The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Group petitions NSA, demands probe into Tantita’s seized vessels

    Group petitions NSA, demands probe into Tantita’s seized vessels

    Socio-economic crusaders in the Niger Delta, under the auspices of the Movement for the Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta (MSDND), have petitioned the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to launch independent investigation into alleged cases of oil vessels entrapment along the waterways of the region.

    MSDND insisted that the investigation must include the recent seizures of crude oil vessels by the personnel of a private security company, Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL), owned by a former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly called Tompolo.

    The protest letter, signed by the Publicity Secretary of the group, Kelvin Orughoe, alleged that the entrapment activities along the waterways of the Niger Delta was meant to defraud the public, including frivolous claims of complicity of security agencies in crude oil theft, capable of causing chaos and breach of the national and economic security of the country.

    MSDND claimed that Nigerians and the world were allegedly deceived by some propagandists that TSSL had in the past few weeks seized two vessels allegedly involved in crude oil theft off Bayelsa waters.

    The group claimed that the vessels were allegedly lured in and entrapped by officials of Tantita to score some political and media points in their bid to win over the Bayelsa Central Corridor of the proposed multi-million dollars crude oil pipeline surveillance contract.

    Read Also; Fed Govt publishes 2023 FAAC allocations

    MSDND also claimed that in order to whittle down the powers and noticeable pressure from the Nigeria Navy against alleged questionable activities of some personnel in the war against illegal bunkering and crude oil theft, the recent petition against the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, by Pelumi Olajengbesi, Mohammed Suleiman, Aisha Waliki, Deji Adeyanju and Ogunwoye Samson was allegedly sponsored and released to the media.

    The advocacy group argued that the seizures of the said vessels and the allegations made against the CNS were conveniently designed to hoodwink the Federal Government in order for some persons to win the multi-million dollars crude oil pipeline surveillance contract by maligning the Navy, whose constitutional responsibility is to protect the territorial waters of the country.

    The group’s petition claimed in part: “Upon the conclusion of our clandestine and detailed investigations conducted by major stakeholders from the region, our findings showed a clear attempt to usurp the constitutional powers of the Navy and use individuals to cast aspersions on the hard-earned integrity of the Nigeria security networks, including the Navy.

    “The first accused vessel, MT Kali, which was reportedly apprehended, was allegedly lured to the spot and entrapped by the officials of the private security company.

    “The arrested captain of the vessel was allegedly called on satellite phone and handed navigational coordinates close to territory for anchoring where it was arrested. The vessel and its captain were lured to an isolated location with a promise to load crude oil, but rather they were entrapped and paraded before the world as crude oil thieves.

    “Is it not strange that Tantita officials initially claimed that the vessel was seized at Sokebolou oil field in Bayelsa State?

    “But after our group faulted their report and knowing that they have been caught in a blatant lie, they changed the location of the MT Kali’s arrest to Pelleghton in Bayelsa, claiming that it was at the offshore location of the Anglo-Dutch energy giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), in Bayelsa State.

    “Our investigations, which can be easily verified, revealed that the Nigerian Navy has over three large gunboats (Natsha II, Vakpor II and Vakpor III), all stationed around Pelleghton, securing the entire area against crude oil theft and illegal movement of vessels.

    “And we can confirm that Shell does not have an operational station in Pelleghton; thus, they lied again to the public.”

    The MSDND, however, backed the position of the Navy, describing the claims against CNS Ogalla as sponsored lies, urging Nigerians to ask if TSSL had replaced the Navy and other security agencies along its territorial waters and why did they take the seized vessels away from the location of arrest to their backyard before calling the media.

  • ‘Recover vehicles assigned to ex-appointees’

    ‘Recover vehicles assigned to ex-appointees’

    Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma yesterday directed the Managing Director of Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC), Chief Charles Orie, to take custody and carry out proper inventory of official vehicles assigned to his former political appointees.

    This directive affects former principal officers to the governor, ex-commissioners, special advisers, general managers of agencies of government, among others.

    Read Also; Fed Govt publishes 2023 FAAC allocations

    Orie was further directed to ensure that no former political appointee, no matter how highly placed, refused to surrender his or her official vehicles.

    In a statement by the governor’s Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku, Uzodimma said the directives should be respected by all and sundry.

  • Enugu Assembly passes bill for parties to fund council poll

    Enugu Assembly passes bill for parties to fund council poll

    Enugu State House of Assembly has passed the 2024 Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) amendment bill.

    The bill, when signed into law by Governor Peter Mbah, will make it mandatory for parties to pay money to the state election commission to enable them partake in the local government election.

    Leading the debate on it, the Minority Leader of the house, Iloabuchi Aniagu, said sections five, seven and 10 of the ENSIEC Law were amended to conform to reality.

    He said the amended Section 7 makes it compulsory for parties to pay for local government election.

    Aniagu said this would make the state government not to solely finance local elections, as the government had limited resources to undertake such expenses.

    He said the bill also set the age of a prospective ENSIEC chairperson to fall between 30 and 75, noting that this would give youths the opportunity to participate in the electoral system of the state.

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    Okey Mbah, representing Nkanu East State Constituency, said the amendment of the bill is to ensure the electoral body conducts credible elections.

    He said the ENSIEC chairperson will be mandated to resign if she or he wants to contest in an election, three months before the primary election.

    However, Harrison Ogara, representing Igbo-Eze South State Constituency, disagreed with the provision that made it mandatory for parties to partly fund the conduct of local elections.

    He said Section 7 was in contravention of the 2022 Electoral Act and as such should be scraped, adding that it was improper to ask parties to pay money before participating in any election.

    The lawmaker said the controversial section would be challenged in court by aggrieved individuals or political parties.

    He requested that the state election commission adopt and use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in the next election, for transparency.

    Responding to Ogara’s request, Speaker Uche Ugwu said the state government does not have funds to deploy BVAS in the next local government election.

    He hoped that the amended sections would be for the good of the residents.

    The assembly adjourned its plenary till February 20.

  • Exco’s confidence vote in chair unsettles Cross River APC

    Exco’s confidence vote in chair unsettles Cross River APC

    A storm may have emerged in the hierarchy of the Executive Committee (exco) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, as a pressure group has made a call, demanding the resignation of the Chairman, Dr. Alphonsus Eba.

    The group, Northern Cross River APC Reconciliatory Movement, in a statement, blamed the chairman for the inability of the party to win the rerun held in two state constituencies, namely Yala II and Obanliku, in Northern Senatorial District, where the chairman hails from.

    The call is believed to have forced the hosting of the exco members by the chairman and a subsequent emergency meeting where critical decisions were taken.

    A statement from the party, signed by the Acting Publicity Secretary, Mr. Edem Inyang, showed that a vote of confidence was passed in the chairman and a decision was taken to set up a five-man committee to investigate alleged anti-party activities of some members identified to have played anti-party roles that caused the party’s defeat by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during the rerun of February 3.

    The rerun was held at Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency and two state constituencies of Yala II and Obanliku. APC won the Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency and PDP won the two state constituency seats.

    The body claimed that “the constant failure of APC in the northern part of the state is a sign of absolute ineptitude and rejection by the people, of Eba.”

    The exco, in its resolution, said the loss in Yala II and Obanliku state constituencies “was majorly occasioned by the high level of conspiracy and mind boggling anti- party activities of members.”

    The resolutions of the exco also “strongly condemns the impunity of some ward chairmen and members involved in anti-party activities.”

    Read Also: Ondo 2024: APC receives 2000 PDP, ZLP defectors

    The exco said further that “it invokes its powers contained in Article 21 ( 1) of the APC Constitution” and moved a motion for the suspension of the ward chairmen of Ijiraga and Mfuma-Ntrigon wards of Yala Local Government and directed that all party items with them be handed over to their vice chairmen with immediate effect.

    “Also, pursuant to Article 21 (3) of the APC Constitution, the state Executive Committee constituted a five-man Disciplinary Committee consisting of the following: Chief Edet Asia – chairman, Emmanuel Ateb – member,  Erong Igwe – member, Mr. Godwin John Inyang – member, Alfred Umoh Effiong – secretary; with terms of reference to work with candidates and agents of the party in the election to fish out those involved in anti-party activities. The committee shall invite them to clear their names and report their findings to the Executive Committee within three weeks.”

    They maintained that “the Executive Committee unanimously passed a vote of confidence in the Chairman, Eba, for his visionary, fearless, courageous and dynamic leadership, which resulted in several victories the party earned in the 2023 and 2024 general and rerun elections.”  

  • Uvwie kingdom celebrates court victory over reclaiming land from Army

    Uvwie kingdom celebrates court victory over reclaiming land from Army

    The people of Uvwie kingdom in Delta State yesterday embarked on a walk around Effurun metropolis to celebrate the reclaiming of their land from the Army.

    They were received by the Ovie of Uvwie kingdom, HRM Emmanuel Ekemejewa Sideso, Abe I, at his palace at Effurun GRA, headquarters of Uvwie Local Government.

    Addressing reporters over the development, the monarch said: “For peace, we said the judiciary would be the best area. It is the only place for the common man. We have no people in the government, but we have God.

    “They started selling our land and we found out. They encroached on our land, going to the villages to mark houses, destroying our crops, threatening our lives because I towed the path of peace. Otherwise, it would have been a bloodshed.”

    The traditional ruler said his people conceded that much size of land to the Army because the Federal Government made them believe it wanted to build the main campus of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), established in 1964, in Effurun.

    “We believed army education would bring development to the community, but since the military academy was eventually located in Kaduna, the government decided to use the acquired land for the building of army barracks now known as 3 Battalion Barracks, Effurun.”

    Read Also: Shehu of Bama lauds army for restoring peace

    A Delta High Court sitting in Effurun on Tuesday declared the acquisition of parts of Ohore 1 community by the Army as null and void.

    The court, presided over by Justice Roli-Daibo Harriman, fined the military N1 million for trespassing the area.

    The case with suit number: EHC/41/2014 had Mr. Godwin Imiruaye, Mr. Lucky Utebu, Chief Julius Oghojamuni and Ohore 1 community as claimants, while the Army, Minister of Justice, as well as six others were defendants.

    Counsel for the claimants led by former Delta Attorney General, Chief Victor Otomiewo, had approached the court to declare that prior to promulgation of the Land Use Act, the claimants being the persons in occupation and possession of all parcels of land at Ohore, did not fall within any area of land acquired by the army at the time for the use by the defendants.

    They also asked the High Court to declare that any acquisition of Ohore 1 land without due process and without evidence of compliance with all the relevant laws and the constitution is null and void.

    The court agreed with Chief Otomiewo and restrained the Army from further trespassing the area.

  • Ogbuku: NDDC embracing accountability, transparency to develop Niger Delta

    Ogbuku: NDDC embracing accountability, transparency to develop Niger Delta

    Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has said the commission is restructured to embrace its quest to rapidly develop Niger Delta. 

    He spoke when the Deputy Group Managing Director of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr. Muyiwa Akinyemi, visited him at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt.

    The NDDC boss in a statement signed by the Director, Corporate Affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni, said NDDC had moved away from the era of transactional leadership to that of transformational engagement.

    According to the NDDC boss, transiting from transaction to transformation means there must be transparency and accountability for a more efficient service delivery in Nigeria’s oil-rich region.

    Ogbuku said in getting to the level of the financial discipline, which the commission strived to attain, NDDC had put in place solid building blocks culminating in the engagement of KPMG to design for it a corporate governance system, which would lay down the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the commission.

    He said SOPs would ensure that the activities of the commission were internally regulated to boost the confidence of stakeholders and development partners.

    The NDDC boss said the commission was already using verifiable database for the training of youths through the Holistic Opportunity Projects of Engagement (HOPE) initiative, which had since engaged the youth in fields and training platforms.

    Read Also: Why development in Niger Delta is slow, by NDDC board

    “Building a comprehensive database for the youth in the region will give the commission the opportunity to plan, as well share the relevant data with other development agencies that may need them for planning,” he said.

    In the area of entrepreneurship, Ogbuku noted that the NDDC through Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce had streamlined engagement in giving support to farmers and verifiable entrepreneurs in the region.

    Expressing confidence that NDDC could do more, the managing director lamented that the commission was limited by the bureaucracy of the operation of the Treasury Single Account, (TSA) policy and canvassed for the removal of the commission from the TSA.

    Mr. Akinyemi said with the transformation ongoing  at NDDC, the bank was willing to do business with the interventionist agency.

    He said the involvement of KPMG in the design of a corporate governance structure for the comm ission will increase the believability of partners that work with the commission.

    He said after a review of the levels of engagement in the commission, they were more assured of going into partnership.  

  • Foundation to train female inmates, others

    Foundation to train female inmates, others

    A foundation, Female Inmates and Returned Citizens (FIRC), has disclosed plans to train female inmates and ex-inmates at Onitsha Custodial Centre, Anambra State in the production of sanitary pads and other needed services at the facility.

    Technical Adviser to FIRC and Executive Director, Carmelite Prisoners Interest Organisation (CAPIO), Rev. Fr. Jude Isiguzo, made this known during one-day project planning meeting funded by Misean Cara (Mission Support from Ireland).

    He said the project titled: ‘Enhancing Access to Self-reliance & Healthy Rehabilitation for Female Inmates & Ex-inmates in Anambra State’, is targeted at equipping the inmates to become responsible citizens during and after their incarceration.

    He said the organisation formed in 2020 by a group of female ex-inmates in Nigeria was born out of passion by female returned citizens towards changing their ugly experience while in incarceration, as well as the welfare of those still in custody.

    Read Also: Ex-female inmates get resettlement safe house

    According to Isiguzo, the training project, which would run till the end of the year, would begin in March, with the first session involving interested female inmates and workers, who would later train others for three months.

    He urged the authority of the custodial centre to take ownership of the project to ensure its purpose was not only achieved, but also sustained.

    Deputy Controller of Corrections in-charge of Onitsha Custodial Centre, Igwe Sunday, appreciated the body for the initiative, pledging the centre’s cooperation and support for a seamless programme.

    He said: “Today’s engagement is what we’ve been yearning for. The correctional facility as then known was a dumping ground for criminals.

    “But today, the narrative has changed from dumping ground to reformation of criminals and sending them to the society as better citizens.”

  • Abia PDP frowns at speaker’s refusal to swear in lawmaker

    Abia PDP frowns at speaker’s refusal to swear in lawmaker

    The leadership of Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has frowned at the continued disrespect for the judgment of the Court of Appeal that sacked Labour Party (LP) lawmaker, Destiny Nwagwu, by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa.

    A Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos sacked Nwagwu as Aba North State Constituency lawmaker and ordered that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should withdraw an earlier Certificate of Return handed over to him, after the judges declared the petitioner, Aaron Uzodike, as the winner of the February 25, 2023 National Assembly election.

    Our correspondent reports that Nwagwu had also threatened to resume sitting, citing the judgment of the Supreme Court, which validated the election of Governor Alex Otti, which was the same ground on which Uzodike equally approached the Appeal Court.

    Investigation shows that Uzodike has not been able to attend plenary sessions with other colleagues, as the speaker is yet to admit him as a member of the assembly, as required by law.

    Some constituents of Aba North have cried out over the action of the speaker, which they said was denying their representation at the assembly, as a result of the leadership gap.

    In an exclusive phone interview, the Vice Chairman, Abia North and acting Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Abraham Amah, who warned the speaker against contempt of court, said: “There is public outcry today that Speaker Emeruwa should do what is right. We have been talking about it and will not keep quiet until he does the right thing.

    Read Also: Intra-party crisis: Ekiti PDP ward, LGAs chairmen sue for peace

    “The speaker is of course committing contempt of court. All over Nigeria, elections were subjected to judicial tests. The state and National Assembly election matters ended at the Appeal Court.

    “The Senate and House of Representatives have acted in compliance with the ruling of the Appeal Court in matters that affect them and their actions were not partisan. There were instances where members of political parties were sworn in, but in the case of Abia, we don’t know why the Speaker has refused to do what is right.

    “Unfortunately, he is telling the world that he has a pending matter at the court. It is just like saying Dr. Otti will not continue to be the governor after the ruling of the Supreme Court because the PDP has a case against him in any other court.

    “The action of the speaker is outright contempt of court; it is condemnable and not befitting of somebody who holds such high public office as speaker of the assembly.”

  • Otti inaugurates panel on 11-month salary arrears

    Otti inaugurates panel on 11-month salary arrears

    Abia State Governor Alex Otti has inaugurated a nine-man visitation panel to Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), with a charge to be fair and objective in discharging its assignment.

    Speaking at the inauguration at the Government House, Umuahia, Dr. Otti recalled that for decades, ABSU had been a model for excellence in research, in line with the visions of the founding fathers of the institution, but noted that unfortunately, things had fallen apart, hence the need for setting up the panel.

    He said the panel is not to indict individuals, but rather to look at relevant records and structures of ABSU from 2019 to 2023 and return to the state government, the recommendations that will take ABSU to its place of excellence.

    Read Also: Enoh, Sanwo-Olu, Otti commend Eagles despite AFCON blow

    The governor said panel members were chosen because of their experience and competence and urged stakeholders to cooperate with them.

    Responding on behalf of other members, the Chairman, Prof. Steve Okorodudu, thanked Governor Otti for appointing them and said the panel would do its best in carrying out the assignment.

    Other members of the panel included: Prof. Rose Nwabueze, Prof. Abiola Awosika-Fapetu, Dr. Sonny Ajala, SAN, Prof. Ngozi Osarenren, Prof. Nnenna Oyidie Okeh, Mr. Emmanuel Okpechi, FCA, Dr. Confidence Ogbonna and Mr. Dodoh Okafor, who serves as the secretary.

  • Kinsmen to Jonathan, others: intervene in Ogbia crisis

    Kinsmen to Jonathan, others: intervene in Ogbia crisis

    Stakeholders from Ogbia Local Government of Bayelsa State have called on prominent indigenes, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, to intervene in the leadership crisis rocking Ogbia Brotherhood.

    Ex-President Jonathan is one of the prominent indigenes of Ogbia Council.

    The umbrella body of Ogbia sons and daughters has been thrown into crisis, with series of failed settlement moves.

    The litigants have approached the court in suit No. OHC/13/2023 to sack the interim executive and give order for the appointment of substantive executives for the group.

    The case came up yesterday at the Ogbia High Court sitting in Yenagoa, with Felide Zimughan Esq. appearing for the claimants and Earnest Omilole Esq. appearing for the defendants.

    The presiding judge of Ogbia High Court, Justice S. W. Amaduobogha, however, adjourned the matter till March 28.

    Traditional rulers, chiefs, women and youths, who were at the court, called on contending factions in the crisis to withdraw the case and settle out of court for a substantive leadership of the Ogbia Brotherhood.

    A revered compound chief at Otuabagi community, Chief Joseph Joshua, stressed the need for the constitution of a substantive executive for the umbrella body of Ogbia people.

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    He said based on the constitution of Ogbia Brotherhood, the current caretaker leadership is illegal, having stayed in office since 2019.

    Joshua expressed worry that the matter even got to the court, calling on Jonathan and other well-meaning indigenes to intervene.

     to ameliorate the lingering crisis.

    The community leader, who said the crisis was an issue that could have been resolved, urged parties to put the interest of the body ahead of other personal considerations.

    Joshua hoped that eventually, the matter would be settled in the interest of Ogbia people.

    A prominent indigene, Dr. Dorcas Agboge, expressed frustration about the ongoing court case, saying it was a matter that should be resolved among Ogbia people.

    She said Ogbia Brotherhood should be used to foster the interest of Ogbia people and not those of a few persons, adding that all hands must be on deck to ensure peaceful resolution of the issue.