The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Nine Edo communities battle darkness

    An electrification project that would have brought joy to nine communities in Ward three of Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State has turn into a nightmare for residents in the community as leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressive Congress are at loggerheads over who should execute the project.

    The communities comprising Ogbuwe , Utese, Egbeta, Ogbetse, Olumoye, Edienzegbughe, Okodu and Aghanokpe have been without electricity for years.

    Already, 13 youths from the locality have been arrested and remanded to prison custody for allegedly stopping work on the electricity project. Leaders of PDP have been protesting the arrest of the 13 youths.

    Youths and elders of the communities had in January protested to the headquarters of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to register their displeasure over inability of the electricity firm to restore power to them.

    The protesters warned political parties not to take any campaign to their Ward to solicit for votes in the governorship election.

    Leader of the protesters, Emmanuel Ogefia, had told newsmen that for ‘over five years, the people of the communities have been in total blackout for reason they could not decipher.

    “We are tired of staying in darkness and that is why we are crying out to governor for assistant so that we will be out of darkness. If not, no light, no vote. We will not even allow any political parties to bring their campaign train to our communities and if they do, it means they have brought problem to us.

    “That is just the matter. They should give us light so that there can be peace between the aspirants and the people of our communities because they are the ones deceiving us”.

    It was gathered that electricity was first extended to the nine communities through Okada by Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom but was disconnected for reasons unknown to the affected.

    Moved by the plight of the communities, the lawmaker representing Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Barr. Omosede Igbinedion, said she used her personal funds to began remedial works on the lines as well as erecting electric poles.

    Omosede said her efforts to fulfill electioneering promises by provide electricity to the communities was stopped by leaders of APC in the locality because of the September 10 governorship election.

    She accused a former Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Bright Osayande and the State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Priestly Ediagbonya, who hailed from the community as being responsible for stopping the project because of the forthcoming elections.

    According to her, “Bright Osayande is a third term lawmaker and he fail to do the electricity project. During my electioneering campaign, I promised to embark on providing electricity for the people. It was on that ground I started the electrification project with my money.

    “APC members came and said they want to put poles on where I have dug to out to put poles. The community resisted them that they should not do it that they failed to do the project for the past eight years. The community riot and Ediagbonya brought thugs to the place.

    “It was after the altercation that Ediagbonya went to the police station and the police invited 13 of them who were just artisans. They went to the police station and were detained on charges of assault. We were surprised the State Commissioner for Justice changed the charge to attempted murder and they were arraigned and remanded to prison custody.”

    “This is the problem of democracy in Nigeria. The system has failed us. The three arms of government are supposed to be separate. In Edo, there is the fusion of Executive and the Judiciary. We also see the police working in connivance with the state government. It is something the federal government has to come to our aid. The international community should come and monitor this election. These young men have no reason to be behind bars. Oshiomhole is a dictator and has no respect for the rule of law.”

    Ediagbonya on his part said it was the community elders that decided to contribute money to fix the electricity project after Chief Igbinedion cut off electricity supply from Okada after the people refused to vote for the PDP.

    The Youths and Sports Commissioner said they got approval from the Benin Electricity Distribution Company after modalities were worked out on how to pay the N2.2m electricity bills owed by the community.

    He displayed a letter written to the BEDC and signed by four leaders of the community expressing the communities readiness to pay for the electricity project.

    The letter was signed by Ebose Terry, Edosomwan Segun, Edo Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Priestly Ediagbonya and Hon Matthew Oguntimehin.

    In the letter in which they sought permission to carry out remedial work on the BEDC lines from Iguomo to Ogbesse, the communities promised to pay the outstanding N2.2m electricity debts in four installments, replace 210 wooden electric poles with concrete poles.

    The communities’ elders also said the work would not attract any additional cost to the BEDC and urged the BEDC to send engineers to supervise the remedial works.

    Ediagbonya in his words said, “Two days to election, Chief Igbinedion gave us light. After the election, he put it off. We went into partnership with CSDP. If you are paying 10percent, they will add 90 percent. We revalue the project. We attended meeting here six times.

    “After PHCN changed ownership and the new BEDC told us to wait that when they settle down and fix the sub-station at Isihor. We had meetings and reached a compromised. We reached an agreement to pay the debt in four installments. All remedial work will be at no cost to BEDC. As we were doing it, we heard Omosede was also working on the project at a time constituency project is still a controversy due to padding.

    “We told BEDC about Omosede actions and they said whoever they did not give approval cannot work on their line. They gave us letter of attorney. Based on that we took the poles and the workers. On their way, some boys blocked the road with shootings, canisters. Police shot into the air to scare them away. They escorted the vehicle to the express road. They beat a former councilor to stupor. They smashed my car.

    “The boys were being used by Igbinedion daughter. The one she electrified at Igo was done by Osahon. We can no longer be enslave. The Esama boasted that if we do the project he will cut it and disconnect us.

    “He first cut us off because PDP was at the centre. I am doing what I am doing now because PDP has lost power. If it were then, nobody will listen to my complaint. They will just phone them in Abuja to cut us off. Let them mention the person who gave them authority.”

    As both the PDP and APC battle over who would execute the projects, the communities have remained in darkness and suffer the consequences.

  • In the Garden city

    I cannot remember my first contact with this picturesque city called Port Harcourt. But I am sure that long before our romance began, I had met this city of oil in books, in articles, on television, on radio and some other ways. It was for me a city of promise, a city flowing with milk and honey, a city where dreams came alive and a city where great minds found the room to flourish and flower.

    Like Lagos, it was some form of convergence for races. Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Kanuri, Ibibio and others saw in Port Harcourt a home away from home.

    Port Harcourt of yore was not a city where fear walked on all fours. It was a city where people loved their neigbours like themselves. It was a beautiful city. So beautiful they rechristened it Garden city because of the choreographed embrace between its well-laid road networks and flowers lining them.

    In it, oil giants made money and were not afraid. Their gates were not manned by stern-looking soldiers or riot policemen. Neither were their key figures escorted everywhere by gun-toting security men.

    The Nigerian civil war was the first blow on Port Harcourt. Igbo who saw the Rivers State capital as home put their all into it. They built houses, industries and so on there. Then came the war and their properties were confisticated all in the name of abandoned properties. Their attempts to reclaim their toils after the war were resisted. Though some got back their due with time, not a few lost their properties forever.

    After the war, Port Harcourt seemed to get its groove back. But the return to democracy in 1999 marked another twist. Politicians — out to show strength —  armed young and jobless youths with rifles and machine guns. Opponents were taken down with ease. Key political figures, such as Chief Marshal Harry, were killed and till now the culprits have not been found not to talk of being brought to justice.

    At a point when there were no political opponents to harass, the boys started turning their guns against innocent citizens. Kidnappings began and big boys in the city started acquiring bullet-proof vehicles. Many took their kids far away to school. And that also marked the era of oil giants watching their backs by going out always with security escorts. Expatriates became preys and the fear of being kidnapped became the beginning of wisdom.

    Although the violence did not totally disappear between 2007 and 2014, it was brought under great control. The 2015 general elections set back the city several thousands of miles. And things have not remained the same again.

    Rivers was hell before, during and after the polls. For months, men without spine, men of brawn—and please permit me to add— who lack humanity and conscience put Rivers State, the Lagos of the Southsouth, on the spot. It was either they were shooting guns or they were throwing bombs. And when they did it, they hid their faces. They acted most times under the cover of the dark and daylight.

    Aside guns and dynamites, they also used machetes and other dangerous weapons. Heads were broken. Necks were twisted. Arms had hot leads pumped into them. And there was a woman whose back was reshaped with bullets. It was simply a tale of blood.

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) observed in a report that politicians outsourced the punishment of their opponents through fatal deaths to cultists.

    Of all the killings, those of the Adubes caught the public’s attention more. Their killers showed no mercy. In one fell swoop, nine persons, including a father, his two sons and daughter were killed. The Adube family members are still in tears and are seeking justice.

    Those killed are: former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local government, the late Hon. Christopher Adube, his two sons Lucky and John Adube , his daughter Joy,  a family friend, Mr. Iyk Ogarabe and the family driver, Mr.  Samuel Chukwunonye.

    Because of the madness of the general elections, many are now homeless. Many are now fatherless; many are widows; and many are on wheel chairs, with pellets of bullets lodged in their bones.  Dreams have died and aspirations doomed.

    Paul and Ogechi Adube are two living examples of the evil that men did during the last general elections in Rivers. They would have died on April 3, last year when men without brains stormed their home in ONELGA and killed their father, Christopher Adube and three of their siblings. The bullets pumped into 15-year-old Paul’s leg have ensured he is wheel-chair bound. The hot lead released unto Ogechi’s legs have also seen rods inserted into her bones and because of this, she cannot fold her legs. You can imagine the pains of walking around with legs that feel like wood.

    The report of the Rivers Commission of Inquiry headed by the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, said a monthly average of 19 killings occurred in the state between November 2014 and April 2015.

    The Commission noted that of the 97 allegations of killings it received, 94 of them occurred between November 15, 2014, and April 11, last year.

    The violence did not stop with the general elections. It has continued since then and this has ensured the rerun elections are yet to be concluded. Shortly before the rerun, 25 people were killed in Omoku. Some of them were lucky to have their heads still intact; some were not that lucky. The heartless men who killed them severed their heads and went away with them.

    Okonta Samuel Dumebi, a youth corps member, was one of those whose blood was shed by politicians during the war called Rivers rerun election. Dumebi’s death is like using the blood of an outsider to appease the gods in Rivers. He was not a son of the soil neither was he a resident. Home was in Illah, Delta State.

    The attempt to conclude the rerun saw the electoral commission’s office in Bori being bombed. It is a crazy world out there. Really crazy world.

    And early this week, a Delta-born lawyer and human rights activist, Ken Atsuwete, was killed. Barbaric, nasty and heinous are some of the words that have been used to describe the assassination of Atsuwete, who was lawyer to Hon Ojukaye Flag Amachree, an All Progressives Congress (APC) leader held for murder charges by the Nyesom Wike administration.

    Atsuwete is no longer around, but many a victim of kidnapping is still here to tell their tales. The fear of being kidnapped is the beginning of wisdom.

    I must point out here that for Governor Wike, Rivers is safe for investments and all. Those who describe the state as Rivers of blood and violence have been challenged by the governor. He has the various meetings that have taken place in the garden city to back himself up.

    Roll calls: Lawyers have met in Port Harcourt. Editors have taken their turn. Movie stars have seen the safe haven that the garden city is. Many others have toured His Excellency’s projects and have come up with resoundingly positive verdicts. So, who the hell is saying Port Harcourt is not safe? Can they know more than the Guild of Editors? Can they know more than the Bar? Can they know more than the A-list movie stars?

    As far as His Excellency— who says he is the Chief Logistics Officer and not Chief Security Officer of the state— is concerned, many of the killings are between cultists who he has been fighting. The opposition is just playing to the gallery. I doubt if the families of Atsuwete, Adube and others who have fallen in the state share his view.

    My final take: The Garden city has lost not a few of its glow. No thanks to violence, kidnappings and all other crimes which the Chief Logistics Officer will have us believe are exaggerated. Port Harcourt has no business playing second fiddle to any city, not even Lagos. It has the advantage of being home to many multinational oil giants, which unfortunately now look before they leap.

  • Group to Rivers govt: revitalise vocational centre

    Group to Rivers govt: revitalise vocational centre

    The Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF) has urged the Rivers State government to revitalise the abandoned Port Harcourt Technical and Vocational Centre.

    The Chairman of NYPF, Moses Siasia, gave the admonition in Port Harcourt, the Rives state capital, while speaking shortly after he led members of the forum to inspect the abandoned centre and its equipment.

    Siasia said: “This is a training centre that has been abandoned and that is the reason why we are here to plead with the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, and the state government to revisit whatever agreement or negotiations that they have with the facilitators of this institution.

    “I believe that the infrastructure governor of Rivers State will also ensure that he looks at areas that concern human infrastructure, because if you do not build the human beings, it becomes a lot of problems.

    “Today, the world is talking about sustainability for young people, how young people can partner with stakeholders and government across board to ensure that we bring the much-needed development and growth to our people.”

    The chairman of NYPF also stated that when reopened, the school would help in giving vocational and technical training to youths of the state and beyond, thereby reducing crime and other anti-social vices in Rivers.

    He said: “We are here to visit this wonderful centre that has been abandoned since three years ago. We got wind of this information, because we believe that this is one of the training institutions or vocational centres that can be used in building the capacity of young people, who are seen as trustees of prosperity.

    “Every day on the pages of newspapers and in the television, we see young people who are involved in criminality, young people who are involved in social vices and it gives us a lot of concern that the society we find ourselves is being nourished by generations of broken promises.”

    The representatives of the German Association of Vocational Training, Uwe Theimer, while also speaking, stated that the aim of the association, which is partnering Rivers State government in the vocational centre, was to bring German quality of education to the state.

    Theimer said: “Our aim is to bring the same quality of German education to Nigeria and we want to follow the concept, which is over 200 years old.”

    The Head Teacher, Port Harcourt Technical and Vocational Centre, Augustine Awoyesuku, in his remarks, regretted that the state-of-the-art equipment procured for the school had been lying waste for the past three years, which he said must be urgently addressed.

  • More Akwa Ibom communities to benefit from electrification project

    The Akwa Ibom State Government has given assurance that more rural communities will benefit from the electricity extension programmes in the state.

    The Commissioner in the Ministry of Rural Development, Ekong Sampson gave the assurance while playing host to residents of Onyungo Aban community of Nung Oku Ibesikpo in Ibesikpo-Asutan Local Government Area, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office yesterday.

    The rural development boss reiterated the commitment of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration to its 2-year electrification programme, which according to him, is ongoing. He also emphasized that no part of the State will be left out.

    Sampson made it known that the State Government is appreciative of the Ibesikpo-Asutan people, considering the enormous contributions of some of their illustrious indigenes to the State Government’s success.

    He said his ministry has overtime shown reasonable level of concern towards Ibesikpo-Asutan power supply, especially to control possible pressure that power shortage in the area might put on the capital city of Uyo. He said Ibesipko-Asutan LGA has received the highest number of transformers from the Ministry.

    The leader of the delegation and chairman of the Onyungo Aban residents’ forum, Mr. Etim Iton, commended the Honourable Commissioner for his efforts in channeling Government’s attention to address the concerns of rural communities. He also expressed trust in the present administration, describing its agenda as revolutionary.

    Iton, lamenting about the challenge of poor power supply, said that extremely low voltage, most times unusable electricity has been really frustrating; especially with the condition of outrageous billings.

    According to him, the community has made several self-help efforts to fix their faulty transformer but has not been able to emerge from the plague.

    His words: “We have heard how the government, through your Ministry, is saving such small communities like ours all over the State, so we have come with confidence that the goodwill of this government will be extended to us.”

    Sampson explained that release of transformers by his Ministry has been based strictly on need. He therefore promised that his team of Engineers will carry out proper assessment, so as to boost power supply to the area.

    The Commissioner also addressed concerns over poor power supply and outrageous billing by power distribution companies, noted that the power sector has been privatised.

    He urged the group to encourage community members to pull together and explore the mechanism of consumer right advocacy to articulate their concerns. With such, he said, local communities will be able to constructively address some of their key concerns in the power sector.

  • 41,161 benefit from Fed Govt’s graduate internship scheme

    The Project Director of the Federal Ministry of Finance’s Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS), Mr Dennis Chukwu, has said 41,161 graduates have so far benefited from the scheme since it started in 2013.

    The scheme trains graduates on job creation and employ-ability skills over a period of 12 months during which they are attached to various firms and are paid some stipends.

    Speaking during a Career Development and Entrepreneurship Skills training facilitated by Faziya Global Resources for interns and firms’ representatives that just concluded their training in Cross River, he said 68 per cent of them are male, 31 per cent female and one per cent vulnerable.

    Chukwu who was represented by Project Director, GIS, Mr Dare Odunlade, said, “Over 35,000 have exited the scheme, with thousands of them having secured jobs. Many have secured credit facilities and grants (including YouWiN! Grant) to expand businesses they set up using GIS stipends and many have set up cooperative associations, some of which have transformed into SMEs. Rather than seeking for work, they are now becoming employers.

    ”As government, we can boldly say that the purpose of setting up the GIS, which is for unemployed graduates to acquire employable skills, is being achieved. It is also my hope that some years down the line, the GIS interns will galvanize different sectors, especially the non-oil sectors, which are the new focus of the Nigerian economy.”

    Also at another GIS orientation training for new intakes into the programme, facilitated by Econometrica Consultants Limited in Calabar, Head of Operations, GIS, Akubo Adegbe, explained, “They run for 12 months and exit the scheme. For those that have finished the programme, a lot of them have been employed by the organization where they are working. Others employed by other organizations based on the skills, which they have learnt. Some of them have set up their own businesses. This is an orientation and employability skills training. Our message to the graduates is that they have an opportunity that other Nigerian graduates do not have, to be an intern for 12 months and earn N30, 000 per month. They should make use of that opportunity and not abuse it.”

    Dr Mahmoud Muktar Saidu, Econometrica Consultants Limited said the aim of the programme is to prepare graduates to be self-reliant to equip them with the necessary skills of setting up their own businesses.

    ”It is for them to understand their environment, especially the economic environment of Nigeria. So we make sure this graduates understand it is not the sole responsibility of the government to provide every single employment that the Nigerian economy requires. These graduates have various skills that are untapped in them. The aim is tap such kinds of skills. Make them aware of it. The programme is intended to make them employers,” Saidu said.

    A beneficiary of the programme from Obubra local government area, Mr Igot Enama Enama, expressed gratitude foe the programme and urged the government to continue and make it better. He called for support of all Nigerians for the present administration in the country to succeed.

  • Floods threaten communities in Akwa Ibom

    Floods threaten communities in Akwa Ibom

    The predictions by the Nigerian Metrological Agency, (NiMeT) and the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) on the impending flood in some parts of the country especially in the South-South has taken its toll on some parts of Akwa Ibom as water levels have generally risen beyond the conventional, writes Kazeem Ibrahym

    The Nigerian Metrological Agency, (NiMeT) had warned of impending flooding this year in 11 states of Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Kaduna, Kwara, Nasarawa, Yobe and Zamfara.

    At Nto Edino, headquarters of Obot Akara Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, the tidal waves have led to the collapsed of the only bridge that links Akwa Ibom State with Abia State, thereby impacting negatively on business activities between the two states.

    The situation has hampered the ongoing construction of 6.41km Nto Edino – Ekwere-Azu road project in the area, and made many commuters to find it difficult to cross either side for fear of being drowned.

    When The Nation visited the affected area, the flood had also caused serious harm to some portion of the Nto Edino Road currently under construction by the State Government, as most of the earth works, between the two parallel rivers for which two bridges are under construction, have been washed away.

    Infact the two parallel rivers which are more than 250m apart have been merged into one huge river. Even farmlands close to the river area have also been submerged.

    The managing director of the construction company handling the road, Seyang Limited, Mr Samuel Inyang said although the job has been seriously affected by the development, his company was committed to executing the job to completion.

    Inyang, an engineer, said that the disaster took everybody unawares, adding that he informed the State Government via both the supervising Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Environment on the development.

    Some community leaders in the area told our reporter that though their farmlands have been washed away and movement hampered, they were happy that the flood has come at a time the road construction was taking place.

    Chief Etim Udo from Nto Edino said they were sleeping with their eyes open because of the development, calling on the state and federal governments to come to their aid.

    Udo, who is a retired engineer with the erstwhile Cross River Ministry of Works, said the two submerged bridges should be incorporated into the road construction work, if the flood disaster is to be contained.

    He, however, thanked the Gov. Udom Emmanuel-led government for awarding the contract to an indigenous firm that has the “capacity and expertise to deliver.”

    Only recently, the Akwa Ibom government directed the chairmen of 15 Local Government Areas prone to flooding to build camps for rescue of victims in view of anticipated flood.

    The state deputy governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, represented by the state’s Flood Sensitisation Campaign Team led by the director of administration, Deputy Governor’s Office, Mrs Ekaette Ekanem, gave the directive at Itu centre of the campaign.

    It is on record that the state government had already categorised the 15 flood prone local government areas into four groups for purpose of the sensitisation.

    The Oron group comprised of Oron, Udung Uko, Mbo, Urue Offong/Oruko and Okobo LGAs while Ibeno group or centre was made up of Eket, Esit Eket, Onna and Ibeno Local Government Areas.

    The local government areas in Ikot Abasi group or centre are Mkpat Enin, Eastern Obolo, Ikot Abasi while Itu centre comprised of  Uruan, Ibiono Ibom and Itu Local Government Areas.

    Ekanem said that the state government was working towards providing relief materials to victims of flooding that would be identified by the local council authority during the emergency.

    Her words:  ”The local government chairmen are instructed to prepare emergency camps for the people upland.

    “The state government will assist with other relief materials should the anticipated flood occurs.”

    She advised the people living in coastal communities to begin retrieving their valuables and relocate to upland now before the anticipated flood takes place.

    Ekanem also provide emergency telephone lines to the people and pleaded with them to call for help during flood disaster and any emergency.

    The sensitisation team is made up of personnel from the State Ministries of Environment, Information and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

     

  • ‘Police asked me to bring N1.2 million or rot in prison’

    ‘Police asked me to bring N1.2 million or rot in prison’

    A victim of police abuse in Rivers State, Chima Okoye, is in court demanding N100m for illegal detention. Court documents show the rot in the policing system and established that Okoye was wrongly accused and detained, reports  PRECIOUS DIKEWOHA, Port Harcourt

    Chima Okoye, a taxi driver and a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the Abubakar Tafawa Belewa University, Bauchi, Bauchi State, was arraigned by the Rivers State Police command before the Magistrate’s Court sitting in Port Harcourt on June 24, last year for alleged murder.  He was later freed by the court after the prosecution claimed the family of the deceased had forgiven him. Before then, his family had coughed out monetary bribe.

    A charge sheet prepared by the Rivers State Police Command reads: “That you Okoye Chima Emmanuel ‘M’ 36 years on the 11th day of February, 2015 Olu-Obasanjo Road in Port Harcourt Magisterial District did unlawfully killed one Omorogbe Anthony by hitting him with a motor jack on his head which caused his death and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 319 (1) of the criminal Code cap, 37, vol 11 laws of Rivers state of Nigeria.”

    Okoye insisted that he never killed Omorogbe. “We only had an argument,” he said.

    He added that he was the one who reported Omorogbe to the police only for him to be detained. Omorogbe was allowed to go home, he said.

    Okoye alleged that police changed the charge against him after he told them that he was going to sue and expose them for using bad boys to extort money from commercial drivers.

    “I was arrested by the police because I refused to give the area boys who were working for the police officers’ bribe,” he said.

    A copy of the court order from Magistrate’s Court of Rivers State dated August 18, last year before his Magistrate U.V. Erekosima of the Senior Magistrate’s Court 10,  gave directive for the accused to be released from prison custody.

    In that suit, Inspector Asoluka Chiedozie was the prosecutor. B.C. Obi was the lawyer to the suspect before he was dropped after the suspect accused him of conniving with the police to defraud his family of N550, 000.

    Magistrate Erekosima said: “This matter is for the consideration of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) advice.  I have received the advice dated the 12th of August, 2015 received by the court on the August 17, 2015. The advice has reference No. MJ/DPP/236/VO1. XLXX11/403 and was written by Adiele Omereji, State counsel, for the Director of Public Prosecutions

    ”The brief facts of the case, as per the findings of the writer are that, there was a fight between the suspect and the deceased over carrying of passenger that  both the suspect and the deceased were taken to the police station and that the family of the deceased has sworn to an affidavit for the withdrawal of the case. That DPP opines, inter alia, that the charges against the suspect be dropped and the suspect be released from prison custody. Following the DPP’s advice, it is hereby ordered that the accused person be released from prison custody. This charge is hereby struck out from the court’s case list.”

    After regaining his freedom, Okoye dragged some officers to the High Court.  They include: Mr. Harrison Akpoguma (former Divisional Police Officer) and Inspector Charles Oliseh.

    On March 24, Justice R.I Ahiakwo of the Rivers State High court declared that the suspect was illegally accused of the crime he did not commit.

    The judge also condemned his detention for over six months in prison and the extortion of N150,000 and another N550,00 to secure his release.

    The Judge noted that the suspect was threatened by the police with fresh  arrest should he be sighted anywhere within Rivers State, adding that the continued seizure of his Toyota Corolla car with registration number AN 925 NSH is not only illegal but constitutes a violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights.

    Okoye,  who is  claiming  damages of N100 million,  said: “ I used my car to run part-time taxi in the early hour of the morning and in the evenings at the close of my daily engagements. On the 11th of February, 2015 at Olu-Obasanjo Road at about 6:45 am where I stopped to pick a passenger only to be disrupted by two touts who came to extort me and I decided not to yield to their demand.

    ”They molested me and damaged my windscreen. One of them ran away while the other tout was held back by the help of a passenger who accompanied us to Olu-Obasanjo Police Station and left. I entered a complaint against the tout who claimed to be Anthony Omoregbe to be charged for assault and malicious damage of my property.

    “Instead of the police to detain the tout, one  Inspector Oliseh  who earlier told me that Omoregbe is working for them began to praise him for doing a good job and told me that he charged the matter as ‘two fighting’ and detained the two of us. After four hours or more, Anthony Omoregbe was taken out on bail, but I was left in the cell. At about 5: pm, I was brought out from the cell to call someone to take me out on bail which I declined on account of being the complainant. The IPO (Inspector Oliseh) told me that he would place a charge on me and I would find it difficult to extricate myself if I dared them.

    “Afterwards, he brought free bail bond which he asked me to sign, and I did . He asked me to go and come back the next day for my car without giving me reason. I demanded to see the DCO (Deborah) to inquire from her why the car was seized instead she walked me out of her office. I left the station at about 7:30pm. I had to put a call to one Barrister  Obi and he asked me to see him the next day. On my way to see Mr. Obi, I got a call from the police station with the GSM no 08186354544, telling me that the DCO asked me to come and carry my car.

    “For me, I have decided to forgive the officers which made me to return to the station by 3:30pm. As soon as I entered the station, Corporal Ugochukwu asked me to go and see the DPO. As soon as I entered the corridor, Corporal Ugochukwu barricaded the entrance behind me and accosted me to the D.P.O’s office and pushed me in. Inside the office, there were four persons, which include the DPO; SP Harrison Akpoguma, DCO Deborah, Inspector Oliseh and  Corporal Ugochukwu. In the presence of these officers, the DPO allegedly accused me of killing the tout with my jack and he died on the previous day, that he died in the hospital. I replied: ‘how can a man  I brought to the station, who you allowed to go scout free be described as a dead man?’ Then I told him that I needed an autopsy to ascertain the cause of his death.

    ”The DPO replied me by saying that instead of me crying and being remorseful for killing somebody I was requesting for an autopsy. He ordered Inspector Oliseh and Corporal Ugochukwu to handcuff me and put me into the cell without knowing that I entered the cell with my phone. I then phoned some persons and sent text messages on my plight. Before the arrival of my lawyer, Corporal Ugochukwu came to the cell and told me that they searched my trouser pocket but could not see my phone. I replied him that I left it at home. He then asked me how would my people know that I was in detention. I told him to  get me a  pen and paper to put down the names and numbers they would like to contact.”

    Okoye went on: “At about 6:30 pm Corporal Ugochukwu came to the cell, and asked me to come out with the handcuffs on my hand. I asked him to allow me get something from the cell. I then brought my phone which I gave to him; he then began shouting. He went on to interrogate me on how I was able to beat their intelligence and entered the cell with the phone without them seeing it. He later put me into their Hilux van and zoomed
    off to the State CID. When we got there, Inspector Oliseh  told me that they did not want any case. He said the tout has three people in the university and two in secondary school under his care. That, I should call my people to bring N1.2 million to end the matter or I will rot in prison.”

    That was on February 12, last year, a day after Omorogbe allegedly died. He spurned their request and he was dumped in the cell. No statement was taken from him until the third day when he was shown a faked photograph depicting the tout as dead. Okoye again demanded for autopsy report and pleaded with them to charge the matter to court.

    ”When I communicated with my lawyer he told me that he went to the mortuary and saw the corpse of the said Anthony Omoregbe. The next day he came to the State CID and he told me that it was because of my inability to accept that I was guilty that I was still in detention. That I should know that court was not on session. At that point I decided not to be relating with my lawyer. Meanwhile the police removed my vehicle jack without my consent and made photograph of it and showed it to my people that I used the jack to kill the tout. One Sergeant Thomas also told my father that they were instructed to kill me since I killed somebody that they should hurry up and pay the N1.2million. I told my people to forget their antics; that it was a set-up.

    “My father told me that prior to that time of coming to the State CID, he was taken to a church at Ada George Road, Rumueme in Obio/Akpor Local government Area where grey-haired men and women who gathered in the church discussing on how to take the corpse to Delta State. I replied my father not to bother about anything that I would rely on the court to get my freedom and not to pay anybody.

    ”On the 50th day at the State CID, the then Deputy Commissioner of Police, Benjamin Wordu (now retired) visited  the cell where I was  and I alerted him that I was illegally detained. He asked me of my name, the name of my IPO and the charge against me. He immediately ordered one Inspector Oxford to take the details and that by Monday he would have audience with me. On the very Monday I was before the Deputy Commissioner in the presence of SP Rita Abbey Inoma and the Inspector Joseph. I narrated to them what happened but nothing was done as I expected.  Maybe because they realised that matter was against the police. That was how he ordered that I should return to the cell.”

    Obi, the victim’s former lawyer, told The Nation on phone that he was aware of the case but because he is one of the respondents in the suit  he would not like to speak.

    When this reporter visited Olu-Obasanjo Police Station, a source said all those involved had been transferred except Inspector Oliseh. While the reporter was discussing with a woman police officer, an officer entered the station and the woman police officer pointed at him and said: “This is Oliseh, you can speak with him”.

    The man responded: “Who you are? Why are you here? Why do want to see me?”

    “I am a journalist,” the reporter quietly replied.

    Before the reporter started discussing with Inspector Oliseh, he protested that as police officer he has no right to grant an interview. He also noted that he was aware of the court judgment, adding that whatever he did was under instruction. He then pleaded with the reporter to do a thorough job and be careful on the kind of investigations he does.

    Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer Omoni Nnamdi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP),  did not reply to our enquiries as at the time of going to press.

    Certainly, this is not the end of the matter. All eyes are on the court to resolve it.

  • I spent 14 days in the bush preaching to my abductors

    I spent 14 days in the bush preaching to my abductors

    James Enyidah, popularly known as EyiJesus, is a pastor with the Assemblies of God. He was abducted by unknown gunmen on August 3. He was with them for 14 days. He spoke with PRECIOUS DIKEWOHA on his ordeal.

    When your abductors knew you were a pastor, what were their reactions?

    Yes, I did.  I told them that I am a pastor with the Assemblies of God, that I am fondly called Enyi Jesus, a   name given to me from heaven by my heavenly father. I also told them that I am the author of the book titled the   ‘Efficacy of Blood of Jesus’, that I don’t have money. I was in Assemblies of God in Eneka, Obio/Akpor Local government   before I was posted to Ubima in Ikwerre Local government Area of Rivers State. And after the introduction, they calmed down a little.

    How did your kidnap happen?

    It was on Wednesday, 3rd of August 2016. I got information that one of my members was arrested by the military while he was sleeping in his uncle’s house. To sympathise with them as their pastor I had to follow them to their family house at Omukpalukwu.  When I got there, they told me that he was arrested at gunpoint. Immediately, I took my vehicle to search for him with other members of my church and that of his family were four. We went to some checkpoints of military officers on Omegwa and we reported to them.  The captains called all his men to ask them if they arrested anybody; they said none of the officers participated in any raid in Ubima. Then I left there to Isiokpo in search of the arrested member of my church and they said the same thing that they were not aware. The officers at Isiokpo also went as far as searching their cells to see if he was there. We also went to the military camp at Elele. After searching round and we didn’t see him, I went back home to park my car. But towards the evening time, one of my church members called me that they found out where he was detained, and I took two members of my church to follow me. As we were going along Elele Isiokpo road, I saw some men shooting gun in front of my car. And when I looked back, I saw other men with pump action; then I applied the break because I didn’t want to run. When they came to me,I told them who I was; they dragged me out of the vehicle and took my phone, the other person gave me a sign that I should raise my hand. When the army heard the gunshot, they started coming but before they could reach there, they had already dragged me into the bush.

    At that point, what did you do?

    The first thing I did was to start speaking Ikwerre language to them because I knew some of them are Ikwerre boys, but they pretended and told me that they were not hearing what I was speaking. The next thing they did was to hit me with the head of the gun and blood started coming out.  Then I shouted. I flashed my Identity card for them to know who they were maltreating.

    Were you blindfolded?

    They took me to the bush and that was where they told me they were kidnappers. I stayed there for fourteen days. They attended to me but I was still blindfolded. They told me they weren’t after me, but after politicians who handed the gun to them and I should pass the message. But since I was there, the only thing needed was money, they also took care of me by giving me water, food and clothing to prevent mosquitoes, we stayed there for a while waiting for the money from my church members but to no avail until my elder brother told them he had N300,000 which was in contrast to their initial agreement of N20m. They later asked for N10m which I told them was not possible. Even in that situation, I preached to them and some repented. Some said if they could get enough money, they would drop the gun and start a business. They asked me to bring whatever amount of money I had.

    Did God reveal to you what was going to happen before the incident?

    There had been a lot of revelations to me initially by God to preach to these people and I had seen it as a way through which God wanted me to save souls. But I didn’t know it would be through kidnapping because the thought of going to the bush to preach was not a welcome idea. And could only happen through kidnapping  and even when I  saw myself in the dream scoring goals which I told them that very soon I  would win and God would send his angels to come with Bible. That is what I was ministering inside the bush and I even saw spilled blood and I told God I didn’t want bloodshed. And that I  wasn’t after destroying souls, but saving souls and  when I  get out, I  would not involve the police or army and would only allow God to do that which pleases Him because He doesn’t like bloodshed.

    Why did you decide to be preaching to them to become good persons after all they did to you?

    I went through rigorous sufferings, especially when they tied my hands, and there were times when we all went hungry due to the fact that the money expected was not forth coming.  They complained bitterly and even threatened to waste me and asked what kind of God I served. Whenever their girlfriends called they would tell them that they were in the church with their pastor. Sometimes they would give me phone to preach to their girlfriends. And I pitied those girls because they didn’t know the kind of job their boyfriends are doing. Amongst the bad ones, there were also good ones, and they also asked for my forgiveness when they brought me out.  They threatened to shoot my legs, and I said I would use my legs to preach the word of God. From there I started telling them about Bible. I am  in charge of a local church  and I  told them that I didn’t  have that much and what was in my  account was not up to N30,000.  There are ministers who have millions, which they confirmed when they saw my alert messages from my banks. I also told them how I used my personal money to do things for the church by buying them plot of land and fencing the church with my own personal money. Mind you, I stayed for fourteen days without the church (headquarters) raising money after promising to do so and some persons who may even know them (kidnappers) even called to ask them to release the pastor. I was released after raising the money which my wife went to deliver after being instructed to come alone  and she was about eight months pregnant.   When she came, they asked her what she was wearing and the people, who collected the money from her, covered their faces, took her phone and gave her the SIM card.

  • Epistle to Baba Clark

    Dear Sir,

    It will be rude of me to just go straight to the point, even though the urgency of the matter at hand deserves that. So, I greet you with the love of the Lord.

    I do not know what time of the day this epistle will get to you; so, I will play safe by simply saying good day sir.

    How is Auty Bisola, your jewel of inestimable value? I hope she is giving you a time of your life. Enjoy your old age sir. I guess you deserve it.

    I write you today sir about the acts of your children, not your biological children but the creek boys who have hidden under the cover of the night for some months now to wreak havoc not just on the country’s economy but also on the Niger Delta ecosystem.

    I think it is time you told them to lay down their arms and save communities from the collateral damage that could arise from such armed conflicts. Already, the streams where many played as kids, where they used to fish as adults, where they got water to do so many things have been poisoned; the fishes are nowhere to be found and only one intent on committing suicide dare drink this water. The acts of your children can worsen this.

    The new forum you have just put in place should let these boys know that there are many legal ways of representation. When it is time for dialogue, their strong points must be brought to the forefront.

    Baba, you need to let them know that development can only come through peace. Let them take the advantage of the proposed dialogue by the Federal Government to maintain peace in the region. When there is peace, foreign and local investors will come and job which we have been clamoring for will be created. But in the absence of peace, great hunger will remain in the land. In fact, hunger will build castles everywhere and the people starve of daily bread. That is bad sir. It is not flattering at all.

    Sir, I know things are bad in the Niger Delta. I admit many literally died long ago and are just waiting to be buried. They died the day the people from hell called oil majors came into their lives. They died the day the first spill occurred. They died the day they became divided because of pot of porridge.

    Baba, I once heard a youth from the region make this remark: “You know our problem in this region is our leaders. Once they get their dues from the oil majors we can go to hell. They care less about us. They care more about themselves. Or is it that they love us too much to care about us?

    “The Avengers are not fighting for us. They are just frustrated. They are bombing oil facilities and before you know it there will be oil spills everywhere and life will become more difficult. The government in Abuja will also not take it lightly. Innocent people will suffer and ultimately we will be the loser for it…”

    This is very instructive sir. And here is another instructive one sir: “What has happened to the bulk of the money that our own people who have been governors have been given? How much of it have they spent developing our land? What is the guarantee that they will not end up still wasting the money if we are allowed to control our resources?”

    These posers bring me to the past efforts of the Federal Government to bring succor to the region. Oil Mineral Producing Area Development Commission (OMPADEC) was perhaps the first real attempt to bring succor to the Niger Delta. But Baba, OMPADEC achieved next to nothing. It was replaced years later with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). One of the first things the NDDC thought of was a Masterplan for the region. It was done over a decade ago.

    A decade, for me, is a long time for change to take place. In ten years, a new city can spring up. In ten years, a small company can become a conglomerate. In ten years, a toddler can become a teenager. In ten years, a lot can really happen.

    The Niger Delta Masterplan is a document that is as old as the NDDC, the agency which worked with other stakeholders in the region to design this plan whose dream was to turn the creeks around by 2020, which is just four years away.

    Work on the Masterplan was started in 2001 soon after the NDDC was established. It was ready about over decade ago. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in his preface to the Masterplan, was so optimistic that with the plan, the Niger Delta would get its groove.

    But the NDDC, which is supposed to drive the development of the area, has been bogged down by internal and external factors.

    Baba, at a point, the commission owed its contractors over N1trillion on existing contracts. At a point, contracts, we were told, were awarded with no design and no specific location but with the sole purpose of collecting advance payments.

    There were instances where one contract was awarded to two or three contractors. Many were just interested in taking money meant for a road, hospital or other projects and did not care to do the job.

    There were allegations that members of staff of the NDDC were colluding with outsiders to institute legal actions against the commission and later come and push for out-of-court settlement, after which they shared the settlement money from NDDC. The commission, at a point, had over 400 court cases against it in courts.

    Baba, things were so bad in the commission at some point that an insider said if it were a private sector firm, it would be regarded as insolvent.

    A presidential report on the commission showed that it also got into projects with nothing to do with its mandate as an interventionist agency. What on earth was NDDC doing renovating Port Harcourt Club and commissioning a study on the generation of electric power from gully erosion sites?

    There were also a lot of in-fighting over how to share the money and further pauperise the people. There was no synergy between the board and the management.

    A former Chairman of the Governing Board, Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw, at a management retreat in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, spoke from the heart about how the commission had not lived up to expectation. It was a session where he let out some home truths and declared: “It can no longer be business as usual. Substantial and immediate changes for the better must take place. We must root out impunity from NDDC.”

    The immediate past Managing Director, Bassey Dan-Abia, admitted during the retreat, that the people of the Niger Delta had not received the value they expect from the commission.

    The quality of some of the infrastructure projects, he admitted, fell below acceptable standards. The commission was seen as a ‘contract cow’, whose award letters were being hawked in the major cities of the country, Dan-Abia said.

    Sir, I have gone this much into the past to show that those who say leaders in the region have part of the blame for its woes are not wrong. The people who have manned NDDC were picked from the region and the people who manned OMPADEC also had their roots in the region.

    Baba, I must also point out that the blame for the non- realisation of the dream of the Masterplan four years into 2020 is not just NDDC’s. Other stakeholders, such as the Federal Government, Southsouth state governments, Southsouth local government areas and the oil giants, have not done their parts as envisaged in the Masterplan. The Federal Government, for instance, has not released all cash due to the commission. Several trillions statutorilly due the commission are held by the Federal Government, the state governments, the local governments and the oil giants. So, the commission has far less than it needs and to make matters worse, people still steal the inadequate cash using all kinds of tactics.

    My final take sir: The leaders have wronged the people. There is absolutely no doubt about that. But, bombing oil installations, threatening to declare Niger Delta Republic and killing innocent soldiers will not take the region anywhere. Yes, they will succeed in hurting the economy. However, in the long run, the people and the environment will be the ultimate loser when the bombings begin to lead to massive oil spills. So, the ceasefire they have declared should be permanent. As history has shown, every war has always ended on the round table. The time for dialogue is now.

    Till I write you later sir. Say me well to Auty Bisola.

  • Southsouth women farmers brainstorm to improve welfare in Calabar

    THE Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON) met in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, to rub minds on how to improve their farming skills.

    Facilitated by Action Aid International, the women farmers sought means to improve their capacity to understand and push for improvement.

    National Secretary of Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria Mrs Ejim Lovely in Nnenna said: “We are in Calabar to sensitise the rural women farmers in Calabar and to make them have an interface and synergy with their duty bearers so that they would know that they can relate with the top authorities who have what they need to do their farm activities.

    “We are targeting to get as much as we can, rural women farmers in the agricultural sector for them to come out of their shackles to know they are important and needed in this country. 80 per cent of the workforce is women, so we want to bring them out of their shackles to let them know where they belong. We also to make the country sufficient in having what to eat because our major problem now is food. We want to flood our markets with what we produce, so we would not have any need to go outside before we eat. Again we need to make our youths understand that this phase of adults will one day go and it would only be left with them. So let us go into agriculture as the only best alternative and try to propagate the new policy about the agricultural development of this country. So that we all together will make it happen. Oil is fast going down. Agriculture is the target, so let us do it.”

    On challenges they face as small-scale women farmers, Nnena said, they include access to land, funds and government policies.

    “Land is a major challenge. Funds is another. Again government policies is a challenge because they do not call us to sit when they are deciding. So we feel that when they are making these policies, we should be involved because it is us they are talking about. Also when the policies are made, in the process of implementation they should let us know and call us into it, because it is what itches you that you know how best to scratch.”

    The chairperson of SWOFON coordinating committee in the state, Maria Ekanem AyiUkpayang, also said: “The purpose for this forum is to bring all small scale women farmers of Nigeria in the south-south region of Nigeria to x-ray what has been done by SWOFEON committees, get to know ourselves and then forge the way forward. We want to get engaged with government, particularly in the agricultural sector and make government really aware of small-scale women farmers.”

    International Manager for Public Financing for Agriculture, Action Aid, Ms. Constance Okeke, said, they were focused on building capapcities for small women farmers across Africa.

    “We are building them to understand policy processes especially in terms of budget. The idea is basically aimed at supporting the women farmers to understand how a policy is designed and how the policy processes run in terms of finances of agriculture in their different countries.”

    A representative of the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Justina Ulafor,  promised the state would continue to support women farmers.