News
Rivers Cell Break: CP Orders Detention Of Officers On Duty, Begins Probe
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka has ordered the arrest of police officers on duty during the cell break at Okrika Police Division in Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers State in the early hours of last Tuesday.
In a statement, the spokesperson of the command, DSP Grace Iringe-koko, said Eboka has ordered DC SCID, Patrick Longe, to take the lead in the investigation, and expedite action in the course of the investigation in other to unravel the triggers of the incident.
A police officer, who does not want his name to be mentioned, said the hoodlums broke into the Okrika Police Division detention room at about 2am, and freed all arrested detainees in the cell on that day.
According to him, the hoodlums broke the padlock of the cell, and also opened the back door of the cell from where the detainees escaped, adding that more than 10 suspects in the cell and some notorious criminals who were under detention, escaped.
In a related development, the Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of OSPAC member who allegedly killed an Air Force rating at Omuanwa community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state, last Wednesday
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the incident to journalists in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday, said investigation on the matter was ongoing.
Iringe-Koko gave the name of the arrested OSPAC personnel as Progress Amecheta, who allegedly shoot and killed the Air Force rating at Omuanwa, adding he was being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Port Harcourt.
A source in the community said trouble started, last Monday when OSPAC members were harassing some suspected cultists in the community, forcing them to renounce their membership through administering of traditional oath on them.
It was gathered that on Tuesday, the late Air Force rating, Eugene Ikasike, accompanied by his colleague, went to the OSPAC office to release his brother who was arrested by the vigilante and detained but was assaulted and rebuffed by the OSPAC officers who said that they don’t recognise Federal Government security operatives.
It was further learnt that the deceased Air Force officer, later mobilised his colleagues and went to the OSPAC operative’s house where a heated argument ensued that led Amecheta to pull his rifle and shot the late Air Force personnel.
When The Tide visited the community, the two houses, one belonging to the father of OSPAC member and another belonging to a stakeholder In Omuanwa community, had been razed by suspected military personnel.
There was also a high level of apprehension and uncertainty in the community, as many openly expressed fears that the Air Force personnel may launch a reprisal attack on the community.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Community Development Committee (CDC) in Omuanwa, Ugho Chiang, who also confirmed the incident, and described the killing as bad omen, and condemnable.
“OSPAC personnel allegedly responsible for the killing of Air Force personnel in the community has been apprehended and handed over to the Isiokpo Police Area Command in the LGA. That is what we have achieved because we have been working together to ensure his arrest. There is relative peace in the community.
“We have actually lost a hard and dutiful youth, an agent of the Federal Government. It is very unforgettable and unfortunate incident. He is gone; there is no how we can have his own side of the story.”
He advised youths in the area to be civil and shun any act that would jeopardise their life and that of the community, saying that all the eight villages in the community contributed to fund OSPAC.
“If you are a cultist in the area, denounce it; that is my own advise, and that should not have warranted any killing,” he stated.
By: Akujobi Amadi
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.