NEWS
Chieftaincy Crisis: Bayelsa Govt Dissolves Gbarantoru Caretaker Cttee
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has announced the immediate dissolution of the Caretaker Committee set up to oversee the affairs of Gbarantoru Community in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.
The government also directed all the parties embroiled in the Gbarantoru Chieftaincy dispute to maintain the leadership status-quo ante predating the court judgement that invalidated the election of the community’s paramount ruler, His Royal Highness Igonia Dakolo.
The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, handed down the directive at a meeting with the two parties, representatives of the Ekpetiama Clan Council of Chiefs and government officials at his office in Government House, Yenagoa on Tuesday.
He urged all parties directly involved in the communal leadership crisis to stop forthwith any actions that would undermine peace and progress in the community, as the matter is before the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division.
Underscoring the need for people to sacrifice personal interests for the common good of their communities, the Deputy Governor appealed to the feuding factions in Gbarantoru to maintain the peace while awaiting the outcome of the subsisting legal suit.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, however, assured that the government would assist both parties by ensuring the case gets accelerated hearing and subsequent judgement in real time with a view to laying the matter to final rest for sustainable peace and stability of the community.
His words: “Unity is essential to us in our various communities. There is a compelling need for us to quickly resolve our intra-communal differences and work together for peace to thrive.
“We have met before. But this meeting is convened to communicate the state government’s position on the lingering crisis in Gbarantoru. First, the caretaker committee in Gbarantoru is hereby dissolved with immediate effect.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Gbogbo Ebipa led-faction, Indali Kemela Steve, thanked government for its intervention but noted that all the parties would have been satisfied if government had appointed a neutral body to hold brief for the disputed Amananaowei stool until the final determination of the case at the law court.
The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Biriyai Dambo (SAN), Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Ebiuwou, Koku-Obiyai, her Agriculture counterpart, Prof. Beke Sese and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Thompson Amule, attended the meeting.
Meanwhile the Ekpetiama Council of Chiefs was represented at the meeting by the paramount ruler of Bumoundi Community, His Highness Maurice Lagos, and his Ikibiri counterpart, His Highness Izonbodei Engeribo.
Also present were the Gbarantoru Paramount Ruler, His Royal Highness Igonia Dakolo; and members of the Chief Gbogbo Ebipa led-faction.
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)