NEWS
Wife of Ex-Gov Ayade’s Aide Alleges Husband’s Unlawful Detention
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From Ene Asuquo,Calabar
As a result of what she described as unlawful detention, wife of former Special Adviser to the Cross River State governor on Cocoa Development and Control, Joy Ofuka, has called on the Inspector- General of Police, kayoede Egbetokun and the Cross River state governor Bassey Otu, to wade into the travails of her husband Dr.
Oscar Ofuka, by the Cross River State security Adviser (SSA) Rtd. Maj. Gen. Okoi Obono.Ofuka’s wife made the call while reacting to the arrest and detention of her husband, who was a former aide to the immediate past Governor Ben Ayade on Cocoa Development and Control in a telephone conversation with our reporter in Calabar.
She expressed dismay over what she described as use of political power to intimidate Ayade’s former aide stressing that those behind her husband’s detention should know that power is transient, ephemeral and not permanent.
“I still cannot understand the gang up against my husband despite the effort that he put in to ensure that money owed cocoa landlords communities for more than a decade was paid”.
“I see the gang up and torment as a tool to distract the cocoa allottees to come against my husband. Let me state here categorically clear that no dime was paid into my husband’s personal account but accounts of the state government via the smart gov. platform authorized by the court’s consent judgment.
“May I use this privilege to call on the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun PhD to wade into the matter so that this harassment and intimidation by the state security Adviser would be stopped.
“Am not a lawyer, as Nigerians we know that once a matter is taken to court no one is allowed to arrest anyone, in this matter the reverse is the case.
“The harassment and intimidation by the state security Adviser who is using his position to intimidate my family is not a good thing. What crime did he commit that took him to army barracks and whisked him to Akim Barracks and finally to federal housing police station and to zone 6 police commands Calabar less than two days?
“Is he a bandits or terrorist to be treated the way and manner he was being mal-treated. These are questions that the state security Adviser needs to answer.
“His kids and I are really traumatized. We have not been able to sleep in the last three days. We are indeed so emotionally drained. My husband is not keeping any government money, all the cash that accrued from lease of government cocoa farms was paid into Cross River State government’s account and not to his private pocket.
“Government they said that continuum was the rationale for trying to evict the allottees out from the farms which they legitimately paid for. Why the intimidation?
“Let me use this opportunity to call on Crossriverians, well-meaning Nigerians, that my husband was nothing but only an agent to the immediate past administration led by Prof. Ben Ayade.
“To the best of my knowledge money realized from lease of farms was money used by the immediate past administration to defray 16-years old debt that previous administrations owed the Cocoa landlord communities as royalties for the land that the communities donated to the state government to cultivate its cocoa estate”.
“First they interrupted the court hearing, secondly they alleged that the worker who died in the estate was masterminded by Ofuka, the question now how”?
I call on this state security adviser not to hinder the investigation process but to allow the police to carry out the investigation rather than resorting to intimidation of our family members.
What they are doing is total distraction to scare off beneficiaries who genuinely paid for the farms to be afraid. The matter is in state high court at Effraya. I see this arrest as a gang up to do away with the life of my brother.
In a telephone call to the state security Adviser Rtd. Maj. Gen.Okoi Obono, to find out why he ordered the arrest and detention of Ayade’s former aide, Dr. Oscar Ofuka, Obono denied being behind Ofuka’s arrest saying the allegations weren’t true but lies. “I am not responsible for his arrest and detention. ” He stated.
NEWS
Ajuri, Tinubu’s Spokesperson Takes Exit, Cites Mesical Reaaona
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Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President Chief Ajuri Ngelale has quit his job. He said in a statement in a Abuja that he would proceed on an ” indefinite leave, to deal with ” medical matters” affecting him amd hia immediate family.Hos statement reads: “On Friday, I submittd a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing my office that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family.
While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonizing decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President; Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home.I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit.I respectfully ask for some privacy for my family and family”NEWS
Fuel Crisis: 1000 CSOs Fault Tinubu’s Economic Team, Want Immediate Reconstitution
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By David Torough, Abuja
About 1000 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), under the auspices of Coalition Of Civil Society Organisations (CCSOs), on Saturday Faults President Bola Tinubu’s Economic Team and called for immediate reconstitution.Expressing deep concerns over the state of the economy and escalating fuel prices compounding the hardship of Nigerians despite the recent protest, the groups said Tinubu must act now to avert disintegration.
The groups said the current situation across the country has cast doubt on the competence of the Tinubu economic team and called for urgent review. The CCSOs in a statement by its National Coordinator, Mallam Ibrahim Mohammed, pointed out that the plight of Nigerians is sinking low and their patience is wearing off following the deteriorating economy.The statement reads in part, “The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) is deeply concerned about the deteriorating state of the Nigerian economy, which is becoming increasingly unbearable for millions of citizens.“It is evident that the recent hike in fuel prices and the unstable exchange rate are the direct results of economic mismanagement by those responsible for overseeing our nation’s financial policies. The ripple effects of these failures are being felt in every household across the country, worsening poverty and crippling economic activity.“The floating of the Naira, which was initially sold to Nigerians as a means of stabilizing our currency, has done little to prevent the continued devaluation of the Naira. In fact, the exchange rate disparity has widened significantly, with the Naira losing value daily, impacting the cost of living, basic commodities, and inflation.“While this policy was expected to ease foreign exchange pressure, it has instead deepened economic challenges due to poor implementation and lack of strategic foresight.”The coalition also expressed concern over what it described as a death trap of indebtedness of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which also they claimed had slowed down importation of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, hence the current shortage of PMS across the country. “Of equal concern is the precarious position of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which finds itself in a debt trap, with global suppliers of petroleum products losing confidence in Nigeria’s ability to honour its obligations.“Reports have shown that NNPCL has accrued debts totalling over $6 billion, causing petrol supply shortages. International suppliers are now reluctant to continue providing fuel on credit, exacerbating supply chain issues and pushing up the price of petrol at the pump”, they claimed.The CSOs also asserted that, “We hold the managers of the Nigerian economy responsible for these disturbing developments. Their inability to provide sound policies and long-term solutions has left the nation in this predicament.“It is clear that there is no cohesive strategy to address the rising debt, the growing imbalance in the foreign exchange market, or the country’s heavy reliance on importation for petrol supply. The recent hike in fuel prices reflects the collapse of responsible economic management and accountability.“Nigerians are left to bear the brunt of these failures. Businesses are shutting down, transportation costs have skyrocketed, and citizens are spending an increasingly larger percentage of their income on basic necessities. This state of affairs is unacceptable.”The group therefore placed some demands; Immediate intervention from the government: There needs to be a comprehensive and transparent plan to stabilize the Naira, restore confidence in the petroleum supply chain, and negotiate a restructuring of NNPC’s debts to ensure continuous fuel supply.“Accountability for economic mismanagement: Those responsible for the reckless management of our foreign exchange policies and NNPC’s debts must be held accountable. The government must also disclose its plan to mitigate the rising fuel costs and economic burden on Nigerians.“A return to sound financial policy: The floating of the Naira has proven ineffective under current conditions. We call for a re-evaluation of monetary and fiscal policies to stabilize the economy, reduce inflation, and attract foreign investment.“In conclusion, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations reiterates that without immediate corrective measures, the economic situation will continue to deteriorate, leading to further hardship for the average Nigerian. The government must act decisively and responsibly to reverse this downward spiral”, they added.NEWS
Tension in Makurdi Community as NAF Personnel Demolishes Houses, Destroys Rice Farm
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There is growing tension in Ugondu community, Makurdi LGA, Benue state by young people opposed to the demolition of houses and destruction of rice farms in the area allegedly on the directives of senior Air Force officer, Air Commodore Akinbuwa Ayodele.
It was learnt that Commodore Ayodele, who is facing multiple legal actions following dispute over a plot of land located on George Akume Way Makurdi and owned in blatant disregard to the judicial process embarked on destruction of structures on the plot.
Eyewitness said when the equipment arrived no one imagined it was for destruction.
But in a militray- like operation, two flats of two units each, completely roofed, electrified and plumbing work completed were among the structures demolished as the bulldozers rolled over rice farms in the vicinity as well.
It was learnt that last year, a Makurdi High Court presided by Justice Mary Ijohor, granted an order of perpetual injunction, in the same matter, upon application by the supposed owner of the plot and awarded the sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) only, as cost. The matter, enforcement of fundamental rights, was marked as MHC/582/M/2023.
Godwin Akor whose rice farm was destroyed in a chat with newsmen said that he was shocked at the development. He however said he won’t speak more on the matter as it is still before the court.