Non-indigenes Council in Bayelsa honours 2 former leaders, applauds state government

The Supreme Council of Non-indegenes in Bayelsa has bestowed its merit award on two former President-Generals of the organisations as part of its end of year activities and festivities for the outgoing 2017.

The group, a coalition of non indegenes community associations from other states of the federation held the occasion with award of certificates of merit and presentation of plaques to the leaders at Ididi hotel, Ekeki in Yenagoa.

Mr Douglas Koko, pioneer leader of the group and Mr Adeshina Sanusi were the award recipients.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Chief Ade Bakare, President-General of the Council, noted that the two former leaders were selected due to their outstanding efforts in building the organisation to earn the respect and recognition by their hosts.

Police visit scene of armed atttack on Oronto Douglas’s residence two days after several distress calls

The Bayelsa Police Command has visited the scene of crime following armed attack by unidentified gunmen on Oronto Douglas' residence and Okoroba in Nembe LGA of Bayelsa on December 26, 2017, two clear days after the crime.

There had been claims by some persons in the community that the police did not respond to distress calls during the attack on some residences including that of the late Oronto Douglas, a former Commissioner for Information in the state.

The Command had lied and feigned ignorance of the crime when contacted for update on the siruation and later recanted, visited the crime scene albeit belatedly  as evidence of reports to Assistant Commisioner of Police in charge of operations and Nembe Police Division became public.

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.