Business

Aluu 4: Police Arraign Three More Suspects

Published

13 years ago

December 21, 2012

The Rivers State police command, yesterday, arraigned three more suspects before a Port Harcourt Chief Magistrate Court over their involvement in the gruesome murder of four University of Port Harcourt students in Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area.

The accused persons are Finebone Jeffrey (23), Joshua Ekpe (27) and Abang Cyril (27) who are standing trial before Chief Magistrate Emmanuel C. Woke on five count charge of murder, lynching, killing and conspiracy.

It would be recalled that four students of UNIPORT, Ugonna Obuzor, Lloyd Toku Mike, Tekena Elkana and Chiadika Biringa, were murdered at Omuokiri, Aluu Community near Port Harcourt on October 5, this year.

The state prosecution, State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), CSP Henry E. Njoku told the court that the accused persons and others now at large on the 5th October, 2012 at Omuokiri Aluu Community within the Port Harcourt magistrate district did murder one Ugonna Obuzor, Toku Lloyd, Chiadika Biringa and Tekena Elhanah by lynching and burnt them to death.

He averred that the accused persons committed an offence punishable under Sections 319 (1), 324 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol II, Laws of Rivers State, 1999.

The accused persons were not allowed to take any plea on the matter.

In his ruling, the presiding chief magistrate, Emmanuel C. Woke while remanding the accused persons in prison custody said the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the matter considering the degree of the charge brought against them.

He directed that the original file of the case be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice on the matter and adjourned the matter to 28/2/2013 for mention.

In a related development, a Port Harcourt Chief Magistrate Court presided over by Emmanuel C. Woke has adjourned to February 28, 2013 on the matter involving Alhaji Hassan Welewa, Community head of Omuokiri, Aluu and twelve others on their roles in the killing of four students of University of Port Harcourt, in Aluu on October 5, 2012.

The case slated for hearing yesterday on DPP advise on the matter however could not go on due to the inability of the DPP to turn in their advise.

However, all the counsels in the matter were present at the court including the prosecuting counsel, CSP Henry Njoku.

Before the adjournment of the matter, counsel representing the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Human Rights Committee, Augustine Ojekudo moved an application urging the court to direct the prosecution to give them a copy of the original case file (D 19) of the matter to enable them be abreast with the details of the case.

According to him, the case borders on the human rights and constitution, adding that the idea is to ensure that equity, fairness, justice and the interest of the public are protected in the matter.

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare

Published

3 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive with the development of the welfare of its personnel.

Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the clearing of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.

A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying, “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.

The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.

“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”

Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.

“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.

Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

Published

3 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).

The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.

Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.

The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.

The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.

The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement

Published

3 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.

He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.

“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.

Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.

The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.

“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.

Chinedu Wosu