News
LG Polls: ‘Why Appeal Court Struck Out APC’s Suit’

The outgoing President of Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Mr Isaac Olorunfemi (right), decorating the new President, Mr Otis Anyaeji, during his Investiture as the 30th President of the society in Abuja, recently.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Monday gave reasons why it struck out the appeal brought before it by the 22 All Progressives Congress local government council chairmen in the state challenging the nullification of their election by the Federal High Court presided over by retired Justice Lambo Akambi in July 2015.
The lead judges of the three-man panel of judges of the Appeal Court in Port Harcourt, Justice Teresa Orji Abosua said the court struck out the matter based on what she described as administrative error in assignment of wrong case number in filing of the appellants’ suit”.
According to her, the court consequently ordered the sacked 22 APC local government council chairmen to file a fresh appeal to regularize the process of their appeal.
The court took the decision following the observation made by the state Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Emma Aguma (SAN) who represented the defendants in the matter.
He drew the attention of the judges to the Appeal Court number wrongly inserted in the motion of notice paper of the appellants which according to him was a subject matter scheduled for hearing for the day.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said my Lords, there was no need for the motion before us, since the motion was seeking for the leave of the court to grant them court of Appeal number for the case, and here my Lords, They have gotten the number.
The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice prayed the court to strike out the matter, and direct the applicants to withdraw the motion even as he sought for the court to award N50,000 cost against the 22 applicants for obtaining the Appeal Court number through a mischievous way.
However, in his submission, counsel for the 22 APC chairmen, who are the applicants in the matter, E.A Yohelp (Esq) did not oppose the views of the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice on the withdrawal of the motion but objected to the award of N50,000 cost against the applicants as canvassed by the learned Senior Advocate.
The applicants’ counsel hinged his arguments on the fact that the error noticed by the court was not the making of his clients, but rather an administrative one.
Satisfied by the submissions from both counsels, Justice Abosua struck out the matter but however refused to award any cost to the applicants as canvassed by the state Attorney-General.
It would be recalled that the 22 APC council chairmen in the state went to the Appeal Court to challenge the nullification of their May 23, 2015 election by the Rtd Justice Lambo Akambi’s judgement delivered on July 9, 2015.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the ruling, Counsel to 22 APC Local Government Chairmen, E.A Yohelp said he withdraw the motion after he noticed the administrative error by the court register, adding that the import of the ruling was that it would give the applicants the opportunity to put their house in order and bring back a fresh appeal before the court.
Also speaking, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Chinwe Aguma (SAN), opined that the learned justices of the Appeal Court were right in their decision to strike out the suit, adding that the ruling was in conformity with the ruling of Rtd Justice Lambo Akambi and the Industrial Court in Bayelsa State.
According to the learned Senior Advocate, with the development now, this suggests that there was no appeal against the dissolution of the LGA before the appellant court by the applicants, until they do so, if they have the will to do so.
Addressing newsmen after the judgment, Rivers State Attorney General, Emmanuel Aguma, SAN, described the Appeal Court judgement as a confirmation of the judgment of the Federal High Court which declared council polls illegal.
The Appeal Court declared that the suit filed by the former council chairmen lacked competence and was therefore dismissed.
It will be recalled that former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi had circumvented the law by illegally conducting local government council elections less than one week before the handing over on May 29, 2015.
PDP had filed a suit against the conduct of the council polls at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt. Despite a court injunction stopping Amaechi, he went ahead to conduct the illegal election.
News
Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf
Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.
The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.
CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.
The students, led by Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.
According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.
The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.
Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.
He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.
Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.
The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.
He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.
CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.
He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.
Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.
The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.
The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.
According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.
The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.
Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.
He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.
CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.
He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.
News
College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates For 2027 Polls
The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.
International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.
Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.
He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.
Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.
He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.
“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.
Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.
Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.
He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.
According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.
Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.
The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.
Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.
By: John Bibor
News
Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.
Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.
The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.
He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.
Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.
On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.
The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.
Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.
On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.
He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.
The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.
Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.
By; King Onunwor
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