By Ofonime Honesty Foremost senior lawyer, Usungurua Bassey, on Tuesday countered the Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State, Uko Udom SAN’s view that his clients who are commercial bus drivers and tricycle operators in the state are criminals. Bassey rose in defence of the transporters at the Akwa Ibom State High Court, Fulga Street, presided over by Justice Ibritam. The lawyer said it was unfounded for the Attorney General, via his lawyer, Bassey Ekanem, to label his clients with such tag. He said he could attest to the character of his clients. Continuing, Bassey prayed the court for extension of…
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Elders and Leaders of Ibibio Socio-Cultural Organisations in Akwa Ibom State have commended the Governor Umo Eno for assenting to the Bill for the amendment of the Traditional Rulers Law, Cap.155, Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2022. In a communique issued after a consultative meeting at Asan Ibibio on Sunday, September 25, 2023, the Elder Statesmen and groups also commended the Honourable Speaker, Rt. Hon. Udeme Ottong and Members of the 8th Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for the passage of the Bill. They further lauded the governor for inaugurating His Eminence, Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon D. Etuk, CFR, as…
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, says that the Commission is fast-tracking the construction work on the Oruma rigid pavement Road, in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State to ensure its commissioning next month. Speaking during an inspection of the road, in the company of NDDC Directors and engineers, Ogbuku, said that it would serve as a major by-pass for commuters in many communities in both Bayelsa and Rivers states. He explained that the Oruma Road, which links another NDDC road, the 23.5-kilometre Otuasega-Obedum-Emelego Road and bridges, connecting Bayelsa and Rivers communities,…
Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has urged youths of the Niger Delta region, to embrace entrepreneurship as a springboard for sustainable development. Ogbuku, who made the call in his keynote address at the Ogbia Youth Summit in Ogbia, Bayelsa State, noted that for any community to achieve sustainable development and peace, the youths must be meaningfully engaged. The NDDC boss urged the youths to key into the Commission’s Holistic Opportunity Projects of Engagement, HOPE, meant to identify interests of the youths for skills training. He also advised them to eschew cultism, drug abuse,…
The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has announced the commencement of the application process for its 2023/2024 Foreign Post Graduate (Masters) Scholarship Programme. The Commission made the announcement in a press statement on Thursday signed by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni. According Ughakpoteni, the development marks a significant stride in the Commission’s unwavering commitment to fostering human resource development and empowerment of the youths in the Niger Delta region. “Aiming to cultivate empowerment and specialization, this initiative is designed to equip the vibrant minds of the region with indispensable skills and training. “The goal is to facilitate their…
The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Uyo on Thursday afternoon trashed a petition, brought by the Akwa Ibom State Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Akanimo Udofia, challenging the election of Pastor Umo Eno of the Peoples Democratic Party as winner of the March 18,2023 elections. The grounds Udofia sought for the disqualification of Pastor Umo Eno was that he presented forged documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and also did not score the highest number of valid votes in the March 18, 2023 Governorship elections. Udofia also accused the 2nd respondent of being…
Covenant University, University of Ibadan and the Federal University of Technology, Akure have secured top ranking in Nigeria according to Times Higher Education’s 2024 rating. Analysis of the latest ranking showed that Covenant University is among the top 1,000 universities in the world. Though ranked first in Nigeria, Covenant University is placed within the global 801-1000 range. Covenant University, a private-owned institution, stands at the top spot in Nigeria, while the University of Ibadan followed in second and FUTA emerged third. Graduates Of FUTO Face N20,000 Reparation Fee For ‘Violent Celebration’ The University of Lagos and the University of Bayero emerged fourth and fifth in Nigeria, respectively.…
Text of the Lecture, as delivered, marking the Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Day under the overarching Theme: “Nigeria at 63, Renewed Hope for National Unity and Prosperity”. Protocols I am honoured to be invited as the Lead Speaker at today’s event of Public Lecture cum Symposium marking the 63rd Anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence Day. I am grateful to the SGF as the Chairman and other members of the Inter-ministerial Committee on the 63rd Independence Anniversary for identifying me to discharge this function. It is my hope that my presentation will do justice to the confidence that they have reposed in me. Actualizing the Vision of Renewed Hope For Socio-Economic…
Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-political group, has expressed displeasure at former President Olusegun Obasanjo treatment of the tribe’s monarch Institution. Recall that during the commissioning of a road project in Oyo on September 15, Obasanjo had instructed the traditional rulers who were present at the occasion to stand to greet Seyi Makinde, governor of the state. The development elicited outrage on social media with some Nigerians accusing the former president of denigrating the monarchs. Commenting on the matter, Afenifere asked the Obasanjo to tender a public apology to Oyo monarchs, describing the incident as “avoidable and unwarranted incident”. In a communique issued on Wednesday, Afenifere…
The United States (US) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free, fair and transparent governorship election in Bayelsa state on November 11, 2023. The US Consulate-General in Nigeria made this call during the recent visit of Chief Mike Ervin from its Political Economic Section to Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa as they monitor activities in the state ahead of the governorship poll. Ervin further emphasised the need for a transparent gubernatorial election in Bayelsa and said that he expects the process to be peaceful and credible. Ervin said the delegation was in the state to monitor the…