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SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 6, 2012 — 7
Appointment of new service chiefs: 12 Army, Airforce generals set to be retired soon BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI, Abuja
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OLLOWING the ap pointment of a new Chief of Defence Staff in the person of Vice Admiral Ola Saad Ibrahim, retention of Lt. General Onyeabor Azubuike Ihejirika as Chief of Army Staff, new Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh, Saturday Vanguard can report authoritatively that about 12 Major Generals and their equivalent in the Nigerian Airforce will soon proceed on retirement. For the Nigerian Navy, the gale of retirement will tarry awhile as most of the officers who are Rear Admirals in rank still have between six months and one year, to attain either the mandatory period of 35 years in service or go as a result of age on rank status as contained in the terms and conditions of service of the armed forces. Vanguard gathered that among the officers that will be affected by the retirement are Principal Staff Officers both at the Defence and Services headquarters, Commandants of Tri-Service Institutions and Air Officers’ Commanding (AOC’s). Already, Vanguard was told that most of the senior officers who had been aware of what would become of their fate when the President makes the appointment of new service chiefs, have started
arranging their bags and baggages and that there is no feeling of animosity among them because the terms and condition of service (TACOS) had prepared them for it. It was gathered that for the Nigerian Navy which is spared the agony of having to retire its officers, at least for now, there will be mass re-organization and postings of senior officers, as some would be moving to the Defence headquarters while those who will fit into the vision and mission of the new CNS would be brought into the management team. Meanwhile, Vanguard can report that the appointment of Rear Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba who hails from Ibusa in
Oshimili- North Local Government Area of Delta State has elements of fate and the hand of God. The senior officer, a Course 22 regular intake of the NDA who was trained in the United States, UK Royal and Indian navies and is a Navigation and Direction Specialist, was never reckoned with as the next CNS as he has almost been wished away from those that make things happen. Rather, other senior officers had been warming up especially as they calculated that Ezeoba who had not been a Flag Officer Commanding any of the Naval Commands cannot stand a chance against the many that had been FOC’s in the recent past.
Fuel Subsidy Scam: EFCC arraigns 13 suspects BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, ONOZURE DANIEL & MICHAEL OLADEPO
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HE economic and financial crimes commission, EFCC, on Friday, October 5, 2012 arraigned thirteen suspects
implicated in a fresh N3.7billion fuel subsidy scam. The massive fraud was perpetrated using various instrumentalities such as forging of bills of lading, certificate of quantities and certificate of origin among other criminal infractions to
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EMBER repre senting Ndokwa East Constituency in the Delta State House Assembly, Hon. Friday Ossai Osanebi has rendered some assistance to the Ndokwa East flood victims, which is his constituency and called for more assistance from government agencies and philanthropists.
fraudulently obtain payments from the petroleum support fund as subsidy for the importation of petroleum motor spirit (petrol). The suspects comprising eight individuals and five companies were arraigned before justices Habeeb
Abiru and Lateefa Okunnu of the Lagos high court, ikeja. The individuals involved are Samuel Bamidele, Abiodun Kayode Bankole, Ifeanyi Anosike, Emeka Chukwu, Ngozi Ekeoma Alhaji Adamu Aliyu Maula, George Ogbonna and
Ughelli North disowns DESOPADEC representative BY FESTUS AHON, Ughelli
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HE Ughelli North Economic and Development Group has alerted the government over the alleged superimposition of Mr. Peter Ogedegbe to represent them in the recently dissolved board of the Del-
ta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC. A statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Clement Unior alleged that Ogedegbe “fraudulently claimed to have hailed from Ughelli North paternally and maternally which gave him the opportunity
Osanebi distributes relief items to Ndokwa East flood victims the Delta State House is BY SIMON ADEWALE
Rivers State Deputy Governor Engr. Tele Ikuru, Chairman of Opobo-Ndoni LGA Maclean Oranta, Deputy Speaker House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha and the covener Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro economic summit Dakuku Peterside at the opening ceremony of the summit in Port Harcourt, Thursday night.
After he undertook assessment of the flooded communities and distributing of relief materials such as, food, clothing, bedding, medicines and doctors to attend to victims. Hon. Friday Osanebi, who was accompanied by Chief Godwill Obielum said the opening up of several dams and rivers caused the rise in River Niger water level which really affected the people he represent in
disheartening. He said the displaced persons are presently camped in Ossissa, Kwale and Ivrogbo temporary refugee camps for Ndokwa East victims, following the washing away of their communities, farmlands, fish ponds and crops by flood water from the River Niger and Ase Creek, adding that the flood, took the farmers unaware as the rising water rose in fury and submerged farmlands and crops.
to sit in the board of the just dissolved commission. “But we make bold to tell the world that Peter Ogedegbe whose records are not far fetch is paternally from Ophori-Olomu and maternally from Ovwor-Olomu,” Ughelli South Local Government Area of the State. Continuing, the statement said: “we therefore advise Peter Ogedegbe and his cohorts to desist from laying claim to the area otherwise they will be dragged to the antigraft agencies. The group recalled in dismay that Ughelli North lost its seat in DESOPADEC in the last board while Ughelli South had two persons; Johnson Boro from Ughievwwen clan and Peter Ogedegbe from Olomu clan. Comrade Unior however appealed to the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan to guard
against such mistake in order to create a sense of belonging to indigenes of Ughelli north council. However, all efforts to reach Peter Ogedegbe for his comments proved abortive.
Emmanuel Morah. The five companies involved are A.S.B. Investment Company Limited, Anosyke Group of Companies Limited, Dell Energy Limited, Downstream Energy Sources Limited and Rocky Energy Limited. A.S.B. Investment Company Limited, Aro Samuel Bamidele and Abiodun Kayode Bankole were arraigned before Justice Lateefa Okunnu on an 18 count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, forgery and uttering false documents.
Protest rocks Abeokuta as govt may depose unruly monarch
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NDIGINES of Onig bedu village on Friday stormed governor’s office, Oke-Mosan,Abeokuta calling for the removal of the warring monarch, Olu of Itori,Oba Fatai Akamo who allegedly slapped a villagehead Oba Adisa Akinremi. Indication however emerged yesterday that,Oba Akamo was on his way out of his throne which he ascended eight years ago as Ogun state government has begun process of his dethronement. It would be recalled that, Oba Akamo allegedly
slapped Oba Akinremi during a disagreement on traditional matters at Divisional Office of Nigeria Police. Station in Itori in Ewekoro local government area of the state. According to the findings , the embattled Oba Akamo who was beaten blueblack by Oba Akinremi was said to have been told to start packing his belonging in his palace. At Thursday ’ s protest,the placards carrying villagers described Oba Akamo as terrorist who had been allegedly involved in some controversial matters in the area.