The Lumine News

Author: News

  • Just In: Court Dismisses APC’s Certificate Forgery Suit Against Obaseki

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed the alleged certificate forgery suit filed against the governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki.

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed delivered the judgment on Saturday in a suit filed by the All Progressives Party (APC) and a chieftain of the party, Williams Edobor, against the governor.

    The APC and Edobor had filed the suit alleging that Governor Obaseki presented a forged certificate to seek re-election in the Edo State governorship election held on September 19, 2020.

    According to the plaintiffs, the said document was purportedly issued by the University of Ibadan, while the governor presented same to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which conducted the poll.

    Before Justice Mohammed delivered the judgement in the suit, counsels to both parties in the matter had closed their cases after they presented witnesses and evidence to the court.

    During proceedings on Thursday, lawyer to the Plaintiffs, Akin Olujimi, adopted his final written address.

    He urged the court to affirm their position that the governor presented a forged certificate to the electoral umpire and was unfit to occupy the office.

    This was, however, rejected by Governor Obaseki’s counsel, Ken Mozia, who asked the court to dismiss the suit over what he described as the plaintiff’s failure to prove their case.

    A Dramatic Switch, Yet Same Result
    Governor Obaseki contested and won the governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in a bid to extend his stay in office by another four years.

    Although he was elected into office for the first term on the APC platform, the governor later defected from the party after he was screened out from the party’s primary which saw Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu emerging as the APC flagbearer for the election.

    This came in the middle of a lingered dispute between the governor and his predecessor and immediate past APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

    After defecting from the APC, he got the PDP’s ticket and went ahead to defeat Ize-Iyamu for the second time to claim the governorship seat in what can be described as a dramatic switch of political parties.

    Governor Obaseki had defeated Ize-Iyamu as the APC candidate in the 2016 governorship election while the latter was the PDP candidate.

    Four years later, he secured 307,955 of the total votes, 84,336 more votes than Ize-Iyamu who got 223, 619 votes.

  • Bonny Ewhe Sets The Pace, Donates Generator and Cash To National Identity Management Commission

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Chairman of Obudu Local Government Council, Mr. Boniface Ewhe has donated a 2900KVA generator and a cash of (#50,000.00) fifty thousand naira only to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Obudu branch to facilitate enrolment of those who were yet to be enrolled.

    Presenting the generator, the Chairman noted that “we are worried that majority of our people are yet to be enrolled for NIMC, and with the directives to link all sim cards to NIMC, it becomes very obvious that those who were not captured, would come to be enrolled.

    “As a council, we are not unaware of the challenges that beclouds this exercise, ranging from power supply to provision of fuel. It is on this note that I present this generator and a token of #50,000.00 to aid your work”

    When contacted by The Lumine News, Mr. Ewhe said “we want to avoid the idea of officials charging people to pay money for enrollment. When people pay transport from their villages to come to the registration center, asking them to pay money for any logistics is abnormal.

    “We have to provide the needed logistics for NIMC to enable them do their job. Government is government, be it federal, state or local government. We have to take ownership of the enrolment process.

    “When they derail, we can then ask the necessary questions, for now, we will give them all the support they need to do their job effectively, and we are hopeful that they will deliver on their mandate”

    Mr. Ewhe used the opportunity to call on all residents of Obudu to take advantage of the opportunity created to enroll for NIMC as to be linked to their sim cards.

    Receiving the generator on behalf of the Chairman of the National Identity Management Commission, the Head of NIMC Obudu, Mr. Paul Alekwu thanked the Chairman of council for the magnanimity in donating the generator as well as providing fuel, and pledged utmost use for the purpose it is meant for.

    Mr. Alekwu used the opportunity to call on Chairmen of other councils in the state to follow the path created by Mr. Boniface Ewhe to ease the enrollment process.

    This gesture by the Obudu council Chairman would not have come at a better time than now, when an Aide to Governor Ben Ayade had raised alarm that some NIMC officials are charging and collecting as high as #2,000.00 for enrollment.

    A development that has led to the suspension of some of the officials of the commission.

  • C’River Gov’t Inaugurates COVID-19 Action Recovery And Economic Stimulus Steering Committee

    BY admin

    The Cross River Government has inaugurated the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (CARES) committee to steer the activities of the programme in the state for the next two years.

    Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Ivara Esu, who inaugurated the team on Wednesday in Calabar, said that the project was timely and coming at a time where the Nation’s economic needed to be stimulated with various programmes.

    CARES is a World Bank Assisted programme which is supported by the Federal and State Governments in Nigeria, designed to stimulate the economy.

    According to him, with the coming in of the programme which is scheduled to start by April, the state will consolidate on the gains and reduce her poverty rate of 36.3 to at least, a single digit.

    He cited the destruction of properties in government offices and private homes in Calabar during the #EndSars protest on Oct. 24, 2020 as one of the factors that has further created poverty in the state.

    “I want to specially commend members of this committee and especially the Chairman of the committee, Dr Inyang Asibong, who is the Commissioner for International Development Cooperation for her drive in making this programme a reality in the state,” he said.

    Earlier in her opening speech, Dr Asibong mentioned the benefiting areas to include CSDA, FADAMA, Enterprise Development Funding, Livelihood, Public Work Fare and the State Cash Transfer Unit.

    She explained that the focus of the programme was to help in the recovery of the economy by way of collective involvement of all relevant stakeholders who have been identified to play certain roles.

    “In the area of public work fare, we are going to get youths, both skilled and unskilled, to be meaningful engaged so that they can earn a living.

    “For the Cash Transfer Unit, pregnant women, the vulnerable and physically challenged persons will also benefit from this platform.

    “Also, the FADAMA project will cater for the provision of input to farmers among many other beneficiaries,” she said.

    She commended Gov. Ben Ayade for placing premium on intervention programmes in the state, adding that the state was ready for the implementation of the programme

    Mr Toni Ikpeme, Board Chairman of Community and Social Development Agency, who spoke on behalf of members of the committee, assured that they were going to give in their best in order to achieve the mandate of programme.

    Members of the committee include the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong, Commissioner for Commerce, Mrs Rosemary Archibong and Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Okon Owuna,

    Other members are; Commissioner for Youths and Skill Development, Mr Signor Omang-Idiege, Mrs Marjorie Asuquo, Special Adviser to Gov. Ayade on Enterprise Development Funding, Mr Gabriel Adah, Director General of Cross River Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency and Mrs Monique Ogon, Special Adviser to Gov. Ayade on Enterprise.

    Also in the committee are, Mr Victor Edet, Special Adviser to Gov. Ayade on International Development, Mrs Kate Ajibike, Special Adviser, Community Development Enterprise and Mr Felix Ita, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of International Development Cooperation.

  • Just In: Communal Skirmishes Between Abankang And Alok Claims Two Lives

    By Elijah Ugani

    Two persons are said to have lost their lives to a communal Skirmishes that ensued between Abankang and Alok both in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    The two communities are along Ikom – Ogoja high way.

    Commuters have expressed concern that the Skirmishes if not checked might put their lives at risk.

    The crisis is not unconnected with land dispute.

    As at the time of filing this report, soldiers have been deployed to the boundary to maintain peace.

  • BREAKING: Supreme Court Strikes Out PDP’s Appeal On Ward And Chapter Exco List

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Supreme struck out the appeal filed by the PDP challenging the judgement of the High Court and the Court of Appeal on the ward and chapter exco list.

    In a unanimous judgement, the court orders parties to bear their respective cost in the matter.

    The apex court has today January 6th, 2021 laid to rest the squabbles orchestrated by the ward and chapter congresses that produced parallel Exco.

    The National Working Committee NWC, had ratified the list that favoured National Assembly members and the exco sworn in virtually.

    The faction of the governor had insisted that the governor being the leader of the party in the state must be the one to produce the ward and chapter exco list.

    This however led to litigation. The matter was however decided in favour of the National Assembly members at both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Dissatisfied with both the judgment of the two courts, the governor’s faction approached the supreme court.

    The Lumine News can authoritative report that there seemed to be tension in both camps with many insinuating that the governor may decamp should he lost the ward and chapter exco list to the National Assembly members.

    With this judgment, normalcy will return to the party as the authentic exco will settle to begin work.

    Speaking to The Lumine News, Mr. Peter Akpanke congratulated all the exco that were sworn in and said “indeed democracy has come to stay. This victory is for all of us, irrespective of our differences, and it will sure solidify our party”

  • Rovers FC Resume Preparations For 2020/2021 NNL Season With High Hopes

    By Kelvin Obambon

    With the 2020/2021 Nigeria National League (NNL) season sets to kick off on 16 January, 2021, the Calabar based Rovers Football Club has begun preparations amid high expectations for the season.

    Speaking during the resumption of training at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, on Tuesday 5th January, 2020, Technical Director of the club, Mr Etta Egbe, said the team is advancing preparations for the opening season, while expressing optimism that Rovers would finish top on the table and possibly gain promotion for the country’s top flight league, which is the NPFL.

    “We have an ambition like every other club in the division. We want to see how we can get to the top and then gain promotion to the premier league where we rightfully belonged. This is what we are working towards. As you can see the players are having adequate training. We are preparing them for the opposition ahead. In ten days time the league will start and we hope to have a good representation.”

    Egbe further stated that with the quality of players, coaching and technical staff in the team, Rovers Football Club would put up performance that Cross Riverians will be proud of.

    He said “Cross River State Government has been very supportive to the team. We want to use this opportunity to thank Governor Ben Ayade, who has never said no to issues concerning Rovers Football Club. He has always been there for us. We need to reciprocate by getting the club good results that will take us to the premiership.”

    However, the resumption which comes amid the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic would have little or no visible impact on the team’s level of preparedness, as the Technical Director assured that Rovers Football Club has put in place adequate COVID-19 prevention protocols in line with directives from the national league body.

    He added that currently the squad is made up of 11 old players who will be complemented by additional 20 players for the season.

    The Nigeria National League has been out of action after it went for the 2019/2020 break in December, and never returned due to the outbreak of Covid-19.

  • Tension Heightens As Supreme Court Delivers Judgement On PDP C’River Ward and Chapter Exco List Tomorrow

    Supreme Court To Deliver Judgement On PDP C’River Ward and Chapter Exco List Tomorrow

    All is set for the apex court (Supreme Court) to deliver judgment on the ward and chapter exco list of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, tomorrow Wednesday, January 6th 2021.

    Recall that the PDP in the state has been fractionalized after two lists emanated from the party congresses held to elect ward and chapter exco.

    The two factions had the governor, Sen. Ben Ayade as leader while the other faction is led by National Assembly members from the state.

    The National Working Committee NWC, had ratified the list that favoured National Assembly members and the exco sworn in virtually.

    The faction of the governor had insisted that the governor being the leader of the party in the state must be the one to produce the ward and chapter exco list.

    This however led to litigation. The matter was however decided in favour of the National Assembly members at both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Dissatisfied with both the judgment of the two courts, the governor’s faction approached the supreme court.

    The Lumine News can authoritative report that there seemed to be tension in both camps with many insinuating that the governor may decamp should he lost the ward and chapter exco list to the National Assembly members.

    As the supreme delivers judgment tomorrow, it lay to rest which faction will handle the affairs of the party in the state.

  • 30 Women Detected With Breast Cancer In October 2020 – Linda Ayade

    Simon Ushie

    The wife of the Cross River State Governor and the President/Founder of Mediatrix Development Foundation, Dr. Linda Ayade has disclosed that her organization in collaboration with the Cross River State Government have identified 30 women across the three Senatorial districts of the State with various stages of breast cancer in the past one month.

    Dr. Ayade made the declaration at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital during the annual flag of the the 2020 breast cancer awareness month and service provision organized by the Breast Imaging Society of Nigeria( BISON) aimed at reaching out to to women and men in the state to create cancer management and prevention strategies to beat the growing incidences of breast cancer in Cross River State.

    Dr Ayade said, her organization and her office having identified the essence of early detection, partnered with the state government through the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency to move into Communities working side by side with local media agents to draw people into checking for lumps in their breasts which was successful, and 30 patients have been identified and referrals made for advanced procedures on the patients.

    She pledged to be more committed in 2021 to sensitize more women “We hope to work closely with you all in 2021 and get more women sensitized, screened and treated on the various stages of breast cancer”.

    On her part, the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency Dr Janet Ekpenyong said, the month has offered her Agency the opportunity to improve upon some services especially breast cancer check through various trainings and workshops organized by partners like BISON with visible results been recorded.

    She said henceforth, every woman who visit any of the primary health care centres across the state will be subjected to compulsory breast check to halt the increasing figures of new cases and deaths.

    Head of the Breast Imaging Society of Nigeria (BISON), Cross River State Chapter, Dr Ofonime Ukweh, maintained that “though, all through the phase of Covid19, breast cancer remains the leading cause of death globally with over 600,000 deaths in 2018 alone”

    Dr Ukweh further called for a shift of attention from the consideration or believe that Breast Cancer is peculiar to the female gender alone, she calls on men at all ages and profession to present themselves for regular breast check in teaching hospitals across the country, with BISON ready to support patients who are diagnosed of cancer.

    She used the opportunity to call on all people to have an improved lifestyle through proper diating and regular exercise as well self and frequent check.

    She averred that the group in the past five years have seen them offer services including world class breast imaging, image guided intervention and research following best global practices.

  • Obudu Cargo Airport: 3 Shot And Hospitalised As Police Fires Protesters

    Culled From CrossRiverWatch

    Three residents of Okambi community have been shot by a combined team of Police personnel and civilian gunmen in Obudu Local Government Area of northern Cross River State, over the controversial proposed Passenger and Cargo Airport, eyewitnesses say.

    The victims are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed medical facility while two others arrested are also detained at the Mopol 75 base in Obudu.

    The victims include a woman who was shot on both legs, a young man shot in the wrist, another was shot in the elbow while the fourth was hit by a heavy stick by a Police officer which led to him losing consciousness for a while.

    The shooting, beatdown and arrests occurred when resident protested to halt the demolition of houses without compensation by the Cross River State Government to pave way for its proposed Obudu International Cargo and Passenger Airport.

    Mr. Paul Obi, an aide to Governor Ben Ayade who is in charge of the project had written the community to inform them that demolition will commence today while compensation will be processed at a later date.

    “We mobilized our youths and women and went there to tell them that they had to resettle us first and pay compensation before the demolition of our homes, but they brought guns, Operation Akpakwu and gangstars to shoot at us and chase us away while the bulldozers moved in,” a senior resident (name withheld based on advice from security experts) told CrossRiverWatch moments ago.

    Operation Akpakwu is a security team comprising of personnel from the Police, military and paramilitary forces operating in the State set up in December to combat the rising spate of kidnappings, gang wars and armed robbery.

    Meanwhile, Mr. Paul is said to have employed civilians and armed them to protect himself following allegations that he was not advising Mr. Ayade properly which led to the myriads of challenges bedeviling the airport project.

    In his statement to CrossRiverWatch, he claimed those injured were shot by natives of Okambi community and accused them of attacking a Police officer.

    “Community men shot an Operator, burnt a Dozer (sic), vandalized many, deep machete cut on a Police officer attached to project (sic),” he wrote.

    On those injured, he wrote: “Those who got gun shots were from unprofessional handling of firearms within Okambi Youths. One Iduku Udide and Alonso Ukaba did the shooting that affected them within the crowd.

    But, Kajetan Ifeanyi, another eyewitness said the protesters demanded to see the Governor in person for meaningful agreement to be reached, and also ordering the suspension of work within the Okambi axis.

    According to Kajetan, “Today being Tuesday, 5th of January 2021, it was indeed a tragic morning in the Community as security operatives numbered in their hundreds alongside some thugs and contractors stormed the project site to resume work, reacting to this development, the villagers mobilised themselves to protest against this public ignominy.”

    He explained that the lady shot is a breastfeeding mother.

    This is not the first time violence has erupted over the airport which has cost two lives including those of a Senior Immigration personnel, Mr. Emmanuel Ushie and one community chief in Igwo village.

    Dozens have been arrested with some facing trial while properties of those who spoke vocally over the discrepancies in compensation have had their properties seized and kept at the Mopol 75 Squadron base at the Mega Hilton hotel owned by Mr. Ayade.

    Several protests have rocked the project with the Police often drafted in to shoot and scare away residents several times.

    The State recently claimed that over NGN900 million was paid as compensation to the residents of the five impacted communities. But, natives of these communities have continuously denied this, especially Okambi and Ikwomikwu which will lose at least 80 and 90 percent of ancestral lands. Those affected have also challenged the State to publish the list of beneficiaries.

  • As Magistrate Ashipu Protests Non Payment Of Salary For Two Years, Chris Edadi Resigns His Appointment For Collecting Salary Without Work For Two Years – Attah Ochinke

    By Attah Ochinke

    BETWEEN CHRIS EDADI AND MAGISTRATE ASHIPU

    These two citizens of Cross River probably don’t know each other. Am not aware of any connection between them except that each had the courage to speak up, and by coincidence, they spoke on the same day, 4th January, 2021. Both must have individually resolved that come 2021, they must take action. Thus on the first working day of the year, each person moved.

    Magistrate Iyeh Ashipu was employed as a magistrate into the Cross River State Judiciary and posted to Odukpani. She sits in judgment in her court; dispensing justice without fear or favour, affection or ill will. Or at least that’s what’s expected of her. For 2 years she has not been paid a salary. On 4th January, 2021, she left her court where she dispenses justice to others, to seek justice for herself on the streets. She took her two children to the gate of governor Ben Ayade’s office to protest the non payment of her salary for the past 2 years. Two yesrs? What has she been eating?

    Chris Edadi also acted in protest but from exactly the opposite end of the spectrum. In his case, he was being paid by Governor Ben Ayade as a political appointee, but given no work to do. He got tired of the injustice of pay without work and resigned in protest. He is not alone in the dilema of pay without work; estimates put his category of appointees without work at 6000 in Cross River State. The others are in quiet connivance with the government, to receive wages without labour.

    So how did we get here? Where, on the same day, one high official of government is on the street with her children crying for 2 years of work without pay, while another high official of the same government is resigning in protest over payment without work?

    Is there no policy co-ordination in the government? How do we have a situation where politicians are ascribed names in a fraudulent pretext of appointment, and paid from public funds, while judicial officers performing sensitive duties are left without salary for 2 years? When magistrate Ashipu goes back to her court after her one-man protest, is she expected to also reject bribes and eschew corruption?

    How did we get here?

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed here is solely that of Attach Ochinke and does not represent The Lumine News or its agent.