One remanded in prison, three in police net for attacking EEDC personnel

 

Three suspected vandals were last week apprehended in Akwa-Ukwu, Nnewi, Anambra State by members of vigilante group while attempting to vandalize a 300KVA distribution substation, property of Enugu Electricity Distribution PLC (EEDC) located at Akwa-Ukwu, Nnewi District.

The trio identified as Uchenna Ncheta, an indigene of Ebonyi State; Chinedu Eze, who hail from Ihiala, Anambra State and Chuks Michael, an indigene of Abia State were immediately handed over to the Orba Police Division and subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Awka, Anambra State for further interrogation and possible prosecution.

Confirming the incident to newsmen in Enugu on Thursday, the Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC, Emeka Ezeh, expressed worry over the continued attack on EEDC installations in the South-East by some unscrupulous elements, noting that “these activities undermine the efforts being made by the company to improve its service quality to customers.”

He said, “in the course of interrogation, it was gathered that the trio are suspected to have masterminded the attack on Ibollo 500KVA distribution substation at Oraifite, Anambra State late March, 2021.”

“Since the beginning of this year, the rate of vandalism across our network has been on the rise, as over 120 distribution substations have been attacked, and items worth millions of Naira vandalised”, Ezeh lamented.

Some of the items usually vandalized include: armored cables, intermediate cables, feeder pillars units, transformer oil, bare conductors.

“Vandalism still remains a cog in the wheel of progress and constitutes a very big distraction to our organization as we continuously channel resources ought to be used for other meaningful projects to replace vandalized items” Ezeh stated.

In a related development, a security man attached to Welder Estate, Agu-Awka, Awka Anambra State, identified as Adams Taiwo, has been charged to court for attacking a staff of EEDC, inflicting machete cut on his arms and maliciously vandalizing a Toyota Hilux truck belonging to EEDC, damaging the front windscreen, four side windscreen and back traffic light.

The staff, who was going about his legitimate duty at the Estate where the incident took place on the 26th of March, 2021, was identified as Francis Chukwu.

Adams was arraigned at Amawbia Magistrate Court, Anambra State, before Magistrate Doris Udensi on a three-count charge.

He was subsequently remanded in police custody pending when his bail conditions are met, with the matter adjourned for hearing on May 4th 2021.

Sport Europa League Man United were “lucky” to be awarded penalty against Granada – Paul Scholes

 

Former Manchester United midfielder, Paul Scholes, has said that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men were “lucky” to be awarded a late penalty during their Europa League quarter-final first-leg 2-0 win against Granada on Thursday in Spain.

Man United looked like they were going to take a 1-0 lead back to Old Trafford when they were awarded a 90th minute penalty.

Granada’s Yan Eteki was judged by the referee to have blocked Bruno Fernandes, who then converted the penalty.

Marcus Rashford had scored for the Red Devils in the first half.

But Scholes believes Fernandes “fooled” the referee to get the penalty.

“He makes a meal of it. I think he’s lucky to get the penalty. Lucky to score it as well as the goalkeeper should do better,” Scholes told BT Sport.

“You know what it’s given, and it goes to VAR. They are going to give it because it’s not a clear and obvious error, and he has touched him, so there’s no way they were going to overturn it.

“Fernandes does very well to get the penalty, they will be very disappointed. He was just feeling where his player is, and the ball is nowhere near him anyway.”

“It was always Cavani going to get the header. Fernandes was very clever, and he fooled the referee, and he fell for it.”

Man United will face Granada in the return leg next Thursday in England.

News : Imo attacks You are too hasty in your decision, summon aggrieved parties – Ibegbu tells Buhari

 

Chuks Ibegbu, a former spokesman of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called on President Buhari-led federal government to summon leaders of all agitating groups and discuss with them on how to unite the nation.

Ibegbu, who spoke during an interview with  on Thursday, also asked the government to give express order to Fulani herders to stop terrorising innocent Nigerians.

He lamented the killing of innocent Nigerians by herdsmen and warned that such could lead to a civil war.

Ibegbu asked Igbo leaders to summon a security summit immediately to address the current security challenges in the South South and the Southeast zones.

The immediate past Deputy National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo lamented the growing looting by government officials and warned that there may be a people’s revolution against corruption and the looting of the common wealth.

Ibegbu also criticized the federal government for blaming the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, for the jailbreak and attack on Nigeria Correctional Centre as well as the Police formations at Owerri, the Imo State capital.

His words, “In as much as we are not speaking for the group or defending them, we assert that such conclusion is not only premature but untenable.

“We expect a discreet investigation first before any such conclusion. The unknown gunmen could have come from anywhere.

“They could even be Boko Haram or killer Fulani herdsmen. Mr President was too hasty and we call on him to retract that insinuation.

“We also feel traumatized in the recent announcement of the new IGP by Mr President. It’s now obvious he does not consider the sensibilities and peculiarities of all sections of Nigeria.

“This is not the first, second, third or last. Never in Nigeria history have we seen this kind of nepotism”.

 reported that the Imo State Police command headquarters and the headquarters of the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCS) in Owerri were bombed on Monday.

Force spokesman, Frank Mba, revealed that the attackers used sophisticated weapons such as General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), Sub-Machine Guns (SMGs), AK49 rifles, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

He said the attackers attempt to gain access to the Police armoury at the headquarters was resisted by the police operatives on duty.

Politics : PDP receives 3,000 decampees from APGA, APC, other parties in Abia

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has received about 3,000 decampees from the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, All Progressives Congress, APC, and other parties from the 13 wards of Bende LGA in Abia State.

The party while receiving the defectors, assured them that their interest would be highly protected.

Governor, Dr Okezie lkpeazu, who spoke while receiving the party faithfuls during a Bende PDP Unity Rally held at the Practising School Uzuakoli, in Bende LGA, hailed their foresight in coming into the PDP fold.

He assured them that having taken the bold step, they will enjoy all the rights and privileges other members have been enjoying.

The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu reiterated the resolve of his administration to replicate the tremendous transformation and infrastructural development currently going on in Aba to other parts of Abia.

He urged the new PDP members to see the total winning of PDP in subsequent elections as a great challenge that they must surmount and pointed out that having been accepted as full fledged members of PDP.

Speaking at the event, the member representing Bende South State Constituency, Chief Emmanuel Ndubuisi, the Chairman Bende LGA, Chief Emmanuel Onwuchekwa , the State PDP Chairman, Chief Asiforo Okere represented by Chief Gebriel Elendu and Bende PDP Chairman, Chief Dike C Dick while welcoming them, said PDP is a party that believes in equity and was capable of accommodating all and assured them that they will never regret coming into the PDP .

Also contributing, the Deputy Chairman of Bende LGA, Mr. Promise Uzoma, former Commissioner for Tourism, Mrs Loveth Ojo Adimoha, Chief James Okpara, Chief Ukwu Rocks Emma, Chief P.C. Mba, a PDP Chieftain Chief Iheanyi Chinasa and Chief P.C. Onyegbu while unanimously welcoming the decampees, assured that they are determined to take back Bende and National Constituencies come 2023.

In their various remarks, the leaders of the decampees, Mr. Alaeligwe of All Progressive Grand Alliance( APGA) Prince Emeka Igwe from All Progressive Congress ( APC) and an APC woman leader, Mrs Mercy Abraham on behalf of others said they decided to join the PDP having witnessed the kinetic and tremendous development the Governor is doing across the State

The event which featured the formal renouncing of their membership of their former parties by the decampees attracted the presence of top government officials and PDP chieftains from Bende LGA.

Politics : Imo attacks Gov Uzodinma was aware, DSS alerted police three times – Ex-Director, Amachree

 

Dennis Amachree, a former Assistant Director of the Department of State Services, DSS, has revealed that the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, was aware that the state’s prison and the police headquarters was about to be attacked.

Amachree also said that the DSS alerted the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, at least three times before the Monday attacks in Imo.

The ex-DSS Director spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Thursday.

Recall that some unknown gunmen had on Monday attacked the police headquarters and the Correctional Centre in Owerri and freed hundreds of inmates.

According to Amachree, “There was enough intelligence, enough actionable intelligence. Actionable in the sense that it allows for space for people to execute it, one week ahead of the event and of course, 72 hours before the event and then 48 hours before the event.

“So, three times, the Nigeria Police Force was informed by the DSS that this is going to happen because some suspects that are being geolocated around the area were found surveilling the prisons and the police headquarters, but you know in our lackadaisical way, when the intelligence came, they threw it by the side, and when something happens, everybody runs around.

“All security reports are shared with the governor in a state first. Then, it’s shared with other sister agencies like the police and the military, all of them got this particular report. So, the governor is very much aware.”

“Apparently, nothing was done [to stop the attacks]. You can see that the governor was referring to that particular report that it’s not IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra).”

Politics : 2023 Drop your presidential ambition – APC council tell Yahaya Bello

 

The North Central Council of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has called on Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State to drop his presidential ambition.

Kassim Muhammad, the Coordinator of APC North Central Council asked Bello to drop his presidential ambition and support the zoning of the party’s National Chairmanship to the region.

He spoke at a press conference at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, on Thursday.

Muhammad said Bello must allow the North Central part of the country to produce the next president, in the interest of fairness.

Describing Bello as a democrat, Muhammad said he could abandon his ambition in the interest of political justice and equity.

He said: “The North Central Council is equally appealing to the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to have a rethink over his 2023 presidential ambition.

“We strongly believe that conceding the presidential ticket of our party, the APC to the southern part of the country would enhance equity and political justice. We believe that the Kogi State Governor is a true democrat who believes in one Nigeria.

“We are therefore appealing to Yahaya Bello to drop his presidential ambition, and join us in the campaign to ensure that the North Central produces the next APC National Chairman”.

Though he was yet to publicly declare his intentions to contest, his presidential campaign posters have been sighted in some states.

Bello had, however, assured that at the right time he would make his interest known to Nigerians.

Politics : Anti-Buhari Graffiti Demonstration of public resentment to APC misrule

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the appearance of anti-Buhari graffiti in some major cities in the country is a demonstration of public resentment to the misrule of the Buhari Presidency.

This was contained in a statement on Thursday.

The statement which was issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, the National Publicity Secretary of the party said it appears Nigerians have lost hope in President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC), given the devastation, violence, poverty and economic hardship that has enveloped the country under their watch.

“The party asserts that the graffiti which demands that “Buhari Must Go”, is a loud remonstration against the impunity, divineness, high level incompetence, massive corruption as high-level insensitivity of the APC and its administration to the sorry situation they have plunged our dear nation.” According to the statement,

“The Nigerian youths, by the graffiti, are demonstrating against the failure of President Buhari and the APC to take decisive steps to address the incessant mass killings, high-level unemployment, poverty and economic hardship that their administration has foisted on our country.

“The graffiti is also an open aversion to the looting of over N15 trillion by APC leaders at the time our nation is battling with 33% unemployment rate; at a time over 40 million Nigerian have lost their means of livelihood due to APC misrule and where most families cannot afford the basic necessities of life.”

The PDP stressed that “It is an open aversion to the reported looting of trillions of naira meant for the purchase of arms to secure our nation, at a time terrorists, bandits and kidnappers are having a field day ravaging our communities and killing our compatriots.

“Moreover, the use of political graffiti by citizens is a global practice to express themselves, particularly in a democratic setting.

“It is, therefore, a mark of intolerance, disdain and insensitivity to the plight of the people that instead of accepting and taking steps to address their anxieties, the APC chose to unleash their thugs to flog and dehumanize Nigerian citizens exercising their right to freedom of expression, as witnessed in Kogi State.

“The PDP rejects the pedestrian allegations of trespass as a basis for the attack on the youths, as anybody aggrieved in the direction being claimed, have the court as a lawful channel for redress. ”

“The PDP recalls how in 2014, President Buhari, then as Presidential candidate of the APC, led other leaders of his party to take to the streets and disrupted public activities in the exercise of such freedom and nobody hired thugs to attack or flog them in public.

“While urging Nigerians to remain calm despite these provocations, the PDP cautions the APC to note that its resort to suppression of freedom of expression cannot obliterate the fact that the people are only waiting for the next general election to flog them with their votes.” The statement further added