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Tag: Enugu

  • Enugu Govt. threatens to shut down schools, markets observing one week sit-at-home order

    Enugu Govt. threatens to shut down schools, markets observing one week sit-at-home order

    Enugu State Government has threatened to shut down schools, markets observing one week illegal sit-at-home order by the self-acclaimed factional leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa.

    This is contained in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia on Tuesday in Enugu.

    Ekpa had on June 14 in a letter to all Igbos, declared total lockdown from July 3 to 10 excluding July 6.

    According to Onyia, Enugu State Government is alarmed and dismayed by this development and hereby warns that any school that fails to open and function normally on Tuesday will have its licence revoked immediately.

    He added that the State Government also extended the same warning to market unions and shop owners in the state.

    He said, “The attention of the Enugu State Government has been drawn to reports on social media this Tuesday morning that proprietors of private schools in the state are sending messages to their pupils and students to stay at home.

    “This is on account of the illegal one week sit-at-home order allegedly declared by faceless non-state actors in the state.

    “All markets and shops in the various markets must be open to customers from today or be shut down indefinitely.”

    Onyia said the state government reiterated its ban on any form of illegal sit-at-home in all parts of the state, as it was evil and antithetical to all values they hold dear as a people, such as the Igbo spirit of industry, hardwork, creativity and productivity.

    He urged the general public to go about their normal daily activities as adequate security measures had been put in place to protect lives and property.

    “Government will no longer sit by and watch faceless groups and misguided individuals issue illegal orders, dictating to us how to lead our lives, when to go to work or market and when our children go to school.

    “This is no longer acceptable and must be confronted and defeated with every power and resources at our disposal,” Onyia said.

    He further stated that the state government also warned that it would deploy the full instrumentality of the law such as the Cybercrime Act 2015 to go after and prosecute anybody, individuals, groups, and organisations intentionally encouraging the illegal sit-at-home order.

    This, he said, include those instilling fear on residents, raising false alarm to disturb public peace and others through fake news sharing and propagation of falsehood connected with the illegal sit-at-home order on social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter.

    “This, however, is by no means, depriving citizens freedom of speech and information as enshrined in the constitution,” Onyia explained.

  • Enugu community accuses soldiers of allegedly killing 2, army says it is untrue

    Enugu community accuses soldiers of allegedly killing 2, army says it is untrue

    The people of Eke Community in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State have alleged the killing of a volunteer member of its neighborhood vigilante watch and a housewife from the community by soldiers.

    Narrating what transpired on Sunday, Mr Emeka Anigbo, Assistant Chief Security Officer of Eke Security Neighbourhood Vigilante Watch, who is still grieving over gunshot pain, said they were at 9th Mile Corner on Thursday night when they got a distress call.

    Anigbo said that the caller said that armed robbers blocked the major road leading to the popular Catholic Church Prayer Center (Ugwudinso) and Eke, from Ama Breweries.

    According to him, “on receiving the distress call, we swiftly drove out with a view to confronting the criminal elements, but due to heavy traffic gridlock occasioned by the blockage of the road, they could not get to the scene with their vehicle.

    He said they (vigilante group) decided to park their vehicle along the road, and started moving towards the place, and that while approaching the scene, they met three armed soldiers who ordered them to stop.

    “We obeyed the soldiers and identified ourselves as neighborhood vigilante watch guards. The soldiers asked us to keep coming.

    “On approaching, the soldiers started firing at us, killing one of us and a woman who was on a motorcycle with her husband going back to Eke community.

    “Despite the fact that we were in our full security uniforms and had identified ourselves, the trigger-happy soldiers opened fire on us at a very close range, killing Oke, and the woman.

    “After shooting me severally, while I was on the ground, one of the soldiers still, notwithstanding seeing my identification card and my uniform, went ahead to shoot me again on the shoulder,” Anigbo said.

    Anigbo said that it was the timely arrival of police operatives from 9th Mile Corner Division that saved his life, adding it was the police that stopped the soldier and confirmed that we are Eke Neighborhood Security Guards.

    He alleged that the soldiers equally shot three other members of the local security outfit at close range, leaving them with various degrees of bullet injuries, including one whose penis was completely shattered.

    “It is unfortunate that Mr Ebuka Oke, shot during the barbaric attack by the soldiers, lost his father exactly one month on the same day he was killed,” he said.

    Efforts to speak with Chinedu Okolo, whose manhood was shattered, failed, as he could not utter a word due to severe pains, just as the third victim, Obinna Offor, was passing excruciating pains under oxygen support at the intensive care unit of a hospital.

    Some natives of Eke community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, condemned the unprofessional conducts of the soldiers, describing it as “barbaric and callous”, while calling for independent investigation.

    When contacted, Lt.- Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division of Nigerian Army, described as untrue the narrative of the community people and its vigilante arm.

    Unuakhalu said that from the available information in the Division’s disposal, the deceased woman was killed by a stray bullet from armed hoodlums who engaged the soldiers in a shoot-out.

    He said that the troops received a distress call that some criminal elements were operating along the Eke road, and they immediately rushed to the scene, on sighting the soldiers the hoodlums opened fire on them.

    He noted that the soldiers overpowered them leading to the arrest of one of them, and recovering of two pump action guns and some live bullets, after some ran into a nearby bush.

    The Division’s spokesman said he had no information regarding the alleged second deceased (the male).

    He added that it was in the course of the exchange of fire between the troop and the hoodlums that a stray bullet hit the deceased house wife who was rushed to the hospital, “but unfortunately, later died”.

    “So, there is no iota of truth in the information being peddled around that it was soldiers that killed the deceased (female). Our men only rushed to the scene to salvage the situation, after receiving a distress call,” he insisted.

    He noted that it was unfortunate that the woman died, if not, she would have been in the best position to narrate exactly what happened.

    “The Division is going to carry out proper investigation on the incident, so as to unravel what actually transpired,” he said.

    Eke community is the hometown of the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Osita Okechukwu and immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, among others.

  • Protest: Commuters block Enugu-Nsukka road over incessant kidnappings

    Protest: Commuters block Enugu-Nsukka road over incessant kidnappings

    Vehicular movement along Enugu-Nsukka Road was halted for hours after commuters blocked the Enugu-Nsukka Road over the incessant kidnapping of drivers and passengers.

    The development left road users stranded for over one hour.

    The protesters were seen chanting songs, asking the Federal and the Enugu State Governments to come to the aid of drivers, passengers and other road users.

    Speaking to newsmen, a commercial driver who plys from Nsukka to Enugu, Mr Ben Onyeke said that the protest was to bring the attention of Barr Peter Mbah, the Governor of Enugu State to what drivers plying Opi-Nsukka-Ugwuogo Enugu road have been going through with their passengers recently.

    “This road has become kidnappers’ den as drivers and passengers are abducted on a daily basis.

    “Last week, three Sienna commercial drivers were kidnapped and ransom paid before they were released.

    “Some of our drivers who escaped from being kidnapped had their body and vehicles ridden with bullets by these hoodlums,” he said.

    Also speaking, Mr Chujwudi Offia said many people now avoided traveling on the road for fear of being kidnapped.

    “We are using this protest to tell the Enugu State government and security agencies to rise up to their responsibilities by ensuring that these criminals are arrested and prosecuted.

    “The first duty of every government is to protect lives and property, so the government should protect us from these hoodlums.

    “We are doing this today so that Nigerians will hear our voice as we don’t known the next driver that will be kidnapped,” he lamented.

    Also speaking, Mr Cosmos Agbo, a community leader from Opi described the level of kidnapping on the road as unfortunate.

    Agbo said he narrowly escaped being kidnapped last week, adding that he was yet to recover from the psychological shock.

    “Government’s primary responsibility is to protect lives and property of citizens. The Enugu State Government should act fast to bring the activities of these criminals to an end.

    “The state government employed people who work as forest guards; the government should direct them to go into the bush to flush out these kidnappers,” he said.

    It was gathered that the intervention of Umabor Eha-Alumona Divisional Police Officer, Mr Allen Evason yielded result as the protesters removed the road block.

    Evason promised the protesters that kidnapping on that road would soon end as security agencies were working night and day to ensure that those behind the crime were tracked down, arrested and prosecuted.

    Meanwhile, the Enugu State Government says normalcy has returned to the area.

    This was contained in a statement on Tuesday by Mr Reuben Onyishi,Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Enugu State on New Media.

    “The road is safe as a joint team of the military, police and forest guards patrol the road and the bushes. Let no one be scared.

    “Opi-Ugwuogo Road is safe as Enugu State Government has adequately contained any form of insecurity on that road,” Onyishi said.

  • Enugu government bans illegal mining

    Enugu government bans illegal mining

    The Enugu State Government has banned with immediate effect all illegal mining activities taking place in some communities of the state.

    This was disclosed by the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia.

    He warned of the dire consequences for any illegal miner that flouts the directive of the State Governor, Barr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.

    Onyia observed that it was in the over all interest of the public to protect the people from any hazard or pollution, and also maintain equal rights of benefits accruable from any mineral resources to the people of the state that informed the decision of the State Government.

    According to him, the directive of governor Mbah became necessary following the report of the discovery of mineral resources in some communities in the State, and the illegal mining of such mineral resources in those communities without the authorization/consent of the State Government.

    “I hereby direct that all illegal mining activities in Enugu State should stop with immediate effect”, the statement added.

    It would be recalled that Governor Mbah had in his recent inaugural address shortly after his swearing – in by the State Chief Judge, Justice Raymond A. Ozoemena, made it clear that his administration will be business unusual

    According to him, “tough decisions will be taken. Those will however be taken in the best interest of Ndi Enugu and Enugu State in general.

    “You will constitute the driving force of every action we take as your representatives. Our driving force and governance philosophy will be always based on transcendental values”, he said.

     

  • Enugu Gov-elect, Mbah slams N20bn suit on NYSC

    Enugu Gov-elect, Mbah slams N20bn suit on NYSC

    The Enugu state Governor-elect, Mr Peter Mbah has filed a N20 billion suit against the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC) at the Federal High Court, over alleged conspiracy, deceit, and misrepresentation of facts.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo had on Monday, upon a motion ex-parte by Mbah’s counsel, Mr Emeka Ozoani (SAN), sequel to the lawsuit stopped NYSC from disclaiming Mbah’s certificate.

    In the suit, Mbah is equally seeking a declaration that he participated in the NYSC scheme vide a call-up letter number FRN/2001/800351; Lagos code LA/01/1532, and upon completion was issued certificate of National Service No. A808297.

    The governor-elect also alleged that the corps conspired by fraudulent design, suppressed and misrepresented facts in supposition that his certificate of national service with number A808297 was not issued by them.

    According to him, this is a fact they know as untrue, incorrect, and which act he said constitutes an act of conspiracy.

    He also wants a declaration that the defendants were negligent and maliciously misrepresented facts, which facts the defendants know or ought to know as untrue and ought reasonably to have foreseen that damages would flow from such negligent misrepresentation of material facts.

    An affidavit in support of the motion on notice deposed by Ms Grace Udeagha,  stated among others, that Mbah, after graduating in law from the University of East London in 2000, returned to Nigeria.

    She also deposed in the affidavit that as a prerequisite to practice as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Mbah applied and was admitted into the Bar Part I programme of the Nigerian Law School.

    She further deposed that the plaintiff upon completing the Bar Part I exam had to wait for the Bar Part II programme.

    “That the plaintiff in view of the above was called up for the NYSC and was deployed to Lagos State, with the following particulars: Mbah Peter Ndubuisi; Call up letter No 01134613; reference No NYSC/FRN/2001/800351.

    “That the plaintiff in the course of his NYSC programme aforesaid and after six months of NYSC, the Nigerian law School scheduled the commencement of the Bar Part II programme usually called Bar Finals.

    “The plaintiff was offered admission to the Nigerian Law School by a letter dated  June 20, 2002, the plaintiff applied to the State Director, NYSC, for deferment of NYSC year 2001/2002.

    “Pursuant to paragraph 12  the NYSC directorate headquarters vide Ref: NYSC/DHQ/CM/M/27 approved the plaintiff’s application for deferment of NYSC Ref: LA/01/1532 of Aug.6, 2002.

    “That the plaintiff upon completion of his NYSC service, was issued the NYSC certificate No. A808297 dated Jan.6, 2003, certifying that he completed the one year of NYSC from Jan.7, 2002, to Jan.6 ”.

    No date has been fixed to hear the motion.

  • Court bars NYSC from further disclaiming Mbah, Enugu governor-elect’s certificate

    Court bars NYSC from further disclaiming Mbah, Enugu governor-elect’s certificate

    The Federal High Court, Abuja has restrained the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC)  from further publishing a disclaimer, denying the issuance of certificate dated Jan.6, 2003, to the Enugu state Governor-elect, Mr Peter Mbah.

    Ruling on an ex parte application moved by Mr Emeka Ozoani, SAN, on behalf of Mbah, Justice Inyang Ekwo also barred the NYSC Director, Corps Certification, Mr Ibrahim Muhammad from continuing to issue a disclaimer to the effect that Mbah’s  NYSC certificate was not issued by the NYSC.

    Ozoani brought the motion under Section 13(1) & (2) of the Federal High Court Act Cap F12, Vol. 6, Law of Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Order 26 Rule 6(1) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019.

    Justice Ekwo granted prayer one on the motion paper.

    The judge, however refused to grant prayer two saying that it was far-reaching but rather ordered the plaintiff to put the defendants on notice.

    He said that the second prayer was an issue to be adjudicated upon in the substantive suit.

    Consequently, the trial judge ordered the applicant to serve the defendants with court processes within two days of the order.

    The motion ex parte was predicated on 10 grounds.

    He said that after graduating in law from the University of East London in 2000, returned to Nigeria and as a pre-requisite to practice as barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, applied and was admitted into the Bar part 1 programme of the Nigerian Law School.

    Mbah said upon completing the bar part I exam, he had to wait for the bar part 2 programme, and was advised that instead of spending time idling around, he should proceed to the mandatory one-year NYSC programme.

    He said he was called up for  NYSC and was deployed initially to Nigerian Ports Authority Apapa for his primary assignment but was rejected by NPA, before securing the law firm of Ude & Associates.

    “The plaintiff in the course of his service year and after six months of NYSC, applied and was granted approval to defer the NYSC in order to enable him complete the bar final exam.

    “Thereafter, the plaintiff was re-mobilized  to finish the NYSC programme, which he did complete.”

    Mbah averred that upon completion of the NYSC, he was issued the certificate of National Service No. A.808297 dated Jan.6, 2003.

    Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until May 22 for hearing of the motion on notice.

    The NYSC had on Feb. 1 written a letter signed by Mr. Ibrahim Muhammed saying that the NYSC certificate belonging to Mbah was not issued by the corps.

    Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP)  won the Enugu state governorship election held in March 18.

  • We’re determined to change governance in Enugu State – LP

    We’re determined to change governance in Enugu State – LP

    The Labour Party (LP) in Enugu State says it is determined to usher in a different governance structure in the state.

    The state Chairman of LP, Mr Casmir Agbo, said this on Friday during a one-day retreat organised by the party for the 14 LP members-elect to the State House of Assembly.

    Agbo said that as the majority in the assembly, the party stood the chance to chart a new course for the state.

    “With you as the majority in the house, you must show example. You must show why our people trusted us and gave us the mandate.

    “Do not fight anybody but you must take your rightful positions and lead my example,” he said.

    Mr. Chijioke Edeoga, the governorship candidate of the party in the state, said the retreat was organised to chart the way forward for the new legislators.

    He said, though the party was sure of reclaiming its victory at the tribunal, there was need for the party to put the legislators on the right part.

    He advised them to shun greed and respect the wishes of the electorate who toiled to vote them into office.

    “You are there because someone paid the price. You are there because someone sacrificed for you to be there.

    “So, you must make the difference, so that people will not see you as the same, and our victory will be blown away in a jiffy,” he said.

    Edeoga said that when LP reclaimed its mandate in the state, he would invite technocrats, who are ready to work to form the government.

    A guest Lecturer, Prof. Jude Udenta of the Department of Political Science and Administration, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), advised the members-elect to have unity of purpose.

    He said that for the legislators to succeed in the house, they should unite and take over all the legislative positions to make it easier for them to achieve their objectives.

    Labour party won 14 out of 24 assembly seats while PDP won 10 seats.

  • Police investigate murder of Enugu APGA chieftain

    Police investigate murder of Enugu APGA chieftain

    The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Ahmed Ammani, has ordered the Homicide Section of the State CID and Tactical Squads of the Command to unravel the circumstances of the murder of Mr. Dons Udeh, a Chieftain of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    The commissioner directed that the perpetrators of the heinous crime be fished out and brought to book within the shortest possible time.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, on Thursday in Enugu.

    According to him, the lifeless and decomposing body of the deceased, identified as a 2023 Enugu State Governorship Election Aspirant under the APGA, was found in a bush at 9th Mile Bypass in Udi Local Government Area, on April 25, at about 11:00 a.m.

    “His lifeless body was found with marks of violence, which strongly suggests that he was murdered.

    “The corpse was evacuated to the hospital, where it was confirmed dead and deposited in the mortuary for preservation and medical autopsy by Police operatives serving in 9th Mile Police Division of the Command,” he said.

    Ndukwe said that preliminary investigation indicated that the deceased was reported to have been missing since April 22 at about 4 p.m., when he left his Enugu city home in a white-coloured Toyota Highlander Jeep, with registration number: ENU 800 NX, to an undisclosed destination.

    “All efforts made to trace his whereabouts proved abortive, until his remains were found on the date and location, while  the vehicle was later found abandoned and recovered on April 26 at about 10:00 a.m., at Ngwo on Old Enugu Road.

  • Police arraign man for strangling friend, burying corpse in shallow grave

    Police arraign man for strangling friend, burying corpse in shallow grave

    Police in Enugu State have arrested a man for allegedly strangling his friend and burying the victim in a shallow grave.

    Police spokesman in the state, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, stated on Monday in Enugu that the incident took place on April 1 at Amori community in Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state.

    He stated that the 24-year-old suspect, a native of Ebonyi, resident at Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra, had been arraigned and remanded at Enugu Custodial Centre.

    “The suspect and the deceased had travelled from Ogidi, Anambra, to Amori on April 1 to visit a native doctor.

    “In the night, they left the native doctor’s house for an unknown destination.

    “A search was conducted, but they were not found until the following morning, when police arrested the suspect at Obe community in the same council area while attempting to escape and return to Ogidi,’’ he stated.

    Ndukwe added that the suspect confessed to strangling the victim and burying the corpse in a shallow grave in the bush from where it was exhumed.

    He stated also that the corpse had been deposited in the mortuary preparatory to autopsy.

    “The case was transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Enugu, and the suspect arraigned. Ndukwe explained.

  • Army denies forceful eviction of retired officer

    Army denies forceful eviction of retired officer

    The Nigerian Army (NA) has dismissed as misleading, reports in a section of the media that soldiers invaded the Enugu residence of a retired army officer and evicted his family.

    The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Thursday, said the story was deliberately skewed to tarnish the image and reputation of the Nigerian army.

    According to Nwachukwu, it is expedient to set the record straight and clear grey areas on the ejection of the retired senior officer.

    He said House 7 on Abakaliki Lane was among Federal Government houses accommodating Nigerian army officers in Enugu for over two decades.

    He said that the house was allocated to retired Col. EL Ugwoke, then a Major, as his official residence when he was posted as the Deputy Commander 82 Division Intelligence Group in 2007.

    Nwachukwu explained that the officer continued to occupy the house even after he was posted out of the division.

    He added that it was later discovered that he attempted to dubiously appropriate the house to himself, using some officials of Enugu State Government.

    Nwachukwu said that in 2020, a committee was instituted by then General Officer Commanding (GOC) to ascertain the status of the property.

    He said that the property was discovered to be among the houses handed over to 82 Division by past administrators to ameliorate the accommodation challenges of the Division.

    “That the said property was not among 26 residential quarters officially handed over to the Enugu State Government in 2015.

    “That there are no documents to confirm that the said property was sold or paid for by anyone.

    “It is worthy of note that officers of the army occupying institutionalised houses are expected to vacate such accommodation while on posting or retirement.

    “However, the retired senior officer failed to comply knowing fully the rippling effects on accommodation status of others posted in, and serving officers,” he said.

    The Army spokesman also said the alleged brutalisation of the retired officer’s wife and children in the said publication was outright falsehood aimed at whipping up undue sentiments.

    He said the Nigerian army was a disciplined institution with utmost regard for family institution and the vulnerable, particularly women and children.

    According to him, the ejection process was audio and visually documented, as it was envisaged that such allegation could arise.

    “Emphatically, neither the wife nor children were brutalised and no property was damaged in the process of eviction.

    “The retired senior officer’s belongings were simply transfered from the house in question to his personal house at number 127 Park Avenue, GRA Enugu to pave way for other serving officers to be accommodated.

    “This was after serving the retired officer three previous official notices and several appeals for him to vacate the property after his retirement in 2021.

    “The general public is advised to disregard this misleading publication as it is devoid of the actual facts of what transpired.

    “The Nigerian army will not relent in catering for the wellbeing and welfare of its serving and retired personnel within the ambits of legitimacy,” he said.