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Demise Of A Legend: Emmanuel C Aguma (SAN)

Last Friday, the Rivers State Government broke the sad news of the death of the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN.
In an emotion-laden statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Barrister Emma Okah, the state government said, “It is with very deep pain but gratitude to the Almighty God that the Rivers State Government wishes to announce the demise of the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN, today, Friday 10th August, 2018 in a London hospital.
Until his death, Emmanuel Chiwenwo Aguma, SAN served the State with amazing sense of responsibility, commitment, passion, competence and courage. At all times, even in his sick bed, his exemplary zeal to serve Rivers State never waned.
Consequently, the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Chief Nyesom Wike, directed that flags fly at half-mast for two days, beginning from last Saturday as a mark of honour to mourn the departed legend.
“Needless to say that Rivers State and indeed the nation will miss his versatility and invaluable contributions to the development of our state and Nigeria, this loss is monumental but we urge all people of goodwill to remember his wife, children, mother and the entire Late Chief Emmanuel W. Aguma’s family of Port Harcourt as well as the State in prayers”, the government said.
Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN, was a Rivers State lawyer and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) politician.
He was, until his demise, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state.
Between 2000 and 2002, Aguma worked as Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch, and also chaired the Bar from 2006 to 2008.
On 10 July, 2015, the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee conferred the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on him alongside 20 others, and were sworn in on 21 September, 2015.
Lamenting the death of the legal luminary, Chief Nyesom Wike stated that the late Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Emmanuel Aguma (SAN) gave his best to the state, serving it with unparalleled commitment and loyalty.
Speaking during a condolence visit by the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Saturday, Wike said: “Aguma believed in everything we are doing in the state. He gave his all. He gave his best.
“I could call on him at anytime. He delivered on his assignments without excuses”.
Wike said that the late Attorney General showed intelligence, commitment and loyalty in his service to the state.
“His passage is most unfortunate. God gives and God takes. He was one of the closest to me on the cabinet. He died at a most critical time.
“You can have people who are intelligent, but are they loyal and committed? He had a combination of all. It is difficult to find a replacement for him. This is a loss for the cabinet and the entire state”, he said.
Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amanyanabo of Opobo, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja said that the traditional rulers received the news of the death of the Attorney General of Rivers State with shock.
He said that his death is a loss of monumental proportions.
Jaja said after visiting the family, the traditional rulers resolved to visit the Rivers State Governor.
Other prominent indigenes of the state have been expressing their condolences via the condolence register at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
In her condolence message, the House of Representatives member for Abua-Odual-Ahoada East Federal Constituency, Hon. Betty Apiafi described the demise of the late Attorney General as “a difficult goodbye”, noting that God knows why it happened.
Another House of Representatives member representing Etche-Omuma Federal Constituency, Hon. Jerome Eke, said the news of the death of the late Attorney General, Hon. Emmanuel Aguma was unbelievable.
“He was one of my major friends and brothers. I can’t believe this story”, he wrote.
The Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Marshall Stanley Uwom said he was perplexed, pained and in deep grief because of the death of the Attorney General of Rivers State.
“I am perplexed, pained and in deep grief. Your eloquent banters will continually play in my head. In all things, we shall give glory to God because you stood as a colossus and bestrode the legal landscape like a giant you truly are”, Uwom wrote.
In his condolence message , the Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martins Amaewhule noted with shock the death of the late Attorney General.
“It is really shocking, how can one believe that this kind of thing would be happening now? May your gentle soul rest in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ,” he stated.
Also, the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, King Disrael Gobo Bob Manuel stated that with the death of late Emmanuel Aguma, the Lord has called him for higher duties.
However, following the sad passage of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Emmanuel Aguma (SAN), flags at the Government House, Port Harcourt and other government offices flew at half-mast last Saturday.
On Friday, Wike, who received the news of the death of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Emmanuel Aguma (SAN) with shock and sadness, led some leaders of the state and members of the State Executive Council on a condolence visit to the Aguma Family House in Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt.
After commiserating with the Aguma family, Wike ordered that flags fly at half-mast for two days.
A condolence register has been opened in honour of the late Attorney General of Rivers State at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
Prominent leaders of Rivers State and members of the State Executive Council have been expressing their condolences via the condolence register.
Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani said that the sudden death of the Attorney General of Rivers State is a loss to humanity.
He wrote: “Yet again, the human landscape has been desecrated and further reduced by the sudden and unplanned departure of the Rivers State Attorney-General.
You will forever be remembered.
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FG To Seize Retirees’ Property Over Unpaid Housing Loans

The Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board says it has begun the compilation of list of retired civil servants who have defaulted on the full repayment of housing loans obtained.
Head of Information and Public Relations, FGSHLB, Mrs Ngozi Obiechina, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja, yesterday.
Obiechina quoted the Executive Secretary of the Board, Mrs Salamatu Ahmed, as saying that the move was aimed at recovering mortgaged properties from retirees who failed to meet their loan obligations.
Ahmed noted that the decision followed a recent memo issued by Mrs Patience Oyekunle, Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
According to her, the memo reminded public servants of the mandatory requirement to obtain a Certificate of Non-Indebtedness to the FGSHLB and MDA Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society as a precondition for retirement.
The Executive Secretary said that the board would take necessary legal steps to repossess properties where applicable, in line with the terms of the loan agreements.
She said this was in line with the provisions of the Public Service Rules 021002 (p), issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
“I am directed to bring to your attention the provision of Public Service Rule (PSR) 021002 (p), which mandates all public servants to obtain a Certificate of Non-Indebtedness as a prerequisite for retirement.
“The Federal Government will commence the seizure of mortgaged properties belonging to retiring federal public servants who have failed to fully repay housing loans obtained from the board,” she said.
Ahmed explained that the FGSHLB reserves the legal right to repossess any mortgaged property in cases where a public servant exits service without fully repaying the loan.
She reiterated that the directive also applied to already retired officers who were still indebted.
She urged all affected public servants to regularise their loan status and obtain the required clearance certificate without delay.
“The board is currently compiling a list of such retirees, which will be forwarded to relevant regulatory agencies for debt recovery.
“The FGSHLB remains committed to enforcing compliance and ensuring proper loan recovery procedures are followed, “ she added.
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FG Begins Induction For New Permanent Secretaries, Accountant-General

The Federal Government has kicked off a three-day induction programme for newly appointed Permanent Secretaries and the Accountant-General of the Federation, aimed at equipping them for strategic leadership and effective policy implementation.
The induction, according to a statement yesterday by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Eno Olotu, which commenced on Wednesday, is being held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja.
Speaking at the opening session, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, congratulated the new appointees and described their roles as pivotal to governance and national development.
“Permanent Secretaries are the engine room of the government. They are critical to driving policy implementation, institutional performance, and reform across the service”, she said.
The Federal Government has kicked off a three-day induction programme for newly appointed Permanent Secretaries and the Accountant-General of the Federation, aimed at equipping them for strategic leadership and effective policy implementation.
The induction, according to a statement yesterday by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Eno Olotu, which commenced on Wednesday, is being held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja.
Speaking at the opening session, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, congratulated the new appointees and described their roles as pivotal to governance and national development.
“Permanent Secretaries are the engine room of the government. They are critical to driving policy implementation, institutional performance, and reform across the service”, she said.
“The expectations are high, and the responsibility is immense. But with commitment and teamwork, we can deliver a more efficient, accountable, and citizen-centred public service.
“This final lap of FCSSIP 25 calls for urgency, accountability, and strategic focus. You must translate vision into measurable results,” she stated.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Mrs. Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, described the programme as a strategic investment in leadership capacity and institutional effectiveness.
The sessions featured expert-led discussions, simulations, and strategic briefings facilitated by a distinguished faculty, including Engr. Suleiman Adamu, former Minister of Water Resources; Dr. Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination; Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice; Alh. Yusuf Addy, retired Federal Director; Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Amb. Mustapha Lawal Suleiman, Mr. Adesola Olusade, and Dr. Ifeoma Anagbogu, all retired Permanent Secretaries.
Participants include Dr. Obi Emeka Vitalis, Mrs. Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, Mr. Danjuma Mohammed Sanusi, Mr. Olusanya Olubunmi, Dr. Keshinro Maryam Ismaila, Dr. Akujobi Chinyere Ijeoma, Dr. Umobong Emanso Okop, Dr. Isokpunwu Christopher Osaruwanmwen, Mrs. Oyekunle N. Patience, Dr. Kalba U. Danjuma, Mr. Nadungu Gagare, Mr. Onwusoro I. Maduka, Dr. Usman Salihu Aminu, Mr. Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam, Mr. Ndiomu Ebiogeh Philip, Dr. Anuma N. Ogbonnaya, Mr. Adeladan Rafiu Olaninre, and Mr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammed, alongside the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi.
The induction programme will feature sessions on public sector leadership, policy delivery, ethics in service, digital transformation, and performance management.
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NNPCL To Undergo Forensic Audit Soon -FG

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has announced that a forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) will begin soon.
Edun revealed this at the ongoing Nigerian Investor Forum, held alongside the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC.
The minister explained that the recent changes in the NNPCL management are part of a broader effort by the Federal Government to clean up and examine the company closely.
While addressing top global investors, including representatives from J.P. Morgan, Edun shared key reforms the government has introduced to revive the economy and restore investor confidence.
He told the investors that the government’s bold economic steps have laid a strong foundation to attract private investment.
He stated, “Our goal is not just to maintain this momentum, but to accelerate it. We are targeting seven per cent annual growth, and we believe the policies we have implemented have laid the groundwork to achieve this.”
Edun highlighted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has rolled out major reforms that are already making a difference.
He added that the Nigerian economy grew by 3.84 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024 and recorded a 3.4 per cent growth for the year.
Edun further stressed the importance of the reforms, describing them as “unprecedented,” adding that, “We said we would do it, and now we have done it. This time, we’re staying the course.”
He pointed out signs of progress such as lower budget deficits, a better trade balance, and a more stable exchange rate.
He also said that the focus is now on growing key sectors, especially agriculture.
According to Edun, agriculture is at the top of the government’s agenda, with the aim of improving food supply and increasing productivity.
“We aim to close the food supply gap, not by importing more, but by enabling domestic producers to scale and innovate,” he said.
On infrastructure, Edun revealed that the government has rolled out 90,000km of fibre optic cable to improve internet access.
He said this move is crucial for supporting young Nigerians and tech startups.
He also noted that 4,000km of roads have been offered for private sector participation, with the first 1,000km already approved for construction.
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