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  • Ojukwu varsity staff petition EFCC, accuse VC of corruption

    Ojukwu varsity staff petition EFCC, accuse VC of corruption

    Some members staff of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged contract racketeering and abuse of office by the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kate Omenugha.

    The staff in a petition signed on their behalf by Mr Joseph Onu, Managing Consultant at Shield and Sword Consult, Legal Practitioners, said that the vice chancellor did not follow due process in the award of contracts.

    The petition titled: “petition against the Acting VC For contract Racketeering Amounting To Public Procurement Violation, Fraud and Financial Crimes” also accused Omenugha of awarding contracts to family members in violations of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

    The petitioners said that they had concrete evidences to prove the allegations being levelled against the vice chancellor.

    “She has flagrantly abused her office, and indulged in financial rascality through the splitting and awarding of contracts for personal gains.

    “Due process was not followed in splitting and awarding the contracts for 2024 TETFund Project, there were no public notifications for expression of bids as required by the Public Procurement Act.

    ”The staff biometric capturing was awarded to cronies in total disregard for conflict of interest to a company that was inactive for decades,” the petition read in parts.

    The petitioners further alleged that the facelift of the University Gate House, Igbariam Campus was initiated by the vice chancellor and her family members without input from the University’s Director of Physical Planning and valuation by the Council as required by law.

    “The project had gulped between N65 million and N100 million while the solar street lighting in the College of Medicine, Amaku, Awka awarded for about N20 million in similar manner.

    “This project has never worked in the college with the students left in darkness, the contract sum was paid into the account of the Vice-chancellor’s family member,” they alleged.

    The petitioners said the vice chancellor through her family members took advantage of her office to enter a business transaction with the COOU, to sell only their family table water with the brand name KONCIO within the entire university premises.

    “The vice chancellor circumvented the council directive and introduced another table water named B-ORIENT Table water and gave it monopoly of the water market within the University against the decision of the council.

    “A further investigation and petition by a staff to Council on behalf of the shop owners in the University minimart at the Igbariam campus, got Council to once again direct the stoppage of the sale of B-Orient Table water,” they said.

    The petitioners alleged that the money for the production of Student Identification Card which they claimed was diverted to the cronies of the the vice chancellor and cards were not printed.

    “These are dues and service charges generated by the Students Affairs Directorate for running of the students’ hostels and other student activities,” they said.

    They also faulted the call for review of the award of 2023 TETFUND Annual Intervention, being the Construction of the Department Of Architecture building, describing it as a ploy to extort money from the university.

    “Their actions clearly amount to gross violations of the procurement processes and undermines the proper administration of the university,” they said.

    Meanwhile, the management of COOU has dismissed the petition as a calculated attempt to tarnish the reputation of the acting vice chancellor.

    In a statement signed by Dr Harrison Madubueze, the university’s Public Relations Officer, said that the university was not aware of any petition against the vice chancellor.

    “No law enforcement agency has communicated the university with regard to any petition against the acting vice chancellor.

    “If at all there is a petition, it must not be unconnected to the ongoing process for appointment of a substantive vice chancellor for the university.

    “It must be a deliberate attempt to stop her from being appointed, this development exposes the true motives of the faceless beings behind these allegations.

    “Prof. Omenugha has spearheaded transformative change across various facets of the university in terms of values, infrastructure, research, curriculum and standing of the University, including community engagement,” it said.

  • Amb. Ojukwu submits commission’s report on violence in South-East to Soludo

    Amb. Ojukwu submits commission’s report on violence in South-East to Soludo

    Amb. Bianca Ojukwu, Secretary of the 17-Man Truth, Peace, and Justice Commission, has submitted its report on violence in the South-East to Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra.

    The commission was constituted by Soludo to look into the remote and immediate causes of the agitations, restiveness, violence, and struggles in the South East as well as document victims and circumstances of death, brutality, and incarceration.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Commission on Saturday and made available in Enugu.

    The statement said that the “Commission is headed by Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission”.

    It said that the report was submitted to Gov. Soludo on Friday at the Executive Chamber, Government House, Awka, by Ojukwu who read out a summary of the Commission’s work and later presented the same to the governor on behalf of the Commission.

    Giving a background to the report, Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, explained that the inception of the report provides a framework of diagnosis for the crises of agitation, violence and victimisation in the South-East.

    “The Chairman indicated that the report paints a clear picture that the narrative of the present agitation and violence in the states of the South East is quite complex and not amenable to a single narrative.

    “The interim recommendations, amongst others, include a Bureau of Missing Persons (BMP) within the Ministry of Justice or of Security and Homeland Affairs to document the missing and the disappeared.

    “Other recommendations include professionalization and effective co-ordination of vigilante services in the state, institutionalising deliverables for the Ministry of Security and Homeland Affairs.

    “Establishing an Anambra Integrated Civic Surveillance System as well as establishing an Anambra State Safety and Environmental Commission.

    “The commission will commence its public hearings after the election cycle,” it said.

    Responding, Gov. Soludo thanked the Chairman and members of the Commission for the good job done so far.

    The governor also approved their (commission’s) request to extend time for the conclusion and submission of their final report until the end of 2023.

  • 2023: LP presidential candidate, Obi consults Ojukwu’s family

    2023: LP presidential candidate, Obi consults Ojukwu’s family

    The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has visited the family of late Igbo leader, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu as part of his ongoing nationwide consultations.

    Obi, former Anambra Governor, was received at the residence of the renowned Igbo leader in Enugu by his widow, Amb. Bianca Ojukwu, on Saturday.

    He said it was important for him to visit every leader in the country for their blessing and support, since he needed everybody to clearly understand his good intentions for the nation.

    “For me to do anything, especially as I am going around now, it is necessary that I have to come and meet my leaders and leaders exist in various spheres of life.

    “For me, the most important thing is going around, whether it is a political leader or a religious leader. You plead for their blessings. I need everybody’s blessings.

    “You need everyone to understand you; you must elucidate what you are doing to them and be able to say, ‘I came for this purpose’ and that is why I am here to see the great Ojukwu’s family.”

    “I know with her ( Bianca Ojukwu) own approval and support, comes the approval of Ezeigbo, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, wherever he is praying for us,” he said.

    Obi said that he had met most Igbo leaders and “I am their son”, adding: “So, if you see your son doing well and breaking new grounds, you only have to encourage his effort”.

    “I have met with most of our leaders. I am consulting with all of them,” he added.

    Responding, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu said that among other achievements Obi recorded in Anambra as governor was putting to an end to the era of godfatherism in the state.

    According to her, Obi is one of the most progressive, competent and transparent politician in Nigeria today.

    “What we are moving towards is a very defining and decisive moment in Nigeria’s political history.

    “We are seeing a momentum like we have never seen before in the political landscape of the country.

    “And we are seeing a Nigerian of Igbo extraction who has invaded the socio-cultural and political landscape like a hurricane.

    “Of course, Mr Peter Obi, we know of his capacity, having been the first two term governor in the history of Anambra State,” she said.

    Ojukwu noted that Obi’s emergence and acceptance by Nigerians of all ages and walks of life could be likened to a tsunami.

    “It is not an easy task for him to have achieved what he has; the level of acceptance and recognition almost like a revolution that Nigeria has never seen in its history.

    “I think at the end of the day, what every Nigerian needs is a responsive government. A government that has an affinity with the masses. A leader that the people can trust.

    “So I think many of us are looking forward to this election because it will define whether Nigerians are truly sincere about the change that they so desperately need,” she added.

  • How Super TV boss was stabbed 7 times on the neck – Witness

    How Super TV boss was stabbed 7 times on the neck – Witness

    Co-founder of Super Network Limited (owners of Super TV), Mr. Raman Obiorah Saliu, on Monday, told a Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) that a total of seven multiple stabs was found on the neck of the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Usifo Ataga.

    Testifying in the trial of a 300 level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, Chidinma Ojukwu, who is suspected to have killed Ataga, Saliu said apart from the stabs on Ataga’s neck, there was one to the stomach and several on the two sides of the ribs and the left ventricular to the chest.
    Saliu, who broke down in tears while testifying before Justice Yetunde Adesanya, said apart from the stabs on Ataga’s neck, there was one to the stomach and several on the two sides of the ribs and the left ventricular to the chest.

    Led in evidence by the Deputy Director of Public Prosecution, Mrs Adenike Oluwafemi, Saliu broke down in tears while testifying before Justice Yetunde Adesanya.

    According to Saliu, the deceased was tied up, on both hands and legs like a ram waiting to be slaughtered.

    Saliu, who is also a network engineer, programmer, and developer, testified as the fifth prosecution witness in the case. He told the court that he met the late Usifo Ataga 10 years ago in the course of building the Super TV App.

    He explained that he was introduced to Ataga by a friend, Mr Bisi Osuneye, who is also late. He added that when Ataga came into the project as an investor, he became a co-founder by adding so many ideas and they started working on the project until his demise last year June.

    The witness also stated that as Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Ataga usually convene management meetings on Mondays and Executive (EXCO) meetings on Tuesdays and they sometimes meet virtually using Microsoft link.

    HOW I BECAME AWARE OF ATAGA’S DEATH

    Narrating how he came to hear about his death, Saliu said that he got a call from Ataga on Monday 14, June 2021, that he was having stomach pain and he subsequently advised the Super TV boss to take his drugs and get some rest.
    He said that much later, he needed to reach Ataga, in relation to some tasks and so he started to call him the next day from about 11am.

    Saliu narrated, “I started calling him, he didn’t pick his calls neither did he return my message. I was surprised because the only thing he wants to hear is the billing App, with MTN, which is working now.

    “Michael (Ataga) didn’t pick his calls, everybody started reaching out to me because the only way they can get him is through me and the only way they can reach me is through him; he still did not pick up my calls, this was about 3:30pm, on June 15, 2021.

    “Then I got a WhatsApp message from him, after reading the message, I said to myself this is not Michael, talking to me. The message read ” I saw your missed call, I took some drugs that made me sleeping.’ The construction of that message was not Michael, because Michael was very fluent in English.

    “I knew that was not Micheal’s typing and it was someone else but I sent him a screenshot of the billing system in the Super TV App, that it’s working and his response to me was ok, great, that was when I knew something was happening because Michael will jump up, pick up his phone, and call me immediately. So, I went outside to take fresh air and I started thinking where he could have been now that he is not picking up my calls.

    “I called Gambo, he is a driver and personal assistant (PA) to Michael. I asked him, did you receive any call from Micheal? He said no that he has also been calling him too because he needed to pick up his clothes from the laundry that he was traveling with to Abuja.

    “Gambo said he got a WhatsApp message, that was between 5 to 6pm, on June 15, 2021, then we started thinking of what could have happened to him. Another of Micheal’s friend, Okwuedo, who lives with us at Victoria Garden City (VGC), also asked of his whereabouts, I told him I got a WhatsApp message from Michael. So, Okwuedo said let him see the message, immediately he saw it, he said this is not Michael’s typing.

    “Okwuedo and Gambo went to few places where they thought he could be. So, I went back to the office and on Wednesday 16, June 2021, I asked Gambo if they found him, he said no. I then called his cook at Banana Island, that was when I knew that he left home since Sunday 13, June 2021.

    “I was keeping calm because he was going to Abuja on Thursday for his 50th birthday. I told myself that wherever he was, I knew that he would come and meet me, and we would go to the airport, stay with the girls (Michael’s daughters) and his wife for his 50th birthday. They were actually waiting for him; they were planning a surprise birthday party for him.

    “So, I started suspecting something was wrong because he was supposed to come to VGC on the 15th, but he didn’t. I had to raise an alarm that I don’t know where Michael was.

    “My last WhatsApp message to Michael on June 16, 2021, was at 10:30am and the message read ‘Bro, where are you? I am worried, my BP is rising.” The message was read, no response, I started getting calls from his family wanting to wish him happy 50th birthday.

    “Calls started coming in, I did not really know what to say. How can I say I’m looking for a 50-year-old man? To me, it didn’t make any sense. I wanted to go and make a complaint at the VGC police station of a missing person, when at about 6:33 to 6:35am on Thursday, 17 June 2021, I got a call from Mrs Brenda Ataga, who happens to be his wife and the wife said where is Usifo?

    “I had to tell her the truth that I have been looking for Michael since Tuesday. She was a bit upset with me that I was looking for someone since on Tuesday and I did nothing about it. I tried to explain to her that I was trying to make a complaint, 10 minutes later she called back and said Michael’s phones were traced to the University of Lagos, UNILAG Guest House.

    “I didn’t take my bath; I just grabbed my car key and I started driving to UNILAG. A friend called me, and I told him I was driving to UNILAG. He asked how I knew Usifo was in UNILAG, I mentioned that the information came from Brenda.

    “Mrs Brenda Ataga also called me and said there is a team of policemen that will meet me at UNILAG, to conduct the search. I got to UNILAG before them, so I went to the security and told them I was looking for a black Range Rover and they directed me to the guest house.

    “The police joined me with two of his friends and staff (member) from my office. Mrs Ataga called me and was giving me the GPS coordinate from where the direction of the phone is. While going through Yaba, I got a call from our GTBank account officer, whom I asked to help me trace Michael’s transactions, so that I can know where exactly he is.

    “He told me that Michael made transactions on Sunday and Monday. The Sunday transaction was to a lady Mrs Nkechi Mogbo, the owner of the service apartment (where the deceased was murdered). The account officer also said that the transaction that was made on Monday was to a Sterling Bank with the name Chidinma Ojukwu Adora. The account officer asked me what was happening, I said today is his birthday and I have been looking for him since Tuesday.

    “So, I told him that since the owner of the service apartment uses GTB, he should send me her number, and he did. The police said I should give the number to Brenda so that it will not distract from our search of Michael.

    “Only for Brenda to later call and tell me that Michael is dead. I fainted; it took the police to resuscitate me. When I was a bit okay, I called her and asked how? She said she called the number I sent to her, and the owner of the apartment said somebody was murdered that she should show his means of Identification if it was the person we were looking for.

    “So, Brenda shared her husband’s picture to the woman and the owner of the service apartment said this person was murdered here and she is on her way to the police station at Maroko, so Brenda asked me to meet Mrs Nkechi Mogbo, at Panti.

    “I met her with some of Michael’s friends at Panti, and we went to the scene of the incident where Michael was murdered. I didn’t want to believe that Michael was dead, I saw Michael’s belongings that the police brought out and we were not allowed inside.

    “When I got to the mortuary, I saw Michael’s body, Michael was killed like a chicken, I saw a very big cut at the back of his neck. The wickedness, for me, is that the day I was with Michael’s corpse; they were still taking money from his account, that was 17 June 2021, exactly the day he was 50 years old.

    “There were subsequent USSD transactions on his account until Brenda and I decided to close the account. I started tracking Chidinma, I started looking at Michael’s calls from 9mobile and MTN, Chidinma was calling him with a WhatsApp number.

    “I traced the money that was transferred by Michael to Chidinma’s Sterling Bank and I supplied all the information to the police at Panti. Around 1am, on June 23, 2021, on a Wednesday, I got a message from Panti, that Chidinma has been arrested.

    “Michael’s iPhone came with an original Apple pouch, when the police recovered the iPhone from Chidinma, it was replaced with a N1000 pouch; Michael’s laptop was also recovered. There were two iPhones, one iPhone 11 and one iPhone 7 or 8, was also recovered; I was told by the police that she gave the other iPhone to her sister,” Saliu recounted as he broke down in tears.

    He further stated that there was a restaurant at Lekki – Angle Villa Restaurant that the deceased made a transaction on June 13.

    “I shared the information with Michael’s friends, and they proceeded to Angle Villa, to confirm if a transaction was actually made. They confirmed that Michael came so we requested CCTV footage to know if he went alone, but we discovered that he came with Chidinma.

    “The police at Panti took the video and I was surprised to see the CCTV footage all over the social media.”
    During cross-examination by the counsel to Chidinma, Onwuka Egwu, the witness said he had no idea who handed the CCTV footage video to the police.

    He said that the CCTV footage was trending prior to the arrest of Chidinma.

    Justice Adesanya, in her ruling, adjourned until February 17 for the continuation of the trial.

  • Ojukwu’s son tackles his stepmother, Bianca over comment on Biafra, Obiano

    Ojukwu’s son tackles his stepmother, Bianca over comment on Biafra, Obiano

    The son of late Ikemba Nnewi, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Emeka Jr and the father’s widow, Bianca are in war of words over Governor Willie Obiano.

    Ojukwu’s wife, Bianca, had claimed in one of the interviews she granted one of the National Dailes claimed that the late Ojukwu’ told her a lot of things concerning Biafra and Nigeria war

    Bianca said that it was not proper for APGA to name Obiano as Ojukwu’s successor, claiming that the Governor did not know the philosophy of the party despite being the governor.

    However, in a statement Thursday in Awka, Chukwuemeka Jr, claimed that his father did not tell anybody anything, adding that Bianca should stop ridiculing the name of the Igbo Icon

    Ojukwu’s son who signed the statement as APGA governorship aspirant, said respect should be accorded to Obiano as the governor of the state.

    According to him, “I find it exigent from the perspective of an insider, to present the truth so as to preserve and protect the ideals that my late father and mentor held sacred, the good name of H.E. Governor Obiano and the reputation of the Party my father bequeathed to us.

    “Given his standing by birth, heritage, disposition and calling, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu never shied away from fully expressing his feelings, observations and apprehensions.

    “Having trained first as a historian at Oxford University, I find it difficult to accept that he would resort to oral history with all the known attendant pitfalls.

    “As a matter of fact, he documented his views concerning Biafra and Nigeria in books and live interviews for ease of reference. Any attempt therefore, to recast or present his views regarding Biafra or Nigeria without proper references should be considered dead on arrival.

    “Claims therefore of what the legend told or did not tell the claimant about Biafra/Nigeria, should be regarded as the views of the said claimant, in pursuit of what, I don’t know.

    “I do not need to be tutored in the proclivities, idiosyncrasies and mannerisms of my late father. As such, I therefore, make bold to state without fear of contradiction that the Dikedioranma Ndigbo I know, never equivocated.

    “If he had something worthwhile to say on a subject, he would have stated it on record and not passed it through any intermediary.

    “Having worked for many years closely with Governor Obiano, I can, with the same level of confidence, state unequivocally, that he did not and would not make the disparaging and false statements towards my late father, attributed to him in that article.

    “Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu out of altruism and with respect to the love he had for Ndigbo, donated pro bono his identity and image to the All Progressives Grand Alliance for perpetual appropriation and usage.

    “His image remains till date, the oxygen that powers the ideals of APGA. It is therefore preposterous for somebody out there to insinuate that the APGA National Leader and Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano would contemplate and entertain discussion on disconnecting the Party from its lifeline with the claimant of all people. Where? How? When?.

    “What I see playing out is frustration occasioned by the reckless, unrestrained, disrespectful expectations of persons who take delight to pontificate on matters about which they know next to nothing.

    It is most uncharitable to opine that His Excellency Governor Willie Obiano is the leader of a party whose and I quote: “founding principles, ideology and history he knows next to nothing about,” he said.

  • Gunmen kidnap Ojukwu Varsity female lecturer

    Gunmen kidnap Ojukwu Varsity female lecturer

    Anambra residents have raised the alarm over the kidnap of a female Professor of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Igbariam, Anambra East local government area by unknown gunmen.

    The incident took place along Enugwu-Agidi -Nawgu road close to 7pm on Wednesday

    The kidnap of the lecturer may not be unconnected with the recent #ENDSARS protest in the state where eleven Police stations were burnt and six others destroyed by hoodlums.

    An eye witness who spoke with The Nation Thursday, said the kidnappers were three in number and were armed with three AK -47 riffles.

    The Nation further gathered that the victim hailed from Enugwu Ukwu Community in Njikoka local government area of the State.

    It was the second time such kidnap would happen at the same spot involving a lecturer of Ojukwu University in recent times.

    The President General of Enugwu-Agidi brotherly Union (EBU), Hon Ndubuisi Obijiofor related the incident to the deplorable condition of the road.

    He said those who made constant use of the road were more vulnerable to such attack from hoodlums and warned that people should avoid that area late hours.

    According to him, “the leadership of the Enugwu-Agidi Community wishes to inform the general public to desist from plying that route as from 6:30pm because of the security threats, while we strategize as a Community to beef up security around the area.

    “We also urge the state government to come to our aid by repairing the road to facilitate easy movement of vehicles along the road for security purposes,” he said.

    When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mohammed Haruna, said the alleged incident had not been officially reported to the command.

    However, he said the Commissioner of Police John B. Abang, had already ordered for discreet investigation to ascertain the veracity of the allegation, reveal the victim and fish out the perpetrators in order to bring them to Justice

    But a senior Police Officer, who spoke with The Nation in confidence, confirmed the kidnap of the Varsity Professor, adding that the command would do everything to secure her release

    He lamented that during the #ENDSARS protest, the command lost some arms and ammunition to the hoodlums who destroyed and burnt Police Stations in Anambra.

  • COVID-19: Group counters commission’s report, says Adeyanju enlisting Ojukwu for destructive purposes

    The National Coalition on Peace and Human Rights in Nigeria (NCPHRN) has rubbished the Human Rights Commission’s report on the enforcement of lockdown across the country to curb coronavirus.

    In a statement signed by the President, Barrister Paul Smith Agbo, on Thursday, the human rights coalition revealed that Executive Secretary, Ojukwu, allowed himself to be manipulated by controversial activist, Deji Adeyanju.

    According to Barrister Agbo, there isn’t any distinction between the misleading claim by Adeyanju and the final report released by the NHRC.

    He added that the NHRC fell flat for outrightly fake videos and fabricated reports, bombarded by Adeyanju and his cohorts at Concerned Nigerians.

    While failing to address issues hovering on security, the body added that NHRC’s report encouraged Nigerians to disobey law enforcement agencies.

    Under Mr Ojukwu’s watch, the group disclosed that the NHRC has become compromised and tainted by entities like Amnesty International.

    The National Coalition on Peace and Human Rights in Nigeria, therefore, called on the NHRC boss to resign his position for once again displaying gross incompetence and bias by following the rhythm of a third party.

  • Court adjourns pre-trial conference over Ojukwu’s property dispute to May 7

    An Awka High Court on Monday adjourned until May 7, the pre-trial conference in the sharing of late Sir Louis Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s estate.

    The Judge, Justice Dennis Mmaduechesi, adjourned the case, following the failure of Counsel to the first defendant, Mr Okwuchukwu Ugolo (SAN), to comply with the court rules with respect to change in counsel.

    The court also observed that the earlier order of hearing notice on the third defendant, Amb. Bianca Ojukwu, was not properly served.

    It further noted that the fourth defendant, the Probate Registrar of Awka High Court, was similarly, not served at all.

    Mmaduechesi, therefore, adjourned until May 7, for pre-trial conference to enable parties to put their houses in order.

    The first defendant, Dr Joseph Ojukwu, was formerly represented by Mr Gerald Ezeuko (SAN).

    Mr Ebuka Ogwu and Mr Christopher Ezeoka entered appearance for the second defendant, Mr Lotanna Ojukwu, and the fifth defendant, Ojukwu Transport Company, respectively.

    When the matter was called up on Monday, Mr Chuka Osianatogu, Counsel to Chukwuma Ojukwu and Ikemefuna Ojukwu, pointed out the mix up in the appearance to the court.

    Osianatogu told court that Ugolo had not complied with Order 48 of the High Court (Civil Procedure) rule to warrant him to appear in the case as counsel.

    Ugolo in his response said he would file processes to put their house in order and applied for adjournment to enable him to comply and also file pre-trial conference.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who died in 1966, was the father of late Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, the founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, who led Biafra’s secession bid in the late 1960s.

    Ikemefuna Ojukwu and his brother, Chukwuma Ojukwu, had instituted the suit in 2014, against Joseph Ojukwu, Dr Ike Ojukwu, Bianca Ojukwu and Lotenna Ojukwu.

    The plaintiffs, among other reliefs, are seeking that they are entitled to 25 per cent of the share in the compound of their father at No. 73, Owerri Road, Nnewi.

    “A declaration that the plaintiffs are entitled to 25 per cent shares of their father’s company, Ojukwu Transport Company.”

    They also sought an order of the court, compelling the defendants to account to them the management of Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s property over the years.

    The duo further asked the court to grant an order for the will of Odumegwu-Ojukwu to be resealed.

  • Buhari writes Senate, seeks confirmation of Ojukwu as Executive Secretary of NHRC

    President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the Senate to request confirmation of his appointment of Mr. Anthony Ojukwu as Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

    President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, read the letter to senators at the plenary on Tuesday.

    The letter read, “‎In accordance with provisions of Section 8 of the National Human Rights Commission Act 2010, I have the pleasure to present Mr. Anthony Okechuwku Ojukwu for confirmation as the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission by the Senate.”

     

    Details later…

  • ‘We won’t allow Gowon to lie against Ojukwu,’ says IPOB

    ‘We won’t allow Gowon to lie against Ojukwu,’ says IPOB

    The Indigenous People of Biafra on Thursday asked a former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, to stop making provocative and false statements against the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu- Ojukwu and the civil war.

    Gowon had recently in an interview with a private television station said Ojukwu’s lies caused the civil war in the country between 1967 and 1970.

    The former Head of State added, “We agreed to put our heads together, to regain the trust and confidence of Nigerians. We went to Aburi, to agree to deal with the situation of our country; by ourselves. We did not go with any prepared position on the federal side, but Ojukwu came with a paper he prepared. His prepared position was on a pink paper. Usually, a pink paper at the staff college means directing staff solution to the problem.”

    He alleged that the civil war broke because Ojukwu went on television and gave his account of the Aburi Accord, which was at variance with what was agreed upon; thereby deceiving the people of Biafra to going into war against the Federal Government.

    But IPOB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Officer, Emma Powerful, described Gowon’s comment as “ total falsehood from the mouth of a hater.”

    The group accused Gowon of having the penchant of distorting history, especially as it concerned the civil war.

    The group expressed worry that Gowon, at 83, could lie against the dead (Ojukwu) who could not defend himself in the circumstance.

    The statement partly read, “At the ripe old age of 83 and with the little window God has left open to him to repent and show remorse, Yakubu Gowon has chosen to continue to deceive himself with his bouquet of falsehood.

    “It was the Labour Party government of Britain that cleverly convinced the Arewa North to put pressure on Gowon to feign illness, thereby making it difficult for him to tell the country what was agreed in Aburi because they were not comfortable with the agreement.

    “Today, Gowon, whom we are led to believe is a prayerful Christian, has said he wasn’t able to speak when he returned from Aburi because he was ill. Question is: Was his information minister also ill? Were all government’s spokesmen in Lagos also down with illness at the same time, that made it difficult for Lagos to make a pronouncement on Aburi Agreement several weeks after the meeting?”

    The group said Gowon’s attempt to rewrite history would have worked had IPOB not been in existence.

    “This day and age, any attempt to rewrite the history of the Biafra-Nigeria war will be intellectually resisted and objectively dismantled. Fake history is at the core of why Nigeria will never be united. Gowon must come clean, apologise and make atonement.

    “We are IPOB, we won’t allow distortion of historical facts and neither will we allow the denigration of the revered memory of our all-time hero, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. He remains, till date, the only man that tried to bring genuine independence, not mere flag independence, to an African nation.”