By Kassim Omomia

We have watched Ben Okezie Kalu the deputy speaker of the House with all admiration. He exudes humour, humility and hardwork.
Kalu did not catch our glimpse from the wrong side but from a prism of competence, dedication and above all patriotism in his legislative duties. Even though we may not have a full grasp of Okezie’s elementary political life up till his ascension to the exalted office of Deputy speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria, but it is on record that he served extremely well and meritoriously when as a first time member of the House of Representatives he was chairman Media and Publicity committee, doubling as spokesperson and image maker.

Okezie stirred the House public outlook to the approval of Nigerians and the outside world,comparing that unit of the Nigerian bicameral legislature he managed its image to world parliaments, like the US Congress and the British House of Common,among others. At home, the House of Representatives earned “the Peoples Parliament” accolade “.
Recalling Okezie’s past,the nostalgia breeds excitement and a continuous commitment to legislative and representatives’ service to his people and the country.

Albeit these well delivered services, his underscoring accomplishments were reinforced by his promotion and advancement to the post of Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, a divine elevation to yet, many exalted offices to come.Kalu qualifies to be governor, and Vice President, even the President of this great country ,if young men are roundly supported for such enviable positions.

Notwithstanding, his Bills , motions are not watery but of immense value to democratic governance, systemic reforms and overall growth and welfare of Nigerians. Call it democratic dividends, the Bende constituents have never had it so good, until now. Similarly his quest for a people’s constitution brings to fore his worthy contributions in the current alteration of the1999 Constitution exercise which he midwife’s for the House of Representatives. He speaks continually about a people’s inclusiveness in people’s document. He speaks about equity, justice and fairness for all. He’s concerned about security, a community policing strategy where states look critically into domestic security and policing. Okezie speaks for all: about good life for Nigerians, not only the Abia people he represents.

Curiously, I have also come in good terms and stead with his leadership style, especially his legislative prowess in presiding, either as Speaker in Chair or Chairman at the Committee of Whole”,a serious and critical aspect of legislative business, where reports become laws made by the parliament. At this critical level of legislative engagement, Ben Okezie Kalu has performed extremely well ,surpassing past deputies. This scoring is without prejudice or gainsaying but with all modesty.

I have written about parliamentary activities,from plenary to investigative hearings, to deliberations and considerations of reports , either in Committee of Supply for money issues -budgets etc, since 2000. I have also been privileged to sit for longer periods listening from the gallery, deliberations at the “Committee of Whole’, a tedious and significant session of legislative processes and never seeing a deputy speaker as pragmatic and intelligent like Kalu. it takes a Chair that is not lazy but with dexterity, humility, patience and resilience to succeed in any report consideration at the “Committee of Whole”.And one former deputy speaker who comes close to Kalu in assesment was Hon Lasun.But with this current Deputy Speaker, the magic wand to navigate these trying moments where every member appears uninterested in their legislative function, is unprecedented.

Two manoeuvres that beat my imagination and exhibit Kalu’s superb style is his smooth management of deliberations and final consideration of the 2025 Electoral.Amendment Bill and the passage of the 2026-2028 MTEF and FSP, on Thursday December 18 2025, few moments to the 2026 Budget presentation by President Ahmed Tinubu to the joint session of the National Assembly.

His mental alertness, understanding of the subject matter, his assessment of the mood and psyche of the members and his strategic demeanour coupled with the patience and resilient approachas well as his humility, diplomacy in getting an unwilling session sit for hours, unknowingly to the members that they had sat for so long and passed a record two critical national assignments, still leaves even the members amiss how it began but ended well.

For over two weeks now, there have been several adjournments to consider the Electoral amendment Bill. The constraints at times point to the inconsequential number of members in session , or when there’s a seeming quorum, inertia and unwillingness sets in.
According to checks, members’ lacklustre attitude in these ending times, come from failed promises from the executive branch such that it was gathered that the lawmakers were adjourning for the yuletide break without cash -backings.This development not only worries the legislators who are at a loss over how to satify their insatiable constituents during the Christmas festivities, but has resulted to the lethargy displayed by them in carrying out their statutory duties of law making . Fears are that, the members may not chorus “on your mandate we stand”, going forward, especially on 19 Friday December 2025, when the President presents his 2026 budget to the joint session of the National Assembly
While the outcome of that session is awaited, the success gained in the House of Representatives for completing and finally passing the MTEF/FSP in record time and upon which premise President Tinubu submits the 2026 Appropriation Bill, after the Senate hurriedly put out their own since Tuesday evening,underscores the goodwill the deputy speaker enjoys from his colleagues,expectedy due to his humility and resilience,such that in over six- unstoppable hours, he successfully managed a tensed session to effectively pass the MTEF and Electoral.amenment Bill. This is all kudos to a young PAN- Nigerian legislator in our hearts

That Ben Okezie Kalu displays an uncommon leadership acumen, which promotes unity and which with he won the hearts of all who sat in plenary on that faithful Thursday 18 2025,is an understatement . This is so because all the lawmaker at that Thursday session,wether Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba,Edo, TIV ,Idoma,Gbagy and of course Ibo were in sync with, aligning with his master stroke with which he chaired that earlier unpredictable session that later became a huge success. I have a dream that Ben Okezie Kalu shall accomplish more in his political career, given his character, competence and leadership capacity.

He will excel beyond this time, tide and position. Ben Okezie Kalu is the lawmaker in our hearts and qualifies for our award as ‘ A Legislature- Exemplar’ even as we watch him deliver again during the final voting of the alteration to the 1999 constitution ( As Ammended) in the days to come.

Kassim Omomia of the Bigeyeonline writes from Abuja

By James Itodo

The Nigerian oil and gas sector, since its discovery, exploration, and exploitation at the turn of the century, has become the goose that lays the golden egg, likened only to the much-sought-after bride.

This is because oil, and later gas, remained the main economic sustainer, accounting for virtually all the revenue utilised for the economic sustainability and stability of the country—a nation driven by a monolithic economy.

Various attempts at sustaining its viability failed because those reforms lacked the necessary ingredients and the political will of their drivers to succeed. Moreover, the temptation of the enormous amounts generated, and the ease of generating this revenue, became stronger than the moral responsibility and patriotic devotion of the country’s leaders, causing various rulers to rely completely on oil while abandoning or ignoring agriculture and every other means of generating revenue, including all forms of diversification and integration.

The present Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) was born out of necessity: first, to inherit the abnormalities of the past; and second, to set in motion reforms aimed at effectively repositioning the sector. Key among these is strong political will and the appropriate sensitisation of the country’s political leaders to look beyond oil and gas revenue and think towards diversification.

To carry this out effectively, there is a need to build trust and confidence on the fulcrum of accountability and transparency.
So far, the verdict has been positive. The basic recipe for repositioning and bringing about a volte-face in the sector is now present: accountability and transparency.

A new era, based on a better concept of transparency and accountability, is enhancing the effective repositioning of the Nigerian oil and gas sector, which will work for the overall benefit of all citizens and indeed residents.

Today, Nigerians are now seeing the oil and gas sector as a blessing, with transparency and accountability becoming the fulcrum of operations at the NUPRC.

There is no doubt that, for decades, Nigeria’s oil and gas sector was a cesspit of abhorrent and odious corruption, coupled with mismanagement—a centre of graft, earning the moniker “resource curse.”
Instead of bringing blessings to the country, it became an avenue for self-aggrandisement and self-enrichment at the detriment of national interest, economic growth, prosperity, and development.

As a whole, the sector’s opacity and lack of accountability led to widespread corruption, where the few who had access to this national wealth enriched themselves and their families—buying choice houses at highly exorbitant prices in prime cities of the world and sending their children to schools abroad on ear-splitting school fees, all with our common patrimony—at the expense of the country. This resulted in environmental degradation and human rights abuses, leaving citizens with little to show for the country’s vast oil resources, world oil production status, and its derived and associated wealth.

However, a new dawn has emerged with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) leading a rescue mission to reposition the sector with renewed vigour, intentionality, and patriotic commitment under the leadership of Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, who has turned the NUPRC into a beacon of hope for Nigerians.
Unambiguously, the NUPRC’s commitment to transparency is demonstrated through its proactive disclosure of key industry data—which had previously been shrouded in obscurity—including production figures, revenue streams, and contract awards.

The demystification and openness of this key information have greatly enhanced the fostering of trust and confidence among stakeholders, including local communities, civil society organisations, and international partners.
Another signature reform is the strengthening and implementation of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), which ensures that oil and gas revenues are transparently tracked and accounted for, thereby reducing corruption and ensuring that revenues are channelled for the overall benefit of all citizens.

Projecting the ideals of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu-led administration, the NUPRC has also prioritised increased utilisation of local content development, bringing on board many more Nigerian companies to participate in the oil and gas value chain, thereby creating more jobs, stimulating economic growth, and empowering local communities.

The sector’s transformation is an unequivocal demonstration of the power of transparency and accountability.
Daily, Nigerians are beginning to see oil and gas resources as a direct blessing rather than a curse, with a sector and operators poised to drive economic growth, create jobs, and improve living standards.

However, this is just the beginning; the journey is far from over, and the best is yet to come—for all of us.
While Nigerians holistically embrace these reforms, they must also continue to demand transparency and accountability from their leaders, while the NUPRC’s efforts must be supported and sustained to ensure that the sector remains a catalyst for national development.

There is no doubt that the oil and gas sector can be a powerful catalytic tool for poverty reduction, wealth creation, and economic transformation. This can be imminently and necessarily achieved when the NUPRC continues in its commitment to transparency and accountability, predicated on the resilience of Nigerians, who will look forward to a brighter future where their natural resources work for them, not against them.

It must be a collaborative and conscientious responsibility of all Nigerians not only to support the NUPRC’s efforts and reforms targeted at transforming the oil and gas sector but also to demand consistent transparency and accountability from our leaders, as this will ensure that our natural resources benefit all Nigerians, securing a brighter future for Nigeria and Nigerians.

Itodo writes from Abuja

The Chairman of First Bank, Mr. Femi Otedola is presently facing huge criticism over his alleged usual ways to use bank loans to take over businesses of other people.

This is coming just as perceived hidden interests of a prominent lawyer, Mr. Koku whose dual roles in the Nestoil and FBNQuest case, which now threatens the integrity of the Nigeria Oil sector, have been unmasked by this newspaper.

During an exclusive investigation by Our correspondent over the alleged conflict of interest and potential
Regulatory capture of the NUPRC, in Nestoil and Neconde’s Legal
Battle with FBN Quest and First Trustees, it was gathered that in the corridors of Nigeria’s petroleum industry, a storm that could reshape perceptions of justice, transparency, and regulatory independence at the apex of the upstream sector is brewing.

Through months of document review and interviews with industry insiders,
told Our correspondent in its investigation uncovered troubling evidence that a top legal practitioner is at the heart of a clash between public interest and private gain, raising fresh questions about conflicts of interest and the spectre of regulatory capture.

Findings showed that the wrangle between Neconde Energy Limited, Nestoil Limited, and a consortium of financial institutions represented by FBN Quest Merchant Bank Limited and
First Trustees Limited, resembles a typical high-value debt dispute but, dig deeper and a more intricate web emerged.

This investigation revealed that Babajide Koku SAN, a personal lawyer to Mr. Femi Otedola, the chairman of First Bank, has simultaneously served as legal counsel for both the FBN Parties and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in lawsuits
that could determine the fate of critical national oil assets.

This dual representation, spanning Suit No: FHC/L/CS/2127/2025 in Lagos and Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/2369/2025 in Abuja, goes far beyond a mere procedural oversight as legal documents obtained by this newspaper confirmed that Koku’s name appears on court filings for
multiple parties with directly competing interests, fuelling allegations that regulatory impartiality may be at risk.

According to legal experts who spoke with Our correspondent, the implications echo far beyond the courtroom—potentially shaking the very foundations of the sector’s governance

Meanwhile, our investigation reconstructed the timeline of this controversy, beginning on 20 October
2025, when FBN Parties, represented by Koku, SAN, sued Nestoil and Neconde over an alleged $1billion debt. But even before the gavel fell, FBN Trustees had petitioned the NUPRC on 9 September 2025, seeking consent to register a second charge over Oil Mining Lease (OML) 42, an asset in which Neconde holds a substantial stake.

It was also gathered that the NUPRC signalled its readiness
to approve the charge, prompting Neconde, wary of a hostile takeover, to launch its own legal offensive on 6 November 2025.

“When the NUPRC responded to Neconde’s lawsuit, challenging the validity of the very consent it had given, it too appeared in court represented by Koku” a document at the disposal of this newspaper stated..

Meanwhile, multiple sources confirmed to Our correspondent that Koku, SAN was present for both the FBN Parties and the regulator, a move that has left industry players and legal watchdogs questioning whether the independence of
Nigeria’s upstream regulator may have been fatally compromised.

Experts that were interviewed by Our correspondent warned that such brazen dual representation is more than a
technical breach of legal ethics, it is a flashing red light for regulatory capture, where public agencies risk being co-opted by the very entities they are meant to police.

One concerned stakeholder who spoke under the condition of anonymity described this as “akin to letting the fox guard the henhouse”, noting that the
same lawyer advancing private creditors’ interests is now shaping the regulator’s legal defence.

“The stakes are monumental: should NUPRC’s consent to FBN Trustees be upheld, it could set a perilous precedent, enabling further encroachment by powerful financiers at the expense of due process and fair regulatory oversight” he added.

Also, critics alleged that Koku’s close
affiliations with major stakeholders in the FBN entities call into question the motives behind the legal manoeuvring, stoking speculation about a well-orchestrated asset grab under the
veneer of judicial process.

Another expert told this newspaper state that lawyers must not act for conflicting interests without full, informed consent. He queried: “Assuming that all necessary disclosures have been made, is it appropriate for the NUPRC to appoint legal representatives who are currently acting on behalf of an interested party in the dispute.

“Furthermore, is it advisable for FBN Trustees to permit its retained counsel to also represent the NUPRC in litigation where FBN Trustees has a financial interest in the outcome”

Senior Nigeria legal analysts who offered to grant interviews on this issue cautioned that Koku’s actions could trigger motions for disqualification and expose both NUPRC and the FBN Parties to damaging reputational
fallout.

Meanwhile, some of the legal experts have called for an urgent review of how regulators appoint external counsel,
warning that public trust in Nigeria’s oil industry hangs in the balance.

One of them added that: “For Koku, the risks are professional as well as reputational, with the possibility of regulatory scrutiny or even sanctions if formal complaints are lodged, particularly where formal disclosures were not made and subsequent consent of the NUPRC obtained.

“For NUPRC, the crisis raises uncomfortable questions about its commitment to unbiased oversight and
whether it can withstand the corrosive influence of well-connected private interests”

Speaking on investor confidence which they said is already on the Line, legal experts noted that the fallout is already being felt beyond the courtroom.

However, Oil Industry veterans who spoke with Our correspondent noted that
uncertainty and perceptions of impropriety could scare off much-needed investment from
an already fragile upstream sector.

“Without transparency and clear ethical boundaries, you can’t have a credible investment climate,” one executive told Our correspondent, calling for sweeping reforms and tougher frameworks to safeguard regulatory processes from undue interference.

Legal experts are urging the government to overhaul consent procedures and demand full transparency in all dealings between regulators and their outside advisers.

Our correspondent gathered further that as the lawsuits wind their way through Nigeria’s federal courts, the spotlight remains fixed on Babajide Koku SAN, the NUPRC, and the banks pulling the strings behind the scenes.

It was also gathered that the case has become a litmus test for transparency, legal ethics, and the resilience of Nigeria’s regulatory institutions, and the final outcome may not only decide who controls a lucrative oil
lease but could also set a lasting benchmark for the country’s commitment to fairness and
the rule of law.

“In a sector too often shrouded in secrecy, only genuine accountability and unwavering ethical standards can restore faith in those entrusted with Nigeria’s most precious resources” another industry expert noted.

In a related development, Chairman of First Bank Holding, Mr. Femi Otedola has been accused of taking over businesses of First bank customers under the guise of debt default with the help of some corrupt judges.

According to finding, Otedola, as a result of his greed and love for other people’s business and properties would hide under the guise of giving loans to business owners to develop their businesses, inflate the loans, hide their loan documents and use the court to take over such businesses.

Apart from Nestoil/Neconde which would have been his latest victim if not for the vigilance of the legal team of Dr. Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi, the chairman of First Bank had used the FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited to fraudulently hijack several firms from their original owners.

However, officials of Neconde have lamented that for over three years, First bank has refused to release bank statements to the company.

The company alleged in several reports that First Bank has refused to provide bank statements, reconciliation documents, or loan records Nestoil which they need to use to verify whether any debt actually exists.

There are instances of Sahara Group and General Hydrocarbon which Otedola wickedly and cunningly used the loans which his bank gave to those two companies to hijack their lucrative businesses with the help of some corrupt judges.

Our correspondent’s independent investigation showed that Mr. Femi Otedola had earlier this year approached Neconde requesting to buy some 16 percent stake in the juicy Oml42 oil block.

For fears of what he has done to Sahara Group and General Hydrocarbon in the past, Otedola’s request was bluntly rejected by Neconde, and this led to First bank to drag Nestoil and Neconde in aggressive move to take over OML 42, citing an alleged $1billion dollar unverified debt.

“How can we owe what we cannot see?”
We cannot verify any debt because First Bank will not release the very documents that would confirm or disprove their claim.” one of the officials of Nestoil told this newspaper, insisting that without those statements, the bank’s attempts to enforce debt recovery actions amount to economic ambush and economic gangsterism.

Meanwhile, an expert in the Nigerian Petroleum business told Our correspondent that: “At the centre of the conflict is OML 42—one of the most promising onshore blocks in the Niger Delta Basin. Industry analysts estimate that the licence could generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue over its lifespan. At present OML42 accounts for approximately 5% of Nigeria’s crude oil production.

“There are claims that the subsidiaries of First Bank Holding under the Chairmanship of Mr Femi Otedola has shown “unusual, excessive interest” in taking over the OML42 through court orders, ex parte motions, and aggressive debt-recovery procedures that the company says lack documentary justification.

“It has become clear that the bank’s objective is not repayment—it is acquisition,”

Also, a legal expert who spoke with Our correspondent during our investigation said that the refusal of First bank to release bank statements, if true, raises serious questions about transparency and the integrity of the bank’s claims, saying that a creditor refusing to provide account statements is highly irregular.

He added that any enforcement action without documentary clarity could be challenged as predatory or abusive.