Rivers Assembly issues 48-hour ultimatum for RSIEC chair to appear before it, threatens arrest
Rivers Assembly issues 48-hour ultimatum for RSIEC chair to appear before it, threatens arrest
The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd), to appear before it regarding the conduct of the 2024 local government elections.
The resolution was made during a plenary session chaired by Speaker Martin Amaewhule on Wednesday.
The House warned that if Enebeli fails to comply with the summons, a warrant for his arrest will be issued.
In addition, the Assembly resolved to formally request Governor Siminalayi Fubara to submit the names of all his commissioners who were not screened by the Amaewhule-led Assembly.
CSP Omolola Odutola, the Command’s Spokesperson, stated this in a statement in Abeokuta on Thursday.
Odutola explained that the case was reported at Abigi Divisional Police Headquarters at about 9:30a.m, by Blessing Isaac, the younger sister of the deceased.
The command spokesperson added that the deceased sister recounted that at about 1:00a.m, Josephine, who married to Oju from Cross River State, had a “violent dispute” with her husband.
According to Odutola, the altercation escalated into physical violence, during which the suspect allegedly stabbed his wife multiple times in the neck and chest with a knife.
“Upon realising the severity of her injuries and seeing her bleeding profusely, the suspect fled the scene, abandoning her.
“The victim was rushed to Ibiade General Hospital, where she unfortunately succumbed to her injuries, as confirmed by medical personnel.
“Upon receiving the report, detectives from Abigi Division swiftly visited the crime scene and recovered potential exhibits,” she said.
Odutola explained that the 36-year-old deceased has been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.
She added that investigations currently ongoing to ensure the perpetrator was brought to justice.
Odutola assured residents that justice would be served.
She advised residents to always seek peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms rather than resorting to violence, and report any suspected case of domestic abuse to the nearest police station. (NAN)
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Army General assumes office as NYSC new Director-General
Army General assumes office as NYSC new Director-General
Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, on Thursday in Abuja, assumed office as the 23rd Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), promising to improve the welfare of staff and corps members.
Nafiu, while taking over from his predecessor, Brig.-Gen. Yu’shau Ahmed, stated that the core of his mandate was to provide transparent and effective leadership for the advancement of the scheme.
He also emphasised advancing the job-matching programme for graduates, enabling more corps members to enter the private sector during their service year.
“It will also be aimed at incentivising employers to retain a significant number of our corps members after their service year.
“Under my leadership, the well-being of corps members will always be a top priority.
“We will work hard to ensure that their service is one of the most memorable experiences of their lives,” he said.
“My team and I shall work tirelessly to enhance camp feeding and hygiene.”
He acknowledged that the establishment of the NYSC scheme in 1973 was a well-thought-out strategy that had greatly contributed to the socio-cultural integration of the country.
“The scheme has fostered mutual understanding and trust among the people, regardless of origin.”
He also lauded the scheme’s significant contribution to promoting national unity through community development engagements by corps members.
“The corps members are the only qualified educators, health providers, legal advisors, and many other professionals that some of our communities have ever known.
“They are a beacon of hope, inspiration, and a symbol of hard work for future generations in many rural areas,” he said.
Nafiu sought the understanding and support of the staff to drive the programmes he intended to introduce to boost the common welfare and career development of the scheme.
He urged staff to be good role models for corps members, stressing the importance of rethinking strategies to fulfil the purpose of the scheme.
Nafiu also assured them that his leadership philosophy would focus on repositioning the NYSC to meet the demands of contemporary society and tackle future challenges.
The outgoing director-general, Ahmed, said Nafiu’s appointment was a testament to his career and unwavering dedication to national service.
He expressed optimism that Nafiu’s leadership would bring a transformative era of progress and innovation to the scheme.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nafiu holds a Master’s Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria.
He also has a Bachelor of Science in Geography from the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.
Nafiu, an alumnus of three Army War Colleges, has served in various capacities in Nigeria and international peacekeeping missions.
Prior to his appointment as NYSC director-general, he served as Chief of Staff to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede.(NAN)
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Military officers invaded our premises destroyed properties over power disconnection – Electricity Distribution Company
Military officers invaded our premises destroyed properties over power disconnection – Electricity Distribution Company
Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) has confirmed that its headquarters in Lagos was invaded by personnel from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Thursday morning.
Mr Kingsley Okotie, Head of Corporate Communications for Ikeja Electric, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos that the incident followed the disconnection of electricity to a NAF facility due to unpaid bills and operational concerns.
Okotie explained that the disruption took place in the early hours of Thursday when uniformed Air Force officers forcefully entered the premises of the utility company, demanding immediate reconnection to the power grid.
He said that when their demands were not met, the officers resorted to damaging property and causing chaos within the Ikeja Electric office, prompting concerns over the safety and security of the premises.
Okotie clarified that the disconnection was not solely due to financial issues but was also prompted by other operational concerns.
He emphasised that there were significant safety concerns regarding the safety of Ikeja Electric personnel, particularly due to the high level of hostility towards staff members within the Air Force base.
“The disconnection was not just about non-payment. There are operational factors at play, including serious safety concerns for our staff.
“We have faced incidents of harassment, making it increasingly difficult for our staff to work in such conditions,”Okotie explained.
NAN recalls that on March 3, NAF had raised alarms about a prolonged blackout at its Ikeja base, which had been without stable electricity for 12 days in spite of consistent payments to Ikeja Electric.
NAF had warned that the prolonged blackout was exposing sensitive military equipment, including bombs and rockets, to dangerously high temperatures, raising fears of a potential explosion.
“These bombs are not meant to be exposed to extreme heat. The longer this blackout continues, the higher the risk of an explosion,” NAF stated, making reference to the 2002 Ikeja Cantonment bomb blast. (NAN)