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THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2012
NEWS Filling stations sealed off From Nwanosike Onu, Awka
THE Anambra State Petroleum Task Force, headed by Obi Okwudili, yesterday sealed off filling stations that have failed to sell petrol at the approved price of N97 per litre. The task force, which was inaugurated by the government, moved from Awka to Nnewi to Onitsha and other adjourning towns to enforce the order. As a result, filling stations selling petrol between N140 and N150 per litre quickly closed their stations. Only the Mega Station belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway sold at the approved pump price. However, most people who were on the queue were frustrated as some fuel attendants became selective in their services.
Okorocha presents budget
150 displaced in Ebonyi communal crisis
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NE person has been injured in a communal clash in Edukwuachi Agbaja, Izzi Local Government of Ebonyi State. Over 150 others are displaced with 17 houses destroyed and property looted. Sources said the violence started when the community demanded a piece of land belonging to the Nwaobegu family to build a secondary school but the family objected. An eyewitness, John Nwaobegu, said youths went on the rampage, destroying the family’s property. The family spokesman, Moses Nwaobegu, decried the destruction of his property and that of his relations. He said: “I got a call from my brothers that some workers of the Ministry of Land, Survey and Housing were surveying our family land. “I immediately rushed to the village and made some enquiries. They told me the
From Emma Mgbeahurike,
•17 houses destroyed ‘Some of my siblings were asked to leave the village. Right now, more than 150 of us have been sent out from our village with our property destroyed’ From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki
community has taken over the land for the construction of a secondary school. “I came to Abakaliki to make a formal complaint to the Area Commander of the Abakaliki Area Command, who dispatched his men to the place and warned against encroaching on the land. “After the policemen’s visit, every action stopped at the family land.” Nwaobegu said some stakeholders recruited some youths to clear the land, adding that he was
never contacted by the villagers or the stakeholders on the modalities for the take over of the land. He said having exhausted all avenues for peaceful resolution, he petitioned the Commissioner of Police to intervene in the matter. “Shortly after my petition to the commissioner, the stakeholders were invited and warned not to encroach on our family land. “They went back and mobilised some youths to destroy our property and
Owerri
IMO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has presented a budget proposal of N174.3billion to the House of Assembly. The budget, christened: “The Rescue Budget”, is hinged on the need to provide quality leadership anchored on enhanced fiscal and monetary prudence. Recurrent Expenditure was allocated N47billion, which represents 27 per cent. Education got N27.3 billion, representing 22 per cent. The health sector will receive N12.725 billion for the provision and upgrading of infrastructure.
Edo CLO rejects N97 per litre From Osagie Otabor, Benin
THE Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO) in Edo State has described the N97 per litre pump price of fuel as ‘a capitalist agenda’. It said the nationwide strike had taught the government to always listen to the people.
Two lynched in Delta From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba
A MOB yesterday lynched two Fulani herdsmen in Asaba, the Delta State capital. Sources said the victims were accused of attacking a policeman with a dagger. The incident, which occurred at about 7.45pm on DLA Road, attracted the mob who lynched the fellows. As at the time of filing this report last night, the identities of the victims and the injured policeman could not be ascertained. Police spokesman Charles Muka confirmed the twin incidents but said details were sketchy.
send us out of the village. “The youths went to our houses, destroyed our buildings and set others ablaze. “Some of my siblings were asked to leave the village. “Right now, more than 150 of us have been sent out of our village and our property destroyed. “We again reported the matter to the police who went to the village with one of my brothers. “The youths chased the policemen away, took my brother and almost lynched him before some policemen from Iboko Police Station rescued him.” Nwaobegu urged Governor Martin Elechi to intervene in the crisis. The Commissioner for Border Security and Conflict Resolution, Donatus Ajah, said the ministry has summoned the coordinator of the Development Centre, the council chairman and monarchs for a peaceful resolution of the crisis. Police spokesman John Eluu could not be reached for comments.
Uduaghan warns Christians against retaliation
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ELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan yesterday appealed to Christians not to carry out retaliatory attacks on Muslims in the state. Uduaghan, at a meeting with Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), urged Christian leaders to propagate the message of peaceful co-existence to their congregation. He said the meeting was to intimate the clerics with recent security and economic challenges in the state. The governor lamented that the state had witnessed an upsurge in criminal activities. His words: “There was fear of reprisal attacks due to the activities of Boko Haram and
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From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia
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HE Abia State House of Assembly has passed a resolution, calling for the return of the headquarters of Obingwa Local Government to Mgboko-Amairi. The local government headquarters was moved to Ohanzu because of the rise in crimes in the area. Speaker Ude Okochukwu announced the resolution, following the recommendation of the Committee on Chieftaincy Affairs and Local Government on the return of the headquarters to its original place. The House also resolved that all workers of the local government be made to comply with the directive without delay.
Court dismisses appeal From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri
HE Appeal Court sitting in Benin, the Edo State capital, yesterday dismissed a motion for stay of execution filed by the candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) in the Ughelli South constituency, Delta State, Eme Mukoro. Justice R. Agbo said the court could no longer entertain the motion, since Mukoro’s appeal has been filed at the Supreme Court. Mukoro is challenging the victory of Olorogun Taleb Tebite of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Tebite‘s counsel Efe Akpofure(SAN) said the proceeds at the court went well.
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Enugu denies detaining labour leader Uduaghan (left) with CAN President Bishop God-Do-Well Awvomakpa and Secretary to the State Government Ovuozorie Macauley...yesterday Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba
we actually had two of such in Sapele which, according to investigations, were more of an intra-religious issue.” The governor praised the
leaders for dousing inter-religious tension in the state and urged them to plead with their followers not to take the laws into their hands. “We should appeal to our congregation not to take
laws into their hands by reacting negatively to whatever happens in the North. “Let us appeal to them not to condescend to that level. We should encourage our followers to protect themselves against robbery, kidnapping ,” he stated.
Teenager arrested for alleged stealing 15-YEAR-OLD boy has been arrested by the police in Akwa Ibom State for allegedly stealing a church’s monthly tithe. The teenager, an indigene of Idua Eket, was paraded yesterday at the State Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan-Abia in Uyo, the state capital. He was alleged to have broken into the room of the Superintending Pastor of Mount Zion Church in Eket where he stole N5,000 belonging to the church. The suspect claimed that a member of the church, Mitche Subday, instructed him to steal the money. His words: “ The police arrested me because I stole church tithe. “The name of the church is Mount Zion at Idua Eket. The person who attends the
Abia Assembly to relocate council
Man gets 22 months for stealing
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From Osagie Otabor, Benin
20-YEAR-OLD man, Lucky Enoh-Peters, has been sentenced to 22 months imprisonment by a Benin Magistrate’s Court. Enoh-Peters was arraigned on a three-count charge of breaking and entry, stealing and unlawful possession. The prosecutor, Chuks Nnamdi, who tendered 15 exhibits and called three witnesses, told the court that the accused stole a UPS, stabiliser, flat screen monitor and generator belonging to Charles Amadi in December 2010. The accused pleaded not guilty. Counsel to the accused Mrs C .C Zakeri pleaded for leniency, saying sending the accused to prison will compound his problems, rather than moulding him for a better future. Magistrate Fred Akhere declared the accused guilty and sentenced him to 22 months or an option of N10,000 in each of the charges.
From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo
church asked me to go and bring the money. “I want God to forgive
me. I won’t steal again. “The name of my school is Government Secondary
School, QIC road, Eket and I am in J.S.S three.” Also paraded by the police were suspected cultists. According to the Commissioner of Police, Solomon Arase, the suspected cultists were arrested after assembling for cult initiation. Arase gave their names as Aniekan Effiong, Solomon Udo, Christian Jeremiah, Udosoro Emmanuel, Anthony Williams, Iheanetu John, Michael Ike and Edidiong Eshiet. The police chief explained that efforts had been intensified by the command to apprehend other members of the gang. But the suspects denied the allegations. They said the police implicated them.
From Chris Oji, Enugu
HE Enugu State Government has faulted insinuations by Amnesty International and some other human rights groups that it incarcerated labour activists Osmond Ugwu and Raphael Elobuike. It said such claims were unfounded. The government also dismissed as “totally baseless and mischievous” reports that it had set up special tribunals to try antisubsidy removal activists. In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Chukwudi Achife, the government was appalled at the way facts relating to the activists’ case had been misrepresented. Achife said the duo were remanded and prosecuted before a court of competent jurisdiction with respect to a case they have with the police in Enugu and not the government. He denied the existence of a special tribunal to try protesters, saying it was an invention by the media as the court that handled the case was a magistrate’s court. He said the government was committed to the rule of law and always sought to dialogue with labour.
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