The Bayelsa House of Assembly on Tuesday approved the nomination of Dr Peter Akpe as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa to replace the late Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

The late deputy governor, Ewhrudjakpo, died on Dec.

According to Daniel Alabrah, Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa governor who confirmed the development, the approval followed Gov.

Akpe, a former member of Bayelsa House of Assembly was until the nomination, the Chief of Staff to Gov Diri.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja put four Osogbo-based suspected political thugs on trial on two counts of alleged murder and unlawful firearms possession.

The four defendants, namely, Adejare Waliyu, Kilanko Ismaila Damilare, Kehinde Adeola and Muheeb Taoheeb, were arraigned before Justice Binta Fatima Nyako for allegedly shooting one Sheriff to death during a political crisis.

Counsel to the IGP, Adeniyi Oyeyemi, in the charges, accused Adejare Waliyu of unlawful possession of sophisticated prohibited pump action rifles contrary to Section 27 of the Firearms Act.

In count two, the four defendants were accused of killing one Sheriff with the unlawfully possessed pump action rifle contrary to Section 319 of the Criminal Code Act, 2004.

They were said to have committed the alleged crimes between August 26 and November 28, 2022, in Osun State.

However, when the charge was read to them, the four accused persons pleaded not guilty.

Although the IGP lawyer requested for a date to commence trial of the defendants, counsel to the accused persons, Okon Ita, moved an application in which he pleaded with the judge to transfer the trial of his clients to Osogbo, where the alleged murder was committed.

Among others, the lawyer argued that the alleged offences were committed in Osogbo and that all witnesses listed to testify for the prosecution are all resident in the Osun State capital.

He admitted that the Federal High Court is one in any part of Nigeria but submitted that for administrative sake and in the interest of justice for the defendants, it would be safer for the trial to hold where the alleged crimes were committed.

The IGP raised objections against the request but Justice Binta Nyako saw merit in the argument of the accused persons and granted the same.

The judge ordered that the case be transferred to the Osogbo Division of the Federal High Court for administrative convenience and being the place where the alleged murder was carried out.

Pending the transfer of the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/655/2022, Justice Nyako ordered that the accused persons should remain in the custody of the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

In spite of the role Nyesom Wike played to ensure victory for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) last weekend during the FCT Area Councils Election, the party on Monday maintained that he is not a member of the party.

It is believed that Wike ensured that the APC won five out of the six local government areas in the just concluded Federal Capital Territory (FCT), area council election.

Wike is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but has been involved in several brazen anti-party activities in favour of the APC that appointed him FCT Minister.

Before the FCT election, Wike vowed to work for candidates who align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

Speaking on Arise News, National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, was asked what the party would do if Wike was in the APC and working for another political party, which is clearly an anti-party activity.

Morka said, “No, listen, you’re asking for me to speculate, and I will not speculate. That question is for the PDP. You should direct that question to the PDP as to how they organize their party, how they treat their members, how they handle matters like this in the Peoples Democratic Party.

“I cannot speculate, you know, on a matter that rests exclusively within the party.”