Customs Seizes 34,470L Of Smuggled Petrol At Taraba-Cameroon Border

Customs seizes 34,470L of Smuggled petrol at Taraba-Cameroon border. The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its crackdown on fuel smuggling, seizing 34,470 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and a heavy-duty transportation truck in a three-hour operation along the Taraba-Cameroon border.

The enforcement, led by the Customs’ Operation Whirlwind unit, targeted smugglers operating through Gembu and Kan-Iyaka in Sardauna LGA, a known smuggling corridor.

Speaking at a public auction in Jalingo, Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed that the operation was carried out with support from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Adeniyi explained that intelligence from the inter-agency intelligence fusion center detected unusual fuel movement patterns in the Sorofi and Kan-Iyaka areas between March 8 and 9, 2025.

Acting on this, field teams executed a series of coordinated interceptions, disrupting what appeared to be an emerging smuggling route.

The seizure included 1,149 Jerry cans of PMS, each containing 30 liters, totaling 34,470 liters. A specialized transportation truck valued at ₦4 million was also confiscated, bringing the total duty-paid value to ₦37.78 million.

Adeniyi noted that a significant portion of the smuggled fuel was intercepted in Gembu, while 180 Jerry cans and the truck were seized en route to the Kan-Iyaka border crossing.

Cameroon Border

Describing fuel smuggling as a threat to national security and economic stability, Adeniyi urged security agencies to remain vigilant. He stressed that petrol is vital to economic activities and warned that shortages could slow down the economy.

He reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to tackling smuggling networks and safeguarding Nigeria’s energy sector and economic interests.

Magistrate Court Issues Arrest Warrant For VeryDarkMan Over Defamation Case

Magistrate court issues arrest warrant for VeryDarkMan over defamation case. An Abuja Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Wuse Zone 6 has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM).

The arrest order, issued on Thursday, follows a criminal defamation case filed by renowned gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.

In his ruling, Magistrate Emmanuel Iyana directed the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies to apprehend and present VDM before the court to face the allegations leveled against him.

The court noted that VDM failed to honor a summons issued on March 5, instructing him to appear for the hearing.

Despite pleas from his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, who requested permission to personally produce his client at the next hearing, the magistrate refused to revoke the arrest warrant.

VDM is accused of making defamatory claims against Chinwo on his social media platform, alleging her involvement in a contractual dispute over the alleged diversion of $345,000 linked to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu (Eezee Tee).

Chinwo, refuting the allegations, presented documentary evidence to the court, including emails and payment receipts, to establish her innocence.

VeryDarkMan

Her legal team, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi, argued that VDM’s actions violate Section 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24(1)(B) of the Cybercrime Act (2015).

In addition to the criminal case, Chinwo’s lawyers have also filed a N1.1 billion lawsuit against VDM at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

They are seeking a retraction, deletion, and public apology for the alleged defamatory statements.

Fuel Station Supervisor Arraigned Over Alleged N1.25m Theft

Fuel station supervisor arraigned over alleged N1.25m theft. A 22-year-old petrol station supervisor, Prosper Ese, was arraigned on Wednesday before a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly embezzling N1,256,400 from his employer.

Ese, whose residential address was not disclosed, is facing two charges of theft and fraud but pleaded not guilty to both.

According to ASP Edet Ekpo, the prosecutor, the incident took place on March 2 at Arigbabuwo Petrol Filling Station, Oko-Afo, Badagry. Ese allegedly misappropriated N1,056,400 from sales proceeds and also fraudulently obtained N200,000 from one Aisat Folorunsho under false pretenses.

He was reportedly apprehended while attempting to escape from the station.

Court

The prosecution noted that the alleged crimes violate Sections 287 and 311 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

Presiding over the case, Chief Magistrate N.A. Layeni granted Ese bail of N1 million with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the hearing to April 16.