Abductor of Paramount ruler’s wife, Principal in Bayelsa demand N100 m ransom

 The abductors of Mrs Tina Inegbagha, wife of Paramount ruler in Ayakoro Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa, have demanded a ransom of N100 million to free their captive.

It would be recalled that yet to be identified gunmen had on December 16, 2017 invaded the coastal settlement abducting the monarch’s wife and Mr Egele Jack, the Principal of Government Craft Development Centre, Ayakoro.                         .

Mr Majesty Inegbagha, a member of the monarch’s family said in Yenagoa on Friday that the abductors have contacted the family with the demand.

"The paramaount ruler, who is my elder brother confirmed to me this morning that the kidnappers have called him and demanded for the sum of N100 million and it was a relief to the tension that has buit up since all these days.

"Although the family is pleased to know that the woman is alive, the thought of raising that sum of money has created additional challenge to the family and we appeal to them to free her on humanitarian grounds as wemlack the means to pay," Inegbagha said.

He expressed optimism that the abducted paramount ruler’s wife and the school principal would regain their freedom following fervent prayers by family members and well meaning members of the public as well as efforts of the security agencies.

The Police Commissioner in the state, Mr Asuquo Amba, had in a response to a question on the incident during an interactive session with newsmen on the crime situation on Monday said that the incident was being investigated.

Amba said that following the recent upsurge in violent crimes in Bayelsa, the Inspector General of Police (I-G), Ibrahim Idris, had sent a special squad to compliment the efforts of the Police Command in combating crime.

Tax evasion: Firm reopens sealed dredging site in Bayelsa

The abductors of Mrs Tina Inegbagha, wife of Paramount ruler in Ayakoro Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa, have demanded a ransom of N100 million to free their captive.

It would be recalled that yet to be identified gunmen had on December 16, 2017 invaded the coastal settlement abducting the monarch’s wife and Mr Egele Jack, the Principal of Government Craft Development Centre, Ayakoro.                         .

Mr Majesty Inegbagha, a member of the monarch’s family said in Yenagoa on Friday that the abductors have contacted the family with the demand.

Azikel, a sand dredging firm in Bayelsa denies allegation of tax evasion, heads to court

The Azikel Group, an indigenous sand dredging firm, has denied allegation against it by Bayelsa State Government that it owed the state N30 million due to non-remittance of taxes.

Dr Azibapu Eruani, the President of Azikel Group, on Thursday in Yenagoa said that the allegation was false and had no substance of truth in it.

Eruani, according to political observers an ally of former President Jonathan has been penciled down for persecution by Dickson's camp to reduce his chances of being fielded in the 2019 governorship poll , the choice of Dickson's successor has pitched the governor agajnst his political godfather.

Ongoing public service reforms in Bayelsa to check payroll fraud- Commissioner

The Baylesa government on Monday said the ongoing public service reforms in the state was to completely eliminate endemic employment racketeering and pay roll fraud in its public sector.

The state Commissioner for Local Government Administration, Dr Agatha Goma, said this when he paid an unscheduled visits to venues for staff identification and assessment of local government workers, including primary teachers and non-teaching staff.

While expressing satisfaction over the pace of the exercise, Goma noted that the scheme was aimed at eliminating endemic employment racketeering and pay roll fraud among other vises in the public sector.

Bayelsla Internal Revenue board seals Federal Polutechnic Ekeowe liason , Dredging firm over

The Bayelsa Board of Internal Revenue (BIR), on Friday sealed off the Yenagoa liason office of Federal Polytechnic, Ekeowe and the operations of a Sand Dredging firm, Azikel Group in efforts to shore up the revenue profile of the state.

The two establishments were shut down over alleged non-remittance Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax deducted from their employees for several years.

The BIR enforcement team led by its Head of Enforcement, Mr Reuben Lugard served a court order on the staff of the two organisations before they ordered them to leave their offices.

Bayelsa Assembly moves to outlaw open grazing

Bayelsa House of Assembly on Tuesday held a Public Hearing on a bill seeking to prohibit open grazing of cattle in the state.

Shooting of Bayelsa female journalist: NUJ urges Govt., Police to check proliferation of arms

The Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Tuesday urged the Bayelsa government and Police to check the proliferation of arms and resultant upsurge in crime rate.

Mr John Angese, Chairman of Bayelsa Council of NUJ regretted that the culprits in the murder of a Journalist in April 2017 were yet to be apprehended when another journalist fell victim in another incident.

Bayelsa Council of NUJ made the call in reaction to Saturday's shooting of Miss Patience Owei a female journalist with the African Independent Television (AIT) by unknown gunmen.