PDP’s lamentations of frustration over Amaechi

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State chapter, has dismissed a statement by the State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of shielding former Governor of the State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, from corruption probe, as “gibberish” and “a pen picture of an unstable state of mind of the writer, his boss and political party”.

In a statement made available to Enigma Reports and signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, the APC said the “press release by the Rivers State PDP Chairman signed by his media assistant, Jerry Needam, titled “Stop Shielding, Emboldening Amaechi, Match Words with Action”, tells of “a group of persons who are operating within the horribly pathetic world of full-blown lunacy”.

The party dismissed the allegations against the former Governor of “looting of public facilities, siphoning of Rivers State funds, fraudulent sales of State-owned establishments and monumental financial frauds committed by Rotimi Amaechi and his administration in Rivers State, and for which a Judicial Commission of Inquiry has been duly set up by the present administration to investigate” as false.  

Insisting that the former governor was not “corrupt by any means,” the APC wondered if the “afore-mentioned assertions by the PDP could have come from sane and stable minds?”, asking whether people are adjudged guilty as soon as judicial commissions of inquiry are set up. “Is the so-called Commission unable to reach Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi? In any case, why has Governor Nyesom Wike suddenly developed cold feet and feeling deflated over his vendetta Commission?”

Noting, however, that “those behind this press release deserve empathy more than they deserve to be condemned because they appear to be at the highest state of frustration, the type capable of resulting to serious health mishaps,” maintaining that “the manic obsession with Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi by Jerry Needam and his sponsors is a clear testimony of a deliberate plot to tarnish Amaechi’s image.

It reiterated that “no amount of tar poured on Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi by Jerry Needam and his sponsors and the ongoing blackmail on President Muhammadu Buhari will stir up ill feelings between the President and former Governor Amaechi. As many times as they try shall they fail”.

RIVERS DEP GOV TASKS NOA ON VALUE RE-ORIENTATION, URGES RESUSCITATION OF SCHOOL FARMS

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, during the week charged the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to step up sensitization campaign on the dangers of cult-related vices among youths in the State.

Dr. Harry-Banigo, who gave this when the State Director of NOA, Mr. Oliver Wolugbom, paid her a courtesy call in Government House, Port Harcourt, expressed concern over the destructive influence of cultism and homosexuality among youths, attributing it to wrong orientation from peer groups, mentors and some parents.

She noted that Rivers youths must be repositioned to harness their full potentials and the enormous natural opportunities in the state, adding that with the right information and attitudinal change, the future of our youths would be secured, reiterating the readiness of the current administration in the State to partner with relevant agencies restore our value system which is the foundation for peace and progress.

The State Director of NOA, Mr. Oliver Wolugbom, described Dr. Banigo as a seasoned administrator, soliciting for synergy between NOA and the State Government, noting that the agency aims to educate, mobilize and inform the public on government policies and programmes,  appealing for the government’s support in the areas of funding and other logistics. 

Meanwhile, the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, has enjoined school authorities in the state to revive the school farm system as part of their academic curriculum, while regretting the decline in agricultural activities in both primary and secondary schools.

Dr Harry-Banigo, during a Thanksgiving/End of Session programme at Government Girls Secondary School, Oromineke, Port Harcourt, stressed that agriculture remains a cardinal objective of the New Rivers Vision towards achieving food security and job creation, pointing out that the Wike-led administration considers education as key to all round development and will, therefore increase its investment in the educational sector in order to discover the potentials of the youths.

The Deputy Governor urged the students to concentrate in their academic pursuit which she said would determine what they become in future, noting that “nothing good comes easy, but with persistence, perseverance and focus, you can achieve greatness. Innovation is the key to the future, and as future leaders, you can begin to put in use all the skill you acquired from your teachers,” warning them against social vices.  

On her part, the Principal of the school, Dr. Augusta Fubara, commended the state government for its encouragement and commitment in the educational sector, congratulating Dr Banigo as first female Deputy Governor of the State, commending her for not only demonstrating strength of character by encouraging the women folk, but for also showing that women can be whatever they want to be through dint of hard work, focus, diligence and the fear of God.

Inspection: Peterside wants election materials moved to Abuja

The All Progressives Congress and its governorship candidate in the April 11, 2015 election, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, have asked the state Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, to order the Independent National Electoral Commission to move the materials used for the election from Port Harcourt, the state capital, to Abuja, for inspection.

APC and Peterside made this request in an application, which they filed following an alleged continued refusal by INEC to obey the order for inspection made by the tribunal on June 11, 2015.

Peterside and the APC had on May 3, 2015, filed their petition before the tribunal to challenge the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Nyesom Wike, in the poll.

The petitioners had earlier complained to the Justice Muazu Pindiga-led tribunal that INEC was working with the PDP and Wike to frustrate the inspection of the election materials.

Following the petitioners’ complaint, the tribunal on July 9 re-affirmed the order of inspection, directing INEC to comply with it.

At the Wednesday’s proceedings, the petitioners’ lawyer, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), informed the court that INEC had refused to yield to the tribunal’s order for inspection.

“Your lordship made an order on June 11 for inspection of election materials. The order was restated on July 9. That order has not been obeyed by INEC,” Olujinmi said.

He confirmed after the proceedings that he had filed an application seeking an order, compelling INEC to move the election materials to Abuja for inspection since “they have made inspection impossible in Rivers State”.

Earlier, Olujinmi urged the tribunal to disregard the arguments canvassed by the respondents, challenging among others, competence of his clients’ petition and proceed to hear the case on merit.

The respondents argued through their respective lawyers – Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) for the PDP,  Emmanuel Ukala (SAN) for Wike and  Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) for INEC.

Olujinmi argued that the respondents were only raising technical issues rather than allow the petitioners present their case.

Olanipekun, while arguing his client’s motion challenging, among others, the competence of the petition, urged the court to strike out some portions of it, including part of the petitioners’ prayers on the ground that they did not comply with the provision of the Electoral Act.

Wike is challenging Peterside’s qualification to contest the election, arguing that his (Peterside’s) name was not sent to INEC within 21 days before his party’s congress as required, a claim Olujinmi denied, insisting that his clients complied with all relevant laws in fielding Peterside for the election.

INEC, in its application, is challenging the territorial jurisdiction of the tribunal to sit in Abuja, a position Olujinmi faulted, insisting that the tribunal possessed the jurisdiction to hear and determine his clients’ petition.

The tribunal, which rose shortly after 6pm, fixed July 29 for ruling on the applications by INEC and Wike.

It also fixed ruling for July 31 in the application by the PDP.

Tension heightens in Bonny as cult groups engage each other in a shootout

Two cult groups, Icelanders and Greenlanders, engaged each other last night in a shootout in Bonny Island, headquarters of Bonny local government area of Rivers State as residents scampered for safety to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

Eye witness accounts have it that trouble started when the Icelanders allegedly murdered one Akienyanagha Green, also known as Akieofori or Talent Green, who is reported to be the leader of the Greenlanders while he was attending a funeral wake-keep at Akiama village in Bonny.

Irked by the incident, the Greenlanders went for revenge, killing one Iminabo Halliday and another unidentified member of the Icelanders. This set off the already fragile situation resulting in the shootout last night.

The shooting, which sources claim occurred around Oguede, New Road and other areas of the town, lasted for about an hour before being contained by the security agencies. Unconfirmed sources say seven people lost their lives in the incident.

A curfew has been imposed on the island. In the meantime, palpable tension hangs over the area as residents are generally cautious.

Gay marriage: Buhari rejects Obama’s proposal - Adesina

President Muhammadu Buhari has outrightly rejected the gay marriage offer by the United States of America, stating that sodomy is against the law of Nigeria and strange to our culture.

This was disclosed by the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina who said that the issue of gay marriage was discussed during Buhari’s meeting with his USA counterpart, Barrack Obama but its implementation in Nigeria was rejected by the President.

“The issue of gay marriage came up here yesterday. PMB was point blank. Sodomy is against the law in Nigeria, and abhorrent to our culture,” he posted on his Twitter handle.

Before Buhari left the shores of the country, Nigerians, especially religious leaders and civil society organisations had warned him not to import gay marriage into the country.

Earlier, the US had said it will pressurize Nigeria into accepting and implementing the gay rights bill.

Buhari is expected to round-up his four-day visit to the God’s Own country any moment from now.

Our members are being treated as prisoners of war – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of treating its members as “prisoners of war”.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh, stated this while addressing party stakeholders in Lokoja, Kogi State shortly before the commencement of the re-scheduled ward congress of the party in the state yesterday, said the party was also working hard to win the Kogi and Bayelsa governorship polls scheduled for November and December, respectively.

According to him, the PDP is not afraid of intimidation, harassment and arrest of its members by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government but insists the arrest is done within the confines of the law.

He reiterated the party’s unwavering stand against corruption, lamenting, however, the alleged witch hunt of its members under the pretext of a probe, while condemning the uncivilised method of arrests, intimidation and the abuse of the fundamental human rights of members of the party, who served in the last administration”.

End of tenure: Zakari’s appointment as acting Chairman overrides tenure - INEC

Though her tenure as a National Commissioner at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ended on Tuesday, Mrs. Amina Zakari, will remain in office because of her recent appointment as the acting Chairman of the commission, INEC has said.

Zakari is among the National Commissioners whose tenure effectively ended on Tuesday but she nonetheless reported at her duty post as usual showing no signs to pulling out of the top job.

Justifying her continued stay in office, INEC’s Deputy Director of Publicity, Nick Dazang, explained that the letter appointing her as an acting Chairman by President Muhammadu Buhari last month supersedes her exit date as a National Commissioner, adding that she would continue to oversee the affairs of the commission pending the appointment of a substantive Chairman.

Lamorde must go protesters block EFCC office

Over 20 Civil Society Organisations on Tuesday barricaded the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja, calling for the sacking of its chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde.

The CSOs, under the aegis of the Coalition of Civil Liberties and Equity, led by Stanley Onukwufor, besieged the Abuja office of EFCC, alleging that the commission had been compromised by a powerful cabal made up of politicians, advising that President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to successfully tackle corruption in Nigeria can only succeed with Lamorde out of the way.

Some of the placards carried by the protesters read: “Sack Lamorde now,” “Cabals have hijacked EFCC,” “Buhari merge EFCC, ICPC now,” Lamorde has been compromised”, among others.

But spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, described the protesters as a group which wanted to mislead Nigerians and distract the agency, urging Nigerians to ignore them, pointing out that they are “misguided elements out to assault our collective sensibilities with a choreographed protest paid for by corrupt persons being prosecuted by the EFCC,” calling on their sponsors to “go and face their trial in court.”

Fire on the mountain: Buhari to jail corrupt politicians even if in APC

There is fire on the mountain for corrupt politicians no matter where they are found as President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday told CNN’s Christine Amanpour that his government will not spare any member of the All Progressives Congress as well as associates found culpable of corruption.

The President, who is currently on a four-day visit to the United States President, Barack Obama, said this during an interview with the CNN anchor, Christiane Amanpour.

“If any of my associates or party member is indicted of corruption, they cannot escape justice. There is not going to be any APC member or any close personality found guilty that would escape justice,” he said.

SPECIFIC TIMELINES, TEAM WORK, COMMITMENT, CRITICAL TO CURBING INSURGENCY – NEW SERVICE CHIEFS

Nigeria’s new service chiefs have vowed to consign the Boko Haram insurgency into the dustbin of history within shortest time. This they said as they took over the command of their various services.    

Speaking shortly after taking over at the Defence House, Abuja, from his predecessor, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, as the new Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Abayomi Olonisakin unveiled an agenda aimed at bringing to an end the lingering onslaught being unleashed on the nation by the Boko Haram sect.

According to him, specific timelines would be set by the forces to be able cripple insurgency and give the nation a new lease of life, describing insurgency as one of the greatest challenges facing the nation, the new CDS vowed that no effort would be spared in confronting the monster and putting it into the dustbin of history.

He also stressed that beyond the raging insurgency in the Northeast, the spate of armed banditry, militancy, kidnapping and other vices that threaten Nigeria’s security and impinge negatively on the economy of the nation would be frontally addressed.

To defeat the enemy and put the nation at rest, the CDS revealed that Defence Headquarters would henceforth provide the needed leadership, direction and coordination of the military efforts.

Same ceremony took place at the Army Headquarters where outgoing Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Kenneth Minimah, handed over the command to his successor, Major General Tanko Buratai. At the Naval Headquarters, former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Jibrin Usman, handed over to his successor, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, while Air Marshall Adesola Amosu handed over to Air Vice Marshal Sadiq Abubakar as Chief of Air Staff.

 

Insecurity: Assassins return full swing to PH, kill Rivers PDP chieftain

The state of insecurity that is speedily enveloping Rivers State is fast assuming freezing heights as the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State became the latest victim losing one its chieftains to assassins’ bullets on Tuesday morning.    

The latest victim, Olala Osondu, a chieftain of the PDP in Ahoada West Local Government Area of the State was shot and killed by yet-to-be identified gunmen suspected to be assassins.

Osondu, was until his murder, an ex-officio member of the PDP in the State and the Secretary of the Grassroots Development Initiative in Rivers.

The deceased was said to have been trailed by the gunmen to his house located off Ada-George in Port Harcourt around 12.30am. According to sources, he was returning from a meeting when the incident happened.

It was also gathered that the wife to the deceased said she heard two gunshots few seconds after sighting her husband’s car in the dark.

The wife of the deceased was said to have been shocked when she later found that her husband was dead ostensibly from the two gunshots she heard earlier.

Nothing was taken away from the deceased vehicle, even as his assailants took to their heels after hitting their target.

The State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, who confirmed the incident, told newsmen that the Police had begun investigation with a view to unravelling those behind the incident.

UPDATED: EX-CSO TO JONATHAN HALE, HEARTY...RELEASED TO FAMILY

Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has released a former Chief Security Officer to Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan detained since Thursday last week.

A family source told SaharaReporters that Mr. Obuah was released by his former employers around 10:30 pm Nigerian time.

Earlier today, Mr. Obuah was presented to the public to douse rumours that he had died in detention. After declaring that he was “hale and hearty,”, Mr. Obuah thanked his friends, family and lawyers, before leaving the press conference.

NIMASA: Akpobolokemi hands over to Obi as acting DG

Outgoing Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi, on Tuesday handed over to Calistus Obi as the acting Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the agency.

In a statement issued in Lagos by its Deputy Director/Head of Public Relations, Isichei Osamgbi, the agency said Obi assumes office after the handing over process was completed.

The statement recalled that the Federal Government had last week relieved Akpobolokemi of his appointment as the Chief Executive Officer of the agency.

He was directed to handover the property of the agency to the most senior officer there.

The statement said that Obi was, until this appointment, the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services in the agency.

It said that Obi had acquired over two decades of experience in the law practice as well as in the maritime industry.

The statement said that Obi, born on May 1, 1964, hailed from Ihiala Local Government Area of Imo State and studied Law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

“After duly completing the mandatory Law School programme, he bagged a Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Administration from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria,’’ the statement said.

The statement said that Obi, a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) was called to the Bar in 1991.

It said that Obi was also a member of the International Bar Association (IBA), Fellow, Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators as well as other professional associations.

Rivers people cry out against Wike’s draconian govt

It is beginning to dawn on the people of Rivers State that their support for Nyesom Wike at the recently concluded general elections in the State was a misplaced one as his anti-people policies have started affecting them adversely.

The latest onslaught against the people of the State was the invasion of the Rumuokoro Market by thugs claiming to be members of a taskforce from Obio/Akpor local government council on Sunday night and destroyed goods worth millions belonging to the traders, claiming that the Council authorities directed that every form of trading there has been banned.

They were led by an aide to the immediate past Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Tony Okocha,  who now works for Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), popularly known as Jolly Boy.

Residents of the city who spoke with Enigma Reports said same incident occurred in other parts of the city especially intersections like Rumuokoro, Rumuomasi, Rumuola, Wimpey, and several others

 

Earlier, just few days after being inaugurated into office, Wike had arbitrarily sacked about 350 staff of the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori. He followed that up by disbanding the State Traffic Management Authority (TIMARIV) plunging close to 1000 men and women into unemployment on the flimsy excuse that they harassed a top ranking official of the State House of Assembly.

On Sallah Day, Wike while inspecting the State Housing Estate at Iriebe in Obio/Akpor local government area, ordered the State Commissioner for Housing, Emma Okah, to evict “illegal” occupants of the estate. The so-called “illegal” are allegedly those civil servants and other residents of the estate who are sympathetic to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State.

Already, an aspect of the identification, isolation and witch-hunting of members and supporters of the APC has started at the Obio/Akpor local government council where a curious staff verification exercise was kicked off today.

Speaking with Enigma Reports, a trader at the Rumuokoro Market, Esther Amadi, said she regrets voting for Wike during the April 11, 2015 Governorship Election in the State.

“I regret voting for Wike during the last election,” Esther, the wife of a Police Corporal cried, confessing that she refused to eat anything during the just concluded election until Nyesom Wike was announced the winner of the election, lamenting that she never knew that her choice of Wike as Governor will turn out to be her undoing.

 
"On Monday, these guys came here, took my fufu and poured inside their tipper; so many tables were burnt, many people were beaten up. How can I feed my children" She asked rhetorically.

A staff of the Bori Polytechnic, who prefers to be anonymous because her son is a member of the PDP, lamented that when she chose to support Wike and PDP due to pressure from her son she never thought she would be the first casualty of such a draconian government. She regretted her decision, confessing that means of survival has since become a herculean task for her and her family as even her PDP son is still jobless.

 

2015 Elections: Wike, PDP jittery as Tribunal resumes today

Anxiety heightens in the camp of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the State Election Petition Tribunal resumes sitting in Abuja today, to continue hearing on a petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, and against Wike, the PDP, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The tribunal, headed by Justice Muazu Pindiga, is to rule on the prayers of Wike, through his counsels led by Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, asking the tribunal to set aside the order it made for the inspection of election materials used for the April 11, 2015 governorship election in the state.

The APC and Peterside, along with the governorship candidates of KOWA Party, Kemka Elenwo; the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Charles Harry, and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Minaibim Harry, as well as the Labour Party, LP, in the state, are challenging the decision of INEC to declare Wike, the winner of the governorship election.

Prince Tonye Princewill, governorship candidate of the Labour Party refused to join in the parties challenging the victory of Wike, describing the PDP and the APC as ‘birds of the same feather.’

Though immediate past Chairman of INEC, Attahiru Jega, a Professor of Political Science, and the commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Gesila Khan, insist the 2015 general elections in the State was free and fair.

Wike and his party are worried over the resumption of the tribunal’s sitting given the recent clampdown on officials of the INEC in Akwa Ibom, Austin Okojie, and the rumoured invitation of the Rivers REC, Gesila Khan by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, in response to a petition by the APC alleging obstruction of the process of inspecting the electoral materials used for the elections in the State.

Also the social media has been rife with insinuations of attempts to bribe members of the tribunal to tilt the outcome of the case in favour of the Wike and the PDP.

Wike and INEC, through their counsels, have separately challenged the competence of all the petitions as well as the jurisdiction of the tribunal to conduct the proceeding outside Rivers State where the election took place.

Wike’s lead counsel, Ukala had during the June 23, 2015 sitting of the tribunal argued that the ex-parte order made was unknown to law and that it breached the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, adding that the order was made despite a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the Tribunal pending before the court.

The tribunal chairman, Pindiga, adjourned the case until today, Monday, July 6, to enable parties file their replies on point of law and for the hearing of all the pending applications.

On June 11, 2015, the tribunal ordered that the APC and its agents be allowed access into INEC office along Aba Road, Port Harcourt, to inspect materials used for the governorship election.

The tribunal ordered as follows, “That leave is hereby granted the petitioners/applicants to bring and argue this application outside or before the pre-hearing session.

“The first respondent is hereby directed to allow the petitioners/applicants personally and or through their agents, including their solicitors and forensic experts to inspect, copy, photocopy and obtain certified true copies of all electoral materials related to, or connected with the conduct of the Rivers State governorship election held on 11th and 12th days of April 2015.”

But, the APC on June 19, 2015, accused some top officials of INEC in the state of deliberately denying its agents access to some election materials as ordered by the Election Petitions Tribunal.

The party’s agent during the general elections, Barrister Achinike Williams-Wobodo, stated that apart from its first request to INEC on April 12, 2015, demanding to have access to election materials, the APC had between then and June 13, 2015, sent 10 reminders to the commission demanding to have access to the materials.

The State INEC REC, Gesila Khan, has, however, denied the allegation by APC that she was frustrating the party from accessing materials used during the April 11 Governorship and House of Assembly election in the State.

Rivers APC berates Wike for CJN visits

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has lampooned the State Governor, Nyesom Wike for attempting some nicodemus stunts in broad daylight as part of his desperate moves to secure a miracle at the Rivers State Elections Petitions Tribunal that would see him remain in office.

In a statement made available to Enigma Reports titled “Wike, the CJN is beyond your corrupting influence!” and signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, the party said it was “aware and did monitor each of those visits but decided not to make it a media issue in line with the party’s communication management strategy and based on our unflinching belief that the CJN is beyond the corrupting influence of Gov. Nyesom Wike”.

Having been brought to the public domain by the media, the APC would like to state that, satisfied that Wike’s visits were not to the knowledge of the revered CJN, we did not want to act in a way that would portray the CJN as someone that keeps bad company because the APC believes in the impeccable and incorruptible character of Justice Mahmud Mohammed. We also know that 10 Nyesom Wikes cannot compromise the CJN”.

Furthermore, the party noted that it was able to identify a highly placed character in the Nigerian Judiciary behind the plan and the real issues that prompted the visits.

It dismissed the excuse by the governor that his visit had something to do with the matter of appointment of Chief Justice for Rivers State, saying that such an excuse “flies in the face” and was “a mere façade”.

“We understand how government business works and the Governor needed not personally pay any visits to the CJN over that matter in the way it was done,” Finebone added.

The APC challenged Governor Wike “to make public other persons in the Federal judiciary he also visited within the period and reasons for such visits because information in our possession indicates that he met with other officials in the Federal judiciary”.

The party called on its members and the Nigerian public “not to lose sleep over the governor’s visits to the CJN as the respected Chief Justice Mahmud Mohammed is a man of untainted integrity that cannot fall for Wike’s filthy lucre”.

However, in a swift reaction, Governor Nyesom Wike, has debunked the claim that he went to see the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mahmud Mohammed, on any issues related to the Elections Petitions Tribunal case.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, Wike his visit to the CJN on the 7th and 9th of July 2015, was to brief the CJN in his capacity as the Chairman of the National Judicial Council on the need to renew the appointment of the acting Chief Judge of Rivers State, Daisy Okocha, and also the acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Christy Gabriel Nwankwo.

Wike maintained that the requests were premised on the need to avoid a sudden vacuum and ensure continuity in the administration of the State’s Judiciary pending the appointment of substantive occupants into these offices, insisting that linking his visit to the CJN with the ongoing election petition “is to say the least, malicious, tendentious and a wicked attempt to drag the name of our most revered CJN and indeed the apex Court into the murky waters of politics”.

Earlier yesterday, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Mahmud Mohammed, refuted reports that he had hosted Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State twice in his chamber at the Supreme Court.

Justice Mohammed, through a statement by his media aide, Ahuraka Isah, insisted that contrary to what was reported by a section of the media yesterday, he never at any time had an audience with Governor Wike in relation to any matter whatsoever.

He, however, acknowledged that Wike visited his office on July 6 and July 8, but did not meet due to his being out of the country at the time, and was observing the interview of shortlisted applicants for the award of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, on July 8 when the governor repeated his visit, and was only informed about the development the next day.

The CJN assured the good people of Rivers State and Nigeria that he is “veritably committed to upholding the integrity, neutrality and independence of our judiciary. This is a responsibility, which we hold dear and will not shirk”.

BREAKING: Jonathan's former CSO dies in SSS detention

Mr. Gordon Obua, former Chief Security Officer to President Goodluck Jonathan has passed away in the custody of Department of Security Services (DSS) in its Abuja Headquarters where he had been detained since Thursday, July 16, 2015 on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerian online newspaper, The Trent is reporting.

Sources who have been monitoring the situation have confirmed Obua’s passing. He was arrested on Thursday when he honoured an invitation by the DSS.

Obua, who was being detained by the DSS in an underground dungeon for undisclosed reasons was being denied access to his lawyers, family, and his doctors on the orders of the new Director General of the DSS, Lawal Musa, which serves as Nigeria’s secret police.

Our sources say Obua’s remains are still in the custody of the DSS at the time of filing this report. He was held without charges filed against him.

On July 18, 2015, Onochie Onwuegbuna, the lead partner at Zeran Legal, has issued a press statement on behalf of Obua’s family complaining about the conditions in which his client was being detained and said that his client was being witch-hunted by the Buhari government. He said his client was diabetic and hypertensive and was being denied his drugs as well as food and water by the DSS.

Obua, until his death, was an employee of the SSS and his employer knew about his medical conditions but decided, in impunity, to deny him access to his medicines and doctor, his lawyer alleged.

Onwuegbuna said that the Buhari government had ‘marked’ his client, and other individuals who held offices in Jonathan’s administration and the arrest of his client was a scheme, “in other to implicate them by all means for phantom crimes or offences”.

A non-governmental organisation, the Society for Global Justice had issued a statement on Obua’s continued detention at the DSS, on Saturday calling for the release of the former Chief Security Officer.

Executive director of the group, Mr. Marcus Ogabe confirmed that Obua was detained at the SSS headquarters in Abuja since Thursday.

The group also said the continued detention of Obua is indicative of “the tyrannical, autocratic and dictatorship tendency of the Muhammadu Buhari administration”.

Insecurity: Tension brews in Bonny as rival cult groups clash

The deteriorating security situation in Rivers State has spread to Bonny Island, headquarters of Bonny local government area as rival cult groups engaged themselves in a battle of supremacy over the weekend.

Eye witness accounts have it that one life was lost at the weekend when a particular cult group invaded the venue of a funeral in the Akiama area of Bonny and attacked one Akieofori, who is said to belong to a rival cult group.

 

After shooting him, they proceeded to butcher him with their axes and machetes. Informed sources say that that was how the deceased also treated victims of his attack while alive.

 

An eye witness who prefers to be anonymous told Enigma Reports that the killings are as result of supremacy tussle between two cult groups, Icelanders and Greenlanders.

 

He revealed that the deceased, Akieofori Green, was allegedly the leader of Greenlanders and his assassination by the Icelanders triggered the reprisal attack on members of the Icelanders resulting in the death of one of the Icelanders, Iminabo Halliday and another unnamed member. He, however, lamented that the Police are yet to show serious commitment to stamping out this menace.

 

Residents of the island who spoke to Enigma Reports on condition of anonymity say there have been several clashes involving different cult groups attacking each other and in some cases robbing residents of their valuable possessions such as money, jewelleries, among others.

 

Enigma Reports further learnt that the activities of these violent groups in the town was majorly responsible for the delay in relocating the Bonny main market from its previous site along Market Road to the new site along Berger Road several months after the Chairman of the LGA, Omuso Abbey, gave the order.

 

It took the intervention of the Nigeria Police, Joint Military Taskforce (JTF), and security agencies on the island to convince the traders to move to the new site. The security agencies set up positions around the market facility to forestall any security breaches in and around the market. This served as morale booster for the traders who promptly moved into the new facility.

 

Reacting to the incident, the Bonny LGA Chairman, Omuso Abbey, said he was sad, condemning the dastard act, while calling on the people of the area to be vigilant and give the security agencies the needed cooperation to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

On his part, Leader of the Bonny Youth Federation (BYF), umbrella youth body in the area, Simeon Wilcox, condemned the act. He called on the youths of the area to eschew violence and instead channel their energies into profitable ventures, charging them to refuse to be used by selfish politicians to disturb the relative peace in the community.

 

“It’s saddening to know that, Bonny as a community, we’re losing our fibre. When I say fibre I mean our young ones who are supposed to keep the flag flying. An army officer told me that one day we’ll wake up and we will see a lot of bastards, vagabonds because our young ones are impregnating our girls and dying. This is not healthy for a community like this,” he lamented.

 

He disclosed that the BYF is working with the Police and other stakeholders to get to the root of the matter, noting that several complaints have linked the activities of the hoodlums to tricycle (keke) drivers in the area, assuring that the situation would soon be brought under control.

A community leader, who prefers not to be named, opined that the political class and the security agencies are to blame for the deteriorating security situation in the area.

 

“The security agencies are not ready yet to tackle this menace including the past APC administration in the LGA. Intelligence gathering and execution involves money. Yet we hear security votes are given every month that goes into the pockets of the disgruntled politicians. It is very easy to comb Bonny and this nonsense will end,”

 

In his view, the problem could be addressed by creating jobs and engaging the perpetrators of the violence through dialogue, adding that the leaders of these cult groups should be made to appreciate the benefits of peace and the negative effect of violence, and where they refuse reasonable force can be applied,” berating the political class for being responsible for these security breaches.

 

Efforts to reach the State Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Mohammed, proved abortive as calls to his line were not answered and text message sent to him were not replied.