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Contempt: Court Jails Ahoada East Councillors
A Port Harcourt High Court in Rivers State presided over by Justice George Omereji, has sentenced four principal officers of the Ahoada-East Local Government Legislative Council to three months imprisonment with hard labour, and without option of fine for showing lack of respect to court directives.
Those sentenced include the former leader of the legislative arm, Hon Emeka Golden, Deputy Leader, Hon Goodlive Whiegbe, Chief Whip, Hon Onwudiwe Abraham as well as the clerk of the House, Mr Aaron Ikechukwu Odum.
The principal officers had earlier been convicted along side the other nine councillors of the local government council by the court following an application for committal to prison of the councillors brought by the embattled Vice Chairman of the council, Hon Britain Ewor through his counsel, Barrister Agent B. Ihun-Maduenyi in the case before the court challenging his purported impeachment and removal from office by the councillors despite the court order restraining them from such legislative exercise .
Sentencing the principal officers yesterday, the trial judge, Justice George Omereji ruled that the convicts failed to purge themselves and grab the window of opportunity earlier given them by the court to free themselves from the wrath of the law and punitive consequence of their disobedience to the court.
According to him, the court has on February 25 2013, found the principal officers, including the other nine councillors culpable of court contempt, and admitted them to bail so as to enable them show remorse to their offences before the next adjourned date.
Justice Omereji averred that the convicts were warned of the consequence if they failed to comply with the court directive.
He described the purported impeachment of the Vice Chairman by the councillors after the court had restrained them from doing so as an act meant to undermine the integrity and honour of the court.
He stated that the convicted councillors and their colleagues, rather than comply with the court directive to reinstate the vice chairman, approached an Appeal Court to challenge their conviction by the High Court.
The trial judge posited that on the 16th May, 2013, the councillors, through their counsel, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) brought an oral application informing the court that the matter was before an Appeal Court, and requested the court to adjourn the case beyond June 5, 2013 which is the date of hearing of the matter at the appellate court.
He averred that the oral application was not enough reason to stop the court from giving its ruling on the matter, noting that there was no evidence of notification from the Appeal Court on the matter.
‘There is no process or Appeal filed from the appellate court to my court. There is no record from the registry that the court will rely on”, he said.
‘The rule is that when a matter under trial at any lower court be it Magistrate, High and Appeal Court , and the matter is moved to a higher court of jurisdiction with evidence of proof, then, the lower court will stop hearing the matter. But in this case, it is not so”, he declared.
Justice Omereji warned that the court could not fold its arms and watch people ridicule the integrity of the court, even when their crimes are contemptuous in nature, adding that such would brew anarchy and lawlessness in the society.
However, the sentencing did not come without some legal drama displayed at the court room.
At about 11.40am, when the case was called by the court clerk and the counsel in the matter announced their appearance, and the judge was set to rule, it was observed that three of the convicts were absent.
The development forced the court to stand down the proceeding for 2 hours, 2mins and Justice Omereji directed the counsel to the defendants to ensure that all the convicts in the matter were present in the court.
He said the order became imperative because the nature of the offence committed by the convicts was “quasi criminal”, adding that the law required all the parties to be in court during the proceedings.
It would be recalled that the High Court had on the 27th of June, 2012 given an order restraining the Ahoada East Local Government councillors from impeaching the vice chairman of the council, Hon Britain Ewor pending the determination of the suit before the court, which the legislators failed to abide by but rather described the court order as “a mere pieces of paper”.
Eleven outstanding poetry collections are now in the race for the $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature, arguably Africa’s biggest and most prestigious literary prize.
The 11 collections were selected from a total of 223 entries received for this year’s competition.
Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Prize, Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, who announced the longlist, said the emergence of the 11 collections marks a significant milestone in this year’s competition and reflects the exceptional quality, creativity and diversity of contemporary Nigerian poetry.
According to her, the longlisted titles, arranged in alphabetical order, are: Adult Love by Tanure Ojaide; Bakandimiya by Saddiq Dzukogi; Black Passport by Paul Akpomuje; 2000 Blacks by Ajibola Tolase; Ceremony For The Nameless by Theresa Lola; Corpus: Animistic Verses by Ayo Oyeku; and Floral’s Love Colony by Tares Oburumu.
Other successful entries are, The Origin of Wounds by Malik Gbolahan; The Years of Blood by Adebayo Agarau; Unbind Me Now by James Ugwu Eze; and Why Does God Need a Gun by Ogaga Ifowodo.
Prof. Adimora-Ezeigbo described the announcement as an important stage in the 2026 edition of the prize.
She noted that the collections demonstrate the remarkable capacity of poetry to illuminate human experience through thoughtful reflection, cultural memory and artistic expression.
According to her, the works revisit history while interrogating dominant historical narratives and exposing the forces that shape collective identities and social relations.
She stated that despite their varied emphases, the books share a commitment to exploring the endurance of individuals and communities in the face of violence, oppression and social fragmentation.
On style and language, Prof. Adimora-Ezeigbo said the books display an impressive diversity of poetic techniques marked by lyrical intensity, symbolic depth and artistic innovation.
“Many employ densely poetic, allegorical, and elegiac modes that invite multiple layers of interpretation, while others draw extensively on folklore, oral traditions, and contemporary realities to create a compelling fusion of past and present. Their language is generally fluid, evocative, and aesthetically refined, relying on vivid imagery, emotional resonance, and intellectual sophistication to communicate complex ideas. These works demonstrate how poetic language can illuminate social realities; challenge established perspectives and give voice to both individual and collective experiences.
“The next stage will demand a closer reading of each work, with attention to language, form, originality and lasting literary value,” she stated.
The Board chairman commended the judges for their painstaking work and reaffirmed the Advisory Board’s commitment to a credible process, literary excellence and the promotion of a strong reading culture.
With the announcement of the 11-title longlist, the competition now moves to the next phase, with a shortlist of three expected in August and the winner to be announced in October.
Sponsored by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), The Nigeria Prize for Literature carries a cash award of $100,000 for the author of the winning book.
Now in its 22nd year, the prize rotates annually across four genres – prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature – with the 2026 edition devoted to poetry.
The Rivers State Government has applauded the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Rivers State Branch, for its steadfast dedication to advancing medical excellence and contributing significantly to healthcare development in the state and the country at large.
Speaking at the 2026 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the NMA held in Port Harcourt last Wednesday, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Dagogo Wokoma, described the association as a vital partner in the quest to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes.
Wokoma, according to a statement by the Head of Information and Public Relations Unit in his office, Julian Masi, noted that the NMA’s sustained advocacy for professional standards and quality medical practice has continued to impact positively on the healthcare sector and national development.
He said the conference theme, “Medical Practice in Nigeria: The Past, the Present and Quo Vadis,” offers a valuable platform for stakeholders to evaluate the progress made in the health sector, examine present realities, and develop practical solutions for future challenges.
He paid tribute to Nigerian doctors and other healthcare professionals for their sacrifices and unwavering commitment to service despite the challenges confronting the sector.
“We deeply appreciate the immense sacrifices made daily by Nigerian doctors and other healthcare professionals. In the face of numerous challenges, they continue to demonstrate exceptional resilience, professionalism, dedication and commitment to saving lives. Their contributions remain critical to national development,” he said.
In her keynote address, the immediate past Commissioner for Health, Prof. Adaeze C. Oreh, called on participants to critically examine the current state of medical practice in Nigeria and explore innovative approaches that will address emerging healthcare challenges in line with the conference theme.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Rivers State Branch, Dr. (Prof.) Annabel Ureh Oparaodu, expressed gratitude to Governor Siminialayi Fubara for his continued support for the medical profession in Rivers State.
She urged delegates to maximize the opportunities provided by the conference through active engagement and knowledge sharing.
Highlights of the event included the commissioning of the Nigerian Medical Association Doctors’ Lodge and the NMA Water Factory, initiatives designed to improve members’ welfare and promote sustainability within the association.
The National Population Commission (NPC) has announced the commencement of a nationwide digital registration of births and deaths in Rivers State under the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, E-CRVS, System, using the new VitalReg platform.
Federal Commissioner, NPC, Rivers State, Prof. Itotenaan Henry Ogiri, announced said this recently during a press briefing in his Port Harcourt office.
Ogiri said the full digital registration of births and deaths took effect nationwide on July 1, 2026, and is now being implemented across Rivers’ 23 Local Government Areas as part of the Commission’s rollout in the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT.
“Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards a modern, technology-driven civil registration system,
“It reflects the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that every birth and every death occurring in our country is accurately captured through a secure, efficient and digitally enabled platform,” he said.
The Federal Commissioner noted that while Nigeria records an estimated five million births annually, coverage remains low.
“Birth registration currently stands at about 57%, while death registration is below 20% nationwide.
“These gaps underscore the urgent need for a more efficient and accessible registration system,” he stated.
To address this, he said the commission has established 4,011 functional registration centres across the 774 LGAs, with plans to expand to about 8,000 centres nationwide.
According to him, in Rivers State, structures have been put in place and personnel are working with health facilities, LGAs and community stakeholders to ensure accessibility.
Ogiri explained that the VitalReg platform offers faster registration, 24-hour access, automated data validation for accuracy, reduced paperwork and waiting time, enhanced record security, and a stronger national database to support other government information systems.
He added that the platform would integrate seamlessly with Nigeria’s national digital identity framework, including the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to improve coordination and service delivery.
“The initiative builds on the launch of the E-CRVS System and the inauguration of the National Coordination Committee on CRVS by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on November 8, 2023.
“It also aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda on digital transformation and transparency,” he said.
The NPC Commissioner stressed that success depends on partnerships and public participation and listed key collaborators as ALGON, NIMC, UNICEF and Barnksforte Technologies Limited.
“In Rivers State, we will continue to work closely with the State Government, Local Government Councils, healthcare providers, traditional institutions, religious organisations, development partners, civil society organisations and the media to ensure that no child or family is left behind,” he said.
The commissioner called on parents, guardians, healthcare workers and community leaders to ensure prompt registration of every birth and death, noting that a complete civil registration system strengthens governance and supports sustainable development.
He reassured the public that birth registration and birth notification services remain highly subsidised, though specialised administrative services such as record modification, certificate reissuance, attestations and verification will attract approved charges to support system sustainability.
Ogiri appreciated the Rivers State Government for its support, and commended NPC staff in the State, as well as development partners, LGAs, healthcare institutions, traditional and religious leaders for advancing civil registration in the state.
He also urged the media to continue to amplify the message “that every birth counts, every death matters and every Nigerian deserves a legal identity.”
“As we commence this new chapter, let us all work together to build a civil registration system that is modern, inclusive and trusted by all,” Ogiri concluded.