UWAJUMOGU MAKES HISTORY, SWORN IN AS FIRST SOUTH EAST APC SENATOR

History was made a short while ago in the faraway Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, after the former Imo Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu, was officially sworn in as a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Performing the swearing in ceremony at the hallowed red chambers of the National Assembly, the Clerk of the Senate, Mr Nelson Ayero, charged the new Senator to always be guided in the discharge of his duties  in line with the rules of the Senate and in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of the country.

Responding, Senator Uwajumogu, who described the event as historic, not only to the people of Okigwe zone and Imo state in particular, but to the people of the South east zone in general, added that it was a new dawn for the people of the area.

He pledged to use his new mandate as a Senator of the federal republic of Nigeria to uphold the principles and tenets of the country's constitution in doing good to all manner of persons, irrespective of their tribe and religion.

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Senator Uwajumogu, who paid glowing tributes to the good people of Okigwe senatorial zone for their painstaking effort in enthroning a new political order in the zone, assured that his representation would spark up even development at every nook and cranny of the zone.

With his formal inauguration as a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after last Thursday's postponement, Uwajumogu now becomes the only APC senator of Igbo extraction in the current dispensation.

SECURITY IN IMO STATE IS NON NEGOTIABLE...DEPUTY GOVERNOR, IMO STATE

......Security in Imo State is non negotiable

His Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Imo State , Prince Eze Madumere, MFR has demostrated that the issue of security is paramount in the Owelle Rochas Okorocha led Government of Rescue Mission. The Deputy Governor who is being described by his boss, the Governor as a headache free Deputy Governor has championed operations aimed at getting  rid of criminals from the State and reducing the level of insecurity in the State to bearest minimum. He has led operations without minding the risk involved towards stamping out kidnaping a d other youth based violent crimes.

Recently, he had a strategic security meeting with the Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Idris at the Force Headquarters, Abuja with the Force Secretary and other DIGs in atrendance.

It is no news that since the inception of Rescue Mission Government, our leader and Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha declared war against criminals and kidnapping. Truly with the establishment then, it sounded like mere Political rhetoric but today, we can all testify the feat in security of life and property. We can testify as well that Kidnapping is at its lowest ebb.

We can all recall when Imo people were going to bed before 6 pm for fear of the unknown but that is history

Governor Okorocha, his Deputy Madumere and Rescue Mission Government must be given some credit. This is the first charge of any government and I am sure nobody can speak in a discordant tune as to the achievement of this Government.

Uche Onwuchekwe
CPS to DGOV

EDO POLLS: INEC RAISES ALARM OVER REGISTRATION OF 8,000 MILLITANTS

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that it will investigate the alleged registration of 8,000 militants by the Peoples Democratic Party for the Edo State governorship election.

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, had complained that the PDP registered the alleged number of militants with the aim of using them to cause mayhem during the postponed election.

Oshiomhole, a member of the All Progressives Congress, alleged that the militants were recruited from neighbouring states of Delta and Rivers.
The two states had denied the allegation.

Speaking on the allegation, the commission said that its attention had yet to be drawn to the issue, but said that it was ready to investigate it before the election.
The commission’s Deputy Director in charge of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Nick Dazang, disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Sunday.

He said though the commission was not aware of the alleged registration, he nevertheless stated that there was no way the commission would close its ears to such an allegation which he described as grievous.

Dazang said, “The commission is not aware of the allegation that  over 8,000 militants were registered as voters for the governorship election in Edo State.  This allegation is grievous, but we have not been officially informed.
“We will not close our eyes or ears to such a serious allegation. As soon as it is officially brought to our notice, the commission will swing into action by investigating it.

“We will do everything within our powers and within the law to have a credible election in the state. So, we are waiting to be briefed on the matter.”
The PDP has warned that the alleged registration of militants should not be used to alter the voter register in the state.

It also described the allegation as wild and totally unreasonable, adding that it was a falsehood being peddled by a man who it described as losing the support of the people.

The spokesperson for the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, who stated this on Sunday, wondered how the militants could have been registered without the knowledge of the commission that carried out the exercise.

Adeyeye said, “It is good, if the commission can investigate it. At least, Governor  Oshiomhole will be able to tell Nigerians where and when the PDP registered the so-called militants.

“Were they registered by INEC?  If not, which organisation registered them? Were they registered as voters or as observers?  For  what purpose?  And when did Oshiomhole suddenly discovered the registration of the alleged militants?”

DR IFEANYI UBAH BRAGS: I’m richer than some state governors

Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah

The Chairman of Capital Oil and Gas, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, has said his desire to govern Anambra State is not to make money.
He said he was richer by every standard than some state governors.
Ubah said his ambition to govern his state was borne out of his conviction that he could better the lots of the people.

He said, “I am blessed in every ramification. If not for the love I have for Anambra, I should not have any reason to aspire to be governor, because there is nothing a governor enjoys that I do not enjoy.

“I had the best manifesto to change the fortunes of Anambra people when I aspired in 2013 to be a governor, but I had to let go because it must not be me.”

He said he had no plans to vie for the position of the governor in the state next.
He gave conditions under which he would support the re-election of the incumbent governor of the state, Chief Willie Obiano, which he said would include appointing him (Ubah) Obiano’s campaign director.
Ubah spoke with journalists in an interactive session to mark his 45th birthday at his Nnewi home.

 He said, “So far, the governor is doing well, and I will support him, but we must think beyond our selfish interests. We must reject a situation where one man finishes his tenure and takes his stooge and puts him as governor.”

VIOLENCE: DEAN'S SON ABDUCTED IN UNICAL

Armed gunmen, suspected to be militants, on Thursday invaded the staff quarters of the University of Calabar, Cross River State and abducted the  a first-year student in the Department of Banking and Finance, Onyebuchi Okwueze.

Onyebuchi is the son of the Dean of Graduate School, Prof. Emeka Okwueze.
After abducting Onyebuchi, the gunmen had while escaping, inflicted injuries on a lecturer in the Department of Physics, Dr Anthony George and his wife who were driving in and got caught up in the attack.

The gunmen were said to have gained entry to the staff quarters through the porous boundary with the creeks of Calabar estuaries.

Earlier in May 2016, gunmen suspected to be militants had through the same route stormed the quarters and abducted the wife of a lecturer, Mrs. Nancy Ndifon alongside her daughter, Oyebah. The same gang also abducted a medical doctor, David Iniama, in the same premises.

Southern City News learnt on Friday that the gunmen had stormed the premises of the dean who was unavailable at the time of the attack, broke into his house and made away with his Plasma television and his 24-year-old son who was the only one at home.

After abducting Onyebuchi, the anonymous source said that the gunmen had on their way out at about 8.15pm shot Dr. Anthony George on his right hand, while his wife sustained bullet injuries on the left knee.
It was learnt that both are however responding to treatment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

She said, “Though they made unsuccessful attempts to gain entrance into the stretch of houses accommodating staff within the wing of buildings, the gunmen however smashed the mirror and front tyre of a Mercedes Benz vehicle belonging to a professor in the College of Medical Sciences, Prof. Chucks Ejezie.
“You will recall that in the month of May this year, kidnappers invaded the same wing of buildings and took away with them the son of a Deputy Registrar, Mr. Ekpenyong Iniama and the wife and daughter of Prof Wilfred Ndifon of the College of Medical Sciences, both were later released.”

In his reaction, the Vice-Chancellor of UNICAL, Prof Zana Akpagu, who visited the homes of the affected staff, promised to do all within the purview of his office to ensure the release of those kidnapped and also fish out the kidnappers.
He also pledged to work with the relevant security agencies to ensure continued safety of lives and property on campus.

In the bid to checkmate future occurrence of the event, the Deputy Chief Security Officer of UNICAL, Mr. Jarlath Abang, in a statement of Friday disclosed that several security measures had been put in place by the management of the institution in conjunction with the Cross River State Government to ensure safety of lives.

“The measures covered and implemented in the joint initiative include among others , demolition of all shanties at the waterfront by the Cross River State Government,  prohibition of fishing and farming at the water front, displacement of illegal occupants and constant patrol of the quarters both by security operatives on foot and vehicles,” he said.

The Deputy Chief Security Officer attributed the delay in the distress call as a major reason for the kidnappers’ tentative gain.

MILLITARY DEMOTION: From Major Gen. to Brigadier -General

A Special Court Martial has demoted Maj.-Gen. Patrick Falola, to Brigadier-General for admitting students for clinical training without permission from higher authorities

Falola, Director, 68 Military Reference Hospital, Yaba, Lagos State, was arraigned on a two-count charge before a court martial presided over by AVM James Gbum.

Faloola admitted international students from Espan Formation University, Cotonou, in Benin Republic between July and September, 2016.

Gbum, the President of the court martial, held that Falola’s conduct amount to fraudulent use of property of the armed forces.

He discharged and acquitted him on charges of conduct to prejudice the service but convicted him on fraudulent misapplication of the hospital’s property.

“This court is compelled to award a higher punishment under sections 103 and 66 of the Armed Forces Act Cap A 20 laws of the Federation 2004.

“The court has taken into consideration the service record of the convicted senior officer, the touching plea in mitigation by the defence council as well as the demeanor of the convicted officer

“But we have also taken into consideration the senior officer’s seniority, rank, experience and the regimental tradition of the armed forces.

“This court has discharged and acquitted the convicted officer on the first charge, on the second offence, the sentence is reduction in rank to Brigadier General.”

Gbum said that the filing and sentences were subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Army Council which was the confirming authority.

He, however, said that the convicted officer would maintain his rank until the council concludes the confirmation process.

The prosecuting counsel, Lt.-Col. Ukpe Ukpe, told newsmen that the convicted was arraigned for using the Nigeria army property to train students from neighboring Benin Republic without following the necessary procedure.

Ukpe said the judgment was a balanced one as the court was very liberal in metting out punishment.

“If you check Section 115 of the Alarmed Forces Act, the offence falls under Section 68, punishment that could be metted out included dismissal,imprisonment or even death but the court went down to reduction in rank which is balanced enough.”

The defence council, retired Wing Cdr. Enokela Onyilo-Uloko, said the conviction had no legal backing and was an attempt to tarnish the clean record of his client.

Onyilo-Uloko said this was because there was no law stating that senior officers must take permission from the higher authority before allowing such training.

He said his cleint only did what his predecessors also did, which was no crime, adding that his client would appeal.

“No such law was tendered in evidence but they are saying he should use his initiative when there is no law finalising an act it does not amounted to criminal offence that my cleint is being tried for.

“So, the conviction is based on nothing and cannot stand the light of day in the eye of the law.

“And when we go higher to the Court of Appeal, I assure you, this conviction will be thrown out,” he opined.

Reactions trails Oyakhilome's Sermon on Marriage...

The General Overseer of Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, has come under strong criticism from Nigerians on social media over his religious views on gender equality.

A Facebook post on the official page of the church’s online ministry, last Sunday, cited an excerpt of the clergyman’s message titled ‘Who is a husband and what is his role?’, in which husbands were defined as “masters” as opposed to “male partners.”

Oyakhilome’s ex-wife, Anita, had on February 8, finalised her divorce from the pastor and dropped his last name for “Obhodaghe.”

Her lawyers confirmed the divorce earlier this year, following months of speculation that there was trouble in their marriage.

Anita, who had cited irreconcilable differences while filing for divorce, also severed ties with the church.

But Oyakhilome, in his message on Facebook, said the reason for most problems in Christian marriages was a refusal of God’s definition of marriage by women.

He said, “They believe they are equal partners. (But) ‘husband’ does not mean the male partner in a marriage, husband means master.

“The Bible says the man is the head of the woman (1 Corinthians 11:3) so when you marry him, you come under his authority. You are not authority sharers, even though you are both heirs to the kingdom of God.”

According to the pastor, when one decides not to subject oneself to that authority, one becomes a rebel.

“God is not going to accept what you are doing because you are not functioning correctly. Why did God make the woman? If most women had fathers bold enough to talk to them, they would be very successful in their marriage and they would be very happy people.

“Most women have never been taught by their parents, their fathers particularly and that’s their biggest problem because they don’t know who a man is. They think he is another woman,” he said.

The message went viral on many platforms.

Oyakhilome’s stance received backlash from some Nigerians, who expressed their disagreement in the comments section of the post.

Blessing Meteke said, “Unfortunately, this is the type of preaching that millions of Nigerians listen to. ‘Making a woman was not God’s original plan. When a husband is angry, the wife is the victim.’

“This is what men adhere to and they make their wives and daughters-in-law slaves in their own homes. Misogyny has eaten deep into several Nigerians and they use the Bible as a cover-up. This is not only disheartening but exasperating.”

Babalola Olusegun added, “Can the pastor explain Genesis 1:27, because looking at the passage, God put women in His plan even before creating them. The man should remember that the woman is removed from his ribs, which means the man is not complete without the woman.”

Jane Onyejiaka also said, “Some points in this sermon are flawed, with all due respect. I will never teach my sons that a woman is an afterthought. God doesn’t do things for doing sake. Anyway, he is a pastor, not God. I always sieve what I read and I take the good and leave the rest.”

Similarly, Ekaette Essien said, “I didn’t see any advice for men here. Making a successful home should not be a one-sided thing. It should not rest on the shoulder of only the women. A man who loves his wife will surely earn respect from such a wife.

“If you are a boss-type husband, surely rebellion awaits you. Let’s be real, please. Even God who created us does not act like a boss to us. He loves us; that’s why His children have to obey and respect Him.”

DAME PATIENCE JONATHAN : Houseboy, driver’s names used to open $15m accounts

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested four domestic servants, including a driver and a houseboy, whose names were used to open bank accounts for Mrs Dame Patience Jonathan, the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Sources within the anti-graft agency said on Sunday that the companies’ accounts were opened at Skye Bank.

The companies are Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited, Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited and Globus Integrated Service Limited.

The four companies’ accounts, which have since been frozen by the EFCC, have a balance of about $15m while another account, which bears Patience Jonathan’s name, has $5m.

Mr. Sammie Somiari, who deposed to an affidavit on behalf of the ex-President’s wife, said the former First Lady was the owner of the money in the accounts.

She had revealed that she gave millions of dollars to the then Special Adviser to the President on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa, to open accounts for her.

Somiari, however, claimed that Dudafa opened five accounts for Patience and that only one of the accounts was in her name, while the other four were opened in the names of companies belonging to Dudafa.

A detective at the EFCC, however, revealed that Dudafa used his domestic servants’ names to open the four other accounts and then deposited the money into the accounts.

The operative added, “We were investigating Dudafa when we stumbled on those four companies’ domiciliary accounts opened at Skye Bank with a balance of about $15m. On further investigation, we were able to identify the directors of the companies.

“When we detained the directors, we found out that they were Dudafa’s domestic servants. One of them was a houseboy while another one was a driver. Their photographs were used in opening the accounts and their signatures were forged.

“We found out that these domestic servants were completely innocent because they had no access to the accounts. We have since released them. The sole signatory to the accounts was Patience Jonathan and she was issued with a special card, which is accepted worldwide. She has a separate account, which was opened in her name and has a balance of $5m.”

The detective said a lawyer, Amajuoyi Briggs, who allegedly helped Dudafa to perpetrate the fraud, would also be arraigned.

It was learnt that two Skye Bank executives, Demola Bolodeoku and Dipo Oshodi, who helped Dudafa to open the accounts on March 22, 2010, were also being investigated.

The detective added, “This is a clear case of fraud and there is no way the bank officials will say they did not know what was going on. They are under investigation and those found culpable will be arraigned.”

The EFCC operative said he could not immediately confirm if the transaction was reported to the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit.

He explained that the commission had discovered a trend which politicians used in laundering and concealing funds, saying it was becoming more rampant due to the operation of the Bank Verification Number which links all accounts owned by an individual.

He added, “What we have noticed is that in order to conceal funds, what politicians and top civil servants do is to open bank accounts in the name of family or friends and then make themselves the sole signatory to the account.

“Don’t forget that we traced about 17 bank accounts to the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.).

“Often times, they do this in connivance with bank officials and that is why the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has said henceforth, whenever we are investigating a bank official, we will probe the entire bank as well because these officials usually act under the instruction of their superiors.”

Jonathan’s wife has, however, sued Skye Bank for freezing her bank accounts and giving the EFCC vital information about her finances.

She also wants the court to order Skye Bank to pay her damages in the sum of N200m for what she termed a violation of her right to own personal properties under Section 44 of the 1999 Constitution.

ENUGU STATE HERSDMEN ATTACK: ANOTHER TRAGEDY LOOMS

A herdsman on Friday sustained bullet wounds in an attack on a Fulani cattle rearers’ settlement in Aku, a community in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Our correspondent learnt that three other herdsmen are missing in the wake of the attack, which was reportedly carried out by youths of Aku community.

It was gathered that the relationship between members of the community and the herdsmen had been tense for a long time due to misgivings on the part of the villagers over the destruction of their crops by cows.

It was also learnt that the herdsmen, who are usually armed, have been harassing the villagers.

A 17-year-old herdsman, identified as Wareri, sustained three gunshot wounds during the attack.

Three other herdsmen, said to be Wareri’s siblings, are said to be missing.

Wareri’s father, one Alhaji Sodu, also a herdsman, identified his missing children as Musa, Baba and Muhammed.

Sodu said about 100 cows in his herd were scattered in different directions during the attack, and are currently missing.

Meanwhile, chairman of a security committee set up by the Enugu State Government to address herdsmen menace in the state, Brigadier General Fred Eze (rtd.), also on Friday visited the injured herdsman at a hospital in the 9th Mile Corner, where he is receiving treatment.

The victim’s father, Alhaji Sodu, who was at the hospital during the visit, appealed to security agencies to rescue his sons.

“I am too old now to go into the forest in search of my three sons, I am appealing to security agencies to rescue my sons unharmed.

“The youths have slaughtered seven of my cows.

“Over 100 cows are missing now,” he said.

Speaking during the visit, Eze urged restive youths in various parts of the state, who are furious over the activities of the herdsmen, to avoid reprisal attacks.

He said security was beefed up in the affected area to forestall further violence.

“We want to allay fears generated by this incident, the army has moved to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

“The Garrison Commander, O.T Akinjobi, has dispatched a search party for the missing kids.

“Another combined team of police and the army have equally moved into the area to avert any breakdown of public peace,” he said.

Eze added that the incident is being investigated.

He said, “This incident is already under investigation and authorities will unravel the remote causes of the incident and ensure that appropriate actions are taken.”

Civil disturbances involving herdsmen have been on the rise in Enugu State, where cattle rearers have makeshift settlements in several communities.

Over 20 persons died when herdsmen invaded Ukpabi Nimbo, an Enugu community, on April 25.

A Catholic seminarian and a housewife died in a herdsmen attack on Attakwu, another community in the state, on August 25.