The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Edo State

  • Three arrested for attempting to kidnap retired Professor

    Three persons have been arrested in Edo State for attempting to kidnap an Emeritus Professor Joshua UnuiGboje Aiseku.

    Names of the three suspects were given as Adamu Aminu aged 23, Tamuno Diepreye Samuel aged 19 and Ovie Raymond  aged 21.

    They were said to have threatened to kidnap and kill Prof. Aiseku if he did not pay them the equivalent sum of N7.5m.

    The suspects provided a Turkish bank account number 851838335002 with account name, Akunday Aorah into which their victim was to pay the money.

    Police Commissioner, Babatunde Kokumo, told newsmen that the main suspect, Adamu Aminu, was like a son to Prof. Aiseku.

    Read Also: Professor dies in Bayelsa office

    Kokumo explained that Adamu’s father worked as a security man to Prof. Aiseku.

    He said Prof. Aiseku paid for the education of Adamu and even allowed him to live with him.

    The Police CP stated that Prof. Aiseku sent Adamu to another school when he was rusticated from the first school he was enrolled into.

    In a chat with newsmen, Adamu said there was no intention to kill Prof. Aiseku since the man did no harm to him.

    He said he got the two others in River State to provide a Techno phone and the account number where the money would be paid into and blamed the devil for the act.

    Ovie who provided the Turkish account number said he didn’t know it was to be used to collect ransom payment.

  • Obaseki abolishes 10% estate administration fee

    …fee now to be deducted at point of receiving benefits

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has issued an Executive Order altering the provision of Order 53, Rule 11, Paragraph 21 of the Second Schedule of the Edo State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2012, that made it mandatory for persons applying for letters of Administration to pay 10 per cent of the total value of the property in advance, as a condition for the issuance of Letters of Administration.

    Obaseki said the new Executive Order No: 1 of 2018, with August 1st commencement date, is a response to the plights of many beneficiaries and next-of-kin of deceased and retired government workers who cannot collect their entitlements due to their inability to pay in advance, the required 10 per cent of the value of their entitlements, as condition for the issuance of Letters of Administration.

    The governor stated in the Executive Order: “Whereas, Order 53 Rule 11 and paragraph 21 of the Second Schedule of the Edo State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2012 made it mandatory for persons applying for Letters of Administration to pay 10 per cent of the total value of the Property as a condition for the issuance of Letters of Administration.

    “Whereas my attention has been drawn to the plight of many applicants who as beneficiaries and or next-of-kin of deceased Government Workers/Pensioners are unable to process and obtain Letters of Administration to collect their entitlements.

    Read Also: Eid-el-Kabir: Obaseki felicitates with Muslims

    “Now therefore, I Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, Governor of Edo State, in exercise of the authority vested by the Constitution and other laws enabling me in that behalf, do hereby order and direct as follows:

    “Deduction of the 10 per cent Administration of Estate Fee at source and remittance of same to the Probate Registry by the relevant organ of Government is hereby approved to alleviate the suffering and stress encountered by beneficiaries and relatives of deceased Government workers/pensioners.

    “This order shall be enforced and complied with by all persons, Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Edo State concerned with or empowered to administer all matters relating to this order.

    “This order is effective upon signature and shall remain in force, unless amended, modified, terminated or rescinded.”

    With the new Executive Order 1 of 2018, next-of-kin and beneficiaries of deceased government workers/pensioners, now have unfettered access to their property as the mandatory Letter of Administration fee, being 10 percent of the total value of the property, will be deducted from the value of the property at point of receipt.

  • Community to hold second annual Akugbe festival

    The people of Idumowu Ebelle Community of Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State are ready to host the second annual Akugbe festival.

    Chairman Idumowu Ebelle development union Lagos branch, Mathew Iriogbe, said the event is scheduled to hold from September 28-30, 2018, at Chief Ezomon’s Arena in the community.

    Read Also:Fayose pays homage to Ewi at Udiroko festival

    According to Iriogbe, this year’s event followed the success recorded at the maiden edition of the festival which was held last.

    Akugbe festival is aimed at bringing sons and daughters of Ebelle community together in a festive mood, while also providing opportunity for them to socialize and exchange pleasantries.

    Iriogbe expressed confidence that the event will foster unity and development of the community.

    The festival will be rounded off with a thanksgiving service on September 30th in all the churches in the community.

  • Obaseki vows to stamp out human trafficking, illegal migration

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has pledged to stamp out the menace of human trafficking and illegal migration from Edo State, as the government has set up necessary legal and institutional framework to combat the scourge.

    The governor also called for strengthening of transnational ties between state and non-state actors to end modern slavery and other ills, which benefit from human trafficking.

    Obaseki made the commitment in commemoration of the International Day for the Remembrance of Slave Trade and its Abolition, which is marked on August 23, every year, by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), to remember the Transatlantic slave trade and its abolition.

    Obaseki said that though slavery may have been abolished centuries ago, it continues to rear its head in the guise of human trafficking and other forms of forced enslavement for social and economic gains.

    According to him, “On this day, it is important to recall the milestones recorded in the fight against human trafficking, a trend that almost deprived us of our youth population, which had foreshadowed a dim future for us. As we mark this, we are forced to signpost the modern version of this societal ill: human trafficking.

    Read Also: Esan APC leaders condemn attack on Obaseki

    “To stem this, we set up the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking; enacted the Edo State Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Law 2018 and set machinery in motion for top-of-the-range basic and technical education in the state.

    These are geared towards curbing the trend of human trafficking and ensuring that our young ones get the best of education in the state to make them competitive at home and abroad.”

    He said that the state government’s rehabilitation and reintegration programme is geared towards restoring the dignity of those that may have been caught in the web of human trafficking, as efforts are in top gear to ensure that they settle back properly into society.

    He called on the international community to continue to support the state government’s effort and urged for more support for governments working to curb all forms of slavery.

    The International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition had its maiden celebration in Haiti on August 23, 1998.

  • Obaseki visits APC leader, Amegor over son’s death

    The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has paid a condolence visit to the Edo South Senatorial leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Gentleman Amegor, over the death of his son, Uyi Amegor.

    The late Uyi Amegor, was the Vice Chairman of Egor Local Government Area, until his death.

    Obaseki was accompanied on the visit by his Chief of Staff, Chief Taiwo Akerele, and the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu.

    The visibly shaken governor, who could not speak to journalists, spent some time condoling with the Amegor family at their Siluko Road residence, in Benin City, the state capital.

    Read Also: Police arrest suspected attackers of Obaseki

    Recall that when news of Uyi Amegor’s death broke earlier in the week, the governor expressed rude shock at the news and said he was taken aback by the passing of Hon. Uyi Amegor.

    “I commiserate with his family, Edo South Leader of our party, Gentleman Amegor and the people of Egor local council. We lost Mr. Uyi Amegor at a critical moment of our development as a state, when he was working with the team at the local government to re-position local government administration. It is indeed a great loss to the people of Egor local council and the entire state,” Obaseki said.

    He pledged that the Edo State Government and the entire APC family will stand by the Amegor family through their trying moments and prayed that God grants the family the fortitude to bear the huge loss.

  • Lawmaker gets nod for second term

    The lawmaker representing Esan South East local government in the Edo State House of Assembly, Honourable Festus Edughele, has gotten endorsement of party leaders to contest for a second term.

    Hon Edughele got the endorsement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders after a meeting held at Ubiaja, headquarters of the locality.

    Those who spoke at the meeting pass a vote of confidence on Edughele and described his representation at the Assembly as very effective.

    They pledged their support in his bid to return to the Edo State House of Assembly come 2019.

    Read Also: 2019: Lawmaker urges youth to shun violence

    Elder Felix Osiabuku who spoke on behalf of the leaders said they were ready to work for his victory at the polls.

    He called on other aspirants to step down for Hon. Edughele because of the bigger gains for Ubiaja in the near future.

    Edughele who thanked them for the show of solidarity promised not of disappoint them.

     

  • Esan APC leaders condemn attack on Obaseki

    Leaders of the All Progressive Congress in Edo Central Senatorial district have condemned last week’s attack on the convoy of Governor Godwin Obaseki by some youths believed to have been hired.

    Edo Central Senatorial district which is home to Esan speaking people of Edo State is made up of five local government areas.

    Governor Obaseki was at Irrua, headquarters of Esan Central local government to meet with APC leaders to discuss issues surrounding the nomination of candidates when some youth stormed the venue with placards.

    The youth wore t-shirts inscribed with the Esan Youth Movement and chanted invective words demanding ‘no imposition of candidates.

    As Obaseki made to leave venue of the meeting, the youths pelted his convoy with sachet waters and stones.

    The Esan APC leaders told newsmen yesterday that those responsible for the attack were not members of the APC.

    Speaking to newsmen on Saturday, leader of the APC in Esan South East local government, Mr. Victor Eboigbe, described the attack as barbaric and uncivilised.

    Eboigbe said Esan leaders and youth do not support such action against a performing Governor like Obaseki.

    Read Also: Obaseki pledges support for terrorism victims

    He stated that punitive actions would be taken against those behind the attack after investigations have been concluded.

    Eboigbe assured that Esan leaders were united ahead of the 2019 general elections adding that Governor Obaseki assured that no candidate would be imposed on the people.

    According to him, “I do not believe the people responsible for the attack are members of the APC. No APC youth will behave like that to our Governor. What they did was barbaric, uncivilised and we will get to the bottom of it.

    “I don’t care what they protest about. Esan leaders and youth do not support them. It is not correct that no leader tried to call the youth to order. I didn’t think that with the way they were going about it, if you listen to them, you will be giving them credibility. You will be encouraging them to do something like that.

    “I believe that the reason some of them join in the attack is because in the past, they did it and got that they wanted.”

    Another leader of the party and senatorial aspirant, Mr. Theophillus Okoh, said information available indicated that some of the youths arrested were from Delta state.

    “Those alleging that Esan Leaders masterminded the attack are just been mischievous. I know that investigation into the matter is going on and those behind it will be exposed.”

     

  • Human Trafficking: Edo takes campaign to Abudu

    … urges residents to report traffickers

    The Edo State Commissioner for Justice/Attorney General of the state and Head of the State Taskforce against Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration, Professor Yinka Omorogbe, has urged Edo people and residents in Orhionmwon Local Government Area to report suspected human traffickers to the taskforce.

    The taskforce was established by Governor Godwin Obaseki in August 2017, to check the high incidence of human trafficking and illegal migration in the state

    At an advocacy programme organised by the task force in Abudu, headquarters of Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Prof. Omorogbe said the state government was fully committed to tackling human trafficking by creating jobs for youths in the state, urging residents in the area to report suspected traffickers to the taskforce for investigation and subsequent prosecution.

    “Human trafficking is a bad business. Don’t get involved or allow yourself to be trafficked by those looking for young men and women to be exploited. We are informing you so that you won’t learn the hard way. Many others who have gone and returned are gnashing their teeth now.

    “Our children undergo slavery there. We have records of thousands of Nigerians who were killed or missing in the Sahara Desert, Libya or Mediterranean Sea.

    Read Also: 2019: Edo APC battling with defection

    “But the traffickers don’t tell you the hard life your children undergo there; how they are kidnapped in connivance with them. Parents and other relations end up sending money from here to Libya. They only tell you their success stories that are not true. Beware of the antics of the traffickers,” Omorogbe told guests at the event.

    According to her, the state has received over 3,883 Libya returnees between November 2017 and July 2018, adding that Governor Godwin Obaseki was worried that more than half of the returnees from Libya were from the state, with Orhionmwon Local Government Area taking the lead in the state.

    The Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Mr. Osaze Osemwegie-Ero, who also spoke at the advocacy programme, said the governor was working round the clock to change the narrative by investing massively in human capital development.

    Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Anti-Human Trafficking Issues, Mr Solomon Okoduwa, assured that the taskforce would sustain the campaign.

    Okoduwa urged parents, religious leaders as well as the international community to partner with the state government in the fight against human trafficking and illegal migration, noting, “We have over 4,000 Libya returnees as I speak, but we are saying this must not be allowed to continue.”

  • Uyi Amegor’s death, rude shock – Obaseki

    … commiserates with Amegor family, Egor local council

     

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has described as very shocking, the news of the passing of Hon. Uyi Amegor, the former Vice Chairman of Egor Local Council.

    “I am taken aback over the passing of Hon. Uyi Amegor, the Vice Chairman of Egor Local Government Area. I commiserate with his family, Edo South Leader of our party, Gentleman Amegor and the people of Egor local council over his passing.

    Read Also: Obaseki commiserates with family

    “We lost Mr. Uyi Amegor at a critical moment of our development as a state, when he was working with the team at the local government to re-position local government administration. It is indeed a great loss to the people of Egor local council and the entire state,” the governor said.

    He pledged that the Edo State Government and the entire APC family will stand by the Amegor family through their trying moments and prayed that God grants the family the fortitude to bear the huge loss.

  • Obaseki pledges support for terrorism victims

    …urges CSOs, donor agencies, others to complement govt.’s role

     

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to provide more support for victims of terrorism who reside in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)’ camps in the state.

    Obaseki made the pledge in commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, marked every August 21, by the United Nations (UN) and member states across the globe.

    He said, “While the Federal Government continues to intensify effort to subdue terrorists in the North East and other parts of Nigeria, Edo State will not relent in ensuring that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) residing in camps in the state are provided with adequate structures to make their stay comfortable.

    “The IDPs would be further assisted in recovering from the trauma of terrorism, as it will facilitate their rehabilitation and integration into society.”

    The governor said more could still be achieved if well-meaning, public-spirited individuals, Civil Society Organisations (CSO), international donor agencies, among others, work closely with governments in scaling up assistance to victims of terrorism.

    Read Also: Eid-el-Kabir: Obaseki felicitates with Muslims

    Obaseki noted that the state government will continue in coordinating efforts to assist IDPs in the state.

    According to the UN, “While more countries are affected by terrorism today, the number of victims has largely been concentrated in a small number of member states. In 2017 alone, nearly three-quarters of all deaths caused by terrorism were in just five countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia and Syria.

    “Few members’ states have the resources or the capacity to fulfil the medium and long-term needs required for victims to fully recover, rehabilitate and integrate back into society. Victims can only recover and cope with their trauma through long-term multi-dimensional support, including physical, psychological, social and financial, in order to heal and live with dignity.”

    The global body added, “The primary responsibility to support victims of terrorism and uphold their rights rests with member states. The United Nations has an important role in supporting member states to implement Pillar I and IV of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy through standing in solidarity and providing support to victims, capacity building assistance, establishing networks of, and offering support to, civil society organizations, particularly victims of terrorism associations, and encouraging member states to promote, protect and respect the rights of victims.”