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Tag: Edo State

  • Lassa fever: Obaseki releases N100m for Dialysis Machines, others

    Lassa fever: Obaseki releases N100m for Dialysis Machines, others

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has ordered the immediate release of N100 million as first tranche payment for the procurement of four dialysis machines, ventilators, Personal Protective Equipment, drugs and other consumables required for the treatment of Lassa Fever patients.

    Obaseki’s order followed report of the rising number of Lassa Fever patients brought from across the country to the Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, in Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Edo State, the only specialist facility for the treatment of the disease in Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region.

    The governor directed his commissioner for Health, Dr. David Osifo to deliver the equipment within twenty four hours and make them available for use at the hospital, while tasking the Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie and the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, to intensify Lassa Fever awareness campaign in all nook and cranny of the state.

    Earlier in the week, the Edo State Government as part of its proactive measures to curtail the spread of the disease in the state reactivated its Rapid Response Team and commenced contact tracing for confirmed cases of the disease.

    The state government is also working closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for case management and disease surveillance.

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr. David Osifo, said that the state government prevention and control of Lassa Fever is multi-sectoral involving the Ministries of Health, Environment, Agriculture, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Information, who are working together to put measures in place that will stop the further spread of the current outbreak.”

    Edo State and some other parts of the country are currently experiencing the outbreak of Lassa Fever with significant proportion of the Local Government Areas in Edo Central and Edo North senatorial districts of the state already involved in the outbreak while the others are at risk of being affected.

  • Five doctors docked for stealing N13.6m

    Five doctors docked for stealing N13.6m

    A former Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association ( NMA ) in Edo State, Dr. Emmanuel Ighodaro  and four other medical doctors were on Wednesday arraigned before an Edo State High Court for allegedly stealing N13.6m.

    Other accused persons who were former executives of Edo NMA are Dr. Anthony Owolabi, Dr. Quincy Atoghengbe, Dr. Raymond Ogieva and Dr. Oseremen Gabriel Ogbebor.

    They were arraigned before Justice Efe Igbonmwonba for offenses bothering on stealing and conspiracy to commit  fraudulent false accounting.

    A 21-count charge were preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ).

    Prosecuting counsel, Dr. Ben Ubi, said the accused persons committed the offence while acting in their capacities as officers of Edo NMA between 2013 and 2014.

    The charges read in parts, “The defendants, knowingly and privies to omitting the UBA Account No. 1010717142, a material particular in an account maintained and operated by the NMA in its  audit report for the accounting year 1st August, 2013- 31st July, 2014”.

    “They also conspired among themselves to make a false entry in the audit report of the accounting year, 1st  August, 2013-  31st July 2014 of the association to wit, inserting anticipatory income in the report to cover a loan of six million naira yet to be received and thereby committed an offence.”

    The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges after which their Counsel, Bello Imadegbelo (SAN) applied for their bail.

    Justice Igbonmwonba admitted the defendants on bail on N1m each and a surety who must be gainfully employed.

    Igbonmwonba said the sureties must present evidence of tax payments.

  • 2019 is PDP ‘s time, says Pastor Ize-Iyamu

    2019 is PDP ‘s time, says Pastor Ize-Iyamu

    Former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has assured supporters and members of the part that the 2019 general election is the time for the party to return to power.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu told the party supporters Edo will come under a PDP government after the February 2019 general elections.

    He spoke on Monday when the state party leadership began a ‘Meet the people tour’ to the 18 local government areas of the state.

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    Pastor Ize-Iyamu said the ruling All Progressive Congress ( APC ) has failed to fulfill all it promised before the 2015 general elections.

    Ize-Iyamu however noted that for the PDP to secure victory in 2019, its members must reconcile and forgive one another, reorganize and rededicate themselves to the values of the party.

    He said, “Let us forgive ourselves. We made mistakes but we must reconcile. If we continue to quarrel, the unity we need to achieve victory in 2019 will not be there.

    “We need to rededicate ourselves to the values and principles of the PDP. The moment you hear PDP has won in February, just know that Edo will become a PDP state.“

  • ‘How Don Waney’s brother was killed in Edo State, by security men

    ‘How Don Waney’s brother was killed in Edo State, by security men

    Security agents yesterday recounted how fleeing notorious bandit Oluchi Igwedibia aka Obatosu was killed in Edo State.

    Obatosu is the brother to the late terrorist Johnson Igwedibia aka Gen. Don Waney who was killed earlier in the month.

    Both of them were mastermind of the New Year’s Day killings in Omoku, Rivers State.

    At the Army’s 6 Division in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Police Commissioner Zaki Ahmed  said a joint security  operation by men of the Nigerian Army and operatives of the DSS took place at Sabo Iyakpe in Etsako West LGA of Edo State, following accurate DSS intelligence, which led to the end of Obatosu.

    Ahmed, who was accompanied by Rivers Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Tosin Ajayi, and the Caretaker Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Council (ONELGA) Osi Olisa, said Oluchi attempted to escape and he was gunned down by a combined team of security agencies.

    ONELGA’s caretaker chairman said Oluchi was planning to attack schools, churches and markets in the Council again as he passed a threat to the council before he was killed.

    After the operation, one AK-47 rifle and three magazines were recovered from Oluchi. He said at the time he was killed, Oluchi was still wearing a hand band, bearing: “Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin is my spiritual father.” His body was displayed to reporters at about 4:10 p.m. at 6 Division, Bori Camp.

    Oluchi, who took part in the New Year’s Day massacre of 22 innocent worshippers, after the crossover service at Omoku, the headquarters of ONELGA, was among the 32 cultists declared wanted on January 8 by the Rivers State Security Council, after Johnson was killed.

    Johnson and two of his lieutenants: Ikechukwu Adiele and Lucky Ode, were on January 6 killed in Enugu, by soldiers and operatives of the DSS, while their bodies were on January 7 displayed to reporters also at the 6 Division headquarters.

    When Johnson’s mansion, camp and shrines were raided by soldiers on November 20, 2017, ten human skulls and various human bones, among other items, were recovered, while seven suspects, including two women, were arrested. His mansion was subsequently demolished by the Federal Government on January 9.

    Rivers police commissioner said: “He (Oluchi) was running and we were following him. He ran to Auchi in Edo State. The long arm of the law caught up with him in Auchi. This is a clear message to the youths that crime does not pay.

    “I will like to assure all and sundry, especially the youths, to know that once they are involved in crimes, their lifespan will be very short. Within no time, the long arm of the law will catch up with the criminals and at the end of the day, they will become history, because they will no more be on earth. So, they should change, become good citizens and contribute their own quota to the development of this nation.”

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike commended the DSS and the Nigerian Army for the joint operation that led to the killing of Igwedibia.

    A statement by his spokesman Simeon Nwakaudu quoted Wike as saying that ‘’all those who participated in the New Year Mayhem at Omoku and any other security infraction in the state will be traced and brought to justice’’.

    He added that the governor said that the N20 million bounties placed for credible information that would lead to the arrest of the wanted cultists is still in place.

  • No confirmed case of Lassa fever in Abuja – Director

    No confirmed case of Lassa fever in Abuja – Director

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration ( FCTA ) said it has not yet recorded any case of Lassa fever in the territory. The FCT’s Director of Public Health, Dr Humphrey Okoroukwu made this known in an interview with reporters in Abuja on Friday.
    He dismissed the speculation on the reported case of Lassa fever in Asokoro General Hospital as “false”. Okoroukwu explained that some samples of the suspected cases were taken to Irrua Laboratory in Edo State and the result was negative, while that of another suspected cases admitted in one of the hospitals in FCT was being awaited.
    According to him, the FCTA has deployed its Health Promotion Education Team to sensitise residents in markets, motor parks, schools and streets on the causes and symptoms on Lassa fever for them to take proactive measures against the deadly disease. He said that his department had begun Facility-Based Clinical Sensitisations in hospitals to educate medical personnel and other health workers about Lassa Fever which had been reported in some states across the federation.

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    Okoroukwu noted also that the sensitisation was because some doctors had died as a result of the disease outbreak in other states.
    “We have been going from one hospital to the other to sensitise our medical professionals on how they can identify and handle suspected cases.
    “We have Disease Surveillance Structure in communities, wards and area councils, we have sensitized them and they are on red alert,” he said.
    The director stressed that the proactive measures were necessary because of the territory’s proximity with Kogi and Nasarawa states where cases of Lassa fever had been reported.
    Okoroukwu assured the residents that the administration was doing everything possible to prevent Lassa fever outbreak in the FCT.

    NAN

  • Edo LG polls: Religious leaders, market women warn hired militants to stay away

    Edo LG polls: Religious leaders, market women warn hired militants to stay away

    Prominent religious leaders in Edo State and the leader of market women in the state have thrown their weight behind the resolve of the Edo State Government to ensure peaceful local council polls scheduled for March 3, 2018.

    They urged the people planning to disrupt the local government elections to stay away from the state and called on the security agents to do all within their powers to guarantee a peaceful atmosphere for the electorates to cast their votes.

    In a telephone interview, the Archbishop of Bendel Province and Bishop of Esan Diocese, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Dr. Friday John Imaekhai, said: “There are rules for the conduct of elections and my advice to the candidates participating in the elections is that they should abide by the rules. The contestants should not see as it do or die affair. We do not want violence in Edo State.”

    He added: “The law enforcement agents should ensure that there is an atmosphere of peace for voters cast their votes.”

    The Archbishop denounced any plot by any party or individuals to cause mayhem in the state and said “we should avoid violence. Election is not a do or die affair. We must respect the dignity of the human being. We are praying for the Edo State government because so far, we appreciate the work of the state government. We are one people with a common destiny and must continue to sue for peace. No bloodshed.”

    Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Edo State, Bishop Mond Igbinosa, called for a free, fair and peaceful election, stressing that “There must be no multiplicity of voting, everyone should act in a very civil manner while voting so that we can have a better Nigeria.”

    In his words: “It is high time we all grew up and made Nigeria work. I am aware of the generally peaceful primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo Central and we hope the exercise continues to be peaceful. It is time to make things work in the nation.”

    Leader of Edo Market Women, Madam Blackie Ogiamien, challenged the merchants of violence planning to cause mayhem in the state to seek a location outside Edo State for their evil plot and said that “we do not want fight in Edo State. We are one family in the state and the man that God has ordained is the one that will emerge.”

    The calls by the religious leaders and Edo market women follow similar calls by a coalition of civil society organisations led by the Concerned Citizens of Edo State (CCES) on the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) not test the will and might of Edo people, with media reports that the PDP is plotting to derail the electoral process.

    “We have read news reports of a clandestine design by the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) to subvert the forthcoming local government elections, using the instruments of the court and where that fails, recourse to arm youths and engage Niger Delta militias to stop the election.

    “We have commissioned an independent investigation to establish the veracity of this report and a cursory appraisal of our findings validate the fears raised by the Edo State Government, that there is indeed a grand plan by the PDP to sabotage the election. We wish to put on record that we have reasons to believe the reports because the PDP had earlier kicked against the planned elections and told Nigerians of their plan to approach the court to challenge the planned local government elections,” leader of the organisation, Aghedo Ogbewi was quoted as saying by several news outlets.

     He was reported to have warned that “gone are the days our youths were deceived or cowed by the PDP. Edo youths are wiser now and will resist any self-serving plot by the PDP or any other political party or group, to disrupt a process that will bring socio-economic development to the ordinary Edo people in the various local government areas of the state.”

  • Protest as two factions present candidates for Edo LG polls

    Protest as two factions present candidates for Edo LG polls

    -APC to disqualify candidates

    There was massive protest at the Edo State secretariat of the All Progressive Congress ( APC ) on Thursday following the conduct of parallel primaries in Owan East local government for the March 3rd local government elections.

    Delegates from 10 wards led by the APC chairman in the locality, Mr. Roland Edeki, stormed the secretariat to demand for justice.

    The APC had on Wednesday conducted party primaries to elect its candidate for the local elections.

    But in Owan East, two candidates, Victor Ohiosumuan and Andrew Osigbe emerged at the two different primaries held at Afuze and Warrake communities respectively.

    The protesters said the party primaries held at Warrake was illegal.

    Mr. Edeki who spoke on behalf of the protesters said the party’s designated venue was the mini stadium at Afuze.

    He said the party must accept the candidacy of Barr. Ohiosumuan because they followed the directives and as such the party cannot reverse the exercise. 

    His words, “We are here to protest against the illegal primaries that was conducted by the Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu in Owan East local government. The primaries was to be conducted at a designated venue. What happened at the mini stadium in Afuze is the correct primaries but some people went to a private residence in Warrake to hold an illegal primaries.

    “The party directed that the party should be conducted at the mini stadium. The only candidate that emerge from the primaries is Barr. Victor Ohiosuma, any other person purported to have been elected is illegal. We did not see Barr. Emmanuel Agbale. They hijacked him and took him to Warrake. Instead of coming to conduct primaries at Afuze, they went to Warrake. We are asking for justice.”

    State Chairman of the party, Barr. Anselm Ojezua, said the party was yet to look into the report submitted by the committee sent to conduct the primaries in Owan East.

    Ojezua said the some candidates would be disqualified over alleged discrepancies in their educational qualifications.

    He dismissed that protesters as thugs and not delegates that voted at the party primaries. 

    “All those people, are they party executives? We have internal mechanism to deal with issues. We have room for appeals. What I saw outside is not one of the mechanism. If the LG chairman want to protest, he should do a letter to me. Bringing a bunch of thugs to my office representing them as delegates is irresponsible on his part. 

    “We constituted committees to go and conduct primaries across the state. The venues were decided by us. No LG chairman was authorized to conduct primaries anywhere. The committee went to Owan East and they have submitted their report.”

    Spokesman for the Deputy Governor, Mr. Musa Ebhomiana, said the primaries at Warrake was the genuine one recognized by the party.

    Musa said his boss was present at the parallel primaries as the deputy governor and leader of the party in Edo North.

    He said the deputy does not determined venue for primaries but to ensure peace across the state.

  • Robbers kill another UNIBEN lecturer

    Robbers kill another UNIBEN lecturer

    -Police recalls personnel attached to VIPs for verification

    A five-man armed robbery gang has shot dead a senior lecturer of the University of Benin ( UNIBEN ), Dr. Godwin Omofonwa.

    Dr. Omofonwa was killed yesterday Evbuomore quarters, Ugbowo in Egor local government.

    This is just as the Edo State Police Command has recalled all policemen attached to VIPs in the state for verification.

    The robbers that killed Dr. Omofonwa were not lucky as policemen attached to Ugbowo Division engaged them in a shootout and killed one of them.

    Items recovered from the robbers included two cut to size guns, single barrel gun, one iron cutter, one live and twelve expended cartridges, phones and other dangerous items.

    Parading the corpse of the slain robber, State Police Commissioner, Babatunde Kokumo, said the gang has been terrorising residents of Ugbowo and its environs in the past two months.

    According to him, “The command recieved a distress call about the activities of armed robbers at Evbuomore quarters, Ugbowo this morning. Policemen from Ugbowo and surrounding Divisions were deployed to the scene to engage the robbers.

    “In the ensuing gun battle, one of the marauders was shot dead, while others escaped. Sadly, one Dr Godwin Omofunwa, a lecturer in the Department of Education, UNIBEN died as a result of gunshot wounds he recieved from the robbers.

    “The deceased three phones and another nokia phone robbed from one Precious were recovered from the dead robber”, he stated.

    Kokumo stated the recall of personnel attached to VIPs for verification was because of over alleged misuse of the policemen.

    He said the policemen deployed as escorts or guards are to report to the police headquarters with letters of authority for verification.   

    Spokesman for UNIBEN, Mr. Osasuyi Michael, described the deceased as a dedicated lecturer and was on his way to the office when the tragic incident occurred.

  • Edo LG polls: PDP may boycott polls

    Edo LG polls: PDP may boycott polls

    There are indications that the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) in Edo State might boycott the local elections in the state scheduled to hold on March 3rd.

    This is because the party is yet to begin sale of nomination forms to aspirants or fix a date for its party primaries.

    The PDP has also expressed its resolved to seek injunction from the court to stop the Edo State Electoral Independent Commission ( EDSIEC ) from further conduct of the polls.

    It called on members of EDSIEC headed by Prof. Stanley Orobator to disqualify themselves from conducting the polls.

    Speaking to newsmen after an enlarged meeting of the party in a Benin City, State Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, said the party has resolved to critical issues of law regarding the proposed local government elections. 

    Chief Orbih urged its members seeking to contest the election either as a chairman of councillor to remain calm pending judicial proclamation on the party’s suit.

    Orbih said the party wants the court to determine whether the Edo State House of Asssembly can validly amend the Edo State Local Government Electoral Law to abridge the length of notice of polls stated in section 30(1) of the Electoral Act as amended having regard for paragraphs 11 and 12 of part II of the second schedule of the Nigeria Constitution.

    He said, “We also want the court to decide whether it is valid for the local government election to be conducted in Edo State without giving the PDP and other stakeholders the mandatory 90 days notice of polls stated in section 30(1) of the electoral act as amended.

    “Whether the amendment to the local government electoral act was done in violation of the mandatory of the rules of the Edo State House of Assembly on law making process in the House.

    “These issues are very critical. We have a responsibility to protect and save democracy. We must put to and end the impunity of the APC in Edo and at the federal level.”

    “We reject the composition of EDSIEC under the chairmanship of Prof. Stanley Orobator. They should disqualify themselves. Many of them are card carrying members of political parties. Our aspirants should remain calm while we are waiting for the decision of the judiciary.”

  • Edo Govt., FG to collaborate on SMEs, industrial clusters

    Edo Govt., FG to collaborate on SMEs, industrial clusters

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has said the state is determined to gainfully engage youths in Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to spur industrial growth in the wake of increased investments into the state.

    He added that the state government will continue to collaborate with the Federal Government to engage youths and provide enabling environment for SMEs to thrive and drive industrial growth.

    Obaseki said this yesterday when he received the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar at Government House in Benin City, the Edo State.

    Represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, Obaseki said the state is putting up frameworks to ensure that SMEs form an integral part of the industrialisation drive in the state.

    “There is need to support SMEs to encourage industrial growth. The real job opportunities are in SMEs. In Edo State, SMEs are needed to service the industrial park being developed,” he said.

    The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar, said she was in the state to inspect one of the 23 Industrial Development Centres (IDC) in Nigeria, which is located in Edo.

    According to her, “a feasibility study is being carried out by the ministry to assess IDCs across the country. Six of these centres would be resuscitated to encourage development of SMEs.

    “As part of the plan to diversify the economy, we need to equip youths to be self-employed. When the IDCs are fully revived, they will serve as clusters for SMEs and boost employment and industrialisation.”