₦airaland Forum

A detachment of the IGP Monitoring Unit has arrested a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Robinson Uwak for alleged criminal defamation of character against the member representing Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, ABN TV reports.

He was arrested following his refusal to honour a series of invitations extended to him by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba. A court of competent jurisdiction, therefore, issued a warrant of arrest against him.

Rep Benjamin Kalu who is also the spokesperson of the House of Representatives had demanded an apology from Uwak over the accusation of infidelity with his (Uwak) wife. He had threatened to approach the court upon failure of Uwak to tender apologies.

Hon Robinson Uwak who was a member of the 7th Assembly of the House of Reps had been accused by his wife Kezia Uwak of domestic violence which led her to leave their matrimonial home as he had alleged to continue abusing her physically regardless of her pleas.

It is noted that in the past few years, Hon. Uwak has lost his first marriage to domestic violence, with a divorce case still pending in court and a newly contracted marriage which like the First broke down on the allegations of domestic violence by the wife which has also been confirmed by the NAPTIP office.

This criminal intention to damage the character of Rep. Benjamin Kalu, led him to publish falsehoods in all the major media houses in Nigeria including electronic media, Facebook, Twitter, and various blogs with the aim to institute a smear campaign on his reputation.

In all these time, Rep. Kalu recalled that his wife Kezia who is also a skilled photographer and a graphic designer had worked with him during his 2018/2019 campaign, while refusing to join issues or respond to any of the media houses, however, took the legal paths of petitioning through his lawyer Prof. Ernest Ojukwu to the Inspector General of Police.

Interpol Systems Consultant and security expert, Sir Chikwe Udensi has said the solution to the de-registration of Abia State Polytechnic in Aba is not the release of N450m by the state government but by flushing out the leadership of PDP in the state.

He said the amount which was released yesterday by the government of the state is not enough to offset the 30 months salary arrears owed to the staff of the tertiary institution.


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Speaking on Love FM Umuahia, streamed live on ABN TV at a political and current affairs programme on Wednesday, Udensi a chieftain of APGA said the rot in the Polytechnic is endemic and will not be cleaned just by the release of the said amount by the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.

While declining to unravel the outcome of investigation he said he carried out with the assistance of forensic auditors and specialists in education about the accounts of the school, Udensi said the problems of the school have been there since its creation.

According to him, given the opportunity, he would carry out a massive re-organization of the school and ensure that heads will roll, especially those responsible for the rot.

He said there is administrative inconsistencies and incompetence which he said is at the heart of the rot.

“This rot has remained in the Polytechnic for years, from the formation of the Polytechnic.

“One of the things I stumbled on in the process of our due diligence was very disturbing. I don’t know if it’s okay to say it now but in the process of employment, within one period of time, one Rector of the institution employed 105 persons and 95 of these 105 persons are from his clan,” he said.

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Chief Obi Aguocha, the House of Representatives candidate of Labour Party for Ikwuano-Umuahia Federal Constituency has said that, HE. Peter Obi cannot stand alone in Abuja amongst the predator political wolves when he is elected the President of Nigeria, come 2023.

He stated that Peter Obi needs his own Labour Party people at the National Assembly, to support his legislative agenda(s) for good governance and production-focused development, improved security, job creation, and employment; efficient and strategic growth initiatives - moving Nigeria from consumption to a production-based economy.

These are his utmost commitment, to help Peter Obi, if elected as president to reset and usher in the new Nigeria many Nigerians are craving today.

Chief Aguocha also stated, topmost among his legislative priority, is the recognition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's ideals, equity, and justice to Ndigbo are within the context of true federalism - and to ensure an immediate political solution that would lead to the ultimate release and freedom for, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has approved the release of the sum of 450 Million Naira as Salary Support to the academic and non-academic staff of Abia State Polytechnic Aba, ABN TV reports.

This is to enable the management of the school to immediately pay 4 months out of the salaries owed workers of the tertiary institution, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onyebuchi Ememanka said in a statement.

The governor while playing host to a delegation of Student Leaders from the tertiary institutions in Abia State who paid him a solidarity visit at the Governor's Lodge Aba on Wednesday made it clear that while the State Government is not responsible for the payment of the salaries of the workers of the Polytechnic or any other tertiary institutions in the State, his administration will not abandon the Polytechnic.

The release read in part, "According to the Governor, what the State Government owes the Institution is a Monthly Subvention of 90 Million Naira, stating that his administration has so far paid a total sum of 7.1 Billion Naira to the Polytechnic since he assumed office in 2015, translating to 92 Million Naira every month for the 78 months he has been in office as Governor.

"With this 450 Million Naira additional support, the Polytechnic has received over 7.5 Billion Naira from his administration and wonders why the institution is unable to manage their internal financial issues since they collect and retain all manner of fees from their students.

"Governor Okezie Ikpeazu insisted that the Polytechnic must be able to manage what is available to them since they handle their admissions independently and recruit their own staff.

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Source: https://abntv.com.ng/news/arm-robbers-attack-bullion-van-abia-kill-bank-staff-cart-away-cash-graphic-photos-video/

At least one official of a new generation bank has lost his life following an arm robbery attack on a bullion van conveying cash from Aba to Umuahia, ABN TV reports.

ABN TV reports that the incident which happened on Tuesday at about 1:30 pm at Ntigha junction at Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway way also left one of the robbers dead.

Parading the corpse of the neutralised robber, public relations officer of Abia State Police Command, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna on Tuesday said the robbers barricaded the expressway where they laid ambush waiting for the bullion van.

In an effort to escape, the yet-to-be-identified official of the bank who was escorting the cash was killed on the spot while three police officers were injured.

An AK47 rifle with three loaded magazines strapped were recovered from the robbers.

He said, “Based on a distress call, teams of tactical operatives were dispatched to the scene. At the scene, one inspector Leo Francis of CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit) base 4 Aba was met and he stated that he along with five others while escorting a bullion van from Ogukwu streets Aba to Umuahia ran into a gang of armed robbers who had barricaded the high way and were firing sporadically.

“Efforts made to stop the bullion van and escort vehicle yielded no dividend as the driver veered into the bush.

“The cash officer accompanying the bullion van was shot dead on the spot, three policemen on escort sustained bullet injuries while one of the armed robbers was neutralized and his AK 47, rifle with 90 rounds of ammunition was recovered.

“The injured policemen were rushed to the hospital while the deceased, are deposited in the morgue for preservation. An investigation has commenced.”

The robbers were said to have carted away with an undisclosed sum of cash.

The police spokesman called on Abians to always volunteer information to the police for quick intervention.

He also appealed to hospitals in the state to report anyone in their facilities with bullet wounds for investigation as some of the robbers fled with bullet injuries.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi has urged political office holders to use their privileges to serve the people and stop them from suffering, ABN TV reports.

He spoke on Saturday in Umuahia, Abia State capital during a meeting with leaders of his party and some Christian leaders where he expressed disappointment with the increasing suffering among Nigerians.

Obi a former governor of Anambra state said some states are still owing salaries, gratuities, and pensions to their civil servants and retirees.

He said being in a political office is by the grace of God, urging them to stop abusing God's grace and serve the people well.

The presidential hopeful said a country where the cost of bread cannot be affordable to the people is not a Nigeria of his dream.

He called on the people to ask politicians questions on what their agenda is before supporting them.

Obi said Nigeria should be a producing and not a consuming nation, assuring that if he is elected the next president of the country, in two years Abia will become a major shoe exporter.

Former Anambra State Governor and Presidential Candidate of the Labor Party, Mr Peter Obi in the early hours of Saturday paid a visit to Abia State Governor, Ikezie Ikpeazu at his Umuobiakwa country home, Obingwa LGA, ABN TV reports

Mr Obi was received by his host, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu upon his arrival early in the day, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onyebuchi Ememanka said in a statement.

Former Governor Obi informed Governor Ikpeazu that he was in Abja State to attend an event at the Mater Dei Catholic Cathedral Umuahia and in line with official courtesies and protocols, he had to come to see the Governor before proceeding to the event, the release added.

"They discussed a wide range of issues ranging from Security, Economy and Politics.

"They also had a private breakfast session.

"Governor Ikpeazu presented him with a Souvenir bag containing the first ever Abia State Long Term Development Plan and the Abia State Industrial Policy which was presented to the Governor yesterday by ECOWAS Representative at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)."

Abia Government Warns Politicians Against Converting AbiaPoly Loss Of Accreditation Into Political Tool

The government of Abia State has warned people it described as "mushroom political Parties and their infantile Candidates" against converting the recent loss of accreditation of the state-owned tertiary institution, Abia State Polytechnic Aba into a political tool.

The state government denied any infraction on the withdrawal of the accreditation of the Polytechnic by NBTE, saying it has expended billions of Naira since the commencement of the current administration in 2015.

Barr. Eze Chikamnayo, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy also blamed the ineptitude of past management of the institution for the loss of accreditation.

In a statement on Friday, he said, "Government has been alerted of the unpatriotic activities and attempts by some mushroom political Parties and their infantile Candidates to convert the unfortunate, unwarranted and unprecedented action of the National Board of Technical Education, NBTE against our illustrious Institution, the Abia Polytechnic Aba, into a political instrument and basis for rascalism.

"For the avoidance of doubt, the recent action of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) against Abia State Polytechnic Aba, was not occasioned by Government's inability to fulfil it's financial obligations to the institution but by the dysfunctionality and ineptitude of successive Boards and Managements that have bedeviled Abia Poly.

"Specifically,,between 2015 and now, over a period of about 78 months of the lifespan of Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu's visionary and education-friendly administration, a total of over Seven Billion, one hundred and forty-seven million have been remitted to Abia Poly by Government. This does not include the monies collected as School Fees, Caution Fees, sundry levies and other internal revenue generated by the School and expended without any recourse whatsoever to the State Government .

"Therefore, if the Board and Management of Abia State Polytechnic is owing it's Staff, it is a self inflicted regrettable malaise for which those directly involved must be made to face the unsavoury consequences.

"For bringing this avoidable embarrassment to Abians, Government in addition to approving the immediate dissolution of the Board and Management of Abia Poly will set up a Judicial Panel of Inquiry to unearth the immediate and remote causes of the perennial and intractable challenges of the Institution and bring culprits to justice.

"As a loving and caring Father, His Excellency, Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu has authorised the Secretary to Government to head a high-powered Committee that will interphase with the NBTE and other Stakeholders to ensure that the withdrawn accreditation and normalcy is restored to our much-cherished Institution.

"As for the NBTE, we do not want to believe the widely held opinion that it's unprecedented action against Abia Poly is not only politically induced but targeted against our common good. This is because several institutions of similar composition whose academic activities have been halted by terrorism and salary issues in other parts of the country still have their accreditation intact. Even the ongoing crisis between ASUU and the Federal Government as a result of failure to meet obligations to University Lecturers has not led to the withdrawal of any School's accreditation.

Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, has lost its accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for failing to pay staff salaries and allowances for over 30 months.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, a spokesperson for NBTE, Fatima Abubakar, said the accreditation was withdrawn because the polytechnic had not shown any commitment to offset the arrears and ensure regular payment of salaries.

“It is, therefore, with the utmost sense of responsibility that the board has decided to withdraw the accreditation status of the polytechnic to safeguard the quality assurance mechanism of the board,” Ms Abubakar said.

The NBTE official said the governing council and management of the polytechnic made several failed promises to settle the backlog of salary arrears.

She explained that regular salary payment was a key component of the board’s normative instruments for quality assurance in the polytechnics, technical, vocational education, and training (TVET) institutions.

Ms Abubakar also mentioned that the board had drawn the attention of the polytechnic’s management to the consequences of failing to pay salaries, including the suspension of quality assurance visits.

“The board went the extra mile of writing to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state, informing him of the dire situation of the polytechnic, but all to no avail,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Board has warned the National Youth Service Corps that “no product of the Abia State Polytechnic should be mobilised for national service until the management of the polytechnic resolves the issue of nonpayment of salary to its staffers, while the Board promised to notify the NYSC once the accreditation status of the polytechnic is restored.”

The NBTE official said the board sent a similar notice of the withdrawal of the accreditation to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and Industrial Training Fund to stop any official transaction with the polytechnic.

When contacted by ABN TV for a comment on the development, the Rector of Abia State Polytechnic, Professor Kalu Osonwa could not be reached.

Several calls on his phone line were not answered, and text messages were not responded to.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 9 Headquarters, Umuahia, AIG Isaac O. Akinmoyede has called on SPY vehicle plate number users in zone to return same to their various state commands in line with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba banning the use., ABN TV reports.

The AIG gave this advise in a release on Sunday by the PPRO in charge of the zone, SP Yisrael Ini-Obong Jack-Rabin headquartered in Umuahia Abia State.

AIG Isaac Akinmoyede therefore has directed the Commissioners of Police within the Zonal Command - Imo, Abia and Ebonyi States to comply immediately by commencing enforcement of the ban without any exception.

He said irrespective of whether such vehicle plate numbers have police authorisation or not, the latest IGP's directive invalidates any authorisation earlier issued.

SPY vehicle plate number users are therefore urged to revert to the originally registered plate numbers to avoid embarasment or sanctions.

The release read in part, "The measure is to strengthen the internal security achitectural mechanisms towards effective service delivery and to avoid unnecessary criminal abuse of some previleges attached to the use of the SPY Number Plates by certain categories of persons and corporate bodies in the Country.

"The AIG therefore, advises private individuals and corporate bodies with Vehicles using SPY Number Plates to respectfully revert to the use of the originally registered national licensed plate numbers for such vehicles. Those affected are further advised to voluntarily return those hitherto used SPY Number Plates to the Police Authority through the Office Of the PPROs in the State Police Command Headquarters of Zone, namely Owerri, Umuahia and Abakaliki."

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 9 Headquarters, Umuahia, further directs Commissioners of Police to warn the enforcement Officers to enforce the IGP's directives professionally without any form of indiscipline.