The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Delta commissioner

  • Delta Commissioner hails Okowa’s performance, says gov’s 2nd term guaranteed

    THE Commissioner representing Ughelli South/Udu and Urhobos in Warri local government areas of Delta State, at the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Sir Amos Itihwe, has eulogised the state governor, Sen. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa’s performance, saying his second term is guaranteed.

    Itihwe who made the remark while speaking to newsmen on his ambition to run for the Ughelli North/South and Udu Federal Constituency, said the infrastructure put in place coupled with several road networks constructed and commissioned in just three years of Okowa’s administration is a gateway for his return to the government house in 2019.

    He said Okowa’s administration is working hard to light up the 25 local government areas of the state with developmental projects, adding that there is no doubt that he has met his dream of bringing government closer to the people through his Smart Agenda.

    The commissioner also said that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is not a threat to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stressing that no political party without a structure can uproot the PDP from Delta State. He noted “that it will be difficult to differentiate the PDP from Delta or identifying another party to Delta State apart from the PDP.”

  • FOI: Delta commissioner, others convicted for withholding information 

    The Delta State Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Mr Daniel Okenyi, and some other top officials of the government have been convicted for withholding information under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.

    They were convicted by a Kwale High Court of Justice for failure to release relevant land documents to community leaders from Umu-Okpala Omai family of Umusam community in Kwale.

    The community leaders, relying on the Act, had written to the ministry and other relevant officials for records of the land acquired by an oil firm, Midwestern Oil and Gas PLC, at Umusadege Marginal Oil Field in OML 56.

    Okenyi, his ministry, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry and others were ordered by Justice O. Jalogho-Williams to pay N2.5 million.

    They were also ordered to henceforth provide relevant land records and information to the community leaders, in line with the FOI Act.

    In the judgment, dated November 1, Justice Jalogho-Williams agreed with the complainants, represented by Osteen Igbapike, that as a public officer, the commissioner, with the ministry, acted against FOI’s stipulations.

    The judge awarded N200,000 as cost of the suit against the commissioner.

    Okenyi, who was second respondent in the matter, with four others, were convicted of “wilful denial of requested record/documents/information in the custody of the Ministry of Lands and Survey”.

    It was learnt that the commissioner might be the highest-ranking public officeholder to be caught in the FOI net since the law was enacted.

    It was learnt that Pa Moses Okpala, Benedict Okweye, Sunday Ndubuishi, Nwaizemeka Fredrick and Okweye Sunday filed the suit against the commissioner and the ministry.

    Reacting to the judgment, Igbapike said: “The ministry has powers to the documents and they have access to it.”

    The lawyer said more Nigerians should hold government officials accountant for failure to perform their duties.

    He added that the FOI Act provides that once your request is not answered, it is assumed that it has been denied.

    Igbapike hailed the judge for doing the right thing.

    Attempts to get reaction of the commissioner and his ministry were unsuccessful last night.

    But it was gathered that Okenyi and the other respondents failed to appear in court, respond or send representatives.

  • Alleged contempt: Activist urges court to jail Delta commissioner

    A child rights activist, Aghogho Ighorhiohwunu, has prayed a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Effurun, Delta State, to jail the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, Mrs Omatsola Williams, and three others for allegedly disobeying a court order.

    Ighorhiohwunu, who is the proprietor of the Explosive Academy in Abraka, Delta State, filed a motion at the court, claiming that the respondents violated a court order issued early this month.

    In an affidavit to support their motion, the applicants said: “On October 25, the respondents abducted some children apprehended with a warrant of this honourable court …to an undisclosed location at Asaba, from the Area Command Office in Warri.

    “On October 4, the court granted an order for apprehension of the children, who are grossly exploited and delinquent within and across jurisdiction of this court and for assessment at Explosive Academy in Abraka for onward conveyance to this honourable court.”

    According to the suit, the applicants, armed by the order and aided by policemen from the Warri Area Command, raided delinquent and exploited children on October 23 where 13 children were held in company of suspected prostitutes and thieves and kept in custody of the Area Command.

    The applicants added: “While preparation for transfer of the children to the custody of the second applicant (Explosive Academy) was in progress, the respondents invaded and abducted the children to an unknown location in Asaba.

    “The children were unlawfully transferred from lawful custody and trafficked to an undisclosed location in disobedience to the order of this honourable court. The respondents have no respect for the rule of law and the orders of this honourable court.”

  • PDP youths stab Delta commissioner

    Delta State Commissioner for Secondary and Basic Education Prof Patrick Muoboghare was at the weekend stabbed by suspected youth members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    This followed a protest over wards executive list at the party’s secretariat in Ughelli North Local Government Area.

    There is the suspicion that the incident may not have been unconnected with the forthcoming local government and Delta Central senatorial elections.

    The attack on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart came just six years after his younger brother, Arido, was killed by hired assassins in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area in similar circumstances.

    It was alleged that the party youths from Uwheru, Muoboghare’s home town, accused him of manipulating the executive list of the ward congress held last year.

    The youths, who stormed the party secretariat, disrupted the inauguration, sending party leaders and supporters scampering for safety.

    They destroyed plastic chairs and some other property belonging to the party.

    A source said Muoboghare was stabbed in his upper arm and abdomen.

    He was rushed to Ufor Hospital, Ughelli and later referred to the Oghara Teaching Hospital, following the intervention of his colleague, Dr Richard Otumara.

    The source said: “He is receiving treatment after he was stabbed by Uwheru boys, who are opposed to the ward list.

    “The commissioner was placed on oxygen yesterday due to excessive bleeding, which led to shortage of blood. A suspect has been arrested.”

    The suspect, who is said to be from Ohoro-Uwheru, is said to have reportedly confessed to the crime and named other members of his gang.

    Efforts to reach the Ughelli ‘A’ Divisional Police Officer for comments failed but a senior officer attached to the division confirmed the arrest.

    He said it took the combined intervention of the police and the Joint Task Force (JTF) soldiers to restore normalcy after the incident.

    The Communications Manager to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Paul Odili confirmed the report.