The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ebonyi

  • Evil spirit made me kill, says suspect

    Joseph Emeka Okoro, the man, who allegedly killed three persons in Ebonyi State last week, claimed that an evil spirit possessed and forced him to commit the crime.

    Okoro, who hails from Agbabo Isu in Onicha Local Government, was arrested by policemen from Onicha Divisional Police Station.

    In an interview with our reporter at the police headquarters, Abakaliki, the suspect alleged that the manipulations of the evil spirit was further worsened by the effect of drugs allegedly injected into his body by assassins hired by his former master in Lagos.

    Narrating his ordeal in the hands of his master, who he claimed to have served for many years, Emeka alleged that rather than settle him after his service, the master hired assassins to kill him.

    He regretted killing the three victims with a machete, adding that they were his in laws.

    “I know those people that I ‘killed’ but I did not know why I killed them or when I did it. They are good people whom I have never had any quarrel with. I think I was possessed by an evil spirit.

    “Whenever this spirit comes into me, it will just be as if I am mad and this was worsened by the effect of the drugs I was injected with by people hired by my former master. I have never seen such powerful drugs in my life. I had up to 48 injections.

    “I ran to a white garment church and my master came there and told them that I was mad but while I was there I asked to make a phone call which they obliged me and after the phone call, the church members started wondering how a mad man is able to know the numbers to call and discuss coherently.

    “They gave some people money to kill me. Those people hit me with iron and blinded my eye and I fainted. They then dumped me in a gutter thinking I was dead.

    “I woke up and heard a voice telling me to go back to the village. That was how I went back to the village.

    “I sold my phone for N5,000 to raise money to come back home. I have never killed before.

    Police spokesman Chris Anyanwu named the victims as Peter Awoke from Umuniko Isu; Sunday Nwaigwe from Umuniko Isu and Ega of Agbabo.

    He said the suspect would be charged to court after investigations are concluded.

  • Ebonyi judiciary generates N21m revenue

    THE Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, Hon. Justice Alloy Nwankwo, Friday disclosed that the judiciary in the state was able to generate over N21 million from fines and fees between 2012/2013 legal year in the state. The Chief Judge made the disclosure during the opening ceremony of the 2013/2014 legal year at the High Court of Justice, Abakaliki. According to Justice Nwankwo, under the case flow management for Ebonyi State High Court, a total of 13, 342 cases were filed as 10, 684 were disposed of while 14, 998 cases are currently still pending within the period under review. He revealed that a total of 57 inmates of the Afikpo and Abakaliki prisons where freed during the jail delivery in the year under review. “Although revenue generation constitutes an ancillary function of the judiciary, it is noteworthy to mention that we recorded increased revenue by way of fines and fees during the 2012/2013 legal year as over N21 million was generated by the judiciary. “Since my assumption of office, Ebonyi State judiciary has maintained a very cordial relationship with the two branches of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA in the state. Last legal year was no exception. We shall continue to do our best to sustain this relationship so as to discharge our functions more efficiently as partners in progress.” Governor Martin Elechi was represented on the occasion by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Ben Igwenyi congratulated the state judiciary on maintaining ethical standards in the discharge of their responsibility.

  • Ebonyi shuts seven illegal schools

    The Ebonyi State government has shut seven illegal private schools operating in the state.

    The affected schools, five nursery and primary schools, and two secondary schools are located in various parts of Abakaliki, the state capital.

    Commissioner for Education, Mr Ndubuisi Chibueze-Agbo, who announced the closure to reporters in Abakaliki, said the affected schools were functioning without the approval of the state Ministry of Education.

    He said the schools lacked necessary learning facilities such as libraries, science laboratories, recreational facilities and functional administrative block as prescribed by extant laws guiding the establishment of schools.

    He frowned at the poor and dehumanising environment some of the affected schools operated, describing it as unacceptable.

    “The state committee on closure of illegal and substandard schools took an assessment tour to some private schools operating in the state. The committee was horrified at the discovery it made.

    “In some of the affected schools our children are been packed like sardines in very horrifying and squalid conditions. We discovered also that these schools lacked adequate accommodations to cater for their intakes as classroom contains no fewer than 60 pupils,” he said.

    Chibueze-Agbo added that all the teachers in the affected schools did not possess the requisite teaching qualification.

    “The National Council on Education has made National Certificate in Education (NCE) the least teaching qualification in the country. What we are saying is that for you to run a private school in this state you must provide the minimum standard requirement in terms of facilities and personnel. Half-baked teachers will as a matter of fact , produce half baked students who will in turn perpetuate examination malpractice and we say no to this. None of our public schools teachers teaches with less than NCE and we want the same scenario in our private schools,” he added.

    The commissioner reiterated government’s determination to bequeath sound education legacy to the people. He vowed that no stone would be left on turned to actualise the dream. He said the state would henceforth punish perpetrators of the evil act.

    “It is a criminal offence to operate a school without obtaining all necessary approval papers from government and henceforth offenders will be made to face criminal prosecution in law courts,” he said.

    He called on parents, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Civil Society Groups and other stakeholders in education to partner with the government to end activities of illegal school operators.

    He also advised parents and guardians to take advantage of free and compulsory basic education in the state to avail their children and wards of functional and qualitative education.

     

  • SURE-P not a scam, says Anyim

    •500 women benefit from health scheme in Ebonyi

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Ayim, yesterday said the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) was not a scam.

    He said the programme was a fulfilment of the promises made by President Goodluck Jonathan towards uplifting the living standard of the people.

    Anyim spoke at the Amaeze Primary Healthcare Centre, Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. during the launch of SURE-P Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Pilot Programme Launch.

    Over 500 women benefited from the CCT Pilot programme.

    Anyim said the programme was aimed at reducing maternal and newborn mortality rates, especially in rural and under-served communities.

    He said the programme would accelerate the country’s progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5.

    The SGF, who was represented by a Federal Commissioner to Ebonyi State, National Population Commission (NPC), Chris Okereke, urged Nigerians, especially pregnant women to be part of the CCT Pilot programme.

    He said: “This is a promise made and a promise fulfilled. You all know that during the electioneering period that President Goodluck Jonathan made a promise that he is coming to transform Nigeria through the transformation agenda and because we are already use to politicians making promises and not fulfilling them, most Nigerians thought that it will be the same thing but here we are because the promise made is not a television or radio programme.

    “It has been designed to enable women access to good quality healthcare, funds, immunisation among others; this is one of the agenda to make sure that all our women are healthy and for them not to be afraid of pregnancy and delivery. Government is doing its own and everybody should participate. All of us should join hands and not stand on side line. Let us participate actively towards the transformation of this country. The government has started, join your hands, play our role and by God’s grace we will all be happy.”

    The Executive Director/ CEO of National Primary HealthCare and Development Agency, (NPHCDA) Abuja, Dr. Ado Muhammad, commended the Federal Government for the SURE-P initiative, saying it would serve as an incentive to women that they should visit health centres during their pregnancy period.

    He said: “The main reason we are here today is to showcase the functionality and benefits of the Conditional Cash Transfer, CCT initiative under the SURE-P MCH programme; the CCT programme provides cash incentives to pregnant women in communities as a means of encouraging them to go through the full continuum of care. Today, we are launching our Conditional Cash Transfer, CCT, programme in Ebonyi state and giving out the first hand-outs to qualified programme beneficiaries.”

    Governor Martin Elechi, who was represented by his Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sunday Nwangele, said the SURE-P (MCH) began operation in the state in October 2012, adding that the State Steering Committee was inaugurated on July 11 .

    He said: “In 2008, the Mother and Child care Initiative of the first lady, Mrs. Josephine Elechi also established a VVF centre, today known as National Obstetric Fistula Centre, NOFC, where over 1, 725 women with obstetric fistula and many others with uterine prolapse have been cured free of charge. Notably, these women came from over 20 other states across the nation.”

     

  • Eight artisans rape teenager to death

    Miss Chekwube Mbaka was yesterday allegedly raped to death by 8 Artisans at Odume Obosi in Idemili North Council Area, Anambra State.

     

    A 20 years male family friend suspected to be brain behind her abduction and rape with his friends is helping the Anambra police state command in investigation as the police have already swung into action to unravel the circumstances surrounding her untimely death.

     

    The boy went out with the late Chekwube for the errand sent her by her father even as one artisan has been arrested.

     

    Chekwube was from Ogboji Ezzagu, Ishielu Loccal Government Area of Ebonyi State but was residing at MINAJ village, Odume Obosi.

     

    Family sources said she was sent to buy a-hundred Naira garri by her father who came back from work at about 9 pm, because there was no food for him in the house but she never came back.

     

    The sources said a meter away to their entrance gate gate, the hoodlums allegedly dragged Chekwube to an uncompleted building where she was raped violently to death.

     

    Narrating his daughters ordeal, Mr. Mbaka regretted that if he had known that sending his daughter out to buy food for his family could bring about people laying ambush for her, he should have preferred the entire family sleeping without dinner.

     

    Mbaka said he is suspecting the artisans from Okposi also of Ebonyi State who are living close to their yard to have masterminded the barbaric act, following the alleged regular sexual demands they have made to his daughter in the past.

     

    He appealed to Corporal Ibrahim Idris Aboki attached with Divisional Crime Bureau, DCB of Obosi Police Division to do a thorough investigation and bring the peperators to book.

     

    The Nation leant this was the fourth rape case Odume Obosi has recorded within the space of three months. Two deaths were also recorded in the barbaric acts of the hoodlums.

     

    Divisional Police Officer of Obosi Division, CSP Dimale J.O confirmed the incident, stating that two people have been arrested in connection with the ugly story, adding that investigation is now on to unveil all that have hands in the death but declined further comment on the matter.

     

  • Ebonyi lifts 120 orphans, vulnerable children

    AS part of effort to achieve the goal 5 of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which is ensuring education for every child, wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Mrs. Josephine Elechi, yesterday gave out educational kits to 120 orphans and vulnerable children across the state.

    The distribution of the materials was done in partnership with Rent Meester Foundation, Netherlands in Abakaliki, the state capital. Seventy two of the children are primary school pupils while 48 are in secondary school.

    The governor’s wife, while handing over the educational materials, urged caregivers of the orphans and vulnerable children to ensure the proper upbringing of the children.

    She also warned the caregivers against exploiting the children for economic gains, adding that the state government has outlawed child labour and hawking.

    “Any parent or guardian who is caught sending their children to hawk win instend stead of school will be prosecuted”, she said.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Hotel Geneza to boost tourism in Ebonyi

    EBONYI State tourism received a boost with the opening of Geneza Hotels recently. To consolated gains made be the state in hospitality busines, the owner of Geneza Hotel has tasked the state government to capitalize on the investments in hotels by private individuals to develop the vast array of potential tourist sites dotting the entire landscape of the state waiting to be exploited.

    Mr Maduka who made the call in Abakaliki, the state capital during the official commissioning of the hotel located at No 19 Onwe Road Abakaliki listed some of such tourism sites to include the Oferekpe beach, the Afikpo beach and the water walks plateau.

    “The water walks plateau is a potential tourist site waiting to be exploited. We, therefore, request the state government to invest in the plateau by building cable car that would cris-cros the hill and terminating at the foot where a museum will be built to showcase the cultural heritage of Ebonyi people” he said.

    The about 30 room hotel among other packages has 24hr power supply and security with CCTV, high speed Internet access in all the rooms, electronic room safe, car hire services, electronic key door, business centre with high speed Internet access and a well trained staff.

    Commissioning the Hotel, the State Governor, Martin Elechi noted that tourism is one of the chief drivers of economies of many nations hence an investment in the sector is an investment with astronomical prospects of success.

    Elechi represented by his Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hycinth Ikpo commended the owners of the Hotel for such massive edifice which he said signifies yet another victorious milestone for tourism and infrastructural development in the state.

    “For every developing state, there must be corresponding expansions to engender a congenial atmosphere for socio-economic activities to thrive. Therefore the building of Hotel Geneza is most timely”, Elechi added.

  • One killed in Ebonyi building collapse

    One person was killed yesterday in Amasiri Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State when a three-storey building under construction collapsed.

    The victim, whose identity could not been ascertained, was said to be working in the building when it caved in about 8.35am.

    Police spokesman Sylvester Igbo confirmed the incident.

    He said when the police received the information, officers mobilised to the scene.

    But efforts made by the police to rescue the trapped person, who was alive when they first arrived at the scene, proved abortive as they lacked the necessary equipment for the rescue.

    Igbo said before the police could get to the trapped man, he had died.

    His words: “About 8.35am yesterday, information was received that a-three storey building under construction collapsed. The building was beside NNPC’s mega filling station at Amasiri in Afikpo North.

    “The police immediately mobilised to the scene. The officers saw a hand raised under the debris.

    “They tried to rescue him but it was impossible, they ran to construction companies looking for excavator that will assist them to do the work. They were able to secure a chain excavator but there was no vehicle to convey the equipment to the scene.

    “The police mobilised youths who came with hammers, by the time they got to the scene, the victim was dead.

    “The assistant site manager was arrested by the police but the site engineer was not available but efforts are on to arrest him.”

     

  • FRSC threatens to prosecute Ebonyi DCP over assaults

    FRSC threatens to prosecute Ebonyi DCP over assaults

    THE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has vowed to stop at nothing to ensure the prosecution of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, Mr. Istifanus Shettima, over an alleged assault and arrest of its officials in Abakaliki.

    The Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the commission, Mr. Osita Chidoka, stated this yesterday during the sensitisation programme on speed-limiting devices in Abakalili, capital of Ebonyi State.

    He bemoaned the constant assault of FRSC officials by police officers on the directives of Shettima, promising the incident will be the last in the state.

    Chidoka, who was represented by the Zonal Commander FRSC RS9HQ Enugu, Mr. Chika Nwaka, stated that on different occasions the Deputy Commissioner had alleged the commission does not have the constitutional right to operate within the town.

    This, he stated, has led to harassment and embarrassment of FRSC officials whenever they are on duty within the capital city.

    A visibly infuriated Chidoka said: “What makes them (Police) superior to other uniform personnel? Is it because they carry guns?

    “Most of them are not more educated than our men. Most of them don’t have integrity than our men. Why would they always harass our men each time they are on duty?

    “If we have been mandated to carry firearms like others, would such a thing happen? But we want to assure all that we must stop this humiliating act.”

    But the Ebonyi Police Command spokesman, ASP Sylvester Igbo, in a statement debunked the alleged harassment of FRSC men.

    According to him: “That morning (Wednesday), the Deputy Commissioner was visiting his men at various duty posts.

    “At Presco junction along Abakaliki/Enugu Express Road, an official of the FRSC, who was directing traffic, passed two vehicles from opposing sides of the Enugu/Abakaliki lane at the same time and caused one tricycle and motorcycle to collide with each other.

    “As a result of the incident, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, who was in the traffic with his official car and personnel, directed the Road Safety official to accompany the victims of the accident to the MTD Abakaliki to give his statement as a witness and for treatment.

    “But he refused and hauled abuses as well as assaulted him.”

    The FRSC operative, Mr. Otu Onyinyechukwu, denied causing any accident on the road.

    He accused the DCP of physically attacking him with his orderly and driver.

    “I was controlling traffic along the ever busy Preso junction in Abakaliki around 8:30 am when I heard someone beckoning on me to come from an unmarked car.

    “I became afraid immediately because of the hostile voice calling me. When I got close to the car, the caller, the state Police DCP, came down from the car and asked what I was doing there.

    “I told him I was posted to control traffic to avoid congestion as that junction is always busy in the rush- hour period. He said I have no right to be there as it is not my duty to be controlling traffic.

    “I insisted that it is my duty to be there. The next thing I felt was a slap from the DCP himself and then his driver and orderly joined him and started beating me, tearing my uniform given to me by the Federal Government of Nigeria in the process.”

    He went on: “They then tried to drag me into the boot of their car. I refused and told him that I was posted there by my office so he should inform them before taking me away.

    “But they continued forcing me into the car until they finally succeeded after which they drove me to their station.”

    When contacted, DCP Shettima denied the allegations.

    He said: “There was no time I asked my men to beat up any of them despite all their attempts to provoke me and my men. I, in fact, asked them to remain calm.

    ”Nobody was molested even when they blocked my movement. I continued pleading with my men to be calm and they should maintain law and order.

    “I know most of them (FRSC officials) lack training. That is why they will come into a police station and block the road.

    “If we had used our powers, some of them would have been in the hospital but we remained calm. Even when they saw my uniform as a police officer they continued blocking my way.”

     

  • Ebonyi council boss held for ‘rape’ of mum, two daughters

    The police in Ebonyi State yesterday arrested the Vice-Chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area, Sunday Ottah, for alleged complicity in the rape of a woman councillor-aspirant and her two daughters.

    The suspect was brought into the State Police Headquarters, Abakaliki, and detained at 2.09 pm.

    The rape of Mrs. Margaret Elom, a widow, who won the councillorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ndiagu Achara Ward 1 in Ikwo community, was alleged to have been perpetrated by hoodlums hired by Ottah.

    The hoodlums stole N50, 000 and a motorcycle from them.

    Police spokesman Sylvester Igbo confirmed the incident, saying the matter would be investigated.

    He said one of the suspects confirmed that Ottah was behind the act, an allegation he said Ottah had denied.

    Igbo said: “Mrs. Margaret Elom, the councillor-aspirant for Ndiagu Echara Ward I in Ikwo Local Government Area reported that some hoodlums broke into her house and stole N50,000 and a motorcycle valued at N120,000 and nine phones.

    “She said two of her daughters were raped by the two suspects, who were later identified as Chidi Eze (24) and Sunday Nwogu (23). Eze was arraigned on August 12.

    “The suspects confessed to the crime and added that they were sent to the woman’s house to retrieve the motorcycle that was given to her for campaign and the Certificate of Return given to her by the State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC).”

    Though the police didn’t confirm if Mrs. Elom was raped, sources confirmed that she was raped with her daughters.

    But Ottah, who spoke from behind the police counter, said he was innocent.