News October 14, 2026 Breaking, Group stage a solidarity rally to the National Assembly in support of the verdict clearing PINL Over pipeline surveillance allegations

A group, the Niger Delta Integrity Network (NDIN), on Wednesday 14th October 2026, staged a solidarity rally to the national Assembly for clearing Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd (PINL) and its MD Dr. Osahon Okunbor of all allegations by the Niger Delta Oil Producing Communities Reforms Movement (ND_OCRIM).

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‎Speaking to News men at the venue, the publicity secretary of PINL from Isoko community, Dr Charles Ovia Duru said the PINL has been helpful to their communities and urge the national Assembly to sustain their good track records, to continue with their good work and thank them for the bill President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as sign.

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‎He noted that the Niger Delta people are strongly behind the PINL and promise they will make sure they cooperate with PINL and promise to work as a team with them and thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the good work he as been doing.

A petition, dated September 5, 2026, was submitted by the Niger Delta Oil-Producing Communities Reform Movement, which accused PINL of improper contract implementation, alleged mismanagement of contract funds, questionable personal expenditure by its managing director and neglect of surveillance personnel. The petitioners also sought a forensic review of the company’s finances.

However, the subcommittee reported that the petitioners failed to appear before it despite invitations issued on September 14 and 22 and October 5. It said they neither sent representatives nor provided documentary evidence to substantiate their claims.

According to the Chairman of the committee, Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor, the

PINL appeared before the subcommittee and submitted a written report titled “The impact of PINL operations on oil production and stability of the Niger Delta, alongside geotagged photographs in support of its account of operations.

The committee subsequently cleared the PINL and its MD Dr Osahon Okunbor of the allegations leveled against them and commended them for comprehensive and efficient operations in safeguarding oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta.

News October 14, 2026 NIMENA Launches Maritime and Energy ECM, Calls for United National Innovation Agenda

Report developed with Plug and Play identifies capability gaps and sets out a roadmap towards a globally competitive Nigerian innovation ecosystem.

The Nigerian Institution of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (NIMENA) has launched the Maritime and Energy Ecosystem Capability Model (ECM) assessment, calling for a coordinated national effort to turn Nigeria’s maritime and energy potential into competitive indigenous technologies, investment opportunities and skilled employment.

Developed in collaboration with global innovation platform Plug and Play, the report provides an evidence-based assessment of the sectors’ innovation landscape and a structured roadmap for connecting government, industry, universities, investors and startups around shared development priorities.

Its central finding is clear: Nigeria has substantial innovation potential, but fragmented initiatives, technical capability gaps and weak pathways from research to commercial adoption continue to constrain progress.

Speaking on the release, NIMENA’s National Chairman, Engr. Dr. Eferebo I. Sylvanus, FNSE, urged public and private institutions to build on existing efforts through a common framework.

_“While national startup acceleration programs across the public and private sectors are laudable, working in isolation limits our collective impact. To transform Nigeria’s Maritime and Energy sectors into a global innovation hub, we must move past fragmentation and unite behind a coherent, structured framework. The Ecosystem Capability Model introduces that unified vision. Today, we release these data-driven research reports to the public as a strategic foundation for sustainable national development.”_

The assessment applies Plug and Play’s proprietary ECM methodology across five interconnected dimensions: Capital, Network, Society, Initiatives and Regulations. These examine access to finance; collaboration and international market connections; talent, skills and entrepreneurial culture; innovation infrastructure and commercialisation programmes; and the legal and institutional conditions that enable businesses to grow.

Drawing on desk research, stakeholder interviews and international benchmarking, the report places Nigeria’s maritime and energy innovation ecosystem in the 

“Emerging” category, with an overall maturity score of 43.75 out of 100. Its strongest dimension is Regulations, while Network and Society score lowest, highlighting the need for stronger institutional connections and more effective development and retention of specialized talent.

The report identifies three interlocking challenges: difficulty translating Nigeria’s youthful population into industry-ready capability; a disconnect between corporate demand and the technical readiness of local ventures; and inconsistent implementation of otherwise promising policies and funding mechanisms.

For startups and indigenous technology firms, these barriers can reinforce one another. Limited access to commercial contracts weakens their ability to attract investment, while inadequate funding restricts the development of the technical capabilities needed to win those contracts.

The assessment therefore places practical skills development and industry adoption at the centre of its recommendations. It highlights capabilities such as remote condition monitoring, digital twins and virtual asset management as key areas to strengthen local participation in maritime and energy value chains. Alongside its assessment of Nigeria, the report benchmarks Kenya, Egypt, South Africa and Singapore, examining approaches to investment mobilisation, institutional coordination, talent development and innovation support that could inform locally appropriate interventions.

Its growth plan proposes a Maritime and Energy Innovation Hub to connect promising technologies with corporate challenges, pilot opportunities, investors and international partners. A phased five-year roadmap outlines how the platform could grow from an initial launch into a sustained national institution for coordinating innovation.

Priority recommendations include dedicated funding mechanisms for maritime and energy startups, stronger investor engagement, clearer regulatory pathways, supervised testing environments, and a Maritime Skills Activation Framework linking education and certification to industry requirements and employment outcomes.

The report also proposes measuring progress through tangible results: startups securing commercial contracts, greater investment in maritime ventures, stronger graduate participation in technology enterprises, and improved collaboration across public and private institutions. It aims to advance the ecosystem to the “Advanced” category by 2030.

Engr. Dr. Sylvanus further stated that the ECM report would be officially transmitted to the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy; Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); National Headquarters of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE); Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN); Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB); Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology; and the National Assembly, for consideration as a policy advisory document to support government planning and national development.

Through this release, NIMENA invites policymakers, industry leaders, academic institutions, investors, and development partners to engage with the findings and support coordinated implementation.

The framework offers a shared foundation for turning research into deployable solutions, training into productive careers, and Nigeria’s maritime and energy resources into sustained technological and economic value.

News October 14, 2026 Ex-gang boss Keffe D sentenced to 40 years for Tupac’s murder

Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the former gang leader convicted of orchestrating the 1996 murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur, has been sentenced to at least 40 years in prison.

Davis, 63, was found guilty by a jury in September of one count of murder with a deadly weapon for Shakur’s death.

Tupac was killed on September 7, 1996, after suffering a gunshot wound from a drive-by shooting. The rapper died six days after being put on life support. He was in Las Vegas for a Mike Tyson heavyweight fight.

Davis, one-time leader of the South Side Compton Crips, was arrested in September 2024. His trial began in August in a Las Vegas court — 30 years after the fatal shooting and a week after jury selection.

At the start of the hearing, Davis pleaded not guilty to a murder charge involving the use of a deadly weapon in connection with gang activity.

The jurors then deliberated for about three hours, after which they found Davis guilty of murder with the use of a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang.

In their verdict, the twelve jurors agreed that Davis was guilty of orchestrating the murder of Tupac.

“Count one, murder with use of a deadly weapon, guilty of first-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon,” the foreperson of the jury announced to the court.

When Carli Kierny, the presiding judge, asked Davis if he had anything to say on Tuesday, he replied: “I’m good. I’m gonna appeal this case for sure”.

Before handing down the sentence, Kierny told him: “You don’t get to take a man from his family.

“You don’t get to take his very life, his whole future from him, and just walk away from it. Especially when that man is Tupac Shakur. The world never forgot about him and his death.”

News October 13, 2026 Reps Clear Okunbor of Financial Mismanagement, Other Allegations, Recommend PINL Contract Extension

The House of Representatives Subcommittee on Host Communities has cleared the Managing Director of Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), Dr. Osahon Okunbor, of allegations brought against him and the company by the Niger Delta Oil-Producing Communities Reform Movement (ND-OCRIM).

In its report dated October 7, 2026, and signed by the Subcommittee Chairman, Rt. Hon. Dumanmene Dekor, the lawmakers declared the allegations unsubstantiated and recommended the dismissal of the petition and discontinuation of further investigation.

The petition, dated September 5, 2026, accused PINL of improper implementation of its pipeline surveillance contract, mismanagement of contract funds and neglect of surveillance personnel's welfare. It also raised allegations concerning personal expenditure linked to Okunbor and demanded a forensic review of the company's finances.

However, the subcommittee found no evidence supporting the allegations, noting that the petitioners failed to honour three separate invitations on September 14, September 22 and October 5, 2026, despite being given opportunities to substantiate their claims.

PINL, on its part, appeared before the lawmakers and submitted documentary and geotagged photographic evidence detailing its operations and achievements.

The report specifically declared that no evidence supported any allegation against Okunbor, while describing PINL as a well-organised company with a strong operational structure and positive relations with its host communities.

The lawmakers also acknowledged the company's contribution to improving crude oil production, noting that crude receipts through the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) rose from three per cent in May 2022 to 98 per cent in September 2026 following PINL's engagement.

Other achievements highlighted included the remediation of 2,049 illegal pipeline connections, destruction of 1,010 illegal refinery clusters and restoration of operations at OML 11 after an 18-month shutdown.

The report further recognised PINL's engagement across 215 host communities, employment of over 35,600 surveillance guards, provision of more than 5,000 scholarships and skills training for over 4,000 women and girls.

Consequently, the subcommittee recommended that the Federal Government extend PINL's pipeline surveillance contract in recognition of its contribution to securing critical national oil infrastructure.

It also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sustaining reforms in the oil and gas sector, alongside the National Security Adviser, NNPC Limited and pipeline security providers, including PINL and Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.

The lawmakers further recommended a vote of confidence in the President, the National Security Adviser, NNPC Limited and the named surveillance contractors for their contributions to national security and improved pipeline protection.

News October 12, 2026 2027: Shettima holds closed-door meeting with Bello, Badaru, other ex-governors

Vice-President Kashim Shettima is holding a closed-door meeting with former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, former Jigawa State Governor Abubakar Badaru and other political figures at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The delegation, identified as leaders of the National Directorate of Arewa for Asiwaju Movement, arrived at the State House at about 4pm and proceeded to the Vice-President’s wing.

However, Shettima was still attending a separate meeting at the President’s wing, which began around 2pm, when the delegation arrived.

The earlier meeting had the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, and the Special Adviser to the President and Coordinator of the Presidential Livestock Reform, Prof. Attahiru Jega, in attendance, among others.

Jega is a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Although the purpose of the delegation’s visit was not immediately known, it was gathered that the meeting was a courtesy visit.

Also present at the Villa were former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, Director-General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), and Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman, among others.

The meeting comes two days before the planned inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council on Wednesday, October 14, at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

It also precedes the party’s planned campaign flag-off in Kaduna State on October 24, ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The Director-General of the campaign council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, announced the dates to State House correspondents on Friday after briefing President Bola Tinubu at the Villa.

Yari said the campaign would move to Port Harcourt and Maiduguri after the Kaduna flag-off. He added that the full campaign schedule would be released after the council’s inauguration.

Tinubu is seeking re-election in the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027.

Crime News October 12, 2026 FG to arraign PFIPC’s Adeyemi afresh as court strikes out ‘forgery, impersonation’ charge

A federal high court in Abuja has struck out the eight-count criminal charge filed against Adeniyi Adeyemi, director-general of the fictitious Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

Mohammed Umar, presiding judge, struck out the charge on Monday following an application by the federal government to terminate the trial, pending Adeyemi’s fresh arraignment before the high court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Rotimi Oyedepo, director of public prosecutions of the federation (DPPF), told the court that the attorney-general of the federation had reviewed the case file and identified issues with the charge initially filed by the inspector-general of police (IGP).

Oyedepo, a senior advocate of Nigeria, said the review found that the alleged forged documents involved in Adeyemi’s operations of the purported agency fell within the jurisdiction of the Federal Capital Territory high court and not the federal high court.

He added that a fresh charge had been filed before the FCT high court and that the government intended to arraign Adeyemi afresh without delay.

The prosecution subsequently prayed the court to strike out the existing charge.

Ibrahim Angulu, Adeyemi’s lawyer, did not oppose the application.

Umar consequently struck out the charge.

Adeyemi has been in police custody since he was arrested in Osun state on July 14.

Prior to his arrest, a federal high court in Abuja ordered his arrest after he failed to honour the court’s summons.

Adeyemi was the mastermind of the fictitious PFIPC that operated like a government agency, receiving an allocation in the 2026 budget, occupying an office at the federal secretariat and also recruiting staff, without any legal standing or presidential declaration.

He had alleged that Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff, collected N400 million through a proxy for the appointment letter into the fictitious agency.

Following public outcry, President Bola Tinubu ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the PFIPC scandal.

News October 12, 2026 Fake governorship list in circulation- INEC warns

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has debunked a fraudulent online publication claiming to be a special announcement by the commission on governorship candidates in six states.

The commission identified the affected states as Zamfara, Gombe, Delta, Plateau, Yobe and Kano.

INEC disclosed this in a public notice issued on Monday and shared across its official social media platforms.

“The Commission wishes to categorically inform the general public that the publication is FAKE and did not originate from INEC,” the statement read.

The electoral body urged members of the public to disregard the publication and refrain from sharing it.

It also advised Nigerians to rely on its official notices, press releases and other information published through its verified communication channels.

“The Commission further wishes to clarify that any information suggesting that INEC has issued a special announcement concerning governorship candidates in the aforementioned states is false,” it added.

INEC urged the public to remain vigilant and verify electoral information through its official channels to avoid being misled by fraudulent publications.

The commission listed its website as inecnigeria.org, its X and Instagram handles as @inecnigeria, its Facebook page as INEC Nigeria and its news portal as inecnews.com.

For enquiries and further clarification, INEC provided its call centre number as 0700-2255-4632, short code 4632, telephone numbers 090844444333 and 09050858629, and email address [email protected].

The commission reiterated its commitment to “keeping the public accurately informed and urged Nigerians to obtain electoral information only through its official communication channels.”

The warning comes two days after INEC published its final lists of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship elections, with reports of omissions involving candidates in some states.

PlatinumPost reported on Saturday that the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidates in Ogun and Gombe states, Ladi Adebutu and Isa Pantami, respectively, were missing from the published lists.

The same applied to the NDC candidate in Kano, Aminu Abdusalam Gwarzo

The documents did not state the reasons for their omission.