Category: News

…assailants yet to be reported apprehended

Few days after the expiration of the 48-hour ultimatum issued to security operatives by the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, to unmask the killers of the Chairman of Ogbete Main Market Traders Association (OΜΜΑΤΑ), Chief Stephen Aniagu, no arrest has been reported.

The Late Aniagu, according to a statement issued on Sunday, September 15, 2024, by the spokesman of the Enugu State Police Command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, was waylaid by gunmen on Saturday night along the Amechi Road area of the state and shot at, while the assailants made away with his (Aniagu) car.

In a statement issued same Sunday by Mbah’s media office, where the governor also commiserated with the deceased’s family and traders, the governor gave security agencies in the state 48 hours to fish out the killers of Aniagu.

“In the meantime, I have directed security agencies in the state to produce his killers within 48 hours.

“…those who committed this atrocity have bitten more than they can chew. They have murdered sleep hence neither they nor the government and security agencies will sleep until all the perpetrators are captured and justice served in accordance with the law sooner than later”, part of the governor’s statement read.

But more than 96 hours after the governor’s ultimatum, neither the Enugu state command of the Nigerian Police nor any other security agency in the state has made public any news of any arrest, implying that the perpetrators may yet not be in their custody.

It is not yet known what next steps the governor, who seems determined to rid the state of crime, will be.

A middle-class businesswoman from a neighbouring Southeast state but resident in Enugu who spoke to PACESETTER but didn’t want her name in print advised Gov. Peter Mbah to match words with action and ensure that his gains in securing the state do not go to waste.

“Compared to the last administration in Enugu State that chose to protect only herself by barricading all the entrance to the state government house, this administration has shown willingness to tackle the challenges of insecurity in the state.

“This is evident in the details that the rate of killings reported have reduced. Parts of the state have seen installation of CCTVS, although I do not know if they have started functioning. Peter Mbah must ensure that his efforts are not made mincemeat [out] of.

“On social media, there are still reports of kidnappings in the state from time to time, and we want these to be reduced to an occasional occurrence. Whatever should be done, should be done, because in the end, he takes the glory”, the private businesswoman said.

The Media team of the former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello has insisted that the ex governor was at the facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Earlier, the team said the ex-governor honoured the invitation after consultation with his legal team and political associates.

Reacting, the anti-graft agency’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale denied that the former governor was in its custody, adding that Bello remains wanted.

But Bello’s team, in another statement by its Director, Ohiare Michael said Bello was at the EFCC office alongside his successor, Usman Ododo.

He added that the EFCC did not, however, interrogate him and told him he could leave.

Michael said, “ Earlier today, we reported the voluntary visit of former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission office to honour the Commission’s invitation.

“In the statement, we reiterated the former Governor’s great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority and stressed that all the while, he only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights in order to ensure due process.

“The EFCC did not, however, interrogate him as officials told him he could leave. We don’t know what this means yet. As we write, Yahaya Bello has left the EFCC office. He was accompanied there by the Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo.

“Recall that the case has been before a competent court of jurisdiction, and Alhaji Yahaya Bello had been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing. The former Governor decided to honour the invitation to clear his name as he has nothing to hide  and nothing to fear.”

Punch

Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has honoured an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a statement by Ohiare Michael, Director of Yahaya Bello Media Office, on Wednesday, Yahaya Bello said the “decision was made after due consultations with his family, legal team and political allies.”

According to him, he only sought enforcement of his fundamental human rights in order to ensure due process, adding that he is a respecter of the rule of law and constituted authority.

The statement reads in part: “The case has been before a competent court of jurisdiction, and Alhaji Yahaya Bello had been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing. It is important for the former Governor to now honour the invitation of the EFCC to clear his name as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear.

“The former Governor believes firmly in the efforts of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to place Nigeria on the path of sustainable economic development; supports the fight against corruption in the country.

“It is on record that he was the first Governor of Kogi State to put in place an anti-corruption mechanism to check graft and ensure that the resources of the State work for the people of the State.

“He was accompanied to the EFCC Headquarters by high-profile Nigerians.

“It is our hope that the Commission will be as professional as necessary and respect his fundamental rights as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Details of his engagement with the operatives of the Anti-Graft Agency will be disclosed later.”

Tribune

The Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) has alerted Nigerians of release water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.

Lagdo Reservoir is a reservoir located in the Northern Province of Cameroon, on the Benue River, in the Niger basin. The lake covers an area of 586 km2.

In a statement on Tuesday, Director General of NIHSA, Umar Mohammed, alerted Nigerians on the development, but said there is no cause for alarm as major flooding is not expected in Nigeria.

The statement said states such as Kogi, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Cross River, and Rivers should be well prepared to mitigate the impact of the water.

He said: “The Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, wishes to inform the general public that the authority in Lagdo Dam in Cameroon has informed the Agency that the dam Management will begin regulated water releases at the rate of 100m³/s (8, 640,000m³/day) today 17 September 2024.

“The water releases are expected to increase gradually to 1000m³/s in the next seven days depending on the inflow from the upstream Garoua River, which is the main feeder into the reservoir and a major contributor to the Benue River.

“However, the dam managers further stated that the planned water releases will be gradual so as not to exceed the conveyance capacity of the Benue River system and cause major flooding downstream Nigeria.

“The spilling of waters from Lagdo Dam is expected to stop as soon as noticeable decrease in flow from the Lagdo reservoir.

“The Agency wishes to State that there is no cause for alarm as major flooding is not expected downstream Nigeria as the flow levels along the River Benue are still within the warning levels.

“Notwithstanding, it is highly imperative for all states that are contiguous to the river Benue system, namely; Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers; the government at all levels (Federal, State, and Local Government Areas) step up vigilance and deploy adequate preparedness measures to reduce possible flood impacts that may occur as a result of increase in flow levels of our major rivers at this period.

“The Agency will continue to monitor closely the flow situation of the trans-boundary River Benue and the national inland rivers and steadily provide regular updates on water levels across major rivers to forestall further flood disasters.”

The development comes when residents of Maiduguri, Borno State capital, are still coping with effect of devastating flood which led to loss of lives and displacement of hundreds of thousands.

Daily Trust

The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, has approved the appointment of distinguished individuals to serve as members of the Anambra State Civil Service Commission.

This move is part of the administration’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the state’s civil service system.

The appointments are as follows:

1) Ezenwaka, Anthony Uchechukwu – Chairman

2) Barr. Uwolloh Chuma Christopher – Member

3) Mrs. Okoli, Philomina Chikaodinaka – Member

4) Mrs. Udealor, Adaobi Margaret – Member

5) Dr. Ogbaka, Luke Chidiebele – Member

The members are expected to bring their wealth of experience to bear in ensuring that the state civil service functions optimally, with a focus on efficiency, professionalism, and service delivery, all geared towards enhancing the well-being of Ndi Anambra.

Governor Soludo congratulates the appointees and urges them to commit themselves wholeheartedly to their new responsibilities, working in line with the administration’s agenda of good governance and transformational leadership.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has said that a total of 35 billion naira out of the backlog of gratuity arrears would have been paid to beneficiaries at the end of September since his assumption of office last year.

The Governor who made the disclosure in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Capital during a meeting with the Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, foremost Ibibio socio-cultural Organization.

According to him, nearly 50% of the accumulated backlog of decades-long gratuity burden of retired workers in the State would be offset after a further release expected within the month.

The Governor who emphasised his administration’s determination to prudently utilize Government funds said projects embarked upon by his administration, including securing a N60B billion procurement deal for two Bombardier CRJ 900 aircrafts to further expand the fleet of the state-owned airline, Ibom Air, has been done without obtaining any loan from external sources.

Reaffirming his administration’s resolve to utilize State revenue in the most efficient manner, to fund development projects and make profitable investments for the State devoid of financial facilities that would put the state in perpetual indebtedness, the Governor said 25 projects will be kick-started and completed before the second anniversary of his administration, all without borrowing.

Justifying the need a prudent economy, Governor Eno explained that the State Government would be going round a vicious circle of perpetual indebtedness, to the advantage of its creditors, if it depends on loans or other external financial instruments to fund major investments and projects.

He therefore asserted that his administration will rather strive to reserve funds from revenues accruing to the State for such purposes that would place Akwa Ibom people as primary beneficiaries of dividends from State Government investments.

In his words: “Since I came into office about fifteen months ago, we have undertaken very gigantic projects while still pursuing some more. About 25 projects are to be kick-started between now to when we will celebrate our second year in office.

“Recently, the executive Council of the State approved that we support Ibom Air to acquire two brand new aircrafts.
So I am very proud to announce to Mboho that we have released 60 billion Naira to Ibom Air to acquire two new CRJ900 aircraft from the state Government coffers.

“Our state must have an investment fund. We must deliberately and intentionally put away funds, to reinvest and put our state amongst the states that will continue to take the lead. If we were flittering away state funds, this state would not have afforded to purchase the new aircrafts.”

Governor Eno thanked the International President of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, Akparawa James Edet, for galvanizing support for his emergence as Governor and honouring him with the special gathering, as he commended the organisation’s pivotal role in uniting the various ethnic groups that make Akwa Ibom State, pledging to do his best to make the Mboho, by extension, entire Akwa Ibom proud as their ambassador.

Earlier in his address, the International President of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, Akparawa James Edet, expressed delight over the privilege of hosting “Governor (Akparawa) Umo Eno,” describing him as a quintessential Ibibio son and great ambassador of the Mboho, while also acknowledging his magnanimity in appointing several members of the organisation into his administration.

Akparawa James Edet affirmed that the Governor, through his administration’s ARISE Agenda, has touched the critical sectors of the state and has moved the State forward at an impressive pace of development.

He therefore conveyed the commitment of the Mboho to supporting Governor Umo Eno’s administration and their endorsement for his continuity in office into a second term.