The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • SAN seeks AGF’s intervention in human rights violation by Enugu monarch

    SAN seeks AGF’s intervention in human rights violation by Enugu monarch

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chukwuemeka Ofodile has petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the Minister of Police Affairs, requesting for an investigation into frivolous allegations, constant harassment, intimidation and flagrant violation of the rights of his clients who are prominent sons of Agunese Mmaku Autonomous Community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

    Ofodile demanded for a probe of the alleged roles played by the traditional ruler of Agunese community, His Royal Highness Igwe Cyprian Maduabuchi Nevobasi and security personnel, in the ordeal of his clients, namely Vincent Okafor Esq., Theophilus Chukwu, David Okeke, Chief Okeke Emmanuel Uwa, Chief Ochie Moses Cuka, Chief Okolie James Ikegwuonu and Chief Simeon Ogbonna Okike.

    The senior lawyer equally asked for the investigation of the roles allegedly played by the security officers involved in the entire saga of arrests and incarceration of his clients, particularly the involvement of two officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (C.I.D) of the Enugu State Police Command, Blessing Oguche and one Nnamdi, to see whether due process was followed.

    The petitioner urged the Minister of Justice and his Police Affairs counterpart to order the immediate release of his clients who are still being incarcerated at the Enugu Correctional Centre for bailable charges, most of which are baseless.

    The petition dated September 19, 2024 was made available to reporters in Abuja.

    The petition reads in part: “Note that sometime in 2022, HRH igwe Cyprian Novebasi maliciously attempted to mislead and weaponise government agencies by filing a baseless petition to the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security departments, falsely accusing 16 prominent men of Agunese community, including our clients whose names appear in this petition, of sponsoring the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

    “This was a blatant attempt to silence these young and progressive individuals who opposed his oppressive rule and to force them into submission or exile. When his deceitful plot was exposed and rejected, he was compelled to retract the false allegations. However, since his initial scheme failed, HRH Igwe Cyprian Maduabuchi Nevobasi has now resorted to fabricating new charges, accusing these same men of inciting local conflict and violence, this time, leveraging corrupt police officers to arrest and intimidate them.

    “His actions are clear abuse of his traditional office, as he continues to mislead authorities and manipulate the justice system to prosecute these individuals for standing against his tyranny. We urge the authorities to see through these repeated attempts to use false claims as a means of consolidating his power and oppressing his critics.”

    The lawyer insisted that it was the calculated efforts of the monarch to strike mercilessly on gentlemen of goodwill in the community, by using the Nigeria Police Force and the DSS to haunt, harass, intimidate, arrest, and instigate baseless court charges to instill fear in them and other well-meaning members of the community.

    He noted that since after the December 30, 2021 town union elections, which the monarch thwarted and cancelled over alleged security threat, members of the community speaking up against him and his perceived rivals have been framed, arrested and accused of all kinds of trumped up charges.

    He maintained that his clients were being persecuted because they insisted that the town union should function freely and independently, while it works in concert with the traditional stool for the overall development of the community.

    He stated that officers of the Nigeria Police Force arrested Mr. Theophilus Chukwu and he was arraigned on May 8, 2024, and then released on August 13, 2024, only for him to be re-arrested on the same day and re-arraigned for the second time on August 20, 2024.

    Read Also: Enugu monarchs shun southern rulers council parley

    According to him, Chukwu’s offense was aligning with those opposed to the sale of community land by the monarch, and his philanthropy and goodwill, having mobilised illustrious sons of the community to pool their meager resources together to assist their neglected community in carrying out some self-help projects, such as the renovation of dilapidated schools and maintenance of rural roads, which did not appear to have gone down well with the traditional ruler.

    The petitioner stated that Vincent Okafor as a private legal practitioner had filed a fundamental rights action on behalf of Mr. Theophilus Chukwu at the Port Harcourt Federal High Court, and he was arrested and detained.

    “The officers of the Nigeria Police Force arrested Barrister Vincent Okafor on September 6, 2024. When the charge was shown to Vincent Okafor, he expressed complete surprise, saying he was not even in the village. On the day in question, August 13, 2024, he was in faraway Lagos, making an appearance for a client in charges No. M/44/2024-C.O.P vs. Odinaka Orji.

    “Mr. David Okeke was brought to the Enugu State Correctional Centre without arraignment or remand order. The day they took him to court, the business of the court was over. They took him to State C.I.D Enugu detention. The State C.I.D rejected him and they took him to Enugu Correctional Centre.”

  • Journalists injured as thugs attack APC event in Bayelsa

    Journalists injured as thugs attack APC event in Bayelsa

    Some reporters sustained injuries yesterday when hired thugs attacked the venue of a press conference by the Sagbama Local Government Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

    Chairman, Federated Correspondents’ Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa State Council, Mr Tife Owolabi, was among those injured as the thugs hit them with rods.

    Owolabi bled from the forehead and left hand while Jacobson Park of People’s FM 93.1 had swelling in his hand where he was hit with a flagstaff.

    Everyone scampered for safety and the event was halted until security men, including the state security outfit, Operation Doo Akpo, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Police, arrived at the venue.

    Read Also: Counter-terrorism: FG to acquire 24 M-346 jets, 10 Trekker helicopters

    The event was later held with the Chairman, Sagbama Local Government Chapter of the APC, Jonah Abeke, announcing the indefinite suspension of seven members for alleged anti-party activities.

    Those suspended are Peres Peretu, Matthew Karimo, Major Oputa, Tangi Samuel, King Bolouyi Sufadoh, Goodluck Ebomu and Youdio-gwei Benjamin.

    Abeke said: “In the 2023 National Assembly, Presidential and gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, they openly worked for Governor Douye Diri and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party. They made no pretence about their anti-party activities.

    “It is on this note that we, the under-signed executives of the Sagbama Local Government Area APC, hereby suspend them indefinitely from the party.

    “Their suspension is hereby transmitted to the State Executive Committee of our party for ratification.”

    Abeke also condemned the attack.

  • Delta community issues ultimatum to NEPL for construction of Abura flow station

    Delta community issues ultimatum to NEPL for construction of Abura flow station

    Emadadja community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State has issued a 21-day ultimatum to NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL) to commence construction of the flow station at Abura or prepare to vacate the area.

    The decision was communicated in a letter to the Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) by Ambassador Festus Oshemughen and Comrade Christopher Origbo, the President General and Secretary General of Emadadja community, respectively.

    It reads: “It has been a long time since oil operations began in Emadadja Community. 

    “Throughout this period, the oil extracted here has been routed to Otu-Jeremi in Ughelli South LGA. 

    “Despite numerous efforts to establish a proposed flow station to assess production capacity over the years, these attempts have proven unsuccessful, leading to concerns that our benefits are being undermined. 

    “After much discussion, it was agreed that the flow station should be built as soon as possible; however, we have seen no progress to date.”

    The letter added:  “In light of these concerns, a community assembly meeting was convened, attended by all Executive Committee members, youth, women, and elders. 

    “Key issues contributing to the delay in constructing the flow station were discussed, and we found them deeply troubling.”

    The community expressed frustration on “the hardship and underdevelopment faced by our residents amidst abundant resources. 

    “We have concluded that former NPDC, now NEPL, and their partners show little interest in the community’s development and the welfare of its people. 

    “Thus, we have resolved to give a 21-day ultimatum for immediate mobilization to the site for the construction of the flow station. 

    “We also demand the completion of all MoU projects that were agreed upon before the implementation of the PIA, as well as completion of the drilling processes for Wells 13 and 14, which have been abandoned.”

    Read Also: Court declares Delta community ‘autonomous’

    It also called on NNPC to urgently direct NEPL to revoke any contracts with the company currently engaged for the construction of the OML 65 flow station and ensure the proper management of the field.

    The community representatives voiced their concerns regarding a joint venture partnership in London on August 3, 2022, stating that it holds no interest in developing phase 1 of the approved OML 65 project. 

    It rejected any further operations from these companies in their community.

    “This position must be taken seriously, or we cannot guarantee the security and safety of OML 65 oil exploration on our land,” they warned.

    Copies of the letter have also been forwarded to Delta Governor; the Commanding Officer of 63 Brigade in Asaba, Delta Commissioner of Police; the Managing Director of NEPL; Chairman of Udu LGA, and other relevant authorities.

  • Edo poll: INEC grants Ighodalo, PDP access to inspect election materials

    Edo poll: INEC grants Ighodalo, PDP access to inspect election materials

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has agreed to allow Dr. Asue Ighodalo and his legal team to inspect the election materials and Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices used in the disputed Edo State governorship election.

    The decision came after public protests by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and mounting legal pressure from Ighodalo’s team, who are challenging the election results, alleging manipulation by the ruling party.

    INEC had reportedly denied Ighodalo’s request to inspect the BVAS machines used in the September 21 governorship election, despite a court order. 

    However, in a letter dated October 8, 2024, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State, Dr. Anugbom Onuoha, denied accusations that the commission had blocked access to the election materials. 

    He reiterated INEC’s commitment to transparency and stated that the inspection will take place on October 9, 2024, at 10:00 AM at INEC’s Edo State headquarters.

    The development was viewed by the PDP members as a significant victory for Ighodalo, who has consistently called for full disclosure to restore confidence in the electoral process. 

    The inspection will allow Ighodalo’s legal team to gather evidence they believe will expose irregularities and bolster their case before the election petition tribunal. 

    It was gathered that with only 48 hours remaining before the deadline to file their election petition, it is hoped that the PDP will have sufficient time to review the materials and submit their case.

    Reacting to the news, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemin, State Chairman of the PDP, hailed the development as “a win for democracy and the rule of law.” 

    He also thanked the people of Edo State for their unwavering support during the protests. 

    “I want to thank all those who came out to protest in support of Ighodalo’s quest to reclaim his stolen mandate,” Aziegbemin said.

    Read Also: Court asks INEC to recognise Abure as LP chair

    While expressing dissatisfaction with the role of the police and INEC in the election, Aziegbemin remained confident in the judiciary, asserting that the courts would uphold the will of Edo voters. 

    “I have lost faith in the Police and INEC, who I believe colluded with the APC to steal the election, but I have absolute confidence in the Judiciary. They will do right by the people of Edo State.”

    Although INEC’s decision has eased some tensions, it remains unclear if the PDP will call off its protests. 

    Aziegbemin emphasized the party’s commitment to continue highlighting what they perceive as illegal actions by the APC, INEC, and the Nigerian Police

    “We are a proud and enlightened people,” Aziegbemin declared. “We have always chosen our leaders here in Edo, and I can assure you that we will send these unqualified pretenders back to where they came from”, he said. 

  • APC women hail Oba of Benin on peaceful poll

    APC women hail Oba of Benin on peaceful poll

    All Progressives Congress (APC) women in Edo South Senatorial District have hailed Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, on his fatherly roles and prayers that made the September 21 governorship election in Edo State to be peaceful.

    Their leader, Mrs. Itohan Edokpolor, yesterday during a solidarity visit to the first-class monarch, said ‘’as mothers, we are thankful to God Almighty and Oba of Benin that no life was lost during the election, which was anticipated to be violent.’’

    Read Also: There isn’t much that divides us, says Tinubu

    Edokpolor, a former chairperson of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government, appreciated the foremost traditional ruler for defending Edo heritage and urged him not to relent in his prayers for the state, despite the subterranean moves by some persons to thwart the victory of the Governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, which she insisted had come to stay.

    The Esere of Benin, Chief Stanley Obamwonyi, according to the Chief Press Secretary to the Oba of Benin, Osaigbovo Iguobaro, speaking on behalf of the royal father, described the king as a detribalised and peace-loving father.

  • Southeast realtors conference, awards to hold Nov 8th

    Southeast realtors conference, awards to hold Nov 8th

    The Southeast Realtors Conference and Awards 2024 is set to hold on November 8th.

    According to the organisers, all eyes are on this landmark event, which is set to redefine the real estate sector in Southeast Nigeria. 

    Realtors, investors, and key players in the industry are gearing up for an event that promises to transform careers and elevate business practices. 

    One of the most significant contributors to this year’s event is Braudy Global Limited, a leading real estate company.

    Under Jeff Anozie’s leadership, Braudy Global Limited has become synonymous with excellence in real estate, particularly in Enugu. 

    The company has built a reputation for delivering personalized real estate solutions to clients, whether they’re seeking a family home, commercial property, or a lucrative investment. 

    Jeff Anozie’s hands-on approach and deep understanding of the market have propelled Braudy Global to the forefront of the industry.

    But the company’s influence doesn’t end there. Recently, Braudy Global expanded its operations to the nation’s capital, Abuja, bringing the same level of professional service to a new market. 

    This move signals the company’s intent to become a major force not only in Southeast Nigeria but also across the broader national real estate landscape.

    The Southeast Realtors Conference and Awards 2024 is not just another conference—it’s a platform for realtors to gain insights from industry leaders, network with peers, and adopt strategies that can skyrocket their careers. With Braudy Global at the forefront as a key sponsor, the company is positioned as a catalyst for innovation, growth, and success within the real estate industry.

    With Braudy Global’s backing, the Southeast Realtors Conference and Awards 2024 is shaping up to be a must-attend event for real estate professionals. 

    Whether you’re a realtor looking to elevate your career or a property investor eager to network, this conference, powered by industry leaders like Braudy Global Limited, is an unmissable opportunity to stay ahead in a competitive market.

  • Forum postpones Summit in honour of late Chief Iwuanyanwu

    Forum postpones Summit in honour of late Chief Iwuanyanwu

    The much-publicised summit of the Greater Igbo Forum (GIF) Worldwide, originally scheduled for October 9 and 10, 2024 in Abuja, has been postponed due to the upcoming burial of the President of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief (Dr.) Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.

    President GIF, Greater Igbo Forum, Lady Amb. Lois Jonathan, made this known in a statement in Abuja.

    Jonathan said a new date, venue and time will be announced in due course.

    According to her, the decision to postpone the summit was made by the National Planning Committee of the event, following calls and advice from prominent Igbo individuals in Nigeria and the diaspora, who suggested that the summit be rescheduled in reverence of Chief Iwuanyanwu. 

    Iwuanyanwu had before his sudden demise approved the hosting of the summit. 

    Jonathan said, “the National Planning Committee of the summit, after extensive deliberations on the crucial matter, unanimously resolved to shift the date of the summit after the burial of Chief Iwuanyanwu and some other great men and Women of Igbo extraction who are still in the Mortuary awaiting burials”

    The summit of the Greater Igbo Forum Worldwide the statement indicated, “aims to attract the participation of all Igbo stakeholders, including governors, ministers, National Assembly members, diplomats, traditional rulers, chief executive officers, high-calibre individuals, business gurus, and government officials”

    The GIF President said new date will be announced after the burial of the late  leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo worldwide.

    “We shall have a reflection point of a one-stop Summit of years to come” she said.

    She said the planned Summit is choreographed to address fundamental Issues of concern affecting the Igbo nation, especially insecurity problems bedevilling the region such as the illicit activities of Unknown gunmen, and Kidnapping. 

    “Others are Police extortions in the Southeast, Rape of our women, hatred of Igbos in high and low places including other perceived vices and treatment meted against the Igbos in Nigeria and diasporas by fellow Nigerians.

    “Greater Igbo Forum worldwide is a non-governmental non-political organization founded and dedicated to promoting Igbo cultural heritage and values, fostering brevity and cooperation amongst Igbo nation/people worldwide.

    “The GIF worldwide shall remain faithful and committed to a focused leadership, we will continue to encourage entrepreneurship, business innovations and economic development of nation – “Aku Rue Ulo” Supporting good governance and raising transformational Leaders in all Igbo Communities and diasporas,” Jonathan said.

  • Centre condemns Rivers Gov over council poll

    Centre condemns Rivers Gov over council poll

    The Centre for Truth and Justice (CTJ) has condemned the recent Local Government elections in Rivers State.

    The group alleged that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s actions undermined the democratic process, violating every principle that Nigeria stands for.

    Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Executive Director Obinna Francis, said the elections were conducted without transparency, accountability, or legitimacy, and were instead a coronation of Governor Fubara’s puppets.

    Francis also highlighted Governor Fubara’s disregard for the law, including his unilateral suspension of members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and installation of a three-man committee to function as the state assembly.

    The CTJ further criticised Fubara’s use of proxy parties to advance his political agenda and the involvement of RSIEC in the illegitimate process.

    “We condemn in totality the charade, mockery, and the total abuse of our democratic process by the purported conduct of Local Government (LG) elections in Rivers State,” Francis said.

    “What transpired in Rivers State is a travesty of democracy, an affront to the will of the people, and a direct assault on the rule of law. The so-called election that took place within the confines of the Government House is not only an illegal act but also a violation of every democratic principle that this nation stands for.

    “Moreover, the actions of Governor Fubara are a dangerous precedent that threatens the very fabric of our democracy. Nigerians can now understand clearly that Governor Fubara is ready to destroy whatever is left of our democracy if he is not urgently called to order.

    “Evidently, one of the most alarming aspects of Governor Fubara’s tenure has been his unilateral suspension of members of the Rivers State House of Assembly using kangaroo court orders. In defiance of legislative autonomy and the separation of powers, Governor Fubara has installed a three-man committee to function as the state assembly.

    “This illegal structure is a mockery of the democratic process, and we must all ask ourselves what kind of state operates without a legitimate legislature. The answer is clear: a dictatorship. Furthermore, Governor Fubara’s disregard for the law extends to the recent conduct of a sham LG election in Rivers State.

    “The election, which was conducted within the Government House, is an embarrassment to the state and the nation as a whole. This process lacked transparency, accountability, and legitimacy. There were no observers, no genuine electoral oversight, and no opportunity for the people of Rivers State to make their voices heard. Instead, it was a coronation, not an election—a process aimed at installing Governor Fubara’s puppets in key positions of power across the state.

    “It is pertinent to mention that a judgment from a Federal High Court in Abuja had already restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing voters’ registers to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

    “Yet, in typical fashion, Governor Fubara obtained a questionable court order to override this judgment, demonstrating his utter contempt for the judiciary and the rule of law. Hence, the involvement of RSIEC in this illegitimate process raises serious concerns about the impartiality and independence of the electoral body.

    “Rather than upholding the sanctity of the electoral process, RSIEC has become a tool in Governor Fubara’s hands to manipulate elections and install his loyalists in office. This flagrant abuse of power must be addressed if we are to preserve the integrity of future elections in Rivers State and Nigeria at large.

    “Additionally, Governor Fubara’s manipulation of the election process extended to the use of proxy parties to advance his political agenda. The so-called Action Peoples Party (APP), a relatively unknown political entity, conveniently “won” 22 out of 23 chairmanship seats in the Rivers State LG elections.

    “This result, which defies all logic and understanding, is the culmination of a highly orchestrated and manipulated electoral process aimed at securing Governor Fubara’s dominance over local government structures in the state.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Protest, explosion rock Rivers councils as clashes mar chairmen’s assumption

    “It is therefore heartbreaking that despite all these glaring irregularities, the state government and RSIEC have boldly declared the election to be smooth, safe, free, fair, credible, transparent, and violence-free.

    “Evidently, Governor Fubara’s actions are not those of a democratic leader but of an autocrat intent on consolidating power at the expense of the people’s will. Democracy is our collective asset, and its growth and progress are dependent on a government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and pursuing the interests of peace and justice at all times.”

    The group called on relevant authorities, including the National Assembly, judiciary and international community, to intervene and restore the rule of law in Rivers State.

    The CTJ urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and defend democracy, emphasizing that the actions of Governor Fubara threaten the democratic progress made as a nation.

  • NPHCDA moves to revitalise Southeast cold chain store, PHCs

    NPHCDA moves to revitalise Southeast cold chain store, PHCs

    The Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, (NPHCDA) Dr. Muyi Aina, has promised to revitalise its Cold Chain Store in the Southeast Zone for the preservation of vaccines and other related items.

    Dr. Aina, who made the promise weekend while inspecting some of the Agency’s facilities in the Southeast zonal office, including the cold and dry stores, in Enugu, lamented the poor state of the cold store.

    He said: “I came to Enugu to do a number of things. One is to engage with our critical stakeholders in the primary health care programme that we do.

    “I’m here also to look at the some of the facilities that we have in the Southeast zonal office as well as the cold and dry stores.

    “I looked at our cold store here and am not exactly very happy with what I saw. I think there are a few gaps in the functionality that need to be addressed as a matter of urgency”.

    Also speaking during a visit to Governor Peter Mbah at the Government House, Enugu, executive director commended the transformation of primary healthcare in Enugu State by the Governor Peter Mbah Administration, saying the state was well ahead in repositioning that layer of the healthcare system.

    “Enugu people are happy with you. The Federal Government is happy with you too for a number of reasons. When we came up, we said we want to revitalise our primary healthcare centres across the country. You got ahead of us. The news we are getting is extremely encouraging and that is one of the reasons why this is the first stop. This is my first visit to any state.

    “You have gone ahead of us to commence the construction of 260 new health facilities. That is no mean feat. You have not just talked about it, you have actually completed some. You have awarded contracts for all. It is indeed a great honour and privilege to be here today given all of these strides.

    “Beyond what I have just said, you have also focused on health workers, which is another big thing. You know that there is a shortage of health workers in the health sector broadly, but also in the primary healthcare system specifically. You are recruiting health workers of different cadres. You should be congratulated for this.

    “We are also aware and we want to thank you because you are one governor, who is prompt to his counterpart-funding responsibility when there is funding needed for health activities and for health campaigns. I have never had to call you to plead to release funding,” he stated.

    Dr. Aina said given the strides, the FG was going to support the state with N254m to help revitialise existing facilities to complement the new ones being constructed by the Governor Mbah Administration.

    “Encouraged by all of these strides you are making, I would like to also tell you that Enugu State will benefit from the ongoing revitalisation of PHCs. We have completed the assessment of 253 facilities here and from what we found, there are quite a bit of gaps and we also stepped up.

    “About 162 of them have the number of skilled birth attendants that you need to fully operate. Also, some of them need staff accommodation. We are going to support you.

    “The sum of N254million has already been earmarked as part of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund that you will use to revitalise some of these facilities. We have over twenty that we will also be revitalising for the state to support your efforts.”

    He added that the agency was ready to collaborate with the state in the area of training of manpower and replacement of obsolete cold chain infrastructure, among others.

    Governor Mbah welcomed the support, noting that FG’s effort to reposition the health system was in sync with his administration’s priorities.

    “We identified primary healthcare as one of those critical subsectors that we need to address. When we went out there to campaign in our various communities, there was hardly anyone that did not raise the issue of access to healthcare facility.

    Read Also: NPHCDA aids Hajj Pilgrims with essential drugs

    “We saw that with the state of the infrastructure we have and we are working on improving them. But we also saw the need to build brand new facilities. We are doing 260 Level 2 PHCs. But we are also more intrested in the equipment or facilities. In each Type 2 PHC we are doing currently also has a staff quarters to ensure a round the clock access to healthcare in these villages and rural areas. It was critical to us.

    “But we know that 260 will not cut it for us. So, that is why the announcement you made here about the FG working with us to revamp some of the existing PHCs that may be reviveable excites us so much.”

    The governor said the government was recruiting 2,200 health workers to address the deficits in the healthcare space in the state.

    “Even though what you may notice is our recruitment of 450 health workers, but the approval is actually 2,200. We did the analysis and the data we saw on pregnant women that have no access to healthcare personnel at delivery was scary. We knew we needed to ramp up very quickly,” Governor Mbah stated.

  • CJP denies calling for ex-Gov Bello’s arrest

    CJP denies calling for ex-Gov Bello’s arrest

    The Center for Justice and Peace (CJP) has disassociated itself from a statement calling for the arrest of former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello.

    In a briefing in Abuja, the Director General of the Center, Dr. Stephen Okparaibe categorically denied authorizing the statement.

    Okparaibe expressed dismay at the attempt by politicians to compromise the organisation’s principles.

    He described the individuals as paid agents bent on causing confusion and disrepute to democratic institutions.

    “We are shocked that desperate politicians would sponsor criminals to impersonate our organization and release malicious statements.

    “This blatant attempt to undermine our integrity and independence will not be tolerated.

    “We are perturbed that some section of the media would grant audience to these unknown faces to impersonate and release a statement on behalf of the group,” Okparaibe said.

    CJP emphasised its commitment to justice, peace, and adherence to the rule of law, and reaffirmed its independence and non-partisanship.

    The group, comprised mostly of lawyers, underscored its dedication to promoting Nigeria’s democratic values.

    Read Also: FG begins sale of crude oil, refined petroleum products in naira

    According to Okparaibe, the impostors’ statement contradicts its core values, as it would not call for the arrest of someone who voluntarily surrendered to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    “If the EFCC, which declared Mr. Bello wanted, had him for over four hours and refused to arrest and prosecute him, how could we?” he queried.

    CJP condemned the derogatory statements made against the judiciary and urged relevant authorities to take action against the impostors for impersonation.

    The group warned that Nigeria’s progress would be hindered if individuals are allowed to masquerade as activists, causing confusion and disrepute to democratic institutions.

    CJP also called on the National Security Adviser, Department of State Security Service, Inspector General of Police, and other relevant agencies to investigate and prosecute the impostors.

    The group reaffirmed its commitment to allowing the judicial process to run its course, rather than taking sides in the EFCC-Yahaya Bello matter.

    “We don’t want to be dragged into this issue. Let the court decide,” Okparaibe stated.