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Category: South East

  • Anambra Labour Party Lawmakers Forfeit 6-Month Salaries

    Anambra Labour Party Lawmakers Forfeit 6-Month Salaries

    At least eight Labour Party lawmakers in the Anambra house of assembly have willingly given up their six months salaries to help alleviate economic challenges faced by citizens.

    The lawmakers said they took the decision at an emergency meeting of the party which held on Thursday.

    “We, the Labour Party House of Assembly members, wish to lend our voice to the cry of our Leader, His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, on the sorry state of the nation, after our emergency caucus meeting,” the statement reads.

    “We urge His Excellency, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, to stop work on all other sectors on the economy including infrastructure, for the next six months, and declare a state of emergency on security and hunger in the nation.

    “Similarly, we urge all other governors of the 36 states, including Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra state, to suspend all infrastructural development for the next six months and also declare a state of emergency on security and hunger.

    “For this reason, we, the Labour Party house of assembly members have resolved to relinquish our basis salary for six months as part of our contribution to alleviate the sufferings of the masses.

    “We must commend our leader, Mr. Peter Obi, for his selfless efforts to ensure the stability and growth of our nation. It really shows that he is committed to making this nation a better place for all of us.”

    The lawmakers include Nkechi Ogbuefi, Henry Mbachu, Jude Ifeanyi Umennajiego, Fred Ezenwa, Justice Azuka, Paul Obu and Patrick Okafor.

  • Community Leader Murdered By Gunmen In Anambra

    Community Leader Murdered By Gunmen In Anambra

    The President-General of Umuoji Community in Anambra State, Silas Onyima, fell victim to a ruthless attack by yet-to-be-identified hoodlums.

    Approximately 15 assailants invaded Onyima’s home on Friday evening, fatally shooting him and sending shockwaves through the community.

    Onyima, recently elected to lead the community, presided over a local election before meeting his untimely demise. 

    A source revealed, “He was killed when masked men visited his home and shot him dead.”

    The Anambra State Police Spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the tragic incident, stating, “The police are aware of the development. Our men have been deployed to the area, found the victim in a pool of blood, and recovered the body. 

    “We are collaborating with eyewitnesses and community members to track the perpetrators, and the investigation is ongoing.” The deceased’s body has been deposited at the morgue with the assistance of family members.

  • Killer of Enugu Based Make-up Artist, Ijeoma Sentence To Death By Hanging

    Killer of Enugu Based Make-up Artist, Ijeoma Sentence To Death By Hanging

    The late Enugu based makeup artist, Ijeoma Nneka, has got justice as an Enugu State High Court sentenced her killer, Chiamaka Ifezue, to death by hanging.

    The convict alongside her sibling, Chukwuemeka Ifezue, were arraigned on two counts-charge bordering on conspiracy and murder, had on 11th November, 2020, murdered the 27-year-old makeup artist, Ijeoma, by forcing her to drink a poisonous substance that caused her death.

    However, on July 28, 2022, Justice K.I. Okpe discharged Chukwuemeka on the basis that there was no evidence that he actually participated in the crime.

    In delivering the judgement, Justice K.I Okpe, agreed with the prosecution, Mrs Chinelo Chigbo who led the prosecution from the Department of Public Prosecution that the suspect was actually responsible for the death of the 27-year-old make-up artist based in Enugu.

    Recall that the convict dumped the body of the deceased at the Maryland axis of Enugu metropolis and poured a corrosive substance suspected to be acid on the body.
    During the trial, the court admitted in evidence police exhibit on the case of the alleged murder of the makeup artist.

    A broken 9Mobile SIM card, itel phone, another black phone (no brand name), MTN SIM pack, and makeup tools belonging to the deceased were also tendered as evidence by the prosecution.

    Also tendered in evidence was the key of a Toyota Matrix Scan with registration number JJJ410BJ, which was allegedly used to move the dead body of the deceased from the scene of the crime to where it was dumped.

    Hard copies of the WhatsApp messages and text messages (SMS) the deceased had with her fiancé and girlfriend, respectively, while at the scene of the crime.

  • Enugu Rerun-Election: Labour Party Calls For Cancellation

    Enugu Rerun-Election: Labour Party Calls For Cancellation

    The Labour Party, LP, has described the House of Representatives re-run election in Igbo-Eze/Udenu federal constituency, Enugu State, as a sham and called for a total cancellation of the exercise.

    The national secretary of the party, Umar Farouk, who led its monitoring team to polling stations involved in the by-elections on Saturday, told journalists that due process was not followed.

    He said that accreditation was compromised, result sheets were hijacked, and BVAS machines were disregarded while voters were not allowed to exercise their right to vote.

    The LP national secretary, who addressed the press in the company of the party’s House of Representatives candidate, Dennis Agbo, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately cancel elections in areas where illegalities have been reported.

    In his comments, Dennis Agbo also called for the immediate and total cancellation of the supplementary election. He accused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of using the local government vigilante to intimidate LP supporters.

    Agbo said LP members were chased away from polling booths by the local vigilantes and further alleged that INEC officials took instructions from PDP officials and allowed voting to take place in private houses.

  • BREAKING: Obiano to be arraigned over alleged ₦4bn fraud

    BREAKING: Obiano to be arraigned over alleged ₦4bn fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will arraign the immediate-past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, on Wednesday, January 24, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged money laundering to the tune of N4,008,573,350.

    The ex-governor will be arraigned on nine count charges.

    The development comes over a week after the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede vowed to review all abandoned high-profile cases, especially those involving former Governors and Ministers.

    An impeccable source revealed, “We found that Obiano moved N4,008,573,350 from security votes into different accounts. The money at various times was changed into dollars and returned to Obiano by cash.”

    EFCC’s lead counsel, Slyvanus Tahir, SAN, will lead eight other lawyers in the trial of the former governor

    Some of the charges against Obiano include, “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 – March 2022, sometime between 7th February, 2018 to 18th February, 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N156,800.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Pic into the Fidelity Bank Ple Account No: 6060018819 belonging to C.I. Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.

    “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 — March 2022, sometime between 9th August, 2017 to 4th March, 2020 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N261,268,585.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc into the Fidelity Bank Plc Account No: 5600062873 belonging to Easy Diamond Integrated Link (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

    When contacted by our correspondent on Tuesday, the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale confirmed the development while noting that Obiano will be arraigned on Wednesday.

    “Yes, we’re arraigning Obiano tomorrow,” Oyewale noted.

    The ex-governor was first arrested at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, on March 17, 2022, as he was preparing to board a flight to Houston, the United States of America.

    The arrest took place at about 8.30 pm, hours after he left office as governor and, thus, lost his immunity from arrest and prosecution.

    He had been on the EFCC’s watchlist for some time before he was eventually arrested over corruption allegations.

    “Obiano was arrested for alleged misappropriation of public funds, including, N5 billion Sure-P and N37 billion security vote which was withdrawn in cash. Part of the funds was also allegedly diverted to finance political activities in the state,” EFCC had noted at the time.

  • Bandits Strike In Enugu Community, Kill 1

    Bandits Strike In Enugu Community, Kill 1

    Agu-Amede community near Eha-Amufu in the Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State witnessed another horrifying attack on Sunday, January 21, 2024. 

    Suspected herder bandits targeted Odoba and Isi Agbuhu villages, resulting in the tragic death of Ikechukwu Odomi from Isi Agbuhu.

    Community leader Ephraim Ogbu confirmed the attack, expressing deep concern over the apparent lack of response from security forces despite timely information provided by the locals. 

    Ogbu revealed that a house owned by Chibuike Olinya in Odoba Agu Amede village was also burned down, with Olinya narrowly escaping harm.

    Despite the prolonged nature of the attack, Ogbu lamented that soldiers and other security agencies did not intervene, raising questions about the effectiveness of their presence in the area. 

    Ogbu questioned, “What we don’t know is whether the soldiers are here to protect the bandits?”

    Residents have been grappling with ongoing attacks since late last year, with Fulani bandits reportedly occupying a significant portion of farmland. 

    The assailants enter the community freely, leaving destruction in their wake. Ogbu emphasized, “The bandits come into the community at will, kill and burn houses.”

    The slain Ikechukwu Odomi had been accompanying his in-law when they encountered the bandits on the road. 

    He abandoned his vehicle and fled into the bush, but tragically, the assailants pursued him, setting the bush ablaze and claiming his life.

  • Uzodimma Dissolves Imo State Cabinet

    Uzodimma Dissolves Imo State Cabinet

    Governor Hope Uzodomma of Imo State has dissolved the State Executive Council and sacked the Local Government Area Chairmen.

    The governor disclosed this on Tuesday during a state executive council meeting at the Sam Mbawke Executive Chambers at the Government House, Owerri.

    Those affected included the Secretary to the State Government, Commissioners, Special Advisers and Senior Special Advisers, the Chief of Staff, and the Chief Press Secretary.

    While dissolving the cabinet, Uzodomma thanked his former appointees for their contributions towards the success of his administration during his first term in office.

    He said the dissolution has become necessary to rejig the new administration for optimum performance and new direction and to meet up with the realities of the moment.

    The governor also apologised for any wrongdoing to any appointee during his first tenure and promised to carry everyone along in his second tenure in the interest and development of the state.

    Uzodimma is expected to constitute a new cabinet by sending commissioner-nominees to the state assembly for confirmation.

    Governor Uzodinma and his deputy, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, on Monday, took their oath of offices at the Dan Ayiam Stadium in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

    President Bola Tinubu, ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, the Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Speaker of the House of Representative Tajudeen Abbas, and other All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains were among those in attendance.

  • Enugu Guber: Supreme Court Upholds Mbah’s Victory

    The Supreme Court of Nigeria, Friday, affirmed the election of Peter Mbah as the governor of Enugu State.

    The Apex Court aligned with the decisions of the court of appeal Lagos and that of the Enugu state Election Petition Tribunal which upheld the election of Mbah as governor.

    The five-man panel of the justices, lead by Justice Muhammed Garba, resolved the issues canvased by the appellant who is the candidate of Labour Party (LP) Mr. Edeoga Chijioke Jonathan against him.

    The Labour Paper(LP) candidate has prayed that, Mbah was not qualified to participate in the election because he failed the basic eligibility test by filing a forged NYSC discharge Certificate under oath.

    They also contested that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act, with respect to the non-use of BVAS machines for accreditation, inter-changing of LP’s results in 19 PUs at the Ward Collation Centre in Udenu LGA , electoral violence and.

    Also, that the election result was not counted in accordance with the law due to over-voting, wrong tabulations especially in Mbah’s Owo Ward and Ugbawka 1 Ward, both of Nkanu East LGA, etc.

    At the court of Appeal, sitting in Lagos, led by Tani Yusuf-Hassan, the appallate court held that the Labour Party (LP) and its governorship candidate failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove that Mr Mbah was not qualified to contest the election.

    On the allegation of over-voting, Mrs Hassan said in her lead judgement that voters’ registers were not presented before the lower tribunal.

    She, therefore, ruled that the appeal failed because the petitioners failed to submit the voters’ registers for the disputed areas to substantiate the over-voting allegation.

    The court also determined that the witnesses presented by the Labour Party did not sufficiently prove the existence of over-voting in the governorship election.

    Consequently, the court dismissed the case for lacking in merit and upheld the judgement of the election tribunal, which had earlier affirmed INEC’s declaration of Mr Mbah as the winner of the 18 March governorship election.

    Moreso, the Supreme Court on the issue of non qualification of Governor Mbah, held that, the allegations by Jonathan have laid without proof at all and liable to be truck out.

    “There is merit in the argument of the appellant and lacks merit.”

    On the complain of lack of proper evaluation or counting of results in accordance with the law by the appellant, the court held that, the Tribunal was right to hold that the evidences were merely hearsay as they are not substantiated.

    “The Appeal lacks merit and the decision of the of appeal is affirmed in its entirety.” The Court held.

    “All parties bear their respective costs.” The Court added.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Governor Mbah as winner of the governorship election with 160,895 votes.

    Mr Edeoga of the LP came second with 157,552 votes, while Frank Nweke of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) polled 17, 983 votes to place third.

    Dissatisfied with the results, Mr Edeoga and his party filed a petition, challenging Mr Mbah’s victory, asking that he should be declared as winner on the grounds that he and the party, polled the highest number of valid votes.

    Counsel to Governor Mbah Mr. Damian Dodo SAN while reacting on the judgment said it was in line with the law.

  • Panic in Anambra Assembly as armed DSS operatives try to ‘arrest’ member-elect

    There was panic at the Anambra State House of Assembly as four armed men, suspected to be operatives of the Directorate of Security Services (DSS), tried to whisk away member-elect for Nnewi North constituency, Mr. Onyekachukwu Ike.

    The armed men drove into the Assembly Complex in three vehicles and grabbed the member-elect after he participated in a valedictory Thanksgiving mass for the seventh Assembly.

    They forced the member-elect into their vehicle and were trying to drive out of the Assembly complex when security personnel quickly locked the exit gate.

    The Acting Clerk of the Assembly, Mrs. Esther Aneto, and other senior staff lamented that the suspected DSS operatives did not inform them or even the Police personnel at the Assembly before trying to whisk Ike away.

    One of the suspected DSS operatives, however, explained that they had a court order to arrest the member-elect.

    It took the intervention of the Speaker, Dr Uche Okafor, and the Deputy Governor, Dr Onyeka Ibezim, who came to represent the Governor at the Valedictory session of the seventh Assembly, before the member-elect was released. 

  • Sit-at-Home: Enugu residents defy Gov Mbah’s directive, continue observance

    Residents of Enugu State have defied the state government’s directives on the Monday compulsory sit-at-home order issued by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as roads, schools, banks, markets and other public places were completely deserted.

    The state governor, Peter Mbah had on June 1 declared “no more sit-at-home in Enugu,” effective Monday, June 5, asking individuals and corporate organisations to ensure full-scale business activities in the state.

    Mbah stated that his government would be ready to engage in dialogue with people who have genuine grievances so as to foster lasting peace and security in Enugu State, adding that the order dwindles creativity and productivity of the people.

    It is not uncommon for residents in the state to wake up to stories of the untimely death of some who disobeyed the unauthorised sit-at-home order.

    It is however not clear if commercial activities will pick up before noon.

    The governor’s ban on the sit-at-home order came last Thursday with a call on President Bola Tinubu to release IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.

    After his first security council meeting with the heads of all the security agencies at the Government House, Enugu State, Mbah told journalists that the sit-at-home declared in the South-East to press for Kanu’s release had impeded economic activities.

    “Consequently, from Monday, June 6, 2023, there will be no observance of any sit-at-home in all nooks and crannies of Enugu State,” he said on Thursday.