In a bid to recapture the seven inmates who escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesha, Osun State, the Federal Government has announced a ₦5 million reward for credible information leading to their arrest.

The inmates reportedly escaped after a heavy downpour damaged the facility’s perimeter wall, allowing them to breach security and flee.

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) disclosed the reward offer in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Public Relations Officer, Deputy Controller of Corrections Umar Abubakar.

The statement reads in part:
“To encourage public participation, the Nigerian Correctional Service wishes to inform the general public that a reward of ₦5 million is being offered to anyone who provides useful information that leads to the recapture of the fleeing inmates from the Medium Custodial Centre, Ilesha, Osun State.”

The NCoS urged citizens to report any information about the escaped inmates to the nearest security agency. It assured that all tips would be handled with the highest level of confidentiality and anonymity.

Members of the public can contact the NCoS through the following channels:

Email: [email protected] | [email protected]

Phone: 0708 708 6005, 0906 000 4598, 0807 505 0006

The Service reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring public safety and called on Nigerians to assist in restoring order by aiding the ongoing manhunt.

In a decisive move to reform Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, the House of Representatives Committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) and Crude Oil Theft have unveiled plans to introduce five strategic bills targeting persistent challenges in the industry.

Chairman of both committees, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, made the disclosure during a joint session held on Tuesday, describing the proposed legislation as a unified response to rampant crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and regulatory lapses.

“One of the bills will create a statutory commission specifically tasked with tackling pipeline vandalism and prosecuting oil-related crimes,” Doguwa announced. “The worsening insecurity in oil-producing areas demands a structured and proactive legislative solution.”

He stressed the importance of collaboration between the two committees, pointing out that although they have distinct mandates, their core focus on crude oil production and security aligns.

“While one committee zeroes in on theft and sabotage, the other oversees exploration and export activities. By harmonizing our efforts, we can deliver more robust and coherent legislative outcomes,” Doguwa stated.

Among the five bills is a proposed legislation, backed by the Speaker of the House, seeking to establish a regulatory commission for the decommissioning of oil installations—a process that has raised environmental and accountability concerns, especially among host communities.

“The current administration recognizes the importance of properly managing decommissioned oil infrastructure,” Doguwa said. “But the absence of a clear regulatory framework has stalled progress. This bill aims to introduce transparency and ensure host communities are meaningfully engaged.”

He noted that although the bills will be sponsored by different members of the House, they represent a coordinated and unified effort by the National Assembly.

“Each bill may have an individual sponsor, but collectively, they represent our shared resolve to confront the systemic challenges facing the oil and gas industry. It’s a joint legislative response to a national imperative,” Doguwa concluded.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday commenced the trial of oil magnate, Dr. Akintoye Akindele, at the Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged $35 million fraud involving funds belonging to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

Akindele is facing a four-count charge alongside two corporate entities—Platform Capital Investment Partners Ltd and Duport Midstream Company Ltd—in a case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/641/2024.

According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly diverted funds paid by the NCDMB Capacity Development Intervention Company Ltd to Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited as investment for infrastructure projects in Brass, Bayelsa State, including a modular refinery and jetty.

The anti-graft agency alleged that between December 2020 and February 2021, Akindele and Platform Capital dishonestly retained $16,006,000, which was part of the funds paid by NCDMB, knowing it to be proceeds of unlawful activity—an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended), and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

In another count, the EFCC accused the defendants of indirectly using $9,048,725 from the same pool of funds, while also alleging that Akindele and Duport retained $784,681 and $220,000 in separate transactions, all believed to be proceeds of unlawful activity.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, the EFCC presented its first prosecution witness, Hon. Israel Sunny Goli, a former member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly. Led in evidence by EFCC counsel R.U. Adagba, Goli testified that he wrote a petition to the EFCC after observing that little to no work had been done on the Brass project site 24 months after the full disbursement of funds.

According to Goli, the then Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Simbi Wabote, had confirmed that $30 million had been paid for the project, yet the only visible development on the ground was land clearing and a non-functional jetty. He added that the caravans used by Atlantic Ltd for accommodation had been overtaken by reptiles.

Under cross-examination by Akindele’s counsel, Chief A.O. Okeaya-Inneh (SAN), Goli denied claims that Brass was a difficult terrain, asserting there was no security issue that would have hindered the project.

Asked whether he was aware that the $35 million was meant as equity investment rather than total project funding, Goli said he only knew what the NCDMB secretary told them—that the funds had been fully paid for the project.

He also admitted not being an investigator and could not confirm whether the EFCC was prosecuting NCDMB officials or whether the agency had filed a petition on the matter.

When cross-examined by counsel for the second and third defendants, Mr. B.J. Akomolafe (SAN), Goli admitted that he did not come across Duport Midstream during his inquiries, and that he had no direct evidence of any funds paid to them.

After the cross-examination, EFCC counsel sought an adjournment to call the next witness. An application by Akindele’s counsel for permission to allow his client travel for medical reasons could not proceed as the prosecution’s counter-affidavit was not before the court.

Justice Ekerete Akpan subsequently adjourned the case to July 10 and 15 for continuation of trial.