Are you sure? what about the thousand of bizarre things happening here in Nigeria every day?

MycroftHolmes:
Everything irregular and absurd happens in Uganda —or East Africa at least

Police are holding a man who allegedly burnt three churches in Kira Municipality, Wakiso District. Reagan John Ngobi, a resident of Namugogo Division, is accused of torching St. Noah Catholic Church Kasokoso, Liberty Church of Christ International and God’s Tour Promising Church – all in Uganda – at the weekend.

According to the Independent Newspaper, The fire at St. Noah Catholic Church Kasokoso destroyed books, bibles, alter wine, curtains and plastic chairs values at Shs1.5 million. Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect broke a window to access St. Noah Church.

He allegedly piled the items, doused them in petrol and set them ablaze. Mr Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson, said that the suspect surrendered to police while brandishing three knives. According to Mr Owoyesigyire, the suspect confessed to have torched the churches because they preach the gospel of prosperity yet he’s poor.


Police say that the suspect used two litres of petrol and one litre of paraffin to accomplish his mission.

Mr Owoyesigyire said that the suspect told detectives that he carried the knives for self-defence in case anybody tried to stop him. According to Mr Owoyesigyire, the suspect will be subjected to a medical check-up to establish his mental state. According to a police statement issued shortly after his arrest, Mr John Reagan Ngobi, 21, told them that he got angry because he has remained in poverty.
continue reading>>> https://www.holygist.com/article?t=man-sets-three-churches-on-fire-says-he-is-still-broke-despite-church-preaching-prosperity

In what is fast becoming a norm and to the dismay of many political analysts in Rivers State, the People’s Democratic Party PDP is also toying the part that led to the current crisis in the State APC which started in 2018.

This is so because the party congress which is expected to hold today has already been greeted with such complaints and irregularities that if not immediately handle with the best democratic tenets, will lead the party in the state into a litigation bout that can disintegrate the party.

This follows the allegation of members that until yesterday 14th of march with few hours left before the congress, many do not have access to purchase the forms to contest for various position as the overlords have hijack everything to various secret destination to manipulation the process so they will later come out to announce results.

A member of the party from Emohua LGA even went as far as writing an open letter to the Governor, H.E Chief Barr Nyesom Wike who is fingered to be the mastermind behind the plot to hijack the process to install only his faithfuls as party excos.

Read the open letter below.

Your Excellency,
The Executive Governor of Rivers State,
Government House,
Port Harcourt.

Sir,

WHEN WILL THIS INJUSTICE STOP?

With due respect Your Excellency Sir, I write with severe pains and tears rolling down my cheeks as all our efforts as PDP members from Mgbuitanwo Emohua in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State is not been encouraging as we have been denied of our rights and privileges to produce the ward chairman of PDP in the forthcoming congresses because the leadership of ward 4 in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State have zoned it to Mgbuetor where Hon. Arthur Uchendu, the current Commissioner 1 in the Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission hails from.

Your Excellency Sir, it will interest you to note that we forth like wounded lions from the beginning till date and we have not changed position from supporting you because it was our resolution to support you and we will stand by it.
continue reading>>> https://www.holygist.com/article?t=crisis-brew-in-rivers-pdp-as-members-decry-hijack-of-ward-congress

Oga can you help us speak English? we are totally lost here

dawnomike:
When your son is a Balenciaga Marlian and the father a Marlian... This is what you get!

The decision of the first son of a Boue family to abandon his tertiary education and marry a lady believed to be his father’s side-chick has now thrown the love and cordial relationship that once existed between father and son in jeopardy.

In what appears to be a case of love at first sight, the 24-year-old boy simply identified as Prince who resided with his family in Bori, Khana Local Government Area reportedly fell in love with the lady after meeting her in the company of his father, one Enoch Bakpo; the fallout being a soured rapport with his father

Holygist gathered that both the boy’s family and the lady attend the Ascension Apostolic Church in Bori and are also from the same community also in Khana and the boy’s mother was fully aware of her husband’s escapades with the lady.

A reliable source close to the family told the Holygist that trouble started when the boy who had just commenced an Ordinary National Diploma programme at the Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic showed up at home with the girl and informed his dazed dad that he was getting married to his heartthrob, his dad’s girlfriend. The girl is reportedly older than him.

“The boy’s comment threw his father off balance. He did not know if it was reality or a dream. Like how did his son end up with his girlfriend and boldly walk up to him to talk about marriage with her? It looked like the boy was being manipulated,” our source said.

continue read>>> https://www.holygist.com/article?t=family-in-disarray-as-boy-disown-mum-marries-father%E2%80%99s-side-chick-in-bori

Wonderful, that's not completely correct. look at OYO State Governor. i think everyone has a choice to make a difference including the politicians

helinues:
Nigeria politics is not meant for an honest and responsible people

You talk about heaven, do they even believe in such a thing? to them money is everything, so they even think in that direction

seanfer:
Not maligning anybody/tribe. But no Nigerian politician will make heaven

Some boys reportedly working with the Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Philip Okparaji have resumed dredging activities under the Akpajo bridge months after the Rivers State Government banned it to curtail further depletion of the already shaky bridge currently undergoing some maintenance works

But when the Holygist visited the bridge Friday, the site was bursting with full dredging activities and our correspondent counted over 10 trucks leave the river within the one hour he spent there, a situation which ordinarily made him question if the council Chairman was aware of what was happening and the potential threat the dredging posed for motorists who utilise the bridge daily.
“Chairman dey very aware na of wetin dey happen,” one of the boys doing business on the site told the Holygist in pidgin.


“In dey come here every week come collect meat for this slaughter (pointing at a mini slaughter by the riverside). So in dey see us anytime him show”.
A labourer who simply identified himself as Bura confided in the Holygist that the Chairman had failed to enforce the stoppage of the activity as his boys as the one primarily engaged in it as settlement for their loyalty to him.

Bura also alleged the Eleme Council is not only aware of the operation of the boys but receives weekly reports and returns from them.
Efforts to reach the Eleme Council Chairman to react to the accusation were not successful as he failed to answer calls and respond to messages sent to his phone.
Our correspondent reports that men of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) were seen fixing a pothole on a section of the bridge.

continue reading>>> https://holygist.com/article?t=boys-loyal-to-eleme-council-chairman-resume-dredging-at-damaged-akpajo-bridge

A broadcaster per excellence, a social commentator and a remarkable communications expert, Ejiro Umukoro, preferably called ‘Lady E’ by friends and associates is one of the most vocal and successful female voices in the Nigerian media industry.

From her days of little beginning at the Voice of Nigeria to Radio Nigeria in Port Harcourt through to her sojourn in commercial broadcast which has seen her serve in different capacities at CTL TV, NTA, Rhythm 93.7, HOT FM, Trend FM and now as General Manager and Head of Station of Mega 89.1 FM, Warri, the broadcast Amazon has succeeded in carving a unique niche with such an amazing following for her brand.

Lady E has over time proven to be one of the few practitioners who truly understand the potency of the media and how to utilize it to attempt to solve everyday problems affecting ordinary Nigerians. It is not surprising that she has, over the years attracted momentous attention to topical issues many had preferred to turn blind eyes on and has charismatically evolved into one of the most celebrated, trailblazing, agenda-setting media doyen of our time.

At a time the love and passion of many for the profession is on steady decline no thanks to an unfavourable economy in Nigeria, the broadcaster remains firebrand and resolute to her devotion for the media, insisting in a recent interview that the job of media broadcasters and journalists contribute to make the world a better place, set positive social agenda and accountable leadership across all strata of society

She said, “We set the tone on respect for human rights and protection of vulnerable members of society. And I particular have come to see that when a society's collective civic, cultural, political and economic intelligence are high, it is often because the media has done a good job at elevating that consciousness.

“And we need this more in Nigeria at this time of our evolution. Nigerians deserve a better level of living standards and respect from governance. When people are more aware of their Rights those in decisions of power behave themselves. Sound citizen begets sound governance. And the media in Nigeria has a lot on its plate to step up to that higher ground and be less partisan and more people and social change driven. It is a task that can't be shirked”.

It is perhaps this mission that has since developed into a deep-rooted burden to use the media to inspire the best and greatest in all Nigerians that has motivated some of her investigative reports aimed at unearthing issues that bring about social changes and mindset shift in Nigerians

One of such trending report which received widespread publicity from the mainstream media in Nigeria is already achieving her desired result. With the caption, “Secret Cult Gangs: The report The Disturbing Rise of Female Secondary School Members in Delta” the story which revealed how female secondary school students are made to undergo serial rape (with a girl as young as 11-14 forced to sleep with as many as 10-14 boys at once under the influence of drugs and alcohol) in the name of initiation into cultism.

The report received spontaneous reaction from the Delta State Government who waded into the matter through its education intervention retreat. Some parents got to learn that their children were cultists and were able to get some of them to renounce with the help of school administrators and the state Anti Cult Unit. The Courts in the state also helped to protect them from reprisal attacks. Over 50 students have since escaped from the gangs with more currently being helped to get out.

Another of her investigate stories helped to debunk the social thinking regarding ritual killings in Nigeria. The report which brought her face to face with some of the dreaded Yahoo plus boys unravelled certain mysteries surrounding their operation, the most paramount being that the rituals does not actually bring in money. What then generates the fund? Read the story.
continue reading>>> https://www.holygist.com/article?t=ejiro-umukoro-the-rise-and-rise-of-a-media-amazon

Reports as these informed her recent recognition by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) who awarded her Fellow of the Report Women! Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship.

Like a wine of great value which gets better as it gets older, it would seem more persons are beginning to appreciate her contributions both to the profession and the society. The exceptionally eloquent media virtuoso has just received another feather to her already beautifully decorated cap.

Over 120 staff employed by the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission and posted to Ahoada West Local Government Area (LGA) are now being owed seven months salaries on the orders of the council chairman, Hope Ikiriko.

The affected workers have not received salaries since July 2019

Some of the workers who spoke with the Holygist said the Chairman ordered the stoppage of their payments because they are not aborigines of Ahoada West. Almost 100 of those affected are reportedly of the Ogoni ethnicity in Rivers State and are now alleging that the Chairman’s action is aimed at victimizing the Ogonis who were employed during the Greg Nwiidam era as Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission.

One of the workers affected by the imbroglio alleged the Ahoada West LGA Chairman boasted that no one will compel him to pay the salaries and advised those affected to redeploy to their respective indigenous LGAs to work and receive their payments.

The staff who pleaded for anonymity told the Holygist: “We have suffered so much just because we are from Ogoni. Almost 90% of those affected by this issue are from Ogoni. We have exhausted every means to reason with him and appeal to his conscience but it has yielded no result. The truth is that he has decided to victimize us because of Hon. Greg Nwiidam who left PDP for APC. Some of us were employed during Greg’s time at the Commission.

“He even told us openly that nobody can force him to pay, and that we can go and receive our salaries from our various local government areas. There is nothing we have not done but to no avail, and it seems he is doing this with the support of the governor”.

Another victim who identified himself as Peter, narrating the genesis of the crisis said the LGA boss had shortly after resuming office in 2018 labelled over 200 staff “ghost workers” and ordered that they undergo a verification exercise to confirm their employment status. Some of those affected were from Ahoada West.
continue reading>> https://holygist.com/article?t=council-boss-denies-120-workers-seven-months-salary-on-grounds-they-are-not-from-ahoada-west

Moments after her unexpected removal and replacement as Head of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ogonis have surprisingly taken to different platforms to celebrate the sack of Dr. Joi Nunieh.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had on Wednesday approved an enlargement of the temporary committee from three to five members and also announced Prof. K.D Pondei as the new Head of the IMC. Former Rivers Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Caroline Nagbo, another Ogoni Amazon as Nunieh was also announced a member of the expanded IMC of the NDDC.

Surprisingly, instead of the protests and agitations that have become frequent with the now habitual removal of the head of the agency by their supposed primary beneficiaries – often their kinsmen – Nunieh’s people appear to be blowing a discordant tune and do appear to be excited about her removal.

At the heart of their grievance, the Holygist gathered is her perceived non-performance and lack of a traceable project attracted to Ogoni land in the course of her five months sojourn at the NDDC, barring in mind that no Ogoni aborigine had before her served as head of the agency. The closest to achieve her feat is the former Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Mene Derek.

Though Gbene Joi’s mandate hinged primarily on driving the forensic spotlight on the agency’s financial records, the expectations her people placed on her, as their reaction now show, were really enormous given that she also was in control of the agency’s funds.

“It was a wasteful tenure for the Ogoni people”, laments Kadilo Kabari.

Kabari in a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt said the people of the region cannot point a single thing they benefited from her stay as Acting Managing Director.

Nwinee Anson who spoke to Holygist from Khana Local Government Area said, “It is very unfortunate that Gbene Joi has left NDDC without any signature project in the entire Ogoni land, too bad”.

Anson wondered how any Ogoni aborigine can ever claim the region once headed the lucrative agency which her predecessors used to transform their immediate communities.

continue reading>>> https://holygist.com/article?t=ogonis-take-to-social-media-to-celebrate-joi-nunieh%E2%80%99s-ouster
more coming.

Very reliable information available to the Holygist suggests that the highly anticipated autopsy report expected to shed light on the true cause of death of the late Ikoku mechanic, Chima Ikwunado will neither be made public today nor tomorrow.

Recall that both government and family pathologists, Doctors Musa Stephens and Cornell Chukwuegbo who examined Chima’s body on Thursday, February 10th had promised that the full report will be made public in less than 10 days of extra study of the samples from his body.

“We have conducted the autopsy. We have done both external and internal extermination and we have seen the pathological evidence that will help us conclude the cause of death which will be communicated through the right channel later. We took some samples that will be examined to confirm the findings under the microscope.

“The pictures taken, sample and the report will be communicated through the right channel. We are hopeful that in less than 10 days, this report will be handed over. Two weeks maximum. I want you to be patient. We will do due diligence to this,” he said after examining the body.

Today makes it exactly 10 days after the examination and many had expected the report to be made public or release information indicating on the release date by the Rivers State Police Command.

However, the Holygist investigation revealed that the report might not be released to the public anytime soon as the Police is unrelentingly seeking avenues to water down the veracity of the crime of its personnel and attempt to settle the matter out of court.

A reliable source informed the Holygist that the Police hierarchy in the state has been having series of meetings with the Ikwunado family to reach common grounds and agree on some financial payment.

However, pressures from civil society and other interested parties who are insisting on using the case to serve as deterrent to other culpable torture prone officers within the force is scuttling the Police approach, our source adds.

continue reading>>> https://holygist.com/article?t=autopsy-report-on-late-chima-ikwunado-not-expected-this-week

President Muhammadu Buhari has relieved Dr. Joi Nunieh as Acting Managing Director, Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
This follows his approval of an enlargement of the temporary committee from three to five members. The President's directive is contained in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina.


The new Acting Managing Director, K.D Pondei is a Professor of Medicine at the Niger Delta University, and former Provost, College of Health Sciences of the institution. Former Rivers APC Women Leader, Caroline Nagbo is also a member of the expanded IMC of NDDC.

Also read>>> [url]Controversy Trails Circumstances Surrounding the Death of Amaechi’s SSS CSO[/url]https://holygist.com/article?t=controversy-trails-circumstances-surrounding-the-death-of-amaechi%E2%80%99s-sss-cso

The five members of the committee are now: Professor Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei, who is the Ag. Managing Director, replacing Barrister Joy Nunieh; Dr Cairo Ojougboh, Ag. Executive Director (Projects); Mr Ibanga Bassey Etang, Ag. Executive Director (Finance and Administration); Mrs Caroline Nagbo (Member); and Cecilia Bukola Akintomide, OON, a former Vice President with African Development Bank, (Member).

continue read>>> https://holygist.com/article?t=president-buhari-drops-joi-nunieh-as-acting-md-of-nddc

Attempts by the four Ikoku mechanics and a brother of the late Chima Ikwunado, all of whom were unjustly detained by the Eagle Crack Unit of the Rivers State Police Command to recover all their personal properties seized at the point of their arrest and illegal detention earlier today proved futile.

The four surviving Ikoku traders had at the point of their release alleged that the Police was still holding unto nine phones, and an aggregate sum of N128, 400.00 cash, their working tools and wallets, identification cards, ATM cards and other personal effects belonging to them.

However, when representatives of the Rivers State civil society organisations (RIVCSO) in Port Harcourt led the Ikoku 4 to the State Criminal Investigation Department SCID today in an attempt to recover their belongings, having been declared innocent by the state magistrate court of the charges labelled against them by the police, the Police presented only four phones and declared the other items missing.

Only three of the surviving mechanics were on ground to identify the items. Holygist gathered that Ifeanyi Onyekwere was represented by his brother as he is still on intense medication as a result of the multiple injuries he sustained while in detention. The Late Chima Ikwunado was also represented by his brother, Tony Ikwunado.

Of the nine phones seized at the point of arrest, three belonged to the now bedridden Ifeanyi Onyekwere, Victor Ogbonna had one. Ifeanyi Osuji had one. Osaze Friday two phones. The Late Chima had two phones.

At the SCID today, the Holygist was reliably informed that Ifeanyi Onyekwere recovered just one phone out of his three phones. Ifeanyi Osuji saw his phone. Osaze Friday got his complete phones. Victor Ogbonna did not see any of his phone or his personal items. The late Chima’s brother was able to recover only one phone.

Meanwhile, all N128,400.00 was declared missing by the police. Of the declared sum, N95,750.00 belonged to the late Chima Ikwunado, Ifeanyi Osuji laid claim to N27,400.00 while N5,250.00 belonged to Ifeanyi Onyekwere.

keep reading>>> https://holygist.com/article?t=n128400-four-phones-belonging-to-ikoku-5-gone-missing-under-police-safekeeping

Late on Monday, news of the disheartening death of Tony Iwelu, the Chief Security Officer of the Honourable Minister for Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi filtered into the social media space.


Iwelu reportedly died on Monday morning from an electric shock from a shower hose in his hotel room in Kaduna State. He was in the state with the minister who went to felicitate with Governor Nasiru Elrufai on his birthday

The death of the minister’s aide, who was a senior intelligence officer have been confirmed by Peter Afunanya, spokesperson for the Department of State Security (DSS) on Tuesday.
Having served the Minister since his days as Governor or Rivers State, it was expected that the announcement of the passing of Iwelu, whose face had become associated with the Minister’s presence in gatherings will evoke torrents of condolence messages. So it did, with dignitaries within and outside the Minister’s political family already publishing various sympathy messages on different platforms to condole with the Minister and Iwelu’s immediate family.

However, there are indications from certain quarters that the every energetic and alert CSO never died of electrocution but bullet injuries received from bandits who tried to abduct the minister on Sunday while he tried to board the Abuja-Kaduna train.
Credible sources have now informed the Holygist that Iwelu’s death was attributed to electric shock to divert attention from the failed attack on the minister, an incident the minister had also personally denied on his tweeter account

continue reading>>> https://holygist.com/article?t=controversy-trails-circumstances-surrounding-the-death-of-amaechi%E2%80%99s-sss-cso

we don't think so but the plans are rife as we speak baring any last minute change.

ThiagoKid:
Maybe they want to replace him with a fulani man

For the umpteenth time, forces against the continued stay of Dr. Joi Nuniuh as Acting Head of the Interim Committee at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) are gathering and their plans does appear to be gaining momentum according to reports reaching the Holygist.

The latest onslaught, our source revealed is being spearheaded by the Minister of Niger Delta, Chief Godswill Akpabio who is allegedly infuriated by Nunieh's non-complaint stance to some of this financial demands.
"Nunieh and Akpabio had a spat over a week ago. Akpabio claims Joi Nunieh has become so heady and non-compliant to his demands, monetarily. He complained she no longer listens. While Joi Nunieh claims Akpabio has become too demanding and she can no longer comply for fear of landing into troubled waters," our source said.


Our findings revealed that an attempt by the Minister to reach common grounds with the NDDC boss after a spat a fortnight ago hit brick walls as she allegedly called his bluff and insisted her loyalty remains with President Muhammadu Buhari who considered her worthy of the appointment and not the coordinating Minister.

"Akpabio later invited Joi Nunieh to his office and she blatantly told him that he was not the one who gave her appointment but the President. This infuriated Akpabio who has vowed to remove Joi at all cost" our source said.
Another source, a ranking staff at the interventionist agency revealed that Akpabio has perfected plans to replace Joi with support from the senate who is also having a soured relationship with her. It is believed the former Akwa Ibom Governor favours another Ogoni aborigine for her replacement in order not to anger the Ogoni People.

continue reading>>> https://holygist.com/article?t=moves-to-remove-joi-nunieh-as-nddc-boss-thickens

Some aggrieved youths of Onne Community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State have barricaded the main entrance of Notore Petrochemical Industries with what looked like voodoo on a casket in protest against alleged neglect and failure of the multinational to reach a visible memorandum of understanding with the people.

The youths, numbering about 50 besieged the main gate of the operation base of the company as earlier as 5:am today preventing staff from gaining access into the premises and displaying various placards with inscriptions some of which read: “We need jobs,” “Onne needs Stable Electricity,” “We need our rights” amongst many others.

Onne is host to Notore Petrochemicals and many other multinationals but sadly has one of the highest numbers of unemployed in the state and also suffers perennial epileptic electric power supply; a situation that is has resulted in a scaring high crime rate and is driving many residents away from the industrial hub.

Some of the youths who spoke to the Holygist said Notore has refused to consider Onne youths for employment and connect the community to its Gas Turbine so Onne can enjoy stable electricity supply like other host communities in the state.

One of the protesters, Stanley Ngbere said: “What is happening here is the normal thing that happens in any community that has company. We have so many communities that have just one company yet they have light and they are living comfortably. Notore here has been in Onne for eleven (11) years and we cannot write anything about them. It is very bad. We didn’t come here to hurt anybody”.

more to come>>>

The Rivers State Government risks sparking off an industrial action if it fails to recall labour leaders to discuss on the modalities to rightly implement the new minimum wage to correspond with the salary scale agreed with the Federal Government in 2019.

Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State, Comrade Beatrice Itubo in an exclusive interview with the Holygist expressed displeasure with the state government for throwing its workforce in disarray by implementing the minimum wage haphazardly and with numerous discrepancies.

She said, “We were still negotiating when government went ahead to pay and said it has implemented the minimum wage and workers have been calling to say that they do not even understand what they have received. Some have complained that people of the same grade level are paid different salaries. We had not sat to agree on the scaling, like what is the parameter that they used in effecting the payment, nobody knows. I do not know”.

Comrade Itubo said attempts by the Governor Nyesom Wike led administration to impose a caricature version of the new minimum wage on Rivers workers without recourse to the law backing it or rightly negotiating with labour leaders to agree on the parameters for implementation will receive vehement opposition from the organised labour in the state.

continue reading>>> http://holygist.com/article?t=if-you-like-kill-all-of-us-we-cannot-be-cowed-%E2%80%93-rivers-nlc-boss-dares-wike

26 Ikoku Protesters Charged to Court for Failing to Pay 25k Bail Charge

Police Yet to Release 26 Ikoku Protesters for Failing to meet 25k Bail Charge even as the four detained partners of slain mechanic, Chima Ikwunado regained their freedom, Wednesday, following the intervention of the Directorate of Public Prosecution in Port Harcourt, about 26 of their colleagues who participated in a protest last week demanding for their release are reportedly still in detention.


Sources say the 26 failed to meet the 25k flat rate bail demand of the Police Officers who raided the protest venue to disperse the protestors. Several Police units including the embattled Eagle Crack team was involved in the operation which saw about 50 of the protesters arrested initially for disturbing public peace.
The protest was organized by the Ohaneze Ndigbo group in Port Harcourt with support from the colleagues of the #Ikoku5.

One of the released protesters confided in the Holygist that the Police made it clear that they would not be freed until they are able to meet the imposed levy despite the state Governor allegedly directing that all protesters be released.
Several calls put across to the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni were unanswered. Holygist investigation revealed that the 26 persons who were initially detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department has since been charged to court and have been moved to prison custody.


But the Chairman of the Coalition of Rivers State Civil Societies Organization, Comrade Enefaa Georgewill told the Holygist the coalition will not relent till it secures the release of all 26 remaining protesters. Georgewill who lamented the position of the

Exclusive: Ikoku4 Narrates How Chima Ikwunado Died

Chima Ikwunado was very healthy and agile before the arrest narrates “Ifeanyi Onyekwere” one of the Ikoku4, contrary to what E-Crack said, when we were taken to the cell of E-crack on 19th Dec 2019, we were left there first for three days without the awareness of anybody or our family or food, it was on the third day when the torturing was at the highest level that they went to buy us a loaf of bread and a bag of pure water.

Chima was chained upside down and the torture started, it is important for me to say this; that Chima received the highest torture among all of us because is like they notice that they can get more money from him. They used machete to pieces his legs, used baton to disconnect all his joint just because they wanted him to confess that he was a car snatcher so that the money they will collect from him will be high, this torture continues every morning and evening to the point that it was clear that Chima Ikwunado was going to die and they knew it yet they didn’t care because they needed our false confession so badly so that they can get more money

continue reading>>> http://holygist.com/article?t=exclusive-ikoku4-narrates-how-chima-ikwunado-died

That is what everybody is calling for, maybe this will serve as a deterrent for next time

anonymuz:
Where are the police men on duty the day the killing happened. NPF should provide us with proofs that these evil entities are brought to justice.

yes they are and i think that's why the civil societies are protesting

clarocuzioo:
Are those other boys still held in prison?

#JusticeForChima Port-Harcourt Black Wednesday Campaign Takes Over Internet Space

The last has not been heard on the gruesome murder of an auto mechanic and technician who died in police custody and his colleagues who are currently detained in prison by the Nigerian police in Port-Harcourt. The issue is taking a centre stage as the Rivers state Coalition of Civil Society Organisations RIVCSO’s held an international press briefing on 27th January to press for the release and freedom of the incarcerated four and justice for the death of Mr. Chima Ikwunado.

Today 29th has been declared a BLACK WEDNESDAY by the same coalition of civil societies in the state and three hashtags #JusticeForChima #FreeIkoku4 & #EndPoliceBrutality has been put out online to call for solidarity from the public to press for the unconditional release of those in detention and for a proper investigation on the death of Chima Ikwunado and for Justice to be served in the case.

continue reading>>> http://holygist.com/article?t=justiceforchima-port-harcourt-black-wednesday-campaign-takes-over-internet-space

Father of the deceased vehicle mechanic alleged killed while in custody of the E Crack Police Unit in Port Harcourt, Kelvin Ikwumado has told Holygist that he is in shock and is yet to come to terms with the reality that Chima, the financial pillar and breadwinner of his family is dead.

Elder Ikwumado in an exclusive interview with the Holygist in Port Harcourt said the late Chima has been in charge of his upkeep since his business liquidated and wondered what will become his fate and that of his pregnant wife now Chima is no more.

He said, “I used to operate a shop before which engulfed in fire and I lost everything. I tried to rebuild it, but Amaechi brought a bulldozer and demolished the structure. I could not recover even one item. I have tried to secure a job since then, even a security job. It has not been possible. Chima has been the one taking care of me all this while. It was Chima that was paying for my house rent. He is the one that was providing food for me. The phone I am using now was bought by Chima. Everything I have today was given by Chima”.

The distressed father who last saw his son on December 20th narrated how his initial worries about Chima failure to answer or return calls and his sudden disappearance from his home and workplace eventually led him to the E Crack Police Unit where he was told his son was a criminal and asked to leave immediately or risk being locked up like him.

“I kept calling Chima on the phone. His phone was ringing, but he was not answering. I went to check him at his residence. It was already late, so the gate was locked. I returned very early the following morning. I saw the clothes he soaked to wash close to his door. But I did not see him. Then his wife also called and complained that she could not reach him on the phone. I asked her what happened; she said she does not know. I asked her if they had any dispute before she travelled, she said no. I became scared and jittery. I had to look for him at his place of work. I asked a man I met about him. He said Chima had not resumed. I asked someone else who said he had not seen him for about three days. I asked if Chima travelled outside the state for a job, he said he has no idea. I then protruded further. I had to introduce myself as his father. It was then he told me that E Crack Police arrested Chima.

“As I got to the station and made enquiries, I was directed to the Investigation Police Officer (IPO). The moment I introduced myself, he started screaming that Chima is a criminal. When I responded that my son is no criminal, he shouted me down and threatened to lock me up if I make such an assertion again. So I asked him to tell us what we should do, he said we should get out, that we have no right to demand for him. I asked him when Government passed the law that people should no longer enquire about the whereabouts or condition of their relatives”.

read more>>> http://holygist.com/article?t=late-chima%E2%80%99s-father-cries-out-who-will-take-care-of-us-now?

Abductors of Senator George T. Sekibo's wife sentenced to life imprisonment after seven years



Over seven years after two men, Abel Okoro and Vincent Wilson kidnapped the wife of Senator George Thompson-Sekibo; Asime Sekibo and her friends and proceeded to collect a ransom of N10million from their families for their release, a court sitting in Port Harcourt today sentenced them to life imprisonment.


In her Judgement delivery, Justice Elsie Thompson ruled in agreement with the position of the prosecution counsel that the confessional statements by the defendants, which revealed how they conspired to commit the crime were made voluntarily and not by any form of inducement.

continue reading>>> http://holygist.com/article?t=abductors-of-senator-george-t-sekibos-wife-sentenced-to-life-imprisonment-after--seven-years

ONNE: The Teary Tale of a Host Community abandoned By Notore, NPA, OGFZA, Multinationals & Ravaged by Poverty

Situated in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers state, Onne is one of the most industrialized Nigerian towns with one of the two prominent ports for oil and gas exploration in the country and host to hundreds of companies and multinationals with an annual turnover of multi-billions of Naira to the federation’s account. It is bordered by the towns of Alode, Ebubu and Ngololo Creek all in Eleme. Onne has four clans: Agbeta, Alejor, Ekara and Ogoloma. The people of Onne speak Eleme language.



The Onne Port has several quays with facilities for cargo ships up to 60,000 gt. It is also the main base for the offshore activity in the region, and a large number of supply-vessels call at Onne every week. This section of the port is called Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone (OOGFZ) and contains several quays to cater to offshore supply vessels and a shipyard (WAS - West Atlantic Shipyard). OOGFZ also contains Shell Nigeria Exploration & Production Company (SNEPC), one of the largest bases of Shell offshore in Africa including berths leased out to Exxon Mobil, Total S.A., Chevron and many other multinational oil companies. Onne is also host to Notore Chemical Industries; one of the leading fertilizer and agro-allied companies in Africa.

Given this impressive profile, it should be safe for a stranger to conclude that the community with a population of just over 15,000 people ought to be a paradise of some sort with admirable infrastructure, basic social amenities put in place for the people by the many multinationals on the land and a litany of job opportunities for the youths and qualified. Onne, with its tag as a land flowing in milk and honey, ought and should be a key destination for those seeking greener pastures in the region. It does appear it still is for many strangers.

But a look at some youths idling away, smoking cigarettes with whisky and listening to loud music in the heat of this hot Tuesday afternoon, the Holygist berths in the community was the first indication our team needed to dump whatever Eldorado projection it had pictured of the town. Whether the pastures had withered or had been carted away, the team was not immediately certain. But the next three days of the team’s stay in Onne will unravel the narrative behind the shocking reception by an unceremonious welcome party.

“From one community leader to another, youths, residents and business operators in the town, our interactions would reveal a bitter tale of a blessed people, surrounded by wealth but rotting in poverty and neglect”.

“We are suffering so much in Onne community. Before now they used to tell us that Onne people do not go to school, that is why they deny us of job opportunities. But right now, we have over 800 graduates, many loitering about with no sustainable means of livelihood yet there are over 300 companies and multinationals in Onne. The companies have refused to employ us, but we have strangers with the same qualifications working here. Day in day out, you will see buses coming out from these companies while qualified youths of their host community are wasting away,” submitted an aggrieved Onne graduate, Ogosu Godswill, still scouting for a job, years after leaving the university.

Prince Obarinee Wai-Ogosu, a youth leader in the community told Holygist that the companies in Onne has been most unfair and has displayed bias in their treatment of youths from the community. Ogosu told our reporter that many of the multinationals embark on employment without considering Onne Youths.

“Onne people have been abandoned. What is happening here can best be described as a rape of our people. These companies are here, they make billions off our land. Many are enjoying our land even for free with the cover of the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA), yet the least opportunities to engage our youths, they also shun us”.

“About 75% of Onne graduates are unemployed,” submits Kingsley Odejor a pioneer Secretary of Onne Students Forum, now a graduate.

continue reading>>> http://holygist.com/article?t=onne-the-tale-of-a-host-community-abandoned-by-notore-npa-ogfza-multinationals--ravaged-by-poverty-

Rivers APC Crisis to End Soon As Abe, Amaechi Agrees To A Truce

The crisis that has rocked the Rivers state chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) may come to an end soon if the information made available to HOLYGIST is anything to go by. This is because a high ranking officer in the party who pleaded for anonymity said that all is set for a peaceful resolution of the crisis that has bedeviled the party between the Abe factions and that of the leader Rt. Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi for over two years and the crisis is said to come to an end a few days from today. A situation that has kept members in disarray and frustration as the party could not field any candidate in the last election due to a self-inflicted judicial barrier because the leadership of the party became factionalized.

In his words he said:

Have no worries because in the coming days before the end of January the good people of Rivers state will hear the most delicious news that to some will be the news of the year from the leadership of the Rivers APC, and am saying this because as a high ranking member of the party in the state, I can tell you categorically that the crisis of APC in this state will not go beyond January. I would have given you a definitive date but I don’t know if there may be any last-minute change to the date of this epoch-making meeting, but what I have on clear authority is that the crisis between Amaechi and Magnus faction of the state APC will end this January and as soon as that is done; every other person will fall in line and Rivers people will have a course to smile again because we will start to rebuild the party and do our job to checkmate the excesses of Gov Wike.

When asked about “The Third Force” he had this to say;
continue reading>>> http://holygist.com/article?t=rivers-apc-crisis-to-end-soon-as-abe-amaechi-agrees-to-a-truce

A gory account of how an innocent roadside car repairer identified as Chima, lost his life in the hands of the Mile One Police Command in Port Harcourt which has also jailed four of the deceased's friends all on trumped-up charges is currently eliciting bitter reactions from Nigerians on the social media. The narrator, who did not mention his name for fear of molestation from the Police is the owner of the vehicle the mechanic was driving before his arrest and subsequent alleged murder in the hands of the Police. Below is the trending story, you can also drop your view in the comment section:

"I gave my car to my usual mechanic to fix AC Gas on the 19th of Dec 2019. I called him several times on the 20th and did not get an answer. I decided to visit his shop physically at Ikoku to find out that my car and the mechanic are nowhere to be found. I asked fellow mechanics around and one said he saw when the mechanic was driving one way and he suspects that he might have been apprehended by the Police. My mind came down a bit after hearing this.

I started visiting Police Stations in Port-Harcourt one after the other making inquiries until I got to Mile 1 Police Station and I saw my car parked in front of the Eagle Crack Police Division(a.k.a E-Crack). I felt relief thinking that the Police is my friend, I was totally wrong. I presented myself quickly at the front desk to say that the car belongs to me and I want to know the reason it got to this place. I was shocked to be pointed a gun by one of the officers and I was asked to leave before I get shot. Wow... I wondered what crime I could have committed to present myself as the owner of my car. But I had to leave before I get shot.

continue>>> https://www.holygist.com/article?t=how-eagle-crack-team-in-port-harcourt-killed-car-repairer-on-trumped-up-charges-

Following recent news of Senator Magnus Ngei Abe of the All Progressive Party Begging the minister of transportation, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and others,HOLYGIST has confirmed that the news is FAKE & MISINTERPRETED, and those media bodies spreading this news are just generating a wrong and biased interpretation and making reference to an extract which Senator Magnus Abe made on a TV interview where he said that “NO MEMBER OF THE PARTY IS INDISPENSABLE AND NO MEMBER OF THE PARTY IS DESPENSABLE, WE ALL NEED EACH OTHER TO FORM A FORMIDABLE FORCE AGAINST AN OPPOSITION OF THE CALIBRE OF GOVERNOR NYESOM WIKE”. Reading through the speech below made by the Senator, coupled with information gathered by HOLYGIST while speaking with a close contact to the senator, Mr. Kennedy Friday, hoygist has come out to boldly state that the news making the rounds on social media is FAKE and is just a way for media houses to stay relevant.

Continue reading>>> http://holygist.com/article?t=apc-crisis-senator-abe-begs-amaechi--others-[fake-news]

Full Text of Press Conference by the NDDC Acting Executive Director Projects and Chairman Contract Verification Committee, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh


Protocols
WITHOUT PRESIDENT MOHAMMED BUHARI, NDDC WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND BURIED. IN SEVEN (7) MONTHS IN 2019, A TOTAL OF 1,921 EMERGENCY CONTRACTS VALUED AT (N1, 070,349,631,757.70) WAS AWARDED WHILE THE UNPROCESSED BUDGET OF THE NDDC WAS N350, 000,000,000.00.

1. You will recall that the Ag. MD/CEO, Dr. Joi Nunieh had on Friday 10th January 2020 in line with the directive of Mr. President inaugurated a Contract Verification Committee as a prelude to the ordered forensic audit, with my humble self as Chairman. It has thus become expedient of me as Chairman to address this press conference and make the following clarification.

2. The NDDC came into existence via the NDDC Act 2000 (19 years ago), not only to offer a lasting solution to the social economic and environmental problems of the Niger Delta region by conceiving and implementing plans aimed at developing the infrastructure, human capacity building but also to complement the efforts of the various state governments and other developmental agencies in the region. Whilst successive leadership of the NDDC may have done their best, today, the general conclusion of most stakeholders in the region is that the NDDC has not delivered on its mandate, at best a lack-luster performance, with very little to show for the humongous resources that have accrued to it over the past 19 years. Stories of pervasive corruption, flagrant abuse of due process, abandoned projects, poor quality project delivery, etc, at the NDDC, have adorned our media space over the years.


3. In an effort to stem this unfortunate tide, governors of the nine (9) states of the region, a couple of months ago, visited His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari to not only lay bare their perception of the Commission since it’s inception but to also as members of the Advisory Council of the NDDC, offer useful advice on the way forward to the President. The result of this historic visit is the ordering of a forensic audit of the activities of the NDDC from inception to date by the President.

continue reading>>> https://www.holygist.com/article?t=nddc-paid-over-n13trillion-for-fictitious-emergency-projects--in-7months-in-2019-dr-cairo-ojougboh

Its like Wike carry the chief for mind tey tey

Picadelly:
The finishing was damn too much...