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Tag: Anambra

  • NDLEA nabs man, seizes N1.78bn hard drug

    NDLEA nabs man, seizes N1.78bn hard drug

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Anambra says it has arrested a 31-year-old man, Vincent Chidiebere, for allegedly peddling hard drug worth N1.78 billion.

    Addressing newsmen in Onitsha on Tuesday, the Commander of NDLEA in the state, Mr Sule Momodu, said that the suspect was arrested in Awka on July 28 with methamphetamine weighing 25.2kg.

    Momodu said that the arrest followed a tip-off that a shipment of methamphetamine would pass through Anambra from Enugu to Lagos.

    “Based on the information, we were able to set up a team to search certain vehicles from a particular company.

    “At about 11a.m. same day, we were able to intercept the vehicle carrying the substance and arrested the suspec.”

    Momodu, who said the substance tested positive, described the substance as “one of the most potent illicit drugs in the world which has a lot of destructive tendencies on the user.”

    According to him, someone under the influence of such drug can be influenced to make disastrous decisions and can make criminals test the nation’s security to its limit.

    The commander said besides the security threat posed by the users, the drug posed a health hazard in the community where it is

    He said the chemicals used for the production were highly toxic and could cause permanent destruction to the eco-system.

    “The waste from the drug is more toxic than the extracted substance.

    “The people around where it is being produced are likely to be exposed to cancer and other incurable diseases while children that are also born in the area are likely to be deformed.”

    Momodu, who expressed the readiness of the agency to fight illicit drug production and peddling in the state, urged the public to volunteer information that could help stop the illicit business.

    Although, the agency had discovered three methamphetamine laboratories located at Nanka, Ozubulu and Obosi areas of the state, the commander also expressed the belief that more laboratories still exist.

    He reminded the public that Gov. Willie Obiano had pledged a reward of N500, 000 to anyone with information on where the substances were being produced within the state.

     

    “Most of the methamphetamine being produced are destined for Asian countries,” he said, adding that a kilogramme of methamphetamine was sold at about 150, 000 dollars.

     

    Momodu said that the suspect would be arraigned when investigation was completed.

  • APC ready to take over Anambra in 2018, says Ngige

    APC ready to take over Anambra in 2018, says Ngige

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it will win the 2018 governorship election in Anambra State.

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige spoke yesterday about the party’s plans to take over the state in the next election.

    The former Anambra State governor alluded to his 34 months in the saddle in the state, saying former Governor Peter Obi and his successor, Governor Willie Obiano, had not equalled his record.

    Addressing reporters at his Alor country home in Idemili South Local Government Area, Ngige said APC was serious about the race to the Government House in Awka.

    Though he refused to say if he would contest, there had been rumours that the minister was warming up for the 2018 race.

    But he only said it was too early for anybody to start campaigning for the race.

    At the weekend, Ngige held a meeting with APC officials in the 326 political wards in the state.

    He reminded them that they were the engine room of the party and that there was need to ensure the growth of the party in their areas.

    Ngige said: “APC will be in serious contention for the office of governor next year because we are determined to take over the Government House.

    “However, it is too early to begin to talk about whether one will contest or not, since, by the Constitution of Nigeria and the Electoral Act, the governorship election will take place, perhaps in December next year.

    “Before then, the marshal plan APC has for Nigeria would have been on ground properly as we believe that will help us during the campaigns. For now, anybody saying he is campaigning for the governorship race is only wasting his time. There is still enough time for that.

    “Even when they tried to do multiplicity of roads, their roads have collapsed, while the ones I did are still in perfect conditions.

    “Even the handover of schools they are priding themselves about was started by me as I had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the religious leaders and handed over 37 schools on paper before we left office.

    “If they had followed my agricultural road for money map, Anambra State would have been feeding the whole nation with rice by now. If I were to be governor today, I won’t be going to Abuja for money because our state would have been self-sufficient.”

     

  • Ekwueme, Anyaoku rally Anambra community

    Ekwueme, Anyaoku rally Anambra community

    Obosi, hometown of former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Emeka Anyaoku, came alive as the veteran diplomat, and former Vice President Alex Ekwueme led other dignitaries to honour former Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Marshal Osita Chidota’s grandmother, the late Madam Juliana Obumnwe Chidoka. NWANOSIKE ONU reports

    The sheer number of dignitaries was enough statement: it was not just another day in Obosi, Anambra State. Former Vice President Alex Ekwueme was there, as was son of the soil, veteran diplomat and former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Emeka Anyaoku. So also were Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, traditional rulers and priests.

    They were in town to honour Madam Juliana Obumnwe Chidoka, grandmother of former Corps Marshal of the FRSC Mr. Osita Chidoka.

    Some 91 years ago, Madam Chidoka wedded at the Saint Andrew’s Church, Obosi, and went on to deliver and nurture other Chidokas, one of whom would become the FRSC chief as well as a federal minister. In her memory and to honour the church to which they all stuck, Madam Chidoka’s grandchildren built a hall at Saint Andrew’s.

    There was more to the occasion. The celebrities used it to rally Obosi residents, urging them to give back to their community. Anyaoku made that point clear.

    Obosi is in Idemili North local government of Anambra State.

    It was an event that stood out in the community. It coincided with the closing ceremony of the Anglican synod that took place at the church premises.

    For Osita Chidoka, it was a monument to the memory of their matriarch and more importantly, as a generational reminder of their incalculable debt to their Anglican roots planted and nurtured by Juliana Chidoka.

    “Mama wedded in this church founded in 1882 in 1925 and gave birth to my father in 1926,” he said. “My father’s joy knows no bounds as he turns 90 years in November.”

    The traditional ruler of the kingdom, Igwe Chidubem Iweka was not short of appreciation for the Chidoka family for donating a storey building hall to the church in Obosi.

    The monarch said the family had made the people of Obosi proud by remembering the matriarch of the family 91 years after.

    Also, another son of Obosi, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who was all smiles on the day, told The Nation that it was important to always give back to the society.

    He said he equally built a school opposite the church for the community, describing the action of the Chidokas as a wonderful gesture to the church and community.

    The gesture, according to the former commonwealth secretary general, brought important people from all walks of life to the community.

    Again, he said it was good because it coincided with the Anglican synod hosted at St. Andrews in the community, adding that the community had written its name in gold.

    One of the women in the community, Agnes Ibesi told The Nation that the philanthropy of the Chidoka family was unrivaled in Obosi, adding that the former minister also built homes for the less privileged in the area.

    “We are not going to forget the family in a hurry because they have helped and lifted some down trodden individuals in the society”

    The speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Dogara was represented by the member, representing Ideato North and south federal constituency in Imo state, Hon. Austine Chukwukere, who praised the Chidokas’ for the gigantic building for the church.

    He said the family led by example, while calling on others to emulate them.

    The synod and the dedication of the church hall were equally attended by the former governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi, the deputy governor of the state, Dr. Nkem Okeke, among others.

     

  • Anambra community petitions Obiano, police, DSS

    Anambra community petitions Obiano, police, DSS

    Anambra State Governor Chief Willie Obiano and Police Commissioner Hosea Karma have been petitioned by Umunze community in Orumba South Local Government Area, following the court ruling restoring the town’s union leadership.

    Also, petitioned was the Department of State Service (DSS), the traditional ruler of Umunze, Igwe Promise Eze, the chairman of Orumba South Council Area among others.

    The petition was signed by the elected president of Umunze Progressive Union (UPU), Chris Amah and the secretary general of the union, Dom O. N. Uka and made available to reporters in Awka.

    It was entitled, “request to remove the caretaker committee administering the affairs of the union.

    The community said that it was sequel to the order of the High court, Awka made on the May 5, 2016, striking out the suit No. A/225/2007, Simeon Onunkwo and 10 others versus Governor of Anambra State and six others.

    According to the petition dated June 1, 2016: “It has become necessary to make this clarification because of the protracted case that led to the appointment of a caretaker committee in Umunze by the government of Anambra State.”

    “We now request that the caretaker committee administering the affairs of Umunze town should cease from functioning.”

    “Since the suit, together with the order of injunction has been struck out by the court, there is nothing preventing the validly elected executives of (UPU) from continuing carrying out their functions and duties,” the community said.

  • Anambra PDP: A divided house

    Anambra PDP: A divided house

    The division in the Anambra State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has not abated. At the recent ward, local government and state congresses, the stakeholders refused to find a common ground. Correspondent NWANOSIKE ONU examines the impact of the protracted crisis on the future of the chapter. 

    Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State have been at daggers drawn for many years over seemingly inconsequential issues. Their troubles are yet to abate, because they are many. It is as if the epic novel written by the late Prof. Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, mirrors the crisis-ridden chapter.

    Unity has become elusive for the Anambra PDP, because its gladiators are in disarray. The balkanisation of the party has bought more pains to its members at the grassroots and they are now at the crossroads. Despite the verdict of the Supreme Court last year that ceded the leadership of the party to Ejike Oguebego, the party’s problems have continued to grow.

    Since that Supreme Court judgment, neither the faction led by Prince Ken Emeakayi, nor that of Oguebego has rested. Rather than uniting the party, ahead of the 2017 governorship and 2019 presidential elections, it has brought more divisions among its members. As a result, some of the bigwigs are now looking for greener pastures, either in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). Some have even quit politics.

    Those who have already joined the APC include: business mogul, Chief Dr. Obinna Uzo and governorship candidate of the party in the 2013 election, Dr. Tony Nwoye. Right now, Nwoye, who is the former President of National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), is representing Anambra East and West at the House of Representatives. He was elected on the PDP platform.

    Others that are hobnobbing with the APC, as a result of the disunity in the PDP include: oil magnates, Prince Arthur Eze and Sir Emeka Offor, businessman Chief Cletus Ibeto and Chief Ernest Obijesie. Furthermore, other chieftains Ibeto former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, have decided to sit on the fence, by having nothing to do with the platform, even though they are still card-carrying members.

    During its last congress, it became obvious that the party has sunk deeper into the mire. The 11-man congress committee sent to Anambra by the National Working Committee (NWC), led by Hon. Ladi Edun, was divided.

    While Edun, who was accused of absconding to an unknown destination on arrival in the state, resurfaced after the ward and local government congress to conduct the state congress.

    He was cornered by Senators Stella Oduah and Andy Uba, while the splinter group of four members, led by Alhaji Abubarka Mallam, pitched its tent with the Board of Trustee’s (BoT) member, Chief Chris Uba, Senator Annie Okonkwo and others.

    The intrigues led to further division in the party during the congress. This led to the declaration of Ejike Oguebego as chairman of the Chris Uba camp and Ken Emeakayi as the chairman of the Oduah, Andy Uba camp.

    Before then, Edun had told The Nation that he was the person mandated by the national headquarters of the party to conduct the congress and that he is not aware of any parallel committee as being speculated. He added that members of the committee went to the police, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Directorate of State Security (DSS), to announce their presence on arrival in Anambra.

    He said: “We know there is crisis in the state chapter, but our appeal is that members should come together to make the party strong again, as the governorship election approaches.”

    The melodrama did not end there. The person who conducted the parallel congress, Alhaji Abubakar Mallam, told The Nation that he decided to go ahead with the congress because none of them knew the whereabouts of Edun, since his arrival in the state.

    He said it is the duty of the party at the national level to determine which group is authentic. He also called for the stakeholder’s meeting before the congress.

    Many observers are of the view that the PDP has many rivers to cross in Anambra State. The party leaders have refused to come together because of their selfish interests. For instance, since the Supreme Court judgment, the Chris Uba and the Andy Uba camps have been at loggerheads, fighting against the INEC on who should represent their constituents at the National Assembly.

    Following his travails with the authorities over monies paid to him, prior to the last general elections, the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, is not finding things easy with the present administration. So, he has stayed out of the crisis. Other members of the party, including Oduah, are also facing similar charges of alleged corruption with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Given the cat and mouse relationship among its members, the people of Anambra are now disenchanted with the performance of their representatives, both at the state and National Assemblies. They are being accused of selfishness.

    As far as Senator Okonkwo is concerned, his group followed the party’s guidelines and constitution in conducting its congresses. He added that the congress was done and supervised by the administrative secretary of the party in the state. He said the impunity being unleashed by some members will eventually come to naught.

    Apart from the two chairmen that emerged after the congresses at Emmaus House and Marble Arch Hotels, both in Awka, a third group, led by Mr. Ngozi Agudosi, has emerged. Agudosi, who caused confusion within the group that elected Emeakayi, alleged that he was short-changed, because he accepted the court order that backed Emeakayi.

    The order by Ihiala High Court procured by Emeakayi sought to use the list of old party delegates to conduct the congresses.

    The scenario suggests that the problems of the Anambra PDP are too numerous to be resolved in a jiffy. To solve them, the factions must harmonise and chieftains must throw away their ego to work as one family.

    If these issues are left unattended, the PDP may as well forget the 2017 governorship election and other elective positions in the state for the APGA and the APC in future elections.

  • Anambra poll: Court okays contempt proceedings against INEC chair, Yakubu

    •Form 48, other court papers to be served on commission’s chief

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has given Ejike Oguebego and Chuks Okoye, the Chairman and Legal Adviser of Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the green light to begin contempt proceedings against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

    Oguebego and Okoye, who are suing for themselves and on behalf of other members of the Executive Committee of the PDP in Anambra State, are accusing Prof Yakubu of refusing to obey the December 5, 2015 judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, delivered by Justice Evoh Chukwu.

    Justice Chukwu, in the fifth order contained in the judgement, restrained INEC, its agents, among others, “from accepting or receiving any delegates’ list or nominated candidates that may emerge from the congresses or primaries conducted by the caretaker committee set up by the first defendant (PDP) for the Anambra PDP, except those that emanate from the plaintiffs”.

    Bothered by INEC’s alleged refusal to comply with the judgment, particularly the Fifth order, Oguebego and Okoye initiated contempt proceedings against the INEC chairman before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Last Friday (May 20), Justice John Tsoho (also of the Federal High Court, Abuja) granted an order ex-parte for substituted service of processes in relation to the contempt proceedings, including Form 48, on Prof Yakubu.

    For service on the INEC chairman, Justice Tsoho directed the plaintiffs to serve the court processes, including Form 48 on “an adult person, staff or official at the Legal Department of INEC at 436 Zambezi Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, being the usual place of business of the second respondent (Yakubu)”.

    On INEC, the judge ordered the services of all processes, including Form 46, “by delivering or leaving same at the Legal Department of INEC, the commission, having refused to accept service of same from the bailiffs of this honourable court”.

    The Form 48 issued by the court’s Registrar on March 31 is a notice of consequences of disobedience to order of court.

    It states: “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in the order of the honourable court, attached to this Form (in particular, the Fifth order, restraining you from acting on any list of nominated candidates for the PDP in Anambra State in respect of Legislative seats for the 2015 general election, except those that emanated from the plaintiffs), you will be guilty of contempt of court, and you will be liable to be committed to prison.

    “Take further notice that if the INEC continues to disobey this order, you, Prof Yakubu, the Chairman of INEC, will be held liable for contempt of court and liable to imprisonment.”

    Justice Tsoho adjourned further proceedings till May 27.

  • Anambra FA launches I-family-1 footballer project

    Anambra FA launches I-family-1 footballer project

    Newly elected Anambra State Football Association led by Ifeanyi Ubah has unveiled a blue print aimed at fast-tracking development of the game in the state.

    The blue print plans to identify and nuture one footballer per family using a forthcoming family football festival as landing pad.  About 50,000 Anambarian families at home and in the diaspora will participate in the festival that will run for two weeks across the various communities in the state with various giveaways up for grabs.

    Discovered players will be groomed by the best hands in the country in an academy to be set up by the association.

    Ubah, who revealed during a parley that a massive Games village is soon to be built in the state, explained that the village will have six pitches with two pitches devoted to up and coming players between the ages of 6 and 12, two pitches for those between 13 and 20 and the last two pitches for amateur footballers.  He expressed optimism that the blueprint and project when completed will contribute greatly to the state’s internally generated revenue.

    He thanked Governor Willie Obiano for promising to support the association’s programmes describing it as a visionary step.

  • Anambra celebrates peace with herdsmen

    Anambra celebrates peace with herdsmen

    Elsewhere, relations between Fulani cattle herders and local communities may not be at their best following suspected herdsmen’s attacks, but in Anambra State, there is peace. NWANOSIKE ONU tells why

    While many states are still smarting from their encounters with suspected Fulani herdsmen, Anambra is happy being left alone by the herders. At Nimbo, an agrarian community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, suspected cattle herders reportedly killed scores of residents less than three weeks ago, but in Anambra State there are no such worries, the state said.

    An aide to Governor Willie Obiano, Hon. Tony Collins Nwabunwanne explained the state’s celebratory tone, saying it is at peace with the Fulani community in the state.

    Speaking with The Nation in Awka, the state capital, Nwabunwanne, who is the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters, said herdsmen will not attack any Anambra community because of the cordial relationship between the state and the Fulani community.

    Nwabunwanne was quick to credit Governor Obiano with the peace.

    He said Anambra would have been the first place for such attacks based on the boundaries shared with such neighbours as Enugu and Kogi states, where herders have clashed with the local communities, but for Obiano’s vision and some measures he took.

    What were those measures?

    Nwabunwanne said, first, the state government set up a tripartite committee involving security operatives, host communities and Fulani leadership.

    That committee is headed by the state commissioner of police, Mr. Hosea Karma.

    Also on the committee are  Department of State Service (DSS), the military and Civil Defence, among others.

    Furthermore, Obiano, according to him, came up with the idea of paying compensation to herdsmen or host communities depending on who was at fault.

    “And because of these strategies, Anambra has been at peace with the herdsmen, the governor is the man who saw tomorrow, the issue of herdsmen does not exist in the state.”

    He called on other Southeast and Northern governors to emulate Obiano to forestall further herdsmen’s attacks in the country.

    Since the killings of the Nimbo people in Uzo-Uwani Enugu State on April 25, there had been outrage in all the communities in the zone.

    As a result, Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) had entered into consultations with other Igbo groups in the zone according to the leader of the movement, Comrade Uchenna Madu.

    The Nation gathered that other militia groups like the Bakassi Boys have also mobilised to ward off any further attacks by the Fulani herdsmen on their people.

     

  • Uba brothers, Oduah battle for Anambra PDP congress

    As the Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) holds its state congress tomorrow, Chief Chris Uba and his elder brother, Senator Andy Uba, appeared to have renewed their battle for the control of the party.

    Also, the senator representing Anambra North, Stella Oduah, is among the party’s top players in the quest to produce the state chairman in tomorrow’s congress.

    It was gathered yesterday in Awka, the state capital, that PDP’s national body recognised the ward and local government congresses organised by the Chief Ejike Oguebego leadership.

    The state congress will take place at the spacious Emmaus House in Awka with the chieftains battle-ready to produce the party’s executives.

    PDP’s national body recently dissolved the executives in 33 states except in three others.

    But the party’s crisis has not abated as two different committees monitored the congresses in the state during the ward and council congresses.

    It was gathered that Alhaji Abubakar Mallam (Shettima Gwandu) was detailed for the Oguebego-led party’s congress in the state while Ladi Edun said he was posted by the party to Anambra State during the ward congress.

    During the ward congress, there were no forms of fracas, as it used to be in the state because of factions.

    Speaking with our reporter yesterday in Awka on the party’s preparedness, Oguebego said PDP members were ready to elect their executives.

    He said the party’s Administrative Secretary was carrying everybody along.

    The party’s big wigs, like Chief Chris Uba, his siblings – Senators Ugochukwu and Andy – were said to have arrived in the state ahead of the state congress.

    Also, Oduah, who was Aviation Minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan; her successor in the ministry, Chief Osita Chidoka; a chieftain, Annie Okonkwo, among others, were also said to have arrived in the state.

  • 20 injured as youths cause mayhem in Anambra

    20 injured as youths cause mayhem in Anambra

    No fewer than 20 persons were injured while 13 buildings and five vehicles were destroyed when rival youth groups engaged in supremacy battle in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    One of the rival groups protested the introduction of another youth movement, called Obiano Youth Vanguard by the state government.

    The angry youths were quoted as saying that they did not want another youth movement in the community.

    The youths said it was not possible that two movements should exist in Obosi at the same time and called on the Anambra state Governor Chief Willie Obiano to disband the newly introduced Chief Willie Obiano Youth Vanguard.

    Obiano’s youth vanguard was allegedly headed by Chimezie Chukwurah with immediate effect, in the interest of peace in Obosi.

    The Nation gathered Tuesday that members of Obosi Youths Movement swooped on their rival group when they were having a celebration meeting over the appointment of Chimezie Chukwurah as the Chairman of Obiano Youth Vanguard in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra state.

    The attackers were said to have arrived at the scene with dangerous weapons, including guns, matchets and axes.

    Not satisfied with the situation, they thereafter moved to the houses of their arrival group members for further assault.

    Affected in the damages was the house of the President- General, PG, of the community, Chief Igbokwubili Dan Chimezie.

    In his reaction, the President General of the Town Union Chief Igbokwubili Dan Chimezie said, “You can see how they used machetes on my gate, my wife’s shop, the security lights and part of my residential building.

    “The youths said they don’t want parallel youth movement, that only the one which is under the control of the monarch will function.”

    Another community leader and retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, Chief Godfrey Emeka Okeke said, “I thank God that the rival group did not revenge, it would have been worse”

    Speaking from their hospital beds, Nonso Nwangwu, Chijioke Ejindu, Chukwuebuka Osadebe and Anene Maduka who had machete cuts on their heads, legs, hands, waist and chest stated that the Obosi land management committee council, otherwise called Obosi Youths took them by surprise.

    Ngozi Afoagu and Mrs. Ngozi Okeke narrated their ordeal and how their houses were touched adding that the only solution to the crisis was peace.