The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Edo

  • Prison boss abducted in Edo

    Prison boss abducted in Edo

    A Deputy Comptroller of prisons identified as T. C Ashibuogwu has been abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers in Benin City, Edo state.

    Ashibuogwu was recently posted to Zone G from Abuja.

    He was snatched along Sapele road close to his residence while returning from work.

    Family sources said the abductors are demanding millions of naira as ransom payment for his release.

    State Police spokesman, DSP Moses Eguaveon confirmed the kidnapping and said efforts were on to track down the abductors.

    Several persons have been abducted in Edo State in recent times, despite crackdown on kidnappers in the state.

    Over 500 suspected kidnappers are awaiting trial in the state and the House of Assembly before going on recess passed a bill prescribing death sentence for kidnappers.

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole is yet to sign the bill.

    Human rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome and five other persons abducted last month are yet to regain freedom.

     

  • Protest over Edo kidnap victims

    Civil society groups in Edo State have demanded the release of victims being held by kidnappers.

    The victims are human rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, a primary school teacher, Mrs. P. Elebe, her three children and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tenacious Ogbome.

    Mrs. Elebe and her children -two girls and a boy- were abducted on August 18 on their way to church.

    Ozekhome and Ogbome have spent 14 days with their abductors.

    It was gathered that negotiations were on for payment of ransom but the demand of the kidnappers was not made known.

    The groups called for the release of the victims during a protest in Benin City.

    They called on the government to declare a state of emergency on security and youth employment.

    Mike’s elder brother, Pius, said: “The only thing I can say is that we have committed everything into God’s hand and what God has decreed, no man can stop.

    “We earnestly pray for his return because there is no family without Mike.”

    On whether his family has been contacted, he said: “You know this is a sensitive issue and it should be treated as such.”

  • Stowaway teen returns to Edo

    Stowaway teen returns to Edo

    •Correctional facility for Daniel
    •I thought my son was abducted, says dad

    For the first time since August 24 when he made a daring flight in the tyre compartment of an Arik Air flight from Benin to Lagos, Daniel Oikhena, saw his mother, Evelyn, at the State headquarters of the Directorate of the State Security Services (DSS).

    Daniel, a Junior Secondary School (JSS) I pupil in Benin, Edo State capital, was released from DSS custody yesterday morning to officials of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Development.

    Mrs. Oikhena was informed of the processes her son would go through and later asked to go to the ministry for further briefing.

    It was gathered that the government planned to send Daniel to a correctional facility before being allowed to return to school. Several efforts to see him and his mother failed until information filtered in that Governor Adams Oshiomhole would meet with Daniel at 3:30pm.

    Daniel’s celebrity status was tested yesterday as government officials left their offices to catch a glimpse of the stowaway kid.

    He rode into the Government House in the same car with the DSS State Director, Bakori Tukur.

    Reporters were barred from recording Daniel’s entry as he was taken inside through a back door.

    Daniel’s father, Osaigbovo, made a surprise appearance at the Government House shortly after his son and wife were taken inside.

    He was not invited to join the meeting.

    Osaigbovo said he was a commercial bus driver and that he was told about the scholarship offer by his wife.

    The father, who was accompanied by some of his relatives, denied allegations that they showed up because of the scholarship offer.

    He said he has been taking care of his children contrary to the uncaring attitude of his wife.

    Osaigbovo (44) said he had a problem with his wife to whom he had been married for the past 20 years.

    He displayed a photograph of himself and two of his children during a family outing.

    “I came to tell the world that I am Daniel’s father. His mother and I had a misunderstanding last year. I did not leave my home. I invited my wife to join me but she said where I was staying was too far and she decided to stay away. It is a lie that I have not been taking care of my four children. We are not divorced.”

    On why he has been quiet about his son’s predicament, Osaigbovo said his wife asked him to calm down that she would take care of everything.

    “I went with her to the police station but she said I should keep quiet.

    “I was shocked when I heard the news. Initially, I thought my son was kidnapped but I thank God he is alive. I am here to make sure my son is really alive. I am not married to another woman. My wife refused to give my number to the DSS when they asked for it .

    “My son likes movies. He is quiet and easy going.”

    A volunteer group, De RAUFs, which had indicated interest in Daniel’s welfare was at the Government House.

    Represented by Yinka Muyiwa, head of its legal team, De RAUFs said it came to Edo State to reaffirm the scholarship it earlier gave the lad to continue his education up to university level.

    Muyiwa said: “The boy did not commit any offence and as such should not be detained any longer.

    “The boy had to do what he did because the system failed him. There was no crime involved in what he did as far as we are concerned.”

     

     

  • Ozekhome: Kinsmen protest in Edo

    Ozekhome: Kinsmen protest in Edo

    •Kukah warns kidnappers

    The kinsmen of Chief Mike Ozekhome from Iviukwe community in Estako East Local Government Area of Edo State yesterday protested in Benin City, demanding his unconditional release.

    They carried placards with the inscriptions: “Release Ozekhome now”, “Kidnappers, give us Ozekhome”, “Police, sorry for your loss, give us our son” and “Release the defender of the defenceless.”

    The protesters marched on the streets and the Government House.

    Their spokesman, James Isa, said the N150 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers was “too much to secure Ozekhome’s freedom.”

    He said they would continue the protest until their “leader” is released.

    The Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Kukah, has warned the abductors to release him unconditionally and renounce ungodly and evil acts.

    Kukah, in a statement to reporters yesterday, told the kidnappers that the ‘blood money’ made from kidnapping “can only erect a house of cards for now.”

    He said: “In the name of God and all that is noble, I call on his captors to release him unconditionally and immediately. I urge our youths to renounce this violent, ungodly and evil act. They must embrace the future with hope, believing that tomorrow is theirs to build.

    “They should renounce this criminality and turn to pursuing legacies they can proudly hand over to their children. I pray for the repose of the souls of those gallant police officers, who lost their lives.”

     

  • ‘In Edo, you don’t hear of PDP anymore’

    ‘In Edo, you don’t hear of PDP anymore’

    Edo State Deputy Speaker, Hon Festus Ebea, in this interview told INNOCENT DURU that People’s Democratic Party (PDP) does not exist in the Edo State anymore following massive defection from PDP to All Progressives Congress (APC). Excerpts

    There seems to be a  very robust relationship between legislators and the executives in Edo State, what is the secret?

    The secret is everybody knowing his bounds. The executive knows its bounds, legislators know their bounds and the judiciary too. But again we all know that we are working towards a common goal. The people come first. In as much as none of the arms of government is relegating the people to the background, there cannot be any problem or quarrel.

    How well would you say the laws made by the Edo State House of Assembly have been of benefit to the people of the state?

    Well, seeing is believing. If you have visited Edo State, you will know that the laws that have been coming out from the state assembly have helped the executive to give what we call good governance and dividend of democracy to the people of Edo State.

    How would you describe the registration of APC at this point in time?

    I am very  happy that finally APC has been registered. It now gives a very bright hope that we are going to have a very challenging democracy in our country Nigeria. We are going to have a very robust democracy whereby you now need to know that you are not alone.The PDP has been feeling that it is alone. Anytime they want to bring candidate they bring people who cannot even lead their families to come and lead the people, but this time around, I believe they would be further challenged to know that any party that is going to feature any candidate in any election now would bring people that we know can be trusted, people that have track record of performance in their chosen careers.

    What difference do you think the party would make in Edo State and Nigeria as a whole?

    In Edo State, you already know that when you talk about the forebears of APC, the state is fully involved. The governor has been part and parcel of the emerging trend. We also have our national leader, Chief Tom Ikimi, there. We have former South-South vice chairman of the party, Pastor Iyamu there, we also have Chief OdigieOyegun there.

    When you look at Edo State, do you foresee members of other parties defecting to the APC?

    They are already joining us. In fact, in Edo State, we don’t really talk about PDP anymore. More members of the PDP are coming in because they are tired of the opposition and they have been able to use the microscope to see very far, that it is very very difficult for the PDP to come back to the saddle in the politics of Edo State not with the  very robust performance occasioned by the administration of our comrade governor, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole.  People in the PDP have started reaching out to us that they want to come and join us. The more the merrier. We don’t deregister people.

    Before the merger, it was quite easy for the various parties to pick candidates that represented them. Don’t you think it would be a herculean task now that you have more interests to cater for?

    It is a political party, it is not a one man show. If in the course of going through due process of picking candidates and the person picked was duly picked, it is not a challenge to anybody. But we want to ensure that whatever would be done would be done well.

    The APC governors have said the autonomy of local governments is not the business of the National Assembly but that of states. Is this view correct?

    They are right. The National Assembly  will need to get the contribution and of course the final endorsement from the state assemblies. So, APC governors’ position is not wrong. Whatever the National Assembly is doing, they must come back to the state assemblies to get their endorsement.

    Do you think APC can take over power from the PDP at the centre in 2015?

    Very well.Very very well. Nigerians are craving for it. Nigerians want a change; they are tired. Nigerians duly want a change and they know that the APC would engender that change.

    When you look at a party like the PDM that has also come up, don’t you think they would whittle down the influence of APC in the country’s politics?

    Why are you saying it is going to wither the influence of the APC? Why are you not saying it is going to wither the influence of the PDP? This PDM you are talking about, are they APC members that formed PDM? PDM members, as you know from time, are from the PDP. They are the real people that came together to form the PDP abinitio. So, now that they have come out to say they want to be identified as a separate party you will find out that it is going to affect the PDP not APC.

  • Edo Library staff murdered

    A staff of Edo State Library Board, Mr. Ebowe Felix has been murdered by unknown gunmen in Benin City.
    Nation learnt that the gunmen stormed his private residence at 1, Inne lane, off Ehizomwangie Street, Off Eghosa Street, Erhunmwunse Road, Benin City, about midnight on Wednesday.
    It was gathered that the gunmen, on breaking into his apartment through the window, shot him on his head, abandoned him in the pool of his own blood and left.
    A tenant in the house, Mr. Osaro Abraham was wounded by the gunmen who also broke into his room, apparently to forestall possible challenge during execution of their dastardly mission.
    Narrating the tragedy, daughter of the deceased, Loveth Ebowe disclosed that when the gunmen started breaking the slide glass and burglary proof in the window of the sitting room, she woke up thinking the men were armed robbers.
    Loveth revealed that as her father ran to the sitting room to ascertain who  the invaders were, the gunmen jumped inside the house and in a commando-like fashion shot him at chose range.
    She stated that her father’s  killers  did not take anything away from the house as she heard them cautioning  themselves not to take anything.
    Loverth, however appealed to the state government, the police and other security agencies to arrest and prosecute a man in their neighbourhood who had earlier threatened to kill her father over a dispute between his family and her father.
    Nation investigations revealed that the said dispute which the elders in the street tried to resolved unsuccessfully was later taken to court.
    It was also learnt that the first hearing came up in Magistrate Court 1, Sapele Road, Benin City last Monday as the case was adjourned to today, Friday August 23, 2013.
    Contacted, his colleagues at the state library complex, Sapele Road, Benin City were in sorrowful mood as they expressed shock over the sad incident.
    Pointing to the deceased  chair and table in the library, they mourned that the library has remained quiet without the deceased who they described as a man of the people.
    Spokesman, Edo State Police Command, DSP Moses Eguavoen could not be reached for comment but police from Evbotubu division allegedly took the corpse to a mortuary in Benin City.

  • Two teachers abducted in Edo

    Kidnappers on Sunday abducted two primary school teachers in Edo State.

    The latest victims are also women.

    It was learnt that one was abducted on her way to church and the second when returning from church.

    The name of one of the victims was simply given as Mrs. Agbaka, the head teacher of Edion Primary School on Sapele Road.

    The state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Patrick Ikosimi, who confirmed the kidnapping, said the victims were teachers at Oredo and Ikpoba-Okha local governments.

    He said the kidnappers have opened negotiations with the victims’ families, but were silent on the ransom.

    Police spokesman Moses Eguavoen said he was yet to get details of the kidnapping.

  • Edo varsity gets N500m for facilities

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has approved N500 million for the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma to upgrade its facilities.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the eight-member Governing Council of the university chaired by Prof Greg Akenzua, Oshiomhole said the money would be paid in instalments, between this month and October. He said the Governing Council would decide how best to put the money to use, noting that he expects value for every kobo spent.

    Oshiomhole said: “There are a lot of challenges in Ambrose Alli University which is why I appreciate your acceptance of this appointment. There are issues of funding, management, transparency, and accurate record keeping. I am aware that the Vice-Chancellor has been dealing with these, but some of them are beyond his competence.

    “For institutions to drive change which has become a permanent feature in the lives of nations and institutions, you have to find the courage to take decisions that may be painful to some but beneficial to the institution.

    “There are current issues that AAU has to address. One of them is the lopsided appointment. There are so many non-academic staff, non-research staff; and yet you do not have enough academic staff. Even if we have all the money we need, we are obliged to use these resources judiciously,” he said.

    Oshiomhole stressed the importance of accountability to the new council.

    “Regardless of what we have to say, we all can do better in respect of the funding of universities; not only about funding but management. I pray that God will use us to make a difference and increase the funding, but not just increasing the funding alone, but being sure that every additional kobo we spend, we get a value for it.

    “As a demonstration of my renewed confidence on your leadership of AAU, we will begin from this month, over the next few months, believing you know best to utilise it,” he said.

    The governor expressed total confidence in the new council, describing it as a group comprising “seasoned academics, administrators, people who have demonstrated passion for quality education.”

    Responding, Prof Akenzua, on behalf of others, pledged the council’s determination to reposition the university and justify the confidence reposed in them by the governor.

    “You have identified finance as the bane of the university system, I want to assure that whatever funds made available will be spent judiciously,” Akenzua said.

    Other members of the Council are: Prof Thomas Audu, Prof Tom Imobighe, Dr Andrew Isegwe, Dr Andrew Okwilagbe, Dame Esohe Jacobs, Prince Tony Omoaghe and Dr Godswill Ogboghodo.

     

  • Edo teacher surprises certificate panel

    It was “confession time” yesterday at the ongoing verification of the papers of 1,300Edo State primary school teachers, found to have falsified their ages in addition to other discrepancies in their credentials.

    The teachers appeared before the screening committee, headed by the Permanent Secretary, State Post-Primary Education Board, Hajia Nana Audu.

    They were anxious as they waited to be called in.

    Those who were yet to be called rushed to their colleague, who had appeared before the committee, to know the drill.

    One came out and said: “I told the committee the truth about my age. Anything can happen from here.”

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole said at a Town Hall meeting that an audit on primary school teachers showed that some of them completed their primary education before they were born. Some got their certificates two years ago in the schools where they have been teaching for 15 years.

    A teacher at Asologun Primary School, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Mrs. Augusta Odemwinge, stunned the panel when she could not read a sworn affidavit she tendered as part of her credentials.

    Oshiomhole, who visited the State Staff Training Centre venue of the exercise unannounced, was appalled.

    He said: “If you can’t read, what do you teach the pupils? What do you write on the board?”

    Chairman of the State Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Patrick Ikosimi, who was also at the screening, said the woman’s failure was “an embarrassment”.

    He said: “We are committed to partnering with the government to reposition education. What this teacher has just displayed is a show of shame. It shows the decadence in the education sector.

    “As the NUT chairman, I have written to the governor that we are in support of what he is doing. He should involve the NUT so that together we can find the culprits.”

  • Edo pays flood victims

    The Edo State government yesterday began the disbursement of the N400million Federal Government flood relief grant to 60, 289 victims of last year’s flood.

    The Chairman of the flood relief committee, Hajia Maimunat Momodu, said the payment would be completed in two weeks.

    Mrs. Momodu said the least beneficiary would be paid N20, 000 while the highest is to get N250, 000.

    According to her, three categories were spelt out for the payment: houses destroyed by the flood, affected household and public buildings.

    The committee chairman, who did not give the number of collapsed houses, said the owners of such buildings would get N200, 000, which amounts to N273, 790, 000.

    On the other hand, she said 5, 811 households would get N20, 000 each, which amounts to N116, 220, 000 while owners of collapsed public buildings, such as mosques, churches and schools would be paid N250, 000.

    “We had to go to various villages and communities affected by the flood and verify the actual losses suffered by victims.

    “One challenge is that some of these communities are located in very difficult terrains and without doubt, I can tell you that we did a good job as everybody was captured for compensation,” she said.