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Confusion as Abuja court orders arrest of Fubara’s CoS, Rivers court restrains police
Confusion as Abuja court orders arrest of Fubara’s CoS, Rivers court restrains police
In what could be described as judicial confusion, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja has issued a warrant for the arrest of Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, over his alleged involvement in the burning of the State House of Assembly.
However, the Port Harcourt Division of the Rivers State High Court granted an ex-parte order restraining the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies from arresting, detaining, and or harassing Ehie.
Ehie, who is the immediate past Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, was ordered to be arrested along with five other persons based in Port Harcourt for allegedly participating in some criminal activities.
Those ordered to be arrested along with the former Speaker are Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benedict, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri and Chibuike Peter also known as Rambo.
Justice Nwite granted order on Wednesday for their arrest while delivering ruling in an ex-parte application brought before him by the Inspector General of Police IGP.
The ex-parte application was predicated on sections 37, 113, 114, 84 and 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and section 35 of the 1999 Constitution as well as 32 of the Police Act 2020.
In the ex-parte application argued by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Simon Lough, the six defendants were said to be at large.
The DCP who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, submitted that the defendants are involved in conspiracy, arson, terrorism, attempted murder and murder of a Superintendent of Police SP Bako Agbashim and five other police informants.
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The five police informants they are alleged to have killed are Charles Osu, Ogbonna Eja, Idaowuka Felix, Paul Victor Chibuogu and Saturday Edi.
Justice Nwite granted the request of the IGP to declare the defendants wanted and upon their arrest and investigation, bring them before the court for trial.
The IGP had two weeks ago put five Port Harcourt-based person’s on trial on terrorism charges and were remanded at Kuje Prison upon their arraignment.
They were ordered to remain in prison custody till February 2 when their respective bail applications would be determined by another Judge, Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon.
The five defendants are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.
In the 7-count charges, the defendants were accused of committing alleged terrorism offences by invading, vandalizing and burning down Rivers State House of Assembly during the wake of political crisis that rocked Port Harcourt in October last year.
Justice Olajuwon ordered their remand at the Kuje Prison.
Rivers Court Stops Police
The Port Harcourt Division of the Rivers State High Court granted the order stopping the police from arresting Ehie following a motion ex-parte filed by the Chief of Staff who had sought to stop the police from arresting him over his alleged involvement in the burning of the Hallowed Chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly last year.
Presiding Judge, Sika Aprioku granted the order before adjourning the matter to the 6th of February for hearing of the substantive application.
At the height of the political crisis in the state, the Martin Amaewhule-led group had petitioned the police demanding that Ehie be arrested, investigated, and prosecuted over allegations of his involvement in the suspected arson at the House of Assembly Complex.
Confusion as Abuja court orders arrest of Fubara’s CoS, Rivers court restrains police
News
Nigeria needs divine intervention for economic Stability – Tinubu Support Group
Nigeria needs divine intervention for economic Stability – Tinubu Support Group
The Disciples of Jagaban, a group supporting President Bola Tinubu, has defended the upcoming national prayers, emphasizing the need for divine intervention to help address Nigeria’s economic challenges.
The prayers, set to be led by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, have sparked mixed reactions from the public.
While some, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have criticized the plan, others see it as necessary given current economic struggles.
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Adegoke Alawuje, National Coordinator of Disciples of Jagaban, stressed that President Tinubu’s administration faces complex economic issues that require more than just policy measures. He urged Nigerians to recognize the president’s accomplishments rather than focus on criticism.
“President Tinubu’s policies are not punishments but survival strategies,” Alawuje said. “Just like a caring doctor who continues treatment despite the patient’s discomfort, the president knows these efforts will ultimately bring relief.”
Alawuje also praised Tinubu’s administration for reducing Nigeria’s debt service-to-revenue ratio by 32% within 17 months, calling it a significant accomplishment. He encouraged Nigerians to continue praying for the president and his efforts to stabilize the economy.
Nigeria needs divine intervention for economic Stability – Tinubu Support Group
News
Lagbaja: National flag at half-mast as Remi Tinubu visits widow
Lagbaja: National flag at half-mast as Remi Tinubu visits widow
President Bola Tinubu has directed that the national flag must be flown half-mast as Nigeria mourns its Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who died after a brief illness.
First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has paid a condolence visit to the widow of the departed Chief of Army Staff.
Secretary to the of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said President Tinubu gave the directive of the flag flying at half-mast on Wednesday.
A statement signed for Akume by Mr Segun Imohiosen, Director, Information and Public Relations Office of SGF (OSGF) read, “The President has directed that National Flags be flown at half-mast throughout the country for seven days in honour of the departed Army Chief.”
In another statement, the First Lady expressed condolences, praising the COAS for his exemplified valor.
She stated, “It is with a heavy heart that I received the sad news of the demise of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja. ”Throughout his career, the late Chief of Army Staff exemplified valor, patriotism, and unwavering dedication to the service of our dear country.
“I extend my deepest condolences to his wife, Mrs Mariya Abiodun Lagbaja, children, family, friends, colleagues and associates.
“May Almighty God comfort and grant them the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.
“May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”
News
Oyo civil servants to enjoy N80,000 as minimum wage
Oyo civil servants to enjoy N80,000 as minimum wage
Workers under the employment of Oyo State Government are to enjoy a minimum wage of N80,000.
This was announced on Wednesday by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade.
He said the technical committee set up by the state government recommended the amount and was approved by Governor Seyi Makinde.
He added that the new scale would be implemented as soon as the consequential adjustments process is completed by the committee comprising government and labour top officials.
Oyelade said only last month, the National Bureau of Statistics, in its latest employment statistics published for 2024, rated the state as the most worker-friendly in the whole of Southern Nigeria due to a significant decline in the state’s unemployment rate, following the high-pitched employment of workers into various sectors of the state.
“The Oyo State Government has been paying workers’ salaries on the 25th of every month since Governor Makinde took office in 2019.
“The governor began paying the previous ₦30,000 minimum wage from the start of his tenure over four years ago, including consistent payments of pensions, gratuities, and a 13th-month salary for both workers and pensioners alike.
“Since November 2023, Governor Makinde has been paying ₦25,000 to workers and ₦15,000 to pensioners as a welfare wage award.
“The Makinde administration introduced the wage award to cushion the effects of the Federal Government’s fuel subsidy removal and has remained consistent with these payments for over a year, even to this day,” Oyelade said.
The commissioner said Makinde had paid the backlog of gratuities from 2008 to 2015 for pensioners, with an increase in gratuity payments for those under both the Local Government Staff Pensions Board and those paid by the Ministry of Establishment and Training.
He added that the governor had reinstated pensioners whose names were removed by the previous administration and continues to provide all pensioners with an annual Christmas/New Year chicken bonus.
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