The Coalition for Change and Transparency (CCT) has demanded the immediate resignation of Senator Abdul-Aziz Abubakar Yari from the Senate over what it describes as a blatant breach of public trust in the scandal now known as “Geregu-Gate.”

The group accuses the Zamfara West senator of flagrantly violating Nigeria’s Code of Conduct for public officers by accepting the chairmanship of Geregu Power Plc while holding public office, a move that exemplifies the deepest corruption and self-enrichment plaguing Nigerian politics.

The latest scandal revolves around the sudden acquisition of Geregu Power Plc by the obscure Ma’am Energy, which purchased a controlling 77% stake from Femi Otedola in a deal valued at approximately $750 million.

Ma’am Energy, incorporated just months ago with minimal public footprint—its website vanishing shortly after the announcement—promptly installed Yari as chairman.

This directly violates Section 5 of the Code of Conduct, prohibiting public officers from positions of conflicting personal interest, and Section 6, barring full-time officials from managing private businesses beyond farming.

Comrade Agboola Tunde, spokesperson for the CCT, declared, “Senator Yari’s greedy grab for the Geregu chairmanship is an outrageous insult to Nigerians enduring endless power outages and economic hardship.

“As a full-time senator, he has no business running a multibillion-naira power company—it’s a clear, shameless conflict of interest that turns public office into a personal ATM.

“This man is not serving the people; he’s looting opportunities for himself and his cronies while Zamfara and other parts of the nations wallow in darkness and poverty.”

Tunde added: “Yari’s hands are dripping with the proceeds of illegal gold mining that directly finances banditry and terrorism in the North-West.

“Multiple reports, including seized gold shipments and security analyses, link him to cartels smuggling billions in gold to arm bandits who kidnap, kill, and terrorize innocent citizens.

“By proxy, he’s funding domestic terrorism—betraying his oath, endangering lives, and profiting from bloodshed.

“How can such a man remain in the Senate, pretending to make laws while his alleged networks fuel anarchy?”

Tunde noted, “This Geregu deal stinks of insider corruption: a shadowy new company, family ties rumored in ownership, and a politician with no power sector expertise suddenly helming a national asset.

“Regulators who waved this through must explain themselves—did political connections blind them? Yari must resign now, or the Senate risks being seen as a haven for crooks. We’ll rally the nation until he’s forced out.”

Tunde further demanded, “The Code of Conduct Bureau must launch a comprehensive, unbiased investigation into Yari’s entire asset portfolio, from his governorship to today.

“Publicly declare everything—properties, accounts, deals—no selective probes or hidden files. There can be no cover-up; political protection won’t shield him forever.

“Nigerians demand full transparency to trace any illicit funds funneled into ventures like this.”

The group notes that the latest scandal is not surprising, as Yari’s eight years as governor of Zamfara from 2011 to 2019 were marred by rampant corruption allegations, including massive embezzlement of billions in public funds, inflated contracts, suspicious money movements probed by the EFCC and ICPC, property forfeitures linked to illegal activities, and a surge in banditry fueled by unchecked illegal mining under his watch—leaving the state impoverished, insecure, and underdeveloped while he allegedly amassed unexplained wealth.

Tunde continued, “Yari’s pattern is clear: dodge accountability, exploit connections, and enrich himself at public expense. Geregu-Gate is the breaking point—this terrorist-financing enabler and serial corruptor has no place in the Senate.

“Resign immediately, face justice, and let honest leaders emerge.”

The CCT vows sustained pressure, including petitions and protests, until Yari steps down and faces thorough scrutiny.

Former Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, alongside his wife, members of the G-14 group, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), as well as other stakeholders, have paid a courtesy visit to Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, in what observers described as a move to strengthen strategic partnerships ahead of 2027.

Welcoming the delegation, Chief Aondoakaa said the gathering was an opportunity to reflect on events of 2025 and to reinforce peace, unity and development in Benue State and Nigeria at large.

He expressed appreciation to Dr. Ortom for the leadership role he continues to play in Benue politics, as well as for his support to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.

Chief Aondoakaa appealed to the former governor to continue serving as a peace ambassador, stressing the importance of unity, collaboration and strategic partnerships among leaders for the overall progress of Benue State.

He pledged his unwavering loyalty and commitment to work with Senator Akume and Dr. Ortom, noting that such cooperation was not driven by personal interest but by the desire to advance the Tiv Nation and the development of Benue State as a whole.

Goodwill messages were delivered by Hon. John Uke on behalf of the Aondoakaa political family; the Benue State APC Publicity Secretary, Dan Morgan Ihomon; Amb. Chive Kaave for Zone A; Hon. Charles Torbunde for Zone B; and Chief Mrs. Monica Ugela, representing the Spring Bloom Women Multipurpose Cooperative Society. Dr. Laha Dzever delivered the vote of thanks.

Meanwhile, political analysts noted that the cross-party convergence reflects a growing sense of unity among Benue’s political elite and signals a message of continuity, integrity and collective stewardship as the state looks toward 2026 and beyond.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for Nigeria (ICPC) has been urged to investigate and take action against Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), over allegations of economic sabotage and lying.

According to an open letter addressed to the ICPC Chairman on Monday September 1, 2025, Ojulari allegedly ordered the shutdown of the Port Harcourt refinery despite it being profitable, with an average monthly net profit of over $20 million. The letter claims that Ojulari’s decision was motivated by plans to sell the refinery at scrap value to a company allied with him and to divert the refinery’s crude oil allocation for personal gain.

The group also addressed the open letter to President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas regarding their recent concerns about the management of the state-owned refinery.

The letter further alleges that Ojulari has been peddling falsehoods about the refinery’s operations, initially claiming that it was shut down for maintenance and later stating that it was running at a monthly loss of N500 million.

An economic analysis of the refinery’s operations, attached to the letter, shows that the refinery was generating an average monthly net profit of $20 million under various scenarios. The analysis suggests that Ojulari’s claims of the refinery running at a loss are false and that the shutdown was a deliberate act of economic sabotage.

The signatories to the letter, including OilWatch Nigeria, Workers’ Rights Alliance, and Nigeria Concerned Citizens Watch, are calling for Ojulari’s immediate removal from office and an independent investigation into the refinery’s shutdown.

The letter reads in part:

On Thursday, 28th August 28, 2025, the embattled Group CEO of NNPC Limited, Bashir Ojulari told yet another lie in the ever-changing narrative of why he made the reckless decision of shutting down Port Harcourt refinery. From his initial lie that the refinery was shut down because it was due for maintenance, Ojulari is now peddling yet another falsehood that Port Harcourt refinery was shuttered because it was running at a monthly loss of N500million. This he stated during an interactive session with PENGASAN officials in Abuja, on Thursday, 28th August, 2025.

Whilst it is difficult to keep track of Ojulari’s ever-evolving position on Port Harcourt refinery, the fact remains that the refinery was running profitably and earning Nigeria an average monthly profit of over $20million before Ojulari made his Ill-advised decision to have the refinery shut down. This is from concrete evidence obtained from very senior NNPCL officials, who had advised Ojulari against his reckless decision. The truth of the matter is that Ojulari ordered the shutting down of Port Harcourt refinery

because he had made plans to sell the refinery (at scrap value) to AYM Shafa Group, a company allied with both himself and Bashir Haske (son -in law to Atiku Abubakar, who was recently declared wanted by the EFCC). Secondly, Ojulari wanted the monthly crude oil allocation for Port Harcourt refinery to be diverted to his friends and cronies, for sale as spot cargoes for personal gain.

By shutting down a fully operational refinery, Ojulari has committed unforgivable economic sabotage against the government and people of Nigeria, and no amount of lying and double speak can change that fact. We call for an independent economic analysis of the refinery’s operations, prior to its unceremonious closure by Ojulari. Even the most uneducated eye can spot Ojulari’s lie once they look at the economic analysis provided below.

This refinery was running smoothly and making over $20million monthly for Nigerians. It was not running at a loss as falsely claimed by Ojulari.
Please see high-level economic analysis for the refinery, below:

Economic Analysis of Port Harcourt Refinery Operations.
A detailed economic analysis of the operation of Port Harcourt refinery has been conducted under five (5) scenarios. Based on an average prevailing crude oil price of $66.28/barrel, Crack C5+ price of $635/ton, refinery operating expenditure (OPEX) of $7/barrel, and prices of petroleum products, namely, LPG at $486/ton, AGO at $711.1/ton, Kerosene at $733/ton, Naphtha at $553.3/ton, PMS at $725/ton and LPFO at $554.6/ton, as provided by PHRC, the following results have emerged; showing that the refinery was generating an average monthly NET profit of US$20million in the worse-case scenario.

Model

Gross Profit Per Month ($ Million/Month) Gross Profit Per Barrel ($/Barrel) Net Profit Per Month ($ Million/Month) Net Profit per Barrel ($/Barrel

Model

1 31,510 19.45 20.170 12.45

Model

2 46.51 28.67 35.11 21.67

Model

3 40.606 25.07 29.266 18.07

Model

4 32.539 20.09 21.199 13.09

Model

5 47.481 29.31 36.141 22.31

Model 1 : Only Unit 10 (CDU) is running, the LPG is flared, and Naphtha is sold as an unfinished product. This is the configuration the refinery was operating before it was shut down on 24 th May 2025. Under this model, the refinery was generating an average monthly NET profit of US$ 20million.

Model 2 : Only Unit 10 (CDU) is running, the LPG is flared, and Naphtha is blended with Crack C5+ to produce PMS.

Model 3 : Both Unit 10 (CDU) and Unit 12 (CRU) are running, while Unit 14 (LPG recovery) is not operational. The LPG is flared.

Model 4: Both Unit 10 (CDU) and Unit 14 (LPG recovery) are running. LPG is recovered and Naphtha is sold as an unfinished product.

Model 5 : Both Unit 10 (CDU) and Unit 14 (LPG recovery) are running. LPG is recovered and Naphtha is blended with Crack C5+ to produce PMS. With Unit 14 now confirmed ready for commissioning, this configuration can be achieved as soon as the refinery resumes operation, with the possibility of generating an average monthly NET profit of US$ 35million.

We call for an independent economic analysis of the refinery’s operations, prior to its unceremonious shutdown by Ojulari. Even the most uneducated eye can spot Ojulari’s lie once they look at the economic analysis we have provided. This refinery was making over N20billion monthly and not losing money as falsely asserted by Ojulari.