Local Aba news, Nigeria

Lawyers Protest In Abuja, Demand Release of Colleague Detained By DSS

Members of the Nigerian Bar Association in Abuja on Tuesday staged a protest over the continued detention of their colleague, Emperor Gabriel Ogbonna, by the Department of State Services.

The protesters marched to the National Human Rights Commission to condemn the continued incarceration of the lawyer despite a valid and subsisting order of the court releasing him on bail.

Chairman of the association, Bulus Atsen, said the continued detention of the lawyer was an affront to the rule of law and democratic principles.

He called on the NHRC to intervene in the matter and prevail on the security agency to release him in line with the court order.

The protesters thereafter submitted a formal petition to the commission and office of Attorney-General of Federation and Minister of Justice.

Responding on behalf of the commission, the Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, said the organisation would write the DSS to furnish them with details of the case.

He said the commission does not support impunity and urged all government institutions to respect the rule of law and court order.

The lawyer is being held on the orders of Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia State governor, over a Facebook post that he visited a shrine outside the country where he swore an oath of allegiance and secrecy to a former governor of the state.

A Federal High Court in Umuahia ordered for the lawyer’s release or be charged to a court of competent jurisdiction.

Two weeks after the order was made, the DSS have neither released him nor charged him to court in violation of the order of the court.

Abia governor tests negative for coronavirus

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has tested negative for coronavirus (COVID-19).

It will be recalled that the governor who tested positive for the virus penultimate week has been in self isolation where he has equally been receiving treatment.

However, a repeat test of the virus on his samples carried out by the officials of the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Friday night has returned negative.

A tacit statement by the State Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu, on Saturday morning stated that by the new development, the governor is now free of the virus.

The statement read thus: “To God the glory of God, repeat COVID-19 test conducted by Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) on samples submitted by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on Thursday, 2nd July, 2020, returned negative result on Friday, 3rd July, 2020.

“Governor Ikpeazu is therefore deemed free of the virus according to the extant guidelines of NCDC and the World Health Organization (WHO). Thank you.”

Abia Governor, Ikpeazu, Recovers From COVID-19

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has recovered from COVID-19 after receiving treatment for three weeks.

The governor had announced that he tested positive for the disease on June 8.

SaharaReporters gathered that Ikpeazu made attempts to be flown abroad but the restriction on international flights ban in many countries around the world and his positive status of the virus put paid to that move.

But in a statement on Saturday, John Kalu, the state’s Commissioner for Information, said the governor’s samples submitted on Thursday returned negative on Friday.

The statement reads, “To the glory of God, repeat COVID-19 test conducted by Nigeria Center for Disease Control on samples submitted by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on Thursday, 2nd July, 2020, returned negative result on Friday, 3rd July, 2020.

“Governor Ikpeazu is therefore deemed free of the virus according to the extant guidelines of NCDC and the World Health Organisation.”

Navy seizes vessel, arrests five suspects for illegal bunkering in Akwa Ibom

The Nigerian Navy Ship Jubilee (NNS) on Tuesday said that it has seized a vessel used for oil bunkering and arrested five suspects in Akwa Ibom.

The Commander of NNS Jubilee, Commodore Majid Ibrahim, disclosed this to newsmen during the handing over of the vessel and suspects to officials of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ikot Abasi.

Ibrahim said that the vessel was seized during an anti illegal oil patrol by the Nigerian Navy along Uta-Ewa Creek on May 18.

“In line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s strategic directive and the need to secure Nigeria’s maritime domain against all forms of illegalities, the Nigerian Navy Ship Jubilee on anti illegal oil patrol arrested MT PREYOR 1 on May 18, 2020 along Uta-Ewa Creek for suspected illegal oil bunkering activities.

“The vessel was laden with unspecified quantity of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

“As required by the Harmonized Standard Operating Procedure, the suspects, vessel and products are hereby handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and possible prosecution,” Ibrahim said.

The commander said that the command would not relent in it fight against maritime crimes and criminalities.

He warned persons involved in criminal activities within the coastal waters to look for legitimate means of livelihood or relocate as the command would continue to arrest them and hand them over to relevant security agencies for prosecution.

The commander commended the Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, for providing all the moral and logistics support required to achieve the feat.

He urged the media to sensitise the public on the need to cooperate with the security forces in the fight against all forms of criminalities.

Receiving the vessel, products and the five suspects on behalf of EFCC, Mr Victor Ikang, Head Extractive Industry, Fraud Section, Uyo Zonal office thanked the Navy for the arrest.

He assured that the commission would investigate the case thoroughly to bring all culprits to book.

“I receive the vessel alongside with the suspects. We thank the Nigerian Navy for being a partner in the fight against Economic Crimes.

“We assure the Navy that we will carry out further investigation and make sure that culprits are brought to book,” he said.

Akwa Ibom communities lament NDDC neglect

The oil-producing communities of Eastern Obolo in Akwa Ibom State have lamented that the region has been neglected and marginalised despite contributing most of the oil revenue in the state.

The communities said that they have been deprived in many spheres, including denial of appointments and allocation of projects and resources by the Niger Delta Development Commission.

In a statement on Sunday the communities led by their President, Ken Ukoima, alleged that Eastern Obolo is the only core oil-producing community of the state that had yet to have an indigene on the board of the NDDC since it was established.

They called on President Mohammadu Buhari to give the region the opportunity to serve on the board of the NDDC especially now that the position has been vacant following the demise of the Commission’s director of finance and administration, Ibanga Etang.

The statement reads in part, “We wish to bring to the attention of Mr President the arrant and sordid disregard for fairness and equity in the appointment of members into the board of the Commission.

“Recall that the NDDC arose from the ashes of the OMPADEC in 2000. The Act establishing the Commission clearly stipulates that the Board shall consist of, amongst others, a Chairman and one person who shall be an indigene of an oil-producing area to represent each of the member states.

“It also provides for the appointment of a Managing Director and two executive directors. As the largest oil-producing state, Akwa Ibom has served as Chairman, Managing Director, in addition to four executive directors at different points in time in the Commission.

“But since the establishment of the NDDC no indigene of Eastern Obolo has been appointed to serve on the board of the Commission

“Agonizingly, Eastern Obolo is the only core oil-producing area in Akwa Ibom State that has never served on the board of the NDDC in any capacity. Yet, it is the largest oil-producing area in the state.

“The neglect and oppression of Eastern Obolo are not only in the denial of appointment in the state but also in the allocation of the resources and projects within the state by the NDDC and the state government as well.

“This was presented in a statement of protest by the chiefs and people of Eastern Obolo on January 23, 2016.

“The good people of Eastern Obolo shall forever be grateful if your wind of change will blow into Akwa Ibom State and overturn the wicked and obnoxious machinations of the ignoble potentates and give Eastern Obolo the opportunity to serve on the board of the NDDC now as Akwa Ibom still have a chance to produce a director.”

NDLEA arrests 273 suspects, prosecutes 15 in Akwa Ibom

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Akwa Ibom State Command, said it has arrested 273 drug traffickers and prosecuted 15 suspects in the state.

This was disclosed by the state Commander of the agency, Malami Sokoto, at a media briefing held in Uyo, the state capital, to mark the 2020 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with the theme “Better knowledge for better Care”.

He said 25 drug traffickers had been rehabilitated in the state.

“Out of 273 drug traffickers, 204 have been counselled on the negative effects of drugs, 15 others prosecuted while five persons are currently awaiting trial,” he said.

Sokoto observed that traffickers do not consume the dangerous substances they sell, they were only attracted to the financial gains from it, adding that drugs are abused when taken without doctors’ prescription.

“Drug abuse starts when parents sometimes fail in their responsibility of providing good upbringing for their children who begin to abuse drugs due to proper influence and pressure groups,” Sokoto said.

Teebwoy now on all social media

Teebwoy now on all social media

Teebwoy

Amb Luke Calls For Peace In All Eastern States.

An elderly man will never sit at home and watch a goat deliver in it's tether.

It is unfortunate that igbos have refused to accept the truth base on this no movement of a thing, fixed by an unknown man and implemented by unknown gun men.

It is true that we igbos have refused never to back out on the Biafra restoration, but that doesn't warrant us all fighting when we don't have a physical leader, all the so called leader does is to give instructions to his unknown gun men from wherever he is.

This is a pure strategy when he named them ESN we all accepted it, now the ESN has turned out to become unknown gun men moving about, parading themselves and putting fright to innocent imolites and other eastern states. These hoodlums have caused chaos in imo state.

As a matter of fact, the so called ipob leader is 100% involved in this and his denying it.

It's unfortunate that we the easterners have failed to foresee what the so called ipob leader wants.

His idea of restoring Biafra land is a good one but not with bloodshed. Again he should know that a good leader must be at the front not behind. This so called ipob leader is in UK resting, having peace of mind and instructing his unknown gun men to threaten the Government, not only threatening the Government, they also went ahead to create tension to the people he claims his fighting for. Many said his right, is it compared to his father's and mother's death? it's obvious his not fighting to restore but to revenge.

Taking note of the resent happenings e.g the resent happenings at mbaise where trailer loaded with onions was looted by his so called unknown gun men again allegedly killed Ahmed Gulak the ex-aide to the former President Good luck Jonathan.

Glory to God they were brought to judgment.

My summary here is that we the igbos need to be wise, let's not behave like people without wisdom. Yes we need Biafra but it must not be with bloodshed.

Do you know lots of people who lost their lives just hearing the gun shots generated from the unknown gun men.

Imo State needs peace now, I call on the governor of imo state and his Government to bring back peace in imo state with all means.

God bless us all, as we contribute to restoring peace back to imo state and other eastern states.

Amb Luke Eberegbulam

DISCLAIMER

Ambrose Nwaogwugwu Again...

Theodore Chinonso Uba AKA Nonsonkwa Wrote

"My attention has yet been drawn to another malicious and murderous post made by one Ambrose Nwaogwugwu a hireling of the Imo state Government alleging that I have been announced as the spokesman of IPOB/ESN"

"I want to state it here that I am neither a spokesman of IPOB nor ESN"

"I am a Human Rights Activist fighting against the injustice in the South East and Imo State in particular!!!

"The state Government is seriously trying everything she could to clampdown on Me and take me to Abuja and have me incarcerated just because I stood against the indiscriminate arrest and unlawful detention of Imolites and the killings in Imo....

"I have it on good authority that DSS has perfected plans to Arrest me within 24hrs and take me to Abuja...

"All these propaganda is to STOP the OCCUPY OWERRI PROTEST being organised by Human Rights Activists, but unfortunately The PROTEST MUST HOLD!!!

Our Demands Are :

* Take the Military Off from our Streets and take them to all boundaries leading to the state!

* Unconditional release of ALL Imo Youths arrested on the Streets and being unlawfully detained by the Police!!

These are Simply the reason For the Planned Protest, and Nothing More !!!!

The Imo state Government is using Ambrose Nwaogwugwu and the propaganda below to have me incarcerated and STOP THE PROTEST, I challenge them to provide the audio clip where I was announced as the Spokesman of IPOB and ESN....

Imolites should know that our enemies are within and ready to destroy us!!!

For Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, My legal team will handle him....

Pray For Imo🙏🙏🙏🙏

Imo is Bleeding😭😭😭😭

My Name is Chinonso Uba Nonsonkwa"

Human Rights Activist!!!

The Struggle Continues....

We Don't want Ruga, We Want Employment - Ubowalla Youths

The Ubowalla Youths led by Comrade Ugochukwu Abakporo the youth chairman of emekuku on Sunday made a peaceful protest against the Hope Uzodimma regime idea of Ruga in their community. The group led by Comrade Ugochukwu Abakporo and the youth chairman of ubowalla Comrade Chuks Chima son of late Dr chima of ubowalla made a peaceful protest against Ruga.

Comrade Ugochukwu Abakporo (Emekuku Youth chairman)

The Ubowalla Youths chairman Comrade Chuks Chima stateed that the idea of government bringing in Ruga into their community is not a good idea together all vehemently refused and disagreed to that idea.

Comrade Chuks Chima (Ubowalla Youths chairman)

The elderly person amongst them Mr Bob ovuoh stated that they are not accepting the idea of government bringing in Ruga to their community. If it was farming they will really accept, poultry and other things is acceptable but for Ruga they don't accept it.

He went further more telling how the fulanies value cows to human.

Mr Bob ovuoh

Therefore the Comrade Ugochukwu Abakporo the youth chairman of emekuku pleads with the government led by his Excellency dist sen Hope Uzodimma to stop the idea of Ruga in their community. He also pleaded with all Governmental bodies to come to their rescue of joblessness and the issue of Ruga in their community.