A woman, Mrs Christiana Monday, of Ikom, Cross River State, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over the alleged murder of her husband in a cocoa farm.
She also alleged of Police complicity in the case.
In the petition dated November 29, made available to newsmen in Calabar last Wednesday as the woman alleged that one Mr Ubi Ikpi, was responsible for the death of her husband.
She subsequently appealed to the IGP,  Kayode Egbetokun, and Wife of the Governor of Cross River State, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of her husband.
She alleged that the killer of her husband, Mr. Raphael Monday,  offered her N400,000 to bury his remains.
According to the mother of three, her husband was killed on September 26, 2024 in a cocoa farm located at Block 2D/66 Cocoa Estate, Ikom, Ikom Local Government Area.
The widow said she found out about her husband’s death when he did not return from the farm at the usual time.
“My husband left the house on the 26th of September 2024, saying he was going to the farm with his father, only for him to be killed by Ubi and his boys.
“They took his corpse and deposited it in the mortuary without my knowledge”, she said.
Mrs Monday said she called her husband’s line severally and a police officer from Ikom Area Command took the call and told her that her husband was arrested by the police.
According to her, she rushed to the Ikom Area Command where she was told to check the command’s notice board and after checking she could not find her husband’s name.
She said the next day September 27, she summoned courage and went to the Area Command with her in-laws.
“When we got there, I saw the policeman I spoke with on phone with Ubi came out from the same vehicle with a bag which identified to be that of my husband.
“At that juncture the policeman told me that my husband was dead and that Ubi had deposited his body in the mortuary, after they found his corpse in the cocoa farm”, she said.
Reacting to the allegation, Ikpi denied being responsible for the death of Monday.

“I am very, very innocent about that allegation – very, very innocent. If you want to get more information in this matter, you can book an interview with the Commissioner of Police”, he said.

Ikpi said the matter was already with the Commissioner of Police.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the state Police Command, SP Irene Ugbo, did not have details of the incident.

“If it is a case that is already ongoing, I cannot confirm because I don’t know whether they have reported to the Commissioner of Police. So, I have to find out.

“I cannot confirm a story that I am not aware of”, Igbo said.

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, says his government will soon revive the state’s moribund transport company, Edo Line.
He disclosed this when he and the Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, inspected facilities of the company, located on Mission Road in Benin.
The Governor, who was taken on a tour of the premises by the Fleet Manager, Jaffar Inegbedion, said he was in the place to see things and get information on how to revive the company for profitability.
The Tide’s source reports that past administrations abandoned the government-owned transportation company, leaving it to rot with its fleets of vehicles.
Okpebholo expressed disappointment with the way the transport company was left to rot.
“I am here to look at Edo Line, as this place has been abandoned for years, and to see how we can revive it and put it back to use.
“This place is bushy and the place is completely abandoned. I am trying to find out if these vehicles here are the only assets of Edo Line.
“The few vehicles you are seeing now were more than these. I know they have more than 200 vehicles.
“We will look for those vehicles, get them back and use them to revive this place”, he said.

Former Military Administrator of Bayelsa State, Navy Captain Caleb Omoniyi Olubolade (rtd) has declared the state as his second home, describing it as a land of hospitality and divine blessings.
Captain Olubolade, who made the declaration at a state dinner to mark his 70th birthday at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, Yenagoa, said the story of his life would not be complete without a copious mention of Bayelsa State.
The Ekiti-born retired naval officer described his appointment as military administrator and subsequent posting to Bayelsa as divine.
According to him, he was guided by integrity, selflessness and passion to develop the state to record his achievements within one year, stressing that without serving Bayelsa he would not have been appointed as Minister of Federal Capital Territory and Police Affairs by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Expressing gratitude to the government and people of the state for the honour done him, Olubolade called on Bayelsans to be united and always support government to build the state.
“Every position I have ever held in life, I never dream of it including my appointment and posting to Bayelsa as a military administrator. I was in the shop when they called me.
“But one thing I do is that I give my best to every position given to me. I don’t think of the gain, but just the best I can give. That was exactly what I did when I was brought here as an administrator.
“I was guided by some personal principles, and particularly what my wife told me: ‘Don’t steal the people’s money; If you don’t steal the people’s money, you will have progress and peace of mind. You can walk with your shoulders high any day, anytime.
“Bayelsa will remain my home because without Bayelsa I don’t think I would have been appointed as a minister twice. Little did I know that some day a son of Bayelsa  State would become a President and appoint me as a Minister”, he said.
In his remarks, the Acting Governor of the state, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, noted that Bayelsa would continue to appreciate the former military administrator for laying the developmental foundation for successive administrations to build upon in the state.
He stated that Olubolade saw Bayelsa as his own state and did a lot within the space of one year in tackling the seemingly daunting challenges of governance and development at the time he superintendented over the state.
Describing Olubolade as a Bayelsa citizen, Senator Ewhrudjakpo said Bayelsans owe him a lot of gratitude for his worthwhile contributions to the development of the state and bringing the celebration of his 70th birthday to his adopted home.
He said: “I want to commend you for your courage. The foundation you laid is what all the successive administrations have been building upon.
“Much of the foundation from which Bayelsa had grown was laid by your military administration. The first commissioner for lands has just told us that the survey of the now dualised Yenagoa -Mbiama Road was done while you were in office.
“So we owe you a lot of gratitude. They say your first state is Ekiti. But you have decided to celebrate your birthday here in Bayelsa State. We don’t take it as light honour. It is a major honour to us. And not just any birthday, but your 70th birthday which is a major milestone”.
“He is a man of destiny. He is a man that rose to be a federal minister in two ministries – FCT and Police Affairs. That is a man of destiny. Three key, identifiable appointments at state and federal levels, and he did not disappoint”, he said.

On his part, Chairman of the occasion and the Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass,  King Alfred Diete-Spiff, said Navy Captain Olubolade did a great job in Bayelsa as one of its pioneer military administrators and had continued to identify with the state long after his service years.

Some dignitaries who served under Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade, including the then Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Chief Ayebaesin Dienagha, and his Agriculture counterpart, Prof. Sinikiem Steve Azaiki, also paid glowing tributes to the celebrant.

The ceremony had in attendance wife of the celebrant, Mopelola Olubolade; General Overseer of the Royal House of Grace International Church, Apostle Zilly Aggrey; the pioneer Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Joshua Igbugburu; Dr.  Josephine Igodo, serving and former House of Assembly Members, Commissioners, and other top government functionaries.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa