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CSOs, lawyers threaten continuous protests, insist on probe of Mele Kyari over $4bn refinery spending

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Former Group Chief Executive Officer, GCEO, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, Mele Kyari

A coalition of lawyers and civil society organisations has vowed to continue their protests, accusing former Group Chief Executive Officer, GCEO, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, Mele Kyari, of attempting to derail investigations into the alleged mismanagement of billions of dollars allocated to refurbishing Nigeria’s refineries.

The group, Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law alleged that Kyari is resorting to underhanded tactics to suppress their demand for a judicial commission of inquiry into the alleged misappropriation of over $4 billion meant for refinery rehabilitation.

In a statement issued on Friday and jointly signed by Barrister Aminu Bello, Secretary General, and Rotimi Adeyemo, Director of Publicity, the group alleged that Kyari was trying to frustrate ongoing calls for transparency by targeting key members of the coalition.

“Let it be known that we will not be bought, bullied, or silenced. The attempt to pressure us into withdrawing our petition has failed. The strategy has now shifted to creating confusion using impostors and faceless coalitions. This too will fail,” the statement reads.

“It is baffling that over $4 billion was claimed to have been spent on turnaround maintenance, yet our refineries remain dormant. Where did the money go? We have a duty to ask these questions, and we won’t stop asking until answers are provided under oath.”

The lawyers and CSOs, who had initially submitted a petition to the Minister of Finance demanding a judicial commission of inquiry, are calling for an investigation into the alleged mismanagement of over $4 billion earmarked for refinery repairs that yielded no results.

They are also challenging the nearly $21.6 billion in crude-backed loans secured by NNPCL under Kyari’s leadership.

According to the group, Nigeria’s economic sovereignty was further compromised under Kyari through loan structures that surrendered the upside of crude trading to international middlemen, leaving the country at a disadvantage.

“The damage is clear. Over $4 billion was allegedly spent on fixing refineries that are still far from functional. Crude-for-cash arrangements continued to put Nigeria at a disadvantage, with the nation losing the upside from trading its crude,” the statement added.

“These were not just policy errors — they were systemic betrayals of public trust. No responsible nation allows such weighty financial irregularities to go unchecked. We are calling for the immediate constitution of a judicial commission of inquiry led by retired justices of impeccable character to investigate this criminality.

“The millions of Nigerians who depend on affordable, functional fuel deserve the truth. Their hard-earned money should not be squandered under the guise of maintenance that never occurred.”

Insisting they are undeterred, the lawyers and CSOs warned that the protest movement will not only continue but escalate to major cities across the country, including Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Kaduna if the federal government fails to act.

“We are prepared to mobilise thousands more. This campaign will spread to every zone of the country until the government establishes a credible, independent panel to probe the NNPCL under Mele Kyari. We have the stamina, and we have the support of the Nigerian people.”

They also challenged investigative journalists and media professionals to independently verify the condition of the refineries and document the truth for the world to see.

“We invite the media to visit Kaduna, Warri, and Port Harcourt refineries. Nigerians deserve to know what $4 billion was allegedly spent on. If nothing has changed, then someone must be held accountable — NOT TOMORROW, BUT NOW.”

The group urged President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate leadership and prove that his administration is not shielding any individual from scrutiny.

“Mr President, history has placed this responsibility in your hands. You must act swiftly and decisively. Set up an independent commission of inquiry and send a clear message to Nigerians and the world that your government does not tolerate impunity. The time is now,” the statement added.

The coalition commended citizens, civil society partners, and members of the public who have amplified their call for accountability, saying their solidarity has strengthened the push for justice.

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What is acute myocardial infarction? Ozzy Osbourne’s cause of death explained as death certificate is released

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His grieving widow, Sharon, and two of his kids, Jack and Kelly, visit tributes in Birmingham

Ozzy Osbourne‘s cause of death has been confirmed—but what is an acute myocardial infarction?

It was one of three things listed on the 76-year-old Black Sabbath rocker’s death certificate, which was released yesterday afternoon.

The document cited out of hospital cardiac arrest, acute myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease, and Parkinson’s disease with autonomic dysfunction as the dad-of-five’s cause of death.

An acute myocardial infarction is a medical term for a heart attack, and in Mr Osbourne’s case it was connected to coronary artery disease.

Coronary artery disease is when fatty deposits (plaques) build up in the arteries.

This substance can narrow the arteries—a process called atherosclerosis—which reduces blood flow and increases the risks of heart attacks.

Furthermore, chunks of this plaque, which is made predominantly of cholesterol and other fat cells, can break off and cause obstructions, which can also trigger a heart attack if it affects the blood’s movement through the body.

Out of hospital cardiac arrest refers to falling ill outside of hospital—in Mr Osbourne’s case he became unwell while at home—and according to the British Heart Foundation, this is a medical emergency which fewer than 1 in 10 people survive.

The Black Sabbath star died aged 76 at his Buckinghamshire estate

 

Mr Osbourne was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019, and autonomic dysfunction refers to bodily functions which are affected by the condition.

The British Heart Foundation claims that in the UK, coronary heart disease—which includes heart attacks—is the cause of 66,000 deaths each year.

This translates to roughly 180 deaths per day, or one death every eight minutes.

In England and Wales alone, over 55,000 deaths were attributed to coronary artery disease—also referred to as ischemic heart disease—in 2019.

While Parkinson’s Disease itself doesn’t kill, studies have linked it to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease—including coronary artery disease.

This is because Parkinson’s affects people’s ability to walk and move around, making it near impossible for them to maintain a basic level of fitness, which keeps the vascular system healthy and functioning.

His passing came just weeks after he appeared on stage for his farewell concert at Villa Park stadium in his native Birmingham.

Due to Parkinson’s-related mobility issues, he performed while seated on a giant black throne.

Due to mobility issues caused by Parkinson’s Disease, Ozzy performed seated on a throne

 

His grieving widow, Sharon, and two of his kids, Jack and Kelly, visit tributes in Birmingham

 

The concert, three weeks before his death, saw him reunite with his original Black Sabbath bandmates for the first time since 2005.

More than 42,000 fans packed into the venue for the Back To The Beginning show, during which he told the crowd in his final speech: ‘You’ve no idea how I feel – thank you from the bottom of my heart.’

There were more than 5 million sign-ups to the concert’s livestream, too.

The concert raised £140 million for charities close to Mr Osbourne’s heart, Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice.

In a statement shared last month, Ozzy’s family said he died ‘surrounded by love’, adding: ‘It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning.’

Mr Osbourne passed away on July 22 surrounded by his family at his Buckinghamshire Estate, where he was subsequently laid to rest last week.

The private funeral was attended by his family and a host of rock royalty.

His widow Sharon, 72, and their children, Aimee, Kelly and Jack, were joined by stars including Marilyn Manson and Ozzy’s lead guitarist Zakk Wylde during the event at the family’s 250-acre estate.

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David Adewuyi: Are solar panels safe for my building rooftop – What you must know

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For the last two decades in Nigeria, there have been massive adoption of solar power systems as an alternative power source to the age long unstable power supply, high electricity bills and also as a profitable alternative to fossil fuel generating plant.

Generally, those that make the switch to this innovative solution have their solar panels installed on their roof tops in other to harvest adequate sunshine which is the source of energy that is DC (Direct Current). The direct current is then converted into AC (Alternating Current) used in powering their homes or business places.

In recent times, there have been videos circulating the internet showing houses on fire with captions such as, “solar panels burnt down the house”, “stop putting solar panels on your roofs” and so on. This has created panic in the solar sector and has become a cause of concern from some existing and intending solar users to use their roofs.

 

What is a solar panels?

A solar panel also known as photovoltaic (PV) panel is a major component of a solar system that converts photons from the sunlight into electrical direct current(DC) which is then used to power a house through an inverter or without an inverter if the appliances in use are DC appliances.

Solar panels are majorly made up of silicon solar cells, glass covering ,encapsulant, aluminum frame and junction box with extending short MC4 cables. So, can solar panels cause fire on your roof? Let’s find out in this article.

Why solar panels are installed on the roof?

As I earlier stated in the introduction, the primary reason for having solar panels on the rooftop is for better harvesting of sunlight and to avoid shadows as much as possible. This is why it has always been the general spot where residential and some commercial solar panels are installed.

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Police recruitment: PSC chairman warns against racketeering

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A head of official announcement for the recruitment of Police cadet ASP, inspectors, the Police Service Commission has warned that it will deal decisively with anybody who intends to involve himself in any form of racketeering or fraud in the recruitment of qualified Nigerians into the Nigeria Police Force.

Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations, in a statement said the Commission will soon begin the processes for this year’s exercise which will include Cadet ASPs and Inspectors.

The Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu (rtd), mni, gave the warning when he paid a courtesy call on the Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hon. Kayode Oladele Esq, and its Management team on Wednesday, 30th of July, 2025.

DIG Argungu, who led a PSC team that included Justice Paul Adamu Galumje, Honourable Commissioner representing the Judiciary in the Commission, warned that any unacceptable behaviour, sharp practices or untoward acts during the recruitment processes will be resisted and deviants sanctioned.

He maintained that though the date for another recruitment of qualified Nigerians into the NPF has not been fixed, there can’t be a better time to seek the partnership and cooperation of the Federal Character Commission as one of the reliable and pivotal stakeholders in the Police recruitment process.

The PSC Chairman assured that there must be transparency, accountability and equity in the recruitment process.

The issue of discretion, waiver, or replacement, he said, negates the principle of fairness and equity, and so must be totally avoided.

Welcoming his guests, Hon. Kayode Oladele, Esq, the Federal Character Commission boss, saw the courtesy call as not only a demonstration of inter-agency cooperation but also a testament to a shared commitment to the ideals of fairness, justice, equity and national cohesion as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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