TheNewsGuru

Tag: Akwa Ibom

  • Akpabio ‘apologises’ for imposing Gov Emmanuel on A’Ibom, vows to unseat him in 2019

    Former Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio has said he regretted imposing incumbent governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel on the people in 2015.

    Apologising before a crowd at Ikot Ekpene Plaza, Akpabio, who returned from his mother-in-law’s burial at Enugu on Sunday evening, said Emmanuel was the greatest mistake he made in a hurry, and asked to be forgiven.

    Akpabio, who represents Akwa Ibom North West in the Senate, noted that Emmanuel “is a mistake that must be corrected in 2019.”

    “Udom (Emmanuel) is a mistake that must be corrected in 2019. All hands must be on deck to ensure that the mistake is corrected for a people-oriented leadership under the ruling All Progressives Congress at the centre.”

    According to him, “Emmanuel’s administration has failed the people,” forcing him to take decisive actions to correct the anomaly for posterity to be fair on him.

    Akpabio spoke of the prevalence of hunger and deprivation in Akwa Ibom State since the Emmanuel’s administration assumed power, adding that it was time for “holistic action” to liberate the state from the shackles of bad governance.

    Akpabio had, in the run up to the 2015 elections, declared Emmanuel, then Secretary to the State Government, next in line to succeed him, even when 26 aspirants jostled for the post.

    Recall that Akpabio himself defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress earlier this month shortly after resigning his position as the Minority Leader of the Senate.

  • Police lost 30 officers in one month- Akwa Ibom CP

    No fewer than 30 police officers sacrificed their lives in the service of their fatherland in the last one month in Nigeria.

    The Commissioner of Police in Akwa-Ibom, CP Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, made the disclosure on Tuesday at Eket Security Summit against Crimes and Cultism in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

    The conference was organised by the local government in conjunction with the State Police Command.

    “We have lost over 30 police officers within one month in the country.

    “Police officers are sacrificing their lives daily, but it is unfortunately that we focus our mirror on the few bad elements that dent the image of the police force,” Ogunjemilusi said.

    He, however, said that over 60 suspected cultists were arrested recently in the area during violent clash between two rival cult groups.

    “It is an offence for anybody to ask you to commit yourself or belong to any secret society before giving you an employment,” he said.

    According to him, anyone caught engaging in cultism will be dealt within the confines of the law.

    Ogunjemilusi noted that there were leverage for those youths who want to denounce cultism and reconcile themselves to the society in order to become law abiding citizens.

    He outlined tips on how the people could protect their property and their loved ones.

    “We need vehicles to improve our response capability in the state,” he said.

    Also, Mr Frank Archibong, the Chairman of Eket Local Government Area, said that the council would not tolerate cultism in the area.

    “We can no longer tolerate or fold our hands and allow the criminal minded elements in our midst to soil and tarnish an integrity which we have built over the years for ourselves and community,” Archibong said.

    He urged people to expose any cultist living within Eket and its environs.

    NAN

  • Good news beset Akwa Ibom prospective corps members

    The Akwa Ibom Government says it has commenced the renovation of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp as promised during the 2018 Batch `A’ closing ceremony in May.

    Gov. Udom Emmanuel made the disclosure on Monday at the closing orientation ceremony of 2018 Batch `B` Stream 1 corps members in Ikot Itie Udung in Nsit Atai Local Government Area.

    Emmanuel, represented by Mr Monday Uko, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, said that the state government was fully committed to the cause of NYSC scheme in the state.

    He said that apart from the renovation of hostel accommodation and convenience facilities, the state government also installed a-150KVA Electricity Generating plant to boost electricity supply to the camp.

    The governor also provided N10, 000 to each of the 2,094 corps members to transport themselves to their places of primary assignment.

    “As a mark of the government’s commitment to the cause of NYSC scheme in the state, we have commenced works toward the completion of hostel accommodation and toilet facilities in camp.

    “In addition to the 150KVA Electricity Generating Plant, I want to assure the NYSC that the next set of corps members will have opportunity of using the facilities,” he said.

    Emmanuel advised the corps members to steer clear of any action that could put them into trouble before, during and after the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

    The governor urged them to take their security serious, saying that government would continue to engage security agencies in the state to make the environment safe and secured for them.

    He promised to reward corps members that leave indelible marks in their host communities.

    Emmanuel also urged them to be of good behaviours and respect the culture and tradition of their host communities.

    Earlier, the NYSC Coordinator in the state, Mr Julius Amusan, said that the orientation course content had been fully and carefully implemented.

    Amusan said that the orientation courses, which the corps members received, would reconditioned their minds to appreciate the responsibilities associated with national service.

    The state coordinator urged them to liaise with the Local Government Inspectors in their places of primary assignment to ensure they get a secured accommodation.

    “As you depart to your host communities after now, ensure you report at your places of primary assignment and remain loyal to the constituted authority,” Amusan said.

    He commended the state governor for fulfilling the promise of renovating the camp facilities and installation of the 150KVA generating plant.

     

  • Defection: APC leaders reject Akpabio as party leader in Akwa Ibom

    Some aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State have rejected former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as the party leader in the state.

    Recall that Akpabio on Tuesday resigned his position as Senate Minority Leader and formally defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday.

    A party chieftain, Emmanuel Sam, said on Thursday that he would not accept Akpabio as the party leader.

    He said, “We cannot be led by a man who was brutal to us. We have not forgotten that his brutality made some members of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria to move into what is called the APC today. He can never lead us. We will resist it.”

    Another chieftain of the party in Itu, Obong Mike Edem, said every right-thinking person in the party wouldn’t allow Akpabio to superintend over them.

    He said, “He cannot be our leader. He will be contradicting himself because he cannot reject a skewed reward system which favours newcomers in his former party, yet wants to be rewarded in the APC through similar skewed arrangement.”

    Edem added that they wouldn’t work with Akpabio because he persecuted them before they left the PDP.

    A group, Akwa Ibom Progressives Watch, also stated that the APC would be more disunited under Akpabio if he was made leader of the party in the state.

    The group at a press conference by its chairman, Innocent Sylvanus, on Thursday, warned that many people who left the PDP for the APC because of Akpabio’s impunity would be unwilling to work with him.

    He said, “It will be a disaster to allow Akpabio lead the party. We want the national leader and chairman of the party to know this.’’

     

  • EFCC allegedly traces Akwa Ibom’s N1.4b to 11 accounts

    EFCC allegedly traces Akwa Ibom’s N1.4b to 11 accounts

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has traced about N1.4billion allegedly belonging to the Akwa Ibom State Government to 11 suspected slush accounts.

    According to a report by The Nation, the cash was remitted into the accounts in two tranches of N1.1billion and N300million.

    Some of the accounts belong to eight top lawyers in the country.

    Sources said that the suspects might be interrogated soon.

    One of the suspected lawyers has made a statement to the EFCC on how he came about the huge transfers into his account from the Akwa Ibom State Government accounts.

    The suspect, according to sources, told detectives that the deposits were legal fees for 16 cases.

    He could not produce documentary evidence of any agreement between his team and the state government.

    Detectives were said to be curious that the alleged legal fees were paid into the 11 accounts in cash as against the standard practice of paying with cheque.

    It was also gathered that one of the accounts which was opened on March 16, 2016 had a huge deposit record on March 14, 2016.

    The anti-graft agency has already invited four officials of the state government for questioning on the issue.

    They are: Commissioner for Finance, Nsikan Linus, the Permanent Secretary and Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Justice , and an Assistant Chief Accountant in the Accountant-General Office in the state, Mfon Jacobson Udomah.

    They have all refused to honour the invitation without any valid reason.

    The fact-sheet of the case sighted by The Nation showed that N1.4billion was remitted into the various accounts as follows: N135m; N120m; N100m; N60m; N60m; N65m; N570m; N75m; N75m; N75m; N30m; and N45m.

    Investigators said: “There was no document tied to specific payment. The deposit also did not specify what the cash was meant for.

    “There was no evidence of any agreement between the state government and the beneficiaries of the N1.4billion. The lead coordinator of the lawyers who benefitted from the cash could not say how much was charged and how much was agreed upon.

    “The lead lawyer only said the cash was for 16 cases in various courts across the country but only a case was reflected as having gone from the lower court to the Supreme Court.

    “The lead lawyer has made statement without any shred of evidence or document to justify the legal contract.”

    The EFCC is insisting that the four officials must report for questioning.

    A source familiar with the matter said: “Letters of invitation were written to the Permanent Secretary and Director of Finance and Accounts of the Ministry of Justice of Akwa Ibom State on June 8, 2018 and the Commissioner for Finance and an Assistant Chief Accountant in the Accountant-General Office in the state on July 13, 2018.

    “They were to be questioned in Abuja. They all failed to report despite sending reminders to them on July 3 and July 13. We later sent a team to interact with them at the EFCC’s Uyo Zonal office but they refused to meet with our operatives.

    “The EFCC’s team from Abuja travelled to Uyo on July 19 and on July 20, our operatives requested to invite the affected state officials. None of them came around.

    “The Secretary to the State Government and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice wrote an undertaking in Uyo Zonal Office and Abuja respectively assuring the EFCC that the invited persons would report as requested but they failed to turn up.

    “The Attorney-General came to Abuja on July 24, 2018 that he would bring those invited on July 30 but he never did. We are still insisting they must come.”

  • No power can divide Akwa Ibom – Deputy Gov.

    No power can divide Akwa Ibom – Deputy Gov.

    Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom, Mr Moses Ekpo, has said that no human force or power can divide citizens of the state.

    A statement by Mr Ekikere Umoh, his Chief Press Secretary, in Uyo, said the deputy governor, stated this at the Ibom Airport, on Friday, on arrival from a foreign trip.

    He reaffirmed his commitment to the ideals of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the development of Akwa Ibom under the leadership of Gov. Udom Emmanuel.

    Ekpo declared that he had not resigned as the deputy governor as was rumoured on Monday.

    He said that it would irresponsible to leave the governor, “who stands for fairness and equitable distribution of projects across the state’’.

    He said that Annang people and entire Akwa Ibom community in the U.S were quite impressed and appreciative of Gov. Emmanuel’s development strides.

    “From my personal interactions with a cross section of the community, they are particularly happy that for the first time, we are having a governor who has made industrialisation a critical index of his administration’s agenda

    “They expressed optimism that this will activate employment opportunities for our teeming youths,” Ekpo said.

    He advised the people to remain resolute in their support for the governor irrespective of ethnic and religious differences.

    It was rumoured on Monday that the deputy governor had resigned to follow the former governor of the state, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, his kinsman, who defected to the APC on Wednesday.

     

  • Defection: Akwa Ibom Govt Denies Renaming Godswill Akpabio Stadium

    Defection: Akwa Ibom Govt Denies Renaming Godswill Akpabio Stadium

    The Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed reports that it renamed the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium following the defection of former governor Akpabio from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Startegy, Charles Udoh, the government described the report as the “handiwork of some unscrupulous elements.”

    He stated further that the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel is “laden with a high level of integrity and would not descend to such lowly heights of renaming the stadium.”

    Udoh restated that the government’s commitment to continue its single-minded pursuit of the avowed goal of people-oriented governance and sustainable development of the state.

  • Benue, Akwa Ibom: NGF speaks on EFCC’s power to freeze states’ accounts

    The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has described as unconstitutional the freezing of the accounts of Akwa Ibom and Benue State Governments by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, the Chairman of NGF, spoke with State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Recall that the EFCC had on Tuesday froze the state’s account which was confirmed by Terver Akase, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Samuel Ortom.

    The anti-graft agency also froze the Akwa Ibom State accounts on Wednesday.

    Yari said that by the security situation in Benue, it was not wise to dislocate the state financially.

    “If EFCC freezes the accounts of any state government, Benue or anywhere else, I think it is unconstitutional, it is not right, because you are shutting down government.

    “Government must spend, more especially Benue where there are issues of insecurity.

    “So, we do not know why the EFCC took the action. I do not think it is correct, but if it is correct, then my own point of view is wrong.

    “But I believe this government will not sit down and oversee unlawful operations happening from the security agencies.

    “From what happened yesterday, someone can understand that this government is following due process and laws of Nigeria.

    “EFFC’s action in Benue is something that should be reversed,’’ he said.

    Speaking on Tuesday’s blockade of the National Assembly, Yari said it was very unfortunate, but however, said that the attendant reaction by the acting president had vindicated the federal government in the eyes of local and international communities.

    He recalled that similar incidents occurred in 2011 and 2014 respectively but no serious action was taken by the then government.

    According to him, the government of Muhammadu Buhari is following due process and will never oversee unlawful activities within the security agencies.

    Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, who was also in the Presidential Villa, told correspondents that Tuesday’s incident at the National Assembly was an embarrassment which should not have been allowed to happen.

    On defection of his deputy, Hafizu Abubakar, to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Ganduje said there was no cause for alarm.

    According to him, it is the season of defection as the All Progressives Congress (APC) is also receiving defectors from other parties.

    “The state House of Assembly wanted to impeach him but I was prevailing on them but they insisted, when he saw the handwriting on the wall, he decided to resign.

    “They wanted to continue with the impeachment because he committed some impeachable offences, but I pleaded and they dropped the charges and allowed him to go, that is politics,’’ he said.

     

  • BREAKING: EFCC freezes accounts of Akwa Ibom, Benue states

    Information reaching TNG has it that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen the bank accounts of the Akwa Ibom and Benue state governments.

    A top official of the Akwa Ibom state government confirmed the development to newsmen on Wednesday.

    The source said Udom Emmanuel, the governor, and accountant-general of the state were shocked by the development.

    The report of the freezing of Akwa Ibom government accounts happened 24 hours after the commission blocked those of Benue government.

    Recall that a former governor of the state and a serving senator, Godswill Akpabio is currently decamping to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at a special rally organized for him in the state.

    Akpabio had earlier tendered his resignation as the Minority Leader of the Senate.

    Meanwhile, the Benue State authorities also confirmed that the funds meant to pay the salaries of workers and pensioners in state have also been frozen by the EFCC.

    “Accounts of the Benue State Government have been frozen by EFCC,” Terver Akase, a spokesperson for Governor Samuel Ortom, said in a statement.

    “It is part of the political witch-hunt against Governor Samuel Ortom. The action of EFCC is already having negative impact on the running of government in Benue State. It is a move that will affect salaries, pensions and other sundry payments,” Akase said.

    His confirmation came a day after the Vanguard reported that at least three bank accounts which the state held with GTBank, First Bank and Fidelity Bank had been blocked by the anti-graft office as part of a corruption probe.

    Several reports last week said the EFCC was investigating Ortom for up to N22 billion in security funds allegedly feared plundered under his supervision.

    The governor has denied the allegations, saying they were amongst a desperate plot to oust him as governor. He said the plot was bu to his recent defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

    Ortom is also facing a battle with some APC lawmakers in the state who are scheming to remove him from office. Initial attempts by eight lawmakers to serve the governor a notice of impeachment were rebuffed by his loyalists and condemned across the country, including by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Akase emphasised the political undertone of the EFCC’s action in his statement Wednesday, warning the agency not to allow itself be used by political players.

    “The question we are asking is; why did EFCC not investigate the Governor’s security votes when he was still a member of APC? Why start the investigation now?

    “EFCC should not allow itself to be used as an attack dog unleashed against perceived political opponents’” Mr Akase said.

    The reported freezing comes days after the APC accused Mr Ortom of squandering security votes and politicising the deaths of his state residents. Mr Ortom strongly denied the allegations.

    “Let the Federal Government tell us how much it has spent on prosecuting the fight against Boko Haram and how much it spent on the other operations such as Python Dance, Crocodile Smile and Whirl Stroke.

    “Benue has suffered heavy attacks by Fulani herdsmen since the beginning of the year. Within the period, the State Government has spent a lot to legitimately support security agencies to protect the people of the state. Governor Ortom has not diverted funds. He runs a transparent administration.

    “We welcome the investigation, but as I said earlier, it should start from the presidency and go across the 36 states. Benue should not be singled out for victimisation, intimidation and harassment as the federal government with its agencies is currently doing,” Mr Akase said.

    However, efforts to reach the spokesperson of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren for comments was unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report.

     

  • INEC discovers 19 illegal polling units in Akwa Ibom

    INEC discovers 19 illegal polling units in Akwa Ibom

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says it has discovered 19 illegal polling units in Akwa Ibom.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Mike Igini, made the disclosure at Enlarged Stakeholders’ Forum in Uyo in Monday.

    The REC said that the illegal polling units were in Obot Akara and Uyo Local Government Areas, adding that that some of the polling units were located in hotels, church, mosques among others.

    He said that INEC found that the polling units concerned were located in violation of its guidelines; therefore there was the need to relocate and rename some polling units in the state.

    Igini, however, urged the people not to see the relocation of the polling units as a creation of new polling units, stressing that that no new polling units had been created.

    He said the essence of the forum was “to enable us see face to face and interact freely. “

    “We are here to present the commission electoral plan and strategic implementation plan, hear from you and carefully consider the concerns and ideas of everyone on how we can serve you better,” he said.

    The REC cautioned politicians who might have plans to rig the 2019 general elections to desist because INEC of today has evolved beyond rigging.

    Igini said INEC had “advanced to a level where everything is tracked.“

    “We must conduct an election that will be accepted by the people without recourse to the tribunals. We have done it elsewhere and we will do it here.

    “You are going to have little or minimal petitions. Election is a time where the independence and integrity of institutions like INEC, security agencies and judiciary are tested.”

    He also said the forum was organised as an opportunity to engage stakeholders of all political persuasions and have a robust engagement.

    The REC advised leaders of political parties in the state to talk to their party members the need for them conduct ensuring strict adherence to the code of conduct of the electoral acts.

    He stressed the need for political parties to commence the process of identifying committed party members to serve as agents during the general elections.

    Igini assured that the forthcoming election would not tolerate or accommodate thuggery in the state.

    “Campaign messages should encapsulate the principles of accommodation, decency and with strict adherence to the rule of law.

    He emphasised that the best way to win the forthcoming general elections was to mobilise supporters to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    Igini,however, noted that collection of PVCs in the state was 50 per cent, a development he described as very low.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, pledged the neutrality of the police to ensure that all forms of intimidation on the electorate were eliminated, during and after the exercise.

    He said that the command had strategised ways to train security personnel on what was required of them before, during and after the elections.

    The police boss warned against any form of intimidation or harm against corps members deployed to the polling units.

    “No youth corps member will be molested, harmed or killed in Akwa Ibom.

    “We are going to view any embarrassment on corps member more seriously than any other offense in the state.

    “If you ferment problem you go in for it, we are going to prosecute all electoral offenders.

    “We must have peace and security and we must not allow any clash of event,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the forum is “Broad outline of 2019 Election in Akwa Ibom, The Road Map.

    NAN