₦airaland Forum

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s latest use of the presidential pardon, describing it as a reckless act that undermines justice and accountability.

In a statement posted on his X handle, yesterday, Atiku said the presidential prerogative of mercy is meant to balance justice with compassion, not to trivialise criminality.

He faulted the most recent round of pardons, saying it has reduced the process “to a mere triviality.”

President Tinubu had, on Thursday, granted clemency to 175 convicts and former convicts, including the late Major General Mamman Vatsa, Major Akubo, Professor Magaji Garba, Maryam Sanda, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and other members of the Ogoni Eight.

According to a statement from the Presidency, the decision followed recommendations by the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

The clemency also covered persons convicted of serious crimes such as homicide, illegal mining, and fraud.

Reacting, Atiku condemned the inclusion of such offenders, arguing that it undermines public confidence in the criminal justice system and, in his words, “emboldens criminality.”

He maintained that the exercise of clemency should never become an accomplice to crime or erode the foundations of justice.

“Ordinarily, the power of presidential pardon is a solemn prerogative — a moral and constitutional instrument designed to temper justice with mercy and underscore the humanity of the state,” Atiku stated.

“When properly exercised, it elevates justice and strengthens public faith in governance. Regrettably, the latest pardon issued by the Tinubu administration has done the very opposite.

"The decision to extend clemency to individuals convicted of grave crimes such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder, and corruption not only diminishes the sanctity of justice but also sends a dangerous signal to the public and the international community about the values this government upholds.”

He added that at a time when Nigeria is battling insecurity, moral decline, and rising drug-related offences, it was “both shocking and indefensible” for the Presidency to prioritise clemency for individuals who have undermined national stability and social order.

Atiku described as particularly worrying the revelation that about 29.2 per cent of those pardoned were convicted for drug-related crimes, noting that the move was insensitive to the nation’s struggle against narcotics and the vulnerability of Nigerian youths.

“Even more disturbing,” he said, “is the moral irony that this act of clemency comes from a President whose past remains clouded by unresolved issues relating to the forfeiture of thousands of dollars to the United States government over drug-related investigations.”

The former Vice President noted that a presidential pardon should symbolise restitution and moral reform, not mockery of justice.

“What we have witnessed is a mockery of the criminal justice system, an affront to victims, a demoralisation of law enforcement, and a grave injury to the conscience of the nation,” he said.

“Clemency must never be confused with complicity. When a government begins to absolve offenders of the very crimes it claims to be fighting, it erodes the moral authority of leadership and emboldens lawlessness. Nigeria deserves a leadership that upholds justice, not one that trivialises it.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/10/tinubus-presidential-pardon-emboldens-criminality-atiku/

Releasing Nnamdi Kanu is the only way Nigeria can prove to the international community that it is not a lawless country and it is still a democratic state. Is it not shameful that your government can't obey simple court order? Are you not concerned as a citizen that tomorrow it maybe you or your family member's rights that may be violated this way?

sreamsense:
If Igbo exit, crime rate in Nigeria will fall flat to nearest minimum. Releasing kanu can never be a solution to peace, if you want peace in south east; you better look elsewhere to look for peace. It will be injustice to release him without minding those Igbos that kanu killed directly and indirectly through his terrorist organization he established.

Many Ezes, rich, poor, virgins used for ritual, people ipob/ESN cannibalized in their camps. The atrocities are too much, shame on people calling for release of criminal who had opportunity to repent, but neglected it; kanu must face his court case and adequate judgement for his sins must be pronounced on him. You will only keep making noise, judgement must prevail

Even the previous government did worse with the "Sulhu" program. I made a post about it here https://www.nairaland.com/8422096/flashback-how-buhari-secretly-jeopardized

gidgiddy:
Well, the politicians didn't have to be involved before government released the terrorists below, sowed Green white clothes for them, hosted under canopy before arranging their transport back home.

The other ones were called for peace talk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K18upHK6nOs

AI technology is now everywhere as it is been deployed in all sectors to take over human jobs. With government making new laws to promote it's use, it is now so bad that any new model phone you buy now comes with some kind of AI program that you can not uninstall.

In Nigeria, we now have the NIN program which already seem to be a mandatory ID system because you can't own a SIM card or a bank account without it. Recently, Nyesome Wike's aide revealed how the government may in future link NIN to Nigerians social media accounts as way to fight "misinformation" and implement cyber laws.

In UK, there is currently a national debate regarding mandatory digital IDs and deployment of AI tracking systems to curtail illegal migration. The UK government has vowed to push on even in the midst of widespread rejection of the policy by opposition political forces.

In conclusion, AI systems are getting smarter, it is getting better as many more people adopt and rely on it for everyday tasks. It may be too late to avert the looming crisis this AI technology will bring that enable the government of each country to push forward the pre-planned solution that was revealed in the video. As many more people use and get addicted to AI, no longer thinking for themselves, it is glaring that may be how humanity will slowly match into the dystopian future long foretold without even knowing it. Unless there is a woldwide mass resistance/rejection of AI technology and rejection of mandatory digital ID systems, I see no other way out. Nigeria is already half way in with the NIN program.

Those calling for Nnamdi Kanu’s release are not doing so out of blind loyalty or endorsement of his rhetoric. They are calling for common sense and justice.

When the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and a coalition of Southeast civil society organizations convened the Peace and Security Stakeholders’ Summit in Enugu in February 2025, the discussions were frank, evidence-based, and forward-looking.

Participants critically examined the intersections of security, human rights, civic space, and development in the beleaguered Southeast. One of the most resonant recommendations that emerged was clear: the release of Nnamdi Kanu is essential to reconciliation, reduction of violence, and the pursuit of lasting peace in the region. 

 The Roots of Agitation

The separatist agitation in the Southeast did not begin with Nnamdi Kanu or the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). It is rooted in decades of political and economic exclusion, neglect, and feelings of injustice experienced by the people of the region.

The end of the Nigeria–Biafra civil war was expected to usher in the Three Rs - Reconciliation, Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation. Instead, what followed was marginalization, the destruction of civic trust, and a widening gap between the Southeast and the Nigerian state.

IPOB’s agitation, led by Nnamdi Kanu, represents a political expression of these long-festering grievances. And because it is political, it demands a political solution, not a militarized or punitive one.

 Justice, Double Standards, and Selective Treatment

Over the years, courts in Nigeria and in Kenya have ruled that Nnamdi Kanu’s extraordinary rendition was unlawful and violated both his personal rights and international law. Nigerian courts have also ordered his release. Yet, the Federal Government has refused to comply.

Contrast this with how other forms of armed agitation and violence have been handled.

Leaders of militant groups in the Niger Delta were granted amnesty and rewarded with contracts, employment, and scholarships abroad.

Sunday Igboho, who championed the Yoruba self-determination cause, was released.

The Federal Government has held open negotiations with so-called “repentant” bandits - many of whom have killed, kidnapped, and destroyed communities - even allowing them to attend peace meetings heavily armed and dictating terms. Thousands of Boko Haram members have been granted amnesty, rehabilitated, and in some cases, integrated into security agencies.

How, then, can Nnamdi Kanu be treated differently - as if, even if guilty of any offence, he poses a greater threat to national security than those who have waged terror against the state?

This glaring inconsistency raises a painful question: Is this yet another manifestation of the discriminatory treatment of the Southeast, reminiscent of former President Buhari’s remark about “treating them in the language they understand”?

A Repressive Approach That Fuels Insecurity

The worsening insecurity in the Southeast is largely a consequence of the federal and state governments’ repressive and heavy-handed responses to what began as peaceful agitation for inclusion and justice. By reducing every expression of dissent in the region to IPOB and criminalizing legitimate political grievances, the government has ignored a multiplicity of other drivers of insecurity - including political thuggery, cult violence, unemployment, economic collapse, and the erosion of public trust.

The militarization of civic spaces, arbitrary arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings by security forces have only deepened alienation and hardened extremism. Every bullet fired in repression breeds a dozen more angry and alienated youths.

Beyond Kanu: The Cost of Continued Incarceration

Those calling for Nnamdi Kanu’s release are not doing so out of blind loyalty or endorsement of his rhetoric. They are calling for common sense and justice. His continued incarceration - despite multiple court orders and appeals from well-meaning Nigerians, political leaders, and traditional rulers - has become both a legal and moral scandal.

In the face of the government’s open negotiations with terrorists and violent criminals, the refusal to release Kanu reinforces the perception that the Southeast is treated under a different set of laws and standards. This sense of injustice continues to fuel anger, resentment, and insecurity.


The Path Forward

The Federal Government must demonstrate a genuine commitment to peace and national healing by complying with court orders and releasing Nnamdi Kanu. His release would not only open the door to dialogue and reconciliation but also remove one of the key rallying points exploited by violent elements in the region.

History has shown that coercion does not resolve political conflicts - dialogue does. The amnesty programme in the Niger Delta, flawed as it was, proved that engagement and inclusion can end violence where force failed. The same approach is needed in the Southeast today.

A sincere political solution that addresses the root causes of exclusion and injustice - alongside accountability for human rights violations - is the only sustainable way to restore peace and rebuild trust between the government and the people.

In the final analysis, the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu is unjust, unlawful, and counterproductive. It perpetuates a cycle of alienation and distrust that fuels the insecurity now ravaging the Southeast.

Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy governed by the rule of law while it chooses which court orders to obey and which region deserves justice.

Releasing Nnamdi Kanu is not a concession - it is a necessary step toward restoring justice, rebuilding peace, and reaffirming that all Nigerians, regardless of region, are equal before the law.

Okechukwu Nwanguma
Executive Director, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC)

Alright thanks for sharing I rest my case for now

nairalanda1:
Oh dearie me....

This thing has been debunked since yesterday...someone that is not even a tinubu fan posted the requisite documents showing the list of lawyers hired by the tinubu team

See the thread here: https://www.nairaland.com/8536814/professor-mupitan-not-member-apc

THat's why your thread was deleted as fake news

For your reading pleasure the list is posted below

Okay can you share your evidence? I found this report https://www.thisdaylive.com/2025/10/10/amupitan-not-part-of-tinubus-presidential-election-legal-team-says-former-coordinator-ogala/ but this too does not show Prof. Amupitan debunking it personally. If it is not true that he has never in any time provided legal counsel to Tinubu then let him personally debunk the news.

helinues:
Even after presenting evidence that the new INEC Chairman wasn't part of the lawyers that represented president Tinubu at PEPT.

We understand that you people are now using fixated mindset to make your narrations, but unfortunately, Nigerians now know better

I made a post earlier regarding a report made by 247ureports on how Prof. Amupitan worked as part of Tinubu’s lead legal counsel team during the 2023 election tribunal https://247ureports.com/2025/10/fact-check-prof-joash-amupitans-role-in-tinubus-2023-election-petition-confirmed-ahead-of-inec-chairmanship-nomination/ only for it to be labeled as false information. Prof. Amupitan according to the reports is yet to personally react to inquiries regarding the report. How is it false information when Prof. Amupitan has not personally debunked it?

As Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, awaits Senate confirmation for his nomination as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), questions surrounding his previous political engagements have come under scrutiny. A recent fact-check confirms that Prof. Amupitan was a key member of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 presidential election petition tribunal.

Prof. Amupitan, a distinguished legal scholar and professor of law at the University of Jos, served as lead counsel representing the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Tinubu in the tribunal proceedings. These hearings were convened to examine the challenges raised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) following the February 2023 general elections.

Key Role in the Legal Defense

In his capacity as lead counsel, Prof. Amupitan contributed significantly to the APC’s defense strategy, which aimed to uphold the validity of the election results amid allegations of irregularities and non-compliance with electoral laws.

The defense, under the overall coordination of Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, argued that the petitioners failed to provide sufficient evidence to warrant overturning the election outcome. Prof. Amupitan focused on critical aspects such as legal precedents on electoral conduct, evidence

The tribunal eventually dismissed all petitions on September 6, 2023, with a unanimous verdict affirming Tinubu’s victory.

A Formidable Legal Team

The APC assembled a robust team of over 50 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), including notable figures like Lateef Fagbemi (now Attorney-General), Gordy Uche, and Adeniyi Akintola. Prof. Amupitan’s expertise in corporate governance and electoral law aligned with the defense’s emphasis on strict legal interpretations.

Public Concerns Over Potential Conflict of Interest

Following his nomination as INEC Chairman in October 2025 an appointment approved by the Council of State civil society organizations have expressed reservations about Prof. Amupitan’s past political affiliations. The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria (COCSON) notably called for his rejection, citing concerns that his prior role defending the APC could undermine INEC’s perceived impartiality.

Tinubu, however, defended the nomination, describing Prof. Amupitan as “apolitical and a man of integrity” capable of leading the commission with independence.


Broader Implications for Electoral Integrity

Prof. Amupitan’s involvement in the 2023 petition underscores his prominent role in Nigeria’s high-profile electoral disputes. His extensive legal career, spanning over three decades, has seen him engage in complex corporate and constitutional matters.

Critics argue that appointing a former political defense counsel to head the nation’s electoral body risks eroding public confidence, especially as Nigeria prepares for future elections.

Next Steps

The Senate is expected to review Prof. Amupitan’s nomination in the coming weeks. Observers say the confirmation process will likely be rigorous, with lawmakers weighing his legal credentials against concerns about electoral neutrality.

As Nigeria continues to grapple with challenges around election credibility, the appointment of an INEC chairman remains a critical factor in shaping the country’s democratic trajectory.

Editor’s Note: This report is based on verified sources, including official tribunal records and statements from civil society groups. Prof. Joash Amupitan has yet to respond publicly to these concerns.

https://247ureports.com/2025/10/fact-check-prof-joash-amupitans-role-in-tinubus-2023-election-petition-confirmed-ahead-of-inec-chairmanship-nomination/

I am patiently waiting to analyze your list of evidences against Nnamdi Kanu. If you've hard evidences that Kanu committed grievious crimes similar to Boko Haram, Fulani gunmen and other terror groups roaming free all over Nigeria please share it. @WizardofNG, what are his crimes?

WizardOfNG:
I don't have to say much to you. The bolded proves you are in the category of unreasonable, prejudiced and emotional folks no time should be wasted on.

Do you've evidence to prove that he does not furnish his US donors with periodic reports on how he spends the grants that he receives? Can you prove that his property in US was acquire as part of proceeds of crime? Since Sowore does not hold any pubic officr, he is not mandated by law to make publicize his earnings and how he spends it.

correctyourself:
Sowore maybe right in somethings, but I don't see him as someone with integrity.

Give him opportunity he will fall just like those he believed are not doing the country good. After all, there's no accountability how the money he's getting from sponsors is being spent. Ulterior motives people claiming fighting for the right of Nigerians, while they're busy secretly buying property around the world.

This is great news from Sowore I hope Jonathan follows through. The continued injustice against Nnamdi Kanu is a national embarrassment that must end to restore peace in the south east.

Vixlot:
Earlier today in Abuja, I met with former President
@GEJonathan
to discuss the continued incarceration of Mazi
@NnamdiKanu
.
President Jonathan agreed that there is an urgent and compelling need to address this matter decisively and justly. I thank him sincerely for recognizing the importance of resolving Kanu’s case in the interest of peace, fairness, and national healing.

Particularly assuring was that he promised to meet
@officialabat
to discuss this issue as soon as possible.

With this, former President Jonathan joins a growing list of Nigerians who have called for justice in Nnamdi Kanu’s case, a list that already includes ex Vice President
@atiku
, Femi Falana SAN, Senator
@ShehuSani
, and many others across political and regional divides.

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu remains in detention today because he took up the just cause of confronting the long-standing issue of marginalization in Nigeria.

Like other ethnic and regional activists whose politically motivated cases have been withdrawn or dismissed, Nnamdi Kanu should also be released without further delay.

I once again call on all political, cultural, ethnic, and religious leaders across Nigeria to join this noble cause. In particular, I invite my brothers and sisters from the South East
@PeterObi
,
@CCSoludo
,
@alexottiofr
,
@FrancisNwifuru
,
@PeterMbah
,
@HopeUzodinma
,
@ObyEzekwesili
, John Mbata of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, as well as Nigerians of conscience everywhere, to lend their voices to the call for justice and freedom.
Nnamdi Kanu should be set free.
And I remain firmly committed to peacefully mobilizing for justice and freedom in this matter.
#FreeNnamdiKanuNow

https://x.com/YeleSowore/status/1976645687153430860

I agree, but he needs the support of all well meaning Nigerians if not nothing will change.

Kewekubosineh:
God bless Omoyele Sowore. Very patriotic Nigerian who is passionate about wellbeing of Nigerians

It's character like this who should lead Nigeria. Not this torncoat politicians who don't have Nigeria at heart.

With the likes of Sowore around our political scene, there is still hope for Nigeria.

Salute 🙏

What grievious crime did Kanu commit order than being an igbo man who wants to liberate his people from an unjust nation called Nigeria. Before you begin to quote me with your long epistles, have you asked the government to obey simple court order? What makes Nnamdi Kanu's case a national disgrace is your government's continued refusal to release Kanu, flouting the law by disobeying court orders.

WizardOfNG:
Same here !! Very simple consideration. As a fan of the President, this is one thing I am not happy with him over.

He must Wade into the matter personally and charge the AGF to bring closure to this charade.

Finland that would have relied on many external items of evidence to make their case against Ekpa, whose crimes were against a nation far away from his adopted nation, concluded the cased quickly and jailed Ekpa appropriately without fuss, drama or ridiculously lengthy delay

Nigeria that is the nation Kanu allegedly commited crimes against, and ostensibly in possession of many direct evidence against the IPOB leader, continue to drag her feet disgracefully after Finland has shaded us on the international stage per the concept of how the law should move in working nations.

The current situation of Kanu is not acceptable. It is a disgrace to Nigeria.

If you read my post, I specifically made the case that Nigerians should not expect a fair election when the process of choosing the umpire who will conduct such an election is skewed. After, the 2023 presidential election, there was a massive outcry of injustice by Nigerians and the opposition parties that participated in the election. Many Nigerians declared that one of the reasons why the election outcome was a sham was because Mahmood the INEC chairman was a covert APC agent appointed by President Buhari. A lot of noise was made back then regarding electoral reforms with so many political parties vowing to challenge INEC in court.

My final submission remains that since Nigerians did not agitate for electoral reforms or constitutional change till now, then it means that majority of Nigerians will be happy if Tinubu capitalizes on his presidential powers to win in the next electon. I called out Tinubu in my post because it is an open fact that he is a shady corrupt politician that thrives on dirty politics, knowing that his unpopular government won't win in a fair election, he won't hesitate to select someone loyal to him as INEC chairman which I believe he has done in the person of Prof. Amupitan. I hope am making sense to you now.

erad:
What you're saying makes no sense.

If you want change, go and meet your senators and house of reps members to pass a bill that adjusts that part of the constitution. You can't just come and start attacking someone for performing his constitutional duties because you feel it should be done differently. IT'S IN THE CONSTITUTION. Infact Tinubu not doing it is illegal and unconstitutional.

Seems most of you don't even care about the constitution or rule of law except when it favors your agenda. Shows how myopic the black mind is.

Focus on the cause of the problem and not the symptoms of the problem. Tinubu appointing INEC chair is a symptom. The main cause of the problem is the constitution itself which should be where your energy and that of others with similar opinions should be directed.

I did not say that he commited a crime, in simple terms, what I am trying to say is that the process is flawed and will deliberately give Tinubu unfair advantage. Don't you want a free and fair election?

johnmartus:
He has not committed any crime channel your bad energy to right place please.

Nnamdi Kanu won't get justice in court. Hope Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga are ready to arrest, detain and charge all well meaning Nigerians that will join the 20th october protest for treason like they did to those children in the last nationwide protest. The whole world can see that Nigeria does not have a democratic government, Bayo Onanuga flagrant deregard of the constitution that guarantees the people's right to peaceful protest is deeply disturbing.

Yes, October 20th is not too far from today. Helinues, lover of injustice

helinues:
Press more of the button.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whrrIcXpGVw

Nigerians Can Get Away With a Lot of Things, But Igbo Nigerians Cannot - Sowore

But the Nigerian state will never grant them their wish because of vested interests of powerful local and foreign cabals that believe they own Nigeria. The injustice been done to Nnamdi Kanu won't end unless all well meaning Nigerians come together to demand for his release, to demand for his rights to be respected.

agulion:
Even most of us Yoruba Muslims wants Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Released, Nigeria should even grant them the Biafra let us rest

As an APC man, you are free to enjoy your victory dance while it lasts

REDshouse:
You are still ranting ...pls come off it

Nigeria is a strange country because Nigerians are wonderful people that will allow a problem to fester, waiting until it is too late when the head is already off to take action. After all is said and done, then they turn around to blame others for their woes. Tinubu knows he can't win in a free and fair election, anyone expecting Amupitan the TNEC chairman to work against him by organizing a fair election that will remove him from power before 2031 is living in dream land.

Diamond098454:
What can of country is this?

That's Nigeria for you, Tinubu is the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

Racoon:
So much sabotage in the downstream petroleum sector that one is just confused on what to believe as a nation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRyc-CmlQAA

"As long as Igbo men are persecuted. I am persecuted" Sowore speech at Nnamdi Kanu's court trial.

A document exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters confirmed that the product contains a very high sulphur concentration.

Atop industry source has revealed that the Dangote Refinery is importing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) with sulphur content far above Nigeria’s approved environmental standard, raising fresh concerns over product quality and regulatory compliance.

A document exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters confirmed that the product contains a very high sulphur concentration.

According to the insider, a vessel identified as MT Clearocean Mary was scheduled to arrive at the Dangote Refinery’s offshore facility on Wednesday, October 9, 2025, carrying approximately 37,000 metric tonnes (about 49.6 million litres) of petrol with a sulphur content of 690 parts per million (ppm).

This is way higher than the 50ppm limit approved for domestic use in Nigeria.

One of the documents obtained by SaharaReporters confirmed that the PMS was loaded from the Phillips 66 Refinery in Immingham, United Kingdom, a major refining hub, before setting sail for Nigeria.

Nigeria’s fuel specification, introduced as part of the “Clean Fuels” initiative under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and enforced by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), restricts the sulphur level in imported or locally refined petrol to 50ppm to reduce air pollution and protect public health.

However, the source alleged that the Dangote Refinery’s Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) unit, which is central to refining crude into petrol, “is not currently operational.”

Despite this, the refinery has continued to sell PMS, giving the impression that the product was refined locally, the source added.

“The FCC is not working, but Dangote has been given various excuses to shut down and hide under excuses ranging from fights with DAPPMAN (Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria) to issues with NUPENG and PENGASSAN,” the source claimed.

NUPENG (Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers) and PENGASSAN (Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria) are Nigeria’s two major oil and gas labour unions, representing workers in different tiers of the petroleum industry.

In September 2025, the unions launched a nationwide strike at the Dangote Refinery, accusing the company of mass sacking and the replacement of Nigerian workers with foreign workers.

The insider alleged that instead of refining crude locally, the company is importing high-sulphur petrol and blending or distributing it as though it were domestically produced.
 
“He will discharge the product and start selling to the people. Nigeria only allows 50ppm, but he brought in high-sulphur fuel and is pretending it’s produced locally,” the source added.

Document Confirms 690ppm Sulphur Content

A Certificate of Quality issued by Phillips 66 Limited, operators of the Humber Refinery in the United Kingdom, confirms that a consignment of High-Sulphur Catalytic Gasoline (FCC Gasoline) was loaded for shipment to Dangote Nigeria on September 21, 2025.

The document, numbered MFG-250923-00016 and dated September 23, 2025, details the laboratory test results for the cargo and certifies that the sample analysed was a composite sample taken immediately after loading.

The product was drawn aboard the vessel Clearocean Marigold and tested at the refinery’s accredited laboratory in North Lincolnshire, UK.

The certificate shows that the gasoline, described as “High-Sulphur Cat Gas”, is a light petroleum product typically used as a blending component in the production of finished motor gasoline.

According to the report, the product appeared “clear and bright,” meaning that it was free of water and visible impurities, and its density at 15 °C measured 0.7375 kilograms per litre, which is consistent with normal gasoline grades.

Laboratory analysis indicated that the boiling range of the sample spanned 49 °C to 155 °C, a volatility characteristic of gasoline-range hydrocarbons. Its Research Octane Number (RON) was 92.3 and its Motor Octane Number (MON) 79.3, signifying adequate anti-knock performance for blending into premium petrol.

The vapour pressure was recorded at 33 kilopascals, within the expected range for refinery-grade gasoline intended for export or further processing.

However, the report highlights a very high sulphur concentration of 690 parts per million by weight (ppm), far exceeding the 50 ppm environmental limit imposed for retail fuels in many jurisdictions.

The sample also tested positive for mercaptans, sulphur-bearing compounds responsible for strong odours and corrosiveness.

Corrosion testing returned a NACE grade C, indicating moderate corrosive potential due to these sulphur species.

In essence, the Phillips 66 certificate establishes that the Humber Refinery produced and loaded a high-sulphur FCC gasoline cargo for export to Nigeria on September 21, 2025.

The fuel meets normal gasoline quality characteristics but contains sulphur levels more than thirteen times higher than internationally accepted retail limits, confirming that it is a feedstock that will require further processing rather than a finished consumer fuel.

SaharaReporters' investigation revealed that these figures confirm that the product is not suitable for direct sale as motor fuel and would require additional desulphurisation or refining before blending into finished gasoline.

The detailed hydrocarbon composition reported by the laboratory shows 12.5 percent aromatics, 48.1 percent olefins, 35.1 percent paraffins, and 4.3 percent naphthenes by volume, while the benzene content stood at 1.34 percent, within the accepted specification range.

This composition is typical of gasoline derived from the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process, which yields high-olefin streams that enhance octane but contribute to instability and gum formation if not further treated.

Phillips 66 stated that the test methods followed ASTM International standards, including ASTM D86 (distillation), D4052 (density), D2699/2700 (octane numbers), D3227 (sulphur), and D6839 (hydrocarbon type analysis), ensuring the data meet global trade and customs requirements.

The certificate was signed by Chris J. Harper, a representative of the refinery’s quality-assurance department, certifying the results as an official record of the product’s condition at loading.

Efforts to reach the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, were unsuccessful, as he neither answered calls nor responded to messages sent to him.

The Dangote Refinery, inaugurated in May 2023, was touted as a major step toward achieving Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in petroleum refining, with the capacity to produce 650,000 barrels per day.

But in August, according to industry monitor IIR, the refinery was planning a maintenance shutdown of its gasoline-making residue fluid catalytic cracking (RFCC) unit, tentatively starting on August 10.

The shutdown was meant to carry out urgent repair work on the regenerator section due to a significant catalyst loss issue that had reduced the operating capacity of the 204,000-barrel-per-day unit.

The FCC unit is a key gasoline-making component that converts heavy crude fractions into higher-value products like gasoline and alkene gases.

https://saharareporters.com/2025/10/09/exclusive-dangote-refinery-imports-dirty-fuel-uk-13-times-higher-sulphur-content

Because previous presidents did it, does that make it right? If it is wrong should Nigerians remain silent, fold their arms and let it continue? I had thought Nigerians learnt their lessons after the nationwide outcry over 2023 Yakubu Mahmood's sham presidential election, I thought they wanted electoral reforms over the glaring dangers of the continued practice of allowing a seating president to appoint the INEC chairman but I was wrong as your comment and comment of many other Nigerian on this issue proves that no lesson have been learnt yet. Hopefully, when the 2027 presidential election result is announced in favour of Tinubu, you won't start crying, you won't be all over this platform posting threads on how the election was rigged.

erad:
When previous presidents were appointing, where was this energy? Go and change the constitution if you're not happy with the president appointing INEC chairman. Once something does not favor you, crying starts.

Tinubu is the president and it is his constitutional duty to recommend a chairman for INEC just like it has been with previous presidents. I don't understand why it's suddenly an issue now.

My ranting is too much? Funny, I hope you won't cry uncontrollably when you're deprived of a fair election in 2027. Your 'ranting' then will be epic as your TNEC chairman will tell you to go to court.

Except you're a Tinubu supporter, Nigerians are setting themselves up for another 4 years of Tinubu's presidency.

REDshouse:
You ranting too much my dear

Pathetic comment, hope you're happy now?

Brenbentondiaz:
Yea. The lawyer is right. Deveropers are irrelevant in Nigeria. They can only chestbeat, wail and make noise. They're easy to manipulate and bully. So, the lawyer is right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8FVDpHCNMI

Nnamdi Kanu Is being held because he's Igbo - Lawyer defends why there's no case against IPOB Leader

Not sure what you mean by "It's not fair". Are you an APC member or supporter?

uzohrome:
Stop Please


It's not fair