The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ebonyi State

  • Ebonyi APGA Chairman Suspended

    Ebonyi APGA Chairman Suspended

    The gale of suspensions in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have reached Ebonyi State chapter as the State Working Committee Wednesday suspended the state Chairman, Ricky Okoruka, the Vice Chairman South Ajah Ogbonna and Deputy Chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Edegiri for alleged gross violation of APGA constitution, gross misconduct and anti-party activities.

    The suspension was contained in a communique at the end of an emergency meeting of the party in Abakaliki.

    In the communique signed by Nweke Harrison, Vice Chairman Central, Omoke Celestine, Assistant Organizing Secretary, Uchenna Mathew, Ex-officio, Onwe Jacinta Women Leader, Ezeobi Peter Treasurer, Olughu Obinna Assistant Financial Secretary and 13 others, the party said Okoruka and the two suspended others continuously supplanted the state secretary and other ecxo members using one Mr. Ajah Ogbonna as Acting state Secretary without recourse to APGA
    constitution.

    It therefore set up 7-man committee to look into the allegations leveled against the suspended exco members.

    APGA National Deputy Secretary, Chief Jerry Obasi in a telephone interview NAtional Working Committee of the party have unofficially received the report of the suspension.

    Mr Obasi, who is Okoruka’s predecessor, said the NWV was awaiting official communication from the state chapter of the party before it will take action on the matter.

    It will be recalled that the Anambra state chairman of the party, Nobert Obi was last month suspended by the party.

    Chief Obi was suspended by 17 out of the 28 member State working Committee of the party following the recommendations of a disciplinary committee which indicted him of various offences.

    Also the State Working committee of Abia state chapter, Rev Austin Ehiemere for gross misconduct and violation of the party rules.

    In October, the National Working Committee had suspended the National Chairman of the party, Victor Our for alleged gross misconduct.

    The NWC also appointed one Mr Ozo Nwabueze Okafor Acting National Chairman.

    The suspensions have led to speculations of gang up and power play against Governor Willie Piano of Anambra State who will be having re-election in 2018.

  • N-power applicants protest extortion by officials in Ebonyi

    Youths from the 13 Local Government Area of the Ebonyi state enlisted for the N-Power documentation exercise Monday protested alleged extortion from organizes of the programme which marred the exercise.

    It was gathered that the unemployed youths numbering over 200 who had besieged the venue of the documentation exercise as early as 7am had earlier yielded to the directive of the organizers to go to No 29 Gunning road Abakaliki and pay the sum of N500 to enable them be documented.

    However, trouble started when the organizes directed them at about 02; 30pm to go back to their different local government areas for further directive.

    The youths, angered by the directive to return back to their council areas after waiting several hours in the scorching sun trooped to the entrance gate leading to the Governor’s office and blocked the entrance.

    They insisted that either the Commissioner for Economic Empowerment and Job Creation, Hon Donatus Njoku or any other government functionary must address them before they would vacate the entrance.

    After several hours of waiting at the entrance gate of the Governor’s office without any government functionary addressing them, the youths had to troop back to No. 29 Gunning road where most of them had  paid the sum to retrieve the money they had already paid to the agents of the organizes of the documentation.

    Some of the youths who spoke to our reporter on grounds of anonymity expressed regret over the procedure and the slow pace of the exercise and wondered why the organizes would insist that they must pay the sum of N500 before they would be attended to.

    When The Nation visited the makeshift pay point at the heart of the Abakaliki Main Market, hundreds of the youths had besieged the office protesting the alleged extortion and called for the immediate arrest of the organizes.

    Meanwhile, there was a mild drama at the venue of the makeshift pay point when some unidentified hefty young men numbering about 5 drove to the place with a Hilux Van with registration number AKL 342 SB and immediately bundled a young man and a lady stationed at the point to be collecting the money and zoomed off.

    The youths who suspected connivance and attempt to whisk the suspects away to avoid arrest, immediately went after the vehicle but their chase was in vain.

    When our Correspondent visited the Cabinet Office to get the reaction of organizes of the documentation, it was observed that all the organizes had disappeared while the unemployed youths were seen in clusters discussing the unfortunate exercise.

    The State Commissioner for Economic Empowerment and Job Creation, Hon Donatus Njoku could not be reached for reaction as he was said to be in a State Executive Council meeting.

  • Ebonyi govt to begin seizure of foreign rice

    Ebonyi govt to begin seizure of foreign rice

    Ebonyi state government has set up a Task force to move into Ebonyi markets and confiscate foreign rice found.

    The State Governor, David Umahi who had merely pronounced ban on foreign rice earlier, disclosed this while performing the ground breaking ceremony of ultra-modern Kpirikpiri market on Monday.

    The governor insisted that for one to sell foreign rice in the land of Ebonyi, the person must ensure compliance with all due processes to certify it is not poisonous.

    He said,” We have set up a Taskforce and directed them to confiscate foreign rice found in our market. The person should give us the certificate of the quality of the rice, you have to prove the import duties you paid for it, where you brought it from and you give us Standard Organization of Nigeria certificate to prove that the rice is not poisonous.

    Umahi said foreign rice is poisonous as according to him, some of them were stored for more then 20 years abroad before it would be smuggled into the country.

    “That is why we have cases of cancer, cases of kidney failure and all kinds of diseases that our people were not known for. So you are taking risk if you are selling foreign rice in the land of Ebonyi,”he added.

    The governor who said Ebonyi government had enough rice and looking for distributors, advised people to register and become distributors of Ebonyi rice.

    He promised to open up modern markets in all the thirteen local government areas of the state and assured that the kpirikpiri market when completed would compete with any other modern market in the country.

    Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the governor on Trade and Investment, Peter Obah have ordered all foreign rice dealers in the state to evacuate the produce from the state within two weeks.

    He said, “Foreign rice should be evacuated or moved out of the state within two weeks. Once again, no sale, buying or consumption of foreign rice in Ebonyi state”.

    ‘’This is to safeguard the lives of the people who now consume unhealthy substances packaged as foreign rice to Africa in recent times”.

    ‘’Action would commence to impound all foreign rice seen in the state within two weeks of this statement.”

     

  • Absenteeism: Umahi suspends two health workers

    Absenteeism: Umahi suspends two health workers

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state has directed the indefinite suspension of two Community Health Extension Workers attached to the Abakaliki Primary Healthcare Center.

    The 2 Health Workers, Agwu Ngozi and Aneke Dorathy were suspended for being absent from duty at the weekend.

    The governor in release issued by his Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Emma Anya said the directive followed their absence from duty at the weekend when the Governor paid an unscheduled visit to the health facility located along Convent Road Abakaliki.

    Mr. Anya said that the visit was in continuation of his on the spot assessment of public facilities in the state to ascertain the commitment of workers to the development and growth of the health sector.

    According to him: “Governor Umahi frowned at the fact that the affected health workers stayed away from their work post contrary to his administration’s zero tolerance for absenteeism and lack of devotion to duty”.

    Mr. Anya stated further that consequently the Governor have ordered the Ministry of Health to follow due process in ensuring that the 2 health workers were dismissed from office.

  • Umahi declares state of emergency on Abakaliki prisons

    Umahi declares state of emergency on Abakaliki prisons

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has declared a state of emergency on Abakaliki Prisons.

    He made the declaration on Thursday evening when he visited the prisons after a botched jailbreak by the inmates .

    Umahi had just returned from Port Harcourt, Rivers State where he attended the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) national convention when he decided to visit the prisons.

    The governor said, “Early in the morning (Thursday), I was told of attempted jailbreak by inmates of Abakaliki Prisons”.

    The Commissioner of Police (Peace Ibekwe-Abdallah) reported the incident to me and did promise that they (police) were re-inforcing. She told me she had contacted all the security chiefs in the state. They successfully prevented the inmates from escaping.

    “Luckily, I am told that the prisoners are not complaining of any maltreatment and malnutrition. I was told that those who attempted the escape are those awaiting trial. I was told that there are so many of them awaiting trial. This is not good for us.”

    Umahi directed the state Director of Prisons, Adaobi Oputa, to compile such cases and send to him to enable him put head together with the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Aloy Nwankwo, to fast-track justice.

    He decried the level of infrastructure decay in the Abakiliki Prisons, saying such was not good for the inmates. Noting that the structures were built in the 1960s, he promised to partner the prisons authorities to modernise the facility.

    “Ebonyi State Government could suspend one or two things and would want to at least de-roof some of the buildings and re-roof them,” he promised.

    The governor also said his administration would provide sporting facilities in the prisons in order to keep inmates engaged.

    Umahi  added,“Recreational and sporting facilities will be provided. I believe such things will engage those in the prisons and keep them away of thinking of how to escape.

    “When they are engaged, they will not have time to think about crimes. What we have here cannot reform anyone. It will rather harden them. We have to reform them and reintegrate the good ones into our society.”

  • FRSC reiterates commitment to reduce crashes in Ebonyi

    FRSC reiterates commitment to reduce crashes in Ebonyi

    The Ebonyi command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Wednesday reiterated its resolve to ensure that road crashes were reduced in the state.

    Its Sector Commander, Mr Charles Abuochi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki that it would deal with traffic offenders to ensure that the safety of all road users was guaranteed.

    Abuochi said that officers and men of the command were adequately mobilised and equipped to enforce extant traffic codes to guarantee the safety of lives and properties on the highways.

    He said that drivers who indulged in drunken driving, use of expired or worn out tyres, speeding, non-use of seat belts and use of cell phones while driving would be dealt with.

    He added that non-possession of genuine drivers’ license would also be visited with dire consequences.

    The sector commander urged private and commercial motorists to ensure that they underwent driving test at FRSC-approved driving schools to obtain certificate on completion of their training.

    He also called on them to always ensure that their vehicles were in good condition before putting them on the roads.

    “In line with the statutory mandate of the organisation, we are committed to ensuring that the safety of lives and goods on the roads is guaranteed.

    “The commission is ensuring that motorists and indeed other road users comply with extant traffic codes that will guarantee the safety of all road users.

    “We will ensure that road crashes are drastically reduced while violators of traffic codes will face the consequences of their actions to serve as deterrent to others,’’ Abuochi said.

    He warned parents and guardians to desist from allowing their unlicensed and underage children to drive to avoid road crashes.

    Abuochi said that safety on the roads and prevention of road crashes were joint responsibilities, adding that motorists, passengers and stakeholders should collaborate with the commission to ensure safety on the roads.

    “I implore motorists, passengers and other stakeholders to collaborate with the commission for effective and efficient maintenance of safety on both the local roads and highways,’’ he added.

  • PCN seals 103 pharmaceutical shops in Ebonyi

    PCN seals 103 pharmaceutical shops in Ebonyi

    Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 103 pharmaceutical shops in Ebonyi state for various offences.

    The agency said 7 of the shops are pharmacies while 96 are Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMV) shops.

    According to the agency the PPMV shops were sealed for allegedly operating illegally and stocking beyond their scope while the 7 pharmacies, were sealed for failure to renew their registration license.    

    Director and Head of the Inspection and Monitoring Department of the council, Pharm. Anthonia Aruya stated this in Abakaliki at the end of an enforcement and inspection exercise in the state.

    She disclosed that a total of 296 facilities which included 38 pharmacies and 258 PPMVs were inspected during the exercise which took place in 23 towns across the 13 council areas in the state.

    Aruya noted that it was in line of this Mandate that PCN inspects, approves, registers and issues license to pharmaceutical premises and shops to ensure that minimum standards are in place in terms of storage conditions, capacity of personnel to handle the level of
    practice in each facility and the quality of pharmaceutical services rendered in the interest of public safety.

    She named the towns visited to include: Abakaliki, Isu, Oshiri, Afikpo, Unwana, Ezillo, Owutu-Edda, Nkalagu, Onueke, Umuoghara, Okwor, Effium, Ntezi, Ezzamgbo, Akaeze, Ishiagu, Amudo, Iboko, Okposi, Uburu and Oriegbe.

    Though three shops were issued with compliance directives, the Director noted that the situation on ground in the state was commendable compared to other states visited so far as a good number of the PPMVs are in compliance, while others were yet to comply going by the number of shops sealed by the enforcement team due to non-compliance.

    “The PCN enforcement team has been in Ebonyi state since Monday to strengthen the regulatory activities and to enlighten the general public that services rendered in unregistered outlets cannot be guaranteed and should thus be avoided”. 

    “A case in point is the sale of expired products by a vendor where the enforcement team witnessed the return of such medicine by the client. Some of the PPMVs shops are illegal, stocking well above the approved drug list for which they had no ability to handle,” Aruya explained.

    She further warned that any pharmacists or vendor who flouts the directives would be arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others, though noting that it was expedient that all stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector submit to regulation due to the delicate nature of the critical services rendered by them that directly affect life.

  • Kumuyi in Ebonyi, prays for economic boom

    Kumuyi in Ebonyi, prays for economic boom

    Renowned preacher and the General Superintendent of Deeper Life Christian Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, has declared that the wealth hidden in the land of Ebonyi State would henceforth flow out for the economic well-being of the people.

    Kumuyi, who was in Abakaliki for a one-day Bible Study/prayer programme organised by the church, on Monday described Ebonyi as a state bestowed with abundant natural resources.

    He admonished the people of the state to refrain from sin in order to overcome their  economic challenges as it is only through this way that the blessings of God will be made manifest to  them.

    The cleric, according to a statement by Umahi’s Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya, offered special prayers   for the governor and his family, the state Executive Council members and the entire state.

    Earlier, Governor Umahi had described   Kumuyi’s visit   as a huge blessing to the people of the state.

    He said, “By your coming here sir,our suffering has ended.  I thank God Almighty who brought you at a time we needed you most.

    “We don’t have much to say but we want you to know that we are very expectant. We have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.  The Bible tells us that when God calls a man, he enables him. And we are confident that   you are going to bring   huge blessing to each and every one of us.

    “I know that our state is going to be richly blessed through you.”

    The  event was attended also by the wife of the governor, Rachel Umahi;   Deputy Governor Kelechi Igwe;  Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Francis Nwifuru; members of the State Executive Council and other top government functionaries.

  • Ebonyi to pass bill on female genital mutilation

    Ebonyi to pass bill on female genital mutilation

    A jail term of Five years awaits anybody who practices female genital mutilation in Ebonyi State, the state government has warned.

    The warning was handed out Tuesday during the flag off of the campaign against female genital mutilation in the state at the Women Development Centre (WDC), Abakaliki.

    In her speech at the occasion, Mrs Umahi described female genital mutilation as a harmful traditional practice against womanhood which must be put to an end.

    She said: “We can’t continue to live in dark ages at the detriment of our women in the name of female circumcision or genital mutilation.

    “Our women have suffered a lot in this traditional harmful practices against them and we must stop it, we must wage serious war against the practice.

    “A situation where women reproductive organs are butchered in the name cultural practices is no longer unacceptable,’’ she vowed.

    She noted that the state ranks second with 74% after Osun state as states in the country with prevalent rate of female genital mutilation, leading to her decision to begin the campaign against the practice through her pet project, Family Succour and Upliftment Programme.

    Mrs. Umahi said she will soon approach the state house of Assembly to amend the law against the practice which is yet to be passed.

    Earlier, the state Chief Judge Justice Alloy Nwankwo who was represented on the occasion by Justice Destina Oko of Onueke High Court said anyone caught practicing the act in the state will bag five years imprisonment with option of N2, 000 fines.

    She reiterated the readiness of the judiciary to partner with Mrs. Umahi to curb female circumcision in the state.

    In his remarks, Governor Umahi said he will retrieve a law before the state House of Assembly against female genital mutilation which has not been passed and emend it to provide severe sanctions against the mutilators.

  • Court acquits man accused of killing father

    Court acquits man accused of killing father

    A man accused of killing his father have been discharged and acquitted.

    Sunday Nworu, 29 was accused of killing his father with a hoe and was arrested in 2009, charged to court and remanded in Abakaliki federal prisons.

    But delivering its ruling Thursday, the high court sitting in Onueke, Ezza South local government area of Ebonyi state said the prosecution counsel was unable to prove the case against the accused and therefore discharged and acquitted him.

    The judgement was delivered by the Justice Destina Oko.

    Speaking to reporters shortly after the judgment, counsel to the accused person and a member of the state Legal Aid Counsel, Bar Nathaniel Sunday Nwokpoku.

    “Sunday Nworu was discharged and acquitted in a murder trial. He was accused of killing his father with a hoe. He was arrested in 2009 by the police and arraigned before an Abakaliki Magistrate court and remanded in Abakaliki federal prisons.

    “We came in because we discovered that he hadn’t a lawyer and took up the matter because ours is to represent indigent persons who had no lawyers.

    “After adopting our addresses from our office, after the close of evidence and that of the prosecution counsel from the state Ministry of Justice was discharged and acquitted by court.

    “The court said he did not commit any offence of killing anybody or his father in this case and was discharged and acquitted. I feel elated because if we had not followed up this matter, the accused person would have been convicted and he has no money or lawyer to defend himself on the matter.

    “A careful examination of the case file gave us the temerity to come up and defend the guy after going through the evidence and we are happy that the court gave positive judgment on the case.”