Outstanding Strength: ‘Cucumber Queen’ Chidinma, To Receive Award Of Excellence

Ex-Miss Anambra, Okeke Chidinma, also known as ‘Cucumber Queen’ is set to receive an Award of Excellence as Queen of Gold at the Divas Award on 18th of December, 2016.
Despite her back to back lesbian video scandal going viral for almost 1 week, while topping the Google’s chat for the most search scandal; Chidinma Okeke who has reportedly fled the country and granted asylum in another country would be recognised for her Outstanding Strength; for not giving up during trying times & staying strong against all odds.

The event according to what Celeb Police gathered, will take place at Kolanut Centre, Calabar, Cross River State.

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Cucumber Scandal: Group wants Miss Anambra beauty pageant banned

The Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network, CRRAN, has called for thorough investigation over the controversy surrounding the Miss Anambra Beauty Pageant.

The group asked the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons to look into the alleged suspected case of sexual exploitation and trafficking involved in the contest.

The development followed the circulation of an online lesbian sex video involving the winner of the 2015 edition of the pageant, Miss Chidimma Okeke.

In a petition dated October 29, and addressed to the Director General of NAPTIP, the group said there were strong indications that the organisers of the pageant were sexually exploiting young girls who participated in the beauty contest.

President of CRRAN, Mr. Olu Omotayo, who signed the petition, urged NAPTIP to prosecute masterminds of the alleged sexual exploitation.

He expressed regrets that the pageant, which was established by a government agency – Anambra State Broadcasting Service – has turned into an avenue for sexual exploitation and trafficking.

Part of the petition read, “Recent happenings which led to the online circulation of nude pictures and video of the said Miss Anambra pageant queen 2015, Miss Chidimma Okeke, have shown prima facie that the organisers of the pageant are using the avenue to sexually exploit young innocent girls of South East Nigeria.

“The purpose for which the state government through one of its parastatals, the Anambra State Broadcasting Service, established the pageant competition has been defeated because it could no longer be said that the pageant is promoting morality, culture of the people or empowering the female youths of this zone.

“We submit that it is part of the functions of your agency to among other things: ‘investigate all cases of trafficking in persons including forced labour, child labour, forced prostitution, exploitative labour, and other forms of exploitation, slavery and slavery like activities, bounded labour, removal of organs, illegal smuggling of migrants, sale and purchase of persons’.

“We submit that the incident in Anambra State is sexual exploitation and slavery of young female persons.

“We urge you to urgently commence thorough investigation into this barbaric competition and made those behind it face the full wrath of the law.”

The group insisted that the beauty contest should be banned, in order to prevent further exploitation of young girls.

It said, “It becomes more worrisome when it is an agency of the state government that is involved in a dastardly act of this nature. This is a serious embarrassment to the whole nation.

“We urge you to take immediate action to save female youths in the South-East Nigeria, particularly Anambra State, from further sexual exploitation and slavery being perpetrated under the so called pageant.

“The government should immediately ban the said pageant.”

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A REBUTTAL TO RECKLESS UTTERANCES BY ONE BRIGHT NNOKAM AGAINST THE PERSON OF SIR SONI SAM EJEKWU FORMER C.T.C OF PHALGA.

My attention has been drawn to the reckless utterances by one Bright Nnokam and his fellow miscreants, that my boss, Sir Sam Soni Ejekwu owed six months salaries of workers while he served as Phalga C.T.C Boss.

This is a grevious lie from the pit of hell. He never owed six months salaries of Phalga council workers.

To put the record straight and for the purpose of clearing the air, Sir Sam in his first phase of caretakership inherited outstanding debts of 2months salaries owed civil servants and 3months to ad-hoc road sweepers which he cleared.

From Dec.2015 to June 2016 when allocation figures fell far short of the wage bill, the chairman and the principal officers of council still managed to pay Salaries every month allocation is released by augmenting from IGR. Even in the months where allocation figures were unmanageable, what was received was paid as percentage of salaries, hence workers were only owed percentage left-over of their salaries which could not be accommodated by the funds available.

It is important to note that when a Local Government recieves its allocation, four persons are signatories to the Local Government account. The signatories are the chairman, head of local government, head of personnel management and finally the treasurer.

June/July salaries were the only month he owed salaries and were not paid not because he refused to pay but for administrative reasons beyond his personal powers.

The allocation for June and July 2016 arrived by August during which the then chairman and other signatories to the council's account had signed theirs with the exception of the treasurer, who couldn't sign due to her supposed health challenge according to her report.

The non payment lingered continuously as a result of the absence of the treasurer, Sir Soni Sam Ejekwu had put all efforts in place to get it settled through the ministry of finance but all endeavours had proved abortive.

It is also pertinent to state that the non payment of june/July salaries lingered until the expiration of the Caretaker interim tenureship of Sir Sam Ejekwu as a result of the 5weeks continued absence of the treasurer of Port Harcourt City Local Government.

The outgone Phalga caretaker could not have manipulated administrative rules for payment of salaries.

It is also sensible to stress here that Sir Sam Soni Ejekwu did not recieve August allocation before the statutory dissolution of his government on the 1st of September 2016 by His Excellency Chief  Barr.Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike Executive Governor Of Rivers State.

The two months salaries signed by the previous caretaker chairman Sir Sam were eventually paid two days after the new administration was sworn in.

It is unfortunate for Bright Nnokam and his myopic good for nothing peers to carelessly fix talks with a view to polluting the minds of right thinking members of the public at the expense of Sir Sam Ejekwu.

Bright Nnokam displayed the highest level of stupidity and foolishness by blocking me on facebook the very moment my attention was drawn to his mischievous and malicious post/campaign against Sir Sam.

Personally I know his grievances which has obviously led to his irrational and cowardice behaviour on facebook. Only a child without proper home training would portray such attitude. What does he even stand to gain from always antagonizing Sir Sam with falsehood?

Bright Nnokam and his fellows are children in the political business and do not understand the ropes of the game, and I'll advice them to be quiet and observe  until they tiptoe to the level of defending realities and stop showcasing fantasies.

There is no amount of political calumny that can disintegrate the emerald political image built by SIR SONI SAM EJEKWU and I therefore condemn in its entirety the baseless comments by the above mentioned.

Ichemati Ezebunwo Prince-Charles.
SON OF REBISI KINGDOM.

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Don’t Borrow Above $22 Billion – Debt Management Office Warns Buhari

The Debt Management Office, DMO, has advised the Federal Government not to borrow above $22.08 billion in 2017.
   
The DMO gave the recommendation on Tuesday in its 2016 Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) report, obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
    In the report, DMO stated that the end-period on Net Present Value (NPV) of the Total Public Debt-to-GDP ratio for 2016 for the Federal Government was projected at 13.5 per cent.
   
”The maximum amount that can be borrowed (domestic and external) by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2017, without violating the country-specific threshold, will be 22.08 billion dollars (i.e. 5.89 per cent of 374.95 billion dollars).
   
”The Debt Management Strategy, 2016-2019 provides for the rebalancing of the debt portfolio from its composition of 84:16 as at the end of December, 2015 to an optimal composition of 60:40 by the end of December, 2019 for domestic to external debts, respectively.   
It explained that the development supported the use of more external finance for funding capital projects, noting that the policy was in line with the focus of the present administration on speeding up infrastructure development in the country.
   
The DMO stated that it would achieve this by substituting the relatively expensive domestic borrowing in favour of cheaper external financing.


”This policy stance has been reinforced by the recent deterioration in macroeconomic variables, particularly with respect to the rising cost of domestic borrowing.

”Hence, the shift of emphasis to external borrowing would help to reduce debt service burden in the short to medium-term and further create more borrowing space for the private sector in the domestic market.
   
”Accordingly, for the fiscal year 2017, the maximum amount that can be borrowed is 22.08 billion U.S. dollars and it is proposed to be obtained from both the domestic and external sources as follows:
    ”New Domestic Borrowing 5.52 billion U.S. dollars (equivalent of about N1.6 billion) and New External Borrowing: 16.56 billion U.S dollars (equivalent of about N4.8 billion).”
   
The DMO also emphasised that the recommendation was made, taking into account the absorptive capacity of the domestic debt market and the options available in the external market.
   
Nigeria’s total debt portfolio rose 30 per cent to $62 billion in 2014, up from $47.6 billion as at September 2013.
   
The country’s external debt stood at $9.52 billion, 15 per cent of the entire debt stock.
   
Domestic borrowing, however, accounted for bulk of the total money owed by Africa’s largest economy.
   
Prior to the 2005 debt relief, bad debt management practices led to the payment of $4.9 billion yearly on debt servicing.

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THE DEATH OF BAR. KEN ATSUETE - THE DEBACLE OF RIVERS STATE APC - By Princewill Emejuru

The sudden death of Bar. Ken Atsuete, one of the finest lawyers of our generation and a Port Harcourt based human right lawyer came as a rude shock to everyone knew him directly or indirectly on that faithful day.

Ken was described by many according to the level and how close they related with him. Some who have had direct contact with him described him as a man that always stands to defend the oppressed irrespective of who you are, some described him as voice to the voiceless. Others who knew him from a distance, saw him as one that has redefined the legal profession and the business of activism.

But what surprised many was the manner the Rivers State APC tried to politicise the death of the young and vibrant lawyer whose life was cut short at its prime in a bid to attract sympathy. The APC through their State party chairman in Rivers State Davis Ibiamu Ikanya and the defeated Governorship candidate in the 2015 general election Dakuku Adol Peterside made some bogus and unfounded allegations against the Rivers state government and the PDP in Rivers State. These APC prognosticators in their usual manner of claiming every dead person to be their member and in a bid to deceive the unsuspecting public claimed that
(1) the late Bar. Atsuete was a card carrying member of APC
(2) the late Bar. Atsuete was murdered because he threatened to expose the next week how the PDP in Rivers according to their feeble imaginations secured a fake injunction to stop the declaration of Tai result.
(3) the late Atsuete was murdered so he won't speak up.

The APC made all these claims and prognosis on the death of Bar. Ken irrespective of the position of the Rivers State Command that the late Ken was killed in a botched kidnap attempt on his neighbour. The APC in Rivers State went as far as organising a protest demanding that Rivers State Government should give account of the death of the late human right lawyer and these false hood they spread through the social media using their social media goons as vehicle for transporting the lies and false claims.

Now the falsehood of the APC has been exposed and they are to face the fiasco of their lies.

The police high command in Abuja recently paraded the suspected killers of the late Atsuete and also made a statement corroborating the earlier position of the Rivers State command of the police force, stating that Ken was not assassinated but was a victim of botched kidnap attempt. The suspects in their confession also said they never knew the late Ken until that faithful day and that he was mistakenly shot during a struggle in a kidnap attempt.

Now that the truth is known, the question now is who killed Bar. Ken Atsuete, is there anything APC knows that the public don't know, why was the APC quick to point accusing fingers to the state government even when the police a body charged with the authority to investigate such matter has stated it was not assassination but kidnap case.

Mr. Ibiamu Ikanya and Dakuku Peterside should tender an open and unreserved apology to the following
(1) the people of Rivers State and the entire public for deceiving them.
(2) the family of the late Ken Atsuete for making them believe what is not true and traumatising them further.
(3) the Rivers State government,
(4) the PDP and
(5) the governor of Rivers State HE Chief Bar. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for making unfounded accusations against them.

The APC and their prognosticators should hence forth stop making unguided utterances aimed at deceiving the massed and to attract sympathy to themselves

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NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION INVITATION OF APPLICATIONS FROM YOUTHS OF THE NIGER DELTA REGION FOR TRAINING AS LOTTERY BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in its bid to further enhance capacity building of youths and promote Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Niger Delta region is set to select eligible applicants for training in the Lottery Business. The training will equip interested youths and enable them to set up and run their own lottery businesses in accordance with the National Lottery Regulatory Commission’s guidelines.

Consequently, interested youths across the Niger Delta are hereby requested to submit their applications online by filling the form online here with an attachment of your LGA Identification Letter.

Click here to fill the form

REQUIREMENTS
Interested applicants must:
1. Possess a minimum of a University Degree or its equivalent;
2. Be indigenes of the Niger Delta;
3. Be between the ages of 21 and 35 years;
4. Be computer literate;
5. Have a passion for the lottery business; and
6. Have a very good character.

EXAMINATION:
An online examination on General Knowledge will be conducted for selected applicants. Only successful applicants will be invited for final selection.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Applications must be submitted online, along with relevant credentials from 24th October to 31st October, 2016.

Signed
Management

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BREAKING NEWS! Ken Saro-Wiwa’s son is dead

THERE are indications that Ken Saro-Wiwa  Jr, the son of late environmental rights activist, has died.

It was gathered that Saro-Wiwa Jr, who was based in Abuja, died on ‎Tuesday after a brief illness.

Born in 1968, ‎Saro-Wiwa Junior was an international journalist and an author and later served in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

When contacted, former President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, Mr. Ledum Mitee, said he was still shocked over the news of Saro-Wiwa Jr’s death.

“Somebody just called me to tell me that he is dead, but I am still in shock and have not been able to confirm it,” Mitee told our correspondent through the telephone.

Also, the Media Adviser to MOSOP, Mr. Bari-ara Kpalap, expressed shock over the news of Saro-Wiwa Jr’s death.

Kpalap also said though a source called to alert him of the development, he had yet to confirm it.

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Royal Memory: Memory Pictures of events from the Palace of HRH, Eze Ejike Wali, Dr. Odili visit.......

From the Palace of HRH, Eze Ejike Wali, Eze Oha Okporo and the Paramount Ruler of Mgbuesilaru Community.

Memory Flash Back (Pictures)

Picture 1:- During the visit of the then Executive Governor of Rivers State; His Excellency Sir Dr. Peter Odili to the Palace of Eze Oha Okporo and the Paramount Ruler of Mgbuesilaru 2003.

Picture 2:- Eze Oha Okporo and the Paramount Ruler of Mgbuesilaru community, receiving kola nuts in an event in Shell RA from his first younger cousin Prince Morgan Amadi as tradition demands.

Picture 3:- HRH Eze Ejike Wali, Eze Oha Okporo and the Paramount Ruler

of Mgbuesilaru being briefed by Prince Morgan Amadi his first younger cousin on the outcome of an errand he went for the Palace in Total

Indeed picture speaks more than a thousand word.

From the Palace!

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DAME PATIENCE JONATHAN HAS NO FACEBOOK ACCOUNT

The attention of Dame Patience Jonathan has been drawn to some Facebook pages set up in her name from which the public is being misled by some controversial comments supposedly made by her.

For the avoidance of doubt, Dame Patience Jonathan does not own any Facebook or social media account and has not authorised any person or group of persons to operate one in her name.

The former First Lady advises the general public to discountenance such pages and the accompanying postings, as many as they are, and irrespective of the novelty or nobility of their character as they neither emanate from her nor represent her views on any issue.

In a statement made available to the Press, Dame Patience Jonathan also urged Nigerians to continue to do their best to promote the unity, peace and development of the country.

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U.S. to host northern Nigeria governors in Washington

Governors of all 19 states in northern Nigeria are expected to spend three days in Washington DC next week at the invitation of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP).

They will be participating in the Northern Nigeria Governors’ Symposium from October 18 to 21 with civic leaders from the Senior Working Group of Nigeria and representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Organized by the institute with support of U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, the upcoming Symposium is the second such event in as many years.

The first one which held in May 2014 discussed security challenges caused by the Boko Haram insurgency and strategies for stabilization and development in northern Nigeria.
Speaking on Tuesday at the pre-symposium media briefing, USIP Senior Advisors and former ambassadors, Princeton Lyman and Johnnie Carson said the institute’s Northern Governors’ symposium was designed to bolster Nigeria’s commanding stature in Sub-Saharan Africa by addressing causes of instability and seeking opportunities for durable peace in the north.

Describing the country as “a significant powerhouse”, whose position in Africa compares to that of India in Asia and Brazil in South America, Mr. Carson said Nigeria also became “one of the world’s premier democracy” after the epochal election of 2015.

Mr. Lyman, who was U.S. ambassador to Nigeria 1986 to 1989, said Boko Haram insurgency opened “new frontiers for engagement” and opportunity to address the “disconnect between political power and development” in northern Nigeria.

While all 19 governors got invitation to the Symposium, as of last week, only Governors Abdullah Abubakar (Bauchi), Kashim Shettima (Borno and head of the Northern Nigeria Governors Forum), Bello Masari (Katsina), Bako Lalong (Plateau) and Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto) have confirmed their participation.

Minister of the Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, and Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi, have also confirmed their attendance.

The governors and other participants will meet with officials from U.S. government, public agencies and corporate bodies.

USIP’s Senior Program Officer for Nigeria, Oge Onubogu, said the visiting Nigerian governors will also meet with Steve Hayes, chairman of the Corporate Council on Africa and Gayle Smith, USAID director, to discuss project priorities for northern Nigeria.

USIP officials are confident that the upcoming Northern Governors’ Symposium will build on the tangible successes of the first symposium which, according to Ambassador Carson, include the growing confidence of democratic governance as evidenced by the laudable outcome of the 2015 elections and improved governance environment with lessening of the “disconnect between northern governors and the federal government”.

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Senate scraps Post-UTME, extends JAMB validity to 3 years

The Senate has scraped the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME), thus bringing an end to the disagreement between the Federal Ministry of Education and the tertiary institutions over the Post-UTME test.

Based on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Amendment Act 2016, the conduct of UTME has become illegal.

Section 5(b) of the new bill places the sole responsibility of conducting admission examinations into tertiary institutions on JAMB.

“The matriculation examinations conducted by the JAMB shall be the sole examinations required for admission and entry into all universities, polytechnics (by whatever name called) and colleges of education (by whatever name called) to the exclusion of any institution or body”, the bill stated.

It also gave JAMB the discretion in the placement of qualified candidates into tertiary institutions, in accordance with existing vacancies and guidelines approved by authorities of such institutions.

The bill similarly vested in JAMB the collection and dissemination of information on all matters in relation to admissions into tertiary institutions and related matters.

Section 6 (1) introduced into the original Act guarantees the validity of any admission offered by JAMB to any candidate for a period of three years from the date of the examination.

Section 6 (2) and Section 6(3) of the bill also support the extension of admission validity period for three years.

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SHOCKER: First lady, Aisha Buhari warns her husband - 'I may not support you in 2019 election'

The First Lady, Aisha has warned her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari that she may not back him at the 2019 election unless he shakes up his government.

Aisha in an interview with BBC said, the president does not know most of the top officials he has appointed.

She said: “The president does not know 45 out of 50, for example, of the people he appointed and I don’t know them either, despite being his wife of 27 years.”

“Some people are sitting down in their homes folding their arms only for them to be called to come and head an agency or a ministerial position.

In the BBC interview, the First Lady refused to name those who had hijacked the government, saying: “You will know them if you watch television.”

On whether the president was in charge, she said: “That is left for the people to decide.”

Mrs Buhari also said her husband had not told her whether he would contest the 2019 election.

“He is yet to tell me but I have decided, as his wife, that if things continue like this up to 2019, I will not go out and campaign again and ask any woman to vote like I did before. I will never do it again.”

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READ FULL TEXT OF THE PRESS RELEASE: THE POSITION OF THE NATIONAL JUDICIAL COUNCIL ON THE RECENT INVASION OF THE RESIDENCES AND ARREST OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE SERVICES (DSS)

READ FULL TEXT OF THE PRESS RELEASE:

THE POSITION OF THE NATIONAL JUDICIAL COUNCIL ON THE RECENT INVASION OF THE RESIDENCES AND ARREST OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE SERVICES (DSS)

At its last Emergency Meeting which was held on  October 11th 2016, Council decided among other matters, as follows:

That the National Judicial Council is a creation, by virtue of Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, with its powers specified in Paragraph 21 of Part One of the Third Schedule whereof.
That by virtue of Section 160 of the 1999 Constitution, Council fashioned out:

Judicial Discipline Regulations;

ii)      Revised NJC Guidelines and Procedural Rules for the   Appointment of Judicial Officers of all Superior Courts of Record;

iii)      Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and

          iv)    National Judicial Policy

to inter-alia, regulate its own procedure while exercising its Constitutional Powers.

3.      That Section 158 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, has unequivocally provided for the independence of the National Judicial Council vis-à-vis directing or controlling it by any authority or person while exercising its powers.

4.      Reiterated its absolute confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari Administration and its unwavering determination to uphold the Principles of Democracy, Separation of Powers and the Rule of Law enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended and the United Nations Charter, which Nigeria is a Member.

5.      That it shall continue to support the President Buhari Administration in its fight against corruption in all its ramifications in the Federation; and in cleansing the Judiciary of corrupt Judicial Officers.

6.      However, expresses its grave concern on the recent invasion of the Residences and arrest of some serving and suspended Judicial Officers by the Department of State Services (“DSS”); and condemned the action in its entirety.

7.      Viewed the action as a threat to the Independence of the Judiciary, which portends great danger to our democracy; and also considered the action as a clear attempt by the DSS to humiliate, intimidate, denigrate and cow the Judiciary.

BACKGROUND FACTS

8.1    RE: HON. JUSTICE SYLVESTER NGWUTA

         The Public is aware that Hon. Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, was arrested after his House was invaded by heavily armed and masked operatives of the Department of States Security on Friday 7th October, 2016. The operatives did not leave his house until 12.00 noon of the following day, when he was whisked away to the (“DSS”) office.

8.2    RE: HON. JUSTICE INYANG OKORO

The Residence of Hon. Justice Inyang Okoro, a Justice of Supreme Court of Nigeria, was raided in the same manner and was arrested by the same operatives of the DSS.

         Contrary to the claim by the DSS and as published in the electronic and print media, Council has never received any petition against the aforesaid Judicial Officers: Hon. Justices Ngwuta and Okoro of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, by the DSS.

8.3    RE: HON. JUSTICE MUHAMMED LADAN TSAMIYA OF THE COURT OF APPEAL

At its Meeting which was held on 29th September, 2016, Council had found His Lordship culpable of professional misconduct contrary to Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the provisions of Section 292 of 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria. Accordingly, he was recommended to Mr President for compulsory retirement from office following the petition written by one Mr Nnamdi Iro Oji for demanding the sum of N200,000,000.00 (Two Hundred Million Naira) bribe.  It is to be stressed that from the evidence before the Council, Hon. Justice Ladan Tsamiya did not receive N200m bribe.  The Petitioner adduced evidence to support his allegation that Hon. Justice Tsamiya only demanded for the money.

In the exercise of its power, Council had suspended Justice Tsamiya from office, pending when the President will act on the recommendation. And Mr. President has approved the recommendation of the Council and compulsorily retired His Lordship from office yesterday, the 12th day of October, 2016.

8.4.   RE: HON. JUSTICE I. A. UMEZULIKE, OFR

         Hon. Justice I. A. Umezulike, OFR, Chief Judge, Enugu State, was recommended for compulsory retirement from office to Enugu State Governor for gross misconduct, pursuant to the petition written against him by Mr. Peter Eze.

         In the meantime, National Judicial Council has suspended His Lordship from office pending when the Governor of Enugu State will act on its recommendation.

8.5.   RE: HON. JUSTICE A. F. A. ADEMOLA, OF THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT

         Hon. Justice A. F. A. Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division has been petitioned by Hon. Jenkins Duviegiane Gwebe on allegations bordering on corrupt practices.

         Currently, a Committee of the Council is investigating the allegations.

         There is no other petition against Hon. Justice Ademola from DSS pending at the National Judicial Council.

8.6.   RE: HON. JUSTICE KABIRU AUTA, KANO STATE HIGH COURT

         Hon. Justice Kabiru Auta was investigated by Council based on allegations of corrupt practices levelled against him in a petition forwarded to Council by one Alhaji Kabiru Yakassai. His Lordship was recommended to the Governor of Kano State for removal from office by dismissal.  Council wrote separately to the AIG Kano Zone 1, for Police to prosecute Hon. Justice Auta.

Council has suspended His Lordship from office pending when the Governor will act on its recommendation.

8.7    RE: HON. JUSTICE MUAZU PINDIGA OF HIGH COURT, GOMBE STATE

The DSS petitioned the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council alleging corrupt practices against Hon. Justice Pindiga, inter-alia:-

“i)     That the Hon. Judge in a bid to illegally enrich himself, perfected plans through third party proxies/conduits, with a view to influencing the outcome of the Election Tribunal in the governorship polls in favour of the incumbent Governor Nyesom Wike.

ii)    That further ongoing discreet investigation, Justice Pindiga is observed to have illegally enriched himself through corrupt means. Part of the illegitimate proceeds suspected to have accrued to Pindiga includes the underlisted:

a)      Two (2) completed blocks of six (6) units 2 bedroom flats in Federal Low Cost Estate in Gombe metropolis;

b)      Four (4) units of bungalow in another part of the Estate;

c)      An uncompleted property at GRA in Gombe Metropolis;

d)      a Mercedes Benz C300 car in the name of MUBAJJAL;

e)      A Toyota Venza-Model SUV.

iii)   From all indications, it is apparent that Pindiga, who is a very Senior Justice in Gombe State, is highly corrupt. His continuous stay as a Justice in any capacity would likely embarrass the current administration and pervert the cause of justice. In view of the foregoing, it is strongly advised that immediate necessary administrative and judicial measures be taken on him, including appropriate sanctions and trial to set a precedent to others of his like”.

The complaint containing the allegations of corrupt practices against the Hon. Judge were conveyed in a letter Ref No. DGSS71/3161 and dated 26th February, 2016, written by the DSS to the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council.  The petition was not supported by a verifying affidavit deposed to by the DSS, as required by the National Judicial Council Discipline Regulations 2014. The Petition should have been disregarded for non-compliance with the National Judicial Council Regulations, but by letter Ref. No. NJC/S.15/HC.GM/5/1/128 dated 19th April, 2016, the DSS was notified and requested to comply and to depose to a verifying affidavit in support of the allegations of corrupt practices levelled against the Hon. Judge.

By letter Ref No. LSD.232/4/68 dated 6th May, 2016, to the Council, the DSS deposed to a verifying affidavit in respect of the allegations against Justice Pindiga.

On the directive of the Council, Hon. Justice Mu’azu Pindiga responded to the allegations against him by DSS.  Thereafter, a Committee comprising Members of the Council investigated the allegations of corrupt practices.

Both Parties - The DSS and Hon. Justice Mu’azu Pindiga, together with their witnesses and counsel appeared before the Panel set up by Council in compliance with the National Judicial Discipline Regulations and Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, on the Right to Fair Hearing.

The DSS was represented by a Director, S. U. Gambo, Esq. who is also a Legal Practitioner in the Department and Hon Justice Pindiga was represented by Joe Agi, SAN.

At the end of the investigation, the DSS could not substantiate any of the allegations of corrupt practices either by documentary or oral evidence against the Hon. Justice Pindiga.

Consequently, at its Meeting of 15th July, 2016, Council decided to exonerate Hon. Justice Pindiga of the allegations of corrupt practices levelled against him by DSS.

The Council’s decision was conveyed to Hon. Justice Pindiga in a letter Ref. No. NJC/HC.GM/5/1/132 of 9th August, 2016 and copied the DSS.

8.8.   RE: HON. JUSTICE NNAMDI DIMGBA OF FEDERAL HIGH COURT ABUJA DIVISION

Council is aware that DSS had written a complaint alleging corrupt practices and professional misconduct against Hon. Justice Dimgba by a letter Ref. No. LSD.158/2/31 dated 5th August, 2016.

At its Meeting of 29th September, 2016, Council constituted a Fact Finding Committee comprising its Members to investigate the allegation.

During the last Emergency Meeting of the Council, it received a Report from Hon. Justice Nnamdi Dimgba that his Residence was also raided and ransacked; and in the process, his nephew and driver were man-handled, using a wrong search warrant which was not meant for the search of his house.

The Committee has commenced the process of investigating the allegations before the recent unfortunate raid and search of Hon.  Justice Dimgba’s Residence.

9.      Council meticulously considered the entire unfolding events that led to the arrest of the Judicial Officers and the misinformation and disinformation making rounds in both Electronic and Print Media that the DSS acted thus because the National Judicial Council was shielding the Judicial Officers from investigation and prosecution for corrupt practices and professional misconduct.

10.    Council noted particularly, that from the available records, the DSS forwarded only two(2 no.) separate complaints containing allegations of Corrupt Practices against Hon. Justice Pindiga; and corrupt practices and professional misconduct against Hon. Justice Dimgba.

11.    The impression created and widely circulated before the public, that the DSS forwarded a number of petitions containing various allegations of corrupt practices and professional misconduct against some Judicial Officers to the Council, and they were not investigated, is not correct.  The Council urges the DSS to make public the particulars of such petitions to put the records straight.

12.    Given the above background facts, on behalf of the Judiciary, Council is constrained to inform the general public that all petitions and complaints forwarded against Judicial Officers bordering on corrupt practices and professional misconduct, have been attended to and investigated, where applicable, by Council since year 2000 to date, within the powers conferred on it by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

13.    Therefore, any Judicial Officer that was reprimanded by Council or recommended for removal from office by compulsory retirement or dismissal to the President or Governor, was done in compliance with the Constitutional power, Rule of Law and Due Process.

14.    From year 2000, when the National Judicial Council held its inaugural Meeting to 2016, 1808 petitions and complaints against Judicial Officers, including Chief Justices of Nigeria, Justices of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal were received by the respective Honourable, the Chief Justices of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council.  Eighty-two (82 No.) of the Judicial Officers were reprimanded (suspension, caution or warning), by Council, in the exercise of its exclusive Constitutional Disciplinary power over Judicial Officers. Thirty-eight (38 No.) of the Judicial Officers were recommended to the President or Governor where applicable, for compulsory retirement from office; while twelve (12 No.) were recommended to the President or Governor as the case may be, for dismissal from office.

In conclusion, Council wishes to state as follows:-

That it maintains its earlier decision that no Judicial Officer shall be invited by any Institution including the DSS, without complying with the Rule of Law and Due Process.  That explains why when the DSS wrote to the Council by letter Ref. No. LSC.960/4 dated 14th September, 2016, to direct Hon. Justice Mu’azu Pindiga to appear before it, The Hon. The Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council directed the Hon. Chief Judge of Gombe State to ask Hon. Justice Mu’azu Pindiga to report to DSS, which His Lordship did.
That the National Judicial Council has never shielded nor will it shield any Judicial Officer who has committed any misconduct.

3)      That the Department of State Services is an Agency in the Presidency and its functions as specified in the statute establishing it, is primarily concerned with the internal security of the Country.

4)      That the action of the DSS is a denigration of the entire Judiciary, as an institution.

5)      That by the act of the DSS, Judicial Officers are now being subjected to insecurity, as criminals might take advantage of the recent incidents to invade their residences under the guise of being security agents.

6)      The Council vehemently denounces a situation whereby the Psyche of Judicial Officers in the Federation is subjected to a level where they would be afraid to discharge their Constitutional judicial functions, without fear or favour, intimidation, victimization or suppression.

7)      The Council will not compromise the integrity and impartiality of the Judiciary.

8)      The Council wishes to reassure the public that any person who has a genuine complaint against any Judicial Officer is at liberty to bring it up to the Council for consideration, after following due process vide its Judicial Discipline Regulations.

9)      At the end of the Meeting, Council unanimously agreed to recommend Hon. Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen, CFR, as the most senior, suitable and competent Justice of the Supreme Court to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for appointment as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria to succeed Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed GCON who retires from office on 10th November, 2016.

Soji Oye, Esq

Ag. Director (Information)

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Senate extends JAMB result’s validity to three years

The Senate on Thursday passed the amendment to the law establishing the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

The law now extends the validity of the result of the board’s examination from one year to three years.

Details later…

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I pray for Buhari twice a day… the Lord is my witness - Jonathan's aide, Reno Omokri

Reno Omokri, special assistant to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan on new media, says in spite of his constant criticism, he prays twice daily for President Muhammadu Buhari.

Omokri, a pastor, said the Bible is not against chastising leaders, and noted that the president is often oblivious to the things happening in the country.

Consequently, he said Nigerians have a responsibility to inform the president of developments that “sycophants” surrounding him may not reveal.

In a video posted on his Facebook page, Omokri said: “People have been asking some questions about why I was criticising President Buhari. It’s as if a lot of people don’t understand what is happening.

“They say ‘Reno you are a pastor, you are not meant to criticise the president… the Bible says you should pray for our leaders’. This is simply a case of misunderstanding what the Bible is talking about.

“I pray for president Buhari every single day. The Lord is my witness. May the Lord punish me if I’m lying. I shouldn’t be saying this. I’m being forced to say this because of the email I have been getting. I pray for him twice a day — morning and night.

“That is what the Bible says but the Bible did not say we should not criticise our leaders. If you read the Bible, Jesus in (Luke 13 vs 32) criticised King Herod.

“In 2nd Samuel 12 vs 1-14, Nathan the prophet criticised David. Before then, Samuel himself criticised Saul in 1st Kings chapter 17 and 18.

“When you criticise people, it doesn’t mean you hate them. It means you love them and [you are] showing them the way to go. The people who wound you, criticise and correct you, are your real friends.

“Buhari, a lot of times, does not know what is happening in the country. I have been in the presidential villa where I was a spokesman to the former president.

“Till today, that president still holds me in high regards and I am the only one of his spokesmen he kept after office and I can still speak for him today.

“The man has confidence in me but when we were in the villa, you could see how people were so sycophantic. They will tell him things were okay and when I want to speak, someone will hit me on the back and say ‘don’t talk’.

“So, the president needs people who are patriots who love the country to tell him what is happening. The president may not know that a bag of rice is N20, 000, he may not know that bread is about N300. He may not know that Nigerians are buying dollars for N500 at the black market.

“He needs people to tell him what is going on. We have to tell him what is going on. God forbid that I would use foul words against the Lord’s anointed. I would never insult the president. If God does not want him to be president, he wouldn’t be.”

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Accept Gender Equality Bill and Be Condemned - Cleric Warns Muslim Lawmakers

Sheikh Isyaka Rabiu, a Muslim cleric has called on Nigerian Muslims to reject the Gender equality bill.

Sheikh Rabiu, who is the leader of the Tijjaniya Brotherhood, has warned Muslim lawmakers that they will be condemned as unbelievers if they back the gender equality bill. Speaking with BBC, the cleric said, "whoever approves of the bill is an unbeliever, not Muslim. I am appealing to all Muslim [senators] to never allow this bill to become law and if they do, we are going to tell all Nigerian Muslims not to accept it."

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DSS CRACKDOWN IS ILLEGAL - Nimi Walson-Jack

Mr. Nimi Walson-Jack, a former National General- Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), described the crackdown on the judiciary as an infringement on extant laws of the land.

Walson-Jack said that the law was explicit as to how the judiciary should operate, noting that not even under the military dictatorships in Nigeria had judicial officers been arrested.

“The Department of State Security (DSS) cannot under any existing laws in the country arrest members of the judiciary.

“The judiciary is self-regulating, and the executive understands the limits of its powers, and should endeavour not to exceed such limits,” he said.

Walson-Jack said that the police was a department recognised under the executive with the responsibility of investigation and prosecution.

“Within the executive, the police is what is recognised; the DSS was set up with specific goals under the law.

“So, if a judicial officer commits an offence, it is the function of the police to step in and investigate and that is after exhausting all internal mechanisms within the judiciary,’’ he said.

He said that there was a total misuse of language and constitution in the issues surrounding the arrests as it was clearly contrary to the definition of a “sting operation”.

“They call it a sting operation, but that is not the definition of a sting operation; what the DSS has done, be it crackdown or whatever, it is completely illegal.

“My advice is that everybody has to wake up; laws are made to guide the citizenry; government needs to support the liberty and freedom of the people,’’ he said.

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House of Reps clears three lawmakers accused of sex scandal in US

The House of Representatives on Tuesday, October 11th cleared three members accused of sexual misconduct in the United States.

The three members are Mr. Mohammed Garba-Gololo (Bauchi State); Mr. Terse Gbillah (Benue State), and Mr. Samuel Ikon (Cross River State).

The US had in June cancelled the visas of all three members after accusing them of sexual misconduct while they were attending a leadership programme in Cleveland, Ohio.

All three members, however, dismissed the allegations, saying they were baseless and untrue.

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Church members stone man to death in Ebonyi

A sixty-year-old Philip Ugwu has been confirmed dead after he was stoned by worshipers of a church in Afikpo LGA in Ebonyi state.

Abani Ugwu, the wife of the deceased reported the matter to the police and Tochukwu Okoh, an evangelist, had been arrested in connection with the incident.

The victim, who is popularly called Boxer or Coach, had argued with the church worshipers in a new generation church over the attention of a fence to demarcate their lands.

One thing led to another and it wasn't long before Mr. Okoh and three others attacked her husband with stones, Abani said.

“We heard Boxer’s wife screaming that her husband had been attacked by some worshipers and before we could get to the scene, he was lying unconscious," a witness said.

“He was immediately rushed to the hospital but his wife identified one of the attackers still with a stone who was immediately apprehended and handed over to the police.

“The victim’s wife explained that he had purchased and built on the parcel of land even before the church came to lay claim over it,” a witness who preferred anonymity said.

The witness said that the matter had previously been reported to the traditional council during which the head pastor of the church, still at large, was invited.

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" Magnus Abe and his Politics of Violence and Desperation" - By John Diidi

Since the cancellation of the 2015 House of Assembly and NASS elections in Rivers state in November 2015, the Senatorial candidate of the APC for the Rivers South East Zone, Magnus Abe has gone about his ambition in the most devastating manner, orchestrating wide range of violence to intimidate, frighten voters and also gain sympathy votes by playing the victim card.

On Feb 22nd and Feb 23rd 2016, Magnus Abe ordered a military invasion on Ogoni Land, namely the villages of Yeghe, Zaakpor and the Traditional headquarters of the Ogoni Kingdom, Bori which led to the murder of several innocent Ogoni sons and daughters including a pregnant woman in a bid to clamp down on his Political opponent Solomon Ndigbara, a man who he felt posed a big challenge to his ambition and his rigging plot.

The outcome of the march 19th Rerun Election which led to the total cancellation of 6 out of the 7 L.G.A's in the senatorial district due to violence where scores of PDP supporters and Ogoni's were murdered notably in Tai L.G.A  is another testament of Magnus Abe's Violent Political theory.

After a meeting with Stake Holders and Political Parties, INEC earmarked July 30th 2016 for a fresh Rerun Election on the Condition that their wouldn't be any form of violence in the Senatorial District.

On Seeing that he was on the verge of a heavy defeat, after losing popularity due to his Politics of Violence, Magnus Abe once again mobilized his boys to burn down the INEC office in Bori, Khana L.G.A in the early hours of July 22nd, 2016. This act then led to the postponement of the Elections.

In between all this, several PDP leaders have been murdered in Eleme, Tai and Gokana L.G.A's by machineries of Magnus Abe who has sworn that the ambition is worth the lives of innocent Ogoni sons and daughters.

With October 2016 being muted by INEC as a possible period for the Rerun Election, Magnus Abe struck again on October 3rd 2016 by sacrificing his own loyalist Boris Neenwi to blame the ruling PDP and attract sympathy votes to win the election, a reminisce of the king who murdered his first born in the war against Israel and won the war (2 kings 2:37).

As months go bye, almost turning into a year, and with over 2 million Ogoni's not having a single representative at both the House of Assembly, House or Reps and the Senate due to the desperate and violent nature of a man who claims to be an Ogoni Son. The Ogoni's and the entire people of the Rivers South East Senatorial district can now see the man Magnus Abe is and how Anti-Ogoni his Political theory connotes.

Personalities like Magnus Abe with his skewed and selfish Political theory has no business being in Politics and hence should be rejected vehemently.w

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Rooney’s 6-Year-Old Son Signed By Manchester United

Manchester United football club has signed Wayne Rooney’s six-year-old son Kai Rooney to it’s youth development squad.

Wayne Rooney has been taking Kai to training at Carrington alongside fellow footballer Michael Carrick and his son Jacey who is also a member of the development squad.

A source told the Sun UK: “Wayne and Michael really get into it when they bring their boys down. The kids seem to love it and have been coming down regularly in the week to train with the young development squad.

“It’s a bit funny because both their dads aren’t playing as much any more but these guys could be the club’s stars of the future.”

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GOVERNOR WIKE DIRECTS PAYMENT OF OUTSTANDING LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKERS SALARIES

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has directed the State Local Government Service Commission to ensure the payment  of  outstanding  salaries  owed to  local government  council workers in the state .

Swearing-in 19 Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairmen at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday,  Governor Wike said  before the release of imprest and security votes to the council chiefs, salaries  must first be paid.

The governor  said  that his administration  will  monitor  the  pattern of expenditure  of the Local  Government Areas to ensure that funds are deployed to areas that will promote the interest of the people.

He noted that the local government  caretaker  committee chairmen  must get approval  before they access their security votes and imprest.

"All salaries  owed local government workers must be settled before any security  votes are released to the caretaker  chairmen.  We must uphold the  welfare of workers at all levels ", the governor said.

He warned local government  heads of personnel management and  treasurers against  colluding  with caretaker committee chairmen to negatively  manipulate  the  financial  process in the councils.

He said: "If any Local Government Head of Personnel Management or treasurer colludes with a caretaker committee chairman  to release unauthorised funds, such official  will be sanctioned ".

The governor  directed the Local Government Caretaker Committees to always remit taxes deducted after the payment  of  salaries.

While congratulating the caretaker chairmen  on their respective  appointments,  the governor advised  them to interface  with  security agencies to promote  law and order.

In an interview after the swearing in ceremony,  Chairman of BonnyLocal Government Area, Mr Simon Hart said that the local government caretakerchairmen will work  with the  direction of Governor Wike.

Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media.
10th October, 2016.

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Confusion in Imo as thugs stop evacuation of refuse

Some thugs on Monday stopped the evacuation of the over one month dumped refuse along Douglas Road, Owerri in the state.

The drama started when the member representing Owerri Federal Constituency at the House of Representative, Hon Ezenwa Onyewuchi came in to clear the refuse.

As the tipper moving to the dump site, some thugs allegedly intimidated the driver and ordered the driver of the tipper to reverse and return the refuse back to Douglas Road.

This show of power triggered anger from the indigenes and non-indigenes in the area including traders from the Ekeukwu market who abandoned their businesses to demand the reason behind the order from the above.

Meanwhile, there is tension in the state capital, as everybody affected by the continued delay in the evacuation of the refuse have alleged that since the government could not dispose the refuse, the same government should not stop individuals who are willing to do it.

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Arrest of Judges: Rivers CP to be punished for ‘aiding’ Governor Wike

The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, Mr. Francis Odesanya, is under fire for his role in the aborted arrest of a judge of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, in the early hours of Saturday.

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, was said to have rushed to No. 35, Forces Avenue, the GRA official residence of the judge and prevented operatives of the Department of State Services from arresting the judge.

Wike, who was said to have had a confrontation with the DSS officials, was said to have been joined at the scene by the police commissioner.

A highly-placed source, who spoke to The PUNCH on condition of anonymity, on Sunday, said preliminary report had shown that Odesanya prevented the security agencies from carrying out a legitimate order.

Based on the report, he said the police authorities as well as the Police Service Commission would sanction the police boss.

He, however, did not disclose the kind of punishment to be meted out to him.

The source stated, “The Rivers Commissioner of Police will be dealt with appropriately. It has been established that the DSS officials who were at the judge’s residence had with them duly signed search and arrest warrants.

“By stopping the security agents from doing their work, what he did was to obstruct justice. He stopped those people from carrying out a legitimate order.

“He will be sanctioned accordingly.”

The Public Relations Officer, Rivers State Command, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, had told journalists that policemen were only at the judge’s residence to ensure there was no breakdown of law and order.

It was also learnt on Sunday that no fewer than 15 judges across the country were under investigation by the DSS.

It was gathered that the DSS was investigating the judges based on various petitions, which accused them of corruption.

A top Federal Government official, who confided in our correspondent on Sunday, said the 15 judges included seven that were arrested on Friday and Saturday.

The DSS had, in what it called a sting operation, arrested Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro, both of the Supreme Court;  the suspended Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Justice Mohammed Tsamiya; Justice Kabiru Auta of the Kano State High Court and Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Other arrested were a former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike, and Muazu Pindiga of the Federal High Court, Gombe Division.

It was gathered that besides the judges, the DSS had invited three court registry staff across the country as part of the investigations into the alleged corruption in the judiciary.

“Currently, we are investigation 15 judges, including the seven that were arrested. Three court registry staff have been invited and quizzed. We have facts and figures,” the source stated.

The government official faulted a claim that the DSS acted unilaterally without carrying along the National Judicial Council.

He stated that the Service sent letters to the NJC and the Ministry of Justice concerning the investigations of the judges.

According to him, while the ministry responded, the NJC did not respond, adding that the DSS did not dramatise the arrest of the judges as alleged.

The government official also explained that the fact that the judges were under the authority of the NJC did not exclude them from investigation and prosecution.

He stated, “They have no immunity. Even those (governors), who have immunity, can be investigated. There are many professional groups, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists; if you commit a crime, besides facing disciplinary actions from your union, you should be investigated and prosecuted according to the law of the country.”

The source further explained the constitutional mandate of the DSS, adding that the service had not intervened in what did not concern it by investigating the judges.

Giving an insight into the allegation against some of the judges, he alleged that some of them received bribes to compromise judgments.

He also cited the case of a judge who had a N1.5bn estate, alleging that granting of bails to defendants had been turned into an avenue for making money by some judicial officers.

It was learnt that the government was not happy with way the police handled the investigation into the alleged Senate forgery involving the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

Presidency backs clampdown on judges

The Presidency on Sunday backed the weekend’s raids on the residences of some judges and their arrest, saying due process was followed.

It, however, said the clampdown was not against the judiciary but against corruption.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said this in a statement made available to journalists.

Shehu said the Presidency had been told by the DSS that all due processes of the law, including the possession of search and arrest warrants, were obtained before the searches were carried out.

Describing the raids as “surgical operation”, he said to suggest that the government acted outside the law in a dictatorial manner, was therefore to breach the interest of the state.

The statement read, “The recent surgical operation against some judicial officers is specifically targeted at corruption and not at the judiciary as an institution.

“In a robust democracy such as ours, there is bound to be a plurality of opinions on any given issue, but there is a convergence of views that the country has a corruption problem that needs to be corrected.

“But reports by a section of the media are giving us cause for concern.

“To suggest that the government is acting outside the law, in a dictatorial manner, is to breach the interest of the state.”

(Punch)

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BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR 100 WOMEN by Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike

Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, the Wife of the Governor of Rivers State is sponsoring 100 Rivers women to attend the Womenpreneur Seminar being organised by the Pan Atlantic University and Access Bank.

You can be one of them. Click to apply now. Application closes in 7 days.

Click link below to apply!

http://www.rivethics.com/index.php/womenpreneur-application/

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Breaking News! Police/DSS Operatives manhandle Governor Wike in failed attempt to abduct a Federal High Court Judge

▪Governor Wike alleges plot to declare state of emergency in Rivers State

The illegal siege on Rivers State by Federal eecurity agencies continued unabated during the early hours of Saturday as hundreds of Department of State Services (DSS) operatives and policemen attempted to illegally abduct a Federal High Court judge residing at Number 35 Forces Avenue in Port Harcourt

The illegal failed abduction was led by Mr Tosin Ajayi, Rivers State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) and Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr Francis Odesanya.

The operatives of DSS reportedly rough-handled Governor Wike, pushing him around and injuring his hand. A few of the operatives cocked their rifles and threatened to shoot the Governor.

They were irked by Governor Wike's arrival at the scene shortly after the failed abduction process began. It was learnt that Governor Wike received security information on the illegal moves, minutes after the operation started.

The security operatives blocked the entrance of the residence of the Federal High Court judge at about 1am on saturday morning, claiming that they were acting on orders from above. As they dragged Governor Wike, they insisted that they must be allowed to leave with the judge.

However, the commotion attracted passers by and journalists who thronged the vicinity to know why hundreds of security agents in several Patrol vans had been mobilised.

Upon the arrival of the national media, the Rivers State Director of the DSS, Mr Tosin Ajayi jumped into his vehicle and fled the scene.

However, addressng journalists, Rivers State Police Commissioner, Francis Odesanya said the two security agencies were at the scene because they received privileged information.

Odesanya claimed he was at the scene as a peace maker. He declined comments on why the Police joined the DSS to abduct a serving Federal High Court judge.

In an interview with journalists at the scene of the failed illegal abduction of a Federal High Court judge by the Police and DSS, Governor Wike said it will not be under his watch that security agencies wiĺl be allowed to entrench needless impunity.

He declared that their reckless action portends danger to the nation's democracy, noting that he is convinced that President Buhari is not aware of the level of impunity being perpetrated by Federal Securiy agencies.

Governor Wike stated that whatever the situation, the rule of law must prevail in a democratic setting.

He said if the security agencies had a lawful directive to implement, they must follow due process .

According to him: "Not under my watch wiĺl I allow this kind of impunity to take place. That is why we are here. I don't know which judge they were detailed to abduct. I didn't bother myself to know which judge. All I am interested in is that, at this level, it is not allowed.

"He is not a criminal and he is not an armed robber. If the person has committed an offence, invite him. It is only when he refuses to honour the invitation that you can adopt this commando style.

"The Commissioner of Police is here, the Director of DSS is here. Their operatives cocked their guns and threatened to shoot me. I have never seen that before. Again , this is to tell you what we are facing . We know that more will come. For us in this state, we shall continue to resist it."

Governor Wike added: "It doesn't matter what it will cost. When you talk about liberty, sacrifices must be made. We are not trying to stop an arrest. All we are saying is that things must be done decently and in line with the rule of law.

"Rivers State is under siege. For you to see a governor out at this time of the day, something is wrong. A siege is an understatement. If this type of thing happens next time, the people wiĺl resist it to the last".

The governor stressed: "They are trying to do something funny in this state, probably to declare a state of emergency.

Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor,
Electronic Media.
8th October, 2016.

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Gunmen kidnap APC chieftain in Rivers

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, Mr. Nnamdi Abbah, was on Tuesday night kidnapped by a group of unknown gunmen.

Abbah was abducted around Alakahia community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State at about 8pm on his way home en route Obiri Ikwerre road.

It will be recalled that on Monday, Mr. Boris Neenwi, who is also a chieftain of the APC, was assassinated in Tai Local Government Area of the state.

The victim, who is a former caretaker committee chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, was accosted by hoodlums while driving home.

A source who pleaded anonymity told The PUNCH that the kidnappers transferred the victim to their own vehicle and abandoned his car on the way.

The source, however, disclosed that the anti-kidnapping unit of the Rivers State Police Command, on Wednesday morning, towed away the abandoned car.

Meanwhile, a relative of the victim, Mr. Chizy Enyi, said contact had been established with the abductors, even as he called on the kidnappers to release the victim unconditionally.

However, the Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in the state, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, said the police were not aware of the incident.

“I am not aware of it. I will find out from the DPO in charge of that area,” Omoni said.

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FG moves to reopen N100bn fraud case against Odili

The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), has faulted Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court for granting a perpetual injunction to a former Governor of Rivers State, Chief Peter Odili, which has scuttled the ex-governor’s prosecution.

Buba’s order has prevented the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and any other government anti-corruption agency from prosecuting or arresting Odili, who was accused of allegedly embezzling about N100bn of Rivers State money during his eight-year tenure as governor.

Sagay further stated that the case could be reopened, adding that measures were being put in place to ensure that such an order was never granted again.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria stated, “What is happening now is unconstitutional; that judgment was unconstitutional. The judge who gave that perpetual injunction did what was unconstitutional.

“In effect, he was saying that the police should not do their work. He was removing the prosecutorial powers of the police and the prosecution in Nigeria.

“It is illegal and Supreme Court judgments have said so.  So, the whole thing we should do now is to restore legality so that if you are charged, you should be able to come to court and defend yourself instead of asking that you should not be investigated.

“That (Odili’s injunction) is totally illegal and unconstitutional and not acceptable.”

Responding to reports that the long delay in the case might have weakened the resolve of security agencies as well as compromised evidence, Sagay urged law enforcement agencies not to give up.

He added, “The important thing is not to give up because if you give up, the whole system will collapse.

“Personally, I have said any judge that gives an order of perpetual injunction against investigation, interrogation and arrest, should be regarded as having committed a serious act of wrongdoing, which should merit disciplinary action by the NJC. That is my proposal and I am going to push it that it should be regarded as an action that should attract discipline.

“I can assure you that under the new system that we are all running, there is no case that will be allowed to remain permanently under injunction. They will have to go through the process and be declared guilty or not guilty; in case of suspended cases, where a person is neither guilty nor innocent will no longer be allowed to exist.

“This case can be reopened, definitely.”

On December 12, 2006, the EFCC had issued an interim investigative report and prepared a draft of 223 charges against Odili, accusing him of embezzling N100bn during his tenure.

In a counter-move, the then Attorney General of the state, and later Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Odein Ajumogobia (SAN), on February 23, 2007, sued the EFCC, the then Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and other defendants in a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.

In the suit, Buba of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt granted Odili’s prayer to bar the EFCC from investigating, prosecuting or ever harassing him and officials of his administration.

 It was learnt that the EFCC had filed an appeal at the appellate court since 2008 but the case had not been assigned to anybody.

A source at the EFCC stated, “We went to see two Presidents of the Court of Appeal but they never showed interest in the case. It has been eight years that we have been trying to vacate that order to no avail.

“This kind of thing demoralises detectives because evidence may have been compromised, victims or witnesses would have moved on while some of the investigators may have been transferred or retired.”

An EFCC prosecutor, Johnson Ojogbene, told reporters recently that the EFCC had appealed the judgment, adding that Odili’s case was presently hanging at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division.

He stated that there was the need for proper synergy between the judiciary and the anti-graft agencies in the anti-corruption fight as there was noting the EFCC or anyone could do to overturn the judgment of any court except to appeal.

Ojogbene noted that when the judiciary failed to cooperate, cases could be stalled for ages.

Punch

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56TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY : GOVERNOR WIKE GRANTS REPRIEVE TO NINE CONVICTS

His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike,  CON, the Governor of Rivers State has, upon the advise of the Rivers State Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy and pursuant to the powers conferred on him by section 212 (1) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended,  has granted a reprieve to the convicts listed below by substituting the terms of imprisonment already served by them for the sentences of either life imprisonment or death imposed on them upon conviction by a Court of Law:

1.   Chukwuemeka O. Emeka             
(Life Imprisonment)
2.   Akara Etteh                                    
(Life Imprisonment)
3.   Emmanuel Ihenebiri                       
(Life Imprisonment)
4.   Samuel Amadi                                  
(Life Imprisonment)
5.   Sgt. James Mordi                          
  (Life Imprisonment)
6.   Tochukwu Chukwu                        
(Life Imprisonment)
7.   Goddy David Faghawari                 (Death)
8.    Kendu Uffort                                   (Death)
9.    Emmanuel David Ekanem             (Death)

The Comptroller of Prisons, Port Harcourt is authorized and commanded to, upon the receipt of the Instrument signed under the hand of His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike,  CON,  the Governor of Rivers State on the 1st day of October 2016, to discharge the above named persons from the Port Harcourt Prisons by releasing them and the said instrument shall be a sufficient warrant for so doing.

Dated this 2nd day of October 2016
Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN
Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Rivers State

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Makarfi, Sheriff agree on 24-man negotiating committee

The factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, and the Chairman of its National Caretaker Committee,  Senator Ahmed Makarfi, have agreed to set up a 24-man committee to handle negotiation between the two warring factions.

The committee, which will consist of 12 members each from the two factions, is expected to be unfolded this week, according to investigations by our correspondent.

Our correspondent gathered that the two leaders of the committee had agreed that the names should be submitted to each faction for scrutiny before making them public.

Our correspondent also learnt that each faction had been mandated to list terms of reference to be covered by the committee.

A prominent member of one of the factions, who confirmed this development to our correspondent in Abuja on Sunday,  said that the names of the nominees should get to each of the factions either by Tuesday or Wednesday.

He said, “As I speak with you, I’m working on the terms of reference for the committee. We have agreed that each of us (factions) should nominate 12 persons that would be in the reconciliation committee.

“The names should be made known this week. However, we are giving each group the opportunity of knowing the nominees before we release the list to the public.”

Last week, there were fears that the promised reconciliation between the two factions was heading for the rocks when a prominent member of the Sheriff faction alleged that Makarfi was desirous for peace because his faction was losing out in the fight for the control of the soul of the PDP.

This prompted the spokesperson for the former governor of Borno State, Mallam Inuwa Bwala, to issue a rebuttal, saying that the affected person was not speaking for Sheriff.

Meanwhile, there were indications that the Sheriff camp was worried about the non-recognition of its candidate for the Ondo State governorship election, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim.

Sheriff had forwarded Ibrahim’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission as its candidate.

However, the commission recognised the candidate of the Makarfi’s  faction, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), as the candidate of the PDP for the election.

The election will hold on November 26.

In the just concluded Edo State governorship election, the commission also rejected Mr. Mathew Idorioyekemwen, the candidate nominated for the election by the Sheriff faction.

Rather, it went ahead to recognise Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who was nominated by the Makarfi’s faction for the election.

The electoral body cited a court order for its action.

Our correspondent gathered that the loss of the election might have spoilt the strategies that would have been used by the faction if the PDP had won the election.

“We were waiting to go to court and pursue who the true leader of the party is. But the defeat of the PDP by the All Progressives Congress spoilt everything,”  a member of the faction said on condition of anonymity.

But unlike what happened in Edo State, Sheriff insists that his candidate will still make the list in Ondo State.

Speaking through Mr. Bernard Mikko, Sheriff said Ibrahim remained the validly nominated candidate of the PDP for the election.

Mikko said, “There is a lot of politics behind what is happening in Ondo State concerning the non-recognition of our candidate by the INEC now.

“You know that the commission is claiming a court order as the reason for its action. We are not going to quarrel with that.”

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