Investigation reveals that “businessman” Aliko Dangote has signed a contract with “Vitoil” for 5 cargoes of 38,000 metric tonnes per cargo.

One of them is the “CL Jane Austen” tracked by Bloomberg.

The Dangote Refinery has altered the federal government’s petrol supply plan as it began the sale of fuel in dollars to the foreign market, with a vessel (tanker/cargo) already having hauled the product from the refinery to waters off Togo.

The crude oil from which the product was refined was sold to the refinery established by Africa’s richest man in Naira through a government’s template that began in October.

The private refinery, a report by Bloomberg showed, has signed a contract with “Vitoil” for 5 cargoes of 38,000 metric tonnes per cargo.

Investigation by Bloomberg showed that the tanker named “The CL Jane Austen” recently loaded more than 300,000 barrels from Dangote.

The tanker sailed west, according to data from Vortexa, Kpler, Precise Intelligence, a port report, and ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg.

“It’s now floating off the coast of Lome, a popular area for ship-to-ship transfers,” the report added.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the sale of crude oil to Dangote Refinery in Naira, an order that has been confirmed to have been implemented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

Meanwhile, the new fuel supply deal between Dangote Refinery, which benefited from the crude oil sale in Naira, and “Vitol” is being carried out in dollars.

While the shipment is tiny in the context of the global gasoline market, it signals the ramp-up of Dangote’s production and the potential to export significant volumes of gasoline beyond Nigeria, which could upend regional markets.

The refinery last month shipped its first seaborne fuel cargo to the nearby commercial hub of Lagos.

Whether large amounts of Dangote’s fuel output end up being exported remains to be seen.

A Dangote spokesperson didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Last month, Nigeria ended its state-owned oil company’s monopoly on buying the fuel from the plant for domestic use.

Meanwhile, the country continues to import fuel from Europe and the US.

It’s also not certain where the “CL Jane Austen’s” cargo will ultimately end up.

Although it’s off Togo, the area is often used for STS transfers, meaning the fuel could subsequently be taken elsewhere.

Hadiza, the wife of Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, has criticized her son, Basir, for his comments about President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The two members of el-Rufai’s family exchanged words on X on Tuesday after Bashir claimed that “a mental illness” was “permeating” Tinubu’s media team, following the presidency’s recent attack on former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

On Sunday, Obasanjo referred to the 2023 elections as a “travesty” and suggested that Nigeria should appoint new, credible leaders for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with short tenures to prevent corruption and restore trust in the institution.

The presidency took offense at Obasanjo’s comments and questioned his moral authority to make such a statement.

Bayo Onanuga, spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, responded by stating that Obasanjo had overseen the most fraudulent election in Nigeria’s history and that subsequent administrations had been grappling with the “poor choices in economic management made” during his tenure.

In his post, Bashir criticized Tinubu’s media team as “ineffectual clowns” for attacking Obasanjo while “inflation is at 33 percent.”

The post sparked several reactions, including one from Hadiza. The former first lady of Kaduna questioned Bashir, asking if he would “be saying this if your father were part of this government?”

Bashir responded, stating that his father “would have resigned by now due to the failure of the administration.” He added that El-Rufai would have “dissociated” himself from the government.

Four Nigerian students have been sentenced in the United Kingdom for their involvement in a violent altercation that involved knives and a baseball bat in Leicester.

The incident, which took place on New Park Street in the early hours of November 4, 2021, left one victim with multiple stab wounds.

Following a thorough investigation by the Leicester City Police, authorities identified the culprits through CCTV footage, phone tracking, and public assistance.

The six-week trial concluded in October, and the sentences were delivered on November 14.

A report published on the police website last Thursday provided details of the outcome.

Destiny Ojo (21), of Plumstead, London, was sentenced to seven years for violent disorder, attempted grievous bodily harm (GBH), and GBH with intent.

Habib Lawal (21), of Bexley, London, was sentenced to five years for violent disorder, attempted GBH, and GBH with intent.

Ridwanulahi Raheem (21), of Lambeth, London, was sentenced to three years for violent disorder and possession of a bladed article.

Joshua Davies-Ero (21), of Bexley, London, was sentenced to two years for violent disorder.

A fifth defendant, Justin Asamoah (22), of Merton, had earlier pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 22.

A spokesperson for Leicester Police praised the public for their help during the investigation and emphasized the importance of addressing violent behavior to ensure community safety.

Detective Constable Sean Downey, commenting on the case, said, “This incident underscores the grave dangers of violent disorder. It is fortunate that the injuries sustained were not more severe or fatal. This could have been a very different investigation.”

He added, “We thank everyone who supported the investigation. As a force, our priority is public safety. Violent behavior will not be tolerated in our communities, and we will continue to take decisive action against offenders.”