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Tag: Imo

  • Imo govt seals banks for obeying IPOB’s sit-at-home order

    Imo govt seals banks for obeying IPOB’s sit-at-home order

    Imo State government through its agency, Owerri Capital Development Authority, OCDA, has sealed some banks in Owerri, the state capital.

    Some of the financial institutions that were sealed by the state government were Access, Polaris, First Bank, Eco Bank and United Bank for Africa.

    The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, told newsmen that the state government sealed the banks because they frustrated customers on Monday by refusing to open for transactions.

    Asked when the government would unseal the banks, Emelumba said it was left for OCDA and the banks to determine.

    Residents said they woke up yesterday morning to see the banks sealed while customers were seen in front of the banks stranded.

    The OCDA sticker pasted on the entrance door of the banks had the following inscriptions: ‘Sealed! Signed: General Manager; No building approval; removal of this sticker without approval from the office will attract a fine of N500,000’.

    All the banks in the state had closed for five consecutive Mondays following the sit-at-home declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, as a protest against its leader Nnamdi Kanu being detained by the federal government.

    Though IPOB had suspended the sit-at-home order, banks, schools, markets, and business outfits in the state had continued to shut down on Mondays as a precautionary measure.

  • Buhari visits Imo Thursday

    Buhari visits Imo Thursday

    Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo, says all is set for President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the state on Thursday, September 9.

    The governor disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, on Saturday.

    Uzodinma, who spoke upon his return from an official trip to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, said that the President would commission some “significant projects” executed by his administration.

    The governor said that he visited Abuja to “address some political matters and some critical issues that are supposed to be handled in Abuja.”

    He listed the issues to include getting Federal Government’s assistance on the World Bank programmes on rural roads, ecological programmes, the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management (NEWMAP) projects and other erosion control issues.

    “While in Abuja, I secured approval for President Muhammadu Buhari to visit Imo on Thursday, Sept. 9, to commission some significant projects put together by the Shared Prosperity Administration.

    “More to that, Imo has been able to attract additional support from Mr President on management of some ecological problems in the state,’’ he said.

    Speaking on his assignment as the Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council for the Anambra governorship election, Uzodinma acknowledged the importance of the responsibility thrust on him by the party.

    The governor assured that he was doing his best to disseminate the message of what the people stand to gain should they vote in the APC in the Nov. 6 election.

    He called on the people of Anambra and the South-East in general to align with the APC, adding that “those who support the party at the centre will get both their rights and their privileges”.

  • Five killed in fresh attacks on Imo Police Station

    Five killed in fresh attacks on Imo Police Station

    Two policemen and three gunmen lost their lives on Friday when a group of armed men attacked a police station Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Michael Abattam, confirmed the incident and casualty figure in a statement on Saturday, one week after another police station in the state was attacked and set ablaze.

    Abattam, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), identified the assailants, who swooped on the station around 2:45 am, as “armed bandits suspected to be members of the proscribed IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra)/ESN (Easter Security Network) terror group”.

    The attackers, he said, “came in their numbers to attack Izombe Police Station but could not gain access to the station due to the swift response of the ever-alert Imo Command’s tactical teams and personnel of Operation Restore Peace of the Command who intercepted and repelled the bandits”.

    After a gun battle, the police were able to repel the attackers.

    “They (the assailants) fled into the bush and in the process three of the bandits were neutralised … while others escaped into the bush with bullet wounds,” Abattam said.

    “Unfortunately, the command lost two of its gallant officers in the attack. Their arms – one pump action gun with two rounds of live cartridges, and one locally made double barrel pistol with two expended cartridges, were recovered from them to the station.”

    The tactical teams, according to Abattam, are already in pursuit of the fleeing gunmen and combing the bush with a view to bringing them to justice.

    As the police pursue to attackers, he called on the people of Imo, especially the residents of Izombe community where the station is located, to assist the police with credible information that would lead to the arrest of the assailants.

    The command’s spokesman urged residents to notify the police immediately they see anyone with bullet wounds.

    He also asked hospitals in the area to report anyone who seeks treatment of bullet wounds to the police.

    Friday’s incident followed the attack on a police station in Orsu Local Government Area of the state.

    Although the police said the attack was also repelled, they confirmed the death of an inspector and three assailants in the incident which occurred on Thursday last week.

  • Police arrest suspected ESN/IPOB chief priest in Imo, recover arms

    Police arrest suspected ESN/IPOB chief priest in Imo, recover arms

    Police command in Imo says it has arrested a native doctor, Ikechukwu Umaefulam, suspected to be the chief priest of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
    The Commissioner of Police in Imo, Abutu Yaro, made the disclosure in a press statement signed by the command’s spokesman CSP Mike Abattam on Tuesday.
    He said a pump action riffle with live ammunition was also recovered from him.
    “Sequel to the ceaseless raids on the proscribed IPOB/ESN camps and the successful neutralisation and decimation of the terror groups in the state, the command has arrested the chief priest of the terror group.
    “On 4/8/2021 at about 1820 hours, while interrogating suspects arrested from Okporo, Orlu LGA, one of the suspects revealed that they now patronise spiritual homes before attacking police stations.
    “The suspect led the ever active Imo command’s tactical team to the home of one Ikechukwu Umaefulem, the Chief Priest and Spiritual leader of Life Sabbath Synagogue Amii, Akabo in Ikeduru LGA.
    “When his spiritual home and premises was searched, police recovered one pump action gun with five rounds of live ammunition,” he said.
    He added that one improvised explosive device, knockouts, gun powder and a Biafran flag were recovered from him.
  • Attack on police station: Three gunmen killed, one officer dead in Imo

    Attack on police station: Three gunmen killed, one officer dead in Imo

    The Imo State Police Command on Friday said it has killed three bandits that attacked police station in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State, with explosives.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, who confirmed this to newsmen in Owerri, said a Police Inspector died during the gun battle with the bandits.

    Abutu, who said the attack happened on Thursday night, said the bandits were subdued by the Police and other gang members fled into bush with gunshot injuries. This was after the bandits had threw their explosives on the roof top of the Orsu Police station.

    The Police said: “On 5/8/2021 at about 2135 hours, armed bandits, in their numbers attacked and threw explosives and petrol bombs on top of the roof of Orsu Police station damaging the roof and causing fire outbreak in the station which spread and affected some of the vehicles parked at the parking lot.

    “The command’s tactical teams on ground engaged the bandits in a gun duel. And due to the superior fire power of the police the bandits were subdued. Three of the bandits were neutralized and their guns, one pump action gun and two locally made double barrel pistols were recovered while others escaped into the bush with bullet wounds.”

    “Unfortunately, a police inspector lost his life in the attack. Meanwhile, the command is using this medium to call on the good people of Imo State especially, the Orsu community to assist the police with credible information that will lead to the arrest of the escaped bandits and to report to the nearest police station any person seen with or treating bullet wounds. Also hospitals are advised to ensure that they report any person who come to them for treatment of bullet wounds,” Police said.

  • Court of Appeal Justice Demands Punishment for Jigawa, Imo High Court Judges for Dabbling into Anambra Gubernatorial Matter

    Court of Appeal Justice Demands Punishment for Jigawa, Imo High Court Judges for Dabbling into Anambra Gubernatorial Matter

    Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme of the Court of Appeal has demanded punishment for the judge of the Jigawa State High Court, Justice Ubale of Birnin Kudu, and his counterpart in the Imo State judiciary, Justice B. C. Iheka, for what she described as their unprofessional conduct by dabbling into the Anambra State gubernatorial election controversy and for giving consequential judgments on it.

     

    The Court of Appeal justice also wants lawyers who took the cases to the state high courts in Jigawa and Imo states disciplined for professional misbehavior.

     

    Justice Nwosu-Iheme made the demand while ruling today on a motion by Chike Onyemenam (SAN), counsel to Jude Okeke, who claims to be the national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), to stop the execution of the order made earlier on July 18 by Justice Charles C. Okaa of the Anambra State High Court in Awka directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Professor Charles Soludo, as the APGA candidate in the November 6 gubernatorial election in the state, in line with the outcome of the June 23 APGA Congress and primary election which Soludo won by almost 94% and monitored by INEC.

    INEC had on July 16 published The Honorable Chukwuma Umeoji of the House of Representatives as the APGA candidate following an order by the Jigawa State High Court on June 28, but was not made known until the eve of the INEC’s unveiling of names of various candidates.

     

    The consequential order was based on the argument that Okeke was the APGA acting national chairman who purportedly took over from one Edozie Njoku.

    INEC, which regulates Nigerian political parties, has no record of either Njoku or Okeke as having ever been the APGA national chairman, as it has in the last few years recognized only Chief Victor Oye as the party’s chairman.

     

    Still, Justice Iheka, presiding over the Imo State High Court in Owerri, on July 30 gave a judgment affirming Okeke as the APGA chairman and Umeoji the party’s gubernatorial candidate.

     

    The Court of Appeal justice accused Anambra politicians of going round the country shopping for judgments to enable them to contest in the November governorship election rather than appear before the courts which have the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the election.

     

    She regretted that some judges and lawyers indulge such politicians and as a result bring the legal profession into public contempt.

     

    Justice Nwosu-Iheme, therefore, called for strong punishments to be meted out to the state high court judges in Jigawa and Imo states who gave judgments on the Anambra APGA controversy and the lawyers who brought the cases before them.

     

  • Irate youths burn three suspected robbers in Imo

    Irate youths burn three suspected robbers in Imo

    Three suspected armed robbers have been burnt to death in Owerre Ebeiri in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State after they were caught robbing traders in the market.

    The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, confirmed this to newsmen in Owerri on Sunday.

    Also, the suspects were alleged to be members of the gang of armed robbers robbing commuters plying on Owerri/Orlu road in the State.

    However, the CP has warned members of the public to desist from taking laws into their hands whenever they arrest criminal suspects, saying that they should always hand them over to the Police for lawful prosecution.

    Yaro said in order to stop what he called jungle justice from happening in the future that his command has inaugurated investigating team from the State Criminal Investigation Department on the burning of criminal suspects in Orlu.

    The Police Chief said: “On 24/7/2021 at about 06:30 hours, the inhabitants of Owerre Ebeiri in Orlu caught in the act, three armed robbers while robbing some traders yet to be identified.

    “It is believed that they are the ones that have been terrorising the community using an unmarked motorcycle to rob innocent people, especially traders along Owerri Orlu Road, Imo State.

    “The robbers were beaten, tied and set ablaze before the Police Patrol Team arrived at the scene. Efforts made to arrest the perpetrators proved abortive as they all ran away on sighting the Police Patrol Team.”

    “The Commissioner of Police Imo State Command, CP Abutu Yaro, FDC, while condemning the barbaric act, advised members of the public and communities alike to always hand over suspects to the police for proper investigation and prosecution instead of taking the laws into their hands.

    “He then, set up an investigating team from the State Criminal Investigation Department of the command to investigate the cause and possible ways to prevent in future mob actions in the State,” CP said.

  • Court throws out suit seeking Uzodinma, deputy’s removal

    Court throws out suit seeking Uzodinma, deputy’s removal

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to nullify the election of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and his deputy Prof Placid Njoku and to declare the governor’s seat vacant.

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo held that the applicant, Mcfyne C. Chikwedu, had no locus standi, adding that the suit was “patently non-justiciable.”

    The judge noted that Uzodimma’s election had been affirmed by the Supreme Court and his court was not an election tribunal that could sit on appeal over elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He ordered Chikwedu to pay INEC N250,000 as costs “for bringing such a frivolous and meaningless suit to this court for adjudication.”

    INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) were the first and second defendants in the suit numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/1085/2020.

    The July 19 judgment followed Chikwedu’s suit alleging that the governor did not meet the constitutional requirement to be declared winner of the March 9 election.

    Dismissing his contention, the judge observed that there was no connection between the plaintiff and the defendants.

    Taiwo held: “If I may ask, was he (Chikwedu) a contestant in the Imo Governorship Election in 2019?

    “He only described himself in paragraphs 1 and 2 of the affidavit in support of the originating summons thus: ‘(1) That I am the plaintiff in this suit and an indigene of Ikeduru LGA of Imo State. (2) That by virtue of my position I am conversant with the facts of this case.’

    “These averments are not enough to cloth the plaintiff with the toga of locus standi.

    “It is a notorious fact that the issue of the Imo State governorship election has been litigated up to the Supreme Court, the apex court in the land on the 14th of January, 2020 and it was held among other things that Senator Hope Uzodimma is the winner of the Governorship Election of Imo State and that the Certificate of Returns be issued to him.

    “This court cannot shut its eyes to these facts…This case has no legs to stand on. It is dead on arrival and nothing can be done to resuscitate it.

    “I need to state that cases of this nature ought not to be permitted to see the light of day if not for the constitutional provision as to fair hearing.

    “I am of the well-considered view that parties should desist from bringing such time-wasting suits to court knowing fully well that they have no chance to succeed. The time of the court is very precious.

    “This case is dismissed in its entirety. This is the judgment of the court.”

    The applicant had sought a declaration that Uzodimma’s election was unconstitutional for violating Section 1 and 179 of the 1999 Constitution.

    He also sought, through his counsel F. I Aliuna, an order compelling INEC to withdraw Uzodimma’s Certificate of Return and conduct a fresh election within 90 days from the date of the nullification.

    He further prayed for an order dissolving the Imo State Executive Council, Imo State Boards and Commissions, Imo State Local Government Interim Management Committee as constituted and all other appointments so far made by the governor, and his deputy and to direct them to immediately handover to the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly.

    He prayed the court to direct the Chief Judge of Imo State to swear in the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly as the Acting Governor with immediate effect pending the election and swearing-in of a substantive governor.

    INEC opposed him via its counsel, Anthony Onyeri, on the ground of a lack of locus standi. The AGF did not enter an appearance.

    Upholding INEC’s preliminary objection, the judge dismissed Chikwedu’s suit “in its entirety.”

  • Property seizure: Okorocha begs court to set aside Imo panels’ decisions

    Property seizure: Okorocha begs court to set aside Imo panels’ decisions

    Former Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, on Tuesday, urged the Federal High Court, Abuja, to make an order setting aside the seizure and sealing of some of his property by the state government.
    Okorocha also asked Justice Ahmed Mohammed to restrain the defendants from investigating him or implement the recommendations of the seven panels set up to probe him while he served as the state governor between June 2006 and May 2019 pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
    The request was contained in a motion on notice brought by his lawyer, Oba Maduabuchi, SAN, dated and filed on June 25.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okorocha, Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/558/2020 filed on May 28, 2020, had urged the court to restrain the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and others from probing him.
    While the EFCC is the 1st respondent, the 2nd to 48th respondents are the Attorney General (AG) of Imo and members of the seven panels set up to probe previous administrations in the state.
    However, only the EFCC was represented in court on Tuesday.
    Maduabuchi told the court that the latest application sought a restoration of the status quo despite the white paper issued by the state government panels.
    The senior lawyer said despite the service of the motion on the 2nd to 48th defendants, none of them appeared in court.
    According to him, one is not surprised about their absence in court because that has been their attitude.
    “It is surprising that the attorney general of the state, who was served processes in the suit since last year, has not filed anything,” he said.
    Maduabuchi informed that immediately an order of stay of proceedings against the panels was granted by the court, the state government panels quickly accelerated their proceedings and concluded their findings.
    “Copies of the white paper issued by the panels were exhibited in the application,” he said.
    The lawyer said the anti-graft agency had always been in court and had since filed its defence.
    “For the attorney general and the panels, we can go to hell.
    “But I know my lord is not completely powerless,” he said.
    Counsel to the EFCC, G.C. Ofulue, did not oppose Maduabuchi’s application.
    Justice Mohammed adjourned the matter until July 15 for hearing in the plaintiff’s motion on notice.
    He also ordered that hearing notices be issued to the 2nd to 48th defendants.
    NAN reports that some of the property listed in the motion include: Eastern Palm University Ogboko; Royal Spring Palm Hotels and Apartments, Akachi Road, Owerri, Imo; Imo Broad Casting Corporation Staff Quarters, Orji or Rochas Foundation Collage Orji; Public Building Plot B/2 Otamiri South Extension Layout and Magistrate Quarters, Orlu Road /Corporate Office including market square Kilimanjaro.
    Others are Plot 5 Naze Residential Layout and all property contained in pages 226 to 272 of the government white paper on the Florence Duruoha Igwe judicial Commission of inquiry into land Administration in Imo State from June 2006 to May 2019.
  • Governor Uzodimma Flags Off N4billion Imo Youth Empowerment Program

    Governor Uzodimma Flags Off N4billion Imo Youth Empowerment Program

    By Debo Oladimeji

    In fulfillment of his promise to gainfully engage the youths in governance and make them contribute to the economic growth of the state, Governor Hope Uzodimma has flagged off the disbursement of N4billion Naira to over 15,000 Imo youths who were trained in different vocations and skills.

    Governor Hope Uzodimma further expressed the readiness of his administration dedicate last Saturday of every June as IMO YOUTH DAY. He added that the empowerment exercise would be sustained.

    In his keynote address at the disbursement ceremony held at Dan Anyiam Stadium Owerri Imo State, Governor Hope Uzodimma stated that the empowerment exercise was to meaningfully engage the youths so as to prepare them for future challenges and equally discouraged them from engaging in various of crime.

    “You have often heard it said that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop, keeping you busy will save you from temptation. Sociology experts believe that there is correlation between unemployment and crime. Our goal is to get you employed and keep you away from crime. Do not disappoint yourself and the Government,” Uzodimma said.

    “My administration is not a promise and fail, I mean every word I say to you,” Uzodimma reiterated.

    The All Progressives Congress, APC Imo State chapter has also commended Governor Uzodimma, for his unparalleled commitment in addressing the cancerous issue of youth unemployment and insecurity in the state, in line with the Shared Prosperity mantra of his administration.

    According to the Director General of APC Media Centre in Imo State, Cajetan Duke the party considers the empowerment of over 15, 000 Imo youths drawn across the 27 local government areas of the state, who had earlier been trained by the ministry of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition in various skills and trades with a cash grant of 4 billion naira startup pack as a sustainable roadmap to enhancing small and medium scale sector of the economy, which remains a critical tool for mitigating unemployment rate in our society.

    “Our party is particularly excited that inspite of various challenging political turbulence in the state, Uzodimma has remained focused and unwavering in providing leadership and direction. We are hopeful that the positive impact this brilliant initiative of the governor will create in the system through economic stimulation and improvement of the lives of the beneficiaries will be enormous.”

    He continued: “This laudable programme aimed at enhancing the productive capacities of the beneficiaries, remains one of the numerous remarkable programmes and policies of the Uzodimma led APC administration designed to meet the yearnings and aspirations of our youths.

    “While we commend the governor for this unprecedented bold step, the party charged the beneficiaries to make good use of the fund given to them,” he said.