The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ebonyi

  • ID scam rocks Ebonyi Ministry of Education

    A human rights group based in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, Centre for Transparency and Justice (CTJ), has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences (ICPC) and other security agencies over alleged embezzlement of secondary schools’ Identity Card fund in the state.

    Briefing journalists in Abakaliki yesterday, the Coordinator of the group, Comrade Jerry Chukwu, said the office in the last six months received about seven different petitions from Parents Teachers Associations (PTA) of secondary schools across the state over alleged extortion and embezzlement of funds from secondary school students in the state by staff of the Ministry of Education.

    The human rights activist said that the first petition it received some time last year revealed that the Association had written to the group alerting them of an alleged plan by the state’s Ministry of Education to impose the sum of N500 on all secondary school students for what it described as Ebonyi Secondary School Identity Card.

    Out of over 200 secondary schools in the state that have paid the money since last year, the ministry has allegedly only issued the Identity Card to only four schools.

    “Worrisome again is that over 5000 Senior Secondary School students that paid the money took their SSCE last year and have left the school without the ID card. What happens to the money they paid?” the group asked.

    When contacted, the State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Chibueze Agbo, who confirmed the collection of N250 per student for the identity card by his ministry, noted that the extra N50 principals are collecting is for administrative fee.

    “Yes, we are collecting N250 per secondary school student for their identity card. The principals decided that I should collect N50 each from the N250, but I refused because I don’t need the money.

    “Rather, I asked the principals to collect the money as their administrative fee. We have not committed any financial crime; they can go ahead and petition the governor, EFCC and ICPC.

    “If Governor Martin Elechi decides to drop me as Commissioner tomorrow, I will simply thank him and go home. Since I became commissioner, it has been one petition to another but I’m not bothered about what they are doing.”

     

  • Four MASSOB members missing in Ebonyi

    Four members of Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) were on the Christmas eve declared missing while six others are currently receiving treatment at a hospital after they were attacked by over 70 youths of Okpera community in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on the alleged instigation of some community leaders, who were against hoisting of Biafran flag within the community.

    However, there are reports that MASSOB had threatened to declare war against the community if they fail to produce the missing MASSOB members within 48 hours.

    The youths, who were alleged to have been armed with dangerous weapons, such as dane guns, machetes, spears, daggers and sticks, attacked unsuspecting members of MASSOB, numbering about 10, while they were hoisting the Biafran flag, an exercise, which, according to the MASSOB Director of Information, Comrade Uchenna Madu,  was going on simultaneously throughout Biafran land.

    Among those critically injured as a result of the attack and who are still receiving treatment at MASSOB hospital at Okwe, Imo State, were Joseph Akiriko, Otuosorochi Nwoba, Sunday Nworie, Abel Mgbogo, Friday Nkwagu, Duke Oke and Maduabuchi Oke.

    Others, whose whereabouts is still unknown since the attack include Emeka

    Nwangwu, Peter Nwewo, Sylvester Nwugbala and Dan Usee.

    “We have not seen them since December 24, 2012, the villagers might have killed them, and we demand for the release of the bodies within 48 hours or Okpera will prepare for MASSOB music. Nobody has monopoly of violence. Our members had been attacked severally in Ikwo. We can no longer continue to complain to traditional rulers; our members shall not die in vain in Ikwo,”  Uchenna warned.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP. Sylvester Igbo,  said he had not been briefed on the incident.

  • Police rescue kidnap victim in Ebonyi

    The Ebonyi State Police Command yesterday rescued one Mr. Franklin Ajah suspected to have been kidnapped by a group of armed men at Ugwuachara area in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    Ajah was said to have been abducted while inspecting his building project in the area. Ajah, according to sources close to the family, was later found yesterday, in a house at Mgbukobe area of the town after an alleged undisclosed ransom was paid by the family.

    When contacted, Mr Sylvester Igbo, the State Police Public Relations Officer, explained that when the command got wind of the case, its men swung into action and effected several arrests.

    “We employed the ‘Judges Rule’ system where several suspects are arrested in connection with a case and screened to ascertain the real culprits.

    “We arrested most people living inside the building and neigbourhood but after screening, we released those not connected with the kidnapping case. We, however, detected two persons who were connected directly to the case. So, after full investigations are concluded, they will be charged to court,” he said.

    The police spokesman could not, however, confirm whether ransom was paid for the victim’s release, though sources said it was paid.

    Igbo assured citizens of the state of the command’s readiness to provide them with adequate security, especially during the yuletide.

    “We will depend on information from the public to succeed in this task, as such information would be made confidential,” he said.

  • Mark sues for tolerance in Ebonyi

    Mark sues for tolerance in Ebonyi

    President of the Senate, David Mark, on Thursday called on the people of Ebonyi Central to forgive one another and live in harmony.

    Mark, according to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Kola Ologbondiyan, gave the advice when the people of Ebonyi Central Senatorial District led by Senator Paulinus Igwe paid him a Christmas visit in Otukpo, Benue State.

    He said: “The people of Ebonyi Central had not had the best of peace in recent time, but Christmas is about living together in harmony and in peace.

    “The central message of Christianity is forgiveness and unless we can genuinely forgive one another we cannot be a good Christian.

    “It is not easy to forgive, particularly in situation where lives have been taken.

    “But Christ birth brought peace, the type that had not been known in the world before his coming.

    “He came and preached forgiveness. We must therefore as Christians, learn to forgive each other.

    “I therefore appeal to you to also appeal to those who are at home to allow peace to reign.

    “In this new year, we must make a resolution for peace to reign in Ebonyi Central.

    “I am willing to work to achieve this peace. If all leaders would make themselves available to work for peace in the little community, we will soon have peace as a nation.”

    The President of the Senate reiterated his support for the creation of additional states in the Federation.

     

  • Ebonyi gets 10MW gas turbine for electricity

    The Ebonyi State Government yesterday received a gas turbine for the electrification of the new Abakaliki (Ocho Udo City), the Ebonyi State International Market – being built by the state government – and some other parts of the state capital.

    The 10 megawatts turbine, the Commissioner for Public Utilities, Ben Okah said, cost $12million (N1.8billion).

    Receiving the facility at the Government House in Abakaliki, Okah, with Elder Fred Udeogu, the Commissioner for Grants and Donor Agency, explained that the three containers have accessories for the turbine.

    The commissioner explained that the core turbine would arrive the state today from the Lagos port.

    He said the turbine comprises two power plants with each having the capacity for five megawatts.

    Okah said: “We have just received the accessories for the 10 megawatts power plant, which the government is bringing to Ebonyi State supplied by Felico Incorporated. We have received the accessories in two units of 40 feet containers and a unit of 20 feet container. The main plant has not arrived because of some technical issues. The main plant will come in on Wednesday.”

    The commissioner said the plant would be connected to the grid for optimal electricity supply to Och Udo City and the international market.

    Okah said 10 megawatts would cover about three-quarters of Abakaliki.

    He added: “Under proper arrangement with NEC (a Japanese firm) and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), we would like to complement the power coming from the PHCN, which has actually been epileptic.”

     

     

  • Ebonyi flood victims protest alleged starvation

    Ebonyi flood victims protest alleged starvation

    Scores of flood victims in Ebonyi State yesterday protested their alleged starvation following the failure of the federal and state governments to release intervention fund to them.

    Addressing reporters in Abakaliki, the spokesman for the victims, Mr. Ifeanyi Elom, noted that despite the release of the N300million Federal Government’s intervention fund, the flood victims had been starving in the last three months.

    He said: “What we experienced between April and September was no fault of ours. A natural disaster is not prone to us alone. More than three months after the disaster that claimed a life, we are yet to get any meaningful help from the state government and the Federal Government.

    “All we heard was that the Federal Government released huge sums of money to enable us start life again. We were made to understand that the Ebonyi State Government would get N300million from the intervention fund. However, till this moment, we have not received a kobo from the fund. If the Federal Government fund is not forthcoming, what of the N100million the governor released to the victims?

    “It is regrettable that most of us lost all our buildings, household appliances, livestock, farmlands and other valuables.”

     

  • ‘Criminal training camp in Ebonyi’

    ‘Criminal training camp in Ebonyi’

    The Ebonyi State Police Command yesterday said it has received intelligence reports that a training camp was being run in the state.

    The command explained that youths were trained to unleash mayhem on the state during the Yuletide period.

    Police Commissioner Mamman Sule addressed reporters in his office in Abakaliki.

    He said the command was investigating the location of the camp and would arrest its proprietors and the trainees.

    Sule warned those running the camp to desist.

    The police chief urged parents and guardians to advise their children and wards to avoid breaching the peace.

    According to him, the police would punish anybody caught fomenting trouble in the state.

    He said: “The police are still investigating the location of the training camp. We will dismantle it if it is in existence and the perpetrators will be brought to book, no matter how highly placed such individuals may be.”

    Sule assured motorists and commuters, who will ply the Abakaliki-Enugu road during the Yuletide period, of tight security.

  • Cleric decries bad roads, unemployment in Ebonyi

    THE Anglican Bishop of Ngbo Diocese in Ebonyi State, Bishop Christian Ebisike, has decried the high poverty level, unemployment among youths, bad roads, epileptic power supply and inadequate water supply in most rural communities in the state.

    Bishop Ebisike spoke at the third session of the first Synod of the church with the theme: Evangelism: the prime obligation.

    The cleric said the level of poverty in the state is high, adding that the government needs to establish industries and create jobs.

    He said: “We have discovered that the level of poverty is high in Ebonyi State. The people, especially the youths, need jobs. There is need to alleviate their poverty through the establishment of industries and creation of jobs. There is inadequacy, if not lack, of good roads, potable water and electricity in many communities.

    “Many industries in the state are moribund. The most annoying is the huge Nkalagu Cement Factory, which is now a monument of ruins. The once pride of the Southeast has become a shadow of its old self with thousands of its workers now living in abject poverty.”

    The bishop noted that though efforts by the Martin Elechi administration to establish another cement factory is commendable, it is better to rehabilitate the old factory for the workers to have a new lease of life.

    Ebisike said the insecurity by the Boko Haram sect and the incessant killings of Igbo in the North could be a ploy to exterminate the ethnic nationality.

    The cleric said the political marginalisation of Igbo has reached an alarming rate.

    According to him, the Nigerian situation is like the sour grape.

    He said: “Instead of growing from grace to glory, our dear country has continued to fester, wallowing in more sleaze, corruption, rising unemployment and insecurity and an unacceptable paradox of filthy wealth in the hands of a careless and selfish minority. This leaves the majority trapped in rising poverty.

    “Not only has corruption gone viral, there was the recent grim revelation of pension fraud at the Federal Public Service and the Police Service Commission; the fuel subsidy scam, running into trillions of naira. Also, there were the capital market probes, where the hunter became the hunted and the N536.15million National Examinations Council (NECO) scam. We recall the lunatic looting of his state’s treasury by former Delta State Governor James Ibori, who was described as “a common thief” abroad but a saint in Nigeria. These cannot but worry a sane mind.”

    The cleric sought solutions to the nation’s myriad woes and severe punishment for criminals without any sacred cows.

    Ebisike said: “It is high time we stopped the free-fall capacity collapse of our system because our children are getting increasingly disillusioned as a result of unemployment and our infrastructure are progressively decaying. The leaders and the led should know that only righteousness can exalt a nation.”

  • Two dead, property razed in Ebonyi fuel tanker explosion

    Two persons have been confirmed dead and property worth millions of naira destroyed at Ntezi Amuzu community in Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State when a diesel-laden petroleum tanker fell and exploded on the Ntezi Amuzu axis of the Abakaliki-Afikpo Expressway.

    An eyewitness, Mr. Emeka Nwafor, named the dead as 70-year-old man Felix Mgabda and Mrs. Migrate Nworie.

    He said a fashion designer, Mr. Thomas Mkpuma, was injured and is receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Abakaliki.

    According to him, three buildings, two shops, two motorcycles and other property were destroyed when the tanker caught fire.

    Nwafor said the driver of the tanker, with registration number (Cross River) XA574CAL, was trying to avoid a bad spot on the road when he lost control.

    He said the tanker was conveying diesel from a neighbouring state to Abakaliki when it skidded off the road.

    The eyewitness explained that the plastic cover on the tanker burst out, throwing diesel all over the place. This was followed by an explosion.

    Nwafor said: “The incident happened at 4.30pm on Saturday when most of the people were at home resting.

    “The tanker was trying to avoid a bad spot on the road. We watched the driver trying to control the tanker, but unfortunately, the tank disengaged from the tanker and fell down. The plastic cover on the tank burst out, throwing diesel all over the place.”

    “Regrettably, Mrs. Migrate Nwaorie, who was cooking in the house, ran into the raging fire outside. Mr. Felix Mgabda was sitting in front of the house. He was caught by the inferno. Though he was rushed to the hospital, but he died later.

    “We are praying fervently that, Mr. Mkpuma, who is receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital, will survive. We urge the government to transfer him to the University Teaching Hospital (UNTH) in Enugu for a better treatment.”

    The Chairman Ezza South Local Government Area, Mr. Lazarus Ogbee said the council was liaising with the Federal Teaching Hospital in Abakaliki to transfer affected patient to the University Teaching Hospital (UNTH) in Enugu.

    Ogbee promised that the council would assist the families of the deceased and other victims to alleviate their suffering.

    The council chief urged the contractor handling the road to accelerate its completion to avert accidents during this Yuletide period.

     

     

  • Pay N18,000 minimum wage, Ebonyi told

    The Ebonyi chapter of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has called on Governor Martin Elechi to implement the N18,000 minimum wage for workers in the state.

    The government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state have differed on the implementation of the wage.

    The government insisted that since no worker in its workforce earns below N18, 000, it had implemented the minimum wage.

    However, the NLC believed the increase should be reflected in all grades of the state workforce.

    Mr David Okoro, the CDHR Chairman in Ebonyi, told The Nation that the governor should be labour-friendly by resolving all lingering issues involved in the payment.

    “The governor should compromise if necessary and ensure that the legal provision of the wage is implemented.This has become imperative because the labour force is the engine room of government which needs adequate motivation for enhanced productivity,” he said.

    Okoro also advocated a review of the procedures of appointment in the state civil service and ensure that merit is enshrined into the process.

    “The appointment of judges, state director of public prosecution, auditor general, accountant general, and permanent secretaries, should be on merit of seniority lists. A situation where junior officers are elevated above their seniors, have created room for injustice and denial of rights, privileges and fundamental human rights of workers.’’