would usually happen is for the two parties to concede doing one of the following or both: one, renegotiate the take-or-pay quantity upon which the GSA was executed or, two, extend the sunset date for the utilisation of the MUG.”

CURIOUS CONTRACT

Moyi Dahiru, then special assistant on power to Ahmed, had led the discussions with the power sector stakeholders to discuss the MUGR proposal early 2022.

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In attendance were officials of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc, NDPHC Ltd, Accugas and Azura.

An official of the ministry of finance told TheCable: “Azura made it clear to Mr Dahiru that they do not have any business with the MUGR, particularly because the government is not a party to the GSA.”

However, NDPHC — which manages the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP), including 10 GenCos — did not raise any objections, reportedly because it did not want to upset ministry officials who process the payment of the gas invoices every month.

In February 2022, Ahmed secured an approval from Buhari to retain the accounting firm of Ahmad Zakari & Co as the transaction adviser.

This became effective from September 5, 2022 when the firm signed the agreement with the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), represented by the ministry of finance.

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“Ahmad Zakari & Co’s agreement is of no effect, but money is being paid to the firm for doing nothing,” an official of the ministry of finance, who declined to be named for fear of victimisation, told TheCable.

“The truth is that top government officials usually connived with some of the principal members of staff in the Presidential Villa to mislead Buhari into signing all kinds of things, including appointments for the most unqualified persons and dubious payments.”

‘PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL’

On May 24, 2023, Aliyu Ahmed, the permanent secretary in the ministry of finance, wrote a letter to Total Energies with the title ‘Make-Up gas re-purpose transaction, conveyance of extracts of presidential approval of global framework transaction’, conveying the directive of the government on the treatment of the MUG by GenCos.

The make-up gas belonging to Calabar GenCo is under the MUGR.

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“If I were to advise President Bola Tinubu, he should direct the ministry of finance to stop all payments to Ahmed Zakari & Co and ask the ministry to submit a report of the payments that have been made to the firm so far and for what purposes,” an official said.

“President Tinubu should ask for all the agreements under this MUGR and demand a copy of the addendum which the Accugas executed with the NDPHC that extended the sunset date for the utilisation of the MUG to seven years.”

TheCable has contacted the media office of the former finance minister for comments.

TheCable understands that Dahiru has been putting pressure on Calabar GenCo to execute the deal since he left office with the former finance minister.

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German national stabbed, robbed in Abuja

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A German citizen was attacked and robbed in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on Saturday morning, raising alarms about increasing insecurity in the city.

According to a security report, the incident occurred around 8:00 AM along IBB Way near Maitama Primary School.

READ ALSO: Hope for abducted Afenifere spokesman, as IGP unleashes special rescue squad

The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, was walking when assailants on motorcycles stabbed and robbed him before fleeing. The report highlighted a growing trend of motorcycle-based robberies targeting both locals and foreigners in Abuja.

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An advisory accompanying the report urged Federal Capital Territory residents to remain vigilant, avoid walking alone in unsecured areas, refrain from displaying valuables, and opt for secure transportation.

The report stated, “On September 13, 2025, at approximately 0800hrs, a German national was stabbed and robbed along IBB Way in Abuja, near Maitama Primary School. The victim was walking when attacked by hoodlums on motorcycles. Robbery and assault, Use of motorcycles for quick escapes and Potential targeting of foreigners and locals. Exercise extreme caution when walking in Abuja, especially in areas with low security presence. Avoid displaying valuables or walking alone in isolated areas. Be aware of surroundings and potential threats. Consider using secure transportation services. Report incidents to local authorities immediately. Cooperate with law enforcement agencies to enhance security measures. Stay informed about local security situations and follow advisories from authorities and security focal persons.”

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Lagos police in fresh N1million extortion saga! *How they forced me to pay – musician

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Barely one month after authorities of the Lagos Police Command, dealt with the case of extortion of N1million by four of its operatives from some members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), in the state, they will have to return back to deal with yet another, for exactly the same amount.

This time, it is the case of one Efemena Richard, described as an upcoming artist, who just returned from South Africa and was heading to Warri, the oil city of Delta State to visit the mother, who is telling exactly the same story as the one faced by the NYSC members in Surulere area of the Nigeria’s financial capital.

Louis Edet House Abuja, headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), moved quickly in reaction to the development, which is already trending on social media to order prompt investigation into the matter, which is also attracting a lot of reactions.

Richard, while recounting his ugly experience in the hands of the policemen on Monday, narrated how he was forced to cough out N1 million after he was accosted by the officers, reportedly attached to the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos State, who thereafter, forced him to sign some papers, while taking his photographs at the same time.

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An X user identified as Harrison Gwamnishu, but tweeting as #HarrisonBbi18, who shared a video of the artiste narrating his ordeal via his X handle late Monday, October 21, 2024, recounted the details of exchange between him and the artiste, saying the said policemen forced him to transfer the sum from his account before going to Warri, Delta State.

The exchange, as he recounted, went thus: “Boss, [the] police just extorted me. They took 1 million naira from me after searching my phone at the airport and found nothing. I was headed to the airport when they stopped me. I told them I was already missing my flight but they refused to allow me to go.”

In the three-minute-long video which was tagged, highlighted him, saying: “One million naira extorted from a music artist #smookyhighgrade by some police officers attached to the Beesam Police Station before Muritala Mohammed Airport, Lagos. They asked for $10,000. They gave me papers to write [on] that they will leave me if I write anything I’m asked to write, so I can go catch my flight. I could have left the money but I can’t, it’s a lot of money. Nigerians, please help me, N1 million is no small money.”

Richard, who said he made a video of one of the men, showing the dark-stained tips of his fingers which he said were proofs of thumbprints made, at the behest of the officers, also recalled that he was recorded in a video in which the officers forced him to speak to show that he was not under duress, and signed papers, to be used as his consent, after which he told his sister to send the N1m.

“They even asked for my blockchain wallet, I don’t know what concerns the police with that. I’m just an upcoming artiste, not a fraudster. I just came from South Africa to promote my music. I was heading home to see my mum before I experienced this.

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Reacting to the tweet on Monday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, called on the Lagos Police Command PRO, Benjamin Hundeyin, and the PRO, Airport Command, to commence an investigation into the matter.

“#PoliceNG_CRU, #PoliceNG, contact #BenHundeyin and PRO Airport Command to fish out these men and revert please. Thanks,” the tweet read.

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Treason: Find him, arrest him! Police gets court’s nod to hunt down fleeing Briton

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Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday, issued a warrant of arrest against a British citizen, Andrew Wynne, and other Nigerians over allegations bordering on treason and terrorism, following an ex-parte motion filed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), but moved by Audu Garba.

It was a day the IGP accused about 10 other detained Nigerians, including Lucky Obiyan, and Abdullahi Musa of conniving with Wynne, otherwise known as Andrew Povich, to plot the removal of President Bola Tinubu through unconstitutional means.

In the action seeking an order to declare them wanted, he said the fleeing defendants were involved in the case of conspiracy, treason, inciting to mutiny, inciting disaffection to government and terrorism, among others, contrary to Sections 97, 410, 413, 416 and 412 of the Penal Code, Northern States Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 2004.

The affidavit in support of the motion said investigation so far conducted revealed that the fleeing defendants, were responsible for planning and coordination of the invasion and burning down of the High Court Complex, NCC office and printing press in Kano.

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They were also responsible for the attack on Kano Government House, Kaduna Investment and Promotions Agency’s office, NURTW office and several other buildings in August 2024, the affidavit, said, adding that others who are now at large are being tracked, hence, the need for the application.

Garba, who maintained that if the application is granted, it would enable all police officers in the country and other security agencies to use their mechanisms to secure the lawful arrest of the fleeing defendants, urged the court to grant the application in the interest of justice.

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