The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bayelsa

  • Court Martial convicts officer for defrauding Bayelsa of N150m

    Court Martial convicts officer for defrauding Bayelsa of N150m

    A General Court Martial (GCM) yesterday sentenced an army officer, Lt-Col. R. A. Ahangba, to seven years in prison for defrauding the Bayelsa State Government of N150 million.

    Ahangba reportedly committed the offence under the guise of helping a former governor to secure a re-election.

    The convict, whose service number was given as N9827, faced four counts of obtaining fraudulently; committing a conduct that was prejudicial to service discipline; disobedience to standing order and a conduct that was prejudicial to duty.

    The court was presided over by Gen. Edward Nze and Judge Advocate, Capt Chukwudi Okonkwo.

    Ahangba was accused of obtaining the money in 2011 from former Governor Timipre Sylva, to help facilitate his re-election during the 2011 gubernatorial elections.

    The convict was arrested in 2012, following a petition from late Gen. Andrew Azazi, former National Security Adviser, NSA, to the army headquarters.

    Azazi had complained that the convict impersonated him and collected money from Bayelsa State Government.

    It was learnt that the convict had contacted some officials of the State falsely on behalf of Azazi and had asked for N150million to execute community projects in some of the communities in Ekeremo Local Government and in turn would secure some electoral votes for their principal officer.

    According to the evidence of bank documents of the convict, which was tendered as exhibit in the court, the state government had actually transferred the said amount into his account, which he diverted into obtaining shares from First Bank and UBA registrars.

    He was said to have given the sums of N5million and N8million respectively, to one Lieutenant Agaku and another unidentified lady in the bank.

    Investigations revealed that although the money was intended to facilitate some community projects, the convict had no intention of executing it as he speedily moved the money to his private account.

    Delivering judgment, Nze said: “The court has no doubt in mind that the accused person suggested the projects to officials of the Bayelsa State Government from the evidence before it.

    “Again, the evidence before this court showed that he collect the said money from the state government as shown by bank documents tendered as exhibit P7 to P10 and the money was never used by the NSA.

    “Thus he never assisted the Bayelsa State Government in winning or canvassing for votes in his state as alleged by the convict.”

    After sentencing him to seven years, Nze noted that the court’s decision was subject to superior authority from the army headquarters.

    He said: “The officer by the sentence, is automatically dismissed from the army unless the judgment was overturned.

    “As a rule, ex-convicts do not serve in the armed forces and so if the superior authorities enforce the decision of the court, it automatically means that the officer has been dismissed.”

    Commenting on the judgment, counsel to the defendant, Ifeanyi Mmaduabuchi, admitted that the decision was binding but insisted they will appeal the judgment.

    He said: “We are aggrieved that we are going to the Appeal Court but as at now, the judgment is binding. However, there are certain issues we have brought up that were not addressed.

     

     

  • Hoodlums chop off corps member’s hand in Bayelsa

    Miss Folakemi Akinbode’s commitment to serve her country under the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was yesterday rewarded with a bitter experience.

    Unknown persons in her host community severed her right limb.

    The 26-year old, who hails from Ondo State, is now a patient at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, her place of primary assignment.

    She was rushed to the hospital after a gang of two suspected to be cultists attacked her on her way home.

    The nursing graduate from Madonna University was attacked at about 8.30pm by the machete-wielding bandits.

    The bandits were said to have waylaid her on a lonely path and aimed the cutlass at her head.

    While trying to protect herself, the corps member was said to have used her right hand as a shield.

    But in the process, the machete landed on her hand and chopped off her limb.

    “The limb was dangling. It was only the flesh that held it together,” a source said.

    A corps member, who gave his name as Fred, said the victim was assigned to the teaching hospital.

    “She was attacked by two persons. The machete blow landed on her right hand while she was trying to fend off her attackers,” he said.

    He lamented that the Corpers Lodge was also attacked the same night by armed youths.

    He added: “Five bandits attacked us at the lodge late at night from the nearby bushes. It was so sudden, and before we could realise what was happening, they attacked everyone in sight with machetes and knives. Many of us fled into the darkness.”

    Panic-stricken corps members were seen in groups discussing the development.

    The victim was still unconscious at the time of filing this report. The dangling limb has been sewn together by doctors.

    The NYSC state secretariat failed to comment on the incident.

    The Ibolou XI of Obunagha, Godsgive Apoh, condemned the incident.

    He said he had summoned an emergency meeting of the Youth Vigilante Association to investigate and apprehend the perpetrators.

    Police spokesman Alex Akhigbe said the police were yet to arrest any suspect.

    “The operatives of the command have been deployed to track down the attackers,” he said.

  • Intrigues as Ondo, Bayelsa battle for NDDC top job

    Intense lobbying has begun over which state will produce the next Executive Director (Projects) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), The Nation has learnt.

    The plum job, it was gathered, has been zoned to Ondo and Bayelsa states.

    Sources disclosed President Goodluck Jonathan is currently in a dilemma on which of the two states will produce the next Executive Director of Projects (ED/P) of the NDDC.

    The Nation further gathered that Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has recommended a retired director of the commission, Mr. Benson Obayelu, for the position, while his Bayelsa State counterpart, Seriake Dickson, has nominated a younger brother of former governor of the state for the plum job.

    Mimiko has also forwarded the names of the current state representative on the board, Dele Citizen Omogbemi, and former NBA Chairman, Okitipupa zone, Barrister Amuwa Benson, as the state representative on the new board to the Presidency for consideration out of which one of the nominees’ names will be sent to the National Assembly for ratification.

    The source said, “President Jonathan is under serious pressure to appoint an indigene of Bayelsa State as the next ED/P of NDDC and preferably the younger brother of a former governor of his home state.

    Other sources said Jonathan may have decided to pacify the loser state with the position of Executive Director, Finance and Administration (EDFA) of the commission, while the chairman of the new Board may come from Cross River State based on the statutory alphabetical arrangement for the appointments of the Chairman of the board among the oil producing states.

    “Ordinarily, if the president wants to follow the list of the appointments of past board members and their positions, the new ED/P should have come from Ondo State, because Bayelsa State has produced the former MD, Chairman and EDFA of the commission in the past,” a source said.

    For the nominee from Rivers State, sources said some forces within and outside the state are putting pressure on Jonathan not to accept any nominee of the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

    This development may not be unconnected with the current face-off between the governor and the Presidency.

  • Abia, Bayelsa tackle commission over 13% derivation funds

    Abia, Bayelsa tackle commission over 13% derivation funds

    Oil producing communities are up in arms against the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) over the commission’s rejection of the proposed oil communities’ fund.

    The reason for the impending face-off between the oil producing communities and the RMAFC is the rejection by the commission for the payment of the oil communities’ funds to the host communities.

    The first to disagree with the RMAFC are Abia and Bayelsa states which have joined other oil producing states to demand for the direct payment of 13 per cent derivation fund to the host communities.

    Both states have already sent separate memoranda to the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) Engr. Elias Mbam insisting that the 13 per cent desiccation fund is a first line charge on the federation account and as such should be paid to the host oil producing communities.

    Last week, the RMAFC had told the Senate at a public hearing that paying the host communities directly will result in the creation of a fourth tier of government as well as conflict with the provisions of the constitution.

    The RMAFC had told the Senate that the oil-producing host communities were already provided for by the current 13 per cent derivation arrangements, the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ministry of Niger Delta.

    The Abia memorandum was signed by 10 community leaders namely Chief Jones Udeogu, Barrister Chinedu Elechi, Chief Onyema Olujie, Prince Sam Nwogu, Obinna Ememenna, Nwaloziri Ignatius, Barr Emma Ukaegbu, Hon. Ugochukwu Ekpo, Reginald Ezenta and Maduka James.

    The Abia group of oil producing communities had affirmed in their memorandum to the RMAFC that the 13 per cent derivation fund had existed before any revenue formula.

    The amount due to the fund the group argued is constitutionally set aside before any Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting to be shared while the balance of 87 per cent is what FAAC is supposed to share.

    Both Abia and Bayelsa groups noted in their separate memoranda that the “RMAFC has no right to send the 13 percent derivation fund through any state government account who is the third beneficiary of the Federation Account. It is also clear that 13 per cent Derivation Fund is not part of the consolidated fund of any tier of government.”

    According to the Abia memorandum, “the fund is not part of state/local government Joint Account, the fund as provided in the 1999 constitution is on its own and should be treated as such.”

    Oil producing communities in Bayelsa state in their memorandum urged the Federal Government to revert to the provisions of the 1982 Act in the disbursement f 13 per cent derivation fund.

  • Bayelsa: playing by showbiz rules

    Bayelsa: playing by showbiz rules

    THE line-up of entertainment activities by the Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson led government of Bayelsa State is a pointer to the axiom that ‘entertainment drives tourism’. Music, drama, film, comedy and other related leisure acts play important parts in modern society, and are becoming increasingly important as tourism motivation.

    Whereby a tourist’s desire can be measured by ‘attraction’, the key phrase for the tourism entrepreneur is ‘promotional strategy’, thus it is important to position entertainment when establishing the promotional approach of tourism enterprises.

    Entertainment is the driver of many tourist journeys, and a great deal of tourist attractions have strong entertainment connections, being areas that are used primarily for an audience to be engaged or captivated, through sensory stimulation and emotion.

    During the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) which held in April, Bayelsa was touted as the next tourism hub, I dismissed most of the plans as mere political statements. But with the unveiling of the calendar of activities that brings attention to the state almost every quarter of the year, I had barely put up my hands in compromise when the news of UNESCO’s approval of Bayelsa as host of the maiden edition of its under-water committee conference was brought to my attention. I gave up.

    I see a conscious drive by Bayelsa state to realize its desire. Dickson appeared to have played the politics and lobbying in other to create foundation for a long term project. In today’s Nigeria where every entrepreneur is not looked at with the eye of sincerity, it is difficult if not impossible to suspect a businessman who chooses a long term project.

    Meanwhile, the criticism for a long term project which the State pursues would come in form of statements like: “how would hosting a film show or pageantry or an art festival bring financial return to the state?” It’s a shortsighted sentiment, but Dickson appears to have a ready-made answer for those who think that this is all about state fund or tax payers money being showered on showmanship; showmanship because only few Nigerians see the ‘business in shows’ to be able to think showbiz.

    Many have forgotten so soon that one of the fears about the Niger Delta area is the case of insecurity, occasioned by youth restiveness and kidnapping. How else could a government explain that its domain is safe than to say that for seven years that it has hosted AMAA, with local and international stars coming to town, no incident of insecurity was recorded. And now, with the chapter of Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) being opened, the assurance of a safe business environment is being testified.

    The Governor affirmed that his administration has made huge investments in the area of security and today it is beginning to pay off as Bayelsa is now being rated as one of the most peaceful states in the country, while observing that night life has also returned to the state. Indeed, a time out at V10 night club last weekend said it all, and I recall that an old friend had told me that the popular ‘Do It All’ night club which held sway in Lagos at a time is about to resurrect in Yenagoa. What more; the proposed Silverbird Cinema in Yenagoa, with an exotic layout.

    Now, the ready answer as I said earlier is due to the fact that the State government is said to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with nine firms under the public private partnership (PPP) framework to accelerate its investment drive, spanning oil and gas, agriculture, electricity and infrastructural development.

    One business principle that I find particularly commendable is the State’s insistence that what they needed most were investment partners and not just contractors.

    With Mr. President’s assurance of technical and financial support in the promotion of the tourism industry and establish of an under Water Research and Imaging Centre in collaboration with the UNESCO for the State; an announced Federal Government’s donation of N25 million to the proposed Yenagoa Film City during the last AMAA; Governor Dickson’s proposed Bayelsa State Indigenous Movie Trust Fund with an initial donation of N250 million for the development of budding talents; the proposed hosting of over 7,000 Nigerians and foreigners for the National Tourism, Arts and Culture Festival; the UNESCO Underwater Community Conference for over 70 world experts for the African Centre for Underwater Imaging, then Dickson as eulogized by the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke, has become a great Icon of tourism. “Tourism is one of the top three economic investments in the world,” he said. “If we want to be among the top three economically viable countries and states, we better start doing what Bayelsa is doing.”

  • Bayelsa raises alarm on arms influx

    •Govt: neighbouring states responsible

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson yesterday raised the alarm on alleged arrangements by disgruntled politicians to reopen destroyed militant camps in the state.

    He said those behind the plot had started acquiring arms to actualise their scheme.

    In a tacit indictment, Dickson said “neighbouring states” were behind the plot to destabilise Bayelsa.

    Delta and Rivers states share boundaries with Bayelsa. While Delta is relatively calm, Rivers has been enmeshed in a violent power play.

    He insisted that desperate politicians and their collaborators from neighbouring states were behind some of the street protests in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    The governor alleged that such disgruntled elements, who are bent on unsettling the state, had gone underground to organise what he referred to as “sponsored mass street protest”.

    According to him, the looming protest was part of the group’s campaign of calumny and propaganda against the government.

    Dickson, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said politicians from neighbouring states had unleashed their anger on Bayelsa.

    He said: “In recent times, we have seen deliberate attempts by this group of desperate power seekers sponsoring some gullible graduates to take to the streets.

    “They were behind the recent protest by pensioners. It is sad to note that they are now on a planned mission to incite unsuspecting youths to take to the streets to protest against the government.

    “As a responsible government, we will not watchwhile these persons continue to threaten and undermine the peace and security that our government has worked so hard to put in place.

    “Hence, we wish to warn all and sundry that government will not hesitate to bring down the full weight of the law on anybody who breaches the existing peace.

    “To this end, Governor Seriake Dickson has directed security operatives to be on the alert and deal with trouble makers within the ambit of the law.”

  • Dickson replies Sylva, says ‘you are a drowning man’

    Dickson replies Sylva, says ‘you are a drowning man’

    The verbal tirade between the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Timipre Sylva and his successor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, continued on Tuesday with the later describing the former as a drowning man.

    The duo resumed hostilities recently over issues bordering on non-payment of pensions to retirees in the state for five years.

    While Dickson at a transparency briefing said he would set up a judicial commission of enquiry to probe the N5 billion backlog of pensions he inherited from the past administration, Sylva reacted by calling on him to resign.

    But the incumbent governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Iworiso-Markson, said he would not join issues with Sylva describing him as a drowning man.

    The statement said Dickson’s competence was not in doubt as “it is very much evident for all to see.”

    The statement further explained that the decision of the government to establish the judicial panel was informed by the need to address the deep-seated rot and systematic failures of some civil servants and political leaders.

    The statement said: “These persons working as syndicates have over the years siphoned N5 billion meant for the payment of pensioners in the state.

    “Concerned about the plight of these pensioners, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson since coming into office has paid N1billion to the pensioners in his efforts to clear the backlog.

    “While, we are working hard to clear the backlog, the same syndicates, instead of hiding their faces in shame, have chosen to embark on a campaign of calumny and propaganda against the government by inciting some of the pensioners to embark on streets’ protests.

    “To this end, government decided to set up the Judicial Commission of Inquiry to ascertain why pensioners were owed pension and gratuities for the past five years and the public servants that have subjected our senior citizens to untold hardship.

    “It is equally laughable that some people who may have perpetrated the scam are questioning why Governor Dickson limited the period of the investigation to five years.”

     

  • Bayelsa tackles excesses of Keke NAPEP

    Bayelsa tackles excesses of Keke NAPEP

    Before they were phased out, commercial motorcycles popularly known as okada constituted nuisances in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State.

    They contributed to increase in crime rate, high rate of accident and poor state of the metropolis.

    People, therefore, heaved a sigh of relief when Governor Seriake Dickson banned the transport sub-sector.

    Motorcyclists fled the town with their automobile. Many of them relocated to the nearby villages; others left for other states. Still some of them sold their motorcycles, stayed in the city to embrace the new transport scheme.

    After the ban on okada, the government floated a transport scheme made up of taxis and tricycles to cushion its effects. The government acquired cars and gave them out to drivers.

    The drivers of the cars, christened Restoration Cabs, were mandated to operate within the state and remit money monthly to the government.

    The scheme also provided an opportunity for people to own tricycles popularly called Keke NAPEP, in place of okada.

    But the operators of tricycles are gradually returning to the chaos that characterised the era of Okada. Their activities have become a source of worry not only to the government but also to residents, especially private car owners.

    Keke NAPEP has taken over everywhere – streets, walkways, adjoining roads and highways. They compete for space with cars and articulated vehicles. They are always involved in accidents.

    Femi Martins, a car owner, said there is no difference between Keke and Okada.

    “Keke even occupies more space than Okada thereby creating inconveniences to private car owners.

    “When Keke hits a car, the car suffers more damage than the Keke. The body of Keke is made of iron and their drivers are reckless. They compete for space and this competition always leads to accident”, he said.

    The activities of Keke have compelled the government to restrict their operations to the streets and adjoin roads.

    Commissioner for Transport Mrs. Marie Ebikake said keke had become a bone in the throat of the government.

    She said the government had decided to restrict their operation to streets and adjoining roads.

    She said the order took effect on July 10, adding that any Keke found on highways and expressways would be impounded.

    She said: “These Keke NAPEP are causing nuisance on the highway. Apart from that we thought, we are done with motorcycles but it is like the Keke NAPEP issue is worse than motorcycles.

    “Everywhere you go you get the report of accidents involving Keke. We want to save lives and property in as much as we are looking for comfort.

    “So we decided to restrict them and the implementation of the restriction took effect on July 10.

    “From that day onwards, we will impound any Keke we see on the highway except those designated areas.

    “We have put up the signs already. They can park and pick passengers on all the adjoining streets.”

    The commissioner made good her threat. Accompanied by policemen, she raided the roads twice and impounded about 100 recalcitrant commercial tricycles.

    Through the action, she said she further discovered that most of the operators were violating the registration law which requires that all the commercial tricycles must be numbered to aid the war against criminals.

    Besides, the commissioner found that the operators had yet to paint their tricycles in the state colour.

    So, the ministry decided that for all the tricycles it impounded, their owners must pay for their registration, change their colours and pay additional fines for late registration.

    Ebikake denied claims that the restoration cabs had disappeared from the roads.

    She said commercial drivers operating the cabs had so far remitted over N100 million to the Ministry of Transport within nine months, adding that the remittance was an indication that the transport scheme was working.

    On allegations that the cars provided for the scheme have been hijacked by politicians, she said: “The restoration cabs are on the road. It is not true that they have been hijacked by politicians.”

    She said Dickson had evolved a system to track the cars.

    “There is possibility of accident which is normal but it is not true that the cabs are not on the road. The drivers should know that with the system we have adopted, they cannot escape with our vehicles.”

    But the restriction order has not gone down well with the operators of commercial tricycles.

    They complain that roads in the state, especially in the capital city, are too narrow to sustain the order.

    Besides they also lamented that the streets are not connected to one another to guarantee profitability.

    The state Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Paul Oduei, urged the government not to restrict the commercial tricyclists from the popular Melford Okilo Road.

    He said: “Even if they enforce restriction order on the Sanni Abacha and the Isaac Boro highways, they should allow them to operate on the Melford Okilo Road to allow them make profit”.

     

     

  • We need more scholarships from our lawmakers, say Bayelsa students

    Forty-six students, who benefitted from a scholarship scheme sponsored by Senator Clever Ikisikpo Educational Foundation, turned Oliver Twist in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, when they asked for more sponsorship.

    Some of the students asked their lawmakers to imitate the senator’s gesture by floating more scholarship schemes.

    Ikisikpo represents Bayelsa East Senatorial District. Since 1999, the year he was elected into the state House of Assembly, his foundation has offered scholarships yearly to selected students in tertiary institutions.

    Before he was elevated to the Senate, Ikisikpo’s foundation had restricted the gesture to only students from Ogbia, the Local Government Area of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    But the foundation later expanded it to include students from Brass and Nembe in the spirits of his new position. Every year, students sit for the scholarship examination and persons who qualify are offered financial incentives.

    This year, 250 undergraduates sat for the examination but only 46 persons passed. The successful students hailed the senator when they gathered at the Ogbia Brotherhood Hall on Saturday to receive their awards.

    They described the senator’s decision to support their education as the best gift “from a lawmaker to youths from the Niger Delta”.

    They asked other lawmakers to engage in capacity building programmes for youths in the region. They urged the senator not to relent in his service to God and humanity.

    “We appreciate what the senator is doing for students every year. It has gone a long way to lift the financial burdens on our parents.

    “With this scholarship, I feel motivated to study harder and make this region proud. But we want other politicians to imitate the senator,” one of the beneficiaries, Joseph Barakumo, said.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Allison Oguru, who was at the occasion, appealed to politicians to emulate the gesture of Ikisikpo.

    He described the scheme as “the best gift one can offer a whole generation”.

    The Chief Examiner of the foundation, Prof. Alfred Ockiya, appealed to other politicians to invest in the education of people from their constituencies.

    Ikisikpo, who presented cheques to the students, said the scholarship would be extended to postgraduate students from next year.

    He said the foundation was also working to establish entrepreneurial scheme for fresh graduates in the senatorial district.

    Ikisikpo also presented cheques to old beneficiaries of the foundation.

     

  • Dickson swears in new commissioner

    Dickson swears in new commissioner

    Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa on Thursday in Yenagoa swore-in Mr. Parkinson Macmanuel as Commissioner for Science and Technology.

    He urged all members of the state executive council and political appointees to imbibe team spirit.

    Macmanuel was until his appointment the Special Adviser to the Governor on Secondary Education.

    He replaced Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack who was deployed to the Government House as the Chief of Staff.

    The governor charged the new appointees to render quality service to the government and people of the state.

    He also warned them not to engage in unnecessary bickering and acts capable of distracting the government from implementing its developmental plans.

    While expressing confidence in the ability of Macmanuel to deliver on his mandate, the governor noted that there were challenges ahead, and urged him to rise to the challenges.

    “You are joining us at a time the restoration train has moved for about a year and a half.

    A lot is happening, but a lot still lies to be unfolded.

    “As you have joined us, we expect loyalty, hard work and selfless dedication to assignments, formal and informal that will be assigned to you,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the governor as saying at the event.

    Dickson urged the commissioner to urgently liaise with his predecessors and the permanent secretary in the ministry for proper briefings.