• Over killing of two officers

Policemen from Abia State Command yesterday barred traders at Ariaria International Market and shoe makers at the popular shoe plaza, including those at Powerline 1st and 2nd gates, from having access to their shops.

There were unconfirmed allegations that some traders, who arrived at their shops yesterday morning, were arrested by the police.

It was gathered that human and vehicular movements were restricted to and from Faulks Road.

Attempts by our correspondent to visit the area failed, as motorists abandoned their vehicles and scampered for safety when some fierce and stern looking policemen, who shut into the air, blocked Brass Street, near Aba-Owerri Road, which serves as a major entry and exit route to Faulks Road.

Some traders, who claimed to be innocent of the Tuesday incident, wondered why the security personnel would turn against them, instead of launching manhunt for the perpetrators, “who have since left the scene.”

Read Also: Police sack traders from shops, embark on massive arrest

The traders, who condemned killing of the police officers, also frowned at the manner at which police and other security agencies were going about venting their anger on innocent people, who were not involved in the killing of the policemen.

Some people who came for shopping at Ariaria and met the ugly situation, were forced to turn back. Others who came from far places, had to pay for accommodation, with the hope that the situation would have been resolved by Friday when they planned to leave Aba for their base.

The traders, who lamented losing millions of Naira to the Monday sit-at-home, expressed anger about the actions of the security agencies, who they accused of punishing innocent people.

Police Commissioner Kenechukwu Onwuemelie has condemned the killing of two policemen in Aba by yet-to-be identified gunmen on Tuesday evening at SAMECK junction.

Onwuemelie in a statement issued by the command’s spokesman, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Maureen Chinaka, said a constable and an inspector were killed.

The Nation had reported that the killing of the policemen caused pandemonium in the area, as economic activities were disrupted. Police operatives and personnel of sister security agencies fired teargas canisters and gunshots, forcing people to scamper for safety.

Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, has disclosed that the late Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, specified how his burial rites should be conducted before he passed on at 93 on July 20.

The Eghaevbo N’Ore category of Benin palace chiefs, led by the Iyase (traditional Prime Minister of Benin Kingdom), Chief Sam Igbe, who were joined by other Benin chiefs, have formally announced Edebiri’s demise, in a sombre moment, at the palace in Benin.

The first-class monarch in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Osaigbovo Iguobaro, granted the request by Edebiri’s family to proceed with the burial rites of their patriarch.

Read Also: Esogban of Benin dies at 93

The eldest son of the deceased, Pastor Collins Edebiri, said his father died on the first time of being taken to hospital for treatment.

 

He said the foremost journalist, who passed on, after a brief illness, would be buried within three months.

Collins, accompanied by an elder of the family, John Okundaye, 87, and other members of the family, spoke in Benin while also formally announcing the passing on of his father.

He said: “My father was a great and popular man, who was well brought up in the customs and traditions of Benin Kingdom.

“The Esogban of Benin Kingdom lived a good life, and lived well. His legacies will speak for him. The impact he made was beyond comprehension. Many people have been calling us to say without our father, they would not have been what they are today. We are overwhelmed by calls from the low and mighty in Edo, other states of Nigeria, and other parts of the world.

“The burial is beyond us, because it is a big project. The public should stand by us. Stakeholders’ analysis will be carried out ahead of the burial, for all segments of the society to make inputs and indicate the roles they will play. So, nobody will be left out. Online memorial board will also be opened, for tributes across the world.”

Okundaye said the deceased laid a good foundation, which he and other family members would build on.

He described him as an icon and a unifier, who would be greatly missed.

The people of Ifitedunu in Dunukofia Local Government of Anambra State have implored Governor Chukwuma Soludo to intervene in the leadership tussle tearing the community apart.

A stakeholder in the community, Chief Vincent Udobi, spoke after an emergency general assembly where Chief Chukwudi Anene was appointed as the President General (PG) of the community under the supervision of Board of Trustees of Ifitendunu Town Union.

Udobi had accused Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters Commissioner Collins Nwabuwane of bias over his preferred choice of the PG.

He said the decision to impeach former PG Chief Uchenna Nwoye was reached by the town union’s Board of Trustees and chairmen of its five villages, namely Obiezie, Ugbomili, Akwa, Umualugo and Uguala, after attempts to draw the commissioner’s attention to his (Nwoye’s) record failed.

“Despite credible evidence of Nwoye’s conviction by a Federal High Court in Awka on charges of cyber crime and other related offences, and the town’s constitution stating that an ex-convict is unfit to hold the office, the commissioner was reluctant to seize his recognition as the community’s PG.

“We implore Governor Soludo to investigate our complaints laid before the commissioner, because I don’t know why he should be defending an ex-convict who is unfit to be the PG of Ifitendunu, as clearly expressed in our constitution,” Udobi added.

Read Also: Soludo awards scholarship to Anambra student with highest UTME score

Former PG and the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the community, Chief Samuel Nweke, said the emergence of a new PG was long overdue, following calamities that had engulfed the community since his tenure expired.

Nwoye said his conviction had been challenged at a Federal High Court of Appeal, after being granted bail and as such he was innocent until proven guilty.

He explained that contrary to insinuations by his detractor, the Town Union’s constitution stated that impeachment of a PG required a two third majority vote of the community at a general assembly convoked by the PG.

Chief Anene has called for unity among members of the community, regardless of their affiliations, to restore the community’s dignity and greatness.

Commissioner Nwabuwane refuted the allegations, describing sponsors as those unhappy about the reinstatement of the PG that was illegally removed.

He said: “Five village chairmen were in my office and were advised to give peace a chance, as I promised to look into their petitions. If you want to take PG out from office, you must follow due process.

“But unfortunately, they took the law into their own hands by handpicking a new PG, which falls foul of the state government’s guidelines for the election of a PG.”

Edo State House of Assembly has approved a loan facility of N1.5 billion for the Governor Godwin Obaseki administration to facilitate the repair and maintenance of internal roads across the 18 local governments.

Yesterday’s adoption of the resolution was sequel to the consideration of a letter by Governor Obaseki, dated July 19, 2023, and addressed to the Speaker of the Assembly.

Majority Leader Mr. Charity Aiguobarueghian, who represents Ovia Northeast 1 Constituency, said the rehabilitation of the roads would translate to improvement in the economy, hence the need for express approval of the loan request.

Read Also: Edo State raises medical team for ailing Eboigbe

The House, in a voice vote, unanimously approved the governor’s request to secure the loan.

Speaker Blessing Agbebaku subsequently directed the Clerk, Yahaya Omogbai, to send clean copies of the resolution to Governor Obaseki for action.

A member representing Aniocha-Oshimili Federal Constituency on the platform of the Labour Party (LP),

Mr. Ngozi Okolie, says he will appeal the tribunal judgment annulling his election.

Okolie made this known while addressing a news conference in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tribunal, in a judgment on Monday, nullified the declaration of Okolie by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the election.

However, Okolie said the judgment had no legal basis and pledged to appeal it.

Okolie refuted that he contested the election while in office, as against the constitution, stressing that he resigned before 30 days to the poll, as enshrined in the constitution.

Read ALso: Tribunal sacks LP’s Okolie, declares Elumelu winner

He noted that a recent court verdict in the Atiku vs Tinubu, APC, ruled that issues of candidacy were the internal affairs of political parties.

“Before I contested the February 25 election, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) government in Delta State, which I served, had stopped my salary, following my resignation.”

Okolie said the election that brought him into office was the most credible in the state since the nation returned to democratic government.

“I didn’t rig any election, God is my witness, people came out en masse to vote for me, I’ll beat my chest and say I am the only person in that constituency that has won without rigging,” he said.

LP has expressed shock about the judgment by the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, Delta State.

A statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Obiora Ifoh in Abuja, said the issues of nomination of candidates as well as membership were the internal affairs of the party beyond the jurisdiction of courts.

He added that it was only a political party that could determine who its members are and who its standard- bearer is in an election.

The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, Delta State, declared Ndudi Elumelu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the 2023 House of Representatives poll in the constituency.

The tribunal held that Okolie was not duly sponsored by the LP since he was not a member of the party as at May 28, 2022, when the party’s primary election was held and therefore, declared the runner-up in the February 25, 2023 National Assembly election, Ndudi Elumelu of the PDP, as the winner.

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has urged the National Assembly to consider creating more local governments for the state, saying Bayelsa deserves at least 30 councils.

He, therefore, called on members of the National Assembly from the state to make efforts to ensure that the state’s 24 Rural Development Authorities (RDAs) are recognised as local governments.

He enjoined new caretaker committee chairmen of councils and their RDA counterparts to live in their local government headquarters.

Governor Diri spoke yesterday at the swearing-in of the eight councils and 32 RDA chairmen at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House, Yenagoa.

The oaths of allegiance and office were administered by the state Chief Registrar, Amaebi Oruka.

He stressed that the government would frown at any council chairman that flouted the directive on residency.

He directed the new chairmen and their RDA counterparts to appoint only five supervisory councillors and that they are only entitled to three personal aides.

Governor Diri reminded them that the embargo on employment was still in force and that loans from banks and private sources were prohibited.

 

Read Also: Douye Diri faces another battle with Timi Alaibe

 

The new caretaker committee chairmen are Alabo Hanson Karima (Brass), Chief. Belemu Nemine (Ekeremor), Inemo Oruebimiekumo (Kolokuma/Opokuma ) and Chief Samuel Kalaguo (Nembe).

Others are Chief Ibu Williams Mizodome (Ogbia), Richman Samuel Ebipade (Sagbama), Lucky Okodeh (Southern Ijaw) and Mr. Tobi Andy (Yenagoa)

Among the newly appointed 32 RDA chairpersons were seven women.

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and the state’s Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Col. David Imuse (rtd.), are fighting over bad roads and expected performance in the state.

Imuse, accompanied by some members of his executive, fired the first salvo yesterday at a news conference at the state secretariat of the APC on Airport Road, Benin.

The APC chairman said: “I am not oblivious of the fact that you (reporters) are all working tirelessly, to help our state move forward, despite the antics of the Obaseki administration.

“It is important to note that the Benin storm water project, which was intended to address flooding and erosion in Benin City, was not completed by the Governor Obaseki administration. This lack of progress has contributed to the worsening flood and erosion problems in our state.

“The government led by Obaseki has engaged in gross misuse of funds allocated to Edo State by the Federal Government over time. Over N16 billion was refunded to Edo State, under the watch of Obaseki for the federal roads fixed by his predecessor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, during his tenure as governor.

“Additionally, another N21 billion was given to Edo State from the oil derivation funds, which are intended for oil-producing states like ours, for infrastructural development, road inclusive. What we know is that Obaseki presided over the misappropriation of this money, without recourse to these critical sectors of our living.”

Imuse also alleged that Edo governor showed a disturbing pattern of demolishing public and private property, including, but not restricted to the Central Hospital on Sapele Road, Benin, whose land he allocated to his friends to build a museum that would not see the light of the day.

“The statement made by Edo State Government, accusing the Federal Government of neglecting its responsibilities, is a clear attempt to divert attention from these failures and mismanagement. It is disheartening to see such petty politics being played, when the lives and safety of innocent Edo citizens, albeit Nigerians, are at stake.”

Edo APC chairman said the Federal Government was prioritising repairs on the major federal roads in Edo State, stressing that the lives and well-being of Edo residents, like those of all Nigerians, were too vital to politicise, as Obaseki had been doing.

Read Also: Obaseki: PDP reports Port Harcourt judge to CJN

Obaseki, reacting through his Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, accused Imuse and Edo APC of being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians, claiming that the party superintended over liquidation of Nigeria.

Edo governor said: “It is quite depressing to read a statement from the Chairman of the Edo State chapter of APC, whose government at the centre has thrown the entire state, and I dare say, the entire country into pervasive gloom and perpetual fear for the future.

“Imuse’s statement is a slap on the faces of residents of Edo State and, indeed, all Nigerians, considering the fact that it is his party, the APC that is superintending over the gradual liquidation of the Nigerian state.

“A litre of fuel, which used to sell for N159, now sells for N700; one dollar, which exchanged for N150, today goes for N870 and above; a pound which exchanged for between N850 and N900, is now exchanging over N1,100. Nigeria is gasping for breath under the ‘chokehold’ of the APC.

“Instead of Imuse to come to Edo people with unreserved apologies over their obvious failure to steady the ship of state, he is sauntering around with arrogant statements, grandstanding and attempting to shift the blame for the suffering of the masses to an innocent governor, whose effort in the efficient management of the Edo economy has so far prevented a descent into anarchy.”

 

Obaseki, reacting to Edo chairman of APC’s allegation on the N16 billion refund for repairing federal roads, when Oshiomhole was governor, claimed that his predecessor left Edo with N160 billion debt, expended on various jamborees, including the “so-called” federal roads that he fixed, while seriously-needed infrastructure and economic development in the state suffered.

• Assembly confirms 18 of 26 commissioners- nominee

Chairman of Delta Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Justice C. H. Ahuchaogu, at yesterday’s sitting, dismissed two applications by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

The first application was to bring an expert witness to testify before the tribunal.

The second application sought an extension of time for the 1st respondent (INEC) subpoenaed witness, to file a witness statement on oath and testify.

Counsels for the 2nd respondent (Governor Sheriff Oborevwori) Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN) and 3rd respondent (People Democratic Party), Ekeme Ohwovoriole (SAN) had opposed the applications, arguing that granting them would overreach the respondents.

They argued that the first application was aimed at bringing in new facts when pleadings had long closed, and would not afford them another opportunity to reply.

The tribunal held that the application could not be granted, noting that it was brought 101 days after an order for inspection of election materials was granted.

Justice Ahuchaogu faulted the petitioners’ claims that INEC was responsible for the delay.

Delta House of Assembly has screened and confirmed 18 of 26 nominees forwarded to it by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for confirmation as commissioners and members of the State Executive Council.

The confirmation followed their successful screening on the floor of the Assembly, presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Dennis Guwor, yesterday in Asaba.

Those screened were ex-Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, Mr. Samuel Oligida, Prof. Johnbull Tonukari, Mr. Isaac Wilkie and Mrs. Pat Ajudua, the former Chief Whip of the Assembly, and others.

 

Read Also: Omo-Agege urges unity, leadership support

 

Others were Joan Ada-Anioma, Mr. Reuben Izeze, also former members of the Assembly, Chief Fidelis Tilije, ex-Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Rose Ezewu, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme and Miss Pride Uduaghan.

Also screened were Mr. Vincent Oyibode, Mr. Michael Anoka, Mr. Funyei Manager, Mr. Daniel Odinigwe, Mr. Onoriode Agofure, Mr. Sonny Ekedayen and Mr. Godknows Angeles.

The Speaker congratulated the nominees and urged them to be committed to the service of the state.

Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, has assured members of the family of the founder of DAAR Communications PLC, Chief Raymond Dokpesi that the people of Benin Kingdom are with them.

He comforted the grieving family, over the pain caused by the media icon’s passing.

The first-class monarch made this known yesterday in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Iguobaro Osaigbovo, when he received members of the Dokpesi family at his palace in Benin.

Read Also: Dokpesi: AAAN condoles with DAAR Communications

He pledged his support for Dokpesi’s family, friends and well-wishers.

The eldest son of the deceased, Raymond Dokpesi jnr., thanked the Oba of Benin for his kindness towards the Dokpesi family and wise counsel before, during and after the burial of their father.

Dokpesi jnr, who was joined by his uncle, Mr. Cyril Dokpesi and other family members, friends and well-wishers, solicited prayers from the monarch.