NEWS
Fresh Agitations May Erupt Over Scrapping of Niger Delta Ministry, Says Security Expert
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
A Port Harcourt based security expert, Dr. Olalekan Jackson-Ojo at the weekend advised President Bola Tinubu to revisit the scrapping of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (MNNA) to forestall fresh agitations and unrest in the oil-producing States.
Reacting to the scrapping of MNDA and the creation of a single ministry to handle Zonal Development Commissions, Dr Ojo said President Tinubu did not consult critical Stakeholders and leaders before scrapping the ministry.
He disclosed that issues that gave rise to agitations in the oil-producing States have not been fully addressed and it is premature to scrap the ministry that was created to manage the issues.
According to Dr Jackson-Ojo, who is a Fellow of the International Institute of Professional Security, “before the formation of Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs you know what people of Niger Delta likeAvengers, Egbesu Boys and others were doing because they were fighting for their rights because of degradation of their farmlands, their water and environment pollution they suffered.
“Somebody came and said ‘Ok, in order to pacify these people let’s form the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to further enhance the activities of the Niger Delta Development Commissions.’
“Now, immediately after the ministry was formed 95 percent of the agitation died down. That is to say the people were very happy with it.
“One President came and established this ministry to make the people happy but you (Tinubu) came to scrap it. The people of the Niger Delta may not be happy about this.
“Before this Ministry is scrapped it would have been better to call the Stakeholders in Niger Delta to educate them, to hear from them, to listen to them and to hear their views before you do this.
“I hope we are not inviting another Niger Delta agitation because we know if there is any agitation in Niger Delta it will affect the economy of the entire country. We should be careful.”
Dr. Jackson-Ojo also added that the proposed deduction of 15 percent of statutory allocation of States by the federal government is unconstitutional and will definitely lead to several litigations.
“They (FG) also said 15 percent of statutory allocations will be deducted from the states.
“That is another problem this administration wants to brew. It is going to be something that will be challenged in law court because the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria did not permit anybody to deduct 10 Kobo from the statutory allocation of the States.”
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)
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)
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)
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