News
Gbaramatu Community May Sue For Genocide
The people of Gbarmatu Kingdom of Delta State have called for the probe of the military operations in their communities by the Commander of the Joint Task Force, Major General Sarkin Bello.
The community threatened to drag Gen Bello to the International Court of Justice for alleged genocide and destruction of their homes and sources of livelihood.
But JTF spokesperson, Colonel Rabe Abubakar, has consistently maintained that the task force’s troops displayed high level of military professionalism in carrying out their duty, stressing that the Nigerian Army has received accolades for its peace keeping activities from all over the world.
Leaders of the community said contrary to claims by government and JTF, their kinsmen were yet to return home several weeks after the May 17 aerial attacks on the community by JTF aircrafts, adding that the operation also led to the burning of all habitable homes in the community.
Addressing newsmen in Warri, the Amaokusuwei (eldest man) and Amabebefityewei (Spokesperson) of Kurutie, Chief Dickson Wereyesegha and Chief Moneyin Pori respectively, castigated the JTF for purportedly misinforming the public about atrocities carried out there.
Wereyesegha, who said he spent two days in the bush during the operation, said, “The Kurutie community will join other destroyed communities in Gbaramadtu to bring the JTF Commander Maj.Gen. Sarkin Bello and his cohorts to book at the International Court of Justice in The Hague for genocide against us.
“All the houses that were inhabited in Kurutie Community are either destroyed by the aerial bombardment and sporadic shooting or burnt down by members of the JTF through willful setting ablaze of each house.
“Kurutie has no link with Camp 5. How on earth will the JTF claim that the only house burnt in Kurutie was because they were shot at from houses in the community? Nobody in Kututie community have access to arms. The JTF just framed up an excuse to kill defenseless citizens and wanton destruction of property.
“Up till now we cannot find most of our aged chiefs, elders and mothers who could barely escape; they are all still in the bush without access to the refugee camp at Ogbe-Ijoh,” they added.
Besides, the Kurutie elders described the process of distributing relief materials to the displaced person in the community as selective and under the dictates of the leadership of the JTF.
Nevertheless, they asked the Federal Government to expedite action on their return to their destroyed communities, maintaining, that they do not want to continually live as refugees in their own country.
Meanwhile youths from oil producing areas of Delta State yesterday protested the fates of thousands of persons by the military operations in Gbaramatu Kingdom of Warri, Delta State and urged the state government to take action to enable them return to their various communities.
The Association of Youths from Oil Producing Areas of Delta State (AYOPAD) said, “Invading the region and attacking innocent civilians thereby displacing them from their homes merely reduced government’s efforts and portray this government as staging region war against its own citizens.”
President of the association Ebiakpo Ezebri, Lucky Okoro and Nevile Okubo who signed the statement said, “Our association frowns at the idea of military men destroying the riverside communities in a bid to hunt for militants in their hideouts.
The statement flayed past government for its approach, allegedly anchored on appeasement rather than addressing the root causes of underdevelopment and marginalisation of the oil bearing communities in the management of their resources.
It advised government to approach the region’s issues with ‘Integrated Conflict Management System”, stressing that this approach include conflict prevention and peace promotion and consolidation; conflict control and abatement as well as conflict resolution.
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.
