Tag: Bayelsa

Bayelsa State Government has warned communities embroiled in land and boundary disputes to refrain from resorting to armed violence. 

It threatened government would deal decisively with any community found wanting.

Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the warning at a meeting with leaders of Elepa and Egweama communities in Nembe and Brass local government areas respectively.

Ewhrudjakpo said government would not hesitate to apprehend leaders of communities, who encourage armed conflicts with their neighbours over ownership of ancestral lands.

He called on the leaders of Elepa and Egweama communities to maintain the peace in their areas, as the ownership of the land where the Elepa Oil Fields are located is the subject of an ongoing legal suit at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Emphasising the need to maintain the existing peace in all parts, the Deputy Governor made it clear that as a responsible government, the Governor Douye Diri-led administration would not fold its arms and watch two communities go to war.

He directed the Police Command to liaise with other security agencies to protect lives and property in the area, including the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) facilities at the five Elepa oil wells. 

The Deputy Governor added that government might direct the SPDC to open an escrow account into which all royalties accruing from the five oil wells will be paid, pending when the Supreme Court delivers its judgement on the land ownership dispute. 

Representations were made by the Chairman, Nembe Divisional Council of Chiefs, Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange, the CDC Chairman of Egweama, Mr. Tonye Yemoleigha, and the Paramount Ruler of Elepa Community, His Royal Highness Gelegukuma Apiri at the meeting.

In another development, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has appealed to the leaders of Okoroma clan to prevail on their women to vacate Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) Oil Flow Station belonging to the NAOC as machinery had been put in place to address their grouse. 

He made the appeal at a meeting with representatives of NAOC and leaders of Okoroma led by the Chairman of the Okoroma Council of Chiefs, His Royal Highness Ebinimi Donka Solomon.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who expressed government’s concern about the power outage in Okoroma, urged the people to demobilize from the oil platform, since the company had already started repairing the broken down power plant to restore power in the clan. 

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He, however, decried the attitude of oil firms for always failing to fulfill promises they make to their host communities, stressing that maintaining their integrity would make things easy for themselves, the government and the communities. 

In their joint presentation, the Chairman of the Okoroma Chiefs Council, Chief Ebinimi Donka Solomon, and the spokesman, Chief Kienwiro Nanyo, explained that the women occupied the flow station because of the protracted electricity problem in the area.

While appreciating the effort of government to resolve the issue, they also appealed to the state government to establish a functional hospital in the area as there is none in the entire clan.

Speaking on behalf of the NAOC, the Stakeholders and Community Development Manager, Mrs Moji Olorode, assured that the company was intensifying efforts to restore power supply to Okoroma.

A crisis erupted in the Biogbolo community of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, as a group of youths opposed to the protest attacked demonstrators marching on the Mbiama/Yenagoa road.

It was gathered that most communities in the state capital had reportedly mobilized to resist any form of protest in their areas.

The situation escalated when a large group of protesters began marching from the Opolo axis of the main road towards Ebis Mechanic Junction.

They were stopped by a team of police officers monitoring the situation to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Despite police intervention, the protesters insisted on continuing their march, expressing grievances about the country’s economic situation and asserting their right to protest.

The argument turned into a serious crisis when community youths unexpectedly attacked the protesters from behind with bottles, large planks, and other weapons.

Gunshots were heard, causing the protesters to disperse and flee in different directions for their safety.

It was earlier observed a near-zero protest in the Yenagoa metropolis as of 8 am.

Security agencies were seen stationed at major junctions and roundabouts with socio-economic activities completely shut down.

However, people were seen going about their normal business and there was no restriction of human and vehicular movements.

Banks, shops, and eateries were also closed while the Swali and Tombia markets were partially operating.

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A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Musa Mohammed, quoted the Commissioner of Police, Alonyenu Francis Idu, as acknowledging the proposed nationwide protest and respecting the right of citizens to assemble and express their views peacefully as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He tasked Area Commanders, DPOs, Tactical Units, and the drone unit to provide robust security coverage during and after the protest.

The CP urged all organisers and protesters to conduct the protest responsibly and peacefully, and not to engage in acts of violence, looting, or any other criminal activities.

 “Anyone caught engaging in criminal activities will face the full wrath of the law,” Idu warned.

The Bayelsa State Government has pledged to renovate the personal residence of the first civilian Governor of Rivers State, the late Senator Melford Obiene Okilo, at his home town Emakalakala in the Ogbia area of the state.

Governor Douye Diri made the pledge while making his remarks at the 16th Melford Okilo Memorial Public Lecture and Gala Night held at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa.

Governor Diri, who spoke at the event through his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, also promised to renovate St Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, Emakalakala which was built by Chief Medford Okilo.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, Mr Doubara Atasi, explained that the state government was undertaking the renovation projects as a mark of honour for Okilo’s patriotism and selfless service to Nigeria and humanity in general.

Read Also: Four sentenced to 40 years each for kidnapping Bayelsa ex-commissioner

He noted that Chief Okilo was the first governor in the history of Nigeria to conceive and establish the first state university and independent power plant in the country in the early 1980s.

According to Governor Diri, if successive governments had built on what Senator Okilo started in the power sector, Rivers and Bayelsa states would have been completely lighted up by now.

Pouring encomium on the departed parliamentary secretary to Nigeria’s first Prime Minister Alhaji Tafawa Balewa in the First Republic, the Bayelsa helmsman pointed out that Okilo lived “his yesterday for today” through a sacrificial and visionary lifestyle.

A Bayelsa State High Court in Ogbia local government area has sentenced four men to 40 years in prison each for kidnapping Hon. Federal Otokito, a former commissioner for trade and investment.

Otokito was kidnapped in 2022 and taken to Igbomotoru bush, where the kidnappers demanded a ransom.

Presiding over case no. OHC/4c/2022, Justice S.W. Amaduobogha found Kingsley Obhesi (24), Joshua Abi (32), Gift Damene (38), and Powell Inegite (36) guilty of conspiracy, kidnapping, and unlawful possession of firearms.

The convicted individuals were apprehended by operatives of Operation Puff Adder, led by Supol Chris Nwaogbo, and are believed to be associates of a prominent ex-militant leader from Southern Ijaw LGA.

The police prosecuting counsel, Stella Jerry-Friday Esq, while briefing the court, stated that the convicts on the 20th day of January 2022 at the Otuokpoti in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa, armed with sophisticated guns and offensive weapons, unlawfully took away Federal Oparminola Otokito against his will to Igbomotoru bush in Southern Ijaw area of the state with the intent to demand ransom or any other unlawful consideration and thereby committed an offence.

Justice S.W. Amaduobogha, after hearing from the Police Prosecution counsel and the defence counsel declared that the investigative and prosecution team had done due diligence and proved beyond reasonable doubt the case of conspiracy, kidnapping, and unlawful possession of firearms against the convicts.

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Some members of the Otuokpoti community where the former Commissioner hails from in Ogbia LGA commended the Bayelsa Police Command particularly the Operatives of Operation Puff Adder led by Supol Chris Nwaogbo for their diligent investigation and prosecution.

Recall that the former Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Hon. Federal Otokito, was abducted from his residence in Otuokpoti in Ogbia in 2022.

The gunmen were reported to have invaded the neighbourhood, shooting indiscriminately into the air to frighten the locals before whisking the former commissioner away.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja will today hear an appeal by Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, Udengmobofa Eradiri, challenging the May 17 decision of the Governorship Election Tribunal.

The respondents in the appeal CA/ABJ/EP/GOV/BY/10/2024 are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Douye Diri, Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former governor Timipre Sylva.

Reconciliation of files in the case began on June 24.

The appellant had claimed that Ewhrudjakpo was not qualified to participate in the election held on November 11, 2023.

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Eradiri and Sylva had urged the tribunal to hold that Diri and Ewhrudjakpo were not qualified because the deputy lied about his academic qualification in Form EC9 he submitted to INEC.

Eradiri also contended that by sections 177 (d) and 318(1)(c)(i-iii) of the Constitution (as amended), a holder of only a First School Leaving Certificate such as the deputy governor was not qualified to contest the election.

During the hearing, the deputy governor did not testify himself to support his claim that he was educated up to the school certificate level or beyond or that he did not lie on oath.

•As lawyers urge FG, state govts on judiciary autonomy

Former President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to grace the plenary session and declare open the 2024 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, next Friday.

Addressing a press conference to mark the commencement of the 2024 Law Week, the Chairman of NBA Yenagoa Branch, Mr. Somina Johnbull, said yesterday that the choice of the former President in view of the broad theme of the Law Week is on the account of the foundation for the growth of the legal profession laid by him during his stint as Governor of Bayelsa State.

Johnbull, who was flanked by other executives of the branch during the conference, said the theme for the 2024 Law Week, ‘The Legal Profession in a Time of Socio-Economic Uncertainty’ was carefully selected in the light of the harsh economic realities bedeviling the country.

He noted that the Law Week promises to be an illuminating time for legal practitioners and the legal profession.

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According to Johnbull, the keynote address for the Law Week which would be delivered by the erudite Hon. Justice Obande Festus Ogbuinya, JSC, CON, will seek among other things to open new vistas of ways legal practitioners and the legal profession could weather the storm in cushioning the impact of the socio-economic issues plaguing the country at this time.

He said: “In the course of the Law Week, there would also be a plenary session of discussants comprising top brass jurists and legal practitioners who have significantly distinguished themselves and added unassailable capital and excellence to the growth of the legal profession in Nigeria.

“The panel of discussants will extensively discuss the topic, ‘Socio-economic Uncertainty of Legal Practice in Nigeria: Law in the Global Economy’. No doubt this topic was selected in view of the fact that the socio-economic survival of the legal profession will in no mean measure guarantee the socio-economic survival of the country.

“As it is often said, Law is a tool for social engineering and nation building, and it is the fabric that binds fractured segments of society together.

“One of the major highlights of the week-long programme would be our annual law dinner, and this year’s dinner would be a top-scale event; a well-manured ground for networking opportunities, knowledge-sharing and getting up close and personal with the egg-heads of the legal profession and political leaders of great repute.

“I cannot end this address by skipping the burning issues of national discourse which is on the lips of every Nigerian. It is on this note I send out a clarion call to government at all levels to critically look into the minimum wage issue that has been a topic of worry for Nigerians, and work out the modalities for not just a minimum wage, but a living wage Nigerian workers can meet up their needs with.”