The Lumine News

Category: Metro News

  • IPMAN Threatens To Shut Down Calabar, Port Harcourt, Enugu Depots, Petrol Stations Over Police Incessant Harassment

    IPMAN Threatens To Shut Down Calabar, Port Harcourt, Enugu Depots, Petrol Stations Over Police Incessant Harassment

    By Judex Okoro, Calabar

    The Cross River state chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN), Comrade Robert Obi, has raised the alarm over police incessant harassment of its leaders, threatening that the association would not hesitate to shut down all the Easern zone depots and petrol stations in Calabar, Port Harcourt and Enugu depots.

    Obi said the decision to close all the stations was reached at after series of meetings with some stakeholders on the new alleged moves by the Police Legal Force headquarters, Abuja to arrest its executives across the zone and possibly install factional leadership, which could lead to another round of crisis in the association in spite of various court pronouncements laying the matter to rest.

     

    The South East zone of IPMAN, which comprises of Enugu, Aba, Rivers, Cross River and Benue states with over 40 depots and 1, 000 petrol stations with about 2, 000 members, has been having a running battle with officers of the Nigeria Police Force over alleged attempts by the police to foist a factional leadership for association’s chapters.

     

    For quite some years now, IPMAN has been factionlised between Chiefs Obasi Lawson and Elfer Chinedu Okoronkwo all from Abia state, leading to series of litigations. However, the litigations culminated in the Supreme Court judgment in Suit No SC/15/2018 delivered on December 14, 2018 and its subsequent interpretation by Federal High Court Calabar dated June 19, 2019, which recognised automatic succession of the Deputy National President, Alh Sanusi Abdu Fari, as National President of IPMAN, based on 1997 constitution of the association as against of one Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo. Alh Sanusi Abdu Fari was in Chief Obasi Lawson’s faction.

     

    Following that judgment, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, had in a letter dated January 4, 2019 and sent to Rivers IPMAN Chairman led by Chief Richard Orianwo, acknowledged and congratulated Alh Sanusi Fari as the President of IPMAN following Supreme Court judgment.

    He, therefore, advised “the association and all parties to abide by the Supreme Court and the Federal High Court interpretation on the matter and condemned any acts of contempt of court and the attendant proactive disputes that are escalating tensions and violence in the host community and thus threatening lives and property by any member or organ of IPMAN.” This letter was also copied to Elder Chinesu Okoronkwo.

    In the same vein, the Hon Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timiore Sylva, in a letter dated January 27, 2020 congratulated Engr Sanusi Abdu Fari and promised to work with the new leadership.

    The letter read in part: “The judgments of the Federal High Court, Calabar dated June 19, 2019 as to the tenure of the erstwhile National President, Chief Obasi Lawson, and the automatic succession of the Deputy National President, Alh Sanusi Abdu Fari, as the National President, is noted.”

    The legal department of Inspector-General of Police headed by CP Daso Oruebo followed suit and advised police to recognise the leadership of Alh Fari and withdraw from the occupation of national secretariat in Abuja in compliance with the court orders which incidentally should be extended to other branches having emerged from the same process. The police had since complied.

    But trouble seems to be brewing again in IPMAN following a new twist to the interpretation of the Supreme Court judgment by the new Police Commissioner, Legal Force headquarters, Abuja, DCP Ochogwu Ogbeh, W.A, who had in a letter dated May 13, 2022 advised the Inspector-General of Police to recognise the Chinedu Okorornkwo-led faction of IPMAN and subsequently accord them necessary attention at the national headquarters and in the affected states.

    In the letter describing the Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo-led executives as “the judgment creditors,” DCP Ochogwu Ogbeh advised “all litigants in the disputes, who submitted to the jurisdiction of the Court to respect the outcome of the decision and comply with Court orders, most especially as this decision is coming from the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.”

    Reacting to DCP Ochogwu Ogbeh interpretation of the Supreme Court and Appeal Courts judgment and advise in an interview in Calabar, the Cross River state Chairman of IPMAN, Comrade Robert Asue Obi, described Police action as an invitation to anarchy, threatening that the association would not hesitate to shut down all depots in the eastern zone and close petrol stations owned their thousands of members in protest against police undue harassment of the leadership and interference in their affairs.

     

    Obi frowns at the illegal moves by the police authourities and some disgruntled elements to either misinterpret the Supreme Court ruling or subvert the will of the people and subsequently impose their cronies on the association even when the facts of the matter are very clear.

     

    He explained that the Attorney general of the Federation, AGF’s letter, copied to Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo and his faction, who lost out at the Supreme Court, had acknowledged Alh Sanusi Fari as authentic National President of IPMAN as well as his Depot/Unit chairmen.

    “Following the legal advice, the police are putting all arsenals to arrest the current executives of IPMAN in Nigeria, particularly in Calabar NNPC depot and allegedly hand them over to the people of their choice. IPMAN warns that if any further step for the Police to interfere with the current leadership of the association headed by Alh. Debo Ahmed, as national president, and that of my office, we would shut down the distribution channels of petroleum and allied products in Nigeria pending the when the police return to their senses.

    “IPMAN leadership has resolved to continue with their rights in the constitution and abide by the extant laws and subsisting judgments of the courts in their favour.”

    Describing the recent police interpretation as travesty of justice, the counsel to Alh. Ahmed Debo-led IPMAN, Daniel Enegu Mgbe, regretted that the Police under the watch IGP decided to be misled by its legal unit headed by DCP Ochogwu Ogbeh in defiance of the position of the Attorney General of the federation.

    Mbge recalled that CP Daso Josaih Oruebo and IGP had confirmed the same legal advice of Attorney general of the federation on a memo dated June24, 2021, insisting that the Police authourities have no constitutional powers to neither reverse the AGF legal advice nor usurp his constitutional duties, adding that any attempt by the Police to override he the legal advice of AGF amount to trying to lock horns with the law officer of the federation.

    He stated that Section 15 of Sheriffs and Civil Process Act 2004 clearly spelt out the functions of the under Section 4 of Police Act 2020.

     

  • Jarigbe Agom Facilitate FG Palliatives For The Aged, Vulnerable, Widows And Widowers In Cross River North

    Jarigbe Agom Facilitate FG Palliatives For The Aged, Vulnerable, Widows And Widowers In Cross River North

     

    The Senator Representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe has facilitated the disbursement of palliatives from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster management and Social Development, to the vulnerable, Aged, widows, and widowers in Cross River North Senatorial District.

    The disbursement which was made in Ogoja LG council by Staff of the FMHADMSD, has over 100 beneficiaries from the 5 LGAs of Cross River North, who received a token of N20,000 each.

    The facilitation is in line with the Senator’s relentless effort to ameliorate hunger and suffering in the Senatorial District while also striving to put other social amenities like water, good roads, conducive learning environment, etc, in place, for the overall wellbeing of his constituents.

    Beneficiaries were selected from the 54 wards of Cross River North.

    TEAM JARI MEDIA

     

  • Ukwortung Clan Appreciates Anonymous Gesture, Seeks Government’s Approval To Commence School Renovation

    Ukwortung Clan Appreciates Anonymous Gesture, Seeks Government’s Approval To Commence School Renovation

     

    The leadership of Ukwortung clan has commended the benevolence of an anonymous who have indicated interest to renovate one of the delapidated buildings at St John’s Primary School Ukwortung, Obudu Local Government Area.

    The community received the representative of the anonymous on Saturday, 6th August 2022.

    The Community Chairman, Mr Peter Ugani who spoke on behalf of the community noted that “We want to very sincerely that our anonymous brother for his thoughtfulness to assist us renovate this school. He has shown us that he is very serious about this renovation work. Please convey our unalloyed commitment to the completion of this project. We will make our contribution where we can to ensure that this project sees the light of the day”

    The community noted that they will write to officially notify and seek the approval of SUBEB Chairman as work begins on site.

    In a letter sighted by TheLumineNews, and signed by the Clan Head, HRH, Uti Moses Odikpo and Community Chairman, Mr Peter Ugani, indicates that the roof was blown off in 2016 and that series of letters were written calling on SUBEB to renovate the building.

    The letter reads in parts, “We write to notify you of our intention to commence the renovation of a classroom block in our community, St John’s Primary School, Ukwortung, that was blown off by windstorm in 2016.

    “Our children had received lessons under very terrible conditions which have impacted negatively on them.

    “Our interactions with previous Head Teachers reveled that series of letters calling on SUBEB to step in were written to this effect.

    “Poised to ensure that our children have a condusive learning environment, we are glad to inform you that an anonymous has indicated interest to renovate the block for our children’s use.

    “It is on this premise that we write to request your approval for the renovation of this classroom block as we continue to support government to provide the basic amenities”

    The anonymous representative, stated that there is no political undertone to the renovation of the school building, but that he was touched by the disturbing pictures circulated on social media.

    He commended the resilience of Elijah Ugani who drew the world’s attention to the state of the school and promised to commence work as soon as possible.

  • 70th Birth Anniversary: Bishop Donatus Akpan Commissions Youth House, Charged Youth To Remain Resilient In The Pursuit Of An Ideal Society

    70th Birth Anniversary: Bishop Donatus Akpan Commissions Youth House, Charged Youth To Remain Resilient In The Pursuit Of An Ideal Society

     

    As part of activities to mark the 70th birth anniversary of the Chief Shepherd of the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja, His Lordship, the Most Rev Dr Donatus Akpan, the bishop used the opportunity to commission the Youth House for the Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria CYON, St Thomas Aquinas Parish Igoli-Ogoja.

    The event was held on Wednesday, July 3rd 2022 at the parish pavilion.

    Commisioning the Youth House, the bishop expressed satisfaction with the commitment and resilience of the youth to have come up with the idea of the house.

    He charged the youths not to lose hope despite the seemingly challenges that ravaged us currently, and insisted that as the
    hope of the future we all anticipate, the youths must be delibrate and resolute about the things that will sustain the yearnings and aspirations that guarrenttees a better society.

    The Bishop used the opportunity to commend the Parish Priest, Rev Fr Dr Peter Obele Abue for his innovations and thoughtfulness to assist the youths realize their dreams.

    He thanked the parishioners for coming together to celebrate him and maintained that “what God approves will always come to pass. He attributed the success of the event to God’s approval.

    The bishop appreciated the parish’s solidarity and every gift, especially the talents in the youths as displayed during the special rendition, drama and dance.

    He used the opportunity to encourage parishioners to continue to support the Church as much as they can. He acknowledged the rapid development going on in the church and held that “I have seen the development in your Church. I see you have quality men and women.
    You have a quality pastor and Assistant.

    “I thank God for the gift of my life. I thank all of you. I thank all my brother priests. Continue to pray for me that the Lord will grant me the grace to look after you”

    Speaking during the event, the Parish Priest and Vicar General Administration of the Diocese, Very Rev Fr Dr Peter Obele Abue, held that “this initiative which is being inaugurated on this 70th birthday of our dear Bishop reminds us all of the dire need of empowerment programmes that benefit underrepresented populations in our society. Above all, the need for such initiatives to be spearheaded by the youth themselves. We hope such programmes could be replicated across the leaps and bounds of our diocese and the country in general”.

    On his part, the Parish President, Mr Adie Julius welcomed the Bishop to St Thomas Parish and noted that “70 looks good on you”

    He noted that “as we celebrate with you this day, we your children of the great St Thomas Aquinas Parish deem it fit to invite you to bless and open our youth house.

    “It may please you to know that our digital Parish Priest, Rev Fr Dr Peter Obele Abue and his amiable Assistant Rev Fr James Aburu for the love and wellbeing of their parishioners, initiated the STAP EPP (St Thomas Aquinas Parish Economic Empowerment Program).

    “STAP-EEP is a programme whereby parishioners will access funds to engage in small business enterprises and the cultivation of Agricultural ventures geared towards a targeted population (Parishioners) especially youth and women. The programme will also encourage Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship, promote small businesses and shall be run by the CYON of the parish.

    “The AIMS and OBJECTIVES of the programme is basically to build an economic and financial support base for parishioners, encourage entrepreneurial framework and create an avenue for revenue generation for the parish through direct investment projects. Proceeds or profit from these investments shall be remitted to the parish development account where projects are implemented and further support given for diocesan projects.

    “The Programme is divided into Four (4) basic ares:

    SMALL BUSINESS LOANS FOR PARISHIONERS
    Parishioners who are already engaged in legitimate businesses and have need for expansion will be given soft loans on demand. The interest rate charged is 2% flat rate to encourage more participation with stringent measures for repayment. Proceeds accruing from this shall be re-deployed to the Parish development fund for projects. The term soft loan shall span between 6-10months depending on their needs. Under this loan granting system, we shall encourage Cassava cultivation for those parishioners who are interested and are disposed for farming. Interested members are expected to cluster in five and shall be funded through input financing. Farm inspectors shall supervise and ensure that the farms succeed.

    “ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SKILL ACQUISITION
    This category engages parishioners in the area of training for small business management while the youth shall be trained free of charge to acquire vocational skills in various areas such as baking of snacks, art works etc. Skills Acquisition training will be done in collaboration with ODAIP ventures.

    “FOOD STUFFS STORAGE
    This is a parish direct investment project which will involve sourcing for raw food stuffs, storing them up during harvest and disposing them at the market when prices have appreciated.

    “RELIGIOUS ARTICLES/PROVISION STORE
    A Bookshop (religious articles) and Provision store has already been opened and shall be operated and supervised by the Parish CYON. The store shall carter for children and adults needs by providing a market for the sale of religious articles, provisions, drinks and food items”.

    The event featured cutting of birth anniversary cake, presentation of gifts, group photograph, dance presentation and drama.

    In a vote of thanks, the Assistant Parish Priest, Rev Fr James Aburu, thanked the bishop for finding time to identify with the parish as he marked his 70th birth anniversary.

    He thanked all priests who despite their pastoral schedules found time to identify with the parish. Special mention was made of the Parish Priest, Rev Fr Peter Obele Abue, who is futuristic is in his thinking, and the leadership he has provided. He thanked all parishioners for the sacrifices made and for coming out to celebrate the bishop.

  • Court Charges Lady To Pay 23,750k For Collecting 3k Transport Fare From Boyfriend And Refused To Visit

    Court Charges Lady To Pay 23,750k For Collecting 3k Transport Fare From Boyfriend And Refused To Visit

     

    The Lady in the Middle was in court she was arrested by the police. A Kenyan magistrate ordered her to pay her boyfriend Ksh 23,750 (Kenya Shillings) which was given to her by her boyfriend. To visit him, the girl ate the money and switched off her phone.

    The boyfriend gave her Ksh 3000 bus fare.

    So the court said she should pay Ksh 3000, Ksh 750 interest and Ksh 20 000 for emotional damages because the boyfriend was emotionally abused by absence of the girlfriend.

    The boyfriend Beyumunike brought evidence to the court of the mobile money transfer and WhatsApp messages they shared.

     

  • Jarigbe Agom Flags Off The Construction Of Okuku-Alifokpa-Yache-Echumona 65 Kilometres Road

    Jarigbe Agom Flags Off The Construction Of Okuku-Alifokpa-Yache-Echumona 65 Kilometres Road

     

    The Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, flagged off the construction of Alifokpa-Yache-Echumoga 65km Road.

    The flagged off was done today 30th July, 2022 at Okuku axis of the road in Yala Local Government Area.

    The road if completed will be the longest stretch road ever facilitated by a lawmaker from Cross River State in recent time and will open up the section of the LGA and revive economic activities as well as the establishment of a supply chain in road transport within its corridor, Okuku- Alifokpa-Echimofana-Yache, as it links the major food hubs to Benue state.

    Speaking during the flag off, Sen Jarigbe expressed concern over the deplorable state of the road and its attendant effect on his constitituents. He stressed that the construction of the road becomes very necessary as it has retarded economic activities of his constitituents in Yala Local Government Area. He committed the project to God, as he prayed for a speedy completion of the road for the use of the people of Cross River North.

    The lawmaker proceeded to inspect the Ongoing Monaiya-Ikaptang Road project which connects Ishibori to the Federal Highway.

    The Senator expressed satisfaction with the level work ongoing as he inspected the ongoing Mini stadium and recreational Centre projects, he facilitated.

    In the Sen entourage were, Barr. Godwin Offiono – PDP House of Reps Candidate Ogoja Yala Fed Constituency, Mr. John George – BOT Chairman Reclaim Cross River, Dr Martins Achadu – Yala 2 State Constituency Candidate, Mr Elijah Okache – Yala PDP Chapter Chairman, Rt Hon Mom Olom – Former CRSHA member, Mr Brown Odey – Cross River State Youth Leader PDP, Dr Raphael Ogar Oko, Joe Ulom, Stephen Okpako, Barr. Paul Ishabor, RoyJones Akpak among others

  • NSCDC Seeks EFCC’s Collaboration In Tackling Emerging Security Threats

    NSCDC Seeks EFCC’s Collaboration In Tackling Emerging Security Threats

     

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to collaborate with it in tackling emerging security threats across the country

    This call was made in Abuja on Thursday, July 28, 2022 by the National Coordinator of the female squad of NSCDC, Chief Superintendent of Corps, CSP Imomkhe Oluwakemi while on a working visit to the EFCC’s Headquarters.

    Oluwakemi said the female squad is a special squad in the NSCDC, formed through a Memorandum of Understanding between the Minister of Interior and the Commandant General of NSCDC to protect lives and properties especially in schools across the 36 states of the country.

    According to her, “we are carrying out sensitization programmes in schools to be security conscious, encouraging them to install surveillance devices and reaching out in cases of emergencies via our hot lines. Also, part of the reasons for our visit is to encourage the Commission to reach out to us if there is need for extra hands especially in areas of fire backing and other security needs”, she said

    Responding, Secretary to the Commission, Dr George Ekpungu, who spoke for the EFCC’s Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, thanked the NSCDC’s team and emphasized the need for stakeholders to collaborate in tackling emerging security challenges in the country.

    “I have been told that if you need NSCDC personnel, you go for the female squad and you have demonstrated that it is not about size, gender but about determination and courage to do the job.

    “We already have a robust relationship with the NSCDC .We will do everything to support and collaborate with you”, he said.

  • Senate Holds Public Hearing On A Bill For An Act To Establish The Federal College Of Agriculture, Ogoja Cross River State

    Senate Holds Public Hearing On A Bill For An Act To Establish The Federal College Of Agriculture, Ogoja Cross River State

     

    The Nigerian Senate through her committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, earlier today held a public hearing On a Bill for an act to Establish the Federal College Of Agriculture, Ogoja (SB 809) 2022.

    The Committee which received memoranda and held the public hearing for eight bills including the Nigerian Research Institute of Fishing and Aquaculture, Bakassi (Est.) bill (SB 116), was chaired by the AG. Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, Distinguished Senator Muhammad Bima Enagi.

    The Federal College of Agriculture Ogoja, Bill, according to the sponsor, senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, will provide agricultural education, training, research, and development which could have a direct impact on poverty reduction by increasing farm productivity, subsequent increase in food supply, creating employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled labour, and reducing the cost of food crops due to availability.

    Jarigbe added that the institution, when established, would help accelerate the agricultural growth rate, enhance the income of farmers, transform educational infrastructures, yield quality agricultural products, and generate employment opportunities in the sector for constituents.

    TEAM JARI MEDIA

  • Police Rescue Arthur Jarvis Varsity Student From Kidnappers, kill Suspects

    Police Rescue Arthur Jarvis Varsity Student From Kidnappers, kill Suspects

     

    By Ike Uchechukwu, Calabar

    Men of Cross River State Police Command have rescued an Arthur Jarvis University student, Josephine, who was abducted on Tuesday by kidnappers operating from Akpabuyo Local Government Area, Cross River State.

    The school, located 18 kilometers from Calabar, the state capital, is the first private university in the state and has almost rounded off it’s session billed for Friday (yesterday) before the incident.

    A covert operation, Vanguard learned, was carried out by a crack team of policemen following directives of the Commissioner of Police Cross River state, Aminu Alhassan.

    According to a top security source, the covert operation took the tactical unit into the hideout of the hoodlums in Akpabuyo, where the victim was rescued at about 11pm on Thursday.

    The source further revealed that some of the suspects were neutralised while one was arrested. The victim is receiving treatment.

    When contacted the Police Public Relations Officer in the state , SP Irene Ugbo, confirmed the rescue, describing the feat as a laudable breakthrough.

    Irene said: “It is true, a crack team of officers combed the creeks of Akpabuyo and rescued the victim at about 11pm Thursday.

    “It was based on the order of the Commissioner of Police, CP Aminu Alhassan, and we thank God that the student was rescued alive.
    She is recovering as she is also receiving treatment at the moment.

    “This is a serious note of warning that we will not tolerate any form of criminality in any part of the state.

    “No matter where they hide, we shall always smoke them out, no matter how long it takes.

    “Every kidnapper or criminal in the state must understand that we are bringing the fight to them. We are not going to allow any person or group to carry out any nefarious activity in any part of Cross River state,” she warned.

    When Vanguard contacted the Chancellor and Founder of AJU, Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong, he thanked God for the safe return of his student, while lauding the police for the job well done.

    Vanguard

  • Sandy Onor, Others Receives Papal Honours From The Roman Catholic Church

    Sandy Onor, Others Receives Papal Honours From The Roman Catholic Church

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis I, has bestowed Papal Honours on the Senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District who doubles as the Cross River State PDP gubernatorial candidate for the 2023 general election, Ntufam Prof Sandy Ojang Onor for his commitment to the Catholic faith in particular and humanity at large.

    His Lordship, the Most Rev Dr Donatus Edet Akpan charged the recipients to see the honor as an invitation to serve humanity and defend the faith they professed.

    The Bishop held that God sought the prophet Isaiah’s disposition to his apostolic mandate, when he asked, “whom shall I send and who will go? And Isaiah answered, here am I send me”. Continuing, he charged them to affirm their willingness to serve the Church in this new capacity.

    Speaking further, the Bishop maintained that the call to serve in this capacity transcends beyond human thought and cited the scenerio at Jesse’s house where the prophet Samuel had thought that he could anoint one of the handsome looking young me he met, but God did not choose any of them, he rather found favour in the last born David the shepherd who was in the field looking after the flock.

    He used the opportunity to inform those whose names were dropped from the Papal honours that the decision was strictly that of the Church. “The committee in the Diocese recommended the names that we sent to Rome, I will be stupid to request for explanation why some names were dropped”
    He however encouraged the congregation to see the approval of the awardees as an act of God.

    Sen. Sandy Ojang Onor was among the ten persons inducted into the Knighthood of Saint Gregory the Great SGG, while four other persons were inducted into the Knighthood of St Stephen.

    Two senior priests of the diocese, Very Rev Frs Atemgweye Unimna and George Chokpa were conferred with the Mosignori.

    Speaking during the reception organized in his honour, Senator Onor posited that it’s very difficult to sperate the relationship between the church and the State as they are inextricably interrelated and cannot function without the other.

    He further stated that “the church is worried that we now have a completely failed state and promised on his honour to lead Cross River State out of the woods if elected Governor come 2023”

    Indeed, Senator Sandy Ojang Onor has beyond Politics, proven his loyalty to the things of Christ and the course of humanity.

    The difference between the Papal honours of Knighthood and the normal Knighthood of St John International and St Molumba is that in the Papal honours, the diocese nominate base on one’s contribution to the Church, confirmed by a body in Rome and conferred by the Pope (Papal honours), while in normal Knighthood, you have to indicate interest, attend the necessary lectures, write examination and on successful completion, you are inducted, this is strictly a diocesan affairs.