Vanguard, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2012—11
Kidnap: Ojogor family sends SOS to IG, others
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INSPECTION: From right: Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State and his wife Judith; Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi(left) and wife Florence, inspecting the Oral Surgery Operating Theatre in the new ultra-modern Dental and Maxillofacial Hospital, in Port Harcourt when Ajimobi visited Rivers State.
Farmer sentenced to death for robbery ....As kidnappers of Senator Okowa’s dad know fate today BY AUSTIN OGWUDA
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SABA—A 34-yearold farmer at Kwale town, in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, Emeka Ogwu, has been sentenced to death by an Effurun High Court for armed robbery. One of the prosecution witnesses, Dorothy Asekpokai, a business woman, had told the court that the convict attempted to rob her on June 12, 2007, when she visited her new building site around Osubi. She also identified the convict as the one who attempted to rob her with a gun but she narrowly escaped after driving away at top speed. She said that in the process of escaping, she knocked down the convict, after which she raised alarm that eventually led to his arrest.
The court, presided over by Justice Godwin Gbemre, stated that prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. Ogwu was arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, attempt to commit armed robbery and illegal possession of firearms, contrary to Robbery and Firearms (Spe-
cial Provisions) Act of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. Meanwhile, suspected kidnappers of father of former Delta State Secretary to Government, SSG, Chief Arthur Okowa, now a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, will know their fate today as judgment is expected to be delivered. Six persons are facing
Edo guber tussle: A'Court dismisses Airhiavbere’s prayer for more witnesses BY SIMON EBEGBULEM
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ENIN—THE Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City, yesterday, dismissed the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), challenging the ruling of the state’s Governorship Election Petition
Tribunal which refused to allow the petitioner bring in more witnesses. The Appellate Court also dismissed Airhiavbere’s plea to direct the lower tribunal to admit some paragraphs in his reply to the respondent’s reply, which were earlier struck out by the tribunal. It, however, ruled that only paragraphs 6 and 7 be admitted since they
Security: Rivers govt acquires N4.5bn helicopters for Police BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI
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ORT HAR C O U R T — G OVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has announced the state government’s acquisition of two helicopters for security surveillance. The governor made this known yesterday in
a five-count charge in connection with the alleged kidnap. According to prosecution, the accused persons, on or about July 20, 2008, at Boji-Boji Owa, within Owa-Oyibu judicial division, while in the company of others now at large, also robbed one Chief Arthur Okowa (male) of N7,000 cash while armed with a gun.
Port Harcourt at the 2012 Rivers State Security and Technology Innovations Forum. He said the security helicopters, worth $30m (N4.5bn), with cameras to fly all over the city of Port Harcourt and other parts of the state, would arrive the country at the end of this month and commence operations in
January. He said:“We have pumped huge funds into police financing to provide expertise, equipment and other logistics support. “That is why I am advocating state police and you can testify that crime in and around Port Harcourt has reduced drastically.”
had merit. It would be recalled that Airhiavbere had gone to the Appeal Court after the tribunal refused to grant his application for more witnesses to enable him pursue his petition against the election of Governor Adams Oshiomhole. However, in his ruling, Justice T.S.Yakubu, explained that the case of Yar ’Adua vs Abubakar which the appellant cited was not similar to the case he brought before the appellate court. He asserted: “ I totally agree with the lower tribunal. That authority could not have been a talisman for the appellant. “I am of the considered opinion that the complain of lack of hearing is not a cure for all sicknesses. I am satisfied that this appeal is fluffy, it is lacking in merit, I dismiss it accordingly. The ruling of the lower tribunal dated 9th October 2012 is hereby affirmed.”
ARRI—THE family of Eghare Wellinton Ojogor of Warri, Delta State, has appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, President, National Council of Women Society NCWS, Mrs. Nkechi Mba, and President, Nigerian Medical Association NMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, to save the life of Eghare Wellington Ojogor, the Eghare-Aja of Ugborodo, who was kidnapped recently in the community. In a letter dated Monday December 3, 2012, the family said Ojogor, a patient of Delta State University Teaching Hospital DELSUTH, Oghara, was kidnapped in his Warri home by some boys also based in Warri. According to the family,
the victim, who is the patriach of the Ojogors, was abducted in the presence of some law enforcement officers a few days after receiving treatment in the hospital. The letter, signed by Mrs. Bemigho Ojogor, stated that the abduction was a ploy to send the victim to his early grave as he had been denied access to his medication. The family also said the Vanguard publication of Friday November 16, 2012, was an authentic report of the situation. “The aforementioned publication by Mrs Bemigho Ojogor is an authentic report of what transpired, and the pains and agony expressed in the publication represents the present feelings and pains of the Ojogor family," the Ojogors said.
Akpabio assures on industrialization
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KWA Ibom State Government has reiterated its commitment to the vision of turning the state into a hub of industrialization and final destination of uncommon transformation. The state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, stated this while declaring open the 2012 Akwa Ibom State Science and Technology (AKISTEC)
Week Exhibition/Fair at the State Ministry of Science and Technology, Uyo, on Wednesday. Represented by his deputy, Lady Valerie Ebe, Akpabio said Nigeria should take a stance in scientific development like the Asian Tigers of Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea, to be propelled to the pinnacle of industrialization.
Bayelsa community laments slow pace of electricity project BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA
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ENAGOA—NEMBE Kingdom Oil and Gas Committee, at Nembe, Bayelsa State, has expressed concern over the slow pace of work on the state government's electrification project in the area. The committee noted with sadness that with over six flow stations and
large oil fields with production capacity of 120,000 barrels of crude oil per day, Nembe communities were still wallowing in darkness. Chairman of Nembe Oil and Gas Committee, Chief Nengi James, in a statement yesterday in Yenagoa, said the issue of underdevelopment of Nembe communities, including lack of electricity, had become a source of concern to the people.
Ebireri for burial today
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R. Victor Ebireri of Ugbimidaka, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, is dead. He was a lawyer, public administrator and successful businessman. A statement by Mr. Donald Ebireri for the family, said the late Ebireri, who died on Wednesday, November 7, will be buried today in his hometown, Ugbimi-
daka. He is survived by his widow, children, brothers and sisters.
Late Victor Ebireri