Lifestyle

Fuel sells for N1,200 per litre amid panic buying in Ebonyi

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Residents of Ebonyi on Tuesday decried the high cost of petrol in the country.

In separate interviews, the residents in Abakaliki spoke about the fuel subsidy removal as the pump price rose to N1,200.

Darlington Okeke, a resident, said panic buying was occasioned by the announcement by President Bola Tinubu, during his inaugural speech, of an end to the subsidy regime.

Mr Okeke stated that a pump fuel price in filling stations was sold between N800 and N1,200, against N230.

Another resident, Ibrahim Ali, said that black marketers sold a litre of fuel for N1,500.

Mr Ali said the development was causing panic buying and frustration among residents.

He appealed to President Tinubu to address the situation to mitigate panic buying and arbitrary hoarding of the products, which marketers introduced after the announcement from the president.

Meanwhile, staff of some filling stations visited alleged that management of the Petroleum Dealers Association, Ebonyi chapter, had ordered the closure of fuel stations. “We are waiting for further directives,” they said.

Efforts to speak with the state chairman of the association, Sailas Njaka, over the development were unsuccessful.

Lifestyle, Politics

Ebonyi police command warns against protest during and after inauguration day

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The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, Faleye Olaleye has warned against any protest during and after the May 29 inauguration.

The commissioner in a statement released by the state’s police spokesperson, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said they got an intelligence report that some individuals were planning protests over the outcome of the February 25 and March 18.

He said these individuals should wait for the court verdict.

He warned that the command would not condone a breakdown of law and order in the state.

The statement added;

“Those culpable will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law as police operatives have been deployed strategically and directed to ensure full enforcement.”

Lifestyle

Hoodlums set court ablaze in Ebonyi

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Hoodlums suspected to be political thugs have set ablaze a state high court in Owutu-Edda, Afikpo South local government area of Ebonyi.

Oluchi Uduma, the court’s registrar, confirmed the incident to journalists in Owutu-Edda on Tuesday.

She said the hoodlums invaded the court on Tuesday and set the building ablaze.Ms Uduma explained that the court building, documents and other valuables were completely burnt.

The Afikpo South local government’s chairman, Chima Nkama, also confirmed the incident, adding that the matter was reported to the police.

Lifestyle

Gunmen kill Chinese expatriate in Ebonyi after disarming policemen guarding him

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A Chinese expatriate was attacked by gunmen and shot dead in Ebonyi state.

The incident happened Sunday, October 9, at a mining site at Iboko, in the Izzi Local Government Area of the state.

Policemen who were protecting the Chinese were reportedly disarmed by the hoodlums during the attack.

His corpse was said to have been deposited at a mortuary in Abakaliki, the state capital.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Barr. Steve Emenike said the hoodlums came on motorbikes to cause mayhem in Otam village of the LGA.

Consequently, he said the LGA has already swung into action by reconstituting a formidable Vigilante group and banned the operation of motorbikes between the hours of 7p.m and 6a.m until further notice.

He said:

“We are working with security Agencies, including the Police and DSS to nip the ugly incident at the board and ensure the arrest of all the suspects involved.

“We can no longer accept or tolerate this spare of Insecurity. Izzi LGA is peaceful and we intend to sustain that peace for the well-being of our people.”

Politics

INVESTIGATION: How Ebonyi gave N400 million COVID-19 funds to officials to build houses

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The amount was approved and appropriated by the Ebonyi State House of Assembly in August 2020 as part of the state’s COVID-19 expenditure in the 2020 Revised Budget.

The Ebonyi State Government paid N400 million of its COVID-19 funds to public officials for personal estate development in breach of its law and international guidelines, a PREMIUM TIMES review of an audit report shows.

The money was among those appropriated by the Ebonyi State House of Assembly in August 2020 for the state’s COVID-19 expenditure in the 2020 Revised Budget.

According to records obtained from the ‘Ebonyi State Government Audited COVID-19 Monthly Budget Execution Report’, the funds were, however, paid to the officials of the executive, judiciary, and legislative arms of government.

The misuse of funds in Ebonyi reinforces fears in the anti-corruption and development circle about limited accountability in the use of COVID-19 response funds by governments.

Transaction details

Details of the financial transaction show that the money was paid to public officials either to start the development of their lands or to build houses.

About 50 per cent or N200 million of the funds, were paid as COVID-19 ‘soft loans’ to public office holders in the executive arm of government to ‘start development of their lands.’

Members of the legislative arm of government were given N100 million as COVID-19 ‘soft loan’ to start the development of their houses.

Public office holders of the judiciary arm of government also received their share, N100 million, to ‘start developing their houses,’ according to the audit report.

Records of financial transactions of the Ebonyi State Government for August 2020 show that all payments were approved 100 per cent.

Source of Funds

Ebonyi is governed by David Umahi who recently lost his presidential bid at the primary of Nigeria’s ruling party, APC.

Despite the audit report, Mr Umahi’s government says it did no wrong with the transactions.

The Ebonyi State Accountant-General, Carlton Nwankwo, under whose office the payments were authorised, confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that a large part of the budgeted receipts is the “state government funds that were set aside for Covid-19 management and Covid-19 recovery.”

He, however, said the housing loan to public office holders was not released from contributions or COVID-19 grants. Rather, the funds were from the coffers of the Ebonyi State Government, he said.

The accountant general said the decision to grant officials the loan was “what a section of stakeholders identified as their immediate need.”

“It is important to note that out of the actual receipts realized as of month-end August 2020, 97 per cent was from Ebonyi State Government Funds, while only 3 per cent were funds contributed by CACOVID, individuals, Federal government and private sectors,” he told PREMIUM TIMES in an email response.

Meanwhile, the guidelines of the global health body, WHO, are that “all COVID-19 transactions must certify that payment will only be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19.”

Similarly, the Ebonyi State CoronaVirus and Other Dangerous Infections Diseases Law also provides that “expenditures incurred and funds are spent for COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programmes.”

While the financial regulation tries to prevent funds diversion and ensure accountability, the Ebonyi State Government did the opposite by diverting the funds into the accounts of a few public officials.

But, Mr Nwankwo maintained that the COVID-19 fund, given to public officials as a house loan, was viewed as a “vehicle that would add to economic activities and the Covid-19 recovery programme in Ebonyi State.”

The Covid-19 Pandemic

When the COVID-19 spread in 2020, restrictions put in place to control the spread of the virus caused severe socio-economic difficulties for people around the world, especially in a country like Nigeria where a large size of the population is already in the poverty trap and many have to go out daily to scrape together some money for survival.

It was at that time that the Ebonyi State Government engaged the citizenry through different mediums to establish the challenges occasioned by Covid-19 and how best the effect on our economy can be mitigated, Mr Nwankwo said.

“The State through the SFTAS programme was able to revise its budget to accommodate amendments that were necessary considering the outcome of Citizen’s/Stakeholders’ engagements,” the accountant general added. “It also made policies that included tax rebates, tax holidays, and other forms of palliatives concerning the outcome of the engagement meetings.”

A civic advocacy group, Budgit, had released a report saying the state of accountability around COVID-19 funds in the states across Nigeria was poor. It said this, partly, stems from the fact that most state governments were able to get away with the mismanagement of the funds as the government provided no legislation to punish offenders.

The organisation said most of the COVID-19 resources were converted to private use and some for political purposes.

Since 2020, Ebonyi has reported about 2,064 COVID-19 cases and 32 deaths from the virus.

Politics

Don’t be deceived by Umahi, Ebonyi is PDP State – PDP tells Tinubu

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The leadership of the main opposition Party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ebonyi State chapter has urged the Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu not to be deceived by Governor David Umahi’s assurance on getting bulk votes from Ebonyi in the 2023 general election.

The PDP made this known in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Chika Nwoba and made available to DAILY POST in Abakaliki, insisting that Ebonyi State remained a stronghold of the PDP in the country.

The Party was responding to a statement credited to the State Governor, Chief David Umahi, wherein he called on the citizens of the State not to vote for Labour Party, LP, and the PDP in the forthcoming general election.

Umahi, who swore in five commissioners, Head of Service, HOS, and some co-ordinators of development centers, at the new Government House, Centenary City, Abakaliki, had tasked stakeholders not to support mushroom political Parties, especially LP wherein Mr Peter Obi emerged a Presidential candidate.

According to Nwoba: “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ebonyi State has been drawn to a statement credited to the Governor, Engr David Umahi wherein he said that Ebonyi people wouldn’t vote for the PDP presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, but would vote for the APC’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“It should be known to the general public that David Umahi is not the spokesperson of the generality of the people of Ebonyi State and as such, doesn’t have the locus standi to say whom and whom not Ebonyi citizens are going to vote for.

“As a political party, we wish to charge Mr Umahi to put his house, APC, in Ebonyi State in order, so that the party can have a gubernatorial candidate ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“A man whose house is on fire doesn’t run after rodents. Ebonyi citizens of voting age are very wise and know where to lay their hands in the time of rain. Without mincing words, Ebonyi is a PDP State and this status will be upheld beyond 2023.”

Nwoba further urged Nigerians to discard Umahi’s assurances of giving bulk votes to Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, adding that the governor is speaking with the mind of failing the presidential primary election.

“We wish to inform Nigerians to discard that statement from Umahi, as he spoke in the emotion of a politician who failed woefully in the just concluded presidential primary election of the APC.

“We urge Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to reckon on the assurances of the defeated political general, whose booths are a modicum of manure in the soil of the Eagles Square,” the Party said.

Lifestyle

Two killed as police invade IPOB hideout, arrest others in Ebonyi

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The Ebonyi State Police Command on Monday said that it has invaded the main camp of Eastern Security Network, ESN, located at Isu community in Onicha LGA of the state and dislodged suspected criminals.

The state Commissioner of Police, who spoke to newsmen in Abakaliki through the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Chris Anyanwu, said the suspected criminals were dislodged through the joint efforts of the security operatives; police, DSS and the military.

He revealed that the command equally arrested two notorious native doctors; Itumo Edeh Omukwor, 63, and Irem Ogbeji Nwaduma, 50, from Okpera Osege in Ndufu Echara Ikwo LGA of the state.

Anyanwu noted further the suspected native doctors were arrested in connection with the incessant attacks on Police formations/personnel and government establishments as well as preparing their cohorts with charms when going for such dastardly attacks.

He said that the hoodlums attacked and killed a police officer attached to Ebonyi State Police Command, whose name is yet to be identified.

He said: “A joint operation of the Ebonyi State Police Command Tactical Operation Teams, the Military and DSS embarked on an operation to dislodge criminals hibernating at a camp at Isu Onicha.

“This was sequel to an attack on a Police patrol team yesterday evening during which an Police officer was murdered in cold blood by the hoodlums.

“While surveying the one-way route into the camp, the combined security forces were ambushed by the hoodlums who rained sporadic bullet shots in their direction.

“In a swift and spontaneous response, the joint team engaged the hoodlums in a counter-firing that lasted over 30 minutes and neutralized them.

“As a result of the superior fire power of the joint team, some of the hoodlums with bullet-wounds scampered for escape in different directions. The team later combed the bush and recovered two AK-47 rifles with a few rounds of their ammunition and three corpses of the assailants.

“The team made their way to the main enclave of the miscreants and after a thorough ransacking, recovered more exhibits,” he said.

Items recovered from the suspects include; one AK-49 rifle breech number 1984-AM1196, one AK-47 rifle breech number 1971-DF2726, one AR rifle with illegible breech number, 147 rounds of AR ammunition, 38 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, one locally fabricated double-barrelled pistol.

Also, two walkie-talkie sets and their chargers, two charm-like substances,one hospital card, one Diamond Bank ATM card, two National ID cards, and one Techno phone battery and other incriminating items.

“Two of the criminals were fatally wounded and were confirmed dead at the hospital,” he stated.

Politics

Umahi lifts ban on political activities in Ebonyi

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Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has lifted a ban earlier placed on political activities in the state, giving room for governorship aspirants in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to begin consultations ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Umahi disclosed this on Wednesday during an interaction with newsmen after an enlarged Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Centenary City, in Abakaliki, the state capital.

Speaking through the State Commissioner of Information and State Orientation, Uchenna Orji, Umahi said the time was right for him to lift the ban to allow aspirants begin their political consultations.

The Chairman-In-Council announced the lifting of the ban on political consultations ahead of the 2023 General Elections and expressed determination to consult widely, especially with the House of Assembly, the EXCO, the Elders Council, Founding Fathers, Women Organizations, CAN and other relevant groups with a view to getting opinions on where the Governorship position shall be zoned to,” he said.

“For the Governorship seat, he made it clear that Ebonyi South, having benefited from the principle of zoning, shall not be allowed to contest as his administration’s support shall be for Abakaliki block.

“EXCO noted the intention of the Chairman of Council and kick-started the debate on where the Governorship seat will be zoned between North and Central Zones,” he added.

Politics

Police rescues 32 teenagers in Ebonyi

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Police operatives in Ebonyi have rescued 32 trafficked persons in the state.

The state Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba, confirmed the development when he paraded two suspects arrested by the police for allegedly trafficking the victims at the headquarters of the state police command in Abakaliki on Friday

The suspects were – Nwagboduhu Ekene (20) and Nwaoko Godwin (24).

He said the victims who were trafficked from Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Rivers and five other states for forced labour and sexual exploitation were kept in a two-room apartment at Okposi Umuaghara community, Ezza North Local Government Area of the state.

The victims, according to the CP, were between the ages of 16 and 17 years.

Garba said the command moved into action after one Mrs Nwankwo Ijioma, reported that her daughter, Miss Nwankwo Childera, was missing.

He said: “In the course of the investigation, a company’s advertisement sheet captioned ‘NEO life’ containing a phone number was found in the daughter’s room. The owner of the phone, who was later identified as Christian Nwankwo, ‘M’, age 19 years, was traced and arrested.

“The children are trafficked from different parts of the country and are being used for forced labour and sexual exploitation, in the name of networking/hawking NEO life company products.

“The suspects rented a two-room apartment at Diamond Villa lodge adjacent to Ebonyi State University Medical Department, PRESCO campus, as a place of abode for the victims.”

Politics

Ebonyi will not obey IPOB’s sit-at-home order – Umahi

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The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, said on Thursday the people of the state would not obey the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) sit-at-home order on October 1.

Umahi disclosed this to journalists in Abakaliki.

The group had last ordered the people of the South-East to stay at home on October 1 in a bid to force the Federal Government to release its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

IPOB also banned the flying of the Nigerian flag in the region, effective from September 25.

The governor insisted that October 1 was a very important day to Nigeria as a country and also the state, which was created on October 1, 1996.

He said the state that had been so deprived in the past was trying to catch up with the rest of the country with innovations.

Umahi said: “So, anybody that says `sit-at-home should know that Ebonyi people are not going to sit at home. I appeal to the entire Southeast people to remember the danger of this order. Many people have been killed for no reason because of it.

“Agitation is natural and fundamental, but nobody is justified to carry guns illegally to kill other people. We condemn in totality the insecurity in the Southeast being instigated by our people.

“We also condemned the killing of Dr. Chike Akunyili, (erstwhile widower of Dr. Dora Akiunyili, former Minister of Information) and other people in the country at large.”

Politics

Police rescues abducted village head, three others in Ebonyi

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Police operatives in Ebonyi State have rescued four kidnapped victims in Oshiagu Amia-Ngbo, Ngbo Community in Ohaukwu local government area of the state.

One of the victims is the village head.

The spokesperson of the state police command, Loveth Odah, told journalists in Abakaliki on Friday that the victims were rescued by the police in collaboration with members of the local vigilance team.

She said: “Unknown persons kidnapped the victims on Thursday in the community, but they have been rescued by the men of the Nigerian Police Force.

I use this opportunity to advise members of the public to imbibe the spirit of giving information on crimes to the police as soon as they happen.

Imagine, a village head was kidnapped with three others since 2:00 p.m. on Thursday and nobody came to report the incident to the police.

Well, the good news is that they have been rescued; the victims are now with the Divisional Police Officer in that area and I believe they will tell the police what actually happened.

“The victims were rescued in the same community from their abductors, who fled on sighting the police.

“Surveillance is already on them and the perpetrators will be fished out.”

Odah urged the people of the state to be security-conscious and to support the efforts of the police in the fight against criminality.

“Police cannot do it alone; we must join hands together to fight insecurity. It is a collective responsibility because we cannot do this without the support of the public.

The public should be playing their part to achieve an adequately secured society for the citizens,’’ the spokesperson added.

Entertainment

Seven killed in renewed communal clash in Ebonyi

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At least seven persons were on Tuesday confirmed killed in a lingering communal conflict between Ezza-Effium and Effium in Ebonyi State.

Ebonyi State Governor, Chief David Umahi had summoned and arrested stakeholders of the two communities in a bid to end the killings, but the two warring communities have remained adamant.

The Commissioner for Internal Security, boarder peace and conflict resolution, Mr. Stanley Okoro Emegha said the government will tackle the security situation.

As for how many that were killed this morning, police will let us know. Government has done what it’s supposed to do to make sure that the peace which lasted for three weeks now is sustained. But the state government will not be tired of tackling this security situation in that community,” he said.

“We will find out what is really the problem again that caused this renewed crisis.

We are not yet sure whether those killed were up to four or six persons as people who are from that place are saying. It is still a rumour until we are sure. However, it is the duty of the government to provide security and we have deployed more troops to the place.

“I don’t know why this has continued, in fact, the state government will take a certain measure that is harder. We will ensure that all the stakeholders are rearrested,” he stated.

However, an unconfirmed report from sources in Effium community alleged that as much as twelve persons reportedly lost their lives during the renewed hostilities.

However, the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, CP. Aliyu Garba said one person was killed.

“Police is doing everything possible to put an end to the crisis in Effium community. We have understood the modus operandi on how both Ezza-Effium and Effium operate. There is no need of blowing Effium crisis. Only one person was killed,” he stated.

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