TheNewsGuru

Tag: Enugu

  • Enugu APC moves to stop LG poll, threatens litigation over exclusion

    Enugu APC moves to stop LG poll, threatens litigation over exclusion

    Less than 24 hours to the Enugu local government elections, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state stormed the state headquarters of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) in protest alleged exclusion of the party.

    The APC members in their thousands, accompanied by the party’s disenfranchised councillorship and chairmanship candidates clutched different placards and sang solidarity songs.

    They protesters sang “Ajogwu must go, monopoly must go”.

    Similarly the inscriptions on the various placards read, “No APC, No Election”, “We say no to political disenfranchisement,” and “Our vote is our power.”

    Others were “Say no to election exclusion,” “ENSIEC is not for a particular political party,” “Free and fair election is joy of democracy,” “PDP and ENSIEC are killers of democracy,” among others.

    Men of the Nigeria Police Force formed a barricade in front of the ENIEC office to prevent the surging crown from pouring into the premises.

    The officers took over the headquarters of the electoral body as the APC faithful paralysed the electoral office with protests over an alleged exclusion of their ‘real’ candidates for Wednesday’s council elections.

    Some sources said that the police were at the headquarters for distribution of election materials for the election, the personnel, however, controlled the surging protesters who sang anti-ENSIEC songs and obstructed traffic.

    Leader of the protesters and Secretary of APC in the state, Mr Robert Ngwu, who addressed newsmen on behalf of the state chairman, Chief Ugochukwu Agballah, said: “We are here to tell the people of Enugu state that what is going on in ENSIEC is not good.

    “We will go all the way to supreme Court because this election tomorrow (Wednesday) will be voided, because you cannot exclude the candidates of APC.

    “That is against the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, and also against the Electoral Act to exclude a political party.

    “We have made our position known to them both in writing and also through the media and ENSIEC still insist on the election going on.

    “We cannot do anything but to show our grievances to let the state know that what is going on is not right.

    “This is a new APC and we are here to compete with the ruling party in Enugu State.

    “The list is supposed to be submitted by the chairman and secretary. But what happened is that the ENSIEC chose APC list by themselves.

    “They chose the list not us. The candidates in the list they published are not our members.

    “We have professors running for councillors in APC. We have retired DSS Director running for chairmanship in Isi-Uzo local government. So, how could those people not qualify?

    “They did not show us the list in the first place though we submitted their names and that’s what is going on,” he said.

    Also speaking to journalists, the publicity secretary of the party, Mr Charles Ako, said the conduct of ENSIEC “is a rape on democracy and our right to vote and be voted”.

    “ENSIEC colluded with PDP to exclude APC.

    Chairman of ENSIEC, Chief Mike Ajokwu (SAN) who addressed the protesters explained that the reason for publishing former chairman Mr Ben Nwoye’s list was because he was the one the Commission had related with over the years.

    According to him, APC had two factions and the commission wrote to the national secretariat of APC without a reply, a development that forced it to accept Nwoye’s list.

  • Hoodlums on rampage in Enugu, shoot police, customs officers on duty

    Hoodlums on rampage in Enugu, shoot police, customs officers on duty

    Armed hoodlums, on Thursday, shot police and customs officers on duty at various locations within Enugu State, leaving some of the officers feared dead.

    The rampaging armed hoodlums attacked Ozalla community along the ever busy Enugu-Port Harcourt Road as well as Lomalida axis of Ugwuaji Road within Enugu metropolis.

    The armed hoodlums attacked customs’ checkpoint within Ozalla community, precisely close to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, at about 1:30pm on Thursday.

    The hoodlums opened fire on the unsuspecting customs officers, leaving one dead instantly as alleged by eye witnesses. Three other officers sustained serious bullet wounds.

    “I saw one of the customs officers motionless and three others in serious pain as they were helped by some Good Samaritan down to the UNTH hospital close-by,” an eyewitness said.

    In the incident at Lomalida axis of Ugwuaji Road, the hoodlums shot at policemen on stop-and-search duty, leaving two officers feared dead and about four others with deadly bullet wounds.

    It was gathered that the incident, which happened at about 2p.m. left the Ugwuaji Road deserted of vehicular traffic for up to two hours.

    Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Enugu State, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, said that “information surrounding the incident is sketchy”.

    “Meanwhile, a manhunt for the hoodlums has been initiated. Further development will be communicated, please,” he said.

  • EFCC returns recovered 11 choice houses to Arthur Eze

    EFCC returns recovered 11 choice houses to Arthur Eze

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has returned eleven houses recovered in different parts of Enugu to business mogul, Arthur Eze.

    The said properties were recovered by the EFCC from the duo of Olisaebuka Okechukwu Eze and Onyeka Nnadozie Eze, administration and finance manager respectively in Arthur Eze’s firm, accused of criminal breach of trust and diversion of funds belonging to the business mogul.

    Mr Wilson Uwujaren, the Anti-graft commission’s spokesman revealed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

    According to the commission, the investigation established that the duo who is also the nephew of the business mogul used proceeds of their alleged criminal activities to acquire choice properties in Enugu and other parts of South Eastern Nigeria.

    Uwujaren said the anti-graft agency in the course of the investigation initiated forfeiture proceedings against the two company officials before Justice I.M Buba of the Federal High Court, Enugu, which granted an interim order of forfeiture of the said properties, directing the defendants to show cause why the properties should not be finally forfeited.

    “In the absence of any contrary information, the Court on October 18, 2021, ordered that the properties be finally forfeited and returned to the nominal complainant, Chief Arthur Eze,” Uwujaren said.

    Receiving the properties in Enugu, Eze expressed gratitude to the EFCC for ensuring that justice is served.

    “I am grateful to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, the Zonal Commander and all your men who fought for justice to be served,” Eze said.

    “I am aware that, at some point, your men risked their lives for this cause. I pray that God who has been keeping you will always protect you. I am here in person to thank you for all that you did for me when those whom I call my own, stole from me”.

    The Enugu Zonal Commander of the EFCC, Oshodi Johnson, who handed the properties to the businessman, commended the investigative and prosecution teams as well as the judiciary for ensuring that justice is served in the case.

  • Enugu Govt. targets 1.2m children in statewide polio vaccination

    Enugu Govt. targets 1.2m children in statewide polio vaccination

    The Enugu State Government says it is targeting no fewer than 1,200,000 children, between 0 and five years in statewide polio vaccination.

    Dr George Ugwu, Executive Secretary of Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA), disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Sunday.

    Ugwu said the ENS-PHCDA in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), WHO, UNICEF and other stakeholders, would hold January 2022 Mass Polio Vaccination (NIPDs) in Enugu state.

    He said the exercise would hold statewide for four days; thus, between Saturday, Jan. 29 and Tuesday, Feb 1, 2022.

    “This is an immunisation campaign that involves movement of trained and authorised health workers to administer Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) into the mouths of children from 0 and five years of age.

    “Health workers will visit homes, schools, churches, market places, and everywhere children under five years are found in Enugu state to give oral polio vaccine to them.

    “The vaccine protects children from poliomyelitis infection which paralyses or kills such infected children,” he said.

    The executive secretary said that at this period, other scheduled routine immunisation would also be going on in the health centres in all local government areas of Enugu state for children less than two years.

    “Parents and caregivers please take your children under two years with their health cards to health centres nearest to you for other vaccines,” he advised.

    According to him, the vaccines are free, safe and effective. So do well please in protecting your children and loved ones from dangerous diseases by simple and free-of-charge vaccination.

  • Gov. Ugwuanyi receives home-coming Haitian delegation in Enugu

    Gov. Ugwuanyi receives home-coming Haitian delegation in Enugu

    Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, on Friday, received a Haitian delegation who traced their origin back to the state.

    The 10-man Haitian delegation, led by Sen. Moise Jean-Charles, were on a home-coming mission to the state, the historic capital of Igboland, to perform conventional Igbo rituals.

    The rituals include traditional naming and name adoption after they traced their roots to Igboland.

    Addressing the delegation, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Simon Ortuanya, commended the delegates for their bold step.

    Ortuantya, who received the delegates on behalf of Gov. Ugwuanyi at the government house, appreciated them for keeping a date with history, and for following their hearts and roots and tracing it.

    He said the significance of the Haitians visit, marks a new beginning for all.

    He added: “We open our doors to you and we are ready as we have demonstrated. We want you to know that changing your names is in agreement with the Igbo tradition that you have a new name for a new born.

    “Today, you are born new in Enugu State and in the land of your fathers, Congratulations.”

    In his address, leader of the delegation, Sen. Jean-Charles, described their visit to Enugu State as home-coming, rooting back to their origin in Igboland,

    He thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for the hospitality accorded to them in the state and recounted the affinity of the people and culture of Enugu State and Haiti.

    Jean-Charles revealed that Enugu State has five letters as Haiti and that Enugu and Haiti mean cities on top of a hill.

    “I have visited many countries, many places around the world but this is the first time I have visited a country that everybody looks like me”.

    “We have not come here as foreign persons. We have come back home and on behalf of all Haitians, all the blocks in Haiti, thank you for receiving us after 218 years.

    “We have decided that people in the whole continent of Africa and all of us who are there in Haiti is a wind following the bird from the African continent.

    “It has brought to bear in America which means all of us are one”.

    The climaxes of the event were the traditional naming and name adoption by the Haitian delegation which was performed by Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu.

  • JUST IN: Nigerian military arrest ‘notorious’ IPOB ESN leader

    JUST IN: Nigerian military arrest ‘notorious’ IPOB ESN leader

    The Nigerian Army and other agencies have arrested Godwin Nnamdi, a leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) militant wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN).

    Nnamdi, described as “notorious” was apprehended in Nkanu East Local Government Area.

    A statement on Sunday by Army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu said the troops of 82 Division led the operation.

    Nnamdi was caught during the raid at a IPOB/ESN camp located at Akpowfu Forest in Nkanu East LGA.

    The joint forces engaged the dissidents in a fire fight. They took to their heels, leaving behind their wanted leader.

    One AK 47 rifle, one magazine containing 21 rounds of 7. 62 mm Special, one handset among others, were recovered.

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya has commended the government operatives for the success.

    Yahaya charged them “to comb and clear all suspected hideouts of criminal elements in their area of responsibility”.

  • 11-year-old emerges double champion at Enugu State Squash Championship

    11-year-old emerges double champion at Enugu State Squash Championship

    Master Emmanuel Okechkwu, 11-year-old student of Spring of Life International School, Enugu, has emerged champion of the Under-13 and Under-19 Enugu State Independence Close Squash Champions.

    Okechukwu who won the Under-13 Gold at the championships in 2020 made it double this time around and received the Best Player of the championship.

    Speaking with newsmen in Enugu on Monday, Okechukwu dedicated the trophy to his parents and promised to do more.

    “I am highly exited and I always want to do my parents proud and to follow the footsteps of my role model in squash.

    “I always feel like a champion whenever am playing and to be a champion of two categories is great,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 3rd edition featured Under-13 boys and girls, Under-19 boys and girls, Men and Women category and Veterans class.

    At the final played inside the Dragon Squash Court, Nigeria Army 82 Division, Enugu, Okechukwu defeated Abubakar Mohammed 3-0 in the Under-13 boys category.

    He defeated the former champion of Under-19 boys category, Chidi Eze by 3-2 to win the 2021 edition.

    John Obasi won the men’s category by defeating Marcus Lawrence 3-1, while Chinasa Oge beat Kamsi Onuora 2-0 at the Under-13 girls category.

    In the girls Under-19 final Daniella Okechukwu overpowered Naomi Silver 3-2 while Cecelia Okon won the Women category with 3-0 against Victoria Tokula.

    Col. D Oye won the Veterans category while Dr Gabriel Enyi placed second.

    Individual awards went to Naomi Sylvester, the Best Behaved Player, while Amanda Onaga won the Youngest Player of the championship.

    The Most Valuable Player award went to Chiemezue Okechukwu.

    Players who finished first received gold medals, racquets, cash and trophies while runners-up received medals, cash and squash balls.

    Winner of the women category went home with cash, medal, bag of rice and carton of tomatoes.

    All participants were giving certificates of participation for the championship which began on Dec.16 and ended on Dec. 19.

  • Police dismiss officer who killed five, injured four for ‘no justifiable reasons’ in Enugu

    Police dismiss officer who killed five, injured four for ‘no justifiable reasons’ in Enugu

    The Enugu State Police Command on Friday said it has dismissed an Inspector, Edem Ebong, found culpable of shooting and killing five persons, as well as the injury of four others for no justifiable reasons.

    The police also approved the prosecution of the former Inspector for murder.

    The shooting incident is said to have happened on June 20 at Golf Estate, Enugu.

    Ebong had been attached to Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 9 Umuahia at the time.

    “The Enugu State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in-charge of Zone 13, Ukpo-Dunukofia Anambra State, AIG Muri Umar Musa, LLB, BL, has approved the recommended punishment of dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force and prosecution of Inspector Edem Ebong, hitherto attached to Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 9 Umuahia, for the offence of murder,” a statement signed by police spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, said.

    “The approval is sequel to the Command’s conclusion of disciplinary trial and thorough investigation launched into the case of alleged shooting and killing of five persons, as well as the injury of four others for no justifiable reasons, by the Police Inspector, at Golf Estate Enugu, on 20/06/2021.

    “To this end, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abubakar Lawal, fdc, while appreciating the general public, particularly residents of the State, for the level of patience and understanding shown while the disciplinary trial and investigation into the case lasted, has reiterated commitment to always deal decisively with Police Officers of the Command, found culpable in disciplinary offences against extant codes of conduct, rules of engagement and standard operating procedures of the Nigeria Police Force, especially as it concerns respect for fundamental human rights of citizens.

    “He therefore calls on residents of the State to remain law-abiding and promptly report erring Police Officers to the nearest Police Station; or by calling the Command’s hotlines on: 08032003702, 08086671202, 08075390883 or 08098880172. Or alternatively send e-mails to contact042ppro@gmail.com. He assures that such reports shall be accorded the necessary confidentiality and action.”

  • Former NIMASA D-G defects to APC

    Former NIMASA D-G defects to APC

    A Former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Chief George Eneh, has defected from People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Eneh said he decided to join APC to wrest power from the PDP and connect the state to national politics.

    He made the disclosure at his Enugu residence on Wednesday, expressing confidence in the ability of the state APC Chairman, Chief Ugochukwu Agballa, to turn things around for the party in the state.

    According to Eneh, his supporters and Agbudu Ward in Udi LGA, where he comes from, are in agreement with his defection.

    More than 200 members of APC led by Mr B.N. Nebe, pledged their loyalty to Agballa’s leadership at the event.

    The APC member were said to have belonged to another camp of the APC before then.

    While welcoming the former director-general and the party members from the other camp, Agballa thanked them for their decisions.

    He described Eneh’s defection and pledging of loyalty to him by the others as an indication that APC was alive in Enugu State.

    He called on others residents of the state to join APC which, he said, was on a rescue mission.

    Agballa said that ÀPC was committed to taking over Enugu State Government House (Lion Building) in 2023.

    “We need to occupy the Government House because it is the party that can achieve an Igbo presidency come 2023. To achieve all of these, we need all your support.

    “Time has come for us to say no to political monopoly. You are the ones who can help us achieve that. We have a big party that can accommodate everyone,” Agballa said.

    A former Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Chief Eugene Odo, in his remarks, praised Eneh and those who pledged loyalty to Agballa, for the decisions.

    Odo said that the national working committee of the party had approved Enugu State’s congresses, and urged the state executives of the party to carry all members along.

  • Ugwuanyi’s commissioner resigns over alleged rejection of proposal, sack of senior civil servants, returns official vehicle

    Ugwuanyi’s commissioner resigns over alleged rejection of proposal, sack of senior civil servants, returns official vehicle

    The Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development in Enugu State, Victor Nnam has tendered his resignation.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the Commissioner who was appointed by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in 2019 tendered his resignation letter on Friday (today).

    The commissioner in the letter obtained by TNG accused the governor of not allowing him carry out developmental strides aimed at bettering the state. He also alleged sack of some senior officials of the ministry who were performing their jobs as expected.

    See letter below as obtained by TNG: