Rivers
Investigate Akpabio, Others, MOSIEND Urges EFCC
Following the directives from President Muhammadu Buhari to all servicing Ministers contesting for 2023 elective offices to resign from their offices, a socio-cultural organisation in the Niger Delta region, Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in Niger Delta (MOSIEND), has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Senator Godswill Akpabio and others for financial misappropriation.
The group urged the anti-graft agency to investigate the former Minister of Niger Delta Ministry, Akpabio, for financial misappropriation and manipulation of the system to install illegal Committees in order to syphon funds from the Commission, and impoverish the region in his tenure.
In a statement by the Acting Chairman, MOSIEND, Comrade Marvin Kofi Thompson, and copy made available to Newsmen, the body called on EFCC to investigate all officers who resigned from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) under President Buhari.
MOSIEND insisted that it would assist and guide the anti-graft agency to investigate the huge financial rascality in the Commission perpetrated by Senator Akpabio and his co-chorts during their tenure.
“MOSIEND wlll like to guide EFCC to investigate the financial misappropriation under the Professor K Pondi and Barr Akwa Effiong Okon administration as both administrations were marred with corruption, highhandedness and financial crimes.
“It is on record that Niger Delta Region witnessed gross setbacks as it relates to development in the roles of NDDC. Niger Delta Region had obviously witnessed development standstill or dark age under the administration of Goodwill Akpabio as a Minister because of the manipulative tendencies of the Akwa Ibom State politician”,Thompson said.
The group challenges Senator Akpabio to come out clean and explain how NDDC budgets were dispensed under his administration.
The statement challenged Senator Akpabio to account to Nigerians how the N799 billion of 2020-2021 budget was used under his care.
The front line Socio Crusader noted that “Akpabio wasted our N100 million on the purchase of Presidential form which he is very much morally unqualified to contest, but to use as bargaining chip to cover his corrupt practices while in office”.
MOSIEND appealed to EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offence Commission, (ICPC) to make Senator Akpabio and others submit themselves for investigation.
By: Chinedu Wosu
Rivers
Rivers CJ To Sanction Lawyers Who Refuse To Comply With ADR Compliance
The Rivers state Chief Judge, Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI has given an indication to sanction any lawyer who fail to comply with directive of a judge in the state to transferred a case to Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse for Alternatives Dispute Resolution.
Justice AMADI stated this during a brief ceremony held at the chief judge auditorium in port Harcourt Friday held to hand over certificates of operation to two private ADR chambers on Precarious Dispute Resolution Services and Harmony Arbitration and mediation center .
He urged the two private ADR centres to be diligent in the discharge of their duties and warned against compromising the standard of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR but should observed the regulations set out in collaboration regulation by the state Multi Door Court House.
Earlier in a address, the Director of the State Multi Door Courthouse, VICTOR NWEKE esq, highlighted some of the achievements of the Multi Door Courthouse especially in decongestion of court rooms.
NWEKE while disclosing how the department certified the two private ADR centres called for serious punitive measures be taken against any lawyer who fail to comply with a case referred to Multi Door Court House by a judge or magistrates in the state.
In her acceptance speech on behalf of the two certified private ADR centres, ALICE NIMI commended the State Judiciary and Multi Door Courthouse for the approval and assured that all the rules and regulations spelt out will be followed.
In a related development; the Rivers State Judiciary has assured its readiness to collaborate with Nigerian Securityding Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in using Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve some of the issues in their office.
The state Chief Judge , Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI made the promise when he received in audience the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE OLOWO and his team who paid him a courtesy visit in his office , Friday where issuees ADR utilization took centre stage.
He used the opportunity to brief his visitors on the hurdles judges faces daily in the court room and the need for the decongestion of the court room , stressing that one judge handle more than three hundred cases but that if lawyers and litigants adopt ADR practice court rooms can be releive of the daily congestions.
The state Chief Judge however urged NSCDC to ensure a wider sensitization of the members of the public on the practice of ADR for a better awareness and knowledge.
Earlier in his speech, the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE-OLOWO said the visit was to seek collaboration on the use of ADR in resolving some issues which he insisted would help decongest the courtrooms.
Our correspondent reports officials of the Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse led by the Director, VICTOR NWEKE led the team of NSCDC on a technical session where information on how to the fully in cooperated into the Multi Door Courthouse and operation of ADR will be emphasized.
Akujobi Amadi