TheNewsGuru

Tag: Imo

  • Imo Speaker, deputy move into official quarters one year after living in hotels

    Imo Speaker, deputy move into official quarters one year after living in hotels

    The Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Collins Chiji and his Deputy are now set to move into their official quarters after one year of patronising various hotels in the state.

    The move, according to the Commissioner for information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba is based on a recent intervention from Governor Hope Uzodinma.

    Emelumba who disclosed this in Owerri in a chat with some journalists said the development further underscores the determination of the state government to restore the dignity of government and governance which was completely eroded in the past.

    According to the commissioner, the situation in the past was such that serious government business was conducted either in a bush bar, a guest house or a hotel which made the whole process of governance look unserious.

    “The government of Sen. Hope Uzodimma believes in dignity of government and governance. A situation where the speaker and his deputy were living in hotels was unacceptable to him.

    This is why he has made it possible for the official residences of the leaders of the legislative arm to be renovated. In a few weeks they will move in.”

    Emelumba said that with the development all the heads of the different arms of government would have settled in their official quarters thereby restoring the lost glory and dignity of governance.

  • Uzodinma releases 36 prisoners in Imo

    Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo has released 36 prisoners as part of efforts to decongest the prison following the threat of COVID-19 pandemic.

    The governor also directed the Acting Chief Judge of the State, Mrs Ijeoma Aguguo, to immediately commence accelerated trial and release of inmates who are on awaiting trial on minor charges or allegations.

    A statement in Owerri on Friday by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Declan Emelumba, said the government also directed that the prison trials must observe all COVID- 19 safety measures, including wearing of face masks and social distancing.

    The governor directed that prisoners affected in the release are those serving three years with less than six months to go.

    Others are convicts who have spent up to 25 per cent of their prison terms and minor offenders with thee months to six months imprisonment.

    The governor advised the released prisoners to reciprocate government’s gesture by not returning to crime.

  • [Video]Two die as eight storey building collapses in Imo

    [Video]Two die as eight storey building collapses in Imo

    An eight storey building under construction in Owerri, Imo capital on Thursday collapsed claiming two lives, with many others injured.

    The incident occurred around 6.30 pm at Yaradua Drive near Lords Chosen church.

    Disaster managers including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Imo counterpart, SEMA and the Red Cross were on ground carrying out rescue operations.

    Mr Evans Ugoh, Head of Imo/Abia operations office of NEMA confirmed that two casualties had so far been recorded while seven persons had been rescued.

    Ugoh disclosed that many people were believed to have been trapped at the debris of the collapsed building.

    He said that rescue operation would be on till it was ascertained that nobody was still trapped under the debris.

    On the cause of the incident, Ugoh said, “for now, we are focusing on rescue operation, it will be followed with the cause of the collapse.

    “We have taken those already rescued to the hospital for medical attention, while further search is still ongoing,” he said.

  • Tragic! Police inspector strangled in Imo

    Tragic! Police inspector strangled in Imo

    A police inspector attached to Imo State Government House was on Tuesday found dead along Avana Primary School Road, Shell Camp, Owerri, the state capital.

    Police sources said Inspector Haruna Kawura was strangled.

    According to reports, the inspector’s body had bruises.

    The inspector was said to have gone out for a drink on Monday night, only to be found dead on Tuesday morning.

    The Nation reports that people including, policemen were seen discussing his death and what could have led to his death.

    A colleague of the departed said his body has been evacuated in an ambulance from the Government House.

    “His death is strange. There were bruises on his body. He must have been strangulated as there was gunshot on his body”, he said.

    Police spokesman Orlando Ikeokwu confirmed the incident, adding that it was being probed.

     

  • Graphic Photo: Mysterious son stabs mother, sets self ablaze in Imo

    Graphic Photo: Mysterious son stabs mother, sets self ablaze in Imo

    The Imo State Police Command has arrested a man, Johnbosco Ejiogu, for stabbing his mother and then setting their home ablaze.

    According to a statement by the police command, the incident occurred at Umudagu Mbieri, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state on Friday.

    State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Orlando Ikeokwu said that Ejiogu perpetrated the acts following an altercation between him and his mother.

    He noted that only a swift reaction from neighbours and police prevented the suspect from killing himself and his mother in the burning house.

    The statement read, “On the 24/4/2020, at about 1020 hrs, operatives of Mbieri Divisional hqtrs, while reacting to a distress call arrested the above-named suspect and rescued the above victim.

    “Preliminary investigation revealed that the said Johnbosco Ejiogu stabbed his mother Pauline Ejiogu as a result of an altercation.

    “He went further to lock the door behind himself and the victim, and then set the house ablaze, but they were rescued alive sequel to the swift reaction of the officers and men of the Division and the members of the neighbourhood.

    “However, Both of them have been taken to the hospital for treatment, while investigation has commenced.”

  • COVID 19: Uzodinma orders total lockdown of Imo

    Imo Governor, Hope Uzodinma has ordered complete lockdown of the state as part of measures to prevent the dreaded Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease from entering the state.

    Uzodinma gave the order in a state broadcast on Saturday in Owerri.

    He said the move was in line with his commitment to protect the loves of the people of the state.

    The governor ordered that all markets be closed indefinitely and also prohibited all forms of marriage ceremonies.

    He also announced the ban on burial and funeral ceremonies and declared that all forms of religious worships in churches and mosques, including crusades and open evangelism were prohibited.

    Uzodimma further directed that road blocks be mounted at all land borders into the state to ensure those coming in would be screened and given a clean bill of health by officials attached to the check points, before allowed entry.

    He also directed all civil and public servants in the state, except those on approved essential duties, to stop work immediately.

    He said a combined team of military, police and other security agencies would be deployed to the streets to ensure strict compliance with the directives.

    The governor, however, noted that though the new measures might cause some inconveniences or hardship to the people, they were inevitable to assure success in the fight against COVID-19.

    The governor assured the people that the state was ready for any emergency as according to him, “a team of specialist doctors are now on ground and well equipped to handle any emergency just in case the virus finds its way into the state.”

    Further measures announced by the governor to contain the virus included, training of health educators to go to rural communities to educate them as well as the distribution of hand sanitisers to all the communities in the state.

    Uzodimma stated that these measures would be reviewed on weekly basis and if it became necessary to relax them or take more measures, the government would act accordingly.

    The governor who assured that his administration would be at its best toward surveillance, prevention and control, called for vigilance and strict adherence to safety norms.

    “I wish to reiterate my earlier advise that the best safety measures against the disease are social distancing, regular washing of hands with soap, sanitising our hands regularly as well as periodic check of body temperature to be sure that it is not above 38 degrees Celsius.” he said.

    While acknowledging that the number of those infected by the disease in the country is on the increase, Uzodimma said it had become expedient for government to take further measures to ensure that Imo was safe from the Coronavirus pandemic.

  • PDP behind plot to humiliate Oshiomhole out of office-Uzodinma

    Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma has averred that those behind the plot to remove Adams Oshiomhole as national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are working for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Speaking with newsmen in Owerri, the state capital, Uzodinma said Oshiomhole would not be shamed out of office.

    The governor, who is a former member of the PDP, said there are established guidelines for removing national officers of the party which are not being followed.

    He added that those against the APC national chairman have been dropping the name of President Muhammadu Buhari to achieve their aim.

    “Many of us, leaders of the party, are aware that those clamouring for the chairman’s removal are working with the PDP to destabilise the party,” Uzodinma said.

    “But they will fail because we will not allow them to humiliate our national chairman out of the party through illegal means or by dropping the name of Mr. President.

    “So, I advise those dropping the name of the President on their wicked plans to desist forthwith. He has done nothing wrong and no amount of propaganda and illegal plots can succeed in removing him from office.”

    TheNewsGuru recalls that the predicament within the ruling party had heightened after a federal high court in Abuja ordered suspension of Oshiomhole and the police took over the party secretariat.

    The APC national chairman had accused a serving minister and some governors of being responsible for his ordeal.

    Oshiomhole later admitted that it is possible that he has made mistakes but there is no human being who is perfect.

     

  • How I recovered N800m from corrupt Imolites – Uzodinma

    Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma on Wednesday declared that he has recovered N800m from corrupt Imolites and contractors in the Imo State Oil Producing Development Commission, (ISOPADEC)

    The governor said that in the last two months of his assumption of office, he had beamed a searchlight on ISOPADEC as parts of the bold steps to stop the continuous mis-appropriation and embezzlement of fund in the commission.

    The governor made the revealation at the palace of the traditional ruler of Mmahu community in Ohaji Egbema while meeting with stakeholders in the oil rich Ohaji Egbema local government area of Imo state.

    He also lamented the alleged misappropriation of funds by the elites and leaders of the area saying, the huge sum was actually part of fund meant for the development and growth of the oil communities.

    He, therefore, vowed that his administration will not support any anti- people policies as he would ensure that monies and allocation meant for the people of oil producing communities are judiciously used for the development of the area.

    In his words “My interest is to protect your own interest, only two months I took over as Governor, I have N800 million saved from ISOPADEC, but before now, you don’t get the money, they bring the money and the leaders share it leaving the people to die in hunger and poverty,

    “But if we save that money, we come here and call a meeting, the communities will choose the project they want, we will award the project and make sure the projecst are done”.

    Further, the governor reiterated that his administration will continue to ensure a lasting peace in the oil-rich Ohaji/Egbema Local Government area of the state.

    Uzodinma appealed to the leaders of Ohaji Egbema to differentiate the right from wrong by helping the youths to desist from thuggery and other social vices that cause instability in the area.

    Earlier, the traditional ruler of Mmahu community, in Ohaji Egbema, his royal highness Austin Iwuogu while commending the governor for his timely visit to the area, enumerated some of the challenges faced by the people of the community as a result of activities of oil companies in the area.

    Against this backdrop, the monarch appealed to the governor for intervention as quick as possible to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.

  • Chinese contractors abscond project sites in Imo over coronavirus

    Chinese contractors abscond project sites in Imo over coronavirus

    Chinese nationals hired by former Governor of Imo State Emeka Ihiedioha to execute road projects in the state have absconded from the sites for fear of being quarantined, investigation revealed.

    They have been off the road since the case of the Italian citizen who entered Nigeria from Milan, Italy for a brief business trip tested positive in Lagos.

    The Chinese nationals working for the Chec Engineering for past three weeks left the site and have not been seen anywhere in the state.

    It gathered that they left the state when the news broke out that some workers were been quarantined in Ogun State.

    Some of the workers interviewed said that they have not seen the Chinese who were supervising the project at the sites.

    A Nigerian worker who pleased not be mentioned, said that the Chinese’s were no longer coming to site until before before we’re always around to supervise the road construction work.

    According to TheNation, the road contract was awarded to the Chinese company to execute the Ihiagwa- Nekede Polytechnic Road, Owerri-Aba and Akachi roads, but the nationals deserted the sites when the news of the coronavirus went viral.

    Meanwhile, some Imo indigenes have expressed worry about the presence of the Chinese workers in the state and demanded that the state government should quarantine the workers to safeguard the citizens from the deadly virus.

    Nze Paul Osuji appealed to the state government to do something about the presence of the Chinese company in the state to ensure that the Chinese nationals and the Nigerian workers are free from the disease.

    However, the state government has assured the people that they are monitoring the situation closely.

    Speaking, the Director of Imo State Public Health, Ministry of Health, Dr. Austin Okeji said that the duty of the government was to monitor the point of entry of other nationals into the state.

    He said that surveillance has been put in place to ensure that contacts were monitored using the thermometer to test the people coming into the state at designated entry points.

    However, he advised the people to adopt good hygiene practices especially hand washing using alcohol-based sanitizers to disinfect themselves.

    He said that people should be calm and go about their business without been afraid.

  • Jubilation over Supreme court verdict in Imo

    Jubilation over Supreme court verdict in Imo

    Supporters of Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo, took to the streets on Tuesday to celebrate the final verdict of the Supreme Court which upheld his election as duly elected governor of the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) observed heavy presence of security operatives in strategic areas of the state to prevent violence after the judgment.

    The Supreme Court in its Jan.14, judgment nullified the election of Mr Emeka Ihedioha as governor of the state, while announcing Uzodinma as the elected governor of the state.

    Emeka Ihedioha filled a fresh application seeking review of the Supreme Court’s judgment which the court struck out for lacking in merit.

    Supporters of Uzodinma marched round major streets of Owerri in jubilation causing heavy traffic in many parts of the state capital.

    Some of the supporters, who spoke to NAN, described the judgment as victory for all.

    The state’s APC youth leader Mr Evans Emeh said with the ruling, the Supreme Court has showed good faith and restored hope in the state.

    “We are all jubilating over the latest victory of our governor and what you are seeing now is an indication that Imo people voted for Uzodinma.

    “We believe that the victory is for all and our governor will deliver in his mandate so let us support him and shun rancor or bitterness,” he said.

    Residents who spoke to NAN commended the judgment and urged Ihedioha to accept the decision of the court in good faith.

    Mr Pascal Obi said he was happy with the judgment.

    “Now that the battle is over, let our governor come back home and unfold his agenda.

    “What the people need is good governance and not political battle, so we are happy that the game is over and I commend the court for its bold decision,” he said.

    NAN also observed that commercial drivers were also jubilating with ACP flags on their vehicles.