Niger Delta
Oshiomhole Petitions Edo Ex-Gov To EFCC
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has presented the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, with a report containing comprehensive details of doubtful public expenditures of the state government when Oserheimen Osunbor, a law professor served as Governor for 18-months before his ouster by the Court of Appeal on November 11, 2008.
Sources say that the report to EFCC is based on the “criminal aspects of the misdeeds during that regime and those identified to have perpetuated the crime.”
According to reliable sources, the report contains details of the criminal aspects of Osunbor’s tenure and how his regime received over N65billion as revenue from the federation account, but left a debt of about N10billion being unpaid receipts for jobs executed by government. The report further indicted Osunbor for mismanaging the N3billion which accrued to the state when Nigeria was granted debt forgiveness by the Paris Club.
And part of the sins of Osunbor is that he allegedly approved the N3billion for the Edo State Water Board, ESWB, to execute public water supply schemes across the state, but there was nothing concrete either at the premises of the board or at project sites to justify expenditure of the huge amount.
Headed by a Chartered Accountant, Mr. Husseini Elamah, who is now a Special Adviser to the Governor, the committee, which had other members like Mr. Mathew Urhoghide, a pharmacist, and Barrister Anselm Ojezua, indicted other top civil servants including the General Manager of ESWB, and three Permanent Secretaries, who are still serving in the Edo public service. The EFCC is expected to invite these civil servants who feigned “incompetence, naivety and ignorance”, for their administrative misconduct to explain their role in the looting of Edo State.
Osunbor indicting report was reportedly put together by the state’s legal team, and Edo government believed that only the EFCC can help the government bring to book all those who helped to squander the lean resources of the state under an illegal regime.
Ben-ose Ogbemudia, Benin
The Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Rt Hon Evans Bipi, has eulogised Gen Gabriel Asabuja over his recent birthday celebration in Port Harcourt.
Bipi said Asabuja is worth celebrating following his numerous contributions and support to the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He described Asabuja as a strong pillar of governance in Rivers State, adding that the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning is happy working with him.
He noted that Asabuja’s position as a team leader of the Ministry’s taskforce has been amazing, saying the Ministry is proud associating with him.
The former lawmaker hinted that since Asabuja assumed office as leader of the taskforce, the Ministry has witnessed tremendous improvement.
Bipi said the Ministry will always stand by him to ensure that the dreams of the Governor Fubara-led government are achieved.
On his part, the celebrant, Gen Gabriel Asabuja expressed gratitude to God and the Commissioner for the honour done him.
Gen Asabuja also commended Governor Fubara for his tremendous and good leadership in the State, saying his group will continue to give the Governor maximum support in order to achieve more for Rivers people.
Gen Asabuja described Rt Hon Evans Bipi as one of the best brains working with the Governor, saying under Bipi, the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning has shown capacity to leverage on the Governor’s mantra of Rivers First.
He said both the personnel of the Ministry, the Directors and adhoc staff are happy with his style of leadership.
The Joint Provincial Council, East of the Niger, Anglican Communion, held its 2025 Annual General Meeting at St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery, Diocese of Evo from Saturday 15th — Sunday 16th February, 2025.
The meeting which had the theme, “Kept By His Mercies”, with text from Lamentations 3:22-23, had the Archbishops, Bishops, their wives, Chancellors, Financial Secretaries and Synod Clerical Secretaries of the 58 Dioceses as delegates.
At the opening ceremony on Saturday, the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Chairman of the Council, Most Rev Blessing Enyindah, charged delegates to stay focused and committed to the matters for discussion and implement decisions reached for the growth of the Church in the region and the advancement of the business of God’s Kingdom.
Most Rev Enyindah, who is also the Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province and Bishop of the Diocese of Ikwerre, lauded the Diocese of Evo for the giant strides recorded in just 15 years of existence while tasking the leadership not to rest on its oars but to strive further to complete the work of the Kingdom in their hands.
Addressing the council in his welcome address, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo and host of the Joint Council, The Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, welcomed the delegates, and reminded them that the theme is apt and fit as it reminds the Church of God’s inexplicable and instructible mercy towards mankind, which supersedes His righteous judgements.
Bishop Ordu further lamented the many challenges bedeviling the country, such as skyrocketing cost of living, ravaging sicknesses and ailments, proliferation of harmful drugs, natural disasters, high level corruption in public offices, inept political leadership, amongst others, which he said could not consume mankind because of God’s mercies.
In their separate speeches, delegates saluted the Diocese of Evo for willingly accepting to host the council and the comfort they enjoyed during their stay.
Earlier, the council appointed the Synod’s Clerical Secretary of the Diocese of Evo, Rev (Canon) (Dr) Ebenezer Owhor as the Assistant Secretary of the Joint Council.
Also, before the commencement of plenary, the women of St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery thrilled delegates to good traditional tunes and dance steps while His Royal Highness Eze( Sir) Raymond Chinda led the chiefs and elders of Rumuomasi community in Oropotoma Kingdom, to appreciate the council for choosing the community to host the meeting.
They solicited for prayers of peace, unity and development from the council.
The meeting ended on Sunday evening while the Archbishops and Bishops worshipped in various churches in the Diocese of Evo.
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