Vanguard, MONDAY MONDAY,, DECEMBER 17, 2012—11
Lawyer arraigned over alleged bribery BY EMMA ARUBI
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ARRI—A L AW YER, alleged to have offered N.7 million to the police to facilitate the release of an alleged kidnap kingpin in Warri, Mr. C. OmoIrabor, was, weekend, arraigned before a Customary Court sitting in Warri, Delta State. The accused, facing a three-count charge of bribery and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, was, however, admitted to bail by the court. Delta police Commissioner, had, weekend, while briefing newsmen, alleged that the lawyer attempted to secure the release of a notorious kidnap kingpin by offering the investigating police officer, IPO, the said sum, following which he was arrested
Health workers demand minister’s sack BY VICTORIA OJEME
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BUJA—THE Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, with membership drawn from professional associations in the health sector, weekend, called for the sack of Health Minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu. In a statement in Abuja, JOHESU said members of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, National Union of Pharmacists, Medical Technologist and Professional Allied to Medicine, NUPMTPAM, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associate Institutions, SSAUTHRIA, and Non-Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities, NASU, were involved in the demand for the minister ’s sack. The statement by JOHESU Chairman, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, and Secretary, Comrade Yusuf Badmus, accused the minister of undue support for members of Nigeria Medical Association, adding that only
medical doctors were appointed as Medical Directors of Federal Governmentowned hospitals. They said: “The protest became necessary and inevi-
table to press home the demand for the removal of the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, whose primary consideration has remained to protect the inter-
est of NMA, just for the medical doctors to continue to maintain the headship of all directorates in health facilities of the country.”
THANKSGIVING MASS: Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Lady Valerie Ebe (left), and Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ating, during a thanksgiving mass in honour of the Deputy Governor at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, on yesterday.
Kidnap: Tight security still maintained at Ogwashi-Uku palace Aigbokhan emerges VC of Samuel Adegboyega Varsity BY EMEKA MAMAH
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HE Apostolic Church has appointed Professor Bernard Aigbokhan, 61, as the new Vice Chancellor of Samuel Adegboyega University, SAU, Ogwa, Edo State. The university, which was founded by the Apostolic Church in 2011, had late Prof. Samson Adedoyin as the founding Vice Chancellor. Prof Adedoyin died in August this year. Meanwhile, the National Universities Commission, NUC, has thrown its weight behind the Centre for Research and Development of Esanland, CERDEL, launched by the university, recently. Aigbokhan, an overseer of The Apostolic Church was born in Ewu, Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State. He was a lecturer at Imo State University, Okigwe in 1986 before joining Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Ekpoma in 1987.
BY AUSTIN OGWUDA
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SABA—DESPITE the successful rescue of Mrs. Kamene Okonjo, mother of Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, from kidnappers, tight security was still being maintained at the palace. The palace, which, before the kidnap, was very porous security-wise, now has Nigeria Civil Defence Corps, NCDS, per-
sonnel, manning the gate while armed soldiers and policemen are at strategic positions. Delta State police command’s spokesman, Mr. Charles Muka, told our re-
porter yesterday: “Yes, the palace is under tight security”. Asked when the security would be relaxed, he said, “I don’t know.” Investigation showed that
residents in the community are wary of their comments over the kidnap as detectives are still roaming around both in drinking joints, markets, and motor parks in search of clues.
Agba loses mum
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AMA Fatima Agba, of Uneme-Uzanu community in Etsakoland, Edo State, is dead, aged 68. A philanthropist and community leader, she was a devout Christian and active member of Eternal Sacred Order of Churubim and Seraphim. She is survived by three children, brothers, sister and nine grandchildren. Among her children is Prince Clem Agba, the immediate past Commissioner for Environment and Public Utilities in Edo State and currently a senior Manager with Chevron Nigeria Limited.
Late Mrs. Fatima Agba