News
Rivers Rerun: Police Smash Fake Result Sheets Printing Syndicate …INEC Has Hidden Agenda -Wike
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) of colluding with a syndicate caught on Saturday printing fake election results sheets.
This follows the arrest of one Mr Atonye Peters and others on Saturday with fake INEC result sheets at a private printing press in D-Line axis of Port Harcourt.
Wike, who briefed newsmen in the presence of party stakeholders yesterday in Government House, Port Harcourt, said the bursting of the contracted printer has shown that the electoral umpire was colluding with the opposition, the All ProgressIves Congress(APC) to rig the upcoming re-runs slated for December 10th following a National Assembly resolution.
He expressed worry that until now no information or meeting has been scheduled with stakeholders by INEC on the units, wards where the rerun elections will be conducted, but rather the electoral body was busy scheming with the opposition on how to rig the elections.
The Rivers State governor said the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not fold its arms to watch glaring theft of the peoples mandate saying the sensitive material caught with the printers show that INEC is already compromised.
Aside that , he reasoned that INEC has contrived a fresh ploy to shift the elections again,” I will not be surprised if INEC goes ahead to postpone the conduct the elections…We know their antics we know what INEC would want to do.”
According to Wike, the plan is to swap original result sheets with the fake they printed so they can win in the upcoming election but said, “ we are not in Edo this is Rivers State.”
On the claims made by APC that the printer and those caught duplicating INEC sensitive materials as the handiwork of the PDP to malign the opposition, Wike said the evidence is glaring noting that the printer is the cousin of APC guber candidate in 2015 elections and also a card carrying member of the opposition party.
Insisting that the evidence is overwhelming against the APC, Wike displayed the printer, and the other sensitive materials seized from the culprits adding that, “ if the police fails to prosecute them, we will help ourselves, but as law abiding citizens we will want police to their job.”
Wike has also disclosed of plans by the police to bury the matter following the involvement of prominent APC chieftains in a fake result syndicate caught on Saturday in Port Harcourt.
The Rivers State governor in a chat with newsmen yesterday said, “ the police must go and arrest Emma Chinda the evidence is overwhelming against him.
The fake result printer when he was interrogated alleged that Emma Chinda gave them the contract to print the materials.
But Wike warned that the party will write to President Buhari as the matter is a dent to his administration’s quest to fight corruption.
“ I’am aware that if Mr President hears this he will never support it, because this is corruption,” the governor maintained.
The Printing Press, Help-Mate Consult, located at #12, Isiokpo Street, D-Line, Port Harcourt, was printing fake result sheets for seven local government areas of the Rivers South-East when the police stormed the facility following a tip-off by a concerned Nigerian.
The Director of Help-Mate Consult, Atonye Petersides, a prominent member of the APC from Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, claimed that the printing contract was given to him by an APC chieftain and former commissioner for agriculture under Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi-led administration, Emma Chinda.
According to him, the printing press has already completed two sets for two local government areas before the police got wind of the illegal act.
He was arrested alongside three of his staff, Richard Koko from Okrika, Nanee Godday from Khana and Tammy Garrick.
Items recovered by the police at the printing press, include state-of-the-art printing machine and computers.
The police also recovered Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Result Sheets Serial Number Booklets, which the printer used to authenticate the result sheets.
In an interview, Rivers State Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Bro Felix Obuah said the arrest of the fake printers of rerun elections result sheets has vindicated the body on the plan INEC and APC have to rig the forthcoming rerun elections.
The Rivers IPAC Secretary and Chairman, Accord Party, Sir Precious Baridoo, also condemned the plot to use fake result sheets to rig the rerun elections, warning that both the APC and INEC would be resisted.
Also speaking, Hon. Uchechukwu Ichenwo urged the police to prosecute all INEC and Rivers APC officials involved in the printing of the fake rerun elections result sheets.
In their remarks, both the Chairman, Social Democratic Party, Engr Worlu, and Chairman, Nigeria Peoples Party, Deacon Princewill, said that on no account should the matter be swept under the carpet by the federal authorities.
Also, Rivers Police Command said yesterday that it had arrested three persons for allegedly printing fake ballot papers for the re-run legislative election in the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed December 10 to conduct the election in the state.
A DSP and Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Nnamdi Omoni, told newsmen that the suspects were arrested on Saturday at D/Line area of Port Harcourt.
He said personnel of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) made the arrest.
“ I can confirm the arrest of three suspects. The matter is with us and the Commissioner of Police has ordered discreet investigation.
“ I can assure you that it is being given adequate attention and at the end of investigation, we will come out with our position,” he said.
Omoni said that the state CID was currently handling the matter while the command would make its findings known at the end of the investigation.
He urged the people to give police useful information that would assist it fight crime in the state.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.