Gist Arena

Senate President Bukola Saraki said  on Wednesday  that he had not been formally notified of an appeal by the federal government against his acquittal by the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Mr. Saraki was discharged and acquitted of false asset declaration charges by the tribunal exactly a week ago. The outcome stunned many Nigerians, with some civic groups calling on the United Nations to intervene in Nigeria’s legal system that they perceived as too lenient towards impunity. On Tuesday, the Buhari administration announced it had appealed the June 14 verdict of the tribunal, chaired by Danladi Umar. The appeal notice, which contained 11 charges, was signed by Rotimi Jacobs, the lead prosecuting counsel, Saliu Isa, spokesperson for the Attorney-General, told PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday. Mr. Malami also confirmed on Wednesday that he authorised the appealm But the Senate President’s spokesperson, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said his principal had not been served of such process.

Acting president, Yemi Osinbajo and the 36 state governors have vowed to keep Nigeria united despite the agitations being expressed in different parts of the country. They made the pledge at a meeting in Aso Rock in Abuja yesterday June 21st. The acting president, Yemi Osinbajo, who spoke to state house correspondents after the meeting said; "The message is for Nigerians to work more together and collaborate. We have more to gain when we are united. We cannot afford to break, and anybody that is thinking of that, is wasting his time, and we will not allow it, not in this country. All of us are unanimous about that” he said

The Federal Government’s plan to attract investment in modular refineries as part of efforts to boost local refining capacity, gained momentum yesterday with an Indonesian firm, PT Intim Perkasa Nigeria Ltd, a subsidiary of PT Intim Perkasa, Indonesia, indicating interest to build a refinery in Nigeria. Mr. Adi Hartadi, the Head of Investor Relations of PTPP (Persero) Tbk, partners to PT Intim Perkasa Nigeria Ltd, who disclosed this in Abuja during a business meeting with the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, stated that the proposed refinery would be located in Akwa Ibom State. The refinery, a modular one, will have refining capacity for 10,000 barrels per stream day. Hartadi stated that their company has more than 50 years of experience in construction and engineering and it was desirous of diversifying into downstream operations in Nigeria. Responding, the NNPC Group Managing Director, Maika