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Tag: Enugu

  • Enugu APC, again, suspends Chairman, Agballah, others

    Enugu APC, again, suspends Chairman, Agballah, others

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu has again suspended its state chairman, Chief Ugochukwu Agballah and other executive members over alleged acts of abuse of offices.

    This was disclosed in a press briefing by the State Publicity Secretary, Chief Micheal Ezeanyanwu, and other State Executive Committee of the party in Enugu on Saturday.

    Ezeanyanwu said that the members of the state executive committee, Enugu State had passed vote of no confidence following their anti party activities.

    “We, the members of the State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress, Enugu State do hereby pass a vote of no confidence on Chief Ugochukwu Agballah (state Chairman), Chief Augustine Alumonah (State Deputy Chairman).

    “Others are Mr Jude Aniogbo (State Treasurer) and Mr Emeka Eze (State Organizing Secretary) and they are hereby suspended from the party.

    “Our decision is predicated on series of acts of abuse of offices, usurpation of powers, creation of factional executives, unconstitutional removal of party executives.

    “Others include instigation of crisis in party in some local government etc. committed by the named officers against the party,” he said.

    According to Ezeanyanwu, Since the confirmation of Agballah as the state chairman of the party, he has been running the affairs of the party as if it’s his personal business without any regards to the party’s Constitution.

    He said that the suspended chairman exercised the power of his office as the chairman of the party in the state arbitrarily and for his personal consideration, including hijacking and embezzling of the money meant for the party.

    He added that the most recent of the embezzlement against the party and her members occurred on how he handled the money provided for logistics for Enugu State APC attendees of the South East Stakeholders meetings held in Owerri and Ebonyi State respectively.

    According to him, the named suspended officers have sidelined the members of the state executive committee of the party and arbitrarily exercised the power of the organ.

    “They went to the extent of unduly interfering with the administration of the party at the local government.

    “Could you imagine that the State Chairman and State treasurer connived with the bank officials and they allowed them to access the party’s account without meeting the requisite constitutional requirement of the chairman and any two other signatories to sign financial instrument.

    “The state chairman and treasurer also use their personal account to receive money meant for the party to avoid traces.

    “Again, the state chairman, Deputy state chairman and the state organizing secretary had also engaged in instigation of crisis and factionalisation of the party in some local governments and wards,” he added.

    Ezeanyanwu alleged that the state chairman through his deputy and the organising secretary, instigated and created factional ward executives in Aku Ward 3 in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Areas and Abbi Ward in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Areas without the knowledge and consent of the SWC.

    “Recently, in July, the state chairman and state organising secretary facilitated and attended meetings with local government deputy chairman of Enugu South, other local government officers and some ward chairman at the Signature Hotel where he instigated them to remove the local government party chairman by whatever means.

    “He tried to create parallel executives in Ezeagu, Udi and Awgu Local Government Areas, which has thrown the party into chaos.

    “His misconduct and how he handles Enugu state party activities made Enugu state to have the worst result in the just concluded general election,” the chairman alleged.

    “All these anti party activities of these enemies of the party in the name of party executives, culminated into the colossal and abysmal performance of the party in the state at the last general elections despite the effort of our governorship candidate and we do not want a repeat of it.

    “On this premise, the aforementioned persons are hereby suspended with immediate effect.

    Efforts to reach the embattled chairman, Agballah, failed as his phone was switched off but the state treasurer, Mr. Jude Aniogbo declined comment saying that they would not join issues with the State Working Committee.

    “We will not join issues with the SWC that claimed to have suspended us as we are too busy to do that,” Aniogbo said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls  that in March, some stakeholders of the party had passed a vote of no confidence on Agballah over his alleged high handed leadership.

    The stakeholders led by an APC stalwart, Mrs Ginika Tor, expressed dismay that Agballah had destroyed the party structure in the state through unconstitutional suspension of its founding fathers.

    Those suspended by Agballah were former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, former Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, ex State Chairman, Ben Nwoye and former Director General of the Voice of Nigeria, Odita Okechukwu.

  • Top politician shot dead by gunmen in Enugu

    Top politician shot dead by gunmen in Enugu

    Gunmen alleged to be kidnappers have shot and killed a top politician, Ejike Ukwueze, in Enugu State.

    It was gathered that Ukwueze was reportedly killed on Friday night while driving in a local area, Neke Odenigbo, in Enugu East Local Government Area of the state.

    In a viral video, Ukwueze and his car were shot multiple times, with bullet holes visible in the vehicle.

    The victim is said to be the immediate younger brother of the late Chijioke Ukwueze, the member who represented Isi-Uzo Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, who in 2020 slumped and died during a plenary session of the House.

    A source close to the family alleged that they suspect the killing is politically motivated, suggesting it was an assassination as the victim was becoming influential in the Isi-Uzo Local Government Area political circle.

    “Yeah, I heard he was a strong contender. Aside from having the intention of running for the LG election, he was becoming a force in the Isi-Uzo political affairs, standing in for his dear late brother who was one of the most accepted and powerful political stakeholders in Isi-Uzo,” the source revealed.

    Meanwhile, the police authorities in Enugu State are yet to comment on the incident.

  • Sober atmosphere as Jnr Pope laid to rest in Enugu

    Sober atmosphere as Jnr Pope laid to rest in Enugu

    The people of Uwala Abaka, Ukehe, town  in Igboetiti  Local Government Area of Enugu State, on Friday weren’t happy as  the remains of actor John Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope, was laid to rest.

    The burial rites commenced at 10:00 am with a commendation mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Parish, Ukehe, and lying-in-state at his father’s compound, where family members, well-wishers, colleagues and friends had the final glimpse of the late actor before the body was moved to a private venue for internment at about 1:30 pm.

    It was a sober atmosphere at the venue of the burial ceremony as colleagues and fans gathered to pay their final respects to the late actor.

    The late actor’s wife, Jennifer Awele, couldn’t back tears as she was sighted weeping profusely at the commencement of the final funeral procession.

    Recall  that the 43-year-old actor died alongside four other people on April 10, after their boat capsized in the Anam River, in Anambra State, while returning from a movie shoot.

     

  • Funeral service for late Pope begins in Enugu

    Funeral service for late Pope begins in Enugu

    The funeral service for the late Nollywood actor, John Odonwodo, fondly called Junior Pope, has commenced at St. Peter’s Catholic Parish, Ukehe, in Enugu State today,

    The actor died alongside four others on April 10 when their boat capsized in the Anam River while returning from a movie shoot.

    His family had earlier revealed that he would be laid to rest on May 17 in his Uwala Abaka, Ukehe hometown, in Nsukka, Igboetiti Local Government Area of Enugu State.

     

  • Mbah places N10m bounty on killers of 2 policemen in Enugu

    Mbah places N10m bounty on killers of 2 policemen in Enugu

    Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu on Saturday, placed a N10 million bounty on the killers of two policemen in Enugu State, promised to fish out the culprits.

    He said the government would use every resource at its disposal to bring the killers to book.

    Mbah announced the reward while briefing newsmen after a State Security Council meeting at the Government House, Enugu, which also had in attendance, the State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kanayo Uzuegbu.

    Others are the State Director, State Security Services, Theresa Egbunu; Garrison Commander, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, Brig.-General Murtala Abu; and the State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Peter Ogar, among others.

    Mbah said available security information pointed toward the men of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), who came in several SUVs, among them a black Lexus SUV.

    He, therefore, called on members of the public to be on the lookout for the criminals and the exhibits and report same to security agencies.

    “We just rounded off our Security Council meeting where we discussed, among other things, about the gruesome killing of our policemen, men of the Enugu State Police Command by criminals suspected to be members of the ESN.

    “Let me say this, this bestial and cold-blooded action cannot be condoned in Enugu State.

    “I have given my directives to the security agencies that there must be no hiding place for these criminals in Enugu State.

    “We must use everything necessary to hunt down, arrest, and bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

    “We have also placed a bounty of N10 million as a reward to anyone, who would have any useful information that will lead to the arrest of these criminals,” he said.

    The governor enjoined members of the public to come forward, or call the police and other security agencies with any useful information that could lead to the arrest of these criminals.

    He added that there was no room to accommodate vagabonds and miscreants in the state.

    “We are going to do everything necessary to ensure that the ultimate sacrifice made by our valiant policemen does not go in vain.

    “Our condolences go to the bereaved families. I will also ensure that as government, we are going to provide the necessary support to the bereaved families,” he said.

    The governor vowed to come after those who murdered the policemen and other security agents with everything it had.

    “We are going to deploy all the necessary technology and forces within our powers to track, capture and defeat them.

    “Enugu State and indeed with the support of the security agencies, we are going to make life uncomfortable for those who do not want to live in a decent society,” he said.

  • UNN inaugurates first Vaccine Research Center in Enugu

    UNN inaugurates first Vaccine Research Center in Enugu

    The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) on Tuesday inaugurated a Vaccine Research Centre (VRC) for the development of vaccines for diseases that disproportionately affect Nigeria and Africa.

    The centre is located at the Coal City Garden Estate in Enugu and equipped with funds from the United States National Health Institute and Belinda and Gates Foundation.

    Inaugurating the center, the UNN Vice Chancellor, Prof Charles Igwe, expressed satisfaction that the center established in 2018 had eventually taken off having survived dormancy occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic and the prolonged industrial strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    Igwe commended the Director of the center, Prof Silva Anika and his team for making the project a reality and pledged that the center would help in addressing tropical animal and human diseases in the country.

    In his remarks, Prof Anika said that the VRC would cater for training, research, development and production of vaccines for most endemic but neglected tropical human and animal diseases.

    Anika said that the centre would establish collaborative partnership with national and global units to become viable and international in outlook.

    The director disclosed that the research had received grants to work on the epidemiology and population genomics of African Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) in both human and animals which caused immense suffering and economic losses in the society.

    “Through partnerships with governments, international organizations and the private sector, we intend to translate these investigations into widespread programs that will save lives and improve livestock health and production.

    “This centre strengthens our university’s traditional role of solving the biggest challenges that face Nigeria in particular and Africa in general, through scientific inquiry and discovery.

    “It is also a major step towards self reliance in healthcare and I am confident that with the dedication of our researchers and support from all levels of government, this centre will achieve major breakthroughs that will improve human and animal health for generations to come,”.

    The emeritus professor, however, disclosed that the centre had attracted about $1 million US dollars worth of equipment many of which required steady power supply.

    Conducting the guests round the centre, a veterinarian and researcher, Dr Chinwe Chukwudi, said that the million dollar equipment could be used to diagnose many diseases including cancer through researches.

    Chukwudi, who attracted the grant, said the centre had began a pilot study on Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) known as sleeping sickness noting that the disease had become prevalent in the country.

    According to her, there is 10 per cent prevalence rate in a sampled population at a hospital at Nsukka in Enugu State.

    She said that 11 out of 184 samples representing six per cent were consistently positive in all assays done adding that the data suggested a high burden of undiagnosed and unreported clinical HAT cases in Nigeria.

    Chukwudi said that the mode of sustained transmission needed to be established.

    The veterinarian, encouraged medical students in various capacities to access the facility for their studies and sustainability of the centre.

    The event was attended by the former Vice Chancellor of the UNN, Prof Benjamin Ozurumba, Prof Paul Modum and representatives of the Enugu State Primary Health Agency among others.

    NAN

  • Pandemonium in Enugu community as suspected herdsmen kill 5

    Pandemonium in Enugu community as suspected herdsmen kill 5

    Pandemonium as suspected herdsmen reportedly attacked the Nimbo community in the Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State on Sunday evening, killing at least five persons while several others were injured.

    According to reports, the suspected herders attacked mourners at Ugwuijoro Nimbo community, causing people to scamper for safety.

    Although the police are yet to make any statement concerning this incident, villagers identified five bodies as victims of the dastardly act.

    Nimbo in Uzouwani LGA came into the limelight in 2016 for similar incidents where headers attacked the community, killing scores as well as sacking entire village.

     

  • Enugu Govt., families to give Mr Ibu, Jnr Pope befitting burial

    Enugu Govt., families to give Mr Ibu, Jnr Pope befitting burial

    The Enugu State Government, says it is working with the families of the late Nollywood actors, John Okafor, a.k.a Mr Ibu, and Obumneme Odonwodo, a.k.a Junior Pope, to give them a befitting burial.

    The Enugu State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Aka Eze Aka, disclosed this in an interview with NAN on Friday in Enugu.

    Aka who said the death of the duo were a terrible blow to the government of Enugu State and Nigeria, said the state government was interested in giving them a befitting burial.

    On Junior Pope, the commissioner who said that no date had been fixed for the burial, stressed that the government were in contact with the family and were working together to see how they want their son to be buried.

    “Being a part of his burial committee on individual capacity, I will relate to the government what the family want,” Aka said.

    He added that the state government would be represented during Mr Ibu’s burial, scheduled to hold on June 28.

    Aka also explained that the state government did not respond on time when the news about Jnr Pope death broke out due to some circumstances surrounding his death, adding that many people did not know that he came from Enugu State.

    “A lot of people expected the state to jump the gun to begin to say one or two things about his death but it is only in Nigeria that people rush to break the news about somebody’s death without immediately knowing the sensibilities and feelings of the family.

    “This young man died on Wednesday and Enugu State Government got the news and was waiting for a confirmation as there were some stories that he was not dead, he is still alive, he has left mortuary and was to be buried beside the river.

    “Some of these stories did not go down well with us as we try to know what was happening. So on Thursday when Actors Guild issued a statement confirming the death, we still wanted to get across to the family.

    “When we did, we did not get the contact of the family as many of us did not know he came from Enugu,” he explained.

    He further explained after that the government began to engage the family in discussion, adding that, “for now, Enugu State government is interested in giving him a befitting burial.

    “We opened a state register because his death was a national calamity and a tragic event that shocked the whole nation.

    “We felt that there are so many fans who would like to express themselves by saying one or two things about him and we opened a condolence register to allow them do that.

    “The government does not celebrate death but when it happened, we do the needful,” he said.

    He also reiterated Gov. Peter Mbah’s commitment in building up entertainment industry in the state, especially as most of the talents were moving out of the state by building an entertainment villages.

    “This is why many people didn’t know that Jnr Pope was from Enugu State,” he stressed.

    Pope who hailed from Ukehe in Igbo-Etiti Council Area of Enugu State, alongside three of his colleagues, lost their lives in the tragic boat accident on River Niger while returning from a movie location on April 10.

    Mr Ibu, who hailed from Amuri in Nkanu West Council Areas of Enugu State, died on March 2 after battling with stroke, diabetics and kidney failure.

  • Easter: Gov. Mbah preaches sacrifice, love, says economic challenges will soon be over

    Easter: Gov. Mbah preaches sacrifice, love, says economic challenges will soon be over

    Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has urged the people of the state to emulate the virtues of self-sacrifice and love as exemplified by Christ.

    Mbah also urged them to hold fast to their faith in the midst of the present socio-economic challenges, saying that they would eventually become a thing of the past.

    He stated this in his Easter message to the people of Enugu State and the nation in general, signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Mainstream Media, Dan Nwomeh, on Sunday in Enugu.

    The governor said, “I join Ndi Enugu and Nigerians in celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    “His death and resurrection embody self-sacrifice, forgiveness, infinite love, and victory over every challenge, all of which our state and nation need at a time like this.

    “Therefore, as we mark Easter, I urge us to be our brother’s keeper and extend a hand of fellowship to those that offended us.

    “I equally enjoin us to remain unwavering in our service to our dear state and faith in the fatherland, rest assured that we shall overcome the present socio-economic challenges and the good times will ultimately return,” he stated.

    Mbah wished the people of Enugu State and Nigerians a happy Easter celebration.

  • Police raid IPOB/ESN hideout in Enugu, neutralise 2, recover firearm, ammunition

    Police raid IPOB/ESN hideout in Enugu, neutralise 2, recover firearm, ammunition

    The Police Command in Enugu State says it has raided an Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) criminal hideouts in Akwuke axis of Enugu metropolis.

    The police operatives, however, met with resistance from the renegades, who opened fire upon sighting them, but they were subdued by the superior firepower of the police, leading to the neutralisation of two of the renegades.

    The Command’s Spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement on Sunday that the Police conducted the raid on Saturday at about 2:30 a.m.

    Ndukwe said that other members of the outlawed group escaped with various gunshot wounds.

    He said that one AK-47 rifle, one Sub-Machine Gun (SMG), one stainless Pump-Action Gun (PAG), 27 live and 23 expended rounds of 7.62 mm calibre ammunition were recovered after the raid and gun duel.

    According to him, police also recovered five live cartridges and a small blue-coloured Gideon New Testament Bible probably used to conceal objects suspected to be charm.

    “In pursuance of the proactive/crime prevention strategies devised by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, police operatives of Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad carried out an intelligence-guided raid of a suspected IPOB/ESN hideout in Akwuke community in Enugu metropolis.

    “A preliminary investigation reveals that the breech number of the recovered AK-47 was wiped off.

    “The criminal elements are responsible for several attacks and carting away of police officers rifles, as the rifle’s magazine bore the Nigeria Police Force colour. Further discreet investigations are ongoing,” he said.

    The spokesperson noted that the CP, while commending the operatives for the feat, reaffirmed the command’s unwavering commitment to rid Enugu State of unrepentant criminals.

    He that the commissioner solicited the continued support of the citizenry, while urging them and owners of medical facilities, in particular, to report persons found with gunshot wounds to the nearest police operative or station.