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Tag: Ebonyi

  • Ebonyi APC group accuses rival of sabotage

    Ebonyi APC group accuses rival of sabotage

    Some members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State has accused some other members of working for the interest of the ruling party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to destroy the APC.

    Mr Benjamin Mkpuma , the Youth Leader of the Eze Nwachukwu-led group, made the allegation in Abakaliki, alleging that Ben Nwaobashi and his loyalists  were sponsored by the PDP.

    “We have uncovered plans by the Nwaobashi and his supporters to decamp to the ruling party in anticipation of not losing out in appointments at the national level which they feel would not favour them.

    He noted that the APC in the state recently condemned the appointment of Ebonyi Chief Judge’s Wife as the Sole Administrator of the State Local Government Service Commission but the Nwaobashi group made a counter pronouncement.

    “In its pronouncement, it claimed that the APC has no right to question any appointment made by the PDP, as the party should mind its business and leave the ruling party alone.

    He noted that this shows that Nwaobashi’s group is anti-APC as no APC member has supported Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP National Publicity Secretary’s recent attack on President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC.

    “We are then informing our party leaders and members all over the country that the Nwaobashi-led group is an instrument used by the PDP to destroy the APC in Ebonyi State.

    He noted that the party has evidences to prove all its claims, noting that the publication made on the Chief’ Judge’s wife’s appointment was sponsored by the PDP. “We also have evidence on its plans to defect to the PDP.”

    In his reaction, Nwaobashi  noted that the Nwachukwu-led group was operating illegally and are not leaders of the APC in Ebonyi State.

    He noted that the Nwachukwu’ group’s claim that he was working for the PDP was ‘foolish’ as he could not work against a party which he is the authentic chairman.

    “What we are contending in the publication over the appointment of the chief judge’s wife is that Nwachukwu has no constitutional right to speak as the APC state chairman on such matters.

    PDP Chairman in Ebonyi, Chief Joseph Onwe, said he was not disposed to comment on the issue as at the time he was pressed to make a comment.

  • NDLEA arrests 85 suspects in Ebonyi

    NDLEA arrests 85 suspects in Ebonyi

    The Ebonyi State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the arrest of 85 suspects over drug-related offences. It also said 25 people have been convicted while 55kg of drugs have been seized in the first half of the year.

    The Commander, Mr. Ralph Igwenagu said this at an event marking this year’s United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in the state.

    He added that the command had equally counselled and discharged 35 drug users while three drug-dependent persons were being rehabilitated.

    He enjoined parents and guardians whose children and wards were victims of drug abuse not to lose hope, instead, “such abusers and addicts should be brought to our office for the care, treatment and rehabilitation that they need”.

    Aside being a major influencing factor for all forms of crimes and criminalities, the commander believed that youth’s involvement in drug abuse had brought about unprecedented breakdown in societal and family values, increase in school dropouts, low productivity and the spread of HIV and AIDS.

    In his remarks, the Coordinator of Okposi Development Centre in Ohaozara Local Government Area, Chief Magnus Eze hinted that the global war against illicit drugs would make significant impact, if demands for it were drastically reduced.

    He said this could be achieved through the provision of accurate information on the negative effects of drug abuse and its attendant consequences.

    Mr Magnus urged Education planners across the country to embed drug education in the curricula of primary and secondary schools, even as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ebonyi state disclosed that the Agency counselled and discharged 35 drug users while three drug dependent persons were being rehabilitated in the first half of 2015.

    According to Chief Eze who is also founder of Mezie Okposi, a non-governmental Organisation leading ethical revival in the state, “community support is extremely important to prevent, treat, rehabilitate and accept those addicted to substances. All hands must be on deck. Be a good role model and empower young people to deal with life challenges to stay away from substance abuse. We can achieve this by forming drug-free club in our schools and also making drug education part of the curricula of primary and secondary schools in Nigeria. Teenagers need to get the accurate and detailed information about substance use from a trusted and reliable adult – be it a parent or a teacher.”

    Chief Eze further charged families, schools, civil society and faith-based organizations to do their part to rid their communities of drugs, while urging the Nigerian media to raise greater awareness about the dangers of narcotics.

    The state police Commissioner of Police, Dikko Maigari, who was represented by Assistant Commissioner of Police Mathew Akinyosola cautioned Nigerian youth against involvement in drug abuse in view of its damaging effect on the body and the society.

    He warned that the long arm of the law would always catch up with those involved in drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

    Other speakers at the occasion were Bibian Okpoko, Comptroller of Prisons, Ebonyi State; and Richard Anichukwu, state coordinator, NAFDAC.

    The theme of the celebration is: Let’s Develop Our Lives; Our Communities, Our Identities without Drugs.

  • Ebonyi APC condemns appointment of CJ’s wife into Umahi’s Exco

    The Ebonyi State All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the appointment of the wife of the Chief Judge (CJ), Mrs Lilian Nwankwo, as the Sole Administrator of the state’s Local Government Service Commission.

    In a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting and signed by its Acting Chairman, Pastor Eze Nwachukwu Eze and Publicity Secretary, Ngaji Nwodo, the party noted that such appointment would have effect on the Judiciary.

    According to the communiqué, the APC noted the unpreparedness of the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration for good leadership, as demonstrated by its policies and administrative summersaults, including vindictiveness.

    It said: “This shows that it is not only lacking in focus and ideas but it is also not the type of government Ebonyi residents are yearning for.”

    APC pledged to build one indivisible, indissoluble and united front to win future elections in the state.

    It said: “To achieve this, the meeting advised that all known internal wrangling and cleavages – wherever they had existed – should be eradicated to ensure that the APC wins all future elections, especially the governorship election.

    The party expressed appreciation for its optimum growth, as recorded by the recent influx of members of other parties into its fold.

    APC said: “The new members would be accorded equal rights and opportunities, as provided for in the party’s constitution.”

    But PDP’s State Chairman Joseph Onwe noted that APC’s criticism of Mrs Nwankwo’s appointment was political.

    He said: “The appointment has nothing to do with the Judiciary, as the Chief Judge’s wife is neither a judge nor a member of the Judiciary.”

    The PDP chairman said she would not meddle in the affairs of the Judiciary.

    Onwe said the policies of the state government under the PDP were aimed at developing the state and bringing democratic dividends to the people.

    He said: “Other states are applying the same policies because they are aimed at reducing the costs of governance and bringing development to the people.”

  • Assembly indicts 12 ex-LG Chairmen in Ebonyi

    Assembly indicts 12 ex-LG Chairmen in Ebonyi

    The Ebonyi House of Assembly has indicted 12 of the 13 Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairmen for financial misappropriation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the immediate past assembly had set up a committee to probe the financial dealings of the chairmen between November 2014 and June 2015 when they all resigned their appointments.

    The indictment was contained in committee’s report submitted to the state assembly and read by its Chairman, Chief Obasi Odefa, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the assembly.

    According to the report, the ex-chairmen chairmen embezzled the state’s funds during the period under review.

    It noted that some of their expenditures had phony titles such as immunisation costs, breastfeeding expenses, security expenses and solidarity rally for former President Goodluck Jonathan, among others.

    “The caretaker chairmen, treasurers, cashiers and Heads of Department (HOD) of works connived to illegally withdraw money from the councils’ accounts and siphoned them into private accounts.

    “The caretaker chairmen withdrew funds from the councils’ stabilization accounts in connivance with the Chairman and Secretary of the Joint Accounts Committee (JAC).

    “This is in contravention of Section.12 of the Ebonyi Revenue Distribution to Local Government and Development Centres Law 2006,” the report said.

    The Speaker of the House, Mr. Francis Nwifuru, read the resolutions of the assembly after it had adopted the committee’s report.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the assembly resolved that the former Caretaker Chairman of Izzi LGA, Mr Godwin
    Nwogbaga, should refund N95 million.

    Nwogbaga, alongside the Head of Department (HOD), Works Department and Treasurer of the council, were also asked to jointly refund N217million.

    Similarly, the Chairman of Ohaukwu LGA, Mrs Chinyere Elom, was asked to refund N53 million while the council’s HOD for Works should refund seven million.

    Nwifuru also announced that the former caretaker Chairman Ezza North LGA, Mr Jeff Ogbu, should refund N97 million while the treasurer of the council would refund N6 million and in addition, be dismissed from service.

    “The Chairman of Onicha LGA should refund N158million and return the 60KVA generator which she allegedly carted away while the council’s HOD for works should refund N61 million.

    “The Chairman of Ezza South LGA, Mr Edwin Oke, is to refund N115 million being fund he could not explain how it was utilised while the council’s HOD works should be dismissed,” Nwifuru said.

    The speaker further announced that the committee did not indict the former Chairman of IVO LGA, Mr Joseph Obasi, of any financial misappropriation but recommended that he be relieved of his duty for not being able to guide his officials accordingly.

    “The House clerk should present a memo to the governor, urging him to relieve all those indicted in the report immediately from their duties and prosecute them,” he said.

    NAN reports that resolutions concerning other former council caretaker chairmen were also read.

    The report also indicted the immediate past commissioner for Local Government and the permanent secretary in the ministry, among other council officials.

  • Cholera outbreak kill 8 in Ebonyi

    Eight persons have died as a result of fresh cholera outbreak in Ebonyi State.

    Three of the deaths were recorded in Ndiogbu Ndieze village, Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State.

    Seventeen persons in the community were also hospitalized.

    Five deaths were confirmed by the Director of Public Health and Disease Control in the state, Dr. Christian Achi in Ikwo community, Ikwo local government area of the state as a result of fresh outbreak of the disease in the area.

    The State Epidemiologist, Dr. Francis Onwe and other officials of the state Ministry of Health were forced to visit the affected areas following the outbreak and distributed drugs.

    A stakeholder of Ndiogbu Ndieze village, Chief Austin Igwe Edeze whose younger brother was among those that died following the outbreak said people who attended burial of a resident of the area came back and started vomiting and defecating uncontrollably.

    He said:‘’Nobody suspected that cholera was responsible for the frequent vomiting and defecation by the people that attended the burial ceremony.

    ‘’ So before we could notice it is cholera, was down; vomiting and stooling and we took him to the hospital and he died early in the morning.

    ‘’We raised alarm to the Ministry of Health and the officials advised that we should quickly bury him to avoid the disease spreading to other people around which we obeyed and bury him immediately.

    ‘’The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry sent a team who visited us for enlightenment on the prevention of the disease and donated some drugs after the lecture’’ he added.

    The state Epidemiologist Dr. Francis Onwe said the state health officials were contacted by Chief Austin Igwe Edeze whose younger brother was among those that died as a result of the epidemic.

    He advised the residents to ensure personal and environmental hygiene to avoid contracting the disease.

    Onwe further advised them to ensure they bury any victim immediately such person dies to avoid spreading the epidemic.

    He also warned them to desist from drinking stream and contaminated water which he explained are sources of contracting the disease..

  • 19 make Ebonyi commissioners ‘list

    19 make Ebonyi commissioners ‘list

    Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi yesterday sent 19 names to the House of Assembly for screening and confirmation as commissioners.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the nominees include: Mr. Emmanuel Onwe, Mrs Elizabeth Ogbaga, Mr. Augustine Nwankwegu, and Mr. Uchenna Orji.

    Others are: Mrs. Rebecca Ogbuewu, Chief Sabinus Nwankwegu, Chief Emma Uguru, Chief Sunday Inyima, Mr Obinna Nwachukwu, Chief Donatus Njoku and Dr Daniel Umezurike.

    The screening is expected to hold today.

     

  • FRSC holds retreat in Ebonyi

    FRSC holds retreat in Ebonyi

    The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Boboye Ayeyemi, has urged the men and women of the corps to redouble their efforts to ensure that the target of 50 percent accident reduction is met by the FRSC.

    The corps marshal made the call at the Zonal Retreat of R.S. 9 zonal command of the Corps which took place at the People’s Club in Abakaliki.

    The zone is made up of Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi states commands.

    Represented by ACM Austin Aipoh said the Corps under his administration has been able to push for installation of speed governors commercial buses.

    He expressed happiness that most major transport companies have bought into the policy and are now reaping the benefits as they have witnessed drastic reduction in accidents.

    Mr Ayeyemi urged transporters yet to key in to do so as soon as possible adding that it will go a long way in helping the agency in its fight against road crashes in the country.

    He urged the participants to brainstorm and come up with strategies that will help the zone and the Corps achieve its set targets.

    The corpse Marshal promised to give financial and logistics backing to any recommendations that will be proffered at the end of the retreat.

    In his keynote address, the Zonal Commanding Officcer of RS9 ACM Samuel Obayemi said the retreat is part of the FRSC’s drive to consolidate on her gains.

    He said: “Federal Road Safety Corps being a lead agency in road traffic administration in Nigeria, and by extension, a frontier organisation in Africa on road safety practices seeks to consolidate on her gains as well as appraising our operational activities in order to keep abreast of the world’s emerging trend in road safety management”.

    “It is with great enthusiasm and unbounded joy that I welcome you all to the second quarter 2015 retreat for Commanding Officers, Heads of Department of the Zone and Executive members of the Special Marshals of Zone R59”.

    “Consequently, this retreat is expedient to address some of the daunting challenges confronting the Corps in order to achieve her corporate strategic goals”.

    “Subsequently, Commanding Officers and other principal Officers are enjoined to make the best out of this epoch – making event by making appreciable contributions as well as opening up their minds to issues of discussions.

    “It is hoped that at the end, this retreat will have its desired impact on the general well being of all the Commands within the Zone”.

    The Sector Commander, Ebonyi State Command and Chairman Organising Committee of the retreat, Anne E. Abhiele praised the synergy and cooperation between the various Millitary and para-military agencies in the state, which She noted has enabled the agency achieve great success in the state in the area of road accident reduction.

    She called on the participants to actively participate in the retreat.

    She said: “The theme of the retreat is “CURBING ROAD TRAFFIC CRASH IN ZONE R59’, this retreat will afford Commanding Officers the opportunity to critically look at the overt and covert causes of road crashes in the zone, proffer solutions and redirect our energies to fighting the menace”.

    “Given the caliber of officers drawn from the various sectors and units of zone 9 for this retreat, I have no doubt in my mind that a workable blue print will emerge in the end for curbing the menace of Road Traffic Crash in the Zone”.

    In a goodwill message, the State Cordinator, Special Marshal Programme of the Command, Dr Henry Udochukwu said the introduction of speed limiting devices by the Corps Marshal as a welcome development.

    His words: “This year 2015, the R.S 9, Zonal Command of the Federal Road Safety Corp is again hosted to its Zonal retreat for the second time since this present regime of SMP leadership in 2009”.

    “We are delighted to be hosting this all important event where state commands from Imo, Abia, Enugu states and Ebonyi, converge for a re-training, re-appraisal and re-creation of values and guiding principles that reminds one of our responsibilities to our dear nation, Nigeria, through our chosen service of making our roads a safer place for all road users”.

    “As an agency that ensures sanctity on our roads, FRSC has grown into a phenomenal institution that is not only lSO-certified but has become a model in Africa courtesy of successive seasoned administrators, committed Commanders, Marshals and Special Marshals”.

    Despite parading such envious records, a lot still needs to be done. The challenge of keeping our roads safe is an everyday affair, with new vehicles, new roads constructed or dilapidating, more adolescents showing exuberance even on our highways and increasing rural-urban migrations that exposes us all to higher traffic control”.

    “The antidote to these challenges is thinking, planning and acting ahead. This is why I must salute the latest innovation by our new COMACE on the introduction and use of speed-limiting Device on all commercial vehicies. Such novelties are but many, that we are yet to be seen, as seasoned Chief Executives direct the ship in FRSC”.

    “During the retreat,  will among other things be evaluating more strategies to curb RTA in RS 9, appraise the significant role of special marshals in this onerous task and in all these, learn how to manage stress so that we too can live to enjoy the fullness of life”.

    “These are very delicate areas to appraise, hence the need for a serene environment. In the South East geopolitical zone, within which R.S 9 falls in, Ebonyi State is the most peaceful”.

  • ‘Ebonyi Assembly witch-hunting me’

    Former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ohaozara council of Ebonyi State, Chaka Nweze has said he is the target of the House of Assembly’ investigation of council’s accounts.

    The committee on Tuesday recommended that a warrant of arrest be issued on Nweze and three others for failing to honour their invitation.

    Nweze said the committee submitted its report before concluding its investigations  because it was witch-hunting him.

    He said the House was merely chasing shadows because he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) based on his personal convictions.

    “Government is accusing me of leading other council chairmen in defecting to the APC. I am neither their leader nor the chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

    “I have no business in the affairs of the PDP-led government because I worked against it during the elections and the House, dominated by PDP members, will always do government’s biddings.

    “I did not honour their invitation because I had resigned my position as chairman,” Nweze said.

    The committee’s Chairman, Obasi Odefa could not be reached for comments but he remarked during the report’s presentation that his panel was doing his constitutional functions.

  • Ebonyi Deputy Governor berates Perm Sec

    Ebonyi State Deputy Governor Kelechi Igwe at the weekend, berated the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Steve Orogwu on the N160 million tractors procured in 2013 by the last administration and which are decaying.

    Igwe, accompanied by the SSG, Head of Service and Chief of Staff, paid an unscheduled visit to the various state ministries.

    The deputy governor described the procurement as a wastage of scare resources and public funds.

    He said: “It is terrible that a state government can waste a whooping N160 million in the procurement of tractors they do not plan to use and which are already decaying and can never be used again.

    “We are talking of wastages and this is one of it. I think as a Permanent Secretary you would have guided government on the procurement, if at all there was a need to.

    “It is very wasteful for government to engage in this type of business and Governor Dave Umahi will undertake a facility tour of all the infrastructures.

    “Ebonyi State is regarded as one of the states ridden with poverty and if government can throw away N160 million, it is unfortunate”.

    Igwe explained that the present government will create the Ministry of Planning, Evaluation and Strategy to take care of things of such nature.

  • Tribunal denies Umahi’s joint materials inspection request

    Tribunal denies Umahi’s joint materials inspection request

    The governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Thursday rejected a motion for joint inspection of electoral materials used to conduct the 2015 gubernatorial election in the state brought by the counsel to Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi.

    The tribunal however ordered separate inspection of electoral materials by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Chief Dave Umahi who was declared winner in the April 11 election and his Labour Party counterpart, Chief Edward Nkwegu, their counsel or any forensic expert retained by them to inspect, scan and take copies of electoral materials used in the election.

    This followed the opposition of joint inspection of the materials by counsel to Chief Nkwegu, Chuma Ajaegbu as prayed by the counsel to Chief Dave Umahi, Roy Umahi who requested for the joint inspection of the electoral materials by the two parties.

    Ajaegbu said that he was not opposed to the motion brought before the tribunal by Roy Umahi for the inspection of the materials as it is his right to do so.

    He, however, contended that allowing both parties to inspect the materials jointly will make the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to frustrate the exercise.

    ‘’We are not opposed to the granting of all the orders to inspect electoral materials used in the governorship election as was granted to us to the first petitioner, it is his entitlement but we are worried about the request for joint inspection.

    ‘’If there is an order for joint inspection, once it is made, the INEC through which that order is directed to can frustrate us once one of the parties is not present and any party can make the mater worst by not showing up but if there are separate orders made, INEC administratively can harmonize things and give us a date to come for the inspection so that if one party does not come or any of the parties are not present the inspection can go on,’’ he said.

    On his part, Roy Umahi noted that all he wanted is for the granting of his prayer to inspect the electoral materials as done to his counterpart, Ajaegbu, even though the tribunal did not make it jointly as he requested.

    In her ruling, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Theresa Ikoje ordered INEC to conduct separate inspection of the materials used in the governorship election.

    Justice Ikoje urged INEC to harmonize things to ensure success of the exercise and reminded the two parties to be time conscious.

     

    He noted that forty one days has already been spent on the petition remaining only 139 days for the tribunal to conclude sitting on the petition brought before it.