A State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, presided over by Hon. Justice S. H. Aprioku, last Friday, discharged and acquitted His Majesty, Eze Kelvin Ngozi Anugwo, Eze Ekpeye Logbo III and 42 others standing trial for the death of a Divisional Police Officer, in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers, SP Bako Angbashim.

The Ekpeye monarch and 42 others were arraigned on four-count  charge, bordering on cultism, armed robbery, murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

However, in the case number PHC/3208/CR/2023, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) C.F. Amadi, Esq.  prescribed to the Honourable Court that no case was established against the accused  monarch and 42  persons.

In his ruling, the trial Judge, Justice S.H. Aprioku relied on the advice of the DPP to  exonerate the accused  persons from the murder case, while about 26 others were remanded again in prison.

Speaking to our correspondent, Counsel to the Eze Ekpeye Logbo III, Barr. Ikashi Saturday Emeyi , said since  the incident which happened last year, his client was in court with respect to the gruesome murder of Ahoada Divisional Police Officer, adding that everyone was subject to the Nigerian Constitution.

“But the DPP has taken over the matter on behalf of the Attorney General, brought in an application to substitute the initial charges to  fresh charges, and by that, it was discovered that the Prosecution could not make up a prima facie case against His Imperial Majesty, Eze Sir Kelvin Ngozi Anugwo, Eze Ekpeye Logbo III.

“And on that note, the High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt,  presided over by Hon. Justice S.H. Aprioku, today discharged His Imperial Majesty and acquitted him. Meaning that he has no case to answer as far as the ongoing case is concerned.”

Recall that Ekpeye kingdom was a theatre of cultism in recent past, a scenario that prompted the redeployment of the DPO to the area, resulting  in his untimely death on September 8, 2023.

The gruesome murder of the police officer in Odiemudie community, in Ahoada East Local Government Area by  one Gift David, alias  2Baba and his gang gave rise to the detention of the Ekpeye monarch and several others.

Agimo Emenike Benson

Rivers State Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu has been decorated as the End Maria Champion in Rivers State by the State   Ministry of Health.

The event which took place at Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt, on Monday the 29^th April, 2024 was part of the 2024 World Malaria Day Celebration.

In her acceptance Speech Prof. Odu pledged to amplify the voices of those affected by malaria, to advocate for policies that would advance the fight against the disease, and to work tirelessly until malaria is no longer a threat in Rivers State.

The Deputy Governor who said the fight against malaria requires a lot of collaboration noted that Government alone cannot win the fight against the disease.

“We will need more champions and advocates as the fight requires collaborations, innovation and a steadfast commitment from Government, Non-Governmental Organizations, Development Partners, Health Professionals, Researchers and the Community themselves”. The Deputy Governor quipped.

According to her, the State must all work tirelessly to expand access to life saving interventions such as insecticide treated bed nets, elimination of still water, rapid diagnostic tests and effective treatment.

Prof Odu who promised to mobilize resources, galvanize action at all levels of society and ensure that the circle of the burden and occurrence of death is abated, expressed gratitude to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, for inaugurating the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme, adding that with the coming on stream of the programme children and other vulnerable groups can receive free healthcare treatment.

In her address the State Commissioner for Health Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, said the annual event is a powerful reminder of the ongoing battle against malaria and the need for global action and indeed action from Rivers State.

She said the theme for World Malaria Day this year is “Accelerating the Fight against Malaria for a more Equitable World”, with the slogan let’s change the narrative which according to her emphasizes that everyone has the right to quality, timely and affordable services to prevent, detect and treat malaria, stressing that malaria is a life threatening disease that is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes which has continued to pose significant health challenges globally.

The World Health Organization Representative; in Rivers State, Prof.  Oluseyi Babatunde, had earlier mentioned that the fight against malaria requires a multi faceted approach, noting that they needed champions who are essentials in raising awareness and carryout actions for them to push forward.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, has commended Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) and the Bayelsa State Government for the completion and inauguration of a Learning Centre and Digital Library at the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU), Wilberforce Island, Amassoma, in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the State.
The Tide learnt that the state-of-the-art facility which boasts three floors–a 2,300 seater Library Building, and a fully equipped digital library, also has a Wi-Fi Lounge, offices, digital educational technology rooms, a 500KVA generator housed within a purpose-built external structure, 500KVA transformer, a dedicated water facility and overhead tank.
Other facilities contained in the infrastructure, according to a statement from the Corporate Communications Directorate of the NCDMB, include a restaurant/recreation hub.
Represented by the Director of Corporate Services of the Board, Dr. Ama Ikuru, the Executive Secretary prefaced his address at the commission ceremony which took place recently with a word of appreciation to the State Government for making the environment conducive for business activities.
“Those of us in the oil and gas industry know that without the enabling environment, there’ll be no project and without projects, there will be no local content growth and no projects like this one.
“The project is part of SNEPCo’s commitment to the Nigerian Content Human Capital Development Initiative.
“I’ll thank Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCO) and by extension, Shell Companies in Nigeria, for showing faith, commitment, and good execution in the delivery of this project.
“I also want to commend the Nigeria’s Upstream Investment Limited for approving the execution of this project”, the NCDMB boss said.
Ogbe continued that, “SNEPCO was not compelled by legislation, nor the force of regulators, nor by community agitation, but they saw the need to support education in Nigeria and worked with their partners to conceptualize and commence the execution of this project.
“The role of the NCDMB played in facilitating the project execution was that when funding for completion of the project became an issue, they sought permission from the NCDMB to complete the project. And so their request was promptly granted, with assurance of ‘our total support”.
He noted that the Niger Delta University was ready to soar above her peers in a digitalization and artificial intelligence-dominated academic world with the completion of the facility, saying research projects will be completed on time, new findings will be published, students will graduate on time and lecturers will have the best materials for their publication and receive their elevation.
“We’re immensely proud of this achievement. In delivering this project, Shell Companies in Nigeria have proven beyond doubt that they are truly partners for Nigeria’s development”, the ES restated.
Also speaking, Managing Director, SNEPCO, Mrs. Elohor Aiboni, said “the learning complex embodies the commitment of her company to improving access to education for all Nigerians, and that the achievement is the culmination of a vision shared by Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), SNEPCo, our co-venture partners, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and the Niger Delta University”.
On the wider benefits of the project to the local community and others, Mrs Aiboni noted that sustainable development is at the core of the firm’s mission, saying the construction process incorporated knowledge transfer programmes, empowering 24 individuals from the Niger Delta University with hands-on experience in complex engineering through industrial training opportunities.
“This initiative equips them with a solid foundation for successful future careers”, she said.
In the same vein, Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, said the history of Shell companies in Nigeria began in Bayelsa State.
He described the Learning Centre and Digital Library as a signature project in the Niger Delta, and thanked industry colleagues for the fruitful collaboration.
Okunborn also reassured that Shell Companies in Nigeria will continue to maintain close partnership with the Bayelsa State Government.
In his own remarks, Deputy Governor of the State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, thanked all who initiated and completed the facility.
He urged Shell and other oil and gas industry players never to relent in partnering the State, advising the university community to put the facility to the best use.
”For the students, the time to give excuses for your failure is over. And for the lecturers, the time to give excuses for your inability to research has also expired”, the State Deputy Governor said.
The Tide gathered that the construction of the Learning Centre and Digital Library was initiated by SNEPCo in 2007 to enhance educational infrastructure in the country.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa