Niger Delta

Diri Gets FG’s Commendation On Infrastructure

Published

4 years ago

October 1, 2021

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has commended Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, for his administration’s infrastructure development strides within a short period.
Fashola gave the commendation when he paid a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Yenagoa, after inspecting federal projects in the state.
The minister inspected four projects in Bayelsa, the dualisation of Yenegwe Road Junction, Kolo-Otuoke Bayelsa Palm road.
Others are: National Housing Programme Site at Elebele, in Ogbia Local Government Area, Igbogene AIT Ring road, under the state government, and the Federal Secretariat which is 80 per cent completed.
The minister applauded the Bayelsa governor for his state’s collaborative efforts with the federal government on projects sited in Bayelsa.
His words: “Bayelsa has clearly shown it is an example for other states to emulate in fast-tracking partnership between the federal and state government on issues of development and I commend you.
“We found out that the cost of building foundation in Bayelsa is actually the cost of completing the entire building in some other parts of the country.
Fashola lauded the Bayelsa helmsman on his intervention on the resolution of compensation issues for the Yenagoa-Kolo-Otuoke-Bayelsa Palm federal road.
He noted that it had enabled the contractor to cover 10 kilometres of the 20-kilometre dual carriageway.
“At the federal secretariat, I can observe some noticeable progress and we assure you that help is on the way for the federal workers,” he said.
The minister said that he was in the state on a facility tour of some federal project sites with a view to assessing their level of progress.
While noting that the federal government allowed states to develop at their own pace, Fashola said refunds had been made to states on federal roads between 1999 and 2015.
According to him, the first tranche of N447.783 billion was shared among 24 states between 2018 and 2019 while the second tranche of N148.141 billion was approved for five states between 2019 and 2020 with N38.4 billion allocated to Bayelsa.
In his remarks, Governor Diri thanked the Minister for his prompt response to the Nembe-Brass road project by expressing his willingness to tackle the project through tax relief.
Diri called on one of the major partners of the project, Nigeria Agip Oil Company, to explore ways of collaborating with the Ministry of Works towards executing the project.
He said that although Bayelsa is endowed with the longest coastline in the country, such areas remain inaccessible and this has also made response to security challenges difficult.
According to him, Bayelsa state has the least federal kilometres of roads in Nigeria. However, let me appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for the infrastructure projects refund to the state.
“Let me, however, clarify that we received about N25 billion instead of the N38.4 billion as the fund passed through the Debt Management Office and had to be discounted,” he said.
Diri noted that the Kolo road was conceived in the 1930s before the federal government awarded the contract in 2009, but that so far only 19.5 kilometres had been done with 33.5 kilometres left.
He therefore, urged the federal government to partner with the state government in constructing critical roads to link the hinterlands as well as consider Bayelsa under a special scheme in view of its challenges of difficult terrain.
“We are the goose that lays the golden egg, but we are ashamed considering the inventory of federal infrastructure in our state.
“We are prepared to put in our meagre resources to create the necessary infrastructure for our state,” he said.

Niger Delta

Sexual Harassment: Court Sentences UNICAL Prof To 5yrs Imprisonment

Published

5 days ago

November 19, 2025

The Tide

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, sentenced Prof. Cyril Ndifon, suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), to five years’ imprisonment without an option of fine.

Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment, held that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had been able to prove the evidence in counts one and two beyond reasonable doubt against the 1st defendant.

Justice Omotosho, therefore, sentenced Ndifon to two-year jail term in count one and five-year imprisonment in count two which must run concurrently.

The judge, however, discharged and acquitted Sunny Anyanwu, who was earlier a member of Ndifon ‘s team of lawyers, of the charges against him.

He held that the anti-corruption commission was unable to link the offences in counts three and four in which Anyanwu’s name appeared, to the co-defendant.

The Tide’s source reports that th ICPC had, in the amended charge dated January 19, 2024, preferred four counts against Ndifon (1st defendant) and his lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu (2nd defendant)

Although Ndifon was initially the sole defendant in the sexual harassment charge, Anyanwu was later joined as 2nd defendant in the amended charge.

The development followed allegations that Anyanwu had attempted to pervert the course of justice by calling the star witness on her mobile phone during the pendency of the charge against Ndifon to threaten her.

Anyanwu, while being a lawyer to Ndifon, was said to have called TKJ not not either honour the ICPC’s invitation or write any statement in respect of the allegations of sexual harrament case against his client.

In the amended charge, counts one and two accused the professor of harassing some female students of the school sexually.

The commission said Ndifon, while serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Law at UNICAL, asked a female Diploma student, identified as TKJ and a star witness, to send him “pornographic, indecent and obscene photographs of herself” through WhatsApp chats.

He was also accused to have, on differently occasions, asked TKJ to give him “a blow job” as an exchange for gaining admission into the institution to study law.

Ndifon, a public officer, was alleged to have sexually harassed many female students of the institution using his position to gain undue advantage over them.

While count three was preferred solely against Anyanwu, the two defendants were accused of attempting to influence the course of justice in count four of the charge.

The anti-corruption commission had, on February 14, 2024, closed its case against the suspended professor and Anyanwu.

ICPC counsel, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, told Justice Omotosho after Bwaigu Fungo, the 4th prosecution witness, a Forensic and intelligence Analyst with the commission, was cross-examined by the defence lawyer.

But the defendants opted for a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had failed to sufficiently prove the allegations against them.

But Justice Omotosho had, on March 6, 2024, dismissed the no-case submission filed by Ndifon and Anyanwu against the charge.

In defending himself, Ndifon testified as the first defence witness (DW-1), while CSP Babagana Mingali, a Forensic Analyst, who works at the laboratory of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), gave his testimony as the DW-2.

Delivering the judgement, the judge said the commission had been able to prove the ingredients of the offences in counts one and two.

He observed that Ndifon was unable to controvert the evidence that he unduly pressurised TKJ to perform the immoral act with her.

He said: “The victim was desirous of being admitted into the university and the 1st defendant was in advantage to help her being the dean and the diploma course is under his supervision,

“The instances of undue advantage are so much. The 1st defendant abused his office.”

According to him, the court observes the 1st defendant and see that the 1st defendant is not a witness of truth and cannot be believed by any reasonable court.

“Consequently, the 1st defendant is hereby convicted of count one and count two”, he said.

The judge said being a first-time offender, he was minded to temper justice with mercy as prayed by Ndifon and his lawyer, Oladimeji Ekengba.

On count three, the judge said he observed that although Anyanwu made a phone call to TKJ, this was about four months before the investigation commenced into the case and a charge preferred against Ndifon.

He said the court cannot assume or speculate the intention of the 2nd defendant at the time the act was committed.

Justice Omotosho, therefore, discharged and acquitted Anyanwu of count three and likewise count four which both the defendants were charged.

The judge, however, condemned Anyanwu’s unprofessional act by calling a supposed witness in his client’s matter.

Also Justice Omotosho berated Ndifon’s immoral conduct.

He said: “It was with dismay I read through this case that a Dean of Law can turn himself to a sexual predator.”

He said his randy nature should be condemned by all.

According to the judge, he is a disgrace to the community of learner persons and must be made to face the wrath of the law.

He said this would serve as a deterrent to others like him in public office who have penchant for taking undue advantage over the female folks.

Niger Delta

FRSC Begins Free Vehicle Safety Checks In A’Ibom

Published

5 days ago

November 19, 2025

The Tide

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Command in Akwa Ibom State, says it has commenced free safety checks for all categories of vehicles in the state.

The Sector Commander, Mr. Francis Ajatta, told newsmen in Uyo on Monday that the safety checks would continue untill November 20.

Ajatta said the safety checks was the operational window adopted by the corps to relate with the 080-334-22651motoring public, and to demonstrate its commitment to road safety.

He said the exercise was part of FRSC’s proactive steps to reduce road traffic crashes in the state, especially during the ‘Ember’ Months.

The FRSC official urged motorists and vehicle owners in the state to take advantage of the opportunity to ascertain the road worthiness level of their vehicles.

“In the interest of public safety, let’s strive consciously to safeguard our lives, let’s use this opportunity to carry out safety checks on our vehicles.

“As road users, we should be active observers. We should be cautious. We should promptly report any road incident or emergencies to the FRSC Toll-free line –122,” he said.

Niger Delta

Monarch Lauds Fubara Over Speedy Execution Of Projects In Rivers

Published

5 days ago

November 18, 2025

The Tide

A traditional ruler in Rivers State, His Royal Highness, Epelle D. E. Asukokpong has commended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for ensuring speedy execution of ongoing projects across the state.

Asuk-okpong, who is the Paramount Ruler of Egwe-Asukokpong in Asarama District, in Andoni Local Government Area lauded the Governor during his inspection tour with his Cabinet on a section of Andoni road linking Oyorokoto fishing community in the area, yesterday.

The Paramount Ruler who expressed satisfaction with the pace of work on the road, commended the Governor for the seriousness he attached to the project.

According to him, “there is a serious motivation on the part of the company handling project.

“With what am seeing today I can say that the Company has redoubled its effort by 50 percent after the Governor’s inspection of the Road on October 28, 2025.

“I thank God for His intervention in the political impasse that was trying to slow down the pace of development in the State.”

The Traditional Ruler, who doubles as PRO of Asarama Divisional Council of Traditional Rulers and Secretary Asarama Town Council of Traditional Rulers said traditional rulers in his domain would continue to support the efforts of Government at all levels to ensure security and development in the area.

He also appealed to the State Government to intervene in the abandoned Asarama, Engendem, Unyeada Ring Road in the area.

It would be recalled that the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on October 28, 2025, visited the Andoni Atlantic Ocean shoreline to inspect the 13-kilometre road project currently under construction.

The road, when completed, will provide direct access to the beach and link Oyorokoto — a fishing settlement in — to Ngo, the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area which has since been linked to mainland Ogoni by the Governor.