Rivers
Monarch Seeks Policy To Checkmate Illegal Mineral Extraction
The Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, and the Amanyanabo of Opobo, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, has called on the Federal Government to promulgate a policy that would checkmate illegal extraction of resources in the North and South of the country.
Jaja made the call while playing host to the participants of the Senior Executive Course 43, of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) during an interactive session at the council’s auditorium in Port Harcourt recently.
The monarch opined that a general policy to checkmate the illegal extraction of mineral resources in the country should be put in place, rather than prohibiting those in the South and allowing those in the Northern part of the country without check.
According to him, any society that fails to ensure equity and fairness amongst its citizens is bound to face agitations and threat of all kinds, adding that what is good for the goose is good for the gander.
The monarch noted that before the amalgamation of Southern and Northern Protectorates into the Nigerian nation, animal herding had been a popular farming system without any form of hostility, pointing out that it is unfortunate that herders now abandon their bush tracks through which they bred their animals in the past and prefer to go through farmlands.
He therefore urged the herders to stick to the peaceful practices of the past so that the citizens of the country would continue to live together in peace as one people.
He frowned at frantic efforts being made by some disgruntled elements to destroy the peace of the nation, stressing that irrespective of the many man-related problems currently plaguing the nation, all hands must be on deck for a friendly dialogue that would help the people of this great country to forge ahead than killing and destroying lives and property.
Jaja called on the participants to help persuade the management of multi-national oil companies to consider creating job opportunities for the teeming youths of Rivers State, regretting that the companies, instead of carrying out their corporate social responsibilities to their host communities, create factions among the youths to foment trouble in the communities.
In his speech, the leader of the delegation, who is also the Director of Staff, Prof Fatai Aramu, said the group decided to visit the council in order to tap from the wealth of experience of the traditional rulers who are the custodian of the traditions and customs of the people in order to enhance policy and programme implementation in Nigeria, pointing out that Rivers State was chosen because of its outstanding performance in policy programme and project execution.
Rivers
Police Investigate Officer’s Suicide In PH
The Police Command in Rivers State has confirmed the commencement of an investigation into the death of a police officer who allegedly took his own life in Port Harcourt.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.
“We received a report about an officer who allegedly killed himself.
“However, we are currently investigating the report to ascertain what transpired”, she stated.
Iringe-Koko reported that the Commissioner of Police in the Sstate, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for a thorough investigation.
According to viral reports Monday, Insp. Maxwell Zabu, formerly a security detail to Victor Ihunwo, a former Chairman of Port Harcourt City Council, allegedly shot himself at Ihunwo’s residence in Eagle Island, Port Harcourt.
A source familiar with the incident said the matter was reported to the Azikiwe Police Division in the area.
“Following the report, detectives from the division visited the scene as part of preliminary investigation procedures”, the source added.
Rivers
Perm Sec Tasks NUJ Leadership On Unity
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Rivers State, Mr. Emmanuel Ndah, has charged the leadership of the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to ensure that all factions of the union are collapsed, especially now that the election is over.
Ndah gave the charge when the newly elected executives of the council and some of its members led by the Chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, paid him a courtesy visit in his office at the State Secretariat Complex, Port Harcourt, yesterday.
The Permanent Secretary said he will do everything within his reach to ensure that the union is put in the front burner as far as their demands are achievable within the directives of the Sole Administrator of the State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd).
He also promised to ensure that the demands of the union get to the appropriate quarters.
According to him, the effort of the State Sole Administrator is to carry out programmes that can be achieved in six months and urged the NUJ to make demands that can be achieved within the period.
“The (Sole) Administrator has put so much effort to not only carry out achievable programmes, but also ensure peace and security in the State”, he said.
He, therefore,instructed the new executives to carry every member of the union along in the scheme of things.
“After the election, the union is now one. Carry everybody along so that the union will move forward”, he said.
The Chairman of NUJ, Bazia, had earlier assured the Permanent Secretary that the new executive was ready to work with the government to change the negative narratives and move the State forward.
Bazia further emphasised that the union will ensure factual reportage that will bring about the development of the State.
He also said the essence of the visit was to introduce the new executives to their host and lamented the deplorable condition of the NUJ Secretariat and urged the Permanent Secretary to help push the demands of the union to the state government, while highlighting some of the challenges faced in the Council.
“In terms of mobility, we have no vehicle, the one we have is in a bad shape. Most of the facilities are bad, so we need you to help push our issues to the Administrator pending when our Governor will be restored”, he said.
He thanked the Permanent Secretary for receiving members of the union within a short notice.
King Onunwor
Rivers
Rivers Judiciary Denies Reports On SOLAD’s Sack
The Rivers State Judiciary has denied claims of media reports online that a judge of its High Court issued a ruling in favour of Governor Siminalayi Fubara against former Governor Nyesom Wike and President Bola Tinubu allegedly sacking the Sole Administrator of the State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd).
A statement signed by the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, David Ihua-Maduenyi, on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, described the purported report as false and misleading, particularly for linking a judge of the State High Court, Justice Boma Diepiri, to a ruling that reportedly came from a Federal High Court.
According to the statement, Justice Diepiri is a Judge of the Rivers State High Court and not of the Federal High Court and currently on Easter vacation, which commenced on Monday, 14th April.
The Chief Registrar further clarified that the Federal High Court and the State High Court are separate entities, stressing that “the inclusion of Justice Diepiri’s name in the fabricated report underscores the crass ignorance of the author”.
The statement, signed by Ihua-Maduenyi, reads in part, “The attention of the Rivers State Judiciary has been drawn to a fake news report alleging that His Lordship, Hon. Justice Boma Diepiri, delivered a judgment sacking the Sole Administrator of Rivers State. This is false in its entirety.
“Justice Diepiri is a judge of the High Court of Rivers State, not of the Federal High Court as was falsely reported.
“Additionally, His Lordship is currently on Easter vacation which began on Monday, April 14, 2025”.
It advised the general public and members of the media to always cross checked information concerning the judiciary before publishing, and disregard the said report in its entirety, saying “its an embodiment of falsehood and fabricated story”.
Akujobi Amadi
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