Bayelsa APC protests killing of its members in rallies, demand Police protection

The leadership and loyalists of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa on Monday staged a protest against killing of its members in its rallies ahead the 2019 polls.

Leader of APC in Bayelsa Chief Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Agric, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri led the protest to Police Headquarters in Bayelsa.

Addressing thousands of party followers who had marched from the party secretariat to the Police headquarters chanting solidarity songs, Sylva said that the killing of an APC member at a rally in Sagbama was one two many.

He recalled that the party campaigns have been riddled with several attacks by members of rival political party while their perpetrators have not been brought to book.

PDP presidential candidate promises youths 70 per cent in cabinet if elected

The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alh Atiku Abubakar has given assurance that his administration would be composed of 70 per cent youths if voted into office on Feb 16.

Abubakar gave the assurance at the PDP mega rally held on Saturday in Benin.

He said his decision was based of available statistics which showed that majority of registered voters in the country were youths.

He said that in view of this there was the need to prepare them for the future, as well as meaningful careers.

He appealed to the gathering to vote for the PDP to enable the party continue to put the Nation on the part of prosperity that the PDP administration was known for.

He further appealed to the gathering not to allow  rigging as it would amount to rigging their future.

He noted that it was the first time in the history of the country that more than 31 million people were out of jobs at once.

Earlier, Mr Uche Secondus, National Chairman of the party said that the PDP Presidential candidate was coming to rescue the country from "poverty, hunger, and mass killing".

He gave assurance that the candidate was also going to bring his wealth of experience to governance, and appealed to INEC not to rig the elections.

Similarly, the Edo PDP chairman, Chief Dan Orbih said that the gathering showed that the State was ready to elect the party's presidential candidate as president come Feb 16.  

Police trains officers, men in zone 5 on Democratic Policing, elections management

The Nigerian Police Force  (NPF) on Friday in Benin, held a 2-days capacity training programme  for officers and men of the Force in zone 5 comprising Edo Delta and Bayelsa ahead of the Feb 16, and March 2 general elections.

The training done in collaboration with Hi-Tech Security Services and Training Limited was on Democratic Policing and Elections Security management.

Declaring open the training, AIG Alkali Usman, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) for the zone, said that the training was to prepare the men and officers for the forth coming general elections.

Represented by the Edo Commissioner of Police, CP Olusegun Odumosu, the AIG stressed that the training would help ensure that the officers and men were abreast with all the policy thrust of policing in the discharge of their duties during the elections.

He noted that there was the need for the Police to be ready for the conduct of the elections as the major responsibilities during the elections lies on the shoulder of the Police and INEC.

According to him there was need for officers to carry out their responsibilities with every sense of care and diligence as everything revolves round the police.

"The world is watching and we should all work to ensure that the police is counted on the part of history positively.

"We are law enforcers and not law makers", he said. 

Earlier, Commissioner of Police Lawrence Alobi (Rtd), Chief Executive Officer of Hi-Tech Security Services and Training Limited in his opening remarks said that the training was to ensure that the officers carry out their functions during the elections effectively in line with  extant rules and regulations guiding the Force.

Alobi said that there was the need for the Police to be well prepared and equipped for the elections, adding that the training was comprehensive and holistic.

He also said that security was central in the conduct of elections, hence the need for officers to be trained.

He further advised that the Police should work harmoniously with the press during the elections as partners. 

No fewer than 100 men and officers from the command were participants at the training, with resources persons drawn from the security service community.

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.