The Lumine News

Category: Metro News

  • Sandy Appeal Against Otu: Court Of Appeal Reserves Judgement

     

    By Ndifon, Joseph

    The Court of Appeal, sitting in Lagos, has reserved judgement in the appeal filed by Prof. Sandy Ojang Onor and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) against the judgement of the Governorship Panel of the Cross River State Elections Petition, which affirmed the victory of Sen. Bassey Edet Otu in the Governorship Elections.

    A three-man panel of the court, led by Hon. Justice (Name withheld), announced this decision on Saturday, November 4th, 2023, after counsels for the parties adopted their brief of arguments and made their final submissions.

    Unsatisfied with the judgement of the tribunal, Sen. Onor had approached the higher court, citing 34 grounds of appeal in an effort to set aside the judgement of the lower court.

    Sen. Onor and the PDP, represented by their lawyers led by Dr. J. Y. Musa, SAN, urged the court to uphold the appeal and set aside the judgement of the Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal, which had previously dismissed their petition.

    Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sen. Bassey Otu, and the All Progressives Congress (APC), through their respective lawyers, have requested the court to dismiss the appeal for lacking merit.

    Sen. Onor, who secured the second position in the election, argued in his 34 grounds of appeal that the tribunal had made legal errors and reached an incorrect conclusion when it dismissed his petition.

    The court also re-affirmed the victories of Sen. Jarigbe Agom and Barr Godwin Offiono as winners of the Cross River North Senatorial and Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency Elections respectively.

  • C’River Deputy Governor Gifts Long-Distance Walker One Million Naira Cash

     

    The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Hon Peter Odey, today, 2nd November 2023, welcomed Mr. Agbor Joseph Ejini popularly known as ‘Joe Sweet’ in his office with a cash gift of N1m.

    Odey celebrated Mr. Ejini for the great feat of walking from Obudu to Calabar as a show of solidarity and celebration of the emergence of Sen Prince Bassey Edet Otu and Peter Odey as Governor and Deputy Governor, respectively.

    The native of Utugwang in Obudu Local Government Area of the State, who is a musician and skitmaker, had composed songs used in the gubernatorial campaign and promised that he would walk from Obudu to Calabar if His Excellency Sen. Prince Bassey Otu and Rt. Hon. Peter Odey emerged as winners.

    Speaking after his meeting with the Deputy Governor, Mr Ejini said “I have never been so happy in my life. I thank the Deputy Governor for acknowledging what I have done and for gifting me the sum of One Million Naira. I pray that God will bless him and give him wisdom”. He added that he would use the cash gift to upgrade his musical career and create opportunities for youths in his locality.

    It would be recalled that the artist who embarked on a seven-day journey on foot from Obudu to Calabar from Wednesday, 18th October, arrived Calabar on Tuesday 24th October, 2023. Joe Sweet, the passionate supporter of the new administration was received by the Chief of Staff, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar, on behalf of the Governor, Send. Prince Bassey Otu.

    The artist, on arrival in Calabar, presented both the Governor and his deputy with portraits as well as a victory song he recorded in their honor.

    © Ukongikwen Adie

  • Illegal Levies: C’River Commissioner For Education Suspends Two School Principals

     

     

    Senator Stephen Odey Ph D , Cross River State Commissioner for Education payed unscheduled visit to Government Secondary School State Housing Estate Calabar Municipality, and West African People’s Institute (WAPI) Calabar, the visit was due to the incessant complaints from parents and guardians about the schools’ illegal levies collection.

    The Commissioner discovered upon his arrival at Government Secondary School, State Housing Calabar, that the the School Principal was found wanting in the collection of illegal and unapproved levies, a parent who was in the school to pay the levies further confirmed by saying how much she paid contrary to the Ministry of Education approval. In further confirmation, the Commissioner went into JSS 3, JSS 1 and SS 2 classes and discovered how much that they have been paying as illegal levies.

    Meanwhile, the Commissioner has ordered the suspension of Mr Esang Usang, the Principal of GSS State Housing, pending further investigation into the matter, and the Vice Principal Administration, Mrs Effiom Uduak Orok, was immediately directed to take over as the Acting Principal.

    In a related Development, the Principal of West African People’s Institute(WAPI), Mr Owoh Effiong was also suspended following the evidence/records of illegal levies he has been collecting which he admitted himself. Records available on comparison, shows clearly that the Principal was faulty. Similarly, the Vice principal Administration, Mrs Emem A. Ijang has been directed to take over as the Acting Principal following an interview conducted on the spot by the Commissioner among the school three Vice Principals, pending further investigation by the Ministry of Education.

    The commissioner further warned other school Principals to stick only to Government approved levies to avoid sanctions as he also urged parents not to hesitate to report any School Principal acting outside the Ministry of Education directives.

    #Office_Of_The_Commissioner_For-Education

  • Gov Otu Suspends Cross River SEMA DG, Directs Her To Handover To The Most Senior Director

    The Cross River State Governor has suspended the Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency, Mrs Angela Odey.

    The reason for the suspension as at the time of this report is not yet known.

    Critics has complained of the appointment released by the SEMA DG.

  • Nigeria’s Potential In Gas And Renewable Energy Is Vast And Must Be Harnessed Effectively – Agom

     

    The Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, DSSRS, has stated that Nigeria’s potential in gas and renewable energy is vast, and must be harnessed effectively by all relevant stakeholders in the oil and gas sector.

    The lawmaker made the remark earlier today as he attended the 2nd edition of “Domestic Gas And Gas Infrastructure Summit (DGGIS’23)” organized by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI), Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) and the Association of Local Distributors of Gas.

    Senator Jarigbe, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Gas, also stated that he is acutely aware of the pivotal role that the gas industry plays in the economic growth and energy security of the nation.

    The summit themed: “Building A Sustainable, Resilient Gas And Renewable Energy Sector In Nigeria And Beyond” also witnessed the presence of the Hon. Minister for State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperipe Ekpo, the President of the ACCI, Dr. Abubakar Al-Mutaba, and other stakeholders in the energy sector.

    TEAM JARI MEDIA.

  • Cameroonian Refugees Commends CORAfrica, Describes Founder As God Sent

    By Elijah Ugani 

    Cameroonians who flee their homes due to the crisis that continues to ravage their country are taking refuge in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria have described Children of Rural Africa (CORAfrica Nigeria) and its Founder Rev Fr Peter Obele Abue as God sent.

    The refugees in Adagom 3 settlement took turns to eulogize the Founder/Chief Strategist of CORAfrica, Rev Fr Peter Obele Abue , for his love, passion and desire to see that their children get the needed knowledge to prepare them for the future.

    They made the commendation at the Parent and Teachers Association (PTA) meeting at the newly founded John Bosco Academy compound on the 25th October 2023

    They noted that despite the fact that CORAfrica is not being funded by UNHCR, the organization is able to provide an eight classroom block, provide a bus to carry their children from their homes to the school and return them after school. This can only be imagined.

    Some of the refugees mentioned that CORAfrica, citing the school closer to the settlement eased their truama as most of them could release their children to go to school because of the nearness of the school to the settlement. They averred that the provision of the school bus has made it very enticing as no child wants to stay back home because they want to enter the school bus.

    They prayed for God to continue to open doors and provide for the founder to enable him to continue to assist them, even as they wished him long life.

    Responding, the Founder/Chief Strategist, commended the refugees for embracing the school and sending their children to be grommed for the future. He noted that the success and failure of the children depends on both the parents and teachers of the children and called on parents to play their roles by preparing the children early enough for school.

    CORAfrica had in 2020 conducted a survey and found out that the number of children of school age who stay back from school was very high compared to those who go to school at the time.

    In order to bridge the gap, CORAfrica has now founded the John Bosco Academy Adagom, cited about 2KM away from the Adagom 3 settlement. The school currently has an enrollment of over 600 pupils, 80% of them being refugees and Internally Displaced Persons.

  • Mediatrix Supports Immunohistochemistry For Women In Calabar During The Calabar Go Pink Day 2023

     

    Mediatrix Development Foundation joined Pink Africa Foundation and Global Partners over the weekend in Calabar to mark the annual Cancer Awareness Month which is celebrated every year. This year’s celebration was officially flagged-off by the Wife of the Governor Cross River State, Her Excellency, Rev. Mrs Eyoanwan Bassey Otu on Wednesday, 18th of October 2023 with free HPV vaccination for 250 girls pupils/students between the ages of 9-14 years in selected schools in Calabar, Cross River State. The vaccination exercise was supported by ACT Foundation.

    The Mediatrix team leveraged on this year’s 5km-Go Pink Day Walk to share various Information, Education and Communication Materials on Cancer. The walk began at the Millennium Park through Mary Slessor and ended at Calabar Municipal Council premises where goodwill messages were received from partners while participants received free medical examination/screening of breast, prostate and cervical cancer.

    Mediatrix Development Foundation will take the awareness to Central and Northern Cross River in the coming months and sustained through her school-based intervention to increase awareness on HPV before the national launch for vaccination coming in February 2024.

    #Mediatrixfightcancer
    #CalabarGoPinkDay23
    #ResetCancer
    #BreastCancerAwarnessMonth

  • CRS Deputy Governor Opens Agric Youth Summit

     

    Ukongikwen Adie

    The Youth-friendly Deputy Governor of CRS, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, declared open the Cross River State Agricultural Youth Summit on Thursday, 26th October,2023, with the theme: “Back to Land”.

    In his opening remarks presented by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Barr. Odum-Ijom Ukam, Rt. Hon Odey commended the leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Cross River State Chapter for their visionary strides in empowering the youth of the state.

    Odey, who opined that Cross River State presents a plethora of opportunities within various agricultural value chains, including rice, cassava, fisheries, poultry and palms among others, said the Prince Bassey Otu-led state government is committed to igniting a passionate drive for agricultural innovation and sustainability among the vibrant youth population in the State. The Deputy Governor said the restructuring of the Ministry of Agriculture into two specialized entities – Ministry of Livestock, Aquaculture and Fisheries Development and the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development – was to ensure that every aspect of agriculture receives the requisite investment, attention and expertise for optimal growth and prosperity.

    He called on the youths to see the summit as a valuable contribution by NYCN to the steadfast commitment of the State and as a pivotal platform not only for knowledge sharing and fostering innovation, but also for strengthening collaborative efforts in the pursuit of a robust and sustainable agricultural landscape for the future of youths and Cross River State. He encouraged them further to actively participate, engage and contribute as well as draw from the wealth and experiences that the esteemed lineup of speakers and panelists will provide so as to pave the way for a dynamic and progressive agricultural sector in the State.

    In his address earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Innocent Ogban, called on the youths to go back to land and produce more food for the State and the nation through technology. According to him, “if you embrace technology, your fingers can do wonders for you. We cannot all be governors, senators, ministers or public office holders. However, we can all make use of the abundant resources which are distributed across the State to create wealth”.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Owan Enoh, who was also a guest at the Summit, remarked that the excitement that he felt when he was invited to a gathering by youths to talk about no other thing but agriculture was enormous. He, however, advised that a structure should be adopted for the way forward beyond the talk. He called on youths with the intellectual capacity and knowledge in technology to apply their skills to access capital and loans in order to build a thriving agricultural sector that will create a bridge to connect with those in the villages. He expressed hope that the summit will bring up approaches that will ensure that people in Cross River do not produce food and sell off to those who will process our products and make huge profits while Cross River remains poor.

    The event was marked by paper presentations and panel discussions by specialists from diverse agricultural sectors.

    Other dignitaries who were present at the occasion included the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Mr. Johnson Ebokpo, Jr, and representatives of the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Mike Odere, Zenith Bank Plc and AA Universal

  • Unknown Gunmen Attack Calabar Correctional Center, Kill Armed Security Guard

    By Patrick Obia, CrossRiverWatch

    Unknown gunmen believed to be militants have attacked Afokang Correctional Center in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    The gunmen in their numbers during the attack killed armed security and made away with his rifle.

    The incident occurred in the night hours of Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at about 7:PM.

    Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of  Cross River State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, DSC Effanga Etim when contacted on the telephone affirmed the incident.

    “I am on a press statement and will issue it soon, just go straight. There was an attack on our staff but did not affect the facility. I’m on the press statement and will…”

    However, it is not clear if it was an attempted prison break and if there was a repel that made gaining access to the facility futile.

  • Hon Peter Odey Received In His Ancestral Home, Idum-Mbube Ogoja LGA

     

    – Adie ukongikwen

    It was with pomp and pageantry that the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, was received by his kinsmen in ldum kingdom, Mbube, Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State on the 14th of October,2023.

    The grand reception organized by his family, the lkikienkpong family, drew the crème de la crème of the Cross River State political class, traditional rulers, friends and the entire Mbube people.

    Speaking for the lkikienkpong family, Engr. Chief David Abang said they have invited Rt. Hon. Odey and friends to come back home and share a moment of joy and happiness with them. They seized the opportunity to thank the Executive governor of Cross River State, Sen.Prince Bassey Otu for finding their son worthy to be his Deputy. Not wanting to bother him with a mirage of request, the people requested for an educational endowment fund, the completion of the long standing Help of The Sick Hospital and a Skill Acquisition center for their steaming youths.

    The Paramount Ruler, thanked Mbube people for their solidarity, especially the ldum people and the Ikikienkpong family for deeming it necessary to organize the reception in honour of their illustrious son. He advised Rt. Hon. Odey to stand for his people and Cross Riverians as a whole.

    Rt. Hon. Odey who noted that this was his first visit after assuming office as deputy governor said he was very happy to be home. He acknowledged his family, friends and the entire Mbube people for the grand reception in his honor while recognizing his political friends who accompanied him to the event.

    Odey assured the Mbube people that having seen the state of their roads and the hospital where he made a brief stop, he will make sure that work commences soon. He solicited the continuous prayers of the people for the success of the Sen. Prince Bassey Otu led administration.

    Highlights of the event were the blessing of the Deputy Governor by all the chiefs present, presentation of gift and entertainment from several dance troops.