The Lumine News

Author: News

  • Odukpani Lawmakers Impeaches Leader On 5-Count Charges, Swears In New Leader

     

    By  Admin

    The Leader of Odukpani Legislative Council, Hon. Godswill Iya has been impeached for alleged misappropriation of public funds. The lawmakers also elected Effiong Okokon to replace the impeached Leader.

    The Lumine News gathered that the impeachment came on the grounds of a 5-count charge signed by 11 out of the 13 councillors in the Local Government Area.

    The charges against the erstwhile leader reads:

    “1. That the leadership style of Hon. Godwin Iya is fraught with inefficiency and administrative high-handedness without regards to his colleagues in the council.

    “2. That his leadership is enmeshed in gross embezzlement and misappropriation of funds meant for the legislature and reckless spending of legislative vote without due process.

    “3. That as a leader whose fundamental duty is to protect the sanctity of the legislature and the interest of his colleagues, Hon. Godswill Iya on the contrary used his position as a leader to obtain monies from 4 of his colleagues namely; Hon. Eton Effiong Okon, Hon. Bassey Duke, Hon. Nkoyo Obo and Hon Okokon Effiom, under the false pretense of carrying out an executive order, thereby amounting to gross abuse of office, a height of criminality and fraud.

    “4. That Hon. Godswill Iya is incompetent in legislative matters and lack the requisite capacity to lead the revered Odukpani Legislative Council.

    “5. That Hon. Godswil Iya is highly corrupt and used his office as an avenue to amass wealth to himself as well as attempting to blackmail the executive arm of Odukpani Local government council for his own pecuniary interest.”

    The motion further reads, “In view of the aforementioned, we hereby declare that we have completely lost the confidence we had reposed on Hon. Godswill Etim Iya as our Leader, and in line with part 4 section 33, sub-section 2c of the Cross River State Local Government Law, hereby declare Hon. Godswill Iya removed and he cease to act as the leader of Odukpani legislative council with immediate effect.

    “Hon Godswill Iya by this declaration and order shall handover all official properties of Odukpani Local Government Council including official vehicle to the newly elected leader of council with immediate effect”.

  • Unical COVID-19 Task Force Seeks Collaboration With C/River Primary Healthcare Dev. Agency As Keystone, First Bank Promises Support

    By Admin

    The University of Calabar COVID-19 Task Force Committee has sought the collaboration of the Cross River Primary Healthcare Development Agency in the control and management of the pandemic on campus as the University announces Feb. 5 for resumption of academic activities.

    Chairman of the Committee, Dr Kingsley Akaba, who paid a courtesy call on Dr Janet Ekpenyong, the Director General of the Agency in her office in Calabar, said the committee needed the support of the agency to effectively have a seamless academic session free from the pandemic.

    Akaba told the DG that her agency plays a critical role in healthcare delivery at the community level, hence Unical community would also need her support and collaboration.

    “COVID-19 has ravaged the world. We have lost almost one year academic year due to the outbreak of the pandemic.

    “We are here today to seek for collaboration and support because we want to have a seamless academic session as students prepare to resume school.

    “On our path, with the support of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, we have already set modalities in place that would help us to effectively implement the COVID-19 protocols on campus,” he said.

    Responding, Dr Ekpenyong who lamented the adverse effect COVID-19 had caused on the economy and educational sectors, expressed happiness that schools have resume in order to keep the students academically engaged.

    She told the Committee that the state has been very proactive in the fight against the pandemic through the enforcement of nose mask and ban on large gatherings.

    “For us as an agency, we are going to share our experience and template with the committee to serve as a guide towards helping in the implementation of the protocols on campus.

    “I want to advise the committee to set up a mini isolation centre on campus with a view to manage any suspected case that may be detected.

    “Also, you must do a lot of awareness and advocacy to continuously instill the preventive measures on students, staff and to the entire Unical community,” she said.

    The DG, assured the committee of the agency’s support and collaboration in all its activities, as well urged the committee to strengthen the university’s medical centre as students were expected to resume on Feb. 5.

    The Committee in its desire to sought for support from corporate organisations, also sought the audience of Keystone and First Bank respectively.

    Both banks promised to support the committee with relevant materials to enhance the implementation of their blueprint against the pandemic on campus.

  • C’River To Inject World Bank SFTAS Grant Into The 2021 Budget To Curb Youth Restiveness – Ekpenyong Jr.

     

    The Cross River State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr has disclosed to the press that
    Cross River State government intends to inject $20.4 million dollars grant from the World Bank’s States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability , SFTAS, programme into implementation of 2021 budget of blush and bliss.

    Mr Ekpenyong Jr stated this on Friday in Calabar during a press briefing at the Ministry of Finance Headquarters that the money would be ploughed into the implementation of the state’s 2021 budget which has emphasis on job creation for the youths.

    He stated that Cross River state met the eligibility criteria for the 2019 programme and was accordingly pre-qualified for the detailed annual performance assessment of all qualified Nigerian states under the States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme.

    The assessment exercise was conducted in September 2020 by the Independent Verification Assessors (IVA) from the office of the Auditor General of the Federation and JFR Consulting, showed that Cross River state achieved 6 Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLRs), out of 9 applicable DLRs for 2019, and 3 DLRs out of 3DLRs, i.e 100% for the 2020 additional financing.

    The Commissioner said that the report noted that Cross River state has strengthened its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) collection, implemented biometric verification to reduce Payroll fraud, improved its procurement practices for increased transparency, strengthened its public debt management and fiscal responsibility framework, improved debt sustainability and instituted a more transparent budgeting process over the course of the fiscal year.

    The Commissioner used the opportunity to commend the members of the SFTAS state Steering Committee for their untiring efforts in bringing the state machinery up to speed towards achieving resounding success in the programme. The Steering Committee comprises of the Ministry of Finance, Internal Revenue Service, Office of Accountant General, Bureau of Due Process, Debt Management Department, and Auditor General’s Office.

    He further stated that, “the independent verification success is a confirmation of the Ayade led administration’s commitment to transparency and fiscal performance”.

    The SFTAS programme is a product of mutual agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Bank, designed to strengthen the fiscal transparency, accountability and sustainability in Nigerian states as a way of improving their revenue base, increasing fiscal efficiency in public expenditure and reducing debt overhang.

    It’s a four year programme that runs from 2018 to 2022, with a budget size of $750million.

  • Janet Ekpenyong Calls On Cross Riverians To Discard Misconception And Myth On Covid-19 Vaccines

    By Simon Ushie

    The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has called on Cross Riverians to discard every form of misconception or myths on the Covid-19 Vaccines which is soon to be introduced in Nigeria even as she called on the Federal Government to expedite actions on the availability of the vaccines for all Nigerians.

    The DG made the assertion recently in an interview to Sensitize and create demand for the Covid-19 Vaccines which according to her is considered the most effective remedy to checkmate the spread of Covid-19 as well as it’s resultant morbidity and mortality.

    Dr Ekpenyong noted that “just like every other vaccines, the Covid19 Vaccines will help boost the immunity and fight against complications that may arise from contacts with infected persons even as the world awaits a permanent treatment and prophylaxis for the new strain of the avian influnza.

    “With Cross River State already ranked among top performing states on Immunization exercise across the country, the state and it’s people are assured of a viable and potent vaccines, which would meet all international requirements and certified by both the Nigerian Medical Association, National Agency for food, drugs Administration and control, Standard Organization of Nigeria and other monitoring and regulatory bodies”

    Ekpenyong called on the Federal Government to utilize all Federal mechanism to intensify information dissemination on the Covid-19 vaccines. She reiterated the need for states to also intensify Sensitization and awareness creation to help stop the spread of fake news and unverified myths against the vaccines.

    The DG called on Cross Riverians to embrace the vaccines and ensure to receive the vaccine when available, while appealing to rumour mongers to desist from spreading false rumour about the vaccines. She used the opportunity to call on traditional rulers, religious leaders, CSOs, CBOs and other key influencers to lend their voices and support the state Government to ensure Cross Riverians takes the vaccines when available to help curb the spread of Covid-19 in the state.

    With a total confirmed case of 108,943 people and 1420 deaths as at Saturday, January 16th 2020, the need to boost the immunity of Nigerians especially the elderly and others on essential duties cannot be over emphasized and this has necessitated the purchase of 100,000 vaccines for the first batch which is expected in the country between the end of January and Early February for the commencement of Immunization.

    Aside vaccination, the easiest means of preventing oneself from contracting the virus includes, regular hand wash, use of facemask, application of alcohol based hand sanitizer and well as the maintenance of social distancing.

  • Operation Akpakwu Demolishes 4 Houses Of Kidnappers And One Brothel In Calabar

    By Admin

    The State security outfit codenamed “Operation Akpakwu”, has demolished four houses at 8-Miles area in Calabar owned by suspected kidnappers arrested by the security outfit.

    The team also demolished a brothel close to the popular Flour Mill junction in Calabar for allegedly harbouring criminals and consumers of illicit drugs.

    Speaking after the exercise on Monday, Mr Henry Okokon, the State Security Adviser (Southern Senatorial District) to Gov. Ben Ayade, said the exercise was one of the ways of chasing criminals out of the state.

    Okokon explained that the state government placed premium on security of lives and properties hence, the need to fight against all forms of criminality.

    “This is part of the activities of Operation Akpakwu, a special force set up by Gov. Ayade to fight crime in the state, especially kidnapping.

    “This demolition exercise is ongoing. The governor has warned that anyone who is involved in any form of criminality, or any landlord who is found harbouring any criminal, should desist from it.

    “These houses belong to individuals who have been caught in the act of kidnapping in the state.

    “The brothel was also brought down because the management of the facility was also harbouring criminals and drug addicts.

    “This is a warning signal to everybody. Whosoever is involved in crime of any form should desist from it,” he said.

    Okokon urged business operators in the state to go about their normal businesses, adding that the state government was doing its best to protect them from criminals.

     

  • Ogoja Local Government Chairman Pledges Support For Mediatrix Development Foundation To Provide Livelihood To Cameroonian Refugees

    By Admin

    The Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Council, Hon. Emmanuel Ishabor has pledged unwavering support for Mediatrix Development Foundation MDF, to ensure effective implementation of the livelihood project for the Cameroonian refugees in the local government.

    Hon. Ishabor made this known on the 18th January, 2021 in his office when a team of Mediatrix Development Foundation paid him a courtesy/advocacy visit as part of stakeholders engagement to intimate him of her programme designed for both the refugees and host communities.

    In his words “As a council, we are very determined to provide support that is within our reach to enable Mediatrix implement the livelihood project for the Cameroonian refugees in Ogoja.

    “The HOLGA will give you the necessary support needed to achieve your result. Wherever you need us to come in, kindly intimate us and on time too.

    “The United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR is doing exceedingly great in coordinating the affairs of refugees and we are very determined to provide the enabling support and environment for UNHCR and all implementing partners as long as the refugees continue to stay here, while we anticipate an end to the squabbles and skirmishes ravaging the refugees back in Cameroon”

    Earlier, the team lead, Mr. Elijah Ugani intimated the Chairman of MDF plan to train and empower the refugees and host communities members on vocational skills in partnership with the local government structure.

    Mr. Ugani listed vocational areas of the training to include; Plumbing & Tiling, Electrical Installation, Leather work (Shoe and bag making), Tailoring & Fashion designing, Hair styling & barbing, Catering & Pastries as well as POP painting and Ceiling work.

    Ogoja Local Government Council has generously donated land for the housing of the Cameroonian refugees in Adagom 1 & 3 and Ukende.

  • Controversy Trails The Appointment Of A substantive Chief Judge In Cross River As NJC Turns Down The Extension Of Justice Eyo Ita

    Chiemeka ADINDU, Calabar

    Culled From TNN Online

    There seems to be uncertainty in the Cross River State Judiciary after the National Judicial Council, NJC turned down the request of the state governor demanding for the extension of Justice Eyo Ita as the acting chief judge of the state.

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mba Ukweni disclosed this during an interview with him in Calabar. He said the governor has kept the state’s judiciary in a shameful state following his continuous refusal to confirm Justice Akon Ikpeme who is the most senior judge in the state as the chief judge.

    He therefore appealed to the governor to do the needful by approving the recommendation of the NJC and confirm Akon Ikpeme as the substantive chief judge of the state.

    He said: “reliably, the National Judicial Council has turned down the request of the governor for the extension of Eyo Ita; which means by 12 midnight today, the tenure of Justice Eyo Ita will come to and end. The only option as I’ve said, open to the governor, and the most honourable option is for him to go back to the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, retransmit his request for the house to confirm Justice Akon Ikpeme as the chief judge and swear her in before we turn into another crisis.

    “The junior lawyers may not be restrained from going to the streets any longer because it has become a cycle of shame, cycle of foolishness. You know this is a foolish act and you continue doing the same thing. If he can’t do that, the option open to him, is the cycle of foolishness I am talking about, is to appoint Honourable Justice S. M. Anjor as the fourth person in acting capacity who will stay for another 3 months.

    “That is the major problem. The other one is the punishment the National Judicial Council has been meting on us. This is the third time judges are been appointed across the states of the federation and we don’t have one because of the attitude of the governor. The implication is that our number will continue depleting in the judiciary and we are not having our share with regards to the judiciary.

    ”His major agenda is to appoint his in-law, Maurice Eneji who will do his biddings, as the chief judge. He wants to appoint a crony so as to take over that office as he has taken charge of other arms of the government. That is the domineering pattern he wants to take”, the senior lawyer frowned.

    Ukweni also noted that unusual things are beginning to happen in the state, bemoaning the recent withdrawal of magistrates in the state from sitting in court because of the governor’s inability to pay them for over one year.

    He also said the governor owe residents of the state an apology for his inability to fulfill his campaign promises which has made him to go back to repairing potholes which he earlier said he was not a governor of potholes.

  • Just In: University Of Calabar Announces Resumption Date

    Culled From Paradise News

    The University of Calabar senate under the headship of the Vice Chancellor, Prof Florence Obi, has announced 5th of February, 2021 as the date of resumption for the 2019/2020 Academic Session.

    The Vice Chancellor said the date was carefully chosen to give Management sufficient time to effect repairs in the hostels arising from the vandalization of facilities during the #EndSARS rampage that adversely affected the institution.

    Prof Florence Obi said all students are to resume on the 5th of February, 2021, while lectures will commence on 8th February, 2021.

    UNICAL REVISED 2019/2020 ACADEMIC CALENDAR

    FIRST SEMESTER

    FEBRUARY 2021
    Friday 5th – Students Arrive Campus

    Monday 8th – Lectures Resume for all students

    Wednesday 17th – INAUGURAL LECTURE

    Friday 26th – Lectures end for all students

    MARCH 2021
    Monday 1st – Exams Begin for Pre-degree and Final Year Students

    Saturday 6th – Exams End for Pre-degree and Final Year Students

    Monday 8th – Exams Begin for GSS Courses

    Saturday 13th – Exams End for GSS Courses

    Monday 15th – First Semester Exams Begin for all except CES Students

    Wednesday 17th – INAUGURAL LECTURE

    Saturday 20th – First Semester Exams End for all except CES Students

    Monday 22nd – Exams Begin for CES Students

    Friday 26th – Exams End for CES Students

    Friday 26th – End of First Semester and all Students Depart

    REVISED 2019/2020 ACADEMIC CALENDAR

    SECOND SEMESTER

    APRIL 2021
    Friday 16th – Students Arrive Campus

    Monday 19th – Payment of School Charges/Registration for all students

    Monday 19th – Lectures Begin for all students

    Friday 23rd – End of Registration for all students

    Monday 26th – Late Registration Begins for all students

    Wednesday 28th – INAUGURAL LECTURE

    MAY 2021
    Wednesday 26th – INAUGURAL LECTURE

    Monday 31st – Students’ Week Begins

    JUNE 2021
    Friday 4th – Students’ Week Ends

    Wednesday 23rd – INAUGURAL LECTURE

    JULY 2021
    Wednesday 14th – INAUGURAL LECTURE

    Friday 16th – Lectures End

    Monday 26th – Exams Begin for Pre-degree Students

    Wednesday 28th – Exams End for Pre-degree Students

    Thursday 29th – Exams Begin for all GSS Courses

    AUGUST 2021
    Saturday 7th – Exams End for all GSS Courses

    Monday 9th – Exams Begin for Education and Final Year Students

    Saturday 14th – Exams End for Education and Final Year Students

    Monday 16th – Exams Begin for all except CES Students
    Wednesday 18th – INAUGURAL LECTURE

    Saturday 21st – Exams End for all except CES Students
    Monday 23rd – Exams Begin for CES Students
    Saturday 28th – Exams End for CES Students
    Saturday 28th – End of Second Semester and all Students Depart

    SUMMARY
    Lectures – 13 weeks
    Examinations – 5 weeks
    Total – 18 weeks

  • CRS Governorship 2023: No Official Statement Yet – Sen Onor

    By Admin

    The Director General of the Caterpillar Movement, Chief Joe Obi Bisong has described as malicious, mischievous, baseless, false, misleading and a figment of political jobbers imagination, the report that emanated from Paradise News and published by Opera News alleging that Sen. Sandy Onor declared intention to contest the 2023 governorship election during the inaugural planning meeting of the Central Planning Committee for the burial of Elder Statesman, Chief Wilfred Oden Inah.

    In a release made available to The Lumine News, Chief Obi denied that there was no declaration to run for any office at the said venue as quoted.

    The relrase reads in full “The attention of the Caterpillar Movement has been drawn to a publication that purported to have  emanated from paradise news and published by Opera News official to the effect that Distinguished Sen Prof Sandy Onor declared to run for the Guber race of Cross River State in 2023. Without any fear of contradiction, the statement is mischievous, baseless, false and misleading.

    “As someone who was at the inaugural meeting of the Central Planning Committee for the burial of Elder Statesman, Chief Wilfred Oden Inah, I want to state categorically that there was no declaration to run for any office at that venue.
    The Distinguished Senator’s speech was limited to the life, times and burial of Late Chief Wilfred Inah whom he described as an Icon Extraordinary who lived a succinctly simple, sincere and steadfast life.

    Senator Onor stated that this is the inuagural meeting of the Central Planning Committee (CPC) for the burial of Late Chief Wilfred Oden Inah held today in Calabar on Friday, January 15, 2021. In my capacity as Chairman of the CPC, I  charge members of the committee and sub-commitees to put in their best to give the late icon a befitting burial. Speaking further, he said:
    We all know why we are here; our father, brother, uncle, an extraordinary icon deserves a befitting burial. Chief was blessed with biological children. He also adopted a lot of us as sons and he spoke about a lot of them to me each time we had the opportunity to discuss and I can see us here.

    “We must do everything possible to give chief the kind of befitting burial he deserves. I would charge all of us, to throw in all that we can to make that possible. Chief deserves no less and am sure by the grace of God we would find favour, we would find the resources to do exactly that.

    “In attendance were the representatives of the Family, Ugep community, St Patrick’s Parish Calabar, The Catholic men organization of the same Church, Knights of St Mulumba Nigeria, Association of retired permanent secretaries, representatives of government of cross River State, friends and close associates.

    “The meeting lasted for 1 hour, after which the Distinguished Senator proceeded to  visit the Late Chief Inah’s widow  in their Federal Housing  residence where he  signed the condolence register.
    An elder statesman of repute, Chief Inah was a one time secretary of the Cross River State Civil Service Commission, Head of Service of Cross River State, Commissioner in the Federal Character Commission and gubernatorial aspirant of the defunct National Republican Convention(NRC). He is survived by a wife, children and grandchildren. In more senses than one, the death of such an icon should in no circumstance be polticised by political jobbers.
    Please be guided”

    Joe Obi Bisong
    Director General
    Caterpillar Movement

  • Custom Intercepts 5,200 Live Ammunition In Cross River

    By Sulaimon Salau, Guardian Newspaper

    The Customs Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’, Owerri has intercepted 5,200 live ammunition (cartridges of 30GR 70mm calibre) in Cross River State.

    The cartridges, said to have been intercepted on “credible and timely intelligence” on December 13, 2020 along Nwezenyi-Ikom Road in Cross River State, were concealed in other goods and household items in a Toyota Sienna passenger vehicle.

    The unit also intercepted various contraband items with a duty paid value (DPV) of N378.8 million between November 23rd and December 27th, 2020.

    The unit also recovered N7.6 million from demand notices (DNs) on general goods from the seaports that had evaded the right duties through false declaration or transfer of value, bringing everything to approximately N386.3 million for the month under review.

    Speaking on the ammunition, Comptroller Yusuf Lawal, expressed worries at the trend in arms and ammunition smuggling using different routes, with reference to the interceptions in Lagos in 2017, Kwara in 2018 and just recently in Kebbi.

    “Only God knows what would have happened if these cartridges got to their destination unchecked, considering the fragile security of the nation – from armed robbery, kidnapping and banditry to insurgency,” a statement from the Command Public Relations Officer, Jerry Attah, quoted Yusuf to say.

    He explained that the seized ammunition falls under schedule 4 of the Common External Tariff, which importation is absolutely prohibited. Other seized items included 1,215x50kg foreign parboiled rice, mostly concealed in bags of beans, maize and groundnut seeds, and 38 jumbo bale of used clothing.
    There were also 204 cartons of imported tomatoes and four exotic vehicles, including one new bullet proof Toyota Land Cruiser 2019 model (without end-user certificate), two fairly used Toyota Hilux 2016 and 2015 respectively, and a Mercedes Benz ML350 2015, as well as controlled pharmaceutical products. Three suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.

    Comptroller Yusuf attributed the achievement to the leadership style of Customs management team for recognising hard work, dedication and commitment.

    Adding that: “Without the management motivation and necessary logistics support, we won’t have attained this feat within this short period.”

    He commended the commitment, doggedness and diligence of the officers and men of FOU ‘C’ for thwarting the dare-devil smugglers/economic saboteurs, who used different methods to deceive the NCS.

    He further charged them to be more professional and diligent in their statutory responsibilities, stating: “We believe we have what it takes to do more in this new year. Consequently, let me use this special privilege to call on the general public to join the Customs in the advocacy against smuggling.”