NEWS
Group Kicks as FUHSO Appoints Acting VC
By David Torough, Abuja
The Governing Council of the Federal University of Health sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO) has appointed Professor Ediga Agbo as the acting Vice Chancellor following the suspension of the pioneer Vice Chancellor, Prof Innocent Ujah.
Following this development, a group of Concerned Idoma Unity Forum has accused the Governing Council of the institution of not following the stipulated guidelines in the University Act on the removal of a substantive VC.
It would be recalled that in a recent press statement by the Coordinator, Information, Publication and Public Relations, of FUHSO, James Onogwu, for the Registrar said Prof. Ediga Agbo emerged acting Vice Chancellor of the University during the special meeting of the Governing Council held on October 27.
According to the press statement, the emergency meeting was headed by the Pro Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of FUHSO, Ohieku Muhammed Salami.
He further stated that the Pro- Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council and Members, earlier during the meeting, suspended the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Innocent Ujah for alleged gross misconduct disregarding its authority.
Prof Agbo, the statement stated, is a Professor of Microbiology a native of Otukpo local government, Benue State. Prof Ediga Agbo has since assumed duty as the acting VC of FUHSO for a period of six months.
This did not go down well with the Concerned Idoma Unity Forum where in a press statement by its chairman, Agada Johnson said the suspension of the pioneer Vice Chancellor orchestrated by the chairman of the governing council is not in the best interest of the University and Idoma nation as due process was not followed .
He explained that section 2AAA of the University Act passed by the National Assembly in 2003 stipulated that the Vice Chancellor can be removed by the Visitor after due consultation with Council and Senate acting through the Minister of Education.
Speaking further on the process of removing a substantive Vice Chancellor, the VC can be removed on grounds of misconduct or inability to discharge the function of the office through a proposal of removal and a joint committee of Council and Senate shall be constituted with three members which according to them was not done in this case.
The Group while stating that Prof Agbo is qualified to be appointed as acting VC ” but we are seeing a serious fault line which has to be corrected because an injustice done to one is an injustice done to all. Why the VC was suspended without giving opportunity to defend himself and was indeed dar away South Korea on a national delegation”
Agada noted that downplaying laid down rules by the Council mitigates a deepening sense of disillusionment among stakeholders, and commended the pioneer VC for showing unwavering commitments in pioneering the fast growing Medical University in Idoma land from the foundation along with his management team.
NEWS
Kebbi Gets New Head of Service
The Kebbi Government has appointed Malami Muhammad-Shekari as the substantive Head of Civil Service of the state.The Chief Press Secretary to Kebbi Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, made this known in a statement in Birnin Kebbi on Friday.Idris said the appointment had been conveyed to Muhammad-Shekari in a letter dated Nov.
1.He added that the appointment took effect from Oct. 28.“The Executive Governor of Kebbi State, His Excellency, Dr Nasir Idris, FCNA (Kauran Gwandu), has approved the appointment of TPL. Malami Muhammad Shekare (mni) as the substantive Head of the Civil Service with effect from 28th Oct. 2024,” Idris quoted the letter as stating. (NAN)NEWS
APC Stalwart Faults Ex-Kogi Gov’s Trial
All Progressives Congress (APC) Stalwart Isaac Onuh and a former Ambassador to Botswana has faulted the trial of former Kogi Gov. Yahaya Bello over corruption charges.In a news conference on Friday in Lokoja, Onuh described Bello’s trial as an “unfortunate witchhunt”.The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has, on Thursday, asked a Federal High court in Abuja to begin the trial of Bello in his absence.
The anti-graft agency has also filed a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80 billion. But Onuh alleged that the anti-corruption agency was harassing and intimidating the ex-governor.He said that Bello deserved to be respected by government agencies, including EFCC, having served the state for eight years.He alleged that the EFCC had yet to provide ample evidence to substantiate its allegations of financial impropriety against Bello.He noted that Kogi was governed by laws made by the state House of Assembly which established the state anti-corruption commission that consistently gave clean bill to Bello during his administration.But the EFCC insisted that it asked Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, to proceed with the trial of Bello in absentia, arguing that his non-appearance in court for arraignment should not be allowed to frustrate his trial.The EFCC through its lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, also urged the court to enter a plea of “not guilty” on behalf of Bello.According to EFCC, Bello is facing trial on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80.2billion.It notes that the court had summoned him for arraignment six consecutive times.Pinheiro noted that the former governor’s refusal to appear for his arraignment was malicious and that the court should not demonstrate helplessness by not trying him in absentia.(NAN)NEWS
Ebonyi: Police Arrest 4 Suspected Organ Harvesters, 173 Others
The Nigeria Police command in Ebonyi said it arrested no fewer than 177 suspected criminals for various offences in the month of October, 2024. The Command noted that four out of the 177 suspects were alleged to be involved in human organ harvesting and ritual killings. DSP Joshua Ukandu, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) disclosed this in a news conference in Abakaliki on Friday.
Ukandu explained that officers and men of the command arrested a total of 177 suspects which includes 162 males and 15 females. “92 suspects among them have been charged to court, while others would be arraigned once investigations are completed. “On behalf of the Commissioner of Police Ebonyi Command, CP Anthonia Uche-Anya, I want to warmly welcome you to this press conference “I am here to update you on the Command’s achievements within October 2024 and our relentless efforts to combat crimes and ensure a safe and prosperous environment for socio-economic growth in the State. “The command has employed strategic steps through increased stakeholders engagement to help bring crimes to the barest minimum. “Through this approach, we have been able to reduce the incidences of violent crimes, while operatives of the command are not relenting in our efforts to make the state safe for all. “During the month under review, the command arrested 162 males and 15 females, totalling 177 suspects for various offences. 92 suspects have already been charged in court, while others will be arraigned once investigations are complete,” Ukandu explained. On the alleged organ harvesting and ritual killings, the Command’s Spokesman said that on October 11, Mrs Blessing Chikezie reported to the command of her missing husband, Mr Idenyi Chikezie, who left home on September 9 for a business trip to Lagos. “Command operatives from the Anti-kidnapping unit, through a painstaking investigation and credible intelligence, arrested one Innocent Elebe and Eze Elechi; they made useful statements, which led the police to arrest Obinna Nwanguru and Oda Peter. “They confessed to killing Chikezie Idenyi, Chibu Odii and Eze Fabian on different dates while trying to extract their blood/ organs to use it to cure a cognitively impaired person (Down syndrome). “Operatives of the command have recovered the corpses of Chikezie Idenyi and Chibu Odii while effort is ongoing to recover the remains of the third victim,” Ukandu stated. Some other suspects were arrested for kidnappings, murder, robbery and unlawful possession of firearms. (NAN)