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Party leadership to meet Alia, Akume loyalists today

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Party leadership to meet Alia, Akume loyalists today

The National Working Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress will today meet with Benue senators, House of Representatives members, and stakeholders of the party in the state to resolve the lingering feud between loyalists of Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume

For over a year, the Benue chapter of the APC has been balkanised and embroiled in crisis by political gladiators fighting for control of the party.

While Austin Agada led the Akume’s faction of the party, Benjamin Omakolo was in charge of the Alia faction.

The National Deputy Organising Secretary of the APC, Nze Chidi Duru, disclosed on Monday in an interview that the party leadership would meet with many of the aggrieved members and relevant stakeholders at the national headquarters of the APC on Tuesday.

He said, “I don’t know about that (sanctions). The party has not discussed anything about them. But I know we are having a meeting with the stakeholders of Benue tomorrow. In particular, we will be meeting with senators and House of Reps members from the state by 10 am.

“After that, there will be a meeting with the (newly installed) Benue APC caretaker committee that was put in place. The second meeting will be at 2 pm at the party secretariat in Abuja.

“As earlier said, I am not aware of this issue you raised. I only know we are having a meeting to discuss with Benue APC stakeholders on Tuesday.”

The political crisis in Benue APC took another dimension last Wednesday when the NWC announced the dissolution of the Agada-led executives loyal to Akume.

In its place, the ruling party immediately inaugurated a seven-man caretaker committee to take over the party affairs at the state level for six months.

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Rivers fishermen continue protest over colleague’s death

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Rivers fishermen continue protest over colleague’s death

Protesting fishermen have blocked the creek which allows access to the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas boats conveying staff members to its operational base in Bonny Island, Rivers State.

This came after the police teargassed them from barricading the company’s entrance where they laid siege on Monday and Tuesday at the entrance of the NLNG corporate headquarters along Amadi-Ama in Port Harcourt following the death of their colleague, Precious Imabibo. The company alleged that the fisherman drowned after a speed boat belonging to it destroyed their boats and fishing nets in January.

According to Metro reports that the protesters used five large wooden canoes to block the Amadi-Ama creek thereby preventing the company’s boats from accessing the Port Harcourt to Bonny routes.

The protesters, who are members of the fishermen’s association from Amadi-Ama, Koku-ama, Teria-ama and Marine base in Port Harcourt, had mounted the barricade in continuation of their protest to demand compensation for the family of their late colleague.

They claimed that their boats and fishing nets were destroyed leading to the death of the 27-year-old Precious.

The fishermen and some sympathisers had embarked on a two-day protest where they sealed the entrance to the corporate headquarters of the NLNG earlier this week but were forced to flee after a team of armed policemen teargassed them, seizing their chairs and canopies.

Speaking to According to Metro on Thursday, one of the fishermen, Albert Paul, expressed annoyance that since the death of their member, the company had not shown concern by reaching out to the family.

Paul further said they resorted to blocking the creek on Wednesday after the police dispersed them with teargas on the second day of the protest at the entrance of the company’s corporate headquarters at Amadi-ama in Port Harcourt.

Paul said, “Since the man died, the NLNG has not come to a roundtable to discuss the matter properly. Now, in the course of our protest at the NLNG gate, they decided to use the police and every other thing to pursue us.

“The NLNG has not seen the family till now to engage them on this issue, that is why we now blocked the river. And since then, we have not heard anything from the NLNG.

“We are demanding our rights and the protest was peaceful but the police came to pursue us. So we are calling on the state and federal governments to see the need to prevail on the look into our demands.”

Similarly, another fisherman simply identified as Tamunokuro said they would continue the barricade at the creek without resorting to any form of violence.

He said, “We, all the fishermen’s associations from Amadi-ama, Kera-ama, Marine base to Kokurama, came together to block the creek, but we are not causing any problem.

“We only block the river for them not to pass. We are not at the NLNG jetty, just the river until they come up with a positive reply.”

Our reporter reports that following the blockade, it will be difficult for some staff members of the NLNG and their visitors who usually ply the routes with the company’s boats to do so.

The NLNG had in a statement by its General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Andy Odeh, said it was aware of the protest, saying the relevant stakeholders were being engaged towards an amicable resolution of the issue.

Odeh further said the NLNG placed a priority on the safety and care of its people and host communities, even as he called for calm while awaiting the outcome of the Nigeria Police probe into the matter.

The two-paragraph statement entitled, ‘Protest At the NLNG Corporate Head Office’, reads, “Nigeria LNG Limited is aware of a recurrence of a protest at its Corporate Head Office in Port Harcourt by a group claiming to represent the family in an incident allegedly involving an NLNG chartered passenger boat along the Amadi Creek in January 2024.

“NLNG confirms that relevant stakeholders are being engaged towards an amicable resolution. The Company places a premium on the safety and care of its people and host communities, and calls for calm while awaiting the outcome of the Nigeria Police probe into the matter.”

Stop meddling in LP affairs, Abure warns Otti

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Stop meddling in LP affairs, Abure warns Otti

The crisis rocking the Labour Party deepened on Tuesday when the LP leadership warned Governor Alex Otti of Abia State to focus on governance and cease interfering in the administration of the party.

The National Chairman of the LP, Julius Abure, issued the warning at a press conference held in Abuja.

Abure lamented that it was bad enough for the party to endure criticism and persecution from those seeking to tear it apart, without having to contend with its chieftains, members, and stakeholders following the same path.

The LP national chairman’s anger stemmed from a recent meeting with Otti, where the Abia governor stated his intention to convene a National Executive Committee meeting on August 31 to ‘dissolve the National Executive Council, State Executive Council, Local Government Executive Council, and Ward Executive Council’ on the purported grounds that their tenures had expired.

But Abure rejected this, stating that it was not within the governor’s purview to make such decisions.

Consequently, he announced to journalists on Tuesday that the National Working Committee of the party has established a disciplinary committee to henceforth sanction any erring members or bigwigs who make decisions that could undermine the party.

He said, “The National Working Committee also notes that assuming without conceding that the tenure of the current NWC has even expired, we must state clearly that it is not the responsibility of Dr. Alex Otti, as the governor of Abia State, to convene an NEC meeting to set up a caretaker committee. It is still the responsibility of the national chairman and the national secretary of the party to convene such a meeting.

“Secondly, it is the responsibility of INEC to officially communicate to the party in writing if it has objections to the conduct of the convention and indeed to inform the leadership that its tenure has expired. We want to appeal to our colleagues to concentrate on governance and allow us to handle party affairs.

“Consequently, the national leadership states clearly that it will not hesitate to discipline any member who is not ready to obey the party constitution and the lawful directives of the leadership. The national leadership hereby states unequivocally that there is no vacuum in the leadership of our party.

“The Labour Party is different from other political parties in that it is not controlled by one man, woman, or leader; neither is it a party that can be dominated by one person. It is a party for the generality of the people. The party’s outlook made it possible for people like Dr. Alex Otti to use the platform and win in 2023 after attempting and failing in APC, PDP, and even APGA.”

Continuing, Abure said that Otti’s argument was allegedly based on the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the tenures of the current NWC and other grassroots leaders had expired.

However, the LP chair disclosed that until the recent omission of the party from INEC discussions with political parties, there had been no rift with the commission.

“Therefore, for any person(s), group, or agency to speculate that the tenures of the current executives have expired is not only mischievous but a deliberate attempt to destabilise the party. Apart from the fact that a Federal High Court in Abuja has already validated the National Convention held on March 27, other persons have challenged the convention of the party.

“It is therefore established in our laws that once cases are pending in our courts, parties are to maintain the status quo to prevent further harm to the party. INEC is expected not to descend into the arena of conflict but to continue with its neutrality and work cordially with the recognised leadership of the party until the courts state otherwise,” he said.

Lagos traders allege harassment, petition govt

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Lagos traders allege harassment, petition govt

A group of traders from the Aguiyi Ironsi International Market Traders Association in Ladipo, Mushin, Lagos State, have petitioned the Lagos State Government over alleged harassment, intimidation, and threats to their lives by the market’s executives and task force committee.

This was contained in a petition dated July 25, 2024, addressed to the office of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and obtained by According to Metro on Thursday.

In the petition signed by their lawyer, Liborous Oshoma, the traders claimed that they had been in the market for over a decade and had participated in the previous elections to select their market leaders.

They, however, lamented over issues arising from the election of the market executive which led to the issuing of identity cards to traders.

The traders accused the executive, led by Mr. Chukwuma Onyebinamma aka Ikukuoma, of conspiring to disenfranchise them and manipulate the upcoming election.

“The current chairman, Onyebinamma, to prolong his tenure, has now decided and further imposed it on members of the association that only owners of the Identity Cards would be accepted as valid voters during the upcoming election and that only the said owners of ID cards would be allowed entrance to attend meetings held by the association, a decision believed to be favourable to his administration.

“Concerns have been raised about the potential for manipulation, as several individuals reported issues during registration where unknown persons were already registered using their shop numbers.”

While noting that the existing constitution of their association made no provision for voting solely through ID cards, the traders explained that elections were conducted by visiting each shop and allowing the rightful owners to cast their votes thereby ensuring a fair and transparent process.

The traders alleged that the introduction of the ID card had led to harassment, intimidation, and physical assault by the task force committee, adding that the executive selectively issued the ID cards to their supporters while withholding them from non-supporters.

They also claimed that the individuals enforcing the use of the ID cards reportedly wield machetes, intimidate and physically assault traders in the market.

They said the most recent of the incidents occurred on July 18, 2024, when some of the members of the association were denied access during their monthly meeting despite identifying themselves.

“One of them in an attempt to clarify that he had not received the identity card which he had already paid for was attacked by one individual who forcefully removed and confiscated his medicated eyeglasses, which aid his vision.

The complainants revealed that several petitions concerning these events had been consistently filed to the appropriate authorities responsible for peace and orderliness, but they had repeatedly been compromised.

The traders urged the Lagos State Government to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the matter and ensure that peace and security were maintained within the market and society. They also requested the prosecution of those indicted in the investigation.

Reacting, Onyebinamma denied the allegations, saying the use of ID cards was binding by the constitution.

He added that the decision was agreed on by members of the association.

He said, “According to our constitution, what makes you a member of the association is the payment of annual dues. The association takes money from there and does the ID cards. This is what makes you a member. All of us agreed and people paid. And we started last year September that anyone who did not pay the dues would not attend our meeting. I have the ID cards of my successors and this has been the practice in the market.

“Also, we don’t use ID cards for elections, what we use is a voter’s card, and once you have your ID card after paying your annual dues, you will be eligible to get a voter card to vote in an election. I was also not aware of what happened when the machete was used at the gate. It was my task force chairman who came to report to me that it was some members of the group of people against my administration who brought it to the market. The task force in the market only uses canes, not machetes.”

Moghalu quits APC, submits resignation letter

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Moghalu quits APC, submits resignation letter

Dr George Moghalu, a foundation member and former National Auditor of the All Progressives Congress, has formally resigned his membership of the ruling party.

Moghalu’s resignation was detailed in a letter addressed to his Uruagu Ward 1 chairman in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, a copy of which was made available to According Online on Tuesday.

A copy of the letter, titled ‘Resignation of Membership of the APC’, was also forwarded to his state and local government chairmen.

Although the former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority did not indicate his next destination, he cited personal reasons for his decision.
The resignation follows months of speculation and repeated denials regarding Moghalu’s plans to leave the party.

He wrote, “I bring you the good wishes of my dear family and wish to formally notify you of my decision to resign my membership of the APC with effect from today, 26 August 2024.

“Please accept this as my personal decision. It is my utmost desire and expectation that we will continue to maintain the cordial relationship that we have built together over the years.

“I wish you and all the members of the party the very best. Please accept, as always, the assurance of my best regards.”

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Family protests killing of final year undergraduate by Anambra vigilantes

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Family protests killing of final year undergraduate by Anambra vigilantes

Confusion has erupted at the Senator Stella Oduah’s Estate, Akili-Ozizor community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, following the controversial circumstances that led to the shooting and killing of a final year Fine and Applied Arts student of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra State, Noel Okechukwu.

According to Metro gathered that the 27-year-old was shot dead by the local vigilante operatives attached to the estate on August 17.

But while the family members of the victim claimed that the local security of the community carelessly killed their son in cold blood for no reason, the security operatives disagreed, alleging the boy was shot because he was one of those who had been “looting and vandalising” properties in the estate.

Speaking to our correspondent on Thursday, father of the boy, Rex Okechukwu, disclosed that the local vigilantes shot his son dead inside the estate as he was going to buy fresh fish from a fish pond.

In a strongly-worded petition sent to the Divisional Police Officer at the Ogbaru Police Division, Atani, the distressed father, a one-time Secretary of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Anambra State council, stated that, according to eyewitnesses, the shooting occurred after an altercation ensued between the guards and his son.

The petition, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent read, “The incident occurred on Saturday, August 17, 2024. On the said day, my son, Noel Okechukwu, a 27-year-old final-year student of Ojukwu varsity, had left for Senator Stella Oduah’s Estate at Akili-Ozizor, a neighbouring community to buy fresh fish from a fish pond located inside the estate.

“On getting to the gate leading to the entrance of the estate, the private security guards disallowed him entrance and an altercation ensued between the guards and himself leading to one of the guards pulling the trigger of his pump action rifle and pumping bullets into his body which made him to slump.

“Soon after gunning him down, the guards started giving him water to drink and as soon as he took some quantities of the water, he gave up the ghost and the guards sent a motorcyclist who rushed to inform the bereaved family of the unfortunate incident.

“We, as the family members, are demanding justice against the private guards because they had no right to take the life of our son in such a brutish manner.”

He further insisted that even if they felt his son had committed any crime around the estate or within the entire Ogbaru area, the best thing would have been for them to arrest and hand him over to the police for prosecution and not to execute him extrajudicially.

But in a swift reaction, when contacted if they have received any petition, the Divisional Police Officer, at Atani, Mr I. Andrew, confirmed the receipt of a petition.

Andrew added that the report he had concerning the incident was that the deceased was among those who had been looting and vandalising all the properties inside the estate.

The DPO said, “Yes, we have received a petition concerning the alleged shooting and killing. But the report I had before me concerning the incident is that the deceased was among those who had been looting and vandalising all the properties inside the estate.

“Apart from that community being an unknown gunmen-infested area, they said the deceased was caught with his gang members armed with pump action guns looting and vandalising the estate and when confronted, they opened fire on the security guards and the guards returned fire for the fire which led to his being gunned down.

“We doubt if the petitioner is actually the biological father of the deceased because he only came to the police station on August 23 to report the killing of his ‘son’ which took place on August 17.”

The DPO further said he had concluded arrangements to transfer the case file to the State Criminal Investigation Department, CID Annex, Awkuzu, for further investigation.

You have no business sacking Benue LG executives, APC warns caretaker committee 

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You have no business sacking Benue LG executives, APC warns caretaker committee 

The ruling All Progressives Congress has read the riot acts to the new caretaker committee set up to take over the affairs of Benue APC, warning that its mandate does not include the dissolution of local government and ward executives.

The warning was issued at a meeting of the APC National Working Committee and the seven-man committee at the party secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.

The newly installed committee, which has Benjamin Omale and Prof Bem Angwe as the chairman and secretary respectively, was saddled with the task of running the party administration at the state level for six months after the dissolution of the Austin Agada-led executives last Wednesday.

Other members include Richard Mzungweve, James Ornguga, Terhemen Ngbea, Helen Agaigbe, and Ali Francis Adah.

Addressing newsmen after their meeting, the Deputy National Women Leader, Hajia Zainab Ibrahim said the need to read the riot acts became necessary following unconfirmed reports that the new committee has started calling dissolution of party structure at the local government and ward levels.

She said, “This evening, the National Working Committee of our great party met with the newly formed caretaker committee to administer the affairs of APC in Benue State for six months. This call was a result of complaints from Benue that the committee had dissolved some local government party executives. This made the NWC summon the seven-man caretaker committee to read to them their ‘Terms of Reference.’

“Their terms of reference as stated by the APC is to administer the party in Benue State for six months and also to conduct the election for the forthcoming local government elections. It is also part of their mandate to constitute the logistics that will conduct the elections from the LG to the ward level. And this has been clearly stated to them.

“They have no business, of course, dissolving any executives. Their terms of reference have been clearly stated and they have been asked not to go beyond their terms of reference.”

Adebayo Folorunsho-Francis

The According journalist, Adebayo, has over 20 years of experience covering politics, health, metro, entertainment and properties

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A’Ibom kidnap kingpin killed, G3 rifle recovered

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A’Ibom kidnap kingpin killed, G3 rifle recovered

Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have neutralised a notorious  Kidnap kingpin, and gang leader of the Bling Bling Marine Strike Force, one Ubong Effiong Archibong, alias Condiment.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement in Uyo, the state capital, titled, “Notorious kidnap kingpin/sea pirate meets Waterloo,” on Thursday.

She stated that the suspect was killed in a gun battle with operatives of the command in his hideout at the Uyanga Community of Cross River State and a G3 rifle with ammunition recovered from him.

According to the statement, the suspect was responsible for the kidnap of a High Court Judge, Joy Unwana and the killing of her police orderly, Inspector ThankGod Edet, in 2023.

Other kidnap cases linked to the slain suspect, the statement claimed, included the gruesome murder of the CEO Emem and Sons Nig. Ltd and the kidnapping of his sales representative and pharmacist, Joemel

The statement reads, “The Akwa Ibom State Police Command on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, has neutralised a dreaded kidnap kingpin/ sea pirate whose stock in trade was to kidnap, kill, maim and wreak havoc in society.

“The kingpin, Ubong Effiong Archibong, (M), alias Condiment, a gang leader of the Bling Bling Marine Strike Force terrorising the Uruan/Oron Waterways were responsible for the kidnapping of a High Court Judge, Joy Unwana and the killing of her police orderly, Inspector ThankGod Edet, the gruesome murder of the CEO Emem and Sons Nig. Ltd and kidnapping of his sales rep.

“The suspect was also responsible for the kidnap of Pharmacist Joemel as well as also responsible for the kidnap of Mr. Brown, CEO Mingles Hotel.

She said the suspect was neutralised during a gun battle with operatives of the command in his hideout at Uyanga Community in Cross River State.

“One G3 rifle with four live ammunition was recovered from the suspect. The corpse of the suspect was recovered and deposited at the morgue. Investigations with full intent to arrest other members of the gang are ongoing.”

INEC rules out PVC collection by proxy

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INEC rules out PVC collection by proxy

The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Tuesday, said the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards to new applicants across Edo State local government areas will commence today.

The commission, while urging the applicants to come for their cards, noted that it would not release them to third parties.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, in a statement, said the distribution at the ward level had been concluded with 125,928 PVCs collected within five days.

He said the figure represented 68.3 per cent of the 184,438 new cards issued during the recent Continuous Voter Registration exercise, marking the highest collection rate recorded by INEC since the introduction of CVR ahead of off-cycle governorship elections in 2015.

Olumekun said that the collection, which took place across all 192 wards in Edo State between August 22 and 26, was achieved through a carefully coordinated effort by INEC.

The commission credited the success to its strategic packaging of PVCs by polling units, wards, and LGAs, along with direct communication to voters about the availability of their cards.

“As earlier announced by the commission, Permanent Voter Cards from the recent Continuous Voter Registration in Edo State would be available for collection at two levels. First, across all the 192 wards from Thursday, 22, to Monday, 26, August 2024. Secondly, in our 18 LGA offices.

“The commission is pleased to announce the conclusion of the collection at ward level. Learning from the lessons of the previous collection of PVCs, the commission has carefully packaged all the PVCs by Poling Units, Wards and LGAs. We also produced the collection register, providing details of the voters whose cards were ready for collection, and uploaded them to our website.

“In addition, we contacted them using the addresses provided at the time of registration. As a result, out of the 184,438 new PVCs available, 125,928 cards were collected by voters, representing 68.3 per cent of the total. This is the highest percentage of PVCs collected in five days since the commission introduced the CVR ahead of off-cycle governorship elections in 2015.

“A detailed breakdown of the collection by LGAs has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information,” the statement read in part.

INEC announced that the collection process will now move to its 18 Local Government Area offices in Edo State, where voters can pick up their PVCs from 28 August to 8 September 2024.

The commission stated that PVCs must be collected in person, as no cards will be issued by proxy.

INEC has made detailed information about the locations of its LGA offices available on its website, encouraging voters who have not yet collected their PVCs to do so as soon as possible.

Olumekun stated, “Meanwhile, the collection will resume in our 18 LGA offices in Edo State from tomorrow, Wednesday, 28th August 2024 and end on Sunday 8th September 2024.

“We appeal to the remaining voters to pick up their PVCs in person from our LGA offices. The commission reiterates its policy that no cards will be collected by proxy. Detailed information on the locations of our LGA offices is already available on our website.”

Fake forex trader arraigned for fraud

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Fake forex trader arraigned for fraud

A 39-year-old man, Bassey Ikpi, accused of posing as a forex trader, was arraigned on Thursday before the Lagos State Chief Magistrate Court in Ebute-Metta for allegedly defrauding several individuals and companies of large sums in multiple currencies.

The defendant, who is facing four counts bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, fraud, and breach of public peace, preferred against him by the police.

Ikpi allegedly obtained N1,066,311,503, $355,000, and €13,000 under fraudulent circumstances, from his victims.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Cyriacus Osuji, told the court that Ikpi, along with his accomplices still at large, committed the alleged offences.

“The defendant, in conspiracy with others, fraudulently obtained these large sums under the pretence of forex trading,” Osuji stated.

He also told the court that these offences took place on October 18, 2023, at Ikeja, Lagos.

Ikpi was specifically accused of defrauding one Mrs. Caroline Kamaya of N25m and another victim, Mrs. Tope Augustine, of N36m.

He allegedly swindled Mrs. Henrietta Achiekwelu out of N200m, $75,000, and €13,000.

Osuji further told the court that Ikpi obtained N82,211,503 from NKG Energy Services, N683,100,000 from Sacvin Nigeria, and $280,000 from Neco Trading Services Limited and Mr. Arinze Anyaeche.

The defendant was also accused of duping Mrs. Stella Mohammed of N21m and Mr. Tokunbo Adebiyi of N19m, all under the false pretence of forex trading.

Osuji said that the defendant conducted himself in a tumultuous manner, an act capable of breaching community peace and order.

The offences are said to contravene Sections 411, 314, 380 (1), and 168 (1)(d)(f) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.

Ikpi, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate Mrs Abimbola Davies granted the defendant bail in N2m, with two sureties in like sum.

She ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed, present evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government, and have their residential addresses verified.

The case has been adjourned to September 10, 2024, for further mention.

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