Rape Trial: Judge dismisses objection by accused Ex-Bayelsa Gov’s aide

Justice Ineikade Eradiri of the Bayelsa High Court 7 on Thursday dismissed the objections raised by Chief Richard Kpodo accused of rape of a 26 year old female employee.

Kpodo, former aide to Ex-Governor Timippre Sylva had objected to the continued appearance of Prosecuting Counsel, Andrew Arthur who was appointed a Commissioner for Special Services in Bayelsa.

Defense team had argued that the prosecuting fiat granted to Arthur as Special Prosecutor does not cover his present office as a Commissioner.

Lawyers boycott over CJN’s suspension shuts down courts in Bayelsa

The directive of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to its members to boycott the courts to protest the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onoghen grounded activities in courts in Bayelsa.

Checks at some courts in Yenagoa indicated that lawyers complied with the directive, a development that made it impossible for judges to treat any case..

Members of the NBA executives were seen monitoring the compliance at the state high courts as well as the Federal High Court in Onopa area of Yenagoa.

Judge decries JTF’s disobedience to ruling on freedom of nursing mother

Justice A. O. Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Yenagoa on Friday frowned at disobedience to his ruling ordering the release of a nursing mother in custody of the Joint Task Force (JTF)

The judge berated the joint force deployed to protect oil facilities in the Niger Delta Operation Delta Safe for flouting the court ruling demanding the release of two female detainees two weeks after the ruling.

It would be recalled that the court had on January 17 ordered the release of thetwo female detainees custody a nursing mother one Mrs Yeibra Esinghan and one Mrs Yedi Ketu,  pending the determination of the suit.

Ijaw Youths Council condemns CJN’s suspension says it is illgal, a ‘coup against democracy’

The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) on Friday said it received with shock the news of the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen.

Reacting to the development, Mr Eric Omare in a statement on Friday that the immediate swearing in of Justice Tanko Muhammed as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria came to IYC as a surprise.

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“This is a coup against democracy and the rule of law. Nigeria is under a constitutional democracy that is governed by the rule of law and the action by President Buhari lacks foundation in law.

“President Buhari lacks the powers to suspend the Chief Justice of Nigeria without the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.

Rape Trial: Ex-Bayelsa Gov’s aide appeals court’s ruling on allegations of bias against Judge

Chief Richard Kpodo,  former aide to Ex-Governor Timippre Sylva standing trial for alleged rape of a 26 year female cashier has appealed a court ruling on his allegations against trial judge.

Justice Kate Abiri, Chief Judge of Bayelsa had declined an application brought by Kpodo to have his for alleged rape to another judge.

Counsel to the accused, Julious Iyekoroghe  on December 21,2018 approached Justice I. Eradiri with a motion on notice urging the judge to  disqualify himself from hearing the case, alleging that the judge was biased.

Eradiri had dismissed the motion and adjourned to January for Defense team in the case to enter defense on the case.

JTF decries spate of ‘fake news’ debunks reports on attack on community, tanker drivers’ protest

The Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed to protect oil facilities in the Niger Delta on Tuesday decried the spate of ‘fake news’ fabricated to diminish the operations of the joint force.

Major Ibrahim Abdullahi, Spokesman of the JTF said  that the frequency of the false reports indicates that the masterminds were desperate.

He said three false media reports which turned out to be fake had found their ways into the public domain within the past three weeks, a development that called for serious concern and caution.

2019: Stakeholders urge INEC to provide adequate logistics for Bayelsa coastal areas

Stakeholders in Bayelsa have advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to put facilities in place to overcome the predominantly maritime terrain in the state ahead the elections.

The stakeholders on Monday urned the INEC not to rely on political parties and politicians in the state for logistics if the commission wants to conduct credible polls.

They made the appeal at a town hall meeting in Yenagoa on 'Citizens Education Project For Credible and Peaceful Elections in Bayelsa State'

It said that that the INEC must provide the means of transportation to convey its election officials and materials to the 105 wards in the state.

UNICEF, Bayelsa Govt commence school enrollment drive campaign to reduce school drop-out

UNICEL and Bayelsa government on Monday flagged off a school enrolment drive to reduce the rate of Out of School Children in the state which currently stands at 265,000.

The commencement of the campaign was preceded by the inauguration of a 15 member Enrolment Drive Committee by Commissioner for Education Mr Jonathan Obuebite.

Obuebite had urged the Committee headed by Mr Walton Liverpool, Executive Secretary of the State Universal Education Board (SUBEB) to drive the policy of increasing school enrolment across the state.

He noted that the state recorded a 100 per cent increase following massive investment in excess of N70 billion in the education sector from 2012 till date adding that primary and secondary education is free and compulsory.

Court orders JTF to release nursing mother, others from its detention in Bayelsa

A Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa has ordered the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) code name, "Operation Delta Safe" to release two women including a nursing mother in their custody pending the determination of the suit.

The Presiding Judge, Justice (Mrs) A. O. Awogboro, gave the ordered on Thursday and explained that the two women include a nursing mother, Mrs Yeibra Esinghan.

In two separate suits, FHC/YNG/CS/1/2019 and FHC/YNG/CS/2/2019 on fundamental rights enforcement filed by their counsel Mr Victor Gbafe, between the Commander of JTF, Rear Admiral Apochi Sulieman and the applicants Mrs Yeibra Esinghan and Mrs Yedi Ketu,  they had prayed the court for an order for their immediate release.

The court also restrained JTF against their arrest and detention pending the determination of the suit.

According to a 12 and 11 paragraphs affidavit, the appellants were arrested between December 26 and December 31, 2018 by the JTF operatives in Bomadi Town.

In her ruling, the presiding judge, Justice (Mrs) Awogboro ordered, the immediate release of the applicants forth with until the determination of the suit.

"There should be an immediate release of the applicants forth with until the determination of the suit.

"The JTF or any officer under its command should stay away from inviting, arresting, or torturing in whatever way the applicants or any of thier relative until the determination of the suit," Awogboro stated.

The  matter was adjourned to Jan. 25, for hearing.

South-South Governors vows to resist APC incursion, pledge solidarity with Gov Emmanuel of A/Ibom

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors òf the South South geopolitical zone elected has assured Gov Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom their support in his re-election bid.

Gov Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa gave the assurance at the flag off of the Governor Emmanuel’s campaign for a second term in office in Uyo on Wednesday.

A statement by the Special Adviser to Governor Dickson on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, quoted him as having said that all the governors would support Emmanuel

Local Content Law: IYC writes Buhari over alleged non- compliance by indigenous oil firms

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) on Wednesday decried alleged non-compliance with the Nigerian Local Content Law by indigenous oil firms in the Niger Delta.

The IYC said in Yenagoa that the  non- compliance had impoverished the people.

In an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, the President and Spokesman of IYC, Messrs Eric Omare and Henry Iyalla, respectively, noted that the law was binding on all operators in the oil and gas industry.

According to the group, the indigenous oil field operators have  relegated the Niger Delta communities, entrepreneurs and contractors to the background.

Elections: Ex Bayelsa Governor, Sylva, incumbent Dickson renew rivalry

Ex-Governor of Bayelsa Chief Timipre Sylva and incumbent Gov Seriake Dickson have renewed their rivalry, taking their political differences to the public domain ahead the general elections.

Sylva had ruled Bayelsa under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between 2007 and 2012 and later joined the later joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014 and became APC guber candidate in the 2015 election.

Sylva had alleged that Gov Dickson was bent of misrepresenting, pitchin him on a collision course with the Presidency with a campaign of calumny based on falsehood, an allegation the Dickson camp promptly denied.

Sylva in a statement issued Friday in Yenagoa by his Media Assistant Julius Bokoru dismissed Dickson’s denial as ‘feeble’

Niger Delta: Dons urge leadership to look inwards to tackle development challenges

Academics from the Niger Delta region on Wednesday challenged leaders from the area to look inwards in tackling the developmental challenges facing the area.

The Dons spoke as discussants at a colloquium to kick off burial rites for Pastor P.Z. Aginighan, former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The colloquium coincides with the 60^th post hummus birthday of Pastor Power Ziakede Aginighan, fondly called P.Z. Aginighan who died at 59 in an auto crash at the Mbiama section of East-West road on Sept.1, 2018.

The former NDDC boss, had lost his life along with his son and Police orderly.

Koluama Community launches manhunt for those behind false report of attack on Conoil in Bayelsa

The people of Koluama 1 in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa have launched a manhunt for those behind the false report that an oil facility in the area was attacked on Friday.

A group 'Koluama Seven Brothers' had on Sunday claimed that it blew up a pipeline operated by Conoil in Koluama citing failure of the company to address issues like MoU, scholarships, and  jobs among others.

Reactions from community people, military sources have revealed that the claim was a hoax by a group seeking attention.

Mr. Sese Lloyd, who hails the area and the chairman, Maritime Workers Union in Bayelsa said on Tuesday that the people had launched a manhunt for those behind the false report.

Otuokpoti Spill: NGO petitions NOSDRA, seeks best practices in remediation process

Oil and Gas Producing Areas Enlightenment and Empowerment Initiative (OGPAEEI) has petitioned the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) over a 2016 spill in Bayelsa.

It would be recalled that an oil leak from an oilfield operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) had in November 2016 discharged yet to be ascertained volume of crude into the Ekoli River in Bayelsa.

SPDC had on November 7, 2016 confirmed the spill and said  the source of the oil leak that polluted Otuokpoti communities in Bayelsa was being investigated.

Mr Precious Okolobo, who was then Medial Relations Manager at SPDC  had said that there was no oil leakage from its operations in the area.

2019 : INEC assures of level playing ground for all parties in Bayelsa

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Bayelsa on Sunday assured a fair treatment to all parties participating in thr forth coming polls

The Commission said it is ready and has concluded arrangement to ensure the 2019 elections is conducted in a free, fair and credible manner in the state.

Mr. Timidi Wariowei, Head of Department Voters Education/Publicity said in Yenagoa, that INEC remains irrevocably committed to credible polls.

He assured that all political parties would be treated equally, as well as their candidates because the commission is committed to zero tolerance to unfair advantage in dealing with all candidates.

Ohanaeze Youth Wing Zonal chapters condemn exclusion from Aso Rock New Year visit

Zonal leaders of Ohanaeze in South South, South West and Northern states on Sunday frowned at their exclusion from the New Year visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.

 The Zonal leaders in a joint statement issued in Yenagoa urged President-General of the parent body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Chief John Nnia Nwodo to sanction those behind the visit as it did not follow set rules.

The aggrieved chapters said that one Kingsley Chiedozie, a Deputy President of Ohaneze Youth Wing unilaterally led some persons to the visit without regard to the procedures of the youth body.

According to the statement signed by Chief Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, South South, Chief Obinna Nwankwo, Northern states and Mr Alexander Ezeobi, South West Coordinators, they were not party to the visit.

Military, Community sources in Bayelsa say reported militants attack on Conoil pipeline is ‘fake news’

Military and Community sources in Bayelsa on Sunday described reports of militants attack on oil pipeline operated by Conoil in Koluama 1, in Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa as ‘fake news’.

Some online media had reported that a militant group had blown up a pipeline within Conoil’s oilfield near the atlantic coastline in Koluama 1 settlement.

Several sources in Koluama 1 community contacted by telephone on Sunday said that they were not aware of the incident and denied hearing the noise of the explosion claimed in the report.

James Dou, a resident in the area said that the area had been peaceful since the new year with frequent patrols by the joint military force in Koluama area dominating the waterways.