Nation
Uche Nwosu: Police Owe Explanations On Bullying -Analyst
The recent abduction of AAC governorship candidate in the previous Imo governorship election, Mr. Uche Nwosu has been condemned by Mr. Carl Umegboro, a public affairs analyst stating that it was shocking that up till now, no strong explanation has been given to warrant such ill-treatment likened to a military junta.
In a statement on Friday in Abuja, the public affairs analyst said that the actions of the Nigerian Police at the Anglican church in Imo state looked like that of kidnappers, bandits and criminals adding that it was a national embarrassment and disgrace for the Police to act the way it did, and impudently owned up.
He said that no matter the political squabbles going on in Imo state, it is unjustifiable for a public institution as delicate as Police to become a tool of oppression for settling political scores, and wondered why the Imo State Commissioner of Police has not been queried and sanctioned accordingly including immediate redeployment.
Umegboro said that the excuse by the Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba of having no knowledge is flimsy, absurd and inconsequential considering the volume of embarrassment the Police under his watch brought to the nation by the silly act even when federal government was marketing the nation in the international arenas.
Mr. Umegboro argued that irrespective of what may have transpired in the state during Rochas Okorocha’s administration as alleged, that they do not justify the Police intimidation and excesses witnessed in the state recently which may escalate to a worse situation if not controlled. He added that oppression and intimidation are not part of benefits offered to a state that belongs to a ruling party.
He therefore appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to watch the video to see how his Police played a role of political thugs in a broad day which initially, was accurately reported in the media as kidnapping.
“The nation is no longer in a military era where oppression and intimidation against perceived enemies used to be the order of the day. Obviously, what Nigerian Police did in Imo state during a church service is a national embarrassment.
“In fact, President Muhammadu Buhari should watch the video to see how the Police under his watch bullied a citizen of the country convincingly to settle scores. If a citizen’s attention is needed by the Police, there are procedures to fetch the fellow, and not acting as witnessed which was similar to that of scripts in the Animal Farm by George Orwell”, the analyst fumed.
He queried the rationale for the traumatic action during a church service which put many including elderly people into severe fear even without any Police invitation extended to the victim earlier which showed that it was merely to cause embarrassments to the victim in the presence of his invitees and to frustrate the occasion.
“The question begging for answer is when has a church become the ideal place to arrest a citizen, sadly, one that was neither invited nor a warrant of arrest issued against, and then during a thanksgiving service in the church in honour of his deceased mother. From stories, nothing showed that Nwosu was at large, hence, unacceptable.
“Whatever issues going on between Senator Rochas Okorocha, the victim’s father in-law and the present government cannot justify the barbaric Police actions during a church service except the nation is going backwards. There are avenues to demand for stewardship from a former public officeholder, and not bullying. If not controlled, the ugly pattern could resuscitate, and who knows who will be the next target or victim, thereby destroying the gains of democracy. This is not about Rochas Okorocha but civility and nationalism.
“Essentially, we cannot be condemning bullying in secondary schools when those in authority openly promote and exhibit the same vices against political enemies. Recently, five ELAN engineers working on the AfDB project in Ebonyi state went missing only to hear from the Ebonyi State government that they were killed and buried, and nothing has been said about such barbarism. These are heights of irresponsibility”, Umegboro lamentably said.
Nation
Rivers Judiciary Denise Media Reports On Issuing Judgement Sacking SOLAD
The Rivers State Judiciary has denied claims of media reports circulating 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, there by 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 yesterday in Port Harcourt, described the purported report as false and misleading, particularly for linking a judge of the State High Court, Justice Boma Diepirii, to a ruling that reportedly came from a Federal High Court.
According to the statement, Justice Boma Diepirii 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 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,” the statement read.
“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, Ihua-Maduenyi stated.
The statement however advised the general public and members of the media to always cross checked information concerning the judiciary before publishing and as well disregard the said report in its entirety as its an embodiment of falsehood and fabricated story.
Nation
Senate Passes Bill For Establishment Of University In Abia
The Senate yesterday approved the bills for the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences and College of Education, Bende at its plenary session.
The two bills sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon . Benjamin Kalu came to the Senate for concurrence after the approvals from the House of Representatives.
The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Lola Ashiru in the absence of the Majority Leader presented the recommendations of the Lower Chamber for consideration and Concurrence .
The Bill for an Act to establish Federal College of Education, Bende in Abia State seeks to provide full-time courses, training in technology, applied sciences, commerce, social sciences, arts and humanities among others.
Kalu had in his lead debate stated that Bende has remained undivided since its creation in 1976, even though with the size of four local government areas as found in comparative federal constituencies.
“Despite its strategic location in Abia and sharing a border with Akwa Ibom, with a growing population and landmass, there is no tertiary institution in the Federal Constituency operated either by Federal or State Government. Bende deserves to have the presence of a tertiary institution to serve the education need of the teeming youthful population, especially now that the need for well-trained educationists has risen. This is accompanied by the need to fill the gaps created by both the consequences of brain drain and the lack of qualified educationists to provide quality training at all levels of education,” he said.
For the bill seeking the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende, Abia State, he said when it becomes law, the university will be charged with the responsibility to, among other things, offer full-time training leading to the award of degrees in medical and health sciences.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi
Nation
South East Caucus Kicks As Senate Rejects Nwosu’s Immortalisation
South East Caucus of the Senate has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immorttalise late Professor Humphrey Nwosu considering his commitment to achieving a practical democracy for Nigerian.
The Senators visibly angered by the Senate’s rejection of the need to immortalise the late National Electoral umpire who stood for democracy through the turbulent 1993 elections stormed out of the Senate Chambers and spoke to the press .
The Chairman of the South East Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe ( Abia South), as he did in plenary on Wednesday, presented a motion for immortalisation of Humphrey Nwosu by naming the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , after him , for laying the foundation in 1993 and conducting the freest and fairest Presidential election in the country .
The late Professor Nwosu was the National Chairman of the National Electoral Commission ( NEC) , now known as Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , who through option A4, conducted the June 12, 19993 presidential election , adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the country.
Abaribe in the motion co – sponsored by 15 other Senators , said late Humphrey Nwosu deserved to be immortalised like other heroes of the June 12 , 1993 presidential election .
He also urged the Federal Government to honour the late former electoral umpire with post humous national honours .
But Abaribe’s request , seconded by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and supported by Senators from the South East including forner Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi ( Kebbi North) , was roundly rejected by other Senators who said the deceased deserved no immortalization .
Specifically , Senator Adams Oshiomhole ( Edo North) , in his contribution to the debate said the motion to him, was nothing but an attempt to manipulate and rewrite history.
“ Professor Humphrey Nwosu as NEC Chairman in 1993, failed to deliver on the June 12 , 1993 Presidential Election for lack of Courage
“ He who is not ready to die for something , will die for nothing
“ If he was afraid of the gun from announcing the election results and winner in 1993 , he cannot be rewarded now , more so, when many Nigerians died for what he inadvertently created “, he said .
Nneka Amaechi -Nnadi
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