TheNewsGuru

Tag: Port Harcourt

  • Just in: 49 passengers escape death as Dana Air plane crash lands in Port Harcourt[Photos]

    Forty-nine passengers on Tuesday escaped death after a Dana Air plane overshot the runway of the Port Harcourt Airport.
    It was gathered that the aircraft, with number 9J0363, flew into Port Harcourt after taking passengers from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
    An aircraft is said to have overshot the runway when it moves past a specified point unintentionally, and this can be as a result of too much speed or that the plane is unable to stop.
    But in this case, it was learnt that the incident, which had no casualty, was suspected to have been due to heavy rainfall in Port Harcourt.
    The General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Henrietta Yakubu, confirmed the incident.
    She said, “A Dana aircraft numbered 9J0363, flying from Abuja to Port Harcourt airport has overshot the Port Harcourt runway.
    “The incident was suspected to have been caused by a heavy rain, which was accompanied by strong wind and storm in Port Harcourt.
    “No casualty was recorded, as all passengers on board were safely evacuated.”

  • Best restaurants to wine and dine in Port Harcourt

    The garden city as it is fondly called is an exciting place that offers visitors an unforgettable nightlife and delectable cuisine. So, whenever you find yourself in the oil city, Jumia Food, Nigeria’s no 1 food ordering platform shares impressive restaurants you can wine and dine.

    • Le Meridien Ogeyi Place Hotel

    Le Meridien Ogeyi Place Hotel is located in the GRA Phase 2 area of PH. This hotel has a restaurant which offers both traditional and continental dishes. It is a perfect place to unwind.

    • Charcoal & Spice

    Charcoal and spice is a place to have a late morning meal after a busy half day. So, if you fancy having brunch or dinner, you can find them at King Perekule Street, GRA phase 2. Their menu is very rich. Hence, you will be spoilt for choice.

    • Hotel Presidential

    Hotel Presidential is on the Ph Aba Highway. It is also very near the airport. The hotel has many restaurants to suit everyone’s taste. Choose from continental, local, Arabian or Asian cuisine. Choice of restaurants includes Rivers Restaurant, Asian Restaurant and Why Not Restaurant.

    • Red Coral Restaurant & Bar

    A trip to Port Harcourt is not complete if you do not try the seafood. The finest shrimps and crabs can be ordered at Red Coral. It is located at 17 Peter Odili Road, The Dome, Trans Amadi Industrial Area, Port Harcourt.

    • Spice Route

    Spice is the spot to visit if you love Indian food. Regardless, you can still be served your favourite Nigerian and international cuisine. It is located at, No 1 Azikiwe Road, shop 36/37 Port Harcourt Mall.

     

  • FG threatens to revoke Port Harcourt International Airport contract

    Sen. Hadi Sirika, Minister for State, Aviation says the Federal Government may revoke the remodelling contract of the domestic wing, Port Harcourt International Airport due to slow pace of work by the contractor.

    Sirika made this know to newsmen during an inspection of ongoing construction at the Port Harcourt International Airport on Tuesday.

    He said that work on the arrival terminal of the domestic wing of the airport, being handled by INTER-BAU Construction Ltd., had suffered prolonged delay since inception in 2012.

    Sirika lamented that in spite of all the contract variations that the company had enjoyed from the past and present administrations, it was yet to deliver on the project.

    “Unfortunately, this contract was awarded in 2012 and since then the contractor has taken his own speed on delivery.

    “ In line with the thinking of President Buhari, we had no option than continue with him since he has a legitimate extension and variation approval.

    “Since government is a continuum, we decided to pursue this procurement vigorously,” he said.

    The minister explained that there was need to ensure quick delivery on the project to enhance economic activities at the airport.

    “Federal Government cannot continue to neglect Port Harcourt in terms of airport facilities, as it is one of the most important cities in the country, where our economy is being hatched.

    “Unfortunately, this contractor is quite difficult; I’m totally disappointed at his slow pace of work and services,” he said.

    The minister also disclosed his efforts to ensure possible completion of the project by effecting some variation approvals for the contractor.

    “As a Minister for State Aviation, I had invited the contractor severally to my office to chart a way forward and I had also approved some variations for him.

    “I also made it clear to him that there would be no more variation going forward until this project is delivered.

    “We gave him time lines but he is not adhering to the time lines; I’m constrained to take drastic legal action against him when I leave here,” he declared.

     

  • Police dismiss sergeant for allegedly aiding escape of suspected ritual killer

    Rivers State Police Command has dismissed a police sergeant, Johnbosco Okoroeze, who was allegedly involved in the escape of a suspected ritual killer, Ifeanyi Dike, from the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Port Harcourt.

    Recall TheNewsguru.com earlier reported that had reported that the prime suspect, Dike, defiled, killed and removed the organs of one Miss Victory Nmezuwuba, before he was arrested and taken to the SCIID.

    Dike who was arrested last week Friday by local vigilantes was handed over to operatives of the Rivers State Police Command attached to Okporo Police Station.

    Okoroeze, who was also arraigned by the police before a chief magistrate’s court on two counts bordering on obstruction of justice and conspiracy, was remanded in custody for the alleged offences.

    Though the charges were not read to the accused, the Chief Magistrate, Sokari Andrew-Jaja, cautioned him as he cried uncontrollably inside the court before his case was mentioned.

    Okoroeze, who was the Investigating Police Officer, had removed the suspect’s handcuffs while he took his statements.

    The victim’s father, Dr Ernest Nmezuwuba, who was also in the charge room at the time, had said he used candlelight while making his statements, adding that there was no power supply in the area.

    The suspect was reported to have fled the SCIID under the cover of darkness and his whereabouts had remained unknown.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmed Zaki, had ordered the dismissal and arraignment of Okoroeze for criminal conspiracy.

    The accused, who was brought to the magistrate’s court in handcuffs, cried profusely on the premises.

    “What have I done to myself? What did I do? Call my wife for me,” he said.

    The charges read, “That you, Johnbosco Okoroeze, on August 19, 2017, at about 8.30pm at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Port Harcourt, in the Port Harcourt Magisterial District, did assist one Ifeanyi Dike, who is to your knowledge guilty of the offence of murder of one Chikamso Nmezuwuba, aged eight years, for rituals, to escape when he was to be detained for prosecution, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 322 of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Vol. II, Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.

    “That you, Johnbosco Okoroeze, on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district, did conspire with a suspect, Ifeanyi Dike, and allowed him to escape from prosecution to prevent and defeat the course of justice, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 126 (1) of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Vol. II, Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.”

    The chief magistrate observed that while the first charge could earn Okoroeze a life sentence if found guilty, the second charge could earn the dismissed police sergeant a seven-year jail term if found guilty.

    Andrew-Jaja, who immediately declined jurisdiction of the court to handle the matter, directed the court registrar to transfer the case file to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

    The chief magistrate then remanded the suspect in prison, just as he adjourned the matter till September 14, 2017 for adoption of written addresses.

  • Man who killed eight-year-old girl escapes from police custody

    There was outrage in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on yesterday when members of the public learnt that Ifeanyi Dike, the man who allegedly raped, killed and removed vital organs of an eight-year-old girl, Victory Chikamso, had escaped from the police custody.

    The father of the victim, Dr. Ernest Nmezuwuba, who was at the State Criminal Investigation Department when the suspected murderer and ritual killer escaped from police custody, said Dike took advantage of the darkness within the SCID’s premises to escape.

    Nmezuwuba, who spoke during a Port Harcourt-based radio’s programme, added that the suspect was able to escape because one of the policemen on duty on Saturday night identified as Johnbosco had unlocked the handcuffs for Dike to write his statement.

    The father of the deceased explained that Johnbosco did not handcuff the suspect after he (Dike) finished writing his statement, adding that the suspect fled while he was about to be taken into the cell.

    Nmezuwuba said, “We were there with the suspect in handcuffs. When we got to the state CID, there was no light in the entire State CID. I wrote my statement with candle; imagine a whole state CID (without light). Then Johnbosco removed the handcuffs from the suspect’s hands for him (suspect) to write his statement.

    “At a point, the boy (Dike) said he was thirsty and Johnbosco said I should buy pure water for him and I asked him (‘John; are you crazy? Is something wrong with you? Why would you ask me to buy water for a person that killed my daughter? Why would I buy water for a ritualist?’ And I told Johnbosco that it was none of my business.

    “Some policemen were at the gate with guns while we were at the charge room writing statement. After we finished writing our statements, Johnbosco called the IPO to go and put the suspect in the cell. The suspect was not handcuffed at that time.

    “They did not walk up to a pole when I heard hold am, hold am; he has escaped. Whether he jumped the fence or not, I cannot say because the entire place was dark; it was between 7.30 and 8pm (Saturday night). I now told Johnbosco that you know what you are doing.

    “They (policemen) came out with torchlight and checked under the cars parked there. Then I saw the DCP, I mean the Deputy Commissioner of Police and he said; what nonsense is this? He then asked after Johnbosco and he was told he (Johnbosco) was inside. The DCP then said that they should handcuff both his hands and legs.”

    Nmezuwuba expressed disappointment in the police, accusing them of playing game with a heinous crime against humanity, even as he vowed that he would never allowed it to be swept under the carpet.

    He said, “My brother, I cannot understand this country; this must be a planned game and I must fight it to the end. They have to provide that suspect. The Rivers State Police must provide him while Johnbosco should remain in detention.

    “This incident has proven the kind of country we are living. What is going to happen in this particular matter; honestly speaking, heaven will hear it. The whole world will hear it.”

    On his relationship with Dike, he said, “The boy (suspect) is related to me; we are from the same village. He killed my daughter inside his room. Ifeanyi Dike’s landlord is my in-law and also his own in-law. The landlord was arrested and the same day, they released him (landlord). The name of the landlord is Pius Nwoko.”

    Dike, who had allegedly defiled, killed and removed the vital organs of eight-year-old Chikamso, was caught by a local vigilante, who immediately handed him over to the police on Saturday.

    However, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Zaki Ahmed, who was visibly sad and angry over the development, explained that the suspect escaped under the cover of the night and promised that the police would soon arrest him.

    Describing the incident as an individual negligence, Ahmed stressed that the police had deployed human and material resources towards ensuring that the suspect was apprehended.

    The CP said, “What I am saying is that it was an individual negligence that caused it. The escape happened in the presence of the complainant; that is the parent of the girl. The boy (suspect) escaped under the cover of the night.

    “But we are making every effort, every move and by the grace of the Almighty God, within a short time, he will be arrested. We are not relenting. We know that this is a serious problem; it can happen to anybody.

    “We are not relenting and by the grace of God, we will get him arrested. It is too bad it happened, but it is one of those things. Sometimes, things can happen this way.

    “We have moved a lot of resources; both human and material resources, to ensure that the culprit is arrested. We call on the people to confide in us if they have any useful information. I will act on it.”

  • Senate halts concessioning of Port Harcourt refinery over lack of transparency

    The Senate on Tuesday called for the termination of all transactions regarding the concession of Port Harcourt Refinery to AGIP and OANDO.

    The decision follows a motion from Senator Sabo Mohammed (Jigawa South) asking it to investigate how the deal was sealed.

    Complaining that due process of Public Procurement was not followed, he urged the Senate to find out the criteria used to select AGIP/ENI and OANDO PLC to maintain and operate the Port Harcourt refinery as well as the cost and the time-frame for the deal.

    The Nigerian government recently entered into agreement with AGIP, a subsidiary of ENI, an Italian oil concern to construct a $15 billion refinery in the Niger-Delta; a deal which also includes investment from AGIP.

    The agreement according to the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu was part of plans to increase local production and end an era of fuel importation.

    “This arrangement would have been wonderful because it would mean an end to importation of refined products by the year 2020, but many questions are begging for answers, such as ‘ is it AGIP/ENI or OANDO Plc that is taking over Port Harcourt refinery?’

    ”Was there the observance of the privization law as regards due diligence, selection from preferred bidders before ceding of the Port Harcourt Refinery to AGIP/OANDO?” he asked, imploring Senate to set up an Ad hoc committee to investigate the deal.

    Speaking on the motion, Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West, asked Senate President, Bukola Saraki to rise to the occasion and avert what he described as ” another calamitous corruption,” about to be hatched.

    He said individuals who had milked the country in the past want to continue to do so by stealing what is left of a common patrimony.

    “They’re about to do to us what they did when electricity was fraudulently sold.

    Mr. President, what happened to the concession of Lagos/Ibadan Expressway is about to happen.”

    Mr. President , arise this morning in your valour and stop this massive corruption that is about to take place,” he said.

    Senator Kabiru Gaya from Kano South supports Melaye’s position, wondering how the process of signing the deal was started without involving Bureau of Public Procurement {BPP} as required by law.

    Senate sustains additional prayer from Senator Atai Aidoko, asking it to stop all processes and transaction on the deal pending the outcome of investigation by its probe panel.

  • Alleged corruption: Court transfers INEC officials case from Abuja to Port Harcourt

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday transferred the case filed by the Police against 23 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials to Port Harcourt division of the court.

    The officials were docked for allegedly receiving N360 million as bribe from the Rivers Government to compromise the results of the Dec.10, 2016 re-run parliamentary elections in the state.

    In his ruling, Justice John Tsoho said the argument of the Police that the insecurity in Rivers would affect the trial was not tenable.

    He said that there was no evidence placed before the court to show pervasive insecurity in Rivers.

    Tsoho further said that the video clips and photographs tendered by the Police were incidences that happened before the Dec. 10 rerun elections.

    He said that the responsibility of providing security in any part of the country rests on the security operatives and not the court.

    “I haven’t found out that Rivers has become ungovernable based on the alleged security situation in the state.

    “So, based on Section 22 of the Federal High Court Act, the case has been transferred to the Port Harcourt division of the Federal High Court.

    “Also, in line with Section 93, Sub.1 and 2 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and Section 45 of the Federal High Court Act, which states that the trial of a case should take place where the offence was committed, I hereby transfer the case,” he said

    The defence counsel, led by Ahmed Raji(SAN), had on the last adjourned date urged the court to decline hearing of the charge on grounds of territorial jurisdiction.

    Alternatively, the defence asked the court for an order transferring the matter to the Port Harcourt division of the court.

    The defence said the prosecution has not placed any evidence before the court to support the reason for charging the defendants before a court in Abuja for offences allegedly committed in Port Harcourt.

    “We are challenging the court’s jurisdiction because all the alleged acts took place in Port Harcourt and none of the 1st to 20th defendants live here in Abuja.”

    They also had argued that the defendants’ trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja was in breach of the constitution and the Criminal Justice Act.

    The prosecuting counsel, Aliyu Alilu, however, argued that there was insecurity in Rivers , which could interfere with the trial.

    Alilu urged the court to dismiss the defendants application challenging the court’s jurisdiction as it lacked merit.

     

     

     

    NAN

  • Thief takes over lady’s Facebook after snatching her phone at gunpoint

    Thief takes over lady’s Facebook after snatching her phone at gunpoint

    A thief in Port Harcourt is rousing up controversy on social media by mocking his victim on Facebook after robbing her of her phone at gunpoint.

    The thief uploaded his photo on the victim’s Facebook account, (Gabrilla Uchechi Eberechukwu) on Thursday, February 9, 2016.

    The victim who is a student of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University recounted the experience to a friend of hers.

    The suspect who is yet to be identified went as far as changing the victim’s profile picture to one of his and shared an update.

    Writing on the victim’s Facebook wall, the suspect said, “I mind you,” garnering a barrage of insults for his daring.

    One of the victim’s friends, Ifunanya Joy, commented on the picture, “You stole my friend’s phone. You are a big thief,” to which the suspect replied with a laughing emoji.

    Joy explained that her friend had told her of how the man had taken control of her Facebook account, presumably through the phone.

    “She doesn’t even know what is going on with her Facebook now,” Joy said.

    A photo of the suspect along with messages imploring for help in locating the suspect has been circulating the internet.

     

  • ‘Refineries to work in full capacity by 2017’

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Tuesday, said it would rehabilitate the three local refineries located in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna to achieve optimal capacity utilization in 2017.

    In a statement signed by Mr Ndu Ughamadu, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division (NNPC) in Abuja, the Chief Operating Officer, Refineries of the NNPC, Mr. Anibor Kragha, stated that the Corporation was determined to move away from the approach of quick fixes and undertake a comprehensive revamp of the plants.

    “The plan for next year is to get the comprehensive rehabilitation programme done. “The situation is like having three cars in your garage that have not been maintained for 15 to 20 years while you expect optimal performance from them.

    “Changing one fuel pump here, one compressor there is not helpful. What we are doing now is to step back and take a holistic approach and do a full rehabilitation of all the refineries.” he said

    He added that once the exercise was achieved, the refineries in due course would draw up a chart for routine Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) Programme as and when due.

    Kragha explained that though the plan was still on course, none of the projected co-location refineries would come on stream in 2017 based on existing timeline for assemblage of the plants.

    ‘’We are very close; we have done tests with some of the key marketers. We have achieved all the parameters, we just want to be 110 percent certain,’’ he said.

    Meanwhile, Managing Director of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemicals Company, Mr. Mukhtar Maiha, said KRPC was working towards a target of 75 per cent capacity utilization in the New Year based on projected supply of one cargo of crude oil per month.