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Meet Wealthy Investors keeping Nigerians In Perpetual Darkness (Part 1)

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Power outages in Nigeria have certainly become a part of our everyday life, going by how long we have had to grapple with the situation. Unless something drastic is done, this abnormal phenomenon is not likely to end any time soon. However, in the past few months, the outages have assumed an embarrassingly high and alarming dimension with the power grid breaking down more frequently than it has ever happened over the past few years and plunging the nation in darkness for days, weeks and even months at a stretch in some parts of the country.

Worse still, the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, the Electricity Generating Companies and the Power Distribution Companies are trading blames over the situation. No one is willing to accept responsibility for the persistent power outages. Not even the Federal Government is willing to sanction these DISCOs and GENCOs or issue them ultimatums to do what they are meant to do. As with most issues in Nigeria, it has been business as usual. THEWILL has therefore compiled a list of wealthy investors who own electricity assets in Nigeria, so that people will know who to channel their displeasure at with hopes that they will eventually do the needful.

Femi Otedola

The billionaire investor is the major promoter of Amperion Power Distribution Limited (Geregu Power Plant) as chairman with Akin Akinfemiwa as the Chief Executive Officer.

Brigadier-General Tunde Ogbeha (retd.)

Although he is only a director in Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited in charge of Kainji Hydro Electric Plant and Jebba Hydro Station, Col. Sani Bello is the Chairman, while Alhaji Ismaila Isa is the Vice Chairman.

Engr Olubunmi Peters

He is the major investor in North South Power Company Limited in charge of Shiroro Power Station.

Tonye Cole

Although Tonye Cole is regarded as the face of KEPCO Energy Resources Limited in charge of Egbin Power Station, he however runs it with his partner, Tope Shonubi. They also invested in NEDC/KEPCO Consortium in charge of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company with Kola Adesina as the Chairman. While the former is a power generating company, the latter is a power distribution company. Both Tonye and Tope are known for their popular oil and gas company, Sahara Energy.

Victor Osibodu

The embattled business man, who is fighting to keep his prized homes from being taken from him by Ecobank over alleged debts to the tune of $19m, is the Chairman of Vigeo Power Limited in charge of Benin Electricity Distribution Company. His wife, Funke Osibodu, a former Managing Director of Ecobank and Union Bank, is the Chief Executive Officer.

Alhaji Shehu Malami

He is the chairman of KANN Utility Consortium Company Limited in charge of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company. Neil Croucher, a Briton, is his Chief Executive Officer.

Alhaji Umaru Abdul Mutallab

The businessman and financier whose son, Umar Farouk, aka Underwear Bomber, is serving four life jail sentences and an additional 50 years in a US prison for attempting to detonate plastic explosives hidden in his underwear on board a US flight, is the chairman of Sahelian Power SPV Limited in charge of Kano Electricity Distribution Company. Alhaji Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar is the Chief Executive Officer of the power distribution company.

Augustine Nwokocha

He is the Chairman of 4Power Consortium Limited alongside the governors of Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States. The distribution company is in charge of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company.

Tunde Ayeni

He is the Vice Chairman of and a major investor in Integrated Energy Distributing and Marketing Limited, with Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Yola Electricity Distribution Company as the company’s major assets. Although Captain Hosa Okunbo is his co-investor, with his demise, the current state of Okunbo’s investment is uncertain. A smart businessman, Ayeni made General Abdulsalami Abubakar the Chairman of the distribution company, while Dr. Sola Ayandele is the Chief Executive Officer.

Emeka Offor

The diminutive businessman, who has investments in the oil and gas industry, also has his tentacles spread in the power industry with his investment in Interstate Electrics Limited in charge of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company. He is the company’s Chairman.

Ernest Orji, Dere Otubu, Charles Momoh, Tunji Olowolafe & George Etomi

Although Ernest Orji is a director in West Power and Gas Limited in charge of Eko Electricity Distribution Company, he is a well known investor and businessman in corporate circles. He is the promoter of Southern Sun Hotel and was a non executive director in Finbank.

Charles Momoh formerly of Addax petroleum and one of the key directors of the company was the pioneer chairman of the distribution company but was recently replaced with Dere Otubu the chairman of Staco Insurance, SIC Property and Investment Company Limited, Staco Prime Capital Limited and Senforce Insurance Brokers.

Tunji Olowolafe, a serial investor and consummate business man, is also a director in the company, while George Etomi, SAN one of Nigeria’s most seasoned power sector and privatization legal experts, is also one of the founding directors in the company.

Alhaji Garba Mohammed Noma

He is the chairman of Aura Energy Limited in charge of Jos Electricity Distribution Company.

 

By; Ivory Nkonu

Society

Just In: Dr Doyin Okupe Is Dead

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Dr. Doyin Okupe, a prominent Nigerian physician, politician, and former presidential aide, has died.

 

He passed away at the age of 72.

 

According to sources close to the family, Dr. Okupe had been critically ill in the weeks leading up to his demise.

 

His health had reportedly deteriorated significantly, prompting concern among his loved ones and supporters.

 

A reliable source confirmed that his death was linked to cancer, marking the end of a long struggle with the illness.

 

 

It was reported  in October 2023 that Okupe was hospitalized with prostate cancer and was flown to Israel for treatment.

 

However, it was learnt that his condition did not improve as he and his family expected.

 

Okupe was first diagnosed with prostate cancer 16 years ago and later developed sarcoma in his right shoulder.

 

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Alleged $340,000 Fraud:  Court Adjourns Mercy Chinwo’s Ex-Manager’s Case till May 14

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Justice A.O. Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, has adjourned the alleged $340,000 fraud case involving Ezekiel ThankGod, former manager of gospel artiste, Mercy Chinwo till May 14, 2025 for hearing.

 

The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC had filed a three-count charge against him bordering on money laundering and dishonest conversion to the tune of $340,000.

 

One of the counts reads: “That you, EZEKIEL ONYEDIKACHUKWU THANKGOD and EEZEE GLOBAL CONCEPTS LIMITED sometime in 2023, directly retained the sum of $260,494 (Two Hundred and Sixty Thousand Four Hundred and Ninety-Four USD) in EEZEE GLOBAL MINISTRY Zenith Bank Plc account number, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity, the dishonest conversion of the said sum, property of Mercy Chinwo and Judith Kanayo.”

 

The offence is contrary to Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

 

He was to have been arraigned alongside his company, Eezee Global Concepts Limited, on February 17, 2025 but his absence stalled his trial. The court had also issued a bench warrant for his arrest and ordered him to appear in court today March 6, 2025 either by the subsisting bench warrant or production by his counsel.

 

His counsel, Dr. Monday Ubani, SAN had also assured that he will be in court on the adjourned date.

 

At the resumed sitting on Thursday, prosecuting counsel, Bilkisu Buhari informed the court of the prosecution’s readiness to arraign the defendant who was present in court.

 

“The matter is for arraignment and subject to the court’s overriding convenience, we are ready to commence,” she said.

 

Justice Owoeye, however, held that: “There is an administrative procedure on this matter and I cannot proceed until the determination of the procedure.”

 

The case was thereafter adjourned till May 14, 2025 for hearing.

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Court Dismisses Businessman, Funtua’s Suit Seeking To Stop EFCC’s Probe Over Alleged Fraud

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A Federal High Court in Abuja and presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite has thrown out a suit seeking to compel the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AGF, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from investigating allegations of fraud and economic crimes allegedly committed by a businessman, Abu Samaila Isa Funtua.

The presiding judge dismissed the case on Monday, February 24, 2025 on the ground that the request of the businessman lacked merit and substance.

 

Delivering judgment in a fundamental rights enforcement suit against AGF and EFCC, Justice Nwite held that AGF has enormous power to take over proceedings in criminal matters but held that such enormous powers are not at large.

Justice Nwite said that under Section 43 of EFCC Act 2004, the anti-graft agency was not under any obligation to take advice from any ministry or agency to drop its statutory powers to initiate investigation into any alleged economic crimes.

The businessman had in his suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2024 sued the AGF and EFCC complaining of unlawful investigation into some business transactions involving him and others.

He alleged that EFCC was biased and mischievous in the ways and manners he was being investigated.

Specifically, Funtua alleged that EFCC was acting the script of his business adversaries to cause investigation against him without telling him the nature of his offence or show any petition against him.

Funtua subsequently asked Justice Nwite to issue an order of mandamus against the AGF to order EFCC to drop the investigation and direct any other security agency of the federal government to take over the investigation.

However, in his judgment, Justice Nwite held that Section 174 (3) of the 1999 Constitution upon which the case was predicated did not confer any power on the AGF to nominate any agency to conduct investigation into economic crimes or financial breaches.

The judge held that in the exercise of its statutory duties, the EFCC was not under any obligation to obey directives from any ministry or government department.

Justice Nwite said that Section 43 of the EFCC Act 2004, has no ambiguity to the fact that the anti-graft agency shall have powers to initiate investigation into alleged economic crimes and initiate prosecution of those indicted in the process.

He subsequently dismissed the suit for want of merit and substance.

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