₦airaland Forum

Obiano Community Sends Strong Warning To Simon Ekpa Over Threat On Monarch



The Aguleri people of Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area have warned Simon Ekpa, self acclaimed autopilot leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to stop threatening HRH, Dr Michael Idigo, the traditional ruler of the town.

The Community gave the warning when the joint body of Aguleri Town Union leadership and Aguleri Royal Cabinet addressed the media at the Palace of Eze Idigo on Wednesday.

The community said Eze Idigo did not at any time pay visit to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained Leader of IPOB nor speak for him on the sit-at-home issue in the Southeast and therefore did not warrant any form of threat by Ekpa.

The President-General Assembly Aguleri Town, Chief ifeanyi Iloakasia, who spoke on behalf of the Community said they were surprised by Ekpa's threat on their traditional ruler for purportedly visiting Kanu and calling for an end to sit-at-home.

Iloakasia said it was HRH, Eze Chukwuemeka Eri, the traditional ruler of Enugwu Aguleri, one of the villages making up the larger Aguleri Community who actually visited Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and public announcement.

He said Chukwuemeka Eri, had the right in his capacity as 'Eze Akajiovo' and as a concerned stakeholder in the Southeast to visit Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and make public statements thereon without being subjected to the unwarranted backlash that we have witnessed.

"Aguleri Community Assembly has noted with displeasure and bewilderment, the various comments made by Simon Ekpa and some other members of the IPOB directed Igwe Aguleri over his purported meeting with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at Abuja.

"That Igwe Idigo, Ezeudo Aguleri did not at any time visit Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at Abuja whether alone or in company of anybody.

"That Igwe Idigo, Ezeudo Aguleri is probably being mistaken for Eze Chukwuemeka Eri, Eze Akajiovo, who supposedly visited Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and made public statements thereafter," he said.

Fleeing IPOB Member Flees Nigeria, Seeks Asylum In Germany

Following the growing manhunt for members of the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by the Nigerian government, one Mr Felix Joseph has ran to Germany in search of asylum.

The said Felix Joseph born on June 18, 1983 is an indigene of Alaiyi Owerre in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of State Imo State.

He ran out of Nigeria in 2019 when he was declared wanted by the Nigerian government because he is a member of IPOB.

At that time, most members had been killed.

His escape from Nigeria is his saving grace and he might be killed if found in Nigeria because he is still on wanted persons list in the country

IPOB led by the detained Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a separatist group seeking the independent state of Biafra from Nigeria.

They were initially a non violent secessionist group but came crushing clampdown before taking up arms in seld defense.

Members of the group have come under serious attack by the Nigerian State with some of them losing their lives and getting their property destroyed.

There is currently a manhunt for IPOB members especially in Imo State where Mr Felix Joseph comes from.

Ezeonwuka Felicitates Peter Obi @62, Victor Umeh@61

Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, Managing Director of Rojenny Stadium and Games Village Oba has congratulated Mr Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra on the occasion of his 62nd birthday.

Ezeonwuka also expressed his hearty cheers to Sen. Victor Umeh who clocked 61 on Wednesday.

He described both men as illustrious sons of Anambra who had contributed to the political and economic development of the state and Nigeria in general.

Ezeonwuka said he was joining with millions of Nigerians with good conscience to celebrate the great sons of Anambra on their birthday.

On behalf of myself the Spiritual Leader of Igbo nation and the Ogilisi Foundation, I want to wish Peter Obi and Victor Umeh happy birthday anniversary, long life and good health," he said.

AIRS Arrest: Ezenwa, Ofomata demand Compensation, Sack Of Madubuko Over Executive Lawlessness

Two senior officials, both Chartered Accountants at the Anambra Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) have demanded unreserved public apology from Dr Christian Madubuko, an Executive Director at the Service for orchestrating their illegal arrest and malicious character assassination against their persons.
Mr Francis Ezenwa, Head, Backaudit Department at the AIRS is demanding the sum of ₦10 million as compensation while Mr Chika Ofomata, the Head of Department in charge of Assessment is demanding an unreserved written apology published in national dailies by Madubuko for character defamation
This was contained in the separate protest letter to the Ag. Chairman/ Chief Executive, AIRS and Anambra Head of Service (HoS)
Recall that the Ezenwa and Ofomata were on July 11 arrested by officers of the DSS and humiliatingly conveyed in a blackmaria based on fictitious petition of alleged l “Economic Sabotage, Insubordination, Diversion Of Government Revenue To Private Pockets by Madubuko.

In a publication circulated via City Post, Madubuko said both professionals whose pictures were also attached, were arrested for complicity in financial irregularities.

But their separate petitions, Ezenwa and Ofomata described the allegations as figment of Madubuko and a mischievous attempt to bring their hard fought and age long reputation to disrepute
They said the action ran afoul of the rules of civil service which provided for internal mechanism for handling issuance of official misconduct but was contrived and executed with the sole aim of embarrassing them and bringing them to disrepute.
Francis said he was surprised that the arrest was premised on a document he signed in September 2022 on behalf of the then Chairman of AIRS, Mr Richard Madiebo who authorised him to do so while he was away which he subsequently ratified when he returned.
He said he was curious when after the conversation, Madubuko said they were under arrest and ordered them to walk to the blackmaria in the company of dome of his touts before they were conveyed to the DSS office.

He said as a HOD, the Chairman/ Chief Executive could direct me to sign legitimate documents on his behalf, and that he had never defrauded nor diverted the revenue of Anambra as Madubuko alleged, to private pockets, alone or in collusion with anyone.

According to Francis, today, at 11:00am, Madubuko sent for me while I was in my office at the Revenue House, to meet him at the Lobby. Upon meeting him, he said “call Ofomata” Ofomata came down and Madubuko handed me a letter signed on behalf of the then-Chairman by me for Unity Bank.
"I sent for both files together with the File Movement Register, the files came and I showed Madubuko by myself diligently all the documentations uptill then-Chairman’s authorization to write a letter to both organisations asking them to make further payments - on – account before we can have a post distrain reconciliation meeting.

"Madubuko took the files and handed them to his fair-skinned assistant (002 AIRS) / Second, as he tags himself 001 AIRS. I told him immediately to sign my file movement register, he visibly became incensed by my audacity he signed and instead of handing the register to my staff, he asked his ‘’002’’ to seize the file movement register as well.

"Madubuko said ‘’I’m sorry, I am placing you under arrest for the letters you signed ‘’ and signaled his ‘’002’’ to collect our phones which he did immediately and escorted us to the awaiting AIRS Blackmaria.

The Black Maria drove us like “thieves (as Madubuko alleged) as I sustained bruises from a fall as a result of the driver’s intentional reckless driving and sudden braking all the way to the DSS State HQ, where we were marshalled into the interrogation office," he said

Francis prayed to Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to investigate Madubuko’s allegations and relieve him of his job if found to be frivolous and save the government for the serial abuse of office, scandals and of sorts of unwholesome practices traceable to him and his team of non-state actors/ touts amongst whom one is nicked “ekwensuAnaku”.
He demanded a disclaimer memo from AIRS or ANSG from the activities of Madubuko with respect to his actions against and an apology on mainstream online and print media to remedy the maliciously-intended reputational damage
"Madubuko should apologise in writing, to the Anambra Civil Service Commission and Head of Service for usurping their powers and treating one of its subjects disrespectfully.
"A monetary compensation of ₦10,000,000 for costs incurred to defend myself to the appropriate authorities, media and all other related circles, cost of medical and psychotherapy.

"I demand a medical examination of Christian Madubuko by a competent Medical practitioner to ascertain his mental/ psychological well being and retrieval of Backduty files for Unity Bank and HPZ ltd, together with the Backduty Department’s file movement register which he seized," said.
On his part, Ofomata who corroborated Ezenwa's account on ex chairman's authorisation to sign the document said Madubuko's claim that they had waived 70 percent of a company's tax judgment indebtedness was not through but that they were allowed to continue to operate after paying 30 per cent.

He said the company was sealed in September 2022 over a judgment debt of N145,11 million following an audit on them for the period of 2012 to 2017. The Management of HPZ came on Sept. 21, 2023 to discuss with the Management of AIRS on the settlement of the debt so that their office will be unsealed.
He said the condition given to HPZ Limited as contained in the letter he signed for the Chairman was that upon payment of 30 percent of the total audit/judgment liabilities which was N43,53 million into the State Government’s IGR PayDirect account the organization’s business depot in Anambra be unsealed.

"I signed the letter for the Chairman and he ratified the letter when he returned. To the best of my knowledge, the letter I signed did not in any way state that a waiver of any percentage was granted to HPZ Limited.

"The statements contained in the petition signed by Dr. Madubuko alleging diversion of State Government revenue, economic sabotage and insubordination is baseless, unfounded and a calculated attempt to tarnish my reputation," he said.

He said Madubuko's action was a blatant breach of office procedure and gross violation of his fundamental human rights adding that since it happened, his family members, professional colleagues, friends, church members and colleagues in the office had been inaundating him with calls.

According to him, if I did anything wrong in the course of duty in the office, I should be given the opportunity to explain myself. If I am wanted by any Law enforce agent for any reason while in the office, there is also a proper procedure to be followed to be invited to their office.

"In the light of the facts, I humbly ask that you use your good offices to call Dr. Christian Madubuko to order.

"I need an unreserved written apology to me and published in National dailies, from Dr. Christian Madubuko for character defamation as I narrated above," he said.

Commission Orders Immediate, Indefinite Suspension Of Obosi Palace Secretary Over Murder


The Anambra Truth, Justice and Peace Commission (ATJPC) has directed the immediate and indefinite suspension of Mr Shadrach Okenwa, the Palace Secretary to HRH, Igwe Chidubem Iweka of Obosi Idemili North Local Government Area from office.

The Commission gave the order during a public hearing on the causes of insecurity in Anambra communities in Awka on Tuesday.

The ATJPC was constituted by the Gov. Charles Soludo by in June
2022 under the Commissions of Inquiry Law of Anambra State to inquire into the violent agitations and
restiveness in the state.

The Commission is Chaired by Prof. Chidi Odinkalu with Ambassador. Bianca Ojukwu as Secretary.

In a Statement signed by the chairman, ATJPC said an Anambra High Court sitting in Ogidi and presided over by Hon. Justice Arinze Akabua on March 16, 2017, entered a judgment against Okenwa and others for the shooting and killing of Obiesie Anaekwu on Dec. 5, 2012.

It said in the case with suit no. HID/MISC.30/2013 between Mrs. Ifeoma Helen Anaekwu and Obiesie Michael Anaekwu vs. State Security Service and 11 Others, the respondents included Okenwa, sued as Igwe Obosi's palace secretary.

"The court found as a fact that the named respondents, including Mr Okenwa, were indeed present at Nkpor Junction on Dec. 12, 2012 during the attack and shooting of the applicants leading to injury and trauma to the 1st Applicant and the death of the 2nd applicant.

"This finding of fact by a competent court of law remains in force and has not been set aside.

"The suspension takes immediate effect.

"The Commission took a very dim view of the fact that over six years after this specific finding of fact
by a court of law, Mr Shedrack Okenwa continues to hold the office of Igwe Obosi's Palace Secretary,

"His continued occupation of that office is an avoidable source of distrust in the community as well as disobedience of a court judgment," it said.

The Commission said Igwe Iweka in a sworn testimony before the Commission consented to the order of the suspension of Okenwa in the terms ordered by the Commission and would transmit the letter effectuating the suspension.

The Commission called on Igwe Obosi to transmit the letter of Okenwa suspension from the office of Palace Secretary to its Secretariat within 48 hours.

In his testimony, Igwe Iweka said insecurity and killings in Obosi were a fallout of a combination of cult gang fights, hard drugs dealings and animosities relating to his ascension to the throne in 2012.

He said Obosi had become so unsafe such that he had escaped four assassination attempts while many had lost their lives Including the immediate past President General of the town.

He said he had waged war against drug and narcotic trafficking in the area but had not received the desired cooperation from the institutions responsible for checking the crime.

Other testifiers from Obosi decried the abandonment of the White Paper on Obosi Administrative Panel of Inquiry submitted in 2016 saying Implementation of the recommendation would address to a large extent, the crux of matter on Obosi insecurity.

Energy Theft: We Won't Succumb To Cheap Blackmail, EEDC Tells Uwazurike, MASSOB Leader'


The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) has described as cheap blackmail, a viral video where Chief Uwazurike, leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), alleged that his staff were abducted by the company.

Uwazurike also alleged that EEDC was being used by the state to get at him.


In a reaction, the EEDC said it was a private, non-political, and non-partisan business enterprise, saddled with the responsibility of distributing electricity across the five South East states.

EEDC said it had suffered high prevalence of energy theft, meter bypass and other electricity infractions within the network and that the ugly trend had consistently and negatively impacted its output and revenue.

This according to the company, prompted the Federal Government to set up a task force known as Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offenders (SIPTEO).

"The responsibility of this task force which comprises the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Nigerian Police is to arrest and prosecute electricity customers that engage in electricity frauds," it said.

The company said recently, a hostel facility located at Ngor-Okpala community, Imo State which belonged to Chief Uwazurike, was found to have engaged in electricity infraction.

This it said was discovered by the SIPTEO team on operation in Imo State, which disconnected the facility and an arrest was made by the task force for questioning that could help investigation.

The company said the arrested staff had been released.

It said the same facility had engaged in meter bypass some months back, indicating clearly that it was notorious for energy theft and electricity infraction.

"It is therefore important to state clearly that the incident at the hostel facility was strictly operational and had nothing to do with the person of Chief Uwazurike.

"We therefore reiterate that EEDC has nothing personal against Chief Uwazurike and does not have the power to arrest or detain any electricity offender.

"The arrest was carried out by SIPTEO, the special task force saddled with that responsibility.

"It will be appreciated if issues are dealt with objectively, without resorting to cheap blackmail, misinforming the public to whip up sentiments and portray EEDC in a negative and bad light," it stated.


EEDC said was a responsible corporate organisation operating within the set guidelines as instituted by its Regulator, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

It appealed to its numerous customers to desist from any activity that could undermine the efforts being made by EEDC to consistently improve its network operations and provide quality services to them.

"EEDC loses an average of about 40% of its revenue monthly to illegal activities, ranging from energy theft, meter bypass, illegal connection, unauthorised access to the network and vandalism.

"We will stop at nothing to see that anyone or group found to be engaging in such a criminal act is prosecuted.

"EEDC remains committed to providing its customers with quality and reliable services, and this can only be achieved with the support of customers," it said.

Reminder: How ex PDP chairman joined cabal to frustrate Soludo In 2009


Facts have emerged on how the first attempt by Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to become governor of Anambra was truncated in 2009.

Soludo had been given the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the National Chairmanship of Chief Vincent Ogbulafor.

This was in line with the approval of the stakeholders of the party but the move was stoutly resisted by a cabal who described Soludo as a stranger.

Among them was one politician from Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area who is now aspiring to become chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Anambra Chapter under Soludo.

This same man was the Chairman of PDP in Anambra when it rigged APGA out in the 2003 governorship election and did all it could to kill the party he wants to chair today.

History does not forget

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/11/aggrieved-pdp-members-can-quit-ogbulafor/amp/

"Supported by another former Chairman of the party in the State, Ifeatu Obi Okoye, he noted that there has been a deliberate effort to make sure that nothing works in Anambra state.

"There were three main blocks running for governorship in Anambra state, forget about the number of aspirants who collected nomination forms.

"There was the group of Chief Chris Uba that was effectively on the ground.

"There was the group led by Ukachukwu effectively on the ground and the group led by Senator Annie Okonkwo effectively on the ground.

"Apart from these three groups any other person you hear of was just exercise in futility" he said.

IPMAN Sets Up Taskforce To Track Adulterated AGO In Southeast




The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has raised alarm over presence of adulterated Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) commonly known as diesel 




Mr Chinedu Anyaso, Chairman of IPMAN,  Enugu depot in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states said this in Awka on Sunday.




Anyaso said the leadership of IPMAN had received reports of damaged vehicles and industrial machines from members of the public as a result of suspected adulterated AGO.




He said the association had set up a taskforce to unravel the syndicate responsible for the distribution of the unwholesome product in the zone.




Anyaso said faking and distribution of petroleum was not just a double Jeopardy for the customer but an economic sabotage which should be discouraged by all.




"IPMAN want ro alert members of the public, especially those buying Automotive Gas Oil or diesel, to be cautious when buying the product because, there is a report of low density quality in circulation.




"We have received reports of possible fake product in circulation which has affected vehicles and machines negatively, so we are advising that they be more careful.




"On our part as an association, we have already set up a taskforce to monitor the situation and find out those who are responsible for sourcing and distribution of the product across the zone," he said.




Anyaso urges marketers especially who were not buying from depots to ensure the products they were procuring were genuine as ignorance would not exculpate anybody found wanting.




He said IPMAN would work with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and relevant security agencies towards stamping the unwholesome product out of circulation.

Appeal Court Grants Peter Obi, LP Leave To Inspect Electoral Materials, BVAS, Machines


The Presidential Election Petition Court sitting at the Court of Appeal Abuja on Friday granted leave to Mr Peter Obi and Labour Party to allow them inspect all the Electoral Materials used in the conduct of the Election for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.


The Court also granted leave to Obi and Labour Party to do electronic scanning of all the BVAS machines used in the conduct of the Election.

The panel had His Lordships, Joseph Shagbaor Ikyegh presiding with Hon Justices Haruna Simon Tsammani and James Gambo Abundaga as members

MR. Peter Obi and. Labour Party are the applicants while the Independent NationalElectoral Commission (INEC), Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the . All Progressives Congress(APC) were the respondents.

In a motion ex parte dated and filed on March 2, the applicants urged the court to grant orders including for the leave to the applicants to bring this application outside or before the Pre-Hearing Session.

"An order granting leave to the
Applicants to argue this Application outside or before the Pre-Hearing Session.

"An order directing INEC to
allow the Applicants to inspect all the
electoral materials used in the conduct of the election for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria held on the 25th day of February, 2023.

"An order granting the Applicants permission to do electronic scanning and/or make photocopies of Voter's Registration, Ballot Papers used in the conduct of the election for the office of the President Feb. 25 2023.

"An Order granting leave to the
Applicants to carry out Digital Forensic Inspection of BVAS machines used for the conduct on Feb. 25 2023 election for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"An order restraining the 1st Respondent from tampering with the information embedded in the BVAS machines until due inspection is conducted and Certified True
Copies of them issued.

The Court said it had read the motion paper, the
affidavit in support
and heard Chief Alex Ejesieme SAN the lead counsel to the applicants and that the application had merit and granted the application.


Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of INEC and Chief Returning Officer who announced the presidential result on March 1 said Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress scored a total of 8,794,726 votes to emerge president-elect.

Yakubu said Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party was second with 6,984,520 votes while Peter Obi of the Labour Party came third with 6,101,533 votes.

Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP came fourth with 1,496,687 votes.

Obi and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Ahmed had in separate interviews rejected the result as announced by INEC chairman insisting they won the contest.

The Labour Party Candidate said he would explore every legal means to challenge what he called rascality and reclaim his mandate.

Appeal Court Grants Peter Obi, LP Leave To Inspect Electoral Materials, BVAS


The Presidential Election Petition Court sitting at the Court of Appeal Abuja on Friday granted leave to Mr Peter Obi and Labour Party to allow them inspect all the Electoral Materials used in the conduct of the Election for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.


The Court also granted leave to Obi and Labour Party to do electronic scanning of all the BVAS machines used in the conduct of the Election.

The panel had His Lordships, Joseph Shagbaor Ikyegh presiding with Hon Justices Haruna Simon Tsammani and James Gambo Abundaga as members

MR. Peter Obi and. Labour Party are the applicants while the Independent NationalElectoral Commission (INEC), Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the . All Progressives Congress(APC) were the respondents.

In a motion ex parte dated and filed on March 2, the applicants urged the court to grant orders including for the leave to the applicants to bring this application outside or before the Pre-Hearing Session.

"An order granting leave to the
Applicants to argue this Application outside or before the Pre-Hearing Session.

"An order directing INEC to
allow the Applicants to inspect all the
electoral materials used in the conduct of the election for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria held on the 25th day of February, 2023.

"An order granting the Applicants permission to do electronic scanning and/or make photocopies of Voter's Registration, Ballot Papers used in the conduct of the election for the office of the President Feb. 25 2023.

"An Order granting leave to the
Applicants to carry out Digital Forensic Inspection of BVAS machines used for the conduct on Feb. 25 2023 election for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"An order restraining the 1st Respondent from tampering with the information embedded in the BVAS machines until due inspection is conducted and Certified True
Copies of them issued.

The Court said it had read the motion paper, the
affidavit in support
and heard Chief Alex Ejesieme SAN the lead counsel to the applicants and that the application had merit and granted the application.


Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of INEC and Chief Returning Officer who announced the presidential result on March 1 said Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress scored a total of 8,794,726 votes to emerge president-elect.

Yakubu said Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party was second with 6,984,520 votes while Peter Obi of the Labour Party came third with 6,101,533 votes.

Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP came fourth with 1,496,687 votes.

Obi and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Ahmed had in separate interviews rejected the result as announced by INEC chairman insisting they won the contest.

The Labour Party Candidate said he would explore every legal means to challenge what he called rascality and reclaim his mandate.

Supreme Court Affirms Edoga As Authentic Guber Labour Party Candidate In Enugu



A Panel of the Supreme Court Presided over by Justice Kekere Ekun JSC has dismissed the Appeal of Evarest Edeh Nnadi and affirmed Chijioke Edoga as the validly nominated governorship candidate of the Labour Party Enugu State.

Delivering the judgment on Monday, Feb. 27, Kekere-Ekun held that held that the appeal was dead on arrival owing to the fact that Mr. Nnaji did not participate in the primary Election held by the party.

The Apex Court held that the appellant was unable to convincingly satisfy the court that he was the duly nominated candidate through consensus in accordance with the Electoral Act, 2022.


It said he failed to demonstrate that there was a special convention affirming him as the consensus candidate.

The Court agreed with the Lead Counsel representing the Labour party, Chief Alex Ejesieme, SAN and M.J Numa, SAN that the Appellant contention at the trial court culminating into the appeal was against Public Policy as the Appellant’s lack Locus Standi.

With the verdict of the Supreme Court, Edeoga remains the validly nominated governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the March 11 governorship election in Enugu..

Anambra Central: Appeal Court Gives Umeh Leave To Serve Ekwunife By Substituted Means



The Court of Appeal sitting in Awka on Thursday granted Sen. Victor Umeh, candidate of the Labour Party to serve his notice of Appeal on Sen. Uche Ekwunife of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through substituted means.

Chief Alex Ejesieme SAN, counsel to the appellant in a motion experte, with Appeal No. CA/AW/24/2023 told the Court that the bailiff had made several efforts to serve Ekwunife directly without success.

The Learned Silk accompanied the motion with a 13-paragraph affidavit as support for his argument as well as bailiff affidavit of attempted service.

Ejesieme described the trial court judgement as rather unfortunate in the light of the numerous decisions of Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court on the subject matter.

Justice Hannatu Sankey, Presiding Judge of the Court granted that the Notice of Appeal should be posted at the entrance gate of Ekwunife's Campaign Office situated at the Uche Ekwunife Event Centre, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Awka.

Recall that Ekwunife and PDP had gone to Federal High Court Awka to contest the validity of Umeh's nomination in the Labour Party.

Court Fines AIG Yaro N10m Over Illegal Detention Of Estate Developer In Anambra


An Anambra High Court sitting in Awka has awarded N10 million damage against Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr Abutu Yaro, in charge of Zone 13 Police Headquarters, Anambra for illegal detention of one Mr Chukwuemeka Ekwueme, a Real Estate Developer.

Hon. Justice D. A. Onyefulu, a vacation judge who delivered the judgment on Tuesday also awarded the sum of N200,000 aa cost of litigation in favour of the plaintiff.

His Lordship also gave an injunction restraining the Police from arresting, detaining, harassing or intimidating the plaintiff on the same matter but proceed with charges against him.

Chief Alex Ejesieme SAN, council to the plaintiff had filed a suit in enforcement of fundamental human right action against Yaro and others in suit no.Suit no. A/Misc 461/2022 over the arrest abd detention of Ekwueme by the Police ZHQ between Dec. 14 and Dec. 28.

Other defendants in the suit were Defendants in the matter were Nkiru Nwode, PRO Zone 13 and Emmanuel Awah, office of PRO Zone 13.

Ejesieme said Ekwueme, who was the CEO of S. Bigman Multi Biz Concept, a Real Estate Company was arrested and detained in relation to his move to develop land at Oba International Airport, Idemili South Local Government Area.

He said the Police arrested him based on a petition by the community but had held him in detention without prosecuting him since Dec. 14, a situation he described as draconian policing.

Recall that the same court had on Dec. 28, 2022 ordered an immediate release of the plaintiff following a bail application by Ejesieme.

Peter Obi Behind Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's Continuous Detention ... source

The delusional quest of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction in the coming February 25th, 2023 general election has got its many victims and still counting. Unfortunately, the freedom of the Afarukwu Ibeku crown Prince who also doubles as the leader of the ravenous Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been sacrificed on the altar of the ambition of Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential candidate.

An insider source within the pro-Biafra group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has revealed that the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, is secretly behind the continuous illegal detention of Onye ndu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The source hinted that the fear of Mr. Peter Obi and the Western world is not unconnected with Mr Peter Obi's perceived likely negative effect the release of the Biafran leader could have on his chances in the Southeast, where he hopes to amass votes.

The desire of the people of the former breakaway region of Biafra, the Igbos to produce Nigerian President amidst the unwritten post civil war policies designed to keep the Igbos in check and to deny them a shot at the highest position in the land since after the fratricidal civil war that ended on 15th January, 1970 has continued to agitate the people of the region.

"The Labour Party Presidential candidate is the real reason the Department of State Service and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation have refused to set free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as ordered by the Court of Appeal since last August and Mr. Peter Obi's imprimatur in the whole saga is becoming evident," the source said.

Mr. Obi, an Igbo apologist, who had on Sunday, 18th June 2006, imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the commercial hub of the South East zone, Onitsha, as part of measures to contain activities of suspected members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and ordered shoot-at-sight which left hundreds of the members of the non-violent Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) killed with their bodies said to have been dumped at the Onitsha Army barracks and the notorious Awkuzu SARS, the very reason for which Mr. Peter Obi fail out of favour with Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

The fear of a possible election boycott if Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is released and the consequences of its attendant massive compliance in the Southeast region as latter events have proved, has remained a worrisome possibility to Mr. Peter Obi as the Southeast remains the strongest base where the Labour Party Presidential candidate hopes to get bulk vote, hence his obsession to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's release.

The recent revelation which the source said was confirmed through intelligence gathering and their moles within the Secret Service has left a bitter test as the overall ambition of Mr. Peter Obi points to his avarice and strong disdain for Biafra and the clamour for its actualisation as championed by Onye ndu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

The people are aghast that Mr. Peter Obi has neither made statement calling for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as ordered by the Court of Appeal four months ago or visited Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in solidarity with his course. An act they described as typical of a traitor and of an Oboteman.

Ezeudu, Anambra APC Rep. Candidate Felicitates Nigerians At Christmas


Mr Lawrence Ezeudu, candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for Anaocha/Dunukofia and Njikoka Federal Constituency, Anambra has expressed warm wishes to the people on the occasion of this year's Christmas celebration.

Ezeudu, a sitting member of Anambra House of Assembly representing Dunukofia State constituency sent the felicitation in a Statement personally signed by him.

He thanked God for sparing the lives of the people to this moment and for the grace of allowing them to celebrate another commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ whom he described as the essence of being and hope for salvation.

"On this occasion, I want to join Christians all over the world and Nigeria to celebrate the commemoration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"In a special way, I want to congratulate the people of Anaocha/Dunukofia and Njikoka Federal constituency and wish them God's continued grace and blessing.

'As a people's representative, I renew my vow to continue to serve with fear of God and love for humanity. I want to use my modest record of stewardship in the State House of Assembly as a credential for seeking their support as I aspire to represent Anaocha/Dunukofia and Njikoka Federal constituency in the National Assembly," he stated.

Ezeudu called on Nigerians to embrace peace and fair play as the nation goes into a crucial general election in February next year.

He said people should be free to hold their political opinions and respect those of others while eschewing all forms of violence.

"I pray that the virtues of Jesus Christ which includes love, peace, empathy, forgiveness, tolerance and respect for divine will shall reign in our hearts as individuals and as a nation as we chose our new leaders, next year," he said..

Clear Mortuaries In Southeast, It Is Unbiblical, Alien To Igbo Culture To Preserve Corpses, Ogilisi Says




Clear Mortuaries In Southeast, It Is Unbiblical, Alien To Igbo Culture To Preserve Corpses, Ogilisi Says



Rommy Ezeonwuka, the Spiritual Leader of the Igbo nation has renewed the call on Igbo people of the Southeast to bury their deceased loved ones timely and ensure complete evacuation of all dead bodies from mortuaries for burial.



Ezeonwuka, who is also the founder of Ogilisi Foundation, an Igbo Socio-Cultural organisation made the call in a Statement made available to newsmen.



He blamed the insecurity and social upheaval in the Southeast on the activities of Zombies who took flesh from over a million human corpses deposited in mortuaries in various parts of Igboland.



He quoted Numbers 19:11-22 which condemned touching of corpses and gave directives on what to do when somebody comes in contact with a corpse.... continue reading at

https://newsmonitor.com.ng/2022/12/23/clear-mortuaries-in-southeast-it-is-unbiblical-alien-to-igbo-culture-to-preserve-corpses-ogilisi-says/

NASS: Group Kicks Over Tambuwal's Appointment As Clerk, Calls For Reversal


A group, Concerned Nigerians For Good Conscience has protested the appointment of Alhaji Sani Magaji Tambuwal as Clerk of the National Assembly.

Tambuwal's appointment followed the retirement of Mr Amos Ojo the clerk of National Assembly and Mr. Yabani the and the Deputy Clerk of National Assembly.

The group which is calling for immediate reversal of the appointment described is as travesty of justice and contrary to the letters of NASS service laws.

In a statement made available to journalists in Awka on Sunday, the Concerned Nigerians For Good Conscience said the rule and tradition was that the highest ranking staff of NASS would succeed the Clerk upon retirement and wondered why Tambuwal who was seventh down the rung would be appointed.

According to the group, we note with consternation the appointment of Alhaji Sani Magaji Tambuwal, secretary of the directorate of Finance and accounts .aa the new Clerk of the National Assembly,

"This appointment looks like a completion of an unsavory nepotistic cycle the National Assembly Services Commission under the headship of Alhaji Ahmed Amshi, unfortunately, this is coming at a time when Nigeria is direly in need of national cohesion and meritocracy.

"Staff of NASS and well meaning Nigerians are aghast at this travesty of civil service rules, the age long tradition in the National Assembly has been that the office of Clerk of the National Assembly has always been occupied by the most senior legislative staff of the National Assembly," it stated.

The group said that with the retirement of two most senior staff of the National Assembly, the next in line of succession was Barr. Chinedu Akubueze.

They called on the Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission to immediately reverse the injustice and allow the rules of the service to guide succession process.


According to them, in a bizarre twist the National Assembly service commission headed by Alhaji Ahmed Amshi went down to number seventh in the line of succession and appointed Alhaji Tambuwal ahead of his superiors.

"This is a travesty of statute and tradition and with this appointment, the National Assembly is now in firm grip of nepotistic triumvirate of Alhaji Ahmed Lawan, Senate President, Alhaji Ahmed Amshi, Chairman of National Assembly Service Commission, Alhaji Sani Tambuwal, Clerk of National Assembly," it stated.

IPMAN Blames Hike In Pump Price In Southeast On Scarcity, Private Depot Owners.




The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has said the prevailing unofficial increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) known as petrol in the country was due to their inability to source products at Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) depots.

Mr Chinedu Anyaso, chairman of IPMAN Enugu Depot Community in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu state said this at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Enugu on Friday.

Anyaso said the increase was as a result of scarcity due to failure of the NNPC to sell product to their members, despite the claim that there was enough product.

He said marketers now bought from private depots which sold at an exorbitant price.

He said that his members could not sell the product at the approved regulated pump price after buying at very expensive prices, noting that many marketers were struggling to remain in business as a result of challenges in the downstream sector.


Anyaso regretted that the development had contributed in forcing independent oil marketers in the unit not to sell the PMS at same price, which had further added to the pains of the masses.

“If all things are equal, our members will sell at the regulated price but you do not sell at a uniform price when you have scarcity.

“Now you cannot find the product, so people sell as they source. We go out of our way to source for the product.

“The NNPC is suppose to give us product at the rate of N148.17 but as at now, we source at N212, N215, you add N3 loading expenses, coming up N218.

“Then add N15 transport fare down to Enugu here, you fund out, we have almost approach N230 landing cost, so it becomes impossible to sell at the government approved pump price,'' he said.

Anyaso assured that marketers members would revert to the old pump price, once the NNPC started selling products to them directly as against the current situation where private depot owners dictate supply and price.

Nwokolo, Ibekwe Emerge Champion, Baron At 2nd Onitsha City Board Games



Students of St Charles College and Royal Land College both in Onitsha have emerged winners in their various events at the second edition of Onitsha City Board Games held in Onitsha, the Commercial capital of Anambra State.


Onitsha City board games is organised by the Onitsha Business School for secondary schools in Anambra.

The Board Games featured four events including Scrabble, Chess, Monopoly and Ncho, otherwise known as Ayo.

In Scrabble, Jessica Nwokolo of Royal Land College, Onitsha emerged Scrabble Champion beating MaryCynthia Anichebe of Mater Amabilis Secondary School and Chukwuebuka Ezenwamma of St Charles College to second and third place.

China Edeh also of Royal Land College came top to emerge the Chess Master, leaving Chukwuemeka Egbogu and Isidore Umeh of Kezz Secondary school with the silver and and bronze medals in the Chess event.

Ebuka Ibekwe of St Charles College emerged champion in the Monopoly to become the Monopoly Baron ahead of his school mate, Chiamaka Darebo while Princess Okeke of Regent College finished third place.

In Ncho, James Nweke of St Charles College beat all contestants to emerge the Ncho King ahead of Oluebube Nweke of Redeemed Christian Secondary School and Chukwuebuka Okata of Regent College who won the second and third place respectively.

Mr Chinemelum Nsobundu, Project Manager, Onitsha City Board games 2022 in his remark said this year's edition was a huge improvement over the previous edition.

Nsobundu said 10 schools participated at the 5-day competition with no fewer than 95 players playing for glory in the various games.

He said the choice of board games was because they were mentally engaging and good for the development of students' affective, cognitive and psychomotor domains.

He said Onitsha City Board Games was another offshoot of the Onitsha City Marathon initiative which included 'Oka Nsupe Igbo', the Igbo Spelling Bee.

He promised that next edition would be greater and thanked the sponsors for their partnership.

On his part, Prof. Olusegun Sogbesan, the Director General of Onitsha Business School congratulated the schools that participated at the Board Games but decried the poor number of enrollment.

Sogbesan said schools would have enrolled in their hundreds if it was a a dance or fashion competition noting that owners and managers of schools should do better for the society by directing the minds of students to engaging in intellectual competitions.

He said he was in talks with Anambra Chess Association and hinted that the winner of the Chess event would represent Anambra in the national junior championship next year.

He said the Onitsha Business School would continue to evolve initiatives that would help mold the minds of next generation leaders in Anambra and Nigeria in general.

In a reaction, the winner of the scrabble competition, Nwokolo, an SS2 student of Royal Land College said she was happy to come tops in the event after failing to reach the final stage last year.

She said scrabble was an interesting game and that she hoped to take it to a professional level while focusing on her academics.

CDV Group Says Pinnacle $1bn Petroleum Lagos Terminal Will Transform Sector


CDV Group has congratulated the Founder/Chief Executive Officer of
Pinnacle Oil & Gas Limited, Mr Peter Mbah over the successful completion and inauguration of Pinnacle Oil’s ultramodern offshore subsea petroleum intake and offtake terminal at the Lekki Free Zone, Lagos.

The CDV Group in a statement made available to journalists in Lagos by its Managing Director Dr Charles Ndubuisi Mba, believes that the unveiling of the Pinnacle Oil’s ultramodern petroleum terminal will transform Nigeria's downstream sector.

"I want to specially congratulate my brother Dr Peter Mbah and the Pinnacle Group for this great achievement which undoubtedly will create job opportunities for our teeming youths.

"This amazing accomplishment is just one step on your journey. Your ability to relentlessly search for solutions to problems and find innovative ways to improve the world is the key to this success.

When Dr Peter Mbah is elected governor in 2023, Enugu State will witness all-round transformation. Hearing you speak right from the first time, I knew you have a lot to offer Enugu and Nigeria at large.

The CDV Group is committed to Mbah's vision of building a new Enugu and is willing and ready to partner with the PDP governorship candidate to deliver quality and affordable homes as the state is the next destination for economic activities with Dr Peter Mbah as the Governor.

Dr Charles Ndubuisi Mba however, commended the Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for making a wise choice in adopting Mr Peter Mbah as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state.

Wanted IPOB Member Flees To Europe For Alleged Arson



Mr Uzoegwu Kingsley Emeka, a member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has migrated to Europe for safety.



Emeka, an indigene of Umuaka in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State was said to have been a member of IPOB and have participated in the group's activities actively.

He was said to be the coordinator of IPOB in Isu and Njaba Local
Territory.

He has worked closely with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and he was also in his house when the Nigerian military invaded his Afaraukwu county home on Sept. 10, 2017.

No fewer than 27 persons were killed in the military attack but Emeka managed to escape with injuries.

On May 31.2021 Isu Police Station a local police division within the province was attacked and burnt down by yet to be identified arsonists

But the Nigerian military in a retaliatory operation stormed the area and burnt down properties including the personal house of Emeka and his business.

Emeka fled Nigeria Sept 20 to one of the European countries which nobody knows where exactly.

According to sources, he has been a target of the military forces.

Meanwhile, the local Police in Nigeria have declared Mr Uzoegwu Kingsley Emeka wanted and placed him under surveillance on the account of the development.

According to the Police, after thorough investigation, it was gathered that the actual perpetrators were members of IPOB as a result of their grievances over setting ablaze of the residential houses of their members by the Nigerian Military and the arrest and detention of their members within that period.

"The said Mr Uzoegwu Kingsley Emeka has been declared wanted by the Nigeria Police as the leader of the group that attacked the Divisional Police Station, Isu in Isu Local Government Area of Imo State," it stated.

African Law Students To Explore Exchange Programme With Peers In Europe, America

African Law Students under the aegis of Federation of African Law Students (FALAS) says it would explore exchange programme opportunities with their peers in other continents.

Mr Odira Ezeh, Head, Diplomacy and External Affairs of FALAS said this in Awka on Tuesday.

FALAS is the umbrella body of Law students and young lawyers across the African continent.

Ezeh, a student of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra was elected at the just concluded 2nd Annual Conferences held between Oct. 3rd and Oct. 5 2022 at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

He said the new leadership would manage affairs of the federation for one year.

Ezeh said the collaboration between the body and law students in other continents like America, Europe and Asia was aimed at acquainting themselves with new development in their various legal environments and work towards convergence.

He said it would also explore scholarship opportunities for their members across the African continent.

According to him, it hoped that collaboration with our colleagues in other parts would engender greater cooperation among African law students and ensure continued unification of voices in Africa.

"As the head of Diplomacy and External Affairs of FALAS, I shall work towards better collaboration in the areas of intellectual exchange, sponsorship opportunities and law updates with students across the world," he said.

Ezeh said six other officers were elected at the conference including the president, Siaffa Bahn Kemokai, from Liberia, Monica Tembo from Zimbabwe, Vice President: Ampumuza Dawn Abigail from Uganda, General Secretary.

Others were Justice Emeh,Nigerian; Deputy General Secretary, Gerald Uchem, Nigerian, Welfare Secretary and Nokuthula Songo, South Africa, Director of Information and Protocol.

Coach PetitionSoludo Against A Female Director Over Use of Quack Table Tennis Coach in Anambra


All seems not to be well with the Anambra State Sports Development Commission over the allegation of an unqualified Table Tennis coach to re-enforce the poor performance of the game in the state.


Mr Bonny Akunna, a former international table tennis player and Head of Technical, Anambra State Table Tennis Association made the claim in a petition to Gov. Chukwuma Soludo.

Akunna in the petition entitled "Petition Against Abuse Of Office And Malicious Intention To Kill Table Tennis In Anambra State" accused the female director of abuse of office.

"I write to bring to your attention the avowed resolve by a Female Director of the Anambra State Sports Development Commission to destroy the game of Table Tennis in the state"

He said the Director who is the highest ranking director in the Commission had sworn to make sure that Table Tennis did not succeed in the state and had continued use of unprofessionals as coach for the sport.

The veteran Table Tennis player and coach said the director had refused to allow people with the requisite knowledge of the game to manage the game and that the state had suffered for it.

According to him, the Director has continued to use the position of Team Anambra Table Tennis Coach to service her personal friendship by using it to gratify people who neither played or got coaching experience for their loyalty.

"This ugly trend is unfortunately responsible for the lack of Table Tennis structure in Anambra and also the poor performance the state has recorded in the last five years at national competitions.

"As Anambra prepares for the next National Sport Festival scheduled for Asaba, Delta State, the Director has once again vowed to employ her mediocre candidate to coach the state Table Tennis Team

"This is in defiance to the recommendation of the Director in charge of technical who proposed that the most capable hands be used for the various games including myself for Table Tennis, '' he said.

Akunna said the Director's candidate who was not a staff of the Commission told the Director Technical to his face that he will lead the team to Asaba and that the director had insisted not handle the team unless she was no longer in office.

He said upon retiring from international career and returning from Spain with vast experience, he had continued to train budding Table Tennis players and have guided them to competitions where they did well.

He called on Gov. Soludo to take special interest in this petition against abuse of office and elevation of personal interest and friendship and direct an investigation with the aim of ending impunity in the Commission.

"I will be available to defend this petition anywhere and anytime I am called upon, the Female Director should defend her position by telling the Anambra public whom she serves what makes her candidate better qualified than me and why I should not lead my own players to competitions.

"Although, I am not employed by the ministry. I have offered my services as a volunteer and I remain loyal and available to serve Anambra and willing to continue to contribute to the development of sports and Table Tennis in particular in the state," he said.

Veteran Coach PetitionSoludo Against A Female Director Over Use of Quack Table Tennis Coach in Anambra


All seems not to be well with the Anambra State Sports Development Commission over the allegation of an unqualified Table Tennis coach to re-enforce the poor performance of the game in the state.


Mr Bonny Akunna, a former international table tennis player and Head of Technical, Anambra State Table Tennis Association made the claim in a petition to Gov. Chukwuma Soludo.

Akunna in the petition entitled "Petition Against Abuse Of Office And Malicious Intention To Kill Table Tennis In Anambra State" accused the female director of abuse of office.

"I write to bring to your attention the avowed resolve by a Female Director of the Anambra State Sports Development Commission to destroy the game of Table Tennis in the state"

He said the Director who is the highest ranking director in the Commission had sworn to make sure that Table Tennis did not succeed in the state and had continued use of unprofessionals as coach for the sport.

The veteran Table Tennis player and coach said the director had refused to allow people with the requisite knowledge of the game to manage the game and that the state had suffered for it.

According to him, the Director has continued to use the position of Team Anambra Table Tennis Coach to service her personal friendship by using it to gratify people who neither played or got coaching experience for their loyalty.

"This ugly trend is unfortunately responsible for the lack of Table Tennis structure in Anambra and also the poor performance the state has recorded in the last five years at national competitions.

"As Anambra prepares for the next National Sport Festival scheduled for Asaba, Delta State, the Director has once again vowed to employ her mediocre candidate to coach the state Table Tennis Team

"This is in defiance to the recommendation of the Director in charge of technical who proposed that the most capable hands be used for the various games including myself for Table Tennis, '' he said.

Akunna said the Director's candidate who was not a staff of the Commission told the Director Technical to his face that he will lead the team to Asaba and that the director had insisted not handle the team unless she was no longer in office.

He said upon retiring from international career and returning from Spain with vast experience, he had continued to train budding Table Tennis players and have guided them to competitions where they did well.

He called on Gov. Soludo to take special interest in this petition against abuse of office and elevation of personal interest and friendship and direct an investigation with the aim of ending impunity in the Commission.

"I will be available to defend this petition anywhere and anytime I am called upon, the Female Director should defend her position by telling the Anambra public whom she serves what makes her candidate better qualified than me and why I should not lead my own players to competitions.

"Although, I am not employed by the ministry. I have offered my services as a volunteer and I remain loyal and available to serve Anambra and willing to continue to contribute to the development of sports and Table Tennis in particular in the state," he said.

Anambra Govt Clears Wintess Hotel Of Complicity In Sex Tape, Lifts Suspension


One month after it suspended operations at Annex of Wintess Hotel Annex, Awka, over a viral sex video, the Anambra has lifted the ban.

Mr Don Onyenji, Commissioner for Tourism and Entertainment in Anambra confirmed this to journalists in Awka.

It would be that Wintess Hotel Annex was suspended by the state government following a viral sex video which purportedly emanated from a party held in the facility.

Onyenji said investigation into the matter revealed that the hotel was deceived by those who organised the event who did not specify the nature of the programme they booked the facility for.

The Commissioner said those behind the ugly incident had been arrested and were being prosecuted according to the law.

According to him, an agent of the main organiser has been arrested and is currently being prosecuted according to the law while the principal is still on the run" he said.

"The case of Wintess was quite unfortunate, Anambra is a decent state and the government will not allow such to happen again.

"The facility was suspended and the case investigated, it was proven that some people hired the facility for a particular activity but ended up using it for something else that should serve as an eye opener to those in the Anambra hospitality and tourism industry.

"The hotel has been given a clean bill of health to operate after a thorough investigation, reassessment and passing all the regulatory standards for getting an operating license.

"After due consideration of the report of the Inspectors and following your
high level of compliance, the Ministry is hereby lifting the ban temporarily on Wintess Garden Hotel Ifite, Awka.

"You are urged to be of good conduct, non- violation of the ethics of hotel practices as contained in the Hotel and Hospitality Law 2016 for all hotel and hospitality facilities in Anambra and to guide your staff accordingly," he said.

Onyenji said the regulatory framework for the tourism and hospitality industry had been strengthened and would be diligently enforced to ensure there was sanity in the sector while encouraging growth at the same time.

He urged hotels to endeavour to get full disclosure with clients to ensure that nobody or group made them run foul of the law with their activities.

Pool Party: Awka Residents Laud Soludo's, Action Urges Protection Of Businesses


Some residents of Awka, the Anambra capital have reacted to the sealing of a Hotel Annexe in Awka by the Anambra State government following a viral sex video which allegedly emanated from the facility.

The residents who commended the Anambra government for wading in to conduct proper investigation pleaded with the state government to avoid measures that would kill businesses and discourage investors.

Recall that a group, still at large had hired the annexe section of hotel for a party which later degenerated into a open adult sex orgy by the pool side.

A recorded video of the sex scene was set sent online with the sender gleefully stating the location of the incident.

This sparked widespread condemnation among people within and outside the state which led to the intervention of the Anambra government who sealed the facility in Sept. 9.

Mr Smith Obodozie, an Awka resident said while it was important to streamline operations of hotels and pubs in the growing capital city, it was also important to protect businesses.

Obodozie regretted the bad image created by the content of the video and called on operators of hotel and entertainment to evolve a more proactive check against unhealthy social and moral activities.

According to him, the pool sex video is quite condemnable, I also like the way government has moved in to suspend the facility involved, though I do not know involvement of the management.

"However, we must be reminded that we are talking about the entertainment industry in a fast changing world, technology is also doing a lot of damage and you know, it is difficult to predict human behaviours, especially adults.

"So, my advice is that the government should not kill businesses or discourage investors because if you go about shutting everywhere, there won't be an economy to operate," he said.

On her part, Ms Jacinta Ene, an entrepreneur, said the development was unfortunate but not strange.

Ene noted that there was a new and unfortunate trend in Awka where unscrupulous persons try to run down businesses by videos of real and imagined events and sending them out in the social media.

"Remember just about two weeks ago, there was a video where somebody said that a popular eatery (name withheld) was serving customers the sacred python which was forbidden in most areas of Anambra.

"But the same person later came back to apologise to the owner that it was a mischief sponsored by some detractors somewhere and I understand he is being investigated with his accomplices.

"My opinion is that those responsible, those who staged the pool sex party should be apprehended, investigated and punished instead of shutting down businesses and creating more unemployment," he said.

Mr Bonny Akunna, BoT Chairman of Restaurant and Bar Owners, Anambra chapter said the closure was in order but should have come after investigation was concluded.

Akunna said Africans had moral values and would naturally frown at such obscene video with anybody involved but called on government to consider the economy around the business.

He likened it to Big Brother Naija which was aired in homes while children and students were at home but had not been banned.

"Those people were adults, they could have hired the hotel for an event and end up using it for another thing like the problem we have at hand now, so we want to ask for pardon in the interest of the workers, the suppliers and those that enjoy the services of that facility," he said.

Anambra Gov't Shuts, Investigates Hotel Over Pool Sex Incident In Awka


The Anambra government has suspended operations in a section of Wintess Garden Annexe, Ifite Awka, the capital town over the a viral pool sex video which was linked to the facility.

Mr Donatus Onyenji, Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism who signed the seal order dated Sept. 8 said the action was to enable government and security agencies conduct further investigation on the matter.

Recall that some guests who staged a party in the Annexe B of Wintess Hotel on Sept. 3 engaged in open orgy which was recorded and sent out by unknown persons.


Onyenji who said this was in line with the Anambra State Tourism and
Hospitality Law 2016 noted that the ministry already had an application for Operational Permit by Wintess Garden Hotel dated Aug. 31 before it.

"However, while the process is on-going, our attention has been drawn to the social media video of live sex and pornographic content (sex party) conducted on Sep.3 at an open place in your hotel/facility.

"This and other such indecent operational standard and unholy acts of public show of indecency
must not be allowed in any hotel in Anambra.

"Government of Anambra hereby directs the management of Wintess Garden Hotel to shut-down operations pending further investigations and review of the application.

In a reaction, Mr Ndibe Ikeh, General Manager of Wintess Group regretted the ugly incident saying it did not represent the company values and operational principles.

Ndibe thanked the Anambra government for wading into the scandal by taking decisive steps to investigate and unravel the perpetrators and their motives.

The Manager who did not rule out blackmail by detractors called on the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Police to conduct a thorough investigation with the aim of establishing the role of Hotel in the incident.

"Wintess Garden Hotel is a responsible organisation with good moral values, our services are open to the public, as a management, we condemn the incident and call for thorough investigation of this matter.

"We apologise for this embarrassment and thank the Anambra government for their kind intervention, just as we call on them and the security agency to conclude the investigations," he said.

Ezeonwuka Hail Pope's Elevation Of Bishop Okpalaeke To Cardinal




Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, the Spiritual Leader of the Igbo nation has expressed gratitude to God for the elevation of Bishop Peter Okpalaeke of the Catholic Diocese of Ekwululobia to a Cardinal.




Ezeonwuka who spoke on Sunday also thanked Pope Francis for finding the church from Amesi, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra worthy of the calling.




Recall that Okpalaeke was on Aug. 27 installed as a Cardinal in a consistory at the Vatican alongside other 20 Bishops from across the world.




Ezeonwuka who is the founder of Ogilisi Foundation described the development as a welcome one and blessing to people of Aguata, Anambra and Nigeria.




"The elevation of Bishop Okpalaeke to a Cardinal of the Catholic Church is a good thing, first as son of Aguata where incidentally, the governor of Anambra, Prof Chukwuma Soludo comes from, to Anambra as a state and Nigeria in general.




"As the spiritual leader of the Igbo nation, i want to congratulate him and the people of Anambra and also thank God for recognising us.




"I also pray that his promotion will bring progress, unity and God's blessing to the entire Igbo land," he said.

Nigerian Community In Cote d’Ivoire Condemns Media Attack On Consular Officer


The Nigerian Community in Cote d’Ivoire has condemned media attacks on the person of Mr. Damilola Abikoye. the Nigerian Consular Officer in Abidjan.

The Community in a Statement signed by Chief Emeka Onwuchelu and Mr. Izuchukwu Dike-Ononiwu, its President and Secretary General respectively said allegations against Abikoye were untrue and ill conceived.

It said the publication calling for the recall of the Consular Officer for alleged diplomatic infractions, should be ignored as it neither represented the opinions of Nigerians in that county nor their collective interest.

The petition signed by Mr. Lawani Waliou and Mr. Akinwale Tajudeen, had accused Abikoye of using his position to stop the transition to issuance of analogue cards for selfish gains as against biometric cards.

They also accused him of stopping their freedom of association and breeding chaos.

"Embassy of Nigeria should be directed to pave the way for harmony, concord and cooperation among Nigerians in Côte d’lvoire," it stated.

But the Community which said it was duly elected in a process monitored by the Consulate in 2021 contended that the petition was an attack, authored by an illegitimate group not known to the Nigerian community in Cote d’Ivoire.

It said there were no looming diplomatic incidents or irate reactions from Nigerians in Côte I'vore as alleged by the petitioners adding that they were experiencing a peaceful and stable stay.

The leadership of the Nigerian community said that Abikoye had used his administrative tact to check the proliferation of renegade groups which had reduced the embarrassment caused by their nefarious activities.

According to them, the Embassy of Nigeria in Cote d’Ivoire has always upheld the rights of Nigerians and has never in any way stood in the way of their rights to association and management of their internal affairs.

"The Consular Officer, Mr Damilola Olufemi Abikoye is a man of integrity who has been working assiduously and should be commended for his unalloyed cooperation with the current administration of the Nigerian Community.

"The relationship has helped to restore sanity, achieve a more cordial relationship among the citizens and see to their holistic welfare," it stated.

The group said the mode of identification for citizens of a country was the prerogative of the Embassy and that the decision to change it lied with the government and not the Consular Officer.

It said the claim that the analogue consular card is used as a lucrative source of illicit enrichment is an absolute falsehood noting that it was embarrassing that petitioners could go to the length of dictating the operations of the Embassy.

"On Consular Identity Card, it is the responsibility of the Nigerian Embassy to dictate the mode of identification for its citizens in Cote d’Ivoire, the decision to change from an analogue to a biometric one lies solely with the Embassy,

"What the Embassy will not do is to throw in their weight behind criminal activities which these individuals are so deeply involved in.

"We hereby appeal to the Honourable Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs to disregard this petition and investigate this set of individuals and see that they are called to account for their activities and the embarrassment they cause the country," it stated.

Don't Take Revenge On the Society, Vote Out Bad Leaders, Okoli, LP chieftain Begs Youths


Chief Rommy Okoli, a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) in Anambra has called on youths not to take revenge on the society by taking to crime but rather use their voting power to sack incompetent leadership at all levels.

Okoli made the plea in his message to Nigerians on his 60th birthday on Sunday.

He prayed God to forgive the misdeeds of Nigerians and make the country great again and urged Nigerians to work towards a united and prosperous country

Okoli, a former executive chairman of Nnewi South Local Government Area and good governance advocate urged commended youths for their renewed interest in the leadership recruitment process and called on them to vote LP,s Peter Obi-Yusuf Datti ticket as the PDP and APC have done their best which hevsaid was not good enough.

"I call on youths to take back their country and punish APC and its twin brother PDP with their votes instead of venting their anger on the society by way of crime and insecurity.

"We have suffered enough in Nigeria, bad leadership has endangered the future of our children, our common patrimony has been misused.

"The 2023 general election is another opportunity for us to correct the error, so, let us shun religion and ethnicity and vote, Obi-Datti ticket of the LP. They will rescue and rebuild Nigeria economically and security wise," he said.

He said Nigeria was one of the most richly endowed countries on earth where citizens should enjoy the best things in life but lamented that the leadership deficit had been her bane.

According to him, on this occasion of my 60th birthday anniversary today, I want to thank God for life but it has not been easy. With a more secure and prosperous society, life expectancy can be longer.

"So, I plead with the Almighty God to please be merciful, forgive our sins and grant us freedom from our oppressors because the hardship we face everyday in Nigeria is unbearable.

"May God arise and come to our rescue for the benefit of our future and humanity," he said.

NYSC inducts 1,301 Corps Members In Anambra


The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has sworn in no fewer than 1,301 corps members including 677 females and 624 males for the 2022 Batch B Stream 11 service year in Anambra.


Mrs Blessing Iruma, the Coordinator of the Scheme in the state welcomed the new corps members at the Permanent Orientation Camp in Mbaukwu/Umuawulu, Awka South LGA.

Iruma said they had been kitted and accommodated in line with COVID-19 protocols and were adjusting fast to camp life.


"May I at this juncture, pause and congratulate you the Prospective Corps Members for your success in the different examinations that qualified you for the stage you are now.

"We do hope that you will translate your talents into practical terms by contributing meaningfully in the different committees and activities you will be co-opted into," she said.

Iruma said the NYSC We are presently receiving requests from employers while urging interested firms and organisations to apply through local government inspectors.

She urged employers to come to the campground on Aug. 9 with vehicles to convey those posted to them to their various places of primary assignments and also integrate them into their various communities.

Iruma We commended Gov. Chukwuma Soludo for his continuous support to the Scheme in the State and called him to address the menace caused by erosion inside the orientation playground.

"A casual look around the camp reveals different portions already ravaged by the erosion and if not checked early, it might threaten the existing structures and destroy the beauty of this camp.

"We therefore passionately appeal to His Excellency to expedite action on the landscaping of the premises currently under serious threat of erosion," she said.


His Lordship, Hon. Justice Onochie Anyachebelu, the Chief Judge of Anambra administered the Oath of Allegiance on the corps members.