Season’s greetings! In today’s Trending news stories;
2. The Enugu State Police Command is intensifying efforts against criminal activities, having recently arrested seven suspects for armed robbery, cultism, and firearms possession. The suspects, including a former local government councillor, confessed to being members of the Vikings Confraternity. The arrests were made in November, uncovering six firearms, 16 live cartridges, and a snatched vehicle. Enugu Police Commissioner CP Kanayo Uzuegbu affirmed the commitment to prosecute the suspects, emphasizing the continuation of police actions against criminals in the state. Additionally, an earlier operation led to the arrest of a robbery suspect, Ndubuisi Ugochukwu Eze Oboro, and an accomplice. Prosecution will follow ongoing investigations.
3. The Port Harcourt Refining and Petrochemical Company in Rivers State by the Federal Government has commenced. The facility began operations on December 20, 2023, after completing the first phase of work, with refined petroleum products expected to flow after the Christmas break. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, congratulates the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and Nigerians for this achievement. The Port Harcourt refinery, along with others in Kaduna and Warri, has been inactive for decades, and the government invested billions to revamp them. The mechanical completion of flare start-up on December 20, 2023, marks the beginning of petroleum product production. The rehabilitation project was initiated with a $1.5 billion contract signed with Tecnimont SPA on April 7, 2021.
4. Jim Obazee, a special investigator on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and related entities, has alleged that the former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, illegally maintained billions of naira across 593 bank accounts in the United States, United Kingdom, and China. Obazee claims Emefiele deposited £543,482,213 in fixed deposits in UK banks without approval. The investigator stated that these accounts have been traced. Emefiele is accused of unauthorized investments, fraudulent cash withdrawals, manipulation of exchange rates, and involvement in fraudulent activities related to the CBN’s e-Naira project. Emefiele, currently in the Kuje correctional facility, faces charges of procurement fraud valued at N1.2 billion. The investigation was initiated by President Bola Tinubu on July 30, 2023.
5. Club América, the newly crowned Liga MX champions, secured a 3-2 victory over LaLiga title-holders Barcelona in a friendly at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Barcelona, using an alternate roster featuring six teenagers, three making their debuts, took an early lead with a goal from 16-year-old Lamine Yamal. América responded with a 12th-minute equalizer by Julian Quiñones. Despite Barcelona’s 2-1 halftime lead, Quiñones scored again after the break, making it 2-2. América ultimately secured the win with an 82nd-minute goal from Henry Martín. The friendly, played after Barcelona’s midweek win over Almeria, served financial purposes, with Barcelona reportedly receiving €5 million for participation.
