The Abia state Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has sworn in Justice Onuoha Ogwe as the acting Chief Judge of the state as directed by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
Details later…
Tag: abia
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Senate alarmed over spread of Lassa fever to 14 states
The Senate Thursday expressed concern over the spread of Lassa fever to fourteen states of the federation.
It listed the affected states to include Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Imo, Kogi, Bauchi, Anambra, Benue, Federal capital Territory, Abia, Ekiti and Delta.
It also said that the outbreak of the disease which was first recorded on the 5th of January, 2018, has risen to 363 as against the lesser number of cases recorded in previous years.
It said that out of the 363 cases, 81 persons have tested positive, while 44 persons have been admitted at the Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Teaching Hospital, Edo State.
About 11 deaths have been recorded, of which 3 are health workers, it said.
Senator representing Edo Central, Clifford Ordia, drew attention of his colleague to ravaging spread of disease in a motion entitled “Urgent need to support the Centre for Research, Control and Treatment of Lassa Fever disease in Nigeria.”
The upper chamber mandated its joint committee on Health and Primary Health Care and Communicable Diseases, to investigate steps taken by the Ministry of Health to curb the spread of the disease.
It asked the Federal Government through the Ministry of Health to urgently provide the Center all necessary equipment to enable it meet its responsibilities to Nigerians seeking medical care at the center.
It also resolved to urge the Ministry of Information and National Orientation to engage in sensitisation and education of the public on the prevention, control and treatment of Lassa fever.
The upper chamber urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to quickly visit the center in Irrua Specialist Hospital for on the spot assessment, with a view to providing relief material to the victims.
Ordia who quoting the World Health Organization said that fever is an acute viral heamorrhagic illness of two to 21 days duration that occurs in West Africa and is transmitted to human through contact with or exposure to food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces.
He said person to person infection and laboratory transmission can also occur particularly in hospitals lacking adequate infection prevention and control equipment.
Ordia said: “The institute is the only centre in Nigeria known for excellence in the management, control and treatment of Lassa fever in Nigeria. The centre received samples from all states referred above for the purpose of examination and treatment.
“The centre also engages in the training of Health care workers, i.e. Doctors, Nurses and Laboratory Technologists on the management of Lassa fever in Nigeria. Last year alone, the centre trained 67 health workers from 15 states with reported cases of the outbreak.
“The centre is presently overwhelmed by the number of samples received, including patients on admission which has stretched the bed space, beddings, Dialysis Machine, X-Ray equipment, Ultra Sound Scan, ECG Machine, Ventilators monitors, human and financial resources beyond limit.”
“The centre is confronted with the challenges of Inadequate protective instruments for the health workers engaged in the management of victims; inadequate drugs, i.e Ribarvirin for patient treatment; inadequate disinfectants and other infection prevention and control consumables; and lack of operational vehicles, public address system and health education materials for contact tracing and community sensitization.”
The Edo Central lawmaker said that the Senate should resolve to make more funds available for the centre in the 2018 budget.
It also urged the Federal Government to set up centres in different parts of the country.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided, said health care should be one of the major responsibilities of government.
Ekweremadu noted that “If this matter is not addressed, we will be fail in our responsibilities. And to know that this issue has been going on for years is worrisome.
“We need to give this issue the attention it needs. We have enough medical doctors. We need to provide the needed equipment they need to work with. I believe that the committee will help us address the issue. We cannot allow this to continue to spread.”
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Abia suspends CJ for alleged tyranny
GOVERNOR Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State yesterday appointed Justice Obisike Oji as the Acting Chief Judge of the state moments after the State House of Assembly suspended the incumbent, Justice Theresa Uzokwe. He was immediately sworn in at the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s Office. Ikpeazu said the appointment became expedient following receipt of a resolution of the House suspending Uzokwe. He said Oji, who is next to Uzokwe, was sworn in, in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
The governor, who expressed worry over the recent developments in the state judiciary, urged Oji to take immediate steps to restore the confidence of the people in the judiciary. Responding, Orji said he appreciated the enormous responsibility of his office and promised not to betray the confidence and trust reposed in him. He also promised to put the necessary machinery in place to restore the confidence of the people in the state’s judicial system.
The House of Assembly suspended Uzokwe over allegations of acts of tyranny, infamy, gross misconduct and incompetence. Abia judiciary had been rocked by crisis following the dissolution and reconstitution of the State Judicial Service Commission by the governor in November 2017. It was, however, alleged that Uzokwe did not recognise the new body. She was also alleged to have refused to recognise and work with the new Chief Registrar, Mr Benson Anya, who was appointed by the new commission to replace, Mrs Elizabeth Akwiwu- Chukwu, who was sacked following the dissolution of the commission. The crisis in the judiciary reached a climax on Thursday when Uzokwe allegedly closed all the courts in the state and invited all the judiciary workers to a meeting in Umuahia. The State Assembly ,in suspending Uzokwe yesterday, accused her of tyranny and gross misconduct.
The assembly acted on a January 22 petition presented as a matter of urgent public importance by the member representing Ukwa West Constituency, Mr Mezie Nwubani. The petitioners -Dr Anthony Agbazuere and Mr Obinna Nkume, the Executive Director and Director, Legal Services of the Global Centre for Peace and Justice, an Umuahia-based non-governmental organization – asked the assembly to “save the administration of justice in Abia.” In the petition captioned“ Justice Theresa Uzokwe’s unending acts of tyranny, infamy, gross misconduct and incompetence”, Agbazuere and Nkume also accused the chief judge of acts of lawlessness and disrespect to state authorities, and denigration of the office of the chief judge.
The other allegations included financial malfeasance and embezzlement of funds and “morbid hatred for Abia and her citizens”, among others. Nwubani cited the provisions of Section 292 of the 1999 Constitution as amended which, according to him, empower the house to investigate the allegations against the chief judge.
The member representing Isiala-Ngwa North, Chief Martins Azubuike, also urged the House to be properly guided by Section 36 of the Constitution, which provided for fair hearing in handling the petition. In a motion moved by the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Chief Solomon Akpulonu, and seconded by the Minority Leader, Chief Abraham Oba, they urged the House to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the allegations. Speaker Chikwendu Kalu, announced the suspension of the chief judge and mandated the governor to appoint an acting chief judge “in order not to create a lacuna within the justice system in the state”. Kalu also announced the constitution of an eightmember committee, headed by the member representing Obingwa West, Mr Thomas Nkoro, to investigate the chief judge’s actions. The committee had seven days to report its findings to the house.
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Gov. Ikpeazu appoints acting Chief Judge for Abia
Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia has appointed Justice Obisike Oji as the Acting Chief Judge of the state barely three hours after the State House of Assembly suspended the incumbent, Justice Theresa Uzokwe.
He was sworn in at the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s Office on Friday.
Ikpeazu said the appointment became expedient following receipt of a resolution of the House suspending Uzokwe.
He said Oji, who is next to Uzokwe, was sworn in in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
The governor, who expressed worry over the recent developments in the state judiciary, urged Oji to take immediate steps to restore the confidence of the people in the judiciary.
Responding, Orji said he appreciated the enormous responsibility of his office and promised not to betray the confidence and trust reposed in him.
He also promised to put the necessary machinery in place to restore the confidence of the people in the state’s judicial system.
The House of Assembly suspended Uzokwe over allegations of acts of tyranny, infamy, gross misconduct and incompetence.
Abia judiciary had been rocked by crisis following the dissolution and reconstitution of the State Judicial Service Commission by the governor in November 2017.
It was, however, alleged that Uzokwe did not recognise the new body.
She was also alleged to have refused to recognise and work with the new Chief Registrar, Mr Benson Anya, who was appointed by the new commission to replace, Mrs Elizabeth Akwiwu-Chukwu, who was sacked following the dissolution of the commission.
The crisis in the judiciary reached a climax on Thursday when Uzokwe allegedly closed all the courts in the state and invited all the judiciary workers to a meeting in Umuahia.
NAN
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Police, DSS raid Jewish synagogue, arrest two in Aba
A combined team of personnel of Abia State Police Command, soldiers and Department of State Security Services (DSS) has reportedly raided a Jewish synagogue located at No. 56 Imo Avenue off Faulks road Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State.
Reports from the area have it that the soldiers, Policemen and officials of the DSS who came in about 8 Hilux vans raided the Jewish worship center and arrested wife of the Priest in-charge of the synagogue and a worshiper.
The security agents according to information available to The Nation, reveals that the security personnel also arrested an Abuja based Hebrew teacher who was at the synagogue to teach members of the faith, Hebrew language.
Some of the Jewish worshippers who spoke to our reporter over the development claimed that the security team also made away with Torah and Tanakh; Jewish study books during the raid.
They also claimed that the suspects were taken to the Aba Central Police Station where they were being unlawfully detained by the police.
They claimed that the security agents by their actions have desecrated the “Holy of the Holies of synagogue because they were not sanctified before entering into the Holy Place”.
The worshippers who bemoaned the forceful invasion of their worship center by the security agencies and stated that it was a sacrilege for the security agencies to invade their worship center with their uncleanness.
“I am sure that the security agencies would not have invaded their worship centers in the manner that they invaded our center. But simply because we are perceived to be in the minority, they decided to invade our worship center the way they did. Our religion is just for IPOB members, but for everyone. It is like the church where every person is allowed to come and pray just like Christians and Muslims do.
“Why would they just invade here and took away our Torah and Tanakh? It shows that they don’t have respect for the Creator?
A member who gave his name as Gideon said that there was no amount of intimidation from the security agents would deter them from worshipping their God as long as what they are doing is lawful.
Efforts to reach Abia State Commissioner of Police, CP Anthony Ogbizi and the Command’s spokesman, DSP Geoffrey Ogbonna for comments failed as they were yet to pick several calls placed on their mobile phones.
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Planned cattle colony divides Abia, Plateau govts
The Abia and Plateau State governments are singing different tunes on the plan by the Federal government to establish cattle colonies as part of the effort to Fulani herdsmen’s menace.
Abia state is not keen on the plan while Plateau is ready to buy into it.
Interested states are to provide 5000 hectares of land each for the ‘cattle colonies’ to be financed by the federal authorities.
Cattle owners are to pay for their use of the ‘colonies’ according to Agriculture Minister Audu Ogbeh.
The Abia State government categorically declared yesterday that there was no space for any such ‘colony’ within its territory.
Mr. Enyinnaya Appolos ,the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu,said in a statement in Umuahia that Abia would not cede any part of it territory for the purpose of a cattle colony.
He said the state does not even have sufficient land to accommodate the agricultural plans of the state government and the agrarian communities in the state.
He said: “We reject any plan to establish cattle colonies for herdsmen in Abia State.
“We don’t have enough land for our agricultural activities and our people want more land. “Giving away any part of Abia land as a colony to herdsmen, wherever they may be from, will be most unjust and unfair treatment to Abia State and her people who are largely farmers.
“Such alien land occupation will also cause unrest and crisis that may grow beyond what we can handle when it happens, so the best thing I think we should do is to reject such plans so that those behind it will know that Abia State is not party to it.”
However, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State said the people of the state prefer ranching and colony to open grazing
“I had a lot of opposition initially when I said Plateau was keying into ranching. I said whether I have land or not we have to provide land for ranching because that I see as solution to the conflicts,” Lalong told reporters on Thursday.
He added: “In Plateau we have gone far, we have donated land voluntarily, many people donated land for ranching.
“Last year, I sent a team of 12 to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, they spent almost a week there to study and the team was headed by former Vice Chancellor of University of Jos, Prof. Onazi.
“We went round all the communities in Plateau.It took three months and Plateau people including the Fulanis accepted that we must embrace ranching.”
A Jos-based non-governmental organization, Plateau Regeneration group (PRG ),also believes ranching is the only solution to farmers/herders clashes in the state .
Spokesman for the group Choi Bandung Chuhwak said PRG was with Lalong on the issue.
“As a group, we want to state our total and unalloyed support to alternative to open grazing which is ranching,” he said.
“We also stand by our governor that ranching remains the best option to end clashes between herders and farmers and call on all to explore the benefits in ranching and cattle colonies proposed by the Federal Government as an alternative to open grazing.”
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Abia says ‘No’ to cattle colony in the state
Abia State Government said that the state would not be ceding any part of the 17 local government areas for the establishment of ‘cattle colonies’ for the purpose of rearing cattle or grazing by Fulani herdsmen.
In a release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of the state, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, Mr. Enyinnaya Appolos stated that Abia State would not cede any part of her territory to Fulani herdsman as colony for cattle.
According to Governor Ikpeazu the available land in the state would not be enough to accommodate the agricultural plans of the state government, stressing that the available land would not be enough for the agrarian communities in the state to effectively carry out their agricultural activities.
Ikpeazu maintained that leasing out the land may cause unrest in the state beyond what his government could handle.
Part of the release read “We reject any plan to establish cattle colonies for herdsmen in Abia State.
“We don’t have enough land for our agricultural activities and our people want more land. Giving away any part of Abia land as a colony to herdsmen, wherever they may be from, will be most unjust and unfair treatment to Abia State and her people who are largely farmers.
“Such alien land occupation will also cause unrest and crisis that may grow beyond what we can handle when it happens, so the best thing I think we should do is to reject such plans so that those behind it will know that Abia State is not party to it.”
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Hoodlums torch police station in Abia
Hoodlums have attacked a police post in Ahiaukwu Olokoro, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, setting ablaze property worth millions of Naira.
The invaders burnt an operational vehicle, a commercial tricycle and broke the windshield of a Volkswagen car parked within the police station, Southeast Report learnt.
The situation, our reporter gathered, triggered fear among the residents who said activities of criminals have been on the increase in the area in recent times.
Some of the residents who spoke anonymously said they were afraid, adding that if hoodlums could attack a police post and get away with it, their lives and property are not safe.
The residents could not confirm whether anybody was killed in the incident, but they said important police documents may have been destroyed.
Abia State Police Command spokesman, Geoffrey Ogbonna could not be reached at the time of this report, but a senior police officer at the command who confirmed the incident, said the police were on the trail of the suspects.
According to the source, the police were working on intelligence gathered so far which they believe would aid them arrest the suspects.
The source debunked reports that the hoodlums carted away arms and documents of the command, but confirmed that they facilitated the escape of two of the four suspected drug dealers and armed robbers earlier arrested by policemen attached to the police post.
The source said the suspects were about to be transferred to Ubakala Divisional Police Headquarters before the hoodlums struck.
The source vowed that the police would ensure that they tracked down the hoodlums involved in the invasion.
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Ikpeazu gives condition for re-election in 2019
Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, says he would only seek re-election in 2019, after successful completion of projects initiated by his administration across the state.
Ikpeazu disclosed this while speaking in a political programme “Osinachi”, at the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia monitored in Aba on Friday.
“There are a few things which I am saying if we are able to finish by the grace of God, in the future I would think that we can answer the call to seek for re-election in 2019,’’ he said.
He named some of the ongoing projects as the construction of Ifeobara basin, the reconstruction of Arochukwu road, the Osisioma interchange as well as the revival of the School of Nursing in Aba.
Read also: Abia makes N1.3b from Made-in-Aba campaign, says Ikpeazu
Ikpeazu said that since leadership is linked to achievements in office, he can be sure of matching any other candidate after completing the projects.
He said that government had so far invested about N325 million towards upgrading facilities at the Enyimba Stadium with a view to making it “world class’’.
Ikpeazu said two billion naira had been released to Setraco Construction Company for the reconstruction of the Aba-Port Harcourt road, adding that his administration had also done well in promoting made-in-Abia goods by patronising the products.
He said that his administration had also recorded successes in its agricultural projects especially in Aba which was aimed at improving the life of the people.
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Be wary of “miracle’’ centres, Abia commissioner warns
The Abia Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ikechi Mgboji, has advised parents and guardians to be wary of sending their wards to schools indulging in examination malpractice.
Mgboji gave the advice in an interview in Aba on Wednesday.
He spoke against the backdrop of the closure of St. John’s Secondary School, Umunkere, Obingwa Local Government Area, which was identified by the West African Examination Council ( WAEC ) as “a miracle centre’’ noted for promoting examination malpractice.
The commissioner for education in Abia urged parents to send their children to schools where they would learn and be able to defend their certificates.
He decried the ugly trend whereby many parents were deliberately sending their children to schools which engage in malpractice.
The commissioner vowed that government would close any schools found promoting examination fraud in the state, noting that parents and teachers now collude to perpetrate examination malpractice.
“When we talk about examination malpractice, it is something that implicates some parents and implicates society as a whole.
“You are right because it is a systemic problem. It is sad that parents even go as far as paying extra money to have their children in such schools.
“There is this undue emphasis on paper qualification which pushes people to do anything to get that paper qualification and it is just wrong and counter-productive,’’ he said.
He said that the closure of St. John Secondary School was as a result of its indulging in examination malpractice.
“We received a report from WAEC; the documents are there that the school is a miracle centre and I felt that the time to act was long overdue.
“That school will not be the last that we are going to descend heavily upon and it should be a warning for all those who have allowed their schools to be used as centres for examination malpractice.
“Once we receive credible reports, we shall not fail to act.
“ Security agencies have been drafted to the school to ensure strict compliance and any disobedience will attract severe sanctions,’’ he said.