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Tag: Fubara

  • Rivers crisis: kinsmen kick against linking Fubara’s Chief of Staff to murder, terrorism

    Rivers crisis: kinsmen kick against linking Fubara’s Chief of Staff to murder, terrorism

    The kinsmen of Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, have described the allegations of murder and terrorism against him as unacceptable.

    Ehie was declared wanted by the police in connection with the bombing of the hallowed chamber of the State House of Assembly on 29th September 2023.

    But his kinsmen under the auspices of Ekpeye Ethnic Nationality in the state called on all parties to the political crisis in the state to respect the eight-point peace agreement.

     Reading the position of the kinsmen on Saturday in Port Harcourt, the Vice-Chairman, Rivers West Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Robinson Ewor, said the ongoing political issues in the state should be separated from insecurity.

    Ewor, a former deputy leader of the state House of Assembly, warned against trivializing the death of a former Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada, SP Bako Angbashin, whom he described as a gallant officer who gave his all for the peace of the state. 

    He said: “Since October 30, 2023 it has been one tale to the other. The first story was that people protesting the purported move to impeach the executive Governor of the state made their way into the Rivers State House of Assembly, and set ablaze a certain portion of the complex, vehicles, and other valuables.

     “On another breath, hoodlums made their way into the Assembly complex and set ablaze the hallowed chambers. 

    Read Also; Tinubu’s quest for living wage for Nigerian workers: 37 to the rescue

    “Whichever that is correct; it is for the law enforcement agents to carry out a thorough investigation with a view to unravelling those behind the dastardly act. 

    “But today the story is entirely that of terrorism and murder of the DPO of Ahoada Police Division, SP Bako Angbanshin and other police informants.

    “There is no correlation between the murder of the DPO which occurred on September 8, 2023 at Odiemudie forest, Ahoada East LGA, and the event that took place at the Rivers State House of Assembly on October 30th, 2023.”

    He said that linking the slain DPO to the bombing of the state Assembly was making the public lose confidence in the police force and its authority.

     Ewor said: “Nigerians know those who murdered SP Angbashin. The police should help arrest and prosecute them.  For those already arrested and charged, the police should diligently prosecute them. “

    Ewor described Ehie as an Ekpeye son from Ozochi Community in Ahoada East LGA, saying he was first elected into the Assembly in 2015 and held different positions and that his character had been credible in the public.

    He said: “Ehie who is now the Chief of Staff to the Governor is our son and we cherish his exploits so far in the political arena of Rivers State and indeed Nigeria.

     “That Edison is a law-abiding citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without any criminal record to date. That Edison is not a murderer,  and cannot be a terrorist.

     “That his stand on the current political crisis in the state is that of principle, truth and we stand fully with him.”

    While commending Fubara for implementing the eight-point peace agreement brokered by the President, the people called on all parties to respect the agreement. 

     Ewor said:  “We call on all parties in the peace pact to respect it, especially the only request made by our governor that none of his supporters be intimidated or victimized on account of this crisis.

     “We call on President Bola Tinubu to ensure the full implementation of the eight-point agreement. We also call on the President to call the police authority to order. 

    ” It is a shame and unacceptable for our police authority to link the murder of SP Angbashin that took place in a forest on September 8, 2023 to the planned impeachment of the leader of the House of Assembly that took place in October 2023.

    “That the police authority should hand off all investigations into the Rivers crisis because a political solution to the crisis is already in place and its implementation ongoing.”

  • Court declines to strike out terrorism charge against Fubara’s supporters

    Court declines to strike out terrorism charge against Fubara’s supporters

    • To rule on bail for suspected arsonists Monday

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed an application seeking the dismissal of the terrorism charge brought against five supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State in relation to their alleged involvement in the last attack on the state House of Assembly complex.

     The five are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.

    Justice Bolaji Olajuwon, in a ruling on Friday, held that the seven-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024 was properly filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

    Justice Olajuwon upheld the argument by the lawyer to the IGP, Simon Lough (SAN) that the Nigeria Police Force (NGF) is empowered by the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act (TPPA) 2022 to institute and prosecute terrorism offences.

    The defendants had urged the court to dismiss the charge on the grounds that the police lacked the power to prosecute terrorism offences and that such power lies exclusively with the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) under the TPPA.

    Justice Olajuwon held that by the provision of Section 5(4) of the TPPA, “law enforcement and security agencies are not only to investigate offences, as the defendants’ counsel had argued, their officers can also prosecute offences of terrorism, terrorist financing, etc.

    “A cursory look at Section 74 of the Terrorism Act (TPPA) will make one to accept the submissions of the learned counsel to the first and second defendants that it is only the AGF.

     “This is, however, not the case, as the Act itself has shown by asking law enforcement agencies to improve on the training of their officers that prosecute terrorism,” she said.

    Relying on the provision of the Constitution, Justice Olajuwon added: “Since the institution and prosecution of criminal proceedings are not within the exclusive preserve of the AGF, the police (as authorities and persons as envisaged by Section 174 of the Constitution) can rightly institute criminal proceedings albeit terrorism as envisaged under the Terrorism Act.”

     Lawyer to the first and second defendants (Ezebalike and  Oladele), Lukman Fagbemi (SAN) had, while arguing the preliminary objection raised against the charge by his clients, contended that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case on the grounds that the charge was filed by the IGP.

    Fagbemi noted that the offences contained in the charge are mostly terrorism related, which he argued, the IGP lacked the power to prosecute under the TPPA.

    Faulting Fagbemi’s argument, Lough urged the court to dismiss the application for lacking in merit.

    He added that besides sections 4 and 66 of the Police Acts that empower the IGP to institute and prosecute terrorism-related offences,  Sections 5 and 99 of the TPPA also grant the police the powers to prosecute terrorism offences, which power the IGP is exercising in filing the current charge against the defendants.

     After the ruling, Justice Olajuwon heard the bail applications filed for the first and second defendants by Fagbemi and another filed for the third defendant, Kpasa by his lawyer, Mohammed Ibrahim (SAN).

    While Fagbemi and Ibrahim urged the court to grant their clients bail, Lough prayed the court to reject the bail applications.

     Justice Olajuwon has scheduled a ruling for Monday, February 5.

     Earlier, the judge equally dismissed a motion by Fubara’s Chief of Staff,  Edison Ehie, in which he prayed the court to strike out the charge for want of jurisdiction.

    Justice Olajuwon held, I’m a ruling, that Ehie’s motion was incompetent on the grounds that he was not a party to the charge.

    The judge held that the mere fact that Ehie’s name was reflected on the body of the charge as being “at large” was of no moment.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Court refuses to strike out terrorism charge against Fubara’s supporters

    She added that if indeed Ehie is not at large, as claimed by the prosecution, he should turn himself into the police or apply to the court to be joined as an interested party in the case before he can have the legal right to challenge the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.

    Justice Olajuwon further held that since Ehie had not been joined as a defendant, he lacked the legal standing to present such an application.

     Ehie, who resigned as a member and factional speaker of the assembly to become the Chief of Staff, was implicated among the suspects charged by the IG for alleged terrorism and other offences related to the arson at the Rivers House of Assembly.

    In the 7-count charge, the defendants were accused of terrorism offences by invading, vandalizing and burning down Rivers State House of Assembly during the wake of the political crisis that rocked Port Harcourt in October last year.

     Besides allegedly burning down the State House of Assembly, they were also accused of killing a Superintendent of Police, (SP) Bako Agbashim and five police informants at Ahoada community of the state.

    The police informants alleged to have been killed are Charles Osu, Ogbonna Eja, Idaowuka Felix, Paul Victor Chibuogu and Saturday Edi.

    They were also accused of using various cult groups, namely- Supreme Viking Confraternity, Degbam, Iceland and Greenland to unleash mayhem on the people of the state and their commercial activities.

  • JUST IN: Court refuses to strike out terrorism charge against Fubara’s supporters

    JUST IN: Court refuses to strike out terrorism charge against Fubara’s supporters

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the application seeking the dismissal of the terrorism charge brought against five supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers state in relation to their alleged involvement in the last attack on the state House of Assembly complex.

    The five are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Court to rule on suspected Rivers assembly’s arsonists’ bail on Monday

    Justice Bolaji Olajuwon, in a ruling on Friday, held that the seven-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024 was properly filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

    Justice Olajuwon upheld the argument by lawyer to the IGP, Simon Lough (SAN) that the Nigeria Police Force (NGF) is empowered the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 to institute and prosecute terrorism offences.

    The defendants had urged the court to dismiss the charge on the grounds that the police lacked the power to prosecute terrorism offences.

    Details shortly… 

  • Fubara’s love for peace

    Fubara’s love for peace

    If humility and gentlemanliness were an art, the Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, would have a mastery of it.

    All his life, he is known to always ignore many things even in the face of provocation. Those close to him said it is one gift that they are happy he has as he always has a forgiving spirit regardless of the wrongdoing anyone does to him.

    At the state Civil Service, he rose through the ranks meritoriously, as permanent secretary, director of Finance and Accounts at the state Government House in 2015 before he was appointed as the Accountant-General. Those who worked with him averred that he is a man who is at peace with himself, so when things happen he just follows the teaching of the holy Bible which says forgive and forget.

    As governor, despite many taking his gentility for cowardice, Fubara has stayed underground, not wagging his venomous fangs.

    Many have condemned him after his fallout with his political benefactor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),
    Nyesom Wike, the Amaopu-Senibo of Opobo Kingdom has maintained a filial relationship with his boss and has warned many not to meddle in their issues because it’s a father and son matter that will be resolved at the right time.

    Despite the political tides in Rivers swinging heavily, he has remained peaceful, most especially after President Bola Tinubu waded into the issues and told all sundry to cease fire to ensure peace and stability in the state. He has since honoured the agreement and is doing all things possible to ensure that love and peace reign regardless of the political turbulence caused by party affiliation and structure.

    While many see his silence as cowardice, Fubara sees it as the price to pay for peace, which is not too costly and he is willing to go the extra mile just to protect and ensure the state is not thrown into political pandemonium.

    While celebrating his victory at the Supreme Court, he told his supporters to ensure that they remain calm while thanking him the FCT minister and president Tinubu for their fatherly role.

    Read Also: Rivers crisis draining me, family, says Gov Fubara

    While many political pundits in the state disclosed that Sim is walking on a thin line of rope that might cut soon with the way things are panning out after the House of Assembly stripped him of the power to appoint caretaker chairmen, Governor Sim has called for calm that the Executive and the legislative arm of Rivers state are brother and partners for development and any issues between them will be resolved amicably.

    In celebration of his 49th birthday anniversary, on Sunday January 28, while attending the Holy Ghost Rally organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Igwurutali in Ikwerre local government area, Sir Sim thanked his creator for making him stand firm, in good health and also prayed for continued peace in the state as he also told his supporters to be prayerful as he has vowed to continue to thank his creator for all the good works he has done and yet to do.

    He also proceeded to Opobo, his hometown, where he was celebrated to the high heavens with a double celebration of his victory at the Supreme Court and his birthday celebration.

  • Rivers crisis draining me, family, says Gov Fubara

    Rivers crisis draining me, family, says Gov Fubara

    Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has revealed how the political crisis in the state is taking a toll on his emotional well-being.

    Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is the FCT minister, have been engaged in a fierce tussle over the control of governance and politics in the oil-rich state.

    “I feel heavy in my spirit. It’s not been easy, I can say it,” Fubara said on Sunday at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Opobo Town, Opobo Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State, at a thanksgiving service to celebrate the Supreme Court judgment which affirmed his election as Rivers governor.

    The event coincided with the 49th birthday of the Governor.

    In his speech at the service, Fubara said his family were suffering because of the political crisis in the State.

    He told the congregants that a lot of people who ought to have attended the thanksgiving service were absent, apparently referring to Mr Wike, who is now the FCT minister.

    “I want to ask a question. When I look at your faces, I see so much excitement, I see happiness. But the question is, am I happy? That is the question, am I happy?

    “Does God give you a gift or a blessing and add sorrow to it?

    “No,” the congregants retorted.

    Read Also: ‘Fubara’s Supreme Court victory proof of divine mandate’

    “So when I look at your faces how happy you are, even when I feel heavy in my spirit. I’m encouraged to be happy. That’s how I feel. It’s not been easy, I can say it.

    “A lot of people who started this journey with us, ought to have been here with us but unfortunately they are not here. God knows why. You can’t question the almighty. But one thing we can’t take away is that God does not make any mistakes.

    “It is a glory to say thank you to God. It gives me extra energy to continue with the battle. It is a battle, but no battle can be bigger than God.”

    To end the political crisis in the state, President Bola Tinubu brokered a controversial peace deal between Messrs Fubara and Wike last month.

    Mr Fubara acknowledged the president’s support. The governor also acknowledged the support from his own family.

    “I want to thank my family. They are suffering, that is the truth. They are suffering because of this cause. You just have to be strong and understand that after a while, you will get me back.

    “Maybe, I will take the birthday happiness to make myself happier than I was when I was coming. But in all, I want to ask that you all continue to pray for peace.

    “We came in, we were selected because they believe we have something to do for our state. We have not been given the opportunity to do those things that we ought to do.

    “We have had a lot of distractions but I strongly believe that while we navigate the part of peace, prayer is also needed for us to pass over this phase.

    “We need peace, total peace on all sides so that we can focus and deliver the dividends of democracy. And this victory I dedicate it to peace,” Governor Fubara said.

  • ‘Fubara’s Supreme Court victory proof of divine mandate’

    ‘Fubara’s Supreme Court victory proof of divine mandate’

    Rivers State University Alumni Association has congratulated Governor Siminalayi Fubara on his birthday and electoral victory at the Supreme Court.

    The National Executive Council of the association led by its 11th President, Lady P. K. Berezi, described Fubara as a dependable leader in his chosen field.

    The alumni in a congratulatory message signed by the National Public Relations Officer, Amb. Daerego Idoniboye, described the elect oral victory of Governor Fubara at the Supreme Court as a proof that his mandate is divine.

    The statement, made available to reporters in Yenagoa yesterday, said: “We have no doubt that this victory will catalyse your efforts in taking Rivers State to its destined prime position in a very short while.

    “We also rejoice with you on your birthday and pray for your long life and good health. The good Lord will continue to grant you the wisdom to pilot the affairs of Rivers State. Once again, congratulations, Great Whale!”

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    The alumni also felicitated former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, an alumnus of the university, on his 58th birthday.

    They described Dickson, the lawmaker representing Bayelsa West, as a philanthropist, an icon, a legal luminary, an astute politician and a Great Whale.

    “As a Great Whale, we are proud of your landmark achievements while serving Bayelsa State as governor and now a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” they said.

  • Fubara, Rivers lawmakers on another collision course

    Fubara, Rivers lawmakers on another collision course

    A fresh crisis is brewing between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the House of Assembly.

    The crux of  conflict is the appointment of heads for the Local Government Service Commission, Bureau for Public Procurement(BPP) and New Cities Development Authority(NCDA).

    Although the lawmakers were silent on yesterday’s inauguration of a former member of the Assembly, Edison Ehie,  as Chief of Staff(CoS) and six Special Assistants by Fubura, they said the appointments of the service commission, BPP   and NCDA  heads breached the state’s extant laws and the 1999 Constitution.

    They, therefore, resolved to write Fubara to draw his attention to the breaches.

    Goodlife Ben was named acting chairman of the service commission;   Ine Briggs,  acting director-general of BPP  and   Tonte Davies,   acting Administrator of NCDA.

    Majority Leader of the Assembly  Major Jack drewn the attention of his colleagues to a government circular announcing the appointments during plenary.

    The lawmakers, according to a statement by Martin Wachukwu,  special adviser on Media to   Speaker Martin Amaewhule, unanimously expressed displeasure with the appointments.

    Wachukwu said in the statement that  Amaewhule was particularly irked that someone was appointed as head of NCDA,  a body unknown to any legislation.

    The Speaker described the appointments of  Ben and Briggs as inconsistent with the provisions of the laws establishing the service commission and BPP.

    Read Also: Tinubu approves $700m roads to boost business activities at Lekki Port

    The Speaker wondered why Fubara would deliberately act in violation of the    laws of the state and the 1999 Constitution. He described the action as misconduct.

    The lawmakers were said to have voted against the governor’s actions and resolved to draw his attention to the breaches by writing.

    They concluded that the governor’s attention should be drawn to Section 44(3) of the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018 and Section 5(1) of the Rivers State Public Procurement Law No. 4 of 2008.

    At the   Executive Council Chambers of the Government House in Port Harcourt,  Fubara also inaugurated  Darlington Orji, Solomon Abel-Eke, Prince Ohio, Aminayanasam Fiberesima and Deeyah Bariene as special advisers.

    The SAs supported the governor during the political crisis between him(Fubara) and Wike, a former governor of the state and current Federal Capital Territory(FCT) minister.

    Orji  resigned as Chief of Staff to the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area  Samuel Nwanosike to back the governor during the crisis.  

    Abel-Eke was the immediate past Chairman of Obio-Akpor, the Local Government Area of   Wike while   Ohio was the immediate past commissioner for Youths Development.

    During the inauguration, Fubara charged  Ehie not to use his new position as COS to antagonise anyone.

    The governor also urged the SAs to set aside partisanship and contribute to the growth of the state.

  • Rivers Assembly faults Fubara’s appointments, accuses governor of violating Constitution

    Rivers Assembly faults Fubara’s appointments, accuses governor of violating Constitution

    Some recent appointments made by the Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, have drawn the ire of the state’s House of Assembly.

    The Assembly at its 100th legislative sitting on Monday, January 29, particularly faulted the appointment of Goodlife Ben as acting chairman of the Local Government Service Commission; Ine Briggs as acting Director-General of the Bureau for Public Procurement, and Tonte Davies as acting Administrator of New Cities Development Authority.

    During the plenary, the House Majority Leader, Major Jack, was said to have drawn the attention of lawmakers to the state government circular announcing the appointment.

    A statement signed by the special adviser, media, to the speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Wachukwu, said that the lawmakers unanimously expressed their displeasure over the appointments.

    Citing some sections, members in their various comments accused the governor of breaching the state’s extant laws.

    The speaker of the House of Assembly, Martin Chike Amaewhule, condemned the decision of the governor to appoint someone to act as the Administrator of the New Cities Development Authority, saying the body unknown to any legislation.

    Read Also: Fubara to Ehie: don’t use your CoS office to antagonise anyone

    Amaewhule described the appointment of an acting chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, and an acting Director-General of the Bureau for Public Procurement as acts inconsistent with the provisions of the relevant establishment laws of the commission and the bureau.

    The speaker wondered if Fubara would deliberately act in violation of extant laws and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended referring to such acts as misconduct.

    All the lawmakers were said to have voted against the governor’s actions and resolved to write to Fubara to draw his attention to the breaches.

    They concluded that the governor’s attention should be drawn to Section 44(3) of the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018 and Section 5(1) of the Rivers State Public Procurement Law No. 4 of 2008.

  • Fubara to Ehie: don’t use your CoS office to antagonise anyone

    Fubara to Ehie: don’t use your CoS office to antagonise anyone

    Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has inaugurated Edison Ehie as his new Chief of Staff, asking him not to use his new position to antagonise anyone.

    Ehie, who resigned as a member of the House of Assembly, was sworn in alongside five other special advisers at the Executive Council Chambers on Monday, January 29.

    All the six appointees supported Governor Fubara during the political crisis in the state.

    Read Also: Tinubu’s support keeping us on our feet, Fubara tells loyalists

    The governor, however, urged them to set aside partisanship and contribute to the growth of the state.

    Details shortly…

  • Fubara appoints Edison Ehie as Chief of Staff

    Fubara appoints Edison Ehie as Chief of Staff

    Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has appointed Edison Ehie, former factional Speaker the Assembly as his Chief of Staff.

    Ehie was the contender to Martin Amaewhule for the Speakership faction before recently resigning from the Assembly as part of the process to restore peace in the State.

    The Martins Amaehwule-led Assembly loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, moved to impeach the Governor but did not succeed.

    Ehie later emerged as a factional Speaker of the five-man Assembly that the Governor presented the controversial budget to.

    Read Also: Tinubu’s support keeping us on our feet, Fubara tells loyalists

    In a statement late Sunday by Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, Fubara named Ehie as his Chief of Staff.

    The SSG also announced the appointment of five others as Special Advisers.

    The new Special Advisers are Darlington Oji, who resigned as the Chief of Staff to the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Samuel Nwanosike, in the wake of the political crisis in Rivers State; Solomon Abel-Eke, the immediate past Chairman of Ohio/Akpor Local Government Area where the Wike comes from.

    Others are Prince Ohia, the immediate past Commissioner for Youths Development; Aminayanasam Fiberesima and Deeyah Bariene.