TÜRKIYE IS PLANNING TO ESTABLISH LOCAL DEFENCE PRODUCTION FACILITIES AND MILITARY TRAINING CENTRES IN NIGERIA AS PART OF EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN SECURITY COOPERATION AND INCREASE BILATERAL TRADE TO $5 BILLION.(PHOTO).

Image
 Türkiye is planning to establish local defence production facilities and military training centres in Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen security cooperation and increase bilateral trade to $5 billion. Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja, saying the proposed facilities would enable Türkiye to support local military equipment production rather than simply supplying weapons and equipment. He also revealed that 200 Nigerian special forces personnel were undergoing a two-month training programme in Türkiye, with plans underway to establish a similar facility in Nigeria. “We are planning to have some local production unit also in that context, not only selling to Nigeria the tools, equipment, the arms that it needs, but also the possibility of having local production here in Nigeria,” Poroy said. On trade, the ambassador said bilateral trade currently stood at approximately $2 billion, including oil and gas, but both countries were targe...

LONDON COURT ACQUITS FORMER NIGERIAN MINISTER DIEZANI ALISON-MADUEKE OF BRIBERY CHARGES. (PHOTO).


London court acquits former Nigerian minister Diezani Alison-Madueke of bribery charges


Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been acquitted of all bribery charges against her following a high-profile corruption trial in the United Kingdom.


A jury at Southwark Crown Court in London on Wednesday, June 17, found the 65-year-old not guilty on six counts, including five charges of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Alison-Madueke had consistently denied all allegations throughout the proceedings.


Prosecutors alleged that while serving as Nigeria’s petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, Alison-Madueke received significant benefits from oil and gas industry figures seeking lucrative contracts in Nigeria. According to the prosecution, she was provided with what was described as “a life of luxury” in London in exchange for influence over the award of energy contracts.


However, Alison-Madueke maintained that she never accepted bribes and did not possess the authority to directly determine the allocation of government contracts. Following more than 46 hours of jury deliberations, the court returned unanimous not-guilty verdicts on all six charges.


The acquittal marks a significant setback for British authorities, whose investigation into allegations involving the former minister began more than a decade ago. Alison-Madueke also served as president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), becoming the first woman to hold the position.


Two co-defendants were also cleared of charges. Oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who faced one count of bribery relating to Alison-Madueke and another count of bribing a foreign public official, was found not guilty.


Similarly, Alison-Madueke’s brother, Doye Agama, 69, who was accused of conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with payments allegedly made to his church, was acquitted by the jury. The verdict concludes one of the most closely watched corruption cases involving a former senior Nigerian government official in the United Kingdom.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

THE NEW OONI OF ILE-IFE,WILL NOT EAT THE HEART OF THE LATE OONI-PALACE CHIEFS.

INNOSON GIVES OUT BRAND NEW IVM G5 AND SALARY FOR LIFE TO THE MAN WHO PROPHESIED ABOUT HIS VEHICLE MANUFACTURING IN 1979.(PHOTO).

SHAKIRA COVERS WOMEN'S HEALTH MAGAZINE,APRIL ISSUE.