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.