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Tag: Akwa Ibom

  • Freedom for four inmates in Akwa Ibom

    The Prisons Officers’ Wives’ Association (PROWA) has secured the release of four inmates from Uyo  and Ikot Ekpene Prisons in Akwa Ibom State after paying stipulated fines.

    The Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Josiah Ogbajie revealed this in a statement in Uyo on Wednesday.

    Ogbajie said the fines were paid by PROWA President Hajiya Gwamma Ja’afaru.

    “Today, April 17, 2019, the President, Prisons Officers’ Wives Association and wife of the Controller-General of NPS, Hajiya Gwamma Ja’afaru, secured the release of four inmates at Uyo and Ikot Ekpene Medium Security Prisons.

    “The inmates were released with the payment of fines by the president. The association has so far released a total of 221 inmates nation-wide since the inception of Ja’afaru-led administration,” he said, adding that Ja’afaru was represented by Mrs Mary Obep, National Treasurer of the association.

    He said the PROWA Presiden urged NPS officers to support their wives to embrace various skill acquisition programmes of the association.

    He said Ja’fa’ru also solicited the support of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other stakeholders in order to empower more women and inmates of prisons across the country.

     

  • Money laundering: Akwa Ibom commissioners absent despite bench warrant

    Two Akwa Ibom State commissioners, against whom the Federal High Court in Lagos issued a bench warrant, did not appear in court yesterday.

    The court, on March 1, ordered the arrest of Commissioner for Finance Nsikan Nkan and Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Uwemedimo Nwoko.

    Justice Rilwan Aikawa also ordered the arrest of the Accountant-General, Mfon Udomah, and an account officer Margaret Thompson Ukpe.

    Their arrest followed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which said they were “at large”.

    They were charged with Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) president Paul Usoro (SAN) for allegedly laundering N1.4 billion state funds.

    But the commissioners, through their lawyer Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), are urging the court to set aside the arrest warrant.

    Another application was brought by Governor Udom Emmanuel’s lawyer challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the charge.

    Yesterday, Ozekhome said he needed time to respond to EFCC’s motion against his application, which he said he received on April 15.

    He contended that he needed time to respond to even more grievous allegations made by the prosecution against his clients.

    Udom’s laweyr, Dr. Charles Mekwunye, noted that he filed his client’s application challenging the court’s jurisdiction on March 3, but received EFCC’s reply on April 15.

    He said he was still putting his response to EFCC counter-affidavit together.

    Usoro’s lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), said he filed an April 3 motion seeking the release of Usoro’s international passport to enable him travel abroad for foreign engagements.

    Prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo did not oppose the application based on Olanipekun’s promise that the trial dates would remain sacrosanct, and that where there is a clash with Usoro’s itinerary, the trial would take precedent.

    Read also: ‘Akpabio can’t be written off in Akwa Ibom politics’

    He, however, urged the court to mandate the defendant to notify EFCC’s Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, anytime he wants to travel.

    Justice Rilwan Aikawa granted the application, but directed the defendant to always inform Magu.

    Justice Aikawa is the third judge to handle the case.

    Usoro was first arraigned before Justice Muslim Hassan on a 10-count charge, but after Usoro asked him to recuse himself, the case was re-assigned to Justice Chuka Obiozor.

    On the day Usoro was to be re-arraigned, Justice Obiozor recused himself for “personal reasons”. The case was eventually re-assigned to Justice Aikawa.

    EFCC alleged that Usoro conspired with others to commit the offence within the court’s jurisdiction on May 14, 2016. He allegedly conspired to convert N1.4 billion, property of Akwa Ibom State government, money they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity.

    The prosecution said the unlawful activity included criminal breach of trust, which contravened Sections 15 (2), 15(3), and 18 (A) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.

    Usoro pleaded not guilty and Justice Aikawa allowed him to continue on the N250 million-plus-surety bail granted him by Justice Hassan.

    Justice Aikawa adjourned until May 10 for hearing of pending applications.

  • 14 die in A’ Ibom oil community from waterborne diseases

    No fewer than 14 persons have reportedly died between last December and April this year in Okoroutip, an oil bearing community in Ibeno local government area Akwa Ibom state from water borne diseases.

    The Nation gathered that natives of the community do not have access to potable drinking water as their only source of water is from contaminated stagnant ponds.

    Our correspondent reports that the community is also threatened by frequent flood incidents and water surge resulting in the displacement of natives and destruction of houses.

    A youth leader of the village, Mr. Henry Ekpe Nkan lamented that they depend on existing ponds and other

    stagnant water that flows from creeks as their daily drinking water.

    “As a riverine area where there is no bush to dispose waste, the community dispose faeces and other organic substances in the water and still drink from it.”

    He said this unhealthy disposition throw the entire community into water borne epidemic that has claimed fourteen lives from December last year.

    “From December last year, we have buried 14 people that died from water borne sicknesses and more would be buried as nothing is done to help us”

    Nkan said the only borehole drilled by ExxonMobil many years ago has collapsed and the well contaminated while the entire plumbing system has decayed leaving many generations of people to help themselves with any available water despite the unsanitary conditions.

    Mr Isaac Williams, supervisor for Education in Ibeno local government who hails from the community said people abandoned borehole drilled by ExxonMobil when it was discovered that the water contained some dirty particles suspected to be crude oil as they were fetching the water for domestic use.

    Williams recalled that the water from the borehole turned dark within an hour confirming that it was not fit for drinking.

    “The problem of water in Okoroutip community is a consequence of the terrain of the area as a result of heavy presence of oil. We are still pleading with multinational oil companies to come to our rescue by giving us good water. We believe that someday succor would come our way”

    When our correspondent visited the borehole provided to the community by ExxonMobil, it was a tale of neglect and outright abandonment as it was overgrown by weeds and other mangrove shrubs only for community women to hang their washed cloths on the rusted water tank stand.

    The youth leader said the situation is worsened by absence if medical facility  to provide urgent treatment for victims of water related sicknesses in the area.

    Nkan complained that the only Health Centre in the area constructed by the former council chairman Mrs Regina Egbe is not equipped and there was no personnel to attend to patients.

    “Some health workers only come here to give immunization vaccines to our children and left but nobody to attend to patients during emergencies”

    He said lack of medical facility increased adult and infant mortality rate in the oil rich community as many people felt sick and died monthly through suspected water borne diseases.

  • EFCC nabs five internet fraud suspects in Uyo

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has arrested five suspected internet fraudsters in a sting operation in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

    Spokesman of the commission, Mr Tony Orilade, in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, said that the suspects were Uchendu Denis, Osinachi David, Chikezie Bright, Francis Martins and Okafor Emmanuel.

    He said that the suspects were arrested by EFCC personnel of Uyo Zonal office, at Nsini Odeyop Street, Shelter Afrik Estate, Uyo, following intelligence report.

    “At the time of arrest, it was discovered that the suspects, who were lodging in a three-bedroom flat, used one of the rooms for cyber-crime activities.

    Read also: Policeman attacked by scavenger in Kwara dies

    “Items recovered from them include 123 sim cards, which had a Turkish sim card; six Laptops and 13 expensive mobile phones.

    “Other recovered items were books and diaries containing phone numbers and over 300 email addresses, amongst others.

    “They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” Orilade said. (NAN)

  • Elections Petition Tribunal receives 34 petitions in A’Ibom – Scribe

    The Governorship, National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in Uyo, Akwa Ibom says it has received no fewer than 34 petitions as at April 1.

    The Tribunal Secretary in the state, Mr Sidiq Abubakar made this known in a document made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Uyo.

    Abubakar said that one of the petitions was filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Mr Nsima Ekere against Gov. Udom Emmanuel of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said the tribunal also received two petitions emanating from the senatorial election, adding that Sen. Godswill Akpabio of APC filed one against Mr Christopher Ekpenyong of the PDP from Akwa Ibom North West.

    The secretary tribunal also said that Mr Bassey Etim of APC filed another petition against Sen. Bassey Akpan of the PDP from Akwa Ibom North East.

    READ ALSO: Delta tribunal receives 51 petitions

    He said eight petitions emanated from the House of Representatives and 23 petitions from the State House of Assembly elections out of the 26 House of Assembly seats.

    “We have received 34 petitions, including that of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Mr Nsima Ekere, two petitions from the Senate, eight from the House of Representatives.

    Others are 23 petitions from the State House of Assembly elections,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tribunal also received one petition filed by the PDP House of Assembly candidate, Mr Gerald Umoh against Mr Nse Ntuen of APC from Essien Udim State Constituency.

    No date has been fixed for the tribunal to begin its sitting.

  • Emmanuel mocks pastors who predicted he won’t be reelected

    Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel has mocked prophets and pastors who predicted that he would not be reelected, describing them as ‘fake’.

    Emmanuel, who spoke on Sunday during a convention service at the Insight Bible Church Uyo, warned the people to be wary of fake preachers and prophets as they are not called of God.

    His words: “I wasn’t invited to this convention. I just told my team we’ll be worshiping at Insight Bible Church.

    “My wife comes here once we don’t have any state function to attend.

    “As a Governor, I’m a member of every Bible-believing church where the truth is preached, not those fake churches.

    “There are those ones that said Udom Emmanuel will lose election.

    Read also: Improved healthcare is priority for Buhari’s administration — Udoma

    “Let it be known that God didn’t call them. There are two types of pastors, the ones that God called and the ones that called God.”

    Emmanuel attributed the 2019 victory to the awesome power of God in the affairs of men and thanked God for defending His name and upholding the confidence of those whose trust are in Him.

    “I thank God for guaranteeing us victory, this further attests to our belief that those who put their trust in God cannot be forsaken.

    “It has also boosted the confidence of our people in the awesome power of God,” he said.

  • ‘How policemen killed my husband in Uyo’

    Mrs. Margaret Udofia, the wife of late Uyo Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Ubong Udofia, has pointed accusing fingers at the police over the death of her husband during a fracas in a motor park.

    She told newsmen on Friday that her husband died in controversial circumstances in the hands of some policemen.

    Margret lamented the sudden death of the family breadwinner which had left her to take care of nine children left behind.

    She called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the State Police Command and Gov. Udom Emmanuel to ensure justice was done in the case.

    “I have nine children to take care of and the eldest is just 15 years and none has entered the university yet.

    “My appeal to the IG should not be ignored as all the evidences point to deliberate and premeditated murder because my husband and the task force members did not beat the policeman as alleged.

    “All they did was just to direct the policeman to comply with the regulations of loading in the park and not to constitute road nuisance by loading his vehicle on the roadside because touting is illegal in Akwa Ibom,” she said.

    She said her husband, 45-year old Udofia popularly called ‘Evolution’, was alleged to have been clubbed to death with guns by four Policemen, after trying unsuccessfully to kill him through direct shooting.

    She explained that her husband met his untimely death when a minor argument with a policeman resulted in full-blown brawl at the Uyo motor park.

    “I was just returning from the market when I was called suddenly to come and witness what happened to my husband.

    “When I got to the place, my husband was already gasping for breath until he gave up in my presence,” she said.

    According to her, a policeman had parked his car and was loading passengers near the Itam motor park, when members of the task force working for my husband accosted him.

    “The victim’s task force directed that he (policeman) should enter the park and load so others should not join him in loading on the road.

    “The policeman, on mufti, resisted and the task force members demanded for the car key and he refused.

    “The car, it was gathered, was pushed into the park on the orders of the deceased to adjudicate on the matter.

    “My husband was inside another vehicle waiting for the car owner, not knowing he (policeman) had called four of his colleagues, who arrived and immediately opened fire on him,” she narrated.

    According to her, they opened fire but when the bullets could not penetrate his body; they resorted to using their gun butts to club him till he became unconscious.

    She explained that several other policemen attached to a construction firm were called for more reinforcement and more sporadic shootings followed, leading to people scampering for safety including the task force officers.

    Read also: Akwa Ibom APC seeks tribunal’s relocation to Abuja

    “Luckily, one of the policemen who participated in my husband’s death was trying to escape from the scene and unfortunately for him, his identity card fell off his shirt and was picked up as evidence on the scene.

    “The name of the policeman is Sergeant Nwafor Silas, from Ebonyi State Police Command and attached to a construction company with service number “425015”, she said.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Itam Division, CSP Francis Irabor, who visited the deceased at the God’s Own Hospital, Park Road, near Itam Park before he died, confirmed the incident.

    He promised full-scale investigations into the matter, while assuring that appropriate punishment would be meted on the culprits.

    Reacting, the Akwa Ibom Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Odiko Macdon, said he was busy and would not comment on the issue.

    “As I speak, I am very busy; I may not be able to give you whatever answer you want now.

    “I am in a meeting, as you know we have a new CP. So let me do what I have to do first,” Macdon said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident that led to Udofia’s death happened on March 28.

  • Tensions in A’Ibom as Policemen kill NURTW chairman

    There is palpable tension in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital following the gruesome murder of the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Comrade Ubong Udo Udofia, by angry Policemen.

    Udofia, 45, a.k.a ‘Evolution’, was said to have been killed by four policemen who used to hit him after trying unsuccessfully to kill him through direct shooting.

    Narrating her ordeal at their home at 179, Ikpa Road, Afaha Oku, Uyo, the state capital on Friday, the distraught wife, Margareth, fighting back tears, explained that her husband met his untimely death when minor argument with a Policeman resulted in full blown brawl.

    “I was just returning from the market when I was called suddenly to witness what happened to my husband. When I got to the place, my husband was already gasping for breath until he gave up in my present”.

    According to her, “a Policeman had parked his car and was loading passengers near the Itam motor park, when members of the task force working for my husband accosted him and directed that he should enter the park and load so others should not join”.

    The Policeman, on mufti, she added, resisted and the task force members demanded for the car key and he refused. The car, it was gathered, was pushed into the park on the orders for the deceased to adjudicate on the matter.

    “My husband was inside another vehicle waiting for the car owner, not knowing he had called four of his colleagues, who arrived, and immediately opened fire but when the bullets could not get at him, they resorted to using gun butts to club him till he became unconscious.

    “Several other Policemen attached to construction firm, Julius Berger, were called for more reinforcement and more sporadic shooting followed leading to people scampering for safety including the task force officers,” she explained.

    Mrs. Udofia, who lamented over what would become of her nine children left behind with the death of her husband, called the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the state Police Command and the government of governor Udom Emmanuel, to ensure justice was done in the case.

    “We have nine children to take care of and the eldest is just 15 and none has entered the university yet. So my appeal is that my husband should not die in vain because all the evidence point to deliberate and premeditated murder because my husband and the task force members did not beat the Policeman.

    “All they did was just to direct him to comply with the regulation of loading in the park and not constitute road nuisance by loading on the road side because touting is illegal in Akwa Ibom.

    “Luckily, one of the Policemen who participated in my husband’s death was trying to escape from the scene and unfortunately for him, his identity card fell off his shirt and was picked up as evidence on the scene.

    “The name of the Policeman is Sergeant Nwafor Silas, from Ebonyi State Police Command and attached to Julius Berger with service number; 425015”, she said.

    Disturbed by the incident, it was gathered that NURTW officials were poised for protest, even as angry youths of Afaha Oku, were said to have plotted a reprisal attack.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Itam Division, CSP Francis Irabor, who visited the deceased at the God’s Own Hospital, Park Road, before he died, promised full scale investigation into the matter, assuring that appropriate punishment would be meted on the culprits.

    Besides, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Odike Macdon, confirmed the incident but could not ascertain whether any reprisal attacks were in the offing.

    The truth of the matter, he assured would be known at the end of the investigations, even as he appealed to the people not to take the laws into their own hands.

    The remains of the late task force chair, according to the family have been deposited at the Etang Ekak Mortuary along IBB Way, Uyo.

  • A’Ibom APC seeks relocation of election tribunals to Abuja

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom has asked the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice to relocate all election tribunals from the state to Abuja.

    In a letter by the State chairman of the party, Obong Ini Okopido to the AGF, the APC said the move became necessary in view of plots by the Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Mr. Mike Igini, the state government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to perpetrate electoral fraud.

    Okopido specifically alleged Igini, the state government and the PDP are planning to destroy electoral materials needed to substantiate the election petition of the APC.

    ”We observe with deep regrets that since Mr. Mike Igini superintended over the worst general elections ever conducted in Akwa Ibom State, that was fraught with manifest irregularities and wide spread electoral infractions, the REC is now unveiling a grand scheme to thwart and create a chaotic environment to pave way for the pervasion of justice.

    ”We have been reliably informed that the REC is now intimidating electoral officers who participated in the just concluded general elections in the State, particularly, Collation Officers, Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs), Presiding Officers (POs) and Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs), handing over their phone numbers to hired assassins and PDP killer squad to forcefully coerce them to concoct and fabricate false reports of violence, ballot paper snatching, all in a bid to justify the clandestine activities of Mr. Mike Igini days after the purported declaration of results, seeing that unit results will expressly show that candidates of the All Progressives Congress clearly won the elections by the votes directly delivered at the polling units across the state.

    “This latest action by the leadership of INEC in Akwa Ibom State has vindicated our stand expressed in various fora before the general elections that Mr. Mike Igini is a biased umpire, heavily compromised by the Akwa Ibom State Government to truncate the smooth conduct of free and fair elections.

    “We therefore reiterate in unambiguous terms, that INEC under Mr. Mike Igini cannot guarantee credibility and the ethos of fair play as demonstrated with this plot hatched to frustrate the electoral process.”

    The Akwa Ibom State APC said the immediate relocation of the elections tribunal to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja would forestall breakdown of law and order.

    The party also reiterated the call for the immediate redeployment of Mr. Mike Igini to pave way for a level-playing field for all parties that partook in the elections.

    It also called on security agencies to provide adequate security to all ad-hoc staffs of INEC in the state and properly investigate and bring to book, thugs allegedly paid by the PDP to intimidate or coerce non-yielding election officials.

    Reacting to the allegation that he was destroying ballot papers, the Igini said: ”On the allegation that the commission is destroying ballot papers needed to substantiate election petition at the tribunal I challenge anyone to come forth with proof to show where and when such thing happened”.

    The REC said it was ridiculous for anyone to link him with electoral fraud, adding he was just an unbiased umpire in the elections and did not play any role in determining who Akwa Ibom voters choose.

    ”Mike Igini was not in any of the 298 polling units of Akwa Ibom state where elections took place.

    “I was not in any of the local government collation centres where the results were collated and announced.

    ”The people of Akwa Ibom openly expressed their will on whom to govern them through the ballot paper and that was what happened during the elections the people have spoken. My job was only to supervise the elections,” he said.

  • Navy arrests 12 suspects over alleged illegal bunkering

    The Nigerian Navy on Wednesday said it had arrested 12 crew members of a ship for alleged illegal bunkering of Automotive Gas Oil otherwise known as diesel.

    It announced that it had also seized a ship.

    The Commanding Officer, Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom, Navy Captain Reginald Adoki, made this known while handing over the suspects to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at Ibaka.

    He said that the suspects were arrested along Mbo River, coming from Cameroon, adding that the suspects were arrested at 8.40 p.m., based on intelligence report.

    “This vessel, NV Sword Fish 5, along with 12 crew members were arrested by the Nigerian Navy, Ibaka, when our gun boat was carrying out a patrol along the Calabar River.

    “The vessel was arrested while it was conducting illegal bunkering of substance suspected to be automotive gas oil (diesel) to another platform without due authorisation,” he said.

    Adoki said that other six suspects were also arrested in connection with smuggling of 523 bags of 50 kilogrammes of contraband rice.

    He said that the petroleum product was smuggled from the Republic of Cameroon, with three 40-Horsepower outboard engines, one pumping machine, a wooden boat and 52 empty plastic drums.

    Read also: Dedicated vessels to fight illegal fishing underway, says navy

    “At the time of arrest, we were able to confirm that the vessel has no approval for the transfer of the product it was conducting at the time.

    “This violates extent regulations as regarding movement of petroleum products on Nigeria’s maritime environment,” Adoki said.

    He said that the Navy was committed to ensuring that it rid the area of illegal maritime activities.

    Receiving the suspects, Zonal Head of EFCC, Uyo, Mr Abdukarim Chukkoh, said that the action of the ship and crew members was an economic sabotage.

    He said the commission was at the forefront of tackling such crimes.

    “The EFCC is a body created to investigate cases of economic crimes and we see this as an economic crime.

    “We can assure you that we are going to take up this matter, to investigate and at the end of our investigation, we are going to charge them to court and the court will do justice,” Chukkoh said.

    He thanked the Nigerian Navy for the cooperation, saying “this is to show that we all work together in trying to achieve our goal’’.

    On his part, Mr Elton Edorhe, Controller, Eastern Marine Command, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Port Harcourt, commended the Navy for the synergy, saying that the suspects would be duly prosecuted.

    Edorhe, who was represented by Ali Garko, an Assistant Controller of Customs, said that the suspected crime would be investigated, adding that the suspects would be prosecuted, and the items forfeited to Federal Government.

    Reacting, one of the suspects, Bakpa Yerinmene, who is the Captain of the seized ship, denied the involvement of his ship and crew in illegal bunkering.

    He said that they were performing their legitimate duty when they were arrested by the Nigerian Navy.

    “We were on the field standing by, doing our work, as we were officially sent to go to one of the batches called Agbani Production platform,” he said.

    One of the rice smuggling suspects, Jerry Julius, from Ondo, said that he had lost a lot of money in the business, but that he was sorry that he was arrested for smuggling rice.

    “We are always based where there is water because our business is based on water, and everybody is looking for greener pasture.

    “I am sorry that I was arrested because I didn’t know it will end up this way,” he said.

    Julius said that he had been in the business for three years. (NAN)