Nation
HURIWA Reacts To Allegations Against Nwosu, Okorocha
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA has condemned the naming of the former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha and his Son-in-law Uche Nwosu as the alleged sponsors of kidnapping and banditry in the state.
The Tide source gathered that the state government in a statement issued yesterday by Oguwike Nwachuku, Governor Hope Uzodinma’s Chief Press Secretary, alleged that some suspects have confessed that the duo are sponsors of the insecurity in the state.
Reacting, HURIWA said the Imo government has dabbled into the arena of politics and superiority battles by dragging security matters that is life and death issues to the banality of politics and petty squabbles.
The rights group said there is no constitutional democracy anywhere in the World whereby security is reduced to the petty plaything of political rivalries.
The group called on the state government to abide by the principle of Rule of law and allow all citizens accused of any offence to have their day in the courts of competent jurisdiction.
HURIWA expressed doubts that the Inspector General of Police “would be able to maintain neutrality if he too takes over the investigations of the circumstances and individuals responsible for the spate of bloodshed in the state, stating that the Uzidinma’s government has reduced the sensitive matter of law and order to a mere political comedy which must never be allowed before the entire country is rubbished in the comity of nations.
The group alleged that even the police is a suspect in the attacks by the so-called unknown gunmen in Imo State and other parts of the Southeast.
HURIWA said, “We urge the National hierarchy of the security forces to be professionally committed which they are not at the moment and to independently handle the critical matter of bringing to justice the individuals who may be responsible for the incessant attacks.
“Indeed we urge the President and the National Assembly to intervene and set up an independent team of forensic investigative experts drawn from all around the World to gather evidence and to determine those responsible for the killings.
“This is because it would seem that the Nigerian Police Force through the security attaches to the Imo State government are heavily compromised and may contaminate any probe by the Inspector General of Police who sent them to Imo State in the first place.”
Owing to the claims by Imo Government, HURIWA stated that the constitutional rights of the former governor has been breached, stressing that the allegations usurped the functions of the courts of competent jurisdiction as provided for in section 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 as amended.
“Section 6 of the Constitution states thus: “. (1) The judicial powers of the Federation shall be vested in the courts to which this section relates, being courts established for the Federation.” And section 36(5) states thus:” Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed to be innocent until he is proved guilty;
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.
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
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