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Tag: Edo State

  • Igarra Bank Robbery: Obaseki commends police for foiling attack

    …commiserates with victims

    …pledges more support for security agencies

     

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has commended the gallantry of men of the Edo State Police Command, who foiled a robbery attack on a bank in Igarra, in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.

    Obaseki expressed regret over the death of some persons while the attack lasted and prayed for the repose of their souls.

    He said those that were wounded would be treated and assured that the state government is working assiduously to rid the state of criminal elements, through vigorous synergy with the various security agencies in the state.

    “The attack is unfortunate and we will do all within our power to forestall such heinous incidents in the future,” the governor said.

    He said the bravery of men of the state police command is an evidence of the ongoing reforms and synergy between the state government and the hierarchy of the Police.

    The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, said that the attack was foiled by the combined force of Policemen, who were on guard duty at the two banks in the vicinity, noting that three of the armed robbers were killed during a gun duel.

    While parading the bodies of the dead criminals at the State Police Headquarters, in Benin City, on Friday, he said that two civilians and a Police Inspector were killed, when members of the gang staged a simultaneous attack at the nearest Police station in the area.

    According to him, “The attack on the bank in Igarra was on Keystone Bank, and not on two banks.

    “Actually, there are two banks in the vicinity, and adjacent to each other. One is keystone Bank, the second is Unity Bank. The marauding criminals actually attacked Keystone Bank, but they met with very stiff opposition from Policemen who were on duty at Unity Bank and Keystone Bank. They were men of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (MOPOL 60), Edo State,” Kokumo said.

    Read Also: Edo APC lawmakers back Obaseki

    “They were able to give a very good account of the stuff they are made of in a gun duel that ensued between the criminals and the policemen who were on bank guard duty. Three of the criminals were gunned down. Here you see them with their operational weapons recovered,” he added.

    On reports that the criminals attacked a police station in Igarra, he said, “Criminals will always evolve different means of perpetuating their acts. What this gang of criminals did was to divide themselves into two halves. One of them had gone to the Police station ostensibly to prevent the Police from responding to possible distress call from the bank when the attack would have been wrecked on the bank. The second half went to Keystone Bank for the attack.

    “The moment the distress call went to the Police station, there was no way the Policemen at the station could hasten down to prevent them. The ones at the Police station were the ones that wreaked the havoc, killing two civilians and one Police inspector. I would regard that as the minus of the operation, but on the whole, it is sad that we lost an inspector of Police to this criminal gang. Three of the armed robbers were gunned down,” the police commissioner said.

    He denied claims that some persons lost their lives at the bank premises, noting, “After the encounter, two of the armed robbers were actually dead. The third one was not dead as at the time the Police swooped on them; he was able to give us useful information that we are processing with a view to apprehending others who have taken to flight.”

    Obaseki urged Edo people and residents to rely on credible sources of information as unscrupulous individuals in the society are determined to misrepresent facts and spread outright falsehood and fear on the social and other media platforms.

     

  • Education Reform: Obaseki okays training on community engagement

    As part of efforts to integrate communities hosting Edo public schools in the ongoing reforms in the education sector, Governor Godwin Obaseki has ratified the training of Social Mobilisation Officers on community engagement and participation.

    Acting Chairman of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Special Adviser to the governor on Basic Education, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, disclosed this to journalists in Benin City, the state capital.

    According to Dr. Osa Oviawe, the training programme would last ten days and is designed for social mobilisation officers and Head of Sections.

    “The capacity development training on Community Engagement and Participation in Education, will prepare officers for the tasks ahead as they would bridge the gap between communities hosting schools across the state and management of the schools,” she said.

    Dr. Osa Oviawe maintained “these officers would bring communities to be actively involved in the affairs of schools in their terrain by protecting school facilities and making sure every child in the community is properly educated.”

    The role of communities hosting public schools came to the fore recently, when an inspection of reconstructed and remodelled schools revealed large scale vandalism of facilities in some schools in the state.

    Read Also: Edo APC lawmakers back Obaseki

    Reacting to the ugly development, Governor Obaseki assured that host communities would be assigned roles in the robust education reform, to protect school facilities from vandals, amongst other tasks.

    The training of Social Mobilisation Officers is coming on the heels of an ongoing training of 5, 000 teachers, and a major component of the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo-BEST) initiative.

    Edo-BEST is the brainchild of the governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration and is aimed at improving quality at the basic education sub-sector and will see public school teachers using digital devices and aids in teaching.

    With the training, not less than 190,000 pupils in public schools in Edo State are billed to be schooled using technology-based teaching aids and methods.

  • How couple’s suit nullified Edo waste management law

    Since 2010 when the Edo State Sanitation and Pollution Management Law was signed into law, several persons that flouted the law have been jailed or made to pay heavy fines. Popularly known as the Waste Management Law, it allowed the Edo State Government to appoint Waste Managers to collect waste from people’s residence as well as charge criminal proceedings against defaulters.

    It also made it a criminal offence not to pay whatever bill slammed on residence by the waste managers. Thus, waste managers became a lot to be feared. It was a sad tale from Edo residence who cried out that the waste managers were not collecting the refuse they were demanding money for.

    Some waste managers turned court summons to racketeering as many people who do not want to appear before a Magistrate were asked to cough out money at the gate of the Magistrate court. This continued for many years until Thursday July 26, 2018 when the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Esohe Ikponmwen, nullified the law and disbanded the Edo State Waste Management Board.

    It was a shocking judgment to the Edo State Government because huge revenue has been generated from fines and levies as well as registration of waste managers. The suit was filed by Barr. Dele Igbinedion on behalf of a couple, Mr. Johnson and Eunice Igbinedion.

    The couple filed the suit after one of their daughters, Joy Igwe, was charged and convicted on 20th August, 2014 because her father did not pay the waste manager, Mr. Kingsley Ayo Ebome, owner of Imose Cleaning Company. Presiding Magistrate, A.A Ihenyen ordered her to pay the N90, 000 Waste Bill and N6, 000 as fine. The daughter was charged her for non-payment of her father’s Waste Bill on the ground that she was the “occupier” of the premises as at the time they came for the arrest.

    It was learnt that the couple first had an encounter with the the Waste Manager in 2012 when they received a bill for waste collection for up to seven months even when they claimed that they have never seen the man came to collect their waste.

    An agreement was reached for the couple to pay N5,000 monthly despite the couple’s argument that they used all their household waste as combustible material in their bakery.

    According to their lawyer, “The Waste Manager agreed that no waste was generated, but the bill had to be paid anyhow. To avoid trouble, Mr. Johnson Igbinedion agred to pay the Waste Manager N5000 monthly. The arrangement worked for some time until the Waste Manager became greedy and wanted more money- for rendering no services. Mr. Johnson Igbinedion rebuffed his demand for more money. So, the Waste Manager decided to up the ante.”

    It was either the family paid the money or their daughter spends four months in prison custody. They paid the money and incensed by the waste manager’s action, they decided to file a suit seeking five reliefs such as a declaration that the Edo State Sanitation and Pollution Managment Law No 5 of 2010 is contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (s amended), and thus unconstitutional, null, void and of no legal effect whatsoever.

    They also sought an order of Court nullifying the Edo State Sanitation and Pollution Management Law No 5 of 2010 in its entirety and a Declaration that the establishment and composition of the Edo State Waste Management Board by the Edo State Government was unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

    The couple further asked for an Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the Edo State Government, by themselves, their servants, agents, assigns, privies, or anyone claiming to derive authority from them howsoever, from acting pursuant to, further implementation and/or performing or giving effect to the provision of the said Edo State Sanitation and Pollution Management Law No. 5 of 2010.

    Delivering ruling in the suit, Justice Ikponmen nullified the Edo State Sanitation and Pollution Management Law No 5 of 2010 saying it was contrary to item 17, part III of the Taxes and Levies (approved List for Collection) Act No 21, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1988.

    Justice Ikponmwen ordered disbandment of the Waste Management Board and declared that its acts of licensing, registration, contracting of Waste Managers with powers to charge fees and instigate criminal prosecution was unconstitutional, illegal and of no legal effect.

    The Edo CJ declared that all suits pending at the Magistrate Courts as regards waste disposal were a nullity and granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Edo State Government of its agents from further implementation of the nullified Waste Management Law.

    She further held that the local government can make by laws for the enforcement of waste disposal and management in the state.

    According to her, “Each tier of the government is separate and independent of each other. The tiers of government compliment each other but not to the extent of usurping the powers of other tier of government.

    “It is the exclusive preserve of the local government and the state government cannot perform these functions. The fact that the state government continues to usurp the powers of local government does not make the state government actions constitutional.

    “The local government cannot donate their constitutional right to the state government. The court has a duty to check such infractions and end them.

    “The local government council when allowed to perform their constitutional functions would be self-sustaining and viable and bring needed development nearer the people.”

    Secretary to the Edo State Government Osarodion Ogie said the state government would respect and comply with the judgement

    Ogie stated that the state government intended to challenge the court ruling at the appropriate Appellate level.

    He  noted that the state government would exercise its primary duty of ensuring an orderly and decent society and to prevent a catastrophic collapse of public health and sanitation system.

    According to him, “It is the intention of Edo State Government to continue to enforce all other unrepealed statutes and provisions relating to public health, nuisances and sanitation as currently provided for in the following laws: the Public Health Law; the Criminal Code; the Bye-laws of the different Local Government Councils in Edo State; and the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law relating to nuisances.”

    Igbinedion added:“The judgment is a monumental one.  It is clear from our constitution that the state government does not have powers to dispose of refuse or waste. That is a function of the local government.

    “It is not up for the executive arm of government to say that they will comply with the judgment. They must comply with the order of court. It is compulsory that they complied. Any attempt not to comply will be tantamount to contempt of court and I will not hesitate to file contempt proceeding against any government officials who does not comply.

    “Those laws they say they want to rely on do not relate to refuse disposal or waste disposal. The law has nothing to do with waste disposal with the way they were doing it.

    “We will also challenge the use of those laws they are talking about They should not bother to appeal because there is nothing they are going to tell the Court of Appeal.”

     

     

  • Edo APC lawmakers back Obaseki

    Denies defection rumour

    Lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly have thrown their weight behind the governance style of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    Some APC leaders and youths have complained of lack of political patronage and threatened not to work for the APC if Governor Obaseki did not change his style.

    The Edo APC lawmakers said they were not aggrieved with Governor Obaseki and are part of what is happening in Obaseki’s government.

    They were reacting to report that eight of them planned to defect to other political parties.

    Speaking on behalf of the 20 APC lawmakers, Hon Emmanuel Agbaje, who is representing Akoko-Edo II said none of them wants to defect.

    Hon. Agbaje who denied that they were angry over funding of constituency projects said they could not be fighting for constituency project when they were supposed to be over sighting what the executive is doing.

    Agbaje described the defection threat as the handiwork of the PDP who he said is thinking of harvesting people from other political parties.

    Read Also: Obaseki pledges support for NYSC

    He said those aggrieved do not want to adopt to change.

    His words, “This is to overheat the system. The 20 APC lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly are disciplined party members, loyal party members. We are an integral part of the party and the government of Governor Godwin Obaseki. Nobody is nursing such feelings.

    “We are part of what is happening in Obaseki’s government. Democracy is built on the principle of separation of powers. It is a breach of procedure to have legislature doing constituency projects.

    “In other countries that are well developed, you do not hear legislature talking about constituency projects. The Governor is our own. We are going to support him more so when we have the National Chairman of the party. Nobody is dissatisfied. We have the ears of the Governor. He listen to our advice. He listen to our resolutions.

    “Some of our PDP colleagues are looking for ways to join the majority party. The PDP can do whatever they are doing in other areas but Edo is APC State. No lawmaker in the APC by way of mindset, has indicated interest to leave the party. I do not think anybody want to leave this progressive fold to an opposition.”

  • Butchers’ Union Crisis: Edo suspends union activities

    …constitutes 13-man caretaker C’ttee

     

    The Edo State Government has suspended activities of the State Butchers’ Union over lingering crisis, which ‘expose members of the union, veterinary personnel and customers to risks.’

    In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie Esq., the state government said, “Following the lingering crisis in the Edo State Butchers Union and the attendant risk and exposure of butchers, veterinary personnel and customers to the crisis, the state government hereby announces the immediate suspension of the activities of the Edo State Butchers Union.”

    Ogie said that in the interim, a 13-man Caretaker Committee has been constituted to handle the affairs of the union.

    Members of the committee, according to him, include: “Comrade Paul Akhere Odigie; Mr. Obazee Uwaifo; Hon. Osahon Ehigiator; His Royal Highness, Godwin Aigbe, the Enogie of Ukhiri; Chief Aibokon Ehondor; Mr. Nosa Odigie; Mr. Ransom Edosomwan; and Mrs. Stella Okoro.”

    Read Also: Obaseki and challenges of development in Edo

    Others are: “Mr. Aideyan Ukponmwan; Mr. Okhaure Augustine; Alh. Shehu Mohammed; Mr. Paul Ojemu, and Mr. I.K Ebomwonyi.”

    He said the committee will be inaugurated by the governor on August 8, noting, “All issues relating to abattoirs and government approved slaughter houses are to be handled by the caretaker committee. All butchers in the state are expected to comply and to ensure that they maintain law and order.”

     

     

  • Police nab one chance robbers in Edo

    A three-man one chance robbery gang that operates in Bénin-Sapele axis has been nabbed by men of the Edo State Police Command.

    The gang was smashed while attempting to kidnap a businessman at Etiosa community in Bénin City.

    Read Also:Police smash notorious kidnap gang in Imo

    Names of the suspects were given as David Ogbengbuzie aged 18, Paul Francis aged 20 and Ugiagbe Jerry aged 22.

    Their operation pattern is to carry passengers going to Sapele or Warri in Delta State and they wild rob them when they get to Obaretin village.

    David said the leader of the gang escaped when police rounded them up during the kidnap attempt.

    He said they killed one of their victims at Obaretin village and buried him in the bush because he dragged with them.

    David however said he was ready to show the police where the victim is buried adding that they raped a female victim in March this year,

    According to him, “We have killed one of our victims. We buried him in the bush. He was dragging gun with one of us. We killed him this year at a bush near Obaretin village.  I have not taken the police to where we bury the person.

    “We get passengers from different locations. The one on the run is the person driving the bus. We will get passenger going to Warri and divert the bus.  We have raped one of the women.”

    Jerry said he used to sit as passengers seat in the bus and would be paid N5000 at the end of every operation.

     

  • Edo suspends forest exploitation

    The Edo State Government has suspended the exploitation of forest resources within and outside forest reserves in the state, as licences for tree logging in the state expired since June 30.

    In a statement, the Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Omoua Alonge Oni-Okpaku, noted, “Timber licensees, saw-millers and timber contractors are hereby informed that all permits to exploit forest produce within and outside forest reserves expired on June 30, 2018.”

    Read Also:Obaseki and challenges of development in Edo

    She explained that “In view of the above, all forms of forest exploitation and logging activities within the forest reserves and ‘free areas’ of the state are hereby suspended with immediate effect.”

    The suspension of the activities, according to her, is in line with “Section 41 (1) (2) and 44 (1) and (2) of the Forestry Law.”

    The commissioner said further development relating to the expiration of permits and suspension of forest exploitation would be communicated to the concerned stakeholders on a subsequent date.

    Recall that the state government shut down burrow pits in the state recently, citing threat to the integrity of the environment, danger of flash floods and the need to avoid health hazards.

    The government announced the shutdown on August 2, noting that the move became necessary in order not to predispose the state to environmental hazards.

    In a statement, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability said, “for the information of the general public and in particular, the owners and operators of burrow pits, haulage operators, tipper drivers and other stakeholders, that all operations of burrow pits are shut down with effect from Thursday 2nd August 2018.”

    She added that the directive is to enable the state government “re-evaluate and re-certify the sites to ensure that they do not constitute hazards and environmental degradation,” and urged owners and operators of the pits to report to the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability for re-certification and subsequent inspection of their sites.

     

  • Edo LG workers nabbed for issuing fake revenue receipts

    Two revenue enforcement workers of the Egor Local Government Area of Edo State have been arrested for issuing fake receipt to unsuspected commercial drivers.

    The sum of N280,000 believed to have been realised from the sale of ticket was recovered from the suspects identified as Monday Esewi and Iyoha Osagie.

    Read Also:Edo is third in Africa Report ‘State of States’ Ranking

    Governor Godwin Obaseki had last year introduced e-ticketing as a means of collecting revenue by government officials.

    Luck ran out of the two suspects when the council boss, Ms. Eghe Ogbemudia, accosted a commercial driver and demanded to know whether he has paid the approved daily payment of N800.

    Ogbemudia was shocked to see the ticket provided by the driver was different from the official receipt.

    The council boss led other official to Uselu Market where the driver said he obtained the ticket from and discovered several booklets of fake receipt in the possession of the suspects.

    She further discovered that the usually began the sale of fake tickets at 6am before resuming at the council secretariat at 8am to collect the genuine receipts.

    In a chat with newsmen, Ogbemudia said it was shocking for her to know that the people she empowered with jobs would be the ones to destroy the system.

    According to her, “We discovered cash and fake receipts booklets from the two revenue enforcers. It was a driver that told me he bout the tickets at Uselu Market.”

    The suspects however denied selling fake tickets to commercial motorists.

    According to Monday, “Those receipts are not fake. They were given to us by staff of the local council.

    Iyoha said, “I was shocked when they said the receipts are fake. All the tickets I sell everyday are collected from the council secretariat.”

  • We will not tolerate killing of Policemen – IGP

    The Inspector General of Police Force (IGP), Ibrahim Idris on Wednesday sounded a note of warning to criminals.

    The Police Chief who said the killing of Policemen in Abuja and Edo State were not justified added that the Nigeria Police Force would not tolerate further attacks on its men.

    The IG disclosed this in Abuja during the monthly meeting with Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police  (AIGs), Commissioners of Police and other senior Police officers.

    Idris said some suspects who have been arrested in connection to the killings are presently undergoing interrogation.

    He said: “Our officers in Abuja, Edo and other parts of the country came under attack by some miscreants.

    “They just picked on Police officers not because of anything  but because Police have been very strong in ensuring that the right thing is done in this country.

    “Some miscreants picked on policemen not because of anything but because they stood by the law. These are done by people that don’t mean for this country.

    “The Nigeria Police Force at the various levels of responsibility will not tolerate any killing of Police officers.

    Read Also: Atiku mourns ex-IGP Coomassie

    “I want CPs of Commands, AIGs and DIGs to ensure that officers are galvanised to tackle any group of individuals or group of people that pick on policemen because they are Police officers and doing their job of providing security in various parts of the country.”

    He added: “In all parts of the country, anybody that attacks a policeman does not mean well because all we do is to protect lives and property.  We don’t take sides.

    “I think Nigerians need to understand that our commitment is to the law of this country. I think Nigerians should understand our commitment and that I believe is what some people were not happy about because I do not see any justification for anybody to attack policemen who were doing their job.”

    On those arrested, he said: “We have arrested some suspects and they are presently going through interrogation and investigation.”

    The IG who said he did not overdeploying men to Ekiti State hinted that similar number of personnel deployed to Ekiti for the governorship election would be deployed to Osun State.

    “I did not see any overdeployment. Deployments are done based on requirement.  The demand in Ekiti led to the deployment of 30,000 personnel and it is normal.We are going to do same in Osun

    “We are going to be having various elections in different parts of the country. In Osun, we are going to deploy officers to be able to provide enough security for the election in order to ensure that we record the same success recorded in Ekiti.”

    On the drama that played out where eight House of Assembly members were granted access to the Assembly and others denied entry by the Police, the Police said: “We are fully on ground to provide security. The 22 members that impeached the speaker, how did they sit? Is it not the same House? So we are not partisan.”

  • Suspected cultist nabbed in Edo State

    The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 5, Benin, Mr. Rasheed Olatunde, said yesterday that the police had arrested a suspected cultist, Wilson Iriajen, in Benin, Edo State.

    Olatunde, who addressed reporters in Benin, said the arrest was in line with directives of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to mop up illegal arms.

    He said acting on intelligence, operatives nabbed the suspect on July 24 in Benin.

    Olatunde said the suspect, during interrogation, confessed to being a member of the Eiye Confraternity.

    He reportedly claimed to have joined the cult in 1992 as a student at Ambrose Ali University, Epkoma, but said he had renounced his membership.

    “I inherited the barrel from my father and it’s for my protection because of insecurity in the country.

    “I am not a thief; I did business of selling and buying guns for seven years. I am not married, but I have a son,” Iriajen said.

    Police spokesman Emeka Ihenacho said items recovered from the suspect included a double barrel gun, registered as MBDT 5870, and pump action guns, T587013-0216 and P630882.

    Others are Apple laptop, three international passports, and a wrapped substance suspected to be Indian hemp.

    Ihenacho said the police were doing their best to clean up Benin City and fish out bad eggs.

    He said investigation was on, adding that the suspect will be arraigned after investigation.

    The spokesman told the public security was a collective responsibility.

    He enjoined them to support the police.

    “Through the supply of information, we can help in the detection and arrest of criminals,” Ihenacho said.